Cloud Yun's departure couldn't be stopped by Xiao Yan, as he himself understood that while Cloud Yun didn't harbor deep resentment toward the destruction of the Cloud Ruan Sect, she remained the Sect's abbot—its fall could not fail to leave a lingering sense of unease within her. She may have wished to stay by Xiao Yan's side and contribute to his cause, yet deep down, she felt a quiet resistance. This resistance stemmed from her emotional bond with the Cloud Ruan Sect and the years of cultivation and nurturing she had received there. Cloud Yun's decision to leave the Gamma Empire might also be driven by her desire to use time to dissolve this inner resistance—just as she had said, once she could fully integrate the Cloud Ruan Sect into her heart, without ever stirring it again, then she would be ready to return. With Xiang Yan's current strength and the powerful allies at his side, it would not be difficult to forcibly retain Yun Yun. Yet he did not wish to bind her closely. To Yun Yun, he carried a special feeling—those early days, the events in the Wild Beast Mountains, remained deeply etched in his memory. The springtime scene that unfolded in the cave would occasionally stir a quiet longing within him whenever he recalled it. Therefore, to help Yun Yun resolve her inner hesitation, he chose not to obstruct her. Xiang Yan stayed on Cloud岚 Mountain for three days. On the morning of the fourth day, Yun Yun finally made her move. Fearing that continuing to remain near him might cause the resolve she had recently nurtured to fade, she quietly slipped away during Xiang Yan's period of meditation, accompanied by Na Lan Yan Ran. Yun Yun, who had gently departed, did not realize that as she turned, Xiao Yan, with his eyes closed, had slowly opened them, gazing softly at her graceful figure without uttering a word to stop her—letting her soar into the air and swiftly fade from his sight. When Yun Yun's form was completely gone from Xiao Yan's vision, his expression subtly darkened. He reached out and took the neatly stacked deep-blue inner armor placed beside him, still carrying a faint, lingering fragrance. As his fingers traced the subtle cracks along the edges of the armor, Xiao Yan's gaze grew even more tender. That armor had saved his life on several occasions, with fragments falling off over time. Eventually, after he had left the Gamma Empire, Yun Yun had diligently searched for each piece, retrieving them one by one and carefully reinserting them. Some fragments, however, could not be found due to various reasons, and Yun Yun skillfully stitched them back using similar materials, with meticulous care. Though the inner armor had been Cloud Yun's personal possession, and thus carried subtle connections between them, finding such a small fragment within the vast empire required immense effort—merely this fact was enough to make Xiao Xin set aside all previous reservations. With solemnity, Xiao Xin placed the armor carefully into his storage relic and deeply exhaled. Then he rose, his gaze fixed on the direction where Cloud Yun had disappeared. After a while, he murmured, "Take good care of yourself." A moment of silence passed. Xiao Xin's shoulders gently trembled, and a vibrant emerald hue of flame wings emerged behind him. With a gentle flick, he took off toward the capital. Over the course of these three days, Xiao Xin's injuries had recovered astonishingly completely, and on several occasions, as his qi flowed through his meridians, he had sensed the subtle barrier characteristic of the Duke-level stage. Yet this was only a sensation—true breakthroughs had not yet manifested. To ascend to the Battle Emperor stage proved far more challenging than Xiao Yan had anticipated, even after enduring the life-or-death battle against Yun Shan. Yet, there remained a significant gap between his current state and the goal. Nevertheless, Xiao Yan did not feel particularly urgent, as he had a vague sense that his journey to Battle Emperor rank was near at hand—perhaps only requiring a minor catalyst, after which the breakthrough would naturally unfold. "Divine Sovereign..." The figure streaked across the sky like lightning, leaving a faint silhouette. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, yet the fist clenched tightly within his sleeve. With his current combat strength, when he fully deployed all techniques except the Three-Colored Flame Lotus, he could confidently challenge and defeat a Divine Sovereign at their peak tier. However, should he unleash the Three-Colored Flame Lotus, he would absolutely eliminate a Divine Sovereign at their peak, inflicting significant injuries even on a Divine Conqueror ranked below three stars. Should luck be less favorable, as in Yunshan's case, the inner cultivation energy would be violently disrupted, causing a sudden stagnation, leaving him vulnerable to the subsequent, decisive assault. However, the chances were not particularly high. If Xiao Yan had not relied on a bit of luck that day, he certainly could not have defeated Yun Shan, and even that victory came at the cost of his own severe injuries—clearly demonstrating a strong sense of risking his life. After all, Xiao Yan's true strength had only reached the peak of the Battle King rank, a level vastly inferior to that of Battle Sect masters. Without the several powerful battle techniques he commanded, he simply could not have endured twenty rounds against such a master. But if Xiao Yan successfully advances to the Battle Emperor level, he will be hard to match among Battle Emperors, thanks to the refined techniques of the "Burned Decree" cultivation method and his array of strong battle skills. Even if he encounters a Battle Sovereign, without resorting to his signature move—the Three-Colored Fire Lotus—he can still hold his own with the combined speed of his dual wings, maneuvering and creating opportunities to escape. This means that once he reaches the Battle Emperor level, he will possess the ability to survive against Battle Sovereigns. Should he dare to risk his life and unleash the Three-Colored Fire Lotus, he may even have a chance—though not guaranteed—to defeat and eliminate a Battle Sovereign with three or fewer stars. Of course, such an outcome carries significant risk; should he fail to secure a victory, it would likely prove to be his final fate. "One of the protectors from the Soul Temple possesses the strength of a Battle Sect cultivator. It's unknown how many such cultivators reside within. To rescue both his father and master, he would likely need to reach the peak of Battle Sovereign or at least the early stages of Battle Sect—otherwise, even if he forced himself to go, he would merely be setting himself up for capture, and by then, everything would truly be lost." The wind howled fiercely at Xiao Yan's ears, and the scenery below rushed swiftly backward. Xiao Yan's thoughts raced in swift succession. "Xun had also mentioned that until I reached the peak of Douzong strength, I couldn't go seek her out. I'm certain her racial prowess won't fall short of the 'Hun Palace.' Ah... this journey still lies far ahead." With a soft sigh, Xiao Yan's expression gradually hardened. From being a mere family outcast back in his youth to becoming a figure now revered by all the strong across the Jia Ma Empire, the sacrifices he had made were beyond the reach of ordinary people. The hardest phase had passed; now, no obstacles could make him hesitate or retreat. He was no longer the naive, stubborn young man of old. "Father, Master, Xun—wait for me. Xiao Yan will not let you down!" Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan's shoulders trembled, his emerald fire wings growing denser and more vibrant, his speed surging dramatically. Ultimately, he transformed into a streak of black lightning, rushing straight toward the vast imperial capital now clearly visible in the distance. Soaring straight into the imperial capital, he arrived at the Xu estate within moments, then swiftly descended with a graceful turn. As Xu Yin's body settled into the upper reaches of the estate, shadows in the darker corners suddenly stirred—weapons glinting with a cold sheen, radiating a crisp, frosty glow. Yet just as these figures emerged from the darkness to intercept this unexpected visitor, a powerful aura surged down from the heavens, pressing their rising forms firmly to the ground. At the same time, a soft voice reached the gathered figures. "Stay calm—it's me." Hearing that familiar voice, the shadows halted, then bowed deeply before the black-robed young man hovering above, before once again vanishing like ghosts into the darkness, securing the entire estate within their defensive embrace. "His subordinates, truly well-trained by the second brother, are indeed outstanding—though their combat style is quite fierce, they possess exceptional fighting prowess. With them guarding Xiao Fu, ordinary strong contenders would find it difficult to infiltrate; as for the more powerful ones, there are still Medusa, Zi Yan, and others within the estate. Once they enter, they will surely be detected." Gazing softly at the retreating figures of the black-clad attendants, Xiao Yan murmured quietly. Recalling Zi Yan, Xiao Yan suddenly remembered that during the visit to Yunlan Sect, this young girl had successfully withstood the attack of Wu, the protector, who had significantly enhanced his power after absorbing the souls of Yunshan. That was truly remarkable—considering the intensity of Wu's attack, even seasoned peak-Divine-Realm warriors like Hai Bo Dong or Jia Xingtian would hesitate to meet it directly. Yet this girl had not only endured it but had only slightly weakened, suffering only minor injuries. "It seems the girl's true form is indeed as the master described—remarkably exceptional. Once I reach the Battle Emperor stage, I'll have a solid grasp on crafting a transformation pill. Then I'll definitely make her one, to see what her true form is made of, and how she's achieved such prowess." "Heard this, Xiao Ding's eyes flashed with surprise, saying, 'Are you fully recovered?' Xiao Yan nodded with a smile, gazing at the joyful expressions of the two, and softly murmured in his heart, 'The Xiao family will surpass Yunlan Sect and become the dominant force in the Jima Empire. Father, your wish—I will surely fulfill it!' "