Behind the barracks was a small military airfield, where two helicopters were parked. Beside the helicopters stood two vehicles, with several people waiting in front of them.

"Xiao Fang, you're here!"

As Gu Fang stepped out of the car, one of the men waiting walked over, greeting Gu Fang while simultaneously sizing up Zhang Yang from head to toe.

"Cousin, this is Doctor Zhang Yang. Whether Grandpa can be saved this time rests entirely on Dr. Zhang!"

Gu Fang approached and introduced Zhang Yang first.

"Zhang Yang, this is my cousin, Li Wei. He's a field-grade officer in the military, Air Force, and he'll be accompanying you out to sea this time. Having him along will make your search much easier!"

Gu Fang whispered to Zhang Yang, who nodded slightly, his gaze immediately fixing on the two helicopters.

Seeing the helicopters brought on a sudden, intense wave of fear in Zhang Yang's heart.

Yesterday, he had no choice but to request helicopters; traveling by air was still the fastest and best way to find the island where the Soul-Revival Herb grew. At the time, he hadn't thought much about it.

But now, facing the actual aircraft, the residual effects of the plane crash from his previous life immediately surfaced. He felt an instinctive terror toward anything flying in the sky. At that moment, he even wanted to turn and flee, his body going weak.

Zhang Yang understood this was psychological dread, something he couldn't control.

"Dr. Zhang, we truly appreciate you taking this on. Rest assured, we will unconditionally cooperate with your every need!"

Li Wei proactively extended his hand toward Zhang Yang. Only then did Zhang Yang snap back to reality.

Just as the two shook hands, someone else approached carrying two large backpacks filled with essential mountaineering gear. Zhang Yang didn't know the exact location of the Soul-Revival Herb, so even if he found the island his ancestor mentioned, he would still need to search thoroughly once there. Some tools were necessary preparations.

"Zhang Yang. I'm counting on you; you must save my grandfather!"

Gu Fang also shook Zhang Yang's hand. He would not be accompanying them this time. He would wait at the hospital for Zhang Yang's good news.

Back at the hospital, the doctors were holding an emergency consultation. Whether they agreed with Zhang Yang's treatment plan or not, the Qiao family was determined to try, leaving the doctors no choice but to comply. Furthermore, they all wanted to see if what Zhang Yang claimed was true, and if he could truly save someone deemed terminal.

"Don't worry, I will do my absolute best!"

Looking up at the helicopters, a flicker of helplessness crossed Zhang Yang's face. He hadn't considered the plane crash when making the arrangements; he hadn't thought about whether he would be flying, unaware of the intense fear lurking deep within him regarding aircraft.

However, regretting it now was too late. Traveling to the island, the fastest and most convenient method remained flying—unless he abandoned the treatment and gave up searching for the herb. If he quit, Elder Qiao's life would certainly be lost, and Gu Fang would be immensely disappointed. His Level Five mission would also fail. But those weren't the main points. Giving up this treatment meant abandoning his core conviction. To be able to save someone and choose not to because of his own fear would cast a shadow over him for the rest of his life. His medical skills, far from improving, would likely regress significantly.

"Dr. Zhang, please, after you!"

Li Wei said to Zhang Yang, noticing his hesitation and finding it somewhat strange.

"Ah, right!"

Zhang Yang managed a helpless smile, took a deep breath, and strode toward the helicopter. This time, he viewed it as a personal challenge. If he could overcome this psychological barrier, his state of mind would improve substantially, benefiting everything in his future.

"Mr. Li, Mr. Li, do we have parachutes on the helicopter?"

As Zhang Yang stood before the helicopter door, he suddenly asked. Li Wei displayed a look of astonishment.

"Dr. Zhang, you cannot parachute from a helicopter. Moreover, our pilots are highly trained. As you requested, we won't be flying aggressively; we'll stay over the sea. Please rest assured, everything will be fine!"

Li Wei explained softly. Helicopters create powerful airflow with their rotors; jumping from one would be suicidal. This was basic common knowledge, but since Zhang Yang wasn't military or Air Force personnel, asking such a question out of nervousness was understandable.

"Okay, I understand. Let's go!"

Zhang Yang took another deep breath and boarded the helicopter. A flush of red crept up his face. In his nervousness, he had just made a huge blunder by asking about parachutes—it was incredibly embarrassing.

Long Feng boarded the helicopter after him. He felt no fear, only curiosity. Shan Dian and Wu Ying's eyes darted around constantly; this was the first time these two little ones had ever been on a plane.

Once everyone was aboard, the rotor blades began to spin, and soon both helicopters lifted into the sky.

Sitting inside, Zhang Yang's mind was consumed by memories of the plane crash, as if he were reliving the entire disaster. Only after this mental replay finished did his tension ease, and he felt himself fully recover. At this point, he had thoroughly overcome the fear, conquered this inner demon, and his state of mind had taken another step forward, manifesting now as profound confidence.

Long Feng watched him with surprise. He had clearly witnessed Zhang Yang's extreme nervousness upon boarding, even secretly chuckling to himself then, never imagining Zhang Yang had something to fear. After boarding, especially once the helicopter took off, Zhang Yang grew even more tense, his hands unconsciously clenched, a fine sheen of cold sweat beading on his forehead. This tension was clearly not feigned; Zhang Yang was genuinely afraid.

But soon, Zhang Yang's tension visibly lessened. Afterward, his entire demeanor shifted; he appeared completely unconcerned and remarkably natural. As a fellow internal martial arts cultivator, Long Feng understood the significance of this transformation.

"Congratulations!"

Long Feng suddenly said to Zhang Yang. Regardless of the reason, Zhang Yang had overcome a personal demon, advancing another step in his spiritual cultivation. Cultivating one's state of mind doesn't increase internal energy (Neijin), but it solidifies one's realm, preventing recklessness. High-level internal energy cultivation demands a strong state of mind; forcing power advancement without sufficient mental foundation risks losing rationality, potentially leading to Qi deviation or even demonic possession (Zouhu Rumou). This is why many accomplished internal energy masters eventually enter the secular world to temper their minds or retreat to deep mountains for quiet cultivation, steadily raising their state of mind to match their current power level and avoid catastrophic internal imbalance.

"Thank you!"

Zhang Yang smiled faintly. Overcoming that inner demon had greatly benefited his mental state, and he felt genuinely happy. His realm was now firmly anchored at the third level of internal energy. If no accidents occurred, even if he rapidly advanced his strength later, the danger of Qi deviation would be eliminated.

Li Wei, sitting nearby, glanced at them with confusion. He couldn't understand a word of what Zhang Yang and Long Feng were saying, wondering why one was congratulating the other for no apparent reason. He didn't ask, as he wasn't close to Zhang Yang and knew certain topics shouldn't be broached casually, especially now when they relied on him.

The helicopter flew directly out of Shanghai, reaching the East China Sea, and then proceeded eastward over the ocean. The island recorded by the Zhang family ancestor should be near the Chuan Shan Archipelago. The ancestor had departed from Dinghai County, sailing out for pleasure, and encountered the Soul-Revival Herb on a small, uninhabited island. That was recorded early in the manual. Dinghai County is modern-day Chuan Shan City, the largest island in the archipelago. Zhang Yang's general search direction was set in this area.

Unfortunately, the manual's description was less detailed than modern records. The Chuan Shan Archipelago alone contains over a thousand islands, and the surrounding waters host even more, significantly complicating Zhang Yang's search.

"Dr. Zhang, that island ahead is Chuan Shan Island. As per your instructions, we will fly southeast from here. Please pay close attention, and let me know in advance if you need to land," Li Wei said softly, pointing to a large island below them. From the air, Chuan Shan Island resembled a small boat, which gave it its name. The ancestor's manual stated he sailed southeast from Dinghai County and reached the herb's island three days later. But Zhang Yang had no idea how far that actually was. The ancestor chartered a boat for leisure; he might have stopped frequently, circled around, or perhaps sailed continuously until reaching the island. This uncertainty added another layer of difficulty to the search.

The helicopter soon passed the vicinity of Chuan Shan Island, and Zhang Yang began to concentrate, watching below. The helicopter circled back every time they passed a small, barren island. Li Wei continually filmed with a camera, while the other helicopter had already moved to a different sector for aerial surveying. Li Wei filmed to ensure nothing was missed, allowing them to review footage later. He was well aware of the mission's purpose: Elder Qiao was his maternal grandfather too, and Zhang Yang was out searching for a special herb, the only thing that could save his grandfather's life. Because of this, Li Wei was exceptionally diligent and cooperative.

"Mr. Li, land on that island ahead!"

After flying for about an hour, Zhang Yang pointed to a barren island ahead. It wasn't large, and the surrounding terrain was relatively flat, matching the description in the Zhang family ancestor's records.

"Understood, landing immediately!"

After descending from the helicopter, Zhang Yang immediately walked forward. The barren island had a small hill and dense forest cover; he needed to confirm further whether this was the island his ancestor had visited.