A strange gray aura gently collided with golden flames at the two jade hands, producing no loud sound. The two energies quietly merged, emitting subtle hissing sounds and subtle energy ripples. This sudden development caught the two black-robed elders by surprise, who promptly took a step forward, intending to intervene. Yet, after a moment's hesitation, they paused, carefully scanning the young healer with eyes filled with growing astonishment. Her appearance and demeanor were no less refined than Xu'er's. What truly astonished them most, however, was the healer's strength—such a powerful Douzun-level cultivator at her age was truly remarkable. They couldn't help but wonder what exactly the young man had done to attract so many accomplished women around him. "What are you two doing?" Xiao Yan, standing by, also frowned slightly at the sudden clash between Xiao Yi and Xun'er, quickly reaching out to intervene. Yet as he attempted to separate the two women, the delicate hands that had been gently clasped together parted instantly, and the gray energy streams and golden flames swiftly dissipated. "I've heard for some time now about my elder sister's remarkable resilience against poison—her difficult constitution, as you've mentioned. Now, seeing you firsthand, I can truly say it's no exaggeration. However, over these past days, thank you so much for your kind care toward Xiao Yan." Xun'er stepped back slightly, gently massaging her hands, and offered a gentle smile. "I've heard Xiao Yan speak highly of you many times. Now that I've seen you, I can see why he's so deeply fond of you—you truly are a true prodigy." Xiao Yi smiled warmly. Though the two women spoke with remarkable warmth, Xiao Yan sensed a certain unusual tension. He sighed inwardly, for both women possessed exceptional advantages—one born with a natural toxicity, the other with ancient emperor lineage. Now, upon meeting, there was a subtle sense of mutual competitiveness. Was this the inherent rivalry between outstanding women? "Well, matters here have been settled. Everyone, let's all rest a while. This isn't exactly the ideal place for conversation," Xiao Yan shook his head, speaking with a touch of resignation. Upon hearing him, Xun'er and the young physician nodded slightly. Seeing this, Xiao Yan moved first, swiftly heading toward the Ye family's residence at the city center. Following close behind, Xun'er and the others moved through the crowd's countless gazes. As the group of Xiao Yan and his companions advanced, the entire Ye City began to stir. This unprecedented battle would soon spread like the wind throughout the Central Region... "Hehe, one of the founders of Panmen, Miss Shun—how could anyone not have heard of her as a member of Panmen?" Xinlan掩ed her mouth with a playful smile. Upon hearing this, Shun was momentarily surprised, then a gentle smile bloomed on her refined face, one that made the younger members of the Ye family around her feel their hearts flutter. She softly replied, "Ah, so you're also one of the inner courtyard students..." Numerous members of the Ye family were packed into the courtyard. Upon seeing the two young women behind Xiao Yan—each with a distinct and admirable presence—several younger family members expressed admiration, their eyes filled with envy. For most people, possessing just one such girl with both grace and beauty was a blessing from heaven. Xiao Yan, however, had both, making his fortune truly complete. To them, what could one possibly regret when living a life like this? "Xun gently pushed the teacup towards Xiao Yan, her voice soft. "I wish to rescue my teacher from the Hands of the Soul Palace." Xiao Yan tightened his grip on the teacup, a glint of frostiness passing through his dark eyes. "Is your teacher, then, Master Yao Chen, the renowned herbalist from back then?" Xun didn't find it surprising at all. She had already investigated the matter upon returning to the ancient clan, and thus knew well that Master Yao's identity was no surprise. Xiao Yan nodded slightly. "Yao Chen?" The cloaked elder, upon hearing this, was momentarily startled, then stared at Xiao Yan with a look of astonishment. "I didn't expect him to be your teacher—Master Yao's expertise in herbal medicine is truly rare on this continent." "Indeed," smiled the white-haired elder, adding with a touch of nostalgia. "We had met him several times during those days, though at the time, both of us were still just ordinary Soul Kings." Xiao Yan smiled slightly, turned his gaze toward Xun'er who was quietly pondering by the side, and was momentarily taken aback, asking, "What's wrong?" "Given what has happened today, the Hún Palace will surely strengthen its defenses against you. They may even transfer Master Yao Chen from his current prison. If you rush ahead without proper planning, you might end up being caught in their net." Xun'er hesitated before adding. "Never underestimate the Hún Palace. Over the years, our ancient clan has clashed with them on numerous occasions, yet they have never been truly shaken. With your current strength, even with these two Dou Zun allies by your side, if you don't make a well-thought-out plan, it will be difficult to rescue Master Yao Chen from their grasp." "The white-haired elder also spoke up, reminding, 'Miss, this visit won't last long—no more than ten days before you'll have to return. Your status within our ancient clan is quite special. Until you have your own means of protection, I believe it would be wiser for you not to engage closely with the clan...'" Xiao Yan's brow furrowed slightly. Though he didn't fully understand what "special" meant, he knew that the ancient clan had ties to the Xiao family, and the Tu She Ancient Emperor's jade he wore was something the clan particularly desired. As the old doctor had advised earlier, this jade should remain concealed—otherwise, it would surely bring about a deadly threat. Simply this point alone made Xiao Yan cautious in his dealings with the ancient clan. "Brother Xiao Yan, the strength of the Huan Pavilion far exceeds what you've seen so far. Never let your guard down—both the rescue of Old Master Yao and your uncle will depend entirely on you." Xun'er's cheeks were also serious; she was afraid that if Xiao Yan acted hastily and went directly to rescue Yao Lao, he would fall into the Hands of the Soul Palace. After all, the Soul Palace's true objective was precisely the piece of Tu She Ancient Emperor's Jade held by Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan's face and eyes were slightly gloomy. Having recently endured such a fierce battle, he had already exposed much of his strength to the Soul Palace's information network. It was certain that they would soon become aware of this. If he still proceeded as he was, with his party moving forward, not only might he fail to save Yao Lao, but he might even lose his entire group. Gently gripping the teacup, Xiao Yan felt a growing restlessness. The longer Yao Lao remained in the Soul Palace, the heavier his suffering became—this feeling was almost like having his heart cut with knives. Seeing Xiao Yan in this state, Xun'er sighed softly and said nothing further. With her silence, the hall also fell into a quiet stillness. After a while, Xiao Yan exhaled deeply, his voice low and steady, saying, "In the near future, I won't actively seek out the Spirit Palace..." Hearing this, Xun'er breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Brother Xiao Yan, please rest assured—Master Yaochen is no ordinary Spirit Sovereign. The Spirit Palace will never easily take his life. Once I return, I will mobilize the ancient clan's resources to locate where Master Yaochen is being held. Should I receive any news, I will immediately send someone to inform you." Xiao Yan nodded slightly. Since now was not the optimal moment to rescue Yao Lou, he would need to focus on preparing for the Dan Conference at the Dan Tower. As long as he secured the Three Thousand Yan Fire, his strength would surge dramatically. At that point, even facing a master of Ice River's caliber, he would surely possess the capability to stand and fight. Then, he could quietly gather allies and successfully rescue Yao Lou from the Hún Palace. As for his father, Xiao Zhan—his eyes dimmed slightly at this thought. Since his disappearance, he had lost all trace of his father's whereabouts. Had it not been for the lingering spiritual glow on the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's jade, Xiao Yan might have believed his father had already fallen victim to the Hún Palace. "Perhaps I can glean some information about my father from Qing Qi," Xiao Yan murmured, gently brushing his fingers over the storage ring on his hand. As Qing Qi, a senior elder of the Hún Palace, had surely known many things. "But whether it's rescuing the herbal master or my father—it all depends on having the strength. Therefore, the Three Thousand Flames of Yanyan must be secured!"