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--- Chapter 262 ---
"Are we safe now?" Hai Bodong asked cautiously. They hadn't stopped moving for a full five hours, and while he didn't mind such long-distance traveling, the others clearly did. Based on Hai Bodong's estimation, they had traveled over seven thousand miles from the Crimson Death Desert to their current location.
He glanced at his grandniece, Yafei, and noticed a ball of sweat on her fair forehead. Yafei was only at the Dou Spirit Realm, and although her martial soul was special, the improvement it provided wasn't substantial enough.
Ultimately, one's foundation in this world is Dou Qi. Awakening a martial soul is merely an enhancement; if one's base cultivation can't support it, even a powerful martial soul becomes weak.
Queen Medusa also looked at Yafei and then at Han Yuan's five masked subordinates. She didn't look down on them, as keeping pace with her and Hai Bodong—who were both peak Dou Emperors—was impressive in itself. Queen Medusa may not have been traveling at her fastest speed, but 1,400 miles per hour was still remarkable.
"Well, I don't sense any danger. We can take a break," Han Yuan replied calmly.
Then, Han Yuan turned to the cat-masked subordinate and instructed, "Cat, contact the Earth Tiger Sect. Let them know we will be visiting soon."
The cat-masked figure nodded. "Yes, Young Master." With that, he also retreated into the shadows and used a special technique to communicate with a high-level member of the Martial Union.
"Earth Tiger Sect?" Hai Bodong exclaimed in surprise. "Aren't we called the Martial Union?"
Yafei wiped the sweat off her brow with a handkerchief and said, "Grand Uncle, don't forget that the Continental Hotel we built in Desert City is a branch of the Martial Union, and the Earth Tiger Sect is just one of many branches we have."
"Damn, how many branches do we actually have?" Hai Bodong asked, amazed as he gazed at Han Yuan.
Han Yuan narrowed his eyes, recalling some information. "Currently, we have exactly sixty-nine branches, including the Continental Continent we recently established."
"However, most of them are situated around the Jia Ma Empire, with only a few existing in the Black Corner Region."
"Our current focus is on this area. Besides the Earth Tiger Sect, the Martial Union also has the Sky Clear School and Golden Lion Temple in the Black Corner Region, although the latter two are more low-key in their development."
"The Earth Tiger Sect has been contending with Han Feng and his allies for some time now, but with them eliminated tonight, we shouldn't have any trouble conquering the Black Corner Region in both light and dark."
"Sixty-nine?! That's insane!" Hai Bodong exclaimed, dumbfounded. "That's not just about the operational funds; how much investment have you put into these branches?"
While Hai Bodong is big-mouthed and rash, he knew that organizations need funds to function. His deep relationship with the Primer Clan taught him that behind every large sect and clan is significant financial power.
"Uh, I don't know about that…" Han Yuan replied honestly. "Yafei has been handling the finances all this time."
"My job has only been to provide her with a steady supply of resources, as I've been too busy to focus on business."
"Once in a while, I also shared the Dou Technique I made myself; most of them are only Xuan and Huan-grade, though."
"What do you mean, only Xuan and Huan-grade...? Please speak in human language!" Hai Bodong couldn't believe his ears. Creating Dou Techniques isn't just a matter of willingness. It requires significant effort. Even a low-level Huan (yellow) grade technique demands time to develop. Yet, Han Yuan claimed he could create Dou Techniques as if it were a mundane task.
Even Queen Medusa was left speechless by Han Yuan's mind-buzzing statement. Saying such things is one thing, but understanding them is another. Strangely, she believed that Han Yuan was not lying.
"Senior Hai, Young Master didn't lie," one of the masked figures interjected, raising her hand.
"Young Master actually provided most of the Dou Technique legacies, and each is his own unique creation. In fact, we could cultivate our current Dou King Realm because of these Dou Techniques—they're easier to understand and cultivate than most."
"Cat, the figure with the cat mask who left, is actually someone from the Earth Tiger Sect. She has cultivated Dou Techniques based on tiger mimicry to reach the Dou King Realm."
"Isn't that impressive?"
"Impressive..." Hai Bodong's mouth felt dry.
Amused by Hai Bodong's growing shock, Han Yuan couldn't help but think, 'I wonder what his reaction would be if he knew that Cat became a Dou King from nothing in just five years.'
While Han Yuan didn't push his subordinates to the extreme, each of them underwent loyalty training and a background check, ensuring they were 'truly' dedicated to the Martial Union. Consequently, the Dou Kings Han Yuan had been nobodies before meeting him.
The prime example is Meng Xi, the Dojo Master of the Soaring Wind Dojo and Han Yuan's fake teacher.
"Granduncle..."
"Actually... never mind," Yafei said as she met Han Yuan's amused gaze, deciding not to tell her granduncle to spare him an existential crisis.
Queen Medusa observed this exchange, thinking, 'Hmm, there must be a secret behind this...' She reconsidered her earlier assessment and thought, 'This Ice Emperor is as clueless as ever.'
Not long after, Cat returned, saying, "Young Master, the Earth Tiger Sect is ready for your visit."
"Let's go," Han Yuan nodded casually, following Cat's lead to the Earth Tiger Sect.
---
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In the Black Corner Region, Black Abyss Forest.
"Huh, this place is not bad," Hai Bodong remarked as he looked around the vast forest full of lush trees yet cast into shadows by the thick canopy above. "You picked a nice spot to build a sect."
Cat, who had removed her mask, revealed herself as a gentle-looking woman in a black-and-white martial robe. Her real name is Hu Ying, a former female slave who belonged to a corrupt official in the neighboring Jia Ma Empire. Han Yuan saved her, giving her a second chance to change her fate. Five years later, Hu Ying was 'naturally' chosen to be the Sect Leader of the Earth Tiger Sect.
Hu Ying giggled at Hai Bodong's comment and replied, "I didn't choose this location as the base of the Earth Tiger Sect."
"Young Master sent people to explore many unusual areas in the Black Corner Region before deciding on this one."
"And that decision was based on the legend of the Black Abyss Forest," she continued.
"Legend?" Queen Medusa asked, intrigued.
Hu Ying glanced at Han Yuan for permission. Upon receiving a nod, she continued, "It is said that the Black Abyss Forest is the burial place of a Rank 9 Magical Beast, a story that has circulated in the Black Corner Region for ages."
"Wait, are you saying that there are remains of a Dou Saint powerhouse here, in this forest?" Hai Bodong's eyes widened in awe.
Hu Ying smiled, "Well, almost. The Black Abyss Forest is indeed a burial site for a powerful magical beast, but it's not a Rank 9 Magical Beast—it's a Rank 8 Magical Beast with a bloodline connection to one." "Interestingly, Senior, the Old Demon Tiger you killed is actually related to this Rank 8 Magical Beast—the King of the Black Forest, the Devil-Eyed Purple Tiger."
"According to rumors, the Old Demon Tiger accidentally obtained the legacy of the Devil-Eyed Purple Tiger, allowing him to reach the Dou Ancestor Realm. However, what he acquired was merely a fragmented legacy. The complete one lies buried deep underground within the Black Abyss Forest."
"You're hiding something big, Han Yuan," Hai Bodong remarked, taking a sharp breath as he looked at Han Yuan thoughtfully.
Han Yuan shrugged casually, saying, "The legacy left by the Devil-Eyed Purple Tiger isn't much—only a few drops of essence blood, a few Dou Techniques, and bones that ooze corrupting will. At best, one could cultivate to the Dou Venerate level, after which the legacy would be exhausted."
"And that would be such a loss, so the Earth Tiger Sect has used the remains to cultivate their disciples instead. A few people, like Hu Ying, received permission to refine the essence of blood and truly live up to the legacy."
"As for the Dou Techniques, most are useless at all; half of them are outright demonic and require the user to become crazed, mad, and hungry for life."
Shudder!
Hai Bodong trembled, "Damn, that sounds scary."
Han Yuan chuckled, "Well, true, but they still possess some values. After all, they come from a Rank 8 Magical Beast who had transformed into a human and possesses the Rank 9 Magical Beast's bloodline."
"Anyway, we are here." He stopped walking.
Hai Bodong and others also stopped, finding themselves in the center of the Black Abyss Forest. However, there is nothing here but an open space with exposed sky.
"Huh, the sky looks weird." Hai Bodong looked up, realizing there was no moon.
Hu Ying giggled, "That wasn't the sky."
"What do you mean-?" Hai Bodong was about to ask when he sensed a large number of people coming here.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, over a hundred black and white-clothed figures appeared in the area and bowed. "We welcome the Young Master to the Earth Tiger Sect!"
"We welcome the Young Master to the Earth Tiger Sect!"
"We welcome the Young Master to the Earth Tiger Sect!"
Han Yuan placed his arms behind his waist and nodded, "Mm, all of you get up."
"..." Hai Bodong's mouth twitched.
Alright, alright, I see that you, Han Yuan, had a pretentious side, too.
I, Hai Bodong, admitted that I was inferior in this regard.