"Then let's head to Yecheng... The sooner we resolve the厄难毒体 issue, the better. If you all have no objections, let's set off right away." Seeing that Xinlan had already expressed her agreement, Xiao Yan found himself with no further words to add, so he nodded and made the decision. He then turned to the Tianhuo Sovereign and the Xiao Yi Xian, saying so. The Xiao Yi Xian naturally had no objections. After a brief pause, the Tianhuo Sovereign also nodded, saying, "Since I've attained the status of Battle Sovereign, I can now continuously absorb celestial and terrestrial energies to transform them into internal battle qi, allowing me to practice even while traveling. Therefore, setting off now is quite feasible." Seeing this, Xiao Yan smiled and then turned to walk toward the outside of Luoshen Jian. The Tianhuo Sovereign and the others quickly followed. … After two days of travel, Xiao Yan and his companions gradually approached the exit of Luoshen Gully, where the crowds began to grow steadily. Seeing this, they decided to wear their cloaks to conceal their identities. As Xinlan had mentioned, they had already been issued a full-scale pursuit order by the Binghe Valley. Though they were not overly concerned, exposure could still bring complications. Currently, Xiao Yan's primary focus was on swiftly resolving the calamitous toxin affliction of Xiao Yixian. The better, the fewer complications—ideally, none at all. At the entrance of Luoshen Gully, the crowds remained dense and unyielding, showing no sign of diminishing over time—clearly, the high rewards offered by Binghe Valley still stirred strong interest among countless people. However, now that the Lu Shen涧 has lost nearly all of its Ice River Valley defenders—owing to the complete defeat of the entire forces of Tian She and others—the Lu Shen涧 is surprisingly devoid of any guards. Thus, Xiao Yan and his companions encountered no obstacles at all, making smooth progress out of the Lu Shen涧 and swiftly heading toward the more secluded area in the direction of Ye City. Upon seeing the ruined gate, Xinlan's face subtly tightened, and she immediately quickened her pace, rushing inward. Xuanyin, meanwhile, spread his hands, clearly indicating that this scene was far from favorable—never had he imagined the Ye family had declined to such a state. Though Xuanyin no longer wore his cloak, a leather mask that could alter his appearance now covered his face, subtly changing his features. Accompanied by Xiao Yixian and Tian Huizun, Xuanyin slowly advanced through the Ye family's estate, following the winding stone path. After a few minutes of walking, a grand hall came into view, with faint shouts and voices of anger echoing from within. "Indeed," Xuanyin murmured, "a family once renowned for its legacy has fallen so far. Now, they're being forcibly intruded upon and treated with such disregard. If the ancestors of the Ye family could hear this, would they not be so enraged they'd leap out of their coffins?" Hearing the thunderous outburst from the hall, Xiao Yan couldn't help but shake his head, feeling a sense of melancholy for the Ye family. Once a flourishing dynasty, it now stood in such a state—truly a poignant sense of change over time. Xinlan stood outside the main gate, her face pale with anger, her body subtly trembling. With the two young healers at her side, Xiao Yan leaned against the gate, his gaze directed toward the hall. Inside, the hall was in disarray. The Ye family members Xiao Yan had seen earlier were all present, yet their faces were now streaked with iron-gray hues. Before them, on the ground, figures dressed in green robes writhed and cried out, rolling helplessly—clearly members of the Ye family. Opposite the Ye family group stood a cluster of black-robed figures, all of whom exuded strong energies—clearly no mere novices. What particularly surprised Xiao Yan was the two elderly black-robed elders leading the group, whose faces were stern and shadowed. These two had reached the six-star level, and judging by the powerful aura swirling around them, they were likely at the peak of six-star strength—outshining even the senior elder of the Ye family, Xinglan’s grandfather. "Who are they?" Xiao Yan asked casually. "They are from the Black Flame Sect, one of the more formidable forces in the Dan Domain. Their sect is not far from Ye City, and they've long coveted our city. Yet, we never expected them to dare come all the way here!" Xinglan clutched her jade hands tightly, her voice low but brimming with restrained anger. "The two elders at the front—Black Flame's Black Demon Twin—have an exceptional reputation. Their strength is formidable, and even my grandfather would struggle against either of them individually." Xiao Yan nodded slightly. Though he had never heard of the Black Flame Sect before, the two elders' prowess was indeed impressive—six-star peak Daoist cultivators, slightly stronger than the Ice Seal from the Ice River Valley. Indeed, the Central Plains was truly brimming with outstanding talents. In the Black Angular Domain, cultivators of this caliber would at least be considered regional rulers. "Zhao He, Qin Mo! Don't treat us too lightly, Black Flame Sect! Though our Ye family no longer holds the glory it once did, if we truly come to battle, you won't gain much!" the dressed-in-blue elder roared, his hair and beard standing on end with fury. "Heh, Ye Zhong, don't pretend to be so formidable before us. The Ye family no longer has the standing to be called one of the Five Great Families of the Dan Region," the elder black-clad cultivator replied, smiling faintly with a mocking tone. "At the name of the Master, we have come today to incorporate your Ye family. Should you choose to submit, we promise you no slight treatment—your people shall have a place to call home in Ye City. Should you refuse, heh, the measures of Black Fire Sect, you well know!" The other elder, with a gloomy expression, smiled faintly, his voice hoarse. "Dreaming!" The moment these words were spoken, every member of the Ye family turned furious, with Ye Zhong especially his eyes blazing with rage, shouting in response. The elder in black robes, his face shadowed, smiled solemnly at Ye Zong, a cold, majestic aura gradually radiating from within him, then roaring throughout the hall, causing some of the less powerful Ye family members to grow pale. Xiao Yan leaned against the main gate, his eyes slightly narrowed, observing the scene in the hall. The Black Flame Sect truly showed no mercy. He counted the coffins and found there were exactly one more than the number of Ye family members present—perhaps that extra one was meant for Xinlan. Yet, these people were unaware that Xinlan had been accompanying Xiao Yan these past days. Beside him, Xinlan clutched her jade hands tightly, her body trembling with anger. After a long moment, her expression suddenly softened. With her current strength, she could do little. "Brother Xiao Yan," she said, her voice gentle yet urgent, "please help the Ye family. Just let the family be safe—whatever I have to do, I will do it!" Xiao Yan, slightly tilting his head, suddenly paused, turned to face the blue-robed girl who was低头 staring, her eyes glistening with tears and her lips tightly pressed together. He sighed softly. "Don't worry—you and he aren't strangers. You surely know his nature, don't you?" Seeing Xin Lan's demeanor, the young physician beside her couldn't help but shake her head gently, offering a tender smile. "Once I've promised you, I'll certainly help you..." The cloaked elder smiled grimly, then slowly addressed Ye Zhong. Upon hearing this, Ye Zhong's face trembled slightly, his body shaking with palpable tension. The Black Flame Sect now stood strong and powerful, and the Ye family found it increasingly difficult to challenge them. The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly oppressive due to Ye Zhong's silence, and the five-minute interval passed swiftly in that stillness... When the five-minute limit was reached, the serene smiles on the faces of the two cloaked elders gradually widened, and energy surged steadily within their palms. "Ye Zhong, this outcome is entirely your own doing. We cannot blame ourselves anymore!" "Ah..." As the intensity of murderous intent radiating from the two cloaked elders grew stronger, a soft sigh finally echoed from the entrance. Startled, the two elders turned sharply and saw the young man leaning against the doorframe. Their eyes immediately hardened, and a sharp command burst from their lips. "Get out of my way!" The youth moved steadily, slowly advancing toward the hall, his calm, quiet voice spreading out like ripples across still water.