"I'm leaving now," Toro called out from atop the Azure Blood Demon Bat. "If I don't come to fetch you after some time, someone else will."

Shi Yan nodded.

Toro smiled at him, urged the Azure Blood Demon Bat upward, and soared into the sky, quickly vanishing from sight.

When Toro first arrived at Black Stone Island, he had mentioned that after dropping Shi Yan off, he would take the Dragon-Slaying Sword and be gone for a few days.

Shi Yan had spent seven months in the heart of the Ten Thousand Year Volcano. During this time, the Yang family had already formally sought redress from the Gu family.

Upon learning of the actions of Gu Jiange and his son Gu Lie, the Gu family was also furious, but they vehemently denied any involvement, claiming everything was the fault of Gu Jiange and his son alone.

Shi Yan was unaware of the painful price the Gu family had paid, but from Toro, he knew the Yang family seemed to have gained a significant advantage from the Gu family, not only agreeing to hand Gu Jiange over to the Gu family for judgment but also promising to return the Dragon-Slaying Sword.

Toro, holding the new Dragon Sword, intended to use the Yang family’s nearby "Object Transference Micro-Array" to transmit the Dragon-Slaying Sword out, allowing the Yang family to exchange it for further benefits from the Gu family.

Although Shi Yan didn't know the exact cost to the Gu family, he understood that for the Yang family to be so accommodating this time, the Gu family must have suffered a major loss.

Before leaving, Toro had warned Shi Yan to be careful, saying that if he didn't return, others would still come to Black Stone Island to find him, so he shouldn't worry.

Shi Yan calmly remained.

On the mountain peak, Shi Yan’s expression was indifferent as he quickly ascertained the situation on the island.

The dignified and elegant beautiful woman from the Sky Evil Grotto Heaven was named Lin Nan, possessing the realm of the second level of the Nirvana Nest. She had been ordered to clear the demon beings from the island.

Under Lin Nan were three other Martial Artists of Status—two males and one female—namely Peng Pei, Shi Yubai, and Shen Yidan, apart from He Qingman.

Among the three, Peng Pei and Shen Yidan were at the first level of the Status realm, while Shi Yubai’s cultivation was slightly higher, at the second level of the Status realm.

He Qingman, Shi Yubai, Peng Pei, and Shen Yidan were all quite young; the men handsome, the women beautiful.

Although Shen Yidan’s appearance was not as world-becoming as Qingman’s, she was exceedingly delicate and graceful, with a slender waist, rounded hips, and a pair of phoenix eyes that sparkled with water, holding a faint smile that invited much fantasy.

These four were all experts among the younger generation of the Sky Evil Grotto Heaven, with He Qingman being the most outstanding, the youngest, and possessing the best talent.

The twenty-three Martial Artists in the Hundred Calamities realm were also very young. They had come to Black Stone Island with Lin Nan this time to temper themselves, hoping that through this experience, they could break through their bottlenecks and advance further.

Only by enduring tribulations could those in the Hundred Calamities realm truly comprehend the state of mind required for that level and subsequently break through their limitations.

The twenty-three Hundred Calamities realm Martial Artists were led by He Qingman, Shi Yubai, Peng Pei, and Shen Yidan, divided into four small teams to track the demon beings. Lin Nan was responsible for managing these four Status realm Martial Artists, reporting the situation here to the Sky Evil Grotto Heaven at any time to prevent these future seeds from being killed by the demons.

Lin Nan smiled as she introduced her contingent to Shi Yan, a faint smile always lingering on her face.

Lin Nan held no low status in the Sky Evil Grotto Heaven. Her elder brother, Lin Hong, possessed the cultivation of the second level of the Heaven Rank and was an elder of the Grotto Heaven. Her second brother, Lin Xu, was at the third level of the Nirvana Nest and managed the Grotto Heaven’s seven islands, overseeing the mines and spiritual herbs there.

Many members of the Lin family held important positions in the Sky Evil Grotto Heaven. Lin Nan herself was responsible for the training of the younger experts and was skilled at mediating disputes among them.

After Shi Yan dismounted from the Azure Blood Demon Bat, Lin Nan felt a flicker of doubt, unsure of Shi Yan’s true identity.

Martial Artists in the Galo Sea Domain knew that only the Asura Blood Guards were entitled to ride Azure Blood Demon Bats. When Shi Yan arrived on one, Lin Nan initially assumed he was one of them. However, from Toro’s subtle demeanor toward Shi Yan, she quickly realized Shi Yan was definitely not an Asura Blood Guard.

Subsequently, her curiosity was piqued by Shi Yan’s conversation with He Qingman, leading her to speculate that Shi Yan might be a young expert from the Yang family.

Yet, when Shi Yan introduced himself and stated his name, Lin Nan became perplexed again.

The name Shi Yan was utterly unfamiliar to her. Based on her knowledge of the outstanding younger generation of the Yang family, she was certain there was no one named Shi Yan among their prominent figures.

Shen Yidan, Peng Pei, and Shi Yubai were also somewhat puzzled after hearing Shi Yan's self-introduction. They then looked at him with a slight hint of disdain.

They were all familiar with the young masters of the Yang family. Seeing that Shi Yan was not one of the people they recognized, and that his surname was Shi, they naturally assumed he was not from the direct lineage of the Yang family. Moreover, Shi Yan was only at the second level of the Hundred Calamities realm. Although Toro’s attitude toward him was somewhat strange, they still paid it little mind.

"How many demon beings are there on the island?" Shi Yan asked calmly after the introductions.

"To my knowledge, there are about fifty or sixty demon beings, though there might be more," Lin Nan explained with a smile. "These are all from the Black Scale Clan."

"The Black Scale Clan?" Shi Yan paused in surprise.

Lin Nan frowned subtly, showing surprise. "You don't know the Black Scale Clan?"

"Yes..." Shi Yan nodded.

"Impossible?" Shen Yidan let out a soft gasp, a hint of barely perceptible disdain flashing in her phoenix eyes. She chuckled softly, "...The Yang family has been fighting the demon beings for so many years, and they frequently enter the Fourth Demon Domain. Anyone from the Yang family should understand the demon beings far better than we do."

"If you don't even know the Black Scale Clan," Peng Pei snorted, being quite direct, "then what are you here for? Your realm is so low, yet you were sent by an Asura Blood Guard. We assumed it was because you were intimately familiar with the Black Scale Clan that the Yang family sent you to assist us—but you haven't even heard of them. I truly don't understand why the Asura Blood Guards sent you."

Shi Yubai frowned, shaking his head, and said with a wry smile to Lin Nan, "Sister Nan, it seems this person isn't an aid, but a burden."

"I'm not exactly a Yang family member," Shi Yan replied coldly, feeling a touch of displeasure. "I came to Black Stone Island merely to see the demon beings for myself."

"You're not a Yang family member..." Shen Yidan's disdain deepened as she sneered, "You really scared me; I thought you were one of those tough ones from the Yang family. Heh, it's better this way; it would have been awkward for us. Ah, I feel much more relaxed now."

"Yes, those Yang family brats are all arrogant and overbearing," Peng Pei agreed, nodding, and shot a glance at Shi Yan. "Kid, since you aren't from the Yang family, behave yourself. Don't act recklessly; if you get killed by the demons, don't blame us for not warning you."

"Don't state it so plainly!" Lin Nan glared at Peng Pei and Shi Yubai.

Although she also harbored some dissatisfaction inwardly, she did not reveal it. Instead, she smiled at Shi Yan and said, "The Black Scale Clan is a race of demon beings, covered in black scales. These scales are innate and extremely hard; ordinary weapons find it difficult to penetrate them. Beyond that, we know little about the Black Scale Clan. We’ve been searching for these Black Scale Clan demons on Black Stone Island recently, and we have seen them, but they keep hiding and never engage us in direct combat, so we don't know their characteristics..."

"No official combat yet..." Shi Yan paused, then nodded. "Understood. I will be careful..."

Among these people, only He Qingman seemed to have a clearer understanding of Shi Yan's identity. However, she did not enlighten the others, seemingly hoping Shi Yan would be scolded by them. As Peng Pei and Shi Yubai were coldly mocking Shi Yan, He Qingman slightly tilted her head back, appearing genuinely pleased.

Shi Yan knew He Qingman intended to watch him make a fool of himself, and he snorted inwardly, though he showed nothing on his face. He simply turned to Lin Nan and said, "I truly know nothing about the demon beings. My only reason for coming this time is to gain some experience seeing them. How should we proceed? You arrange things, and I will cooperate to the best of my ability."

That's somewhat reasonable.

Lin Nan nodded secretly, satisfied with Shi Yan's humility, but her heart became even more certain that Shi Yan probably wasn't from the Yang family after all.

The look of disdain in Shen Yidan's eyes grew even more pronounced.

If he were truly a young expert raised by the Yang family, how could he be so humble? Weren't all those Yang family members sharp and aggressive? Arrogant and conceited?

"We will rest here today," Lin Nan announced. "Tomorrow morning, we will go check out that nearby mine. Rumor has it that Black Spot Copper is extremely precious in the Demon Domain, and some secret cultivation methods of the Black Scale Clan seem highly dependent on it. Perhaps those Black Scale Clan demons are truly hiding in the mine."

Everyone nodded in understanding.

"Shi Yan, get some rest. You will act with us tomorrow," Lin Nan said, looking at Shi Yan.

Shi Yan nodded.

"Come with me, I have something to ask you..." He Qingman gracefully mounted the Wind Thunder Flying Lion, casting a cold look at Shi Yan, and called out sharply.

Lin Nan, Peng Pei, Shen Yidan, and the others suddenly froze, looking at He Qingman with a slightly strange expression.

Shi Yubai frowned, a cold glint passing through his eyes. He glanced at Shi Yan, then at He Qingman, his expression turning slightly unpleasant.

Shi Yan’s expression remained serene. He took in the expressions of everyone present and calmly mounted the Wind Thunder Flying Lion, sitting side-by-side with He Qingman without speaking.

He Qingman didn't even glance at the man beside her; she stretched out her slender, straight legs and kicked the Wind Thunder Flying Lion.

Under Shi Yubai’s icy gaze, the Wind Thunder Flying Lion lifted into the wind, leaving this peak and flying toward a cluster of rock formations not far away.

"Brother Shi, it seems Qingman has some interest in this fellow..." Peng Pei stared blankly as the Wind Thunder Flying Lion disappeared, then turned to Shi Yubai. "But it probably isn't for good reasons. Looking at Qingman’s demeanor, she seems very annoyed by that kid. If she sought him out alone, she might have ill intentions."

Shi Yubai’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded faintly. "I think that kid is just unlucky. Qingman has eyes only for the superior; she certainly wouldn't fancy him. If she sought him out alone, she must intend to teach him a lesson..."

"Not necessarily..." Shen Yidan hesitated, then murmured, "Qingman’s expression was a bit strange when that kid arrived. It seemed... it seemed she even blushed for a moment. I don't know what’s going on."

Shi Yubai’s eyes instantly turned cold.