When Shi Yan and Xia Xinyan burst forth from the divine mountain, the numerous martial artists of the Yang family stared at them with expressions that were incredibly vivid.

The tales concerning Shi Yan and Xia Xinyan had already spread throughout the region by this time.

Many elder martial artists in the Yang family recalled an instance from years past where someone from the Xia family, afflicted with symptoms identical to Xia Xinyan’s, could not be awakened despite the combined wisdom of the three supreme leaders of the Galuo Sea. In fact, their efforts proved counterproductive, hastening that individual’s demise.

Because Xia Shenchuan had caused a stir several times after bringing Xia Xinyan to Undying Island, these Yang family martial artists were aware that Xia Xinyan, the new pride of the Xia family, was also suffering from spiritual confusion and was unlikely to awaken.

Now, seeing Shi Yan and Xia Xinyan appear side-by-side struck everyone with an indescribable shock.

By what means had Shi Yan managed to restore Xia Xinyan completely—a problem that even the three supreme leaders couldn't resolve back then?

Enormous doubt filled every heart as they gazed blankly at Shi Yan and the woman beside him.

Soon, Yang Lao and Xia Shenchuan received the news and rushed over, gathering around Shi Yan.

Xia Shenchuan could hardly believe his eyes. After staring at Xia Xinyan for a long time, his body trembled slightly. He stammered for a moment before finally nodding, “Awake is good, awake is good…”

“Grandpa.” Xia Xinyan revealed her delicate teeth and smiled faintly. “I’m fine now. Oh, and I’ve broken through to the Second Heaven Realm of the Status level.”

“Ah?”

Xia Shenchuan was stunned again. He hastily released his divine sense, meticulously probing the condition of Xia Xinyan’s body. Only then did a brilliantly radiant smile bloom across his face. He nodded again, “Good, good child. I knew you would be safe from great misfortune and would surely have good fortune afterward! Haha!”

“Brother Xia, are you satisfied now?” Yang Lao smiled subtly. “You won't pursue responsibility for our young man’s actions now, will you? Hehe!”

“Haha.” Xia Shenchuan was overjoyed, nodding repeatedly, his eyes shining as he looked at Shi Yan. “The boy truly has a way. The problem your great-grandfather couldn’t fix, you managed to solve. Excellent, excellent! If our Xia family encounters such trouble again in the future, it seems we will have to rely on you to resolve it. Haha, very good, very good!”

Shi Yan was taken aback, shaking his head. He spoke truthfully, “No! This time was pure luck, and I’ve already exhausted the secret treasure. If a similar situation arises next time, I will be powerless.”

“No, no, you definitely can!” Xia Shenchuan insisted with a solemn expression. “As long as you tell us the method, no matter what kind of secret treasure it is, our Xia family will reforge it.”

“Some secret treasures aren't ones that can be reforged; they exist naturally,” Shi Yan said helplessly. “…In short, don’t rely on me if something similar happens again; I won’t be able to fix it either.”

“You rascal.” Xia Xinyan glared at him with a hint of reproach, appearing somewhat annoyed. “Why are you always pushing things away?”

“This time was truly fortunate,” Shi Yan grimaced. “It’s not that I don’t want to help you. To be frank, the secret treasure I held has indeed run out of use.”

“Forget it, forget it.” Xia Shenchuan waved his hand generously, unconcerned. “Our Xia family shouldn't be so unlucky. I will go back and properly instruct them not to let such incidents occur. Well, Xinyan, since you’ve just stepped into the Second Heaven Realm of the Status level, you need to return home to consolidate. There are several martial techniques you must cultivate early; missing the right timing would be bad.”

This statement caused both Shi Yan and Xia Xinyan to look momentarily stunned.

“If I had known,” Shi Yan winked at Xia Xinyan, regarding her across the stone chamber, “I would have stayed in this stone room a little longer. What do you say?”

Xia Xinyan’s usually bright complexion instantly flushed crimson, and she lowered her head in silence.

“Oh!” Yang Lao let out a soft sound, chuckling mischievously with a look of considerable excitement.

Yang Mu, Yang Meng, and the other Yang family members stared at the pair as if they had discovered a new continent, their expressions all quite odd.

Xia Shenchuan paused, his gaze sharpening like electricity. He glanced at Shi Yan, then at his granddaughter, and abruptly fell silent.

In the Galuo Sea, Xia Xinyan was famously arrogant, a favored daughter of heaven who never paid attention to the peerless young talents of her generation. Her focus was solely on the Xia family and the cultivation of martial arts.

For years, men who pursued Xia Xinyan could be found in every corner of the Galuo Sea. Even young talents from other major powers in different seas coveted her delicate orchid heart and peerless beauty, often lingering near the Xia family just for a glimpse of her and a chance to win her favor.

However, no matter who they were, no matter how outstanding the young man, Xia Xinyan had never spared them a second glance.

Even Xie Kui, the leading figure of the new generation in the Heavenly Evil Cave Heaven, who had loved her dearly for years, never made any progress and remained perpetually melancholy.

In the Galuo Sea, Xia Xinyan was practically an ethereal mountain peak, utterly unclimbable, leaving all young men only able to gaze up at her.

Even members of the Yang family, like Yang Qi, had been infatuated with Xia Xinyan for a time, but after repeatedly hitting walls in her presence, they eventually gave up the notion.

Now, because of a few words from Shi Yan, the beauty’s delicate face had turned rosy with shy delight, truly astonishing everyone present.

“Ahem! Ahem!” Xia Shenchuan coughed dryly. Although displeased, he felt indebted to Shi Yan for waking his granddaughter, so he couldn't erupt in anger. He merely said, “Well, since the matter is resolved, we shall take our leave now. Let’s go.”

“Wait a moment,” Shi Yan suddenly called out softly.

“Boy, don’t push your luck!” Xia Shenchuan snapped. “Although you saved her, don’t think anything can come of it between you. My granddaughter is destined to inherit the position of Xia family head. Romantic attachments must be set aside forever. Hmph, even if a marriage were to occur, it would be our Xia family taking in a son-in-law, and any children born would carry the surname Xia!”

The blush on Xia Xinyan’s face slowly faded, and a trace of desolate sorrow flashed in her eyes.

From childhood, the education she received was that she could not afford emotional attachments; she was meant to inherit the Xia family leadership. Even childbearing would be arranged by the Xia family, inviting a son-in-law in, with absolutely no say for herself.

Because of this, she never considered romantic matters in the Galuo Sea.

She knew her future was not hers to command.

“…Hmph!” Yang Lao snorted, his face full of displeasure, yet he didn't say much more.

Shi Yan also frowned deeply, his eyes gradually darkening. He perceived the helplessness, the utter surrender to fate, in Xia Xinyan’s expression.

At this moment, he understood that any words intended to provoke would be counterproductive. They wouldn't change Xia Shenchuan’s intent; instead, they would leave a poor impression in the elder’s mind, put Xia Xinyan in an impossible position between them, and might even jeopardize the long-standing friendly relations between the Xia and Yang families.

He knew that if he wanted to win Xia Xinyan, there was only one path: one day, Shi Yan must prove his capability to transcend the Xia family! To make the entire Xia family look up to him!

Taking a deep breath, Shi Yan’s expression calmed. He offered a faint smile and took out three Heaven Mending Pills he had won from Yang Lao. He stepped forward, offering them to the beauty, and said softly, “Accept these three Heaven Mending Pills. If you are forced to use your Samsara Martial Soul next time, these three pills can protect you three times.”

Xia Xinyan’s heart warmed. Her bright eyes flickered as she subtly watched Xia Shenchuan.

Xia Shenchuan gazed toward the sky, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. He neither commented nor prevented her from accepting the three Heaven Mending Pills.

Throughout the Boundless Sea, the Heaven Mending Pill could only be refined by the Yang family. Even within the Yang family, it was an extremely rare treasure, possessed only by direct descendants or figures of the Asura King’s caliber. Xia Shenchuan knew the Heaven Mending Pill had an excellent effect on the Yang family’s Samsara Martial Soul.

If it had been any other pill, Xia Shenchuan might have reprimanded her or stopped her from accepting it. However, regarding the Heaven Mending Pill, he found it hard to object.

“Thank you,” Xia Xinyan was tactful. Seeing the tacit approval in Xia Shenchuan’s expression, she quietly accepted them and thanked him softly.

“Take care,” Shi Yan looked at her deeply and murmured, “Remember our promise.”

Xia Xinyan’s pretty face flushed again, and lowering her head, she responded in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum, “Mm.”

“Let’s go.” Xia Shenchuan was displeased, not wanting his granddaughter to remain too close to Shi Yan. With a soft snort, he grabbed Xia Xinyan and suddenly shot upward, transforming into a streak of divine light that rapidly shot into the clouds, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

“Boy, you’ve got some skill,” Yang Lao chuckled heartily, clapping Shi Yan hard on the shoulder. “If you can really win that girl over, old Ghost Xia will weep tears of regret! Haha, not bad, not bad—you have the spirit I had back in the day!”

“Little Yanzi, this is amazing!” Yang Mu gave a thumbs-up, clicking his tongue in amazement. “That girl Xia Xinyan is notoriously haughty in our Galuo Sea. So many men covet her beauty, yet we’ve never seen her show shyness toward anyone. You, fellow, are truly formidable. No wonder Great-Grandpa values you so highly.”

“Brother Yan, I support you!” Yang Meng cheered as well, giggling. “Sister Xia is so beautiful; she’s the fairest sight in our Galuo Sea! A beauty like that deserves to be conquered by someone from our Yang family. Haha! Those guys like Brother Qi were useless—I even looked down on them back then. I didn’t expect Brother Yan to be so powerful, hooking up with Sister Xia so soon after arriving. Truly impressive.”

“Hooking up?” Shi Yan smiled wryly and shook his head. “You little girl, what nonsense are you spouting? I won her over with my personal charisma!”

“It’s the same thing,” Yang Meng giggled, finding Shi Yan more pleasing the more she looked at him. “The result is you two ending up together, hehe.”

The surrounding Yang family martial artists also looked at him with expressions of extreme admiration, as if gaining Xia Xinyan’s favor was something they respected even more than awakening her using the Soul Gathering Pearl.

Shi Yan was astonished. He hadn't expected Xia Xinyan to truly be an insurmountable cloud mountain in the Galuo Sea. The subtle affection between him and Xia Xinyan meant that this mountain had just lowered a ladder for him, allowing him the chance to climb to the summit.

“Boy, follow me. I’ll take you to see the demonic beast your great-grandfather specifically tasked you with subduing.” Yang Lao suddenly commanded.

Shi Yan’s expression tightened.