Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Soul Sacrifice Old Shop
Shortly after Xiao Yan and the others boarded the flying beast, the Steel Winged Giant Eagle, its massive wings began to flap slowly. Strands of wind attribute energy swirled beneath it, lifting its enormous body into the sky.
With a loud, piercing screech, the Steel Winged Giant Eagle suddenly soared into the sky at the command of the beast tamer and swiftly flew toward the Black-Corner Region.
'It feels like we're on a plane.'
Sitting in a room on the back of the Steel Winged Giant Eagle, Xiao Yan rested his chin on his hand and gazed out of the window at the faint clouds passing by. Memories from the depths of his mind continued to flash before his eyes.
"Wow! We're flying!"
"It's amazing! To think that someone could tame such a huge flying magical beast!"
"I remember that only a Dou Spirit can glide for a short distance, while a Dou King can fly for a long distance!"
Ordinary flying magical beasts would take several days to fly out of the Jia Ma Empire, but a Rank 4 magical beast like the Steel Winged Giant Eagle only needed half a day.
"Little Clan Leader! Look, we're actually above the clouds!"
"Xiao Yan ge, look, look!"
Xiao Mei grabbed Xiao Yan's clothes and shook them vigorously, the excitement on her face undisguised.
Xiao Yan smiled gently and said, "I know, I know. Just sit properly and fasten your seat belts, or you might get thrown off later."
"What is a seat belt?" Xiao Mei asked puzzled.
"Um... I mean, hold on tightly to your seat and be careful," This was also the first time Xiao Yan had ever ridden on a flying magical beast, and he did not know that there was no such thing as a seat belt in this world.
Beside them, Xun Er chuckled and said, "It seems like Xiao Yan ge-ge isn't riding a flying magical beast for the first time."
"It's Xun Er who doesn't seem to be riding one for the first time," Xiao Yan retorted with a smile.
…
Half a day passed quickly, and the Steel Winged Giant Eagle had already flown out of the Jia Ma Empire's territory and entered the Black-Corner Region.
"Dear students, we have now entered the Black-Corner Region. The teacher must remind you all that under no circumstances should you venture into the Black-Corner Region alone," Instructor Ruo Ling's tone was unusually serious as she gave a warning.
"Due to its unique terrain, the Black-Corner Region has become the most chaotic area on the continent. Strong individuals who fled from various countries have taken shelter here and established the most barbaric rules. Even if you're a Dou Grandmaster, there's no guarantee that you'll be able to leave the Black-Corner Region alive."
Xiao Yan listened to her words and looked out the window, but unfortunately, the Steel Winged Giant Eagle was flying too high. All he could see from above was a sea of clouds with vague outlines of buildings, mountains, and forested areas.
"Students, we are about to reach Peace Town, which serves as a buffer zone between Jia Nan Academy and the Black-Corner Region. Killing is strictly forbidden in Peace Town, and you will also be under the protection of the academy."
Xiao Yan regained his focus upon hearing Instructor Ruo Ling's words. The Steel Winged Giant Eagle slowly descended onto a small hill covered in lush trees and yellow soil outside the town. Xiao Yan stood on the eagle's back and gazed into the distance, where he could just make out the junction of two majestic mountains, where the faint outline of a small town could be seen.
At the entrance of the town stood a large tree with branches spreading out like claws, and on these branches hung the corpses of several individuals.
Xiao Yu whispered, "This is the infamous Dead Spirit Tree of Jia Nan Academy. Once upon a time, the corpses of two Dou Kings and a Dou Emperor were hung there to warn the factions of the Black-Corner Region not to infringe upon Jia Nan Academy, or else they would meet the same fate."
Even now, the Dead Spirit Tree still bore the skeletal remains of these individuals, a sight that sent chills down one's spine.
Some of the corpses were impaled directly on the branches, swaying unsteadily in the light breeze and making eerie creaking noises.
When the new students heard this, a lump formed in their throats as cold sweat trickled down their foreheads.
Instructor Ruo Ling led all the new students down from the Steel Winged Giant Eagle and said loudly, "Everyone, follow me. We will spend the night in Peace Town, and tomorrow morning, someone from the academy will lead us into the academy."
Xiao Yan and the others had been flying from Wu Tan City to Peace Town for half a day, and the sky had already begun to darken. Between Jia Nan Academy and Peace Town was a vast area of primitive forest that served as a training ground for the students, hence the need for the academy to dispatch people to ride Griffins for the students' journey to Jia Nan City.
As soon as Xiao Yan stepped into the town gate, he sensed two strange fluctuations sweeping over him.
"Don't worry, everyone. This is the spiritual inspection fluctuation used to check if someone is wanted and leave a special imprint," Instructor Ruo Ling gently explained to the new students.
"This is truly worthy of Jia Nan Academy. How magical."
"Aye, the world is full of wonders."
Xun Er noticed that Xiao Yan had stopped and asked quietly, "What is it, Xiao Yan ge-ge? Is there a problem?"
Xiao Yu and the few other members of the Xiao Clan also noticed that Xiao Yan had stopped and halted as well. Before leaving Wu Tan City, Xiao Zhan had instructed that within Jia Nan Academy, everyone was to follow the lead of Xiao Yan, the Little Clan Leader.
Seeing Xiao Yan standing still, Luo Bu sneered, his lips curling into a cold smile as he mocked, "No wonder. Here, not to mention an 8-star Dou Practitioner, even an 8-star Dou Master could end up losing his head with one wrong move. It's not too late to go back home if you're scared."
"If your bones are itching, I can arrange for you to lie on the ground again," Xiao Yan snapped back to reality and twisted his neck with a cold smile.
Luo Bu's face turned livid, "Xiao Yan, don't think your meager talent is anything special! There are plenty of people in Jia Nan Academy who are stronger than you!"
Xiao Yan shrugged indifferently, "Sure, sure, there's always someone better. Anyway, you're not one of them."
"You!... Once we're in the academy, you'll see that being tough on your own doesn't mean anything!" Luo Bu's eyes turned cold as he quickly walked toward the accommodations that had been arranged for them.
Xiao Yan patted Xun Er's hand to reassure her. "I'm fine, I just feel a little stiff from sitting for too long. Let's go, we shouldn't keep the instructor waiting."
His eyes fleetingly glanced at a small alley to his right, but he didn't enter it.
…
In the middle of the night, a figure slipped silently out of the window of the inn where the new students of Jia Nan Academy were staying.
Xiao Yan entered the pitch-black alley wearing a large black robe. The complex network of alleys twisted and turned, yet strangely, he moved through it as if he had been there before and confidently made his way deeper.
At the end of the alley was a dead end, a place where not a soul, not even the shadow of a ghost, could be found.
Yet, paradoxically, in such a ghostly, empty alley, there was an old, dilapidated shop hidden behind a tattered wooden door that creaked with every gust of wind, making one's skin crawl with fear.
Xiao Yan looked up and saw four large words written on the sign: 'Soul Sacrifice Old Shop'. He couldn't tell how long it had been since the sign was last maintained; it was covered in dust and looked so dilapidated that it might collapse at any moment.
He took the pitch-black token from his storage ring. It wasn't that he had been here before, but this strange token emitted a spiritual fluctuation that led him to this place.
This evening, Xiao Yan noticed two spiritual fluctuations scanning him. One was the inspection from Jia Nan Academy, and the other was because of this token!
Unknown to him, spatial techniques shielded the depths of this alley, and only those with special items could enter. Even if the headmaster of Jia Nan Academy came, he wouldn't be able to discover it.
Xiao Yan's brows furrowed; this place didn't seem like anywhere good at first glance. Moreover, he hadn't forgotten that this token was from the Hall of Souls, which was far from being a reputable organization.
The atmosphere was eerie and terrifying, as if haunted.
"Jie Jie Jie, since you're here, why not enter the shop?"
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