A thunderous explosion erupted across the training ground, its roar so intense that everyone instinctively covered their ears. Only after a moment did they exchange glances, eyes fixed on the swirling dust that now blanketed the field. As the dust and smoke cleared, a strikingly large and deep crater suddenly came into view, capturing everyone's attention. The spectators outside the training ground couldn't help but have their eyes jump with surprise. The crater reached depths of four to five meters and spanned a considerable area. Along its edges, thick cracks spread out like a spider's web, nearly covering half of the plaza. "Where are the people?" Xiao Yan scanned the surroundings but didn't see Luo Bu's figure. He blinked in astonishment. "Cough... cough..." Suddenly, a strong series of coughs echoed from within the crater. Then, a hand slowly emerged, resting on the ground, and finally, a figure entirely blackened from the flames struggled out—judging by his stature, he appeared to be exactly Luo Bu. At this moment, Luo Bu's entire body was blackened, and the sturdy aura armor that had previously emanated from his form was now riddled with cracks, each about the size of a thumb. His body trembled slightly, and as the aura armor, already pushed to its limits, finally gave out with a soft, dull crack, it gradually detached from his body, revealing the pale, terrified face beneath. Staring at Robu, whose aura had dropped to its lowest point, Xiao Yan knew clearly that although he was protected by his aura armor, he had not chosen to dodge—instead, he stood like a stationary post, allowing the fire lotus to strike him and explode before him. This seemingly clumsy stance required an immense force of impact. Even though Xiao Yan’s current strength was merely that of a six-star battle master, Robu, a four-star grand battle master, still sustained injuries severe enough to render him temporarily incapacitated. Glancing at Robu, whose palms now flowed with crimson blood, Xiao Yan’s eyes softened slightly, imperceptibly. He then slowly approached, gently patting Robu’s shoulder and smiling, “Sorry, it’s my first time doing this—I didn’t quite know how to handle it with the right amount of force.” “Ah, no problem at all. With a few days of rest, I should be fine.” Having served as a captain of a mercenary company for over a decade, Rob was quite sensitive to the subtle softening in Xiao Yan's demeanor. He felt a quiet sense of joy and excitement within him—he knew well that since the incident where the Sand Mercenaries nearly wiped out the Mo Tie Mercenaries, this seemingly amiable youth had harbored a certain animosity, even a sense of hostility, toward himself. Moreover, Rob was even more certain that, had Xiao Yan not urgently sought to strengthen the Mo Tie Mercenaries' ranks in a short span of time, the Sand Mercenaries would have certainly met the same fate. Having witnessed the latter's impassive transformation of living individuals into ice sculptures, Rob had no doubt that this relatively young man possessed a sharp and unyielding heart. Although the Sand Company has now been absorbed into the MoTi Company, Luo Bu can still feel that Xiao Yan's caution and skepticism toward him have not diminished. In response, Luo Bu can only sigh. Over the past month at the MoTi Company, he has come to a deeper understanding of Xiao Yan's capabilities. Under this relentless pressure of Xiao Yan's formidable strength, the spark of rebellious thoughts that once stirred within him have completely faded away. In truth, Luo Bu now begins to see himself not merely as the commander of the Sand Company, but as an integral member of the MoTi Company. Yet despite this internal shift, Xiao Yan continues to remain vigilant and cautious toward him—something that leaves Luo Bu deeply helpless and somewhat bitter. Of course, he knows this is entirely natural and understandable. Yet just as He thought that Xiao Yan's prejudice would persist, the sudden softening in Xiao Yan's gaze made Luo Bu momentarily stunned, and slightly stirred within him a sense of excitement—he realized that his own courageous, life-risking decision to step forward as a target had, by chance, significantly eased Xiao Yan's initial reservations toward him. "This injury was definitely worth it..." he murmured to himself, a touch of warmth and excitement spreading across his pale face. Gently patting Luo Bu's shoulder, Xiao Yan withdrew a high-grade healing potion from his meditation belt and offered it to him with a smile. "First, take care of your injuries. Once you're recovered, you'll become a true senior leader within the Mo Tie Guild. With your capabilities and the responsibilities you'll bear, the demands on you will be substantial. The Mo Tie Guild is currently in a period of rapid growth, so you'll surely have to work hard in the years ahead." These words marked the true beginning of Xiao Yan's trust in Luo Bu. Thus, upon hearing these words, Luo Bu's hand, which had just received the healing medicine, trembled slightly. While he might not place great value on the trust of ordinary people, the trust of strong individuals—especially super-strong ones like Xiao Yan Hai Bo Dong—was enough to stir excitement and honor within him. "Commander, please rest assured. I will ensure that the brothers from the Sand Guild truly become part of Mo Tie," Luo Bu said, tightly grasping the jade bottle and slightly bowing his body toward Xiao Yan, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "As long as you dedicate your focus to the Mo Tie Guild, I assure you that the benefits you will receive in the future will be beyond your expectations," Xiao Yan smiled, adding with a hint of deeper meaning. Upon hearing Xiao Yan's slightly enigmatic smile, Luo Bu was momentarily taken aback, then bowed respectfully in response. "Hehe, get well soon. Tomorrow, I'll be leaving Stone Desert City with Hai Lao. You'll be the strongest among the Mo Tie forces, so during our absence, you might need to take on more responsibility there." Xiao Yan spoke softly. "Leaving?" Luo Bu asked, slightly surprised. "To the Imperial Capital. There are some matters waiting for me there." Xiao Yan smiled casually, patted Luo Bu's shoulder once more, then turned and walked slowly toward the training grounds. Xiao Ding glanced at Luo Bu in the hall and whispered to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan smiled slightly, not denying his intention, and looked up at the slowly descending Hai Bo Dong from the sky, speaking softly, "There's no choice. Tomorrow, I and Hai Elder will be leaving Shishemocity. Without addressing these potential issues, I simply can't feel at ease and make my departure." "Leaving tomorrow? So soon?" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were both taken aback, furrowing their brows in inquiry. "Yes. We originally planned to head to the Imperial Capital a month ago, but due to my injuries, we've delayed this long. Now, we simply can't afford any more delays." Xiao Yan smiled. "Then, truly, you're planning to go to Yunlan Sect in a month?" Xiao Ding, gazing at Xiao Yan's composed smile, suddenly spoke in a more subdued tone. "Yes. Yunlan Sect—must go!" Xiao Yan nodded gently, his voice steady and resolute, without the slightest wavering. "The Yunlan Sect—well, that's a major powerhouse, not easy to handle at all... Besides, when Master Mo Cheng of the Mo Clan died at your hands, you did conceal your identity back then. But should you appear again at the Yunlan Sect, your identity would inevitably be uncovered. Even if you triumph over Nalan Yanran, I doubt the old guard there would let you leave unscathed." Xiao Ding expressed his concerns. "Then, if they truly intend to make things difficult, let's prepare for a full-scale battle to the end," Xiao Yin replied calmly, lifting his gaze to the sea wave elder, He Bode, who had settled beside a large boulder. He shrugged and smiled, saying, "He Bode, don't you agree?" "Your brother is absolutely right—the Yunlan Sect isn't something to take lightly," He Bode sighed, looking at Xiao Yin. "Well, what can I do? I've been tied down by you for the past year as your bodyguard. Now it seems, you've been planning all along." "Hehe, if I let Sea Elder walk away unscathed, carrying only his lightness, wouldn't that be a serious mistake?" Seeing Sea Po Dong's helpless expression, Xiao Yan joked. Upon hearing this, Sea Po Dong could only shake his head with a wry smile. Xiao Yan reached out, plucked a leaf from a nearby branch, and bit into it gently, letting the subtle astringent flavor spread throughout his mouth. He then turned his gaze toward the distant north—where stood the towering presence of Yunlan Sect, the imperial power of Jia Ma. "Then we'll see. If they truly push too hard, even at the cost of another serious injury, I'll have no choice but to cultivate a genuine Buddha-angry Fire Lotus atop Yunlan Sect." The calm, quiet murmur of the young man only deepened Sea Po Dong's sense of helplessness. With a sigh, he shook his head, smiling bitterly, "He's truly mad. To have gotten involved with him—no matter how strong Yunlan Sect is, it's going to be a real challenge."