From the Azure Dragon Gang leader, he learned that there were four major powers in the Evil Dragon Domain, and the Azure Dragon Gang was just one of them.
Both the leader and deputy leader were Immortal King Realm experts. Coincidentally, the vice leader of the Azure Dragon Gang was actually a traitor expelled from Lingxiao Academy 1,300 years ago.
This surprised Long Chen a bit. The academy had never mentioned this to him, yet a traitor had advanced to the Immortal King realm, which was rather strange.
Logically, a strong cultivator who can advance to the Immortal King realm must be the top of the first generation, the elite among elites. How could Lingxiao Academy expel such a person?
Long Chen found Lingxiao Academy increasingly confused, and after repeatedly encountering Immortal King Realm experts, there was something he couldn't figure out.
That is, these Immortal King realm experts couldn't put much pressure on Long Chen; rather, it was Bai Zhantang, Bai Shishi's mother, and Bai Xiaole's mother who could put tremendous pressure on him.
They only displayed the strength of Divine Lord Realm experts to the public. Long Chen's Nine-Star Overlord Body Technique was always precise and flawless. Through comparison, Long Chen felt that Bai Zhantang and the others had eight or nine out of ten sealed their power.
It seemed the strength of Lingxiao Academy was truly beyond his imagination. The title 'Number One Academy Under Heaven' was well deserved.
Long Chen also learned that the man's name was Qiu Yang, nicknamed Little Spirit King, a rare spiritual cultivator whose sword control techniques were extraordinary.
The two leaders of the Azure Dragon Gang—Zhao Qinglong the Dragon Claw Hand—and Qiu Yang, the Little Spirit King, are both renowned figures in the Evil Dragon Domain.
As for the Azure Dragon Gang, with these two Immortal King-level powerhouses stationed in the sect, numbering in the millions, and countless strong warriors, they still cannot dominate the Evil Dragon Domain.
Among the four major powers in the Evil Dragon Domain, the Azure Dragon Gang is just one; the other three are the Blood Oath, the Dragon Slayer Society, and the Ironblood Mercenary Group.
Because they both dominated the Evil Dragon Domain, disputes frequently broke out among the four major powers, but their strength was basically evenly matched, and neither could defeat the other.
Among the four major powers, the Azure Dragon Gang and the Dragon Slayer Society are archrivals. Of course, as their names suggest, the strong members of these two factions almost kill each other on sight, with no room for negotiation.
Each of the four major powers has its own territory and base. On the surface, they keep to themselves, but behind the scenes, their dark schemes have never ceased.
For disciples from other regions like Long Chen, if wealthy disciples come here for adventure, they have plenty of treasures for self-defense, and the locals treat them as easy targets. Killing and looting is commonplace.
If outsiders are poor disciples, they either want to improve desperately or are driven by enemies with nowhere to go and come here to take the risk.
If their aptitude is decent and they dare to risk their all, these forces will recruit them to strengthen their own power.
Therefore, the people gathered in the Evil Dragon Domain were all ruthless figures. Although their cultivation was low and their combat power weak, they were basically no pushovers.
Besides the Azure Dragon Gang, the other three major powers also have Immortal King Realm experts stationed there, and not just one.
Such people, if they were sect leaders in other domains, would live a dark life here. It is said that these people all have unknown histories.
According to the account of the altar master, Little Spirit King Qiu Yang escaped here because he committed something taboo and was hunted by Lingxiao Academy.
The gang leader, Zhao Qinglong, was once the head of a sect. Because he offended the Blood Kill Hall, he was massacred overnight by the Blood Kill Hall and ultimately fled in despair. After arriving here, he never dared to leave again and stayed here ever since.
It was said that the violent aura here had a great impact on assassins. The assassins of the Blood Kill Hall couldn't stay here for long, so the strong warriors from the Blood Kill Hall wouldn't come here.
Long Chen understood this, because assassins generally practiced a technique that slowed blood flow, slowing it down and keeping the temperature much lower.
Cooling the blood makes it impossible to sense fluctuations in qi and blood, making it easier to hide, and also allows people to analyze pros and cons with absolute intellect. That's how the term 'cold-blooded killer' comes from.
The Evil Dragon Domain is filled with a violent aura that greatly affects them—not only their vitality but also their souls. Therefore, they do not want to set foot here. Zhao Qinglong hiding here is the safest option.
Most interestingly, the headquarters of the Azure Dragon Gang, Dragon Slayer Society, Blood Oath Alliance, and Ironblood Mercenary Group are all in the same place.
Because in the Evil Dragon Domain, there is only one area absolutely safe: Zhaoming Ancient City.
Though called an ancient city, it is actually a site of ancient city ruins; the original buildings have long since collapsed, and the original appearance is no longer visible.
For some reason, this ancient city ruin was an area where magical beasts dared not invade, not even approaching.
Even if someone provoked an Immortal King-level magical beast, as long as they escaped into the Zhaoming Ancient City area, those beasts wouldn't dare chase after them and would eventually have to leave quietly.
Zhaoming Ancient City is divided into four regions: east, south, west, and north, each occupied by four major powers, with no interaction between them.
The four major powers all consciously abide by one rule: no matter what grudge there is, they absolutely must not fight within the ancient city.
Because they didn't know what had intimidated the magical beasts here. If a major battle broke out inside the city and that thing was destroyed, the beasts would invade and take revenge, and everyone would die.
So, inside Zhaoming Ancient City, it was barely peaceful; basically no one dared to make a move here, because no one wanted to die.
On the way, Bai Xiaole caught a Gale Eagle and flew it at full speed for a whole day and night, flying so hard it nearly coughed up blood. Finally, ahead they saw the silhouette of an ancient city.
Sure enough, when Long Chen saw the shadow of the ancient city, the Gale Eagle Bai Xiaole had caught wouldn't fly even if it killed him, not daring to take a step closer. No matter how Bai Xiaole pressed him, it was useless.
Thinking it had led the way, Bai Xiaole let it go. The altar master of the Azure Dragon Gang, looking miserable, continued leading the way. As they moved forward, the trees ahead became sparse.
The terrain also leveled, and through the grass, ancient blue bricks could be faintly seen. Now, these bricks were covered in moss, lying quietly as if telling something.
Walking to the edge of the ancient city, Long Chen and the others felt an inexplicable sense of desolation. Long Chen, Qin Feng, and Qi Yu all shuddered at the same time, exchanging glances, each seeing the shock in each other's eyes.
They had felt that before, back on the Tianwu Continent, watching Qu Jianying, the old man, Ling Yunzi, Hu Feng, and others fall one by one, the sorrow of helplessness and despair, despairing only to die in battle and rest with them forever.
"It seems this is an ancient city with a story." Long Chen looked at the desolate ruins of the ancient city and couldn't help but sigh.
"Who is it?"
Long Chen and the others had just appeared when shouts came from ahead.
"Master Long San has honored us. Please have your Qinglong Gang leader come out and bow to welcome us."
Before Long Chen could respond, Bai Xiaole couldn't wait to shout. With his shout, countless figures appeared throughout the ruins.
"Such arrogance! Young man, coming all this way, just to get yourself killed?" A cold snort rang out, a vast aura surged, and a group of people walked over.