Crimson magma spread across the sky, yet instead of pouring down, it remained suspended in midair—much like blood filling the heavens, vivid and striking. The entire plaza lay utterly still, every person staring in stunned silence at the sudden transformation of the Sky-Burning Qi Tower. After two years, most of the new recruits entering the inner courtyard had never heard of the legendary battle that erupted within the courtyard back then, so this unprecedented event was their very first witness. After a moment of stunned silence, a sudden, joyful laugh echoed through the sky, startling those still reeling. They blinked in confusion—Xiao Yan? That name... it seemed familiar. Of course, this name might only be somewhat familiar to ordinary students, yet for some, it holds deep, unforgettable significance. Now, waves of astonished glances, filled with disbelief and overwhelming joy, are turning toward the Tianfen Qi Tower! "Xiao... Xiao Yan? Is he really still alive? He's truly still alive! That voice can't be mistaken! It can't be!" Wu Hao, usually stern-faced, was now radiant with joy, his gaze fixed intently on the surging column of crimson lava erupting from the apex of the Tianfen Qi Tower, his voice slightly hoarse from excitement. Beside him, Xiao Yu bit her lower lip tightly, her body gently trembling, tears of emotion glistening in her eyes. Is he really still alive? Is he truly still alive? On the elevated platform, not only the senior monks were gazing in stunned silence at the molten lava column shooting skyward, but even the usually composed Senior Master Su Qian, whose expression had always been calm and detached, now stared with a dazed expression. Only after a long while did he speak, his voice slightly disoriented: "Just now—the sound… it sounded like Xiao Yan's?" "Senior Master, it's definitely Xiao Yan! There's no doubt about it. I always said he wouldn't die! Hahahaha!" Lin Yan's face was flushed with excitement, for some reason, he always held an extraordinary, almost inexplicable confidence in that person. Even when Xiao Yan was consumed by the strange flames and dragged deep into the endless underground, Lin Yan firmly believed that the resilient, almost indestructible one—like a small strongman—would surely rise again! Though this unwavering belief might seem rather rigid and outdated, he simply believed it—without any reason. "Good. He's alive. He's alive…" Senior Master Su Qian smiled, his face appearing composed, yet his tone clearly conveyed the deep sense of astonishment and excitement within him. "This guy... truly can't be understood by ordinary reasoning." Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing exchanged glances, both smiling gently as they exhaled in quiet admiration. They were glad they had chosen to stay back back then; otherwise, they might never have witnessed such a breathtaking scene today. Under the countless sets of eyes filled with various expressions, the molten lava column shooting out from the tip of the Tianfen Qi Tower suddenly froze mid-air and then, surprisingly, split itself into two parts. As the lava column naturally parted, a figure gradually emerged into the collective view of everyone present. At the heart of the molten rock, a young man emerged, clad in a black robe, his figure tall and graceful. With his refined, warm smile adorning his delicate features, he carried a unique elegance of beauty. When the crowd, upon seeing this young man stepping out unharmed from the molten rock, first paused in astonishment, they suddenly recalled something—each gaze swiftly turned toward the statue at the entrance of the Tianfen Qi Tower. One after another, hushed gasps rose in the square, as they finally remembered: who exactly was the so-called Xiao Yan. "It's been a long time—Grand Elder, you're growing more vigorous with age!" Xiao Yan smiled, lightly waving his sleeve. The crimson magma that had spread across the sky suddenly surged back, flowing mysteriously into the magma column, which then, under a wave of thunderous gazes, crashed down with tremendous force from the sky-furnace cultivation tower. The sheer power of the impact sent people's hearts trembling, and when they looked back at the elder, their admiration deepened. With just a simple gesture, he had effortlessly driven back such a massive column of magma—this very embodiment of true strength stirred warmth in countless inner academy students' eyes. This, this was exactly the realm they aspired to achieve! After clearing the entire column of magma, Xiao Yan lightly touched the void with his foot, a faint silver glow appearing, and then flashed forward, materializing like a ghost upon the dais. Seeing his swift, ethereal movements, the audience on the dais raised their brows—clearly, Xiao Yan had grown significantly stronger than before. "He's promoted to a Battle King, isn't he?" "Su Qian's eyes flashed slightly, and with a smile, he said. He knew that, in the past, Xiao Yan's true strength had only reached the Domain Spirit level. Although he had eventually fought against strong opponents like Han Feng, who were at the Domain Emperor level, he had always been able to see that the power displayed wasn't truly Xiao Yan's own. Now, as Xiao Yan demonstrated his speed, Su Qian could clearly feel that this was indeed his genuine strength. "I think so," Xiao Yan nodded slightly, still somewhat uncertain. This breakthrough had come to him in a rather hazy manner, so he wasn't entirely sure about his current level. "Shall we have Lin Xiu'ya try?" Su Qian asked with a warm smile, genuinely curious. After all, it had been two years since their last meeting, and this young man who always seemed to bring miracles—how far had he truly come? "I'd be delighted to—after all, we've never actually faced each other in a direct confrontation," Xiao Yan smiled lightly, his gaze shifting to Lin Xiu'ya, who stood behind Su Qian with eager anticipation. "I've always regretted not having fought you yet. Today, I'd like to make it up to you." Lin Xiu'ya smiled, lightly tapping the stone platform with his foot, and then flashed downward, landing gracefully on an open patch of ground in the square, his gaze intense and fixed on Xiao Yan. Since Su Qian and the others had not dampened their conversation, the crowd in the square immediately erupted with excitement as they surged around Lin Xiu'ya, forming a tight circle. Few in the inner courtyard were unaware of Lin Xiu'ya's reputation—the founder of "Wolf's Teeth." Though he no longer actively managed the organization, his standing ensured that "Wolf's Teeth" remained one of the top-tier factions within the inner courtyard. Few dared to challenge it. Of course, many still came with the intention of witnessing Xiao Yan's true strength. Over the years, Xiao Yan's name had nearly become a legend within the Inner Courtyard. Yet, although many eagerly recounted that legendary battle from years ago, as time passed and newer students heard it repeatedly, some began to question its authenticity. How could a fresh-faced freshman, only about the same age as themselves, have defeated a Duke-level powerhouse in just one year? Wasn't that an exaggeration? Gazing at the dense crowd on the plaza, Xiao Yan couldn't help but shake his head—hadn't things been a bit too noisy here? "Young fellow, the Inner Courtyard has become far more bustling than it was two years ago. There are so many outspoken students now; you don't want to be the one whose reputation gets questioned just because you're a senior, do you?" Su Qian smiled, knowing that by having Lin Xiu'ya compete against Xiao Yan in front of everyone, he was not only giving the younger students a chance to showcase their skills, but also helping Xiao Yan regain his standing. With so many new students entering, the older ones often fade into the background. "Two years? I never realized it had already been two years since then..." Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, sighed with a touch of nostalgia, then nodded. In a flash, he reappeared—now standing firmly before Lin Xiu'ya. "Xiao Yan, you're the leader of our 'Pan Gate'! Don't let us down—every member of the Pan Gate is watching you, the senior who's been missing for two years!" Just as Xiao Yan had steadied himself, a sudden burst of laughter erupted from outside. He paused, turning to look in the direction of the sound, and there, on a raised platform outside, he saw a dense crowd of figures. Leading the group were precisely Wu Hao, Huo Jia, Zi Yan, and—Xiao Yu as well. Behind them stood a large crowd, their eyes filled with intense admiration, fixed upon the young man in black robes in the center of the stage. Since joining the "Pan Sect," they had heard many proud tales from others about the sect's founding and its founder, so in their hearts, Xiao Yan held an exceptionally noble status. "We'll catch up with you later," Xiao Yan smiled at Wu Hao and the others, then slowly turned to face Lin Xiu'ya, who stood firmly awaiting him. In Lin Xiu'ya's eyes, a strong sense of apprehension shimmered—eyes that had once been directed at him now found themselves exchanged in position. Gazing at the two facing off in the arena, Su Qian on the platform smiled and said, "In your opinion, how many rounds can Lin Xiu'ya withstand against Xiao Yan?" At this, everyone was momentarily stunned, and only after a while did one elder speak softly, "Are you referring to Xiao Yan having fully utilized all the enhancements to his strength?" Su Qian shook his head slightly and said gently, "I believe it won't be more than three rounds." The elders were once again taken aback. After a long pause, the same elder managed a dry smile and remarked, "Lin Xiu'ya is currently a five-star Duke-level warrior. Even a typical Duke-level master would find it quite difficult to defeat him within just three rounds." Su Qian merely smiled, silent. Though Xiao Yan's aura was rather peculiar—so strange, in fact, that even he found it difficult to perceive his true strength—there was still a faint, vague sense that Xiao Yan's current power was truly formidable. On the bustling ground, Xiao Yan clenched his fists, feeling the surging strength within him, and offered a gentle smile. "Time to begin?" "Yes!" Nodding firmly, a fierce, battle-ready aura typical of a true Duke-level warrior surged forth from Lin Xiu'ya. Over the past two years, not only had he fully entered the Duke rank, but he had also advanced significantly within it. With his current strength, he now stood among the upper tiers even among the senior elders. "Boom!" A deep, vibrant qi surged forth from Lin Xiu's body, flowing abundantly. With a firm grasp of his hands, a long sword entirely composed of wind-energy materialized. A mere flick of the sword sent a cutting gust of wind streaking out, carving a clear path across the hard, green stone ground. A sword infused with a fierce gust of wind pierced the air—yet nothing met it. This sudden development immediately caused every pore on Lin Xiu'ya's body to tighten. He had clearly sensed Xiao Yan's presence just moments ago, materializing behind him. "Has his speed become this astonishing?" Lin Xiu'ya's thoughts raced like lightning. Previously, Xiao Yan's speed had been swift, though at least it had been observable. Now, however, he moved as if invisible—completely undetectable. His eyes darted around wildly. Suddenly, Lin Xiu'ya's pupils narrowed, and with a determined force, he drove his energy sword straight forward. The surrounding students were utterly puzzled by Lin Xiu'ya's sudden flurry of attacks. Xiao Yan hadn't moved at all—hadn't he been standing still? Then, why had he suddenly gone berserk? Ordinary students naturally couldn't perceive the unusual aspects, while only those with stronger prowess could faintly sense that the figure of Xiao Yan, seemingly still in place, appeared slightly ethereal. Some particularly perceptive individuals immediately felt a surge of astonishment—was this merely a residual shadow? How remarkably elusive and unpredictable must the movements and speed have been to leave such a shadow so quietly? As the long sword surged forward, a sudden, jarring patch of emerald flame unexpectedly emerged in mid-air. When the sword pierced through this flame, everyone clearly observed that the sword, composed of energy, offered almost no resistance and was instantly consumed by the emerald flame, vanishing into nothingness. With the sword now gone, a dark figure materialized suddenly amidst a wave of stunned gazes, as if having instantaneously teleported. The young man in black robes smiled gently at Lin Xiu'ya, then suddenly extended his hand, which glowed with emerald flame, and grasped firmly at the former's neck. "Blade net!" At the critical moment, Lin Xiu'ya demonstrated exceptional combat experience, moving his hand seal and causing rapid fluctuations in the energy around him, which eventually coalesced into a deep teal energy net. Yet, his palm remained undeterred—without hesitation, Xiao Yan's hand simply and directly extended forward. Under the green flames, the fine wind-blades embedded in the net instantly crumbled like fragile parchment, tearing through it. Xiao Yan's hand passed through the network unimpeded, halting only when it was mere half an inch from his neck.