Huyan Peng was the second most powerful figure in the Huyan family, second only to the patriarch, and held considerable prestige within the clan. Eight years prior, his Inner Strength had already reached the late Third Level, marking him as a veteran powerhouse.

In truth, after reaching the Third Level of Inner Strength, Huyan Peng rarely engaged in direct combat. He himself had not expected to face a challenge after so many years, much less one issued by a mere twenty-year-old youth.

"Insolent whelp!"

Huyan Peng’s facial muscles trembled with rage. Zhang Yang’s casual words were a clear declaration: the Zhang family possessed not only exceptional medical skills and mastery in compounding medicine, but also formidable martial strength.

He and Li Liang were the most skeptical of Zhang Yang’s true capabilities, which was precisely why Zhang Yang had directed his challenge toward Huyan Peng, a master of the late Third Level.

"Zhang Yang, what you say has merit. However, this matter is beyond my authority to decide; I must seek the Patriarch's counsel first!"

On the training platform, Long Zheng smiled as he responded to Zhang Yang.

In reality, Zhang Yang was correct. The Long Family Grand Competition had long since morphed into a competitive challenge—a trial match where the three allied families perpetually challenged the Long family’s standing.

Nevertheless, since the competition was still framed around the Long Family Grand Competition, certain original rules were still observed, such as barring participants over the age of thirty.

For Zhang Yang to propose altering this rule now, Long Zheng internally agreed. The event was no longer a simple Long Family affair; why cling to outdated formalities? Zhang Yang possessed the strength of the late Third Level; even facing Huyan Peng, there was no cause for worry.

He had long been displeased with both Huyan Peng and Li Liang. Had the rules not constrained him, he would have issued challenges himself long ago.

Long Zheng uttered his statement using Inner Strength projection, then looked toward Long Haotian on the dais. His words were, in effect, a formal request for Long Haotian’s final decision.

Long Haotian glanced at the two elders flanking him; both nodded subtly.

The elder from the Huyan family, standing beside the Long family elders, let out a cold snort, though he remained silent and offered no judgment.

"What Zhang Yang suggests is not without reason. This is no longer purely the Long family's affair, nor is it strictly the Long Family Grand Competition. We need not adhere strictly to prior regulations. The question remains, Brother Huyan, are you willing to accept this challenge?"

Long Haotian smiled faintly, stood up, and spoke softly.

He, too, had long viewed Huyan Peng and Li Liang with disdain. Unfortunately, he could not personally intervene to discipline them. Zhang Yang now challenging Huyan Peng perfectly suited his desires.

He deliberately emphasized the words accept and challenge. If Huyan Peng refused, it would suggest he feared Zhang Yang. His phrasing carried an implicit pressure for Huyan Peng to agree.

The Huyan and Li families had been relentlessly pressuring them; now, Long Haotian finally had an opportunity to strike back.

Huyan Peng’s expression darkened further. Being challenged by a twenty-year-old was galling enough, but now the Long family was actively fueling the situation, forcing his hand.

"Brother Huyan, since the Long family has consented, perhaps you should step up and teach this boy a lesson, so he learns that not just anyone can issue a challenge!"

Li Liang smiled faintly and suddenly addressed Huyan Peng. Huyan Peng paused briefly, then shot Li Liang a fierce glare.

In this world, true allies did not exist. Zhang Yang was challenging the Huyan family, not the Li family. Having Huyan Peng step onto the stage caused no harm to the Li family.

If the Huyan family managed to injure Zhang Yang, it would sow discord between the Long and Zhang families and create lasting resentment from the Zhang family toward the Huyan clan.

Regardless of the outcome, the Li family would remain unscathed while simultaneously damaging another faction. Why not participate?

The current alliance between the Li and Huyan families existed solely to dethrone the Long family. Calling it an alliance was generous; it was merely a convergence of common goals, not a bedrock partnership.

Huyan Peng understood Li Liang’s motivations perfectly. In his shoes, he would have acted similarly. However, being manipulated made him deeply unhappy, increasing his ire toward Zhang Yang.

After a moment, Huyan Peng suppressed his anger and stood. "Though Zhang Yang is young, he represents the Medical Saint Zhang Family, a lineage spanning a thousand years. I will not refuse a challenge issued by him!"

By first emphasizing the Zhang Family's status, he intended to make it clear that he was not accepting Zhang Yang’s personal challenge, but rather the challenge of the Zhang Family itself.

A single word made all the difference: accepting a challenge from a thousand-year-old lineage was vastly preferable to accepting one from a twenty-year-old youth. He was forced into this phrasing, as avoiding Zhang Yang's challenge was no longer an option.

As he spoke, a fierce glint returned to his eyes: "However, I have one condition. Since I am responding to a challenge, I too must set terms. For this bout, life and death are irrelevant!"

Huyan Peng spoke with palpable coldness, clearly revealing his simmering fury.

Life and death irrelevant?

Many present were momentarily stunned, followed by an immediate uproar. Even the surrounding Long family servants looked astonished.

In all prior competitions, there were strict rules against lethal force or taking a life. This was meant to be a sparring match, not an engagement between sworn enemies; precautions were always taken to avoid tragic losses.

For Huyan Peng to propose life and death irrelevant was utterly unexpected.

Those on the high dais began discussing it animatedly; even some members of the Huyan family looked surprised at their elder’s declaration.

Li Liang and Hua Zheng were initially taken aback, then a slight smile touched their lips. Life and death irrelevant suited them fine; after all, this was strictly between the Huyan and Zhang families.

"Brother Huyan, this is merely a friendly spar!"

Long Haotian stepped forward, offering Huyan Peng a reminder. His condition was excessive.

"What if it is a friendly spar? Only by removing restraint can true strength be revealed. Since he dared to issue such a challenge, he must possess the courage to bear all consequences!" Huyan Peng responded coldly. Long Haotian appeared slightly surprised but quickly understood.

Huyan Peng was truly enraged, otherwise, he would not have proposed this. Knowing the Zhang family harbored Fourth Level masters, this action demonstrated a disregard for potentially offending them.

"Life and death irrelevant—agreed!"

Long Haotian was about to argue further when Zhang Yang, standing on the training platform, suddenly agreed. Long Haotian’s eyes widened even further; he wanted to speak but found himself unable to.

Zhang Yang remained standing on the platform, maintaining that faint, unchanging smile, giving no clue to his inner state.

"Good. Since you have agreed, I accept this challenge!"

Huyan Peng, already standing, began moving down as he spoke. Before he even reached the edge of the dais, he suddenly leaped from his position, which was level with the high platform.

His starting point was nearly twenty meters away from the training platform, yet he soared across the gap, landing steadily on the hard earth of the stage.

This single feat immediately demonstrated the gulf between a late Third Level grand master and the disciples who had competed previously. None of the others could accomplish such a jump.

The crowd murmured among themselves. Huyan Peng's Qinggong certainly awed many. Long Feng and Long Cheng, having returned to the dais, felt a wave of concern for Zhang Yang.

They knew Zhang Yang’s strength; if combined with Lightning Flash, Shadowless, and Gale Chaser, even Huyan Peng might not stand a chance. However, here, Zhang Yang was alone. Their power levels seemed equal, but Huyan Peng possessed decades more combat experience—an experience that could not be ignored.

"Boy, are you prepared?"

Huyan Peng, now on the platform, glared intensely at Zhang Yang. He refused to believe Zhang Yang was truly at the late Third Level, still suspecting Hua Tian had orchestrated a performance with Zhang Yang. But this performance had gone too far, targeting him directly. This time, he would certainly teach Zhang Yang a harsh lesson.

He would make Zhang Yang realize that not everyone could be offended, and the Huyan Family was no minor subsidiary to the Zhang Family; the Huyan prestige allowed no desecration.

"Old man, I have been ready for a long time!" Zhang Yang replied with a slight smile. Huyan Peng froze, his eyes turning somewhat red.

Calling him an "old man" in front of so many people only intensified the fire blazing within him. He instinctively raised his right hand, intending to deliver a sharp slap across Zhang Yang's face.

His speed was terrifying; only Long Haotian and a few others could truly track the motion. To everyone else, it was just a blur, and Huyan Peng was suddenly right in front of Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang also raised his arm, perfectly blocking Huyan Peng’s strike.

Thud!

A dull, heavy sound resonated. The two separated instantly. Huyan Peng staggered back a step, his face a mixture of shock and horror.

"Impossible! He truly is late Third Level!"

Huyan Peng blurted out the realization. In that single exchange, he understood Zhang Yang's power: late Third Level, matching him exactly, and the stability of his Inner Strength was in no way inferior.

Li Liang also froze. Hua Tian had told him Zhang Yang was late Third Level, a claim he had utterly dismissed. But Huyan Peng’s words left no room for doubt.

Huyan Peng had been forced into the fight, and his preceding words were a defense of the Huyan family’s honor; he certainly would not have held back. This could only mean Zhang Yang genuinely possessed the might of the late Third Level.

How old was he? Even if elixirs could maintain youthful looks, subtle markers like teeth and hair were impossible to disguise. They had confirmed Zhang Yang’s real age through these minute details: twenty years old, looking no older than his early twenties now.

Twenty years old, late Third Level—what a terrifying existence!

Li Liang now felt the same as Long Zheng: such a talent could not simply be called prodigious; he was a monster, the ultimate anomaly among anomalies.

A suffocating sense of frustration welled up in Li Liang’s chest. He looked at Zhang Yang, the fierce jealousy in his eyes now undeniable. At twenty, his Inner Strength cultivation surpassed Li Liang's own. He could not accept it.

He was jealous, and Huyan Peng on the stage felt the same envy.

Twenty years old, late Third Level—unheard of throughout history. He envied Zhang Yang’s youth, his rapid progress. If he reached late Third Level by twenty, would he not enter the Fourth Level within a few short years?

A Fourth Level expert in his twenties—that was a concept previously unimaginable. (To be continued)

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