It was Chen Xian, the deputy chief of the Xuanming Sect, who could make Xiao Yan react with such an expression. Though they had not been in the same place, they unexpectedly met outside the Hundred Herbs Mountain Range. Behind Chen Xian were two elder figures, whom Xiao Yan also recognized—these were precisely the guards Xiao Yan had seen at the Herbalist Trade Fair. "It's no wonder Chen Xian is so confident," Xiao Yan thought, his brow furrowing slightly. "These two elders are actually herbalists too. It makes sense that he has allies within the Dan Realm...". The two elders' prowess surpassed even Huang Yi's, likely nearing nine-star Battle Sect level, making them quite formidable to deal with. Yet this also reveals Chen Xian's standing within the Xuanming Sect—entering the Dan Realm, he is always accompanied by two nine-star Battle Sect masters as bodyguards, clearly indicating the Sect's high regard for him. While this may partly stem from his status as the junior master, if he were merely a mediocre disciple, even with such a position, he would likely not receive such treatment. As Xiang Yan pondered in silence, Chen Xian and his entourage swiftly approached and, under the collective gaze of the onlookers, gradually settled upon the hillside. Upon landing, Chen Xian surveyed the scene and then paused at Xiang Yan, who stood some distance away. He was momentarily stunned, and then a composed, serene smile of quiet intensity spread across his face. "Xiao Yan," he said, "your fortune seems rather poor...". With a gentle touch of his fingers, he opened his iron fan with a crisp snap. Taking slow, steady steps toward Xiang Yan, he smiled warmly. Xiao Yan gazed calmly at Chen Xian, who was smiling with a look of scorn, then glanced at the two elderly figures trailing behind him. With a gentle smile, he said, "This is your strength?" "Do you think it's insufficient?" Chen Xian lightly waved his purple iron fan, chuckling softly. Xiao Yan nodded slowly. "But I believe it is sufficient," Chen Xian's face suddenly grew cold, and a grim smile passed over the faces of the two elders behind him. With a step forward, they surged forward, their combined power sweeping out in a powerful wave. This sudden development drew the attention of the crowd on the hilltop, yet no one stepped forward to intervene—instead, they retreated, wary of becoming victims themselves. It was not uncommon in the Dan Realm for people to seek revenge on others, and thus, no one found it surprising. Watching the two elders now with their fierce expressions, Xiao Yan's eyes also flashed with a chill. These two were indeed strong, but to expect them to defeat him solely on this basis—Chen Xian was clearly too optimistic. "Kill him!" Chen Xian gently waved his fan, then suddenly pointed sharply at Xiao Yan, his voice growling with intensity. "Yes!" Hearing Chen Xian's command, the two elders immediately responded with a deep, resonant cry, their powerful aura surging forth from within, creating a subtle yet imposing pressure that made some of the less powerful nearby feel a gentle sense of weight. Xiao Yan's eyes slightly narrowed, and his palms slowly slid out from within his sleeves, the emerald flames dancing like sprites between his fingers. "Ah, so it's Chen brother," a sudden laugh broke the tense atmosphere, and soon the gathering saw Song Qing and Cao Ying stepping forward. Upon seeing Song Qing, Chen Xian smiled, clearly recognizing him, and bowed slightly, saying, "I didn't expect to meet you here." Song Qing smiled in return, his gaze shifting toward Xiao Yan beside him—his expression suggested that there was some tension between Chen Xian and Xiao Yan. "Do you two have a dispute?" "Cao Ying watched Xiao Yan with evident interest, then glanced at Chen Xian, smiling gracefully. "There's some lingering grudge between us..." Chen Xian couldn't afford to be overly casual with Cao Ying—given her status and position within the Dan Tower, she was far beyond his status as the Deputy Grand Master of Xuanming Sect. "Hmph, how come you're always making enemies?" Cao Ying's delicate features flashed with amusement as she stepped lightly toward Xiao Yan, laughing. "Just some minor players, nothing more." Xiao Yan smiled, speaking casually. "What did you just say?" Chen Xian's expression grew cold—quite unexpectedly, Xiao Yan had the audacity to challenge him directly. Cao Ying lightly glanced at Chen Xian and the two elders standing beside him, then waved her jade-hand, saying, "Since all of you have come here, I assume you've all been drawn by the task items from the Ten-Thousand-Medicine Mountain. This place isn't exactly kind—no matter how capable you are, you won't be able to seize anything from a beast capable of fighting a Dou-Zun-level warrior. Therefore, I suggest you set aside your grievances for now and unite to navigate through the Ten-Thousand-Medicine Mountain together. How does that sound?" "Indeed, Ying is right. We shouldn't engage in internal conflicts now; otherwise, none of us will secure the task items, and we might even lose our qualification to participate." Song Qing nodded in agreement, smiling. Though he harbored considerable resentment toward Xiao Yan, once Cao Ying had spoken, he naturally couldn't remain passive. Upon hearing this, Chen Xian furrowed his brows, yet he could not afford to offend Cao Ying and Song Qing's faces. After a moment's hesitation, he coldly fixed his gaze on Xiao Yan, his eyes sharp with resentment, and said, "This time, I'll grant you leniency on Cao Ying's behalf. But after you pass through the Ten-Thousand-Medication Mountain Range, may luck be on your side!" "Well, I'm not used to working with strangers..." Song Qing and Chen Xian clearly shared the same traits. Xiao Yan didn't bother with any further explanations, simply waved his hand casually and then turned to walk down toward the hill. Xiao Yan's straightforward refusal left Song Qing momentarily stunned, his face first turning pale, then flushing with embarrassment—he hadn't expected such a lack of courtesy from Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yan, I'm doing this for your own good! Do you really think you can defeat that beast alone?" Song Qing finally voiced his frustration, speaking with a firm tone as he watched Xiao Yan walk away without a word. Gao Ying, standing beside him, was also momentarily caught off guard. Her brows furrowed slightly—this young man seemed always to be different from others. Though Song Qing's earlier remarks had been rather harsh, did he not realize the current situation? "Hehe, Song brother, I've been saying this all along—don't give this guy the benefit of the doubt. You're trying to be kind to him, but he doesn't appreciate it. In my opinion, why not just act now and settle this matter right away? I'd rather avoid all the hassle." Chen Xian's face flashed with a cold, grim expression as he scoffed. Upon seeing Chen Xian's appearance, the two elders nodded grimly, then lightly stepped on the ground, their forms transforming into two blurred silhouettes, carrying two sharp gusts of wind that surged forward like lightning, swiftly sweeping toward Xiao Yan's back. "Boy, after offending the Junior Master, do you really intend to just walk away like this?" The sudden intervention from the two elders came as a surprise to many. When they heard the cold command echoing in their ears, they were startled to find the elders already positioned behind Xiao Yan, their powerful gusts of wind cutting like sharp blades, forcefully slashing across Xiao Yan's neck. "Die!" As Xiao Yan's silhouette came into close range, a grim expression passed over the elders' eyes. With a surge of force, their gusts of wind swept down, landing heavily upon Xiao Yan's shoulders. A sharp sound—*shush!* As the hand strikes landed, the expected spray of blood failed to materialize—instead, the blows passed straight through the figures, and at that very moment, Xiao Yan's silhouette began to gradually fade. "An afterimage?" The two elders' faces instantly tightened as they shook their fists, sending a shockwave that shattered the afterimage. Then, a sharp cry burst from their throats: "Young Master, be careful!" Hearing the elders' urgent call, Chen Xian and Song Qing both slightly stiffened—especially Chen Xian, whose strength was indeed formidable; he immediately realized that these two senior elders had faltered. "This youngster is quite cunning..." A thought flashed through Chen Xian's mind. With a firm stomp of his foot, he shot backward. Yet as he retreated, a sudden distortion rippled through the space behind him. A hazy figure materialized mid-air, his fists wreathed in emerald flames, then surged forward like a thunderbolt, striking Chen Xian's back with full force. The sudden, sharp, scorching gust of wind materializing behind him sent a chill through Chen Xian's heart, forcing him to turn abruptly. His iron fan clanged against the crossbar in front of him. "Clang!" The flame-fisted attack surged forward and struck the fan with solid force, producing a clear, resonant sound of metal on metal. The unusual material of the fan absorbed the punch, and then, suddenly, the force transformed from a fist into a palm, unleashing a powerful surge of hidden momentum. "Boom!" The hidden pressure passed through the fan and struck Chen Xian squarely in the chest, propelling his body backward with such force that it gouged a deep furrow into the ground. "Pfft!" After finally steadying his stance, Chen Xian paled, spitting out a gush of bright red blood. He then lifted his head, eyes wide with astonishment, gazing at the spot where he had stood—there, a slender figure emerged slowly and steadily.