Chapter 223: The Spirit-Merging Holy Grail, Di Yan City
In the eastern region of the Jia Ma Empire lies the Black-Corner Region.
The Black-Corner Region is a special territory known for its chaos, situated outside of the Jia Nan Academy. It's a vast area, comparable in size to a small country. However, unlike other empires, this region has no unified royal family, only numerous independent factions constantly at war with each other.
This chaos has made the Black-Corner Region infamous across the continent. The area is a hub for high-level cultivation techniques, Dou Skills, rare elixirs, and other treasures, drawing countless powerful individuals from all over the continent. The Black-Corner Region is like a bottomless pit of treasure, with priceless artifacts flowing through various channels before being auctioned off at sky-high prices, inciting fierce competition.
After encountering the presence of the Soul Hall, Mo Yu and Xiao Yan decided to split up for safety reasons, planning to reunite later at Jia Nan Academy. With two high-profile targets, both of whom were sought by the Soul Hall, it made sense to reduce the risks by traveling separately. Mo Yu agreed to this plan willingly. After all, Xiao Yan, as the protagonist of this world, would undoubtedly attract trouble and opportunities alike. Staying together meant sharing the risks and rewards, which Mo Yu wasn't particularly interested in.
After leaving the Jia Ma Empire, Mo Yu used his Zi Yun Wings to travel across vast distances. Although the wings consumed a lot of Dou Qi, his powerful Tian Gang Thunder Body allowed him to maintain a delicate balance between Dou Qi consumption and recovery, enabling him to fly continuously.
After about seven or eight days of travel, Mo Yu finally arrived at the Black Plain, the gateway to the Black-Corner Region. As long as he crossed this plain, he would enter the chaotic world that was starkly different from the outside.
Upon entering the Black Plain, Mo Yu quickly established his dominance by ruthlessly dealing with a few foolish individuals who attempted to bully him as an outsider. After demonstrating his strength, a sharp-eyed merchant caravan approached him. In the Black Plain, the Black Storms were so dangerous that even Dou Lings or Dou Wangs dared not act recklessly. In such circumstances, traveling with an experienced caravan was crucial.
The leader of the caravan, a man named Ge Duo, was quick to invite Mo Yu to join them after witnessing his display of power. Mo Yu accepted the invitation, as traveling with the caravan would save him time, even though he wasn't particularly afraid of the Black Storms.
The caravan moved steadily across the vast, dark plain, kicking up a trail of yellow dust as it sped along, eventually disappearing into the horizon. Inside the slightly bumpy carriage, Mo Yu sat cross-legged with Ge Duo, the caravan leader, seated across from him.
Initially, the head of the caravan's guards wasn't too pleased with Mo Yu's sudden arrival. However, after Mo Yu casually knocked him off the carriage during one of their journeys, the guard quickly became more cooperative. Ge Duo, on the other hand, became even more enthusiastic toward Mo Yu, eventually inviting him into the carriage for a proper conversation. With a strong expert like Mo Yu in their midst, the caravan members felt much more secure.
At that moment, Ge Duo pulled out a slightly yellowed map from his pocket and spread it out on the table in front of them. He pointed to a red dot on the map and said with a smile, "This is our destination, Di Yan City. At our current pace, we should arrive by tomorrow afternoon."
"Di Yan City?" Mo Yu raised an eyebrow at the mention of the name.
"The Black-Corner Region has already been divided among several powerful factions," Ge Duo explained with a smile. "While they continue to fight for territory, the overall situation isn't likely to change anytime soon. The city we're headed to, Di Yan City, is controlled by the Di Yan Sect, one of the oldest and most powerful factions in the region. Their leader, Yan, is rumored to be among the top ten on the Black List. The auction we're heading to is hosted by the Di Yan Sect, and they're said to be putting up their sect's specialty, the Fire Sun Stone, for sale."
Ge Duo drew a small circle around the area surrounding Di Yan City on the map.
Mo Yu suddenly recalled something important. In the original story, Han Feng, Yao Lao's treacherous disciple, gathered a coalition of strong factions in the Black-Corner Region to form the Black Alliance in order to oppose Xiao Yan. The Di Yan Sect was one of the factions that joined this Black Alliance. As for the Black Alliance's fate, it was a foregone conclusion—no one who opposed Xiao Yan would have a good ending.
However, Mo Yu wasn't concerned with these events at the moment. His focus was entirely on the Fire Sun Stone.
Noticing Mo Yu's interest, Snake Uncle's voice echoed in his mind, "What's on your mind, kid? Are you interested in the auction?"
Mo Yu chuckled, "You're sharp, Snake Uncle. Yes, I am interested. The Fire Sun Stone is a key material for crafting the Spirit-Merging Holy Grail."
"The Spirit-Merging Holy Grail?" Snake Uncle asked, surprised by the unfamiliar term.
"The Spirit-Merging Holy Grail is an item from the mysterious inheritance I received," Mo Yu explained. "It can help enhance and restore soul power, and even solve issues related to the soul, aiding in the fusion of soul and body. It would be perfect for the current situation with Queen Medusa."
"Oh? The Spirit-Merging Holy Grail has such miraculous effects? Your inheritance is indeed extraordinary. I suppose I should thank you on Medusa's behalf," Snake Uncle said, clearly impressed.
"When I agreed to help Queen Medusa, I had already thought of this plan," Mo Yu said with a smile. "In my previous life, I was a grandmaster in crafting, so I have a variety of tools in my arsenal. The Spirit-Merging Holy Grail is one of them. It's a sixth-tier artifact, and the materials needed to craft it are hard to come by in the Jia Ma Empire. But here in the Black-Corner Region, which is full of rare treasures, it's the perfect opportunity."
Unlike pills, which are consumed once, the Spirit-Merging Holy Grail can continue to be used even after it helps Queen Medusa. It can enhance the soul power of cultivators, making it a priceless treasure on the Dou Qi continent. Mo Yu's Dou Qi cultivation was advancing steadily, but his soul power was starting to lag behind. With the Spirit-Merging Holy Grail, he could advance both his Dou Qi and soul power at the same time.
Of course, it was still early to get too excited. Mo Yu had just arrived in the Black-Corner Region, and while he had information about the Fire Sun Stone, the other materials needed to craft the Spirit-Merging Holy Grail were still unknown. Moreover, crafting a sixth-tier artifact was currently beyond his capabilities.
But Mo Yu wasn't discouraged. Every journey begins with a single step. As long as he could establish himself in the Black-Corner Region, the rest would follow.
With his plans laid out, Mo Yu closed his eyes and began to rest.
Fortunately, Ge Duo's caravan encountered no major problems, not even the feared Black Storm. By midday the following day, the monotonous black plain finally gave way to patches of lush green, and the experienced guards couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Once they left the plain, the journey would become much safer. Most cities in the region were controlled by dominant factions. As long as one paid the proper tribute, there was no need to worry about being robbed or slaughtered.
Although the Black-Corner Region was chaotic, there was still some order within the chaos—an order dictated by the strong. The principle of "might makes right" was universal, but it was more blatant in the Black-Corner Region.
Inside the carriage, Mo Yu pulled back the curtain and looked out at the caravan as it left the black plain. He stood up and stretched, loosening his muscles.
"Haha, it's good that we didn't run into those brutal Black Bandits. My goods are safe, and there were no casualties, so I've saved a lot in compensation," Ge Duo said with a relieved smile. Transporting goods across the Black Plain was like walking a tightrope—one bad stroke of luck could mean death. After all, making money in the Black-Corner Region wasn't easy.
"Oh, by the way, Mr. Mo Yu, here's your payment. It's not much compared to your worth, but…" Ge Duo pulled out a bag of gold coins and handed it to Mo Yu with a wry smile.
"No need. We were both just looking out for our own interests," Mo Yu replied, shaking his head.
"Thank you, Mr. Mo Yu," Ge Duo said, his face beaming as he pocketed the gold coins.
After leaving the Black Plain, the caravan slowed its pace. They traveled for another two hours along the mountain roads before finally crossing over a ridge.
At the foot of the mountain, the massive city of Di Yan, built from red boulders, came into view. The city's four gates were swarming with countless people, like ants converging on the city's enormous red mouth.
"Haha, Mr. Mo Yu, this is Di Yan City. Because of the upcoming auction, many factions and powerful individuals have gathered here. You might even see some Earth-tier Dou Skills up for auction," Ge Duo said with a smile as he looked down at the city from the carriage.
"Earth-tier Dou Skills?" Mo Yu's lips curled into a slight smile. The Black-Corner Region was indeed a treasure trove for the continent. Such high-level skills were nearly impossible to find in the Jia Ma Empire.
The Black-Corner Region was indeed the right place to come!
"Let's go," Ge Duo ordered, and the caravan sped down the slope, kicking up a trail of yellow dust as they raced toward the massive city at the foot of the mountain.
"I hope it doesn't disappoint," Mo Yu murmured to himself as he watched the city grow larger in his view, a hint of curiosity and anticipation in his heart.
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