In a spacious sitting hall of the City Governor's residence, Master Mu Tie, after seating everyone—including Xiao Yan and the others—returned to his own place and quietly instructed the maids to serve tea in turn, attending to every detail with great care. "Ha ha, I never expected that after three years apart, Xiao Yan's strength has advanced so much," Mu Tie said, sipping his tea. He then glanced subtly at Xiao Li, Lin Yan, and the others seated beside Xiao Yan. His heart stirred with quiet anticipation—he knew that while Xiao Yan himself was undoubtedly formidable, the real threat lay not in Xiao Yan's prowess alone, but in these powerful individuals he had recently recruited. Among the guests present, any one of them could easily stand equal to one of the Ten Elite Warriors of the Empire. Xiao Yan smiled slightly and did not dwell on the topic for long. After a moment's pause, he said slowly, "Wood-iron brother, it seems that the Kamah Empire has not been very calm these past few years..." On hearing this, Wood-iron chuckled and sighed, "Indeed, it hasn't been calm at all—everything has been caused by Yunlan Sect." "Oh?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. Mu Tie sipped at his tea to moisten his throat, as if gathering his thoughts. After a moment, he spoke: "Less than a year after you left the Gamma Empire, Yunlan Sect completely transformed its previously detached, aloof demeanor. Not only did it actively recruit disciples, but it also began subtly dispersing its disciples across major cities throughout the nation. These subtle moves likely caught the attention of the royal family and the three leading families. However, due to Yunshan's overwhelming strength, no one dared to speak up. And then, Yunlan Sect grew increasingly assertive..." Pausing, Mu Tie glanced at Xiao Yan, hesitated slightly, before continuing: "Eventually, Yunlan Sect went so far as to eliminate the Xiao family. This event stirred great excitement throughout the empire at the time, yet it posed no significant obstacle to Yunlan Sect." Xiao Yan tightened his grip on the teacup. The dark gaze in his eyes slowly narrowed, a faint cold glint passing through. Seeing Xiao Yan's composed demeanor, Mu Tie was momentarily stunned, then realized that perhaps the young man had known all along. "Mu Tie brother, do you know where the remaining members of my Xiao family currently reside?" Xiao Yan gently stroked the cup of tea. "I'm not entirely certain myself. After the incident that befell the Xiao family, the survivors vanished completely. However, if you're looking for them, I'd recommend visiting the Miter family—they might have some information." Mu Tie shook his head and then pondered. "The Miter family?" Xiao Yan nodded slightly. It seemed he would have to go to Hai Bo Dongfang to find out where his elder brothers and uncles had gone. "Ah, the Miter family is now entirely under the control of Lady Yafei. Remarkable, isn't it? This woman is quite young, yet her abilities have even drawn praise from our family's elders. In just three years, she's elevated the Miter family to the top among the three major families—no one can help but respect her." "Wood-iron smiled. 'Lady Ya?' Hearing that name stored deep in her memory, Xiao Yan was momentarily startled, then a warm smile spread across her lips. Back when she was fleeing from Yunlan Sect, it was precisely thanks to Lady Ya and the Mitel family that she had managed to escape. That debt of gratitude, Xiao Yan would never forget. 'I didn't expect her to actually be able to hold the Mitel family in such strong control—perhaps I've underestimated her all along,' Xiao Yan said, gently rubbing her nose as she chuckled. She knew well that, as a woman with neither exceptional status nor particularly strong aptitude in Qi cultivation, it was no easy feat for her to rise to become a true steward of a family in a world where Qi cultivation dominated. Xiao Yan smiled faintly, his gaze drifting toward Mu Tie, and suddenly asked, "Has Brother Mu heard any news from Yunshan?" At this, Mu Tie was momentarily taken aback, then shook his head with some embarrassment, saying, "How could I possibly gain any real insight into a master of that caliber? I only occasionally receive updates from the clan elders. I'd say Yunshan is likely stronger now than it was three years ago." Faced with this seemingly useless response, Xiao Yan found himself helpless, his eyes fixed on the subtle ripples spreading across the surface of his teacup. Suddenly, a vision of a graceful and dignified face flashed through his mind—the subtle expressions of amusement and mild displeasure on that face stirred an unexpected and disordered stir within his heart. "Crack!" The teacup in his hands split slightly under the force of the sudden surge in his breath, and everyone in the hall stared in astonishment at Xiao Yan, whose demeanor had abruptly changed. "Third Brother, what's wrong?" asked Xiao Li, who sat closest to him, and gently tapped him on the shoulder. "Nothing." "Upon being touched by Xiao Li, Xiao Yan also gradually regained his composure. Taking a deep breath, he calmed his turbulent mind, then waved his hand and casually asked, 'By the way, Master Mu Tie, who currently oversees Yunlan Sect?' 'Who else could it be? Naturally, Yunshan.' Mu Tie spread his hands. Raising an eyebrow, Xiao Yan struggled to form the words, finally uttering a name he had resisted for three years: 'Yun Yun? Isn't it Yun Yun who serves as the sect's abbot now?' 'Yun Yun, the abbot... shortly after you left the Gama Empire, Yunshan removed her from the position of abbot and ceased to manage any affairs within the sect. Today, all authority of Yunlan Sect rests entirely with Yunshan.' Mu Tie said thoughtfully. Hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded silently, as if unconsciously, a sense of relief quietly settling within him. "Right now, most of Yunlan Sect's actions are thanks to Yunshan's efforts. And looking at what's happened at the Ghost-Defending Pass this time, I suspect Yunlan Sect is about to make some major moves in the near future." Wood Iron said slowly. "If this reaches the Imperial Capital, the royal family might well be stirred. From the momentum we're seeing, the letters my family elders sent me not long ago—well, I believe they're truly accurate." "What kind of situation?" Xiang Yan was taken aback, asking. Wood Iron kept his face tense, setting down his teacup on the table, before finally speaking in a steady tone: "Yunlan Sect is likely to take action against our three major families..." Xiang Yan's brows furrowed. Was Yunlan Sect really determined to eliminate all political forces within the Empire? "Of course. Whether or not they'll target our Wood family or Nalan family remains uncertain. But one thing is certain—within a short period, Yunlan Sect will surely begin by striking at the Miter family!" Wood Iron said, his expression serious. "Why?" "Hehe, this point, Brother Xiao Xiang should also be aware of. The elder of the Mitel family, Hai Bodo, has a close relationship with you. When you were being pursued by Yunlan Sect, the Mitel family secretly provided assistance—indeed, when the Xiao family was later besieged by Yunlan Sect, the Mitel family's involvement played a crucial role in preventing the complete extinction of the Xiao family. Though the Mitel family has kept these actions quite discreet, we have managed to gather some information, and naturally, Yunlan Sect must also be aware of them. Xiao Yan nodded slightly. Given the current situation, they would have to head swiftly to the Imperial Capital—otherwise, not only would the Mitel family face the same fate as the Xiao family, but even the surviving Xiao family members under their protection might suffer greatly. "The Imperial Capital must now be bustling with activity. Being so close to Yunlan Sect, any outbreak there will undoubtedly cause tremendous chaos." "Wood-iron brother, could you kindly keep my message regarding my return to the Gamma Empire confidential? Also, please ensure your subordinates remain discreet—otherwise, should the Yunlan Sect learn of this, they will not only accelerate their actions but also heighten their vigilance." Standing up from his chair, Xiao Yan turned to Wood-iron and spoke firmly. "Understood," Wood-iron replied without hesitation. "For added security, I'll delay reporting this border incident to the royal court for a few days. Otherwise, they'll surely become aware of your return." "Then thank you very much," Xiao Yan bowed and smiled. "Xiao Yan, brother—aren't you planning to head to the Imperial Capital?" Seeing Xiao Yan rise, Mu Tie quickly stood as well, saying. "Time is pressing, so I won't stay any longer here. Once things are settled, I'll come by to see you again, Mu Tie brother." Xiao Yan nodded warmly.