Gazing at that face filled with incomparable beauty, Xiao Yan smiled gently, his voice softening as he murmured, "Are you alright?" All the incidents from those days had faded away the moment Yunlan Sect was dissolved. Xiao Yan wasn't someone with a narrow heart—over time, he had gradually forgotten them. Now, reflecting on them, he could truly only say that he had been young and impetuous back then. Xin Lan Yan was momentarily taken aback by Xiao Yan's gentle tone. She had rarely seen him speak to her so calmly and composedly. After all, she knew well that those incidents had caused significant distress and hurt to this man of strong self-respect. "Fine, thank you," she shook her head slightly, her eyes flickering softly, and replied in a low voice. Seems this friend truly intends to stage a heroic rescue. "Seeing that Xiao Yan had paid no attention to them at all, the three men in yellow robes grew slightly more serious. The one who had previously introduced himself as Huang Tian spoke in a low,沉 voice. "Get out," he said. Xiao Yan's eyes remained fixed without the slightest shift. With a soft utterance, he stepped slowly toward Lan Yanran, glanced at the black energy wrapped around her body, and then let out a quiet, light chuckle. "Dark-type qi—truly rare. Yet, given your strength, to launch a surprise attack like this, it's quite disappointing." As he spoke, Xiao Yan grasped Lan Yanran's pale, slender wrist with his hand, a streak of emerald flame appearing at his fingertips, then swiftly stabbed it forward. The black energy encircling her body responded as if encountering melting snow exposed to flame, rapidly dissolving. On the branches, a man dressed in deep yellow robes narrowed his eyes at Xiao Yan below, especially when he saw the latter effortlessly drive away the black energy encasing Lan Yanran's body. His pupils subtly contracted at that sight. As the black energy faded from Lan Yanran's form, she regained her freedom and gently shook her jade hands. Seeing this, Xiao Yan promptly loosened his grip and was about to speak when Lan Yanran's expression suddenly changed, and she urgently exclaimed, "Be careful!" Facing her directly, Xiao Yan smiled and then swiftly spun around, bringing his heavy staff into play, the powerful gust of wind accompanying it, and forcefully sweeping it across his back. "Crack!" The staff struck three long spears with tremendous force, shattering them instantly. The Huang Tian trio were immediately struck with astonishment, dropping their spear handles and retreating quickly. Xiao Yan glanced indifferently at the three of them, then drove his heavy staff into the ground and stamped his foot firmly. With that, a roar of wind and thunder erupted, and his form vanished in an eerie manner. At the sight of Xiao Yan's sudden disappearance, Huang Tian and the other two were startled. As they prepared to form a defensive line, back-to-back, a ghostly figure materialized before them, and then a sharp barrage of punches surged forth, striking hard against the armor covering their bodies. "Boom!" The punches landed with tremendous force, sending a powerful surge of energy outward. The three instantly became like wind-blown kites, hurling backward and crashing into several massive trees, spewing out large amounts of blood upon impact. With just a single move, he had crushed three four-star Sovereigns. Witnessing this, Lan Yan couldn't help but gently cover her red lips with her hands, her gaze complex as it settled upon that slender, lean figure. The young man once deemed a mere waste by her had been steadily moving before her—ever since, and now, even years later, she could only continue to look up. Huang Tian and his two companions lay on the ground, curled like shrimp, moaning continuously. Their armor had been completely shattered by a single punch from Xiao Yan. They couldn't comprehend it—how could they, with their strength, fail to withstand even this young man's blow? Among peers, few could achieve such a feat. Even across Zhongzhou's Northern Region, such talents might be counted on just a few. Where had this young man come from? "Clap, clap!" A wave of applause suddenly came from above the branches. The man with the scar on his face now slowly straightened himself, his gaze firmly fixed on Xiao Yan, a rather unpleasing smile playing on his features. "Indeed, you're Xiao Yan? I wonder if the person who's been at odds with Fenglei Pavilion is also you?" Xiao Yan glanced at the man with the scar, his eyes narrowing slightly—his strength was exceptional, far surpassing that of the three who had come before. "Xiao Yan, be careful—he's strong," Lan Yan gently waved her hand toward the dense mist, and a white figure darted out, finally settling into her arms, transforming into a charming white fox. Holding the fox, she said with a touch of concern. "Why have they come after you?" Xiao Yan nodded slightly and asked. "Beyond the Tianmu Mountain lies a natural maze. If one does not know the way to enter, they will be trapped within until the energy tides subside. Yet my spiritually attuned white fox is immune to this maze—by following it, we can easily exit. That is precisely why they have attacked me, aiming to seize the white fox." Nalan Yan gently stroked the soft fur of the white fox with her delicate hands, speaking softly. Hearing this, Xiao Yan finally felt a bit enlightened. He hadn't expected there to be another maze ahead. Fortunately, if he had blindly rushed into it, even with his soul perception, he would have been trapped for a long time. Now, what was most difficult to afford was time. "I have no interest in your white fox. I don't want anything of that sort—it's the three of them who need it." The man with the scar said calmly. "I have a personal connection with a member of the Earth Spirit Sect. Before I departed, he instructed me to bring them to the maze. My method is a secret of the sect and cannot be shared with others. Therefore, I can only send a spirit-attuned white fox to guide them." "The white fox won't be yours, so please leave." Xiao Yan smiled gently at the man with the scar. "I'm not someone easily dismissed, you know." The man with the scar grinned, his tone subtly sharpening. "Wang Chen? Wang Chen from the Yellow Springs Pavilion?" "As soon as she heard this, Nalan Yanran gasped, her face showing subtle changes. 'The Yellow Springs Pavilion?' Xiao Yan also paused, then chuckled softly. On this journey, he had met representatives from three of the four pavilions—how could he have expected to encounter the one known as the Starfall Pavilion so soon? 'Xiao Yan, why don't we give the white fox to them? Wang Chen is naturally inclined toward killing, and he's exceptionally strong—perhaps already at the peak of the Battle Emperor level. It's said he once fought against several elders of the Battle Sect rank and still survived...' Nalan Yanran bit her lower lip gently, hesitating for a moment before finally speaking, unwilling to draw Xiao Yan into this turbulent situation. 'Without the white fox, how will we pass through the maze?' Xiao Yan turned to look at Nalan Yanran, clearly sensing her concerns, and smiled. 'Rest assured, I'll handle it.' Seeing the young man's smile, Nalan Yanran was momentarily stunned. For some reason, she felt a deep sense of security and stability. She could only gently nod in agreement. "White fox, don't think too much—what you want, you'll have to prove you've got the ability." The smile on Xiao Yan's face grew fainter as he slowly grasped the handle of the Xuangong Chi, speaking. Hearing this, Wang Chen's smile deepened. Those familiar with him knew well that the more joyously he smiled, the stronger his inner resolve and intent grew. "I recently met Tang Ying from the Ten-Thousand-Blade Pavilion. I fought against him—he mentioned someone even more exciting would come next, and I believe that someone is you." Lowering his hands, Wang Chen's dark energy swiftly coiled around his palms. Gazing steadily at Xiao Yan, his crimson tongue brushed his lips. Then, in an instant, his eyes darkened into a chilling intensity: "Then, let me see if you truly live up to the excitement he described." "As soon as he spoke, his figure suddenly transformed into a streak of black energy, rushing forth with astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Xiao Yan. His fist, brimming with black energy, swept through the air, creating a sharp gust of wind, and struck straight for his heart without any flourish. 'Be careful!' Seeing Wang Chen suddenly launch his attack, Na Lan Yanran quickly urged. 'Boom!' The black streak stood like a shield before Xiao Yan, the fist crashing into it with tremendous force, sending out a deep, resonant sound. 'Erode the Body Fist!' The fist quickly unfolded, and his palm instantly turned a deeply oppressive black. Then, strangely, it veered away from the massive staff, directly targeting Xiao Yan's throat. Wang Chen's attack path was quite unusual—unsteady and wavering, as if guided by an unseen hand, appearing neither swift nor fluid, yet possessing an inexplicable sense of inevitability that made it difficult to evade." Xiao Yan's gaze remained firmly fixed on the dark palm rapidly expanding within his pupils. After an instant, his eyes hardened, and without the slightest hesitation, a jade-green flame spiraled around his fist before he launched it forward. Xiao Yan curled his fingers, lightly tapping the Xuan Zhong Chi, and stored it in his storage relic. He glanced at Wang Chen, who indeed possessed formidable strength—yet, for him, the threat remained modest. Though the dark-energy aura was strange, it fared poorly against the异fire, suffering significant suppression. Should they engage directly, Xiao Yan had a seven-out-of-ten chance of defeating Wang Chen. Wang Chen offered a cold, serene smile, then turned his back on Huang Tian and the other two, retreating smoothly into the thick mist, his voice gradually echoing through the fog.