Sharp sonic waves spread throughout the vast main hall, causing many strong contenders to subtly shift their expressions, sensing the extraordinary power of the voice's owner. As everyone remained in astonishment, a sudden gust of wind echoed outside the hall, followed by a deluge of black mist surging in from beyond, eventually gathering in the upper half of the hall. As the mist dispersed, several figures emerged, their distinctive entrance instantly allowing many to recognize them. "It's indeed members of the Spirit Palace!" Upon seeing the identities of the visitors, many hearts leapt and their brows furrowed. The Spirit Palace's strength was well known across the continent. If they too intended to vie for the heavenly-tier combat techniques, the already chaotic situation would surely grow even more complicated. Xiao Yan stared intently at the space above, his cold expression growing ever more intense. At the forefront of the several figures, an elderly man clad in gray-white robes stood motionless, his face etched with a faint, bitter scorn—his appearance was unmistakably that of the Star-Plucking Elder who had fought Xiao Yan to a standstill. "Are you fully recovered?" Xiao Yan glanced at the elder, then fixed his gaze on the latter's right arm, where only a hollow sleeve remained. His brow furrowed slightly—though the elder had survived the Devastating Flame Lotus, he had clearly paid a heavy price. "Hah! Now this Star-Plucking Elder has become a one-armed old man," Xiao Yixian smiled, her tone laced with a touch of envy and amusement. In the air above, the Star-Plucking Elder surveyed the gathering with a chuckle, "Hah! What a lively scene! I never expected this ancient site to draw so many. If we continue to harvest souls here, we'll surely be reaping a bountiful harvest." "Upon hearing that old man's single remark, many present immediately expressed displeasure. The Huan Palace's ongoing efforts to capture souls across Zhongzhou had long since ceased to be a rare occurrence—naturally, numerous people found such actions distasteful. Yet, owing to the Huan Palace's overwhelming strength, no one dared to oppose them. 'How did that old man lose an arm?' Within the hall, several powerful figures had previously encountered the Star-Plucking Elder. Upon observing the empty sleeve on his former companion, these individuals also voiced expressions of bewilderment. The Star-Plucking Elder's prowess was well known among many of the present, standing at the level of Five-Star Battle Sovereign—a rank that placed him among the very elite across the entire continent. Few, indeed, could have caused such an injury to him." In the air, the Old Ghost of Star-Plucking seemed to also sense the gaze of those watching, and at once, the cold smile on his face subtly softened. His lips twitched, and just as he was about to issue a sharp, icy command with a sweeping glance, that gaze suddenly froze. Instantly, a roar filled with fierce rage erupted throughout the hall. "Xiao Yan?! You're still alive?!" Upon hearing the Old Ghost's sudden roar, everyone's attention shifted, finally settling on the slightly slender young man standing within the hall. "Since you're still alive, how could I have died before you?" Xiao Yan smiled calmly, speaking with effortless ease. "Rogue youth! Today, I shall avenge myself for the disgrace of having my arms severed!" The Old Ghost's eyes instantly blazed crimson. The moment his arms were blown off by Xiao Yan had remained a deep, unyielding humiliation. Though the severe injury had now fully healed, the loss of his arms—could never be regained. The roar of the Star-Plucking Elder sent a wave of gasps rippling through the hall, countless pairs of eyes wide with disbelief fixed upon Xiao Yan—how could it be that he had broken the Elder's arm? At萧炎's side, Tang Zhen also stared at him in astonishment, his heart stirred with admiration—this young man was indeed far more than he first appeared. "Shhh!" With Tang Zhen's thunderous cry, he paid no heed to the myriad curious glances from within the hall. His form trembled, then swiftly transformed into a streak of black smoke, rushing straight toward Xiao Yan, his vast aura of combat energy sweeping aside the space around them, creating a wide, empty circle of stillness. "Old Ghost of Star-Grasping, do you not wish to keep your other arm as well?" As the old ghost charged forward, Xiao Yan clenched his hands, and three unusual flames instantly materialized before him, his voice cold and firm. As the Strange Fire manifested, the temperature within the hall surged dramatically. The figure of the Elder Star-Clad Ghost, who had burst forth, froze mid-air with a hiss—his senses gradually regaining clarity under the intense heat. He had already experienced the power of the Lotus of Fire firsthand, and thus, upon seeing Xiao Yan summon the Strange Fire now, an instinctive sense of deep apprehension surged within him. Moreover, this visit to the ruins was undertaken under a direct task assigned by the Hall Master himself; should any mishap occur, he would surely face severe reprimand. "This young man is surrounded by powerful allies. To defeat him would require considerable effort. Should the battle prove costly, he may well be unable to compete with others for the prize. There are several of these strong contenders here whom even I must fight with full strength." With a flicker of sharp eyes, the Elder Star-Clad Ghost managed to suppress the mounting fury and rage that surged within him, fixing a cold, determined gaze upon Xiao Yan. "Once the affairs of the ruins are settled, I shall return and give you a thorough reckoning!" "Count me in at any time!" Xiao Yan sneered. Now that he had officially ascended to the Dou Zun level, the awe the old star-harvesting ghost once inspired had faded significantly. While it was true that, with normal means, he might still struggle to fully subdue the elder, the old ghost would never again be able to dominate him as before. Back when he was a Nine-Star Dou Sect master, his Devastating Fire Lotus had already obliterated one of the old man's arms. Now, having surged to the Dou Zun rank, Xiao Yan was confident that a single blast of that Lotus would leave the old ghost utterly reduced to ashes. He now had more than enough means to handle the old ghost, and thus no longer needed to hesitate or fear him. Unless the timing were unfavorable and other opponents were watching closely, even if the star-harvesting ghost chose not to act, Xiao Yan would likely have to step forward first—perhaps to settle the score from their previous encounter. Staring intently at Xiao Yan, the old ghost of Star-Seeking waved his sleeve, turned, and swiftly returned, then summoned the elite warriors of the Spirit Palace to land directly at the foremost position of the grand hall. While others found their displeasure at this assertive move, they dared not voice any objections—many powerful figures and major factions were unwilling to incur the displeasure of the Spirit Palace at this crucial moment, thus choosing to remain silent and overlook the incident. "Hmm, that's our great grudge—now it'll be yours as well. When the time comes to fight, don't hold back; eliminate one by one, to make up for your earlier mistakes." Zǐ Yán patted Qing Lin's shoulder. She considered herself to have joined earlier than Qing Lin, and her tone sounded rather formal and seasoned, prompting the others, especially Xiao Yan, to chuckle quietly. Qing Lin felt a bit awkward, yet still nodded seriously, saying, "Rest assured. As long as I'm facing Xiao Yan's rival, I won't show any mercy." "Hmm, you're quite determined," Zǐ Yán nodded approvingly. Xiao Yan sighed and glanced at the two young ladies, then swept his eyes across the hall before settling on the stone statues surrounding the dais, speaking softly, "After the seal is lifted, don't rush to act. These things are all hot potatoes—once you grasp them, you'll only become liabilities." The young healers and others nodded in agreement. They all understood that as soon as any of these treasures came into someone's hands, that person would immediately become a target. With so many powerful figures gathered in the hall, even the venerable Star-Catcher Old Man would likely be forced to cough up blood and collapse under a single palm strike. Seeing that Xiao Yan remained calm and composed despite the allure of the treasures, Tang Zhen also nodded, his confidence in Xiao Yan's potential growing significantly. Xiao Yan not only possessed exceptional cultivation talent but also demonstrated remarkable skill in alchemy. Most importantly, though young, he lacked the impatience often found in younger individuals. His future achievements would surely be outstanding. It was a sound decision for Burnt-Inn Valley to cultivate a close relationship with him. Xiao Yan naturally didn't know that his performance had earned Tang Zhen considerable points in his heart. At this moment, his gaze was firmly fixed upon the luminous orbs floating in the air above the hall, and the light surrounding them was gradually fading. "The seal is breaking!" Xiao Yan said, his voice steady and serious. As soon as he spoke, the ten orbs suddenly trembled violently, then burst forth with a brilliant, intense radiance. Within this radiance, the scrolls inside began to transform into streaks of light, shooting out rapidly from the orbs. The scrolls surged forth, instantly causing the entire hall to boil with activity. At the same time, the stone statues and automata surrounding the stone throne suddenly opened their eyes—eyes that had remained closed for countless years—and a powerful aura of martial intensity spread out instantly.