As the night gradually enveloped Yecheng, the clamor stirred by the epic battle during the day began to fade, yet many people's hearts remained filled with excitement and exhilaration. Such a grand confrontation was indeed rare even in the Central Province. What stirred the greatest curiosity among all the people of Yecheng was the identity of the young woman who appeared last—how powerful the Binghe Valley had always been in the Central Province, the Dan Domain people knew well. Yet even Binghe herself, today, had bowed under countless eyes, retreating humbly with her entourage, looking embarrassed and disheveled. All of this had been due solely to the enigmatic young woman in green robes—this clearly revealed the formidable background she carried. A slender crescent moon hung in the deep night sky, casting a cool, silvery glow that gently draped the city, once battered by the day's fierce struggles. In a guest room deep within the Ye family estate, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on the bed, forming hand seals for cultivation. With each breath, a warm, vibrant energy circulated around his body. Though he had not sustained serious injuries during the battle earlier that day, his internal qi had nearly been depleted. Moreover, the powerful energy generated by his Tianhuo Sanxuan Transformation had caused internal damage, potentially tearing open several of his meridians if his physical constitution had not been exceptionally strong. Gradually, streams of celestial and terrestrial energies flowed into Xiao Yan’s body, were refined, and transformed into a steady flow of qi that circulated through his meridians, gradually easing the aching sensations within. This quiet cultivation session lasted nearly two to three hours. Only then did Xiao Yan’s tightly closed eyes slowly open, his pale complexion regaining a healthy glow, and his previously depleted internal qi becoming noticeably replenished. "My strength still falls short. With my current capabilities, I can only manage to hold my own against a peak Douzong-level warrior. As for Douzun-tier warriors, unless I unleash the final, devastating Fire Lotus, I'll likely suffer little damage... Upon opening my eyes and sensing my internal condition, Xiao Yan exhaled slightly, then murmured to himself. Today's battle had brought forth an unusually large number of powerful opponents, which had truly helped him assess his own capabilities. In the Central Region, strength speaks for itself. Had it not been for Xun'er's timely arrival, his group's fate would have been far worse. But if he possessed the unshakable strength to confront the Ice River Valley's master, Ice River, he could have resolved the situation entirely on his own—without relying on luck or waiting for others to step in. And what of Xun'er's help—could she save him once, twice? What about three times, four times?" Although the ancient clan behind Xun'er boasts an extremely strong power, Xiao Yan still feels a considerable sense of caution toward them. He isn't entirely clear about the historical ties between the Xiao family and the ancient clan, but their intentions are unmistakable—they too wish to obtain the Tu She Ancient Emperor Jade from Xiao Yan. Unlike the Hún Palace, which employs relentless and forceful tactics, the ancient clan has adopted a more gentle and diplomatic approach. Xun'er's intervention this time will surely reach the ears of the ancient clan soon. Xiao Yan cannot predict how they will treat him, but in any matter, one must always prepare for the worst—should the ancient clan one day decide to act decisively and seize the Tu She Ancient Emperor Jade by force, then Xiao Yan would be firmly established with his own strength. Xun, Xiao Yan believes that even if he were in opposition to the ancient clan, she would never dare to act against him—this is evident from the fact that the陀舍Imperial Jade, entrusted to him by the ancient clan, has remained a secret until now. Since Xun has managed to keep such a significant matter confidential, it clearly shows how highly she values him. Of course, if that were the case, Xun would inevitably be caught between the tides of love and family loyalty, and no matter who ultimately prevailed, she would suffer. And that, Xiao Yan does not wish to see. "After all, it's still a matter of insufficient strength. If he possessed sufficient power, even the ancient clan would likely not have been forced to intervene..." With a light sigh, Xiao Yan clenched his fists tightly. As his strength continued to grow, he increasingly realized that strength itself was the most essential thing. Loyalty, love, family—all of these required solid strength to protect them. A sharp, piercing gaze flashed in his black eyes. Xiao Yan gently ran his hand over his chest, where a large portion of the magical toxin spots still remained. If he could fully purify these spots, he believed he would be able to ascend to the four-star Dao Sect level. With the addition of the Three Thousand Yan Fire flames later on, he might even reach the peak of the Dao Sect level—making him capable of standing his ground against superiors like Bing He. "Once my injuries heal, I'll begin working on purifying the toxin spots. After all, these have been residing within me for so many years—they're finally due for a complete resolution." Xiao Yan clenched his fists, finally making up his mind. As he slowly unclenched them, just as he was about to resume his cultivation, his eyes suddenly shifted toward the window of the room, and he smiled, saying, "Since you've come, why hide any longer?" As Xiao Yan’s laughter settled, a light chuckle drifted into the room, followed by a graceful figure in jade-green robes gliding in, standing tall and elegant before him, smiling warmly at him, “It’s so late, Xiao Yan, haven’t you rested yet?” Lian steps lightly, and Xun also settles beside the bed, her cheeks gently resting against the now broader shoulder. In a soft, murmured tone, she says, "Xiao Yan brother, these years, I've longed for you so much..." Hearing the deep affection in the girl's voice—something that would seem astonishing to outsiders—Xiao Yan feels a warm glow in his heart. He slides his arm down, cradling Xun's slender, soft waist, and leans his head into her smooth, dark hair, inhaling the delicate fragrance. With this moment, some of his lingering restlessness seems to vanish entirely. Xun remains nestled in Xiao Yan's embrace, and only after a while does she lift her head, her bright eyes gazing into his face. With a gentle hand motion, she produces a golden scroll from her hand and offers it to him. "These are the third three seals following the Imperial Seal Technique. With Brother Xiao Yan's current strength, he should be able to master the third seal..." Xun'er spoke softly. "Brother Xiao Yan, please don't refuse. The Central Plains isn't the Black Angle Domain—here, there are so many strong contenders, and having more survival techniques means greater safety. Xun'er can't stay here forever, so you mustn't find any excuse to delay the Imperial Seal Technique." Staring at the golden scroll before him, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, then slightly helpless—this girl always seemed determined to pass on her belongings to him. Under Xun'er's steady gaze, Xiao Yan hesitated slightly but didn't overly display any hesitation, gently taking the scroll from her hands. He had indeed developed a strong interest in the Imperial Seal Technique—Xun'er's assessment was sound. Having lived and thrived in the Central Plains, one needed solid capabilities to ensure a strong safety margin. As for the power of the Imperial Seal Technique itself, Xiao Yan had personally experienced its strength during his early days as a Battle King and Battle Emperor, where the Mountain-Opening Seal and Sea-Inverting Seal were proven effective weapons. However, as Xiao Yan had now advanced to the Battle Sovereign level, these two seals now carried less impact against certain opponents. To truly enhance their potency, one would need to master the subsequent cultivation methods of the Imperial Seal Technique. "It seemed as though she remembered something. Xin'er suddenly spoke seriously. "Hmm…" Xiao Yan nodded slightly. This matter was too significant—he naturally couldn't reveal it easily. The jade of the Tuo She Ancient Emperor was known even to Xiao Yi, the Heavenly Fire Sovereign, and others, but not to the young physician, Xiao Yin. Seeing this, Xin'er finally exhaled a little, easing her breath. "Does the ancient clan also desire the jade of the Tuo She Ancient Emperor?" Xiao Yan furrowed his brows. Hearing this, Xin'er hesitated slightly, then nodded gently. "The jade of the Tuo She Ancient Emperor is tied to the mystery of the Battle Emperor. I'm sure Brother Xiao Yan knows this—since ancient times, few have reached the rank of Battle Emperor. And those who did seem to vanish overnight, leaving only fragmented records in ancient texts..." For the first time hearing such a secret of the continent, Xiao Yan's spirit stirred. "So, if we gather all these jades of the Tuo She Ancient Emperor, we would gain the method to ascend to the rank of Battle Emperor?" "The Qi Continent is vast and boundless, boasting several strongholds inherited from ancient times. Though these strongholds are often incomplete, each time one is discovered, it sends ripples across the entire continent. As she spoke, Xun'er turned her beautiful gaze toward Xiao Yan, saying, 'The most recent discovery was an exceptionally ruined Qi Emperor's stronghold—this time drew countless powerful beings, and Master Yaochun himself participated...' Xiao Yan raised a brow. He had heard from Master Yao before that the Burned Will technique was accidentally obtained. Could it be that the Burned Will was acquired precisely within that legendary Qi Emperor's stronghold?"