At night, as time passed, the stillness gradually faded. When the first glimmers of dawn spread across the land from the distant horizon, the once-silent monster mountains finally stirred once more. Countless giant birds and beasts erupted into long, resonant calls, their cries echoing through the forest, lingering for a long time. Suddenly, at the steep ravine, a massive boulder rolled down, its thunderous sounds startling the birds and beasts circling nearby, who swiftly took flight. As the stone tumbled, a dark opening revealed itself. Then, a figure in a black robe stepped forth slowly, narrowed his long, slender eyes to take in the faintly visible blue sky veiled in mist, and exhaled softly. "Master," he murmured, "do you think there are any traces of Yunlan Sect disciples nearby?" "Yes." "A voice quickly emerged within Xiao Yan's mind: 'Hundreds of meters beyond the opposite mountain stream, there are several varying levels of energy signatures. Scattered traces can also be detected elsewhere. The energy imprint left by Yunshan within your body—though I've suppressed it to a very low level—still allows them to sense it clearly enough to roughly pinpoint your location. Fortunately, the detection range is quite broad, so they must carefully search to confirm your exact position; otherwise, they would have found you last night.' 'Hmph. Indeed, persistence! It seems Yunlan Sect has truly resolved to eliminate me,' Xiao Yan remarked with a cold smile. 'Right now, you cannot be held up by them, or else, once the Yunlan Sect elders arrive, you'll be in serious trouble. My soul energy will take at least fifteen days to fully recover. Therefore, during these next fifteen days, you'll have to rely entirely on yourself to break free from their encirclement and containment.' "The elder pharmacist solemnly reminded him. Xiang Yan nodded silently. The elder's previous deep sleep had taught him the value of self-reliance. Though the elder could no longer directly assist him now, the accumulated wisdom and experience gained over the years still provided substantial support. Thus, despite the current peril, he remained undaunted. "Since we are now surrounded on all three sides, we can only continue deep into the Beast Mountains and then make a strategic detour. As long as we can outmaneuver the pursuing forces and conceal our identities, I believe it will not be difficult to leave the Gamma Empire." Xiang Yan spoke softly. "Agreed. I'll keep an eye on the pursuing forces." The elder's voice gradually softened and then faded away. Nodding slightly, Xiang Yan's shoulders trembled slightly, and his broad Zhiyun wings flapped vigorously. With a single wingbeat, his body surged upward like a great phoenix, soaring straight into the clouds. As Xiao Yan's body was about to break the parallel line with the mountain gully, he spun around and landed steadily on the opposite side. His purple-cloud wings gradually contracted, and he turned to gaze at the dense forest, which seemed to sense something stirring—its leaves subtly agitated. With a cold laugh, he streamlined into a black streak and plunged directly into the thick forest, vanishing within moments beneath the canopy of leaves. "Um…" "Remember the elders' orders—whenever you encounter Xiao Yan, do not engage him in a direct battle. Simply give your utmost effort to hold him off!" "Understood!" The unified response echoed along the mountain stream's edge. Suddenly, several figures surged forward, riding the gentle breeze, their forms drifting through the air like willow fluff, then gently settling on the opposite bank of the stream. Upon landing, they exchanged a glance and, with seamless coordination, swiftly moved into the dense forest together. ... Amid the dense forest, a figure darted swiftly through the tree trunks. With each light tap of the foot against the bark, the body surged forward, propelled by that force, shooting out great distances. Though occasionally, fierce beasts radiating an aura of menace passed by, they did not attempt to obstruct—instead, as the figure approached, they would kneel, trembling, and withdraw their own energies, as if encountering something truly terrifying. Hearing this, Xiao Yan quietly exhaled, gave a slight nod, and looked upward toward the bright light not far ahead. With a light tap of his foot, he once again shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. As his figure drew closer to the light at the forest's end, Xiao Yan's brow furrowed. A sense of unease, almost overwhelming, arose within him, yet he could not pinpoint its origin. The old medicine master had not spoken a word, so he forced down the feeling, maintaining steady focus on the bright light ahead. With renewed strength in his feet, he solidified into a shadow and surged forward. The blinding sunlight suddenly intensified, causing Xiao Yan's eyes to instinctively close slightly. However, the voice of Yao Lao echoing in his mind and the tearing sounds heard in the air instantly chilled him. In a reflexive motion, Xiao Yan twisted his body mid-air in an odd, unnatural way before settling down, rolling swiftly several times across the grass like a hedgehog rolling down a hill, and finally burrowing into the nearest small grove just a few meters away. He lifted his head, gazing up at the clear blue sky, his eyes narrowing instantly. Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and murmured in frustration. The earlier ambush—had it not been for his improved skills, which had grown hand-in-hand with his rising strength—he might have indeed sustained some injuries. "I'm sorry, this has certainly surprised me. I originally assumed that only a few of the Yunlan Sect's Dou-Battle Masters could fly, so I had somewhat dispersed my attention toward the sky. I never expected they'd have such a capability... The Yunlan Sect disciples riding the flying beasts—though their strongest was only a two-star Dou-Builder—were so weak in power. Combined with their flight altitude, they even managed to evade my perception entirely. Well, I did overlook that." The elder's weary chuckle echoed in Xiao Yan's mind. "Master, there's no need to feel guilty. I had anticipated that this departure would not go smoothly." Xiao Yan smiled, his face growing slightly solemn as he looked upward. "Still, with just these few individuals, I doubt they could truly stop me. There's clearly still something missing." "Be careful and don't let them delay you too much; otherwise, once the pursuing forces arrive, things will become quite troublesome," the Yeerold reminded again, his voice carrying a clear sense of urgency. "Understood," Xiang Yan nodded, his hands slowly tracing the folds of his robe, a cold, sharp smile forming on his face. "The middle-aged man stared intently at Xiao Lingzong, his gaze sharp and unwavering, and coldly ordered, 'No matter what, we must intercept Xiao Yan before the elders arrive. The Senior Master stated that Xiao Yan is seriously injured—though he may manage to escape, his strength will surely be greatly diminished. As long as we delay the elders' arrival, he will surely perish!' 'Furthermore,' he added, 'anyone who captures Xiao Yan, regardless of whether he lives or dies, will be promoted to the rank of Senior Official with special recognition, and will also be free to choose one of the senior-level advanced cultivation techniques or combat skills!' Upon hearing these words, the nine younger Cloud岚 Sect disciples instantly drew in their breaths, their eyes fixed on the small grove, now glowing with a mix of greed and fierce determination. 'Pop!' A quick-thinking disciple of the Cloud岚 Sect swiftly pulled out a signal flare from his cloak and tugged it firmly. Immediately, a clear crackling sound echoed through the air, and high above, a long, graceful sword-shaped cloud of mist, patterned with delicate cloud veins, began to take shape." When the disciple from Yunlan Sect fired the signal flare, everyone else's eyes remained fixed on that small patch of bushes, their sharp, long swords reflecting a cold, steady gleam, with faint ki pulsing gently in and out at the tips. As the sound of the flare gradually faded, the world once again fell into quiet, and the small patch of bushes remained utterly still. Staring intently at the bushes without blinking, the middle-aged man's stern expression subtly shifted under the eerie stillness around him. After a while, beads of cold sweat began to form on his forehead. By common sense, Xiao Yan should have realized that the longer the delay, the more disadvantageous it became for him—yet why now? Just as the middle-aged man was pondering, a sudden change occurred within the small patch of bushes. Suddenly, leaves burst forth from the sky, and a dark figure emerged, using the foliage as cover. "Hmph! Where do you think you're going?" When there was any movement in the bushes, the middle-aged man instantly became aware, his cold gaze directly ignoring the leaves that obscured his view, firmly locking onto the figure in black. His long sword swung rapidly, so swift that several blurred afterimages appeared before him. As the sword moved, dozens of sharp sword gusts burst forth from the tip and then struck the black figure with precise, piercing angles. The points of these sword gusts were strategically placed, sealing off the path the figure had been advancing on—any attempt to force a direct charge would likely result in immediate injury. Clearly unwilling to take such damage, the figure suddenly drove his foot into the grass, using the rebound to swiftly retreat, then rolled through the air and was pushed back into the small grove once more. "Heh, this man truly isn't lightly injured." "Look at him—he's been pushed back into the small grove of trees. A smile of satisfaction plays at the corner of the middle-aged man's mouth. Yet before he can fully display it, a flash of seven-colored light flickers across his eye, instantly making his smile stiffen. 'Watch out!' he roars, suddenly dropping into a crouch. 'Ah...' As his voice falls, a sharp cry erupts. When he lifts his head, his face pales in shock—he sees that a flying beast nearby is now encased in a pool of seven-colored liquid. The two figures inside had only managed to resist for a brief moment with their qi before being completely corroded into white bones. The grim fate of his companion leaves the remaining Yunlan Sect disciples pale with alarm, quickly summoning their flying beasts to descend toward the ground. 'You fools! Stay away from the ground! Xiao Yan is down there!' the middle-aged man shouts, urgently reacting to the disciples' actions." "Hehe… too late…" A cold, eerie laugh suddenly echoed through the air. From among the small grove, a figure shot forth with astonishing speed, their purple cloud wings vibrating powerfully, appearing instantly beside the three flying beasts. With a swift, lightning-fast motion, the heavy staff划 out three streaks of wind, and as three deep thuds resonated, splashes of blood rained down—three heads of the beasts plummeted from the sky. The flying beasts were instantly slain. The six Cloud岚 Sect disciples on their backs gasped in terror, their faces pale, their screams choked by the fierce wind as they plummeted rapidly downward. After dispatching the three flying beasts, Xiao Yan paid no further attention to the disciples clinging to the backs—falling from such a height, their mere Battle-tier strength made their survival nearly impossible. Floating mid-air, Xiao Yan glanced at the lone flying beast still soaring above, then, without further hesitation, lifted his wings and surged forward. "Get going!" Staring palely at the surge of Xiao Yan rushing toward him, the middle-aged man urgently emitted a cry resembling an eagle's call, prompting the flying beast beneath him to rise and attempt to flee. "Shhh—" As the beast ascended, a vibrant, seven-colored light suddenly emerged, piercing like a sharp arrow straight through the chest of a Yunlan Sect disciple who had already grown pale with fear at the sight of his companions' deaths. Hot blood spilled from the disciple's back, splashing onto the middle-aged man's neck. Though the blood was warm, it sent a wave of cold dread and regret through him—regretting why he had insisted on seeking glory, insisting on leading his troops deeper into pursuit. "If you've come this far, why leave now?" A dark figure suddenly surged upward from the space before him, eventually rising like a divine being, holding a heavy staff in one hand and lightly tapping the beast's head with his foot. To the middle-aged man, the smiling face now appeared as demonic. "If you wish me to die, you'll never be safe." "With nowhere to retreat, the middle-aged man gritted his teeth fiercely, clenching his long sword tightly and roaring with a fierce laugh. A surge of powerful aura erupted from his body, carrying an overwhelming momentum, charging straight toward Xiao Yan. Not long after Xiao Yan vanished, the numerous small black dots in the distant sky gradually enlarged and soon surged with gales of wind, arriving at the battlefield that had just witnessed a fierce battle. As the black dots expanded, it became clear that no fewer than thirty flight beasts of identical appearance had gathered. Leading this flight formation were three elders, each bearing dual wings of qi. As his voice fell, the stranger standing atop the beast gave a sudden tremor, then erupted like a bomb, exploding violently before the nearly hundred eyes of Yunlan Sect disciples, who stared in stunned disbelief. Splashes of blood rained down from the sky. A starving wolf, driven to the brink, will exact a vengeance that sends chills down one's spine. Gazing at the blood and scattered bones spread upon the ground, the eldest elder, his face ashen, clenched his fists tightly and suddenly lowered his head, roaring fiercely at the towering mountains with venom in his voice: "Xiao Yan! Even if I pursue you for a thousand li, I will crush you to dust, strip you of your sinews and break your bones!" The roar, carried by the surge of ki, resonated powerfully throughout the entire mountain range, lingering for a long time. In the distant forest, a black silhouette swiftly darting through the trees suddenly halted, glanced indifferently toward the horizon, and then emitted a low, cold chuckle. With a light tap of his foot on a branch, he swiftly darted into the forest and vanished.