Spirit Domain

On West Era Street, sunlight streamed down onto the road, and the clouds in the sky drifted lazily with the wind, creating an air of tranquility. Jay stood in the middle of the street, his gaze fixed on the horizon, though his eyes held no trace of relaxation.

"Vilk," he said suddenly, his tone carrying a hint of curiosity.

"How much do you know about this world? Based on what you've shared, it seems like the trouble I'm facing is nothing compared to the bigger picture."

Vilk paused, taken aback for a moment, before pondering.

"Are you referring to the Wolfshade Gang or something else?"

Jay withdrew his gaze and turned to face Vilk.

"Be it factions or rules, the members of the Wolfshade Gang or even those from Domain Spirit City that I've encountered so far—they're powerful, but not enough to truly threaten me."

He paused, his tone growing more serious.

"But after hearing what you've said, I realize the Wolfshade Gang has stronger figures hidden within. I want to know, aside from the Wolfshade Gang, how much do you actually know about the other powers?"

Vilk lowered his head, gathering his thoughts before responding.

"Jay, you're right. This world is far more complex than it seems. The Wolfshade Gang may dominate certain regions with arrogance, but on a grander scale, they're just a regional power. That said, their strength is not to be underestimated."

"Regional power?" Jay raised an eyebrow.

"What about the stronger ones?"

Vilk nodded and continued, "Above the Wolfshade Gang are several behemoths you must be wary of. First is Domain Spirit City—you're familiar with them. Their foundation runs deep. They not only control the Spirit Domain but also have countless Domain Spirit Generals stationed there. "

Particularly notable are their three ace divisions: "Dragon King Hall, Dreamscape City, and Western Hall. Both Dragon King Hall and Western Hall are led by their respective hallmasters and host numerous formidable experts. As for Dreamscape City, I honestly know little. They're even more enigmatic."

He glanced at Jay, ensuring he was paying attention, before continuing, "Then there's the Kingdom Organization. I don't know the specifics of their strength, but I've heard they rival the Spirit Domain. Their guardian spirits are almost universally powerful."

Vilk added, "I've also heard rumors that someone from the Kingdom Organization once severely injured a deputy hallmaster of Dragon King Hall, though the details are unclear."

"The Kingdom Organization…"

Jay murmured, recalling the name.

"I've heard Xue Ying mention them before."

A faint image of the girl who had momentarily captivated him surfaced in his mind.

Jay turned to Vilk and asked, "And what about the Dawn Organization? Do you know anything about them?"

Hearing this, Vilk took a deep breath and replied, "The Dawn Organization is said to have three Spirit-Warrior Hosts among their ranks. Most notably, their leader, Xue Ying, is rumored to be incredibly powerful. She's a Spirit-Warrior Host of a Divine Martial Spirit and can summon more than one Divine Martial Spirit. No one dares to provoke someone of such strength lightly."

"Then there's Cao Ming and Sun Yutian—both are also Spirit-Warrior Hosts, and their abilities are far from weak."

Jay listened, a faint smile curving his lips.

"Sounds interesting. It's more intricate than I expected. But… are they really as strong as you say?"

Vilk gave a wry smile.

"Perhaps we'll witness it for ourselves someday."

Jay lowered his head in thought before looking back up at the drifting clouds in the sky. With a slight chuckle, he said, "I'm not afraid of trouble. If this world is filled with such intriguing forces, I'm even more interested."

Vilk looked at Jay's confident demeanor, his feelings mixed.

"I hope you can keep that faith. Still… I hope we don't face those truly formidable beings too soon."

Jay didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, seemingly already planning his next move.

The sunlight on West Era Street was slightly glaring. Jay withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Vilk, a faint, ambiguous smile playing on his lips. Slowly, he spoke, his tone carrying both curiosity and determination. "Vilk, what are your plans moving forward?"

Vilk paused briefly, then met Jay's gaze seriously. "I originally just wanted to survive the Wolfshade Gang's hunt and preserve my life. But now... it seems I have a bigger goal in mind."

Jay nodded slightly and continued, "I have an idea. Since the powers in this world are so intertwined, I refuse to live under anyone's thumb. Why not create our own faction—an alliance of the strong—to stand at the pinnacle of this world? Are you interested in joining me?"

Vilk's eyes widened briefly before a smile spread across his face. "Of course, I'm in! Jay, you're my savior and the only person I trust right now. And besides..."

He lifted his gaze toward the horizon, his voice filled with longing. "I also want to stand at the pinnacle of this world, to see the view beneath my feet, to feel what it's like to overlook all of existence!"

After a pause, Vilk added, "Your strength is already nearing the peak of the Entry Realm, while mine has reached the pinnacle of the Breakthrough Realm. I believe it won't be long before our names echo throughout the Spirit Domain!"

Jay's lips curved into a cold smile as he spoke slowly, "Good. It's decided then. From today onward, our goal isn't just survival—it's domination."

He glanced around at the battle-scarred and dilapidated district, a hint of resignation in his eyes. "However, this isn't the kind of base I envision for us. The environment here is decent, but we need somewhere more fitting."

Vilk nodded in agreement. "True, this place is too small. It doesn't even qualify as the outskirts of Domain Spirit City. If we're building a faction, we need a better environment."

Jay turned and started walking toward the end of the street, casually saying, "Let's rest in the courtyard for now. We'll set out tomorrow or the day after. This place can't contain our future."

Following closely behind, Vilk's eyes burned with determination. "Alright. Once I've recovered, we'll begin here—step by step—until we conquer the entire Spirit Domain!"

The golden glow of the setting sun bathed the outer walls of the Wolfshade Gang's camp, casting the entire base in a radiant light. Yet, beneath this brilliance, the atmosphere within was heavy with tension.

"Bang!"

A loud slam shattered the silence of the hall as the vice leader seated on the left side pounded the table in a fury. His voice thundered with rage:

"This is outrageous! We sent an entire squad to capture a mere Vilk, and they ended up completely annihilated! What a joke! It's a disgrace to the Wolfshade Gang!"

His anger filled the room, creating an oppressive tension in the air.

The other vice leader, seated on the right, wore a grim expression but spoke in a much calmer tone:

"It's not just about Vilk. Three of our squads, including their leaders, have also been mysteriously wiped out recently. It's clear that someone has their sights set on the Wolfshade Gang."

"Afraid of what?" The furious vice leader shot to his feet, his teeth clenched in frustration. "If they dare to come after us, we'll make sure they never leave! When has the Wolfshade Gang ever feared anyone?"

"Enough!"

A low yet commanding voice cut through the tension, silencing their argument. The leader of the Wolfshade Gang, seated at the head of the table, raised his head and cast a cold, piercing gaze over the room.

"All you two do is argue! Instead of bickering, why don't you come up with a solution?" The leader's tone was low and icy, exuding an undeniable authority. "Vilk is indeed a loose end, but we have bigger problems. Someone has declared war on us, and this enemy is no ordinary faction."

He paused, his voice laced with deep thought.

"Our core strength—the twelve squads—has been severely compromised. Aside from the squad chasing Vilk, which the leader thankfully didn't join, three entire squads, including their leaders, have been completely eliminated by a mysterious force. This isn't a simple provocation. This is war. And whoever is behind it operates so covertly that even our spies can't uncover any leads."

The vice leaders exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier anger replaced by a growing sense of gravity. They both realized the severity of the situation.

"Send the word," the leader ordered coldly. "Instruct the remaining squad leaders to stay on high alert. All actions in the near term are to be defensive—no one is to act recklessly."

The vice leader on the left couldn't hold back his question. "And what about Vilk? Are we just going to let him go?"

"Let him go?" The leader let out a cold laugh, his eyes glinting with a chilling light. "Vilk is a minor issue. He'll be dealt with in time. But right now, we need to figure out who dares to challenge the Wolfshade Gang!"

He paused, scanning the room before speaking decisively:

"From this moment forward, we'll keep a low profile. No more unnecessary conflicts. Until the situation becomes clear, we cannot give our enemies any openings."

Both vice leaders nodded in agreement. Though reluctant, they understood that the leader's decision was the most prudent course of action under the circumstances.

As the sun's rays faded, the Wolfshade Gang's camp fell into a deep and uneasy silence. The leader stood by the window, gazing at the darkening sky, his mind racing with strategies for the battles to come.

A storm was brewing in the outside world, and whether the Wolfshade Gang would weather it remained uncertain.