The Stone Clan, one of the Eight Ancient Clans, may not boast the same renown as the Ancient or Spirit Clans, yet every clan that has earned a place among the Eight is no ordinary force. The Stone Clan has always remained humble, with few stories or mentions of theirs circulating across Zhongzhou. Yet this humility does not signify weakness—on the contrary, their combat prowess is exceptionally strong, surpassing even the first vanished Spirit Clan. Their ranks are filled with outstanding warriors, and their foundations are profoundly solid. Yet, despite this robust strength and depth, the Stone Clan has suddenly vanished without a trace in a single night—an event so unexpected that it sends a deep chill through one's heart. The Stone Clan vanished much like the Spirit Clan—suddenly, the space around them sealed shut, and when it reopened, the once-mighty clan, which had numbered millions of members and descendants, was entirely gone, not a single soul remaining. Wave after wave of powerful beings entered the Stone Clan's realm, gazed upon the quiet, lifeless space, and felt an unshakable chill rise from the soles of their feet. What terrifying presence had erased an entire million lives so completely? And among these hundreds of thousands, there were the very top-tier prodigies of the Stone Clan—individuals whose mere footfall across the Central Plains would send the heavens and earth trembling. Yet even with such towering figures, the Stone Clan was completely erased from this world... At once, numerous suspicions and doubts were directed toward these two power groups. The Huaxu lineage remained silent on these concerns, which was consistent with their usual demeanor. However, the Gu lineage found themselves increasingly troubled. They had previously maintained strong relations with other ancient races. Yet, following the disappearance of the Ling and Shi lineages, their relationships became strained and awkward. Other races now began to harbor suspicion and apprehension toward them, even interrupting longstanding regular exchanges. Faced with this unexpected crisis, the Gu lineage felt overwhelmed. Nevertheless, this incident had finally prompted them to become more vigilant—clearly, these developments were not beneficial to them. The final actors involved likely harbored intentions toward the Gu lineage as well. What puzzled the Gu lineage's leadership, however, was this: if the true mastermind behind these events were indeed the Huaxu lineage, how could they possibly possess such formidable capabilities? How could they have eluded the detection of so many powerful figures from the Ancient Clan, vanishing the Ling and Shi clans completely without a trace? Or perhaps, beyond their knowledge, there exists another terrifying force in this Central Region? Of course, no matter how speculations arose within the Ancient Clan, they lacked tangible evidence to prove to the other three clans that this matter had nothing to do with them. Thus, faced with such suspicions, they could only remain silent. In contrast, facing the silence of both the Ancient and the Hu Clan, among the remaining three ancient clans—the Yao, Lei, and Yan—the three races suddenly announced an alliance one month after the disappearance of the Shi Clan, publicly presenting themselves as the "Three-Clan Alliance." The formation of the "Tri-Clan Alliance" undoubtedly presents a powerful shock to any existing power. Historically, this is the first time three ancient races have come together to form such a coalition—given that among these races, competition and conflict have long been endemic. To set aside all such rivalries and forge a unified alliance, especially under the pressure of an unknown crisis, is no small feat. However, in the face of that looming threat, all three clans now feel the weight of urgency, determined not to become the next to fall like the Spirit or Stone Clans. If a mysterious force can quietly erase the Spirit and Stone Clans, then eradicating the current three clans seems equally achievable. To preserve their very lineage, unity has become an imperative. Fortunately, the other powers in the Central Region find this development reassuring: after announcing their alliance, the Tri-Clan Alliance has chosen not to advance further into the Central Region, but instead has taken significant measures to link and integrate their respective realms through spatial connections. This way, should one clan face an attack, the other two can swiftly provide reinforcements via these spatial channels. With the establishment of spatial channels among the three clans, the three clans gradually became more resilient, like an impregnable fortress. Only then could they begin to ease their anxieties and dispatch powerful members to continuously enter and exit the Stone Clan's realm, in hopes of uncovering evidence and identifying the mastermind behind the turmoil... Thus, over the course of roughly one and a half years of warfare, the scale of the Tianfu Alliance had expanded several-fold compared to before the conflict, and its array of powerful warriors was no longer behind that of the Hun Palace. Clearly, the strategy of "fighting to grow" had made the Alliance increasingly strong. Yet, as the forces continued to expand, there remained matters that caused the elders—especially the Ye Elder—deep concern and worry. The source of this anxiety was none other than Xiao Yan. Since the closure of the Yāo Huǒ Space nearly a year and a half ago, not a single word or update concerning Xiao Yan had reached them. This lack of communication had stirred anxiety among many. Although the Tianfu Alliance's leader was the Ye Elder, in the hearts of many, it was precisely that slender, resolute figure—his back—whose presence served as a spiritual pillar. They believed that as long as that back remained strong and steady, the Tianfu Alliance would never fall. Yet no matter how anxious they might be, reality remained harsh—the space remained utterly still… Time never halts for anyone or anything. Thus, two years after the closure of the yao-fire realm, many of the hopes within people’s hearts gradually faded. The elders, including the herbalist, found themselves powerless, and gradually shifted their military campaigns from offense to defense. It was precisely during this period when the Tianfu Alliance began to adapt its strategy that, after two years of silence, the once-still yao-fire realm finally stirred anew. The realm remained as intensely vibrant as ever. Above the molten sea, a colossal crystal egg floated in mid-air, its surface shimmering with waves of light, occasionally flickering with delicate flames that rose like living spirits, full of grace and vitality. Crack! Amidst the stillness, a faint sound suddenly broke through. Turning the gaze in that direction, one observed that a subtle crack had slowly begun to form on the surface of the crystalline orb. As this initial fissure appeared, more and more cracks gradually spread across the orb. Eventually, a large fragment of the orb slid down from its upper surface. "Boom!" With the orb splitting open, two beams of light—one rose in a soft pink hue, the other in golden glow—erupted skyward and eventually transformed into a luminous curtain, pouring down from the distant heavens. "Whoosh!" Within the beams, an arm suddenly extended and then stretched out with a decisive yawn. The bones of the figure resonated with a deep, thunderous sound, echoing across the sky. "Finally, I've emerged!" A bare figure stepped fully out of the light beams, revealing his face. Who else could it be but Xiao Yan? Yet now, his black hair had once again spilled freely over his shoulders, giving him a particularly elegant and relaxed appearance. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that his pupils had transformed into two delicate lotus flowers, slowly rotating with a subtle, almost mysterious pull—so gentle that it seemed as though even a person's soul could be drawn into them. "Ah, Xiao Yan brother, why aren't you dressed?" Not long after Xiao Yan stepped out of the light beam, a clear, crisp voice—like a stream flowing through a valley—echoed behind him, laced with a touch of irritation. Turning around, he gazed at the young woman whose three thousand strands of dark hair cascaded like a waterfall down to her slender waist. Due to the lingering charm of her cultivation journey, the delicate, rosy features that once carried a refined grace now bore a subtle, alluring charm, adding a touch of captivating elegance. With a faint blush on her cheeks, a single glance was enough to leave Xiao Yan utterly enchanted. "Still, my wife is more beautiful," the bare-chested man said, his feet hovering in the void, gently rubbing his brow as he smiled warmly at the girl, now slightly embarrassed before him.