A world-shaking battle had concluded, yet it left the Zhongzhou region ravaged and diminished. Its former splendor was gone, and the continent itself was split in two at that very moment—a vast chasm, stretching tens of thousands of feet, dividing the land. This chasm would later be known as the Dual Emperors' Chasm, and no one could ever forget that fateful day of celestial warfare. Though Zhongzhou had suffered a decline in prosperity, the calamity ultimately came to an end. As people from other regions began to flood into the area, in the not-so-distant future, Zhongzhou would once again become the heart of the Continent, for here, the decisive battle that would shape the destiny of the Continent had been fought. With the sealing of the Spirit Emperor, the decisive battle naturally concluded in a victory for the allied forces. As for the Spirit Clan, although many members had significantly strengthened their powers following the Spirit Emperor's ascension to the Battle Emperor rank, their full potential had yet to be realized. Indeed, seven out of every ten had been sacrificed, their lives offered as blood offerings to the Spirit Emperor. The remaining members were shaken and demoralized, offering little resistance as they were pursued and captured by the allied forces. For indeed, it seems that everyone here has been plunged into this pool of blood, and the Spirit Emperor has truly sacrificed everything in pursuit of his goal. Such individuals instill a sense of cold dread in the hearts of the people, yet they also bring relief—because such madmen, at last, are being brought under control. Even the remnants of the Spirit Realm have been taken away, and together with Gu Yuan and the others, they have completely destroyed the ancestral heartland of the Spirit Clan. From now on, there will be no more Spirit Clan in the Central Region. Among the ancient eight clans, only the Ancient Clan, the Flame Clan, and the Thunder Clan remain. Oh, and of course, one must not forget—the Xiao Clan, which has been reawakened and revitalized through Xiao Yan’s ascension to the Battle Emperor rank, thereby rekindling its Battle Emperor lineage! The more closely aligned a person's bloodline is with Xiao Yan, the greater the benefits they receive. The most evident case is undoubtedly Xiao Xiao, Xiao Yan's daughter. At the very moment Xiao Yan ascended to the rank of Supreme Emperor of Battle, Xiao Xiao surged directly to the level of Eight-Star Supreme Saint—so rapidly that it left onlookers with the urge to faint. Though Xiao Xiao possesses exceptional talent, this talent had not yet fully manifested. Nevertheless, due to various circumstances, she instantly became one of the foremost powerhouses on the Continent of Battle Qi. Such a transformation left Lei Ying Yanjin, who had been cultivating for hundreds to thousands of years, feeling as though he were about to burst with blood. This is what the first generation of beneficiaries of the Supreme Emperor's Bloodline truly experience. The Supreme Emperor's Bloodline is indeed an extraordinarily exceptional phenomenon—otherwise, how could one individual alone achieve such a profound revitalization of an entire race? One can imagine that the entire Xiao family will fully reap the benefits of the Battle Emperor lineage, experiencing a tremendous leap in their strength. With time, they will merely need a matter of years to regain the glory of the Xiao clan during its former peak. The Allied forces have disbanded, yet the Tianfu Alliance remains strong and vibrant. Today's alliance no longer features any factional divisions. They now fully understand that mere existence within this alliance represents an unparalleled honor—a glory born from the very figure who stands at the pinnacle of the Spirit Qi Continent! After recovering from the injuries sustained in his battle against the Spirit Emperor, Xiao Yan, leveraging the power of the Strange Fire, successfully rejuvenated his body within just two years—without any lasting complications. During this period, Xiao Yan held a magnificent wedding with Xun'er and Cai Lin, one witnessed by the heavens and countless people—fulfilling his promise to both women. Shortly after the wedding, Xiao Yan once again transferred the leadership of the Heavenly Palace Alliance to Yao Lao, stating that the current alliance no longer required him to bear the burden. Though Yao Lao found himself at a loss, he understood that Xiao Yan was once again seeking to step back. Yet, recalling the heavy responsibilities he had carried over the years, he couldn't help but feel touched and moved, and thus, he reluctantly resumed his role as Alliance Leader, taking over the burden for Xiao Yan. Only after he had lightened this burden could Xiao Yan stroll off with ease and grace, truly at ease and free in the vast world. ... Time passed, seasons changed, and another year or so slipped by, unnoticed. "Lin Xiu'ya chuckled lightly, "Hardly worthy of a grand hall—compared to that man, I'd say I barely have a single hair to show for it..." "Haha, Lin Xiu'ya, that's not quite the tone I'd expect from you," came a familiar laugh from within the pavilion. Before Lin Xiu'ya had finished speaking, a figure appeared out of nowhere, stepping gracefully into the pavilion—dressed in black robes, none other than Xiao Yan! "Haha! Finally, you've shown yourself!" Upon seeing Xiao Yan, the three exchanged joyful expressions and quickly approached, one of them stepping forward to punch a solid blow on Xiao Yan's chest. "Heh—he actually punched me, a punch from the Flame Emperor! That's no small feat!" Lin Yan laughed heartily. Seeing his long-time friend after so many years, Xiao Yan smiled warmly and reached out, summoning several barrels of strong wine to appear in the pavilion. "No more talk—let's drink until we're drunk!" "Alright, today I'm staying with you!" The three burst into laughter, accepting the wine without hesitation and raising their cups to take hearty swallows. Under the pavilion, the four friends laughed and drank together, their voices echoing with a particularly carefree ease. The moonlight climbed upward, and Lin Yan and Liu Qing were utterly drunk, carelessly lying on the ground, having abandoned any attempt to use their qi to ward off the wine's effects—they simply wanted to sink into the醉 with full abandon. "Where do you plan to go next?" Lin Xiu'ya's cheeks were slightly flushed as he looked at Xiao Yan, smiling. "We've been traveling for so long—we're a bit tired now," Xiao Yan replied, lifting his head to gaze at the bright moon. "I'd like to return to the Gamma Empire." "Then, whenever there's something to attend to, I'll head to the Heavenly Capital Alliance—I've already kept an eye on them." "Hmm, that background is quite impressive. I'm glad we chose the right path when we went to the Gamma Empire back then." "Ha ha..." By the rear hills of Huazong, a graceful figure stood poised and elegant, her moon-white robe accentuating the curves of her form, exquisitely alluring. "Teacher..." a woman dressed in light robes called softly from behind. "Yanran, is there something you'd like to share?" the woman in the moon-white gown turned slightly, revealing a face of serene elegance and beauty—Cloud Yun. Gazing at that beautiful, refined face, Lan Yanran sighed softly. Over the years, numerous renowned strongholds and leaders across Zhongzhou had expressed their affection for Cloud Yun, yet none had made any real progress. She knew well that in Cloud Yun's heart, the image of that one person remained deeply entrenched, even though he now had a wife. "Xiao Yan has brought a message..." Lan Yanran spoke gently. As soon as she finished speaking, Yun Yun—whose tone had always been calm and unremarkable—suddenly turned around, a reaction that made her chuckle again. "What?" Yun Yun's voice, unconsciously trembling slightly. "He said... would you be willing to return to the Jima Empire again?" Nalan Yanran smiled gently, her smile a little watery and tender. Yun Yun too was momentarily stunned, her teeth clenched against her full red lips, her eyes suddenly glistening with moisture. That place—her most cherished memory—was not Yunlan Mountain, but the Beast Kingdom Mountains... ... Jima Empire, Qingshan Town. Compared to the past, Qingshan Town had grown remarkably more prosperous. Thanks to its advantageous location nestled within the Beast Kingdom Mountains, an increasing number of mercenaries had settled here. Besides the ease of access to the mountains, the town itself hosted a medical clinic. The clinic wasn't large, yet as long as you still had a breath, it was a place where you could continue to live and thrive—almost every resident of Qingshan Town held it in the highest regard. Before the clinic, the entrance was always packed with people: some wounded soldiers, others patients from distant regions. However, there was an unyielding rule here—no matter how noble your status, you had to register and wait in line. Of course, at first, such an assertive rule drew many scornful glances and expressions of disdain. But when a violator—a powerful Duohuang-level warrior—unexpectedly began to melt into liquid right before everyone’s eyes, all the visitors realized just how formidable the young woman in the white gown, who appeared gentle and pure, truly was. From that day on, no one treated the clinic’s rules as mere formalities. Within the medical pavilion, there stood a simple and neat wooden table. Behind it, a girl dressed in a white gown sat quietly, her face bathed in gentle sunlight that streamed diagonally from the roof, casting a soft glow upon her serene smile. The scene was so beautiful that the wounded patient seated before her found himself momentarily still, as if frozen. "You're asking for it!" Upon seeing someone cutting in line, everyone paused in stunned silence before erupting into fury, glaring at the figure with murderous intent. How dare this person disrupt the order—wasn't this a death sentence? "Please wait your turn," the white-clad woman said, leaning slightly as she carefully arranged medicinal reeds beside her, her voice soft and soothing, like a gentle breeze. One after another, the gazes turned toward that figure, laden with pity; some even sighed and shook their heads. Naturally, there were also several who were filled with rage, having been offended by the very presence of this person, whose sacred status they deemed inviolable. Yet, as these people prepared to witness a tragic unfolding, the white-clad girl, who had been gently arranging medicinal herbs, suddenly felt her hands tremble, paused, and blinked in surprise. Her face quickly shifted, and in an instant, a familiar, smiling face appeared before her eyes. Her lips then gently closed around her lower teeth. "Isn't it comforting to walk alone, then?" the man in black chuckled lightly. His words startled the people behind him, who had been furious. Before they could recover, the delicate voice of the white-clad girl sprang up with a lively tone, leaving everyone stunned as though struck by lightning. "You refused to accompany me, so I had no choice but to walk on my own." The man in black tilted his head slightly, gazing at the pale-clad woman whose bright eyes now held faint traces of dimness, and after a moment of quiet suffering, finally said, "Shall I move to Wutan City with you?" The woman covered her mouth with a soft smile, her beautiful eyes glistening with gentle warmth, and a tender, gentle curve of smile playing at her lips. Witnessing her reaction, the crowd waiting in line felt their hearts shatter into countless pieces, instantly chilled to the core... The venue of the auction was precisely at the central location of the city of Jamma, where the former headquarters of the Mitel family had stood. Beneath the towering crystal dome, stretching hundreds of feet high, crowds filled the space, their vibrant atmosphere keeping the auction in a state of continuous excitement. Of course, the intense enthusiasm was not solely due to the auction items themselves, but also deeply rooted in the presence of the people. Among them stood a graceful woman dressed in a red qipao, her fitted skirt accentuating the full, mature contours of her figure. In every subtle gesture—her expression, her smile—she radiated an enduring sense of elegance and maturity. Of course, while many of the guests here have harbored certain feelings for the beautiful woman on stage, they all understand that she is far from being merely a decorative figure. The prosperity of the Inland Alliance in the western region owes much to her economic acumen—her business holdings span the entire western continent, and her intelligence network is capable of tracking and uncovering every single action you take. Though her cultivation talent is not particularly outstanding and she only reached the Battle Sovereign level thanks to the support of medicinal elixirs, under her command, countless Battle Emperors have pledged their loyalty and sacrificed their lives for her. Who would dare call her a mere decorative figure? In the western region, she is known by a special title—The Queen of Gold—and her name is Mitel Yafai. On the auction platform, Ya Fei watched with a touch of languid ease the person who had paid several times the value of the item to secure it, and could hardly help but chuckle softly, shaking her head. Then, from her jade bracelet, she withdrew a scroll radiating an ancient grace, her voice smooth and delicate, carrying an endless allure. "A heavenly-stage foundational technique, *Lei Dong Ju*, starting at thirty billion..." A stream of eyes followed the sound, eventually settling on a spot in the front row—where, at an unknown moment, a young man in black robes had appeared on an otherwise empty chair. On stage, Ya Fei also paused, startled by the sudden voice, her gaze shifting toward that chair. Yet when her eyes landed upon the familiar face, smiling warmly, the scroll of the premium, yet mid-tier cultivation technique—once priced at a considerable sum—fell to the ground with a crisp *snap*. "Thirty billion, and if we add one more person, would that work?" the young man in black robes said, smiling gently at the now more mature, world-class beauty. Upon hearing this, several people's expressions grew serious. Some guards from the auction hall quickly gathered, their faces darkening, and moved swiftly toward the young man, now convinced that he had come to disrupt the proceedings. Yet, while many spectators sat back, watching in quiet anticipation, the elegant Ya Fei on stage was gazing intently at the pair's black eyes—still as clear and pure as they had been back then. After a long moment, she gently bit her full red lips, a mesmerizing, alluring smile blooming across her face. "It might be worth considering..." Her voice echoed throughout the auction hall, and instantly, the once-bustling scene fell utterly silent. The guards, too, froze mid-step, their expressions now blank and motionless... As for Xiao Yan, the Flame Emperor, he had completely faded from public view over the past十余 years, yet the various legends surrounding him had not faded at all—on the contrary, they had grown ever more divine and revered through oral tradition. By the young man's side, a girl dressed in light cyan robes skillfully peeled a fruit with her long, graceful hands like jade, then gently placed it into the young man's mouth. Just as she was about to rise, she was suddenly caught by an arm around her waist, pulled into his embrace, and kissed firmly on the cheek, causing her face to blush instantly. "Lin and the others are still here..." the robed girl murmured, blushing slightly. "I see them, I see them. We're practically old married couple now," Xiao Yan said, giving a slight scoff and smiling. "Father, you're always bothering Mother! I'm going to tell Lady Cai Lin!" As soon as he finished speaking, a sturdy, boyish child burst out from beside him, arms crossed, declaring loudly. "Little brat, dare to threaten your father? Go play!" Xiao Yan rolled his eyes, then waved his hand casually, and a strong gust of wind blew forth. As a result, a powerful surge of qi light erupted from the boy's body. However, when the gust reached him, it simply knocked him over, sending him gently to the ground. "You," Xun'er lightly tapped Xiao Yan's shoulder, scolding him. Xiao Yan smiled, lifted his gaze toward the sky, and gradually smoothed out the smile on his face. "Recently, I've been experiencing something rather unusual," he said softly. "What do you mean?" Xun'er asked, slightly puzzled. "Xun'er, do you know why the great Qi Emperors of the past on the Qi Continent have all disappeared?" Xiao Yan asked. "Disappeared?" Xun'er was momentarily startled, responding. "Perhaps... they've all left this Qi Continent," Xiao Yan said, with a gentle shimmer in his eyes. "No way!" Xun'er exclaimed, in surprise. "That feeling is growing stronger and stronger—within at most six months, there will surely be answers…" Xiao Yan held Xu'er close as he spoke. Upon hearing this, Xu'er nodded slightly, her jade arm around Xiao Yan's waist unconsciously tightening. "This... I'm not sure, but it seems only this way can explain why the Supreme Emperors of the Battle Continent have vanished so completely. After all, beings at that level are no easy target to eliminate." Gu Yuan hesitated, saying so. "Ah..." Zhukun sighed, his heart filled with complexity. If it truly were as such, then they truly were like frogs living in a well. The calm of the sky persisted for exactly half a day, until, as the sun dipped toward the horizon, sudden, strange ripples began to emerge. Thousands of people held their breath, their eyes wide with astonishment at this sight. As time passed, these ripples grew stronger and more intense. Eventually, Xiao Yan's eyes snapped open, and a column of energy stretching across the heavens burst forth from his forehead, directly piercing the distant sky under the watchful gaze of the entire Central Region. "Hum hum!" As the column of energy surged forth, the rippling sky became increasingly intense. After a while, a luminous pathway, shimmering with a gentle glow, seemed to break free from the constraints of the dimensional space, appearing before the countless eyes watching it. At the moment the pathway materialized, Xiao Yan suddenly sat up, his expression serious, gazing intently at this scene. From within the pathway, he sensed a familiar essence—the Yuan Qi! The Yuan Qi, which had long since vanished from the Continent of Qi and had once been the key to attaining the rank of Supreme Emperor, now resonated powerfully. The entire realm fell utterly silent. Zhu Kun and Gu Yuan stood with their mouths open, their hearts surging with waves of astonishment—clearly, as the pathway formed, they felt the strength of the cultivator, who had stood still for over a thousand years, subtly rising. "Gurgle..." Their gazes, blazing with intense passion, were fixed upon the luminous passage, and a profound surge of vitality pulsed deep within their souls, conveying a clear message: should they enter, their strength would undoubtedly transcend. "Huff..." Xiao Yan exhaled deeply, and for the first time in years, the steady, dark pools of his eyes flared with warmth. The once-cool blood within him now surged, as if boiling at this very moment. "Ending, after all, is also a beginning..." A gentle smile curled at Xiao Yan's lips. Perhaps this too would mark the beginning of something entirely new.