"This...?" Above, Lan Yanran stared in wonder at Xiao Yan below. The familiar gestures he had just displayed—spouting purple flames and the jade-colored flames on his palms—slowly brought to mind the young man who had once left a deep impression on her, named Yan Xiao. Two slender figures in her mind gradually merged, and then seamlessly combined into one. Aside from his face, Xiao Yan's demeanor and expression were now indistinguishable from the young alchemist who, on that day at the royal plaza, had single-handedly defeated the entire Outcloud Empire's contingent. "Yanxiao... Xiao Yan... Yanxiao... Xiao Yan..." The soft murmuring escaped her lips, and at this moment, Lan Yanran suddenly felt a profound realization, as if everything had come into focus. The enigmatic young man who had risen to prominence at the Pharmaceutical Conference, becoming a standout among the youth of the Gamma Empire—so impressive that even her own proud demeanor had been stirred to admiration—was none other than the boy she had once considered a mere waste three years ago! Lan Yanran bit firmly into her full red lips, her facial expression shifting constantly. With her jade hands covering her mouth, her body remained rigid, as though struck by lightning, numb and nearly out of control. This sudden revelation left her composed mind in a state of complete disarray, and the calm composure of her usually serene face now turned pale. The peer of her age, the first one in many years to leave her with genuine admiration and a sense of something unusual—yet someone she had once considered a mere waste, someone whose dignity she had nearly trampled upon?!! This staggering contrast, as if from two entirely different worlds, left Lan Yanran feeling as though she were dreaming. "He is Yan Xiao..." The sudden revelation on the tree's summit also left Jia Xingtian, Fama, and Lan Jie equally stunned. Perhaps the first two had already sensed something subtly amiss, but when the reality unfolded before them, they too found it utterly surreal. "Yan Xiao, Xiao Yan... Ah, we truly have been foolishly old-fashioned," Fama shook his head, sighed, and gazed at the slender young man on the stage, a wry smile playing on his lips. "I never thought that not only did this young lad possess such exceptional talent in alchemy, but his potential in cultivation was equally astonishing. Indeed, it's no surprise—true heroes often emerge from the youth." "Indeed, a truly promising young talent. The Nalan family and Yunlan Sect have truly picked the wrong target this time—severely hit...” Jia Xingtian’s expression was slightly unusual. Having witnessed Xiao Yan’s performance at the Pharmacist Assembly, he was fully aware of the immense potential this young man possessed. With sufficient time, Jia Xingtian was certain even Yunlan Sect would have to take him seriously. "This time, the Nalan family is truly going to rue the day..." On the great tree, Mu Chen and Mitel Tengshan, among others, were equally stunned. After a moment, their eyes turned to Nalan Jie, now completely speechless, and sympathy welled up on their faces. "Heh…" Exhaling deeply, then drawing in a sharp, steady breath, he repeated this several times until the slightly awkward, stunned expression on his face gradually settled. With his hands firmly pressing against his sleeves to appear composed, the trembling of the tree branches and twigs at his feet still betrayed the panic and uncertainty within him. "Xiao Yan... He... He's really the Rock Hawk?" His gaze remained fixed on the young man in the center of the arena, and the image of the figure in a medicinal master's robe slowly merged into his mind, eventually becoming seamless. His lips trembled slightly, and the expression on his face at that moment was utterly captivating. While earlier, Xiao Yan's demonstrated strength had already begun to make him feel somewhat bitter, this sudden revelation of a second identity now truly tightened his chest, sending a sharp pang through his heart. A young man whose cultivation talent is not only exceptional but also whose alchemy talent remains astonishingly impressive—such a person is nearly always a top-tier talent fiercely pursued by major powers. Whoever secures him essentially secures a future super-strong force. Yet the Lan family has actually pushed this exceptionally promising youth out the door. During the time when Xiao Yan transformed into a Rock Hawk, Lan Jie had ample opportunities to interact with him, which enabled him to observe the young man's outstanding qualities more clearly. Among the younger generation he has encountered over the years, in terms of both potential and mental acuity, this young man stands out as truly exceptional. Lan Jie has no doubt that, with these two qualities, the young man will surpass many of the peak-level强者 of the Jia Ma Empire in the future. Yet this very individual—supposed to be the most solid pillar and the most promising force of the Nalan family’s future—had been quietly and painfully pushed out of the Nalan clan’s fold by Nalan Yanran back then, resulting in today’s direct confrontation. The starkly contrasting circumstances now weigh heavily upon Nalan Jie’s heart, causing waves of aching pain. "Ah…" Nalan Jie sighed deeply. At this moment, he could say nothing more. Given the long-standing tensions between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, could he possibly believe that simply through his own words, Xiao Yan would reconcile with Nalan Yanran? For this three-year promise, Xiao Yan had diligently cultivated for three years. Even though Nalan Jie himself was unaware of the precise details of Xiao Yan’s journey during those years, anyone could imagine that to achieve such a remarkable leap in strength within just three years—despite possessing exceptional natural talent—would have required a level of solitude and perseverance far beyond what most people could endure. Coughed violently, the naturally rosy hue of Nalan Jie's complexion subtly faded, his face now appearing dull and weary. Overwhelmed by complex emotions, he seemed to have aged suddenly, his listless demeanor clearly conveying the profound impact of this blow. After all, who could remain composed when witnessing a once-ignored, useless son-in-law—someone who had been cast aside by the family—transform overnight into a status so remarkable that it left everyone speechless? Especially since this son-in-law had once been the family's strongest shield, capable of deflecting storms and turbulent winds. Yet now, that very shield had become a sharp, pointed spear aimed directly at them—the gleaming tip of the spear sending a chill through Nalan Jie's very bones. "Rock Hawk? The young man who won the championship at this Pharmaceutical Conclave?" Upon hearing this, ancient River furrowed his brows and turned to ask. "Yes..." Li Ling nodded, offering a wry smile. "We never expected him to be Xiao Yan—we've all been kept in the dark about him." As she spoke, a deep sense of relief settled within her heart. Since Rock Hawk was indeed Xiao Yan, it was likely that he had no special feelings for Nan Lan Yanran. And with that, the one opponent she had considered her strongest—now simply vanished without a trace. That was truly a blessing. "As I understand, three years ago, Xiao Yan had no knowledge of pharmaceutical arts. Yet within just three years, he has managed to produce a fourth-grade medicine—specifically, a Three-Trace Qingling Pill—of such caliber. This... if true, then his pharmaceutical talent must be absolutely extraordinary." Ancient River said, his voice steady. "Though it sounds a bit embarrassing to admit, among the younger generation, he's the only one I truly admire. His talent in alchemy is truly astonishing." Li Ling said seriously. "You'd actually yield to someone? It seems this defeat in the grand assembly hasn't been entirely without benefit—at least, you won't be as arrogant as before." Gazing at Li Ling with a touch of surprise, Guo He, knowing well his disciple's inherent pride, was taken aback to find him genuinely respectful of Xiao Xiang, who was clearly younger than himself. Upon hearing this, Li Ling blushed slightly and hesitated to respond, fully aware that his past arrogance had often caused Guo He both frustration and concern. "The jade-colored flame in his hands appears to be a unique type of fire—something of an exotic fire. As for the purple flame, it seems more like a beast's fire, likely obtained from a high-tier mythical beast." "Old He is no stranger to the art of alchemy—right away, he discerned the true nature of the Qinglian Earth Heart Flame and the purple flame in Xiao Yan's hands. 'To master both flames with such ease speaks volumes about Xiao Yan's soul power. It's no wonder you've lost to him. To simultaneously control two flames is no easy feat—even some fourth-rank alchemists find it difficult.' As the saying goes, 'the casual observer sees the spectacle, while the expert sees the subtleties.' With only a cursory glance, Old He already spotted several distinctive qualities in Xiao Yan. After returning from the desert, Fu He also cleared some things up. It seemed that their entire desert fire-seizing expedition had been meticulously orchestrated by others, and all their efforts ultimately served as a dowry for that enigmatic figure. Gazing steadily at Xiao Yan's face, Fu He's eyes slowly narrowed, for some inexplicable reason, he always felt as though he had seen that face before. His brows furrowed tightly. Then, at a sudden moment, Fu He's eyes narrowed sharply—he finally remembered! The young man they had unexpectedly rescued from the hands of the female serpent leader during their time in the desert—was none other than Xiao Yan. Thoughts surged through his mind like lightning, each lingering doubt from the beginning now suddenly resolving with clear, natural flow—thus explaining how their movements had been so precisely tracked, and why, while they were delaying the Queen of Medusa, someone had already slipped into the city unnoticed to claim the异fire. One by one, the enigmas intertwined, finally revealing the clear, refined features of the young man. "Good thing, you managed to fool us all...” With both hands inserted into his sleeves, Ancient River gazed intently at Xiao Yan in the center of the arena, a sense of both amused and slightly embarrassed washing over him. His lineup of travelers had long been considered nearly invincible in the Gamma Empire, yet here they were, defeated by a young man barely twenty years old. "I still don't know exactly how you did it, but—well, for now, let's focus on overcoming this immediate challenge. Yanran's Wind Extremity isn't something we can simply overlook."