When Hai Bode and the others on the fortress watched the combined armies of the Three Empires suddenly retreating like a tide, they all stood in stunned silence, gazing at one another, unsure of what had happened. As they were still in disbelief, a thunderous wave of cheers erupted from the fortress itself. Countless people who had believed their nation and homes would be lost today could no longer contain their excitement, their voices of relief soaring high into the sky. "So it seems the Three Kingdoms' alliance has finally withdrawn," Hai Bode exhaled deeply, a sense of relief evident in his voice. "I wonder how Xiao Yan managed to convince the head of the Poison Sect—she doesn't exactly come across as someone who's easy to reason with," added Jia Xingtian, chewing thoughtfully. Yet his face still radiated unmistakable joy. They all knew that, despite the formidable strength of the Three Sects' alliance, even with Xiao Yan and Medusa firmly in their ranks, a real battle would still have placed them at a disadvantage. "Regardless of everything, this war that has lasted for a full year has finally come to an end, and the Jia Ma Empire has been preserved," Xiao Ding rubbed his forehead and smiled. "Heh, though, from today on, the reputation of the Yan Alliance and the Jia Ma Empire has truly spread far and wide. With just one alliance standing against three great sects, such a feat will surely make our Yan Alliance stand out when we participate in the sect gatherings in the western and northern regions—those who used to mock us in the past will surely have to take notice." Hai Bo Dong smiled, knowing well that even previously, when the Yun Lan Sect of the Jia Ma Empire attended the regional sect gatherings, it often received cold treatment. After all, in the eyes of those powerful forces, a sect like Yun Lan—lacking even a single Dou Zong-level master—was simply not worthy of sharing a table with them. Upon hearing this, Jia Xing Tian and Fa Ma both nodded in agreement. Surely, the Jia Ma Empire would feel proud and triumphant on that day. He heard the thunderous cheers rising from the fortress above and exhaled a deep breath of relief. Turning to smile at Medusa, he said, "This past year has been quite a journey for you." "Never expected to meet so many old acquaintances—seemingly everywhere I go," Medusa replied calmly, her tone carrying an unspoken, subtle undercurrent of bitterness. Hearing this, Xiao Yan only managed a wry smile and said, "We were just old friends back then. Never thought she'd reach this point." "She must be the one we met during our time in the Beast Mountains," Medusa noted, glancing at him. "I've sensed something special in our recent encounters." "Indeed," Xiao Yan nodded with a smile, then turned his gaze toward the fortress and said, "Then let's go. With this great battle over, the Gamma Empire can finally catch its breath." With those words, he moved forward, taking the lead and swiftly soaring toward the fortress, followed closely by Medusa. … The joyful news of the great victory spread swiftly throughout the Gamma Empire, bringing a wave of renewed hope and brightness to every corner. For many, the simple wish of never having to leave their homeland had come true—no one willingly embraced the hardships of constant upheaval. During this war, the names of Xiao Yan and Medusa resonated once again in every household, and thanks to this, the reputation and influence of the Yan Alliance surged dramatically. Members of the Alliance, as well as smaller affiliated factions, now felt a deep sense of pride, speaking with greater confidence and assurance. While the outside world celebrated, within the council hall of Heishan Fort, seasoned warriors like Haibo Dong finally found a moment to sit and rest, no longer anxious about the possibility of the Three Armies Alliance collapsing at any moment. Though the hall was not large, it was filled with the core members of the Yan Alliance. Xiao Yan sat in the seat that had been vacant for a long time, his gaze sweeping across the entire hall. After a casual exchange of words, he turned slightly and asked seriously to Hai Bo Dong, whose face was grave, "Hasn't anyone from the Hún Palace appeared in the past year?" To Xiao Yan, the Hún Palace was of paramount importance—he had founded the Yan Alliance precisely to ensure its role as a protective force for the Xiao family. "Yes," Hai Bo Dong nodded. "For some reason, since the Yunlan Sect disbanded, no news has reached the imperial court regarding the Hún Palace." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan exhaled in relief and then fell into thoughtful reflection. It was clear that the Hún Palace had shown strong interest in Xiao Family's "Tu She Ancient Emperor Jade." Therefore, they should not have abandoned the matter entirely. Yet, after nearly a year, there had been no further developments. Could it be that other pressing matters had diverted their attention away from this region? After a moment of thoughtful contemplation, Xiao Yan still couldn't come to a conclusion, so he shook his head and raised his gaze to Hai Bo Dong, smiling, "I didn't expect Hai Elder to have reached the peak of the Battle Emperor stage. I'm sure you'll soon ascend to the Battle Sect level." Hearing this, Hai Bo Dong sighed and shook his head in resignation, "You're not going to make it that easy, are you? Haven't you seen Jia Elder staying here for so many years without making any breakthrough?" Xiao Yan smiled and turned his gaze to Xiao Ding, who was smiling beside him, and asked, "Brother, how is the Yan Alliance doing now?" "Basically, it has now penetrated most parts of the Empire. In nearly every major and medium-sized city, there are now Yan Alliance forces stationed. Moreover, over the past year, the Alliance has established countless branches and diversified into various industries—quite a complex network." Xiao Ding smiled gently and said, "To be honest, the current Yan Alliance is actually far larger than Yunlan Sect back in the day. After all, they don't have our numerous branches. This year, through active recruitment, we've gathered nearly forty Battle Kings—only just under ten Battle Emperors. Moreover, the Yan Alliance has established an organization known as the 'Yan Pulse,' dedicated to cultivating talent. Those who enter here are all carefully selected, outstanding individuals, and they will soon become the most vital and fresh blood of our Alliance." Xiao Ding smiled warmly. "Of course, within the Alliance there are also the Merchant Hall, primarily composed of families such as Mitel, and the Herbs and Pills Hall, which was formed by many alchemists from the original Alchemist Guild. They have consistently supplied our Alliance with an endless stream of medicinal pills. Indeed, the prolonged duration of this great conflict would not have been possible without their invaluable contributions." After a brief hearing, Xiao Yan finally grasped the current scale of the Yan Alliance's influence within the Gamma Empire. He couldn't help but stroke his lips in amazement. Though he had held some confidence when the alliance was first established, he hadn't expected that his elder brothers and siblings could have developed it into such a strong presence within just one year. According to what he heard, the Yan Alliance now appears to have surpassed even the "Xiao School" of Blackhorn Region—though the "Xiao School" still holds considerable potential, thanks to its inner academy, the "Pan School," which regularly produces graduates with exceptional innate talents. These individuals all possess outstanding cultivation potential. "How are the Xiao family members doing?" Xiao Yan asked softly. "With a leader as outstanding as you, how could things possibly be otherwise?" Xiao Ding smiled. Today, the Xiao family has officially emerged as the strongest noble house in the empire—largely due to the fact that Xiao Yan himself is the Grand Master of the Yan Alliance! Exhaling gently, Xiao Yan spoke softly, "If there's time, send a message to the Gan Nan Academy. If Xiao Yu and the others wish to return, let them come. The Xiao family now has the strength to protect itself." "Agreed," said Xiao Ding, nodding. "It would also be good to inform the Xiao family directly, so that the second brother won't need to make the journey again." Xiao Yan smiled, then waved his hand. "With the great battle now concluded, the follow-up matters shall be handled by all of you. I'm very confident in your ability to manage the Yan Alliance." With that, he stepped out of the hall, passing through a series of expressions of resignation. "Once again, he wants to be the hands-off manager..." the gathered guests murmured quietly. ... Under the night sky, the Black Mountain Fortress, though still appearing as a massive beast crouched upon the ground, seemed calmer than during the day, its fierce, surging energy now softened into a sense of tranquility. Xiao Yan sat in meditation on a modest mountain peak not far from the fortress, his eyes closed, the moonlight gently bathing his body, bringing a subtle coolness that made his mind as clear as a mirror. Behind him, Medusa lounged lazily against a tree trunk, her eyes—glowing with an otherworldly radiance—constantly scanning the surroundings. After a moment, she sighed lazily, "It's so late, and she hasn't arrived yet. Looks like you'll have to wait in vain." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan shook his head in resignation, not turning around. "I've already told you she didn't need to come. Do you really think she'll be afraid I'll be devoured?" "Who knows if she's truly retreating or just pretending? What if she uses this night to meet you alone, eliminate you right here, and then return with renewed strength the next day? Then the Galma Empire would truly be in trouble." Medusa remarked, with a slight frown. "Yes indeed..." Hearing this, Xiao Yan smiled slightly, then suddenly felt a spark of inspiration, turning his gaze toward the distant sky where waves of energy were rippling through the space. A few moments later, a white figure stepped through the void, appearing to move slowly—but within just a few moments, he had already materialized in the mid-air above the mountain peak.