Zhang Yang’s Cold Spring Sword carried slivers of bright light. Though his time practicing swordsmanship was not long, his deep internal energy, when augmented, gave his technique considerable power. Lightning, meanwhile, continuously spewed toxic mist around the surroundings; even a Fourth Layer master like this Huyan Elder would suffer greatly inhaling it.

Lightning’s toxic mist inherited the properties of the Golden Crown Python’s vapor—even holding one’s breath was useless, as the toxins would still be absorbed through the skin.

Even if a Fourth Layer master’s deep internal energy could suppress the poison, their own strength would inevitably be greatly diminished, much like how Chase Wind’s suppression had severely impacted his own capabilities earlier.

Zhang Yang’s sword light danced ceaselessly, and the internal energy ejected from Shadowless’s mouth was also continuous. While cautiously dealing with Lightning’s toxic mist, the Huyan Elder also had to divide his attention to fend off the combined attacks of Zhang Yang and Shadowless.

Furthermore, there was Chase Wind on the side. Though Chase Wind remained still, his threat could not be ignored; the Huyan family was based in Tianshan and was intimately aware of the power of the Celestial Horse spirit beast.

The Celestial Horse was not a beast of brute strength, but the power in its hooves was immense. A single kick from those hooves would leave even a Fourth Layer master severely injured.

"Boom! Boom!"

"Crack! Crack!"

Shattered debris continuously scattered, some fragments propelled with such force that they splashed toward the Long Family servants standing nearby. Each piece of flying debris carried terrifying power; anyone struck by them would be wounded.

Many Long Family servants began to retreat, and some who had been previously stunned by the shockwaves were now regaining consciousness, vaguely following the others backward.

Long Zheng himself also backed away to the side, shaking his head and sighing mournfully.

The battle between the two men and three beasts on the stage accelerated the damage to the Martial Arts Platform. The entire stage was now a wreck; unless this platform was entirely rebuilt, it was destined for the scrap heap.

Even the ancestors who constructed this place could never have imagined that Fourth Layer masters would ever spar upon it.

"Vermin!"

The Huyan Family’s First Elder suddenly roared, his fingers tapping out in rapid succession, launching four streaks of internal energy straight toward Shadowless. Shadowless’s externalized internal energy was slow, but it posed a significant threat, forcing the Elder to constantly guard against these energy attacks.

This was unlike Zhang Yang’s Cold Spring Sword or Lightning’s toxic mist, which were visible to the naked eye, allowing for advance warning and evasion.

If he let his guard down against this raw internal energy, he could be struck. Even one solid hit from such potent energy would leave him severely weakened, if not dead.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp!"

Shadowless hopped repeatedly, chirping non-stop. Zhang Yang’s Cold Spring Sword pressed the attack again. Zhang Yang’s speed was incredible, which naturally made his sword strikes much faster; the Huyan Elder was struggling immensely to cope.

"One man and three spirit beasts combined possess the strength to contend with a Fourth Layer master. This Zhang Yang—his future potential is limitless!"

From the high platform, the Li Family Elder suddenly murmured softly. The two Long Family Elders simultaneously turned and glanced at him.

They both understood that Elder Li’s words were directed at them.

It was truly hard for them to accept that a young man in his twenties could already contend at their level, especially with three formidable spirit beasts assisting him.

Three great spirit beasts! Even during the most prosperous times of their millennia-old families, they had never had so many spirit beasts accompanying them.

If all these beasts belonged to Zhang Yang, it meant the strength of the Medical Saint Zhang Family had seen a massive uplift, effectively matching the number of experts the other families possessed.

In that scenario, the Four Great Families might genuinely see the emergence of a Fifth Great Family.

The rise of the Zhang Family had already destabilized their balance. Even the Long Family’s alliance with the Zhang Family was temporary; they couldn't control the Zhang Family, meaning their future influence would likely shrink.

"What do you mean, Brother Li?"

The Long Family’s Third Elder spoke softly. By this time, the conflict on the stage had intensified. The Huyan contingent had gathered below the platform, with the two mid-Third Layer masters staring intently at the stage, ready to intervene and assist at any moment.

Had it not been for the overwhelming strength of Zhang Yang and his companions on stage, they would have likely rushed up already.

"Second Elder Huyan alone cannot suppress this terrifying young man!"

Elder Li stated calmly, emphasizing the word "terrifying" heavily.

The two Long Family Elders remained silent. Long Haotian, standing nearby, looked slightly stunned, a hint of worry mixed with anxiety crossing his face.

He clearly grasped the implication behind Elder Li's words: Zhang Yang’s performance today was not just a threat to the Li Family but equally so to the Long Family.

"Second and Third Elders, as far as I know, Zhang Yang and our Long Feng are sworn brothers with a bond forged in life and death. Long Feng’s breakthrough to the Third Layer this time owed a great deal to Zhang Yang’s help!" Long Haotian slowly offered after a moment of thought.

Previously, Long Haotian could allow Huyan Peng and Zhang Yang to fight because they were of the same rank, making it difficult for him to intervene. Now, Elder Li’s intention was clear: Zhang Yang’s potential was too great for one Huyan Elder to handle, prompting a desire for a joint effort.

The Li Family intended to completely eliminate this future prodigy this very day. If one Fourth Layer Elder wasn't enough, they would send two, or three—or even let one perish. No matter how powerful Zhang Yang and his three spirit beasts were, they couldn't withstand so many Fourth Layer Elders.

Elder Li was trying to pull the Long Family into the conflict, or at least ensure they didn't obstruct his path.

The two Long Family Elders glanced back at Long Haotian, their expressions showing hesitation.

"Even if he has a good relationship with a younger member of the Long Family, he is ultimately a member of the Zhang Family, and he is fighting here today representing the Zhang Family!"

Elder Li smiled faintly and added softly. The battle below was growing fiercer. Although the Huyan Elder hadn't been defeated, handling the combined assault from Zhang Yang and the three spirit beasts was clearly becoming taxing, especially with Shadowless intermittently launching his externalized energy attacks, which not only consumed significant mental focus but also forced the Elder to expend internal energy to defend frequently.

Externalizing internal energy caused an even greater drain on one's reserves.

The complexions of the two Long Family Elders subtly shifted again. The disciples of the aristocratic families all believed in their own strength, and Elder Li’s words struck a chord.

No matter how close the relationship, Zhang Yang was ultimately an outsider, maintaining close ties with only Long Feng.

At twenty years old, to contend against a Fourth Layer master—who knew what he might develop into in the future?

Such a person might even break through to the legendary Fifth Layer. If that happened, the title of the Long Family’s foremost house would become impossible to maintain; the Zhang Family would inevitably rise to take their place.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The situation on the stage shifted again. Lightning’s toxic mist was almost entirely depleted. Pressed by Zhang Yang, Chase Wind, and Shadowless, the Huyan Elder was finally forced to make contact with a small amount of the mist.

Just a tiny bit, and he knew he was poisoned. This mist didn't rely on respiration; mere contact was enough to infect.

Fortunately, the dose was small; his Fourth Layer internal energy could suppress the toxins, but he could no longer fight with full force, having to divide his attention between combat and internal suppression.

He already held no clear advantage, and now the situation grew even more dire.

"Thief, die!"

A mid-Third Layer elder from the Huyan Family could no longer bear it, gripping a short sword and leaping onto the Martial Arts Platform. There was not a single intact section of the stone floor left; it was completely ruined.

If their own elder was in danger, the Huyan disciples certainly couldn't stand idly by. It wasn't just him; another disciple jumped up as well.

"No! Get back!" The Fourth Layer Elder roared suddenly.

He knew too well the combined might of Zhang Yang and the three spirit beasts. Whether it was the Fox-tailed Marten or the internal-energy-spewing rodent spirit beast, both possessed strength nearing the late-Third Layer. Added to the Celestial Horse, which was nearly late-Third Layer as well, this amounted to four great masters comparable to late-Third Layer experts.

Any one of them could easily deal with a mid-Third Layer fighter.

His warning came early, but unfortunately, it was too late.

As Lightning sprayed a fresh plume of toxic mist, it saw someone jump up and immediately let out a sharp 'squeak,' lunging like lightning toward the first person who entered the arena.

This mid-Third Layer expert was quick-witted, but he forgot one thing: the stage floor was already coated in Lightning's toxic mist in many places. Being forced back, he carelessly brushed against it.

He was only mid-Third Layer, and his internal energy could not compare to that of his family elder. The moment he was poisoned, he immediately felt something wrong. He tried to retreat instantly, but it was too late; he had been poisoned nonetheless.

Lightning’s speed surpassed even Zhang Yang’s. He only saw a white blur circle his leg once before it darted away to the side.

His legs quickly went numb, and he collapsed onto the ground.

"Take him down!"

The Huyan Elder swiped at his waist, and a soft sword suddenly appeared in his hand. Sword shadows flickered continuously, intertwining with Zhang Yang’s Cold Spring Sword.

While engaging Zhang Yang, he forcefully projected his internal energy outwards, forcing Shadowless and Lightning to ignore the two rash fools who had charged onto the stage.

The other disciple, who hadn't been poisoned, realized they were truly unable to assist on the stage. Seizing the opportunity created by their elder, he quickly dragged the unlucky poisoned comrade off the platform.

They had ascended quickly, but they descended even faster.

The battle above was utterly beyond their capacity to interfere. Once off the stage, the poisoned man immediately sat cross-legged to suppress the toxicity of Lightning’s venom.

Not only had he inhaled the mist, but he had also been bitten by Lightning. Both his legs had already turned black. The sheer potency of the poison stunned everyone watching nearby.

Seeing the fate of these two elders, the rest of the Huyan contingent dared not move again, waiting anxiously from below.

Twenty minutes later, the Huyan Family Elder suddenly roared, and the soft sword in his hand became even more ferocious. His breathing also grew somewhat ragged.

He was utilizing a divine artifact, slightly altering the predicament he was forced into. However, Zhang Yang and the three spirit beasts, leveraging their speed, continuously harried him, ceaselessly draining his internal energy.

The internal energy of a Fourth Layer expert is profoundly robust; a normal battle could last a day and night without issue. Alas, he was already poisoned and constantly using externalized energy to fend off Shadowless and Chase Wind, meaning his rate of consumption was exponentially higher than usual.

At this point, his internal energy reserves were significantly depleted.

This outcome caused the onlookers on the high platform to widen their eyes even further. Zhang Yang and the three spirit beasts, working in concert, had not only taken down a peak late-Third Layer expert but had also managed to push a Fourth Layer master to this degree.

This suggested that if Zhang Yang allied with the three spirit beasts, their combined strength already surpassed that of the peak initial Fourth Layer masters. (To be continued)