Above the horizon, the clouds rolled steadily, and the massive warship gradually came to a halt in the vast expanse of mountains, drawing countless sets of eyes. Gathered at the ship's prow, the guests of the ancient clan gazed downward at the rugged mountain range, sensing the powerful energies subtly seeping out from within. Many silently admired, truly worthy of the ancient clan's stronghold—the number of strong warriors here was indeed formidable. Xiao Yan stood at the bow of the ship, yet did not move; his gaze remained fixed upon the distant cloud peak. The Heavenly Fire Master and others stood behind him, while Xiao Yixian, with her beautiful eyes, also looked toward the far distance, her expression tinged with complexity. After a while of steady gazing, the figure on the cloud peak finally stirred, stepping upon the clouds, her skirt swaying gently, as if a celestial maiden drifting through the mist. Under the watchful eyes of all present, she glided gracefully toward the ship, eventually hovering just outside its hull. Upon the sudden appearance of this young girl in her green robe, everyone on the ship turned their gaze toward her, their eyes filled with admiration. The girl wore a light cyan dress, her three thousand strands of hair loosely tied, flowing over her slender waist, cascading down to her delicate hips. A gentle breeze swept through, causing her hair to drift softly, giving her an ethereal, refined grace. Her beautiful face was so radiant that even the very heavens seemed to dim in comparison. Her captivating eyes, filled with a luminous clarity, resembled the deepest expanse of the night sky—once gazed upon, one's gaze could never be drawn away. Under the gaze of so many, the girl in green smiled warmly, flickered slightly, and appeared on the warship. Her soft voice echoed in Xiao Yan's ear. The familiar title struck him like a heavy blow, resonating deeply within his most tender heart, making him feel an overwhelming urge to cradle her tightly in his arms. "Little one, you're becoming more beautiful every day..." Holding back that impulse, Xiao Yan reached out, gently rubbing the top of Xun'er's head, chuckling as the black-yin army soldiers stared at him in wide-eyed wonder. Then, Gu Zhen watched the girl radiating a beautiful smile, and offered a wistful smile. He understood—this smile bloomed solely for him. Only in his presence did the usually elegant, goddess-like Xun'er truly reveal her genuine, youthful charm. "Actually, this young man has managed to win over the goddess of the Ancient Clan—no wonder the members of the Ancient Clan treat him so seriously. But he's truly quite exceptional." At a spot on the warship, the young Flame Clan member, with a slightly superior expression, couldn't help but be deeply impressed. "It won't be that easy. The current state of the Xiao Clan is certainly no longer what it used to be." The red-clad woman, her face veiled by a veil, paused her gaze on Xun'er before softly speaking. "Heh, don't underestimate Xiao Yan. To rise from a once-forgotten bloodline clan to a position where even we now have to take him seriously—this is no ordinary feat. It's quite possible that the Xiao Clan has truly flourished because of him." Fire Xuan smiled gently and said with quiet confidence. Hearing Fire Xuan praise Xiao Yan so highly, several others nearby raised their brows, yet remained silent, clearly not fully convinced. "Xiao Yan, brother, would you mind walking with Xun'er?" After a brief chat with Xiao Yan, Xun smiled gently and moved her body, swiftly heading toward the interior of the mountain range. Xiao Yan then slowly inhaled a deep breath, knowing that Xun's personal appearance to welcome him was a clear signal of her determination to demonstrate her commitment to the ancient clan. Indeed, as a young lady, Xun had taken such a bold step—how could Xiao Yan now hesitate? "Well then, let me see what makes this ancient clan so special!" Gazing at the endless, ancient-sounding mountains, Xiao Yan felt a surge of confidence and burst into laughter. With a wave of his hand, he took the Xiao Yi and others aboard and swiftly descended from the warship, quickly pursuing Xun ahead. Boom! Yet, as Xiao Yan surged forth from the warship, his sharp spiritual perception instantly detected no fewer than ten exceptionally powerful gazes sweeping over him—each radiating an intense pressure so profound it seemed to freeze the very space around him. "Hmph!" Noticing the shift in the surrounding space, Xiao Yan's expression darkened. Indeed, the ancient clan members clearly intended to deliver a stern first impression. "Boom!" Suddenly, a surge of scorching flame erupted from the heavens, detonating with startling force. A wave of blazing heat surged outward from Xiao Yan's center, rolling in a thunderous rhythm. The intense temperature left many aboard the warship visibly stunned. "Such a powerful hetero-flame!" The red-clad woman named Huo Zhi now gazed with astonishment, intently focusing on the figure at the heart of the flame wave. At the same time, the flame mark on her brow grew increasingly vibrant. The surge of flames expanded outward, and the previously solid spaces around them shattered with a thunderous roar. Xiao Yan stepped upon the flames, hovering in the air, his gaze fixed on certain areas within the mountain range. While the strength of those he observed was indeed formidable, to merely rely on the pressure radiating from their gaze to suppress him—Xiao Yan—was nothing short of a far-fetched dream. As the cold tone of Xun just settled, a weathered figure slowly materialized in the sky. Dressed in gray robes, his face stern and rigid, his gaze upon Xiao Yan carried a clear sense of displeasure. Xiao Yan fixed his eyes on this gray-robed elder, clearly recognizing him as one of the individuals who had just attacked him. "An Eight-Star Battle Sovereign, then..." As his eyes swept over the elder, a subtle ripple passed through them. A quiet chuckle formed in his heart—apparently, the ancient clan had many who harbored ill will toward him. This journey to the ancient clan, indeed, would not be smooth at all. "Senior Guan, today is our clan's day of hospitality. Your conduct thus far is rather excessive. Step back, and let this be a precedent—never again." A soft voice, faint at first, gradually spread from deep within the mountain range, finally resonating across the sky. "Yes!" "Heard this, Gu Qian bowed respectfully toward the deeper parts of the mountain range, then paid a courtesy to Xun'er before turning his gaze coldly to Xiao Yan, and swiftly disappeared into the depths. 'Xiao Yan brother, are you all right?' Xun'er turned to follow Gu Qian's departure, speaking softly. 'I'm fine,' Xiao Yan shook his head with a smile. 'Xiao Yan brother, now you should understand why Xun'er has always delayed your arrival at the Gu clan, don't you think?' Xun'er sighed lightly. She hadn't expected the stiff-armed elders to be so persistent—already at the moment Xiao Yan first arrived, they had attempted to impress upon him a sense of awe. Xiao Yan smiled, naturally knowing that Xun'er wished to avoid any ridicule should he arrive at the Gu clan. That was why he had repeatedly pushed himself to grow stronger before seeking her out." "Come on. Before I even arrived in this ancient realm, I already knew what was going to happen. These burdens—after all these years, I can't let you carry them alone. You've carried so much for me these past years; it's time I returned the favor." Xiao Yan smiled, his current strength giving him the confidence to speak thus. Should the ancient elder, Gu Qing, have chosen to act, Xiao Yan would have ensured that he gained nothing at all. Hearing Xiao Yan's gentle words, Xun'er was momentarily startled, then smiled warmly. Indeed, in the ancient clan, she had delayed many opportunities for Xiao Yan. Yet fortunately, she had finally waited long enough for him to grow strong—now, he had the strength to share these burdens with her. "Finally, he's arrived," a light laugh echoed suddenly, as a man in a silver robe materialized mysteriously behind the figure. "Ancient beast—clearly, Xun and he have a truly strong bond. You still won't give up, will you?" The silver-robed man gazed at the man before him, whose hair was a blend of black and white, and chuckled with a teasing tone. "He isn't from the Ancient Clan, so he can't be with Xun. I'll personally remind him of that." His voice remained calm and steady, as if speaking of something utterly ordinary. "What if he insists on staying?" the silver-robed man asked with a smile.