Beyond the Void Thunder Pool, a streak of rainbow light surged forth, flashing several times before finally breaking free from the pool. Turning to gaze back, he saw no signs of disturbance and only then quietly exhaled in relief. The figure in motion was Xiao Yan, who had swiftly departed after successfully acquiring the Nine-Heaven Golden Thunder power. The process of obtaining this power had unfolded so smoothly that it had surprised him. Only after successfully leaving the pool did he finally ease the weight of anticipation on his heart, his eyes glowing with unmistakable joy. This journey to the Thunder Pool had yielded far more abundant results than he had anticipated. Not only had he successfully strengthened Northern King to a level comparable to a six-star Supreme Saint, but he himself had also advanced from early to late stage of Five-Star Supreme Saint. Of course, the most significant gain was undoubtedly the devastating power extracted directly from within the Nine-Heaven Golden Thunder. Xiao Yan raised his hand, and as the rosy flames swirled, Xiao Yi materialized beside him. On the golden, plump arm of his arm, a luminous dragon pattern shimmered, radiating a subtle, unsettling wave of destructive energy that sent a tingling sensation through the air. "Yi-wa..." Xiao Yi stared at Xiao Yan with her bright, sparkling eyes, emitting a soft, childlike cry, clearly displeased that he had sealed such a dangerous force within her body. After all, the Nine-Heaven Golden Thunder was no easy feat to master—even as the purest of the Qinglian Spirit Fire, she found it difficult to fully assimilate. And the force itself was restless and defiant; a single misstep and it would erupt violently, leaving her with quite a few hardships. "Hehe, don't worry, it's fine..." Xiao Yan smiled warmly, gently stroking Little Yi's head and soothing her a few times before turning with a thoughtful expression toward the golden dragon pattern. Though he knew the energy within was immensely vast and powerful, he still felt as though a tiger faced a hedgehog—helpless, unsure of how to proceed. The energy was so destructive that even a top-tier Seven-Star Battle Saint might hesitate to absorb it directly, let alone him. "Even Little Yi's pure lotus spirit fire would find it difficult to fully refine this. So, for now, I'll have to keep it within her body, using her spirit fire to gradually refine it. I simply don't believe I'll be able to withstand it for long." After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Yan made up his mind. With a wave of his hand, he gently enclosed Little Yi within himself. For now, this arrangement proved to be a sound choice—should any unforeseen major crisis arise, this would undoubtedly prove invaluable." "Having been away for so long, it's time we returned to Long Island..." Xiao Yan's mind stirred, and his backside jade-red bone wings unfolded instantly. With a single flap, his form surged forward like a meteor, blazing through the void toward the distant horizon at lightning speed. Xiao Yan's body floated in the sky, his soul senses sweeping casually. Immediately, his brows lifted in surprise—his perception revealed that the number of Dou Sheng cultivators on Long Island had nearly reached the level of ten fingers, no less than the Tian Fu Alliance. "Indeed, the Tai Xiu Ancient Dragon Clan lives up to its reputation. Even now, though no longer at its peak, it remains formidable. It truly seems that the claim—during the clan's golden age, they were capable of rivaling the ancient races such as the Hu and Hun clans—was no mere exaggeration." Nodding in admiration, Xiao Yan remarked. Among the four Long Islands, there had always been many strong cultivators. Though a great upheaval had occurred, resulting in some losses, the number of top-tier Dou Sheng cultivators had not suffered significant decline. With the current integration of the four Long Islands, these elite talents now fully joined Zi Yan, forming a truly strong roster. Merely by these formations, the reputation of the Tai-Xu Ancient Dragon clan as the premier lineage among the great beast species would likely remain unchallenged—even the current Tian-Yao Phoenix clan would still find it a formidable task. Naturally, Xiao Yan was deeply pleased that the Tai-Xu Ancient Dragon clan had preserved such strength. From his relationship with Zi Yan, he knew that the ties between the Tian-Fu Alliance and the Tai-Xu Ancient Dragon clan were exceptionally solid. This quiet support was what ensured the Tian-Fu Alliance's position in the Central Region remained unshakable. This scene made Xiao Yan smile, then moved his body, swiftly gliding into the Dragon Island. With a few flickers of movement, he appeared in a serene courtyard. "Xiao Yan," the suddenly appearing figure caused Cai Lin and Zi Yan to slightly startle, quickly regaining composure, and spoke with a touch of surprise. "Remarkably, the Dragon Island has changed so much in less than two months. You truly have some abilities, Emperor of the Dragon." Xiao Yan said, looking at Zi Yan with a smile. "Hmph. You've been missing for nearly two months now. If you don't return soon, we'd have to send people to the Void Thunder Pool to search for you." Cai Lin pursed her lips, showing no trace of her imperial dignity before Xiao Yan—her tone was just as casual as when she was a little girl. "Your strength has improved again, hasn't it?" Cai Lin, standing by, was particularly perceptive. She had noticed subtle changes in Xiao Yan upon first seeing him, and thus expressed her surprise. "A late-stage Five-Star Stellar Saint, I suppose, with a series of experiences in that Void Thunder Pool." Xiao Yan smiled, not going into greater detail. Deep within the Void Thunder Pool, countless black demonic thunders lay in wait—ordinary Four-Star or even Five-Star Stellar Saints found it difficult to pass through. He didn't want the news to spread and cause any misfortunes for ancient Dragon Clan members stationed there. Moreover, the Jiuxuan Golden Thunder was also present there; though its current strength had significantly waned, its unique abilities would inevitably restore its power at some point. A Jiuxuan Golden Thunder with intelligence and reaching Seven-Star Stellar Saint status—such a being, even Xiao Yan, would only manage to flee upon encountering it. Seeing Xiao Yan nod in confirmation, Cai Lin and Zi Yan could only shake their heads in quiet amusement. In less than two months, Xiao Yan had directly advanced from early to late-stage Five-Star Stellar Saint—a pace truly astonishing. As for what was going on in the two of them, Xiao Yan also understood, and thus didn't feel the need to speak or explain anything. Had it not been for the sheer number of Black Magic Lightning he encountered, and had it not been precisely because he could rely on Xiao Yi's Fiery Spirit Body as an intermediary to refine and absorb the energy of that lightning, he wouldn't have achieved such an improvement. In fact, it was simply a series of fortunate coincidences that had accumulated over time. "Now that the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan has stabilized, I believe I won't be needed anymore. So I think it's time for us to return to the Alliance," Xiao Yan said, looking toward Zǐ Yán. "Shall we be going then..." Hearing this, Zǐ Yán slightly furrowed her brows, then nodded with a touch of reluctance. "That's good. The Tianfu Alliance has just defeated the Hún Palace and is currently at the height of its prestige—so you truly can't stay away for too long. Moreover, the alliance between our clan and the Tianfu Alliance has already been largely finalized. On your return, you should inform the senior leaders of the Alliance of this matter." Upon hearing this, Xiāo Yīn hesitated, gazing steadily at Zǐ Yán. "The Gu Lóng clan has just completed its unification. At this very moment, it is precisely the time for us to rest and consolidate. You, however, need not get involved in the mess in the Zhōngzhōu region." "Forming an alliance with the Tai-Xu Ancient Dragon clan clearly benefits the Tian-Fu Alliance, and Xiao Yan is well aware of this. However, from Zi Yan's perspective, this decision is far from perfect. The Tai-Xu Ancient Dragon clan has recently endured internal turmoil and is only now stabilizing. If they choose to rest and recover, they will certainly regain their former glory at a faster pace. The Tian-Fu Alliance faces numerous rivals, among them being the formidable Hún Clan—a truly colossal force. At this moment, aligning with the Tian-Fu Alliance would inevitably draw them into that deep pool of challenges." Zi Yan gazed steadily at Xiao Yan, her words leaving him momentarily speechless. "Ah, this is exactly what the elder said—I've just paraphrased it slightly." The serious expression on Zi Yan's cheeks lasted only a moment before being broken by a lively smile. Seeing this, Xiao Yan could only chuckle. "Don't worry," she said with a bright smile, "this is a decision made by the entire clan. Even as the Dragon Emperor, I cannot influence their choice. This is the way the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan is returning their friendship to you."