As the Cloud Overseer and Cloud Monastery fell, the grand campaign aimed at eliminating the Mitel family concluded—not in the manner anyone had anticipated—under the watchful eyes of countless people in the Imperial Capital. The Yunlan Sect, advancing with overwhelming force, instead faced its most devastating blow—nine of its top warriors perished, and half of its ordinary disciples were killed or wounded. The survivors, now, have all been imprisoned in the capital's grand prison. Thus, it can be said without reservation that Yunlan Sect's offensive not only suffered a crushing defeat, but one that was truly catastrophic. As the capital's military began restoring the streets ravaged by the battle, the onlookers gathered around the Miter family slowly dispersed, still stunned and deeply impressed. It is certain that within a few days, the events unfolding here will spread swiftly across every corner of the empire, like wings taking flight—perhaps even reaching neighboring realms, where they will leave a profound impression. As the grand battlefield gradually drew to a close, the members of the Mitel family who had initially been filled with despair finally lifted the heavy weight from their hearts, and under the guidance of Ya Fei and others, began to clear up the scene of the once-chaotic manor. "Regarding the subtle reprimands and scolding from Xiao Ding, Xiao Li merely tilted his head slightly, showing no dissatisfaction or resistance at all. "Brother, your leg?" Xiao Li's gaze remained fixed on the wheelchair where Xiao Ding was seated, and his expression suddenly darkened as he urgently asked. "I'm fine..." Xiao Ding casually waved his hand, yet he looked at Xiao Li with a touch of surprise. "It's you, though—how come in just two years you've advanced all the way to the Battle King level?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Li was momentarily stunned, then quickly replied, "Heh, of course, all thanks to my third brother! Without his help, with my own talent, I'd still be no more than a Battle Spirit at most." As he spoke, his hand resting behind him gestured toward Xiao Yan. Glancing at Xiao Li's gestures, Xiao Yan silently pondered—his second brother had probably been reluctant to reveal the fact that he had sacrificed his life to gain strength, out of concern for Brother Xiao's well-being. But this could only be concealed for a while; according to the "Shi-Sheng Dan," which drains life over time, Brother Xiao likely had no more than six months left. "As long as it's just poisoning, there are still some methods to expel the toxins—though if the condition has persisted for too long, we may have to wait and see." Xiao Yan smiled, easing his breath with relief. "Heh, why not catch up on old times right at the entrance? Come on, let's go inside. Even though the Mitel family is currently in disarray, we can still offer a clean space." Seeing the three chatting warmly, Hai Bo Dong chuckled and spoke. Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged pleasant laughter and soon followed Hai Bo Dong into the hall. Once inside, they settled into their seats. Lin Yan, Lin Xiu'ya, and Liu Qing took seats casually beside Xiao Yan, while the stronger members of the Xiao family—such as Yao and his companions—hesitated briefly before standing straight and rigidly behind Xiao Yan, like wooden posts. Though all of them were known for their independent, unruly spirits, they clearly held deep respect for Xiao Yan, truly viewing him as their leader. As for the actions of this group, Hai Bode had carefully observed them and had already begun to sense the underlying implications. There were several core members of the Mitel family present in the hall. However, at this moment—despite having previously voiced considerable grievances against Xiao Ding and the Xiao family, citing their persistent troubles—the Mitel family members now displayed respectful demeanor, often offering polite smiles when speaking with Xiao Ding. Having witnessed the earlier scene, they now understood that, starting today, the Xiao family—once merely surviving under the protection of the Mitel family—would rise to become one of the most powerful forces in the Gamma Empire, even surpassing the Mitel family's own expectations. Yet, despite the swift transformation in their expressions, Xiao Ding's smile remained as calm and unchanging as ever. He had long anticipated this development—he knew that as long as he could hold on until Xiao Yin's return, the Xiao family would surely experience a renewed resurgence. Set the guests in their seats, Hai Bo Dong stepped aside, allowing some attendants to retreat, then turned to Xiao Yan, murmuring thoughtfully, "This time, you've come back—do you think you'll have to go to war with Yunlan Sect until one of you survives?" "Hai Elder, do you believe that the Xiao family and Yunlan Sect can still coexist within the Jima Empire?" Xiao Yan smiled calmly. "Then perhaps I should tell you about Yunlan Sect's current standing..." Hai Bo Dong's expression grew steadily more serious as he spoke slowly, "Over the past three years, Yunlan Sect's growth has far exceeded your expectations. As you know, three years ago, aside from the Cloud Mountain, the entire sect probably had only Yun Yun as a Divinity Realm cultivator. Now, even after Cloud Director Yun Sha and his fellow Cloud Supervisor fell into your hands, I believe there are still at least three Divinity Realm cultivators within Yunlan Sect. As for Divinity King cultivators, there should still be several. They must have employed some method to significantly strengthen their power—otherwise, such progress would have been impossible." Xiao Yan held the teacup, his eyes slightly narrowed, and after a moment, spoke softly: "Moreover, although the Yun Du and Yun Sha previously displayed the aura of Battle Emperor-level cultivators, their battle energy seemed hollow and feeble—clearly the result of some pill or secret technique. Therefore, while Yunlan Sect's strength has indeed grown since three years ago, it is still far from impossible to defeat." Hearing this, Hai Bo Dong was also momentarily stunned, impressed by Xiao Yan's remarkable ability to swiftly identify Yunlan Sect's underlying weaknesses within such a short time. "Over the years, the Yafei has established an extensive intelligence network. With her assistance, I've discovered traces of other mysterious factions within Yunlan Sect—perhaps this is directly related to the current abundance of powerful cultivators there." Hai Bo Dong frowned, speaking slowly. Xiao Yan's eyebrows slightly lifted—those mysterious forces must be the Soul Palace, otherwise, with Yunshan's capabilities, it would have been impossible to achieve such a significant rise in the strength of Yunlan Sect's elders. "Currently, the Yunlan Sect's influence spans most of the Jima Empire. If you wish to oppose them, relying solely on your own strength will surely prove challenging. Therefore, I suggest you bring the other two major families, the Pharmaceutical Guild, or the Royal House on your side. Over the years, they have grown increasingly dissatisfied with Yunlan Sect's actions. However, due to the strength of Yunshan, they have largely been unable to voice their complaints. Now, with your return, they see this as a positive development—especially since, with your support, even in a direct confrontation against Yunshan, they will have a better chance of success." Hai Bo Dong paused and said. "They actually dare to harbor other intentions toward Yunlan Sect?" Xiao Yan's lips curled with a touch of mockery as he smiled. "You still hold onto the grievances from those days, don't you? Yet, it's truly not surprising—Yunlan Sect has been exceptionally powerful, and they must also consider the well-being of their own people." Hai Bo Dong shook his head, expressing his resignation. "Although you've brought in quite a number of strong warriors back to the Jima Empire, let me say something blunt—merely relying on their words, compared to Yunlan Sect, still falls short. Moreover, Yunlan Sect boasts an incredibly formidable Yunshan Peak. That old man has grown even stronger over the past three years. Simply relying on me alone...?" Hai Bo Dong said seriously. With his keen eye, the others in the hall—Lin Yan and the rest—could clearly perceive their strength. A dozen or so Dou Wang-level warriors, while impressive, were not particularly overwhelming for Yunlan Sect. Just as the applause from Xiao Yan had begun to rise, a subtle gust of wind suddenly sounded. A moment later, three streaks of light surged forth from outside and swiftly swept into the hall, landing directly within the main space—revealing Yin Gu, Su Mei, and Tie Wu, three Supreme Sovereign-level warriors. "You guy... I never expected you to have a hidden move like this. Truly, I never saw it coming." After a moment, Hai Bo finally recovered from his shock, chewed his lips thoughtfully, and praised with admiration. Xiao Yan smiled gently, holding the teacup in his hand, and said softly, "As for the Cloud Mountain... I'll leave that to..." The two who suddenly appeared startled Xiao Yan, who then immediately noticed the delicate jade box clutched in the little girl's hands, emitting a faint aroma of medicine. Upon seeing this, Xiao Yan's mouth twitched and his face turned even paler—clearly, these two had once again been stealing herbs without his knowledge. As Xiao Yan's expression grew increasingly stern, the sea-facing elder Hai Bo Dong, seated at the head of the table, suddenly exhibited a wave of profound fear, his face pale as if he had seen a ghost. "M... M... M... Queen Medusa?" A hoarse, trembling voice, strained and laced with fear, finally emerged from his throat after a brief moment of subtle shaking.