Following the intense battle in枫城, Black Corner Domain gradually returned to calm. However, the strongest alliance within the domain—the "Black Alliance"—was experiencing growing discord due to divisions over interests, showing clear signs of impending dissolution. Its members were all powerful forces within Black Corner Domain, many of which were evenly matched, none able to fully command the others. In the past, under Han Feng's reputation and his exceptional skill in potion-making, they had been willing to endure his leadership. But now, with Han Feng's passing and the absence of a clear leader, the Alliance had become a leaderless swarm of bees. The position of Alliance Leader was eagerly pursued by all, yet no one could command the others' loyalty. As a result, repeated disputes arose, culminating in several clashes. This only deepened the tensions among the members, making the eventual fragmentation of the Alliance an inevitable outcome. Originally, the two elders—Liang and Jin—had the strength to stand on their own. However, following the events involving Han Feng, they had lost the courage to challenge the Cangnan Academy directly. Thus, they naturally hesitated to take the lead. On the very day Han Feng perished, the two elders vanished completely, leaving the Hei Alliance in disarray. Even its strongest members fled in panic. Indeed, the Hei Alliance had run its course. Within just five days, the alliance collapsed entirely—once the most powerful coalition in the Black Angle Region. With the Hei Alliance's fall, the Inner Court finally exhaled a long-held breath. This confrontation between Cangnan Academy and the Black Angle Region concluded decisively with the Inner Court's complete victory. Of course, as the standout hero of this confrontation, Xiao Yan's reputation was not only unrivaled among the student body but even among the senior elders—those of the most distinguished seniority would pause, smile, and engage in heartfelt conversations whenever they encountered this young up-and-comer. The genuine strength Xiao Yan displayed during that great battle had left everyone in awe! This healing process took a full seven days, and only then did the injuries within Xiao Yan's body begin to show signs of recovery. Even this was due to the repeated refinement of his body through various elixirs and unique fires. For an ordinary person, such injuries would not fully heal within half a month—or even a full month—and might even leave behind permanent, uncurable complications due to their severity. Celestial and terrestrial energies flowed continuously into the young man's body, yet his form seemed an ever-expanding abyss, absorbing the energies without ever overflowing. The quiet cultivation and healing process lasted for an indeterminate length of time—until, at a certain moment, when the pallor on his face was completely replaced by healthy ruddiness, the subtle fluctuations within the surrounding space gradually subsided. As the vibrations faded, the young man's eyelashes trembled suddenly, and after a moment, his tightly closed eyes slowly opened. Deep black pupils filled with vibrant green flames, which then swiftly extinguished. "Ah…" A long-held turbid breath, which had been swirling in his chest, now escaped through his throat, slightly pale and refreshed—significantly better than the once dark, toxic black mist that had previously lingered. "It seems that over the past two years beneath the earth, the 'scorched toxin' lingering within my body has finally been completely eliminated..." Staring at the pale, hazy mist, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, then murmured with a touch of surprise. The 'scorched toxin' had always been a thorn in his side—though the unusual fire had kept it under control and caused no serious harm, it was unlikely that anyone would feel completely at ease with such a potent toxin still present. Now, seeing it finally vanish entirely, Xiao Yan could hardly conceal his delight. "My injuries have fully healed; clearly, this period of meditation has been quite lengthy," he said, smiling gently as he felt the vibrant, surging qi flowing through his body. "Yet unfortunately, I've never truly felt the barrier that hinders my advancement to the Duke-level cultivator. It seems that although my strength has surged significantly, some drawbacks have also emerged." Before being pulled into the depths, Xiao Yan's true strength had only reached the level of four- or five-star Spiritual Sovereigns. However, due to various circumstances, it suddenly surged to the peak of a Spiritual Emperor—though this transformation took two years, the pace was still astonishing. Moreover, such a rapid leap in strength was something Xiao Yan had never experienced before. As a result, in terms of command and control over his power, he still fell short of true Spiritual Emperor-level masters. In his recent battle against Han Feng, if he could fully master the peak strength of a Spiritual Emperor, he would likely not have been so overwhelmed, let alone nearly sacrificing himself at the end. Nevertheless, Xiao Yan's significant growth in strength was a fact. Therefore, until he fully mastered the power of the Battle King level, he would not be able to make further progress—only by mastering his current abilities could he advance further. As the deep contemplation on his face gradually faded, Xiao Yan exhaled, knowing that such matters couldn't be rushed. At this moment, he indeed needed to become proficient in handling numerous aspects, such as the Strange Fire. During his battle against Han Feng, even Xiao Yan had to acknowledge that Han Feng's command over "Sea-Heart Flame" was stronger than his own—though this advantage stemmed partly from Han Feng's age and experience, Xiao Yan didn't want to fall behind in any aspect. This was a sense of competitive spirit among peers; he needed to ensure that everyone knew he was never weaker than Han Feng in any area. In doing so, he indirectly affirmed that Master Yao's sharp and seasoned judgment remained intact. Of course, Han Feng has a stronger command over his hetero-flame than Xiao Yan. On one hand, this is due to his age and experience; on the other, it's because he has been able to focus solely on mastering the "Sea Heart Flame." Although he has studied the "Burn Decree," it is only a partial manuscript. Over the years, through his own dedicated study, his understanding of the "Burn Decree" has deepened significantly. Yet, in terms of control over hetero-flames, he still falls far short of Xiao Yan. As a result, Han Feng is constantly attending to the "Sea Heart Flame," while Xiao Yan, from the very beginning, has been practicing the most complete version of the "Burn Decree," constantly shifting between different flames and adapting them. Thus, Han Feng follows a specialized path, while Xiao Yan takes a broader, more diverse approach—each path has its merits. However, when it comes to mastery of flame control, Han Feng clearly surpasses Xiao Yan. "Pfft!" With a deep resonant sound, a cluster of emerald flame emerged from Xiao Yan's palm. He gazed intently at this newly formed flame, a fusion of two distinct hetero-flames, momentarily stunned. As this hetero-flame had arisen from a synthesis, it might not have been included in the "Hetero-Flame Ranking," since the "Burn Decree" wasn't something every cultivator practiced. Thus, Xiao Yan himself didn't know what to call it. After some contemplation, he found himself pleasantly intrigued and bestowed upon it a name. Lingli Lianxin Flame! A simple name, yet one that stirred considerable excitement within him. The privilege of naming a newly born hetero-flame—perhaps few people in the world possessed it. In the future, once Xiao Yan reached the pinnacle of the continent, this flame might well be inscribed in the "Hetero-Flame Ranking." As for how high this so-called Lvylian Lotus Heart Flame might rank on the "Unusual Flame Ranking," Xiao Yan wasn't entirely sure. However, based on his estimation, it would at least be on par with or even surpass the Bone Spirit Cold Flame of the Medicine Elder—after all, even if it were subpar, it was formed by the fusion of two unusual flames, and the power of that fusion was clearly evident during the battle against Han Feng, when the Sea Heart Flame had been pressed so heavily. Two hues of flame rose at Xiao Yan's fingertips. He furrowed his brows, murmuring, comparing his relatively plain and straightforward fire attacks to Han Feng's refined, intricate, and masterful fire assaults. Habitually tracing the jade sea storage ring with his fingers, Xiao Yan suddenly recalled something. With a flick of his finger, the ring emitted a scroll—ancient, deep-black and sturdy—now resting in his palm. The scroll was perfectly round, resembling a cylinder, with no apparent opening, yet a subtle, deep glow seeped from within, revealing its exceptional nature. This scroll, indeed, was the very one Xun'er had entrusted to Xiao Yan with great care and solemnity when she had departed!