"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Intense energy fluctuations rippled across the sky, spreading out like deep, resonant thunder, echoing throughout the airspace above the Dragon Island. Yet, amidst this chaos outside, Xiao Yan seated before the colossal tripod seemed entirely unaware. His eyes, streaked with blood vessels, were fixed intently upon the tripod's interior, his hands rigidly forming hand seals to regulate the temperature within. For nearly a month, he had barely slept, enduring this immense workload—work that would exhaust even a fully-advanced Douzun-tier powerhouse. Yet Xiao Yan had persisted through this relentless strain, though the consequence was that his mind had now become a complete mess of confusion. Black Qing watched anxiously as Xiao Yan, his hair disheveled, remained motionless. His fists gradually tightened. He knew Xiao Yan had reached his limit—his nerves had been taut throughout the entire period, with no moment of relaxation. Should this state continue, it would inevitably take a severe toll on him as well. "This guy is really tough on himself. If he can finally settle this matter this time, I, Black Qiang, will swear brotherhood with you—whatever you want, I'll do it..." Black Qiang murmured softly, his proud and unruly nature now finally bowing to Xiao Yan's tenacity. "Boom!" As soon as Black Qiang finished speaking, a thunderous roar erupted suddenly from afar, followed instantly by a fierce surge of energy that surged like lightning. Even before the figure reached them, the loud, defiant laughter that had been building up reached them like a rolling thunder. "Hah! Finally here!" As the booming laughter drew nearer, the figure materialized in a few swift movements around the volcanic crater, then slowed his pace. The crowd turned to gaze—there stood a man clad in dark golden armor. His eyebrows were golden, and a faint aura of sternness lingered on his face. "Commander Xia Sha, Fourth Division of the Dragon Armor Army?" "Upon seeing this man, Hei Qing was slightly taken aback, then furrowed his brows, lightly waving his hand. A dozen figures surged forth from the surrounding forest, standing on guard before the man known as Xia Sha. "Hei Qing? Heh, I didn't expect to run into you here again..." Xia Sha gazed at Hei Qing standing before him, his eyes narrowing slightly. Without further words, he raised his hand, and a number of figures bursting forth from behind him, radiating fierce martial energy, roared with a deep, resonant dragon-like voice that echoed through the air. Seeing this, Hei Qing's expression grew slightly gloomier, and he nodded gently. The dozen strong warriors from Dong Long Island swiftly stepped forward, swiftly intercepting the figures clad in dark gold dragon armor. "Hei Qing, hand over that dignitary without hesitation. Otherwise, Dong Long Island will be drenched in blood today!" "Xia Sha burst into laughter, his form flickering as he materialized just over ten meters ahead of He Qing. Their eyes locked, sparks shooting forth, and a palpable surge of powerful energy began to spread out around them. "If you wish to seize someone, you'll first have to prove you have the credentials to do so!" He Qing's expression darkened, clenched his fists tightly, and launched a powerful punch that instantly cracked the space, leaving a streak of deep black that swiftly extended toward Xia Sha. "Hmph!" Upon seeing He Qing's move, Xia Sha merely snorted, his stance unyielding, and drove his own punch with equal force, meeting head-on with the black streak. "Boom!" The intense energy radiated outward like ripples, causing Xia Sha to slightly stagger before quickly steadying himself. With a firm stomp of his foot, he materialized beside He Qing, unleashing a storm of fierce, lightning-fast attacks. Yet facing Xia Sha’s relentless assault, Hei Qing only sneered, showing no retreat but stepping directly into confrontation. "Thud! Thud! Thud!" In the sky, two figures clashed fiercely, each impact sending out a deep sonic boom that rippled through the surrounding air. The only quiet spot, now growing increasingly chaotic as the two fought, remained untouched—yet the slender figure seated before the massive tripod showed not a single movement. ... "Boom!" In the midst of the sky, the two figures collided violently, their powerful energies tearing the space and creating a vast, nearly ten-zhang-wide black void. As they met, they instantly separated, each retreating swiftly. "I didn't expect… that you've now reached the half-Saint rank as well," said Man Yao, retreating step by step, his deep purple dragon scales now dimmed. His eyes were fixed tightly on Zhu Li, who stood not far ahead. He spoke in a steady, measured tone. "Hehe, Zhulí, you must know—this was only *if*..." As Zhulí's cold laugh had just finished, a light chuckle suddenly echoed from the void. At once, the elder's face grew pale, his gaze fixed tightly on the empty space: "The Northern Dragon Island... it has finally arrived!" Under Zhulí's intense watch, the void space suddenly flared with streaks of jade light, which quickly expanded into brilliant beams. One after another, figures emerged, riding the jade glow, radiating immense power, appearing in the sky above the Dragon Island, accompanied by gusts of wind. "Well, we're a bit late, but fortunately, we haven't missed the main act," remarked an elderly man in a jade-colored robe, gazing at the bustling, chaotic Dragon Island. "Qingyan." Gazing at the young green-robed elder, Zhuo Li's heart sank completely. Indeed, the three Dragon Kings had made a substantial effort—sending not only one half-Saint but also two peak-level Battle Sovereigns. Clearly, they were determined to secure Zi Yan. … Meanwhile, as the candle was pulled by the wild rock, the elder named Qing Yan appeared around the volcano's crater in a few fleeting moments. Upon arriving, Qing Yan first glanced at Xiao Yan, who was meditating in lotus position before the massive tripod, then his gaze settled on the tripod itself, his brows slightly furrowed as he murmured, "This is indeed the noble of royal blood—though still in his youth, the aura of that royal lineage is already beginning to manifest." "Let's take him away now, before anything unforeseen happens." With his gaze shifting, Qing Yan didn't wish to linger any longer. As he moved to act, a figure suddenly appeared a short distance ahead—none other than the Iron Sword Sovereign, who remained expressionless, tightly gripping his iron sword, his eyes fixed on Qing Yan, a quiet detachment gradually spreading throughout the air. "You're going to die!" "Upon seeing Iron Sword Master blocking his way, Qing Yan's brows furrowed slightly. With his peak status as a Battle Sovereign, he naturally didn't regard the former as anything significant. He merely swept his sleeve, and an energy storm surged before him, then surged forward like lightning. 'Shhh!' Iron Sword Master remained impassive, as if completely unaware of the vast gap between them. He raised his sword and delivered a simple, unremarkable slash. As the blade descended, Iron Sword Master's expression instantly drooped, as though all his internal battle energy had flowed away with that single stroke. At the same time, a sword aura no larger than a palm burst forth from the tip of the blade, making a sharp 'shhh' sound, and collided forcefully with the energy storm. 'Boom!' The two forces met—first a tremor, then a violent surge of energy erupted from the storm. 'Pffft!' The sword's aura collided with the storm, and the Iron Sword Sovereign, his expression wan, suddenly expelled a gush of blood, his body crashing down like struck by a heavy blow into the forest below. "Unbelievable,"青厌 said, with a dismissive smirk, as he sent the Iron Sword Sovereign reeling. "To show up with such strength—how utterly foolish." "Hold on to your flames, young one," he murmured, his steps gliding through the air as he slowly advanced toward Xiao Yan, his voice calm and measured. Yet, despite his words, Xiao Yan, his hair wild and his eyes bloodshot, remained utterly unmoved, his gaze fixed intently on the great cauldron within. "Another one who's going to die,"青厌 said, pausing his steps beside Xiao Yan. Seeing the latter's unyielding posture, he shook his head, raised his hand, and with a surge of power, delivered a decisive blow to Xiao Yan's forehead. At the very instant when Qing Yan's palm delivered its powerful strike, the girl's tightly closed eyes within the massive bronze cauldron suddenly snapped open. A cold voice, radiating infinite pressure, surged like a soul-shaking thunderbolt directly into Qing Yan's ears, instantly freezing his body. "Should he suffer even the slightest injury, then today, you shall pay with your life!"