The sudden turn of events left everyone on the hill stunned, gazing at Chen Xian, who had gasped and collapsed in blood just moments before, then at the figure slowly emerging from the shadows. Many felt a chill run down their spines and quietly stepped back. No one had expected that, facing such a formidable lineup led by Chen Xian, Xiao Yan not only didn't flee early but dared to feint, deliberately avoiding the two key figures and launching a direct assault on Chen Xian. The situation had been clear to all—had Chen Xian reacted any slower, he likely would have been cut down right there by Xiao Yan. Not far away, Song Qing was also struck with some astonishment by this scene. His knowledge of Xiao Yan had been limited to hearsay, with the most frequent account coming from the five great families' evaluation in the Sacred Dan City. Though Xiao Yan's performance during that evaluation had been outstanding, it hadn't truly left a profound impression on him. Moreover, Xiao Yan's strength was roughly at the four-star Dao Sect level, and Chen Xian's was comparable—yet he had never anticipated that, after just a single exchange of combat, Chen Xian would have been defeated so decisively in Xiao Yan's hands. Cao Ying's eyes shone with an unusual radiance, fixed firmly on Xiao Yan. She had never expected that not only was Xiao Yan's spiritual strength formidable, but he was also such a capable fighter—hence, it came as no surprise that he had the courage to challenge the Ice River Valley back then. As for Chen Xian, however, she found him rather unimpressive. She was well aware that Song Qing's earlier remarks would likely have the opposite effect. Though their interactions had not been deep, she could clearly sense that Xiao Yan's pride was no less than her own. Naturally, he would disregard any words spoken in a patronizing tone, and given the strength he had demonstrated, that was precisely what he deserved. "Boy, you're going to die!" When Xiao Yan's single palm strike sent Chen Xian gasping and flying backward, the two elders finally regained their composure, shouting in astonishment. With a swift movement, they appeared behind Chen Xian and simultaneously extended their hands to steady him, firmly holding him in place. "Kill this fool! I want him to suffer beyond all endurance!" "Caught by the two, Chen Xian's gentle face was instantly covered with fury. Xiao Yan's palm strike truly left him humiliated, and he now shouted wildly. Upon hearing this, the two elders exchanged glances, yet only one stepped forward slowly. The astonishing speed Xiao Yan had displayed had even left them both astonished; should it happen again, Chen Xian's life might well be at risk. And then, they would surely face severe disciplinary measures from the sect—consequences even more dire than death. 'This young man is no ordinary one,' the elder remarked, slightly regretful. 'Though his surface strength is only at the four-star Dao Sect level, he's incredibly tenacious. Ah...' As he stepped forward, he glanced at Xiao Yan who had now emerged nearby, and sighed. 'By provoking the Junior Sect Master, you have now brought yourself into conflict with Xuanming Sect...' The elder's expression grew somber as he fixed his gaze on Xiao Yan, speaking firmly. "This statement is indeed better than what the young deputy master said—always, it has been he who has been provoking..." Xiao Yan smiled, speaking calmly. The elder paused, finding himself at a loss for words. Indeed, there had been no major conflict between Xiao Yan and Chen Xian, though Chen had harbored some lingering grievances and had subtly set obstacles in Xiao Yan's path. Yet, despite having nothing further to say, by virtue of his position, he could only shake his head and slowly step back, his powerful qi surging forth in a vast, overwhelming wave, exerting such strong pressure that many people on the hillside found their faces subtly pale. "With just you, I still cannot be stopped..." Seeing the elder's intense demeanor, Xiao Yan lifted his eyes slightly, casually glancing toward Chen Xian, who stood at a distance with a fierce expression. As for Xiao Yan's words, the elder found no grounds for rebuttal—his extraordinary speed had already been well known to them before. Even though they themselves were far stronger than Xiao Yan, they still fell short in terms of speed. "White Elder, don't hesitate—kill this fool!" As the elder hesitated, Chen Xian, standing at a distance, roared again, his voice filled with growing fury. At this moment, his hatred for Xiao Yan had reached a boiling point. Hearing Chen Xian's fierce cry, the elder could only sigh softly, grasping his palm and summoning a massive blade—half a zhang in length—that flashed into being. Turning the blade's edge sharply, the sharp tip now faced Xiao Yan. With a pointed foot, he launched himself like a great phoenix, surging forward with lightning speed. The blade, its force capable of cleaving mountains, tore through the space as if it were paper, forming a blade of ten zhang in width at the tip, then crashing down with thunderous force. A massive blade aura sliced through the space, then powerfully struck the open ground. At that moment, the entire hill trembled, and a colossal crack swiftly spread from where the blade landed, gradually extending until it reached the central portion of the hill, where it finally stabilized. Witnessing the elder's overwhelming destructive power, everyone took a sharp breath and quickly retreated, for such a level of combat could easily leave them caught in the crossfire. The blade missed its mark, and the elder's brow furrowed slightly. Xiao Yan's speed proved particularly troublesome. He swiftly glanced toward Chen Xian's position, only to find no immediate movement. "Come out!" With a sharp gaze sweeping the void, the elder's eyes flashed with cold determination. Suddenly, his great blade slammed hard against a section of space on the left. "Clang!" A great blade sliced through the space, and suddenly a massive black ruler materialized, intercepting the blade and deflecting it. As a result, Xiao Yan's figure came into view. With a flick of his wrist, the heavy ruler skillfully deflected the cold, sharp blade. His body rotated halfway, and the ruler swung with it, generating an exceptionally powerful surge of scorching wind that directly targeted the elder's head. "Hmph!" The elder issued a sharp exhalation. What troubled him most was Xiao Yan's speed. If they were to engage in a direct confrontation, he was confident in shaking Xiao Yan's internal qi within ten rounds. With his nine-star Dao Sect strength, he was five star levels above Xiao Yan—such a gap would not be easily closed. He crossed his blade handle across his chest, and at that moment, his internal qi surged forth, gathering fully into the blade. The brilliant radiance rendered the blade as if it were a divine artifact, its piercing cold aura radiating outward, causing subtle distortions in the surrounding space. The heavy measuring rod whistled by, yet as it was about to meet the great blade, it suddenly paused inexplicably. In that instant, Xiao Yan's other hand swiftly formed a rapid succession of intricate hand seals. "Third Heavenly Fire Transformation—First Transformation!" A sharp internal command echoed, and his inner qi surged exponentially—now, with his profound understanding of the Third Heavenly Fire Transformation, he had truly achieved the state of mind-over-body. The surge of qi happened seamlessly and silently, far surpassing his previous capabilities. As his inner qi intensified, so too did the quality of his aura, and the force within the measuring rod surged rapidly. Finally, under the old man's stunned gaze, it struck the brilliant great blade with solid force. "Clang!" A thunderous clash of gold and iron resonated in the mid-air above the hill, followed instantly by a terrifying cyclonic gust centered on the two figures, sweeping out like a storm, shaking the surrounding crowd into disarray and forcing them to stumble back. "Crack!" A subtle sound emerged within the force of the wind, and at that moment, the elder's face suddenly paled, his eyes widening as he stared at the fine crack that had begun to form on the great blade. "How has this young man's strength suddenly surged so dramatically?" Feeling the increasing pressure on his arm, the elder's expression grew increasingly grave—was it possible that this boy had been feigning all along, pretending to be weak while secretly outperforming everyone? "Boom!" As the elder's thoughts raced through his mind, the force transmitted through the heavy measuring rod suddenly surged again. Under this devastating gust, even he was knocked back, his steps faltering. With a single strike, he was sent reeling. As the white-named elder staggered backward, Xiao Yan's face grew abruptly cold. Without hesitation, he instantly turned, planted his foot on the ground, and surged forward like a whirlwind, sweeping toward Chen Xian at a distance. "You're dead!" exclaimed the other elder, who had been guarding Chen Xian, his expression darkening with anger upon seeing Xiao Yan still advance. However, before he could launch himself to intercept, a silver figure suddenly materialized, then surged forward like a human tank, bearing an intensely fierce force directly toward him. The sudden appearance of the silver figure startled the senior of Xuanming Sect greatly. He could sense that the strength of this silver figure was no less than his own. As he was startled, the silvery figure had already surged forward, his iron fists sweeping out and generating successive gales of wind that tightly ensnared the senior disciple of Xuanming Sect. Seeing the elder being held in place, Chen Xian, who had been glaring with fierce intensity, finally showed signs of unease. With a foot press against the ground, he swiftly retreated—knowing clearly that Xiao Yan had come directly at him. Though conscious and alert, Chen Xian's speed could hardly match Xiao Yan's, especially now, with Xiao Yan having already activated the first transformation of the Heaven-Fire Triple Supreme Technique. Thus, as Chen Xian had just taken two steps, the space before him suddenly warped, and then a figure emerged slowly before him—on that young face, a profound and chilling aura of lethal intent now spread, making Chen Xian shiver from head to toe. "You really thought, with someone protecting you, that you'd be safe from death?"