Zhang Yang looked up, surprise still lingering on his face. The Long family had a history spanning over two millennia, with eight centuries spent right here; the value of their medicinal garden must be beyond imagination.

After a moment of hesitation, Long Feng continued, "It's not just our Long family; the Li, Hua, and Huyan families all have similar medicinal gardens. It’s just that their environments don't compare to ours; the herbs don't grow as well here. Unfortunately, too few spiritual herbs mature in them. Even if our garden yields a spiritual herb ingredient that has grown for a thousand years, it’s still not enough for our needs!"

Hearing this, Zhang Yang nodded in agreement.

Cultivating rare natural treasures artificially was almost unthinkable. How could precious medicinal ingredients take a thousand years to grow so easily? Only ancient families like the Longs had even a slight hope.

Even so, the successful cultivation yields were meager. For the entire Long family, a thousand years produced only a few such plants—simply not enough for their consumption.

It could be said that spiritual herb ingredients were not the primary purpose of their gardens. For the Long family and the other great families, the most important goal was cultivating those precious hundred-year-old medicinal materials; these were the mainstream ingredients they used daily.

Even when concocting spiritual medicines, the use of these foundational herbs was indispensable.

Zhang Yang understood this clearly; once Long Feng explained, he grasped the meaning immediately.

"Zhang Yang, this courtyard is yours starting now. No one enters without your permission. Rest for a while; I will come to find you tonight!"

After escorting Zhang Yang into the room, Long Feng left immediately.

Having just returned home, he had many personal matters to attend to. Zhang Yang didn't keep him waiting, taking the opportunity after he left to thoroughly inspect his guest room.

It was a blend of ancient and modern. From the outside, it was entirely traditional architecture; these buildings were centuries old, easily qualifying as antiques.

Inside, however, there were some modern amenities: a small solar water heater, small electric lights, and battery-operated small appliances.

Everything in the Long family compound utilized solar power. The Longs were extremely dedicated to preserving this small plain, forbidding any pollution. This was their homeland, cherished fiercely by every member.

In this regard, they were far superior to the secular world outside.

After observing for a while, Zhang Yang jumped onto the [bed/platform] to sit cross-legged and meditate. The continuous travel had indeed worn him out, and a good rest was in order. He had reached the Long family now; whether they were friendly or not would have to be seen later.

The current Zhang Yang was no longer alone; he too had support behind him.

Though the Saint of Medicine lineage (Yi Sheng Zhang family) was sparse in numbers, they certainly possessed formidable experts.

Zhang Yunan was a peak Fourth-level master. If he were truly provoked into a frenzy of revenge against Zhang Yang, even a family as large as the Longs might not withstand it.

While Zhang Yang rested, several figures sat gathered in a room in the Long family's rear courtyard.

If Zhang Yang were present, he would instantly recognize Long Jiu, whom he had just defeated in a single move, along with Long Haotian and two others Zhang Yang did not know.

"You’re saying that brat from the Saint of Medicine lineage defeated you in one move?"

Long Jiu spoke slowly. As soon as he finished, a man beside him, looking about fifty years old, exclaimed loudly, his face filled with disbelief.

Long Jiu raised his head, cast him a glance, and then managed a bitter smile, "Fifth Brother, would I joke about something so humiliating?"

Shortly after Zhang Yang's return, Long Jiu had left the post to report back to the family.

Being defeated by Zhang Yang in one move was shameful, but he understood the immense significance of this news for the clan: the Saint of Medicine lineage had produced a peerless genius, reaching the Third Level of Inner Strength at merely twenty years old—what else could he be but a peerless genius?

Long Haotian’s expression turned solemn. Looking at Long Jiu, he asked softly, "Ninth Brother, since you fought him, what is his true strength?"

Long Haotian's question made Long Jiu’s expression grow even more awkward.

After a pause, he shook his head. "Patriarch, to call it a fight is generous; I didn't even have time to make a single move before he subdued me. I couldn't perceive his Inner Strength cultivation, but his speed was incredibly fast, and his Inner Strength must surpass mine. I suspect he is at the Mid Third Level!"

Long Jiu spoke, voicing the doubts in his heart.

In truth, there was one thing he dared not say: he suspected Zhang Yang was already at the Mid Third Level, perhaps even higher. But he couldn't voice that. Zhang Yang's age combined with reaching the Third Level was already terrifying; the Late Third Level was utterly unimaginable.

Their Patriarch, Long Haotian, who was over fifty, was only at the Late Third Level.

"Mid Third Level!"

Even so, the two others present sucked in a sharp breath. These two were also important members of the clan, belonging to the same generation as Long Haotian and Long Jiu.

"Patriarch, you met this person just now. Is he truly only twenty years old?"

One of them looked up at Long Haotian again. This man appeared slightly younger than Long Jiu; his name was Long Zheng. He ranked eleventh in his generation, but his cultivation had already reached the Mid Third Level, making him one of the most gifted among the second-generation Long heirs.

His true age was only forty. He had reached the Mid Third Level at thirty-eight, an achievement that garnered immense praise from the family, earning him the title of a genius rarely seen in decades.

Reaching Mid Third Level at thirty-eight was already genius level; what did Mid Third Level at twenty signify?

"He is indeed only twenty. Long Feng reported some details about his situation; he is still attending university in the secular world. How old are students attending school?"

Long Haotian nodded, his face growing grave. Though they lived in seclusion, they were not ignorant of the secular world. In fact, they had all ventured out in their youth and knew the common age of university attendees.

Mid Third Level at twenty—absolutely a genius among geniuses. If such a talent appeared in the Long family, the entire clan would be ecstatic and focus all resources on cultivating him.

But if he appeared in another family, it might not be good news for the Longs, as the great families had engaged in countless covert struggles over the millennia.

Fortunately, Zhang Yang belonged to the Saint of Medicine lineage. With its dwindling numbers, the threat they posed was somewhat smaller—though only slightly. The relationship between the Saint of Medicine lineage and them was hardly amicable.

Furthermore, every top expert wished to see such a talent nurtured within their own household.

"Twenty years old, really? Did he start cultivating in the womb? This is too bizarre!"

Long Zheng’s eyes were wide as he exclaimed. His pride suffered a significant blow; he was twice Zhang Yang's age, yet Zhang Yang’s power matched his own.

"Could it be that the Saint of Medicine lineage has an inexhaustible supply of spiritual elixirs? Did they force-feed him from childhood? Weren’t they afraid he’d burst from consuming too much?" the fifty-year-old man speculated with great surprise. He was named Long Xin, also a Mid Third Level cultivator, one of the Long family’s core powerhouses.

The Long family had numerous experts at the Third Level of Inner Strength alone; their foundation was undoubtedly much stronger than other families.

"Impossible. I know when he broke through to the Third Level. Perhaps his cultivation is still only at the early stage, and he used some secret technique unknown to us to defeat Ninth Brother in one move!"

Long Haotian spoke slowly, lowering his head in deep contemplation before saying this.

After Long Feng advanced, he had contacted Long Haotian, who then learned that Zhang Yang had also broken through, becoming a master of the Third Level of Inner Strength.

That breakthrough had occurred only six months prior. Even with a miraculous encounter, achieving successive breakthroughs in half a year was difficult; simply stabilizing an early Third Level cultivation would be considered good.

Thus, Long Haotian believed Zhang Yang was only at the early Third Level, and he had defeated the careless Long Jiu by using an alternative method, which made him seem mysterious.

"Yes, I believe that too. Reaching the Third Level makes him a genius among geniuses. Mid Third Level is impossible!" Long Zheng asserted, shaking his head after speaking. Zhang Yang reaching the Third Level was already hard to accept; Mid Third Level was simply monstrous.

It was also a subconscious refusal to admit that Zhang Yang was so powerful. Geniuses were inherently proud; hearing that someone else was stronger instinctively brought a sense of unease.

"Patriarch, why don't we summon Long Feng and ask him? That way we'll know for sure?" Long Xin suggested from the side. Long Zheng and Long Jiu both looked toward Long Haotian.

Long Feng had returned with Zhang Yang and would certainly know him well; he must know Zhang Yang's detailed situation.

Long Haotian pondered for a moment, then shook his head again. "The Family Grand Examination is starting soon. It’s best not to stir up trouble during this period. His strength is secondary now. People from the Li and Huyan families will arrive soon; dealing with them is the key priority!"

Hearing Long Haotian’s rationale, the others nodded once more.

This year's Long Family Grand Examination was originally meant to be held in private. Unexpectedly, not long ago, the Hua, Huyan, and Li families jointly visited, requesting permission to observe the Long family’s examination.

The Li family even proposed that the Four Great Families should collectively organize such an exchange platform, allowing the younger generation to compete every few years.

The Long family neither accepted nor outright refused the exchange platform idea, merely stating they would consider it seriously. However, they could not refuse the request to observe the Family Grand Examination; three families united made a direct refusal not only offensive but also made them appear petty.

The Long family understood the true intentions behind this maneuver.

This matter was likely instigated by the Li and Huyan families, pulling the Hua family in, with the goal of challenging the Long family’s position as the foremost ancient clan.

The so-called exchange platform was merely a venue to display each family’s strength.

If the Long family failed, even if they managed to cling to the title of the First Family, it would be utterly dishonorable.

The Long family was keenly aware of this, so they did not let the challengers have their way entirely. They couldn't refuse the observation request for the Grand Examination, meaning they had to treat this year’s event with unprecedented seriousness.

These four conferred, and the other three departed. Long Jiu had to return to guarding the gates, and the others needed to prepare for the Family Grand Examination.

The Long Family Grand Examination was set to formally begin in five days. The other three families were expected to arrive in two days. Zhang Yang and his group had arrived two days ahead of schedule, making Zhang Yang the very first guest.

In the evening, Long Feng arrived at Zhang Yang’s courtyard precisely on time. Here, too, he knocked first and only entered after receiving permission.

Long Haotian did not attend the dinner. Long Jian and another young man named Long Xuan represented the family. The four young men drank a considerable amount of wine; having common ground made conversation flow easily.

The Long family’s wine was not as potent as the Li family’s Monkey Wine, but it was a pure fruit wine, far sweeter and more fragrant than the harsh liquors sold on the outside market. Lightning and Shadow, the two little ones, got drunk again, and even Chasing Wind consumed quite a bit.