Approaching the imposing gate, several guards with stern expressions stood firmly blocking the entrance. At a corner of the gate, an elderly man sat motionless on a chair, holding a pen and a thick ledger. In front of him, a line of family members waited, each one producing the Qi techniques they had found on their bodies for registration. Only after the elderly man recorded their details did they manage to squeeze through the cold, watchful gaze of the guards. This was a standard procedure for entering the Qi Pavilion, one that had been thoroughly explained to Xiao Yan and his companions prior to their arrival. The techniques housed within the Pavilion had been painstakingly gathered over several generations by the family and served as the very foundation of the Xiao family's standing in Wutan City. As such, the family maintained strict protection measures for these invaluable assets. The materials used to inscribe the cultivation techniques in Xu Xiao's hands were specially crafted from a unique type of ink bamboo. This bamboo existed in two forms—maternal and offspring. The maternal form was only palm-sized, while the offspring form could spread out over dozens of meters. When such materials were used to create cultivation scrolls, as long as the clan head held the maternal form, any technique that ventured outside the maternal monitoring range would be detected. The maternal ink bamboo in the clan's possession precisely covered the entire Xu family territory. Therefore, once these scrolls left the Xu family grounds, they would inevitably be discovered—though not absolutely so, some exceptionally powerful individuals could forcibly sever this detection. However, among those at such a level of strength, who would find time to compete for mere Yellow Stage cultivation techniques? After waiting a moment behind the group, it was finally Xu Xiao's turn. He stepped forward, withdrew a cultivation scroll from his sleeve, and presented it to the elder. Receiving the dark-red scroll offered by Xiao Yan, the elder was slightly taken aback, glanced at Xiao Yan with a thoughtful expression, and murmured to himself, "This 'Fire-Blazing Defense' shield seems to have the strength of nine segments of combat energy—how remarkable that this young lad has managed to obtain it! Indeed, he clearly has solid potential." After registering the technique, the elder returned the scroll to Xiao Yan, gently reminding him, "I assume you're familiar with the rules? The technique must remain within the family; otherwise, there will be serious consequences. You must return the combat energy technique to the family one year from now, undamaged." Nodding casually, Xiao Yan stepped aside and leaned against the main gate, waiting for Xun'er's registration. With a gentle smile toward Xiao Yan, Xun'er extended her snowy, pale wrist and offered her own scroll. Upon seeing Xun'er standing before him, the usually expressionless elder unexpectedly broke into a slightly respectful smile, taking the scroll in both hands and swiftly completing the registration. Standing aside, observing the elder's noticeably changed demeanor, Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, his fingers instinctively curling slightly. From the fact that this elder could manage the Qi Pavilion—a sacred sanctuary—it was clear that his status within the family was at least on par with the three senior elders. Xiao Yan had heard of this elder's reputation: the cold-faced Xiao Han. Even when speaking to his own father, this elder never spared him any courtesy, his face as stiff and unyielding as if his muscles had frozen. Yet, here, this man who rarely regarded even the family patriarch with any respect, was now so respectful and attentive toward Xun'er. This only deepened Xiao Yan's curiosity about Xun'er's true standing. Rubbing his nose, recalling Xun'er's often reserved tone when discussing her own status, Xiao Yan shook his head in resignation. He looked up at Xun'er approaching with a warm smile, shrugged slightly, and together they stepped out through the gate. After stepping out into the bustling hall, Xiao Yan took deep, steady breaths of fresh air, finding the atmosphere inside the Combat Palace to be overwhelmingly stagnant. "How did it go, Yan?" As Xiao Yan and his father emerged, a figure slowly approached, gazing toward the entrance while smiling softly and asking in a low tone. Turning to smile at his father, Xiao Yan nodded, revealing a section of a dark-red scroll beneath his sleeve, and chuckled, "Done." Upon seeing the dark-red scroll, Xiao Zhang finally exhaled in relief, his eyes crinkling with a warm smile, and murmured, "That's all that matters." The two exchanged a glance, and both burst out in pleased laughter. Reaching out with his broad hands, he gently patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, smiling, "Now that the technique is secured, once you become a Combatant, you'll be able to truly cultivate Combat Energy." Xiao Yan smiled and nodded, his hand in his sleeve gently brushing the scroll, his eyes slightly narrowed as he softly murmured to himself, "Ah, I wonder what truly makes the technique my teacher spoke of so special? Hm, does a technique that evolves actually exist?" "Even more strange than the celestial-stage techniques..." recalling the lofty words the Ye-Lao had once spoken, Xiao Yan shook his head with a faint smile of resignation. The most outstanding technique he had ever seen was the Xu-er's high-level xuan-stage *Nongyan Ju*, which, to be honest, he had hesitated to reject at the time—such a rare and valuable technique, indeed. Gently rubbing his forehead, he now felt a growing regret for having declined Xu-er's offer. Though the words were now out, he couldn't face her again with further demands. Thus, he silently prayed that Ye-Lao wasn't simply playing a game of his own, or else he would truly lose face. "Hmm, just a high-level junior stage—what's there to be reluctant about? Although that little girl has a distinguished background, when it comes to collecting techniques, she's still quite green." As Xiao Yan prayed, a sudden, sharp undertone of disdain emerged unexpectedly from within his heart. "Finally, it's out..." Listening to that inner voice, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, a subtle, self-satisfied curve forming at the corner of his lips. After all, he'd spoken so much internally—precisely to pressure this old man into saying something reassuring. "Ah... you little fox, you've managed to outwit me!" Only when Xiao Yan's thoughts took shape did the old man finally notice, sighing with a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "Young one, rest easy—don't worry about the techniques. You won't be embarrassed by it at all. In fact, your future accomplishments won't fall behind that little girl beside you. After all, her family isn't exactly—well, what?"