The night was as still as water, spreading over the earth, and a cool moonlight poured down from the sky, draping the entire mountain range in a delicate silver veil. At the heart of the mountains, clusters of grand pavilions rose one after another, standing like ancient beasts from bygone eras, exuding a quiet sense of timelessness. Most of these pavilions were lit up with warm glow, celebrating the ancient clan's festive days—now adorned with lanterns and vibrant decorations, filled with joy and festivity. In contrast, on more distant, serene peaks, far from these majestic and ancient structures, the atmosphere was remarkably tranquil, free from the bustle, resembling the quiet abode of hermits—calm and peaceful. There, a graceful figure in a snowy white robe stood still, her beautiful eyes fixed on the bright-lit pavilions in the distance, silent, lost in thought. "Have you not rested yet?" Suddenly, a soft sound echoed upon the mountain peak, and a figure in green robes emerged slowly from the forest, moonlight cascading gently over her refined features, making her especially enchanting. "This must be the ancient clan... actually, it doesn't differ much from the outside world," the white-robed figure turned her head, gazing at Xun'er who was approaching steadily, and smiled. "Here, the pressure one must bear is far stronger than that from the outside world. The ancient clans rely on the strength of their bloodlines, yet this very strength brings them a sense of melancholy. This sacred mountain range holds a sacred place in the hearts of every descendant of the ancient clans. Every few years, countless descendants bring their children and grandchildren to this place, hoping that among them, someone will emerge with a powerful bloodline. Each time, there are always moments of excitement, but more often, endless disappointment. Over the years, I have seen many who, upon discovering that their descendants' bloodlines have faded, are overwhelmed and take their own lives right there." Xun'er gazed at the brightly lit hall with a distant, misty gaze, her voice soft and carrying a deep, unyielding weariness. "Since strength comes with its own cost..." The young physician nodded silently, speaking gently. Xun lightly exhaled, naturally understanding that this was one of the costs the ancient clan had to bear for its strength... "Over the years, thank you so much..." Xun clearly didn't wish to dwell on this topic any longer. She turned her gaze to the gentle, soft features of her face, saying. "Are you referring to Xiao Yan? I've grown used to it. Being able to assist him beside him feels quite good." For this girl who had already known her true feelings, the young physician offered no further concealment, simply smiled with ease, then glanced at Xun. "Just don't go off on your own and start making things up. I really like this current feeling, and I don't wish to change anything." "But if you don't speak up, he'll remain slow and hesitant," Xun smiled. The young physician said nothing in reply, merely glanced at Xun, then suddenly added, "I think you should know of some other things, don't you?" "What do you mean?" Xun lifted her beautiful eyes, asking. The young physician hesitated, yet remained silent. "You mean, Medusa, or perhaps, the colorful scales?" Xun'er slightly raised her head, her beautiful eyes gazing at the endless stars, carrying an inexplicable tone within them. "You truly still know why he has pretended not to know?" Xiao Yi, the Young Healer, sighed. With the ancient clan's intelligence network, and Xun'er's current status within the clan, as soon as she opened her mouth—even without speaking explicitly—many reports related to the colorful scales would surely have reached her. "But what's the point? Can I really storm out in a rage in front of him and have him kill Medusa?" Xun'er gently pursed her lips, her嘴角 forming a soft, charming curve, as if she wanted to smile, yet ultimately only sighed softly, murmuring, "In truth, I find this quite troublesome. Others hope I will leave him or even harbor deep resentment toward him. But I myself know this is impossible. So, why should I go on seeking discomfort for myself?" "With that, Xun'er turned to the young physician and said, 'I've been waiting for him to come to me on his own about this! Only then can I pretend to be stern and give him a good scolding, so that he'll truly understand—men who are fickle in their affections don't always have a good outcome!' The young physician looked at Xun'er, whose cheeks now carried a subtle flush of irritation—just like a woman discovering her husband secretly having an affair. 'Alright,' she continued, 'I don't want to talk about this with anyone else. The ancient clan's coming-of-age ceremony is tomorrow. You should rest now. I hope you'll always stay by his side from now on...' Xun'er's lingering irritation quickly melted away, and she smiled warmly. 'And what about you?' the young physician raised a delicate eyebrow. Xun'er gently shook her long lashes, but said nothing. She waved her jade-hand and then turned, walking toward the bamboo pavilion nestled along the mountain slope. Gazing at Xun'er's back, Xiao Yi, the young physician, slightly furrowed her brows but did not speak again, instead gliding silently after her. ... As the first rays of morning light poured down from the horizon, the ancient sacred mountain came alive almost instantly—figures darted across the sky, and festive gongs and drums echoed throughout the mountain's expanse. "Creak..." The firmly closed door slowly opened, and Xiao Yan, now dressed in neat attire, stepped out swiftly. Surveying the empty space before the house, he found Xun'er and the others already there, which made him feel a bit embarrassed. "Xiao Yan, brother—have you rested well?" Xun approached with a warm smile, gently smoothing the creases in Xiao Yan's robe with her delicate hands—so tender and attentive, as if a well-behaved, respectful wife. Should any other ancient clan members witness this scene, they would surely find their eyes welling up with emotion. For years, Xun had always appeared refined and ethereal, like a goddess to them. They had never imagined that such a divine figure, when gently assisting a man with his attire, would evoke such a heart-wrenching moment. Xun smiled gently, then raised her jade hand. Instantly, a white unicorn, robust in build and shimmering with pure white wings, surged forth from the forest, gliding through the trees before landing gracefully before the group. With a swift leap, Xun settled onto the broad back of the creature, and as soon as the others saw this, they quickly climbed aboard. Xun then lightly tapped the unicorn, which responded with a clear, resonant cry, flapping its wings and transforming into a streak of light, swiftly heading toward the distant array of palaces. The unicorn moved with remarkable speed, reaching the cluster of palaces in just a few minutes. Under Xun's guidance, it descended slowly and came to rest at the central area of the palace complex. With Xun accompanying them, the group of Xiao Yan and his companions naturally became the most admired and noticed among all the visitors. As soon as they stepped down from the unicorn, a series of curious glances fell upon them. "Let's go..." Ignoring the gazes of those around, Xun'er softly spoke to Xiao Yan and the others, then swiftly moved toward the vast plaza, completely enveloped in ancient aura. Around this ancient plaza, black-armor soldiers of the He Yan Army stood straight and rigid, their sharp eyes as keen as eagles, constantly scanning the surroundings. When they spotted Xiao Yan, their gaze paused noticeably, yet no further action was taken. Already several figures had taken seats around the plaza, but Xun'er did not slow down—she continued directly toward the central seat. Xiao Yan and the others hesitated slightly before following her. "Clang!" As Xun'er stepped into the area, a sharp sound of heavy lances colliding erupted behind her. Two soldiers clad in golden armor had raised their long spears and blocked off Xiao Yan and the others completely. Hearing that sharp voice, Xun's cheeks instantly flushed, and a growing anger stirred within her. "Get out of the way!" Upon hearing the cold tone from beside her, the two warriors clad in golden armor paused, hesitating slightly. "Miss, you needn't make them uncomfortable. This area is a special zone—only members of our clan or specially invited guests are permitted entry. We kindly ask for your understanding..." A gentle laugh drifted through the air. With a calm gaze, Xiao Yan scanned the scene and noticed that the elderly man standing upright bore a striking resemblance to Gu Qian from the day before. From the golden-armored warriors stationed here, Xiao Yan already knew this was a designated special area. While he himself had little interest in such zones, Xun clearly did. Since Xiao Yan had come to the ancient clan, she intended to treat him with the utmost hospitality. This spot was already quite prominent, and with Xun here, numerous eyes immediately turned their attention toward Xiao Yan, settling firmly on his figure—many of them carrying a hint of curiosity. "Miss, my brother is right. Though Xiao Yan is your friend, he hasn't quite met the required standard, so..." A voice came from beside them, belonging to the elder Gu Qian, who had previously confronted Xiao Yan the day before. Xun's expression remained cold, golden flames flickering subtly within her beautiful eyes—clearly, the repeated obstruction from these elders had truly ignited her anger. "Gu Qian, Gu Xu—you two, elderly gentlemen with no sense of decorum, have you gone mad? You've long been indifferent to the way you've treated others, but now you've directly turned your attention to our Gan Nan Academy. Do you really think I'm made of clay?" However, as Xuanyi was about to erupt, a sudden angry outburst—familiar to Xiao Yan—rang out from the sky, causing him to pause. "Bang Tian Chi?" While Xiao Yan was taken aback, Gu Qin and the other two also stiffened, their expressions turning pale, as a gasp of surprise escaped their lips.