For the next two days, Xiao Yan and Qinglin remained on the Ancient Dragon Island, while Elder Zhuo was busy preparing the energy crystal layers for Zi Yan. However, despite his busy schedule, he had instructed Heiqing to warmly host the two guests, and thus, those two days passed swiftly in a relaxed, patient pace. On the third morning, Elder Zhuo finally appeared before Xiao Yan with a serious expression. Seeing this, Xiao Yan understood that today would be the day they began their work. "Young Master Xiao Yan, please follow me," said Elder Zhuo, then turned and walked ahead. Xiao Yan quickly followed. As they journeyed together, they flew deeper into the heart of the Dragon Island. Along the way, Xiao Yan noticed that the atmosphere of the island had grown noticeably more solemn—on the usually empty sky, figures now occasionally passed through, their eyes scanning the void with cautious vigilance. "Although our security measures are solid, the Purple Research Institute is too crucial to the ancient Long family, so any mishap must be avoided. Thus, the defense of Long Island today has been raised to its highest level." As he listened to Zhú Lí's explanations throughout the journey, Xiao Yīn finally began to understand. While flying deeper into the island, he became increasingly aware that the energy of the surrounding realm was gradually becoming hotter and more intense. "There's actually a volcano here..." With careful sensing, Xiao Yīn's eyes flashed with surprise—indeed, the efforts of the ancient Tuí Xuē Long family were truly impressive, as they had managed to construct a real volcano on the island. After nearly ten minutes of flight, Elder Zhú Lí gradually slowed their pace. Xiao Yīn followed his gaze and saw ahead a towering mountain, its summit indented, with a steady column of hot, white smoke rising gently from within. "Ssshh—" "When Xiao Yan and Zhuo Li arrived at this sky, a dark figure suddenly swept in from afar and materialized before them. 'You... Master Iron Sword? You... how are you here?' For this figure, Xiao Yan had initially only glanced casually, but that single glance instantly froze him, his voice filled with disbelief. The figure wore a black robe, carrying a sword on his back—his appearance was unmistakably that of Master Iron Sword, the one who had accompanied Xiao Yan and the others to the Spirit Palace to rescue Yao Lao. Back then, Master Iron Sword had been left behind to block off the Black and White Heavenly Sovereigns, and Xiao Yan had thought he would surely meet with disaster. Yet he had never expected to see him again here. 'Ah, yes,' Zhuo Li the elder chuckled, and the Master Iron Sword's face also subtly brightened, as if smiling. 'Was that mysterious master back then, Zhuo Li the elder?' Xiao Yan's eyes flicked, and then he turned to Zhuo Li, his voice filled with surprise. "After Ziyan left, I followed her quietly. She is too important to the Tai Xu Gu Long clan for me to let her wander around aimlessly." Elder Zhe Li smiled, stroking his beard. "That day, I merely stabilized the spatial rift for her—didn't do much else. As for the Iron Sword, I've always admired his temperament, so after you all departed, I managed to rescue him from the Soul Palace." "Didn't expect the young man to have quietly accumulated a favor with Elder Zhe Li..." Xiao Yan chuckled. "Nothing remarkable," Elder Zhe Li waved his hand casually, then turned his gaze to the Iron Sword Sovereign, asking, "All preparations are ready?" The Iron Sword Sovereign nodded slightly. Seeing this, Elder Zhuo Li also nodded, then waved his hand, drifting slowly forward until he hovered above the mountain spewing a column of white smoke. Xiao Yan followed closely behind, scanning downward. To his surprise, a massive green cauldron now floated suspended at the volcanic crater. Through the cauldron, he could see a slender figure quietly hovering within—none other than Zi Yan. "Young Master Xiao Yan, the fire-energy here is exceptionally dense. When you summon the Unique Fire here, its power will be significantly enhanced," said Elder Zhuo Li, pointing at the cauldron with a serious expression. "However, the Unique Fire is extremely powerful and demanding. It requires exceptional control so that, after absorbing the energy crystal layers, it does not scorch Zi Yan. With your current abilities, do you think you can manage this?" "Hmm." Xiao Yan nodded slightly. He had long since mastered the control of flame to a refined, seamless degree, making this task quite straightforward for him. Seeing this, Elder Zhu Li exhaled in relief, pointing his fingers toward the surrounding peaks and said, "During this period, both the elite members of the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan and I will personally remain here, ensuring no disturbances will arise for you." Xiao Yan glanced in the direction Zulu Li indicated, and indeed, with his keen perception, he sensed numerous exceptionally powerful presences concealed within the nearby mountains. "Moreover, integrating and refining the Dragon-Phoenix crystal layers is no easy feat—it will be a lengthy process, and it will consume an immense amount of qi." "At this point, Elder Zhu grasped his palm, and a jade vial of pale, luminous hue appeared in his hand. After lightly rubbing it, he handed it to Xiao Yan, saying, 'Inside are five drops of ancient dragon essence blood, personally refined by me. This essence carries immense energy—it can instantly restore your combat energy and also effectively strengthen your bones and muscles. Should your internal energy begin to wane during the refinement process, simply consume one drop...' Xiao Yan carefully accepted the vial, feeling the vast energy radiating from within. Even with his keen eyesight and experience, a look of genuine astonishment flickered across his face. He fully understood the rarity of ancient dragon blood. These five drops, if placed outside, would undoubtedly draw fierce competition from battle-royalty-level cultivators, as they not only rapidly replenish expended energy but also fortify the body to a level comparable to that of certain beasts." "This matter is of great importance, and I can't boast too much—though the ancient Lu Dong's blood is indeed precious, I'll just take it for now..." At this moment, Xiao Yan didn't act overly proud. He simply bowed slightly, inhaled deeply, and with a swift motion, materialized as a streak of light above the volcanic crater. He settled into a meditative posture, then gently settled himself outside the massive cauldron. As Xiao Yan prepared to act, Elder Zhu Li's expression grew steadily more serious, murmuring, "Now it all depends on you..." With the emergence of the hetero-flames, the temperature of the sky instantly soared, and some of the towering ancient trees in the forest now hung their branches limply. The flames roared into the massive cauldron, then, under Xiao Yan's near-perfect control, coalesced completely. In a brief moment, a colossal fire dragon took shape within the cauldron. "Roar!" As the dragon formed, it unleashed a thunderous roar that shook the cauldron to its core. Outside the cauldron, Xiao Yan subtly adjusted his hand seals, and with a light command, spoke the word: "Refine." As the voice of command settled, the colossal fire dragon instantly surged forward, charging directly at Ziyan, who was closed-eyed and unconscious, under the watchful gaze of numerous tense onlookers. Just as it was about to collide with her body, the dragon's massive form twisted swiftly, coiling and winding around her, fully enveloping her within its body. At the same time, the temperature inside the great tripod rose sharply to an astonishing level... As for the onlookers surrounding the world, Xiao Yan had no time to attend to them. At this very moment, he had fully concentrated his entire spirit within the massive cauldron, with the soul energy radiating from the center of his forehead surging forth in overwhelming waves, precisely regulating the flame's temperature. The strange fire continued to be spurted upon Zi Yan's body, yet the Long-Huang crystal layer remained untouched, showing no sign of melting. Yet, faced with this situation, Xiao Yan displayed no trace of urgency. If the crystal were so easily melted, then Master Zhuo Li would never have summoned him to intervene. Xiao Yan maintained a calm expression, gradually closing his eyes, with a peculiar glow of fire gently flickering within them. "Under the power of the strange fire, no matter what it touches is consumed—be it all things, or even this Long-Huang crystal layer."