Vast and boundless, the forest sea roared under the force of the gale, waves of wind sweeping through it like ocean tides, their roaring sound echoing across the entire mountain range. Suddenly, a gust broke through the air, and three dark silhouettes surged from afar, halting mid-flight to hover above, their eyes scanning the landscape below. Years had passed since their last visit, and due to subtle changes in the terrain, the location of the small valley had shifted slightly, wasting Xiang Yan's considerable time in search. As his gaze slowly swept across the dense forest, a sudden spark of recognition lit up in his eyes. With a powerful flap of his fiery wings, he surged forward, heading directly toward a narrow valley nestled between several peaks. After a brief inspection, Mei Du Sha and Zi Yan followed closely behind. A moment later, Xiao Yan's figure appeared in the sky above the mountain peak. Glancing downward, he exhaled in relief—within the embrace of the mountain, a valley completely devoid of any passageways came into view, partially veiled by dense, verdant forests. Floating gently downward, Xiao Yan took a deep breath, and even at this distance, he could clearly detect a rich, fragrant aroma. "The medicinal scent here is stronger than it was back then—indeed, it seems to be a true treasure spot," Xiao Yan said, his eyes bright with delight. He turned to the two Medusas, waved them gently, and then vibrated his fiery wings, descending toward the valley. As his body settled slowly onto the sheer cliffs surrounding the valley, just as he prepared to step into the valley, a sudden gust of sharp, bracing wind, carrying a distinct tang of freshness, burst forth toward him. Frowning slightly, Xiao Yan curled his fingers and flicked—immediately, a surge of rich, emerald qi burst from his fingertips and slammed into the shadow. "Crick!" The shadow cried out in a sharp, piercing sound, then hurried back. Xiao Yan stared closely and realized it was a monstrous creature, entirely black in body, with two wings sprouting from its back. Though repelled by Xiao Yan's attack, the beast refused to retreat, instead circling in the sky, emitting a series of threatening, sharp calls. "I didn't expect to find a four-tiered beast here—perhaps it's been drawn by the rare herbs in the valley," Xiao Yan murmured, shaking his head and then turning away. With a motion of his body, he became a shadow and surged toward the heart of the valley. Seeing Xiao Yan's dismissal, the circling beast's eyes flared red. It spread its wings and charged straight at him. "Get out of my way!" With a gentle step, Xiao Yan's brows furrowed. He swept his sleeve, and a powerful surge of qi burst forth, crashing hard onto the beast, dislodging numerous feathers from its body. "Crick!" The beast, struck hard, panicked and quickly flapped its wings to rise high into the air, yet it remained within the valley, hovering steadily above and circling continuously. "Roar!" After pushing the bothersome creature back, Xiao Yan finally turned his gaze to survey the valley. However, as his eyes began to scan the surroundings, sudden low roars erupted throughout the valley. Instantly, sharp, alert figures darted into view—beasts with uniformly emerald bodies, fierce in appearance and radiating an aura of menace, resembling leopards—swiftly converging and encircling Xiao Yan within moments. "Four-stage wind leopard beasts—they can't fly. How did they manage to enter this valley?" And there are so many of them...”Frowning at the fierce, monstrous beasts surrounding him, Xiao Yan murmured in bewilderment. What exactly has happened in this small valley over the past few years? As Xiao Yan pondered, two figures flashed down from the sky and materialized beside him. "Hehe, this place is truly excellent! I never thought a small spot like this would harbor so many heavenly treasures. Moreover, the energy concentration here is significantly stronger than what I've experienced outside." With her jade-like eyes sweeping the surroundings, Zǐ Yán beamed with eager satisfaction, her special sensitivity to the rich, potent herbs—something even Xiao Yan lacked. Medusa glanced calmly at the surroundings, then settled her gaze on the wind leopard beasts encircling them. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she coldly commanded, "Get out of the way!" A cold voice issued forth, carrying an unusual sense of pressure that spread outward. Any wind leopard beasts within its reach immediately showed signs of fear in their crimson eyes. After a moment of struggle, they finally managed to emit a low roar, glanced at the group once more, and then slowly retreated. "These four-tiered beasts are able to withstand my pressure for even a brief instant—this seems rather unusual," Medusa murmured, her gaze fixed on the retreating wind leopard beasts. With her Dou-Zong-level strength, even beasts one tier above these would typically falter and flee under her presence. Yet these wind leopard beasts had only struggled briefly before choosing to withdraw. "There used to be no beasts here at all. I hadn't come back in several years—now it seems to have become a dangerous place." Xiao Yan smiled, though surprised by the sudden influx of wild beasts in this small valley, he didn't dwell on it. He glanced around and then lifted his foot, stepping deeper into the valley—according to his memory, there once stood a small thatched cottage there. Following him, Medusa and Zǐ Yán walked steadily. Medusa kept her eyes scanning the surroundings, yet something felt off, as though the valley always seemed slightly amiss to her. After about ten minutes of walking, the trio reached the deeper part of the valley. As soon as Xiao Yan took in the scene, he spotted the thatched cottage nestled within—seemingly undamaged over the years. Staring at the cottage, Xiao Yan sighed softly, his eyes filled with a quiet sense of nostalgia. The events that had unfolded here several years ago came vividly to mind, yet the girl in her white dress had vanished without a trace. A moment later, Xiao Yan calmed his mind and stepped steadily toward the small thatched hut. As he approached, a series of roaring voices erupted once again from the valley, followed by swift flashes of wild beasts rushing in, finally encircling the hut and glaring at Xiao Yan with growls and snarls. Observing the wild beasts' behavior, Xiao Yan's smile gradually faded. Now he too sensed something was amiss—these creatures didn't seem to be merely foraging; rather, they appeared to be confined and kept here, dominating the valley. "Has someone else discovered this place?" he thought, furrowing his brows. "These little pests are truly bothersome. Let me handle them!" Zi Yan frowned at the wild beasts constantly issuing threats, gave a sharp exhale, and stepped forward with determination. The purple glow in her gem-like eyes intensified, and an unusual aura of pressure suddenly radiated outwards. This pressure was different from Medusa's, which emanated from sheer strength—it instead seemed to rise directly from her blood and soul. As Xiao Yan and Medusa perceived the pressure radiating from Zǐ Yán, their eyes flashed with astonishment, and upon meeting each other's gaze, they both clearly saw the surprise reflected in one another's eyes. Under the pressure emanating from Zǐ Yán's blood and soul, the fierce, predatory beasts, whose eyes were filled with wrath, instantly let out a plaintive cry, then scurried away like mice fleeing from a cat, retreating without hesitation and refusing to pause or remain in place. Seeing this, Zǐ Yán beamed proudly and gave Xiao Yan a confident, pleased smile. Xiao Yan smiled in return, his eyes fixed on the thatched cottage, and he stepped forward steadily. Beneath his sleeve, his palm glowed with a faint, emerald flame. "Be careful," Medusa murmured from behind. Xiao Yan nodded slightly and took a step forward, gradually approaching the small thatched cottage. A moment later, he reached the cottage without any incident, his eyes briefly flickering with curiosity. As he reached out to push the door open, the Medusa at his back suddenly frowned, flashing forward and seizing his hand firmly. "Be careful..." Xiang Yan pulled her close as Xiang Yan's face darkened and he spoke softly. Then, he lifted his gaze toward the small thatched cottage, his eyes narrowing. With a swift motion of his sleeve, a powerful gust of wind surged diagonally, shaking the door open. At the very instant the flames emerged, a hoarse voice suddenly broke forth, remarkably abrupt in the valley. "Destroy this place, and from this day forward, you three shall remain here forever..." Xiao Yan and Medusa blinked, swiftly turning to face the distant mountain wall—there, a figure entirely enveloped in a black cloak, appeared strangely, as if materializing.