Vast and dense, the forest stretched endlessly into the green, its lush hue unbroken. Occasionally, a gentle breeze would ripple through, sending out sweeping waves of emerald green that surged from afar, expanding toward the horizon before finally fading into the distance—remarkably majestic. Above the forest lay a clear blue sky, where now and then, figures glided past, their keen eyes sharp and focused, scanning carefully through the undergrowth. Yet, due to the sheer scale of the forest and the continuous waves of green that obscured much of what lay beneath, despite their meticulous search, they still failed to locate their target. As these figures passed through the forest without success, their eyes met in the air, exchanged a look of resignation, then shook their heads. They exchanged a gesture and parted ways, each taking off in different directions. Beneath the dense, lush forest, a towering tree rose straight into the sky, though around it, countless giants stood even taller, so it did not stand out much. At a branching point high on the tree's crown, thick foliage surrounded the area, making it difficult to notice what lay concealed within upon a casual glance. "Um…" After a pause, a slightly weary, elderly voice echoed within Xiao Yan's mind: "Little one, this situation isn't looking good at all. Two consecutive bursts of Buddha's Wrath Flame Lotus—such intense consumption. If it weren't for the seven-phoenix green spirit nectar you've been taking, I'd have fallen into deep sleep again..." Xiao Yan chuckled softly. "This time, I truly did act impulsively. But, Father's disappearance..." The old doctor smiled slightly, his voice gaining a touch of seriousness: "Young one, we're still within the influence of Yunlan Sect's territory, so we must leave as soon as possible. Though we've taken two hits from the Buddha's Wrath Lotus, Yunshan is surely injured. Yet the senior monks and officials of Yunlan Sect aren't exactly passive—nor should we forget there's a Dou Huang-level master, Yun Yun, still on the scene. As for myself, the two strikes from the Buddha's Wrath Lotus have drained a significant portion of my spiritual energy. I can no longer supply you with the energy you've been accustomed to. Moreover, Yunshan's attack left certain residual energy imprints within your body. Currently, I have to carefully suppress the fluctuations emanating from those imprints. If I were to forcefully eliminate them, Yunshan would immediately sense it." Xiao Yan nodded silently, gradually tightening his fists. He lifted his head, his gaze passing through the dense canopy of leaves, fixed upon the vast blue sky. He was well aware of Yunshan's intent to kill him. At this moment, the Yunlan Sect likely had already mobilized its entire strength to surround and eliminate him. With his current condition, he could only manage to fend off a few ordinary disciples. Should any of the senior officials or elders encounter him, even if he managed to hold on, they would easily be able to slow him down. Once the Yunlan Sect's main forces arrived upon hearing the commotion, Xiao Yan might truly have to meet his end within this endless forest. "Let's first retreat deeper into the mountain range to evade Yunlan's search parties," he said. "My injuries are quite severe. If I don't heal them first, I may not even be able to escape." He wiped the blood still clinging to his lips, speaking softly. "Well, that's fine," the elderly pharmacist smiled. "As for injuries, the pharmacist won't have any worries. Though you've sustained quite a severe wound this time, heh—still, since Master has awakened, he'll surely ensure you recover as swiftly as possible." Nodding in agreement, Xiao Yan had absolute confidence in the elder's pharmaceutical skills. He then supported himself against the trunk and slowly straightened up. "The search teams from Yunlan Sect are currently stationed in the east, south, and north—so you'll have to make your way toward the western forest," the elder advised. "Also, keep an eye out for the figures in the sky. Most of them are Yunlan Sect elders, all at the level of Battle Kings or above. Should you happen to encounter them, that will certainly be troublesome." "Understood," Xiao Yan replied, carefully clearing away the leaves and scanning the ground below with cautious eyes. Only after confirming no immediate threats did he grasp the trunk tightly and slide down the tree with the agility of a monkey. When the distance to the ground was still several meters, Xiao Yan loosened his hands, lightly kicked the trunk with his feet, and executed a mid-air roll before landing on one knee, hands braced against the ground—so quiet was the landing that it was almost inaudible. With sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, Xiao Yan stepped straight into a dense thicket. However, just as his body entered, a streak of vibrant seven-colored light flashed past him, instantly halting him. He quickly turned his gaze forward, and then burst into joyful relief—realizing that the earlier streak of light had been the Sky-Consuming Python, now transformed into a serpent form. While others might have struggled to locate the hidden Xiao Yan, the Sky-Consuming Python, which had lived alongside him for so long, could easily track him by the faint trail of scent lingering in the air. "Hey, little one," Xiao Yan said, extending his palm. The Python gracefully swam toward him, gently flicking its tongue. "Hehe, that's good, that's good..." Observing the serpent's actions, Xiao Yan's lips curled into a smile, his joy hard to conceal. Though the swallowing-heaven serpent wasn't as powerful as Queen Medusa, this little fellow was far different from the queen—once given enough food, he'd charge straight ahead with all his might. In contrast, when Xiao Yan recalled how the queen had merely watched idly during the battle against Yunshan, he had been furious. Quickly retrieving a bottle of companion-purple-crystal essence from his jade ring, he dipped the small jade stick into it and splashed a few drops into the serpent's mouth. Instantly, the little creature became lively, circling around Xiao Yan several times before suddenly slipping into his sleeve with a soft hiss. "Phew, well, at least now I have a reliable lifeline." Gently patting his sleeve, Xiao Yan exhaled deeply. With the Sky-Heaven Serpent at his side, he wouldn't have to worry about being delayed or intercepted by a Cloud岚 Sect elder should anything go wrong. "Hurry up," the elder's calm voice suddenly echoed in Xiao Yan's mind. "It seems someone is approaching. Right now, you shouldn't engage anyone. I sense your energy fluctuating—floating and wavering—like it's in the process of strengthening. Clearly, these recent battles have been highly beneficial to you. Find a quiet place right away to heal and recover. Otherwise, you'll waste this precious opportunity for growth." Gently tilting his head to glance back at the dense forest behind, Xiao Yan's lips curled into a cold smile as he murmured, "Cloud岚 Sect, Cloud Mountain—what's been building between us seems to be truly settled. I hope you don't regret this in the future! If you believe I, Xiao Yan, am the kind of person who, after being defeated, would wilt and beg for mercy, then you're mistaken..." Back then, even a three-year promise had been enough for Xiao Yan to endure and persevere through three years of hardship. This resilience had made him akin to a lone wolf on the grasslands—when wounded, he would retreat temporarily, yet remain ever-present, like a ghost or an unrelenting parasite, patiently awaiting the final, decisive blow. With the cold, penetrating tone settling into place, Xiao Yan kicked off the ground with his foot, his body swiftly transforming into a shadow and darting into the dark, dense forest. With Xiao Yan's departure, the area gradually settled into a quiet stillness. About ten minutes later, nearly ten figures suddenly burst forth from the dense forest, holding long swords and solemnly scanning the surroundings. After confirming that everything remained motionless, they exhaled in relief, exchanged glances, and both sighed with a shared sense of resignation. The signal flare they had been gripping tightly, ready to launch at a moment's notice, was now gently tucked into their coats. For a being so formidable that even the senior patriarch Yun Shan had been defeated, they naturally could not afford to relax or lose focus.