A wave of silent curses was aimed at Li Liang by many present. Beside him, Hu Yanpeng suddenly let out a laugh.

"Brother Li speaks the truth. Today is a joint effort between the Long and Zhang families. We cannot have only Long family members fighting; if the Zhang family stands idly by, what kind of alliance is that!" Hu Yanpeng said with a chuckle, having grasped Li Liang's intent and seizing the opportunity to chime in.

Li Liang's purpose was simple: to pressure Zhang Yang into stepping forward and representing the Zhang family against Hua Tian. If Hua Tian defeated Zhang Yang, a rift would certainly form between the Hua and Zhang families. Zhang Yang, being so young and having previously agreed to ally with the Long family, was viewed as a passionate youth. If Zhang Yang held a grudge against the Hua family, given the Zhang family's protective nature, it would effectively mean the entire Zhang family was at odds with the Hua family. Having their moment stolen by the Hua family had left them feeling resentful, and this was the perfect way to annoy the Huas. If Hua Tian managed to injure Zhang Yang, all the better—it would not only worsen relations between the Hua and Zhang families but also earn the resentment of Zhang Yang's elders from the Long family, as Zhang Yang had pledged allegiance to them. An injury would surely see the Zhang family direct their anger toward the Longs as well. This maneuver would simultaneously shatter the relationships between the Zhang family, the Hua family, and the Long family. Even if Hua Tian saw through their scheme and refused to fight, it would cost Li Liang and Hu Yanpeng nothing. If they didn't fight, the Zhang family’s momentum would instead overshadow the Long family. The goal was simply to cause as much vexation as possible. It had to be admitted, this Li Liang was truly a sinister individual, having considered so many angles at once.

"Me?" Zhang Yang rose, pointing to himself in surprise. Li Liang had unexpectedly turned his attention toward him.

Long Zheng and Long Haotian exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat strange. Long Feng, however, simply grinned broadly. In truth, after Long Feng's breakthrough, the Long family's reliance on Zhang Yang had lessened. Long Feng's advancement to the third layer had brought significant fortune to the Long family; losing the arena match wouldn't matter much now. This was why they hadn't mentioned Zhang Yang or planned for him to fight.

"Yes, are you perhaps afraid? If you choose to forfeit like the Long family did, then the losers this time will be both your Long and Zhang families!" Hu Yanpeng nodded, laughing, speaking even quicker than Li Liang had.

"Afraid? Why should I be afraid? Since this is a league between the Long and Zhang families, it is only right that the Zhang family sends someone to fight!" Zhang Yang smiled faintly and began walking toward the platform. Hu Yanpeng glanced at him with slight surprise before his smile widened. As he laughed, he failed to notice the disciple below giving a wry smile. Hu Yan Ao Bo was acutely aware of Zhang Yang's strength, realizing that his own elders might be hoisting themselves by their own petard this time.

Watching Zhang Yang actually step onto the martial arts stage, murmurs began to circulate among the crowd. The Long family retainers standing nearby whispered excitedly among themselves. Their excitement wasn't rooted in confidence in Zhang Yang, but rather in witnessing a genuine confrontation between the five great families. Zhang Yang stood alone, yet he represented a millennial noble house, one of only five such powers in the entire nation currently.

Zhang Yang walked slowly onto the stage, finally positioning himself before Hua Tian.

"Zhang Yang, do you step forward to fight as a representative of the Medical Sage Zhang Family?" Despite knowing Zhang Yang's intentions for stepping up, Long Zheng still asked, a faint smile playing on his lips as he did so.

Zhang Yang nodded lightly. "Since they called out the Zhang family, though the Medical Sage Zhang family is small in number, we cannot be casually disregarded. Senior Long Zheng, allow this Zhang family disciple to take this match!"

When Long Feng conceded, Zhang Yang had indeed hesitated about whether to take the stage. His primary mission in making his debut as the Zhang family heir was to uphold the prestige of the Zhang family. From the attitudes of the other houses until now, the Zhang family, due to its scarcity of members, was nearly overlooked. Zhang Yang felt it necessary and his duty to make them realize that the Zhang family was also a millennial noble house not to be slighted. Before he could decide how to proceed, Li Liang's goading words removed his dilemma. If they demanded the Zhang family send someone, then the Zhang family would send someone. As the only Zhang family disciple present, the fighter could only be him.

"Good! This match will be Zhang Yang of the Zhang family against Hua Tian of the Hua family!" Long Zheng announced loudly, then stepped aside. This was the first time that day he had announced a match not between two Long family members. He held considerable confidence in Zhang Yang, noting that defeating Long Jian in one move meant his strength couldn't be weak, and he should be capable enough to handle Hua Tian.

"Zhang Yang of the Medical Sage lineage, I have come to seek instruction!" Zhang Yang stood before Hua Tian, his expression still carrying that faint smile, clasping his fists in a slight bow.

"Hua Tian of the Hua family!" Hua Tian’s reply was much simpler. His eyes remained fixed on Zhang Yang. He had been observing Zhang Yang since he stepped onto the stage, but try as he might, Zhang Yang appeared utterly ordinary, which astonished him greatly. Anyone who could appear here and sit on the elevated platform could not possibly be ordinary, which immediately made Hua Tian more cautious.

The bout had begun. Zhang Yang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, smiling at Hua Tian, remaining utterly still for several seconds. Seeing Zhang Yang hadn't moved, Hua Tian's eyes tightened, and he quickly clenched his fists, throwing a punch toward Zhang Yang. The punch generated a sharp whooshing sound, clearly possessing considerable force. Some onlookers, unaware of the situation, began to worry for Zhang Yang. Hua Tian had already demonstrated his internal energy; he was a genuine expert at the third layer of Inner Strength. How could Zhang Yang possibly match him? Few people knew Zhang Yang's true ability; even within the Long family, only a handful did, and they had not publicized it.

The mighty punch stopped just short of Zhang Yang's face. It wasn't Hua Tian who halted it; rather, his fist was caught by a hand that had appeared out of nowhere in front of him, directly grasping Hua Tian’s blow. Hua Tian’s fist was less than ten centimeters from Zhang Yang’s head. At this proximity, he could advance no further. Not only could he not move forward, but Hua Tian was horrified to discover he couldn't even pull his fist back. His hand felt clamped by a steel vise, painfully immobilized. Soon, his face turned crimson from the strain of exerting too much power.

On the stage and around it, countless people stared blankly. Many had previously speculated on the outcome of their exchange; some were certain Zhang Yang would lose, while others who knew Zhang Yang’s strength felt he could win. Some anticipated another fierce battle, but no one expected that right at the opening clash, Hua Tian's fist would seem entirely subjugated by Zhang Yang.

"Ah!" Unable to withdraw his fist, Hua Tian roared and violently kicked out with his right leg toward Zhang Yang. However, halfway through raising his leg, it dropped abruptly. His flushed face contorted in agony, and his body bent unnaturally. He suddenly felt an immense crushing pressure on his gripped fist, as if his bones were about to snap, draining him of all strength. In such a state, how could he possibly deliver the kick?

"Aaaah~" Hua Tian’s body bent further, and he cried out again—the previous shout had been rage, but this was a genuine cry of pain. His expression betrayed his current plight.

The Hua family elders stared blankly at their kin, their faces etched with disbelief. This was Hua Tian, a master of the third layer of Inner Strength. How could he suffer so intensely just from having his fist held? Even they could not achieve such dominance over Hua Tian.

Li Liang and Hu Yanpeng were equally stunned. They began to wonder if Hua Tian had been feigning his strength earlier, as his current performance against a man barely twenty years old seemed drastically exaggerated.

Long Haotian was not as shocked as they were, but his eyes held a trace of terror. When Zhang Yang defeated Long Jian in one move previously, they could dismiss it as trickery or the use of some peculiar technique. But now, Zhang Yang had thoroughly restrained a third-layer expert. What did this imply? It meant Zhang Yang’s strength was definitely beyond the early third layer that Long Haotian had initially guessed. Zhang Yang's skill wasn't even mid-third layer; to control an early third-layer expert like this, one needed to be at least a late-stage third-layer master, and not just one who had barely broken through, but one who was stabilized, much like Long Haotian himself, who was on the verge of the next breakthrough. The moment this thought entered his mind, Long Haotian recoiled in shock. How was this possible? Zhang Yang was only about twenty years old. Within the clan, any youth reaching the second layer of Inner Strength by age twenty was commendable; a mid-second layer at that age was considered a genius worthy of intense cultivation. Late second layer? They hadn't even considered that possibility. Zhang Yang having already reached the third layer was shocking enough, and now they discovered he wasn't just in the third layer, but was a master of the late third layer… Long Haotian felt his mind reeling.

The four seated elders fared no better. Whether they were Long family elders or elders from the Hu Yan and Li families, their expressions were identical: stunned, stunned, and utterly stunned. They were indeed all at the fourth layer of Inner Strength, but they had reached that stage only in their sixties. This meant that before the age of sixty, they, too, had been late-third layer practitioners. How old was Zhang Yang? He was several times younger than them, yet he had already reached the late third layer. This nearly shattered their established worldview. In the hearts of these elders, disbelief reigned supreme.

If the elders were this affected, the ordinary disciples were entirely dumbfounded. All the young disciples stared, wide-eyed.

Suddenly, Zhang Yang released Hua Tian's hand. Hua Tian staggered backward several steps before collapsing onto his rear end on the ground. He scrambled back to his feet immediately, staring at Zhang Yang with profound fear. When Zhang Yang held his fist, Hua Tian felt an absolute sense of his life and death being controlled by the other man. Zhang Yang had planted a deep shadow in his heart.

"Brother Hua, I concede the point!" Zhang Yang gave a slight bow, his position never having shifted throughout the encounter.

"You... you are late third layer!" Hua Tian looked at Zhang Yang, his voice trembling uncontrollably. When Zhang Yang held him, Hua Tian had felt only an irresistible force; he hadn't known Zhang Yang's true rank. Like everyone else, he suspected Zhang Yang was late third layer; he hadn't dared to contemplate the fourth layer.

"Brother Hua has sharp eyes!" Zhang Yang smiled faintly and nodded lightly. Having already made his move, there was no need to conceal his strength any longer. He was fighting as the representative of the Zhang family today. Since he intended to establish the prestige of the Medical Sage Zhang family, he might as well reveal his true capabilities.

Even though he had guessed, hearing Zhang Yang confirm it personally caused Hua Tian to freeze momentarily. It wasn't just him who froze; the four highest-ranking elders, Long Haotian, and everyone on the high platform were momentarily stunned. Only Long Feng wore an unperturbed smile, being the only one truly aware of Zhang Yang's power. Zhang Yang, as a late third-layer Inner Strength practitioner, had indeed caused a massive shockwave. At this moment, Long Feng was filled with feeling. His own breakthrough to the third layer had earned him significant notice within the family, undoubtedly marking him as the foremost figure among the Long family's younger generation. But compared to Zhang Yang, he amounted to nothing, especially since Long Feng had witnessed Zhang Yang's growth step by step, giving him the deepest sense of perspective.