The thousand and two elders didn't linger in the inner courtyard for long before vanishing silently, just as they had appeared—without a trace. To Xiang Yan and the others, there was nothing but quiet astonishment; after all, the truly accomplished always carry themselves with grace. As for the body of the land-demon elder left behind by the two, Xiang Yan examined it afterward and was surprised to find not a single trace of soul. It seemed the elder's soul had been completely obliterated by the hundred elders. He found himself rather chilled at the thought—curious as to what deep grudge the elder once held against the hundred elders, and how mercilessly they had dealt with him. Of course, Xiang Yan didn't feel any pity for the elder. Should it not have been for the timely appearance of the thousand and two elders, the entire inner courtyard would have been reduced to rubble under the terrifying "Destroying Fire Lotus" that the elder unleashed. In that case, he would have become the scapegoat of the Canaan Academy. Xiao Yan did not destroy the cold, lifeless body of the Earth Demon elder. Instead, he invited a senior adept skilled in ice-based qi to freeze the body and then stored it within his storage relic. While the body of a Seven-Star Combat Sect master might offer little value to ordinary people, Xiao Yan always remembered it—especially since the medicinal elder required a Combat Sect-level body for the preparation of his elixir. Although he had previously accepted the body of Yunshan, compared to the current Earth Demon elder, the latter was undoubtedly stronger. After securing the body, Xiao Yan returned to his room, weary and drained. The astonishing battle of today had taken a significant toll on him. Had it not been for the large quantity of pills he consumed at the time and the steady pressure exerted by the hundreds of elder combatants to suppress the surging medicinal energy within him, Xiao Yan would likely have been knocked unconscious by the overwhelming force of that energy. Yet even so, at this moment, Xiao Yan was suffering from both internal and external injuries, compounded by his nearly depleted ki, making him look like a severely wounded patient. Of course, although the injuries this time were quite serious, for someone whose injuries were nearly routine, Xiao Yan didn't need to be overly concerned—given sufficient time, recovery was certain. After all, his physical constitution far surpassed that of ordinary warriors, and the various heavenly treasures and rare materials he had consumed over the years had not simply been excreted out of his body like waste. During his cultivation, Xiao Yan's mind also delved deep into his body, carefully inspecting every aspect. A wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he found himself somewhat surprised—this time, the injuries he had sustained still exceeded his expectations. Clearly, the troublesome "Destruction Fire Lotus" would need to be used with greater caution in the future. After gaining a clearer understanding of his internal injuries, Xiao Yan's mind gradually stabilized. He then activated the "Burned Decree," drawing out the medicinal energies that had accumulated during the day due to his intake of numerous pills. He summoned the Glass Lotus Heart Fire and slowly refined these energies. The refining process lasted approximately thirty minutes. The medicinal energy within, originally turbulent and vigorous, was fully refined by the Lapis Lianxin's flame, transforming into a pure, smooth medicinal force that flowed steadily through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, gradually healing the injuries sustained by the meridians. On the bed, as the lingering aches within his body gradually subsided, Xiao Yan exhaled softly. Recovery required time—currently, his internal qi was scarce, and it was precisely the time to begin cultivation and replenishment. If this deficiency persisted for too long, it would result in permanent damage to his strength. With both hands once again forming the cultivation seal, Xiao Yan gradually closed his eyes. As his breathing stabilized, subtle ripples began to ripple through the space around him. Then, a steady and powerful flow of celestial and terrestrial energy poured through his pores, continuously seeping into his body. After being refined by the Lapis Lotus Heart Fire, this energy transformed into the purest form of combat aura, seamlessly integrating into every part of Xiao Yan’s body and limbs. Xiao Yan had remained at the four-star Duke level for quite some time. Of course, during that period, he could have advanced earlier by relying on external aids for rapid progression, but he chose not to do so. He himself was most aware that a steady, step-by-step accumulation of strength—gaining one star at a time—was the most solid foundation. This very stability would serve as a firm foundation for his future ascents to even higher ranks. Having given up on numerous swift advancements, today, after this astonishing battle, everything flowed naturally. A profound sense of exhilaration and fulfillment, unforced by any external pressure, surged through Xiao Yan's entire body. His countless cells seemed to emit silent cheers at this very moment. The muscles and bones, already nearly saturated, now greedily absorbed the internal qi within him, while his resilient meridians grew increasingly firm and resilient—taking full advantage of this optimal moment. An ever-increasing influx of celestial energies poured into Xiao Yan's body. He welcomed each of these fragmented celestial energies without hesitation. The Lüli Lotus Heart Fire, like a refined dragon, spiraled within him, instantly enveloping any energy entering his body. Subjected to that intense, scorching refinement, these celestial energies lost their imperfections and transformed into pure, refined energy. Then, following the circulation of the Feng Jue cultivation technique, they coalesced into the most refined form of combat qi, which was then fully absorbed by every cell, bone, muscle, and organ within his body. This stillness persisted for a moment, until it was finally broken by a gust of labored breath from the young man. His eyes, slightly trembling, slowly opened, and within their deep, night-black irises, a brilliant, piercing luminescence flashed—so intense that the lights in the room dimmed slightly. This radiance lasted only an instant before fading entirely. With a gentle press of both palms upon the bed, Xiao Yan effortlessly leapt to his feet, standing straight as a spear, radiating a sharp, commanding presence that swept across the room. Extending his arms and giving them a slight shake, his entire frame seemed to come to life—the bones of his body, as if fully animated, pressed and rubbed against one another, producing crisp, resonant sounds. Among these sounds, a low, thunderous rumble also emerged, adding an unusually profound and mysterious quality. Feeling the fullness within, Xiao Yan suddenly clenched his fists tightly, then rapidly unleashed a series of punches. As the wave of punches cascaded forth, the rushing sound of the wind tearing through the air echoed continuously throughout the room. With his current strength, even a simple, ordinary punching technique carried considerable impact. After a brief adjustment, Xiao Yan gradually came to a halt, arms outstretched, sensing the renewed surge of qi flowing within him. A gentle smile played on his lips—he was pleasantly surprised. Not only had his strength improved significantly, but the injuries within his body had also been substantially healed. This was more than he had anticipated. Based on the severity of the injuries, he had expected at least a month of recovery time. Yet, after this promotion, nearly half of the injuries had already healed. This unexpected benefit filled him with genuine delight. Calming his mind, Xiao Yan's eyes flickered slightly, his mouth slightly open, and gradually, a gray-brown flame drifted into being. Gazing at this gray-brown flame known as "Hua-Sheng Fire," Xiao Yan found himself hesitating. Naturally, he knew that if he fused it now, his strength would advance further. Yet doing so would mean sacrificing a crucial lifeline. Soon after, he would be heading to Zhongzhou—the gathering place of the continent's most elite warriors—where dangers were ever-present. Without a solid backup, such a journey would surely prove troublesome. So… should he fuse it now, or retain it for future use? For a moment, Xiao Yan found himself uncertain.