The outer wall of the Unyielding Hall was three meters high, painted white, and enclosed the entire courtyard.
Beneath the plaque was a vermilion gate, and looking through it, a massive screen wall came into view.
The screen wall featured a carved image, with a large sun symbol at its center, flanked by countless figures rising in rebellion, their weapons pointed at the sky.
Above the center of the screen wall, a line of text flowed in cursive script: “Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs!”
Chen Bugu and the others stepped through the gate and walked around the screen wall.
Behind the wall was a bluestone path, with fine, pebble-like stones laid on both sides, interspersed with plants resembling bamboo.
The courtyard was lined with wing rooms on both sides, their doors and windows open, revealing flickering figures within, who occasionally glanced at Chen Bugu and his group before looking away, seemingly indifferent to them.
At the end of the bluestone path was another stone wall, with a moon gate in its center. Passing through the moon gate, they could see the main house situated thirty meters ahead.
The main house resembled a council hall, about a hundred square meters in size, with a large rectangular wooden table placed in the center. The main seat held a rosewood Grand Tutor's chair, and ten wooden chairs were neatly arranged on each side.
Above the main seat also hung a plaque, inscribed with the three characters “Unyielding Hall.”
As Chen Bugu and his group stepped through the moon gate, they saw an old man in a dark mandarin jacket approaching them.
“You gentlemen look new here?”
The old man's face held a smile, as warm as a spring breeze.
“Sir, hello, we are looking for three people.”
The old man, who had been smiling, suddenly changed his tone when he heard Yan Kuan speak.
“You can look for people, but it’s best if you’re not here to cause trouble. Although the Lord is not here, the people of my Unyielding Hall are not to be trifled with.”
Though the old man's smile remained gentle, his tone had clearly turned cold, carrying a subtle warning.
Bai Ting turned his head and saw seven men gradually emerging from the wing room on the east side of the courtyard behind them, slowly blocking their retreat.
“Chen Dage, this old man is a Magical Ability Awakened, Black Iron Six-Star in strength. The seven people behind him are one Elemental, two Magical, and four Enhancement type, all Black Iron Five-Star.”
Han Badou's telepathic message timely resonated in Chen Bugu's mind, giving him a heads-up.
Seeing this, Chen Bugu slowly spoke to the old man.
“Elder, you've misunderstood. The six of us just arrived in Obsidian Town today. We came here to find our friends, as per our agreement.”
“After finding our friends, we also wish to join the Unyielding Hall.” Chen Bugu finished speaking and slightly bowed, cupping his fists.
The old man before him, known as “Old Zhou,” although seemingly gentle and refined, was in fact deeply entrenched in the martial world and highly valued tradition. He greatly admired outdated ancient Huaguo etiquette like “cupping fists.”
Although his strength was only Black Iron Six-Star, both his Gravity Ability and the pair of green-grade Profound Iron Knuckles he wore during combat were extremely troublesome.
Additionally, Old Zhou had learned ancient Huaguo martial arts from the Lord of the Unyielding Hall. Combined, he could hold his own against a typical Black Iron Seven Stars and was a well-known figure within the entire Unyielding Hall.
Those who could challenge higher ranks either possessed extremely powerful abilities, exceptionally fine equipment, or had outstanding combat skills and awareness.
In short, those capable of fighting above their rank were never weak.
Currently, in Chen Bugu's team, Bai Ting, relying on his Mythological Ability, was almost unrivaled among Black Iron Six-Stars. However, if he encountered an Awakened like Old Zhou, who could also fight above his rank, the outcome would be hard to say.
As for Lin Xiaoxiao and Yan Kuan, although they were only Black Iron Five-Stars, with their Abilities and green-grade equipment, they could hold off a typical Black Iron Six-Star without issue, but killing them would be difficult. If they were to face a Six-Star like Old Zhou alone, they would have almost no chance of winning.
“Oh, so that’s how it is. In this day and age, there are actually people who come looking for friends, hahahaha, I just find you young lads agreeable.”
Old Zhou seemed unpredictable. After listening to Chen Bugu's words, his tone became unrestrained again, and he laughed as he patted Chen Bugu's shoulder.
“But it’s really bad timing. Whether it’s finding people or joining the Hall, I, this old man, can’t help you.”
“Joining the Hall has its rules; at least you’ll have to wait until the Lord or Vice Lord returns. As for finding people, I, this old man, have a bad memory. In the past half month, there have been many survivors, and at least thirty, if not fifty, people have joined my Unyielding Hall. Even if you tell me the names, I wouldn’t know who they are.”
“Other residences under the Unyielding Hall are all in the vicinity, but searching them one by one would be quite troublesome. How about this: you can stay in the west wing room for now, and tomorrow at noon during the Hall meeting, all Hall members will participate. You can then identify them. How does that sound?”
Old Zhou's eyes darted around, and in a flash, he offered Chen Bugu a suggestion.
Chen Bugu knew that the Unyielding Hall held a meeting every day at noon, which all Hall members were required to attend.
It was already night, and asking the Unyielding Hall to send someone to lead them to search room by room was indeed not a good idea. Since there was no rush for one night, it would be better to wait until the next day's Hall meeting to search.
“Alright, then we’ll trouble Old Zhou.”
Chen Bugu slightly bowed to Old Zhou and again cupped his fists.
As he straightened up, Chen Bugu pulled out a small piece of starfall crystal from his storage ring and quickly slipped it into Old Zhou's hand.
“No trouble at all, no trouble at all. You few, take them to the west wing room and find a room for them to rest.”
Old Zhou casually pocketed the starfall crystal, smiling as he gestured to a few people in the courtyard.
Of the wing rooms on the east and west sides of the outer courtyard, the east side was for Hall members on night duty to rest, while the west side was prepared for various unexpected situations.
Chen Bugu and his group bid farewell to Old Zhou and turned to walk back towards the outer courtyard.
After a few steps, Chen Bugu looked back at Old Zhou and said,
“By the way, may I ask, elder, as we still wish to join the Hall later, is the Lord always absent from the Hall?”
Chen Bugu asked knowingly. In his impression, the Lord and Vice Lord always stayed in the Hall except when on missions, as they lived in the inner courtyard.
Even when on missions, the Lord and Vice Lord rarely left at the same time; usually, one would remain to guard the Unyielding Hall. However, both were currently absent from the Hall, which was truly peculiar.
“Not exactly. It’s just that the Town Chief called a meeting with several major powers tonight, so most of the leaders are not present.”
Old Zhou rubbed the starfall crystal in his hand, quite willing to answer Chen Bugu's question.
After hearing this, Chen Bugu cupped his hands towards Old Zhou and then turned to leave.
Watching Chen Bugu and the others enter the room, Old Zhou beckoned to one side, and then two Hall members walked up to him.
“You two, go and inquire about these people. See what their background is.”
The two Hall members nodded upon hearing this and quickly departed.
“Newcomers just arrived in town, green storage ring, starfall crystal, heh…”
Old Zhou's eyes narrowed into a slit as he stared at the wing room where Chen Bugu and the others were, muttering to himself.
At the same time, in the center of Obsidian Town, inside a brightly lit private room, over a dozen people of different races sat around a round table.
The Storm Clan leader, with two horns on his head, a pointed beak for a mouth, standing two meters three tall, and a pair of massive wings spanning nearly four meters, was none other than the current Town Chief of Obsidian Town.
At this moment, both he and the others at the table wore solemn expressions.