Shi Yan led the way, Yi Tianmo close behind. For such a large family as the Keller clan, they had numerous guards, yet as the two proceeded, these martial artists, usually so vigilant in the eyes of the Snow Dragon Island natives, appeared utterly blind, as if neither Shi Yan nor the other had been noticed at all.

The advantage held by the Yin Mei tribe in soul cultivation was manifesting completely.

Yi Tianmo followed Shi Yan without uttering a word. Not even Shi Yan himself could discern what subtle actions Yi Tianmo had taken, but every martial artist in sight seemed dazed and vacant, behaving like simpletons.

Yi Tianmo, who sincerely regarded Shi Yan as his master, displayed a level of energy upon dedicating himself to full assistance that even shocked Shi Yan!

“Master need not worry. My divine sense can cover the entire Snow Dragon Island. With just a single thought from me, the life and death of every martial artist on this island rests entirely at your command, regardless of the distance.”

Yi Tianmo seemed to sense Shi Yan’s confusion and quietly explained from behind him.

Shi Yan was aghast.

“That ‘Forsaken Land’ space was originally designed to restrain our two races. An invisible force existed there constantly. In that Forsaken Land, whether it was me, Kaba, or Ya Meng, or even Di Shan or Yu Rou, none of us could exert our true strength; our real power was suppressed there…”

“But arriving here, there are no longer any forces binding us. This feeling is marvelous. I vaguely sense that the amplification of our power is not slight in the slightest.” Yi Tianmo did not sound like he was joking; his expression was grave. “Only by returning here can we be considered true powerhouses. Before, our strength was suppressed by at least an entire realm!” His expression shifted. Shi Yan forcibly suppressed the shock churning within him and said in a deep voice, “Are you saying that in the Forsaken Land, the power you Divine Realm martial artists could exert was only equivalent to the Heaven Rank? But returning here… you are no longer subject to any constraints, truly possessing the strength of Divine Realm martial artists?”

Yi Tianmo nodded silently.

A strange glint flashed across Shi Yan’s eyes. After a long pause, he could only give a bitter smile and nod, feeling fortunate. “It truly is a cause for rejoicing that I did not become your enemy. I felt something was amiss before; I thought your power seemed less formidable than the legendary Divine Realm experts, and I didn't consider you much of a threat—even here, facing the true Divine Realm martial artists, you wouldn’t pose much danger. How incredibly wrong I was…”

Yi Tianmo smiled faintly. “Master need not dwell on it. Even we only vaguely sensed our power was being suppressed but dared not assert it definitively. However, after the seawater emerged, we gradually detected everything changing. Our powers in every aspect were quietly strengthening, which led us to guess the reason.”

The two continued their conversation as they proceeded toward the main hall of the Keller family.

At the hall entrance, a dozen burly martial artists, who should have been extremely alert, had their gazes immediately dim upon the appearance of Shi Yan and Yi Tianmo. They looked as if their souls had been shackled, utterly motionless.

Inside the hall, heated arguments were ongoing, and several imposing voices frequently echoed out.

Yi Tianmo frowned slightly and said respectfully, “The strongest martial artist inside the hall is only at the Nirvana Nest Realm; they pose no threat. If Master finds them bothersome, I can silence them all.”

Shi Yan smiled and shook his head. “No need. The situation here is unclear right now; let’s not be too extreme for the moment. They are forces subordinate to the Three God Cult… The Three God Cult hasn’t participated in actions against me, and I have some connections with that faction. Do not act rashly.”

“Understood.”

“Move!”

The heavy, closed stone doors quietly swung open, and Shi Yan and Yi Tianmo slowly walked in.

Inside the hall were about ten martial artists, seated together, each wearing a gloomy expression, clearly engaged in an unpleasant discussion. Linda stood behind a slightly stout martial artist of the Nirvana Nest Realm, her head bowed, her beautiful eyes filled with indignation, her delicate body trembling slightly. Her waist-length hair was tied back with a ribbon, cascading down over her firm hips.

The moment Shi Yan entered, his gaze swept around, immediately locking onto the young woman he hadn't seen in a long while. Looking at her slightly stubborn eyes, a peculiar feeling stirred in his heart.

The heated argument in the hall instantly ceased as the sound of the stone door opening registered.

In an instant, everyone in the hall fixed their eyes on Shi Yan and Yi Tianmo, scowling with ill intent.

“Ah!”

Linda covered her mouth, her face filled with shock and disbelief as she looked at Shi Yan. Overjoyed, she hesitated for only a moment before rushing forward with unrestrained delight. “You, why are you here?”

Shi Yan chuckled lightly. “You told me to visit you at Snow Dragon Island when I had time, hehe. It just so happens I was passing by, so here I am for a look. What? Not welcoming me?”

Linda pursed her lips, her delicate body trembling slightly, her bright eyes shimmering with chaotic excitement, unsure what to say in her joy.

“Ian, who is this?” An elderly man in his fifties, with salt-and-pepper hair and dressed in a dark purple robe, impatiently snapped, glaring at the slightly stout Nirvana Nest Realm martial artist. “Your Keller family has absolutely no discipline. How can such a random youngster barge in while we are discussing important matters?”

Ian, the patriarch of the Keller family and Linda’s father, visibly changed expression at the reprimand. He looked at Shi Yan somewhat strangely and frowned. “Linda, who is this? Is he your friend? Why did he suddenly burst in?”

“Yes, he is my friend.” Flustered, Linda hastily turned to explain to the martial artists in the hall. “This is a friend I haven’t seen in a long time. I apologize to all my uncles; I will take him away immediately. Forgive me.” As she spoke, Linda kept signaling Shi Yan with her eyes, urging him to leave quickly with her.

“Wait a moment.” The martial artist who had spoken earlier waved his hand coldly, stopping them, looking at Shi Yan with displeasure. He said flatly, “Lad, did you hear our previous discussion? Also, who are you, and why are you appearing here?”

After speaking, he turned to Ian and said rudely, “If your Keller family lets people in even while we are meeting, we truly doubt what your Keller family can accomplish! Ian, don’t you think you owe us an explanation?”

The stout Ian’s face paled slightly. He shot Linda a look of reproach and suddenly asked, “Linda, who is he? Why is he in our family? What did you bring him in with? Why have I never seen him before?”

Linda was struck dumb.

“At a crucial time like this, to have some unknown boy sneak in—harrumph! He might have ill intentions; he should be apprehended immediately!” the white-haired elder commanded coldly.

Linda was startled and hastily tried to explain, “He is my friend. His method might have been inappropriate, but I know he certainly didn’t mean any harm. Uncle Wuke, please, do not press the matter further; I guarantee he won't do it again, I beg you!”

“…Hmph!” The elder named Wuke looked utterly impatient, but he turned to Ian. “You know what to do, don’t you?”

Ian gave a helpless, wry smile. “How about I first figure out exactly what happened before deciding what to do?” Saying this, Ian suddenly shouted loudly.

Not long after, a Keller family guard hurried in from outside the hall and respectfully reported, “Patriarch, what are your orders?”

“How did they get in? Why did you allow the two of them inside?” Ian pointed at Shi Yan and Yi Tianmo and inquired.

The guard froze, looking strangely at Shi Yan and Yi Tianmo, then shook his head, bewildered. “We didn't let anyone in. Haven't they always been inside the hall?” The important figures in the hall turned pale with shock, abruptly standing up, all glaring darkly at Shi Yan.

“Who exactly are you?” Wuke suddenly roared, then ordered without courtesy, “Take them down!”

Linda’s pretty face changed drastically, her anxiety overwhelming as she continuously tried to interject an explanation.

Guards from outside the hall suddenly rushed in, completely surrounding Shi Yan and Yi Tianmo, then looked towards Ian, awaiting his command.

“Linda, don’t get involved in this,” Ian said with a sigh of resignation, shaking his head slightly, then commanded, “Seize them first.”

“Master…” Yi Tianmo quietly asked from behind Shi Yan.

Shi Yan remained calm and nodded slightly, leading the way.

The guards charging forward suddenly halted as if struck by a massive blow before they could even truly approach Shi Yan and Yi Tianmo, their eyes becoming vacant.

All the important figures inside the hall were utterly stunned, staring at Shi Yan and the other in disbelief, speechless for a moment.

“Seeking death! How dare you be so arrogant on our Snow Dragon Island!”

Wuke was the first to react, letting out a sharp cry. He suddenly twisted his body, moving like a serpent, his joints emitting subtle, strange hissing sounds as he slithered toward Shi Yan.

Yi Tianmo’s eyes flickered, and a strange light instantly flashed in his grayish-white pupils. A wave of soul fluctuation, perceptible only to Wuke, suddenly rippled outward.

Wuke suddenly clutched his head, letting out an involuntary scream, blood trickling from his nostrils. His body, still emitting the strange hissing, seemed nailed to the floor, unable to move an inch further.

Ian and many others who had stood up also felt an astonishing wave suddenly permeate the hall. They felt their Sea of Consciousness violently shifting, their strength beginning to turn chaotic.

Soul Suppression!

Only an expert whose cultivation realm was at least one level higher, and who possessed exceptional soul attainment, could achieve this ability to crush lower-level opponents with sheer soul power alone, without deploying even a trace of vital essence.

Yi Tianmo was clearly such a person. Against these Nirvana Nest Realm martial artists, using the profound mystery of the Yin Mei tribe to make them obedient was, in fact, overkill.

If Shi Yan hadn't wanted to avoid a massacre, Yi Tianmo could have instantly annihilated everyone in the hall with a frenzy of soul skills based purely on spiritual power!

While Yi Tianmo’s physical body might not be as formidable as a true Divine Realm martial artist, his soul abilities were absolutely unmatched by any God-level expert in the Endless Sea!

The martial artists in the hall who had stood up noticed the shocking suppression of their realm, their faces drastically altered. They no longer dared to act rashly, watching Shi Yan with horror.

“Linda, who—who exactly is he?” Ian cried out, fear rising in his heart.

“I… I don’t really know…” Linda was momentarily stunned, hesitated, then looked up at Shi Yan and asked sincerely, “Shi Yan, who are you, really?”

PS: I feel ashamed to tell everyone that I can only manage one chapter again today. I apologize; I was busy with my pregnancy check-up—so many people there! Plus, I have a social gathering tonight. Well, I promise to make it up tomorrow…