The news of Xiao Yan's return to the Heavenly Capital Alliance spread with the speed of a rushing wind, reaching every corner of the Heavenly Capital's influence within less than a day. Suddenly, the entire Heavenly Capital became electrified, and Xiao Yan's standing within the Alliance was now fully and unmistakably revealed. Though the Alliance had been engaged in fierce battles with the Spirit Temple over the past two years, Xiao Yan's prolonged absence had significantly dampened the morale of the Heavenly Capital, especially among the disciples originally from the Starfall Pavilion. When they faced despair during past crises, Xiao Yan had always appeared like a celestial deity, single-handedly turning the tide of battle. The profound impact of these repeated rescues had gradually seeped into their hearts over time, instilling in them deep admiration and reverence for that figure. Although during the days when Xiao Yan had vanished, with figures like Yao Lao present and overseeing, no major disturbances had arisen, the senior leadership of the Heavenly Palace still clearly felt the mounting concerns brought about by Xiao Yan's absence. Fortunately, these concerns would naturally dissipate with Xiao Yan's return. Under the leadership of this spiritual figurehead, the Alliance was now fully unleashing its formidable combat potential. To the ordinary members of the Tianfu Alliance, this development was truly exhilarating. Naturally, they immediately linked it to Xiao Yan, who had just returned. As a result, Xiao Yan's reputation within the Alliance surged once again—his ability to single-handedly contain the arrogance of the Huan Palace was nothing short of remarkable. Of course, these thoughts were limited to the regular members. The senior leaders, however, understood clearly that this was merely a period of calm before the storm. The Huan Palace was undoubtedly gathering its strongest forces, preparing to deliver a decisive blow to the Tianfu Alliance. In anticipation of this pre-storm tension, the elders, including Yao Lao, issued orders to raise the defensive level to its peak. Countless scouts surged forth like locusts, ensuring that every breeze and ripple across the Zhongzhou region would be relayed to the Tianfu Alliance at the fastest possible speed. … This somewhat oppressive tranquility persisted for nearly five full days. During this period, the friction between the Alliance and the Spirit Pavilion mysteriously diminished dramatically. Both sides appeared to have restrained themselves, refraining from active engagements and merely guarding their respective territories with heightened vigilance and caution. Amidst this unusual standoff, even other factions noticed something amiss. Thus, across the Central Region, countless eyes from all directions turned once again toward the Heavenly Palace Alliance and the Spirit Pavilion. Those with keen senses sensed an undercurrent of subtle shifts—though the two powers had long been in tense rivalry, their confrontations, though fierce, had never truly pitted their peak-tier champions against one another. Everyone knew that such a clash would symbolize the ultimate confrontation between the two forces; whoever emerged victorious would signify the definitive conclusion of the competition between the Heavenly Palace and the Spirit Pavilion. If the Tianfu Alliance triumphs, the dominant power in the Zhongzhou region may well be replaced; yet if the Tianfu Alliance suffers defeat, it will inevitably be at a disadvantage when facing the Huan Pavilion in the future. On the surface, this appears to be only a minor issue. However, upon closer examination, it will pose a profound and damaging impact on the Alliance. Currently, the Tianfu Alliance members take pride in the Alliance's ability to stand equal to the Huan Pavilion. After all, over the years, it has been the Tianfu Alliance alone that has achieved such significant feats of resistance against the Huan Pavilion. Should this very pride one day fade away, the Alliance would lose a vital sense of spiritual conviction—an outcome that would be deeply serious for such a vast and powerful entity. Thus, under such an eerie atmosphere, some people also sensed the significance of what was unfolding—this clash between the two parties would surely prove to be a truly momentous event. With age, Xiao Xiao's strength has flourished dramatically. From birth, her spiritual power has been exceptionally strong, and with the presence of the seven-colored swallowing celestial serpent within her, her cultivation has progressed at a pace far beyond ordinary. What astonishes Xiao Yan is that her ancestor, Xiao Chen—known for his silent, rigid, and aloof demeanor—is remarkably kind and nurturing toward Xiao Xiao. As the little physician healer mentioned, during the two years since Xiao Chen's disappearance, he had systematically passed on all his knowledge and skills to Xiao Xiao, nearly transferring his entire aura of combat energy to her. Yet Tian Huo Zun remained carefree. He had always been a man destined for death; had it not been for Xiao Yan rescuing him from the molten depths beneath the Gan Nan Academy, he would have long since vanished into nothingness. Now not only did he possess a physical form once again, but his strength surpassed even his peak before his passing—this was more than sufficient for him. Thus, he harbored little ambition to vie with the younger generation, such as Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian, in terms of excellence. Regarding Tianhuo Master's ease and grace, Xiao Yan could only silently nod, quietly recording the matter in his mind. Since rescuing him back then, Tianhuo Master had indeed served as a trusted mentor and close friend to him during the periods when Yao Lao was absent. Tianhuo Master's rich experience had helped Xiao Yan avoid many detours. Though later he had assisted Tianhuo Master in crafting his body, Xiao Yan, by nature a man who would repay a drop of water with a spring's flow, naturally made every effort to help Tianhuo Master achieve a semi-Saint rank. While the task was challenging, it was far from impossible given Xiao Yan's expertise in alchemy. The days of quiet restraint passed smoothly, and within a few days, Xiao Yan felt exceptionally at ease. He couldn't quite explain it, but he found himself increasingly enjoying time spent with his family. With this change, he found himself somewhat self-conscious, wondering if perhaps he, too, was beginning to grow older. Though even the most warm and serene days eventually come to an end, after the tranquility of the Tianfu and Huan Dalan had persisted for approximately seven days, it was finally broken by a blood-red war missive delivered to the Alliance—the missive sent from Huan Dalan itself... The Celestial Palace of Xiao Yan will fall at the peak of the mountain within three days—decisive fate sealed!