Chapter 437: Intervening in Jingyun Valley

Xu Yang and Murong Jian's party of four quickly galloped out of the city's protective safety zone and into the outer region of Jingyun Valley in the Northern Frontier.

This valley was immense, encompassing an area nearly one-third the size of the entire Northern Region. Jingyun Valley resembled the mouth of a pocket. Entering it meant stepping into territory truly ruled by foreign tribes in the Northern Frontier. From that point on, regardless of the dangers or challenges, Xu Yang and his companions would have to rely solely on themselves. Even if surrounded by thousands of Northern Frontier troops, finding any assistance would be nearly impossible.

"Brother," Murong Jian said, "have you truly considered this? Once we enter this place, our lives will be unpredictable. My own death would be insignificant; if I could fight to my heart's content and slay many, I would feel alive even in death! But I don't want to needlessly implicate the three of you, for in my eyes, you are already like my own brothers."

Xu Yang burst out laughing. "Your words are enough. As for this Jingyun Valley, it's just a barbarian land; you needn't worry about us. There's no forbidden zone on this entire continent that Xu Yang cannot enter."

Murong Jian seemed to especially admire Xu Yang's boundless confidence and the imposing spirit of "I am supreme under heaven," and he couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh.

"Very well then, I won't hold back!" Murong Jian declared. "The outer region of Jingyun Valley is gourd-shaped. The most powerful branch clan in this vicinity is the Xuanmen lineage. We can advance along two separate routes and meet at Cross Peak, in the center of the pocket. As for whether to take the left or right path, you may choose."

Xu Yang understood that Murong Jian intended for his three companions to take one path while he went alone, but Xu Yang did not object.

"Very well," Xu Yang replied, "then we'll take the left. Let us have a bloody battle!"

Xu Yang and Murong Jian clasped hands in the air, then spurred their horses and quickly separated, heading in two distinct directions. With their agreement made, there was nothing left to consider. Their sole task now was to eliminate every enemy who dared to block their path.

"Boss," Long Kun asked, "this Jingyun Valley, the name sounds somewhat familiar, doesn't it?"

"I understand what you mean," Xu Yang replied. "But this Jingyun Valley is clearly not comparable to the place we experienced before. The danger level here is definitely ten, or even a hundred times greater. Otherwise, Murong Jian wouldn't have been guarding the border for decades."

With the current combat strength of Xu Yang's trio, there was no need for them to tread cautiously. In fact, they were there to stir up trouble and deliver a resounding warning to these Northern Frontier barbarians.

That night, the trio reached the downhill section of Jingyun Valley, where sharp, formidable auras already permeated the air.

"Bold trespassers! How dare you intrude upon Jingyun Valley? Stop right there!"

A thunderous voice suddenly rang out. Xu Yang and his two companions quickly halted their flying mounts and looked towards the source of the sound through the thin mist.

The individual was over two meters tall, mounted on a heavily armored rhinoceros. Their face and body were covered in bizarre tattoos, and their eyes gleamed with a cold, defiant, and sinister light. This was Hooda, the Underworld God of War, ranked ninth among the thirteen War Gods of the Xuanmen lineage. His most remarkable ability was the manipulation of earth elements within a given area. While his specific cultivation reached the half-step Tribulation Transcending Realm, his actual combat prowess was in no way inferior to that of any early-stage Tribulation Transcending Realm expert.

Xu Yang clearly understood that while the survival environment in such barbarian lands was extremely harsh, life forms that thrived there were significantly more powerful than those from other regions. As the saying goes, when God closes one door, he surely opens another. The harsh environment, far from limiting these life forms, instead endowed them with incredibly tenacious physical talents—a quality completely lacking in pampered noble cultivators.

"I've warned you," Hooda stated, "if you dare to advance another step, don't blame me for being impolite."

Xu Yang and his companions seemed to ignore the warning, continuing their advance with calm expressions. The ground beneath their feet occasionally emitted resonant, hollow sounds, as if the earth itself had become fragile.

"Anyone who dares to speak to us like that is either far stronger than you, or already dead," Xu Yang calmly declared. "And you... clearly don't belong to the former."

Xu Yang's words utterly humiliated the massive figure before him. The opponent instantly erupted in fury. He stomped his foot, and a terrifying surge of earth elemental energy erupted. Around Hooda, countless grains of yellow sand swirled wildly, rapidly coalescing into an incredibly solid and formidable wave of sand.

Xu Yang had encountered similar techniques before, but compared to Hooda, the control over earth elements exhibited by his previous opponents seemed far inferior. Indeed, this individual's cultivation realm was not exceptionally high, and the primal elemental energy he could command was quite limited. Yet, he appeared to be the absolute master of the surrounding endless yellow sand, never wasting even a fraction of his power, manipulating every wisp of sand and dust to its absolute maximum potential.

"Step back," Xu Yang commanded.

Xu Yang's expression remained calm and unperturbed as he directed the battle, immediately instructing Long Kun and Ling Yao to retreat, ensuring ample space for his own attack.

*Boom!*

With a powerful stomp of his foot, Xu Yang's mental command unleashed a surge of formidable Asura elemental energy. Amidst the swirling sand and yellow earth, this black aura rapidly coalesced into an incredibly massive black dragon figure! The dragon totem seemed imbued with life, appearing remarkably lifelike, as if a true dragon had descended. It let out an ear-splitting, heaven-shaking roar!

"My heavens... this power is incredibly formidable!"

Everyone gasped in awe. Hooda, who had been so confident in his techniques, intending to directly overwhelm Xu Yang and the three intruders in a single strike, saw his powerful confidence instantly crumble the moment he witnessed the black dragon image above Xu Yang's head. From this opening posture alone, Hooda realized that the individual before him was far more formidable than he had imagined.

"Hmph, I truly underestimated you, outsider!" Hooda sneered. "But understand this: if you dare to enter the territory of our Xuanmen in Jingyun Valley, even if you are a god from heaven, you'll have to tuck your tail between your legs!"

Xu Yang paid him no heed, unleashing his dragon soul power, which surged forward with a furious roar. In mere moments, a terrifying dragon's might erupted, manifesting a heaven-devouring aura that shook all directions. It utterly engulfed the endless swirling sand before them.

"My heavens... Boss, you're just too strong!"