A massive wave of fire surged forth from the black misty sea, sweeping across the valley in an overwhelming tide. The afterwaves of this fire wave instantly reduced trees within a kilometer of the valley's perimeter to ashes, with a soft "puff" sound. From above, one could see that, centered on the Magi-Fire Valley, the lush greenery within a kilometer radius vanished almost instantly, and even forests several kilometers away turned noticeably yellow—clear evidence that the intense heat within the fire wave had completely evaporated the moisture in the air. The power of the Fire Lotus was indeed astonishing! The stronger contenders who had lagged behind on the plaza managed to escape the valley only after a series of daring evasions, and even though they dared not venture into the sky, fearing the devastating after-effects of the lingering fire surge, their fate upon such exposure would likely have been most惨. After the group had finally managed to escape the valley, still shaken and breathless, they paused on a sloping ground, gazing at the now suddenly empty mountain peaks surrounding them, and all took a deep, cool breath. The forests of this mountain range had been nearly entirely destroyed by the fire lotus wielded by Xiao Yan. Outside the valley, the crowd stood in quiet bustle, the atmosphere notably still and subdued. Many people's eyes reflected calmness—such overwhelming power was likely beyond the reach of even ordinary Douzong-level warriors. Yet here it was, achieved entirely by Xiao Yan. By now, the doubts among the gathered crowd about Xiao Yan's reputed ability to match even Douzong-level warriors had quietly vanished. Among the crowd, Su Mei, Wu Tie, Yin Gu Old, and others whom Xiao Li had gathered, exchanged glances filled with mutual astonishment—each reading a palpable sense of awe in the other's eyes. While they had witnessed Xiao Yan's Flame Lotus Technique before, notably during their journey to the Jima Empire at Yunlan Sect, the power of that earlier display had been significantly less impressive than what they saw now. Clearly, the strength of the Flame Lotus Technique had grown exponentially as Xiao Yan's own rank had advanced. "Simply with a six-star Duophoenix strength, his power is already so terrifying... When he reaches the Duozong level, it's likely that even among the Duozong ranks, he'll find few worthy opponents. His growth potential is truly astonishing—definitely not someone we should take as an adversary." At that very moment, this thought flashed through the minds of Su Mei and the others almost simultaneously. They had known Xiao Yan for some time, and were somewhat familiar with his journey. Over the years, this young man had faced numerous rivals—each stronger than the last—but consistently held his own, and in fact, grew stronger with each encounter. Only he had done so. Even Han Feng, once hailed as the "Dangu Domain's Dan Emperor," had been steadily declining in their rivalry, and perhaps today, he might even meet his end. Though everyone knew Han Feng was now a Duozong-level powerhouse, the sheer intensity of Xiao Yan's Fire Lotus had gradually shifted their confidence in his favor. "His Flame Lotus has truly grown stronger and stronger..." Xiao Li watched the scene of the thousand-meter stretch of crimson earth and couldn't help but shake his head, marveling and smiling. He took in the growing astonishment and apprehension in the eyes of the Black-Corner Domain's elite warriors and leading figures, and a quiet sense of pride welled up within him like a spring stream. To awe and subdue such unruly Black-Corner Domain strongholds—something utterly beyond the reach of ordinary warriors—was no small feat. Yet, Xiao Lin, his younger brother, had accomplished it perfectly. Raising his head to gaze at the slender silhouette in the distant sky, a gentle and proud smile appeared on Xiao Li's face. Over the years, he had almost witnessed Xiao Lin's steady and remarkable growth firsthand. The young man, enduring countless taunts, bearing the weight of humiliation and the title of "useless," set forth alone with a single resolve and tenacity, leaving home to wander the empire. Xiao Li remembered clearly the first time he saw the young man, carrying a heavy measuring rod, persevering through solitude and quiet practice at the desert frontier—only then did he truly grasp why their father had placed such extraordinary hopes upon their third son, hopes that many had long regarded as absurd. As time passed, the young man gradually shed his youthfulness, transforming like a creature undergoing metamorphosis. Afterward, with just himself and that one rod, he faced down the towering force of Yunlan Sect, standing before countless astonished eyes across the empire. At the time, many had mocked him as naive and outmatched—yet when, years later, a young figure stood motionless atop Yunlan Mountain, delivering a calm and decisive verdict that sealed the fate of Yunlan Sect, people suddenly recalled that first scene, marveling and sighing in awe: indeed, no one had ever doubted the potential of a young man who had started so humble. Time flowed like water. In just a few years, the once-innocent youth had matured into a seasoned young "Father... your eyes are truly sharp. Third brother, he might well be the most outstanding person in Xiao family history—perhaps even surpassing the legendary ancestor you once casually mentioned, whose very existence you're not entirely sure of..." As his thoughts gradually settled, Xiao Li raised his gaze to the slender silhouette against the sky, murmuring softly. ... Above the horizon, the black mist scattered sparsely. After the terrifying eruption of the Flame Lotus, the once-vast expanse of black mist had been nearly completely obliterated, dissipating at a pace visibly observable to the naked eye. Xiang Yan stared coldly at the swiftly vanishing mist, then reached into his storage ring, pulled out several pills, and swallowed them. His pale face gradually flushed with a faint warmth. The three-colored Flame Lotus consumed immense amounts of qi, but fortunately, Xiang Yan's strength had improved significantly, so he no longer suffered from the aftereffect of losing consciousness as his flame lotus was released—something that had plagued him in the past. Beside Xiang Yan, Xiao Yi stood firm in the wind, her ethereal gray-purple eyes fixed intently on a specific point within the mist. The toxic vapor gently swirled around her delicate hands, ready to surge forth at a moment's notice. Under the watchful eyes of the two, the black mist also gradually faded away, revealing a particularly disheveled figure... Now, Han Feng's robe was torn to shreds, nearly devoid of any patches of normal skin. Blood blisters dotted his body in thick clusters; his hair and beard had been completely scorched. Blood streaked his face and chest, and upon closer inspection, his arms were severed halfway through, gushing with blood. Given this appearance, it was clear that although Han Feng had survived within the fire lotus, his injuries were indeed severe—so severe that even if healed, he would likely be left with lasting disabilities. On the ground, the onlookers, witnessing Han Feng's condition, could hardly help but wipe sweat from their brows, deeply impressed by the fire lotus's devastating power. The elderly elder from Ege Mountain, who had already ceased his actions, now displayed a touch of apprehension upon seeing Han Feng's plight. He knew well that if it were his own turn, his fate would likely have been even worse. "It seems there's little hope for Bodhi's Body-Transmutation Saliva... Ah, this young man—quite a challenge. Your caution, after all, isn't without merit." With a soft sigh, the Elder Yingshan turned to glance at Mo Tianxing by his side and offered a wry smile. Xiao Yan naturally didn't know that Mo Tianxing's words had somehow caused the Eagle Mountain elder to abandon his intentions of pursuing him. At this moment, upon seeing Han Feng step forward, the fierce killing intent surged within the dark eyes of the elder. Yet before Han Feng could launch an attack, the young physician suddenly darted out like a flash, appearing instantly in front of Han Feng. With her brows furrowed in sternness and a cold, composed voice, she issued a sharp command: "Blood Devour!" As the command rang out, Han Feng's body instantly went rigid. Then, an eerie crimson hue began to rise from within him, transforming him into a figure resembling a blood-covered man. "You... you've poisoned me?! " The intense sensation of boiling blood coursing through his veins caused Han Feng's face to pale instantly, and he stared at the young physician with venomous eyes, gasping in disbelief. The young physician glanced at Han Feng with a cold, unyielding gaze, then extended her jade finger, pressing firmly upon his forehead. A strange, melodic chant emerged from her lips. "Boom!" As the voice reached Han Feng's ears, his pupils instantly expanded, as if his eyeballs were about to bulge out. Then, a deep rumble echoed, and his skin burst open, spilling blood that instantly transformed into a mist and spread across the sky. The sudden burst of blood flowers left everyone stunned. Soon, they saw Han Feng's body, nearly completely torn apart, plummeting from the sky and crashing heavily onto a rock with a sharp crack—his bones shattering at the moment of impact. Just as the thread of spiritual energy was about to escape, a shadow suddenly plunged from the sky, delivering a powerful blow into the earth before swiftly withdrawing. In his hands, the spiritual energy struggled fiercely, and gradually, the stern, resentful face of Han Feng began to emerge. "Brother... if you leave now, how can you possibly repay all the gifts I've given you?" With a gentle smile, Xiao Yan gazed at the spiritual energy in his hands, yet the smile carried a sharp, cold, and deadly intensity.