Chapter 31

Soon after Xiao Yan and the others boarded the Iron Giant Eagle, its massive wings slowly beat, and streams of wind-element energy swirled beneath it, lifting its huge body into the sky.

With a piercing screech, the Iron Giant Eagle, under the Beast Tamer's command, shot straight upward and swiftly flew toward the Black Horn Region.

"Feels like riding an airplane."

Sitting in the cabin on the Iron Giant Eagle's back, Xiao Yan propped his chin on his hand, gazing out the window at the faint clouds rushing past. A scene from deep within his memory kept flashing before his eyes.

"Wow! We're flying!"

"So amazing! They actually tamed such a huge Flying Beast!"

"I remember only Dou Spirits can glide briefly—only Dou Kings can fly long distances!"

A regular Flying Beast needs several days to fly out of the Jia Ma Empire, but a Fourth-Rank Magical Beast like the Iron Giant Eagle needs only half a day.

"Young Clan Leader! Look, we're above the clouds!"

"Brother Xiao Yan, look quick!"

Xiao Mei grabbed Xiao Yan's clothes and shook him vigorously, her excitement completely unmasked.

Xiao Yan smiled gently and said, "I know, I know. Sit down, fasten your safety belts, or you'll get thrown off."

"What's a safety belt?" Xiao Mei asked, puzzled.

"Uh… I mean, hold onto your chair tightly, be careful." Xiao Yan had never ridden a Flying Beast before—he didn't know this world had no such thing as safety belts.

Xun Er chuckled softly beside him: "Brother Xiao Yan doesn't seem to be riding a Flying Beast for the first time."

"You're the one who seems like you've ridden before," Xiao Yan replied with a smile.

Half a day passed quickly; the Iron Giant Eagle had flown beyond the Jia Ma Empire's borders and entered the Black Horn Region.

"Students, we have now entered the Black Horn Region. Teacher must warn you: no matter the reason, never enter the Black Horn Region alone." Ruolin's tone, unusually stern, carried sharp urgency.

"Here, due to the peculiar terrain, the Black Horn Region has become the most chaotic area on the continent. Powerful fugitives from every nation have fled here and established the most savage rules. Even if you're a High Dou Master, you cannot guarantee you'll survive leaving."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan looked down from the window—but the Iron Giant Eagle flew too high; from above, he could only see white clouds and faint glimpses of buildings and mountain forests.

"Students, we're approaching Peace Town, Jia Nan Academy's outpost. Peace Town is the buffer zone between the Academy and the Black Horn Region. Killing is strictly forbidden within Peace Town, but you will be under the Academy's protection."

Hearing Ruolin's words, Xiao Yan snapped back to attention. The Iron Giant Eagle slowly landed atop a grassy hill outside the town, where lush trees lined a dirt road. Standing on the Giant Eagle's back, Xiao Yan gazed into the distance and saw, between the angles of two towering mountains, a faint, half-hidden town.

At the town's entrance stood a massive tree with gnarled, claw-like branches, each hung with corpses.

Xiao Yu whispered: "That's the famous Death Tree of Jia Nan Academy. Once, the corpses of two Dou Kings and one Dou Emperor hung here, to warn the Black Horn Region's Factions: dare not invade Jia Nan Academy—or suffer the same fate."

Even now, the Death Tree still bore row upon row of skeletal corpses—deeply chilling.

Between the branches, some corpses were skewered and hung directly, swaying gently in the breeze, emitting eerie, creaking groans that sent shivers down the spine.

The new students heard this, swallowed hard, and felt cold sweat trickle down their foreheads.

Ruolin led all the new students down from the Iron Giant Eagle and shouted: "Follow me! Tonight we'll stay in Peace Town. Tomorrow morning, the Academy will send someone to guide us inside."

Xiao Yan and the others had flown from Wutan City to Peace Town in half a day—the sky had already darkened. Between Jia Nan Academy and Peace Town lay a vast expanse of primeval forest, used for student training; thus, they needed the Academy to dispatch Lion Griffins to carry them to Canaan City.

As Xiao Yan stepped across the town's threshold, he sensed two strange waves sweep over his body.

"Don't worry," Ruolin said gently to the new students. "These are Soul Exploration Waves—used to check if anyone is wanted or marked with a special sigil."

"No wonder Jia Nan Academy is so impressive. So miraculous."

"Indeed—the world is vast, full of wonders."

Xun Er noticed Xiao Yan had stopped walking and asked softly: "What's wrong, Brother Xiao Yan? Is something the matter?"

Xiao Yu and the other Xiao Clan members also noticed Xiao Yan had halted and stopped with him. Before leaving Wutan City, Xiao Zhan had ordered that within Jia Nan Academy, everyone must obey the Young Clan Leader—Xiao Yan was to be followed without question.

Luo Bu, seeing Xiao Yan frozen in place, sneered: "No wonder. Here, even if you're an Eight-Star Dou Zhe, one misstep means losing your head. If you're scared, you can still turn back home."

Xiao Yan snapped back to awareness, cracked his neck, and smiled coldly: "If your bones are itching, I can put you back on the ground again."

Luo Bu's face turned ashen: "Xiao Yan, don't think your little talent makes you special! There are far stronger people in Jia Nan Academy!"

Xiao Yan shrugged indifferently: "Sure, sure. Beyond the sky is higher sky, beyond the person is greater person. But you're not one."

"You! Wait until we enter the Academy—you'll see how little talent means nothing!" Luo Bu's eyes turned icy as he stormed off toward the assigned lodging.

Xiao Yan patted Xun Er's hand and reassured her: "I'm fine. Just stiff from sitting too long. Let's go—don't keep the Mentor waiting."

Xiao Yan's gaze flickered subtly toward a narrow alley on the right—but he did not enter it.

Deep into the night, at the inn where Jia Nan Academy's new students stayed, a shadow slipped silently out a window.

Dressed in a large black robe, Xiao Yan walked into the dark alley. The narrow lanes twisted and turned complexly, yet strangely, Xiao Yan moved as if he'd been here before—familiar, unhurried, sure-footed.

At the alley's end lay a dead end—no human figure, not even a ghostly shadow, could be found.

Yet precisely in this ghostless, deep alley stood a dilapidated old shop, its broken wooden door barely holding together. A gust of wind made it creak—sending chills through anyone who heard it.

Xiao Yan looked up. The sign above read, in four large characters: "Soul Sacrifice Old Shop." The sign had clearly not been tended to in years, thick with dust, hanging in tatters as if ready to fall at any moment.

Xiao Yan pulled the black Soul Token from his storage ring. He had never been here before—but this strange token emitted a spiritual pulse, guiding him to this place.

Tonight, Xiao Yan had sensed two Soul Exploration Waves pass over him. One was Jia Nan Academy's inspection—the other came from this very token!

Xiao Yan did not know that the alley's depths were concealed by a Space Concealment Array—only those with a special item could enter. Even the Dean of Jia Nan Academy could not detect it.

Xiao Yan frowned. This place clearly wasn't safe—and he hadn't forgotten: this token came from the Soul Sect, and the Soul Sect was no benign organization.

Dark, eerie, like a haunted place.

"Heh heh heh… Since you're already here, why not come inside the shop?"