The outlet of the Dan realm is located in the northern region, some distance from the Mountain of Ten Thousand Herbs. Fortunately, the Xuanyou beast that Xiong Zhan has been seeking is exceptionally swift; at this pace, it should reach the outlet within a single day. Along the way, Xiao Yan and the others encountered numerous contestants rushing toward the exit. Some of these contestants were particularly envious of the giant bird they were riding—such a mode of transportation would save countless troubles. Yet, alas, the beasts of the Dan Realm were notoriously fierce and unruly, making it exceedingly difficult to tame them. According to the regulations, any contestant who had not reached the exit before the Realm’s closure would lose their qualification to continue competing. Only two days later would the strong members of the Dan Tower enter the Realm to retrieve those still lingering within. Therefore, the contestants currently remaining in the Dan Realm were all hurrying desperately toward the exit, eager to arrive just in time. And nearly a full day passed swiftly in the course of travel, until by the time the next morning dawned, a vast plaza made of towering white rocks finally emerged in the distance, with faint silhouettes of black specks still visible here and there. "Is this indeed the exit of the Dan Realm?" thought Xiao Yan, gazing at the expansive plaza with a sense of relief—thankfully, no delays had occurred. "Kee-ee!" The Xuan Niao beast emitted a sharp cry, then spread its massive wings, sending a gust of wind rushing forward, swiftly heading toward the plaza. The sudden appearance of such a colossal creature drew the alert attention of several figures on the plaza. These people had grown deeply familiar with the Dan Realm's mythical beasts over the past few days, and thus, even upon seeing the Xuan Niao's immense size, they could not easily dismiss it. Under the steady gaze of those below, the Xuanyuan beast circled above the plaza, and three human figures darted down, landing steadily upon the ground. As these three appeared, a wave of eyes turned toward them, scanning with growing suspicion between Ziyan and Xiong Zhan—two figures whose size disparity was so pronounced that it was hard to believe they were both master alchemists. The trio, however, paid no heed to these glances. Instead, Xiao Yan swept his eyes across the plaza before settling on a few familiar figures at the very front. By the side of Cao Ying, Song Qing couldn't help drawing a faint breath of amusement, then quickly composed himself, his face flushing with embarrassment as he murmured, "Thankfully, Xiao Yan didn't meet any mishap—now I can finally rest easy. That old man secretly exerted a hidden force, pushing me aside forcibly. If I hadn't reacted promptly, that hidden pressure would have taken my life." Upon hearing this, Cao Ying's eyes sparkled, and she lightly smiled, covering her mouth. "Master Song, there's no need to feel guilty. At that moment, staying behind would have meant certain death. How could I possibly blame you?" As she spoke, a warm smile adorned her cheeks, yet in her deep gaze, a subtle coldness and mild disdain lingered. No matter how strong and resolute she usually appeared, in moments of life-or-death crisis, she remained a vulnerable woman—small gestures from others often left a deep impression. It was clear that Song Qing had now been firmly added to her blacklist. Cao Ying's emotions, which Song Qing had not perceived, brought a sense of relief to his heart. From afar, Xiao Yan's gaze swept over Gao Ying's graceful figure, whose every subtle expression radiated an unparalleled charm. When Gao Ying noticed Xiao Yan's gaze, a rare softness appeared on her alluring face. Xiao Yan was momentarily taken aback—though this elegant woman usually smiled warmly, her smile carried a distinct air of refinement and composure, a quality quite unlike today's gentle expression, one that even Song Qing had never experienced. With a smile of his own, Xiao Yan felt no animosity toward Gao Ying. Indeed, given her promising future and potential rise to influence within the Dan Tower, a favorable relationship would be a most beneficial development. After a brief exchange of glances, Xiao Yan quickly shifted his gaze, then settled upon another figure, his eyes suddenly growing cold. "The Elder Mu...” At the spot where Xiao Yan’s gaze fell, a man in black robes sat cross-legged—exactly the Elder Mu who had pursued Xiao Yan that day, only to be driven back by Xiong Zhan. As soon as Xiao Yan appeared, the Elder Mu became aware of him, scanning his surroundings before settling his focus on Xiong Zhan, the sturdy figure beside Xiao Yan. At once, his brow furrowed, and a cold exhalation escaped his nostrils. "A lucky young man." Xiao Yan stared gloomily at the Mu Gu elder, only slowly drawing back his gaze after a moment. The black-robed attendants who had stood behind the elder that day had now vanished—though Xiao Yan knew they must be hidden among the numerous alchemists. "It seems this old man has also come for the Three Thousand Yan Fire flames..." With his hands gently rubbing the naga ring on his fingers, Xiao Yan turned his gaze to the entire assembly. As he scanned the room, he noticed a number of figures ahead who clearly belonged to the elder generation of strong ones. "The appeal of the Three Thousand Yan Fire truly is immense—these seasoned masters have certainly sacrificed their prestige for it." Xiao Yan sighed softly. Indeed, it was no easy feat to stand out in such a competitive gathering; without genuine mastery, one would truly find it impossible. "The young woman named Dan Chen from the Dan family had already arrived early—no ordinary person indeed..." Xiao Yan's gaze shifted suddenly, settling on someone ahead. There, Dan Chen, whom he had previously known only briefly, was meditating calmly. Though she appeared delicate and frail, Xiao Yan held her in high regard. In past encounters, he hadn't noticed much, but now, upon observing her soul entering the spiritual realm, he was struck by a sense of unusual suction—steadily emanating from within her body. This suction didn't draw upon qi, but specifically absorbed soul energy. The peculiar pull he had felt when touching her was precisely due to this phenomenon. "Her constitution must be special—her soul strength is exceptionally powerful, yet her physical frame is notably weak," Xiao Yan observed carefully, pondering. The world is full of wonders, always harboring unusual and exceptional bodily traits—such as Xiao Yixian's rare poison-resistant body or Qing Lin's peculiar eye pupils. "Neither of them is to be underestimated..." Xiao Yan gently shook his head. He anticipated that this year's competition for the Dan Title would be more intense than ever before. ... As time passed, more and more contestants began to gather at this plaza. Most of those arriving were far from weak—indeed, it made sense, considering that they had managed to endure the fiercely competitive environment of the Dan Realm up to this point. While waiting, Xiao Yan's gaze shifted toward the center of the plaza, where the space appeared slightly distorted. There, an elderly man dressed in the Dan Tower's official robes stood, holding a walking cane. His skin bore a texture resembling orange peel. On his chest, a Dan Tower emblem shone, its tower motif radiating a particularly brilliant purple-gold hue. "One of the Eight Senior Elders of the Dan Tower..." Upon seeing this distinctive emblem, several spectators murmured in quiet astonishment, then quickly hushed themselves. The elderly man with the cane paid no heed to the various sounds on the plaza, remaining as still as a monk in meditation, speaking not a word until, at a certain moment, his eyelids gently fluttered and he slowly opened his eyes. With a casual glance, he said, "The time has come. Deliver your prescriptions and the assigned herbs to me, then depart from here to take part in the final pill-making competition." As soon as he finished speaking, his cane lightly swept across the distorted space, and a dark rift in the fabric of space gradually unfolded. Upon hearing his words, the plaza stirred, and many people's faces fell, clearly having failed to complete their tasks. Not long after his words, a middle-aged man with a composed, indifferent expression stepped forward, presented his prescription and herbs to the elder, who after a brief inspection, nodded slightly. The man then stepped directly into the space rift and vanished swiftly. With the first person leading the way, others began to gradually step forward, handing over all their supplies and smoothly entering the spatial rift. Of course, some participants had not yet completed their tasks, merely taking a few herbs at random in hopes of blending in. However, as soon as they lifted their supplies, an elder used his cane to gently tap them aside, sending them flying, and they scrambled up, red-faced and disheveled. Watching Gao Ying and the others enter the rift, Xiao Yan turned to Zi Yan and said, "Then I'll go as well. We'll meet up again once we emerge." "Alright." With a smile, Xiao Yan straightened his robe and, under a stream of admiring glances from the surrounding crowd, quickly approached the elder, retrieved the prescription and herbs from his storage pouch, and offered them. The elder accepted them, examined them briefly, glanced at Xiao Yan with a casual nod, and then said, "Enter." Xiao Yan bowed respectfully to the elder, then turned his gaze toward the dark spatial fissure before him, taking a deep breath—once again, he had drawn closer to the Three Thousand Yan Fire!