At the very instant of impact, the heavens grew utterly still, even the rain curtain connecting earth and sky froze mid-fall! A brilliant, blinding surge of energy erupted suddenly in the sky, shining as if a sun had risen—so intense that it instantly transformed the otherwise dim, thunder-cloud-laden atmosphere into a stark, dazzling light. This radiance surpassed even the fiery sun high in the distant heavens. Thunder roared like the mighty roar of Thor, echoing ceaselessly across the sky, yet the anticipated cataclysmic explosion failed to materialize. Where the three-colored flame lotus met the thunderous fist, visible creases appeared in the space itself, as two immensely powerful energies silently eroded one another. As this erosion progressed, a space black hole of half a foot in diameter gradually formed—so powerful were the forces that even the space around them began to fracture and collapse. The spatial black hole gradually expanded, soon spreading out to reach a span of several zhang, visible across the entire city in countless stunned gazes. As the black hole spread, the thunderous fist and the tri-colored lotus of flame began to ripple. Waves of lightning, like silver serpents, surged down the fist in a furious torrent, ultimately charging toward the lotus. Yet, facing the thunderous assault, the tri-colored lotus remained remarkably calm, rotating steadily and sending out slender streams of flame—each subtly blending three hues—that effectively absorbed and repelled the cascading silver lightning. Though the clash was silent and lacked any dramatic, earth-shattering explosions, anyone with keen observation could sense its profound intensity and peril. Within the zone of intersection, spanning ten zhang in radius, even if Xiao Yan and the three Wind-Thunder Northern Pavilion elders entered at this moment, their fates would surely be dire—the space itself had been engulfed by an extraordinarily violent and terrifying force. The flaming lotus rotated slowly, and with each of its rotations, the thunderous fist grew subtly dimmer. At the same time, the faces of the three senior monks grew increasingly pale, overwhelmed by a deep, soul-shaking dread emanating from the destructive force within the lotus. Under the combined power of the Nine Heavens Thunder Prison Array, even the full-force assault delivered by the three senior monks with their full strength failed to withstand the terrifying triple-hued lotus of flame. If Xiao Yan had personally wielded the triple-hued lotus, it would have been difficult to achieve such an effect. However, now, empowered by the strength of Tianhuo Master, Xiao Yan's capabilities had reached an exceptionally formidable level, making the triple-hued lotus he currently unleashed extraordinarily potent. After all, the Buddha's Wrath Lotus was a powerful technique that grew stronger alongside Xiao Yan's own development. As long as Xiao Yan's strength continued to advance, the power of the Buddha's Wrath Lotus would only grow more formidable. "Plunged!" The thunderous fist shattered, and the three senior monks once again spat out streams of blood, their eyes growing increasingly wide with astonishment. They had not expected, even with the combined strength of all three and the added support of the Nine Heavens Thunder Prison Array, to still be overwhelmed by Xiao Yan's devastating flame lotus attack. As the thunderous fist completely collapsed, the hues of the tri-color lotus flame also grew dimmer and more ethereal, yet fortunately it did not dissipate entirely. After a brief pause, it surged forward with a sharp whisper, transforming into a streak of light and rushing toward the thunderclouds above at lightning speed. Upon seeing Huo Lian surge into the thundercloud, the Long-Meir Elder's pupils instantly shrunk to the size of needles, and a thunderous cry of astonishment erupted. However, barely had his cry fallen into place, before the outer-tier Wind-Thunder Northern Pavilion warriors could recover, a colossal explosion roared from within the thundercloud, instantly reverberating through the sky. Then, a massive wave of flame surged forth like a tide, surging wildly. Under the force of this wave, the thundercloud held only for an instant before bursting apart, scattering into countless specks of electric light. Hearing the blood-spurting cries from all around, the people within Tianbei City couldn't help but wipe cold sweat from their brows. The mighty downpour had been entirely evaporated by the fiery waves rising from the sky. What had just been a thunderstorm weather now transformed into clear, sunlit skies. "Even with all three senior elders of Fenglei North Pavilion appearing together, setting up the Nine Heavens Thunder Prison Array, they still couldn't contain him. This Xiao Yan is truly astonishing!" "With just one person standing against the three senior elders of Fenglei Pavilion and numerous other powerful figures within, Xiao Yan's name will surely spread throughout the North Region within just a few days." "Ha ha, what a thrilling battle! This has truly been worth it—such intense combat I've never witnessed before. Among the younger generation, Xiao Yan probably has few rivals." "It's said that Fenglei Pavilion has a young lady, Feng, with an exceptional talent and brilliance in cultivation, a strong contender for the next Eastern Pavilion Master. I wonder if she could stand a chance against Xiao Yan." "……" As countless whispers echoed throughout the city, the three elders with long eyebrows on the sky remained motionless for a moment before suddenly turning pale, their breaths growing weak. The thunderclouds they had summoned were violently dispersed, inflicting severe damage. "Retreat!" The elders' hands trembled slightly, and after a moment's hesitation, they finally gritted their teeth and issued a low command. "Since you've driven me out and fought so fiercely, you certainly won't allow me to leave empty-handed." Xiao Yan smiled calmly, his gaze sharpening. A vast surge of soul energy erupted instantly, flooding the sky and then piercing through space, pressing down with immense force upon the three elders whose strength had waned. "Pfft!" Their already frail bodies, struck so severely, instantly expelled great streams of blood, their forms hurling backward like projectiles. As they were driven back, the Naji rings worn on their fingers automatically detached and were then enveloped in spiritual energy, floating toward Xiao Yan. Upon witnessing the rings being taken, the Wind Elder erupted in fury, ready to roar. Yet just as he opened his mouth, the Longmei Elder, whose face was grim, stepped in and blocked him. "Move first!" With a sharp command, the residual Qi within the Longmei Elder's body surged violently, followed by a burst of lightning. The three elders transformed into three streaks of light, swiftly darting out of Tianbei City and vanishing against the horizon. Gazing at the three elders of the Long-Meir lineage fleeing into the distance, Xiao Yan waved his hand and grasped the three storage rings in his palm. He wasn't unwilling to eliminate them completely—these three seemed as sticky as adhesive, clinging firmly to the ground. To drive them to the brink would likely prove costly; while he could defeat them, a full elimination would demand a notably severe sacrifice. He glanced at the storage rings, then lightly brushed his palm over them, utilizing the vast soul power of Tianhuo Master to effortlessly erase the soul seals. Once the seals were removed, his soul swiftly penetrated the rings, conducting a thorough search. Moments later, three radiant silver scrolls shimmered into view on his palm. "Indeed, among these three old men..." The three silver scrolls were exactly the same as those obtained from Shen Yun, down to the very blood veins etched upon their surfaces—clearly, these scrolls were also part of the so-called "Three Thousand Thunder Phantoms." Yet it remained uncertain whether, when combined with the one currently in his possession, they would form a complete set. With this thought, Xiao Yan felt a growing sense of anticipation. Naturally, he would not conduct any tests in such a setting. He simply flipped his hand, storing the three scrolls within his storage relic, then turned his steadily somber gaze toward Hong Tianxiao, who was currently engaged in a struggle with the Earth Spirit Automaton at a distance. In Xiao Yan's heart, a strong sense of animosity toward this elder had long been brewing—he knew that the news of Shen Yun's death must have been relayed by Hong Tianxiao, and that the people of Fenglei North Pavilion had likely learned of him through his own disclosures. While he might not be able to defeat the three senior monks today, Hong Tianxiao was certain to fall. Hong Tianxiao, who was engaged in battle with the Earth Deity Automaton at a distance, naturally also sensed the defeat and retreat of the three elders. His face immediately grew grim. "These three old fools!" With a roar of anger, just as he prepared to shake off the Earth Deity Automaton and step back, he felt a pair of cold, deadly gazes approaching from afar.