After searching the entire length of the short streets, Gu He was disappointed to find that this small tribe had no maps for sale.
Shaking his head in frustration, he was about to ask someone for general directions when a slightly plump figure suddenly appeared before him, smiling.
"Looking for a map, sir? I noticed you inquiring earlier," the fat man said with a grin before Gu He could frown.
"You have one?" Gu He glanced sideways at the stranger, his tone indifferent.
"As a merchant traveling the Great Plains of the Black Region, I always carry the most detailed maps," the fat man replied cheerfully.
"Price?" Gu He's voice remained flat.
He understood well that in this lawless Black Point Region, nothing came for free.
"Heh, let's be honest—even with a map, navigating the Great Plains of the Black Region is no easy task. The plains are often swept by black storms that blot out the sky."
"When that happens, maps are useless. Only those with experience can find their way out. But you, sir, seem new here. You wouldn't have that kind of experience, would you?"
The fat man shook his head, still smiling.
"No need for pretenses. I saw your strength at the gate, so I'd like to hire you as a guard for my caravan."
"If your destination lies beyond the Great Plains—or deeper into the Black-Corner Region—you're welcome to travel with us. In exchange for guiding you safely through, I'd ask for your assistance if my caravan runs into trouble. What do you say?"
Gu He's brow furrowed slightly.
The Great Plains of the Black Region were indeed infamous for their black storms.
Those unfamiliar with the terrain could easily lose their way. Rumors spoke of unlucky souls who wandered in circles for days, exhausting themselves to death.
Traveling with an experienced caravan would save him considerable trouble.
Moreover, after days of relentless travel, Gu He wouldn't mind a chance to rest.
"Heh, our caravan is headed for Black Mark City in the Black-Corner Region. The annual auction is being held there the day after tomorrow, so I'm reinforcing our guards to arrive swiftly. Otherwise, I wouldn't be recruiting strangers." The fat man chuckled, explaining his bold approach.
"Auction?" The word sent a flicker of interest through Gu He. The Black-Corner Region's greatest allure lay in its staggering treasures, and every auction drew hordes of desperate bidders.
After a brief moment of consideration, Gu He nodded.
"Pleasure doing business. You can call me Ma Yicheng." The fat man exhaled in relief and extended a hand with a smile.
"Tiga." Gu He shook the man's plump hand casually, his tone indifferent.
"Tiga? What an odd name..." Ma Yicheng mused inwardly.
…
The Next Day
A caravan kicked up faint clouds of dust as it raced across the pitch-black plains, vanishing into the horizon.
Inside a jostling carriage, Gu He sat cross-legged, facing the caravan leader, Ma Yicheng.
As the man had admitted, the caravan's guards weren't particularly strong—the strongest among them barely reached the Five-Star Dou Master level.
Naturally, the original head guard resented Gu He's sudden inclusion. That was, until Gu He sent him flying with a single slap. After that, the man became far more compliant.
The incident also earned Gu He Ma Yicheng's fervent hospitality, even securing him a spot inside the carriage. After all, with bandit raids a constant threat, having a powerhouse aboard brought peace of mind.
Ma Yicheng now unrolled a yellowed map across the table, pointing at a red dot. "This is our destination—Black Mark City. At our current speed, we should arrive by tomorrow afternoon."
Gu He's gaze lingered on the mark before tracing a route upward until it reached a blue star at the map's center.
"That should be Jia Nan Academy, right?" he asked casually, his expression unchanging.
"Indeed! The renowned Jia Nan Academy of the Dou Qi Continent. My daughter studies there, haha!" Ma Yicheng puffed up with pride at the mention.
Gu He nodded silently, committing the route to memory before examining the Black-Corner Region's divided territories surrounding the academy.
"The Black-Corner Region is mostly carved up by major factions. Though they still squabble over territory, the divisions won't shift much anytime soon."
Ma Yicheng, ever the shrewd merchant, recognized Gu He's unspoken questions. Though he guessed Gu He was a newcomer, he offered an explanation without probing further.
"Black Mark City, our destination, falls under the Eight Gates jurisdiction. They're an established force here, incredibly powerful. Their leader, Yuan Yi, ranks among the top ten on the Black-Corner Region's Black List. This auction is hosted by them." He circled the city with a finger, smiling.
When Gu He showed no reaction, Ma Yicheng assumed he'd never heard of the Black List and continued.
"Heh, the Black List is like an empire's ranking of top experts—except the competition here is far fiercer. In less than two years, the last three names were completely replaced. And those ousted? All Dou King-level cultivators." He shook his head in awe.
Gu He inwardly scoffed. A list where the strongest were merely Dou Emperors? He could annihilate them single-handedly.
"The top two are shrouded in mystery—few have even seen them. But the third? Now, he's a true powerhouse. Rumor says he's long since reached the Dou Emperor level."
"What's more, he's a master alchemist, hailed as the Black-Corner Region's finest. Most call him 'Medicine Emperor Han Feng.'" Ma Yicheng mused.
"Han Feng..."
The name sparked a flicker of interest in Gu He.
'This man possesses a unique flame…'
'The Sea Heart Flame?'
If he was venturing into the Black-Corner Region, securing it was a must.
Suddenly, shouts erupted outside the carriage:
"Everyone, be alert! A black storm approaches! Halt and regroup—do not scatter, or you'll be lost!"
"A black storm? Just our luck."
Ma Yicheng's face paled slightly, though he remained composed. "Master Tiga, let's disembark. With precautions, a minor storm like this isn't too dangerous."
Nodding, Gu He pushed aside the carriage curtain and stepped out. The sky, clear just moments ago, was now choked with an eerie black mist. Visibility plummeted—now he understood why maps were useless in such storms.
"Heh, no need to worry, Master Tiga. The wind isn't too strong—a stroke of luck. Black storms are miserable, but far better than running into those savage bandit hordes. If thousands of them descend, death's the only outcome."
Gu He gave a slight nod but froze as the dim light vanished entirely.
Without warning, the world plunged into darkness. A gale howled from above, its force sending weaker individuals stumbling. Some barely clung to nearby objects to avoid being swept away.
The black tempest raged like a monstrous maw, devouring all in its path.
The caravans formed a defensive circle, everyone huddling within. Weapons stabbed into the ground served as anchors against the wind's fury.
In the suffocating darkness, even the presence of those beside them became uncertain.
"Crack—whoosh!"
Gu He's expression shifted slightly. If this was a minor storm, what would a major one be like?
That said, his physique rendered the gales meaningless. He stood unwavering, roots dug deep like an ancient tree.
Time blurred in the unending darkness. Then—
'Hm?'
Gu He's eyes narrowed as he turned toward an indistinct point in the sky.
Flickering red lights pulsed in the distance, accompanied by faint, eerie whispers.
Extending his soul perception, Gu He's frown deepened.
"The Hall of Souls… truly, they're everywhere."
Within his vision, the crimson glow resolved into ghostly, translucent figures.
…
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