The black-robed girl's languid gaze slowly swept across the hall, and whomever it touched felt a surge of warmth and apprehension. No one in the room had failed to hear her name. Cao Ying, the supernatural daughter of the Cao family, one of the leading contenders for the position of Grand Master of Dan Tower! While the first title might not be particularly renowned, the latter—Grand Master of Dan Tower—was enough to elevate her to the status of a divine figure. The Grand Masters of Dan Tower held a position of immense power across the entire continent; anyone occupying such a seat truly grasped the weight and magnitude of supreme authority. Dan Tower, the holy ground of every alchemist on the continent, could even be said without reservation to be the spiritual leader of countless alchemists. The influence of Dan Tower was unquestionable—and that influence rested entirely upon the will of its Grand Masters. Cao Ying is arguably the most brilliant talent in the history of the Cao family. As a direct disciple of one of the three pillars of Danta, she is on a trajectory that, by the time a century has passed, will surely make her a contender for one of the Danta's leading positions—perhaps even, under the right circumstances, capable of eliminating the current contender altogether. At that point, she would become the youngest female pillar in Danta's history. For a woman of such outstanding achievement, the radiant aura that surrounds her indeed commands the admiration and reverence of all present. Seeing this, Cao Ying's face bloomed with a graceful smile, and with a light, elegant stride, she made her way toward the Cao family's seating area. Behind her, a line of Cao family members followed closely. Among them, Xiao Yan finally spotted a familiar face—Cao Dan. At that moment, Cao Dan was closely trailing behind Cao Ying, occasionally glancing at the alluring figure ahead, his eyes revealing a deep, restrained affection. Xiao Yan's gaze lingered briefly on Cao Dan before shifting to the other man standing beside him—slightly more robust in build, with a serious expression and thick, prominent brows, giving off an air of strict dignity. This man was the only Cao family member standing behind Cao Ying who remained completely at ease, feeling no pressure at all. "I believe this must be Cao Xiu..." Xiao Yan slowly drew his gaze back. These three represented the very pinnacle of Gao's younger generation. Of course, even the older members of the Gao family would likely fall short in comparison to Cao Ying—such a prodigy was truly beyond human reach. Under the watchful eyes of many in the hall, Cao Ying walked toward the Gao family's designated seat. As she passed by the Dan family's seat, her steps paused slightly. She turned her head, her beautiful eyes fixed on the delicate young girl, and smiled warmly, "Dan Chen, it's been a while since we last met." In response to Cao Ying's greeting, the young woman known as Dan Chen merely nodded gently, saying little. "I didn't expect you to come as well—I assume you came because of the Dan Festival, right? Hah, the Dan family must have invested quite heavily. Do they really intend to secure the championship title this time?" Cao Ying murmured softly,掩着嘴微笑. Against Gao Ying's cool and reserved demeanor, Dan Chen seemed no different from a little girl, lacking any sharpness or assertiveness in her tone. "Gao Ying, you're being quite generous," said Dan Xuan, smiling gently and taking over the conversation, "this year's Dan Championship title—quite frankly, it's likely yours alone. The others simply don't possess that caliber." "You're quite eloquent, but don't expect that to ease my guard," Gao Ying replied, her eyes steadily fixed on Dan Chen, her voice soft. "I'd also like to know—after two years apart—how much stronger you've become since then. Have you truly reached that level?" "When speaking of the alchemy matters this time, Dan Chen no longer displayed that delicate, fragile demeanor—rather, he seemed entirely transformed, his gaze fixed steadily on Cao Ying, saying, 'I too would like to know...' Cao Ying was not surprised by Dan Chen's sudden shift, nor did she hesitate—she merely smiled lightly, nodded gently, and with a subtle sweep of her jade sleeve, turned toward the Cao family's seating area. As she passed by the Ye family's seats, she made no pause, moving directly into their place and settling gracefully at the foremost position. Cao Ying paid no attention to the Ye family. It was only Cao Shan who suddenly halted, casting a cold smile toward Xiao Yan and remarking, 'I didn't expect you to still want to get involved in this matter.' Xiao Yan raised his eyes, smiled, but paid him no further mind. For Xiao Yan's indifferent demeanor, Cao Dan's eyes flickered with a cold glint. Just as he was about to coldly command him, a sturdy man standing beside him extended his hand to stop him. The man glanced at Xiao Yan with a calm expression and said, "Let's go. Standing here shouting like this is rather out of place." Though Cao Dan remained somewhat reluctant, he nodded and then gave a cold sigh, stepping into the Gao family's seating area. "You're the one named Xiao Yan? I've heard of you from Cao Dan." The man fixed his gaze on Xiao Yan, speaking softly. Xiao Yan looked at the sturdy man before him, and while his outward appearance suggested a strong, robust presence, it was surprising how highly accomplished he seemed as a pharmaceutical artisan—indeed, as Leaf Zhong had mentioned, he appeared far more mature and composed than Cao Dan. "Gao Xiu, one of the Gao family's three prodigies, renowned throughout the realm," Xiao Yan smiled. "The geniuses aren't saying things like this about people like me..." Cao Xiu stared intently at Xiao Yan, then glanced at the others by the side, Li Zong, before slowly said, "You're quite capable, but if you want to save the Ye family, it might be quite difficult. I hope you don't end up getting entangled in too many complications." "Thank you for the advice," Xiao Yan smiled. Cao Xiu nodded briefly, unwilling to say any more, and then turned to walk toward the Cao family's seating area. "Indeed, this man isn't like Cao Dan—someone who's simple-minded and easily impulsive. He's quite different." Xiao Yan watched Cao Xiu's back, stretched lazily, and murmured. "Cao Xiu's alchemy talent isn't actually superior to Cao Dan's, yet his achievements surpass Cao Dan's significantly." Li Zong nodded, sighed, "He possesses exceptional perseverance. With both Cao Xiu and Cao Ying in the family, the Cao household truly has good fortune." ... "Brother, what exactly did you have to talk about with that man?" You've got to help me settle this score this time—just don't let that young man make it into the top three, and the Ye family will be finished..." Cao Dan glanced at Cao Xiu, who was seated beside him, and spoke with some displeasure. Cao Xiu glanced at him briefly and said calmly, "He's no ordinary guy. It's no surprise that he outperformed you. In fact, this time, he might actually make it into the top three." "Another seventh-rank mid-level alchemist—reaching this level at his age, and yet not showing off like most young people do, clearly indicating a calm and composed nature. If he manages to enter the top three this time, it's quite plausible." Sitting in the foremost seat, Cao Ying, with her long, delicate white hands gently playing with a smooth jade bead, listened to their conversation without turning around, and responded casually. Upon hearing this, Cao Dan grew even more dissatisfied, as though he found it hard to believe that both of them viewed Xiao Yan so highly. Yet, he dared not voice his objections against Cao Ying, so he simply swallowed his words and remained silent. … When the members of the Cao family took their seats, the ground within the hall suddenly began to tremble gently. The seating areas of the five families slowly shifted like movable floors, and in a moment, a spacious plaza emerged at the center of the hall. As the plaza appeared, an energetic white-haired elder stepped forward, paused at its center, and slowly scanned the gathering. With a smile, he said, "Since all five families have arrived, I shall take the lead in overseeing this session. I believe there's no one who would object." "Ah-ah, Senior Sheng! With your esteemed position and status within the Dan Tower, who would dare challenge you?" Responding to the elder's laughter, only Cao Ying smiled warmly, as her status seemed notably higher than that of many present. "This elder is Sheng Yao, one of the Eight Senior Elders of Dantai, and holds considerable influence within the Dantai—indeed, he can be considered part of its true leadership." Ye Zhong whispered this to Xiao Yan as he spoke. Xiao Yan nodded slightly. As soon as the white-haired elder appeared, he felt a subtle, almost imperceptible pressure—deep within his very soul—indicating that this man was no ordinary figure. Gazing at Xinlan's anxious, delicate face, Xiao Yan smiled, a surge of boldness rising naturally from his heart. Under the steady gaze of the entire audience, he gently rose to his feet. "At last, it's begun..." The great ship of the Ye family, on the brink of capsizing, would now either be saved by Xiao Yan's determined efforts—or it would not. The fate of this ship would be decided today!