With the Dan Lei eruption that day, nearly two days had passed, during which Xiāo Yīn had remained seated on the stone platform, eyes tightly closed, his body continuously drawing in powerful forces from the surrounding realm—absorbing the rich celestial and terrestrial energies into himself. Since the conclusion of the Dan Lei event, Xiāo Yīn had maintained this state of absorption, and his aura had grown increasingly unstable, with waves of robust qi rising like tides across his body's surface, only to gradually recede and return in a continuous, rhythmic cycle—repeating this pattern without end. Over these few days, the students from the inner academy have grown increasingly familiar with the figure in black robes standing atop the stone platform. Occasionally, when passing by at a distance, they cast their gaze with a touch of reverence and respect upon the slightly slender figure. At such a young age, the level of achievement he has reached surpasses that of several elders within their own families. And everyone knows that Xiao Yan is currently at the peak of his training phase—how could anyone predict the extraordinary heights he might reach in the future? As these thoughts pass through their minds, the students' sense of awe and admiration grows even more profound. Xiao Yan's accomplishments truly deserve such deep respect. Yet, under the constant gaze of countless eyes, Xiao Yan on the stone platform seemed to have lost all sense of the outside world, sitting cross-legged in stillness, motionless—like an ancient monk in deep meditation. Though his form appeared as if carved from stone, those with keen perception could sense that the aura emanating from within him was rapidly growing stronger. Regarding Xiao Yixian, the inner academy students know relatively little—what they do know is that this seemingly reserved and beautiful girl has consistently stayed close to Xiao Xin, their senior. Most importantly, this girl, whose age doesn't seem much older than theirs, is actually a Daoist cultivator stronger than Suqian, the senior elder. Xiao Yixian's achievements surpass even Xiao Xin's, leaving many of the inner academy's so-called prodigies in her shadow due to her nearly divine cultivation talent. Yet, this still hasn't prevented Xiao Yixian from becoming the ideal romantic figure in the hearts of numerous inner academy male students over this period. Strong in ability, graceful in demeanor, and above all, beautifully attractive—this nearly matches the ideal criteria many men look for in a romantic partner. Yet, even as they harbor such thoughts, they know in their hearts that securing such a captivating girl would be nearly impossible without Xiao Yan’s exceptional talent and personal charm. As for her rising reputation within the Inner Courtyard so swiftly, Xiao Yixian herself is unaware of it. Even if she were informed, she would not place much importance on it. Years of experience have shaped her reserved and composed nature; she typically only engages in conversation or interaction with those she knows well. At this moment, her beautiful eyes were fixed intently on Xiao Yan standing upon the stone platform. Every day at this time, she would gaze at him for long stretches—consistently for five days, without fail. Her unwavering devotion had stirred deep admiration in many of the male students from the inner courtyard. The way they looked at her, their eyes blazing with longing, revealed how much they cherished her. If it weren't for the sheer gap between them and Xiao Yan, they might have actually stepped forward to challenge him, determined to rescue the beloved from her patient, enduring vigil. Yet, even as this impulse first arose, it swiftly faded before it could take root—because their sense of reason reminded them that, should they act thus, even without Xiao Yan's intervention, their ideal beloved would merely wave her hand with effortless grace, sending them flying away like flies. A gentle breeze caressed the sky, the fabric of Xiao Yixian's robe clinging to her slender frame, outlining graceful curves. With a delicate hand, she slowly brushed aside the snow-white hair drifting across her forehead, her beautiful eyes fixed on the stone platform where Xiao Xiang remained utterly still. Her dark brows furrowed slightly, murmuring, "Has he not yet recovered? Does it seem the time required for this promotion has been too long?" Since the day he entered his meditative state, Xiao Xiang had remained in this condition for nearly four days—his body steadfast and motionless throughout. Had it not been for Xiao Yixian's keen perception of the steadily growing energy within him, she might have genuinely believed that something had gone wrong during his cultivation process. A soft sigh escaped from her lips, and then she slowly turned, preparing to depart. And as he turned, a sudden surge of energy erupted on the stone platform... With her level of expertise, this moderately intense energy surge was almost instantly detected, prompting her to swiftly turn her body and gaze at the platform with a touch of surprise. At that moment, the energy on the platform surged violently, rapidly coalescing into streaks of weathered celestial energies, forming a vortex as if gathering around the top of Xiao Yan's head. These energies then flowed seamlessly into his body through his forehead. This energy infusion lasted only a few seconds before gradually subsiding. As the final streak of celestial energy vanished into thin air, Xiao Yan's eyes—closed for four consecutive days—finally snapped open. At that very instant, a powerful aura surged forth from within him, spreading out in all directions. The surge of power lasted only a brief moment before Xiang Yin swiftly absorbed it back into his body. Yet this sudden development still drew the attention of many within the Inner Courtyard, with numerous pairs of eyes now fixed upon the stone dais. As soon as Xiang Yin opened his eyes, waves of astonishment rose. Unbothered by the murmurs and exclamations that rippled through the Inner Courtyard, Xiang Yin turned his neck slightly and then casually clenched his fists, feeling the now significantly stronger aura within him compared to just a few days prior. A broad smile spread across his face—he had finally broken through to the seven-star Emperor level of the Emperor Rank. "The Seven Stars... with just two more stars to go, he would reach the pinnacle of the Battle Emperor rank, and the Battle Sovereign rank... wouldn't be far off either..." Slowly rising from the stone platform, Xiao Yan murmured to himself, then his gaze swept toward the northern sky of the inner courtyard, his eyes slightly dazed. Back then, when Xun'er had left, it was in that very direction. Staring blankly at the northern horizon, after a while, Xiao Yan suddenly clenched his fists tightly, sharp glimmers of intensity flashing in his dark eyes. At that moment, he remembered clearly the young man who had come to the inner courtyard, forcibly taking Xun'er away—his name would forever remain etched in Xiao Yan's memory! "I am Ling Quan, Deputy Commander of the He Yan Army," the young man had coldly remarked, standing on the mountain behind the inner courtyard, his feet planted on a four-winged unicorne, gazing down at Xiao Yan with an air of superiority. "Linquan..." Taking a deep breath, a cold determination flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes. Back then, under the supposed deputy commander of the Hei Yan Army, he had been nothing but a helpless insect. But now, he was confident—should that man appear once again, he would surely defeat him in a single stroke! In just a few short years, Xiao Yan had grown far beyond the humble Great Battle Master of old, no longer someone anyone could easily mold. "Xun, wait for me... The Central Continent, too, will be waiting for me!" Standing atop the stone platform, Xiao Yan looked out over the entire inner courtyard, and a surge of豪气 suddenly rose within him, overflowing into his chest. "Congratulations on your promotion?" As Xiao Yan's emotions surged, a graceful, delicate figure slowly materialized in the half-sky beyond the platform, gently speaking to him. Gazing at the simple, pure robes of the young physician, who appeared especially serene and refined, Xiao Yan smiled and nodded. "Thank you for your careful protection these past few days." "Between us, do we still need to be so formal?" the young physician lowered her eyelids, speaking softly. "Haha, indeed, I've been rather impetuous. If you're not pleased, then I'll simply stop saying such things from now on." Seeing that the young physician seemed slightly displeased, Xiao Yan quickly adjusted himself. As soon as he noticed her expression ease, he exhaled in relief and smiled, saying, "Then let's go. After I've settled a few matters, perhaps it's time for us to leave." "Already leaving? When?" The young physician blinked, asking. Xiao Yan smiled gently, his gaze drifting toward the northern horizon. For some reason, he now felt a sudden warmth and eagerness—something he hadn't expected—toward the Central Plains. He truly seemed to look forward to it. "Within three days." Suppressing the warmth swelling within him, Xiao Yan turned his head to gaze at the young physician's delicate, porcelain-like face, and smiled.