A quiet town, nestled at the junction between Black Corner and the Cangnan Academy, basked in sunlight pouring from the sky, gently illuminating the plaque at its entrance. The three characters on the plaque—simple, unassuming, devoid of any martial intensity—shone with a serene glow, evoking a sense of calm. "Peace Town!" When Xiao Yan and his companions ascended the mountain peak and gazed upon the town at its foot, a deep sense of relief settled within them. They exhaled slowly, steadily, as if releasing a heavy burden, until the breath itself dissolved into stillness. The journey had indeed been taxing. "Let's go. Once we enter Peace Town, we'll be safe from pursuit. The Cangnan Academy has already been informed, and there are already several strong members from various academies stationed here, ready to welcome us." Su Qian slowly turned his gaze away from the town, smiling. Xiao Yan nodded lightly, then slightly turned his head to the rear, where faint figures seemed to shimmer. From the shadowed corners, a series of eyes—full of hunger and resentment—stared out, fixed upon them. "Truly, a bunch of tenacious fellows." A cold smile played at the corner of Xiao Yan's lips as he shook his head and decided to pay them no further mind. With a wave of his hand, he launched himself straight down toward the base of the mountain. As his body moved, he became a streak of shadow, swiftly heading toward Pinghe Town. Following him, the stronger members of the Xiao Sect and the Ganav College erupted in waves of laughter before joining him. The entire journey had been marked by growing irritation and annoyance from the ones trailing behind. Gazing at the retreating figures of Xiao Yan and his companions, one by one, they sighed in frustration and began to disperse. Only a few stubborn ones remained, eagerly staying in place, hoping for some unexpected turn of events that might allow them to reap special benefits. Yet the situation they had hoped for did not materialize. Xiao Yan and the others entered the Peace Town smoothly, only to vanish from sight. … When Xiao Yan and his companions had just entered the Peace Town, a continuous series of rushing figures filled the air above the town. Within mere moments, the houses where they first appeared were crowded with figures standing on high alert. As these figures glanced at Su Qian, their guarded expressions quickly melted into unmistakable delight. "Senior Elder! They've returned!" The excited voices spread swiftly throughout the town. Soon after, a group of fifteen figures with powerful presences burst forth from the town, appearing before Xiao Yan and his companions in a flash. Their chest insignias clearly marked them as elders from the academy. "Old man, you've finally come back! If we don't hear from you within the next two days, I'm going to have to organize a search party and head into the Black Corner Region to look for you." "As soon as those dozen elders appeared, a deep, resonant voice suddenly rose from the back. Immediately, an energetic elder stepped forward with a steady, majestic gait, and the surrounding elders promptly cleared a path for him. 'Hú Qián, you've always been so blunt!' said Su Qi, smiling at the elder he recognized well. 'If you don't tone down a bit, you'll never make it to the Du-Zong rank—no idea when that'll be!' With a dismissive grunt, Hú Qián shook his head, then fixed his gaze on Xiao Yan, studying him from head to toe. 'I never thought it would be like this,' he murmured in admiration. 'When you first arrived in this peaceful town, you were just a large Du-Style cultivator. Yet now, in just a few years, you've already reached Du-Emperor level—what a pace! Even among the students of Gan-Can Academy, I'd say few can match your progress." "Xiao Yan would like to pay his respects to the Vice Dean," Xiao Yan said, smiling slightly and bowing respectfully to Hu Qi. "Well, there's no need for such formality. After all, with your current strength, I can't possibly be so humble." Though Hu Qi spoke thus, the warm smile on his face clearly showed his appreciation for Xiao Yan's courtesy. He stroked his beard and then turned to the people on the rooftops, who were gazing at him with curious expressions, and shouted loudly, "Young folks, the one you often mention—the Inner Court's Pan Gate Master, Xiao Yan—is no longer just a name. Right now, he's a genuine Dou Huang-level powerhouse. Do you remember how, every time you go on missions to Black Thorns Region, the Xiao Clan sends strong fighters to protect you? That very system was established by him personally. It's quite different from the way you still need protection today." "He's indeed Xiao Yan, our senior, isn't he? He's quite young, and quite handsome—actually, better than the statue!" "Ah-ha, is little Miss already smitten? Well, there are quite a few of us in the academy who've developed a fondness and curiosity for this enigmatic senior. I, too, will be your strongest competitor." "Hmph..." Two girls with somewhat similar appearances exchanged whispered words, bursting into bright, clear, tinkling laughter. The fluttering, graceful laughter that sent their waists swaying like blooming branches drew the attention of several male students passing by. "I didn't expect Brother Xiao Yan to have already become a Sovereign Rank powerhouse at his age—truly, he is no less than the founder of the Pan Sect!" "Today, the Pan Sect stands as the strongest force within the Gan Nan Academy. Among the top fifty in the Inner Courtyard strength rankings, over thirty are from the Pan Sect. Even among the elders, several hold positions affiliated with the Pan Sect. Such strength is simply unmatched—no other faction can come close." "...” Hearing the murmurs and the curious glances, especially the girls' glowing, starry gazes and their eager, almost eager-to-approach expressions, even with his usually composed demeanor, Xiao Yan felt his cheeks grow slightly warm. He hadn't realized that after two years away, people at Gan Nan Academy still remembered him. Yet, as he absorbed the youthful energy and vitality radiating from the young men and women around him, the tension in his heart gradually eased. A quiet sigh escaped him: "Youth is indeed wonderful..." As he spoke these words, he seemed to have momentarily forgotten that, in truth, his own age wasn't much older than that of these young students. "Hehe, youngster, over the years, this Canaan Academy has gathered so many prodigies—few have earned such high regard as you. You've lived here for several years now, so you must know that the students are all outstanding talents from all over, with lofty expectations. To win their genuine appreciation is no easy feat." Hu Qi patted Xiao Yan's shoulder and smiled. "This order has been in place for a long time. Bodhi's allure—how tempting it has been!... Who is this?" Hu Qi nodded, his gaze suddenly shifting to the young physician beside Xiao Yan. The subtle, almost imperceptible aura emanating from her was quite overwhelming, a sensation he had only occasionally felt in Su Qian, and never quite as intense as this. He smiled lightly, as if casually, asking, "She's called Xiao Yi, my friend." "Heard Huo Qian's voice, the numerous students had to reluctantly disperse, though their eyes lingered on Xiao Yan for a moment longer before finally parting ways." "Come, let's go back to Gan Nan Academy. The Heavenly Burn Qi Tower in the Inner Courtyard still needs you to reactivate it. Moreover, I think it's time you visited the Pan Gate again—after all, you've been away for two years. You were its founder, after all." With the crowd now dispersed and a sense of calm settling over him, Su Qian finally exhaled in relief, then turned to Xiao Yan with a warm smile. Xiao Yan nodded in agreement, lifting his gaze toward the direction of Gan Nan Academy. In his heart, he quietly sighed—after two years, he had finally returned to this place where he had grown from a young, inexperienced boy into a true powerhouse. "How is the Pan Gate doing?" Thinking of the young force he had founded, a warm glow stirred within Xiao Yan's heart.