Once the negotiations were concluded, Hai Bo Dong and Xiao Yan took their leave of the Pharmacist Guild. Hai Bo Dong returned to the Mitel family, while Xiao Yan walked along the street all the way to the most bustling district of the city center. At this moment, a grand pavilion in the area had already been adorned with a newly hung plaque, its calligraphic characters flowing like dragons and phoenixes, drawing the passing pedestrians to pause and gaze. "Xiao Family!" When Xiao Yan arrived, he saw the crowd gathered outside the courtyard and shook his head in resignation, stepping through the courtyard wall with a swift glide. As his body just cleared the wall, several gusts of wind suddenly rushed toward him. Yet Xiao Yan neither stepped back nor dodged—he simply curled his fingers and flicked, easily deflecting the attacks launched by four dark figures emerging from the shadows. "Relax—it's me," he smiled, as he effortlessly repelled the four figures. Upon hearing his familiar voice, the four figures promptly knelt on one knee, bowing respectfully and calling, "Master! We are deeply sorry for our intrusion!" "Heh, quite good indeed," said Xiao Yan, lightly brushing his sleeve as he smiled, showing no displeasure. He waved to the four of them and then proceeded slowly along the path leading into the courtyard. The manor Xiao Li had been seeking was not only much larger in size but also far more imposing than the one the Xiao family had once occupied in Wutan City. Moreover, due to the significant reduction in family members, the vast estate now felt somewhat empty and serene. After walking a short while along the path, a spacious living hall came into view, where laughter could still be heard. As Xiao Yan approached, he gently pushed open the door. Upon hearing the sound, Xiao Li and Xiao Ding, who had been directing the servants to arrange the hall, turned to look. When they saw Xiao Yan, they smiled warmly and welcomed him. "How do you find the manor? I'm sure it's quite impressive—acquiring such a large estate in this location isn't merely a matter of money." "Looking at Xiao Yan who was surveying the surroundings, Xiao Li smiled. Most of these prime locations were held by powerful merchants with strong backings. However, the influence Xiao Yan now had within the Jiaema Empire was already comparable to that of Yunlan Sect—such that the major merchants had no hesitation in supporting Xiao Li's acquisition of this region, and even refused to raise the price too much." "Agreed," Xiao Yan nodded slightly. Though this estate still fell short of the grandeur of the Mitel family's manor, he was quite satisfied. He then smiled lightly, "Indeed, from now on, this will be the headquarters of my Xiao family." Seeing Xiao Yan nod, Xiao Li also breathed a sigh of relief. "Third brother, how did the negotiations go today?" Sitting in his wheelchair, Xiao Ding smiled gently and asked Xiao Yan. "Everything went smoothly. We'll be ready to assemble our forces within two days and face Yunlan Sect in a decisive battle," Xiao Yan replied with a smile. "Two days later?" Hearing this, Xiao Ding was momentarily stunned, then slightly furrowed his brows, saying, "So rushed?" "Yunshan wishes to marry Yunyun to Guhe, thereby securing Guhe and making him dependent. If they succeed in this alliance, it will surely bring further complications. Therefore..." As soon as Xiao Yin mentioned this, the smile on his face faded somewhat, and he spoke slowly. "Yunshan wants to marry Yunyun to Guhe?" Upon hearing Xiao Yin's words, both Xiao Li and Xiao Ding also slightly frowned, exclaiming. "Yes..." With a slightly serious expression, Xiao Ding lightly tapped his fingers against the back of the chair, saying solemnly, "If this truly happens, then indeed it will be quite troublesome. Guhe is no ordinary person. His influence within the Jima Empire surpasses even that of the Pharmaceutical Guild's Fama. Once he becomes an official of Yunlan Sect, Yunshan will surely gain significant leverage." "Then what do you intend to do?" Xiao Li turned his gaze to Xiao Yin, asking. "Of course, we must prevent this marriage alliance from being completed." Xiao Yan smiled faintly, his eyes, slightly lowered, now sharp and determined. "Two days from now, I'll find a way to settle matters with Gu He. At the very least, I'll ensure he can no longer interfere in Yunlan Sect's affairs." Upon hearing this, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged glances. Since this man had a clear plan, there was no need for them to offer any further words. "For the next two days, you take care of your families. The affairs of Yunlan Sect will be my responsibility," Xiao Yan said, patting their shoulders gently. "I can truly contribute little to this matter. But remember—right now, you are the pillar of the Xiao family. As long as you remain alive, the future of the family's revival depends on you." Xiao Ding gazed steadily at Xiao Yan, speaking slowly. Xiao Yan nodded and smiled. As they were conversing, a servant suddenly arrived with a message—reporting that Yao Ye had personally delivered the herbs used to prepare the "Hun Yuan Bone-Forming Pill." "It turns out the speed was that fast—seems the royal family truly values that Yohai Jiaoshou very much..." murmuring to himself, Xiao Yan sent for Tian Ye. When they met, there was naturally a bit of formal small talk, after which Tian Ye presented Xiao Yan with the medicinal herbs she had prepared. The herbs were stored in a low-tier storage amulet, and upon glancing through them, Xiao Yan couldn't help but be impressed—these herbs were more than sufficient to produce ten "Hun Yuan Shu Gu Dan" pills. Indeed, the royal family's support was truly generous. After delivering the herbs, Tian Ye stayed a while longer before finally bidding farewell and leaving. Watching her go, Xiao Yan and Xiao Ding exchanged a few words of parting, then turned and entered the inner courtyard, heading for a quiet chamber, where he instructed that the room not be disturbed easily. With the chamber door closed, Xiao Yan took a deep breath, his eyes slightly narrowed, while his fist, resting in his sleeve, slowly tightened. "Hey, old dog of Yunshan... your hands are quite sharp indeed. You've really pushed me to head to Yunlanshan in just two days." The black ring on his finger trembled slightly, and the ethereal figure of Yao Lao gradually emerged. He glanced at Xiao Yan and said, "The battlefield is at Yunlanshan. Yunlanshan has geographical advantages, and countless disciples within the sect are stationed there as well. This gives us the element of numbers—ah, it seems Yunshan holds you in high regard, otherwise they wouldn't have invested so much thought into this." Xiao Yan nodded slightly. Yunlanshan not only had many people but also mastered the art of coordinated attacks. He had personally experienced the power of such formations during his own time—there was no doubt about their strength. "Yunshan likely knows well about your relationship with Yun Yun. And this move of yours may also be intended to provoke and unsettle your inner composure." Yao Lao mused, his seasoned insight immediately revealing the underlying motives behind Yunshan's actions. Xiao Yan remained silent, and even he himself had to admit that upon hearing the news of Yun Yin and Gu He's impending wedding, his heart had been profoundly disturbed and agitated. Clearly, he could never truly regard Yun Yin as a stranger. It was only natural that he had decided to engage in a final, decisive battle just two days later—though part of his concern stemmed from the possibility that Gu He might indeed align himself with Yun Lan Sect, it could not be denied that deep within him there were other, more subtle thoughts. "You'll take this..." With a flick of the finger, the pale, silver ring shot toward Xiao Yan and was caught precisely by him. "What is this?" Xiao Yan stared at the pale, silver ring in his hands. As he held it, a sensation of cold yet unexpectedly intense warmth surged through him. "This is a ring I've refined using Bone Spirit Cold Flame. It contains a substantial amount of the flame, though it will naturally dissipate after five days..." the old pharmacist smiled. "During this battle against Yunlan Sect, I anticipate the appearance of some strong soul-level cultivators from the Soul Palace. I'll step in to intercept them. Once that happens, I'll no longer be able to lend you the Bone Spirit Cold Flame. Therefore, I've prepared this ring for you. The flame within it is sufficient for only one use of the Buddha's Wrath Lotus Bloom. So, unless absolutely necessary, try to use it sparingly." Nodding silently, Xiao Yan removed the naiji that Tianye had previously brought and said softly, "Then, let's prepare the 'Hun Yuan Bone-Shaping Pill' today. If it can restore the strength of the royal creature, the Azure Sea Dragon, it will undoubtedly prove to be a significant advantage for us." The Pharmacist nodded slightly and smiled, saying, "It's good timing—long since I last saw you taking the initiative to refine pills. Today, I'll take a close look at how much your alchemy skills have improved. With two unique flames at your disposal, refining pills should now come naturally to you."