Amidst those streams of varied expressions, Xiao Yan slowly stepped out of the Alchemy Guild, standing at the entrance and gazing at the gradually darkening sky, slightly怔. With the grand assembly now concluded, he suddenly felt an immense lightness throughout his body—without the pressing necessity to secure victory, he could finally breathe deeply and relax. "Ah, this thing truly drains one's spirit..." he sighed. Had it not been for Queen Medusa's sudden remark at the outset, Xiao Yan never would have so tirelessly and desperately committed himself to this grand event. Recalling Queen Medusa, Xiao Yan unconsciously brushed his hand against the seven-colored Sky-Eating Python, now sleeping gently around his arm. Perhaps due to Queen Medusa's ever-increasing strength, the serpent now frequently entered periods of slumber—sometimes even during periods of intense cultivation. Even when his senses were most acute, Xiao Yan occasionally sensed the mutual suppression and struggle between the two souls within the small creature's body. "Oh, there's always so much trouble..." He sighed, realizing he lacked the strength to assist the Seven-Color Devouring Python. He could only watch as they fought. Though the final victor would undoubtedly be Queen Medusa, at least the Seven-Color Devouring Python had now secured for Xiao Yan certain qualifications to negotiate with the Queen. From the way Queen Medusa had suddenly spoken last time, it was clear that the "Spirit-Uniting Pill" was of immense importance to her. Now that the prescription was in hand, he would still need to rely on Xiao Yan to refine it into actual pills. Thus, at least, he no longer needed to fear that the Queen might suddenly awaken and claim his life. Inhaling a breath that was slightly damp and cool, Xiao Yan pushed aside the chaotic emotions swirling in his mind. He paused briefly on the street, then stepped forward toward the location of the Na Lan family. This would be the final treatment for Na Lan Jie's toxin today. If everything went smoothly, he should be able to secure the "Seven-Phantom Qing-Ling Saliva" by tonight. Then, he would test whether this remedy could awaken the old doctor. If successful, this visit to Yunlan Sect would provide the most secure protection for him. Should the attempt fail—well, then he would have to face the situation head-on. By now, there was no reason he would hesitate or abandon his course. "There's still one more day of spare time tomorrow... if things go well... Ah, unfortunately, this remedy carries a risk of counter-effect, and I've already refined it into a three-rune version. For a Battle Master-level user, the counter-effect is more pronounced. If someone with weaker strength happens to be unlucky at this very moment, that would truly be frustrating." With a slight smile, Xiao Yan gently stroked his storage ring, inside which lay a freshly forged three-rune Qingling Pill, only just made less than a day ago. Though Xiao Yan couldn't quite gauge Lan Yanran's true strength, the sharp, decisive aura she displayed that night clearly indicated she was at least on par with Mu Zhan—perhaps even surpassing him. Mu Zhan was a Nine-Star Battle Master. If Lan Yanran could exceed him, then she must have reached the level of a Grand Battle Master. "Just three years ago, she was only a Three-Star Battle User. In just three years, she's already advanced to Grand Battle Master status?" If I exclude the cases where my judgment was mistaken, then surely over the past three years she must have taken some pill specifically designed to enhance her abilities. With Yunlan Sect's substantial financial resources and its extensive collection, coupled with the assistance of the Pill King, Guo He, such a rare pill—though difficult to obtain—should certainly have been possible to produce. Otherwise, even with her equally outstanding talent, she would not have surpassed me by so much. Xiao Yan lowered his head and thought deeply. "Although the teacher possesses profound and seemingly incomprehensible abilities, preparing the elixirs requires a variety of rare herbs and ingredients. With my current capabilities, I often struggle to secure many of them. Without sufficient supplies, no matter how strong the teacher is, he simply cannot produce the elixirs. Therefore, over the years, he has consistently relied on catalytic elixirs that are easier to prepare—such as the liquid applied to the body, which causes intense pain but effectively stimulates human potential. Yet, he has never managed to create elixirs that directly enhance one's strength." Considering these mutual circumstances, Lan Yanran's remarkable progress in strength did indeed ease Xiao Yan's concerns slightly. "Ah, we'll see then. If we can awaken the teacher, there'll be no need to take the risk of consuming the Three-Stripe Qingling Pill. But if that fails..." Exhaling softly, Xiao Yan murmured, "Then we'll have to give it our all. For this very day, I've been preparing for three years—absolutely no room for any flaw or failure!" Shaking his head to push aside these growing frustrations, Xiao Yan looked up. At the horizon, the estate of the Na Lan family had already begun to take shape. He slowly approached the entrance. Having come daily to assist Na Lan Jie with his toxin removal, Xiao Yan had become a familiar face here, so the guards stationed at either side of the gate did not hesitate to greet him politely with a smile and simply gestured him in respectfully. After walking steadily along the gravel path for a while, they reached the hall where Nalan Jie had been waiting. Seeing him, Nalan Jie smiled warmly and stood up, bowing gracefully, saying, "Congratulations! You've now become a household name throughout the Imperial Capital—everyone knows of you." Smiling, Xiao Yan glanced around, only to notice something unusual: Nalan Yanan, who had always been present, was now absent. "Ah, Yanan has returned to her sect. Today, Yunlan Sect sent someone to urge her back," Nalan Jie explained, clearly understanding Xiao Yan's curiosity. "Oh." Nodding politely, Xiao Yan's expression remained warm, yet a quiet smile of coldness stirred within him: "With the three-year agreement now fulfilled, it's only natural she'd return." "Nalan Elder, let's begin our today's detoxification session. This will be the final one. After tonight, that lingering poison will finally leave your body." "Hehe, thank you so much, Rock-Xiao, for this time. Should there ever be anything I can assist with in the future, just come to my family, Lan. As long as I remain the head of the household, I will never refuse." Lan Jie smiled gratefully. "Nothing more than what we each need." Shaking his head with a smile, Xiao Yan followed behind Lan Jie and proceeded to the side pavilion, where he began his final detoxification session... Lifting his sleeve to wipe a drop of cold sweat from his forehead, Xiao Yan gently shifted his fingers away from Nalan Jie's back, gazing at the now noticeably rosy complexion of his face, and nodded with a smile. "Congratulations, Master Nalan," he said. "The scorching toxin has finally left your body." As he spoke, a slight bitterness lingered at the corners of his mouth—though the toxin had indeed departed his body, it had ultimately found its way back into his own. "Ah…" Nalan Jie exhaled deeply, and this time, the breath no longer carried the familiar black particles. Clearly, as Xiao Yan had predicted, the toxin had been completely eradicated. "Gratitude without words," Nalan Jie declared, standing up slowly and addressing Xiao Yan with solemnity. "I know young Rock Xiao came seeking the 'Seven-Phantom Qing-Ling Saliva,' yet my life is not something that can be measured simply by that herb. I, Nalan Jie, hereby pledge to you—should the opportunity arise, I shall repay this debt most sincerely." The earnestness in his expression spoke volumes. Smiling slightly, Xiao Yan remained unconcerned. "Clap! Clap!" Nalan Jie suddenly clapped his hands. A moment later, the closed door was pushed open, and a maid entered, carrying a plant in a jade pot. As soon as this plant appeared, a gentle, soothing fragrance immediately filled the room, calming the mind and spirit. With the distinct fragrance filling the air, Xiao Yan's gaze instantly settled on the plant in her hands. The plant was a deep green, resembling a fine piece of jade carved into a natural form. At its summit, a bloom with seven hues was slowly unfolding. As the petals opened, Xiao Yan was struck by the fact that the seven colors were gradually shifting and transforming—creating a stunning, vibrant display. "Hehe, Rock-Phoenix Young Master, since you've already healed me, then this item belongs to you now." Though he tried to hide it, Lan Jie, the seasoned fox, couldn't miss the subtle signs. He smiled warmly. "Thank you very much." Grateful, Xiao Yan bowed slightly to Lan Jie and then stepped forward, taking the item from the maid's hands, his eyes filled with excitement as he studied it closely. "Although this Seven-Phantom Qing-Ling Saliva can be stored in your nianji, you must expose it to sunlight for one hour every day; otherwise, it will naturally wither. Please remember that," Lan Jie reminded. "Understood." Nodding, Xiao Yan finally felt confident enough to place the "Seven-Phantom Qing-Ling Saliva" into his nianji and turned to Lan Jie, saying, "Lan Elder, I have some urgent matters to attend to tonight. Since everything here is settled, I shall be off now." "Hm? So quickly?" Nalan Jie was taken aback and had intended to hold him, but seeing the urgency in Xiao Yan's expression, he swallowed his words and merely nodded with a smile, saying, "Whenever you need help in the future, just come to me." "Of course," Xiao Yan replied, smiling warmly while still eager to awaken the old medic. He bowed slightly to Nalan Jie and then turned, hurrying out of the room.