Watching Xiao Yan's expression of astonishment and shock, Ling Ying smiled and nodded, then slightly inclined her body toward Xun'er, saying, "Miss." As Xiao Yan gradually regained his composure, he turned his gaze to Xun'er upon hearing Ling Ying's address to her, a sense of relief appearing in his eyes. With a slightly furrowed brow, he asked, "You two...?" "Originally, I was the last line of defense assigned by the head of the household to the lady. During the periods when I was not by her side, perhaps the lady's defenses were at their weakest. Now, you might already have a vague sense of the strength and reach of her backing—therefore, numerous people have shown interest in her. Fortunately, the Cana College, renowned across the continent for its ancient prestige, has managed to keep the lady unscathed. Otherwise, I would surely face severe reprimands from the head of the household." Ling Ying smiled gently. The unspoken implication of his words was to make Xiao Yan clearly understand the significant risks Xun'er had taken to ensure his safety, so as to prevent any resentment toward her. Having known Xiao Yan for some time, Ling Ying was well aware that the young man was particularly resistant to being watched closely behind the scenes. As for the implication in Ling Ying's words, Xiao Yan naturally picked it up and sighed lightly, patting Xun'er's head gently before chuckling, "You really are something, aren't you? What could possibly be wrong with me? You've underestimated me so completely!" Seeing that Xiao Yan's expression bore no trace of reproach, Xun'er quietly breathed a sigh of relief, smiled gracefully, and said nothing to defend herself. Hearing this, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned. He had originally only suspected a connection between his father's disappearance and the power behind Xun'er's influence, but after discussing it with her, that doubt had gradually faded. He hadn't expected, however, that she would have truly gone to the lengths of dispatching people to investigate. "Mr. Xiao Yan, regarding your father's disappearance, it is indeed unrelated to us. The Xiao family—perhaps we should say the Xiao family from a long time ago—has had a deep connection with ours. Yet, within that relationship, there have been numerous grievances. Indeed, there were strong voices within the clan who proposed bringing all members of the Xiao family back, but ultimately, due to the intense debate, that plan was abandoned." Ling Ying paused and said slowly, "In recent years, this matter has rarely come up again. Therefore, your father's disappearance must have been caused by someone else." Xiao Yan frowned, sighed, and spoke in a low,沉 voice: "Yet our Xiao family is now merely a second-tier family within the empire. How could any Dou Huang-level powerhouse possibly intervene against us? It seems, then, that the greatest suspicion must lie with Yunlan Sect. Ah, that damned senior abbot..." Xiao Zhan had gone missing under the pursuit of the Yunlan Sect's senior abbot, and at the time, no one else was present. Therefore, it remained unclear—whether he had simply vanished or had been secretly taken—except for Xiao Yan himself. Now that the party concerned has passed away, Xiao Zhan's movements have become even more enigmatic. Nevertheless, no matter how one looks at it, this matter clearly involves Yunlan Sect to some extent. At first, driven by rage, Xiao Yan had lost his composure and killed the Senior Elder on the spot. Afterward, he was relentlessly pursued by Yunlan Sect, fleeing continuously until he finally escaped the Jima Empire—during which he had scarcely had any time to reflect upon the oddities surrounding the incident. Now, with his composure restored, Xiao Yan began to harbor a growing suspicion. Yet, the Senior Elder's final demeanor suggested he was not lying. "Yunlan Sect..." Ling Ying murmured the name of the force he had once overlooked, a distinct change flashing briefly in the cloudy eyes of the elder before fading away. "Yunlan Sect... now they're involved again. Back when they chased us out of the Jima Empire, I said I would surely return one day—and then I would make sure this matter was settled thoroughly!" Xiao Yan clenched his fists tightly, his voice choked with suppressed fury and determination. Watching the figure of Xiao Yan fade into the distance, Xun lightly waved her hand, a gust of wind closing the door firmly. Then, as though fearing it might not be secure enough, a golden beam shot forth from her palm and settled over the door. "Master Ling, it seems you've learned something about Yunlan Sect?" After ensuring the room was soundproof, Xun suddenly spoke softly. At this, Ling Yin was momentarily startled, hesitated a moment, then nodded, lowering his voice: "On my return, I specifically gathered some intelligence on Yunlan Sect—and discovered several things I hadn't known before." "Go on," Xun narrowed her eyes, a subtle, mesmerizing glow of gold passing across her gaze as she gestured. "This force, which has always remained secluded within the Jima Empire, appears to have subtle, unspoken connections with 'those people'..." Ling Yin said slowly. "Those people?" Xun was slightly taken aback, her face then changing slightly: "You mean them?" "Yes," Ling Yin nodded. "How could Yunlan Sect have become involved with them? After all, Yunlan Sect has produced several top-tier masters renowned across the continent—how could they possibly be entangled with them?" Xun'er remarked in surprise. "I'm not entirely sure... but it seems their connection hasn't been particularly long-lasting. Perhaps they've only maintained ties with the previous Cloud Ridge Sect Master, now a Dou宗 (Dou-Gen) cultivator named Yun Shan. In fact, within the Cloud Ridge Sect, the number of people who know about this connection is probably quite small. I wonder if even the current Cloud Ridge Sect Master, Yun Yun, is unaware of Yun Shan's involvement with them. Otherwise..." Ling Ying paused, gazing at Xun'er's calm expression, and softly added, "Otherwise, given her relationship with Mr. Xiao Yan, she wouldn't remain completely silent about it." "Um," Ling Ying nodded, her gaze fixed on Xun'er, hesitating slightly. "Miss, you've been with the Xiao family for over a decade now. When the clan first sent you to the Xiao family, their intention was for you to quietly obtain the keys belonging to the Xiao family. Yet you've ended up at Jia Nan Academy, and despite all these years, there's still no word about those keys. This time, upon returning, I've heard that some members of the clan are expressing dissatisfaction—had it not been for the ancestral blood pact between the Xiao family and our clan, some might have even resorted to force." Xun'er lifted her eyes slightly, the golden flames dancing within her lively gaze, speaking calmly. "Just ignore them." Upon hearing this, Ling Ying smiled faintly and nodded. "As for the connection between Yunlan Sect and 'them,' let's hold off on telling Xiao Yan brother about it for now. We can reveal it when he's strong enough to stand against Yunlan Sect. If we speak now, it might not be good for him." Xun'er reminded. "Yes." "Lin Ying nodded respectfully and replied. "Yes... you go ahead and leave the inner courtyard. There are so many strong ones here; if they notice your presence, you'll inevitably face some trouble." Xun'er waved her hand and instructed. "Understood." Lin Ying nodded again and said, "I'll stay in the deep mountains. Should the lady need anything, she need only send a special signal from the clan." As she spoke, her form trembled, and her body underwent a strange distortion, eventually dissolving into a shadow that silently merged into the darkness within the room. Ascending to the upper level, the sky had gradually darkened, with a few stars scattered across it and a slender crescent moon hanging in the heavens, softly radiating a gentle moonlight. Xiao Yan sat on the northern ground, gently handling an ancient jade that emitted an unusual shimmer. Under the moonlight, the peculiar patterns on the jade's surface seemed to breathe in and out, glowing and dimming rhythmically—yet this did not capture Xiao Yan's attention. His gaze remained fixed solely on a single, lively spot of light dancing within the jade. This spot, symbolizing his father's life and death, was the only one still pulsing with vitality, allowing Xiao Yan to truly focus on his cultivation. Xun smiled and walked toward Xiao Yan. However, when her gaze suddenly paused on the ancient jade in Xiao Yan's hand, illuminated by the light, her steps came to an abrupt halt, and a look of astonishment slowly spread across her refined features. "This... this? Is this the Jade of the Doshē Ancient Emperor?"