The sudden burst of laughter immediately shattered the tense atmosphere in the courtyard. Everyone was stunned—how could anyone dare to insult Yunshan in the Gamma Empire? Yunfan's expression grew steadily colder, and he slowly lifted his head, gazing upward like the others. Yet, as his eyes settled on the dozen or so massive flying beasts circling the sky, everyone's faces subtly shifted. Who were these unexpected guests? Mu Tie, equally puzzled, stared up at the aerial creatures, and upon realizing the uncertainty, quickly raised his hand. The large group of followers who had gathered behind him surged forward, encircling him tightly, their eyes alertly fixed on the unexpected visitors. "I suspect none of you are from the Gamma Empire," Yunfan said, his tone cold as he fixed his gaze on the dozen flying beasts. "This is a matter of Yunlan Sect. I urge you to refrain from interfering." "Ah, indeed—it's the Yunlan Sect all right." After Yunfan's voice had settled, a gentle smile echoed from the tiger-eagle beast floating in the sky. Instantly, the figure darted into motion, and a dozen figures leapt directly off the beast's back, landing steadily within the courtyard. As these figures settled, the expansive aura that Yunfan had projected over the entire magistrate's residence began to recede like a tide, collapsing within an instant—completely contained, with not a single ripple spilling out. The intensity of the pressure had been so great that Yunfan's expression turned visibly strained, clearly indicating that his opponents were far superior in strength. With Yunfan's aura subdued, several people in the courtyard noticed the shift and exchanged glances, their alertness sharpening. The saying "those who come are not kind, and the kind do not come" now seemed to hold true—this situation would likely prove difficult to resolve. Mu Tie quietly instructed his surrounding troops to remain still, while his eyes remained carefully scanning the dozen figures who had just descended from the creature. His gaze swept across, first landing on the young black-robed youth standing at the forefront. Fixing his eyes on that youthful face, Mu Tie was momentarily struck—there was a subtle sense of familiarity, though he couldn't quite recall when he had encountered such a powerful figure before. As he pondered, his gaze quickly flickered over the other figures. Within a moment, a wave of astonishment surged through him—he realized that among the dozen or so figures now present, he could not penetrate the strength of any single one. This could only mean one thing: each of these individuals was far stronger than himself. Gritting his throat, Mu Tie felt a dryness spreading across his mouth. A dozen or more Battle Kings—or even higher? Such an overwhelming array… Where had these people come from? Why had he never heard of them before? Even among the neighboring empires, gathering such a number of elite warriors in such a short span would have been no easy feat. The expression on Mu Tie's face was grim, and the same could be said for Yun Fan—his own demeanor was no better. He too had noticed that even the weakest among these visitors seemed to possess strength comparable to his own, while figures such as the young man in black robes at the forefront, and the strikingly beautiful, coolly poised woman in red robes behind him, stirred within him a deep sense of fear. The entire front courtyard had fallen into an unusual stillness due to the arrival of these unexpected guests, including Yun Fan himself and the members of the Yunlan Sect stationed on the walls, all of whom remained motionless, hesitant to make any movement. "Yunshan? I've heard of him... I also have a rather substantial connection with him." The young man in black robe smiled, a touch of amusement playing at the corners of his lips. Upon hearing this, Yunfan immediately breathed a sigh of relief—since the other had heard of Yunshan's name, he must surely know that he was a super-strong cultivator at the Douzong level! Watching Yunfan's relaxed expression, the young man in black robe widened his smile of amusement and slowly advanced two steps. As he moved forward, both the wooden-iron forces and Yunfan's troops promptly retreated one step each, remaining highly vigilant. He slightly turned his head, directing his gaze toward the wooden-iron forces, who were being closely protected by his men. When he saw the young man's eyes lock onto him, Wood-Iron's head instantly tingled—his arms, tightly gripping his great axe, trembled. He could sense that should this mysterious young man in black robe decide to act against him, he would have absolutely no chance of escape. "Ah, Wood-Iron brother, don't worry—back then, when I was released from your care, I have never forgotten that kindness." Gazing at the agitated Mu Tie, the young man in black robe smiled gently, and the words he spoke caused both parties' troops in the courtyard to fall into stunned silence. Mu Tie himself was equally astonished by the young man's words, his gaze then settling on the familiar face of the latter. After a moment, his eyes suddenly caught the large black measuring rod carried by the young man behind him. A flash of memory surged through his mind—the memories that had been hidden for three years were suddenly pulled forth with strength. "You... you... are Xiao Yan?" The voice, filled with shock and disbelief, escaped Mu Tie's lips. Beneath his nearly speechless expression, the troops from both sides in the courtyard grew even more stunned. Xiao Yan? A name that had gradually faded from memory over the past three years—only now, as Mu Tie mentioned it, did certain events and figures from three years ago begin to resurface in the minds of those present. A series of dazed gazes were fixed upon the young black-robed figure carrying a massive black measuring rod. At this moment, the more mature face now gently overlapped with the youthful visage of his former self. "Xiao Yan? How is this possible? How can you still be alive?" Cloud Fan was equally stunned when the name suddenly emerged from Mu Ti's mouth. After a moment of silence, he suddenly burst into an incredulous, high-pitched cry—like a cat startled by being stepped on. The disciples of Yunlan Sect standing atop the courtyard walls were equally astonished, only now realizing the depth of the connection between Xiao Yan and Yunshan. Their bond was indeed significant, though until now they had only understood it as a matter of life and death. Gazing at the varied expressions of the people in the courtyard, Xiao Yan smiled gently and shook his head, turning to Mu Ti and saying, "If even the old man from Yunshan is still alive, then why should I be dead?" Yunfan's face twitched, his eyes still filled with disbelief. The very culprit who had stirred up chaos at Yunlan Sect three years ago—now not only alive but his strength having grown far beyond Yunfan's own—stirred within him a surge of emotion. His heart pounded with renewed vigor as he finally understood why the then-above-ordinary young boy had drawn the entire Yunshan Sect's resources to pursue him. This individual's growth potential was truly astonishing! "Kill him!" With a sudden, fierce roar, Yunfan's eyes narrowed into fierce intensity. This one—must not be allowed to live! With Yunfan's voice falling, the十余 Yunlan Sect disciples atop the courtyard also roared sharply. Yet as the qi began to surge from their bodies, a sharp, piercing wind sound rang out, and in the next instant, sharp sword tips pierced through their chests, gushing with bright red blood. Their vitality rapidly faded as consciousness began to slip away. Straining to turn their heads, they saw only cold, bloodthirsty faces. "Plugh! Plugh!" Hearing the dull thud as the bodies fell from the courtyard wall and landed on the floor, Mu Tie’s wooden-faced expression couldn’t help but twitch. His gaze subtly swept over the十余 black-clad figures that had appeared on the wall at some point during the scene, only to be struck with sudden horror. He could feel that every one of them possessed the peak strength of a Battle Spirit cultivator. The way they moved—decisive, ruthless, with a clear intent to strike and kill—made him realize that if these ten or so figures attacked him simultaneously, he would likely have a fifty percent chance of dying at their hands. These were truly the most outstanding warriors of the realm! "Are all of them my subordinates? And then there are those who haven’t even stepped forward yet?" Swallowing hard, Mu Tie stared at the black-robed young man standing calmly with a smile, still struggling to believe. In just the past three years, the man who had once been a lone figure, pursued like a fugitive by Yunlan Sect, had grown into such a powerful force! Seeing his elite troops, brought from the sect, fall so easily to the blades, Yun Fan's heart leapt with sudden alarm. His gaze swept over the smiling young man, and a growing sense of unease settled in his mind. Today... "Knife and Axe Corps—move!" A sharp command suddenly erupted from Monti, who was now glaring fiercely at Xiao Yan. Unexpectedly, the very thing he had been about to secure had been disrupted by this fool. If that was the case, then he would simply eliminate them all. "You dare to move the army without my permission?" Monti's voice boomed, as Wood Tie erupted in fury. Monti let out a sneering laugh, his expression growing even more sinister as he listened to the steadily approaching, rhythmic footsteps from outside. Gazed at Meng Li with a gentle glance. This man, Xiao Yan remembered—during their escape from the Jia Ma Empire, it was precisely this man who had blocked their way. Slowly lifting his head, Xiao Yan waved at the several large flying beasts soaring above. "Heh, Master Xiao, these minor creatures are ours. You needn't worry about them." As Xiao Yan raised his hand, laughter echoed through the sky. Then, one after another, dark silhouettes surged downward, powerful qi waves erupting instantly outside the city hall, accompanied by the clash of swords and cries of wounded soldiers. Though the sounds of battle reached the hall, no soldier came rushing in within a while. Meng Li's smile gradually stiffened—he had stationed over a thousand troops outside, yet now... The scent of blood seeped in slowly, and both Yun Fan and Meng Li's faces grew pale with growing alarm. Xiao Yan glanced at the two of them, then stepped forward slowly. His gentle voice, however, sent a cold shiver through Yun Fan and Meng Li. "The favors Cloud岚 Sect has done for my family—I will repay them tenfold. Starting with you two today... Rest assured, Cloud Mountain's old dog will also come down to join you."