Seeing Xiao Yan nod, Xin Lan finally set aside the heavy stone she had been carrying in her heart, a genuine smile blooming on her cheeks. She suppressed her excitement and smiled warmly, "Then, I wish us a successful collaboration." Xiao Yan smiled as well—truth be told, his excitement was no less than Xin Lan's. After all, after so long, he had finally obtained a lead on the other type of divine flame. Though he still had a long way to go before reaching the famed "Three Thousand Yan Flames," at least now he had a clear destination, no longer wandering aimlessly as he had before. "So, when shall we set off? The journey from Cana College to the Central Plains still spans a considerable distance," Xin Lan said, lifting her clear, bright eyes with a touch of urgency. "Just let me finish handling the Tianfen Qi Tower in the inner courtyard first..." Xiao Yan smiled, though he was equally eager to head off to the Central Region. If he left now, he'd probably be smacked right here by Su Qian, the Senior Monastic. "There's no need to rush. Even if you manage to persuade Xiao Yan, his current skill in preparing elixirs might still not be sufficient to restore your family's seat among the Elders. While sixth-rank elixir artisans are rare in our region, they're hardly exceptional within the Elixir Tower itself—something you should be well aware of." Su Qian rolled her eyes, patiently reminding him. "Haha, of course I know that. But Xiao Yan achieving sixth-rank elixir status at his age is no ordinary feat—such talent is truly rare even within the Elixir Tower. So I have a great deal of confidence in him." It seemed that Su Qian was somewhat displeased about being pulled away from Xiao Yan so directly, and Xin Lan smiled playfully and gracefully responded. Su Qian glanced at Xin Lan, then turned his gaze to Xiao Yan, sighed, and said, "I know you've been carrying a lot on your shoulders—your need to strengthen your capabilities is urgent. Honestly, the Central Region is indeed an excellent place for honing one's skills. It's where the true top-tier强者 and powerhouses of the continent gather. If you can make a name there, it will surely be beneficial to you. But you must also remain vigilant—things are no longer the same as in Black Angle Region. You'll need to be more cautious. As for that so-called 'Herbal Gathering Conference,' it's considered the most prestigious event in the field of alchemy. Though your alchemical skills are quite commendable now, competing for a spot among the top ten isn't an easy feat." Hearing Su Qian's subtle advice, Xiao Yan felt a warm sense of encouragement in his heart and nodded silently. He fully understood that the gathering place was revered by all alchemists across the continent—those assembled there undoubtedly all possessed exceptional talents, none of whom would be ordinary. "Alright, the sky isn't that early anymore. You go back and rest now. I've already arranged your accommodations. We'll discuss the matter of supplementing the heart flame of the Tianfen Qi-Tower tomorrow." Su Qian waved his hand, smiling. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan and Xin Lan both nodded, bowed respectfully to Su Qian, and then slowly stepped out of the hall. Watching them exit through the main door, Su Qian sighed lightly and murmured, "Zhongzhou... it's been so many years since I last visited. I truly miss it. But now, I suspect it's all the younger generation's world, isn't it?"... By the time they stepped out of the hall, the sky had completely darkened, with twinkling stars scattered across the heavens and a gentle moonlight pouring down, making the skin feel slightly cool. After stepping outside, Xiao Yan and Xin Lan exchanged a few words before parting ways, and then returned to the rooms that Su Qian had prepared. After returning to his room, Xiao Yan simply collapsed onto the soft bed, utterly exhausted from the prolonged struggles with those people in the Black Corner Region. Though his spirit was slightly weary, there was an unmistakable spark of excitement gleaming in his eyes—news of the so-called "Three Thousand Yan Fire" had been nothing short of a tremendous joy for him. "Dantai..." murmured Xiang Yan, and a quiet sense of anticipation stirred within him. The Dantai, regarded by many alchemists as a holy ground, had always piqued his curiosity. If he could establish a solid reputation there, his teacher would surely be deeply pleased. As this thought passed through his mind, he suddenly recalled Su Qian's earlier advice, and his expression grew more serious. As the central region of the continent, the Zhongzhou region would undoubtedly boast stronger cultivators than even the Jima Empire or the Hejiao Domain. With his current level, he still couldn't claim to be free and unimpeded even in the Hejiao Domain—let alone in Zhongzhou, where the continent's most elite cultivators gathered. "I'll need to be more cautious. Otherwise, should any serious issues arise, I might not even be able to escape." He licked his lips, then vigorously shook his head to dispel the lingering fatigue. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he gently pressed his fingers against his jade bracelet, which glowed softly. Instantly, a vast bone-wing—spanning nearly a zhang in width—hovered before him. The bone wings appear with a slightly translucent jade hue, clear and luminous, visually striking. Within the bones, certain substances drift freely, resembling entities endowed with intelligence, giving the entire structure a distinct vitality and dynamic energy. This jade-fibrous wings naturally came from the mysterious beast that Xiao Yan purchased at a high price during the auction held by Hehuang Sect. It will serve as an excellent material for crafting the Tian Yan Jiuxing Wings. Though Xiao Yan has not yet personally tested it, based on his vague estimations, he believes that if this jade-fibrous wings is used to forge the Tian Yan Jiuxing Wings, his speed would surely rank among the elite even among the Douzong-level cultivators—making his life significantly more secure. With this, his own safety has been greatly strengthened. The intense gaze slowly withdrew from the jade bone wings hovering before him. Xiao Yan flicked his hand, and a golden scroll materialized in his hands—none other than the crafting scroll of the Nine-Rowed Crane Wings from that day. With a gentle touch, he unfolded the scroll, and his mind gradually settled, beginning to carefully study the prescribed method of crafting. After nearly an hour, Xiao Yan finally read the scroll thoroughly, word for word, before gently folding it and furrowing his brows, lost in thoughtful contemplation. That day-geese nine-rows wing technique was indeed quite rare, especially since its speed could be enhanced depending on the quality of the crafted materials—this was akin to an alternative evolutionary pattern, truly setting it apart. However, producing this technique required certain intricacies; besides the most crucial materials from legendary beasts' wings, numerous other auxiliary materials were also needed. While this might seem somewhat involved, Xiao Yan's collection was extensive, and he had gathered most of these auxiliary materials. But what troubled Xiao Yan the most was that in order to refine the Heavenly Swallow's Nine-Row Wings, he first had to purify the residual spirit essence of the original beast still lingering within the prepared wings. It was well known that the wings of most beasts typically carried traces of their own body's essence. To refine a flight technique, one had to first eliminate that lingering essence. This was particularly challenging for Xiao Yan. If the wings he had prepared were merely from ordinary beasts, it would have been manageable. However, the owner of the jade-boned wings was clearly no ordinary beast—this Xiao Yan was most aware of, as he had personally encountered the residual essence within the jade-boned wings during the autopsy of the mysterious creature that night. Though the contact lasted only a brief moment, Xiao Yan still sensed the residual aura's fury and aggression. Clearly, integrating such a violent and fierce residual energy was no easy task—especially in this kind of confrontation, where the risks were high. A single misstep might result in being eroded by that lingering energy, potentially planting a seed of ferocity within the heart and altering one's personality entirely. Xiao Yan's gaze remained fixed on the jade bone wings hovering before him, his face subtly shifting in expression, his mind wavering. He had always harbored a deep sense of caution toward this enigmatic beast. After all, even after decades of his demise, such a powerful residual aura still persisted within the bone wings. It was truly astonishing—how formidable must the creature have been at its peak? It seemed that the jade bone wings hovering before him had also sensed the struggle within Xiao Yan’s heart, gently emitting a faint glow—like a quiet mockery. Silence persisted in the room for a long while. Finally, after a moment of hesitation, Xiao Yan suddenly clenched his fists tightly, drew a deep breath, and the wavering doubt and struggle in his dark eyes swiftly faded. To obtain something, one must inevitably give something in return. There is nothing in this world that comes without cost—this truth was deeply clear to Xiao Yan. “If we cannot even secure the lingering essence of a beast that has been dead for countless years, how shall we face the enigmatic Hu Dun Hall in the future? How shall we negotiate with the formidable race behind Xun'er?” As these thoughts passed through his mind, his gaze grew resolute. Now, at last, he had made up his mind—to confront the residual essence within the jade bone wings!