Gu Fei and Xun'er were both geniuses of the Gu Clan, admired and pursued by the younger members of the clan. Many of the young women who admired Gu Fei harbored thoughts of following him when they heard he was leaving, hoping to win his affection. They dreamed of accompanying him on his journey and possibly making him fall in love with them.
However, when the higher-ups of the Gu Clan, including Gu Yuan and Gu Lie, learned of these plans, they were concerned. They were the first to notice Gu Fei and Xun'er's departure, given their strength, which allowed them to sense any disturbances within the Gu Realm. They allowed Gu Fei to leave because of his ability to protect himself. But with Gu Fei gone, there was no one left in the Gu Clan who could match his strength, leading to worries about the safety of the younger members if they ventured out.
The Gu Clan's leadership gathered in the grand hall to discuss the matter with the clan leader, Gu Yuan. They all opposed letting the younger generation leave the Gu Realm, as they believed that the abundant energy within the realm was more beneficial for cultivation. Consequently, the higher-ups intervened, preventing anyone else from leaving, and Gu Yuan issued a formal order forbidding others from leaving the Gu Realm.
With this decree, peace returned to the Gu Clan, though how long it would last remained uncertain.
Meanwhile, Gu Fei traveled through spatial wormholes on his journey. The distance between the Eastern Region and the North-Western region of the continent was vast, requiring several months of continuous travel, even with the help of wormholes. The journey was not without its challenges, as Gu Fei encountered several obstacles along the way.
Gu Fei had always been taught by Gu Lie to keep his battle energy concealed, so others could not gauge his true strength. Gu Lie himself appeared as an ordinary person without any visible Dou Qi, but anyone who underestimated him would quickly regret it. Gu Lie had learned this lesson the hard way in his youth, having once been overconfident in his own abilities until he was easily subdued by a seemingly weaker opponent. This experience taught him the value of humility and discretion, lessons he passed on to Gu Fei.
Gu Fei, naturally astute, quickly mastered the art of concealing his energy, learning to "play the weak to devour the strong." Since then, he rarely released his full Dou Qi, even managing to fool the likes of Gu Yuan and Gu Lie. However, the younger generation who admired him noticed a change—they could no longer sense his energy, leading them to believe his strength had grown to an unfathomable level, further deepening their reverence for him.
But on his journey through the spatial wormholes, several individuals took note of Gu Fei. Though his attire appeared ordinary, those with keen eyes could discern the rarity of the materials. His Cloud-Walking Boots, made from the hide of the nearly extinct Cloud Beast, were especially noteworthy. The presence of such valuable items on someone who appeared weak made Gu Fei a prime target for the cutthroats lurking in the wormholes—criminals on the run who used the wormholes as hideouts to escape their pursuers.
These outlaws cared nothing for a person's background; they would strike if they thought the target was valuable and vulnerable. As a result, Gu Fei found himself constantly under attack, with assailants trying to kill him and steal his treasures. However, he dealt with each attack swiftly and ruthlessly, making it clear that he was no easy prey. His display of overwhelming strength quickly discouraged further attempts, allowing him to continue his journey in peace.
Gu Fei's first destination was the Black-Corner Region. Due to his cultivation method, he needed to absorb a different kind of fire, and he planned to seize Han Feng's Sea Heart Flame.
After two and a half months of arduous travel, Gu Fei finally arrived at the notorious Black-Corner Region, known for its lawlessness and extreme danger. The region, shaped by its unique geography, had become the most chaotic area on the continent, a haven for powerful fugitives who had established the most brutal of rules.
In the Black-Corner Region, there were no laws, only the law of the jungle—where the strong prey on the weak. Here, the weak had no right to survive. It was a place of pure, unadulterated survival, where one could even commit atrocities in broad daylight, provided they chose their victims wisely. Women in the Black-Corner Region were often more dangerous than men, simply because they had managed to survive in such a harsh environment.
Moreover, the Black-Corner Region served as a critical hub for intelligence on the continent, with countless pieces of information flowing in and out daily.