A spacious open area within the new student residence is crowded with a dense group of people. In the midst of the crowd, two factions face off, each glaring at the other with intensity. One side is larger in numbers, while the other consists of only nearly a dozen individuals. Yet, the dynamics of the scene suggest that the smaller group holds the upper hand. "If you have nothing else, then please leave. Our new district does not welcome you," Xun'er glanced at Bai Shan, speaking calmly. The two's demeanor caused Bai Shan's嘴角 to twitch involuntarily; the once cheerful expression on his face now grew cold. "White Shan, why keep talking? Simply take action now—strike at their pride right from the start. Once they're humbled, people will naturally choose to join us." A sudden laugh came from a sturdy young man standing beside Bai Shan. As he spoke, his eyes frequently swept over the graceful, curvaceous forms of Xun'er and Huo Jia. "Hmm, Brother Fu Ao makes a good point. But since these are young women, and we're going to act so soon upon their arrival, it might be seen as lacking grace," Bai Shan couldn't help but pay attention to this young man—among the helpers, he was one of only a few top-tier Du Ling cultivators besides his cousin. So he quickly smiled and replied. "Hmm, that's true." "Heard White Mountain say this, Fu Ao chuckled softly and turned his gaze back to Xun'er, smiling warmly, "Xun'er, although Xiao Yan has the ability to lead you to victory in the 'Fire Power Hunting Competition,' he lacks the standing within the inner courtyard. Don't expect him to show any boldness—by the time a couple of days pass, after enduring enough hardships, he might even decide to dissolve your so-called 'Pan Gate' himself." "Don't worry about me taking the trouble. As long as Xiao Yan hasn't spoken up, the Pan Gate won't fear any other faction. If you wish to dismantle us, go ahead and try!" Xun'er glanced at him, her voice cold. Observing the frost that had settled across Xun'er's refined and elegant face, Fu Ao's smile grew even more vibrant. He murmured, "Such a determined girl—indeed, she's exactly to my taste. Then, in honor of your face, if you hand over five new recruits today, the White Clan will leave you be from now on. How does that sound?" "Bro, five...?" Hearing this, Bai Shan's face slightly tightened, and he quickly interjected. He had come here with his team—not merely to secure five new recruits. With a wave of his hand, Fu Ao cut off Bai Shan's words, smiling warmly at Xun'er and said, "Of course, among these five, Xun'er must be included." As soon as Fu Ao said this, Bai Shan's expression subtly darkened. Now he could clearly sense that Fu Ao also had intentions toward Xun'er. A fleeting chill passed through his eyes. Since his gaze had been steadily fixed on Xun'er, Fu Ao hadn't noticed this shift in his demeanor. "The Pan Gate will never hand over a single member to any other faction!" Fu Ao's subtle hint of playfulness was clearly evident to Xun'er. With her lively eyes fixed on him, she stared for a long while, and then, suddenly, the frost on her cheeks completely melted away. Her voice remained calm and composed. Staring at Xun, who had once again grown indifferent, Fu Ao furrowed his brows. He didn't care for women displaying such a demeanor. His smile gradually faded, and he coldly remarked, "Then it seems we'll have to force things. If we defeat all of your powerful disciples from Panmen, I doubt you'll have any credibility left to retain them." "Then go ahead and try!" Hu Jia's face remained icy, her emerald aura surging powerfully from within, radiating a strong presence that filled the entire area. As Hu Jia's aura intensified, the dozens of new recruits behind her roared in unison, their streams of differently colored ki erupting simultaneously. The air vibrations from the ki sent the leaves on the ground flying off instantly. "Oh?" The new students this year truly have the flair described—so arrogant, it seems they've lost all bounds...” Observing the waves of ki rising from the other side, Fu Ao couldn’t help but chuckle with scorn. Taking a heavy step forward, a deep, resonant boom echoed as a vibrant blue ki instantly enveloped his body. The ki surged and swirled, thick and viscous, flowing like the sea around him. As Fu Ao’s ki poured forth, a commanding presence far stronger than that of any student present immediately filled the air—by sheer force of will, he had successfully pushed down and suppressed the collective aura of the numerous new students. “Today, you’re all going to witness the gap between the new and the seasoned students!” Fu Ao straightened his spine, coldly remarked. “Bai Shan, take the lead and engage them—let these new arrivals learn that in the inner courtyard, merely having strong resolve isn’t enough to survive!” Bai Shan nodded slightly, his eyes briefly reflecting a complex mix of emotions as he glanced at Xun'er across the way, then raised his hand and spoke firmly, “Form up!” "Heard Bai Shan's shout, nearly ten seniors behind him instantly issued a soft command, their forms swiftly transforming into shadows and shooting like lightning toward the group." "I'll hold Bai Shan," said Hu Jia, her slender hand trembling as a long, green whip materialized. The whip gently vibrated, sending a crackling sound through the air, with a distinct, unusual fragrance subtly wafting out. "Understood," Xin'er nodded, her gaze coldly fixed on the rushing figures. A brilliant golden glow suddenly emerged in her delicate hands. "Crack!" As the battle was about to begin, with Bai Shan and the others nearly about to engage Xin'er and her team, the shadow suddenly sliced across the sky, producing a sharp tearing sound as it struck squarely between both groups. The impact sent a thunderous explosion, scattering dust that instantly separated the two parties. Fuyao frowned at the dusty patch, then swept his sleeve with a sudden gust of wind tinged with moisture, blowing the dust into wetness and sending it settling to the ground. As the dust settled, a massive black ruler, previously embedded in the hard stone slab, came into view before Fuyao and his companions. After a brief glance at the ruler, everyone turned their attention to the two figures standing behind it. "Xiao Yan, Wu Hao—I thought you'd have fled at the first sign of wind. I didn't expect you to return," White Shan's expression tightened, his voice cold. Xiao Yan gave him a cold, steady look before glancing past him and settling his gaze on Fuyao. He could sense that this man had been the strongest presence here until now. At the sight of Xiao Yan and Wu Hao's arrival, the new recruits of Panmen erupted into cheers. Having gone through these recent events, they now firmly believed that Xiao Yan had become the true backbone of the group—whenever he was there, they carried the determination to face anyone in battle. "Finally, you two have returned..." Gohua quietly exhaled, her hands resting on her sides. Though she was always bold and strong-willed, such moments always felt more natural when a man stood at the forefront. "Xiao Yan brother, they..." Xun'er's gaze lingered on Xiao Yan's slender silhouette, and she softly spoke. Waving her hand to cut off Xun'er's words, Xiao Yan smiled gently and said, "I know. From now on, it's my responsibility." Xun'er nodded warmly, her eyes fixed on that slender figure. She loved the way he always carried himself with unwavering confidence—just as he had when he was a child. "Then you must be Xiao Yan?" Staring at Xiao Yan, and then noticing Xun'er's warmth—so different from her earlier cold demeanor—Fu Ao couldn't help but furrow his brows, chuckling coldly. "He's Xiao Yan, that's all. The new faces now." White Shan interjected from the side. "White Shan, I never thought your composure was this thick. I must have been blind all along." Xiao Yan glanced at White Shan, smiling with an unmistakable undercurrent of mockery. Caught in Xiao Yan's sharp remarks, White Shan's face turned pale, his gaze dark and penetrating as he said, "You may act proud—long before I arrived at the Inner Courtyard, I already made up my mind to settle you." "Besides relying on others' power, what else can you do?" Xiao Yan replied calmly. "You..." "Enough. Let's stop arguing." "Fu Ao raised his hand, cutting off the back-and-forth exchange between the two, then looked up at Xiao Yan, speaking calmly, "I won't waste time on words. I'm sending fifteen new recruits from my 'Bai Hall' to you. We'll leave right away." "What if they don't comply?" Xiao Yan placed his palm on the handle of his staff, his voice cold. "Then I'll fight until your authority is completely undermined in front of the new recruits!" Fu Ao smiled, revealing his bright, sharp teeth that carried a hint of frost. Xiao Yan nodded slightly, turned his neck, and was about to take a step forward when Wu Hao suddenly reached out and stopped him, saying, "Let me handle this?" "That man is a Dou Ling-level strength. You're still finding it difficult to keep up at the moment." Xiao Yan shook his head with a smile, pushed aside Wu Hao's hand, and then slowly took a step forward, his gaze fixed on Fu Ao, speaking lightly, "A one-on-one match. If you win, then follow your terms. If you lose, your Bai Hall will not bother the Pan Men again for the next three months. How does that sound? Are "Bro, don't agree to it. That guy has some hidden cards—he's capable of holding his own against top-tier Battle Spirit warriors. Last time, even Luo Hou fell to him." White Shan hurried to add, "We should all go together. Though they have more newcomers, they simply won't be able to hold out!" A soft voice suddenly echoed behind Xiao Yan. Instantly, a delicate, slender hand gently grasped the fist that Xiao Yan had tightly clenched. Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan turned to gaze at the graceful, serene young woman in her green robe. After a long moment, he slightly bowed, bringing his ear close to her slightly flushed cheeks, and spoke in a voice audible only to the two of them: "Ni, in six months, I will eliminate the 'Bai Clan.'" "Indeed," the young woman smiled warmly, her expression both gentle and enchanting, captivating those nearby. To him, she had never harbored a single doubt—never, not even in the smallest matters.