Chapter Seventy-Seven: Twenty-Four Black-Robed Figures

Chapter Seventy-Seven: Twenty-Four Black-Robed Figures

Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "This method is indeed a good way to survive, but mutual trust must come first."

Murong Wushuang sighed. "I have no choice. I’m alone. If I stay in the Fire Demon Mountain Range by myself, I’ll die even faster. I’ve heard some alliances are hunting other examinees to seize Black Firewood Pearls. If I go out alone, who knows when I’ll be killed?"

Ning Xiaochuan thought of the warriors from the Kirin Prince's Manor—weren’t they doing exactly that, hunting other examinees for Black Firewood Pearls?

Murong Wushuang asked curiously, "Brother Chuan, why aren’t you with the young warriors of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House? The ‘Marquis Alliance’ formed by the Jian Pavilion Marquis House and several other marquis houses is incredibly powerful, ranking among the top five alliances. The Jian Pavilion Marquis House even has a prodigious female warrior whose strength is formidable enough to compete for a spot in this year’s top ten."

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "I’m actually looking for them now."

Murong Wushuang said, "Then let me stick with you! In the Fire Demon Mountain Range, you’re the only one I trust. Being with others always makes me uneasy."

As the two spoke, hurried footsteps echoed from outside.

Three severely injured warriors stumbled back into the valley.

"It’s Senior Brothers Nie Hong, Luo Gai, and Qin Tianheng! Quick, summon the Heart Nurturer to treat their wounds!"

The two warriors who had been following Murong Wushuang immediately rushed into the valley. Before long, dozens of young warriors—all prodigies—emerged from within.

Among them, a young woman in a blue robe stepped forward, producing a jade-green vial. She sprinkled three drops of Healing Profound Liquid, swiftly stabilizing the injuries of the three gravely wounded warriors.

Murong Wushuang and Ning Xiaochuan also stepped out of the cave, observing the chaotic scene at the valley entrance from a distance.

Murong Wushuang explained, "The strongest in the Four Great Martial Academies Alliance are the four leaders of the academies, all at the Second Level of Divine Body Realm."

Ning Xiaochuan’s gaze shifted to the four young warriors at the forefront—three men and one woman, each radiating formidable Profound Qi fluctuations. Their sharp eyes and imposing auras marked them as true elites among men.

The most notable was Gu Lande, the senior disciple of Great Dragon Martial Academy. His cultivation was nearing the peak of the Second Level of Divine Body Realm, and he carried a razor-sharp Bronze Treasure Wheel on his back—a powerful Mystic Artifact.

Zijing, the senior disciple of Purple Veil Martial Academy, could be considered the alliance’s second strongest. Her entire figure was shrouded in purple Profound Qi, revealing only a faint, slender silhouette.

"Luo Gai, tell me, what happened? Who injured you?" Gu Lande’s expression darkened as he noticed their wounds were inflicted by weapons—meaning they hadn’t been attacked by mystic beasts.

Luo Gai, with three broken ribs and severe injuries, gasped, "I don’t know… a group of mysterious figures, cloaked in black robes. They kidnapped Princess Qianxi of the Golden Roc Prince's Manor. Just as we were about to leave, they spotted us. Senior Brother Feng and Junior Sister Xue were killed by them. Only the three of us managed to escape."

"What? Who would dare to be so bold as to kidnap Princess Qianxi?" Gu Lande was visibly shocked.

In the Yulan Empire, who didn’t know that Princess Qianxi was the Great Golden Roc King’s treasured daughter? And in the entire empire, there were no more than three individuals who would dare to oppose the Great Golden Roc King. Just who had the audacity to kidnap Princess Qianxi?

Ning Xiaochuan naturally overheard this, his heart lurching violently as the same thought crossed his mind.

"Why would a Heart Nurturer like her come to participate in the Emperor's Martial Palace’s assessment?"

Ning Xiaochuan was deeply worried about Yu Qianqian’s safety. Though her cultivation wasn’t weak, she was still a Heart Nurturer—her combat prowess couldn’t be that strong.

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

A group of mysterious figures clad in black robes rushed toward the valley, each one an expert, leaping between treetops like a swarm of giant black bats.

There were twenty-four black-robed individuals in total, their bodies wreathed in black Profound Qi, their heads concealed beneath black bamboo hats. In near-perfect unison, they positioned themselves at the valley’s entrance, completely sealing it off.

"It’s… it’s them!" cried the three severely injured warriors in terror.

The four leaders of the Four Great Martial Academies Alliance—Gu Lande, Zijing, Xue Rihuo, and Dongfang Yi—simultaneously took a step forward, their expressions grave as they stared down the twenty-four black-robed figures.

While others couldn’t sense the overwhelming power of these black-robed individuals, Gu Lande and the other three could. Every single one of them had cultivation levels above the Divine Body Realm.

Twenty-four Divine Body Realm warriors—this was an utterly terrifying force.

Within the Four Great Martial Academies Alliance, only seven warriors had reached the Divine Body Realm!

Gu Lande removed the Bronze Treasure Wheel from his back, gripping it tightly as he warily addressed the black-robed figures, "Just who are you people?"

From among the twenty-four, a gaunt figure stepped forward, his voice hoarse as he spoke, "Hand over all the Black Firewood Pearls your alliance has collected. We might spare your lives."

This gaunt black-robed man seemed to be their leader, his cultivation immensely powerful. His aura alone suppressed the combined presence of the alliance’s four strongest warriors.

However, this man was deliberately concealing his identity, using Profound Qi to distort his voice, making it sound unnaturally raspy.

"They’re from the Dark Emperor City," Ning Xiaochuan murmured.

Murong Wushuang asked curiously, "How do you know they’re from the Dark Emperor City?"

"Intuition," Ning Xiaochuan replied.

Of course, it wasn’t intuition—Tianchenzi had once told Ning Xiaochuan that every warrior who joined the Dark Emperor City carried a "Dark Pearl" on them.

As long as the Dark Pearl was in their possession, it could alter the color of the Profound Qi they released, which was why Dark Emperor City warriors always emitted black Profound Qi.

The Dark Pearl had two advantages: First, it could conceal their identities.

Second, if a Dark Emperor City warrior was captured alive, they could crush the Dark Pearl, releasing the corrosive poison inside, which would dissolve their body into pus.

It was precisely because of this that the imperial court had always struggled to take any members of the Dark Emperor City alive.

Of course, Ning Xiaochuan couldn’t possibly tell Murong Wushuang about Tianchenzi’s involvement. This matter was connected to the Dark Emperor City, and letting him know would only endanger him. So, he simply attributed it to intuition.

Murong Wushuang said, "I was wondering who would dare to capture Princess Qianxi. So, it’s the people from the Dark Emperor City. How do they have the audacity?"

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "The members of the Dark Emperor City are actually hidden among us. They exist within the Four Great Martial Academies Alliance, the Jian Pavilion Marquis House, the Golden Roc Prince's Manor… These people might even be our friends in daily life. But once the Dark Emperor City issues them an order, they immediately don black robes and transform into its envoys, carrying out all sorts of shady deeds."

"In the Fire Demon Mountain Range, even if they kidnap Princess Qianxi, no one would know who they truly are. Once the examination period ends, they simply remove their black robes and blend back in as our close friends. Who would suspect the atrocities they committed in the Fire Demon Mountain Range?"

Murong Wushuang suddenly understood and nodded. "Then what’s their purpose in doing this?"

"If I had to guess, they wouldn’t dare to truly harm Princess Qianxi. At most, they’re extorting the examinees from the Golden Roc Prince's Manor for Black Firewood Pearls. As long as the examinees hand over enough pearls, they’ll naturally release her."

Murong Wushuang frowned. "Would the examinees from the Golden Roc Prince's Manor obediently deliver the Black Firewood Pearls?"

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head—he truly couldn’t predict that.

Murong Wushuang pondered for a moment. "I still don’t understand. Why would the warriors of the Dark Emperor City collect so many Black Firewood Pearls?"

Ning Xiaochuan explained, "Naturally, they want more of their people to join the Emperor's Martial Palace."

"You must realize that anyone who graduates from the Emperor's Martial Palace becomes an exceptional talent, destined for crucial positions in the imperial court, military, or bureaucracy. For example, if this year’s enrollment is a thousand students, and six hundred of them are secretly planted by the Dark Emperor City, imagine the influence these six hundred would wield once they graduate."

"This method is the most terrifying—slowly infiltrating and controlling an empire. One day, when the Necropolis Lord gives the order, all members of the Dark Emperor City could act simultaneously. They might even overthrow the throne and seize the vast lands of the Yulan Empire."

"However, they actually dared to capture Yu Qianqian. I’ll teach them a harsh lesson." Ning Xiaochuan was deeply concerned for Yu Qianqian. The moment he learned she had been taken, fury surged within him, and the killing intent in his eyes grew unbearably intense.

At the valley entrance, the twenty-four black-robed individuals had already clashed with the warriors of the Four Great Martial Academies Alliance. Profound Qi filled the entire valley—some warriors summoned Protective Profound Qi Armor, others condensed Profound Qi Swords, while some unleashed Martial Arts Divine Abilities, their palms striking out and sending forth fiery serpents several meters long.

Though the Four Great Martial Academies Alliance had superior numbers, the twenty-four black-robed individuals were all elite fighters. Simultaneously unleashing their techniques—flames, sword energy, ice blades, and Beast Claws—their attacks rained down like a storm. In an instant, over a dozen warriors collapsed to the ground.

The twenty-four black-robed individuals were utterly ruthless and merciless, their bodies radiating a murderous aura as if they were slaughtering the warriors of the Four Great Martial Academies Alliance. They stood in a row, advancing forward, and with each step, a line of warriors' corpses collapsed to the ground.

Though the warriors of the Four Great Martial Academies Alliance were numerous, they were utterly incapable of halting their advance. The black-robed figures moved like twenty-four reapers of death, harvesting lives with every step!