At dawn the next morning, just as the horizon began to glow with a pale, a streak of azure light shot up from the Miter Family estate and sped toward the distance.
After flying out of the imperial capital, Lin Yuan lowered his head and spoke softly to Qing Lin in his arms, "Qing'er, release the two Fifth-Grade magical beasts."
"Yes, Young Master!" Qing Lin replied obediently. A green light flashed in her eyes, and two beams of green radiance rapidly expanded, transforming into two massive white serpent-shaped magical beasts more than ten zhang long. They had wings on their backs and three-petaled crests atop their heads, appearing in midair. They were precisely the Fifth-Grade magical beasts subdued by Qing Lin with Lin Yuan's help—the Flying Winged Serpent Kings.
These two Fifth-Grade serpent-type magical beasts had been captured by Lin Yuan and Queen Medusa in the Mulan Empire specifically for Qing Lin. Their flying speed was astonishing, not inferior to that of ordinary Dou Emperor experts, making them carefully chosen companions for her.
Normally, along with the many other magical beasts subdued by Qing Lin, they were kept within the spatial domain inherent to the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
At present, Qing Lin's Emerald Snake Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had begun to mature, and a self-contained space had already formed within her pupils, though it was not yet large. As her strength continued to grow, this space was gradually expanding, becoming wider and wider.
Lin Yuan took out a storage ring and tossed it into the mouth of one of the Flying Winged Serpent Kings, saying in a deep voice, "Go to the Tager Desert and deliver this storage ring to Queen Medusa. Go!"
The Flying Winged Serpent King glanced at Lin Yuan, then at Qing Lin. Seeing this, Qing Lin gently gave the order, "Little White Number One, carry out Young Master's command. Young Master's command is my command."
Having received the order, Little White Number One looked obediently at Qing Lin, then beat its wings and shot off toward the Tager Desert at high speed.
Watching the Flying Winged Serpent King disappear into the distance, Lin Yuan could not help but sigh inwardly, "No matter how many times I see it, it's still astonishing. The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils truly live up to their reputation as the world's number one wondrous pupils."
As the thought crossed his mind, he had already boarded the other Flying Winged Serpent King together with Qing Lin.
Then, Lin Yuan said solemnly to Qing Lin, "Qing'er, help me connect to the Purple Jade Scale Serpent of the Misty Cloud Sect. I need to communicate with Yun Shan."
Very soon, through the Heaven Network centered on Qing Lin, Lin Yuan—standing on the Flying Winged Serpent King's back—established communication with Yun Shan on Misty Cloud Sect's Yun Peak.
"Sect Master Yun, I will be leaving for a period of time," Lin Yuan said bluntly.
Yun Shan seemed to have anticipated this and replied, "It seems you are preparing to break through to Dou Emperor."
"Sect Master Yun is indeed perceptive. Not only am I breaking through to Dou Emperor, I also need to prepare some things to help Sect Master Yun remove the restriction on your soul," Lin Yuan said.
"Then I will have to trouble you," Yun Shan replied politely.
"Sect Master Yun is too courteous. As for the transmission of information between us, let us proceed according to our previous agreement," Lin Yuan said.
"This sect understands. For now, it seems they have no intention of acting against the Xiao Family in the near future," Yun Shan transmitted.
"Many thanks for the intelligence, Sect Master Yun," Lin Yuan replied.
"We are partners, are we not?" Yun Shan responded.
"Haha, indeed we are," Lin Yuan laughed.
"Do not forget our agreement. If you encounter Yun Yun while you are away, please look after her," Yun Shan reminded him.
"Rest assured, Sect Master Yun. I understand. We shall contact each other again next time," Lin Yuan said.
"Next time we contact each other, I will deliver the intelligence on schedule," Yun Shan replied.
With that, the communication came to an end.
Lin Yuan turned to Qing Lin and smiled. "With this, matters in the Jia Ma Empire are temporarily concluded. Come, Qing'er—I'll take you to see scenery different from that of the Jia Ma Empire."
As his words fell, the Flying Winged Serpent King beneath their feet sped off toward the borders of the Jia Ma Empire.
Half a month later, the Flying Winged Serpent King streaked across the sky like a bolt of lightning and landed steadily on the gateway to the Black Corner Region—the Black Plains.
Lin Yuan and Qing Lin lightly leapt down from the serpent king's back. Green light flickered in Qing Lin's eyes, and the massive serpent king instantly turned into a strand of green radiance, quietly disappearing into her pupils. Lin Yuan also silently withdrew his shadow clones, absorbing their insights into Dou Techniques and alchemy.
Along the journey, Qing Lin's strength had advanced by leaps and bounds, breaking through to the six-star Dou Master realm. Lin Yuan's main body, meanwhile, focused on cultivating Dou Qi, striving to reach his limit before breaking through to Dou Emperor. Of his two clones, one comprehended the increasingly profound inheritance of the Eighth-Grade alchemist, while the other focused on Dou Techniques.
Stepping onto this land utterly different from the Jia Ma Empire, Qing Lin's eyes were filled with shock. Before her stretched an endless plain, its tones monotonous and gloomy. Black soil contrasted with a dim sky, and a stifling aura permeated the air, stirring restlessness in one's heart. In such a bizarre land, chaotic rules seemed to be quietly taking root.
"So this is the gateway to the Black Corner Region—the Black Plains?" Qing Lin murmured softly, then turned to Lin Yuan. "Young Master, the atmosphere here feels very oppressive."
Lin Yuan gazed at this familiar land, sensing the familiar aura of chaos in the air, and smiled faintly. "Qing'er, your feeling is correct. The sky and earth here are filled with a murky darkness that easily gives rise to the darker impulses of the heart. Moreover, with forces interwoven and no laws to restrain them, the rule of the strong is magnified to the extreme. The Black Corner Region is precisely such a land of chaos."
Hearing this, a trace of worry flashed through Qing Lin's eyes. "Then, Young Master, the Jia Nan Academy we're going to…"
Lin Yuan gently shook his head, soothing her.
"Don't worry, Qing'er. Although Jia Nan Academy is located within the Black Corner Region, it is a land of purity with its own rules and order. More importantly, it possesses the strength to uphold those rules. There, you can cultivate and study in peace without having to fear interference from the outside world."
After hearing Lin Yuan's explanation, the worry in Qing Lin's heart gradually dissipated.
Looking at her expression, a wave of nostalgia surged within Lin Yuan. He recalled his own days of tempering himself in the Black Corner Region—an arduous, perilous, yet challenge-filled period from when he was still weak. It was precisely that experience that made him deeply understand the importance of strength. Without strength, even during seemingly peaceful days, one could face mortal danger at any moment.
Without sufficient power, aside from the world-ending calamity brought about by Hun Tiandi, there were countless other dangers capable of easily taking his life. The aftershocks of battles between experts alone could doom the weak.
"Let's go, Qing'er. Although this land is chaotic, it is also an excellent place for tempering oneself, perfect for you at your current stage," Lin Yuan said as he led Qing Lin toward the depths of the plain.
In the days that followed, Lin Yuan guided Qing Lin as they tempered themselves across this vast and chaotic plain. They encountered the ravages of black windstorms and clashed with greedy, brutal bandits. They witnessed the dark side of human nature and experienced the lurking killing intent and hidden dangers concealed in the shadows. Throughout this process, Lin Yuan rarely intervened, allowing Qing Lin to personally comprehend everything.
In Lin Yuan's view, with the talent of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, it was only a matter of time before Qing Lin obtained formidable strength. However, the wisdom to wield that power could not be gained through quiet cultivation alone, it had to be accumulated through experience. And the Black Corner Region was precisely a suitable stage for that.
One month later, they emerged from the Black Plain and arrived at a small town called Peace Town. Located near Jia Nan Academy, it was a rare haven of tranquility within the Black Corner Region. Lin Yuan then set up the communication node he had previously arranged with the Miter Family.
After making the necessary preparations, Lin Yuan and Qing Lin rested briefly in the town before continuing toward Jia Nan Academy. Before long, the two arrived at the academy gates.
Gazing at the familiar entrance of the academy, a bright and sincere smile appeared on Lin Yuan's face.
"Jia Nan Academy, I'm back!"
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