Chapter 282: Clash of Forces, the Fire Obsidian Puppet
Yan's expression darkened as he stared at the silver-eyed youth hovering in the sky outside Earthflame City. Deep down, he couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.
The scene of Mo Yu killing Gao Li, the leader of the Savage Beast Sect, was still fresh in his mind as if it had just happened yesterday. Although the Savage Beast Sect was only a second-rate force in the Black-Corner Region, and Gao Li merely a peak Dou King, even Yan himself would have needed to exert some effort to defeat him.
What shocked him even more was that Mo Yu had come here with ill intentions, but the people behind him clearly weren't from Jia Nan Academy. When had such a powerful force suddenly appeared in the Black-Corner Region?
Although confusion swirled in his heart, Yan quickly composed himself. Regardless, even if Mo Yu was here with a purpose, he alone couldn't possibly shake the Earthflame Sect.
If the high-ranking members of Jia Nan Academy intervened, Yan would simply flee and join forces with the Pill Emperor Han Feng, as the current situation stemmed from Han Feng's actions. Yan was confident Han Feng wouldn't turn him away.
"Mo Yu, you've gathered such a large force. What is the meaning of this?" Yan's eyes flickered as he shouted in a deep voice.
As soon as he spoke, four powerful auras suddenly emerged behind him—each belonging to a Dou King. These were none other than the four elders of the Earthflame Sect. As one of the top forces in the Black-Corner Region and the rulers of Earthflame City, the Earthflame Sect's strength was indeed formidable.
"Hehe, Sect Master Yan, why bother asking what you already know? A few days ago, you and several Black-Corner Region experts attacked our Inner Academy and destroyed our Qi Refining Tower. Today, I'm merely acting on behalf of the academy's higher-ups to collect some interest from the Earthflame Sect," Mo Yu said with a smile, gazing at Yan with a playful yet cold expression. "Do you really think that after standing strong on the continent for so many years, our Jia Nan Academy can be attacked without consequence, and that you can walk away without paying any price?"
Yan didn't respond directly to Mo Yu's condescending tone. As a denizen of the Black-Corner Region, he was well aware of Jia Nan Academy's strength. If Han Feng hadn't offered him such a tempting deal, he would never have gotten involved in this conflict.
However, of all the Black-Corner Region forces involved in the attack, it was his Earthflame Sect that had been targeted first.
Fortunately, the ones who had come were only academy students and not the high-ranking elders. Otherwise, the Earthflame Sect would have no choice but to surrender and beg for mercy from Jia Nan Academy.
Frowning slightly, Yan spoke in a low voice, "What happened before was at the request of Pill Emperor Han Feng and not something Earthflame Sect did intentionally. Mo Yu, what price do you demand for us to resolve this matter?"
If possible, Yan didn't want to be at odds with Jia Nan Academy, especially since the academy remained one of the most mysterious forces in the Black-Corner Region. No one knew when its enigmatic principal might return.
"Oh? A price?" Mo Yu raised an eyebrow and smiled coldly. "The Earthflame Sect will disappear from the Black-Corner Region and merge with my Yuan Manor. Sect Master Yan, how does that sound?"
Mo Yu's smile was laced with coldness, leaving no room for compromise.
"What? You audacious scoundrel, how dare you make such wild demands? The Earthflame Sect has stood tall in the Black-Corner Region for decades! You think you can make such outrageous claims and get away with it?" An elder with white hair standing beside Yan shouted angrily at Mo Yu.
Mo Yu glanced at the elder and immediately recalled his information: the Earthflame Sect's Great Elder, a Seven-Star Dou King.
"Sect Master Mo, your demands are far too excessive. The Earthflame Sect will never agree to such terms. And what is this Yuan Manor, anyway? We've never even heard of it. Do you really think that just because of Jia Nan Academy's name, you can pull off something as ridiculous as 'the snake swallowing the elephant'? That's nothing but a foolish dream!" Yan sneered. He had mostly figured out that Yuan Manor was likely the force backing Mo Yu, but he wasn't sure if it was directly affiliated with Jia Nan Academy or if it was something Mo Yu had created himself. Either way, the Earthflame Sect would not fall under its control.
"Oh? So, Sect Master Yan doesn't think much of my Yuan Manor?" Mo Yu's expression grew colder. "As the lord of Yuan Manor, I'm afraid I can't let that slide."
"What? Yuan Manor is your force?" Yan and the other Earthflame Sect leaders looked at each other in disbelief. This seemingly formidable Yuan Manor was actually Mo Yu's creation?
Mo Yu didn't appear to be more than 20 years old, yet he had managed to build such an impressive foundation. If he had done it without help, it was truly monstrous.
Yan's expression grew darker. He suddenly realized that Mo Yu might be an even greater threat than Jia Nan Academy itself. With this young man's potential, it was only a matter of time before he surpassed even Yan.
Still, even with this realization, Yan had no intention of surrendering to Yuan Manor.
What a joke! Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. As the Sect Master of the Earthflame Sect, Yan wouldn't be cowed by someone like Mo Yu.
"Hehe, so Yuan Manor is Mo Yu's force. In that case, our Earthflame Sect will offer two cities, Luoshui City and Huoming City, to your manor. Will that be enough to settle this matter? I'll even speak to the elders of Jia Nan Academy on your behalf to smooth things over," Yan said, his tone calm.
"Sect Master, those cities…" The Great Elder beside Yan tried to object. Luoshui and Huoming were two of the largest cities under Earthflame Sect's control, providing a significant portion of their income. Handing them over to Yuan Manor would be a tremendous loss.
But Yan waved his hand, signaling the elder to stop. What did two cities matter if they could avoid a full-scale conflict with Jia Nan Academy? He would be willing to give up all the sect's territories, except Earthflame City itself, to avoid destruction.
"Oh? It seems Sect Master Yan still doesn't understand what I'm saying," Mo Yu replied, shaking his head dismissively.
Yan's face immediately darkened.
"Hmph! Since our lord has already spoken, if Earthflame Sect refuses to submit, we'll flatten the entire sect—leave no one alive!" Zi Huo stepped forward, his towering frame drawing everyone's attention. His booming voice echoed like thunder throughout the city.
"Flatten Earthflame Sect?"
Hearing these words, the passersby inside and outside the city gaped in shock. As the ruler of Earthflame City, the Earthflame Sect was well-known throughout the Black-Corner Region for its power.
This so-called Yuan Manor, which no one had ever heard of, was now claiming it could wipe out the Earthflame Sect? Such boldness sparked intense curiosity among the crowd.
Many people shifted their gazes toward the center of the gathering, wondering whether Yuan Manor truly had the strength to back up such claims. Was another top force about to rise in the Black-Corner Region?
Yan's expression grew even darker, and he let out a cold laugh. "When did it become your place to dictate terms in the Black-Corner Region? If you think you can flatten Earthflame Sect, you'll need more than Yuan Manor—you'll need the high elders of Jia Nan Academy themselves. Otherwise, you're not qualified!"
"Let's find out," Zi Huo replied without a hint of emotion. His blood-red eyes glowed like those of a wild beast, radiating a terrifying and menacing energy.
Without another word, Zi Huo stepped forward. The moment his foot hit the ground, the air seemed to compress, producing a sharp, piercing sound.
At the same time, a wave of wild, beast-like energy erupted from Zi Huo's body, blanketing the area like thick, oppressive clouds.
To Zi Huo, Mo Yu wasn't just his leader; he was also his master. If Mo Yu wanted the Earthflame Sect destroyed, Zi Huo would carry out the task without hesitation.
Sensing the immense power radiating from Zi Huo, the Earthflame Sect's leaders turned pale. This seemingly simple, hulking man had the aura of a Dou King, but his energy was even stronger than Yan's.
Moreover, this energy didn't feel entirely human—it was more like the wild, untamed power of a magical beast.
"Hmph, it's just a Dou King. There's no need to make such a fuss," Yan said coldly, though his expression betrayed his concern as he glanced at Zi Huo. "If you insist on causing trouble for the Earthflame Sect, don't expect us to show any mercy."
Yan's eyes grew cold, and with a swift motion, he waved his hand and barked, "As the strongest sect in Earthflame City and one of the top forces in the Black-Corner Region, we cannot allow these intruders to trample us. Today, everyone is to follow my orders—eliminate every last one of these invaders!"
"Yes, Sect Master!"
As Yan's order rang out, the Earthflame Sect's elders and disciples responded in unison. As part of the sect, they had already been burning with frustration. Now that the sect itself was under attack, their fury only intensified.
Surviving in the Black-Corner Region meant constantly facing the threat of death. The sect members lived by a simple creed: fight or die. Whether it was Yuan Manor or even Jia Nan Academy, they would fight back with all they had.
"Everyone, these people attacked our Inner Academy and nearly destroyed it. The academy raised me and gave me everything I have. This is a grudge that cannot go unavenged. Today, we'll strike the first blow by taking down the Earthflame Sect. When I give the order, charge forward with everything you have—show no mercy!" Mo Yu shouted to the nearly thousand people gathered in three formations behind him.
This would be Yuan Manor's first major battle, and they couldn't afford to lose or retreat.
Hearing Mo Yu's rallying cry, both the original members of Yuan Manor and the new recruits from the Inner Academy felt a rush of excitement.
Yuan Manor had been building its strength quietly in Stone Rock City for some time. Now, they would finally show their power in the Black-Corner Region. The academy students, too, could finally wash away the shame of their previous defeat.
As powerful auras surged into the sky, the banners of the Lion, Tiger, and Wolf Halls rose high, and the three halls prepared to strike like a drawn bow.
Although Yuan Manor's numbers were slightly smaller than the Earthflame Sect's—the latter having thousands of disciples present since this was their home base—the addition of the academy students meant that Yuan Manor was no weaker in overall strength.
The heads and deputies of the three halls were all Dou Kings, and even the ordinary members of Yuan Manor were at least Five-Star Dou Practitioners.
In addition, the three banners that Mo Yu had personally crafted over the past few days were no mere decorations. They were Four-Star weapons, each with a unique effect:
The Lion Banner emitted a fear-inducing pressure that weakened the enemy's resolve and fighting spirit.The Tiger Banner increased the morale and strength of Yuan Manor's forces, enhancing the power of their Dou Techniques.The Wolf Banner boosted their speed and reduced their Dou Qi consumption during combat.
With such powerful banners enhancing Yuan Manor's already formidable army, they had the upper hand despite being outnumbered.
"Zi Huo, you'll take care of the Earthflame Sect's leader. He's a Three-Star Dou Emperor, but with your abilities, you should be able to handle him," Mo Yu said, turning to Zi Huo.
Mo Yu himself wasn't strong enough to take on a Dou Emperor unless he used the power of Snake Uncle, so the task fell to Zi Huo.
"Don't worry, boss. Leave it to me," Zi Huo replied confidently, pounding his chest with a sound like steel. His eyes gleamed as he turned toward Yan.
"Good. I trust you," Mo Yu smiled before adding, "If possible, try to capture him alive. I have plans for him."
Zi Huo scratched his head, hesitating for a moment. "I'll try, but I can't promise. I can defeat a Three-Star Dou Emperor, but I can't overpower him. If he's determined to die, I won't be able to stop him."
"That's fine. If you can't capture him, just kill him. Your safety is the priority—I don't want you risking your life in this battle," Mo Yu said, patting Zi Huo on the shoulder with a smile.
"Haha, don't worry, boss. I'll be fine," Zi Huo laughed, reassured by Mo Yu's concern.
Meanwhile, seeing the strength of Yuan Manor's forces and the intimidating presence of Zi Huo, Yan's face grew darker and darker.
His brow furrowed as he clenched his fist and raised his hand toward Mo Yu, then brought it down sharply.
"Mo Yu, do you really think a young brat like you can destroy my Earthflame Sect?" Yan's voice dripped with malice, and his words shattered the tense silence.
"Fire Obsidian Puppet, arise!"
As Yan's voice rang out, a low, rumbling roar echoed from deep within the Earthflame Sect, like distant thunder rolling across the sky.
Mo Yu's expression shifted as he felt an overwhelming force surge from within the Earthflame Sect.
A moment later, a massive figure appeared—its body entirely composed of fiery red stone, radiating both a fierce heat and a metallic gleam. It was the Fire Obsidian Puppet.
The sight of the puppet left everyone in shock. No one had expected the Earthflame Sect to possess such a powerful trump card.
"A puppet at the half-step Dou Emperor level…" Mo Yu murmured, his silver eyes narrowing as he observed the towering puppet.
(End of Chapter)
Friends, if you want to read chapters in advance, subscribe to my patreon.