Following the street, Xiao Yan walked steadily toward his inn. The admiring glances from the onlookers along the way made him feel increasingly uneasy, so he hurried, turning down several streets before finally darting into the inn and rushing straight to his room. Once he pushed open the door and closed it behind him, he leaned against the doorframe, took a deep, long breath, and rubbed his forehead. A slight fatigue settled upon his face. Though the two rounds of evaluations seemed straightforward, their hidden intricacies had deeply troubled him. The final race against the gray-robed youth only added to his weariness. Controlling the hetero-fire, after all, was already an extremely demanding, precise task. Shaking his head, Xiao Yan walked into the room, brushed some cold water over his face to clear his mind, then hurried into the inner hall, sitting cross-legged on the bed. He fought off the urge to collapse and fall asleep immediately, closing his eyes and forming the hand seals for cultivation. Taking several deep breaths, he stabilized his breath and gradually settled into a state of meditation. Over the years of training, Xiao Yan had come to understand that cultivating when mentally fatigued yielded remarkable results. Though this state was not uncommon, no matter how exceptional one's innate talent, becoming a true strong force required consistent, day-by-day accumulation. As the old doctor of herbs had once said, only through deep accumulation could one achieve a powerful burst—this was the true path of a strong warrior. Xiao Yan deeply agreed with this principle. As Xiao Yan gradually entered his cultivation state, the slightly rising and falling of his chest quietly became steady and calm, only after a while did it resume subtle movements. At that moment, the surrounding heavens and earth subtly trembled, and visible streams of energy flowed in with each breath, entering his body and being refined into pure energy that seeped into his meridians, bones, and cells. Under the nourishment of this energy, Xiao Yan could clearly sense his mental fatigue retreating, like the tide receding. Xiao Yan twisted his neck, gazing down at the middle finger of his left hand, which now seemed subtly darkening. His brows furrowed slightly as he murmured, "Damn it! This thing is as persistent as a parasite—this time, I'm not sure whether I've gained or lost from the detoxification effort." Though Xiao Yan was protected by the unique fire within him, who could ignore a toxin so potent that could instantly prove fatal? "Ah well, I'll have to wait until my teacher awakens before I can find a way to deal with this..." Shaking his head with a sigh, Xiao Yan lay down on the warm bed, murmuring, "Once the grand assembly concludes tomorrow, I'll administer the final detox to Nalan Jie. Then he should fully recover. And then—" "Then—this will mark the fulfillment of our three-year agreement." With a slight press of his lips, Xiao Yan breathed out softly. Three years had passed since that impetuous, aloof girl first arrived—now, she had matured so much. Previously, Xiao Yan had assumed that when he saw Lan Yanran again, he would surely be unable to conceal his anger. However, this time—perhaps due to the fact that he was now presenting himself as Yan Xiao—himself found that he was remarkably calm, almost as if he had never met her before. During this period, he had watched her movements and mannerisms with detached indifference, like a stranger. Over the three years, the once-immature youth had matured and grown steady and composed. The dramatic scene of the Xiao family's broken engagement now seemed quite comical and amusing to him. Yet, despite this, he had not regained much of the anger he had felt back then. … The young boy had reacted so passionately back then, perhaps because his heart—still sensitive beneath the weight of being labeled a "waste"—had long been worn down by constant ridicule and dismissiveness within the family. Naral Yanran’s firm decision to withdraw her engagement had struck a decisive blow upon that fragile, sensitive spirit. Under the relentless pressure and repeated setbacks, the boy could no longer endure and finally broke forth—thus, the story of the past few years unfolded. At least, in Xiang Yan’s current reflection, if he had consistently relied on his innate talents without ever experiencing the setback of becoming a "waste," he likely would not have felt much anger even when Naral Yanran came to withdraw her engagement. Yet, he could equally firmly affirm that without those years of being a "waste" and without Naral Yanran’s withdrawal, he, Xiang Yan, would never have achieved the remarkable standing he now held at just under twenty—something that has astonished countless people. Reflecting on those pivotal events that could have altered his entire trajectory, Xiang Yan found himself momentarily lost in thought. He then shook his head with a wry smile, knowing that all of these were merely hypothetical scenarios. Regardless of his current feelings toward Nar Although, since the divorce, Xiao Zhan had never brought up the matter out of fear of upsetting Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan was well aware that no matter what, there remained a lingering resentment within him. As the clan head, he had been the first to be forcibly summoned by the Xiao family and had had his father's original marriage alliance rejected outright—firmly and without compromise. Moreover, the young man, once known as a mere "waste," had stood his ground firmly before his own father, making a solemn vow then to reclaim the dishonor he had suffered! For this promise, the young man began rigorous training, eventually leaving his family behind, traveling across the empire like a ascetic, refining the youthful awkwardness that once marked him... Over the two years since his departure, Xiao Yan had traversed nearly half of the Jiaema Empire, circling back and forth until he finally arrived in this city—specifically to fulfill the three-year agreement. While his desire for vengeance against her was not particularly strong, he simply wished to carry this message and ease the lingering resentment in his father's heart. Then, with a smile, he could say: "This time, I truly settle her—no one will doubt it." Thus, the Yunlan Sect was absolutely essential to visit. Of course, if he succeeded in this three-year agreement, he would not mind casually telling the once-arrogant, dismissive woman—now standing before him—“Your taste has been rather poor.” And that, he would consider his final act of retribution. In three years, Xiao Yan had accumulated certain things and gradually let go of others. Overall, this evolution was positive. "...Ah..." Taking a long, deep breath, Xiao Yan rested his arms against the back of his head, his gaze distant and dreamy. Suddenly, in that moment of stillness, the graceful young woman, as delicate as a lotus in a quiet pond, appeared vividly in his mind—her subtle expressions and gestures stirred gentle warmth on his usually composed face. Regarding the woman who had nearly become his wife, Xiao Yan now felt little, if anything. In the past, he hadn't, and perhaps never would again. If he had to say there was something, it would merely be a man's sense of conquest over women of high status. After two years of cultivation and solitude, he had unexpectedly realized that his heart, without his awareness, had been quietly occupied and entwined by a young woman. Though she was the brightest jewel in his family, she had a peculiar habit of staying close to him, always appearing delicate and pitiful, as though she were overlooked and unloved. Though her background was profoundly grand and enigmatic, she calmly smiled at her own inadequacies, ever patient and obedient... This gentle girl, like a pool of autumn water, quietly seeped into Xiao Yan's heart without him even realizing it. Though young, she was remarkably perceptive—she knew clearly that to capture that restless heart, one had to simmer it gently with a steady, low flame. On some day, when he looked back suddenly, he would understand... "Xun'er, wait for me. Once this matter here is settled, I'll find you..." As he recalled her delicate, charming face, a warm current flowed through his heart. He murmured softly. "Kach—" As Xiao Yan spoke, a faint sound suddenly erupted sharply upon the roof. "Who?" Though the sound was subtle, to someone with such refined perception as Xiao Yan, it was unmistakably a substantial, resonant crash. His expression immediately tightened, and he barked out sharply. As the sound of clapping rang out, Xiao Yan swiftly pushed against the bedframe, launching himself out of the window with agile grace. With a light tap of his foot on a protruding stone, his body surged like a great phoenix, soaring onto the roof. His slightly cold gaze swept across the surroundings instantly. Frowning, Xiao Yan walked slowly across the rooftop. After a while, he suddenly knelt down, gazing at the broken tile fragment, his eyes narrowing. The patterns at the break were clearly visible, indicating it had only recently shattered. With his palm pressing into the tile, some light filtered through, revealing the room beneath—exactly where Xiao Yan had been staying. "Monitoring?" His face remained cold. The tile fragment instantly crumbled into powder in his hands. After a pause, he brushed his hands off and stood up, murmuring to himself, "To vanish so quickly within such a short time—his strength must be at least at the Battle King level. In the Jiamu Sacred City, families with Battle Kings are rather rare—Nalan, Mu, Miter, or the Royal Family?" "Come out now! Hide in plain sight and act like a ghost? What kind of fool are you?" As Xiao Yan pondered, he suddenly turned sharply, facing a specific direction, and barked out a cold command. The cry echoed above the roof, swirling and gradually fading after a while, yet around it, there remained not a single movement. "None of it, then?" Seeing the cry fail, Xiao Yan shrugged, sighed in resignation, and scanned the surroundings once more before finally leaping down from the roof. With Xiao Yan's descent, the roof fell once again into silence. Yet this silence did not last more than a few minutes. Xiao Yan suddenly flashed upward again, gazing at the still-empty roof, and shook his head with a wry smile. He finally concluded that the observer had already departed, and with a sigh, he turned and retreated back to his room. As Xiao Yan truly stepped away this time, the silence on the roof lasted nearly half an hour. Then, from a patch of ground beneath the moon, a dark shadow—like a wall's reflection—began to move strangely. Within a short while, the shadow surged upward and eventually solidified into a human form. A figure was completely enveloped in a dark robe. He casually glanced at where Xiao Yan had disappeared, then slightly raised his head, revealing a weathered, dark-faced, elderly countenance. "Hmm, this young one is indeed quite perceptive," the man murmured, smiling gently. "Had he not suddenly heard the lady's name, he wouldn't have made such a basic mistake. Honestly, if anyone found out that I—someone of my standing—was discovered by a mere junior cultivator, that would be quite embarrassing." "This little one seems to have a certain affection for the lady..." The elder, with his black robe, furrowed his brow, expressing his concern. "And the most troublesome part is that the lady herself holds feelings for him—this simply cannot be allowed. Though Xiao Yan has a solid talent, he still falls far short of expectations. Moreover, he's been lingering around this broken realm of Jia Ma Empire for so long. How could he possibly achieve much? If things continue like this, he'll surely end up heartbroken. Young man, you really think it's that easy to court a daughter like this?" He sighed, murmuring, "Still, there are several capable individuals surrounding this young man. Last time, the elderly man known as the 'Old Jia' nearly detected my presence. He's now on the verge of reaching the Dou Zong level—indeed, quite different from the ordinary. Ah well. At least, this young man is about to join Yun Lan Sect soon. Once I finish handling matters here, I'll be able to return and protect the lady." Stretched out his arms, twisting his body slightly, the elderly man in black robes shivered, his robe gradually blurring until it transformed into a dark silhouette that shot swiftly into the dimness, vanishing completely into silence... "Heard that, Hai Bo Dong was momentarily stunned, then shook his head with a smile: 'How could that be? No one in the Jia Ma Empire has been able to keep an eye on us right under my nose! Not even that old monster!' Frowning slightly, Xiao Yan gently licked his lips and slowly recounted the earlier events in brief. 'Really?' Seeing Xiao Yan's serious expression, which didn't seem to be joking, Hai Bo Dong's face grew steadily more serious. His dry fingers tapped lightly on the table, and after a while, he suddenly seemed to recall something, and murmured, 'Young fellow, I'd like to tell you something—though I'm not entirely certain about it myself...' Noticing Hai Bo Dong's mysterious demeanor, Xiao Yan was momentarily puzzled and asked, 'What's that?' 'Do you remember when we fought those two enigmatic Dou Huang强者 in Yan Cheng?' "Hai Bopo stroked his beard, furrowed his brows, and spoke softly, 'At that time, I vaguely sensed the presence of another exceptionally powerful aura in the room. However, things were urgent then, and my perception was unclear. Since then, I've had several such sensations—each still rather hazy. But now, hearing your account from tonight, I suspect... there's a mysterious figure who has been following us for a long time.'" Hai Bopo's quiet voice made Xiao Yan suddenly feel a chill, swallowing hard and murmuring, "If even you can't detect it, how is that possible? Could this mysterious figure be a Douzong-level master?" "Hmm..." Hai Bopo shook his head with a wry smile, sighed, "I've already stated this is merely my speculation. Whether such a person truly exists or whether we're simply experiencing mental sensitivity—this remains uncertain." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan offered a soft chuckle, furrowed his brow, and thought deeply. He simply couldn't recall when or how he had ever encountered or offended a Douzong-level master. "Alright, don't worry about it—just let things unfold naturally. If someone is indeed following us, they must have a purpose. In that case, I'm certain they'll eventually make themselves known." Hai Bo Dong patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, offering reassurance. "That's the one. Hafu always felt something was off about him, so he wanted to find out. You know, if the Cloud Empire's delegation wins the Grand Assembly, it would be a serious blow to our guild's reputation." Hai Bodo chuckled. "You won't want to..." Xiao Yan's hand hovered slightly, speaking softly. "It depends. We might just go that route. After helping out Hafu, he owes me a favor now—quite a solid one, I'm sure. Heh." Hai Bodo smiled warmly. "Come on, you really are ruthless." Xiao Yan pulled at his lips, amazed at how dark the scene behind the scenes had become. "Enough talking. If you want to see what's really going on with that guy, follow me." Hai Bodo stood up and strolled toward the door. After a moment's hesitation, Xiao Yan finally nodded and followed. He too wanted to know—was this young man truly capable from the start, or was there some other reason behind it?