Hearing the final words of the senior elder, the候 old monster's face turned alternately pale and ashen. Having battled the herbal master for several years, he had long believed himself to have finally surpassed him—yet the harsh reality now revealed that even one of the herbal master's disciples could now easily outperform him in the art of medicine preparation. "Ah, congratulations, Herbal Master," said Xuan Kongzi, bowing respectfully. "You've truly produced a remarkable disciple—Xiao Yan, I believe, has now surpassed even you in skill." Listening to the waves of congratulations from around him, the herbal master could hardly contain his smile. Xiao Yan's performance today surpassed even the satisfaction he felt when personally securing a victory. At their age, the competitive spirit had softened somewhat, and they now cherished the joy of nurturing disciples, willingly passing on their accumulated expertise to them. And when they saw their disciples achieve such accomplishments, they naturally felt an immense sense of satisfaction. "Hmph..." Seeing the Elder of Herbs smile warmly, the elder spirit grew increasingly irritated, swept his sleeve angrily, and then turned away with a huff. On the stone platform, the Senior Elder looked at Xiao Yan, a gentle smile appearing on his weathered face. Though Xiao Yan was much younger than him, in the Central Region, age mattered less than strength—what truly counted was one's prowess. Whether in the cultivation of aura or in the art of herbal medicine, Xiao Yan's abilities were sufficient to earn the Senior Elder's respect as a peer. "Xiao Yan, from now on you shall be the Elder of the Small Dan Tower. You and Ye Chen, come with me—we should discuss the matters you've mentioned." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan felt a surge of joy and promptly bowed in agreement. His purpose for coming to the Small Dan Tower had always been to forge an alliance. If it hadn't been for that crucial vote, he wouldn't have had much interest in competing against these elderly, somewhat outdated figures. After the words were spoken, the Senior Elder turned and slowly walked toward the stone platform, followed by several other elders. "Let's go," said the three elders—Yao, Xuan Kungzi, and the others—smiling warmly as they approached Xiao Yan. Gazing at the retreating figures of the senior elders, they chuckled. The next steps would now be much simpler, and the alliance's prospects looked very promising. "Dantai has always maintained a neutral stance, never siding with any particular faction—this, indeed, is one of Dantai's longstanding traditions..." The elder's calm voice echoed gently throughout the hall. "This alliance has drawn opposition from many of the senior elders. After all, although Dantai and Hundi have long been at odds, forming this alliance itself violates Dantai's own established rules." "And once DanTa loses its sacred status in the hearts of the alchemists, what then? How will it differ from any other ordinary faction?" Xiao Yan's words were not particularly courteous—they stripped away the face of the gathering with stark honesty. He needed to confront these elders with the already severe situation, to shatter their rigid adherence to outdated traditions. Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that this initiative has indeed yielded significant results. Although some elders appear displeased, the furrowed brows of those elders clearly convey the seriousness of the situation. The Hún Palace has been steadily accelerating its collection of souls over the years, and at times, it no longer conceals its actions—this inevitably leaves many alchemists feeling anxious. Yet, despite this pressing situation, the Dan Tower has taken no concrete measures. Initially, the alchemists may endure, but over time, their enthusiasm will inevitably wane. When they realize that the Dan Tower, this sacred sanctuary, offers them no protection at all, who would still regard it as an inviolable holy ground? First, the Senior Elder also fell silent under Xiao Yan's words, only breaking the silence after a while with a light sigh, saying, "Yao Chen, your disciple not only excels in battle and alchemy, but also speaks with such sharpness and clarity—unexpected." "Ah, young people naturally have a proud demeanor; if there's anything I've said that has offended you, I hope the Senior Elder will forgive me." Elder Yao, stroking his beard, smiled warmly, his expression clearly proud and satisfied. "Pride needs substance to back it up," the Senior Elder shook his head, then turned to Xiao Yan and said, "Now that you've become a senior elder of the Small Dan Tower, your support for the Alliance will surely secure the majority of votes. Though I am the Senior Elder, I must strictly adhere to these rules. Therefore, this time, you've succeeded." "Thank you, Senior Elder!" Even with Xiao Yan's composed demeanor, a visible glow of joy spread across his face, and he bowed in gratitude. Dantai is indeed the most crucial step in the alliance. Should Dantai fail to join, even if the alliance succeeds, its influence would be at least weakened by half. Therefore, to secure this alliance, Xiao Yan and the Medicine Elder have invested considerable effort—effort that has ultimately paid off. Hearing this, the senior elder's weathered face also broke into a smile, and he slowly nodded, saying, "When will the alliance begin?" "Three days from now, please come to Xingyin Pavilion. At that time, Xingyin Pavilion, Fenyan Valley, Hua Sect, and Dan Tower will officially form the alliance!" Xiao Yan said. "Oh? Even Hua Sect and Fenyan Valley have agreed to join the alliance as well, huh. Well, it seems your initiative this time is truly substantial." Hearing this, the other elders were slightly moved. They could sense that if this alliance succeeded, it would become an immense force—perhaps even one that the Huan Palace would no longer dare to overlook casually. "Yes. Three days from now, I will personally go to Xingyin Pavilion to complete the alliance ceremony." Gazing at Xiao Yan's smiling face, the Senior Elder smiled as well. Suddenly, he felt as though the blood within him—long since cooled—was once again subtly warming, as if the lingering grievances of the Soul Palace from years past might finally be settled this time. … The Xingyin Pavilion welcomed guests at the summit, veiled in mist. Master Yao, Xiao Yan, and Cai Lin, along with others, had arrived early. The gates of the Star Realm were fully opened today, specifically to greet the visitors. As time passed, the sun gradually climbed to the zenith above. "Heh, Qing Xianzi, Hua Xianzi—how has it been these years? I hope you've been well..." Gazing at the two women, the herbal elder smiled warmly and spoke with a clear, resonant voice. While Xiao Yan silently smiled in his heart, a sudden surge of intense, scorching wind blew across the star realm. Then, a vibrant crimson glow appeared atop the mountain peak. As the light faded, a group of figures emerged. The leading elder had fiery red hair, standing out strikingly against the sky. As he stepped into view, a terrifying aura surged forth, sweeping through the air like a tidal wave, causing Xiao Yan's brows to slightly lift in surprise. "Old Master Fire Cloud—this eccentric elder is indeed still alive," nodded Yao Lao, smiling gently at the red-haired figure.