This is a vast, boundless grassland, its lush greenery filling the eyes and radiating an intense, vibrant energy. At one spot within it stands an imposing, majestic stone plaza, rising approximately a hundred paces above the ground, supported by countless towering stone pillars. From a distance, it appears as if a giant stands between heaven and earth, creating a magnificent and awe-inspiring sight. On this grand plaza, the space itself takes on a distorted hue, with flashes of silver light occasionally rippling through it. Figures emerge from this shimmering space, gliding gracefully and landing softly upon the plaza. Now, the vast plaza is densely populated, the sounds of voices and bustling activity merging into a continuous, rising clamor that reaches the clouds. "Shh—!" At this very moment, the space in the sky undergoes another sharp distortion, and several figures emerge, landing steadily on the stone platform. As they look around, expressions of astonishment spread across their faces. "This must be the ancient stone plaza mentioned on the map. It seems we haven't taken a wrong turn," said Xiao Yixian, smiling slightly as she gazed at the magnificent, towering stone platform. "Agreed," Xiao Yin nodded, his eyes sweeping over the vast platform. With his keen sense of perception, he could clearly sense that the energies emanating from the platform were all quite strong—indeed, several of them were so potent that even he had to look them directly in the face. "No wonder the ancient clan holds such prestige. The ones they invite are true masters—such influence is truly remarkable," added Tian Huo Zunzhe, slowly nodding in admiration. Xiao Yin smiled, then turned his gaze toward the east, where, in the distance, he could clearly see the outline of a vast city. "That's where our destination lies—the Ancient Sage City," he said. "Let's go." By the end of the conversation, Xiao Yan's face had taken on an eager expression. His curiosity about this mysterious ancient realm had long been overwhelming, and moreover, there was his ancestors' tomb—Xiao Xuan's—within this realm. As a descendant of the Xiao family, he simply had no choice but to visit it. There was no dissent among those listening to Xiao Yan's words. Thus, the group immediately set off, moving swiftly and ascending into the sky, heading toward the distant cityscape. Although the grasslands were vast, they were not particularly impressive to Xiao Yan and his companions. Within less than ten minutes, the grand city, previously faintly visible, clearly came into view. Upon first seeing the city, Xiao Yan and his companions were momentarily struck, as it did not exude the imposing grandeur they had expected. Built from massive pale green rocks, the city appeared somewhat weathered over time, giving it an unusually ancient atmosphere that permeated throughout, offering a distinct sense of timelessness. As they drew closer, Xiao Yan and the others realized that the ancient city was enclosed within a slightly translucent light shield. Though the shield appeared fragile, it exuded a profound sense of pressure—so deep and resonant that it felt like it emanated from the very soul. This pressure caused many people's faces to change, and several seasoned warriors familiar with the city's history even displayed a touch of reverence. "This ancient holy city was established by a primordial ancestor, reportedly built by a powerful Battle Emperor of the ancient clan. The light shield itself contains a trace of that Battle Emperor's strength. With this shield protecting it, the city can truly be said to be impregnable," said Tian Huo, the Esteemed Master, clearly well-versed in the city's history. "Battle Emperor's strength... that explains its overwhelming power," Xiao Yan realized. It now made sense why, as they approached the city, he had increasingly felt a growing pressure within his soul. "To show reverence for the might of the Supreme Emperor, no one is allowed to fly within a thousand zhang of the Sacred Ancient City. Let us walk instead; otherwise, that pressure would only grow stronger." Tian Huo, smiling, stepped down first, and soon after, Xiao Yan and the others followed swiftly. Upon landing, they didn't slow down at all, instead transforming into blurred figures that raced toward the ancient city at breathtaking speed. Xiao Yan and the others moved steadily along the procession, and after some time, finally reached the city gate. Upon taking a glance, they noticed nearly a hundred figures in black armor standing at either side of the gate, each holding a long spear, upright and motionless, their sharp, cold eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. A strong aura emanated from each of them, radiating outwards, leaving the onlookers in awe—what a grand effort the ancient clan had made. Shifting their gaze from these armored figures, Xiao Yan's eyes suddenly focused on a familiar figure at the city gate. His eyes slightly narrowed. "Lin Quan..." Standing straight at the gate, the figure wore armor glowing with a soft blue hue, giving him a more composed and cool demeanor. His flowing cloak swayed gently, enhancing his spirited presence. This familiar figure, naturally, was Lin Quan, the commander of the He Yan Army—someone with whom Xiao Yan had had several disputes. It was no surprise that they had met again just upon arriving at the ancient sage city—what a coincidence. When Xiao Yan saw Ling Quan, the latter's piercing gaze also shifted toward him, causing a moment of surprise, followed swiftly by a deepening of his expression. "Xiao Yan, who authorized you to come here?!" Ling Quan's suddenly displeased demeanor and sharp command drew several sets of eyes to shift instantly, finally settling with a sense of astonishment on Xiao Yan's figure. The news of Xiao Yan's victory in the Dan Conclave had already spread widely throughout Zhongzhou, and now, in Zhongzhou circles, Xiao Yan was well known. Yet, judging by his current demeanor, there seemed to be some underlying tension between this Dan Conclave champion and Ling Quan, the young commander of the Ancient Clan. Despite Ling Quan's sharp words, Xiao Yan's expression remained calm. With a flick of his fingers, a jade slip shot out from his meditation seal, carrying a sharp gust of wind, and sped toward Ling Quan like a lightning bolt. "Hmph!" "Seeing this, Lingquan's expression darkened. He snorted, with qi swirling around his palms, then suddenly lunged forward, precisely grasping the jade slip in his hand. 'Shhh!' However, as soon as Lingquan's fingers closed around the jade slip, an overwhelmingly intense heat surged forth from within it, instantly scorching his palm and causing a thick vapor to rise. The sharp pain radiating through his palm made Lingquan's face utterly grim. Yet, being no ordinary person, he gritted his teeth and endured it, then pressed his palm firmly against the jade slip, absorbing the information into his mind. "So it's the Starfall Pavilion," Lingquan said with a cold smile, laced with clear disdain. After all, given the Starfall Pavilion's past strength, they had never had the credentials to accept an invitation from our ancient clan. "The text is clearly written—should you not recognize it, simply ask someone from your clan. Return the jade slip now." "Xiao Yan spoke calmly. Xiao Yan's tone immediately irritated Lin Quan so much that he felt his teeth ache. Grasping the jade tablet with his hand, he coldly commanded, "Come and take it!" "Poof!" As soon as Lin Quan finished speaking, he suddenly felt a flash of vision before him. The jade tablet he had been holding tightly slipped right out of his grasp. When he regained his composure, he found the tablet now in Xiao Yan's hands—having appeared there at an unexpected moment. This scene left Lin Quan's face instantly flushed. He hadn't expected that, just as he had spoken, Xiao Yan had instantly reclaimed it. His face was truly humiliated. "Ridiculous!" Furious, Lin Quan momentarily forgot his own status. With a sharp cry, he slammed his palm down with a fierce gust of wind directly at Xiao Yan. "Boom!" "Lingquan's palm wind danced, yet before he could strike Xiao Yan, his vision blurred again—then a leg surged like lightning, crashing directly into his chest. The powerful force sent him flying backward, crashing hard against the city wall. 'Pfft!' Lingquan tumbled down, spewing blood from his mouth, his face filled with disbelief and shock. When he first met Xiao Yan at Ye's household, Lingquan had been one star stronger than him. Though he couldn't always overpower Xiao Yan, they could still engage in a fair fight. Now, however—he had completely failed to see Xiao Yan's attack, and the gap between them had grown into something truly staggering. This dramatic shift stirred a fierce urge to spill blood within him. How many years had passed? That boy, once regarded by him as nothing more than a mere insect in the inner courtyard, now stood towering above him!" The others around him were surprised to see Xiao Yan send one leg and knock back a one-star Battle Sovereign—clearly, they hadn't expected not only his remarkable achievements in alchemy, but also such a high level of mastery in battle energy cultivation. "Commander Linquan, I'm sorry—I was a bit too forceful. But next time, I beg you won't make such a fool's move again. After all, people like me who are gentle in their approach aren't common." Xiao Yan tapped the jade tablet in his hand, slipped it into his storage ring, and glanced at Linquan, whose face was filled with astonishment, before smiling. "Black Annihilation Squad—seize him!" Though Xiao Yan's expression remained calm and smiling, Linquan's eyes instantly turned crimson with rage, and he roared the order. "Shh!" At the sound of his roar, the nearly hundred ancient clan warriors stationed at the city gate, clad in black armor, moved without hesitation. With swift motions, their long spears instantly aimed directly at Xiao Yan. Watching this, Xiao Yan's expression gradually darkened.