As more and more gusts coalesced around him, the brilliant white light at the tip of Yun Shan's fingers grew increasingly intense, eventually shining as bright as the sun itself in the sky. "Peak of the Wind—Final Annihilation!" At a certain moment, the air surrounding Yun Shan instantly froze. With a sharp cry, he suddenly pointed his finger directly at Xiao Yan, and the white light burst forth in a dazzling flash, projecting a remarkably slender beam of light. The beam surged forward with such speed that it seemed almost terrifying—its passage caused ripples in space, leaving behind a stark, dark trail across the azure sky, vivid and striking. This formidable technique had been used previously by Yun Yun during her battle against the Purple Crystal Wing Lion King, where it successfully severed the lion king's most resilient central horn—demonstrating the technique's exceptional penetrating power. Now, as Yun Shan wielded it, both in terms of aura and strength of force, it surpassed the intensity at which Yun Yun had first employed it. And as the peak of the Wind Technique surged forth, the figures stationed far outside—Jia Xingtian and the others—simultaneously flushed with alarm, then hurried back, retreating a considerable distance. It seemed they had long anticipated the terrifying power of this technique, perhaps even anticipating firsthand experience. In the sky, only Xiao Yan and Queen Medusa remained unmoved, standing steadfast in place. A roar echoed across the sky, as a luminous energy blade shaped like a crescent moon—three zhang wide—burst forth from the tip of Xuan Zhong Chi. The massive crescent blade of blazing white energy shot skyward, vanishing in a flash, leaving an intense, sudden heat that made the onlookers feel as though they were engulfed in a surge of fiery waves. The blade sliced through the heavens, producing sharp sonic booms, its relentless power radiating such force that it seemed destined to cleave the sky in two. Though the same technique was employed, this time the Flame Division of the Phasing Waves Chi was nearly ten times stronger than the one Xiang Yan had previously demonstrated at Yunlan Sect—this strength a natural reflection of the inherent gap in his own power. The crescent blade sliced through the sky, finally colliding with the white energy line that had surged in like lightning, under the watchful eyes of countless onlookers. A thunderous roar erupted across the azure sky, and a massive wave of energy surged outward from the point of impact. The sheer pressure was so intense that it sent several standing figures on the plaza sprawling to the ground. "This is indeed the caliber of a Douzong-level master, isn't it? Truly exceptional..." Even though they were some distance away, the oncoming energy wave caused Ji Xingtian and the others to visibly flinch, retreating slightly before steadying themselves. With his gaze fixed warmly on the battlefield, Ji Xingtian, though already a half-step into the realm of a Douzong-tier powerhouse, still felt the vast and unbridgeable gap between himself and true Douzong-level strength. "Xiao Yan must now also possess Douzong-level power, surely?" Otherwise, it would have been absolutely impossible to block the Wind Supreme of Yunshan and send it down. After all, when Yunshan was still at the level of Battle Emperor, he had already used this technique to defeat two equally ranked warriors from the Chu Yun Empire. "Have you noticed," said Fama, his face serious, "that since Xiao Yan's power suddenly surged, the unique flames he has been using have been exclusively the pale, forest-like white ones—never a single drop of the green flame?" As a master alchemist, Fama naturally paid close attention to flames. "Indeed," nodded Jia Xingtian, "but the way Xiao Yan now controls that white flame is far more refined and skillful than before." "This person is truly hard to fathom," Fama mused for a while, yet still remained puzzled. Finally, he shook his head and offered a weary smile. Addax nodded with deep resonance, then lifted his gaze toward the spot where the energy ripples were gradually fading. Upon seeing Xiao Yan still unharmed and floating in the air, he said, "It seems today Cloud Mountain truly finds it difficult to keep Xiao Yan. Moreover, there stands a Medusa Queen beside him—no less formidable than Xiao Yan herself, watching with unwavering vigilance. Should these two unite, even Cloud Mountain would have no choice but to temporarily retreat." "This is all due to Yunling's own initiative—why did he suddenly go to Wutan City to confront the Xiao family? Isn't that driving Xiao Yan mad? He thought relying on the prestige of Yunlan Sect would allow him to act as he pleased, but he didn't expect to encounter such a determined opponent," added Jia Xingtian calmly. Fahu smiled faintly, shook his head without offering any comment, and gazed upward at the now-appearing Xiao Yan and Yunshan, murmuring softly, "Ah, I hope there's no casualties—otherwise, the Gem Empire will suffer a major loss." Yunshan stared at Xiao Yan, who had emerged unscathed, his face as cold as ice. After a long pause, he slowly inhaled and said in a cold tone, "Right now, you are indeed strong. But I believe that strength drawn from reserves always comes at a cost. My power is my own—your power, however, is borrowed or drawn upon. As long as I can hold you here today, I won't believe you can sustain it indefinitely. Our relationship has become irreconcilable. I will not allow a future Daoist Grandmaster to escape unscathed, carrying resentment toward Yunlan Sect, only to grow stronger over time and eventually overthrow my Yunlan Sect!" The words of Yunshan began to radiate a growing sense of cold, lethal intent. The entire hall fell silent. Yunshan's declaration had clearly signaled his determination to eliminate Xiao Yan—because he knew that if Xiao Yan succeeded in escaping, it would be tantamount to releasing a tiger into the mountains, one that might eventually bring immense costs to Yunlan Sect. Xiao Yan's face slightly changed. Yunshan's words were true. Although Xiao Yan was currently under the control of Yao Lao, Yao Lao could not fully command Xiao Yan's body. Moreover, Xiao Yan had previously expended a significant portion of Yao Lao's spiritual energy in channeling the Buddha's Wrath Flame Lotus. Without the seven-harmony Qingling Xian plant, this very Flame Lotus would have pushed Yao Lao into another period of decline. Even now, thanks to the seven-harmony Qingling Xian plant, Yao Lao had not entered that phase of decline. Yet, as Yunshan had pointed out, Yao Lao could not sustain prolonged use of Xiao Yan's body to fight Yunshan. Once the time limit expired, he would have to withdraw his spiritual energy, and without his protection, Xiao Yan would surely perish. "Master... let's retreat first. Yunshan is strong. Right now, we cannot defeat him directly. And your presence will not last long," a faint voice suddenly echoed in Xiao Yan's mind. "Hehe, don't worry. Though my strength has greatly diminished, merely relying on Yunshan to hold me back is still quite an ambitious notion." The warm, elderly laughter soothed Xiao Yan's emotions. "However, the current situation does make a direct confrontation rather difficult. Yunlan Sect's coordinated array is quite ingenious—once activated, it would be quite troublesome to escape. Though Queen Medusa appears to be supporting you, if she has to join forces to defeat Yunshan, she will certainly not agree. A final, powerful counterattack from a Douzong-level cultivator is no trivial matter; she wouldn't risk such a significant effort just for you." After a brief pause, the old doctor spoke softly. "Then it's best—we don't linger here today. Let's retreat first. We'll return here tomorrow, and Master will surely help you reclaim your justice!" "Heh, this time away, the next time... perhaps I won't return to the Jima Empire for a long while. And then, I'll come back to settle the matter myself. When my father vanishes and our family is forced to relocate, that shame will be mine to bear." In his faint voice, there lingered a quiet resentment. The disappearance of his father had fully transferred his hatred and fury onto Yunlan Sect. If it weren't for them, Xiao Zhan would never have been pursued out of Wutan City, nor would he have suddenly vanished. Moreover, during the battle where Yunling was slain, the resistance from Yunlan Sect and their evident hostility toward his earlier displays of strength had solidified his deep disdain for the sect. "Heh, such boldness—what a delight." Smiling contentedly, the medicine elder said, "Then let's withdraw. The time I have left isn't much anymore..." In the sky, Xiao Yan slowly lifted his head, scanning the surroundings, and then laughed heartily at Yunshan, "I've already said this before—when I decide to leave, no one from Yunlan Sect will be able to stop me." "You're arrogant! Do you really think Yunlan Sect has stood strong for so many years in the Gamma Empire merely by reputation?" Yunshan gave a slight smile, swiftly waving his sleeve, and several white streaks burst forth from the folds. These streaks spread across the sky, gradually intensifying until countless white threads extended outward. Within a blink, the threads densely covered the entire sky, eventually forming a faint, shimmering network of heaven and earth that completely veiled the heavens. "Lords of Yunlan Sect, listen up—form the Cloud Mist to Cover the Sun array!" "A sharp cry rang out, and nearly twenty figures on the plaza instantly leapt and darted. Then, the light surged brilliantly, white mist pouring forth from the bodies of these elders, eventually gathering once more into a vast sea of clouds above—only this time, at the heart of the cloud sea stood Mount Yunshan. Previously, the Cloud Ridge of Dou Wang rank, using the Cloud-Mist Covering the Sun formation, had compelled the Dou Huang-level Hai Bo Dong to take the situation seriously. Now, with the master of the formation upgraded to the Dou Zong-level Cloud Mountain, the formation—known as the Cloud-Mist Covering the Sun—would undoubtedly become even more formidable. 'Retreat!' the Ye Elder swiftly maneuvered Xiang Yan's body, appearing at the white energy net with lightning speed, his palms blazing with dense, pale flames that struck hard against the white network. 'Boom!' The pale flames struck the white net, yet instead of shattering it instantly, were deflected back by the network's soft resistance. "Indeed, there's something rather strange..." With a light exclamation, the elder physician waved his hand, summoning once again a cluster of crisp, pale flames that adhered firmly to the white net. This time, the flames no longer bounced back; the intense heat caused the net to grow slightly ethereal. "Want to escape? That won't be so easy!" As the net was about to be scorched through, a cold roar echoed from behind, accompanied by a powerful surge of energy that crackled with sonic vibrations. Energy ribbons crashed down upon the ice mirror with tremendous force. Where they met, white flames surged upward, and any energy ribbons touched by them instantly froze into solid ice. Though the white flames were remarkably strange, the internal qi within the energy ribbons was truly immense. As the flames climbed halfway, they faltered and eventually collapsed under the force of the surging energy that followed, being swept into nothingness. The energy ribbons then struck the ice mirror with full force, causing it to tremble and weaken, crack across its surface, and finally shatter into a flurry of ice fragments. "Even with the aid of your unique flames, today, leaving here will be no easy task!" His body floated amidst the sea of clouds, surrounded by dense energy that caused a soft, gentle glow to emanate from his form. He stared coldly at Xiao Yan, his hands spinning rapidly. The clouds before him stirred and flowed, and after a moment, the massive cloud bow previously summoned by Yun Ling reappeared—this time, its size had nearly quadrupled, appearing almost as grand as a celestial bow designed specifically to shoot the sun. Above, the sky suddenly fell into stillness. Yet, this quiet did not last long—it was abruptly shattered. The clouds, whose eyes were gently closed, suddenly opened wide. The hand that had drawn the bow no longer hesitated. With a gentle release of fingers, the massive cloud bow relaxed, and the great cloud arrow mounted upon it hissed, slicing through the cloud layers and rushing straight toward an empty stretch of space. The arrow transformed into a streak of white light, instantly piercing the heavens. As it neared the vacant space, a surge of dense, silvery flame erupted, spreading out like ripples, radiating in all directions—just as the celestial fire had descended. Boom! The two collided with a tremendous roar, yet this time the pale, misty flame seemed to achieve little success. It merely held the advance for a moment before the terrifying cloud arrow pierced through it, whistling as it shot through the void—only to find no human figure in its wake, nor any trace of blood spilled. Cloud Mountain stared intently at the spot where the arrow had passed through, his expression stunned. Then his face suddenly tightened, and he spun around abruptly, raising both hands. The surrounding clouds spiraled rapidly around him, and in an instant, solidified into a massive, cloud-white shield before him. At the very moment the cloud-white shield took shape, a silhouette emerged suddenly from the sea of clouds, gazing coldly at Cloud Mountain behind the transparent shield. With a graceful motion of his hands, both jade and white flames appeared simultaneously in his palms. Staring at the two streams of flame, Yun Shan felt a sudden jolt in his body, his gaze fixed firmly on the young man's eyes. There, where the original shades of green and white had been, they had now transformed once again into deep black. Gazing into those dark eyes, Yun Shan found himself unexpectedly thinking—perhaps, now, Xiao Yan was truly himself. The curve of Xiao Yan's lips broadened further. With a low roar, the lotus of blazing fury shot forth, crashing squarely into the cloud-colored shield within Yunshan's slightly contracted pupils. "Boom!" Though this iteration of the Buddha's Wrath Lotus didn't quite match the flawless, all-out power of the previous one, it had been infused with Ye Lao's robust strength, making its impact no less potent than when Ye Lao himself had personally wielded the Flame Divided to Consume the Tsunami Scroll. As the thunderous explosion rang out, another lotus bloomed anew in the sea of clouds, and the energy clouds surrounding it—entirely composed of energy—were slightly blurred and disturbed. Yunshan's body plunged downward rapidly, his face pale. The close-range blast had nearly overwhelmed him entirely, absorbing the full force of the impact. Even with his cloud shield in place, the shock had propelled him clear of the cloud sea. Once he was no longer immersed in the sea of clouds, the grand array naturally faltered and ceased to function. On the plaza, countless disciples of Yunlan Sect stared at the mountain of clouds that had been dislodged from the sea of clouds by Xiao Yan, their expressions filled with astonishment, unable to speak, yet each feeling an unshakable chill deep within them. "Master...," Lan Yan gently covered her red lips with her hand, her voice trembling as the mountain descended. "Indeed, it's no ordinary clash between two Douzong-level masters. That close-range explosion of fiery lotuses—had we been in their place, we'd likely have lost at least half our lives." Fang Ma smiled wistfully. "I still thought Xiao Yan couldn't use the green flame anymore. It seems he saved it for a later move." Jia Xingtian shook his head, sighing. "Xiao Yan's energy appears to be weakening as time passes," Fang Ma remarked suddenly, his brow furrowed. As a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, his spiritual perception far surpassed that of most Douhuang-level warriors, allowing him to detect Xiao Yan's subtle changes at the very first instance. In the sky, after striking the mountain of clouds down into the sea of clouds, Xiao Yan hesitated slightly, then bit his teeth firmly, lightly stepping upon the void with his feet, and suddenly descending toward the mountain of clouds, charging straight at it. "Today, I'll just collect a bit of interest!" The flames of two colors swiftly spiraled between his hands as he rapidly approached the descending mountain of clouds. At this moment, the latter was shaken by the previous devastating explosion, its internal qi now struggling to maintain a steady flow, and thus could only watch as Xiao Yan drew near. "Old fellow, you've issued a pursuit order—then I'll take you out first!" With a cold laugh, Xiao Yan slammed his palms hard against the chest of the mountain. Yet just as he was about to succeed, a voice of alarm suddenly cried out: "Xiao Yan, stop!" As the sound rang out, a surge of qi rushed toward Xiao Yan's back. He furrowed his brows, turned around, and with a gentle wave of his hand, a stream of white flame shot forth, burning the sharp sword qi into nothingness. He coldly watched Yun Yun, who held her long sword and floated in the air, and scoffed, "Do you also intend to attack me?" "I am the Master of Yunlan Sect. The reputation of Yunlan Sect must be upheld. Moreover, Yun Shan is my teacher. I cannot allow you to injure him." Yun Yun sighed. "Do you think, if I were to fall into his hands today, I'd have any chance of survival?" Xiao Yan remarked with scorn. Yun Yun remained silent, her beautiful face filled with struggle. Her hands slightly trembled. Xiao Yan took a deep breath and suddenly turned around, waving his hand to send a stream of flame toward the descending Yun Shan. Watching Xuanyin's movements, Yun Yin bit her teeth, raised her back wind wings, and with her long sword, launched a swift stab at his back. No matter what, as the Master of the sect, she could never allow the esteemed reputation of Yunlan Sect to be extinguished by Xuanyin. The cold wind rushing against his back sent a quiet chill through Xuanyin's heart—perhaps, in her eyes, he was but of little significance compared to Yunlan Sect. A soft sigh escaped him as he slowly shook his head, deciding to abandon the pursuit of Yunshan, and turned calmly to face Yun Yin's advancing attack. As the sound of the drink just began to rise, Xiao Yan immediately became aware and swiftly turned his head. A streak of white flashed across his eyes, and then a stern, resolute face emerged—none other than Yun Shan, who had been falling steadily all along! "It's over, Xiao Yan!" The fist, accompanied by a sonic boom and immense pressure, caused ripples to form in the space around it. Wrapped in mist energy, the fist struck Xiao Yan's back with the force of a thunderbolt, hitting him completely off guard. "Plugh!" The powerful impact sent Xiao Yan's face pale, and he finally couldn't hold back, spitting out a stream of blood. Driven by the force, his body shot backward. "Whoa..." In the span of a moment, the situation in the sky had dramatically shifted. This sudden turn of events left everyone below utterly stunned. "Yun Shan! Given your status, you've launched a surprise attack—how is that even justified?" Staring at Xiao Yan retreating with blood pouring from his mouth, Hai Bo Dong couldn't help but roar in anger. To the side, Jia Xingtian and the others slightly furrowed their brows, clearly also dissatisfied with Yun Shan's actions, though none of them spoke up. Maintaining his cold demeanor, Yun Shan paid no attention to Hai Bo Dong. He was well aware of Xiao Yan's immense potential—should he let him go, the Yunlan Sect would surely be destroyed in the long run by Xiao Yan's hands. Thus, despite the criticism he would surely face, Yun Shan had to eliminate Xiao Yan here today. With the wind roaring around him, Xiao Yan wiped the blood from his lips, his eyes coldly fixed upon the pale Yun Yun. He flipped his hands, and a pale blue inner armor appeared in his grasp. Holding it, he shook his head with a touch of self-mockery, then forcefully hurled it toward Yun Yun. "Whether you are Yun Zhi or Yun Yun—no matter what—there will be no connection between us in the future! Here, take this back!" "Decisive words, wrapped in aura, coldly reached Yun Yun's ears, instantly making her already pale complexion even paler. By reflex, she reached out to take the faintly blue inner armor that had been shot toward her. Clenching her lips tightly, she lowered her gaze to the inner armor, which, though cracked, was remarkably clean and well-polished—her eyes momentarily fixed, as if frozen. Staring at the spot where Xiao Yan had vanished, his face as pale as paper, Yun Shan raised his hand and roared, his voice echoing throughout the entire sect. "All officers and elders of Yunlan Sect, listen up! Lead your teams immediately into the deep mountains and find Xiao Yan. He carries a unique mark I've left within him—there's no way he can escape! Capture him. Kill or not, I demand he be captured!"