After settling everything with Panmen, Xiao Yan finally felt at ease. Since Xiao Li still needed time to gather his team, Xiao Yan, now fully reassured, chose to remain within the inner courtyard without making any move to leave. The news of Xiao Yan's impending departure had not yet spread, as Wu Hao and the others knew that once Panmen's people learned of it, many would inevitably feel discouraged. After all, Xiao Yan was frequently absent for long periods—missing him for several months was entirely normal. Therefore, keeping the news quiet was straightforward. It would be better to reveal it at a more opportune time in the future. For the time being, Xiao Yan settled comfortably within the inner courtyard of Panmen, occasionally stepping forth to publicly prepare some lower-tier pills as gifts for the onlookers among the Panmen members. Every time he cast his hands to craft a pill, a crowd would gather to watch. Although the number of pill-makers recruited by Panmen had grown substantial, the members of the Panmen still held a deep sense of curiosity about Xiao Yan, the head of the inner courtyard renowned as the foremost pill-maker. Many newcomers had never personally witnessed the remarkable pill-making demonstration between Xiao Yan and the head of the "Herbal Guild" back in the day. Meanwhile, while Xiao Yan was idly waiting, one day Lin Yan arrived at his doorstep with a mysterious smile, dragging him out of the courtyard and leading him to the inner arena—always bustling with vibrant activity and constant noise. The Arena within the Inner Courtyard—the most vibrant spot in the entire Inner Courtyard—every day sees countless people pouring in, sweating and striving. Winners bask in cheers, accolades, or rankings, while losers can only retreat with quiet resignation, holding their breath and diligently training, hoping to reclaim their dignity someday. Yet, upon entering the Arena, the vast space appears eerily empty. The bustling scenes of yesteryear have vanished, replaced instead by dense crowds gathered on the elevated platforms, their murmured conversations forming a constant, buzzing hum, like countless flies in flight. At the very moment Xiao Yan steps onto the stage, however, this hum abruptly ceases. Gradually, the gaze of the crowd grows warmer and more intense, and within moments, a thunderous roar of applause erupts, echoing like a storm. "Wait—what on earth do you want? Are you planning to fight me here?" The intense clamor causes Xiao Yan to furrow his brows, speaking with a touch of exasperation to Lin Yan beside him. "I don't want to get hit, but someone else does." Lin Yan chuckled, then raised his hand to clap. A loud round of applause echoed across the arena. As his claps settled, two figures suddenly burst forth, materializing at the lower end of the arena. Upon glancing at them, Xiao Yan was startled to see that the two were none other than Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing. "These two?" He asked, staring at the two, who now looked eager and ready to make an impression. "I know. Since you're returning to the Jima Empire, you'll certainly need some assistance. So I told these two about your departure—though I didn't explicitly invite them. Yet, both of them volunteered that if you could defeat them, they'd also get a chance to meet the so-called Yunlan Sect." Lin Yan shrugged and smiled. Xiao Yan was taken aback, then looked at the two below him with growing astonishment. It made perfect sense that Lin Yan would follow him to the Gamma Empire—after all, the latter had mentioned it back then. But these two? They had also... "Suddenly, laughter echoed from behind. Xiao Yan turned to see Wu Hao and a group of others, including Xiao Yu—everyone's expressions seemed to indicate they had already known about the matter. Gazing at Lin Yan, whose face was slightly serious, and then at Wu Hao and the others, all encouragingly eager, Xiao Yan was momentarily at a loss. After a moment, he smiled and nodded. "Then it's settled—we'll give these two a good scolding. In fact, I've long wanted to do this, though I didn't have the ability back then." With that, Xiao Yan lightly tapped the ground with his foot, flipped over the railing, and then moved like a shadow, swiftly descending to the field in an instant. He appeared on the ground within moments. Looking at the two across from him, their faces glowing with excitement, Xiao Yan grinned, clenched his hands, and the crisp, popping sounds of beans bursting rang out one after another. As Xiao Yan stepped onto the field, thunderous cheers erupted from the stands. A single fighter facing two senior inner-courtyard Grand Masters—such a dynamic lineup had been rare on the arena stage in the past. These three competitors were all among the top stars of the "Strong List" back then. Xiao Yan’s legendary status within the inner courtyard was unmatched, while Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing, both former top three of the Strong List, had now ascended to the rank of Senior Master, their strength undeniable. Together, they would likely be able to hold their own against even a Grand Master. "If within ten moves I can't get either of you two onto the field, then I consider it my loss!" "Heh, quite bold of you. This match is being watched by the senior elders themselves—don't expect to stumble on your words now." Lin Xiu'ya pointed toward a section of the stands and chuckled. Xiao Yan followed his gesture and indeed saw Su Qian and the other internal hall elders seated calmly, smiling warmly at the field below. "You people must be quite idle," Xiao Yan shook his head in mild exasperation, then turned to the two of them, offering a light smile. "Still, ten moves, then." Upon hearing this, both Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing raised their brows, then chuckled. A powerful surge of martial energy erupted from within each of them, and they each stepped back slightly. Though their movements appeared casual, Xiao Yan's eyes flickered with surprise—this positioning allowed the two to respond instantly and simultaneously to attacks coming from any direction. How had they achieved such seamless coordination? "It's no wonder they've been so confident—they clearly have some solid foundation." Xiao Yan smiled and shook his head. Emerald-colored qi surged from various points within his body, eventually flooding his meridians like a river, filling every cell beneath his skin with a powerful, resonant energy. Observing the three strong bursts of energy suddenly erupting from the field, the cheers from the stands grew even more vibrant. Many spectators, witnessing a fierce clash between rivals, were so excited their faces turned crimson. "Ready?" Xiao Yan asked, gazing at his two opponents. "Shh!" In response, Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing took action—both staggered slightly, then transformed into blurred figures that scattered, converging in a surprisingly elegant arc and charging directly at Xiao Yan. "Good speed." Gazing at the two blurred figures rushing toward him, Xiao Yan smiled, his form remaining perfectly still. Instantly, two gusts of wind surged forth, sharp and piercing, tearing through the air with a sharp hiss, attacking him from above and below. Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing's attack positions were particularly well-chosen—precisely targeting the two spots on Xiao Yan that were hardest to defend. If Xiao Yan focused on one area, the other would inevitably be struck. Under the watchful eyes of countless spectators, Xiao Yan, who had appeared like a statue, suddenly trembled as the two punches approached. Then, to everyone's astonishment, two ethereal foot shadows materialized beside him. Upon colliding with Lin Xiu'ya's and Liu Qing's punches, these foot shadows instantly solidified, unleashing an astonishing surge of power. First move! "Boom!" A deep, resonant roar echoed throughout the arena, and at that moment, the powerful force surged forth like a flood, directly forcing Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing to retreat nearly fifteen steps. With every footfall, deep imprints were left on the floor. "Wow—such incredible speed and strength!" Liu Qing steadied himself, just as a thought formed in his mind, his pores instantly tightened. Suddenly, a black streak materialized in his pupils, slicing through the spatial gaps as if weaving through them. As the black shadow appeared, Liu Qing reacted swiftly, stomping his foot and swiftly retreating with his broad frame. A dark figure emerged, and Xiao Yan smiled slightly, spreading his hands toward Li Qing, who had been retreating. Instantly, a powerful, invisible suction force surged forth. Under the force of this violent pull, Li Qing's retreating form slowed down, yet before he could strengthen his retreat, the suction abruptly vanished, replaced by a strong thrust that sent him staggering back, his feet leaving a long streak on the floor. Second move! With his internal qi surging, Li Qing expelled the discomfort caused by the initial suction and shock, turning his head to glance at the stage line just a few meters away. A few beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead—he was nearly ready to step forward. "Now isn't the time for gratitude," came the smile, suddenly. A soft thunderclap rang out, and the dark figure reappeared once more before Li Qing, leaving him utterly stunned. "Great Splitting Slash of the Burial Claws!" Xiao Yan stood poised, and Liu Qing's expression grew serious. With a sudden surge of qi, his hand shot out, the qi enveloping it and transforming it into a metallic claw, radiating spatial ripples as he charged straight at Xiao Yan's chest. As Li Qing's roar fell, a gentle breeze swept past Xiao Yan's back, and Lin Xiu'ya emerged swiftly, his palms clenched, the pale green wind blades swirling continuously before coalescing into sharp, spear-like formations that slammed fiercely against Xiao Yan's back. At the very instant Lin Xiu'ya's arm pierced through Xiao Yan's body, both Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing's faces simultaneously changed dramatically—Liu Qing felt especially stunned, for he had clearly sensed just a moment before that Xiao Yan was firmly restrained by him. Yet, in the blink of an eye, Xiao Yan had mysteriously vanished. "This should be the fifth technique," said Liu Qing, as both of them were caught off guard. At that very moment, a pair of slightly cool hands, which had appeared without any prior notice, gently pressed against their chests and backs. The subtle coolness sent a sudden shiver through their spines, and at that precise spot, a mere release of strength from either Lin Xiu'ya or Liu Qing would likely have resulted in serious injury—or even death. With their vital centers at the命门 (the point of life) secured, both Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing instantly stiffened, cold sweat pouring down their foreheads. That man's speed—simply astonishing. "Boom!" A gentle breeze suddenly surged, hurling Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing off the arena and sending them rolling wildly on the ground before they finally steadied themselves. "Is it over?" asked the stands, silent save for Xiao Yan's soft chuckle. Though many spectators had struggled to see the true course of the battle, Xiao Yan's speed—appearing and vanishing like a flicker—had left countless of them in awe. After a long silence, a single round of applause broke the stillness, followed swiftly by a thunderous wave of thunderous cheers that roared through the stands. Rising to their feet, Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing exchanged glances, both shaking their heads with a wry smile—there was simply too great a gap between them, making any chance of a close contest seem utterly impossible under such overwhelming speed. "This man... he's absolutely terrifying. Back then, I could still hold my own and fight him to a draw. Now, though..." Liu Qing chuckled, his voice tinged with admiration. Lin Xiu'ya also couldn't help but sigh with a look of helplessness. Though Xiao Yan had been outstanding at first, he had only managed to earn Lin's slight attention. Who could have thought that within just a few years, he now found himself needing to look up to him? "It's no wonder that even a girl as accomplished as Xun'er has been drawn to him—now it seems, he truly has what it takes." Gazing at the young man on stage, smiling warmly, Lin Xiu'ya silently sighed.