"Xiao Yan, here's the Medicinal Clan!" The elderly man with red hair, watching the Medicinal Wan Gui struggling desperately in Xiao Yan's hands, glared fiercely and shouted. "This elder, I came to the Medicinal Clan this time not to cause trouble. But if anyone dares to bully my master and I, I will not rest until justice is served!" Under the watchful eyes of all present, Xiao Yan stared coldly at Wan Gui, whose face was filled with fear, and spoke in a low, steady tone. As soon as Xiao Yan finished speaking, Little Yi swiftly descended from the sky and landed on his shoulder, her pure lotus flame swirling around her, radiating a powerful, eerie warmth that gradually spread, causing many onlookers to visibly grow uneasy—this remarkable flame was something they had never seen before. Xiao Yi darted forward, and the slightly stockier black figure to the side stepped aside, just in time to block the red-haired elder beneath. That elder was truly a six-star Battle Saint, a rank that only the Northern King could match here—no one else could hold him off. Upon seeing the strength array surrounding Xiao Yan, even the so-called Ten-Thousand-Fire Elder couldn't help but wince, especially when his gaze settled upon the composed Northern King, whose eyes betrayed clear apprehension. During their earlier clash, the Elder had found himself unable to gain the upper hand—indeed, not even a single advantage. "Indeed, Xiao Yan has earned his reputation. At his age, he possesses such prowess, and with so many powerful companions around him—such a prodigy, so exceptional—emerging from the declining Xiao clan, it is truly admirable." The elder Wan Huo gradually smoothed out his anger, gazing deeply at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan's achievements surpassed even those of the elder masters among them. Among the younger generation across the entire continent, few could rival him. "Xiao Yan, today is a significant day for our Yao clan. If Yao Wan Gui has done anything to offend you, then on behalf of our Yao clan, I shall grant him a reprieve—how does that sound?" "Upon hearing this, the elders of the Medicinal Clan exchanged a look of surprise and couldn't help but speak up. In their estimation, if Elder Wanhuo had stepped in, he would surely have captured Xiao Yan, thereby demonstrating to all the guests the Medicinal Clan's unwavering strength and its unyielding stance against any infringement. Yet..." "Silence! I shall handle this myself!" Upon seeing these elders interject, Elder Wanhuo's expression darkened, and he sharply commanded. While others might not have noticed, he himself understood that even if he personally intervened today, he would likely struggle to gain any advantage against the imposing, composed figure standing beside Xiao Yan. Moreover, there was also Xiao Yan himself, holding the pure lotus flame, watching with steady, unwavering vigilance. At the force of Elder Wanhuo's sharp command, though the elders felt deeply dissatisfied, they could only remain silent—after all, no one in the Clan held a position quite as esteemed as Elder Wanhuo, save for the Clan's own Grand Master. Xiao Yan was also somewhat surprised that this senior, clearly of high standing within the Herbal Clan, could speak such soft words. His initially stern expression gradually softened. "Xiao Yan, you've come to the Herbal Clan—surely it's not just to cause trouble for Yao Wangui, is it?" Seeing Xiao Yan's demeanor ease, the Wanhuo Senior spoke again. "Master?" Xiao Yan nodded slightly, his gaze shifting toward the Elder, clearly seeking his opinion. With Xiao Yan's gaze, the others followed suit, finally settling their attention on the Elder who had remained silent throughout the entire conversation. "Since the Senior Elder of the Flame Sect has personally stepped forward, if we still insist, it would indeed seem that we are not appreciative enough..." Under the steady gaze of all present, the Elder of Herbs remained composed, offering a gentle smile. He knew that it was now impossible to truly eliminate Yao Wan, for should that happen, the Yao Clan would certainly intervene—something he did not wish to see. With the Flame Elder having so generously offered a way out, it would be most convenient for them to step down, as the desired impact had already been achieved. Upon hearing this, the Flame Elder exhaled softly, casting a somewhat complex glance at the Elder of Herbs. He had never imagined that the once-considered expendable member of the Yao Clan, who had been treated as merely a pawn, had now achieved such accomplishments—not only attaining the rank of Battle Saint himself, but also mentoring a disciple who surpassed him in excellence. Under such a disciple, any prodigy of the Yao Clan would now appear dim in comparison. "Back then, if we had paid a little more attention, perhaps things would have unfolded quite differently..." Wan Huo, the senior elder, sighed softly. If the clan had shown more concern for the old medic earlier, the latter would likely have maintained a deep sense of gratitude toward the clan, and thus the relationship between the Heavenly Palace and the Medic Clan would have been exceptionally strong. Alas... Upon hearing the old medic speak, Xiao Yan nodded gently, his gaze coldly scanning the medicine scroll in his hands before he casually tossed it toward the group of Medic Clan elders, who quickly caught it with some embarrassment. "Senior Elder Wan Huo, this visit to the Medic Clan is made on behalf of the entire Heavenly Palace Alliance. My teacher is the Grand Master of the Alliance, not merely any other title. Therefore, I kindly ask those elders who feel themselves superior to us to temper their attitudes—though the Heavenly Palace Alliance is relatively new, we are not willing to be treated with casual disregard." Xiao Yan turned to face Wan Huo, his voice steady and firm. For this Medic Clan elder who has reached the rank of Six-Star Battle Saint, Xiang Yan showed no sense of reverence. In terms of sheer strength, the elder might not even easily defeat the Northern King, and should it come to a life-or-death battle, Xiang Yan himself was confident he could claim the elder's life. Thus, his tone remained relaxed and informal—everything, ultimately, was about strength. The Wanhuo elder naturally understood the current standing of both parties. He therefore found Xiang Yan's remarks neither particularly challenging nor objectionable. In terms of overall strength, the Tianfu Alliance was no longer inferior to the Medic Clan. As for its lineup of peak-tier warriors, boasting the Dan Tower Elder, Xiao Chen, Xiao Yan, and the Northern King, the Alliance was on par with the Medic Clan. At present, when viewed solely through the lens of strength, there was no clear hierarchy between the two—this fact was well known among many elders, though they simply refused to acknowledge it. "Master Wan Gui is impetuous and often says things that are not well-phrased. Afterward, I shall reprimand him. As guests, regardless of whether you are individuals or representatives of your alliance, the Yao clan will treat you with the utmost hospitality." Master Wan Huo's demeanor surpassed even that of Master Yao Wan Gui, and his composed words left the audience subtly impressed—this was truly the grace of a great family. Master Yao Wan Gui's face turned crimson, yet he found himself unable to speak further. Had Master Wan Huo not arrived in time, even if he had survived today, he would surely have been humiliated before all present. Master Wan Huo paid no attention to him, merely swept his sleeve, and a series of luminous points burst forth from it, precisely striking the mouths of those who had been knocked to the ground by Xiao Yan's blows. Then, with a calm tone, he said, "For failing to honor guests, you shall be expelled from Yao Mountain for ten years. Iron Guard, take them away." As soon as he finished speaking, several more figures surged in, roughly seizing the pale-faced individuals and dragging them out like dead dogs. "Ah, Medicinal Master, Xiao Xin, how do you find this disciplinary action?" Wan Huo Elder turned to Xiao Xin and the other, smiling gently. "Wan Huo Elder's fairness is truly admirable; Xiao Xin deeply respects you." Xiao Xin smiled warmly, bowing politely to the elder. He fully understood the elder's intent—these minor figures were being used as mere scapegoats. Yet, with such a public demonstration of punishment, he could no longer press the matter of the grievances against the Medicinal Master's family. "It's getting late now. If you all wish to view the Pharmacopoeia, please follow me to the summit. Heh, I've heard that Xiao Yan has won the Championship of the Herbal Conclave—surely he must have an exceptional mastery of pharmaceutical techniques. Still, the Pharmacopoeia of the Herbal Clan is even more prestigious than the Conclave itself. Each edition gathers the very finest alchemists from the Continent—those at the very pinnacle of their craft. Should Xiao Yan rise above this Pharmacopoeia, then the title of the foremost alchemist on the Continent may well have to be renamed—perhaps even bearing his surname. "The Elder Wan, stroking his beard, spoke with a quiet pride. While he considered Xiao Yan his peer in terms of combat prowess, when it came to pharmaceutical expertise, a subtle sense of superiority naturally emerged. After all, the Herbal Clan had always been founded upon the art of alchemy!" As for the pride in his tone, Xiao Yan merely smiled and said casually, "My alchemy techniques have all been taught by my master. However, I'm quite curious about the most outstanding alchemy masters on the Continent—should I get the chance to compete and exchange techniques with them, I'd be delighted." "Haha, you'll definitely have that opportunity! As long as one has strength, anyone can join the Pharmacopoeia." The elder of the Thousand-Flame Clan laughed heartily and then, without further words, moved swiftly into the sky, soaring toward the mountain peak. Behind him, numerous elders from the Herbal Clan followed closely. Watching the figures of the Herbal Clan elders recede, Xiao Yan gave a slight upward curve to his lips—was he aiming to regain some ground in alchemy? Yet, that seemed far from easy... "Master, let's go. Let's meet those so-called top alchemy masters on the Continent." Xiao Yan smiled and turned his head toward the elderly doctor, who also nodded in agreement. Then, both of them ascended into the air, following the medicinal clan elders at a distance as they swiftly moved toward the summit.