Inside the hall, everyone turned to gaze at Cao Ying, who had led a member of the Cao family out through the main doors, and exchanged glances filled with quiet astonishment. No one could have imagined that this year's five leading families would produce such a surprising dark horse—let alone that even Cao Ying, the Cao family's representative, had been unable to contain the momentum. With the evaluations now complete, several people decided to leave without further delay, gradually turning and departing. Even those who had previously maintained some ties with the Ye family began reaching out to Ye Zhong now. Though the Ye family had declined in stature, it still retained its position among the five leading families, and a seat on the Dan Tower's council would be preserved. While perhaps not as prestigious as the Cao family, this status was still something that ordinary families could hardly match. Faced with these greetings, Ye Zhong smiled warmly and listened attentively. Though the Ye family had now regained some breathing room, this was far from the foundation upon which they could boast. Having personally witnessed the years of decline and stagnation, Ye Zhong was well aware of exactly how to speak in a way that would truly benefit the future of the Ye family. Xiao Yan casually draped a robe over his body and then walked steadily toward the Ye family's seating area, smiling at Ye Zhong and the others. "Brother Xiao Yan, are you alright?" Xin Lan quickly asked upon seeing him approach. Xiao Yan smiled and waved his hand. As he was about to speak, his gaze shifted, and he noticed the Dan family members approaching them under the guidance of Dan Xuan. "May I have the honor of addressing Elder Ye?" "Dan Xuan first bowed slightly to Ye Zhong, then turned his gaze to Xiao Yan, smiling and saying, 'Heavenly surprise! Xiao Yan, you truly are astonishing—neither could I have imagined that even Cao Ying could not overcome you.' Xiao Yan had always held a certain regard for Dan Xuan. Like Cao Xiu, he was someone who could lose gracefully, unlike Bai Ying, who often struggled to do so. Upon seeing Dan Xuan come to congratulate him, Xiao Yan smiled and replied, 'Forgive me—she didn't give it her all. If she had, I wouldn't have been able to hold on.' As he spoke, his eyes involuntarily shifted toward the young woman standing behind Dan Xuan. At that moment, the girl was gazing at him with curiosity, and as he looked at her, a gentle blush spread across her cheeks, like a ostrich pulling her head back, hiding behind Dan Xuan. 'This is my cousin Dan Chen,' Dan Xuan said with a touch of apology, 'she's never particularly fond of strangers.' Xiao Yan smiled and shook his head. He had previously interacted with the young woman and was aware of her peculiarities. From Gao Ying's evident regard for her, it was clear that she was someone who never revealed herself fully—yet what struck him as surprising was that he sensed absolutely no spiritual resonance from Dan Chen at all. "Wait a moment..." As Xiao Yan's words had just finished, a voice rang out behind him. He turned around with some curiosity, and there stood Sheng Elder, approaching briskly with a warm smile. "Senior Sheng, is there something I can assist with?" Xiao Yan couldn't afford to be casual with this elder, so he smiled politely. Sheng Elder brushed his beard gently, then glanced at Ye Zhong, and sighed, "Ye Zhong, congratulations—finally, you've managed to preserve one of the Five Great Families' titles..." "This truly owes much to Senior Sheng's persistent efforts. This great favor will always be remembered by the Ye family," Ye Zhong chuckled. Sheng Elder waved his hand, then turned his gaze to Xiao Yan, smiling, "But your family, this time, has indeed found an impressive ally—Xiao Yan, isn't it?" Xiao Yan nodded with a smile. "I've heard of your connection with Binghe Valley. Is Master Yao your teacher?" Sheng Elder asked warmly. Hearing this, Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly. Before he could speak, Senior Sheng waved his hand and smiled, saying, "Don't worry—back when I was younger, I actually received guidance from Yao Chen..." With a slight easing of his mind, Xiao Yan hesitated a moment before slowly nodding. "Regarding Tan Ta, Xiao Yan has always held a sense of caution and reverence. As a towering figure who ranks alongside the Huan Pavilion, his strength must surely be exceptionally formidable." Seeing Xiao Yan's hesitation, Senior Sheng said seriously, "I think the Chairpersons might be interested in you. It would be beneficial to meet them—there's no downside." "Chairpersons?" Xiao Yan's heart leapt. Who, besides the three distant, often-unsighted giants of the Tan Ta, would be addressed in such a manner by Senior Sheng, one of the eight senior elders? "I notice you're particularly interested in Cao Ying's spirit seal—it was precisely the one she learned at Tan Ta," Senior Sheng smiled, his tone carrying a subtle hint of suggestion. His enticement was far from ineffective. As soon as Xiang Yan's gaze settled on Sheng's elder, he paused and after a moment of thoughtful silence, slowly nodded. With the Dan Tower's strength and standing, if anything were to go against him, no elaborate maneuvers would be needed—thus, accepting the offer was entirely reasonable. "Hehe, then it's settled. I'll personally go to Ye Academy in a few days to escort you to the Dan Tower," Sheng's elder smiled, saying so upon seeing this. Hearing this, Xiao Yan also smiled and nodded, chatting with Sheng Elder for a while before finally leaving the hall with Ye Zhong and the others... Watching Xiao Yan's retreating figure, the smile on Sheng Elder's face gradually faded, and he murmured, "As the Chairman mentioned, the Soul Palace will also send representatives to the Dan Festival. That three-thousand Flame of Yan Yin cannot fall into their hands. Therefore, we must do our best to find capable and trustworthy individuals to compete with them..." ... The evaluation of the Five Great Families was no small event in Saint Dan City, drawing considerable attention from various factions. Thus, shortly after the evaluations concluded, the events that unfolded within the hall spread rapidly, as if given wings. The news that the Ye Family had secured first place was a major shock to those who had hoped to mock or undermine the Ye Family. Many were now questioning whether the Ye Family still had the credentials to retain its spot among the Five Great Families—yet this sudden revelation struck them like a sharp slap to the face, leaving them utterly astonished. As the news spread and became clearer, some people finally began to understand the root of the matter—everything stemmed from a young man named Xiao Yan. Thus, within just a few days, Xiao Yan quickly became a hot topic in Shengdan City, clearly capturing the interest of many who were eager to see this unexpected rising star, now on par with Cao Ying. Meanwhile, while the outside world buzzed with excitement over these developments, Xiao Yan himself remained remarkably reserved, spending most of his days quietly within the Ye Academy, diligently refining the spirit hand seal he had secretly learned from Cao Ying, and rarely venturing out. Time flowed steadily in this quiet atmosphere of cultivation. As time passed, the date of the Dan Festival drew nearer, and with it, an ever-increasing surge of people began pouring into Shengdan City. Across the vast region, countless figures could be seen in every corner, and many inns and guesthouses in the city were operating at full capacity. This area had now become the focal point of attention for countless eyes across Zhongzhou. ... Deep within the academy, in a quiet courtyard, Xiao Yan sat in stillness on a stone chair, his eyes closed. His hands slowly formed a series of highly unusual hand seals. Upon close observation, it could be seen that these seals were precisely the spirit hand seals he had secretly learned from Cao Ying on that day. Though the movements of Xiao Yan's hand seals were now slow, they no longer carried the awkwardness of the past. As his hand seals shifted, the spiritual energy naturally radiated from the center of his forehead, flowing along a distinct path and spiraling around the seals. The handprint gradually stabilized after about ten minutes, then slowly ceased. At the same time, Xiao Yan's eyes slowly opened, and a thick breath gently exhaled from his throat... As the breath released, Xiao Yan rose slowly, placed his hands behind him, and then turned to gaze steadily at a spot of emptiness within the courtyard, speaking softly, "Since you've come, why hide and hesitate?" "Indeed, he's no ordinary disciple—his sense of perception is quite remarkable." As soon as Xiao Yan finished speaking, subtle ripples spread from the spot of emptiness, and gradually, a figure wrapped entirely in black robes emerged from the distorted space. Xiao Yan's gaze remained fixed on the unexpected guest, sensing a familiar scent emanating from him. "A member of the Soul Palace?" Xiao Yan's tone remained icy and composed. "Ah, yes. We heard that the bone-spirit cold flame of Master Yao Chen resides within you, so we've come to borrow it for a while." "The figure in the black robe chuckled softly, and as his words settled, a deep blue flame suddenly rose gently from within his body... Xiāo Yīn's gaze fixed upon that deep blue flame, and his pupils instantly narrowed. 'The Sea-Heart Flame?'