68: Trials in Blackstorm Canyon

The sky above the Black-Corner Region was always a depressing grey.

Xiao Yan left Black Seal City and, following the map's guidance, headed north towards the Black Storm Canyon, an area known as a forbidden zone of life.

The closer he got, the more intense the wind and sand became, carrying a sharp sensation that felt as if it could strip flesh from bone.

The landscape along the way was desolate and lifeless, with almost no vegetation, only oddly shaped, rugged rocks eroded by the wind and sand.

Occasionally, he would see the half-buried skeletons of adventurers in the sand, or bodies dried into grotesque forms, silently narrating the dangers of this place.

Three days later, a vast canyon, seemingly cleaved open by a giant axe, appeared before Xiao Yan's eyes, stretching as far as the eye could see.

At the canyon's entrance, fierce winds howled, kicking up yellow sand that formed towering yellow tornadoes connecting heaven and earth, severely obstructing visibility.

The wind carried an ear-splitting shriek, as if countless resentful Souls were weeping—this was the infamous “Black Storm”!

Even at the canyon's periphery, the wind's power was enough to make a Great Dou Master's skin tingle and accelerate the consumption of his Dou Qi.

Xiao Yan took out the thick beast hide cloak he had acquired at no small cost, put it on, tightened the hood, and then swallowed a Medicinal Pill to resist wind poison and miasma.

Only then did he take a deep breath and step into the roaring wind and sand.

Upon entering the canyon, the environment abruptly worsened severalfold!

The fierce wind, like a solid wall, continuously impacted his body, and sand grains rattled against his beast hide cloak.

Even more terrifying, the wind contained a peculiar energy that not only eroded Dou Qi but also constantly tried to penetrate his Sea of Consciousness, disturbing his mind.

Xiao Yan kept his mind firm, spreading his Soul Power around him to resist the pervasive wind evil, while simultaneously circulating his Dou Qi to stabilize his body, moving step by step with difficulty deeper into the canyon.

According to the map, the Blood Sect's stronghold was located within a large, relatively sheltered stone cave in the middle section of the canyon.

The so-called “abnormal energy fluctuation” area was even deeper than the stronghold, in a zone marked on the map as “Unknown Danger.”

The terrain within the canyon was complex, riddled with bottomless fissures and rock walls that could collapse at any moment.

Xiao Yan proceeded cautiously, using his powerful Soul perception to avoid dangers, and along the way, he also discovered some rare wind-attributed Ores and a few tenacious “Wind-Eroded Grasses” growing in rock crevices, which could be used to refine high-grade Medicinal Pills.

“Indeed, danger and Opportunity coexist,” Xiao Yan carefully collected the medicinal herbs.

These items were quite valuable outside.

Just as he was passing through a stone forest formed by wind erosion, a sudden warning flashed in his mind!

“Hiss——!”

A subtle whooshing sound came from the side!

Extremely fast!

Without thinking, the xuan heavy ruler instantly appeared in Xiao Yan's hand, and he parried with a backhand strike!

“Clang!”

Sparks flew!

A tremendous force came from the ruler's body, making his arm tingle slightly.

Looking closely, the attacker was a strange snake, greyish-white all over, almost blending in with the surrounding rocks!

Its body was only as thick as an arm, but its head was triangular, and as its tongue flickered, it emitted a foul smell.

Its strength, surprisingly, had reached the level of a Fourth-Rank Demonic Beast, equivalent to a human Dou Ling!

“Wind Rock Viper!” Yao Lao's voice echoed in Xiao Yan's mind, “Be careful, these things are extremely stealthy, their venom is potent, and they usually live in groups!”

As if to confirm Yao Lao's words, rustling sounds began in the shadows of the surrounding stone pillars, and dozens of cold, vertical pupils simultaneously lit up, locking onto Xiao Yan, the intruder!

He was surrounded!

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed, not daring to be careless in the slightest.

His internal Dou Qi erupted, and a green flame (Wind Fury Dragon Flame) rose from the ruler's body, dispelling some of the surrounding chill and wind evil.

“Roar!”

The leading Wind Rock Viper let out a sharp hiss, and dozens of strange snakes, like arrows released from a bowstring, attacked Xiao Yan from all directions!

They used the wind to their advantage, moving incredibly fast, their fangs glinting with a faint blue poisonous light!

“Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler!”

Xiao Yan roared, and the xuan heavy ruler, wreathed in blazing flames, drew a perfect fiery circle!

The scorching heat and violent ruler Qi instantly severed and incinerated seven or eight of the pouncing Wind Rock Vipers!

But more strange snakes were already closing in!

They either spat venom or tried to coil around him, their attack methods bizarre and tricky!

Xiao Yan wielded the xuan heavy ruler impenetrably, ruler shadows flying, flames surging, constantly knocking away and scorching Wind Rock Vipers.

However, his Dou Qi was also rapidly depleting, and the beast hide cloak had several holes corroded by venom, with the fierce wind and sand scraping his skin, causing a burning pain.

This was a tough war of attrition!

The cruelty of the Black-Corner Region was fully displayed in this canyon.

Amidst the fierce battle, Xiao Yan suddenly sensed several powerful auras rapidly approaching from a distance!

One of them had surprisingly reached the Dou Ling level!

Moreover, the aura was cold and out of place with the canyon's environment, a characteristic of the Blood Sect members!

“It's people from the Blood Sect! They've been drawn by the commotion!” Yao Lao warned.

Encircled by snakes in front, with powerful enemies approaching from behind!

A ruthless glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes.

He couldn't afford to prolong the fight!

He suddenly infused a large amount of Dou Qi into the xuan heavy ruler, and the flames on its body surged.

A more powerful “Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler: Nine Waves” erupted, temporarily forcing back the surrounding snake swarm!

Seizing this gap, he used his Exploding Step, no longer heading deeper into the canyon, but turning towards a narrow rock crevice on one side, plunging in without hesitation!

The crevice was winding and deep inside, only wide enough for one person to pass, temporarily blocking the snake swarm outside and the approaching Blood Sect members.

Xiao Yan leaned against the cold rock wall, breathing heavily, and swallowed a few Medicinal Pills to restore his Dou Qi.

The brief battle just now had consumed a great deal of energy, and he had sustained some minor injuries.

“I must find the source of that energy fluctuation as soon as possible, or find a way to avoid the Blood Sect people,” Xiao Yan thought to himself.

In this canyon, he was isolated and helpless, and had to be even more careful and cautious.

After a short rest, once his Dou Qi had recovered somewhat, he continued to explore deeper along the rock crevice.

This crevice seemed to lead to the lower parts of the canyon; the deeper he went, the clearer that peculiar energy fluctuation seemed to become.

Meanwhile, outside the crevice, several figures in blood-colored robes appeared at the site of the recent battle.

The leader was a pale-faced, sinister-eyed middle-aged man, none other than the Blood Sect Elder, Fan Lao.

He looked at the charred snake corpses and the traces of the fight, then gazed towards the rock crevice where Xiao Yan had disappeared, a cruel smile curving his lips.

“An interesting little mouse...

Order to seal off this area and drag him out for me!

This Elder wants to see who dares to cause trouble on my Blood Sect's territory!”

The hunt had begun.

And Xiao Yan's trial in this Canyon of Death had just entered its most dangerous phase.

He did not know that deep within this canyon, an Opportunity and a killing calamity far beyond his expectations awaited him!