Chapter 95: Trash Must Be Dealt with All at Once

Black Seal City was located in the southern region of the Black-Corner Region, facing Jia Nan Academy far to the north.

The three major cities closest to Black Seal City were Twilight City, home to the Blood Sect; Skull City, the base of the Black Skeleton Tomb; and Flame City, the seat of the Earth Flame Sect.

Further north were the Rakshasa Gate, Mad Lion Gang, and Yin Sect, along with Maple City at the heart of the region.

As for Demon Flame Valley and the Black Emperor Sect, they occupied the northwest and northeast corners respectively, bordering Peace Town and ruling their own domains.

This, of course, was how the forces of the Black-Corner Region had once been distributed.

Ever since the Black Seal Auction incident, the regional balance of power had been dramatically reshaped.

Sects like the Rakshasa Gate, Mad Lion Gang, Yin Sect, and Earth Flame Sect had already splintered or been absorbed due to the deaths of their leaders. They were mere shadows of their former selves.

Even the mighty Black Emperor Sect had fractured internally, with its authority divided among several elders.

Not that Lin Ran cared much about the condition of these sects. As long as the cities themselves remained intact, that was enough.

After all, chaotic forces made it all the easier for Saint Rain Sect to expand.

High above the vast skies, several small black dots appeared on the horizon. As time passed, the dots grew larger, finally revealing themselves as several massive griffin beasts roaring through the clouds.

Atop the leading griffin, Lin Ran gazed down at the landscape below, his expression calm and composed.

Standing beside him, Lü Yi unfurled a map from her storage ring and pointed to a certain region.

'Sect Master, our targets this time still retain considerable strength,' she said softly.

'Twilight City is home to the Blood Sect. Their leader, Fan Lao, is a four-star Dou Huang. He didn't attend the Black Seal Auction personally—he sent his son instead.'

'The same goes for the Black Skeleton Tomb in Skull City and the Earth Flame Sect in Flame City. Their sect leaders are also four-star Dou Huangs. Since these three cities are the closest to Black Seal City, they merely sent underlings to the auction. They're some of the few remaining old sects with high-tier strength in the region.'

Lin Ran nodded lightly, standing with ease atop the wide back of the griffin.

'Four-star Dou Huangs? Nothing to worry about. If Bai Ya were still here, he and Lü Yi alone could easily wipe them out.'

Of course, wiping out the sects wasn't the main goal. What mattered more was collecting the spoils afterward—gathering their resources and materials.

If not for that, Lin Ran could have handled all three sects on his own without support.

'Is that really the Sect Master? He's so young.'

'I can't even sense his aura. Just what level of power does he possess?'

'Look at how respectfully even Lü Yi treats him. He must be above Dou Huang—maybe even a Dou Zong! Did you hear about the "Black Seal Incident"?'

'You mean…'

'Yeah. Lü Yi's just a Dou Huang. No way she could pull off something like that. Only the Sect Master could've done it.'

'...Hiss!'

On the griffin beasts, members of the Saint Rain Sect's outer faction whispered among themselves, full of awe.

Ever since joining the sect, they had only dealt with Lü Yi. This was their first time seeing the legendary Sect Master in person, and he left them stunned.

Beneath the blazing sun, Lin Ran's youthful face wore a faint smile, calm and composed. But when they thought about the terrifying rumors surrounding the "Black Seal Incident," it all felt like a dream.

'This is the man who struck fear into the hearts of countless experts and shattered so many powerful sects?'

He looked approachable… even gentle.

But outward appearances no longer mattered. Everyone present knew that what they were about to do would send shockwaves through the entire Black-Corner Region.

The sky over the region… was about to change for good.

…

Though Twilight City neighbored Black Seal City, it was still quite a distance for lower-ranked Dou Qi practitioners.

Thankfully, with griffins—beasts specialized in long-range travel—the group avoided the exhausting and dangerous journey.

In less than half a day, they were approaching their destination. By foot, it would have taken four to five days at best, assuming nothing went wrong.

Standing at the griffin's head, Lin Ran looked toward the horizon and said lightly to Lü Yi, 'I'll go ahead and take care of everyone above Dou Wang first. Once you arrive, just take over.'

'Understood.'

Lü Yi nodded without hesitation.

This was always the plan. They were here to sweep up after Lin Ran—collecting loot and taking over operations.

For a sect in its infancy, Saint Rain Sect needed a vast amount of resources, techniques, and equipment. Waiting to accumulate them slowly would take years, even decades.

As the old saying went: "Looting and pillaging brings fortune; building roads and bridges leaves corpses."

Since ancient times, the fastest way to accumulate capital had always been through conquest.

With a smile toward Lü Yi and the others on the griffins, Lin Ran took a single step forward. Space rippled, and he vanished from sight.

Walking through the air—he was truly a Dou Zong!

The followers watched with awe and reverence.

'A Dou Zong at his age… Who can even estimate how far he'll go?'

'Alright, everyone, pick up the pace!' Lü Yi called, her eyes gleaming as the griffins flapped their massive wings and surged forward.

…

At the heart of Twilight City, in the City Lord's Mansion of the Blood Sect.

A spatial ripple broke through the air, and Lin Ran appeared within the grand hall. With a flick of his hand, he tossed a lifeless old man onto the floor.

On the high platform, a stunned elder gasped in horror.

'A spatial step… D-Dou Zong?!'

'Where is Fan Lao?' Lin Ran asked coldly.

This was meant to be a surgical strike—eliminate anyone who could trouble Lü Yi and leave the rest to clean up.

But things were off. He hadn't sensed Fan Lao's presence anywhere in the city.

'Guards! Intruders!' the elder shrieked, scrambling.

Lin Ran frowned in annoyance. 'I'm standing here, and you're still calling for help? There's not a single Blood Sect member left alive around you. Use your head.'

With a flick, a blade of Dou Qi flashed out, severing the elder's arm. Blood sprayed, thickening the already metallic scent in the air.

'AAAAAHHH!'

'Too loud.'

Another flash—his leg was gone.

'Last chance. Where is Fan Lao?'

'T-The Sect Master was summoned by Lord Yao Huang. He's not in the city!' the elder wailed.

'Called away by Han Feng?' Lin Ran raised a brow.

The elder was trembling with pain. But more than the physical agony, it was the despair that hit hardest.

He was a Dou Wang, but now with an arm and leg missing, his cultivation would deteriorate rapidly. Advancement was impossible. His life was effectively over.

Lin Ran didn't see the need for prolonged suffering.

A simple wave—his head rolled.

The hall filled with blood and death, but Lin Ran remained unmoved.

He casually plucked the elder's storage ring and began searching through it, his mind already working.

'Han Feng witnessed my strength firsthand. He knows that Dou Huangs mean nothing to me. Yet he still called Fan Lao away…'

'Trying to rally everyone for a final showdown? A desperate last stand?'

Lin Ran smiled slightly.

'It doesn't matter.'

He passed time looting the sect—storage halls, elder rings, pill rooms…

The Blood Sect's resources were decent. Lots of herbs, equipment, pills, weapons, and cultivation techniques. The only downside was the narrow focus of their techniques—most were upper-tier Xuan-class at best.

Still, better than nothing. Good stock for the sect's library.

Just as Lin Ran was finishing up, gusts of wind howled outside. Lü Yi and the others finally arrived.

Seeing the mountain of resources and a dozen storage rings, Lü Yi's eyes sparkled. The outer disciples behind her could barely contain their greed.

'You were slow,' Lin Ran said flatly.

'Apologies, Sect Master. We came as quickly as we could.' Lü Yi bowed in guilt.

She had pushed the griffins to their limits, cutting down what should have been an hour's flight to just minutes—yet she still arrived late.

From the looks of things, Lin Ran had already cleaned out the entire Blood Sect.

'Fan Lao's with Han Feng. The valuables are here. You handle the rest. I'm heading to the Black Skeleton Tomb next.'

He tossed her the elder's ring and vanished.

Within moments, he reappeared a thousand miles away, hovering over Skull City—the base of the Black Skeleton Tomb.

In the Dou Qi Continent, Dou Zongs could interact with space. Dou Zuns could travel through it. Dou Sages could create space.

Having regained his blood vitality, Lin Ran's strength had reached the peak of Dou Zong. While he couldn't yet freely travel through space, moving instantly to known destinations was no problem.

He scanned the city below with his spiritual sense.

'Just as I thought. The tomb master isn't here either.'

A step later, he appeared within the tomb. Moments later, he held a new storage ring in his hand.

The ring's owner—the tomb's elder—was now dead, headless on the ground.

'So Han Feng summoned him too. He really plans to gamble everything.'

The remaining powers in the region were few. Han Feng gathering them all and adding that aura Lin Ran sensed earlier—a high-tier Dou Zong, likely the Earth Demon Old Ghost—it felt like a last stand.

Lin Ran wasn't bothered. In fact, he was grateful.

'Gathering all this trash in one place makes it easier to clean up.'

He visited Flame City next. As expected, the Earth Flame Sect's leader wasn't there either. Lin Ran wiped out the Dou Wang and above, and looted every resource he could find.

In just a single day—

Three old and respected sects were annihilated.

Twilight City, Skull City, and Flame City had all changed ownership.

The news sent a shockwave through the Black-Corner Region.

Fear spread like wildfire.

When they learned it was Lin Ran—the infamous instigator of the "Black Seal Incident"—entire sects dissolved out of pure terror, not daring to risk his wrath.

Yet others banded together, hoping unity could withstand Saint Rain Sect's rise…

…

Maple City.

Located at the center of the region, it wasn't the largest city—but it held unmatched significance.

All because of one man: Han Feng, the Medicine Emperor of the Black-Corner Region.

As the region's top-tier sixth-rank alchemist, Han Feng commanded deep respect. Maple City itself had been named after him.

At the center of the city, far from the busy markets, stood a bamboo forest.

Its defenses were so tight that approaching it would result in immediate, indiscriminate attack. Many had died trying to test its boundaries.

In the heart of the bamboo grove stood a pavilion surrounded by jade-colored bamboo. The faint aroma of bamboo filled the air.

But this tranquil place was now bustling with people.

Inside the pavilion's estate, many figures had gathered. At the head of the hall sat Han Feng—survivor of the Black Seal Incident, and the only one to escape Lin Ran's grasp.

On Han Feng's right sat a gaunt, crimson-haired elder cloaked in a skeletal yellow robe.

His shriveled face and deep-set eyes gave him the look of a skeleton. His pupils glowed faintly like ghost fire, eerie and menacing. Few dared meet his gaze.

This was none other than the founder of Demon Flame Valley—the seven-star Dou Zong, Earth Demon Old Ghost!

To Han Feng's left, however, sat an empty seat.

The place of highest honor, one level beneath the host.

To have a Dou Zong like Earth Demon willingly sit to the right…

Who could possibly be worthy of that seat?

(End of Chapter)