As the figure within the Bodhi ancient tree slowly opened his eyes, the space, rich with life energy, suddenly rippled with strange vibrations... Everyone gazed at the dark, serene eyes within the tree, and for a moment, felt an overwhelming sense of timelessness and depth—a kind of profound, soul-tinged weariness that could not be feigned. "Brother Xiao Yan..." Xun'er looked at Xiao Yan with his eyes wide open, filled with astonishment. "His gaze... it's so intense and unsettling," the Hunyu and others exchanged glances, each experiencing a distinct sensation. To them, whenever Xiao Yan looked at them, it felt as though their very souls were laid bare, completely exposed—so uncomfortable that it left them deeply uneasy. The entire space was silent, everyone's gaze fixed upon Xiao Yan, who was meditating within the ancient Bodhi tree. Those who had only encountered such individuals in ancient texts had never seen firsthand what transformation such a meditation might bring. Under the collective gaze of the onlookers, Xiao Yan's expression appeared somewhat bewildered. His eyes slowly swept over the crowd, finally settling on Xun and the others. Gradually, a sense of familiar vitality began to emerge within the weathered depths of his gaze. Yet, once that ancient voice resonated, the profound sense of weariness that had lingered in Xiao Yan's black eyes gradually receded, until it vanished completely—pure and seamless, as though it had fully seeped into the very depths of his soul, leaving no trace. "Hmm…" With the weariness gone, Xiao Yan lifted his head, exhaled a long, jade-green breath, then rose from the ancient Bodhi tree. Under the steady gaze of those watching, he stepped forward, moving slowly and deliberately. As Xiao Yan's body made contact with the Bodhi tree, ripples spread across its surface, and his form flowed like liquid, gently emerging from the tree's impossibly solid structure. "Finally back..." Stepping out of the Bodhi ancient tree, Xiao Yan stretched lazily, his clear, resonant laughter instantly easing the concerns of Xun'er and the others. After all, it was still his old voice. "Xiao Yan brother, are you all right?" Xun'er hurried forward, her eyes constantly scanning over him. "I'm fine," Xiao Yan shook his head, his hand instinctively brushing against the smooth, flowing silken hair of Xun'er. A sense of deep reflection passed through his eyes. To outsiders, it might have seemed as though he had only spent a month within the Bodhi tree. Yet he knew well that his soul had undergone a hundred cycles of rebirth and trials there. Had it not been for his unwavering resolve, he would have surely been lost within those endless cycles. Fortunately, he had remained true to his core throughout, steadily progressing until he finally returned. Within this brief month, he has endured countless life-and-death trials, each one as thrilling as facing a true Divinity Saint. Gazing into Xiao Yan's eyes, Xun'er did not flinch. Though she didn't know exactly what he had gone through, she was certain that the last month's cultivation must have been far more intense than it appeared on the surface. Yet, since Xiao Yan hadn't mentioned it, she chose to remain silent. "Thank you," Xiao Yan said, turning his head and gazing at the Bodhi ancient tree behind him, bowing politely. "Hush-hush..." The Bodhi ancient tree, which had remained utterly still for nearly a month, now began to sway, emitting a gentle rustling sound, leaving everyone in awe. It was clear the tree possessed intelligence—though perhaps it simply chose not to pay attention to them. "Your aura seems somewhat elusive. Have you perhaps reached the rank of Half-Saint?" "Gu Qingyang stepped forward, speaking in a low voice, his tone filled with disbelief—because he had noticed something remarkable: he could feel absolutely no trace of Xiao Yan's presence. This sensation, in fact, had never been experienced even by some of the half-Saint-level elders within his own clan. "How could it be that easy?" Xiao Yan shook his head. He hadn't deceived Gu Qingyang at all—right now, he had not yet broken through to the rank of half-Saint. He was merely at the peak of the Nine-Transformed Battle Sovereign level. Of course, achieving this in just one month, a feat that might take others ten years to accomplish, was indeed astonishing. Yet Xiao Yan understood that what others perceived as merely a month, in his own perception, stretched over a full century. Over that century-long span, he had refined and honed his battle energy, repeatedly condensing and perfecting it—only then had his internal battle energy fully matured, reaching the true pinnacle of Battle Sovereign status. This pace is no longer swift at all—rather, it's somewhat slow. Yet Xiao Yan has always been extremely cautious when it comes to powers he gains unexpectedly. Even the energy he's acquired through this cycle of cultivation is repeatedly suppressed by him, never allowing his strength to grow too rapidly. His ambitions are vast, and he doesn't wish to sacrifice his future gains merely for minor present advantages. Seeing Xiao Yan shake his head, Gu Qinqiang was momentarily taken aback, then only managed a helpless smile—now, he found himself increasingly unable to grasp the former. Xiao Yan turned his gaze away, suddenly shifting his attention to the nearby Hounyu and the nine phoenixes. Upon seeing his gaze, the latter group instinctively began circulating their internal qi, their expressions cold and watchful, maintaining a vigilant stance. Should Xiao Yan show any sign of movement, they would immediately act. Seeing their reactions, Xiao Yan's lips curled into a teasing smile. When he first entered the Bodhi Ancient Tree, he would have been deeply apprehensive upon encountering these two. But now, that sense of apprehension had vanished entirely—because he now carried absolute confidence, effortlessly manipulating them with just a simple clap of his hands. This confidence stemmed directly from the vast, roaring power surging within him, a force that provided him with an immediate, tangible sensation. Observing Xiao Yan's smile, both Hun Yu and Jiu Feng's clenched fists subtly tightened. Especially Hun Yu, whose previously warm smile had softened, now radiating a cold, watchful gaze. In Xiao Yan, he sensed a genuine threat—an intangible yet palpable danger. Among his peers, aside from the madman from the Hun Clan, Xiao Yan was the second person to instill such a feeling in him. "This young man, after his cultivation within the Bodhi ancient tree, has completely transformed—like a different person altogether..." Nine Feng's expression was grave. If he had known earlier that Xiao Yan possessed such a tremendous fortune, he would have acted decisively upon first meeting him, eliminating him outright instead of enduring the current difficulties. Yet, he was unaware that should it not have been for Xiao Yan's assistance in purging the negative emotions of the Dou Di powerhouse from the Bodhi ancient tree, they would still have remained trapped within the illusion, eventually descending into the same fate as the half-Saint puppets they had previously encountered. As they retreated, subtle, muffled sounds suddenly erupted from within the Bodhi ancient tree. Then, one after another, clusters of emerald light burst forth, floating gracefully in the space—like heavenly maidens scattering flowers. "Lotus seeds!" The crowd first paused in astonishment, then a wave of exclamations of shock followed swiftly. "ALL lotus seeds!" Even the soul-crystal disciples were stunned, gazing at the emerald light clusters, unable to believe that the rare lotus seeds so prized outside, had been suddenly expelled by the Bodhi tree in nearly twenty specimens. "Grab them!" After the shock, most of the people's eyes turned blood-red. Powerful qi surged forth in waves, transforming into radiant streaks, rushing toward the green light clusters and seizing them with fierce determination. "Hey..." Seeing the flushed faces of the Huayu and others, Xiao Yan smiled, raised his hand, and with a simple gesture, the green light dots floating in midair responded as if summoned, swiftly dodging the grasping hands of the others. After a few flickers, they all gathered into his palm. "Thank you, Brother Bodhi!" Grasping the Bodhi seeds, Xiao Yan turned to the ancient Bodhi tree and laughed heartily. Then, with a flick of his fingers, the seeds glided past several, hovering one by one before Xun'er, Cai Lin, Gu Qingyang, and the others. "Thank you, Brother Xiao!" Gu Qingyang and Gu Xing, their eyes glowing with enthusiasm, didn't hesitate—each grabbed a seed and bowed respectfully to Xiao Yan. "Ha ha, it's nothing at all..." Xiao Yan shook his head with a smile, gazing toward the group of people whose eyes were now blazing red, and then flicked his fingers again, sending several more seeds soaring out, hovering before the neutral strong contenders. Xiao Yan's sudden move caught the several strong figures off guard. They quickly reached for the Bodhi seeds, their eyes filled with gratitude, then hurriedly stepped back—understanding that Xiao Yan did not wish for them to get involved in what came next. The souls of the jade and the nine phoenixes watched Xiao Yan as he continuously distributed the Bodhi seeds, their expressions darkening, their eyes flashing with red light. "You useless fool! You're going to die!" As the red light in the phoenix's eyes grew stronger, her suppressed fury finally broke, and her voice, charged with murderous intent, resonated loudly throughout the space.