The intense heat radiated outward from the deep crimson cauldron, drying out the very atmosphere above. Crafting eighth-rank pills was an exceedingly intricate process—requiring hundreds of different herbs. For ordinary alchemists, merely arranging these herbs to remain suspended was a challenge; yet, in the presence of Xiao Yan’s vast, ocean-like soul power, such difficulties vanished entirely. One after another, rare, high-grade pills unfamiliar to most of the present alchemists were fed into the cauldron. With a simple curl of the flame, the refined essence of each herb was perfectly extracted and suspended within the cauldron, forming a dense, shimmering array that radiated an astonishing purity of energy. The first-tier pill, renowned for summoning five-colored thunderous pills, was not particularly challenging for Xiao Yan at this stage. Over the years, his spiritual power had grown immensely through cultivation, surpassing his initial state during the pill-making assembly. Though the process of crafting such a pill was intricate, in Xiao Yan’s hands it flowed effortlessly and seamlessly. Crafting pills—especially eighth-tier ones—was inherently time-consuming. Even with the aid of his unique flames, by the time he had fully processed all the ingredients, half a day had passed unnoticed. The pill-makers on the plaza were completely immersed in the smooth, rhythmic process of Xiao Yan’s pill-making, barely perceiving the passage of time. Their growing sense of awe deepened with each passing moment—his techniques were truly extraordinary. Among the seasoned pill masters they had encountered before, few, if any, had achieved such mastery. And within this tranquil atmosphere, nearly three days passed quietly, each day drawing more and more alchemists who had come to witness Xiao Yan's alchemy. Even those who were not originally part of the Alchemy Hall but had settled within the Xuanhuang Garrison began to arrive in response to the growing interest. Eventually, the Alchemy Hall became so crowded that it was completely surrounded—people filled the ground and the sky, standing in vast numbers. As the commotion grew, some non-alchemists of greater strength also arrived, drawn by the influence of Shimei Sect, which had prompted many powerful figures from various factions to join the Yan Alliance. Among these, some had left after Shimei's retreat, yet many remained. Now, all of them were drawn to the alchemy demonstrations taking place within the Garrison. As the crowd grew ever larger, Cai Lin had no choice but to deploy stronger members of the Yan Alliance to maintain order, thus ensuring that Xiao Yan's alchemy process remained undisturbed. Under the watchful eyes of countless people, another nearly three days passed... "Boom!" On the eighth day of Xiāo Yīn's deep immersion in the alchemical process, a low, resonant thunder suddenly echoed across the clear, cloudless sky. Instantly, those with sharp senses noticed that the energy throughout the realm had begun to surge and tremble violently. As the crowd grew slightly agitated, thick, oppressive clouds suddenly appeared without warning in the sky, with silver serpentine lightning weaving and dancing through them. Watching the sky, which had suddenly transformed from clear blue to dense, thunder-laden clouds, the Xuan Huang Fort experienced a stir. Many of the powerful figures had their expressions grow serious, sensing the immense and terrifying energy contained within the clouds. Should this energy continue to pour down unchecked, the fort would be nearly obliterated, half of it reduced to rubble. "Truly a five-colored jade thunder..." Ancient River and Fama watched the sky. Ancient River gently exhaled, gazing at the slender figure, feeling a slight sense of disappointment. It was no wonder Yun Yun had always been devoted to him—such talent, he believed, he himself could never match. "Boom!" As the thunderclouds roiled in the heavens, a sudden, intense thunderstorm erupted. The clouds tore violently apart, and a massive five-colored jade thunder, stretching hundreds of zhangs in length, surged directly toward Xiao Yan, crashing down under the stunned gazes of all present. "Upon collision, the seemingly devastating Dan-Light vanished instantly, leaving everyone stunned. Upon closer inspection, they discovered the figure to be a lifeless automaton—face expressionless, eyes hollow—none other than Xiao Yan's Tian-Yao Automaton. 'Boom! Boom!'" After absorbing one Dan-Light, the sky's thunderclouds erupted in fury, pouring down an unceasing cascade of five-colored lightning columns. Yet none of them managed to penetrate the Tian-Yao Automaton's defense. This relentless storm of thunder lasted nearly ten minutes before gradually fading, and the awe-inspiring cloud formations slowly dispersed under the astonished gazes of the onlookers. "Indeed, the Dan-Light of Eighth-Rank Dan Pills is formidable—such power even some Dou-Zun强者 cannot withstand." Witnessing the fading Dan-Light, many present silently marvelled. It was clear that pills of this caliber were no ordinary achievement. As the Dan Lei dissipated, Xiao Yan waved his hand, sealing the Tian Yao Puppet within his storage scroll. With a simple finger tap, the lid of the cauldron automatically lifted, and a streak of brilliant light burst forth like lightning. Just as the light was about to flee, it was caught by Xiao Yan's palm, bound tightly by an invisible gust of wind, and finally drawn into his hand, where it was inserted into a jade vial and placed within the storage scroll. "Master's brilliance!" Upon witnessing Xiao Yan's successful alchemy, thunderous cheers erupted around him. Numerous alchemists, their faces flushed with excitement, stared intently at him—this was the first time they had seen a practitioner of such caliber. Such a level of Dan Lei was unprecedented. Amidst the roaring applause, Xiao Yan smiled gently. He lightly pressed his palm and slowly scanned the faces of the alchemists in the hall, pausing briefly on Li Chang and Wu Zhen. Both men now appeared slightly uneasy, unable to meet Xiao Yan's gaze. "This visit to the Dan Hall is not merely about refining elixirs..." Hearing Xiao Yan's calm voice, the entire hall fell silent, with several attendees growing uneasy, as if sensing something significant was about to unfold. "The Dan Hall is an integral part of the Yan Alliance, equal in status to all other halls. Yet over the years, certain individuals have grown arrogant, treating the Alliance as mere background noise and acting independently—this has caused internal discord, a grave offense to the Alliance!" Xiao Yan's expression gradually turned cold, and his commanding voice resonated clearly in every listener's ears. "I have a list here, detailing specific charges against each individual!" With a firm grasp of his hand, Xiao Yan produced a scroll and tossed it toward Cai Lin, speaking gravely, "Read it aloud!" Hearing Xiao Yan's steady tone, many present grew tense, their hearts growing cold. Caishen took the scroll, her eyes coldly sweeping across the hall. The people listed here had been especially arrogant and assertive—some even causing significant disruptions before their matters were finally dismissed. In the past, she had had to tolerate them due to the importance of the Dan Hall, but now, with Xiao Yan’s return, that tolerance had completely vanished. "As soon as the last word of Cai Lin's cold command rang out, a wave of murmurs rose across the square, and both Liu Chang and Wu Zhen's faces paled—neither had expected Xiao Yan to actually dare to take action against them! 'The nation has its laws, the alliance its regulations. As stated, all penalties shall be enforced strictly according to the rules of the Yan Alliance—no one shall escape!' said Xiao Yan calmly. 'Chief!' Liu Chang and Wu Zhen suddenly stood up, shouting in anger, 'We are both senior seventh-grade alchemists, and the development of the Ancestral Hall owes much to our efforts. Are you now planning to abandon us like this?' 'Merits cannot outweigh faults! The Yan Alliance is not a loose collection of loose ties—anyone who violates its laws shall be held accountable!' Xiao Yan snapped, emphasizing that without clear rules, the alliance would inevitably fall into disorder. If left unchecked, the Ancestral Hall would eventually bring chaos to the entire alliance, and thus, he would not hesitate to take firm action. 'You're a fool! Who cares about your seniority as a hall elder? I'm done!' Li Chang and Wuzhen turned pale, then suddenly cold, laughing sharply as they raised their sleeves and roared, "Is there anyone willing to join us?" Hearing their call, the medicinal masters on the plaza exchanged glances, and finally, several of their trusted allies and those who had been previously named—knowing they would face misfortune if they stayed—hurried forward, all following Li Chang and Wuzhen. Seeing these people, Li Chang and Wuzhen could not help but smile with pride, turning to Xiao Yan and saying, "Lord Marshal, if this place doesn't suit us, there will always be another place that does. We're leaving!" As he watched Li Chang and the others coldly turning to depart, Xiao Yan's face suddenly broke into a smile. He slowly asked, "Cai Lin, what punishment is given to those who secretly defect from the alliance?" Upon hearing this, Cai Lin lifted a few cold, composed lines at her lips, and replied softly, "They are to be executed without mercy."