After the Canaanite affair was concluded, the Soul Palace took action.

For the next month or so, Shen Wen hardly stepped outside, pouring all his energy into Alchemy.

Inside the Quiet Room, the flames of the heaven burning cauldron barely ever extinguished.

Batch after batch of Dou Ling Pill, Huangji Pill, and Break-Sect Pill were produced one after another, sorted by category, and placed into jade bottle.

Thanks to the operations of the previous Black-Corner Region auction and the channels of the Black Emperor Sect, a massive amount of medicinal ingredients were continuously delivered to Jia Nan Academy, supporting such astonishing consumption.

Otherwise, relying solely on the Snake-People Clan's own reserves, it would have been extremely difficult to gather such a variety and quantity of medicinal ingredients.

When the last batch of special healing Medicinal Pill for the Snake-People Clan was finished, Shen Wen brought two specially made jade bottle and found Su Qian.

"Elder Su, this time returning to the Central Plains, I must trouble the Academy to keep an eye on matters in the Northwest."

Shen Wen placed the jade bottle on the table and got straight to the point.

Su Qian's gaze swept over the jade bottle, and upon feeling the strange space fluctuations contained within, his heart skipped a beat: "Young Friend Shen, this is..."

"Two zong ji pill." Shen Wen's tone was calm. "This is not a reward, but a small token of my appreciation."

"I only ask that the Academy, within its capabilities, make things convenient for the Snake-People Clan remaining in the Northwest."

"There is no need to intervene in any disputes they might have; just... ensure that some blind fools do not go looking for trouble with them."

Upon hearing this, Su Qian immediately understood Shen Wen's meaning.

He was borrowing the prestige of Jia Nan Academy in this region to raise an invisible protective umbrella for the Snake-People Clan, shielding them from unnecessary harassment and probing.

As for the challenges or struggles the Snake-People Clan themselves face, the Academy need not intervene.

"Elder Shen, rest assured!" Su Qian immediately agreed solemnly and carefully put away the jade bottle. "The Snake-People Clan lives adjacent to the Academy, so we should look out for each other. I have noted this matter."

Not to mention the two zong ji pill that would make any Dou Zong tempted, Shen Wen's resolution of the Fallen Heart Flame threat for the Academy, along with the unfathomable potential and background he had displayed, made him worthy of Jia Nan Academy's full efforts to befriend him.

Su Qian was more than willing to do this favor.

Having handled this matter, Shen Wen found Xiao Yan and Yao Lao who were sparring in the back mountain of the Academy.

"Are you leaving?" Yao Lao's Soul body drifted over, his voice gentle.

Xiao Yan put away his ruler and stood still, wiping off his sweat as he looked at Shen Wen.

"Yes, matters in the Northwest are finished; it is time to return to the Central Plains." Shen Wen nodded and said to Xiao Yan, "See you in the Central Plains. The world there is vast, with many more experts, and your path lies there as well."

Xiao Yan nodded heavily, his eyes filled with anticipation for the future, but also a hint of gravity.

Shen Wen seemed to suddenly remember something; his eyebrows raised slightly, and he looked at Xiao Yan with a faint smile: "Oh right, there is something you might be interested in."

Xiao Yan was stunned: "What is it?"

"Purification Lotus Demon Flame..." Shen Wen slowly spat out the four words. Watching Xiao Yan's body instantly tense up and his eyes suddenly light up, he leisurely finished, "...remnant map."

Xiao Yan's breath hitched, and his hand gripping the xuan heavy ruler tightened involuntarily. Yao Lao's Soul fluctuations also clearly fluctuated.

"The remnant map is in my hands." Shen Wen's tone was relaxed. "If you want it, you can come find me when you reach the Central Plains. However..."

He paused, his smile carrying a hint of playfulness. "You must bring something that moves me to trade for it. Equal value, or... 'capital' that makes me feel it is worth trading."

He did not say it definitively, leaving enough space and temptation.

Watching the thoughts churning in Xiao Yan's eyes, Shen Wen stepped forward and patted his shoulder, smiling: "Work hard, young man."

"The Central Plains is not like the Northwest; if you want to get what you want, you must rely on real ability."

"Don't forget, there are people waiting for you in the Central Plains."

Xiao Yan naturally knew who he was talking about. A trace of complexity crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by determination. He nodded vigorously and said in a deep voice: "Brother Shen, see you in the Central Plains!"

Shen Wen smiled, said no more, nodded slightly to Yao Lao, and turned to leave.

He did not go to bid farewell to the students and instructors in the Academy with whom he might have had contact during this time.

For Xiao Yan, life at Jia Nan Academy might be a passionate and unforgettable chapter.

But for Shen Wen, this place was more like a waystation on his journey of training in the Northwest; some experiences might be interesting, but ultimately, they were just embellishments.

A few days later, everything was arranged properly.

Shen Wen did not disturb too many people. With Cai Lin, Cao Ying, Xiao Yi Xian, Dan Chen, Qing Lin, Zi Yan, as well as Xiong Tao, he boarded the flying boat and quietly left Jia Nan Academy.

The flying boat cut through the sky, heading towards the direction of the Jia Ma Empire, towards the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

...

The flying boat sailed steadily above the clouds.

Inside the Quiet Room, Shen Wen suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze looked calmly at an empty corner in the cabin, and he spoke: "Elder Zhao."

That space rippled slightly, like water waves.

A figure dressed in grey robes, with an aura as restrained as an abyss, slowly emerged. It was his guardian, the Dou Zun expert Zhao Kuo.

A flash of surprise crossed Zhao Kuo's eyes, which then turned into admiration: "Young Master's perception has become increasingly sharp."

Previously, although Shen Wen knew he was protecting him from the shadows, he could not accurately pinpoint his hiding place.

Now that Shen Wen's control over the space ancestral talisman was deepening, combined with his Late Stage Heavenly Realm Soul cultivation, the space concealment methods of ordinary Dou Zun like Zhao Kuo were nearly transparent to him.

"Elder Zhao, send a message to my Master," Shen Wen said directly, without pleasantries. "Matters regarding the Snake-People Clan have been handled, and I am setting off to return to the Central Plains."

Zhao Kuo nodded: "Elder Lin has already instructed that matters in the Central Plains have been generally arranged, waiting only for Young Master's return."

He paused, his expression slightly solemn. "Additionally, Elder Lin asked me to remind Young Master that regarding the matter of you clearing out the Hall of Souls strongholds in the Northwest some time ago, the Hall of Souls... seems to have caught wind of it."

Shen Wen's brows moved slightly: "Did the Pill Tower not hold them back?"

Zhao Kuo shook his head: "The Pill Tower is, after all, not a monolithic Sect, but a relatively loose Alliance organization."

"Although there are high-level resolutions, the various Families and factions below have their own agendas, making it difficult to enforce orders and completely block information."

"The Hall of Souls has been rooted in the continent for many years and has numerous ears and eyes. With branch hall after branch hall being uprooted in the Northwest, it is impossible for them to be completely unaware."

Shen Wen's eyes were calm; he was not surprised by this: "Understood."

Behind the Hall of Souls is the Hun Clan. Compared to the Pill Tower, the Hall of Souls, as an 'outsourced' organization of the Hun Clan, indeed has stronger execution.

His tone was calm but carried a chill. "I will be vigilant on the way back."

Zhao Kuo said no more, and his figure slowly faded into the Void Realm again.

A few days later, the flying boat crossed a vast distance and returned to the border of the Jia Ma Empire, over that familiar Magical Beast Mountain Range.

However, looking down from the porthole, Shen Wen couldn't help but raise his brows.

The Magical Beast Mountain Range below had changed completely.

The original landscape in his memory, with undulating mountains, towering ancient trees, and faint beast roars, now showed large swaths of traces of being organized.

In the areas near the periphery, many newly built clusters of buildings with distinct Snake-People Clan style had appeared, primarily made of mountain rock and timber, with sturdy and unique structures.

On some critical mountain passes or high points, the figures of patrolling Snake-People Clan warriors could be faintly seen.

Deep in the mountains, the originally violent Demonic Beast auras seemed to have been constrained and combed, no longer as chaotic and restless as before, but instead presenting a strange sense of order that blended with the aura of the Snake-People Clan.

Clearly, during the time Cai Lin had been away, the remaining Four Great Elders of the Snake-People Clan had not been idle.

Relying on the reputation and resources Shen Wen had left behind, plus the already formidable strength of the Snake-People Clan, they had already managed this mountain range into a new, stable base for the Snake-People Clan.

The flying boat lowered its altitude and flew towards the depths of the mountains, to that familiar valley basin from the past.

That was the core of the Snake-People Clan.