Wu Hao's joy burst forth, echoing throughout the valley, leaving many people momentarily stunned. Among those who regained their composure first was Xiao Yu, particularly sensitive to the name, whose pale, beautiful face instantly flushed with disbelief and overwhelming delight. "I don't know who has stepped in—this matter is between my Magi Fire Valley and the Canaan Academy; it has nothing to do with anyone else!" Shieh Zhen stepped back hurriedly, then spoke firmly, his gaze swiftly sweeping across the surrounding sky as he uttered his words. "Heh, Wu Hao, it's been a while since we last saw each other. I never expected to find you looking so disheveled upon our first meeting!" Almost immediately after Shieh Zhen's words, a clear, resonant laugh rose from nowhere, swirling through the air and eventually echoing throughout the entire valley. At the sound of the laughter, everyone in the valley turned their heads sharply. Above, a young man in a black robe, his back shimmering with vibrant green flames, stood suspended in the sky. "Xiao Yan... really, it's him. This time, we've finally got him saved..." Gazing at the familiar face, Xiao Yu finally exhaled deeply, her pale complexion softening into a relieved smile. "Xiao Yu, who is he?" Nearby, several younger mentors, slightly puzzled, murmured softly in inquiry. They were all junior mentors from the Gan'an Academy, having only recently been appointed, so their memories of Xiao Yan weren't as vivid. With two years having passed, they found themselves momentarily unsure of exactly who he was. Some of the younger students also looked puzzled. Before they could ask, a young woman suddenly gasped, as though remembering something vivid: "Xiao Yan? The Xiao Yan from the Inner Courtyard? The one who founded the Pan Gate?" The girl's cry instantly exploded like a bomb among the crowd, drawing everyone's heads up in shock, gazing at the young man in black robes. While most of them could recite the tales of Xiao Yan's achievements at the Gan Nan Academy by heart, few could believe that a senior student had already fought and matched the strength of those at the Battle Emperor level at such a young age—most held deep admiration for such a feat. With the added significance of the Pan and Xiao families, Xiao Yan's status as the founder now carried a touch of mythical resonance. Gazing at the stunned expressions below, Xiao Yan simply shrugged, then allowed his fiery wings to fade from his back. With a gentle motion, he drifted down smoothly and materialized before Wu Hao, placing his palm on the handle of the Xuan Zhong Chi, and smiled at him, saying, "Well, actually—not bad at all. We've both reached the Battle King level now." Struggling to rise, Wu Hao gazed at the familiar face now so close, his tightly tensed heart finally easing. He knew that as soon as this person appeared, everything for the day would be settled. He had always placed his greatest confidence in Xiao Yan. Over the years of their shared presence, he had witnessed countless miracles. "You've been gone for another two years now..." Wu Hao wiped the blood from his lips, coughed violently, then punched Xiao Yan squarely in the chest. Despite the stern expression on Xiao Yan's face, a rare smile spread across it. Xiao Yan smiled gently, offered him a pill, and then lightly patted his shoulder, saying, "Take it and rest here. I'll handle everything." As he spoke, his gaze shifted slightly, finally settling on the tall, red-robed beauty, and softly added, "How are you doing?" Feeling the gentle gaze of Xiao Yan, Xiao Yu couldn't help but find her nose slightly tingling, a few misty droplets forming in her eyes. After a moment, she clenched her silver teeth and said, "Don't let these people go—three of our students have already died at their hands." "Rest assured, not one will be spared," Xiao Yan replied with a light smile and a nod. Hearing Xiao Yan's calm, composed response, Xiao Yu couldn't help but roll her eyes, then turned her head to see several young girls sparkling with admiration at his words. "Hah! Hah! Such boldness! In this Black Angular Region, I've never heard anyone speak to me like this—especially not a young upstart like you!" Nearby, Xie Zhen's expression grew cold, and he spoke with a sharp, cold tone. Instead of acknowledging the scorn, Xiao Yan turned around, glanced at Xie Zhen briefly, and then stepped steadily forward. As he passed by Xuan Zhong Chi, he casually grasped the handle of the massive staff, and with a simple pull, the enormous object rose effortlessly. He then walked slowly toward Xie Zhen. Witnessing Xiao Yan's actions, Xie Zhen's eyes grew even colder. Through the subtle sense of his aura, he realized that the black-robed young man before him was also a Dou Huang-level warrior—though clearly far less powerful than himself. "Indeed, the Gan Nan Academy seems to keep producing arrogant, ignorant brats," Xie Zhen murmured, chuckling with irritation as he was looked down upon by a competitor of lower rank. A surge of powerful dou qi erupted from within him, flowing out in a cold, icy white hue, leaving delicate frost fragments on the ground. With a firm grip of his broad hands, the tips of his fingers, enhanced by the white chill, became sharply keen. "Young man, today I shall show you what it means to have rivals—don't think your talent is sufficient and thus regard all other heroes as mere shadows." With a stern smile, Xie Zhen suddenly stomped the ground with his foot, then shot forward with astonishing speed, his claws sweeping through the air, tearing it as if with a blade. The sharp rush of wind sent many spectators' hearts racing once again. Upon hearing Xie Zhen's words, Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with a touch of surprise. He then stepped forward and slightly leaned to the side, and a sharp, cold claw, gliding past his chest with a cutting gust of wind, skimmed right by him. "Your speed is acceptable," Xiao Yan murmured, casually deflecting the swift attack. The missed strike left Xie Zhen momentarily stunned—clearly surprised that Xiao Yan had managed to evade it. Yet this moment of hesitation lasted only a brief instant, after which his gaze sharpened instantly, and with a swift motion of his hand, his claw surged forward like a blade, slicing horizontally with decisive force. Staring at Xie Zhen's suddenly intensified assault with an ancient, calm composure, Xiao Yan gave a slight curl of his lips, clenched his fists tightly, and then suddenly drove them forward—crashing hard into Xie Zhen's hands and claws. The impact sent Xiao Yan's fist spreading out, and then a sharp vibration surged from his palm, radiating a sudden, intense surge of warm, dark energy. "Boom!" The deep, resonant sound echoed as Xiao Yan remained motionless, while Xie Zhen, staggering on his feet, hurriedly retreated fifteen paces before finally steadying himself, gasping in astonishment, "You've concealed your true strength?" It was no surprise that Xie Zhen reacted so dramatically. At the very moment of their fist-and-claw clash, his body's icy aura had been nearly completely suppressed, leaving him unable to move—even ultimately being invaded by Xiao Yan's strange, scorching energy flow, which had disrupted his internal balance. Witnessing the duel between Xiao Yan and Xie Zhen, it became clear that Xiao Yan was firmly in the upper hand—eliciting great delight among the Gan Nan Academy students, who immediately erupted into soft cheers. Although they had heard many stories about Xiao Yan over the past two years, they had never actually seen him in action. Even now, with Xiao Yan finally on the scene, many still harbored lingering concerns. However, those worries were instantly dispelled by the swift and decisive exchange just witnessed. "This guy... has grown even stronger than he was two years ago," Lü Hao smiled, softly sighing. Xiao Yu's face was beaming with joy; in her mind, no matter what challenges arose, as long as this person appeared, every difficulty seemed to vanish effortlessly. Perched atop a windswept valley, several of the small healers observed the battle unfolding below. Beside them, a number of assassins from the MoYan Valley had already fallen, lifeless. Meanwhile, Madhi and the young woman named Mo Ling stood beside them, equally stunned, watching as Xiao Yan managed to gain the upper hand against a Duke-level powerhouse. To them, this was a profound shock—having never personally witnessed Xiao Yan fight, their knowledge of his accomplishments had been limited to hearsay. The impact of seeing it unfold firsthand was entirely different from what they had previously imagined. In contrast to the astonishment of Wu Hao and his companions, the people from MoYan Valley grew increasingly displeased. They had not expected even the fourth elder, Xie Zhen, to be outmatched by this young man. What kind of origin did this youngster truly hold? Xiao Yan spun his five fingers lightly, then clenched them again, feeling the qi flow as if it were under his command—so smooth, so natural. A subtle smile played on his lips. The five months of traveling through the forest, battling countless beasts, had indeed refined his internal qi, and his close-quarters combat skills had grown more fluid and instinctive. Raising his gaze slightly, Xiao Yan's feet shimmered with silver light, and then, suddenly, his figure vanished in an odd, almost ghostly manner. A mighty aura interwoven with scorching flames surged forth, pouring over Xie Zhen like a wildfire sweeping across the grasslands. "Pfft!" The sudden, devastating gust of wind sent Xie Zhen's face pale with shock, his bones at the wrist emitting faint cracking sounds. Then, a gush of blood erupted from his mouth as he gasped, and his body launched backward, crashing into the ground and striking a massive boulder with force. "Who are you?!" With such a blow, Xie Zhen's expression turned stunned, his voice hoarse as he cried out. "Xiao family. Xiao Yan." Amidst the vibrant green flames dancing in the valley, the voice was calm and simple, yet it landed softly in Xie Zhen's ears, causing his eyes to narrow instantly.