94: Recent Situation in Black Sand City

In a tumultuous uproar, the trials of the Path of Exile finally concluded.

Most of the newcomers were now leaving Dingfeng City in an orderly fashion.

For ordinary newcomers, it didn't matter who achieved first place in the Path of Exile.

It had no impact on them whatsoever.

However, this year, due to Ye Xiao's appearance, they had an extra topic for after-dinner conversation.

The news of Night Shadow killing five 180-level Black-Clad Deacons of the Zhi Family, as well as a thousand Dragon Abyss Legion members, and an army of over a thousand miscellaneous troops, spread throughout the entire alliance shortly after Ye Xiao left Dingfeng City.

By now, everyone had heard this information.

Countless people found Night Shadow's audacious feat incredible.

At the same time, many secretly gloated over the Zhi Family's misfortune.

No one would have thought that the Zhi Family, which had stood for nearly a hundred years, would be so thoroughly humiliated by an ordinary person.

Although Night Shadow eventually escaped before Zhao Mo, an Eight-Turn powerhouse, arrived, no one considered Ye Xiao a coward.

On the contrary, they were greatly surprised, and even a little impressed, that he could escape from an Eight-Turn powerhouse.

It could be said that after the turmoil in Dingfeng City, the Zhi Family's reputation was severely impacted.

At this moment, in everyone's eyes, the Zhi Family was no longer that high and mighty, unshakable, invincible family.

Instead, it gave people a feeling that the Zhi Family could only bully the weak, and when they encountered a true challenge, they would still be humiliated.

Of course, this was just a feeling.

Most people hadn't truly lost their minds to think that the Zhi Family could be provoked at will.

After all, in the Zhi Family's eyes, they were the soft persimmons.

But that didn't stop them from relishing the matter in private.

In response, the Zhi Family uncharacteristically remained silent and did not come forward to say anything.

It wasn't that they didn't want to.

It was that the Zhi Family had forgotten how long it had been since they encountered such an unusual newcomer as Ye Xiao.

Or rather, they had never encountered such a situation before.

As a result, while being widely mocked and discussed by the outside world, the Zhi Family members simply couldn't come up with a solution.

The simplest and most effective solution would naturally be to capture Ye Xiao.

But the problem was that given the current situation, they couldn't do it.

As for other solutions, they couldn't think of any for the time being.

Aside from silence, the Zhi Family really couldn't think of a way for a while.

Of course, the Zhi Family would naturally not let the matter rest.

At this moment, Zhao Changlin, representing the Zhi Family, had already applied to the alliance to convene a meeting.

The Zhi Family wanted to drag other families into the mess.

Why should they alone bear all this, when they had all agreed to deal with Ye Xiao together in the first place?

The outside world was naturally unaware of the Zhi Family's behind-the-scenes actions.

At this time, in another novice zone far, far away from the 702 Novice Zone, Zhi Zi Jiu stood outside Dingfeng City, and he naturally knew about Night Shadow's matter.

Zhi Zi Jiu didn't seem as surprised as others; instead, deep down, he felt it was only natural.

After all, that Night Shadow was the newcomer who had surpassed him.

If he couldn't even achieve this much, wouldn't he, Zhi Zi Jiu, be a good-for-nothing?

Zhi Zi Jiu gazed deeply at the name at the top of the stone monument, an unreadable expression in his eyes.

After a moment, he turned and left.

"Night Shadow? I believe we will meet again very soon. By then, I will make you understand that an early lead means nothing."

Zhi Zi Jiu said with immense confidence.

He had the entire Zhi Family supporting him, countless godforged stones at his disposal, and a hidden Profession advancement that was about to be completed.

Compared to him, that Night Shadow was merely an ordinary person with a bit of good luck.

He had no reason to lose.

Thinking of this, Zhi Zi Jiu's earlier mood of defeat vanished, and his expression suddenly became radiant.

---

Black Sand City.

Due to the opening of the Path of Exile, there weren't many newcomers coming to complete their First-Turn advancement tasks these past two days.

At this moment, Black Sand City seemed somewhat quiet.

In fact, anyone familiar with Black Sand City would be able to feel a strange atmosphere pervading the city.

However, this was also very easy to understand.

Since the elites of the Golden Phoenix Legion, along with their Legion Commander Snow Phoenix, were all annihilated, the original Golden Phoenix Legion, although renamed the Shadow Legion, was no longer as strong as before.

The former Golden Phoenix Legion used to dominate the Black Tiger and Silver Dragon Legions.

But now, facing the combined targeting of the Black Tiger and Silver Dragon, the Shadow Legion's sphere of influence was shrinking.

Most importantly, in recent days, the Calamity Heralds in Blackwater Canyon had been almost completely monopolized by the Black Tiger and Silver Dragon Legions.

Even if the Shadow Legion wanted to get involved, they couldn't.

As a result, the entire landscape of Black Sand City became somewhat delicate.

At this time, Xue Ling sat in the headquarters of the Shadow Legion, looking at the empty hall before her, feeling incredibly vexed.

Facing the constant exclusion and targeting from the Black Tiger and Silver Dragon Legions, the Shadow Legion now, apart from a few Mixed-bloods with the same status as her, had seen most of its normal Human Job Holders leave long ago.

Xue Ling knew very well that if things continued to develop this way, it wouldn't be long before the Black Tiger and Silver Dragon Legions would make their move against them.

They hadn't acted yet simply because the peak season for advancement had arrived, and they didn't want to stir up trouble at this time.

Once they were free, it would probably be the day the Shadow Legion perished.

Xue Ling had no lingering attachment to the Shadow Legion.

The only one she truly cared about was Ye Xiao.

Once the Shadow Legion ceased to exist, she would completely lose her value.

At that point, if Ye Xiao decided she was no longer useful, her life or death would be entirely at his whim.

Xue Ling could not endure such a outcome.

She wanted to live, so she had to quickly find a way to demonstrate her value to Ye Xiao.

Only then could she preserve her life.

But how could she demonstrate her value?

Not long ago, she also received news that Ye Xiao had single-handedly slaughtered over 2,000 people in the Path of Exile, including five Five-Turn Professionals.

This formidable record truly shocked her once again.

Therefore, Xue Ling was once again lost in thought.

Just then, a figure appeared silently before her.

It was none other than Ye Xiao, who had just left Dingfeng City.

The moment she saw Ye Xiao appear, Xue Ling was first stunned, but the next second, she knelt on the ground, her voice trembling as she said, "M-Master, when did you arrive?"

Ye Xiao glanced at Xue Ling but did not respond.

Instead, he walked straight to the main seat and slowly sat down.

Then, he scrutinized Xue Ling.

After a moment, he slowly spoke.

"Just now, I heard some news outside. Your performance disappoints me."

Xue Ling trembled all over, her lowered face instantly turning ashen.