After finishing his morning training session, Shad went to take a nice bath and then ate his breakfast as usual. Once he was done, he left the house he was currently staying in which was the Mansion of the current Marquis of Ozuna city and went straight to Black Mist forest by himself leaving the Lightning Corps to secure the city along with the four imperial knights. With his current strength, he did not need the protection of the four imperial nights. He was stronger than four of them combine if he went all out.

At this moment, no matter how big the city was, it was still unable to provide lodgings for so many people at once. Therefore, all of the traveler inns and restaurants were fully booked some days ago. There were no more vacant rooms left. Most of the people that came late were either sleeping on the street or rent a small room from the resident of the city.

As such, Shad was forced to leave the Lightning Corps and the four imperial nights to protect the city in this sudden unforeseen situation as there were many high-level warriors and mages among them. The Marquis himself was only a mid 6th rank warrior, so there was no way he could protect the city along with his army that was mostly composed of regular fighters and a handful of warriors.

.....

In the depths of the Black Mist forest, many powerful warriors and mages were on an adventure to find the treasure left behind by the legendary Henry.

The deeper they go inside, the more dangerous it would be. One has to understand, The Black Mist forest was still part of the Dark Forest, as such there were many magical beasts roaming inside. Usually, only low-level and mid-level magical beasts could be found in the Black Mist forest. But of course, nothing is absolute. Perhaps a high-level magical beast might be bored and go for a stroll in the outer territories of the Dark forest, such as the Black Mist forest.

Aside from the danger of magical beasts, they could still be killed by their own humans' compatriots. There were dangers everywhere within the forest. Nevertheless, this place was still extremely tempting due to the treasure left behind by Henry.

" Bang! Bang! Bang!" At this moment, a severe battle was waging in a certain location in the forest.

A young girl was struggling with a longbow in her hands. Her body was shrouded by a wind-type battle qi. she was very elegant and imposing. The wind-type battle qi that encompassed her body only amplified her dignified and cold aura.

She was gravely wounded, but she continued to fight without fear while looking for a path of retreat.

" Come out you coward." She shouted while she shot an arrow. The arrow was very fast and was shrouded by a thin layer of battle qi which amplified its power. The arrow soared into the sky like a fiery dragon to a certain position in the forest.

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~Bang~

The fiery arrow was so fast that it seemed like it had shattered the fabric of space as it hit a huge tree a few meters away from the young girl.

Right after the explosion, a person in red cloak jumped out from the nearby tree that was close to the one that got blasted into multiple pieces by the firey arrow and ambushed this young girl.

She reacted swiftly and waved her hand to take another arrow from her quiver to shoot at the person. However, she was a split second too late and was blown away by a sudden kick while spewing out a mouthful of blood.

The person in the red cloak, who jumped out from the tree disappeared just as fast as he came. When he showed up again, he was standing on a branch of another tall tree.

The person in red cloak seemed as though he was one with the forest. The hood of his cloak as well as the leaves of the tree obscure his face, so no one could see his appearance. It looked like he was the lord of the forest, a skilled hunter stalking and playing with his prey. It was as though every corner of the forest was in his grasp.

The battle had gone for some time and even attracted some people seeking for the treasure as well.

" Who is that young lady and why did she do to make the personal force of the Uncrowned Emperor, one of the twelve dragon pillars to chase after her." Uttered an old and experienced warrior who caught a glimpse at the person in the red cloak.

" Who is she?." Many people couldn't recognize her, so they were surprised.

" Even though her cultivation is only a 5th rank warrior, she was still able to withstand the pursuit of a member of the Twelve Dragon Pillars. From what I know, every member of the Twelve Dragon Pillars was at least a 6th rank expert. So why don't I know someone as powerful and young as her." Said an old man while looking at the wounded young girl whose body was emanating a cold aura.

" Miss. You won't be able to escape. This continent might be vast, but there's nowhere you can go that we won't find you." The person in the red cloak has already long descended on the ground and glared at the young girl: " Be smart and come with me without any resistance. His Highness just want to talk to you"

People who knew about the twelve Dragon pillars didn't know what the Uncrowned Emperor wanted from that young girl, but it must be something extremely important if he personally sent one of the members of the Twelve Dragon Pillars to personally chaste after her.

Despite being badly injured, the young girl stood up and coldly retorted: " Never." Even under such a peril situation and dire straits, she refused to give up.

" If you keep on being stubborn, you can't blame me for being merciless. You asked for it by opposing his highness the Uncrowned Emperor." The eyes of the man in red cloak turned cold with bloodthirst.

" This is my territory and the Uncrowned Emperor is nothing here." A voice slowly came about as a young man a simple black attire came forward.

" The Imperial freak is here." Someone shouted as he saw the young man.

" Even the Imperial freak is here too." Many of the people gave way after seeing Shad. In fact, the majority of them shuddered since they knew that his coming meant bad things were going to happen.

The man in red cloak coldly glared at Shad with a pair of eyes that flashed. As for the wounded young girl, she heaved a sigh of relief after seeing him. This young girl was none other than Nina who came to meet Shad in the Southern region of the Mulan kingdom.