Two faint streaks of light, like meteors, swept across the sky, vanishing at the edge of the heavens in the blink of an eye. Flying beside Xiao Yan, Haibo Dong turned his head, gazing at the young man under the moonlight. The unfamiliar, terrifying aura that had previously surged within him had now completely dissipated, replaced once again by the mere aura of a Battle Master. His cloudy eyes fixed intently on Xiao Yan’s remarkable transformation—seemingly a leap across two tiers—and after a long silence, furrowed slightly, he finally said, “Xiao Yan, that unfamiliar aura, comparable in strength to a Battle Emperor, wasn’t actually yours, was it?” "Although I must admit that Xiao Yan's cultivation talent is truly outstanding, let me be honest—over the years I've traveled and explored, I've seen my share of individuals with talents like yours. Yet, when they were your age, they typically only reached the level of Battle Master or even a High Battle Master. As for Battle Emperor? That's absolutely impossible." Hai Bo Dong smiled and said, "Therefore, after sensing that unfamiliar energy within you earlier, I believe you must have activated some unknown item. Hehe—meaning, that power actually doesn't belong to you." Xiao Yan slightly raised his brow, glanced at Hai Bo Dong, and after a moment, smiled lightly, "Hai Elder truly lives up to his reputation as a Duke-level powerhouse—his discernment is indeed sharp." He didn't directly refute this assessment, for he was well aware that Duke-level强者 could already begin to sense the subtle differences between his own aura and Yao Lao's. However, fortunately, Hai Bo Dong was not a pharmacist. Otherwise, with a Duke-level pharmacist possessing such powerful spiritual perception, Yao Lao's spirit would inevitably have been detected and revealed. This was precisely why, back in the desert when Dan Wang Gu He appeared, Yao Lao had chosen to remain cautious and subdued—though Gu He might not have been able to fully perceive his presence, Yao Lao could still sense that the force radiating from him was distinctly different from Xiao Yan's. Upon hearing Xiao Yan's subtle affirmation rather than a denial, Hai Bo Dong's face clearly flashed with surprise, yet he wisely chose not to press further. "Hehe, that force indeed doesn't belong to me, but Master Hai only needs to know that I can control it and stand equal to a Duke-level warrior." Xiao Yan smiled with a touch of meaning. Master Hai nodded in agreement. Indeed, no matter where that force originated, as long as Xiao Yan could wield it, he would be a force capable of standing against a Duke-level warrior. With such power in hand, any doubt or challenge would naturally fade away. Seeing that Master Hai remained silent, Xiao Yan gave a slight smile—clearly, the man understood that power, regardless of its source, conferred authority upon whoever possessed it. "Then let's go. We aim to reach Yanchi City before dawn. However, I'm not entirely familiar with the route to Yanchi City, so I'll have to rely entirely on Master Hai." Xiao Yan said with a smile. "Hehe, though I've resided in Mo City for several decades, I've drawn maps every day, so I'm quite familiar with these routes. Just follow me." Hai Bopo Eastern smiled, his icy dual wings subtly vibrating, and his speed suddenly increased. Watching Hai Bopo Eastern accelerate so swiftly, Xiao Yan nodded and, with his purple cloud wings flapping, hurried to catch up. Across the night sky, two streaks of light flashed by, while the silver moon slowly descended in the heavens. ... Yancheng, located in the eastern province of the Gamma Empire, has become a vital route for travel between the capital and the eastern provinces due to its wide, well-connected roads, giving it a strategically significant position. As a result, the city—claimed to be the largest in the eastern province—has long been held under strong imperial garrisons. Aside from the imperial forces, the most powerful entity in Yancheng is undoubtedly the Mo Clan—the very destination of Xiao Yan's journey. Thanks to the Mo Clan's dominant monopoly, nearly sixty percent of the city's industries belong to them. Even after deducting necessary taxes and substantial assets used to maintain relationships, the annual profits continue to make the Mo Clan increasingly prosperous. Though large trees are prone to wind, with Yunlan Sect as its powerful backer, even the imperial family of Jiamai Empire would not easily seek trouble with the Mo family. Thus, under such unchecked development, the Mo family has effectively become the dominant force in Yancheng. Were it not for the presence of three other families in the eastern provinces exerting influence, the Mo family would have long since expanded its reach to other major cities. Nevertheless, in recent years, leveraging its strong backing, the Mo family has steadily maintained pressure on these three families, assuming the clear posture of a dominant, unrivaled powerhouse. ... After a day of nonstop travel, Xiao Yan and his companion gradually approached the outskirts of Yanchi. Once the silver moon in the sky was replaced by a blazing sun, the vast city, exuding a fierce and imposing presence, came into view at the horizon. Under the sunlight, the towering city in the distance appeared like an ancient, dormant beast lying sprawled across the land. Although Xiao Yan did not fear the Mo family, it was naturally preferable to resolve the matter seamlessly while concealing his identity. Moreover, Hai Bo Dong had mentioned that he did not wish to offend Yunlan Sect too greatly—clearly, this towering figure, the dominant force of the Ma Empire, still held a certain apprehension toward the former Ice Emperor. After changing their attire, the two proceeded slowly along the broad road toward the nearby towering city. As they approached the city gates, Xiao Yan was surprised to find that several dozen fully armed soldiers stood at either side of the walls, their sharp eyes constantly scanning the pedestrians passing by. Observing the nearly imposing guard, Xiao Yan slightly furrowed his brows. This location was already well removed from the empire's borders—how could its defenses be more rigorous than those of Mo City? With a slightly puzzled shake of his head, Xiao Yan glanced at Hai Bo Dong, then lifted their black cloaks and quietly took their positions at the back of the line, moving steadily toward the city center with the group. "Ah, what a grand affair. The Mo family truly is the most prominent family in Yanling City." During the waiting period, several men dressed in mercenary attire ahead of Xiao Yan, growing increasingly bored, began to whisper to one another. "Heh, isn't today the birthday of Mo Cheng, the senior elder of the Mo family? I heard that not only many forces in the eastern region have come to celebrate, but even Yunlan Sect has sent representatives." "Really? Yunlan Sect has sent someone? Then Mo Cheng must be quite honored." "Hmph. Though the Mo family is powerful, in Yunlan Sect's eyes, what's so special about them? If it weren't for the substantial tribute the Mo family pays annually, they wouldn't bother to engage with them at all." A mercenary sneered, saying, "Heh, that's true enough." Several others seemed lukewarm toward the Mo family, nodding and chuckling in agreement. Standing behind the group, listening to the conversation between the mercenaries, Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled lightly, "This really is a stroke of luck—the old man happens to be celebrating his birthday just now." "With so many factions here, don't you think it might be difficult for us to make a move?" Hai Bo Dong frowned slightly, hesitating. "Heh, Hai Elder, with us two working together, we don't need to worry about just the Mo family—let alone Yunlan Sect. Surely you don't think the Master of Yunlan Sect would personally come to celebrate his birthday, do you?" Xiao Yan said calmly. "That would truly be quite an honor for Mo Cheng." Hai Bo Dong nodded and shook his head, smiling. After all, how many super-strong figures in the Jia Ma Empire could command the personal attendance of a Master of such a vast sect as Yunlan? "Hmm... I think I haven't actually committed myself to stepping in yet, have I?" After a moment of chuckling, Hai Bodo suddenly stiffened, looking utterly surprised. "Hehe, Master Hai, if the time comes when you need me, I'll be there. I know your fees are quite high, but I believe I can afford them," Xiao Yan smiled. "A pharmacist capable of crafting sixth-rank pills—I'd really like to have you owe me a favor." Hai Bodo patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder and chuckled softly. With a slight smile, Xiao Yan looked up toward the team that was now his turn to join. As he was about to step forward, a series of horse hooves came from a few paces behind—turning to see, he noticed several men and women riding swift horses charging toward him, their dust trail stirring up the frustration of the crowd waiting in line. Yet, as their angry glares settled upon the lead rider, their ire instantly subsided. The first person to ride a horse was a young woman dressed in a tight-fitting red gown, her graceful figure rendered exquisitely by the fabric. Her cheeks were particularly charming, and a small crystal pendant resting on her smooth forehead swayed gently with each movement, adding a touch of vivacity to her slightly spirited expression. Hearing the soft murmurs of complaint from behind, Xiao Yan smiled faintly and gently narrowed his eyes, scanning the dark city gate passage. He then smoothed his black robe and, under the watchful eyes of the surrounding soldiers, slowly walked in.