After spending over a week at Mi Xue’s home, Zhang Yang and Mi Xue returned to Changjing, carrying the blessings of many relatives.

Having decided on an engagement, their relationship no longer needed the secrecy of the past; they could now be together completely and openly. With the engagement date fast approaching, the thought brought a sweet smile to Mi Xue’s lips.

When Zhang Yang and Mi Xue departed, Mi Zhiguo saw them off before heading to work.

Even after they had left, Mi Zhiguo couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

Yu Wensheng no longer brought up the poisoning incident at the restaurant. Instead, he arranged for someone with whom he had a very good relationship to smooth things over. Though termed "smoothing things over," it was essentially an apology.

After all, Yu Wensheng was Mi Zhiguo’s superior, and he couldn't bring himself to apologize in person.

Following Yu Wensheng’s lead, the attitudes of all the county officials, from top to bottom, had suddenly shifted. Mi Zhiguo was still slightly unaccustomed to this change.

County Party Secretary Zhou Guocheng, in particular, took the liberty of assigning Mi Zhiguo extra work when the County Magistrate was absent—a clear overstep of authority.

However, with increased workload came increased power, and amidst his busy schedule, Mi Zhiguo felt a sense of gratification.

Fortunately, he remained clear-headed and fully understood the source of this favorable turn; he did not let it make him arrogant. At least, his outward demeanor hadn't changed much from before.

Old Zhang, the owner of the computer shop in Lieshan County, opened his shop early as usual and sat inside, browsing various online chatrooms.

The current internet speed was nowhere near what it would become; he was one of the few people in that small county with a wired connection. Regrettably, the external 56K modem produced speeds so slow they were like snails compared to later broadband and fiber optics.

A minute later, a foreign chatroom finally loaded. Old Zhang’s greatest pleasure was delving into these overseas Chinese chatrooms, listening to netizens share exotic tales from abroad, which he would later relay to others to showcase his broad knowledge.

“Shi Fang?”

He looked up abruptly and saw Shi Fang standing outside the door, a travel suitcase beside him.

He suddenly remembered. Shi Fang had mentioned a few days ago that he was leaving, and judging by his appearance, Shi Fang was indeed preparing to depart.

He abandoned his casual banter with the few netizens in the chatroom and quickly stood up to go outside. Shi Fang was an eccentric person, but he had helped Old Zhang several times during his stay, and never even let him treat him to a meal.

Now that the man was leaving, it was only proper to see him off.

Before he could step out of the shop, Old Zhang paused mid-stride.

A brand-new, large Audi pulled up beside Shi Fang. Shi Fang opened the door and slid into the car, tossing his suitcase onto the back seat.

Old Zhang was an automobile enthusiast; he recognized the Mercedes Benz from before, and he also knew this new model Audi. The market price for this Audi was currently over a million yuan.

When a car worth over a million yuan picked up Shi Fang, Old Zhang’s eyes nearly popped out.

By the time he emerged, the car had vanished completely. He could only shake his head in frustration before walking into the small inn next door.

It was from the innkeeper that he confirmed Shi Fang had truly left and likely wouldn't be back anytime soon.

“Martial Uncle, I rushed over as soon as I received your message. How was your immersion training in the mortal world this time?”

The driver of the car was a young man in his early twenties. His cultivation was not low; he was already at the mid-Second Layer, not much younger than Long Feng.

Long Feng used to be inferior to him, but the current Long Feng had long since left him far behind.

“Average. This time was mainly for experience. I gained some insights, but the harvest wasn't significant!”

Shi Fang showed no joy; in fact, his expression was somewhat grave as he gazed out the window.

“Martial Uncle, you are too modest. We all believe you must have gained immensely over this year. You are the most outstanding genius from our mountain in the last century—reaching the late-Third Layer at just thirty-five! I believe you will surely break through to the Fourth Layer before you turn forty. No one under heaven can compare!”

The young driver spoke excitedly, occasionally glancing at Shi Fang with admiration.

Shi Fang’s expression tightened slightly, a bitter smile touching his lips.

He used to possess that confidence. He was only thirty-eight now, and had been in the late-Third Layer for three years. At this speed, few in the current era could match him, let alone surpass him.

In an age of diminishing resources and a deteriorating environment, achieving late-Third Layer at thirty-five was simply unimaginable.

At his current pace, he was confident of advancing to the Fourth Layer before turning forty. If he could maintain such speed, by the time he was sixty, he dared to aim for the late-Fourth Layer.

If he reached that level by that age, he would have a chance to assault the Fifth Layer—this had been his pride for so many years.

But now, that pride was gone.

Zhang Yang, a young man he had met only once, barely in his early twenties, had already broken through to the Fourth Layer. This concept was absolutely staggering.

Even though he had met him only once, Shi Fang could confirm Zhang Yang’s true age; he was certainly not like Shi Fang, who used rejuvenation elixirs to maintain the appearance of someone in their twenties.

As the car drove on, Shi Fang’s eyes suddenly sharpened.

A Mercedes Benz appeared in front of them, followed by a large Hummer. Lieshan County was small, and such a convoy immediately drew attention.

“It’s him!”

Shi Fang whispered two words. He hadn't been idle these past few days and had already investigated Zhang Yang’s identity.

“Martial Uncle, who is 'him'?”

The young driver looked back to ask, and as he turned, his expression instantly changed. He slammed on the brakes and stared forward blankly.

Just then, a crisp neigh echoed from ahead. To an ordinary person, the sound was merely pleasant, but to an inner energy cultivator, it carried a deep resonance of inner power.

This horse was definitely not ordinary.

“M-Martial Uncle, a spirit beast!”

The young man’s body trembled slightly. He glanced at Shi Fang beside him. Seeing Shi Fang’s gaze remain solemn, his own mood improved slightly.

With such a powerful Martial Uncle present, he wouldn't fear even a spirit beast.

“I know. That is a spirit beast horse, and it’s on the lead vehicle. Not only is there a spirit beast horse on that car, but also a late-Third Layer master and two other Third Layer spirit beasts!”

Shi Fang nodded slightly. His senses had been exceptionally sharp since childhood, allowing him to detect all cultivators within a fifty-meter radius.

Even those with higher cultivation could not escape his perception unless they were Guardians who had comprehended the Dao of Nature.

“A late-Third Layer master, and spirit beasts?”

The young driver looked even more astonished. He dared not drive for a moment as the Mercedes and Hummer had already pulled far ahead.

Shi Fang glanced at him but remained silent. He didn't mention that the spirit beasts on board were each as strong as he was, nor did he mention that the lead vehicle carried a Fourth Layer master. If he shared all that, he feared he would paralyze his martial nephew with fright.

Thinking of Zhang Yang, he couldn't help but sigh again.

According to his investigation, Zhang Yang was a student, still attending university, but possessed remarkable medical skills and had saved many people.

His girlfriend, the woman he was about to engage, was an ordinary person—entirely mortal.

That such a young top-tier master, whose inner energy had broken through to the Fourth Layer, was already surprising enough. What was more incomprehensible was that this Fourth Layer master intended to marry a mortal.

In the eyes of inner energy cultivators, these ordinary people of the secular world were all mortals.

He couldn't comprehend this, nor could he understand Zhang Yang’s background. His father was a high-ranking official, the provincial party secretary; his mother had passed away early. Even the most powerful officials had little connection to inner energy cultivators. He truly could not fathom how Zhang Yang’s inner energy had been cultivated.

His investigation only reached this far. He failed to uncover Zhang Yang’s lineage from the Medical Saint branch because he hadn't had enough time.

These were his puzzles, which he could only leave as mysteries for now, as he did not dare inquire.

The neigh just now had informed him that the other party had discovered them—more precisely, they had discovered his martial nephew. He practiced the sect’s most profound technique for concealing his aura; even spirit beasts wouldn't easily detect his presence.

After a while, the young man finally started the car again and continued driving away.

They soon left Lieshan County, taking a different route from Zhang Yang. They were heading toward Zhongyuan Province.

In the Hummer, Long Feng looked back at Zhui Feng and shook his head helplessly.

The neighing sound had come from Zhui Feng. The temperament of the spirit beast Celestial Horse was much like that of a child. It had sensed the inner energy cultivator in the car behind them and let out a call.

The inner energy cultivation of the person behind was very low, so it felt no worry.

After its call, it was immediately reprimanded by Shan Dian and Wu Ying, who told it not to shout so carelessly in the city, especially when it detected other inner energy cultivators, as this could easily attract trouble.

After all, spirit beast essence blood was highly attractive to many inner energy cultivators.

Zhui Feng was much larger than Shan Dian and Wu Ying, but when the two little ones criticized it, it just hung its head, whimpering occasionally with grievance. This made Long Feng want to laugh.

Long Feng didn't know what they were saying, but Zhang Yang did; they were close enough for him to sense them.

The criticism from the two little ones was correct. While their current strength feared nothing, it was better to avoid trouble if possible. Exposing themselves to other inner energy cultivators was not something to be proud of.

Fortunately, that inner energy cultivator had not followed them; if he had, he would surely have brought trouble upon himself today.

At the same time, Zhang Yang was slightly puzzled. Since inner energy cultivators were so rare, why would one venture into a small place like Lieshan County? But why they went was irrelevant to him, and he couldn't be bothered to ask.

Setting off in the morning, Zhang Yang arrived back in Changjing by noon. Although he was not from Changjing, he had some acquaintances there. For a joyous occasion like an engagement, it was proper to notify them, and he needed to make some preparations.

First chapter update, revealing yesterday's hotel call content: "Sir, would you like a massage service?" Sweating! (To be continued)