Wu Hao's hoarse, detached voice drew the entire audience's attention to the young man in black robes, whose gaze was filled with a mix of envy, anticipation, and relief—no matter what, Wu Hao's single remark once again made Xiao Yan the center of attention. Fixing his eyes firmly on the blood-robed figure on the stage, Xiao Yan narrowed his gaze, then slowly rose to his feet, showing no sign of hesitation or fear despite the opponent's formidable strength. The two men's eyes met in the air, and simultaneously, a steady, powerful aura of combat energy surged from within each of them, creating subtle ripples that spread outward from their bodies—ripples born of the rapid surge of internal qi. As the two figures began to match each other's intensity, the students in the stands grew increasingly excited—should these two engage in combat, it would surely be a fierce clash of titans! Xiao Yan stood by, while Xun'er slightly furrowed her brows, opened her mouth several times, clearly intending to offer a suggestion or encouragement—yet ultimately hesitated, fearing that if she spoke up, the trainees might perceive Xiao Yan as merely relying on women for support. Thus, the words that formed in her mind remained unspoken. The building momentum was forcibly shattered, and both Xiao Yan and Wu Hao's bodies trembled simultaneously. They each stepped back one pace and looked upward, their gaze following the direction of the voice. There, at the central position, they saw the elderly man with white hair and beard, his face displaying mild anger. "That's Hu Qi, the Deputy Director. Outside the Main Hall, he holds the greatest authority besides the Director. Don't challenge him; otherwise, you'll leave a negative impression." Xun'er's soft voice suddenly reached Xiao Yan's ears. Xiao Yan nodded slightly. His gaze lingered on Wu Hao for a moment before settling on the floor, and he slowly sat down. "Wu Hao, you too—step back. Today is the final day of the selection finals. You'll face each other at that time!" Seeing Xiao Yan retreat, Hu Qi turned his attention to the blood-draped figure on the field and commanded. Hearing Huo Qian's gulp, Wu Hao's brow slightly furrowed, yet his eyes remained fixed on Xiao Yan on the stand. In return, Xiao Yan maintained a composed expression, gazing steadily back at him. After this prolonged exchange of glances, Wu Hao waved his hand, and the crimson sword was smoothly stored within his storage amulet. With a hoarse voice, he spoke slowly, "I hope you don't let me down tomorrow. I don't want Xun'er's long-anticipated person to be a failure." Xiao Yan offered a quiet smile, saying nothing. Upon finishing his words, Wu Hao turned and walked toward the outer area without further hesitation. In the following several matches, Xiao Yan finally got to witness Xun'er's actual combat performance. However, after observing her for a while, he could only shake his head in resignation—clearly, she had only displayed a portion of her true strength. Even so, after enduring more than a dozen exchanges, she secured a victory as expected. Watching Xun'er return to the sidelines with her usual lively expression, Xiao Yan rolled his eyes. Her performance had completely undermined his intention to accurately assess her true capabilities through her fighting style. Shortly after Xun'er's entrance, Bai Shan and the red-robed girl also stepped onto the field. Indeed, as Master Ruolin had emphasized, these two were worth close attention. Their opponents were a six-star and a seven-star battle master, respectively. The six-star battle master facing Bai Shan fared well—he surrendered after about a dozen rounds and safely exited the field. Meanwhile, the opponent of the red-robed girl was in for a rough time. Just as the two had completed their initial courtesies and before the referee’s opening words had fully settled, the red-robed girl suddenly appeared before him, delivering a seemingly light palm strike that carried an unexpectedly powerful and startling force. The blow sent the seven-star combatant—protected by a shield of aura fabric—flying off the field with force, rolling violently across the ground for over a dozen meters before finally coming to a clumsy halt. As the sky gradually darkened, Xiao Yan and Xun'er returned once again to their esteemed mentor's elegant pavilion. This time, upon arriving, they found a familiar face from their past—someone who had left a lasting impression on Xiao Yan. Standing before Xiao Mei for a while, gazing at her face, now more beautiful and alluring than before, Xiao Yan nodded gently with a quiet smile—without showing much warmth. Back when he had fallen to ruin, the reserved demeanor she had adopted had deeply wounded the young boy of his youth, leaving him with a lingering sense of resistance. Though over the course of two or three years that resistance had softened, Xiao Yan still maintained a restrained, rather formal demeanor. After chatting casually with Xun'er, Xiao Yu, and others in the hall for a while, he simply found an excuse and rose to return to his room. The girl sat in the soft sofa, gazing at the figure ascending the stairs. Her teeth clenched tightly against her full lips, her eyes filled with dimness and regret. Some things, once done wrong, could never be mended. When Xiao Yan had still been a prodigy, their relationship had been nothing short of comparable to that of Xun'er—indeed, even on par with her at the time. Yet... since the fall of the prodigy, she had chosen a path entirely different from Xun'er's. While Xun'er had remained steadfast and unwavering, she had instead drawn a very real, deeply painful boundary between the two of them. That boundary still stands today, no matter how much she tries to repair it—always bearing visible, sharp cracks. Seeing Xiao Mei's pale and subdued expression, Xun'er could only remain silent. She deeply understood Xiao Yan—this seemingly gentle man harbored an extraordinary sense of pride. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, whether actively or passively, when Xiao Mei had wounded him, she had forever lost the chance to fully mend their relationship. Anyone who had hurt him, no matter how well they treated him in the future, would likely find it difficult to accept. This was true of both Xiao Mei and Nalan Yanran. When Xiao Mei had chosen to distance herself from Xiao Yan, and when Nalan Yanran had come to the Xiao family to withdraw her engagement, Xun'er had always said, "I hope you will never regret it." And indeed, both women who had once hurt Xiao Yan now regret—though too late. For the man whose heart was so proud, things once abandoned would never be touched again, neither by him nor would he care to reach for them. Thinking of this, Xun'er suddenly exhaled softly, feeling grateful for her choice back then. Otherwise, no matter how outstanding she might have been, she likely would never have managed to enter that man's heart. "Oh, my strength still falls far short..." With a furrowed brow, Xiao Yan waved his hand, and a rustic jade slab appeared in his palm. The slab was a pale green hue, within which a luminous dot slowly drifted, symbolizing the life of his father, Xiao Zhan. As long as the light remained bright and vibrant, the life was secure; should the light fade and vanish, it would mean the soul had departed. Holding the ancient jade slab tightly, Xiao Yan felt a sense of dazed wonder and deep emotion. Since childhood—whether he was a prodigy or merely an ordinary boy—his father had never shown any different gaze toward him. Even when others in the family cast scornful glances and expressions of mockery, his father had always remained devoted and affectionate. Whenever Xiao Yan, still a young boy, was injured, his father would smile warmly, pat his shoulder gently, and say, "A true man must be strong—tears and despair will never make a true warrior." These simple yet enduring moments had deeply resonated with Xiao Yan, whose own soul carried a more mature and refined sense of maturity, and they had earned him a place of profound esteem in his heart. "Father, I will find you," said Xiao Yan, his eyes gradually growing colder as he tightly held the ancient jade. Regardless of who had taken his father, Xiao Yan would make that person pay dearly. As his emotions surged, a surge of emerald flame suddenly erupted from his palm. Startled at first, Xiao Yan's face then turned pale, and with a sudden thought, the emerald flame swiftly faded. He quickly spread his hand open, only to be astonished to find that the jade, which he had always believed to be remarkably fragile, had withstood the intense heat of the Qinglian Earth-Heart Fire. "This...?" A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes. For the first time, Xiao Yan examined the jade with great care—the ancient piece passed down through the Xiao family. According to the elders, only the family's chief elders were entitled to hold it, and even they knew little about it. Carefully examining the ancient jade slab, illuminated by the moonlight, Xiao Yan suddenly noticed that under the moon's glow, the slab seemed to bear intricate, mysterious patterns. As he gazed at them for a while, the patterns began to blur, and he felt a sense of dizziness. Shaking his head to clear the sensation, Xiao Yan's growing wonder deepened with each careful observation. It appeared that this jade slab was not merely capable of storing a single thread of the clan elder's soul as he had originally imagined. Gently tracing the edge with his fingers, he paused suddenly—his fingers stiffened—as he ran his touch along the upper edge. This particular edge differed from the others; while the rest had formed naturally, this one seemed as though a single, solid piece of jade had been forcibly cut. A doubt arose in his heart. Xiang Yan stared at the ancient jade slab for a long time, yet found no trace of anything noteworthy. With no choice, he shook his head in resignation and carefully placed the slab into his storage ring. Soon after Xiang Yan secured the jade slab, the black ring on his finger trembled slightly, and then the ethereal figure of Yao Lao gradually drifted into view. "I didn't detect the presence of the unique fire here at the Gan Nan Academy," Yao Lao said, somewhat helplessly as soon as he appeared. "Huh?" The sudden news sent Xiang Yan's face pale; he furrowed his brows and said in concern, "Didn't the teacher say that I would be able to obtain information about the Fallen Heart Flame within the Gan Nan Academy?" "Indeed, I first sensed the presence of the unique fire in this area of the Gan Nan Academy. But now, upon returning, I no longer feel that sensation," Yao Lao explained with a wry smile. "Could it be that someone else has already obtained it?" Xiang Yan's expression grew troubled. The Fallen Heart Flame had been crucial to his significant growth. "It shouldn't be the case, though I can't quite feel the distinct presence of the Fallen Heart Flame. However, thanks to the unique attraction between the heterogenous flames, I can faintly detect its lingering traces within a radius of several thousand li around the Cana College—just not precisely where they are located." The Elder of the Herbs shook his head, pondering. "Several thousand li... then when will we find it?" Xiao Yan chuckled slightly. "I believe," the Elder continued, "the older members of Cana College must have noticed the presence of the Fallen Heart Flame. I have a strong feeling that the Inner Courtyard is somehow connected to this matter." "The Inner Courtyard?" Xiao Yan was momentarily surprised. "Yes. The Inner Courtyard is actually the heart of Cana College. If you can gain access to it, I think you might be able to gather some information about the Fallen Heart Flame." After a brief pause, the Elder suggested. "Ah, I'll do my best..." He sighed. Having already arrived at Cana College, he naturally didn't intend to leave empty-handed. "Hmm. I'll be less visible from now on. With a strong contender lurking beside your young girlfriend, I won't be able to stay long without being detected..." After saying this to Xiao Yan, the Herbal Elder gave a slight shake and vanished into the dark ring.