As they approached the city, the imposing city walls appeared before them with an air of solemn dignity. Beneath the towering gates, people flowed continuously, their bustling voices creating a vibrant, noisy atmosphere. The two of them moved steadily through the city, gazing at the wide streets lined with shops stretching as far as the eye could see. Particularly on the streets, the dense clusters of heads, each murmuring and shouting, merged into a powerful wave of sound that spread out and soared upward. "The city of Huangtian clearly has a vibrant population—its energy rivals even the most lively cities in Black Angle Region," Xiang Yan remarked, marveling at the city's grandeur and lively atmosphere. "After all, this is the central region of Zhongzhou—the very heart of the continent. While Black Angle is certainly strong, it can hardly compare to this." "Lin Yan chuckled warmly, then quickly assessed the route before leading Xiao Yan swiftly toward the Li family's location. Having stayed here for a period of time, he was quite familiar with Huangtian City. Following behind Lin Yan, Xiao Yan passed through several long streets and made several turns, until a vast manor came into view. The estate was enormous, and outside its grounds, nearly filled with armed guards maintaining a vigilant, cold watch, their eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. Seeing the rigorous security, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned and exclaimed, "It's daytime—why do we need so many guards?" Lin Yan also paused, then slightly furrowed his brow, speaking softly, "Something seems off. The Liu family wouldn't normally deploy so many guards. Wait a moment..." With that, he turned his gaze and intercepted a man rushing past, bowing politely and smiling, "Sir, could you tell me what's happening in Huangtian City? Why has the Liu family suddenly taken such a strong stance?" Xiao Yan also heard what the previous person had said, and smiled, saying, "Just head to the city center and you'll know." Lin Yan nodded, then chuckled, "It seems Li Qing isn't having an easy time as this team leader. Come on, this kind of competition isn't common. Follow me." With that, Lin Yan turned and began walking toward the city center, stepping faster. Xiao Yan smiled and followed closely. "Cheng Yao, this year's spatial wormhole is under the management of my Liu family. What do you mean by your actions today?" Among the group on the left, a sturdy man led the charge. His face was resolute, exuding an aura of authority even without speaking—so firm it felt almost familiar. If one looked closely, aside from Liu Qing, who else could it be? Today's Liu Qing no longer carried the sharp vigor of his youth; instead, he radiated calm composure. After all, the Liu family needed a capable clan leader—not a brash, ambitious young man. Standing behind Liu Qing were two elderly men with white hair and beards. Though they stood casually, they exuded a powerful presence that subtly rippled outward, making it impossible to overlook them. Beside them stood a well-proportioned, mature and alluring figure—this woman wore a red robe, her face as rosy as a peach blossom, radiating an irresistible charm that particularly captivated men. Her face was also familiar; Liu Fei, a name that carried a certain charm. In the past, she had once had minor disagreements with Xiao Yan within the inner courtyard. However, after several years, Liu Fei had grown even more alluring, now resembling a fully ripened water peach, drawing the attention of many men outside the plaza, whose gazes had naturally shifted toward her. Opposite Li Qing and his companions stood a large group of men with fierce expressions. At the forefront was a middle-aged man, who cast a gloomy glance at Li Qing before breaking into a strange chuckle. Upon hearing this, Li Qing exchanged a cold look and was about to speak when a deep, resonant voice suddenly rose from the plaza. "This is our latest directive from Burned Flame Valley," the voice declared. At once, countless eyes in the crowd shifted toward the speaker. There, an elderly man in a crimson robe stood slightly hunched, with numerous red spots scattered across his weathered face. "Senior Red Flame, the one from Burned Flame Valley?" As the elder appeared, a wave of exclamations rippled through the plaza. Li Qing and the two elders behind him exchanged a subtle expression of surprise, then bowed respectfully and asked, "Ah, Senior Red Flame, could you kindly explain the meaning of this latest directive? According to our previous customs, this is not yet the time for the transfer of authority over the spatial wormhole management." "The Master has issued a command, requesting several senior alchemists to assist the elderly in the Burned Flame Valley in preparing a specific pill. However, no suitable candidates have yet been found, so the matter has been passed down. Should anyone succeed in locating a senior alchemist, they shall gain management rights over the spatial wormhole, effective for three years." The elder known as the Red-Flame Elder spoke calmly. "The Cheng family has identified a sixth-rank alchemist certified by the Pill Tower. If your Li family can also find one and bring him along with me to the Burned Flame Valley, then the spatial wormhole shall be entrusted to you as well, with the duration extended from one to three years." The Red-Flame Elder gestured toward the Cheng family, where an elderly man in a purple alchemist's robe stood proudly, arms folded. "A sixth-rank alchemist?" "Heard this, Li Qing's face also turned pale. Indeed, his family did have some alchemists, but the highest rank achieved was only a Fifth-Rank Alchemist—no one had ever reached Sixth Rank. After all, a Sixth-Rank Alchemist was a valuable asset even within a powerful clan like Burned Flame Valley; who would come to a family of moderate size and stature like theirs? "Senior Elder Ci-Huo, this development has come unexpectedly. Could we possibly have a few days to search for a Sixth-Rank Alchemist? I will do my utmost to find one!" Li Qing's expression shifted several times before settling on this plea. "Seeing the Red-Flame Elder's complete lack of courtesy, Li Qing found himself deeply embarrassed. His fists were clenched tightly. In just one day, where could he possibly find a Sixth-Rank Alchemy Specialist? Did he really think Sixth-Rank Alchemists were as common as cabbage? Specialists at this level were already among the top-tier talents even within the Dan Tower. "This old man must have received a gift from the Cheng family!" Li Fei, standing behind Li Qing, gritted her teeth in frustration. "Be quiet!" Li Qing's expression darkened, and upon seeing this, Li Fei reluctantly stomped her feet, then fell silent. "What shall we do now, Elder Li and Elder Zhou?" Turning to the two elders behind him, Li Qing sighed. Hearing this, the two elders exchanged a wry smile and said, "We had indeed heard vaguely that Burn-Flame Valley was seeking information about senior alchemical practitioners, but we never took it seriously. It seems, however, that Fei is right—someone must have informed the Cheng family. I've heard of this sixth-rank alchemical practitioner as well. He's reportedly a senior alchemist who has held the sixth rank for a considerable time. In the city of Tianhuang, I'd say it's unlikely to find anyone of higher rank." Upon hearing this, Liu Qing felt a weight settle on his heart, his fists clenched tightly, making a noticeable crunching sound. The spatial wormhole was of immense importance to the Liu family—it represented a crucial source of income. This income enabled them to hire more capable personnel and expand their influence. Should the Cheng family now seize this income, their development would inevitably stall. "Hehe, Liu nephew, just stop overthinking it—hand over the management of the spatial wormhole calmly. If I feel like it, I might still let the Liu family sip a little of the broth." The middle-aged man, known as Cheng Yao, saw Liu Qing's increasingly strained expression and couldn't help but chuckle with a touch of irony. Hearing Cheng Yao's subtly mocking words, Liu Qing's face grew even paler. Yet now that he was the head of the Liu family, every move had to serve the family's interests. He could only suppress his rising fury, gritting his teeth with reluctance, and spoke in a low, grim tone, "Cheng Yao, this time you've really outdone yourself! Go!" As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Qing turned sharply, his face still stern, and strode off. "Hehe, Liu Qing, this isn't like you at all. Are you really giving up this easily?" Just as Liu Qing was about to turn, a figure suddenly darted in from outside the plaza, smiling warmly at him. "Lin Yan?" Upon seeing the visitor, Liu Qing was also taken aback, then sighed and chuckled, saying, "Well, let's just go. You're not even a sixth-rank alchemy master—there's little you can do for me." Hearing this, Lin Yan gave a strange laugh and said, "I can't help you directly, but someone can." As he spoke, he turned to the sky and smiled up, saying, "By the way, how long are you planning to stay up there?" At the sight of Lin Yan's actions, Liu Qing and his siblings Li Fei were momentarily stunned, then looked up to see a young figure stepping gracefully through the air and gently landing on the ground. "Floating through the air—definitely a Dou-Zong-level master?" As this scene unfolded, Liu Qing and the others felt a sudden sense of alertness. Just as they were about to bow and offer a polite greeting, a familiar voice—so vivid and unforgettable—suddenly rang out, causing their bodies to stiffen instantly. "Liu Qing! It's been years since we last saw each other—how have you been?"