"Unqualified?" The gentle, weathered face of Jia instantly showed signs of astonishment, then fixed his peculiar gaze upon Xiao Yan. With Hai Bo Dong's status as a Duke-level combatant, how could he claim that Xiao Yan lacked the qualifications to be his student? Did Xiao Yan possess such immense potential? Under the night sky, Lan Yanran and the others stared, dumbfounded at Hai Bo Dong's laughter. After a moment of shock, they simply regarded the remark as a jest. In the realm of Jia Ma Empire, whenever a Duke-level warrior announced his intention to take on a disciple, countless talented youths would eagerly flock to him—being accepted as a disciple of such a warrior was practically equivalent to securing a ticket to greatness. "Haha, Hai Elder is just joking," Xiao Yan shook his head with a smile. "Jia Elder, please don't take it seriously. The young man already has a teacher, so naturally, he won't be switching to anyone else." By the side, Hai Bo Dong remained unconvinced. Even when Xiao Yan had regained his Battle Emperor-level strength, he had always carried an intense sense of danger—especially the terrifying Buddha-angry Flame Lotus he had displayed during his battles against those two enigmatic Battle Emperor-level warriors, which had deeply instilled a sense of apprehension in Hai Bo Dong. Though currently, Xiao Yan’s strength seemed to have diminished due to the use of the Buddha-angry Flame Lotus, in Hai Bo Dong’s eyes, Xiao Yan had already reached a level equal to, or even surpassing, his own. It was only when he heard Jia Lao claim that Xiao Yan was his disciple that Hai Bo Dong could not help but let out a quiet chuckle. Upon hearing this, Jia Lao smiled gently, subtly observing Hai Bo Dong’s expression, and found himself growing increasingly astonished. Given his deep understanding of Hai Bo Dong’s character, he knew well that the latter rarely opened up to such jests. "Then, is he truly his disciple?" "Softly murmured in his heart, Jia Lao couldn't help but ask, 'Young Master Yanxiao, could you tell me your master's name? Might it be that I've met him before?'" Jia elder smiled and shook his head, yet still harbored a certain doubt regarding Xiao Yan's words. For it was no ordinary honor—having Sea Bodo express such sentiments was something even Jia elder himself had never experienced before. Thus, it seemed that Rock Xiao's master must be someone even stronger than Sea Bodo or himself. Although the Jia Ma Empire spanned vast territories and it was not uncommon to find isolated, powerful individuals dwelling in remote mountains, it was still rather unusual for someone of the imperial royal family's protectors, leveraging the empire's strength, to have a clear understanding of such hidden masters within the empire. Yet, to this day, Jia elder had never heard of any such legendary powerhouse residing in quiet seclusion within the empire. Nalan Jie and Mitel Tengshan floated in the night sky, quietly exchanging glances. They naturally sensed that Hai Bodo's words were no mere jest—should what he said be true, then the master behind Rock Jiao must possess an astonishingly formidable strength. "Good thing we haven't come into conflict with him," they both observed, each seeing a touch of relief in the other's eyes. As heads of their respective families, they well understood the kind of overwhelming power such a master wielded. "Alright, alright, it's getting late now. Each of you go back to your homes," Hai Bodo said, lifting his gaze toward the slowly descending silver moon, yawned, and then waved his hands. "Hmm, I suppose Rock Jiao will also be attending the Herbalist's Assembly tomorrow?" Jia, the elder, nodded and casually added. "Yes." Xiao Yan smiled and nodded, adding the title of "Old Master" — he had heard it from Hai Bo Dong on numerous occasions. Even during his confrontation with the two mysterious Du Phong elders outside Yancheng, he had first learned the term "Old Monster" from them. As the only force in the Jia Ma Empire openly capable of standing par with Queen Medusa, Xiao Yan now held deep respect and caution whenever he was without the protection of the Old Master, speaking with both courtesy and caution. Thinking of Queen Medusa, Xiao Yan unconsciously stroked the seven-colored Devouring Python, quietly sleeping in his sleeve. Fortunately, the young serpent was naturally adept at perfectly concealing its presence; otherwise, it would surely have been detected by such powerful figures as the Old Master and Hai Bo Dong. "Oh, this little one is quite an unstable bomb..." Xiao Yan sighed internally, shaking his head as he recalled the queen's cold and composed demeanor. Though she was stunningly beautiful and captivating, when it came to killing people, she was as simple and efficient as slaughtering chickens. Xiao Yan was certain that if he had refused the queen's request to secure the recipe for the so-called "Fusion Spirit Pill" this time, the next time she awoke, she would surely claim his life. "Without a master guiding us, things are truly constrained. I must hurry and secure the Seven-Phantom Azure Spirit Nectar from the Na Lan family. Otherwise, having my life held in someone else's hands would be truly unbearable." With a weary shake of his head, Xiao Yan realized, after losing his elder physician, just how precarious his situation had become. "Heh, that's where the young talents showcase themselves. I'll probably go see it tomorrow as well—perhaps I can then witness firsthand what it is about the individuals that has even the old Hai elder so deeply impressed." "Jia Lao smiled slightly, then turned his gaze toward the top of the great tree, speaking softly, 'Xiao Yue, it's so late now. You're still out here wasting time—come back with me.' 'Oh...' Hearing Jia Lao's words, the usually sprightly and odd-minded princess sighed, then stepped forward obediently. With a simple gesture, Jia Lao summoned a gentle pull that drew her to his side, where she hovered motionless. 'Daughter Yanran, young Liu Ling, when you see your teacher, please extend my greetings.' Holding the princess in one hand, Jia Lao smiled warmly at Lan Yanran and Liu Ling, then turned his eyes to the reverent wood warrior, chuckling, 'The young one from the Wood family has returned again, hasn't he? This time, I expect you to behave—otherwise, you'll be sent out once more.' 'Yes.' "He nodded vigorously, as if a chicken were pecking at the grain—his once-assertive demeanor now completely gone before this ancient beast, who even made Wood Chen bow respectfully. Seeing that, even as he prepared to part ways, Xiao Yan raised his head, smiled warmly at Na Lan Jie and Na Lan Jie, and then turned to Hai Bo Dong, saying, 'Shall we go now?' 'Yes, let's go,' Hai Bo Dong replied with a relaxed nod, offering a brief greeting to Jia, while completely ignoring Na Lan Jie and Na Lan Jie. As his icy wings gradually emerged behind him, a single flap sent a gust of cold wind, and he vanished into the sky. 'Ah, Jia, goodbye,' Xiao Yan smiled at Jia, and as his own wings vibrated behind him, he transformed into a streak of light, following closely behind Hai Bo Dong." Upon seeing Xiao Yan and the two of them depart, Jia old did not linger either. With one hand cradling the young princess, he spread his pale yellow aura wings behind him, and with a whoosh, vanished into the air, leaving behind a gentle laughter that spiraled through the sky. "Everyone, please disperse..." ... In the night sky, two streaks of light swiftly passed by. "Hey, did you leave any word about me out?" Xiao Yan suddenly frowned, closely following Hai Bo Dong. "No... I know you wish to keep your identity hidden. I've said not a single word about you to that old monster. You needn't worry." Hai Bo Dong shook his head. "Try to keep it confidential. Yunlan Sect has stood strong in the Jima Empire for so many years—its ties with the royal family must be solid. We simply can't afford to be careless." Xiao Yan sighed. "Your injury hasn't healed yet?" Hai Bo Dong nodded, then suddenly asked. The tip of his heart subtly stirred, but Xiao Yan remained composed, giving a slight nod. "That thing was absolutely terrifying—its aftereffects were extremely strong. However, it should be improving now. As long as we secure the Seven-Phantom Qing-Ling Saliva, recovery should be possible." "I had clearly advised you not to act impulsively, yet you insisted on fusing the heterogenous flames..." Hai Bo Dong shook his head with a sigh. "That old monster has grown increasingly powerful. When I fought him earlier, I was completely at a disadvantage. I believe he is now at the peak of eight-star or even nine-star Duophoenix level. Oh well—if he gains any further fortune, perhaps... well, he might even break through the barrier and become a Duozong-level master." "That strong?" Though he had expected this, hearing Hai Bo Dong confirm it, Xiao Yan still couldn't help being slightly surprised. "Yes... Because of my connection with the Mittel family, that man has always been on guard, fearing I might use this opportunity to overthrow the Gamma royal house. Yesterday, he accidentally discovered my movements. He claims he's coming to train with me, but honestly, isn't that just setting me up for a demonstration? Isn't that plain old intimidation from this stubborn old man?" Hai Bode complained. "Won't he interfere with our plans?" Xiao Yan frowned slightly, speaking softly. "Actually, he won't be much of a hindrance. Haven't you noticed that he's also starting to be cautious toward you? Or perhaps even more so toward the teacher you claim to have—someone who doesn't even exist. As long as your lies remain unexposed, he'll never dare to take any real action against you." Hai Bode mused. "So, you need to recover your strength quickly. Once you regain your strength, we won't have to worry so much about that old man anymore." "I'll do my best, but if he really presses me too hard, even at the cost of continuing to be severely injured, I'll definitely sacrifice a Buddha's Fury Lotus in the Imperial Capital." Xiao Yan shrugged, speaking casually. "Hey—come on, you're crazy!" Hearing this, Hai Bo Dong's mouth hung open, and after a moment, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence with a look of reluctant frustration, then fell silent.