Hearing the furious roar coming from afar, Xiao Yan's figure remained motionless, his deep purple and brown flames swirling around him, making him appear like a charging fire beast. The remaining guards within the Hún Palace, upon seeing this formidable figure charging forth once again, quickly stepped back. The guards who had previously fallen to Xiao Yan's hands had already been shaken to their core; now, how could they dare to step out and obstruct him once more? With no resistance, Xiao Yan's speed surged to its peak. He could sense that Zhaixing, the old man, was closing in rapidly—clearly, the elder had been truly incensed by Xiao Yan's Three-Thousand-Thunder-Phantom Form. "Old goose..." Xiao Yan muttered silently. Without Zhaixing, the journey could have unfolded smoothly. But alas—his peak strength of five-star Battle Sovereign was enough to completely reverse the current balance of the two sides. Muttering under his breath, Xiao Yan raised his head toward the exit not far away, then forcefully stomped the ground with his foot. His figure transformed into a streak of purple-brown light, shooting forth with a sudden burst. In the mid-air of the valley, figures interwove, and vast qi waves spread across the sky, creating nearly ten powerful and terrifying aura disturbances. Under this unprecedented battle, the very space around them grew increasingly unstable, with cracks resembling great serpents emerging and spreading—causing the soul palace's protectors to grow alarmed. They dared not intervene, knowing such a level of combat was beyond their capacity. Though it might not have been noticeable on a daily basis, considering the current situation where Zi Yan's single palm has sent a guardian with six-star Douzong strength reeling, gasping for breath and flying backward, it's clear that this young woman possesses considerable strength. Quickly scanning the battlefield, Xiao Yan exhaled slightly, relieved—by the looks of it, they weren't falling behind. The five Douzong-level warriors from the Hún Palace were all at the three-star level, so while Iron Sword Master had a slight struggle, the other four fronts were clearly gaining the upper hand. "The people are safe—retreat!" With the situation now clear, Xiao Yan roared without further hesitation. In the sky, upon hearing Xiao Yan's command, the faces of Feng and the others brightened with surprise, yet their opponents immediately launched a furious assault, tightly ensnaring them and leaving them unable to break free. Seeing the chaotic battle circle swirling in the sky, Xiao Yan's brows furrowed, for the situation was far more complex than he had anticipated. "Shriek! Shriek!" As Xiao Yan materialized, several powerful members of the Huan Palace naturally took notice. Though they lacked the qualification to join the upper-level combat, they assumed that with their numbers, they could at least draw the former's attention and keep him engaged. Thus, three of them swiftly moved in, their black chains extending like sharp, straight spears, violently stabbing toward Xiao Yan's head. "Get out of the way!" With the assault from these three Huan Palace protectors, Xiao Yan's expression grew cold. He swiftly extended his hand, seizing the three chains with a firm grip. A shaking motion of his arm sent a roaring, purple-brown dragon of flame erupting from his sleeve, which then surged past the chains and struck the chests of the three Huan Palace protectors with tremendous force. Hit hard, the three protectors were instantly launched backward, crashing heavily against a stone pillar beside them. The swirling black mist surrounding their bodies instantly thinned considerably. Witnessing Xiao Yan effortlessly defeating the three protectors, the other elite members of the Soul Palace were left stunned, halting their advance and no longer daring to approach. "Since you've come, none of you will be leaving!" As Xiao Yan prepared to retreat after repelling the three protectors, a sudden explosion erupted at the apex of the great hall. A figure surged skyward, emitting a cold, sharp laugh that resonated across the heavens. "By the heavens, the old man has finally caught up!" At the sound of the laugh, Xiao Yan's expression immediately turned grave. "Space barrier, sealed!" High above, the old man, Master Zhaixing, cast a dark, penetrating gaze over the battle circles in the distance, pausing finally on Xiao Yan's form. His expression grew even more intense. With swift, precise hand gestures, he quickly formed an unusual seal and issued a firm command. As the old ghost of Star-Grabbing finished his voice, the space within the valley suddenly surged with intense vibrations, and a series of rippling folds spread out, materializing like stacked napkins upon the previously empty sky. "When I finally settle this youngster, I'll make you all understand—Hun Palace is no place where you can come and go at will!" The old ghost with starry hair sneered, his somber gaze instantly shifting to Xiao Yan below, his voice cold and firm. "With merely a Douzong-level strength, you dare to mock me? This has never happened before!" As he spoke, he lightly stepped through the void, advancing steadily toward Xiao Yan. Thick black mist surged forth from within him in a powerful wave, its sheer force leaving the onlookers awestruck. Indeed, a Five-Star Douzong's power was truly formidable. Gazing at the old ghost advancing through the swirling black mist, his aura charged with fierce combat intent, Xiao Yan's expression subtly shifted. It was clear that the old man intended to personally engage and eliminate him. Yet, despite Xiao Yan's current prowess—even with the full power of the Heavenly Fire Triple Transformation—he still could not hope to match the old ghost's strength. Of course, this did not mean Xiao Yan was entirely at the mercy of his fate, helpless and ready to be slaughtered. At present, he had fully reclaimed the Three Thousand Yan Fire Streams, making him the master of four unique fires. Should he combine these four fires into the Buddha's Wrath Lotus, the resulting power would undoubtedly surpass the devastating Lotus of Destruction forged from the artificially cultivated Birth Fire. However, activating such a powerful technique required ample time, and with the old ghost's formidable capabilities, he would surely not afford Xiao Yan the necessary preparation period. Currently, all the Douzun强者 on their side have been held in check by the senior elders of the Houn Pavilion, leaving only Zi Yan free to act. Yet though Zi Yan has greatly strengthened her prowess and her true form is a Primordial Void Dragon, she is still young and unlikely to stand a chance against the Star-Cutting Elder. "I'll help you hold him off," said Zi Yan, as if sensing exactly what was in Xiao Yan's mind, her slender body leaping through the air and appearing right before him, her face serious. "Can I do it?" Xiao Yan hesitated, expressing some concern. "Can you find anyone else?" Zi Yan asked without turning around. Xiao Yan remained silent, then gritted his teeth and said firmly, "Just hold on for a moment—be careful. If you can't manage, retreat!" Zi Yan nodded slightly, then suddenly formed several unusual hand seals. Immediately, a powerful surge of purple light erupted from within her. Under the intensity of this purple glow, her petite frame rapidly expanded. In just a few breaths, she transformed from a small girl into a tall, graceful purple-haired woman exuding remarkable sensuality—her appearance now exactly as萧炎 had remembered when he first saw her in the small valley years ago. As Xiao Yan stepped back, he pulled his hand, causing a deep purple and brown flame to emerge—yet the flame separated into three distinct, differently colored flames, floating before him. Therefore, no matter what, she had to hold on to that old man until Xiao Yan successfully unleashed his decisive move. Only then could their rescue mission end without casualties. Otherwise, their group would truly suffer heavy losses... All hope now depended on whether she could secure enough time for Xiao Yan!