Dark Wizard: Rise! My undead army!

Ailiya and Lin Chen entered the secret passage one after the other.

The secret passage was very narrow, allowing only one person to pass sideways. Water droplets seeped from the walls, and there was an earthy smell in the air.

Aria walked ahead at a fast pace, while Lin Chen followed behind, able to hear her rapid breathing.

The two walked in the dark for most of the hour before a glimmer of light appeared ahead.

The exit was in a desolate forest west of the city, where a few crooked locust trees covered the entrance.

Two horses were tied to a tree trunk and were grazing with their heads down. This was a way out that Ailiya had secretly arranged for herself and her son in the past two days.

Arya untied the reins, tossed the bundle onto the horse's back, and mounted another horse.

"Get on the horse, let's leave quickly," she said.

Lin Chen mounted his horse, spurred it on, and galloped off towards White Stone City with Ailiya.

The horse's hooves pounded on the dirt road, kicking up a trail of dust.

It was already dark, and the shadows of the trees along the road whizzed past him. Lin Chen glanced back in the direction of Graystone City.

The torches on the city wall looked like a row of swaying dots in the night, growing farther and farther away.

"Mother, where are we going now?" Lin Chen called out, his voice muffled by the wind blowing into his mouth.

"Let's go to Whitestone City." Arya didn't turn around; her voice was broken by the wind. "To find your father."

"He went to find you a promotion potion. He's been gone for several days. Judging by the days, he should be back soon. We might be able to catch him."

Before she could finish speaking, she sharply cracked the whip, and the horse ran even faster.

Lin Chen gripped the reins, his mind in turmoil.

In order to get promoted as soon as possible, the father took most of the family's savings to buy medicine.

He killed members of the Black Fang family in his own home and burned down the family's last remaining escape route.

I deserve to die!

"Giddy up!" He spurred the horse hard on its flanks and chased after it with all his might.

After running at full speed for about half an hour, both horses began to pant heavily. Arya slightly tightened the reins, slowing the horses down a bit.

"The horse won't last long." She glanced back at Lin Chen. "We need to find a place to change horses."

"There's a post station ahead," Lin Chen said. "The Grey Feather family's caravans used to stop there often."

"We can't go to the post station," Aria shook her head.

"The people from Black Mountain will catch up soon, and the people at the post station will definitely be questioned. Let's go to the village ahead, find a farmer to exchange horses for, and give them more money."

Lin Chen nodded.

The two turned off the main road and headed toward a few lights not far away.

The night wind blew from behind, carrying the smell of dust from the direction of Graystone City.

...

Meanwhile, Montenegro was leisurely drinking tea in the council chamber when it received the news.

Today, I was able to take over all of the Gray Feather family's assets in Graystone City without shedding a drop of blood, so I was naturally in a very good mood.

The tea is made from the finest green buds, and when steeped in a white jade cup, it releases a delightful fragrance.

He was pondering how to successfully acquire the witch crystal mine next when a guard tumbled in.

"Something terrible has happened! Chieftain! Something's wrong!"

Heishan's hand, holding the teacup, remained still.

"explain."

"News has come from Graystone City: the men we sent to take over the shops were killed by those brats from the Grayfeather family!"

"It's said to be Lin Chen, the young patriarch of the Gray Feather Clan. He killed one of our stewards and injured several others!"

"Now...now that kid's gone!"

Hei Shan slammed his teacup heavily on the table, spilling tea that scalded the back of his hand, but he didn't care.

"You brat, you killed my men and you think you can get away?"

He stood up and strode out of the council chamber.

Seeing his ashen face, the guards in the courtyard quickly stepped aside.

Heishan walked to the center of the courtyard and waved his hand.

The sky above suddenly darkened for a moment, and a huge black raven burst forth from the void, its wings spread, casting a large shadow.

The crow was entirely black, with dark purple edges on its feathers, and its eyes were blood-red. When it landed, the wind from its flapping wings made the leaves in the yard rustle.

Black Mountain flipped over and mounted the crow's back. The crow flapped its wings and soared into the sky.

The people of Blackrock City first heard a whooshing sound, as if something huge had swept overhead.

Someone looked up and saw a giant black crow flying rapidly southward, with a figure in black robes sitting on its back.

People on the street stopped and began to discuss it.

"Isn't that the Black Mountain chieftain? Why is he riding such a huge crow?"

"Judging by the direction, they're heading towards Graystone City. What happened?"

"I don't know, but the Black Mountain Clan Chief has just advanced to the second ring, and he's at the peak of his power. Who would dare to provoke him?"

"I'm afraid someone's going to be in trouble."

...

The black crow was extremely fast, and it reached the skies above Graystone City in less than a quarter of an hour.

Black Mountain didn't land; it flew directly towards the grocery store on East Street where someone had died.

Upon arrival, the crow folded its wings and landed in front of the shop, the air currents from its wings making the signboard at the entrance clang loudly.

A crowd had already gathered inside the shop.

One of them lay on the ground, his chest caved in, already lifeless.

Several guards from the Black Fang family huddled in a corner, their faces still bruised. When Black Mountain entered, their knees buckled and they knelt down.

"Clan leader! That brat is the young clan leader of the Gray Feather Clan. We were taking over the shop when he suddenly rushed out and attacked..."

"Useless!" Black Mountain coldly interrupted him.

The guards trembled and dared not utter another word.

Heishan walked to the deceased's side, squatted down, and took a look.

A fist mark was visible on his chest, and the surrounding flesh was charred black from being burned.

He pressed his finger against the wound, sensing the remaining energy. A scorching, violent aura rose from the depths of his flesh, as if branded by the sun.

"This is... the power of the Sun's Crown," Black Mountain whispered.

He stood up, took two steps back, and waved his hand.

Two dark figures leaped out of the void, their claws cracking the stone pavement as they landed.

Two enormous black dogs, their bodies completely black, with scarlet eyes and drool dripping from their mouths.

The black dog walked to the deceased, lowered its head to sniff, then raised its head to sniff around, finally pointing its nose in one direction.

They let out low moans, pawed at the ground with their front paws, and held their tails straight.

Heishan looked in the direction of their noses; that was the west of the city.

"Chase them!" Montenegro said.

The two black dogs dashed off with incredible speed, leaving a trail of black smoke in their wake. Black Mountain leaped into the air, close behind.

The gate of the old house in the west of the city was half-closed. The black dog sniffed around the yard and ran straight to the back house.

Inside the room, a cabinet was pushed over, revealing a hidden door behind it.

The entrance to the secret passage was dark and smelled of earth; I wondered what it was like inside.

Although he didn't know if there were traps in the secret passage, Black Mountain was confident in his own strength and had two "cannon fodder" with him, so he didn't suspect anything.

Without hesitation, he waved his hand, and the two black dogs went in first. He followed behind, bending over as he entered the secret passage.