The Black Sky Plains spanned a vast area of hundreds of thousands, even millions, of square miles, far larger than many kingdoms.
This region was perpetually barren and desolate, with a desert climate prevailing year-round and little rainfall. If not for the bustling commercial trade and the frequent appearance of bandits, which added a semblance of life to this wilderness, it would have been utterly lifeless.
However, this was not entirely the case. The closer one got to the central region of the Black Sky Plains, the more the scenery changed. Patches of oasis began to appear one after another, dotting the land like scattered pearls.
Moreover, the verdant green representing life became increasingly abundant as one approached the central area spanning tens of thousands of square miles. At the very heart, a massive oasis stretched for thousands of square miles, covered with forests and crisscrossed by lakes and rivers, teeming with vitality.
This was the primary stronghold of the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky, where at least three of the great bandits were based. They resided in the core area of the Black Sky Plains year-round, and it was said this vast oasis was created through their astonishing means.
Naturally, this core region also housed over half of all the bandits in the Black Sky Plains.
It was worth noting that this core oasis was not inhabited solely by bandits. Numerous ordinary people lived here, and merchant caravans from various nations passed through, making it a bustling and prosperous hub with many trade routes converging.
Although bandits were almost ubiquitous on the streets of the core oasis, no one dared to cause trouble here. Ironically, everyone here adhered to a strict order, making it a peaceful land—a sanctuary within the Black Sky Plains jointly established by the Eight Great Bandits.
Of course, the most significant feature was the central Black Sky City itself—a magnificent and colossal metropolis covering a thousand square miles, far more prosperous than the royal capitals of many great nations.
From the Western Region of the Black Sky Plains, Ye Chen and Chen Ruo had been racing toward the core oasis. With Ye Chen mastering the Reverse Void Eight Steps, the world's ultimate speed, and Chen Ruo being proficient in the Void Dao, the two pressed on without stopping. Even though the Seventeenth Elder was in pursuit, he couldn't truly catch up. Instead, under their lead, they gradually approached the core oasis.
After fleeing desperately for half a day, the two had traversed nearly half of the Black Sky Plains and finally neared the core region. From the sky, they could see a vibrant patch of green emerging on the distant horizon—the heart of the Black Sky Plains.
Just a hundred miles more, and they would truly enter this safe zone.
Several of the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky were based in the core region—peerless figures comparable to Saint Lords. They didn't believe the Seventeenth Elder would dare to pursue them openly within this area, risking an all-out conflict.
The Seventeenth Elder, who had been chasing them relentlessly, seemed to understand their intention. His expression darkened as he urged the divine ship forward with lightning speed.
If these two truly entered the core region, even he would have to think twice.
The Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky were immensely powerful, with figures among them rivaling Saint Lords—on par with the master of their Scarlet God Valley. Although he, a Demi-Saint, was a top-tier expert in his own right, he was nothing compared to a Saint Lord.
Such beings were the masters who openly dominated the world, their cultivation peerless and unmatched.
"I must not let them enter the core region smoothly, or the pursuit will be impossible," the Seventeenth Elder thought, his killing intent spreading. He let out a long roar, activating a powerful technique that dramatically increased his speed, closing nearly half the distance between them in an instant.
This startled Ye Chen, who grabbed Chen Ruo's delicate hand. With eight steps underfoot, intricate golden patterns interwove, forming a golden path that pointed into the distance.
Whoosh—
The two sped forward, transforming into a brilliant golden meteor streaking across the sky, chasing like a shooting star toward the core region.
"Don't even think of escaping!"
The Seventeenth Elder struck out with a palm. A terrifying palm force, carrying boundless power of heaven and earth, surged forth. Dust billowed into the sky, the earth trembled, and the attack swept forward, capable of flattening everything within a hundred-mile radius.
"This old fool dares to attack even here? Isn't he afraid of alerting the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky in the core region?" Ye Chen cursed inwardly. The palm force was overwhelmingly powerful; he couldn't withstand it.
The gap in their realms was too vast—a Demi-Saint versus a peak Demigod was more than just a single major realm apart.
Whoosh—
At that moment, Chen Ruo seized Ye Chen's hand, merging with the void. They performed another void shift, instantly teleporting over a hundred miles away and fully entering the core region.
The palm force landed behind them, reducing entire swathes of barren mountains outside the core region to dust, obliterating everything in its path.
Ye Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief, but his brows furrowed. Such void shifts couldn't be performed at will; they could only be used once every half hour.
Fortunately, both of them were now completely within the core region. He didn't believe the Seventeenth Elder would dare to hunt them openly here unless he truly had no fear of offending the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky.
However, they were mistaken. The divine ship of Scarlet God Valley also charged in. The Seventeenth Elder continued to pilot the ship into the core region, unleashing a torrential Demi-Saint might that shook mountains and valleys. Many people in the core region were alarmed; the pressure was too fearsome and terrifying, making their hearts tremble.
Was it one of the terrifying experts from the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky making a move?
"Has this old fool gone mad? He's truly unafraid of death."
Even Ye Chen paled. The Seventeenth Elder behind them wore a grim expression, his face dark as if dripping water. "You killed a prince of my clan. I have no face to return and see the Valley Master. If I can kill you, I'm willing to lay down my old life here."
He attacked relentlessly, paying no heed that this was the core region of the Black Sky Plains, the stronghold of the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky. He struck wantonly, shattering mountains and rivers, leaving nothing in his wake.
This was the might of a Demi-Saint—with a single burst of rage, mountains crumbled and the earth split for hundreds of miles.
Ye Chen and Chen Ruo desperately raced toward the deepest part—Black Sky City. As the core ancient city of the Black Sky Plains, they refused to believe none of the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky were stationed there. As long as they alerted even one of them to act, no matter how powerful this Seventeenth Elder was, he would be suppressed and slain.
"Trying to flee to the deepest Black Sky City? You'll need the chance first," the Seventeenth Elder said coldly, unafraid of giving them such an opportunity. He urged the divine ship forward with lightning speed, halving the distance once more, poised to strike.
Finally, Ye Chen and Chen Ruo rushed into Black Sky City. A powerful expert within the city was alerted and shot into the sky, shouting at the Seventeenth Elder, "Who goes there? Stop immediately! How dare you trespass into Black Sky City?"
Pfft—
A mist of blood exploded!
The Seventeenth Elder struck, slaying this expert!