In the Long family's back courtyard, Long Haotian, Long Zheng, and Long Jiu stood together. Long Haotian paced intermittently, while Long Zheng’s face was etched with profound helplessness.

If only they had known this day would come, why engage in those initial actions?

The Ancestor had already given the order: they absolutely must secure Zhang Yang’s forgiveness. Old Man Zhang had an exceptionally eccentric temper, and once he stated his intention, he would certainly follow through. If Zhang Yang truly refused to forgive the Long family, they would have to find an alternative source for the Ancestor’s Bigu Pill.

“Clan Leader, Long Feng has entered Zhang Yang’s courtyard. Judging by Zhang Yang’s demeanor, he seems as friendly toward him as before!”

Long Chang, the eldest among the third-generation disciples, rushed in. Although these people hadn't shown themselves when Zhang Yang returned, they had been monitoring the situation covertly the entire time.

Zhang Yang knew these individuals existed but couldn't be bothered to pay them any mind.

“He got in, that’s good!”

Long Haotian let out a slight sigh of relief. If Long Feng could maintain his prior relationship with Zhang Yang, the hope of mending the rift between the two families and earning Zhang Yang’s pardon would be much greater.

At this moment, even Long Haotian’s old face flushed slightly. Having done something to offend someone, only to go later and apologize—such a situation would be awkward for anyone.

It was fortunate they had Long Feng; otherwise, this situation would have been far more embarrassing.

While the Long family deliberated, the same discussions were happening in the Li and Hua families.

The Li family elder sat presiding, with Li Liang and other second-generation disciples below him. Li Liang’s face also showed a hint of awkwardness; he had mocked Zhang Yang quite a bit previously.

The current Zhang Yang was a master of the fourth layer of Inner Strength. If he truly sought retribution, even with their family elder present, they might not be able to protect him.

They had clearly witnessed the fate of the Hu-Yan family elder.

“Seventh Uncle, Second Elder!”

Li Changfeng, who had been hesitating, finally stepped forward and slowly recounted his acquaintance with Zhang Yang and Long Feng.

Li Changfeng understood. The Li family had offended Zhang Yang this time, and his connection might prove useful.

After the Li family elder and Li Liang listened, they exchanged a glance, their faces alight with surprise. They hadn't expected one of their disciples to have ties with Zhang Yang. This at least provided a pivot point for easing tensions.

“Bring all ten jars of Monkey Wine we brought this time. Prepare another ten jars for later. Changfeng, you will accompany me to Zhang Yang’s place shortly!”

The Li family elder quickly made his decision. They absolutely had to reconcile with Zhang Yang, and reconciliation required generosity. After all, they were the ones who erred first.

Twenty jars of Monkey Wine represented the Li family's annual yield. Although the cost stung, cultivating a good relationship with Zhang Yang was worthwhile. With the Li family's accumulated resources over many years, twenty jars could certainly be produced.

This was the entire Li family’s contribution, not just Li Changfeng’s personal offering; Li Changfeng himself could have managed four jars, let alone the entire clan.

An identical scene unfolded at the Hua family.

The Hua family was not as tense as the Li family. Only Hua Tian had clashed with Zhang Yang that day, but it was a fair contest, and they had already conceded, causing no offense through any verbal jab.

The Hua family could only sigh in astonishment. They had expected a genius like Hua Tian to stabilize the standing of the other three major families, but Zhang Yang’s appearance instantly eclipsed Hua Tian.

Long Feng did not stay long at Zhang Yang’s residence. After sharing a few drinks and expressing his sentiments, he took his leave.

He needed to communicate with his clansmen to arrange for others to deliver a proper apology, one carrying sufficient sincerity. This time, the Long family was expected to suffer a significant financial blow.

No sooner had he left than Li Changfeng arrived with the Li family elder.

Twenty minutes later, Li Changfeng and the elder departed Zhang Yang’s courtyard, both wearing slight smiles.

Their expressions clearly indicated that their objective for the visit had been achieved.

The objective was met, yet the Li family elder couldn't help wincing slightly when he recalled the promises made just moments ago.

The Monkey Wine had escalated from twenty jars to forty, supplemented by an addition of rare medicinal herbs from Mount Shu. Only then did Zhang Yang show a genuine smile.

The value of these provisions surpassed that of several Divine Weapons; even the Li family elder felt a pang of reluctance.

However, he understood even more clearly what it meant to incur Zhang Yang’s lasting resentment. Their actions today gave Zhang Yang every justification to act against them in any manner. Even with the Ancestor protecting the core family, the disciples outside would suffer entirely.

This was just the immediate concern. Zhang Yang was so young and powerful, even summoning the Zhang family’s Guardian. When the Zhang family matured in the future, this would pose an even greater threat to the Li family.

To completely mend the relationship, the Li family had no choice but to bleed this one time.

Forty jars of Monkey Wine was nearly half of the family’s reserves. They would likely have to curb any lavish gifts of Monkey Wine for the next few years and focus on replenishment, as Monkey Wine was the Li family’s most valuable diplomatic tool.

And those precious medicinal herbs, each over a century old, could be used to concoct numerous valuable finished elixirs. Now, they had to hand them over to Zhang Yang in exchange for his forgiveness.

Seeing Li Changfeng and his group off, Zhang Yang also smiled.

Since the Li family was willing to reconcile, he held no objection. He could have eliminated many in the Li family, but he was not an isolated entity; he still had connections in the secular world.

If he pushed the Li family too far, his relatives in the mortal realm could face retaliation.

Now that the Li family had proactively apologized, Zhang Yang accepted the truce smoothly. However, he certainly wouldn't let such an opportunity pass by. Having lived two lives, it would be foolish to miss out on such a gain.

Forty jars of Monkey Wine, plus dozens of precious medicinal herbs he required—this haul was substantial indeed.

As soon as the Li family departed, the Hua family arrived.

The Hua family also brought precious gifts, but Zhang Yang’s attitude toward them was significantly better than toward the Li family; he held no genuine enmity with the Hua family.

Moreover, he had learned from Zhang Pinglu that the Hua family also possessed a Guardian, one they had cultivated themselves. The future potential of the Hua family was equally vast.

The Hua delegation left after presenting their gifts, satisfied with Zhang Yang’s amiable reception.

Regardless, Zhang Yang was now a top-tier master at the level of a Fourth Layer Elder. Their reception was rather flattering, leaving them feeling slightly overwhelmed by the honor.

Especially Hua Tian, who had been unconvinced by his earlier defeat by Zhang Yang. Now, seeing Zhang Yang smile at him, he felt a surge of emotion; Zhang Yang’s status had completely transformed in his heart.

The last to arrive was the Long family.

Three members of the Long family came this time: Long Haotian himself, accompanied by Long Zheng and Long Jiu.

Having received Long Feng’s report, Long Haotian finally decided to come in person. They had indeed overstepped this time. Zhang Yang had helped them, yet they harbored malicious thoughts because Zhang Yang was not one of their own.

Anyone in their position would not offer forgiveness. A person of significant status needed to intervene.

As Clan Leader, no one was more suitable than Long Haotian. Furthermore, Zhang Yang was now a Fourth Layer expert; sending an ordinary person might mean the conflict could never be resolved.

If the three elders had not all been absent, Long Haotian would have brought one along as well.

Long Zheng had a somewhat better standing with Zhang Yang, and Long Jiu accompanied them to specifically apologize for the prior incident, resolving the minor friction that existed between them.

The three Long family members sat with Zhang Yang for a full hour before finally leaving.

When they emerged, smiles graced their faces, but they were smiles tinged with resignation.

As soon as they left, the disciples from the Li and Hua families returned to report. Unbeknownst to them, the newly resurgent Zhang family was now completely regarded with serious attention, their every move scrutinized.

The Long family finally secured Zhang Yang’s forgiveness, but the price paid was substantial, even greater than the Li family’s sacrifice.

Their transgression was different; theirs was an act of biting the hand that fed them. Had it been anyone else, even without forgiveness, they would have been powerless.

This time, if not for Long Feng’s mediation, Zhang Yang truly had no intention of letting the Long family off so easily.

Stabbing an ally in the back created a hatred that far exceeded that for an open enemy. From the moment Long Haotian and the others entered, Zhang Yang showed them no warm reception. Only after the Long family suffered a massive financial depletion did Zhang Yang relent slightly.

However, it was only a slight yielding; restoring their relationship to its previous state was utterly impossible.

“Clan Leader, we lost out heavily this time!”

Upon leaving, Long Zheng couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. To secure Zhang Yang’s pardon, the Long family had genuinely bled profusely.

Three hundred assorted rare medicinal herbs, most over a hundred years old; even those not a century old were exceedingly scarce and precious items.

There were three Heavenly Treasures—items rare enough to concoct Elixirs, objects capable of creating new spiritual medicines. They could almost be considered Elixirs themselves.

In addition to these were several Divine Weapons and ample materials for forging them—the Long family’s reserves spanning a millennium. A significant portion had been released this time.

While the items were invaluable, they were still static assets. Without the Bigu Pill, the Long family was facing an imminent, critical crisis.

To fulfill the Ancestor's mission, the Long family had to endure this bleeding, and do so willingly. To gather these required items for Zhang Yang, they likely had to dip into the resources of their own medicinal gardens.

At this moment, Long Haotian and the others finally understood the true taste of regret.

After seeing everyone off, dusk was beginning to settle. Returning to his room, Zhang Yang smiled faintly.

During his visit to the Long family, he had pondered many things, even considering resolving the past misunderstanding with them, but he hadn't anticipated this outcome.

The previous conflict regarding the Zhang family at Hua Tuo Ju was also completely resolved; the Long family, burdened by guilt, naturally wouldn't press such a minor issue.

In that sense, Zhang Yang’s gains from this trip to the Long family completely exceeded his expectations.

Putting aside the vast treasures, the breakthrough to the fourth layer of Inner Strength was his most unexpected reward.

Without absorbing the Inner Strength from the Hu-Yan family elder, relying solely on his own cultivation, Zhang Yang would have needed considerable time to achieve a breakthrough, even with elixirs. Advancing from the third layer to the fourth was by no means simple.