As Pyongkong's words settled, a figure in white robes gradually appeared before the group, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Yan and the others, pausing finally on Mu Gu elder. He spoke calmly, "I am Qiu Ling, the Senior Monastic of the Dan Tower. I shall lead you into the Stellar Expanse. Remember—once we enter, simply follow me. Should anyone fail to abide by the rules, I reserve the right to revoke their entry qualification." Hearing this, Xiao Yan and the others nodded slightly. They knew that Pyongkong and his companions likely felt uncertain about Mu Gu elder's ability to keep up. Under Qiu Ling's watchful gaze, Mu Gu elder's lips moved slightly, then he inserted both hands into his sleeves, maintaining a composed and indifferent expression. As the group spoke, the shimmering silver space gate stabilized completely. "Then let's go." Seeing this, Qiongling's gaze briefly intersected with those of the three Xuankong disciples, after which they all nodded gently. Qiongling then raised his hand and stepped first into the spatial gateway, vanishing within a blink. The others, including Xiao Yan, quickly followed suit. As waves of spatial disturbances rippled through, one after another, figures disappeared into the flow of energy. Within less than a minute, eleven people were gone, vanishing from the countless sets of eyes watching them. Only after the last person entered the gateway did Xuankong's stern expression ease slightly. He scanned the scene from a lofty vantage point, then said solemnly, "Be especially cautious today—make sure nothing goes wrong." "All the strong members of Dan Tower have been assigned to the Sacred Dan City and are on standby. Should any incident arise, they will immediately come to assist." Tian Lei nodded in agreement. "There are also some strong contenders who have a good relationship with Dantai now residing in the Sacred Dantai City. I'll send messengers to inform them, so they can keep a closer watch on us..." Xu Yi spoke softly. Hearing this, Xuankong Zi only slightly nodded, his gaze fixed on the spatial gate, and sighed, "I hope everything goes smoothly..." His gaze swiftly shifted away from the old Master Mu, and Xiao Yan began to examine this so-called Stellar Realm. On his previous hurried entry, he had simply lacked the time to pay close attention. The Stellar Realm was a space forcibly torn out by the three leading dynasties of the Dan Tower. Naturally, it fell far short of places like the Dan Realm or the Ancient Realm, and appeared rather desolate. A faint, warm mist drifted around it, with occasional weak glimmers of light seeping through, giving the overall illumination a cool, clear quality. Xiao Yan casually grasped the faint light with his palm, only to feel a refreshing coolness at his fingertips. His eyes narrowed slightly. "This... is the light of the stars?" "The Stellar Realm does not impede the penetration of stellar energy, though the strength of the stars' power during the day is at its weakest. Therefore, we have chosen this time to enter," the senior elder named Qiu Ling said softly. Hearing this, Xiao Yan and the others grew slightly enlightened. The Three Thousand Yan Fire was also known as the Starfire—formed by the convergence of stellar power. As long as the stellar power remained sufficient, it would be eternal and never perish. In this world, stellar power was rarely entirely extinguished, since even during the daytime, such power existed, albeit relatively weaker. "Follow me and stay close—this star realm exists within spatial rifts, and certain areas directly connect to the void space. If you enter those, the consequences should be clear to you," said Qiu Ling. With a wave of his hand, he moved swiftly forward, and the others, seeing his action, hurried to follow. While the star realm was not as vast as the Dan Realm in comparison, that was only relative. Based on their estimates, its size might not be smaller than the immense Saint Dan City. This was evident simply from the fact that, after flying for nearly ten minutes, they had still not reached its edge. Though they had been flying for such a long time without spotting their target, the group could clearly sense that the temperature around them was rising steadily, until even figures like Song Qing had to summon their inner qi to withstand the intense heat. While this heat was not particularly uncomfortable for Xiao Yan, who was protected by his unique fire aura and possessed superior heat resistance compared to ordinary individuals, the group continued to swiftly glide through the empty space without interruption. Approximately ten minutes passed in this manner. After the second ten-minute interval, all members except Xiao Yan and the senior elder, Mu Gu, who had not yet activated their qi shields, were now fully enveloped in robust qi shields—indicating that the ambient temperature had reached a notably high level. "It seems we're almost there..." While in flight, Xiao Yan glanced at the others, and suddenly his mind snapped into focus. His gaze fixed on the distant horizon, and at that very moment, the Lvylian Lotus Heart Flame within him surged violently—a reaction he hadn't experienced in years. As Xiao Yan sensed this shift, the elderly Mu Gu elder beside him instantly brightened, his lips parting as he licked them, his face glowing with eager anticipation. Though the others didn't feel the unique inner flames, they all sensed the sudden surge of warmth around them. They immediately understood: the destination was near. As the group heightened their vigilance, a brilliant, intense radiance erupted from the distant, formless space—so bright it rivaled the sun itself, causing the eyes of all present to feel a sharp stinging. "We've arrived," the elder declared. "Be cautious. Should anyone act out of place, I shall have the authority to cut them down right here." The leading hill figure suddenly halted, turned his head, and with a sharp gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Master Mu Gu, before speaking coldly. Only after saying this did the hill figure slow down, drifting steadily forward, while Xiao Yan and the others swiftly followed. As they gradually approached the glaring intensity of the light, the objects within it began to clearly come into view in their sight... "Gurp!" Upon seeing what lay within the light, Xiao Yan and the others' faces went utterly still. Their throats moved as they struggled to swallow, and their eyes were filled with complete, profound astonishment! Within the radiance lay a colossal dragon, endless in span, its dragon eyes closed, its body coiled and winding. A strange, violet-black flame curled around its vast form, rising and pulsing, distorting the surrounding space with every surge. In the boundless void, the dragon remained poised, the violet-black flame continuously seeping from its body, burning without cease—an awe-inspiring spectacle that stirred profound astonishment. Though they had glimpsed it once during their earlier sojourn as spirits, that had been only a fleeting view. Now, standing close to it, they truly grasped the staggering impact of this ageless marvel. Before the dragon, they felt themselves no more than ants, a deep sense of humility welling up from within. "This... this is indeed the Three Thousand Yan Flame..." A voice, slightly trembling, murmured softly amidst the silence. Though the dragon now closed its eyes, the overwhelming presence of its aura stirred a deep sense of tremor in the ground, so profound was the impact of its sheer form. Even the elderly Mu Gu, a master of Battle Rank and a seasoned eighth-grade herbalist, was momentarily stunned by the scale of the Three Thousand Yan Flame. Yet, with his extensive experience and stature, he quickly regained his composure, his eyes growing ever more eager. Once the first person spoke, others gradually returned from their awe, exchanging glances, each silently marveling at the sheer astonishment of what they now witnessed. The sight was truly breathtaking. Xiao Yan gazed steadily at the colossal dragon. Suddenly, his palm warmed slightly, and his mind stirred with a subtle thought. Without drawing attention, he glanced at the dragon seal planted by Zi Yan—now showing a faint warmth. "It seems that Zi Yan was indeed correct—the Dragon Seal has been planted within the body of the Three Thousand Scorching Flames." Noticing the changes in the Dragon Seal, Xiao Yan's heart stirred, and he murmured to himself. "This is the Three Thousand Scorching Flames. However, it is currently sealed. From now on, you shall take turns advancing to attempt to pacify and subdue it using gentle methods." Qiong Ling spoke firmly, emphasizing, "Remember—use gentle methods. Absolutely do not awaken it from its dormant state!" Seeing the Master Mu's demeanor, Qiu Ling slowly drew back his gaze and gently turned his attention toward Xiao Yan, saying, "Xiao Yan, as the champion of this year's Dan Conference, you go first..." As soon as Qiu Ling finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to Xiao Yan. Under the weight of these gazes, Xiao Yan's expression remained steady. After a brief hesitation, he nodded slightly, took a deep breath, and then stepped steadily toward the sleeping giant dragon!