The sudden turn of events sent a shockwave through the crowd. When they regained their composure, all they saw was the white-robed man lying motionless on the massive stone. Aside from Feng Qing'er and the other three, everyone else felt a wave of cold dread wash over them, their gazes toward Xiao Yan now tinged with growing apprehension. The white-robed man lay limp beneath the great stone, his body streaked with blood, his limbs trembling uncontrollably. Though Xiao Yan's punch hadn't killed him, it had completely paralyzed him—his barely achieved Seven-Star Sovereign level simply wasn't enough to withstand Xiao Yan's force. Feng Qing'er coldly scanned Xiao Yan's face, chuckling, "You truly are quite domineering. My Fenglei Pavilion's operations may well fall short of yours." Though Feng Qing'er's remarks carried a hint of mockery, Xiao Yan merely smiled, saying, "It's simply the rule of the strong prevailing over the weak. Still, compared to your domineering style, I must admit I fall short—having several Douzong-level强者 launch a coordinated assault on me at once is something I haven't seen many times." "Were it not for the approaching Blood Lake of Tian Shan, I'd be eager to see just how far you can go on your own, without any outside assistance, here in Tianmù Mountain." Feng Qing'er's eyes flashed with frost. "If you'd like to test me, simply let me know at any time." Xiao Yan smiled calmly, his composed demeanor leaving Feng Qing'er furious. However, upon glancing into the crater's depths, she managed to suppress her anger. The Heavenly Mountain Blood Pond was about to manifest—she had to hurry and enter it promptly, absorbing the unique energy within as swiftly as possible. The energy inside the pond was limited; every bit counted, and perhaps this very bit would determine the success or failure of her breakthrough to the Sovereign Realm. Seeing Feng Qing'er stop speaking, Xiao Yan paid no further attention to her, and slowly walked over to Nalan Yanran, smiling gently, "Everything alright?" Staring at that serene smile, Nalan Yanran suddenly felt a slight ache at her nose. The sense of being protected by a man felt entirely different from what Yun Yun had offered—steady, secure. Behind that lean, graceful silhouette, she felt her heart settle completely. Yet reason told her that this steady, peaceful enjoyment would last only a brief moment—perhaps it would vanish the moment she left Tianmù Mountain. With this thought, Nalan Yanran's lips curled with a touch of self-mockery. Originally, she had believed this feeling would last a lifetime, but in the end, it had been her own hands that had destroyed it. "Am I simply making things worse for myself?" the barely audible voice slipped from Nalan Yanran's lips, just reaching the ears of Xiao Yan beside her. He paused slightly, then passed by her, walking up the slope. Feeling Xiao Yan's presence, Nalan Yanran tightened the delicate red lips, pressing them with a little more force, and slowly turned to gaze at his back. As she prepared to speak, a thunderclap erupted suddenly, crashing down from the clouds above. The sudden thunderclap also startled the onlookers, who looked up to see the five-colored energy tide abruptly halting its expansion. A massive, radiant vortex now formed above the volcano's crater, slowly rotating, and as it did, Xiao Yan and his companions felt an immense, terrifying surge of energy rapidly coalescing toward the heavens. "Is the Blood Pond about to appear?" With this remarkable change in the sky, a sense of anticipation brightened their eyes. As the great five-colored vortex rose, the energy in the sky grew turbulent, with waves of shimmering, ribbon-like energy continuously flowing into the vortex, accelerating its rotation. As the vortex spun faster, a hurricane suddenly appeared, roaring across the mountain peak. Its wind, sharp as a blade, sliced through the summit, leaving deep fissures—wide enough to match a human arm—on several massive stones, accompanied by a continuous hissing sound. Powerful qi surged forth from the bodies of Xiao Yan and his companions, yet their forms remained as solid and immovable as stone on the elevated plateau. Those who had reached this point were naturally among the outstanding young talents of the North Region of the Central Plains. The sky above saw the vortex expand, its contained energy growing ever more formidable. At a certain moment, the vortex's rotational speed gradually slowed, then paused briefly. At its core, a brilliant flash of light erupted suddenly. "Boom!" The sudden brilliance nearly enveloped the entire Tianmu Mountain Range, and at that instant, the thick mist that had blanketed the mountains began to thin out under the light's intensity. At the very instant the strong spear of energy appeared, the energy vortex shuddered violently, and then a massive, fifty-meter-tall column of vibrant, multicolored energy erupted like a powerful energy cannon, booming forth from within the vortex—directly aimed at the volcano below. Under the sheer force of this brilliant energy beam, Xiao Yan and his companions' faces pale slightly, and they hastily retreat. "Now is the optimal time to enter the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pond—set out!" Golden Stone's figure drifted from afar and gently settled down, with two massive gold-devouring mice trailing behind him. As he spoke, an unmistakable sense of urgency flashed across Feng Qing'er and the others' eyes. They instantly moved, pushing their speeds to the absolute limit, transforming into several streaks of light and rushing swiftly toward the volcanic crater. "If you step out of the Tian Shan Blood Pool, you needn't wait for me—I may take a long time." Xiang Yan moved swiftly, once again leaping onto the volcanic crater, and as he spoke, his gaze swept toward the interior of the crater. A look of astonishment appeared in his eyes. Within the vast crater, vibrant, multicolored energy flowed throughout, appearing exceptionally splendid. Most striking of all was the prominent red pool at the very center of the volcano. Even from a distance, Xiang Yan and his companions could clearly see that the Tian Shan Blood Pool was now completely filled with a strangely ethereal red liquid, radiating an astonishingly dense energy. "That must be the Tian Shan Blood Pool." Staring at the eerie blood pool, a surge of fervor stirred in Xiao Yan's eyes. He glanced at Feng Qing'er and the others, who were now rushing wildly toward the pool, then lightly tapped the ground with his foot, drawing Lan Yanran along beside him as they surged toward the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. Though the volcanic crater was vast, Xiao Yan's speed made the journey only half a minute. When he arrived, he just caught sight of Feng Qing'er and the others plunging into the pool one after another. Seeing their eager, frantic expressions, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a touch of helplessness. Fortunately, his destination was the bottom of the pool—otherwise, he'd have been outpaced by their sheer enthusiasm and had a most entertaining race to run. The blood pool of Tian Shan was roughly seven to eight zhang in diameter—not too large, not too small—but ample enough to comfortably accommodate Xiao Yan and his companions. Up close, the eerie atmosphere was even more pronounced. The red energy appeared remarkably similar to fresh blood—thick, vibrant, and crimson. Bubbles of blood constantly rose to the surface, bursting and releasing a rich, blood-colored energy that diffused out like a mist. Nalan Yanran nodded slightly, gently tossing the white fox at the edge of the blood pool, then fixed her gaze on Xiao Yan's face, speaking softly, "Thank you... You might want to visit the Flower Sect if you ever wish to find your teacher." As she finished speaking, she didn't wait for Xiao Yan to ask further questions, but moved swiftly, flowing into the blood pool like a mermaid.