After months of continuous travel by air, Xiao Yan and his companions were drawing ever closer to their destination. According to the map, they would soon reach the border of the Jia Ma Empire. Time passed slowly during the monotonous flights. When the endless journey finally crossed another majestic mountain range, a massive fortress silhouette suddenly emerged in the distance. Built in harmony with the mountains, the fortress resembled a fierce tiger, guarding the main route leading out of the empire. Anyone wishing to leave the empire had to pass through this imposing stronghold. Over the years, the fortress had claimed countless lives on the battlefield, earning it a reputation of dread among neighboring empires. Thus, it bore a particularly formidable name: Zhengui Pass! … When Xiao Yan’s gaze settled upon the massive fortress silhouette appearing at the distant horizon, the smile on his face gradually froze. Rising from the great head of the Tiger-Eagle Beast, he gazed at the city fortress, which still exuded a fierce aura even from afar. After a moment, a smile began to form at the corner of his mouth, swiftly spreading, until finally, a roar of laughter—long suppressed for nearly three years—resounded across the sky like thunder! “Camellia Empire! I, Xiao Yan, am back!” The thunderous laughter rolled across the sky, though fortunately, this region was rarely populated; otherwise, countless onlookers would have been drawn to wonder. Watching the rarely seen outburst of emotion from Xiao Yan—a young man who had always maintained a warm, composed demeanor and seemed never to be troubled—those aboard the dozen flying beasts in the sky exchanged stunned glances. Is this indeed the Camellia Empire? "Lin Yan and the others approached curiously, gazing toward the distant fortress, and asked. "Indeed, this is a border fortress of the Gamma Empire. As soon as you pass through it, you've officially entered the Gamma Empire's territory," Xiao Li nodded. "Back then, I was pursued and chased out of the Cloud Lake Sect from this very place. I never expected that three years later, I would return here once again," Xiao Yan's laughter gradually softened as he turned to smile gently at Lin Yan and the others—his smile carried a clear sense of nostalgia. "Hmm, then what are we waiting for?" Xiao Li chuckled, patting Xiao Yan on the shoulder. Back then, when Xiao Yan escaped the relentless pursuit by the Cloud Lake Sect, the news had spread widely throughout the Gamma Empire. The drama and peril involved were far more thrilling and intense than what had been reported. Xiao Yan also gave a gentle smile, extending his long, slender hands from his sleeve. The Yu Hai Storage Amulet flashed with light, and instantly, the massive black ruler materialized before them. "Do you think anyone in the current Kamah Empire still remembers this image?" He inclined the heavy ruler against his back, its broad body nearly matching his height. He tapped the ruler gently and smiled. The others, watching the young man in black robes standing with hands folded atop the tiger-eagle beast's head, bearing the towering black ruler, suddenly sensed a growing aura of sharp, decisive strength emanating from him—something fierce and commanding, emerging from a man who had always been so calm and composed. They exchanged glances, each silently murmuring that the Kamah Empire would surely see its share of turbulence with this man's return. "Everyone—move quickly!" With a simple gesture of his hand, Xiao Yan's voice rang clearly and steadily in everyone's ears. Though his tone had always been composed and serene, it now carried a subtle sense of urgency. At Xiao Yan's command, a series of affirmative sounds echoed through the sky, followed by several roars of the beasts. Then, a dozen flying creatures flapped their muscular wings, carrying strong gusts of wind, swiftly darting toward the distant fortress. Though it appeared to be at least a kilometer away, due to their straight-line flight, within less than ten minutes, Xiao Yan and his companions were mere moments from the massive fortress. As they drew closer to the towering fortress, Xiao Yan raised his hand, and the flying troops in the sky instantly halted. All eyes turned toward the young figure at the forefront, who was bearing a heavy staff. Though the distance from the ground was still at least a kilometer, and at this height, anyone on the ground looking up would likely only see faint black dots, Xiao Yan, with his keen eyesight, could clearly observe every movement on the ground below. His gaze first swept over the massive crimson characters above the fortress gate—familiar words that sent a surge of electric current coursing through his body, a tingling sensation rippling through his blood. "Zhengui Pass… three years since our last parting. The city hasn't changed much, but the people—ah, they've truly transformed," he murmured softly. Lin Xiu'ya also leaned forward and spoke. "How could this be possible? The Black Angle Domain and the Gamma Empire are so far apart—my news should reach no one in the Empire." Xiao Yan shook his head. "There are clear signs of combat within the city, and several strong individuals gathered at one specific location." Suddenly, Meidusa, who had remained silent throughout, spoke softly. Upon hearing Meidusa's words, Xiao Yan was momentarily taken aback, then slowly closed his eyes, allowing a powerful surge of spiritual awareness to radiate outward from his brow like a tide, swiftly sweeping across the entire fortress. Seeing Xiao Yan close his eyes, the others—including Xiao Li—halted their conversation and waited in quiet anticipation for his assessment. After a while, Xiao Yan opened his eyes, his gaze shifting from the city gates to the central area of the fortress, a look of mild surprise appearing on his lips as he murmured, "This fortress truly seems restless. And I didn't expect, upon my return to the Gamma Empire, to already encounter some familiar faces." "Familiar faces?" Xiao Li was momentarily startled. "Come on, let's go down and have a look..." Xiao Yan smiled, saying nothing more, merely waving his hand. With a motion, he commanded the Tiger-Eagle Beast to flap its muscular wings and roar downward. Following closely behind, several dozen flying beasts took off in succession. The man in yellow robes spoke in a low, somber tone. "Support? You mean... Yunlan Sect?" Upon hearing this, the man known as Moli's eyes narrowed sharply, and he gasped in astonishment, exclaiming, "What exactly does Yunlan Sect intend to achieve? If the imperial court learns of this, they will surely dispatch armies to besiege them!" "Hmph, the imperial court? So what? With Yunlan Sect's strength, how could they fear them?" Meng Li chuckled lightly, then his expression turned cold and solemn, saying with a chilling tone, "As long as I eliminate you, I will have my own means to control the 'Zhengui Pass.' Though it may be somewhat difficult to integrate the local troops—given the prestige I've built over the years—such a task is by no means impossible." "You actually intend to absorb the empire's army?" Moli took a deep breath, his mind swirling with shock. He knew well that if word of this reached the imperial capital, the entire Kamah Empire would tremble. He had never imagined Yunlan Sect would be so bold. "Though today the Commandant's Mansion will become your tomb, there are certain things you'd better not know," Meng Li smiled. "With your peak Douling strength, you expect to kill me?" Mu Tie sneered angrily. "Mu Tie, Commander, I know you've recently broken through to the Douwang stage. Yet, how dare someone still unsteady at the Douwang level be so bold?" Meng Li gave a dismissive flick of his chin, then raised his voice: "Cloud Fan, Elder, I've entrusted this matter to you!" As soon as Meng Li's words fell, a sudden gust of wind erupted, and then a group of figures in white robes materialized on the tall walls surrounding the forecourt. Leading them was an elderly man with a calm, serene expression. With his arrival, an atmosphere of overwhelming pressure settled over the entire Commandant's Mansion. "Cloud Fan? Elder of Yunlan Sect?" Staring at the elder who had appeared, his face pale with dismay, Mu Tie couldn't help but feel a growing sense of gloom. Having hovered at the peak of the Du Ling stage for years, he had only recently, a few months ago, managed a fortunate breakthrough to the Du Wang level—yet even that was not enough to match a true one-star Du Wang. How could he possibly stand against a Cloud Lan Sect elder who had reached the three-star Du Wang level? Shaking his head, Yun Fan's expression grew steadily colder. Gently clenching his palm, a long, deep-blue sword materialized in his hands. Raising the tip of the sword level, he locked his gaze on Mu Tie, his voice calm and detached: "Anyone who stands in my way of the Yunlan Sect shall meet only one fate—death. Since you remain stubborn, don't expect me to be gentle." Faced with Yunfan's powerful qi aura, Mu Tie's expression grew steadily more serious, drawing forth a massive axe from his jade relic and channeling his qi to its absolute limit. However, as the tense atmosphere was about to break, with a battle between two Grand King-level warriors imminent, a clear, resonant laugh gradually rose from the heavens, spiraling through the courtyard and lingering there, never fading.