Staring at the master's jade plaque floating before her, Yun Yun did not reach out to take it. She had never shown much interest in the position of Master, and, given the lingering shadows from those past events, she might actually be the last person who wanted to continue serving as Master. "Please take it," Xiang Yin encouraged, noticing the hesitation on her face. When he had remained silent, everything had been fine; but as soon as he spoke, Yun Yun had been unable to help but glare at him, her teeth clenched, murmuring in a fragmented tone, "Take it? And then have me go through another performance of grandeur?" Hearing this, Xiang Yin felt a bit embarrassed. "It's been this long now—how can you still remember all these things? Back then, there was no clear right or wrong. I did destroy Yunlan Sect, but Yunlan Sect also dealt a heavy blow to the Xiao family. I know this wasn't your fault, but some things, after all, need to be settled." "I never cared about any of those grand principles." "As soon as she mentioned it, Yun Yun's eyes slightly glistened with emotion. She knew, from Xiao Yan's perspective, that he hadn't done anything wrong. Yet Yunlan Sect had nurtured her for so many years—yet it had been dissolved simply because he had decided so. "You need to remain quietly in one place. The life of being dependent on others, as you've experienced before, won't bring you true peace. Moreover, since you've accepted the inheritance from Old Lady Hua, if you don't take up this position, Hua Sect will continue to face internal strife and power struggles. Surely, Old Lady Hua wouldn't have wanted that," Xiao Yan said softly. "Hehe, don't worry. I have great confidence in the Elder's judgment. If she's willing to pass on her entire lifetime of Qi cultivation to you, then you must surely be the very person she has in mind." The white-haired elder smiled. Hearing this, the woman named Hua Jin's face grew increasingly uncertain. After a while, she said solemnly, "Grand Elder, I've worked hard for years to establish a cooperative relationship between Tianming Sect and our Hua Sect. Now that the position of Sect Master has changed, and Xiao Yan has injured the young phoenix, I believe not only will our alliance fall apart, but given Tianming Sect's usual demeanor, they may even turn hostile toward us." The implication in Hua Jin's words clearly conveyed her concern—should the position of Sect Master now go to Yun Yun, not only would the alliance be lost, but Tianming Sect might even come to view Hua Sect as an adversary. The elderly woman with white hair slightly furrowed her brows. Though the Flower Sect and the Heaven-Ming Sect were equally ranked among the two great sects, the former's strength had grown notably weaker compared to the latter. Moreover, with the Heaven-Ming Sect's overwhelming strength and continuous expansion over the years, its ranks were filled with outstanding cultivators—ordinary sects dared not even lightly provoke them. And this yōhua xījūn was indeed from the Tianming Sect. Originally, they had planned to marry the yōhua xījūn to Hua Jin, forging a marital alliance between the two sects and thus uniting them for mutual strength. Though the Hua Sect and Tianming Sect were officially recognized as two major powers, there were numerous other forces across Zhongzhou capable of rivaling them. However, these other powers preferred a more subtle approach, rather than the overt ambition of the two sects—yet their internal strength and depth were no less formidable than that of the two. As for this woman, Xiao Yan paid no attention at all, his gaze fixed on the white-haired elder, saying, "If the Grand Elder doesn't mind, my Starfall Pavilion might one day become a reliable ally of the Flower Sect. Surely, with my master's reputation, the Grand Elder won't have any doubts." One is a long-established power with ulterior motives, destined to eventually turn against itself; the other is a rising force, promising great potential and credibility. Choosing between them is actually not difficult. Seeing the white-haired elder firmly determined to appoint Yun Yun as abbot—her resolve as solid as a weight on a scale—Hua Jin's expression grew increasingly strained, though she said nothing further. She realized now that any words she might offer would be futile. "Given that the Grand Elder has made this choice, I can only hope you won't regret it later," said the Immortal Flower, whose own demeanor was equally displeased. Today not only had she lost face, but she had also botched the very important matter—she knew she would face no easy reconciliation upon returning. "That will be quite sufficient," the white-haired elder said, waving her hand gently and speaking with quiet composure. The phoenix flower demon king's lips twitched slightly. The situation had now become irrevocable; he could no longer stay here and face further embarrassment. With a graceful sweep of his robe, he turned and dashed outward toward the outer edge of the Flower Sect. As he turned, the gaze he cast upon Xiao Yan was dark, full of cold resentment and bitter hostility—clearly, the man who had suffered such a crushing defeat today now harbored a deep, unyielding hatred for Xiao Yan. As the two figures departed, the white-haired elder slowly scanned the entire hall, speaking softly, "From this day forward, Yun Yun shall be the new abbot of our Flower Sect. All disciples of the Flower Sect must obey her commands; otherwise, they shall be held to the sect's regulations!" "Yes!" As the white-haired elder finished speaking, the dense crowd of Flower Sect disciples on the platform promptly knelt in unison, their respectful voices resonating throughout the space. "Respectfully, we greet the Abbot!" Staring at the dense crowd of disciples kneeling around him, Xiao Yan smiled slightly, looking at Yun Yun, who was slightly disheveled and nervous, and said, "Congratulations, Master Yun..." Yun Yun gave him a withering glance, then sighed quietly—every time this person appeared, her life seemed to change. "What a pair we are..." With the increasingly powerful cultivators encountered these days, Xiao Yan must swiftly enhance his own strength. Though he now stands unshaken against the formidable Yin Hua Xie Jun, his true adversaries are not Yin Hua Xie Jun, but the Hún Palace. He has personally witnessed the abilities of the Nine Heavens and Eight Heavens Sovereigns of the Hún Palace, and knows well that should he face either of them, the battle would surely be fierce and grueling—most importantly, his chances of victory, even after such a struggle, would remain slim. Although the Ye Lao has now ascended to the rank of half-Saint, Xiao Yan cannot rely on him forever. Thus, strengthening his own power remains the most crucial task. As for this quiet chamber, Xiao Yan was quite satisfied and gave a slight nod. Then he settled himself onto the stone bed, cross-legged. However, he did not immediately begin to absorb and refine the Bone Spirit Cold Flame. Earlier, during his battle against the Fiendish Flower Sovereign, he had expended considerable Qi in wielding the Devastating Lotus of Fire. Refining the Bone Spirit Cold Flame would not be an easy task and thus required thorough preparation. This practice continued for approximately half an hour. Only then did Xiao Yan's tightly closed eyes gradually open, his gaze now calm and serene, as still and deep as a tranquil pond, undisturbed by the slightest ripple. "Hmm..." A thick breath slowly exhaled from his throat, and a faint glow appeared on Xiao Yan's face. His eyes blinked, and丝丝 strands of pale, crisp flames spread out from deep within his pupils. Within just a few blinks, his entire gaze was enveloped in that pale, crystalline fire. "Initiating the fusion..." Xiao Yan softly murmured to himself. He changed his hand seal, then gently closed his eyes. As his eyes closed, the temperature within the still room began to rise steadily.