Beneath the boundless azure sky, a sudden gust of wind broke through, followed swiftly by dozens of dark silhouettes approaching from afar. In mere eye blinks, they materialized upon a green peak, stepping through the void. "Based on the latest intelligence gathered over this period, the Shiyin Sect alone—combined with some from the Spirit Palace and additional top-tier cultivators secured through pressure and incentives—has around thirty cultivators at the Dou Zun level. In contrast, the Yan Alliance manages only ten at most, making the disparity in their strength completely unbalanced..." The white-robed elder paused, then continued. "There are also thirty or so Dou-Zun-level cultivators here..." Xiao Yan gently crossed his fingers, his expression thoughtful. Although the quality of strong cultivators on the western-north continent wasn't quite on par with that of the Central Region, it was still impressive—after all, this continent was vast and expansive. With a few strategic measures, the Hún Palace could naturally assemble a number of strong allies. Therefore, it was no surprise that the Shī Míng Sect had so many such cultivators supporting them. As for the Yán Alliance, when he had left, the strongest cultivator within it was Cǎi Lín, a cultivator at the fourth or fifth level of Dou-Consul. Over the years of cultivation, it was likely that Cǎi Lín had now reached the Dou-Zun level. After all, Cǎi Lín possessed the bloodline of the Seven-Color Devouring Python and had a strong natural aptitude, which made his cultivation journey notably efficient. However strong Cailei might be, she was still only one person. The fact that Yan Ling possessed ten Dou Zun-level masters was far beyond Xiao Yan's expectations. Such strength ranked among the top-tier powers even within the Zhongzhou region, and it was clear that the Yan Alliance had developed with remarkable speed over the years. "You're too kind, Young Master," "Let's go—move quickly and aim to reach Xuanhuang Tianjian by dusk." Xiao Yan exhaled softly, then waved his hand. With a gentle tap of his foot against the ground, ripples spread across the space before him, and his form gradually faded into the air. The large group behind him didn't seem surprised—each of them swiftly activated their movements and surged forward. On the fortress towering hundreds of paces high, countless warriors of the Flame Alliance gazed solemnly upon the vast crowd in the distance. Though the Flame Alliance had encountered numerous adversaries during its expansion, never before had it been pressed so severely—never before had it been left with absolutely no capacity to mount a counteroffensive. After a long, deep breath, everyone gradually shifted their gaze, finally settling on the central position of the city wall. There, a graceful figure stood with regal composure. Dressed in a slender, form-fitting red armor, the armor—though seemingly sturdy—could not conceal the sinuous curves that flowed like a serpent’s waist. Even in this moment, the poised, elegant face, both cool and alluring, betrayed no sign of frailty. Over the years, this woman, so beautiful she seems almost otherworldly, has led the Flame Alliance out of the Gamma Empire, ultimately becoming one of the few truly powerful forces on the northwest continent. As a result, the once relatively weaker Gamma Empire has now secured a solid place among the continent's major powers. To many of the Flame Alliance's strongest members, her status within the Alliance is truly irreplaceable—indeed, even the founder of the Alliance, Xiao Yan, cannot match it. At the same time, Xiao Li's cold expression grew serious, and he spoke in a low, steady tone. Listening to what the two had said, Cai Lin slightly shook her head and turned her gaze toward the girl beside her—a young girl dressed in white, about four or five years old, with a delicate and charming appearance that was simply endearing. At the center of her forehead, a small, seven-colored serpent pattern shimmered, and her dark, luminous eyes radiated a subtle, captivating charm that made one almost reluctant to look away. It was only when she regained her composure that she felt a quiet sense of awe—how could such a young child possess such an extraordinary allure? When she grew into adulthood, would she not surpass even her mother in grace and elegance? The colorful scales gazed at the little girl, a gentle fondness flickering in her cold, long eyes. Kneeling down, she gently cradled the child in her arms. The girl, sensing the unusual atmosphere, did not cry out but instead wrapped her small hands around the slender, graceful neck of the colorful scales, speaking in a clear, bright voice: "Mother, don't be afraid. Uncle said Father will return..." At this, a slight smile touched the colorful scales' lips. Holding the child, she lifted her head after a moment and looked toward the young physician beside her, softly asking, "Will he truly come?" "He should take about six months to reach the Heavenly Tomb. By now, he should have emerged from the ancient realm. Once he arrives at the Starfall Pavilion, Master Pharmacist will surely inform him of what's happening here. Given his nature, he will surely come as quickly as possible," the young physician nodded. The彩鳞gently blinked her dual eyes, speaking nothing, and with a delicate hand, lightly stroked her young girl's head as she rested in her arms. Then, fixing her gaze on the young healer, she said, "If the fortress falls, you must take Xiao Xiao with you. Should anything happen to her, no matter what Xiang Yan does, I will never forgive her—never, even if I die!" The young healer was momentarily startled, gazing at the determined red lips of the彩鳞, and eventually, silently nodded. She knew well the nature of the彩鳞—always proud, and once she spoke, she would surely follow through. "Ah, Color-Lion, these years, for the Flame Alliance and the Xiao family, you've done so much. If this time we succeed, I will surely arrange for Xiang Yan to formally marry you into the Xiao family!" Xiao Ding, standing by, sighed softly and then said solemnly. Over the years, he had witnessed firsthand the immense contributions Ci Lin had made to the Yan Alliance and to the Xiao family. When Xiao Yin founded the Yan Alliance, he had entrusted the entire undertaking entirely to Ci Lin. Though he knew Xiao Yin had to leave in order to save his father, Ci Lin—being a daughter herself—had not only given birth to Xiao Yin's children but also built the Yan Alliance into such a solid and thriving organization. Such dedication was truly remarkable. "Agreed, brother. If that young man returns this time, he must handle this matter personally!" Xiao Li nodded firmly as well. He and Xiao Ding had always considered Xiao Yin their top priority, but this time, they would surely have to show some favor to their sister-in-law. "Let's first deal with the troubles right before us—then worry about the rest..." Ai Lin set down the young Xiao Xiao in her arms. In her mind, a young figure dressed in black came to life—her teeth gently biting her red lips, her beautiful eyes reflecting a complex array of emotions. Among the snake people, if a queen never married, that was acceptable. But if she truly fell in love with a human, she would remain utterly devoted—her heart would die with the beloved's. Even if the beloved passed away, her heart would follow, a legacy passed down through the bloodline of the queen Medusa. Thus, Ai Lin understood that throughout her life, she would never forget that one person—no matter how many years had passed since his departure—her image not only remained vivid, but grew deeper and more embedded in her memory. "Boom—boom—" As the Color-Scarlet once more rose to her feet, a thunderous drumming suddenly erupted from the distant black mist, and one after another, figures emerged from the mist, eventually hovering in the heavens, their strength radiating outward and enveloping the entire realm. In the sky, a sturdy middle-aged man, bearing a golden greatsword, his eyes blazing with intense fervor, fixed his gaze upon the graceful figure on the fortress walls. His laughter, powerful and commanding, resonated throughout the heavens. "Hah! Medusa! Have you made your decision yet? Shall you surrender to my Lion-Ming Sect, or shall my Lion-Ming Sect wipe out your Inflame Alliance completely, leaving not a single bird or dog behind?"