"Senior!" Upon seeing the young attendant in green robes appear beside Xiao Yan, the senior elder of Dan Tower's face instantly lit up with surprise, and he respectfully said so. "Greetings, Senior," Xiao Yan, in turn, could not afford to be casual with such a senior figure, and thus bowed politely. "How could you be so formal?" The Dan Tower elder waved his hand, his clear eyes scanning Xiao Yan with a certain sense of wonder, smiling. "It truly comes as a surprise—this pure lotus divine flame, which even we elders of the Dan Tower have struggled to subdue, has finally fallen into your hands. Such fortune is truly admirable." This divine flame was a treasure that even the elders of the Dan Tower, with their formidable strength, had long coveted, yet no one had ever successfully subdued it over the years. As for the elder's laughter, Xiao Yan could only offer a smile. He had managed to subdue the Pure Lotus Fiery Spirit by sheer luck. If it weren't for the residual image of the Pure Lotus Fiery Saint triggering the array and causing both the array and the fiery spirit's consciousness to perish together, even if his fortune were tenfold better, he would have found it impossible to subdue and refine such a fiery spirit that even the elder of the Dan Tower found deeply troubling. "The Dan Tower is also a member of the Heavenly Abode Alliance. Now that you and we are mutually prosperous or mutually suffering, as protectors of the Dan Tower, I cannot remain indifferent." The elder, with his still somewhat youthful face gazing at Xiao Yan, carried an expression that seemed somewhat enigmatic. Having lived through so many years, he had grown so adept at discerning subtle nuances that he naturally understood Xiao Yan's ultimate intention in establishing the Heavenly Abode. As for the elder's gaze, Xiao Yan remained remarkably composed. He had no intention of designing any trouble for the Dan Tower—while the alliance's affairs benefited him, they also brought substantial advantages to the Dan Tower. Over the years, due to its ongoing rivalry with the Soul Palace, the Dan Tower had drawn an increasing number of炼药师 who were under growing pressure from the Soul Palace, closely adhering to its side. This development was easily observable by anyone with a clear perspective. It was likely that this exceptionally astute elder of the Dan Tower was already aware of it, so Xiao Yan had no concerns about potential issues arising from this matter. … "Dantai Elder… I never thought I'd have the chance to meet this legendary figure again." "It's said that the Elder's true form is a Nine-Rank Xuandan—perhaps there's only one such medicine of this rank in all the world. If one were to refine it…" "Shut up! Are you trying to die? This Dantai Elder has already reached the level of transcending heaven and earth. While there may not be anyone who can defeat him, I'd wager few who could calmly absorb and refine him." "Hmm, though, whoever truly has such fortune—well…" "Old man, it seems you've truly decided to go head-to-head with my spirit clan..." The dry surface of Hún Qiān Mò's face trembled slightly when Dan Tǎ's elder appeared, his voice hoarse as he said, "In the past, we've held back in your favor. But now, such actions of yours are most unwise." "Hah! You, this eternal old soul, delivering such stiff, formal speeches before me—quite ridiculous!" Dan Tǎ's elder chuckled gently, smiling. "If the Spirit Palace truly had the chance, wouldn't they have struck earlier? I've never known you better. Well, let's cut the chatter. It's been years since we last faced off. I'd like to know just how much you've improved since then." "I'll make you see!" The strange gleam in Hún Qiān Mò's eyes grew ever brighter. His voice grew distant and intermittent, as though fading in and out. His form itself began to shimmer and grow ethereal. "Each of you—be careful." Seeing Huo Qianmo’s actions, the Elder of Dan Tower also offered a gentle smile, turned slightly toward Xiao Yan and the others, spoke a few words, and then vanished silently back into place. Moments later, he reappeared in the sky, his hands gently raised, causing intense spatial ripples to ripple across the realm—eventually forming a complete realm of chaos. “Huo Qianmo, the arena outside is too small—let’s have the match begin.” Standing at the entrance of the spatial passage, the Elder of Dan Tower laughed warmly at Huo Qianmo before turning and swiftly stepping into the passage. At their level, such spontaneous spatial construction was no great feat, though the space formed in such haste was not particularly stable and would typically dissipate automatically after the battle concluded. “Hmph. Afraid you won’t make it!” "Seeing this, Houn Qiemo let out a cold laugh, then moved his body—immediately, a ripple of energy spread through the space above. A figure surged forward, swift as lightning, entering the spatial passage. Not long after the two had entered, the space began to pulsate, gradually becoming translucent. Now, the audience could clearly see through it, observing the two figures floating within the chaotic space—none other than the Elder of Dan Tower and Houn Qiemo themselves. "These two are both six-star Battle Saints—haha, this journey has certainly been worthwhile. Such a confrontation is exceptionally rare, even when viewed across the entire continent." As the two entered one after the other, the mountain came alive with excitement, countless eyes fixed warmly on the now-transparent space, where most of the onlookers had never before witnessed such a high-level clash between warriors. "Hum-hum!" Once they stepped into the space, Dantai the Elder and Hun Qianmo clearly didn't waste any words—they immediately launched into their most intense clash, drawing thunderous applause from the crowd. Even though the battle was set against the backdrop of a vast expanse, the sheer energy surges radiating out were so powerful they disrupted the otherwise steady chime of the bells, making many spectators feel a heavy pressure in their chests. The combat erupted with the speed of a thunderbolt, and the force of each movement—capable of shattering mountains and splitting the heavens—left countless on the edge of their seats, utterly captivated by its sheer magnitude. Xiao Chen's voice was not particularly loud, yet it carried a peculiar power that seemed to stir the very souls of those around him, drawing many of their attention away from the space itself. As he stood there, the Hall Master of the Spirit Palace and the Elder Spirit Demon exchanged glances. The elder's weathered face darkened with a sharp, stern expression, and he took two steps forward among the gathering eyes, saying, "Xiao Chen, the Blood Axe—his name was indeed well-known back then. But now, you've somewhat fallen out of favor..." "Whether or not you've fallen out of favor, only a true encounter will reveal that." Xiao Chen’s expression remained as always stiff and composed, though within him, a growing sense of seriousness had taken root. No matter how harsh the elder’s words might have been, there was undeniable truth in them. If he had been progressing normally in his cultivation, not only would he have looked down upon this elder, but even on Hun Qianmo himself. As a once-celebrated prodigy of the Xiao clan, he had always carried this pride and self-assurance. Yet, fate had proven cruel—trapped in the illusionary realm for a thousand years, he had barely managed to preserve his life, and his growth in strength had been painfully slow. As a result, the elder, once considered a junior, now consistently outperformed him. "Facing such an overwhelming aura of Qi pressure from the Huamó elder, a continuous stream of gasps echoed throughout the mountains. All eyes were fixed upon him, filled with awe—though the combat within the spatial realm would undoubtedly be more terrifying, the presence of the spatial separation made the impact far less immediate and personal than witnessing it firsthand. 'A fifth-star Qi Saint in the late stage... Indeed, the Hu clan boasts an abundance of true titans!' Several senior elders from various sects quietly murmured to themselves, deeply impressed by the Hu clan's profound depth. 'Xiao Chen is said to be of the Xiao clan, yet given the current situation, it seems he will find it quite challenging to overcome the Huamó elder...' 'Indeed, this will be a fiercely contested battle.' Yet, the murmurs drifting from all around failed to stir a single flicker in Xiao Chen's eyes. His gaze had now narrowed solely upon the figure emerging beneath the vast expanse of dark clouds in the sky. As he watched the Huamó elder, a growing warmth and intensity stirred within his eyes. 'He who dares to challenge the might of the Xiao clan, shall perish!' Xiao Chen slowly clenched his hands, and suddenly a massive crimson axe, stretching ten zhang in length, materialized before him. At that very moment, a faint glow of red surged in his pupils. A low roar, echoing from the era of the ancient Xiao clan, broke through the layers of history and once again stirred the audience's passion, as if it had been heard for the first time after thousands of years.