Though this journey was primarily aimed at securing the Soul Infant Fruit, Xiāo Yīn did not intend to complicate matters unless there were special circumstances. Yet some things—despite his desire to avoid them—proved unavoidable... Currently, the Fenglei Pavilion, having steadily strengthened its ties with the Heaven Phoenix Clan, has grown increasingly assertive, showing clear signs of aspiring to be the true senior among the Four Grand Clans. By forcibly seizing the camp that the Xingyin Pavilion had previously discovered and secured, Fenglei has dealt a decisive blow to Xingyin. If Xingyin were to remain silent on this matter, it would inevitably be seen as a source of ridicule. While occasional concessions are necessary when establishing a new sect, there are certain matters of principle that must never be compromised. Otherwise, not only would the prestige of the sect suffer greatly, but the morale of its disciples would also inevitably decline. Now that he is an elder, Master Yao has become the Grand Master of Xing Yun Pavilion. Though he finds the unexpected title of "Junior Grand Master" rather frustrating, having taken on the role means he must shoulder certain responsibilities. By entrusting the command of the team to him, Master Yao is both expressing trust and placing a test upon him. Should the Hún Pavilion—far stronger than Xing Yun Pavilion—present a formidable challenge, a temporary setback might be endured with patience, to be avenged later. But in Xiao Yan's mind, Feng Lei Pavilion has not yet reached the level of prestige that would compel him to retreat. When he first arrived in Zhongzhou, a mere Du Huang-level warrior, he had already dared to challenge Feng Lei Pavilion. How could he now, especially today? A mere Lei Grand Master, with only about three-star Dou Zun strength—still falling short of Feng's level—would barely be able to secure even a modest advantage, even if Xiao Yan himself personally engaged him. With two such Grand Masters on his side, the Lei Grand Master would have little to gain. Xiao Yan's actions immediately won the support of all the young disciples from Xin Yun Pavilion. These young disciples, by virtue of being selected as members of Xin Yun Pavilion, were no ordinary individuals. Now, they were being treated with such disrespect by Feng Lei Pavilion, and given their youthful, spirited nature—even if they knew they were no match for the opponents—they would surely have charged forward, making it clear that Xin Yun Pavilion had no soft underbelly. Had it not been for the stern reprimands from two senior elders today, they would have already engaged in a physical confrontation with Feng Lei Pavilion. Initially, they had thought their grievances were completely exhausted. Yet, to their surprise, this young master, whom they had only recently come to know, stepped forward with such fiery determination. As a result, Xiao Yan's standing among these young disciples surged dramatically and instantly. Sometimes, winning over people's hearts is simply that straightforward. As for Xiao Yan's action, the two elders were also taken aback, hesitating slightly before seeing the flushed faces of the young disciples from the Xingyin Pavilion. At that moment, the suppressed anger simmering within them erupted. Damn it! The Fenglei Pavilion had just slapped the Xingyin Pavilion right in front of so many powerful figures. If they didn't regain face now, their dignity would surely be ruined in the long run. While they weren't entirely clear about Xiao Yan's strength, they were well acquainted with the three figures behind him—the Xiao Yi Xian, the Tianhuo Zun, and Chen Zhang—all genuine Dou Zun-level masters. How could a mere Lei Zun possibly stand against them? "Everything will be done as instructed by the young master!" The two elders bowed respectfully, then waved their hands and took off first, followed swiftly by a large group of Xingyin Pavilion disciples. Their resolute, battle-ready demeanor drew several surprised glances. ... Near the heart of the Bone Mountain range, several peaks rise prominently. Given its proximity to the ancient ruins' original activation site, many of the prime locations have already been claimed by powerful factions with strong capabilities. Individual heroes and smaller groups can only seek out alternative areas. Today, the Bone Mountain is bustling with activity—people are constantly moving, shouting, arguing, and clashing. With the growing population and the absence of centralized management, the mountain range has become chaotic, with disputes over even minor matters frequently escalating into full-scale confrontations. Among the central peaks, one mountain stands out—now densely occupied by numerous figures. At its summit, a large banner flutters in the wind, bearing the silver-embossed characters "Fenglei Pavilion," which, from a distance, exudes an unmistakable aura of grandeur. On the summit of the mountain, a series of snow-white tents stood in a continuous line. Inside, a deep, resonant aura emanated, clearly indicating the presence of several powerful individuals. It was evident that Fenglei Pavilion had invested significantly in this endeavor for the ancient relic. At the heart of these numerous tents stood one particularly grand and imposing pavilion. Outside, several Fenglei Pavilion masters stood with stern, vigilant expressions. Inside, occasional laughter and conversation could be heard. "The Master is receiving your guests inside—please don't disturb them. Be especially attentive..." Fei Tian blew a gust of cool air and glanced at the strong wind and thunder cultivators around him, speaking in a steady tone. "Understood!" The group promptly responded. Seeing this, Fei Tian nodded satisfiedly and was about to turn and return to his camp when his brow suddenly furrowed, his gaze fixed on the mountain road leading down to the valley, where faint sounds of commotion seemed to be emanating. "What's going on?" Fei Tian asked, frowning slightly. "This... Master, don't worry. I'll go check it out," one cultivator of Dou Huang level immediately replied, moving swiftly and darting down toward the valley below. "Boom!" Even before Fei Tian could recover, the cultivator had just reached the foot of the mountain, a deep, resonant crash suddenly erupted. Then, a figure, accompanied by a cry of pain, shot back along the road, causing several dozen tents along the way to collapse. "Who dares to disturb my Fenglei Pavilion? Are you mad?" The scene instantly caused the numerous Fenglei Pavilion masters atop the mountain to have their faces pale, and Fei Tian's expression grew steadily more somber. "Seize them—dead or alive, it doesn't matter!" Hearing Fei Tian's fiery command, the Fenglei Pavilion masters roared in unison, their figures swiftly moving with gusts of wind, charging down toward the mountain base with fierce determination. Seeing so many of his peers launch themselves simultaneously, Fei Tian took a slow step forward, determined to capture the intruder and give them a thorough dressing-down. This scene immediately caused Fei Tian's steps to freeze, his serious expression deepening with a sense of weight. To defeat so many Wind and Thunder Pavilion masters at such speed—clearly, the visitor was no ordinary contender. "Unknown guest, could you please tell us who you are? This is the Wind and Thunder Pavilion's camp. We kindly ask that you consider our pavilion's standing..." Fei Tian's gaze remained fixed on the mountain path, his voice steady and solemn. "Haha, Fei Tian, Master, it's been several years since we last met, and you still seem to keep the Wind and Thunder Pavilion on your lips so often..." Before Fei Tian had finished speaking, a warm laugh drifted down from the mountain peak, and then, one by one, figures began to emerge into his view. Leading the group, a young man stepped forward, causing Fei Tian's eyes to narrow instantly. "Xiao Yan?" "Upon seeing that face, etched so vividly in his memory, Fei Tian's expression instantly turned cold. Back then, Xiao Yan had humiliated him beyond measure—though even now, people occasionally still refer to him as a source of amusement. This only deepened Fei Tian's growing resentment toward Xiao Yan. He hadn't expected to meet him again here today. 'I was just wondering who it was—turns out, it's one of the newly dismissed members from the Xingyun Pavilion,' Fei Tian said, casting a glance at the two elders beside him, a mocking smile playing on his lips. 'You!' The two elders' faces instantly paled, their eyes blazing with fury. Had it not been for the fact that they weren't Fei Tian's equals, they would have already launched into action. 'What? You've brought some allies along, hoping to settle the score?" "Seeing this, Fei Tian smiled—his smile laced with sharper contempt. Though he found it somewhat difficult to fully grasp the younger physicians, he did not regard them as true Du Zun-level masters. Partly because they were still too young, and partly because, in his heart, he believed that Xiao Yan had not yet earned the qualification to associate with such masters. "Fei Tian, settle matters swiftly—do not disrupt the Master's grace!" Two figures suddenly leapt out from the central tent and landed beside Fei Tian, speaking in a firm tone. "Yes... the others you can handle. Xiao Yan I'll keep. I'll make sure this young man pays back the debts he owes—fully and thoroughly!" Fei Tian's face darkened as he spoke, his voice low and resolute. As soon as he finished, he did not wait for the other two to respond—his feet began to shimmer with silver light, and with a sudden motion, he simply vanished into thin air. At the very instant Fei Tian vanished, a subtle curve appeared on Xiao Yan's calm face. With a gentle step, he extended his hand and lightly clenched it toward the space before him. As his palm closed, the space in front of him instantly dipped like lightning, and within that depression, a figure emerged—none other than Fei Tian himself, who had just disappeared. Yet now, his face was etched with shock and fear. A single palm capable of collapsing space—such a power! That was something only the elite of the Dou Zun rank could achieve! "Master Lei, when you send out mere cats and dogs like this, don't you fear weakening the reputation of your Fenglei Pavilion?"