The entire world was silent, save for the voice of the old man, whose words stirred an endless ache in the hearts of listeners. Back then, Xiao Yan had been but a young man of twenty, barely entering adulthood. Yet that parting had marked the beginning of a span of several decades. Throughout that long journey, the young man had harbored resentment, tirelessly striving to refine his abilities, surviving countless near-deaths and pushing himself beyond limits again and again. All his efforts—every sacrifice—had been aimed solely at rescuing his father, someone who had once deeply cherished him, so that he might once again enjoy a peaceful, tranquil old age. Gazing at the slightly slender figure of the young man in the sky, Gu Yuan and the others fell silent. They knew well the story of Xiao Yan's past, and thus fully understood the immense hardships and efforts he had endured over the years. While ordinary people only saw his extraordinary achievements, they often overlooked the countless life-and-death battles he had survived behind those shining accomplishments. "This young man is truly a man of strength. Among us of the Lei Clan, no one can match him," Lei Ying sighed softly. From a mere youthful boy back then, he had steadily climbed to become a towering figure now—so significant that even the Lei Clan had to treat him with due respect. Moreover, he had repeatedly escaped the assassins dispatched by the Hun Clan. The difficult path not only preserved his life but also served as the very grinding stone that shaped him into a true master. They questioned whether, if it were them, they could have achieved anything as remarkable as what Xiao Yan had accomplished. After all, the only thing Xiang Yan relied upon was himself—his own efforts. The once-dominant Xiang Clan had left him with no significant wealth. The stronger members of the Lei Clan remained silent upon Lei Ying's quiet sigh, finding no words of objection. "Brother Xiang..." Xun'er gently bit her lower lip, her beautiful eyes glistening with emotion as she gazed at the steadily trembling figure. She could feel the surge of emotion within him—the years of dedication and perseverance Xiang Yan had shown were as clear to her as day. Within the prison, the elderly figure struggled to lift his hand. His gaze was fixed firmly on the young man in black. On the now-mature face, he could still see traces of the boy he had once cherished so deeply—the very son who had once brought him the greatest pride—had truly returned before him once again! "Child..." Tears streamed down his face. Then, with a sudden surge of strength, he launched himself forward, his voice rough and strained as he cried out, "Yan'er! Move!" "Over these years of being imprisoned by the Soul Clan, he had become thoroughly aware of their terrifying strength. Even powerful cultivators from the Gamma Empire—those who once ruled the realm—were merely ordinary there. Such formidable prowess could leave even the most resilient hearts feeling utterly hopeless. The words of the Soul Emperor left Gu Yuan and the others with furrowed brows, yet on Xiao Yan's face, a smile gradually bloomed. He gently nodded and smiled warmly, saying, "Rest assured—this great debt, I will never forget." Watching Xiao Yan's smile, Lei Ying and the others were momentarily stunned. Then, a deep chill crept over them. It was not the terrifying presence of someone with a fierce expression that struck them, but rather the unsettling image of someone who could maintain a serene smile even as murderous intent surged within—such a person was truly formidable. The Soul Emperor himself felt a slight tremor in his own composure. Xiao Yan's talent was indeed dazzling, reminiscent of Xiao Xuan from old days. Yet in terms of sharpness and ruthlessness, Xiao Yan surpassed even Xiao Xuan by a considerable margin. Fixing his gaze upon Xiao Yan's blood-red eyes, now slightly restrained, the Soul Emperor knew that the words Xiao Yan had spoken were no mere outburst of anger. If given the chance, the Soul Emperor was certain that Xiao Yan would surely drive the Soul Clan to extinction—though such a chance might prove exceedingly rare. "A deal?" Xiao Yan grasped his palm, and an ancient jade appeared instantly—precisely the final piece of Tu She Ancient Emperor's jade. He had not employed any pretense, for he knew well that for a master of Xiao Yan's caliber, such gestures would be utterly meaningless. As he held the jade in his hands, Tu She Emperor's eyes flickered with yearning and fervor. With this final jade, he would be able to locate the ancient emperor's sanctuary and unlock it. Should he succeed in obtaining the true Imperial-grade embryonic pill within, he would ascend to the supreme ruler of the cosmos. At that point, the alliance, in his eyes, would merely be mere insects—easily crushed beneath his palm. "Hand me the person, and hand me the jade—you should understand that killing your father would have been nothing short of simple. Therefore, I need not see any ceremony..." The Huo Tian Di withdrew his gaze and spoke slowly. Xiao Yan glanced at him, spreading his hands, and the ancient jade rose steadily under his control. Seeing this, the Huo Tian Di swept his sleeve, and the prison formed of black mist dissolved, then with a flick of his fingers, the iron chains on Xiao Zhan's body began to crack one by one. Finally, he grasped Xiao Zhan with a broad hand, forming a circle of black light that lifted him. "Here you go!" The Spirit Emperor waved his hand, and Xiao Zhan was drawn toward him by the black cord. At the same moment, Xiao Yan mentally summoned the ancient jade, launching it directly at the Spirit Emperor. With a flick of his foot, Xiao Yan shot forward, then grasped Xiao Zhan with a powerful hand movement, sending a surge of suction that pulled him in, cutting through the energy-black cords wrapped around his body with a single palm strike. As Xiao Yan successfully brought Xiao Zhan to safety, the Spirit Emperor simultaneously seized the ancient jade in his hands, feeling its cool, soothing presence. Even with his unwavering composure, he could not help but burst into loud, joyful laughter at that very moment—now, he could clearly see the path to the long-sought-after realm unfolding before him! "Father!" Xiao Yan's body, already agitated by excitement, trembled as he held Xiao Zhan. With a swift motion, he darted into the alliance and gently placed Xiao Zhan down. "It's really you, Yan!" "Going from being freed to being rescued was almost instantaneous. As Xiao Zhan steadied himself, he saw the face of his son mere inches away, his hands trembling as he reached out, gently brushing against Xiao Yin's face. The hesitant, trembling demeanor seemed as though he were afraid this might all be just a vision—though he had been anticipating this very moment ever since. 'Father, you've suffered so much. I'm so sorry...'望着 Xiao Zhan's careful, cautious posture, even Xiao Yin's composed nature found himself eyes glistening with emotion, his legs collapsing beneath him as he knelt heavily before his father, the massive stone beneath him cracking with the force of his weight. 'It's really you...' Xiao Zhan's hands trembled as he traced Xiao Yin's face, feeling the warmth, and suddenly, couldn't help but weep—his tears flowing freely. The scene moved the crowd around them deeply, filling them with heartfelt sorrow." "Yan, get up, get up! It's all my fault—my failure..." Xiao Zhan wiped away several tears and quickly helped Xiao Yan rise. Gazing at the more mature face compared to when he was younger, he was filled with deep satisfaction. As a father, nothing brought him greater joy than seeing his child grow. When Xiao Yan was first captured, he had always worried about the youngest among them. Yet this child had given him the greatest miracle and source of pride. Looking at the now weathered, hairless Xiao Zhan, who had once been so vigorous, Xiao Yan took a deep breath and softly said, "Father, Brother One and Brother Two have been waiting for you. Once this matter is settled, I'll take you to see them. For now, however, I'd like to handle a few things first." "Protect my father," Xiao Yan turned to the Tianfu elites beside him. "The Alliance Commander need not worry—we will defend him to the very last." "Heard this, the数十天府强者, each of whom had reached the pinnacle of the Douzun realm, immediately bowed respectfully and responded, then moved swiftly to gather around Xiao Zhan, forming a protective circle around him. 'Ina, what...?' Watching this scene, Xiao Zhan was stunned. To him, these individuals all exuded an overwhelmingly powerful aura—strong even among the famed Houn Clan. Yet what truly astonished him was that, despite their strength, they still treated him with profound reverence and humility whenever speaking to him. Could it be that this son, once reliant on his protection, had now grown so powerful? 'Father, don't worry—they will protect you,' Xiao Yan composed himself, offered a gentle smile, then turned to face the Houn Clan members. In his dark, piercing eyes, a cold, unyielding rage instantly surged—so intense that it could no longer be contained. His disdain for these Houn Clan 'scum' was now overwhelming." So, he had to kill someone! As Xiao Yan turned around, the gaze of Gu Yuan, Lei Ying, and the others also shifted toward him, their eyes filled with cold intensity—the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Yu Hún clan was now complete, and they would certainly not allow them to leave unimpeded. Facing their steady gaze, Xiao Yan lightly nodded, then looked up at the Hún Tian Emperor, who was holding the ancient jade and laughing wildly toward the heavens. A fierce expression crept across his own lips. With a gentle smile, he spoke softly, "Let's begin." As soon as the words left his mouth, a surge of murderous intent spread throughout the heavens!