Vast and dense woods, lush trees shading nearly half the sky, yet occasionally through the leaf gaps, the roaring flight of the great beasts from the heavens and the chilling, bone-deep intensity of their advance could be seen. High above the immense forest, dozens of flying beasts dispersed in a circular formation, encircling a vast stretch of woodland. At this moment, they were gradually converging inward, responding in unison from near and far. In a thick thicket, a pair of figures peered quietly through the leafy gaps, watching the massive shadows sweeping across the sky. Their brows furrowed tightly. Though he had already outdistanced the pursuing forces behind him, he could not match the speed of a pair of wings. After an hour, the overwhelming flight force had passed him by. Fortunately, the pursuers were unaware of his precise location, and for now, could not locate him. "It seems those three old fellows have truly gone berserk, now actively searching inch by inch without any regard for effort." Xiao Yan retracted himself into the shade, murmuring softly. "The three Cloud Ridge Sect elders are quite strong, so they're able to detect the subtle fluctuations emanating from the energy traces within your body more clearly than ordinary people. While they still can't pinpoint your exact location, they can now sense the general area." Yao Lao said in a measured tone. "Now they're forming a circular perimeter around that general area, then gradually advancing inward, searching step by step. Though this method may seem rather clumsy, it's undoubtedly the most effective way to quickly locate you right now. Moreover, there aren't any particularly high-level beasts in this region, so under the pressure of these three elders' presence, the other creatures remain cautious and don't pose a significant threat." "What shall we do now?" The encircling circle is now shrinking steadily. If they continue searching in this manner, you'll eventually be trapped like a bird in a cage," Xiao Yan frowned slightly, asking himself mentally. "For now, make only small movements. Their search area is simply too vast, and they have only about fifty flying beasts—spread out quite far from one another. As long as you avoid the positions of those three elders and use the dense forest for cover, the other Yunlan Sect disciples will find it difficult to spot you," the Elder of the Herbs said thoughtfully. "However, the energy trace within your body remains a constant landmark for them. As long as that trace persists, they'll always be able to locate your position." "Can't it be completely eliminated?" Xiao Yan asked softly. "Surely, I can manage—but I’ve also mentioned that when clearing the energy traces, a strong surge of fluctuation will erupt at that very moment, and this surge will persist for a considerable time. At that point, my form will truly be exposed. Therefore, to clear those energy traces, I’ll need to first甩 off the pursuing forces from a safe distance. Otherwise, if I’m not careful, I’ll be completely surrounded—quite a misfortune." The old medicine master sighed. "Hey, now, let's have some fun with these guys," Xiao Yan sneered, wrapping his arms around the trunk and swiftly sliding down the great tree before darting off toward a specific spot. As Xiao Yan departed, a Cloud岚 Sect elder in the sky furrowed his brow, glanced at his two companions, and said solemnly, "The energy trail of the Senior Abbot is growing farther and farther away. It seems Xiao Yan has sensed our plan and is now fleeing." "Hmph. Want to escape? That won't be easy!" The elder with slightly more experience scoffed, closed his eyes for a moment, then suddenly opened them, his gaze fixed firmly on the southern part of the forest—he could sense the energy fluctuations emanating from that general direction. "Eagle Division, take orders: maintain formation, shift position to search the southern sector, and keep an eye out for anything moving swiftly through the forest." With a sudden gesture, he pointed directly toward where Xiao Yan had fled. "Understood!" Above, a steady chorus of voices rose and then a cry of eagles echoed—forty or so massive flying beasts suddenly pivoted, their shadows swiftly sweeping across the forest expanse. Within the woods, Xiang Yan, who had been darting swiftly, also sensed the shift. With a cold laugh, he abruptly halted, twisting his body and suddenly changing his course. "Damn it!" Xiang Yan exclaimed, just as he had switched positions, "That cunning fellow has moved again!" The three elders from Yunlan Sect noticed the change promptly, their faces turning stern. The elder with white hair, the oldest among the three, glared coldly toward the northern section, his lips slightly twitching as he drew a deep breath. "Stay right behind him!" he said, voice sharp. "I won't believe his wounded body can hold out much longer. If you want to run, I'll simply wear you out until you collapse!" As soon as his words settled, the distant flight units instantly and seamlessly adjusted their positions, swiftly flying toward the new direction that Xiao Yan had taken. However, this pursuit didn't last long either—Xiao Yan quickly changed positions once more. "Keep up!" the white-haired elder growled, his face darkened with frustration, his tone grim. Above the vast forest sea, it seemed as though a performance by the flight units had been staged—dozens of flying beasts continuously shifting their flight paths. Yet upon closer inspection, it became evident that their flight paths always circled around a specific area. This theatrical display lasted from mid-afternoon until dusk, when both sides, finally exhausted, began to move more slowly, each maintaining a quiet, synchronized stillness as if they had agreed upon it beforehand. "Hmm…" Inside a dense thicket, Xiao Yan leaned against the trunk, breathing heavily, sweat rolling down his face, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Having maintained a continuous high-speed run for the entire afternoon, he would have struggled even as a senior Battle Master without the support of the elixirs. Fortunately, after this long journey, the flying beasts of Yunlan Sect had also been worn down to their limits. "The sky is finally starting to darken," he observed, looking up at the sun now nearly setting below the horizon. He exhaled in relief, then carefully scanned the distant flight formations in the sky, frowning slightly. Even though he was exhausted, it seemed they weren't doing anything at all. Had they given up? "Well, whatever their plans are, as long as the sky is completely dark, I'll see how well you can keep up with me." Snorted, Xiao Yan retrieved a Gui Qi Dan from his storage ring, swallowed it, and then closed his eyes, feeling the gradually rolling warmth of the medicinal energy circulating within his body. The muscles, which had previously felt slightly stiff and numb, now seemed to ease and relax. In the distant sky, the slanting sun slowly descended, finally settling completely below the mountain range as Xiao Yan had hoped. Once the sun fully dipped beneath the peaks, the entire魔兽 mountain range plunged into utter darkness. As darkness fell, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, rose to his feet, and looked upward at the aerial forces that remained suspended in midair, motionless—his brow furrowed. He then snorted, leapt down from the tall tree, and surged toward the weakest point of the encircling formation. As soon as Xiao Yan moved, the aerial forces stirred slightly, clearly sensing the fading ripple of energy. "Senior?" "On a flying beast closest to the three elders, one hurriedly said, 'Maintain the encircling formation—everyone stay still.' The white-haired elder waved his hand, coldly declaring, 'This time, I'll see how he escapes!' 'Yes...' As his figure swiftly darted past, Xiang Yan couldn't help but glance back at the sky a moment later. There, a large group of dark shadows remained suspended, motionless as ever. 'What are these fellows up to?' furrowing his brows, Xiang Yan exhaled gently. Just as he decided to ignore them, his expression suddenly tightened, his steps halted abruptly, and his gaze fixed intently on the streaks of light racing across the dark sky like meteors. 'This aura... it's a Supreme Battle Rank. Damn it. These fellows have been waiting for reinforcements all along.' At that moment, Xiao Yan seemed to have finally understood something. He immediately erupted in anger, shifting his body with a sudden movement and slipping into a dark shadow. He drew his breath to the utmost, his eyes fixed intently on the streak of light speeding toward him. The streak of light swiftly swept across the sky, then abruptly halted before the three figures of the Yunlan Sect, its brilliant glow gradually fading to reveal a graceful and regal woman. "Master!" As soon as she appeared, everyone aboard the flying beasts—including the three senior monks—immediately bowed respectfully. The title "Master" made it clear that the visitor was none other than the current abbot of the Yunlan Sect, Yun Yun. "Hmm." With a soft nod, Yun Yun's eyes slowly swept over the dense forest below, her delicate features briefly expressing a complex expression. In her mind, the image of the composed, elegant young man once again came to life. "So she had been waiting all along..." In the darkness, Xiao Yan gradually clenched his fists, murmuring quietly with a cold smile. "Master, Xiao Yan has killed one of our Yunlan Sect disciples, and his crime is beyond redemption. Despite his efforts to suppress it, the energy traces lingering within him remain detectable—especially to you, who possess a lineage of energy that is directly inherited from the old Master. These traces are simply impossible to conceal. I beg Master to intervene and fully draw out that energy signature from within him!" The elderly Yunlan Sect elder, with snow-white hair, stepped forward and spoke with solemn gravity.