To awaken the Medicine Elder, Xiao Yan had not only drained every drop of qi from his body but also sustained significant damage to his spiritual strength. Even though the "Burned Decree" had now evolved into a ground-rank technique, recovering to his peak condition within a short period remained quite challenging. Fortunately, the Medicine Elder had now awakened and became the most secure guardian. With this reliable presence, Xiao Yan could now fully focus on his cultivation and recuperation, free from any external disturbances. In this state of undisturbed tranquility, the previously hollow space within him gradually filled with robust qi, and his once-waning demeanor steadily improved—showing promising signs that he would soon be completely healed. At the young man clad in black robe, the space rippled, and streams of celestial and terrestrial energies seeped out, continuously flowing into his body. Indeed, due to the overwhelming surge, the energy eventually coalesced around him, forming a vortex-like pattern that seemed to gather around his form—centered precisely upon his body, which appeared as an ever-deepening abyss. This energy absorption lasted nearly an hour before gradually subsiding. After a while, the vortex gently trembled and then slowly dissipated. As the vortex faded, the young man’s motionless form trembled slightly, and his tightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open. Upon opening, two vivid, tangible pools of emerald flame burst forth from his eyes, only to hiss back into place within moments, their glow swiftly fading. "Ah!" A thick breath long trapped in his chest rolled down his throat and was finally expelled by Xiao Yan. With this exhalation, a delicate, jade-like glow instantly spread across his face, and the previous weariness concealed in his brows vanished entirely. Gently tightening his hands, the abundant strength flowing through them caused a subtle smile to form at the corners of his mouth. After seven days of recuperation, he had fully restored both his depleted qi and his wounded soul. Moreover, during the moment of concluding his healing process, Xiao Yan clearly sensed that his internal qi had grown somewhat more robust than before. Though still at the peak of the Battle King realm, there are distinctions among each level—much like a water bottle marked with gradations. Even though the water has reached a certain standard, this standard still falls short of the one above it. As the battle energy grows more profound, it rises steadily, like water continuously rising in the bottle. Eventually, it will reach a higher mark—and that moment will be when Xiao Yan breaks through into the Battle Emperor realm! Previously, due to his rapid growth in strength and because Xiao Yan had been in a state of apparent death for two years, upon awakening, he struggled to perfectly control the power within him. Thus, no matter how diligently he trained, he found it difficult to make even a slight improvement in his strength. However, after these two months of continuously expending all his ki until it was completely depleted, his mastery over the internal power had significantly improved. Now, as he recuperates and restores his strength, he begins to sense a noticeable refinement in his abilities—a situation that was previously quite rare. Once such a development occurs, it clearly indicates that Xiao Yan has now achieved mastery over his own power and has reached the qualification to further enhance his strength. Xiao Yan himself fully understands this, which is why he feels such a sense of surprise when he perceives this advancement. Standing up from the massive stone, Xiao Yan gazed down at the vast forest stretching to the horizon with an air of superiority, a gentle smile playing on his lips. He naturally formed a highly practiced, unusual hand seal, then gently pushed it forward. The movement of his hand seal stirred a subtle breeze; however, as true "Opening Mountain Seal" required substantial Qi expenditure, Xiao Yan would never casually employ it. Thus, this instance of the seal generated no visible effect beyond the faintest ripple. Yet even without any Qi being expended, the passage of the hand seal caused the space itself to subtly tremble—though the ripple was slight, it was entirely attributable to the profound intricacy of the seal. Indeed, after years of cultivation, the Opening Mountain Seal still remained only partially mastered—no wonder it was a top-tier technique of Earth Rank. Its cultivation had proven to be profoundly challenging. Gently withdrawing his hand seals, a faint silver glow surged from the soles of Xiao Yan's feet. His form trembled, leaving a lingering silhouette in place, while his true body glided silently into the sky like a ghost—thanks to the subtle magic of "Three Thousand Thunder Strikes," he could even pause briefly in the air without relying on his aura wings. For a moment, his figure hovered motionless in midair, and then a pair of magnificent emerald flame wings erupted from behind him, gently vibrating to steady his descending form. "Now, the 'Three Thousand Thunder Strikes' should have reached the second stage—'Thunder Instant.' I wonder how long it will take before I can finally attain the highest stage, 'Three Thousand Thunder Strikes'..." Looking down at the shimmering electric filaments dancing on his feet, Xiao Yan sighed, deeply admiring the astonishing speed he had heard his elder, Yao Lao, describe when he spoke of the peak state of the technique. "Hehe, little one, finally regained your strength, haven't you?" Just as Xiao Yan was pondering, a deep, resonant laugh suddenly echoed, followed by a gust of wind—before a slightly ethereal figure materialized before him. Gazing at the smiling old man in front, Xiao Yan nodded with a warm smile. "It seems not only have your injuries healed, but you've also made some notable progress," the old man remarked, raising an eyebrow slightly, visibly surprised. He was already aware of Xiao Yan's remarkable strength surge during his time underground, so it came as quite a surprise to see him now fully command his own power and achieve further refinement so swiftly. "It's been several months since you emerged from the Sky-Burning Qi Tower. If you still can't master your own strength, what right do you have to return to the Jima Empire?" Xiao Yan smiled and said. "The Jima Empire, huh... Hehe, I never realized it had already been over three years since I last saw it." The old man chuckled lightly. "Yes... another three years." Xiao Yan smiled faintly. The first three years, he had endured the dishonor of Lan Yan's sudden withdrawal of engagement. The second three years, he had been chased like a fugitive by Yunlan Sect, fleeing the empire in great haste and disarray. Yet, he had already fully avenged the first three years' humiliation. As for the second phase—perhaps it wouldn't be far off anymore. "When do you plan to return? With your current strength, you now possess the credentials to challenge Yunlan Sect directly." The old medicine master gazed warmly at the young man before him, his heart filled with both pride and a touch of nostalgia. Back then, the young man had often relied on his strength to navigate among the elite of the Jima Empire. Now, however, he had truly earned the status of a true powerhouse—two unique flames, a mid-tier cultivation technique, and a host of advanced combat arts. The entire Jima Empire could no longer contain him. "Soon. Once I've settled these matters here, I'll be ready to return." Xiao Yan smiled lightly and said, "Now that I have established some influence within the Black Thorns Region, this time I'm bringing a number of strong contenders back with me. Yunlan Sect boasts many powerful members, and within the Gama Empire, they also hold considerable prestige. If I return alone, it would be like two fists facing four hands—while I myself can manage to handle things on my own and simply walk away if necessary, the members of the Xiao family who are struggling to survive in the Gama Empire simply won't be able to. Therefore, there can be no room for any mishaps this time." "Back then, Xiao Yan had been consumed by rage after his father's disappearance, losing all sense of reason and storming once again toward Yunlan Sect, where he had killed the senior elder Yun Ling—the only person who might have known the whereabouts of his father. This not only severed his access to the news of his father's fate but also completely ruptured the relationship between the two parties, turning it into a life-or-death enmity. Indeed, this had been quite impetuous. Compared to his earlier self, however, Xiao Yan today is not only vastly more powerful in strength but also far more mature and composed in character. In just three years, the once-teenage boy has matured into a true, self-reliant powerhouse! "Back then, I'm truly grateful to my teacher," Xiao Yan admitted, somewhat bashful. Reflecting on those days, he realized he had made many rash decisions. Throughout it all, Master Yao had not once offered a single objection—he had simply accompanied him, steadfastly through every upheaval. Now, looking back, Xiao Yan could only feel deep gratitude toward such a teacher who had fully fulfilled his responsibilities." "You're still talking like this, youngster? If young people aren't impulsive and bold, what exactly are they, then?" The elderly physician slapped Xiao Yan on the shoulder, laughing and scolding. Gazing at the elder's happy, satisfied smile, Xiao Yan smiled gently and slowly turned his head, his eyes gazing toward the distant south. There, far beyond ten thousand miles, lay an empire known as the Jiaema Empire, within which stood a sect called Yunlan Sect. "Yunlan Sect... Wait for it. Soon, we'll meet again." As the setting sun cast a soft, warm glow over the young man's refined features, a faint, subtle cold smile seemed to linger beneath the surface.