Here lies a vast, endless expanse of desolate plain, where patches of faintly emerald grass can be seen here and there, yet most of the ground is rendered in a dull, barren hue of ochre and gold. Occasionally, eagles or vultures soar overhead, their sharp cries cutting through the stillness. A sense of desolation blankets the plain. At one moment, the space itself stirs, and then a great black rift tears open in the void, through which several figures tumble out, landing with some disarray. "Zi Yan, are you all right?" The young healer, upon seeing Zi Yan's pale face, quickly asks. Zi Yan shakes her head, her body glowing with a purple hue that gradually fades and contracts. In a moment, she returns to her former form as a little girl. Taking several deep breaths, she wipes the cold sweat from her forehead and says, "I'm fine. Just need a moment to rest. Let's go check on Xiao Yan now." The Feng Senior Monarch, upon manifesting, immediately grasped Xiao Yan's pulse point, examining it thoroughly—yet his expression grew increasingly grave. Seeing his demeanor, everyone's hearts sank. In the quiet silence, the black ring on Xiao Yan's fingers trembled, and then, the ethereal form of Yao Dan materialized, swiftly seizing Xiao Yan's pulse point. After a brief pause, a sudden surge of murderous intent flashed into his eyes, and he coldly declared, "Old Star-Seeker, what a ruthless move!" "The Soul Pavilion... From now on, it's settled—we're bound for life and death." Though the tone in Yao Chen's voice was fierce, it was enough to make Feng Zun, standing beside him, softly sigh. For many years, this was the first time he had seen the usually composed Yao Chen so emotionally charged—never before, even when Han Feng had betrayed him, had he shown such intensity. Clearly, Xiao Yan held a position of profound significance in his heart. Hearing Yao Chen's words, Xiao Yixian's already pale complexion grew even more ashen, her body trembling and nearly collapsing. Zi Yan quickly stepped in to steady her. "Such severe injuries..." Feng Zun and Chen Zhan exchanged a glance, both of them murmuring in quiet admiration. To withstand a full, powerful palm strike from a Five-Star Peak Douzun—someone at the very peak of their strength—was no small feat. Even for them, such a blow might have been fatal. That Xiao Yan still had breath left at all now was truly remarkable. "Yet, surely there must be a way?" Feng Zun mused. "After all, you yourself claimed that as long as there's still a single breath Seeing everyone's gloomy expressions, Feng respectfully said, yet as soon as he spoke, a wry smile tugged at his lips. He had forgotten the current state of Yao Chen—no physical form at all, and now profoundly weakened by the Hún Palace. How could he possibly possess the strength he once had at his peak? Yao Chen's face remained stern, seated beside Xiao Yan, gazing at the latter's blood-streaked face. The rage within him surged once more, stronger than it had in years. For the first time in all this time, he felt such intense determination to strike. He knew that, had it not been for his own rescue mission, Xiao Yan—so astute and cautious—would never have allowed himself to fall into such peril. "Take a deep breath, Xiao Yan. It's only now that you've been brought out safely. If you go straight to the Hún Palace now, wouldn't you be setting yourself up for capture?" Knowing Yao Chen's expression, Feng, who had known him for years, instantly understood his thoughts and gently patted his shoulder, speaking softly. "Right now, the most urgent matter isn't revenge—it's saving Xiao Yan first." "Heard this, Yao Chen also took a deep breath, knowing that the Wind Master was right—now, absolutely no room for hasty decisions... "Think carefully," the Wind Master said, "with your expertise in compounding medicines, you should be able to come up with something." Yao Chen nodded slightly, the fierce expression on his face gradually softening. With his hand gently pressing on Xiao Yan's pulse point, he carefully examined the state within his body. As he focused his attention, the familiar aura of the Medicinal Sovereign began to seep out more clearly. Back then, he had commanded the continent, and the name of the Medicinal Sovereign was known to all. Countless top-tier强者 had sought to establish relations with him, yet found no way to reach him. Though now he might be in a somewhat diminished position, his capabilities were still sufficient to restore him to his former peak. Yet what he was currently concerned about went far beyond such matters. Should anything unforeseen happen to Xiao Yan, the remainder of Yao Lao's life would likely be spent in relentless, desperate vengeance. Seeing Yao Lao deeply focused on his examination, the others nearby remained silent, respectfully avoiding any disturbance. Even Xiong Zhan and Tian Huo Sovereign moved apart, vigilantly guarding against any sudden developments. A quiet yet tense atmosphere lingered in the area. After a while, Yao Chen, with his eyes slightly closed, suddenly opened them and spoke softly, "The situation... is better than I expected." At this, the young physicians and healers immediately breathed a sigh of relief—after all, they could no longer afford any more setbacks. "Is he going to make it?" asked Feng the Elder, equally delighted. "The young one has an exceptionally strong constitution. The strike from Zhaixing the Old Ghost should have completely extinguished his life force, yet he managed to withstand it entirely. Combined with the strange fire protecting his vital organs, he has not truly suffered a fatal blow," said Yao the Elder, stroking his beard gently. "Moreover, right now, the strange fire within him is actively repairing the damage to his body." "You mean... the Three Thousand Flames of Fire?" whispered the young physician. "Indeed, the Three Thousand Yan Flame is known as the Immortal Flame. By consuming and refining it, the young one has also acquired this very quality—so long as the Three Thousand Yan Flame remains unextinguished, his severely damaged condition has a strong chance of being healed." The Elder of Herbs nodded. "However, he is currently unconscious. The healing of the Three Thousand Yan Flame is spontaneous, and this unique flame requires absorption of stellar energy. Therefore, we must seek a location where stellar energy is particularly abundant in order to accelerate the healing process." "With the meteorite's aid, the young one's life is surely secured..." the Elder of Medicine smiled lightly. "Moreover, though I may be blunt, the life is saved, but such severe injuries will undoubtedly impact his cultivation. Should he later find his abilities stagnating—given Xiao Yan's temperament—he might find it extremely difficult to accept." As if recalling something, the Master of Wind hesitated, then offered a soft, weary smile. The young physician beside him, who had momentarily relaxed, instantly felt her nerves snap once again. She knew Xiao Yan well; should he later realize that his progress had stalled, the pain would likely surpass even death. "Ah, don't worry about that," the Elder replied, shaking his head with a smile. "Xiao Yan's body is now nearly beyond repair—this very moment is precisely the ideal opportunity for a complete transformation. Feel within him and see if you can detect anything familiar." Feng Zun was taken aback. Following the instruction, he extended his hand and probed into Xiao Yan's body. After a moment, he indeed sensed a strange energy that was remarkably familiar to him. His eyes suddenly widened in astonishment, exclaiming, "This... this is the Yin-Yang Long Xuan Dan?" "Master Yao nodded with a smile, lightly exhaled, 'Well, fortunately, I received a Yin-Yang Long Xuanyan pill from Han Feng back then. Otherwise, today would indeed have been quite troublesome...' 'Indeed, indeed. The Yin-Yang Long Xuanyan pills are currently the most suitable for him. His internal injuries are actually more severe than those I encountered during my previous visit—certainly, they will fully activate the potency of the Yin-Yang Long Xuanyan pills.' Master Feng spoke with growing excitement, then smiled, 'Indeed, it's a great fortune. This time, perhaps this young man will not only recover but also break through to the level of Dou Zun...' 'That will depend entirely on his fortune,' Master Yao replied, nodding with a smile. His heart finally eased. With the Three Thousand Yan Fire and the Yin-Yang Long Xuanyan pills at his disposal, Xiao Yan would surely find it difficult to die. Hearing their conversation, the young physician and Zi Yan also breathed a sigh of relief, finally feeling at ease. "Now, let's hurry back to the Starfall Pavilion. There, with the power of the meteorite, Xiao Yan's injuries will heal more quickly." As Xiao Yan's condition was addressed, the tense atmosphere here immediately eased. Wind Master stood up, glanced around, and after a moment's thought, said, "This area should be well beyond the Wanhun Mountain Range—on the northern wilderness plain—somewhat distant from the Starfall Pavilion. We can't afford to delay." "Agreed. The auxiliary pavilion has been destroyed, and the Spirit Pavilion will likely not be satisfied. The Starfall Pavilion's unique terrain and seclusion make it an excellent place to hide." Yao Chen nodded. At present, the priority was to get Xiao Yan recovered. As for the disputes with the Spirit Pavilion, they could be settled at a more convenient time later. There was no one to dispute the old doctor's words. The large-bodied Xiong Zhan carried Xiao Yan on his back, a natural choice given his sturdy frame and strength—yet the young physician remained uneasy about his broad, careless movements, constantly staying close by, ever fearful that even a slight jolt might shake the now critically frail Xiao Yan out of sorts.