Xiao Yan's first destination was the Ten-Thousand-Medication Mountain Range, one of the three circled areas. Although he wasn't certain whether the resources he needed would be found there, he knew he had to make the journey. In terms of size, the realm of medicine had shrunk somewhat due to gradual decline, covering only about one-third of the area of the original Dan Domain. Yet this one-third should not be underestimated—thanks to the rare materials and treasures scattered throughout this region, few powers on the continent would fail to be drawn to it. With such a space, the realm effectively became an inexhaustible repository of precious medicinal herbs, clearly demonstrating the profound depth of the Dan Tower's foundation. At Xiao Yan's pace, traversing this entire region would take no more than one day and one night. By late afternoon, he had gradually reached the vicinity of the Ten-Thousand-Medication Mountain Range, marked with a circle on the map. Along this journey, Xiao Yan has encountered numerous other contestants. Most of them have distanced themselves upon seeing him, clearly concerned about the possibility of him suddenly making a move—something not uncommon in the Dan Realm, where everyone is a competitor and every effort to minimize rivals enhances one's own chances. Thus, each of them approaches him with a mixture of caution and ill will. As for these individuals who keep their distance, Xiao Yan has paid them little attention. They pose no real threat to him, so he has not acted against them as the large man had done earlier. After a mere glance, he simply moved swiftly and swiftly departed. Of course, not all the competitors were like this. On his journey, Xiao Yan had truly encountered several other cultivators who had reached the Douzong level. While their strength fell slightly short of Huang Yi's, they were still quite comparable. Most importantly, these individuals were all considerably older, clearly belonging to the more established, well-known elder generation of cultivators. Xiao Yan did not actively engage them, but fortunately, these opponents proved tactful. Upon meeting Xiao Yan, they instinctively sensed his formidable presence and, after a brief, respectful exchange of glances, respectfully stepped back and maintained a safe distance. Without the hindrance of these individuals, Xiao Yan's journey has been remarkably smooth, aside from encountering two strong魔兽 attacks midway—otherwise, everything has proceeded with exceptional ease. As for the two魔兽 that attacked Xiao Yan, he found them rather surprising, as he noticed that the魔兽 here—perhaps influenced by the turbulent element present in the celestial and terrestrial energies—seemed more aggressive and fierce compared to those on the Qi Continent. Besides the two beast attacks, Xiao Yan encountered no other obstacles. After nearly four to five hours of continuous travel, the Wanyao Mountain Range came into view as indicated on the map... Xiao Yan's figure floated in the half-sky at the edge of the mountain range, his brow furrowed as he gazed into the mountains veiled in mist. Though he had not yet stepped foot upon the range, his keen spiritual senses revealed that this place was no ordinary haven—it was far from a favorable one. To Xiao Yan's surprise, there was no one blocking his way up the hill; after glancing at him, several people simply turned away. This scene did indeed puzzle Xiao Yan, and his curiosity deepened as he slowly advanced toward the center of the hill. Yet, as he approached, he found himself momentarily stunned to see a large gathering of figures gathered ahead—seeming to number no less than one hundred. Hearing this voice, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and glanced through the gaps in the crowd, and indeed, he saw a young figure standing upon a massive boulder—none other than Song Qing, the youngest elder of Dan Tower. Since Song Qing was here, Gao Ying must also be present. This thought flashed through his mind. As his gaze shifted, he suddenly stopped at a patch of emerald stone among the crowd. Gao Ying, dressed in a flowing black gown, sat in meditation, her jade hands gently playing with a strand of dark hair, her languid demeanor drawing constant admiration from those around her. Such a woman, wherever she went, seemed destined to cause both ruin and prosperity. "It seems they've gathered here because of this Great Herbs Mountain," Xiao Yan remarked, his eyes fixed on the mountain veiled in mist, which appeared especially enigmatic. He could sense a number of powerful beings dwelling within it. Song Qing's words also gained the support of many others. These were all those who had initially rushed into the mountain range in haste, only to be chased and driven to desperation by numerous monsters. Some of those who had moved more slowly had already perished within the mountain range. "As far as I know, the Wàn Yào Mountain Range is home to a vast number of beasts, led by a legendary, fearsome creature whose power has reached the peak of the seventh stage—nearly stepping into the eighth stage. This creature has transported many of the mountain's rare and precious materials to his lair using special methods. Among these are several items we need for our quests..." Standing on the massive stone, Song Qing surveyed the surroundings and spoke solemnly. As a member of the Dan Tower, his understanding of the Dan Realm was far beyond that of ordinary people. Hearing Song Qing's words, waves of murmurs erupted around the room, even Xiao Yan himself slightly frowned. A single foot of that beast had already reached the eighth stage—its combat power was absolutely comparable to a true Douzun master. To wrestle something from such a formidable creature's mouth would certainly not be an easy task. Even for Xiao Yan, it would surely prove extremely challenging. With his current strength, if he summoned the Destroying Fire Lotus, he could certainly defeat the beast, but afterward, he would inevitably enter a weakened state. In such a situation, where enemies surrounded him on all sides, entering a weakened state would carry profound implications—Xiao Yan fully understood that. All present clearly understood the principle. After a brief hesitation, they all slowly nodded—though of course, no one present was particularly dull. While Song Qing's words sounded reassuring, actually placing full trust in others at this moment would surely be a matter of life and death. "I know what each of you is worried about," Song Qing said with a gentle smile. "How about we make a pact: until the ferocious beasts are vanquished, no one shall attack their companions. Should anyone breach this agreement, they shall face joint action from the rest. What do you think?" He naturally understood the cautious minds of the seasoned participants. Upon hearing this, the attendees exchanged glances, pondered for a moment, and gradually found the proposal reasonable. Without a clear course of action, they all knew they would struggle to complete their mission. Thus, murmurs of agreement began to rise throughout the group. Everyone was well aware of Song Qing's standing within the Dan Tower, and his words carried a certain weight of credibility. At sight of this, Song Qing smiled slightly, turned her head, and glanced at Cao Ying, who lounged with a relaxed air, her eyes gleaming with a quiet sense of pride. To win over such accomplished alchemists from across the continent and have them serve under her at the grace of a lady like Cao Ying—this was no ordinary feat. As for Song Qing's efforts, Xiao Yan didn't feel particularly stirred, though if the former truly managed to gather these people together, it would indeed form a substantial force—something capable of posing some trouble to the fierce beasts of the Hundred Herbs Mountain. At that point, he might be able to navigate the situation with some flexibility, as long as he secured the supplies he needed; he wouldn't care much about what happened to the others. After a moment of quiet contemplation, Xiao Yan gave a subtle, barely perceptible nod. Just as he was about to turn, a sudden gust of wind echoed from the halfway sky not far away. He glanced in that direction and saw several figures rushing in from the distance, with the leader being a young man in white robes—someone whose presence had long remained vivid in his memory. In his hands, he held a pale purple iron fan. Upon seeing this man, Xiao Yan's eyes slightly narrowed, and a cold, sharp smile curled at the corner of his lips.