As the spectacular battle, which had left countless spectators awestruck, concluded with Xiao Yan's flawless victory, it naturally became the most talked-about topic within the Inner Academy. Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing, even among the newer recruits, were already renowned figures—powerhouses who consistently ranked in the top three of the strength rankings, a position no one has ever surpassed, even after they transitioned from students to Inner Academy elders. Thus, while Xiao Yan, who had been absent for two years, had been elevated to legendary status through the momentum of public acclaim, this still gave many a sense of somewhat unreal. Although Xiao Yan had previously fought against Lin Xiu'ya upon his exit from the tower, that encounter had merely been a brief exchange to test each other's capabilities. While stronger contenders might have discerned the gap between them, ordinary students often lacked the keen eye to distinguish their relative strengths during such swift combat. Furthermore, during the large-scale offensive launched by the Inner Courtyard against the "Black Alliance," where Han Feng, a combatant of Duke-level strength, fell at Xiao Yan's hands, this achievement was indeed astonishing. Yet precisely because it was so profoundly impressive, it sometimes felt less real—especially to those who had not witnessed it firsthand, leaving a particularly strong sense of unreality. This feeling, though often expressed verbally, still lingered subtly in the minds of many. Yet now, this intense battle witnessed by nearly half of the inner academy students, has completely erased the lingering doubts they once harbored. The students had always deeply felt the strength of Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing, but even when the two combined their efforts, they were still unable to last ten rounds against Xiao Yan—this level of prowess left everyone in quiet awe, silently dissolving all their earlier reservations about Xiao Yan. Even days after the exhilarating battle had concluded, countless students continued to passionately discuss it, often expressing a sense of reverence when they spoke of it. Indeed, those who had built a power base as significant as the "Panmen" were no ordinary individuals. Moreover, compared to the transmission among other students, the members of Panmen exhibited even greater enthusiasm. Occasionally, when conversing with others outside, they would observe the admiration others expressed upon hearing the legendary name, and then casually wave it off, as if unimpressed, before casually mentioning that they themselves had once encountered the very legendary figure being discussed during their time at Panmen. While observing the person crafting pills, they would often be fortunate enough to receive one as a gift. Each time this happened, the envy reflected on the faces of those nearby would swell their sense of pride. When the battlefield clashes during competitions stirred up intense emotions in others, Xiao Yan remained once again withdrawn within Panmen, with Lin Yan, Lin Xiu'ya, and Liu Qing visiting occasionally. Yet most of the time, he stayed alone in his private chamber, either refining pills or practicing his cultivation. Time, however, gradually passed during these calm and serene days, and without realizing it, Xiao Yan had already been staying within the inner courtyard for nearly two weeks. During this period, he had received messages from Xiao Li, who was actively gathering personnel. The Black-Angle Domain boasted many strong contenders, yet to win over these independent and spirited individuals and bring them under his command, both substantial financial resources and compelling strength were required. The Xiao family currently possessed both. As a result, numerous strong figures who had only modest reputations in the Black-Angle Domain have shown considerable interest in the Xiao family's recruitment efforts. Under these circumstances, when the time comes, the caliber and number of recruits the Xiao family will assemble may well exceed Xiao Yan's expectations. … On the roof of a pavilion, Xiao Yan stood high above, gazing down at the scene below. After a moment, a soft sound of footsteps gradually approached from behind. He turned his head, looking at Xiao Yu ascending the stairs. As he was about to speak, his gaze shifted to a delicate young girl behind her. "Xiao Mei?" The familiar appearance caused Xiao Yan to pause, then he smiled and called out. "Uncle Xiao Yan." The girl wore a light purple dress, her figure well-proportioned and graceful. Though still young, she possessed a maturity that rivaled that of an adult woman—especially her face, a harmonious blend of charm and purity, radiating an unusual allure. Such a remarkable young lady would surely attract many admirers within the inner courtyard. Yet at this moment, despite being seen as somewhat reserved and aloof by many suitors, she hesitated, softly calling out her name. Xiao Yan smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze back to Xiao Yu, saying, "Having stayed in the inner academy for so long, most matters have already been settled. The remaining time, I'd like to go deep into the mountains to practice and refine myself. After my second brother's affairs are taken care of, I'll return to the inner academy once more to take Lin Yan and the others with me." On hearing this, Xiao Yu was momentarily stunned, her brows slightly furrowed, asking, "Must you schedule everything so tightly?" "Cloud岚 Sect and Cloud Mountain are no ordinary adversaries. Back when we were chased out of the Jia Ma Empire, my goal was always to strengthen myself beyond measure. Heh, do you know that when my second brother arrived, upon hearing that the Xiao family was on the brink of being wiped out by Cloud岚 Sect, I nearly lost my composure and immediately rushed back to the Jia Ma Empire?" Xiao Yan smiled, his voice calm and steady, without any noticeable wave of emotion. "But in the end, I held it in..." Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and smiled lightly. "Because I knew that, with my strength from two years ago, even if I had returned, my fate would probably have been no better than back then—perhaps even more humiliating, chased and pursued." "Over the course of three years, achieving this level might seem astonishing to many. Yet I'm not surprised at all, because the efforts and hardships I've endured have truly been worth it." Looking at the radiant smile now blooming on the young man's face, Xiao Yu found herself unexpectedly moved. The family blood feud had always been a heavy burden on every member of the Xiao family. Yet the responsibility of avenging that feud and revitalizing the family had been entirely borne by this young man—someone once deemed a family liability—without a single complaint throughout. Approaching slowly toward Xiao Yan, Xiao Yu gazed at the young man who, without realizing it, had grown to nearly the same height as herself. With a gentle touch, she lightly rubbed his head and softly said, "Little color-loving one, Xiao Uncle was right all along—he always believed you would become the most promising person in the Xiao family. Now, I believe it too." Beside her, Xiao Mei watched as Xiao Yu performed such a tender gesture toward Xiao Yan, a subtle mix of admiration and quiet longing flickering in her bright eyes. Who said young women don't fall in love? With Xiao Yan's rising reputation within the inner courtyard, many beautiful young women with strong talents and appearances held him in deep admiration, silently sending him glances of affection. In Xiao Mei's heart, the image of him that had always existed was growing stronger and stronger. Yet, that incident from the past had ultimately sealed this feeling within her—despite now having reconciled with Xiao Yan, she knew that their relationship would never quite return to what it once was. In a way, Xiao Mei, Xun'er, and Xiao Yan once started on the same track. However, after the starting line, their relationship shifted subtly—when Xiao Yan fell from a prodigy to a mere waste of talent—resulting in a significant divergence between them, a gap that has now become difficult to heal. A little put off by Xiao Yu's childlike behavior, Xiao Yan tilted his head slightly and said with displeasure, "Call me a little color-loving wolf?" "Hmph. Back then, when I was bathing, you not only made a mess of my space with your hands and feet, but after the incident, you even claimed that the beast-wolves chased you, forcing you to stumble in panic—really thought I was stupid, didn't you? At such a young age, full of scheming intentions—how else could I be but a little color-loving wolf?" Xiao Yu blushed slightly and gave Xiao Yan a sharp, withering look, then pursed her lips. "Er... I'm completely innocent." Xiao Yan coughed violently, his face slightly flushed for reasons he couldn't quite explain, defending himself against certain childhood antics. Yet, while speaking, his gaze subtly drifted toward the slender, smooth, and sensuously curved legs of the person across from him, and he couldn't help but shake his head internally, wondering which man would eventually be lucky enough to enjoy such unforgettable beauty. Though his gaze was reserved, Xiao Yu, with her keen perception, noticed it immediately, her cheeks flushing gently and glaring at Xiao Yan with determination. Smiling awkwardly, gazing at Xiao Yu's slightly rosy, porcelain-like face, a warm sense of tenderness stirred within him. He offered a gentle smile and said to both of them, "Once I've settled matters in the Gamma Empire, I'll send word to you. Then, if you wish, you can return. Believe me—by then, the Xiao family will be the most powerful family in the Gamma Empire." "Seeing Xiao Yan's serious expression, Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei both nodded slightly. They believed that Xiao Yan's promises to them would surely come true! "Hmm, it's getting late now. I should head into the mountain. Next time I return, I might truly be leaving." With a wave to the two of them, Xiao Yan didn't hesitate any longer, but instead composed himself and walked directly down the staircase. "Brother Xiao Yan!" As Xiao Mei watched Xiao Yan's figure approaching the stairs, she clutched her slender hands tightly and finally called out softly. "Hm?" Xiao Yan turned around, his gaze settling on the young girl. "I'm sorry," Xiao Mei's face flushed red, and after a moment, she gathered her courage and spoke hesitantly. Xiao Yan was momentarily surprised, then smiled and shook his head, saying, "We've grown up together—almost like siblings. So, there's no need to say these things anymore. I've actually forgotten all about the incident from back then." With that, Xiao Yan finally turned and descended the stairs, vanishing from the two girls' sight. Holding her red-lipped, pale cheeks tightly, Xiao Mei gazed at the spot where Xiao Yan had disappeared, her face slightly wan. After a while, she whispered with a faint bitterness, "Have you truly forgotten everything?" Seeing Xiao Mei's wan, sorrowful expression, Xiao Yu sighed softly, embraced her, and gently stroked her smooth, flowing hair. Her eyes followed the direction where Xiao Yan had gone, a quiet smile of resignation playing on her delicate face. As always, this man remained stubborn—whenever someone hurt him, he would completely exclude them from his inner world.