Chapter 117 Escorting freshmen into the inner courtyard. Zi Yan smiled brightly, tears of excitement flashing in her eyes, "It is our duty to help the elders." Xiao Chong was very pleased, "Seeing you recover is the greatest reward for us." The three of them smiled at each other, and the picture was particularly harmonious. The desert sandstorm was raging, and the blood-red sunset in the sky dyed the endless desert an eerie red. The old man in black robe was hunched over, with a cold smile on his face. His eyes were fixed on the distance through the gap in his cloak. The scar on his chest seemed to still hurt, reminding him of the shame of his previous fight with Xiao Chong. "Xiao Chong, I will repay you tenfold for the wound you inflicted on me." The black-robed old man whispered, his tone full of hatred and unwillingness. Just as the thought of revenge was lingering, a weak soul staggered away at the edge of his sight, looking extremely helpless. The old man in black robe's eyes lit up, like a hungry wolf seeing its prey, he quickened his pace without hesitation and approached the soul body. The soul body seemed to sense the danger and fled more desperately, but it was in vain. "Hmph, a mere wandering soul, you want to escape from my palm?" The old man in black robe snorted coldly, stretched out his hand and grabbed, and the powerful soul power turned into an invisible net, instantly wrapping up the soul body. With a painful wail, the soul body was ruthlessly devoured by him, and the aura of the old man in black robe was obviously strengthened.

The old man in black robes stroked his chest with satisfaction. The energy brought by the soul he had just devoured was gradually merging with his body. An unprecedented powerful force was surging in his body. He sneered, his eyes flashing with desire for a more powerful existence. "The souls in this world are nothing more than nutrients for my use." The old man in black robe whispered to himself, his voice full of unquestionable confidence. After that, he closed his eyes and relaxed his whole body, as if enjoying the pleasure brought by the increase in strength. A moment later, when the black-robed old man opened his eyes again, his eyes became extremely sharp, like the brightest stars in the night sky. He took a deep breath, and his body suddenly turned into a rolling black mist, which quickly spread out, covering the sky and the sun. Even the raging sandstorms in the desert were suppressed by this force and dared not move. "It's time to leave. There is nothing worth staying in this desolate land." The voice of the old man in black robe echoed in the black fog, and his tone revealed a hint of boredom and impatience. The black fog was like an awakened beast, slowly moving over the desert. Wherever it passed, the air seemed to be sucked out, leaving a dead silence. Finally, the mysterious black fog found a faint trace of a space crack, and plunged into it without hesitation, disappearing without a trace. Canaan College has a long history. The stone buildings are covered with traces of time. The ancient trees are towering and the quiet paths are shaded. In the center of the college, a huge square is bustling with people. Young talents from all walks of life gather together, wearing the same college uniforms, talking a lot, and their faces are filled with desire and excitement for unknown challenges. "Hey, I heard that even the dean will personally review the selection for the inner courtyard this time, is that true?" A boy with short hair and a cunning look in his eyes asked his companion beside him. "Of course! Being able to enter the inner courtyard is an opportunity that we outer courtyard disciples dream of." His companion rubbed his nose and said with a bit of yearning, "As long as you pass the selection, you can learn more advanced fighting skills and martial arts. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil." At this time, a young man wearing a dark green robe, with a resolute face and eyes as sharp as an eagle stood in the crowd. It was Xiao Chong. He received the secret order from Elder Su Qian. Although he felt heavy about the responsibility he was about to take on, he was more excited and eager to try. "Everyone, be quiet!" A deep and powerful voice sounded, and everyone immediately quieted down, all looking towards the podium. Elder Su Qian, a white-haired but vigorous old man, stood on the stage, with a bit of kindness in his majesty, "Today is the annual admission day of our Canaan College. Remember, no matter where you come from, no matter what your background is, here, you can only speak with strength!" As Elder Su Qian finished speaking, the crowd began to divide into groups in an orderly manner, preparing to embark on the journey to the inner courtyard. Xiao Chong looked around, and his eyes finally fell on several outer courtyard disciples with different expressions. They would become his partners in this mission. "Brother Xiao Chong, how should we go? I heard that there may be magical beasts on the road." A pale and thin young man in the team asked cautiously. Xiao Chong smiled and patted the boy on the shoulder: "Don't worry, I'm here, you'll be safe. However, true growth comes after going through hardships. I hope you can seize this opportunity and face the challenges bravely." "Brother Xiao Chong, I heard that this trip requires us to cross the Black Horn Region. The forces there are complicated and intricate. Can we...can we really get through it smoothly?" The speaker was another disciple in the team. He was tall and his eyes revealed a bit of worry. It was obvious that he was afraid of the Black Horn Region that he was about to enter. Xiao Chong looked calm, with a leisurely smile on his face: "Although the Black Horn Region is chaotic, most of them are just clowns. The truly powerful ones will not easily provoke passers-by. As long as we act low-key and don't cause trouble, we can naturally cross safely. Moreover, with me, Xiao Chong, here, the Black Horn Region is nothing to worry about." Hearing this, everyone's expressions calmed down and their confidence increased. Especially the thin young man who asked the question at the beginning, his eyes were shining with admiration, as if at this moment, Xiao Chong's image became even taller in his heart. The group officially set off, and the scenery along the way changed from lush forests to desolate Gobi Desert. Every step was full of unknowns and challenges. Occasionally, they encountered a few low-level monsters on the road, but under the leadership of Xiao Chong, the disciples cooperated tacitly and not only successfully repelled the monsters, but everyone's practical experience was also significantly improved. After several days of trekking, the outline of the Black Horn Region gradually came into view. It was a wasteland made up of black rocks. The sky was filled with a gray atmosphere, which seemed particularly depressing. "This is the Black Horn Region. Everyone, be alert. Remember what I said before and keep a low profile." Xiao Chong's voice was steady and powerful, adding a sense of security to the team. The group carefully traveled through the edge of the Black Horn Region, trying to avoid conflict with those forces. However, fate did not seem to let them get away so easily. On a seemingly ordinary afternoon, a sudden gust of wind blew up the yellow sand, completely obscuring the group's vision.

"Oh no, there's an ambush!" Xiao Chong keenly sensed the murderous aura lurking in the air and quickly waved his hand to signal everyone to be alert. (End of this chapter)