Sunlight poured through the windows, illuminating the slightly ethereal figure of the elderly man, yet casting no shadow upon the floor—an appearance that seemed rather strange. The sudden emergence of the figure, accompanied by a resounding aura that rivaled that of a Douzong-level cultivator, immediately left everyone in the hall stunned. A wave of astonishment rippled through their eyes as they fixed their gaze upon the figure, their minds swirling with waves of disbelief. "Heh, it doesn't matter at all. After all, it will eventually be known." The herbal master smiled—this was the first time he had appeared before anyone other than Xiao Yan and Medusa. Yet it was no accident. He knew that during the battle between Xiao Yan and Yunlan Sect, he would likely no longer be able to conceal his presence. So, whether he appeared a few days earlier or later, the difference would be negligible. Moreover, making his appearance now would undoubtedly serve as a powerful bargaining chip, swiftly solidifying the positions of the hesitant Jia Xingtian and others. Hearing the conversation between Xiao Yan and the herbal master, everyone else grew certain about their close relationship. They all exchanged glances, swallowing hard, astonished—how could it be that this person possessed such reserves? It was no wonder he had dared to challenge Yunlan Sect. Compared to the astonishment of Jia Xingtian and the others, Hai Bode and Yin Gu older colleagues were even more stunned. They knew that, besides the enigmatic elder before them, there was another super powerhouse at Xiao Yin’s side—one who could rival a Douzong-level master: Medusa. Thus, it meant that Xiao Yin now had two super strong figures capable of standing alongside Douzong-level masters. Upon realizing this, Yin Gu, Su Mei, and Tie Wu exchanged glances, each filled with awe. They felt a deep sense of relief—thankfully, during their time in Black Angle Domain, they had not faced direct conflict with Xiao Yin. Otherwise, they too might have ended up like Fan Lu. In a corner of the hall, Nalan Jie and Nalan Su gradually recovered from the shock brought by the appearance of the Elder of Medicine, exchanging glances, taking a deep breath of cool air, yet their mouths were filled with bitterness. The stronger the power Xiao Yan now displayed, the greater their sense of regret grew. Originally, he was to be their family's son-in-law, and if everything had gone smoothly, the Nalan family would have seen a significant rise in prestige because of him. Yet... "Hehe, I don't know your name, sir. It seems I've never seen you in the Gamma Empire before." Jia Xingtian bowed slightly to the elderly physician, smiling with genuine respect. "I'm not originally from the Gamma Empire, hey—I've been traveling across the continent, and I suspect you might not even have been born when I first arrived." The elderly physician chuckled, then turned his gaze toward Fang Ma, who had been deeply absorbed since his arrival, as though recalling something from memory. "Ah, you're the young alchemical artisan from back then. I still remember your aura. After all these years, I'm quite impressed—your skills have certainly grown." The light chuckle from the physician once again caused a moment of stunned silence throughout the hall. Yet Fang Ma suddenly jolted, his body trembling as he lifted his head in disbelief, exclaiming, "You—you are that very elder from back then?" "Yao Lao smiled and nodded casually, observing Xiao Yan's puzzled expression, and said, 'I encountered him during my travels across the continent back then. He was only a bit older than you at the time. I noticed his potential and decided to promote him.' Xiao Yan nodded in understanding. As for the others—Jia Xingtian and the rest—upon hearing Yao Lao's words, their faces flushed with embarrassment, and they quickly wiped cold sweat from their brows. This man... truly was a seasoned elder sage! While everyone was wiping sweat, Fa Ma hurried down from his seat with great excitement, then bowed deeply before Yao Lao. As his legs were about to touch the ground, Yao Lao waved his robe, gently lifting him with a soft current of strength, and smiled lightly, 'No need to bow so formally. Back then, it was merely out of interest on my part. Your achievements, however, are entirely due to your own diligence and talent.' 'I will never forget your guidance,' Fa Ma said, unable to fully bow. He rose to his feet and offered Yao Lao a respectful bow as a junior, speaking with sincere reverence. Mitchell, observing how Fama had paid such a profound respect to the elderly pharmacist, couldn't help but wipe a cold sweat from his forehead. Now, Fama was no longer just a mere fourth-rank alchemist—he had truly earned the rank of fifth-rank alchemist, and this achievement had come merely from a casual suggestion by the elder before him. It was hard to imagine just how formidable this elder truly was. Seeing the crowd, now pale with fear, the elder sighed and shook his head, then waved his hand at them. "Alright, alright," he said, "now, please, focus on the matter at hand. Otherwise, I shall have to hold my弟子 accountable for having me interrupt his business. By the way, Xiang Yin's earlier statement is genuine. Before the final battle against Yunlan Sect, certain matters needed to be settled. Therefore, I urge each of you to carefully consider your stance—choose wisely." As he finished speaking, a subtle undercurrent of authority lingered in his tone. Under the presence of a Douzong-level cultivator, every person present found their faces subtly pale. With that, the herbal master smiled gently, then his form trembled slightly, his ethereal presence gradually fading until he vanished in a most strange manner. Seeing the herbal master disappear, Xiao Yan shook his head with a sigh, looked up at the gathered guests, and chuckled, "Sorry, my master always speaks straight to the point." Upon hearing this, the guests quickly exchanged polite smiles. While they had previously considered Xiao Yan worthy of their serious attention, now they felt he had truly earned their admiration. After all, a teacher of Dou-Zong level—what could there be to fear in the Jia Ma Empire? "Have any of you made a decision?" Xiao Yan lifted his gaze, his fingers lightly tapping the table, and suddenly asked. The hall fell silent once more. After a while, Fang Ma clenched his teeth and said firmly, "My master has greatly benefited me in the past. So, I shall take a risk—this time, I will fully commit the Herbalist's Guild to support you in your battle against Yunlan Sect!" "Fahma's words sent everyone in shock. The Pharmaceutical Guild in the Gamma Empire enjoyed considerable prestige—their support would undoubtedly greatly boost Xiao Yan and the others' standing." "Since Fahma has such determination, then our Mu family will join you as well. After all, the Yunlan Sect has been looking unfavorably upon our Mu family for some time now. If they don't act now, their fate might not improve much in the future!" Wood Chen slammed his desk and spoke fiercely, gritting his teeth. Among the five major powers, three had already declared their positions. Only the Royal Family and the Nalan Clan remained undecided. Tianye furrowed her brows, locked eyes with Jia Xingtian, and then spoke with a clear, composed voice: "Master Xiao Yan, our royal family is certainly willing to lend you all its strength. However, I would like to ask you one question first." "Princess Tianye, please go ahead." "The Yunlan Sect truly is one of the great tigers of the Jima Empire. Yet now, Master Xiao Yan's influence has grown strong enough to rival even the Yunlan Sect. Tianye would like to know—should the Yunlan Sect eventually be eliminated, would you then become another great tiger of the Jima Empire? In that case, wouldn't our royal family remain in the same position, both before and after?" Tianye's face was taut, her gaze fixed steadily on Xiao Yan, showing not the slightest hesitation. Her words were clearly targeted and precise. As soon as she finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall instantly tightened. Several people began to sweat quietly, murmuring among themselves how bold this young lady had become. With a gentle tap of her finger on the table, Xiao Yan glanced at Tianye, who was intently staring at him. Though Jiang Xingtian remained motionless, Xiao Yan could clearly sense the sudden tension in his posture. "Anywhere there will always be distinctions between strength and weakness. In the future, my power might grow to become a formidable tiger within the Gamma Empire. Yet, I can personally assure you, standing before all of you today, that as long as the imperial family remains unmoved, I will never undertake anything akin to Yunlan Sect's ambition of seizing national authority." Silence lasted for a long time, and finally, Xiao Yan spoke softly. For Xiao Yan's response, Yao Ye still seemed somewhat dissatisfied. However, just as she was about to speak again, Xiao Yan's expression grew slightly serious, saying, "Princess Yao, you should know that if I don't intervene this time, within a few months at the very least, and possibly up to a year, your royal family will be completely eradicated by Yunlan Sect. Therefore, I hope you can make the most of the current situation and conclude things while they're still favorable—don't think this cooperation is something I'm actively pursuing from you." Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Yao Ye was startled. It wasn't until now that she realized: this collaboration had actually been proposed by Xiao Yan as a means to eliminate all potential threats. Their participation or otherwise seemed to hold little decisive weight. Under the forceful and inspiring words of Xiao Yan, Yaoye was ultimately forced to retreat, and beside him, Jia Xingtian smiled and spoke, "Yaoye is still young and naturally lacks in thoroughness. I hope Master Xiao Yan won't mind. Hehe. Since everyone has agreed, the royal family cannot be excluded either. In this campaign to eliminate Yunlan Sect, the royal family will certainly commit our full strength!" Seeing that even the royal family had now clearly stated their stance, Nalan Jie and Nalan Su also voiced their unanimous commitment to jointly face Yunlan Sect. With these seasoned players finally agreeing, Xiao Yan felt a deep sense of relief and smiled, "Then, I wish us all a successful collaboration. Also, I'd like to request one thing from everyone—please keep the matter concerning my master confidential." Upon hearing this, everyone promptly nodded in agreement. With everything settled, Hai Bo Dong smiled and sat up from his chair, about to speak, when suddenly his expression changed and he raised his hand toward the window—immediately, a messenger bird swooped in and landed upon his palm. "It's news from Ya Fei," Hai Bo Dong said, taking the scroll from the bird. He smiled at Xiao Yan before slowly unfurling it, and as he did, his face subtly darkened. "What's wrong?" Xiao Yan frowned, concerned. Hai Bo Dong licked his lips, fixing his gaze on Xiao Yan, and said solemnly, "The old man from Yunshan plans to hold a wedding at Yunlan Sect." "Wedding? Who's getting married?" Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly.