After concluding the matter of the Bodhi ancient tree, Xiao Yan and his companions made no further停留 in that eerie place, simply setting out immediately. After several days of travel, they eventually returned to the Starfall Pavilion. This harvest has been bountiful, but what truly brought satisfaction to Xiao Yan was that the group from the Spirit Jade didn't even secure a single benefit. As soon as he thought about how those people had endured countless hardships to reach the Primeval Ancient Domain, only to end up with not even a single strand of hair, Xiao Yan found himself unable to help but smile. ... The Starfall Pavilion. After returning from the Primordial Ancient Domain to Xingyin Pavilion, Xiao Yan and his companions rested for a full week before they could recover from that profound exhaustion. This journey had been far from easy—had it not been for the lucky chance that the Bodhi seed within his Naji had woken him from the illusion, everyone would have been permanently trapped within the incredibly realistic realm, eventually transforming into half-divine automatons. Even now, after safely navigating the ordeal, Xiao Yan still felt a chill at the thought of that illusion—it was truly terrifying. Upon returning to Xingyin Pavilion, Xiao Yan did not immediately begin to refine the Bodhi Heart. He understood that this matter was of utmost importance to him, and thus, he insisted on making it perfect, with absolute precision, ensuring no single flaw occurred. With this mindset, for the entire month that followed, Xiao Yan steadily waited for his peak state to arrive. Meanwhile, he and Yao Lao diligently prepared as many pills and celestial treasures as possible—each one aimed at enhancing even slightly the chances of Xiao Yan's successful ascension to the Half-Emperor rank. Everyone knew that if Xiao Yan succeeded in reaching the Half-Emperor level, the Starfall Pavilion's strength would surge dramatically. Two Half-Emperor-level masters—such a lineup—would be difficult for even the Tianming Sect or the most ancient, secluded monastic orders to match. During the time Xiao Yan waited for his peak, Yao Lao had been away for half a month. After that period, he returned to Xiao Yan, looking weary, and presented him with a jade box. When Xiao Yan took the jade box, his face was equally astonished. Upon opening it carefully, he found a small pine squirrel, entirely emerald in color, hiding inside, releasing a remarkably strong fragrance of pill essence. Just one inhalation was enough to make him feel refreshed and at ease. "This... is the Bodhi Pill?" Xiao Yan stared at the little squirrel for a while before lifting his head, his voice filled with surprise. He sensed a familiar aura emanating from within the squirrel. "Yes," the herbal elder nodded gently, his weathered face radiating a smile that erased the traces of fatigue. "Unfortunately, this Bodhi Pill only attracted eight colors of pill lightning. Otherwise, its potency would have been even stronger. However, since you possess the Bodhi Heart, combined with the aid of the Bodhi Pill, you should be able to successfully break through to the half-Saint level." Gazing at the elderly face of the herbal master, filled with warm smiles, Xiao Yan felt a sense of heaviness in his chest. He realized that during the past fifteen days, the master had been traveling far and wide, seeking a suitable location to help him refine the Bodhi Pill. As a medicine of this caliber, his own success rate in refining it had been rather low. Moreover, he knew well that with the master’s skill, refining the Bodhi Pill alone was sufficient to summon the Nine-Tinted Dan Thunder—yet the flame effect was missing. If he had the Bone-Spirit Cold Flame at his disposal, summoning the Nine-Tinted Dan Thunder would have been a breeze. For his disciple, the master had truly made countless quiet, unsung efforts. "Master, thank you so much…" Xiao Yan clutched the jade box tightly, took a deep breath, and spoke softly. "Heh, you two still talking about all this..." The herbal master chuckled, shaking his head. "Just go ahead and close your meditation chamber. I'll handle the matters at Starfall Pavilion and the Flame Alliance—nothing will go wrong. What matters most, though, is that you reach the rank of Half-Emperor as soon as possible. Otherwise, when the Pure-Lotus Demon Fire emerges in three years, you'll simply be no match for it. That fire is truly formidable." Xiao Yan nodded silently. This was a crucial leap—the threshold to truly entering the ranks of the continent's elite. If he failed to cross it, he would remain among the very top tier, but still fall short of true strength. Against a power like the Soul Clan, such a level would offer little resistance. And for over a decade, he had pursued the Pure-Lotus Demon Fire. To let it go now would be unthinkable. Its strength would be decisive in whether he could truly stand up to the Soul Clan. Therefore, no matter what, he must secure that fire! "Rest assured, Cailei. The growth in strength of Xiao Yixian and Qinglin, as well as the others, will be my responsibility. They are no ordinary women. With the right opportunities, their progress will be swift. When you finally break through your current stage, they will certainly not lag behind." The elderly physician patted Xiao Xin on the shoulder and then turned to the back, where Cailei, Xiao Yixian, and the others stood quietly, having remained silent throughout their conversation. "Yes." Xiao Xin nodded gently, hesitated slightly, and then suddenly withdrew a jade vial from his storage amulet. On the mouth of the vial, a thin layer of flame shimmered, and faintly, the presence of a frail soul within the vial could be sensed. "Master... this is the soul of Han Feng. No matter what, he needs your care and handling." Xiao Xin gently placed the vial in the elder's hands, speaking softly. Hearing this, the elderly herbalist's weathered face briefly stiffened, then his gaze turned complex upon the jade vial, a touch of sorrow shimmering in his eyes. Regardless of what happened, he had once regarded Han Feng as his own son—having raised him from an orphan cast aside by others, hand-in-hand with the very skills he had bestowed upon him. Yet Han Feng's betrayal had dealt a profound wound to this elder, once abandoned by his own race. The pain of that betrayal, for the herbalist, likely surpassed the loss of his physical form by dozens of times. With trembling, dry hands, he carefully accepted the vial, saying nothing, merely nodding slowly. Gazing at the elder's suddenly more forlorn and increasingly weathered face, Xiao Yan felt a pang in his throat. He brushed aside his robe, knelt on the ground, and bowed deeply, twice, his voice firm: "My teacher has nurtured and instructed me with unwavering dedication—my teacher is not only my master, but my father. All the humiliations and sorrows my teacher has endured, I shall repay in full, in every way." Seeing Xiao Yan's sudden action, Yao Lao was also taken aback and immediately went to assist him. However, before he could even lift Xiao Yan, Cai Lin had already settled herself, cradling Xiao Xiao, and silently knelt beside Xiao Yan. Now, she was Xiao Yan's wife, and Xiao Yan regarded Yao Lao as a father—so naturally, she did too. Regardless of her usually cold and resolute nature, she now clearly understood that everything had to be done according to the men's wishes. "Ah, you young man..." Yao Lao shook his head with a sigh, though a few traces of moisture glistened in his eyes. The weariness on his face had softened considerably. Now he realized that heaven had not abandoned him—though it had blinded him once, it had not done so a second time. For this disciple, he was willing to give up his very life. "Master..." Xiao Xiao gazed at Yao Lao with her dark, gem-like eyes, her clear, bright voice bringing a gentle smile to everyone present. "Oh, my dear Xiao Xiao..." Hearing this, the herbalist couldn't help but smile warmly, quickly lifting Xiao Xiao from Cai Lin's arms and then turning to Xiao Yan and Xiao Yan, smiling, "Get up now. I'm just a bit scattered in my thoughts—after all, you two are no longer young. Do you really think I'll have any difficulty making up my mind to commit suicide?" Hearing this, Xiao Yan smiled and stood up, then helped lift Cai Lin as well, holding the jade box in his hands, turning his head to gaze at the massive stone chamber hidden within the mountain's body, saying, "The time has come. I should go in now. I don't know exactly how long this meditation will last, but it won't be too short. During this time, you all just follow the teacher's instructions." "Understood." Cai Lin and the young physician nodded slightly. "Teacher, take good care of yourself!" Xiao Yan took a deep breath, bowed deeply to the medicine elder, and then without hesitation, turned around, carrying the jade box, and slowly walked into the thick stone door under the gaze of all present. "Boom!" As Xiao Yan stepped inside, the massive stone door began to descend gently, finally crashing down with a heavy thud onto the ground, sending a flurry of dust into the air. Staring at the towering stone door, everyone fell silent, sensing that this time, Xiao Yan's period of seclusion would likely be far from brief. "Then let us wait," the medicine elder sighed lightly, raised his hand, and gently took hold of Xiao Xiao, beginning to move away. The others, including Cai Lin, followed step by step, turning back once more and again. Yet no one could have imagined that this seemingly lengthy period would stretch out to exactly two years!