The war in Black Mountain Prefecture broke out at the start of the year, after everyone had left.
The Black Mountain Army and the rebel forces fought several major battles outside the city, dragging on for over two months. Hong Yuan and the instructors and professors from the Martial Artist Institute took action, and were on the verge of killing the high-ranking rebels when Lin Shan betrayed them, wounding Hong Yuan. At the same time, powerful experts from Black Temple emerged among the rebel leaders and launched a siege against Hong Yuan and his allies.
With no other choice, the people from the Martial Artist Institute retreated into the city.
Deprived of interference from a top-level True Qi Realm expert, the rebels managed to stabilize their position. That same month, the rebels from Liyang Prefecture sent troops into Black Mountain Prefecture, and as Xu Yuan received no support from the other prefectures, the defenders were forced onto the defensive.
