At the summit of Yàoshān, mist swirls gently, and a rare, fragrant aroma spreads out, filling the air with a sense of serenity and bliss, as though one were transported to a fairy realm. Across the mountain peak, vast stretches of medicinal herbs gather like an ocean, and above this sea of herbs, a colossal plaza hovers in midair. At each of the plaza's four corners, towering medicinal cauldrons rise, releasing fragrant steam that soars skyward. Now, the elevated platform is bustling with people standing in clusters, their lively conversations flowing continuously, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Looking north along the stone platform, rows of stone benches line up side by side. Elegant maidservants, graceful as butterflies, dart back and forth between them, skillfully filling each jade cup on the tables. "Whoosh! Whoosh!" "As Xiao Yan and Yao Long reached the summit, scanning the surroundings and about to settle at any convenient spot, the Wan-Huo Elder sat up from a stone chair and laughed heartily, saying, 'Yao Chen, Master of the Pharmaceutical Alliance, and Xiao Yan, young friend—please, this way.' 'Yao Chen? Xiao Yan? The Heavenly Capital Alliance? I didn't expect both of you to have come.' 'According to my latest hearsay, Yao Chen used to be a member of the Pharmaceutical Clan, but was eventually expelled due to certain circumstances.' 'Is that true? Hah! If that's the case, then the current Pharmaceutical Clan must be regretting it deeply.' The Wan-Huo Elder's laughter immediately drew the attention of many toward Xiao Yan and Yao Long. The Heavenly Capital Alliance now commands immense influence across Zhongzhou, firmly established as the dominant force in the region. The members present were well acquainted with the Alliance's nominal leader and its spiritual figurehead, and thus, murmurs of conversation quietly subsided. As for all those various glances, Xiao Yan paid them no mind, merely directing his gaze toward Yao Lou. "Indeed, as you've said," Yao Lou smiled, "we represent the Heavenly Alliance. If we don't offer a favorable position, then perhaps we've truly shown our lack of regard for our alliance." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan smiled in return, and the two flashed into view near the Wan Huo Elder, taking a seat promptly. Meanwhile, the attentive maids hurried forward to serve them respectfully. Seeing the two seated, the Wan Huo elder smiled warmly at them. As for the other herbal clan elders standing beside him, however, their demeanor was slightly awkward—these elders held higher rank than the Herbal Elder himself. If Drug Chen had remained within the herbal clan throughout his life, he would have had to bow and pay homage to them now. Yet the current reality made them realize that perhaps it was they who should now be the ones to bow. The title of Grand Champion of the Heavenly Palace Alliance was now sufficient to place them on par with the Herbal Clan’s clan elders. "First and second, I don't mind at all. The Herbal Clan has always been arrogant, but I simply wish to demonstrate, through the compounding techniques my teacher taught me, how their hasty and foolish actions in the past cost them a true genius—the very one they lost." Xiao Yan smiled slightly. Now his compounding techniques had surpassed even the Elder of the Herbal Clan, yet his achievements were all due to the Elder's guidance. In such a setting, if his disciple could rise above the others and shine, there would be no one in the Herbal Clan daring to obstruct the Elder from inscribing his parents' names on the clan's memorial stone. "You brat!" the Elder chuckled softly, though his weathered face was filled with deep satisfaction—such a disciple was truly a blessing. "Even now, though your techniques have reached mastery, it may still not be easy to stand out among the entries in the Herbal Canon." The old pharmacist straightened slightly, saying, "The alchemists who have qualified for the final competition of the Pharmacopoeia are essentially the very finest in this realm. Their alchemical techniques are likely to be found nowhere even within the Dan Towers..." Xiao Yan nodded gently. He naturally wouldn't think such alchemists were mere novices; on the contrary, the stronger the opponent, the more he found himself intrigued. Since his last spirited encounter with another alchemist at the Dan Assembly years ago, he had rarely engaged in such formal alchemical duels. And this time, his opponent surpassed those from the Assembly by a vast margin. The sound waves spread, and suddenly a resonant chime echoed across the sky. Immediately, the numerous members of the Herbal Clan rose swiftly, their respectful voices flowing in a steady, majestic tide. "Welcome, Clan Elder!" Amidst this resounding welcome, the clouds above surged and parted on their own, revealing a white-bearded elder dressed in a white robe who stepped forth slowly. Wherever his feet touched the ground, the space itself rippled with unusual vibrations, as if the intangible fabric of reality had momentarily solidified into tangible form. "Clan Elder of the Herbal Clan?" Gazing at the kind-faced elder, Xiao Yan's eyes flickered with a sense of gravity. From him, he sensed an exceptionally powerful aura—stronger than that of the Elder of the Ten Thousand Flames, by no less than a significant margin. "This is the patriarch of the Medicinal Clan, Yao Dan. Now, he might have reached the level of Seven-Star Battle Saint... " The elder of the Medicinal Clan gazed at the white-haired elder with a slightly complex expression. Regardless, the blood of the Medicinal Clan flowed within him, and upon seeing the clan patriarch, he felt a sense of unexpected resonance. "Seven-Star Battle Saint..." Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly. This must be the strongest among the Medicinal Clan—indeed, stronger than the Heavenly Realm. The deep-rooted heritage of ancient clans truly was admirable. "Ah, guests are guests..." On the sky, the elder patriarch of the Medicinal Clan, Yao Dan, smiled gently, bowing respectfully to the dense crowd. Then, his gaze suddenly shifted beyond them, settling on the elder, his eyes flickering with a touch of complexity and subtle emotion. Xiao Yan, sitting beside the elderly pharmacist, also sensed the gaze of Yao Hua Dan. His expression remained unchanged, yet a flash of black light passed by, and Northern King reappeared, his eyes cold and unwavering, as though poised to pounce and kill at any moment. The elderly pharmacist slowly raised his head, gazing steadily at Yao Hua Dan, offering a gentle smile and bowing. "Good day, Yao Dan Clan Head." "Yao Chen... we've all missed you." Yao Dan's gaze lingered on the elderly pharmacist, then shifted to Xiao Yan, pausing briefly on the figure of Northern King. With a sigh that carried no particular weight, he took a step forward and settled into the central seat, welcomed by the gathering of numerous Yao Clan elders. "Heh, Yao Dan elder, at last, you've finally come out of your retreat this time?" "As the herbal medicine was just settling into place, another voice, carrying the weight of岁月 and flowing gently through the sky, began to resonate. Along with this voice, an intense, rich aroma of medicinal fragrance spread forth. Then, everyone witnessed the distant horizon suddenly shimmer with green light. In just a few moments, a delicate green medicine cauldron swiftly broke through the air, arriving before them. Sitting atop the cauldron was an elderly man dressed in simple hemp robes. In his hands, he held a cane woven from medicinal herbs, upon which hung several jade bottles that chimed softly with a crisp, tinkling sound as they swayed. 'Grandmaster Shennong... I didn't expect even this elder master to appear." Upon seeing this man, the herbalist’s eyes instantly flashed with astonishment. Xiang Yan first paused, then suddenly recalled something, his expression growing increasingly serious. Though the name of this Shennong elder may not be widely renowned, he was an exceptionally senior figure in the realm of herbal medicine—so much so that even the herbalist himself had to address him as a senior. It was unexpected that someone who had gone missing for so many years should now appear here. "Indeed, the *Herbal Canon* lives up to its name," Xiang Yan murmured, his lips slightly tinged with warmth. He felt a surge of excitement at the thought of facing off against such a master in the art of herbal preparation. "Heh, old man, you're still alive?" The herbalist chuckled, though his expression showed no sign of surprise. The Shen Nong elder stood up from the medicinal cauldron, swept his sleeve, and instantly folded it into his robes. With a weathered gaze sweeping the surroundings, he settled his eyes upon Xiao Yan, softly exclaiming in surprise, then smiled, "It has been many years since I last stepped out of the mountain. I hadn't expected to see such fresh talent in the Central Plains—so young, yet his soul power has already reached the peak of the Heavenly Realm. Truly astonishing." "Master Houn, Houn Xū, has come without invitation. I hope the Elder of the Yao Dan Clan will not mind." The black-robed man smiled calmly, his measured tone carrying clearly through the air. "Houn Xū..." Hearing the name, the elderly man beside Xiao Yan's body suddenly stiffened, his eyes flashing with cold light.