Gazing at Xiao Yan, slowly tapping his desk as if deep in thought, Yafei felt a slight sense of tension. As the de facto leader of the Nalan family, Elder Nalan had maintained particularly strong ties with the Mitel family over the years. Should he now pass away, the cooperative arrangements between the two families would likely come to a standstill—a significant loss. Of course, Yafei knew it would not be expected that Xiao Yan, with his current abilities, could completely expel the toxins from Elder Nalan’s body. Though Xiao Yan had grown considerably through his training, the very essence of the Heterogeneous Flame—an entity nearly mythical—still remained beyond his reach in Yafei’s estimation. She was so keen on observing Xiao Yan's reaction—above all, she hoped the mysterious teacher hidden behind Xiao Yan would step in. Having witnessed the awe-inspiring strength Xiao Yan had displayed in Wutan City just a few years ago, Lady Ya was increasingly convinced of his enigmatic nature and profound depth. Under such circumstances, if he were willing to intervene, perhaps the frail, barely clinging life of Lan Lan Senior could be revived. "Though I haven't personally carried out this method, merely hearing what Goh described, I believe it must be quite dangerous. To channel the unique fire into another person's body—should the one doing the channeling harbor even a hint of hostility or make a single oversight, Lan Lan Senior would likely be reduced to ashes, both inside and out within moments. Do you really recommend that I attempt this? After all, I'm not certain I can fully control my emotions in the presence of Lan Yan Ran." After a long silence, Xiao Yan finally spoke slowly. Yafu smiled gently and nodded. "This truly is a very risky endeavor, but the Nalan family has no choice. If they hesitate to take this risk, then perhaps Elder Nalan will indeed fall ill beyond recovery." "Are you going to try?" With a slightly joyful gaze fixed on Xiao Yan, Yafu's eyes sparkled—should Xiao Yan agree, then even if his mysterious teacher did not personally intervene in Elder Nalan's treatment, he would surely offer subtle guidance in the background. That would greatly increase the chances of successfully healing Elder Nalan. "I must obtain the 'Seven-Phantom Azure Spirit Saliva'—this is absolutely essential!" Xiao Yan pressed his lips together, then after a moment, furrowed his brows slightly and said softly, "But do you have any special item here that can change one's appearance?" You know my grievances with the Nalan family. If they recognize my identity, I simply won't allow myself to undergo that particularly risky detoxification procedure for the old Nalan—no matter how much I might want to. Honestly, it's quite troublesome. Gazing at Xiao Yan, who was frowning and growing increasingly impatient, Yafei quickly thought through her options and then nodded, smiling. "While it's rare to find special items capable of altering one's appearance, our auction hall still has one on hand." She waved her hand to summon a maid, then whispered softly into her ear. Upon hearing Yafei's instructions, the maid bowed respectfully, stepped back promptly, and returned a few minutes later, hurrying in with a delicate wooden box, which she gently placed upon the table. Receiving the delicate wooden box, Xiao Yan opened it slowly, revealing a thin, somewhat human-like membrane inside. A slight sense of wonder stirred within him. With gentle fingers, he picked up the membrane and placed it carefully upon his palm. To his touch, it was cool as ice, delicate as a cicada's wing, almost weightless. "This is crafted from the ice silk spun by the ice mountain snow serpents, meticulously shaped by skilled artisans. On this thin membrane, a human face has been delicately outlined. Simply placing it over the face will conceal the previous appearance." "Yafei smiled, 'This ice-silk surface of the silkworm is truly one of our premium items at the Mitel auction house. If we were to auction it off, we'd surely receive no less than 300,000. For this occasion, let's simply consider it a free gift. Don't hesitate to decline—should you truly be able to heal Master Nalan, the potential benefits Mitel will gain will far surpass the value of 300,000. This, then, will be our hidden investment.' Hearing this, Xiao Yan paused slightly, then gently nodded, without further objection. He raised his head, spread the ice-silk surface of the silkworm over his palm, and gently pressed it against his face. Instantly, a cool sensation began to seep into his body, and he could even faintly feel his facial features—his senses and features—beginning to subtly shift and move." Standing by the side, Yafei watched the gradually ordinary face, smiling gently and then taking out a crystal mirror, placing it before Xiao Yan. "Not bad, huh?" she said. Upon opening his eyes, Xiao Yan gazed at the mirror, where the face now looked almost entirely different from the one he had known before, and was momentarily taken aback, then nodded with a touch of wonder and satisfaction. "Though among strong individuals, recognition usually relies on one's aura, you've had limited interactions with the Nalan family. That brief parting from Nalan Yanran years ago—three years later, she wouldn't have been able to recognize your aura at all. Therefore, with this ice silkworm skin on your face, as long as it isn't carefully scanned by the other party, your disguise should remain undetected." Yafei said with a warm smile. Xiao Yan nodded, slowly rubbing his palm over the face covered in ice silkworm skin. After a while, he lazily said, "Then I'll go try. If I can successfully remove the toxins for him, I'll do my best. But I've already mentioned that it's an extremely dangerous task—should my mood suddenly shift or my hand tremble and turn that old man into ash, I won't be held responsible." Hearing the last sentence, Ya Fei shook her head in resignation and said, "I'll draft a recommendation letter for you. Then, when you go to the Na Lan family, carry it with you—it should help ease the strict review process." "Thank you," Xiao Yan smiled and nodded. Twisting around, she drew out a finely crafted paper from the table surface. Yafei Yu held her ink brush, slightly bending her body into a graceful, inviting curve, her face serious as she slowly wrote on the paper. After a while, she exhaled deeply, folded the letter neatly, and handed it to Xiao Yan with a smile. "Xiao Yan, don't let me down—this is actually my first time recommending someone." "My dear young lady, if Mitel Tengshan—that useless youngster—should inquire about me, simply tell him that when I have time, I'll visit him, and ask him not to act like a madman, constantly seeking my whereabouts." Leisurely standing up, Hai Bo glanced at Ya Fei standing by, and said softly. "Uh... yes, sir." At these words, Ya Fei was momentarily taken aback, then smiled faintly and nodded. Until she understood the nature of her relationship with the senior elder, she could only respond with polite hesitation. Staring at the two silhouettes fading behind the door, Yafei paused slightly before stepping out through another side gate. It was no small matter when a Duke-level combatant appeared at the Miter Auction House—such an event had to be reported internally to the family. Of course, after the report, the old Mr. Lei and his grandson would naturally have a few complaints to make... ... Situated at the junction of the border between the Gamma Empire and two neighboring great empires, this renowned ancient academy stands quietly, exuding a sense of time-worn grace and antiquity. Though its outward appearance is not particularly imposing, its profound reputation and unmatched strength command deep respect—even from the three great empires themselves, which consistently treat it with due reverence and never show any neglect or indifference. Within the ancient academy, students from all corners gather. Back in their hometowns, these young people might be considered exceptional—true talents, celebrated as such—yet here, talent seems to be abundant, filling baskets and pails. Thus, what once stood as a source of pride in their villages now merely meets the bare minimum. At the orientation ceremony, the elderly man, who appeared as if about to drift off into sleep, or even into a coffin, spoke only two brief sentences: "Regardless of your previous status, once you enter here, you are all simply students of the Cane Academy. All your identities become equal. You may fight and duel within the academy—so long as no one is killed, I will not intervene. But should any of you dare to seek retribution using your family's resources, no matter how many, the Cane Academy shall absorb them all." The sudden surge of commanding presence from the elder firmly etched these few words into the hearts of every student. "Here, if it's a dragon, you must coil; if it's a tiger, you must lie down!" ... On a remote mountain peak of an ancient academy, beside a sheer cliff, a young girl dressed in a light green robe stood gracefully, her elegant posture framed by the gentle breeze that gently stirred her three thousand strands of hair, cascading down to her hips, causing them to drift softly. As her skirt swept past, the contours of her perfect figure subtly emerged. The girl gazed silently toward the distant eastern sky, her expression calm and serene—like a common lotus blossom untouched by dust. After a long silence, she suddenly spoke, her voice clear and ethereal, evoking a peculiar sense of spiritual purification. "Come forth..." As her words settled, a green silhouette unexpectedly detached itself from a large tree behind her, respectfully facing the girl who was turned away, and kneeling on one knee, bowing with reverence, "Miss." The girl slowly turned, revealing a refined and exquisite jade-like profile—none other than Xun'er, the one who had entered the Gan'an Academy. "Madam, Mr. Xiao Yan has arrived in Jima City!"