Gou Zai Wudao Shicheng Dao

While the three were talking in hushed tones, the argument on stage came to an end.

Commander Song and Chief Commander Hong finally made the decision.

The leaders of each faction had different expressions as they stepped down from the platform.

Fang Xia had been keeping an eye on Ning Tianyang.

He keenly noticed that Ning Tianyang seemed somewhat unhappy after stepping off the stage.

Although Ning Tianyang tried his best to keep his expression calm, a layer of gloom shrouded his brows, and there was a hint of seriousness in the depths of his eyes.

Senior Brother Ji Baiyue and Third Senior Brother Han Zhiqi went to greet him and whispered a few words to Ning Tianyang. The three of them then gathered together and talked in hushed tones.

Fang Xia has mastered the "Qi Sensing Technique" and his five senses far surpass those of his peers, allowing him to vaguely perceive fragments of words.

Upon hearing Ning Tianyang's whisper, Ji Baiyue's face instantly flashed with uncontrollable shock and anger. He exclaimed incredulously, "Black Wind Ridge? How could it be there?"

Han Zhi Qiu's face instantly turned extremely ugly.

Upon hearing the words "Black Wind Ridge," many people began to whisper among themselves.

Fang Xia observed that many veteran disciples' expressions changed slightly.

"Black Wind Ridge?"

"How could it be there..."

"Did Master Ning draw Black Wind Ridge?"

"This is troublesome..."

Fang Xia's gaze swept across the crowd.

The "Qi Sensing Technique" operates spontaneously, instantly elevating the five senses to their peak.

The sound of the wind, breathing, and even the changes in the heartbeats of the disciples around him flooded into his senses like a tide.

The disciples were seen whispering among themselves, and those from wealthy and powerful families changed their expressions almost instantly.

Some gasped, their eyes filled with fear.

Some had furrowed brows and pursed lips, as if they had heard some terrible news.

Even worse, some instinctively gripped the weapons at their waists, their knuckles turning white.

An invisible, heavy pressure quietly spread out and weighed on Fang Xia's heart.

At the same time, Lin You, who was in the crowd, also noticed the strange atmosphere.

This disciple's face was now shrouded in solemnity.

He strode over to his third senior brother, Han Zhiqi, and asked in a low voice:

"Senior Brother Han, you are very knowledgeable. What exactly is wrong with Black Wind Ridge?"

I see quite a few of my senior brothers are like this…”

Lin You's gaze swept over the several pale-faced scions of wealthy families, his unspoken meaning clear.

Han Zhiqi's face was so gloomy it could drip water.

He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Lin You, and said in a low voice:

"Black Wind Ridge...that's a dangerous spot thirty miles outside the Black Mountain defense line!"

Han Zhi Qiu gazed into the depths of Black Mountain and murmured, "A group of 'Black-striped Tigers' dwell there, and each adult beast is comparable to a leather-bound or flesh-bound martial artist."

Among them, those with exceptional talent are even comparable to martial artists at the initial stage of the Bone Gate Realm!

They roam in packs, fearless and ruthless, making it a notorious death trap during the autumn hunt!

He paused, his eyes filled with even deeper apprehension: "This isn't the worst part."

Black Wind Ridge has a unique terrain, being close to the place where the Black Mountain Demons reside.

Almost every autumn hunt results in the birth of a demon in that area!

Sometimes it's a single palm strike, and at least three!

These newly born demons are bloodthirsty and insane. Their strength is at least that of a mid-level demon, comparable to an inner cultivation master, making them extremely difficult to deal with!

Last year, the Black Tiger Gang was responsible for clearing out Black Wind Ridge, and three experts at the Inner Refinement Heavenly Ladder Realm were lost!

The number of ordinary disciples who were injured or killed was as high as thirty-odd!

Han Zhiqi's voice was not loud, but it was like an iron hammer, striking the hearts of every disciple.

Upon hearing this, Lin You felt very heavy-hearted, and his eyes were filled with gloom.

Fang Xia, who was listening intently from the side, also looked rather unpleasant.

"Three people at the Inner Refinement Heavenly Ladder Realm died... and there were over thirty casualties..."

"If this attracts those powerful demons from the depths of the Black Mountain..."

Fang Xia didn't say it aloud, but the thought lingered in his mind like a leech.

With such a small force, how could Sanyang Hall possibly sustain casualties against such demons? It would be utterly devastating!

Fang Xia's mind raced, and a strong sense of urgency instantly overwhelmed her.

"This autumn hunt is fraught with danger at every turn! Every blade of grass and every tree must be guarded against; the slightest rustle of the wind... could mean the difference between life and death!"

.......

At the foot of Black Mountain, banners fluttered in the wind, and the sounds of men and horses filled the air.

With the division plan finalized, the various factions in Heishan County headed towards their assigned areas.

The Hongyuntang procession proceeded along a relatively gentle mountain path.

Ye Qianzhong, the leader of the hall, a powerful figure who had demoted the Sanyang Hall from the "Top Three Halls" position, slowed down at this moment.

He spoke in a low voice to a middle-aged martial artist beside him.

This person's appearance is five or six parts similar to his, but his temperament is more sinister.

This person was Ye Qianzhong's younger brother, Ye Qianhe.

Beneath his brocade robe lay a powerful surge of qi and blood, his cultivation having reached the Qi Gathering and Meridian Opening Realm!

This is one of the strengths of the "Upper Three Halls"—they have more than one expert at the Qi Gathering and Meridian Opening Realm in charge.

"Big brother, everything is arranged." Ye Qianhe's voice was very low, with a hint of barely concealed excitement.

"We have buried three portions of 'Beast-Attracting Incense' in a secluded spot in Black Wind Ridge."

"Once the Sanyangtang group arrives, our men will immediately light the incense."

Ye Qianzhong's expression remained unchanged, his eyes as cold as a deep pool: "Is the location confirmed?"

Is the territory of the Xuanhuo Wolf definitely within the effective range of the "Beast-Attracting Incense" at a distance of thirty li?

"Absolutely foolproof!" Ye Qianhe patted his chest, his tone confident.

"Those beasts were just forced to the edge of the Black Mountain defense line. Their lair was exactly thirty miles away from the burial site!"

The Beast-Attracting Incense is colorless and odorless, harmless to humans, but has an irresistible allure for demonic beasts.

"Once it's lit, those beasts will definitely rush over like madmen."

Upon hearing this, Ye Qianzhong nodded slightly, a glint of light appearing in his eyes.

"Beast-Attracting Incense" is a wonderful product developed by the ancient sages of humanity to eradicate demons...

Once lit, it will attract the Xuanhuo Wolf and trap the Sanyang Hall like dumplings.

And it ensures that it won't cross the boundary and disturb the demons deep in the Black Mountain, thus bringing trouble upon itself.

Seeing that Ye Qianzhong was in a good mood, Ye Qianhe continued to chatter: "The Xuanhuo Wolf Clan has two high-level demons whose strength is comparable to the Qi Gathering Realm!"

The Black-striped Tiger clan of Black Wind Ridge is also guarded by a high-ranking demon.

And what about the Sanyang Hall? It only has that old scoundrel Ning Tianyang at the Qi Gathering and Meridian Opening Realm.

There are only three martial artists at the Inner Refinement Heavenly Ladder Realm: Ji Baiyue, Han Zhiqi, and Feng Heng. The remaining disciples are all insignificant!

Ye Qianhe's mind flashed with the "intelligence" of the Sanyang Hall, and a smug smile almost overflowed from his face.

"This time, Sanyang Hall will definitely not escape this calamity! Just like ten years ago..."

"Shut up!"

The moment the words "ten years ago" were uttered, Ye Qianzhong's expression changed instantly, his gaze sharp as a knife.

The chill in that gaze made Ye Qianhe, who was at the Qi Gathering and Meridian Opening Realm, feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

The smugness on his face froze instantly, turning into a deathly pale expression of panic.

"Nothing happened ten years ago!" Ye Qianzhong lowered his voice even further.

"I think you've had it too easy these past few years?"

They've completely forgotten the saying that loose lips sink ships!

There are some things you can do, but you can't say them! Don't you even understand this simple principle?

Ye Qianhe's forehead instantly broke out in a cold sweat, and his back was soaked with sweat.

He lowered his head abruptly and confessed in a low voice, "Yes...yes! Big brother is right!"

I got carried away with my pride and said things without thinking!

I swear I will be extremely careful with my words from now on, and will never utter another word about it!

Seeing his younger brother's frightened appearance, Ye Qianzhong's stern look softened slightly.

He let out a barely audible snort, which was considered an acceptance of the other party's apology.

He turned slightly to the side, his gaze fixed on the direction the Sanyangtang procession was heading.

A fierce glint flashed in Ye Qianzhong's eyes as he muttered to himself.

"The feud with Sanyangtang runs too deep... so deep that it must be completely resolved, nipping the problem in the bud!"

Memories from ten years ago surfaced in Ye Qianzhong's mind, and he seemed to see the tragedy of that time again.

A slight smile played on Ye Qianzhong's lips, but his heart was ice-cold.

"Heh... Ning Tianyang, did you think it was just a natural disaster back then?"

If I hadn't secretly stirred things up, 'inadvertently' leaving the most dangerous opening to the Sanyang Hall...

How could your group of foolish disciples have died so "heroically"?

It's a pity you, you old scoundrel, managed to survive!

The scene in my memory suddenly shifted: the elite of Sanyang Hall had been wiped out, and seven or eight out of ten of its core members were gone, leaving it teetering on the brink of collapse.

Ye Qianzhong clearly remembered the almost insatiable rage in Ning Tianyang's eyes when he handed over the challenge.

But so what?

In the world of martial arts, the strong prey on the weak!

Ye Qianzhong seized the opportunity and, with lightning speed, knocked Sanyang Hall down from the top three schools!

However, the gloom between Ye Qianzhong's brows did not dissipate; instead, it grew even more intense.

Thinking about how Sanyangtang's strength had gradually recovered in recent years, Ye Qianzhong felt a strong sense of crisis.

"Ten years... just ten years! Ning Tianyang, you've already nurtured another batch of promising talents!"

Disciples practicing internal cultivation are emerging in large numbers, and potential direct disciples are appearing one after another...

If I give you another two years, until the next martial arts tournament where the seating arrangements are rearranged...

With the momentum of your Sanyang Hall, how could you be content to remain in the lower five halls?

Challenging my Hongyuntang is almost inevitable!

Ye Qianzhong's eyes suddenly sharpened, flashing with a chilling killing intent.

"I am not afraid of challenges! But... I prefer to nip all threats in the bud!"

Over the years, if Ning Tianyang hadn't kept a low profile and rarely left his home...

Aside from rarely venturing into the Black Mountains during the annual autumn hunt, he rarely had an opportunity to strike...

How could he allow this major threat to live to this day?

The mountain wind blew by, and it seemed to get even colder.

Ye Qianzhong took one last look, then slowly turned around: "Ning Tianyang... this autumn hunt, Black Wind Ridge will be your burial ground!"

Sanyangtang... should also become a thing of the past!

"I refuse to believe you can escape this calamity!"