Before the spatial corridor lay a spacious open area, where the surrounding space was severely distorted—clearly a spatial pause point forcibly constructed by the might of Dan Ta strength. Such a technique and ambition were truly remarkable; even the Ice River Valley, a typically strong faction, would likely not possess such capabilities. Already, numerous figures—either seated or standing—had gathered on this open ground, each radiating a strong aura, clearly having successfully passed the first phase of the illusion trial. Most of these figures were scattered apart, maintaining watchful vigilance toward one another, with only a few gathering in small groups. Yet even among these few, their gazes toward others remained tinged with caution. In such a setting, there were no friends—only competitors. The sudden appearance of Xiao Yan naturally drew the attention of all present, and a cascade of expressions—ranging from curiosity to skepticism—was immediately cast upon his form. Feeling the wary glances, some of them subtly skeptical, Xiao Yan remained composed, his gaze slowly sweeping across the open space and unexpectedly spotting the figures of Cao Ying and Song Qing. When Xiao Yan noticed Cao Ying and Song Qing, the latter two also sensed his presence—Cao Ying was momentarily taken aback, then a captivating, alluring smile bloomed on her lips, one that stirred the hearts of many men around her; Song Qing, meanwhile, subtly furrowed his brow. Though he smiled gently from a distance, Xiao Yan did not approach closer—he instead stepped back, finding a clear spot to sit cross-legged. He didn’t wish to become too closely entangled with either of them, nor did he fully understand their intentions. If they were to collaborate, he couldn’t be certain whether they might ultimately betray him. Over the years, he had seen such situations numerous times, and thus naturally remained vigilant. Moreover, although the trial on this realm appears to merely involve entering and searching for various precious materials according to given tasks, everyone knows that the second round will be crucial—this stage will eliminate countless participants, clearly demonstrating the challenge's difficulty. Xiao Yan understands well that the greatest adversary in this second round is not anyone else, but rather the contestants themselves present here. Therefore, in such circumstances, if full trust in one's partners cannot be established, it would be wiser to act independently. Seeing Xiao Yan's behavior, Song Qing feels a great relief, yet Cao Ying's brows slightly furrow, unable to help but feel a growing irritation—this person has repeatedly disrespected her, and even the most patient nature will eventually grow a little heated. "Let me handle it for you. Once you've entered the Dan Realm, see how you'll manage on your own!" Cao Ying gritted her teeth, gently grinding them like a small wild cat, her voice tinged with quiet frustration. "Indeed, the Dantai is no ordinary place—there truly are hidden talents everywhere..." As Xiao Yan subtly withdrew his gaze, the elder who had been in a state of apparent doze suddenly snapped his eyes open. At that very moment, Xiao Yan felt a subtle tremor ripple through the spiritual energy residing in the center of his brow. The elder glanced calmly at Xiao Yan, then swept his gaze over the gathering, speaking with a weak but steady voice: "The time has come. We may now enter the Dan Realm. Each of you entering must come to me to receive a task prescription, a map of the Dan Realm, and a spatial stone. The prescription lists the herbs you must gather within the Realm—only when you collect all the herbs listed on it can you be considered to have successfully passed this stage." "The role of the map, I won't elaborate further—it shows the exit points of the Dan Realm. Once you've gathered all the required herbs, simply head there. As for the spatial stones, they're essential for survival. Should you find yourselves in a life-threatening situation, simply crush the stone, and you'll be automatically transported out of the Dan Realm. However, once the stone is broken, you'll no longer be eligible to continue in the competition. Do you understand?" At the end, the elder slowly raised his eyes and said. Upon hearing this, everyone nodded slightly. Those who had arrived here so swiftly were certainly not slow learners, and all clearly recognized that the elder was no ordinary man. "The Dan Realm itself is in a state of disrepair and not well-suited for long stays. Therefore, you have only ten days to collect the herbs required for the mission. Herb identification is a fundamental skill for alchemists—shouldn't that be something everyone already knows?" The elder gave a lazy smile, adding, "Also, while the Dan Realm isn't suitable for human habitation, it's a paradise for certain mythical beasts. Over the years, these creatures have thrived and grown immensely strong. Should you encounter them, be cautious—don't expect anyone to rescue you. You should have anticipated this by now. The Dan Assembly isn't a game or a regular competition; it's a true arena of fierce struggle! Those who survive to the end of this struggle will be crowned champions—'one general's success means the death of ten thousand soldiers'—the Dan Assembly is no exception." By the time he finished, the elder's voice had grown notably cold and stern. "There's no need for further words. Those who've already mentally prepared simply come forward to collect their items. If anyone wishes to withdraw now, they still have time..." The elder on the turtle's back slowly surveyed the room, yet no one chose to step back—how could anyone, with all their skills and experience, be so easily daunted by a single speech? Not long after he finished speaking, a middle-aged man dressed in a pharmacist's robe rose without expression, walked to the elder, took the items, stepped firmly, and entered the slowly rotating spatial corridor, vanishing shortly thereafter. Following him, one after another, others began to approach, take their items, and swiftly enter the spatial corridor. Xiao Yan did not rush in immediately, but instead watched calmly. Hearing the old man on the turtle's back describe the Dan Realm, it seemed clearly not a hospitable place—indeed, that made sense. With such a place already capable of filtering out the top alchemical artisans from all four directions of the Qi Continent, it would be hard to believe it wasn't perilous. Thus, it was only natural to send the earlier arrivals to take the lead. After nearly a hundred people had entered the spatial corridor, Cao Ying and Song Qing also stood up, took what was offered from the old man, and stepped into the passage. As they entered, the female spirit turned sharply and glared fiercely at Xiao Yan, leaving him rather helpless. Not long after Cao Ying and Song Qing entered, Xiao Yan himself rose to his feet, just about to move, when a ripple of energy suddenly emerged from a point not far behind him, and then a young figure slowly materialized. As Xiao Yan entered, he too felt a subtle awareness, turning his head slightly. A cold, sharp expression passed through his dark eyes—this person was none other than Chen Xian, who had previously clashed with Xiao Yan at the Herbalist's Trade Fair and later sold information concerning him to Master Mu Gu. Chen Xian still wore a white robe, holding a purple iron fan in his hands, presenting a very refined appearance. However, now on his chest, a rank badge gleamed with brilliant light—seven shimmering golden-purple stars, clearly indicating that Chen Xian himself was a mid-tier Seventh-Rank Herbalist. As Chen Xian entered, his gaze swept across the room, pausing momentarily on Xiao Yan standing not far ahead. He first paused slightly, then a teasing smile spread across his face. The purple iron fan in his hands gently tapped against his palm as Chen Xian walked straight toward the spatial passage. As he passed by Xiao Yan, he paused briefly, smiled softly, "Xiao Yan, I didn't expect you to be so resilient—never once did that one take your life, even when he intervened." Xiao Yan gazed at Chen Xian, whose expression was calm and gentle, a deep, thoughtful smile playing at his lips. He spoke softly, "Chen Xian, Junior Master, you'd better take care in the Dan Realm—otherwise, the Xuanming Sect will truly see its legacy fade." "Crack!" The purple iron fan struck his palm with force. Chen Xian stared at Xiao Yan with a cold, piercing gaze. After a moment, he slowly nodded, saying, "I'll return that to you—don't let me catch you in the Dan Realm. Otherwise, you'll come to understand what it truly means to suffer beyond death." "As Soon as Senran finished speaking, Chenxian's solemn smile deepened. He said nothing more, turned, and walked toward the corridor, then took the item from the old man riding the turtle, stepping directly into the spatial passage.