"The Imperial Realm soul... how is that possible?" Numerous eyes stared in wide disbelief at the young figure stepping out of the spatial passage. Even with Gu Yuan's usual composure, he could not conceal his astonishment. While an Imperial Realm soul wasn't as awe-inspiring as that of a true Imperial Sovereign, it still represented something significant—something closely related. Indeed, even formidable warriors like Yan Jin and Lei Ying, who had reached the peak of the Eighth-Star Sovereign rank, had never achieved such a level of soul power. And they were well aware that just half a month ago, Xiao Yan's soul strength had still been at the peak of the Heavenly Realm. In just half a month—what could one possibly accomplish? A single period of focused cultivation could easily consume such time. Yet, within this very half-month, Xiao Yan's soul power had undergone a transformation so profound it seemed almost revolutionary! Gazing at the suddenly silent surroundings, Xiao Yan, who had just stepped out of the Sky Tomb, couldn't help but shake his head. Though it had been only half a month since they arrived in the outside world, he had spent nearly two years within the Sky Tomb itself. Hence, it was no surprise to others, but to him, it was quite natural. With two years of dedicated cultivation, combined with the boundless soul power of the Sky Tomb's soul, reaching this level was far from impossible. "How did you manage it?" Yan Jin gently licked his lips, finally breaking the silence. Though they weren't primarily trained in soul cultivation, having practiced for so many years, their souls still remained at the peak of the Heavenly Realm, still far from the Imperial Realm soul. "A blessing bestowed by my ancestor, Xiao Xuan," Xiao Yan replied, without going into great detail. Hearing this, Yanjin and Lei Ying both were momentarily stunned, then shook their heads with a smile, their admiration for that figure growing increasingly profound—indeed, no wonder he had once been the strongest on the Qi Continent; even after so many years of passing, he still possessed such formidable abilities. "Have we obtained the method to revive Xiao Xuan?" Gu Yuan gradually calmed down, his gaze settling on the space behind Xiao Yan, saying. "Gu Yuan paused, gazing at Xiao Yan. After a moment, he sighed softly. Though he didn't know exactly what had transpired within the Heavenly Tomb, he was certain that Xiao Yan's enhancement in spiritual realm must be connected to Xiao Xuan's fading spiritual presence. With this thought, his expression grew somewhat complex. Their relationship had always been one of both competition and genuine male friendship. He knew that if Xiao Xuan hadn't been the clan chief of the Xiao family, the two likely would have become inseparable friends. Yet, their respective positions had inevitably made it so that they could not act solely on personal conviction—race and lineage always came first. 'The half-month period set by the Hún clan is tomorrow,' Gu Yuan crossed his fingers, fixing his gaze on Xiao Yan. 'What are your plans?' 'What else could I do? For my father, I have no choice but to act.' Xiao Yan shook his head, feeling equally helpless. No matter what, he had to save his father—this was his promise to his two elder brothers. Upon hearing this, Lei Ying and Yan Jin exchanged glances and could only sigh. They knew no one could be blamed for this situation. The ancient clan in Xiao Yan's hands belonged to the Xiao family, and he held absolute authority over it. Moreover, at present, Xiao Yan was a powerful ally in the struggle against the Soul Clan, especially after his return from the Heavenly Tomb. Even with their strength, neither of them dared to regard him as a junior anymore. They understood that, armed with the formidable power of the Imperial Soul, Xiao Yan would no longer fear them when they faced off directly. As for Xiao Yan's response, Gu Yuan didn't find it surprising. After a moment's pause, he said, "Then let's set out tomorrow. This time, our three clans' top warriors will accompany you. As long as your father is safely delivered into your hands, we will move forward—whether it's to reclaim the Ancient Jade or to destroy it entirely!" Gu Yuan's expression was unusually serious, for he was well aware that if the Huan Clan gathered all the Ancient Jade and opened the Hall of Todhesh the Ancient Emperor, then Huan Tian Emperor would gain the opportunity to ascend to the level of Battle Emperor. At that point, no one in the world would be able to stand against him. To the Battle Emperor, their so-called allied forces would merely be like floating trees, easily defeated. For this, Xiao Yan nodded as well. With three clans supporting him, his leverage in negotiations with the Huo Clan was stronger. Though he had now reached the Emperor-level soul realm, that didn't necessarily mean he could match the Huo Tian Di, especially considering the Huo Clan's array of powerful warriors. Even if Huo Tian Di didn't personally intervene, mere figures such as Xu Wu Ting Yan and the Four Magisterial Saints of the Huo Clan would already pose a significant challenge. "We've been relaying updates to the Tian Fu Alliance recently. I expect your forces to arrive at the Zang Tian Mountain Range tomorrow. With a united front from all four directions, we won't fear the Huo Clan." Gu Yuan said. Xiao Yan nodded again. The Tian Fu Alliance's strength was now beginning to emerge—beyond the presence of elders like Dan Tower and Xiao Chen, he himself had now reached the Emperor-level soul realm. In terms of overall strength, he no longer lagged behind the Yan and Lei clans. "During the time you've been entering the Heavenly Tomb, I have personally activated the spatial conduits of the Three Ancient Flame-Thunder Clans. This time, any changes occurring within those three clans' spatial domains will immediately be reflected back. The three clans themselves are now at their highest state of alert—every senior monk in retreat has been forcibly summoned, and they can be fully assembled at a moment's notice!" The tragic fate of the Lingshi and Yao clans served as the final warning to the remaining three clans. Consequently, this spatial connection has been entirely orchestrated by Gu Yuan himself. In this world, no one—save perhaps the Soul Emperor—should be able to bypass his spatial barriers without disturbing him. Even the Soul Emperor cannot achieve this unless he himself attains the rank of Battle Emperor. "Since you've successfully passed through the gate, everything is now essentially in place. All we need to do now is simply wait for tomorrow..." Hearing these words from Gu Yuan, the people standing beside him grew increasingly serious. They all knew that tomorrow would undoubtedly bring a colossal battle—one of the most sweeping and significant in the history of the Qi Continent over the past several thousand years! "Father... tomorrow, we shall meet again." Xiao Yan gently clenched his hands, and an ancient jade tablet appeared in them. On the jade, a faint soul glow was softly radiating light. As his fingers traced over the glow, he lifted his head and deeply inhaled. Though Xiao Yan had now become a peak powerhouse admired by countless people across this continent, he still remembered, in the small city of Wutan, when he had been a prodigy suddenly transformed into a mere nobody—when countless people had mocked and ridiculed him—his father's love and warmth had never wavered, never dimmed despite the outside criticism. On the contrary, his father had often carried a deep sense of regret. It was precisely during those three years of relentless ridicule that Xiao Yan had persevered, eventually emerging transformed and reborn. To Xiao Zhan, his father, had been of unparalleled significance. "Xiao Yan is now far greater than you ever hoped for..." Xiao Yan murmured, striving tirelessly and finally reaching the pinnacle of this continent. Yet his father, who had always looked forward to this achievement, would never be able to witness it firsthand. "If Uncle Xiao knew about your current achievements, he would surely be deeply moved..." Xiao Yan took hold of Xun'er's jade hand in his hand, calming his emotions after a moment, then turned around and embraced the jade figure gently. Suddenly smiling, he said, "When I was young, I once told my father that I wanted to make Xun'er my wife. At that time, he was quite strict and warned me not to be overly idealistic. But I could see that he truly admired and liked Xun'er. Once I rescue my father, I'll have him officiate our wedding." Xun'er gently rested her face against Xiao Yan's chest. Hearing this, she felt a touch of bashfulness, yet her eyes shimmered with happiness. She then nodded gracefully. Gazing at the delicate, blossoming face in his arms, Xiao Yan felt a warmth spread through his chest. He chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around Xun'er's slender waist. With a shy glance from her, he leaned down and kissed her vibrant, dewy lips. Then, with a graceful sweep of his sleeve, the door automatically opened, and he stepped inside, closing it firmly behind him with a soft thud. The night grew still, and the room filled with the fragrance of spring.