At the fortress, Hai Bo Dong and the others stood stunned for a while before finally exhaling deeply, their hands brushing their foreheads—only to find them drenched in cold sweat. "This young man... he's been far too daring," Hai Bo Dong murmured, swallowing hard and still feeling shaken. Jia Xingtian chuckled, saying, "When have I ever seen him fail to surprise people? Young people these days truly have the drive—had it been me, I'd never have done something like this." Xiao Ding, seated in his wheelchair, also breathed deeply, his tense body now collapsing against the backrest as if drained of strength, and sighed, "At last, this intricate arrangement has been resolved." "Heard this, Hai Bo Dong and the others also nodded. The three elders of Mulan were formidable because, when they worked together, their combined technique, the 'Three Beasts Primordial Decision,' could rival a Battle Sect master. However, now one of the three elders had been severely injured by Xiao Yan, making it impossible for them to fully unleash this power. As a result, the remaining two elders—both at the peak of Battle Sect rank—would no longer command the same level of confidence or dominance. With Xiao Yan's current strength, though he too had sustained injuries, he would find it significantly easier to face two Battle Sect peak elders than a single Battle Sect master. More importantly, not only had he held off the three elders, but he had also seriously weakened one of them. Consequently, the battle between Mei Du Sha and Yan Luo Tian would no longer be interrupted by anyone else. With Mei Du Sha's strength, defeating Yan Luo Tian would be merely a matter of time." Once both the Three Elders of Mulan and the Heavenly Swans of Luoyan fall today, not only will the crisis of the Gamma Empire be immediately alleviated, but it may even leave the three sects with heavy losses! Thinking of that day, a surge of exhilaration spread across the faces of the defenders in the fortress. For the past year, they had been steadily beaten by the alliance of the three sects, growing increasingly demoralized. Should they continue to falter, every single one of them would surely face the fate of a ruined kingdom and scattered families. It is precisely that young man, who dared to fight with his life in the sky, who has rescued them from this despair! He has wagered his life to secure the empire's survival and to ensure that countless people do not have to flee their homes and roots. Yue Mei covered her rosy lips with delicate hands, her alluring serpent-like eyes shimmering with an unspoken sense of awe. The thunderous clash that had stirred the hearts of countless people earlier had also sent her pulse racing—yet fortunately, amidst the turbulent battle, Xiao Yan had ultimately stood firm as a triumphant victor. "Indeed, it's no wonder the Empress places such trust in him. He truly possesses remarkable abilities," Yue Mei murmured softly, her gaze fixed upon the young man in the black robe, who bore a faint trace of blood at the corner of his lips but carried an unmistakable youthful defiance in his expression. It was hard to believe that the boy once, in the desert, had fled from her pursuit in such a disheveled manner—now he had become not only the master of the most powerful force within the Gamma Empire, but also a revered idol in the hearts of its people. The pace of his growth—so swift, so astonishing—it left one utterly dazzled. … At the very moment the elder of the Tiger-Headed People was severely wounded and plummeted into the sky, the battle circle where Medusa and Luoyan Tian stood also came to a sudden halt. Then, with a quick glance, Luoyan Tian's face instantly turned stern, and he roared in furious anger, "The three elders of Mulan Valley—how could they be reduced to this state by merely a Supreme Combatant? Is this what you told me would take just ten rounds?" Unlike Luoyan Tian's outburst, Medusa's eyes gleamed with a touch of joy. She lifted her gaze gently, watching the young man in the black robe standing calmly in the distance. A soft warmth shimmered in her eyes—years ago, a youth whose mere movements could have ended her life had, in the midst of everyone's unawareness, grown into a force capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a Supreme Conqueror. At this very moment, even the proud Medusa had to admit that the distance between Xiao Yan and herself was closing at a pace that was nothing short of astonishing. It was possible, therefore, that someday he might truly surpass her. And when that time came—according to the unwritten tradition passed down through the generations of Medusa queens—the queen's husband would have to be stronger in power than she. As this thought crossed her mind, a subtle blush appeared on her otherwise cool and elegant features. This fleeting charm instantly caused the woman on the opposite side, Lu Yan Tian, who was furious and pacing wildly, to swallow hard. This woman—she was truly a fairy to men. If she weren't already so powerful, Lu Yan Tian would have had to forcibly seize her and carry her off. Just as her gaze had lingered upon Medusa's cheek for a moment, Luo Lian Tian suddenly felt a sharp, cold, and merciless stare piercing through him, sending a jolt of alarm through his heart. He turned to see Medusa fixing her eyes firmly upon him—her gaze brimming with an icy intensity and clear resolve of intent, unmistakably signaling that the earlier, unbridled admiration from him had stirred the queen's wrath. Under the relentless, venomous gaze of Medusa, Lian Tian felt increasingly uneasy. Yet, as he was about to respond, a flash of cold light surged forth, directly aimed at his eyes. "Keep these eyes of yours," he murmured, struck by the queen's ruthless precision. He couldn't help but feel a surge of indignation—this woman truly was no ordinary cruel one. A venomous, snake-like beauty such as Medusa, once secured, would likely never be allowed to share his bed. With this thought in mind, Yan Luo Tian moved his body, meeting the assault with full force. Though he knew he was no match for Medusa, as the Golden Crane Sect's master, standing before so many witnesses, he couldn't simply retreat. Gently lifting his gaze upward, he finally settled his attention on the two Mu Lan elders across from him. At that moment, a cold smile played at Xiao Yan's lips. Without the support of the array's coordination, the effectiveness of the "Three-Beast Wildness Technique" had clearly begun to wane. In just a short while, the vivid, blood-energy-formed beast's head hovering above those two elders had grown increasingly ethereal. Yet, despite this fading appearance, the two elders continued to glare at Xiao Yan with sharp, venomous intensity. It was truly humiliating—on such a public stage, to see a young disciple of only Douhuang rank dismantle their "Three-Headed Wildness Technique"—their dignity now severely compromised. Even if they didn't openly express it, behind the scenes, they would surely face quiet ridicule upon returning to the valley. And these very criticisms were now being bestowed upon them by the black-robed youth before them. "A youngster who only knows taking indirect paths—such a boy is merely lucky. What's there to be proud of? I'm sure the previous palm strike wasn't exactly pleasant, was it?" the bear-headed elder gritted his teeth. "Thankfully, I managed to hold on long enough to defeat you both." Xiao Yan smiled casually. Compared to the injuries he sustained after the battle on Yunshan Peak, this current condition was nothing short of a miracle. "Arrogant youngster! Even if one of us were to fall, we'd still be able to capture you. Once we have you secured, we'll break every single bone in your body, one by one, and see how fast you can still run!" the lion-headed elder spat, his tone full of venom. Hearing such fierce words, Xiao Yan merely shook his head. Though these two were slightly stronger than average at the peak of the Battle Emperor rank, they posed only a moderate challenge—far from being anything truly difficult. His expression remained calm, yet the flow of his battle energy surged rapidly. His hand seals subtly shifted and intensified, intricate gestures cascading in swift succession, leaving behind shimmering traces. And as Xuanyin demonstrated his hand seals, the two senior monks from Muling Valley quickly focused their attention—having suffered such a major setback earlier, they could no longer afford to underestimate him. With a cold gaze upon the two elders' actions, Xuanyin's hand seals grew faster and faster. With his current strength, if he fully unleashed his "Mounting Seal," these two old men would surely face a bitter reckoning.