A rich, deep crimson energy filled the spacious room, spreading out with intense heat, making the chamber seem as though it were ablaze, steaming warmly. On the bed, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged, his body resembling an ever-expanding abyss, continuously drawing in the crimson energy from the surrounding realms. As this energy flowed into his body, his skin began to ripple with waves of crimson, and sweat poured forth from his face, cascading down his cheeks like streams of water. Directly absorbing the energy from the herbs—this was the first time Xiao Yan had done so. In the past, he usually prepared or refined the herbs, maximizing their energy potential. But now, he simply didn’t have enough time. The breakthrough opportunity flashed by and vanished, and he wasn’t sure when he’d be able to catch it again. Fortunately, Xiao Yan’s body was protected by the unique fire within him. Although the absorption of that vibrant red energy brought waves of fiery discomfort, it was still bearable, and fortunately, it hadn’t caused any physical injury. The immense red energy continuously flowed into him, then transformed through refinement into pure combat energy, flowing smoothly through the meridians within his body, bringing a sense of abundant strength and vitality. Xiao Yan's mind was now intensely focused, for as more energy flowed into his body, he began to sense the earlier breakthrough signs re-emerging, with subtle hints once again appearing. Boom! Boom! Increasing amounts of combat energy gathered within his meridians, roaring softly like a flood, each surge brushing past the meridians causing Xiao Yan's soul to tremble—such a sensation was utterly captivating. The room's pervasive crimson energy, intensified by the growing suction emanating from within Xiao Yan's body, began to rise in gusts, forming tangible streaks of combat energy that struck his body and then seeped through pores and breath, fully penetrating him. During this vigorous suction, the crimson energy flowed through pores and skin, delivering a scorching sensation that made Xiao Yan feel as though he had been plunged into a pot of hot, spicy sauce. Whistling! Whistling! Under this near-gorging consumption by Xiao Yan, the gradually fading crimson energy within the room grew ever more diluted, while Xiao Yan's own aura, on the contrary, grew ever more powerful and imposing... Gasps! As the final strand of crimson energy flowed into Xiao Yan through his breath, his slightly trembling body suddenly froze, becoming as rigid as a sculpture, motionless in an instant. Within the room, an eerie silence suddenly settled in. Subtly, the sound of rushing waters could be heard, emanating from the source—this sound, in fact, came from the energy radiating within Xiao Yan himself. While Xiao Yan remained thus, as if in a state of meditative stillness, a mighty aura was slowly stirring, rising as if a lion had just awakened. ... Outside Xiao Yan's room lay a tranquil courtyard, adorned with various flowers. With the gentle breeze sweeping through, a delicate, fragrant aroma drifted gently. In the courtyard stood a stone pavilion. At this moment, two stunningly beautiful women sat calmly within it, a chessboard placed before them. Occasionally, the crisp, clear sound of chess pieces landing on the board could be heard. Should Xiao Yan come out now, he would surely be astonished—these two women, who had always seemed subtly at odds since they first met, were now able to sit quietly together, playing chess. It was truly unbelievable. The young physician gently lifted her eyes, gazing at the stunning girl before her, and offered a composed, neutral smile. How could she not sense the subtle inquiries woven into Xun'er's words? Though the girl was no ordinary person, was she truly simple? Having established a highly centralized organization—such as the Poison Sect—within the Yun Cloud Empire, it was clear that beyond her strength, she possessed deep strategic insight. She simply preferred not to display it often when accompanying Xiao Yan. Noticing the young physician's reserved and equivocal demeanor, Xun'er paused slightly, her jade hands stilling, and gave her a thoughtful glance before softly saying, "I'll be leaving soon. After that, Xiao Yan may need your continued care and attention..." "As long as I'm alive, he won't meet any mishaps," the young physician replied, her steady gaze fixed on Xun'er, her gentle voice carrying an unwavering certainty. At Xiao Yixian's reply, Xun'er nodded slightly and stretched lazily, revealing her graceful, slender curves. As she was about to rise, her dark brows furrowed suddenly, and she lifted her head to gaze toward the distant sky, where a gust of wind seemed to rush in violently. Crack! When Xun'er noticed it, Xiao Yixian also turned her head, her dark brows furrowed. "Is it the Ice River Valley? Or the Spirit Palace?" "No... it's from the Ancient Clan." Xun'er shook her head. "It must be the Black Yen Army—I can smell the scent of the four-winged unicorns." The space within the stone pavilion subtly rippled, and then the two elderly figures in black robes materialized, gazing toward the distant sky. "They must have received orders from the Ancient Clan, given the scale of the battle a few days ago." The other elder, with white hair, nodded in agreement. "These people truly follow us like shadows..." Xun'er shook her head, her expression somewhat displeased. "There's no choice—Black Yen's army has been directly placed under the control of the ancient clan elder, Xi. Those old fellows are determined to have the lady stay in the Ancient Realm for life." The cloaked elder chuckled coldly, clearly unimpressed with the so-called elder Xi. As the three spoke, the wind rushing from the sky grew louder and louder. Soon, several dozen dark figures materialized above the Ye City, and then the massive four-winged unicorne gradually settled above the Ye family's estate. "Hehe, the elders are worried that Miss Xun might suffer any injury while out in the world, so they specifically ordered me to fetch her back to the Ancient Realm..." Lin Quan smiled at Xun'er, then glanced around the courtyard, only to find Xiao Yan's figure absent. His brow furrowed immediately. "With me and Miss Xun protected, what could possibly go wrong? Can your newly attained Five-Star Battle Sovereign strength—achieved only after your purification at the Clan's Imperial Altar—really be enough to ensure her safety?" The white-haired elder chuckled, his tone neither formal nor courteous. After all, his standing within the Ancient Clan far surpassed that of Lin Quan, a young up-and-comer. "Master Lin is being too modest," Lin Quan replied, respectfully bowing. "I simply can't ignore the elders' orders." Seeing Lin Quan had invoked the elder's authority, the white-haired elder fell silent and instead turned his gaze to Xun'er, observing her reaction. "Miss, the elders are truly anxious this time. You've not only come out on your own, but have even fought against the Spirit Pavilion. Should they learn of your identity and react with such fury, the ancient clan would surely face great upheaval. Therefore, the elders have issued a strict command: if we fail to bring you back, we will all face clan punishment upon our return." Lin Quan turned to Xun'er, speaking in a serious tone. Xun'er slightly furrowed her brows. She had long known that should the news of her encounter with the Spirit Pavilion reach the Ancient Realm, the clan would immediately dispatch someone to retrieve her—but she hadn't expected it to happen so swiftly. After a moment's pause, she turned her gaze toward the closed room and said, "I'll return in two more days." Upon hearing this, Lin Quan frowned slightly, then also looked toward the room, his eyes flashing a cold glint, before smiling, "It's said that the young lord from the Xiao family is also here. Do you know where he is?" Heh, it's been quite some time since we last saw each other at the Gan'an Academy—how has he fared these years? Hearing the subtle undercurrent of mockery in Ling Quan's voice, both Xun'er and the Young Healer in the stone pavilion slightly frowned. "Creak…" Just as the two were about to speak, the closed door gently swung open, and a tall figure stepped out slowly, accompanied by a soft, gentle laugh. "So, it's Ling Quan, the former Commander, heh. I must have been quite negligent in welcoming you—after all these years of cultivation, Ling Quan has only reached the Five-Star Battle Sovereign level. That truly surprised Xiao Yan!" Ling Quan's smile gradually faded, turning cold as he fixed his icy gaze upon the young figure stepping out from the room. He hadn't expected that the once-inept, barely able to speak in his presence, would now dare to mock him so openly—truly believing that with his lady's protection, he could raise his head high and look down upon him? As the cold in Ling Quan's gaze grew more intense, Xiao Yan finally stepped forward and appeared within the courtyard, his face radiating a seemingly bright and cheerful smile. At the very moment Xiao Yan manifested, a mighty aura began to radiate outwards from within him. As this aura spread, Ling Quan, who had been gloomy, suddenly tightened his pupils! "A Battle Sect cultivator?!"