Long Feng’s apprehension was natural; facing a powerful opponent instinctively sapped one’s confidence.

Zhang Yang offered no explanation, simply telling Long Feng, “I need a secluded location where I can set things up.

It can’t be too far from Hangcheng, and it must be a place where any significant commotion won’t alert anyone.

Can you find such a spot?” “No problem!” Long Feng pondered for a moment, then nodded decisively.

Long Feng wasn’t intimately familiar with Hangcheng, but that wasn't an issue; the Long family surely had branches there who could assist.

Zhang Yang rose, producing a jade vial and handing it to Long Feng.

“Then this task falls to you.

Time is pressing; you must find this place today.

Once you’ve found it, return immediately and consume this spirit medicine!” “Understood!” Long Feng took the vial and stood up straight away.

He understood the gravity of the impending fight.

Since Zhang Yang required a location, he needed to prepare early, and he grasped the intent behind Zhang Yang’s request to some degree.

Preparing the location beforehand was akin to setting a trap in advance; even a powerhouse at the mid-Fourth Layer, if caught unaware, would suffer a loss, perhaps a serious one.

Of course, this trap wouldn't be some common pit or spike setup.

To counter a Fourth Layer expert, a specialized approach was necessary—something only Zhang Yang, also a Fourth Layer master, could devise.

He understood that if such a mechanism were properly deployed, it would serve Zhang Yang immensely, which was why he left without delay.

The sooner this place was secured, the better.

After Long Feng departed, Zhang Yang immediately took Zhuifeng and the others with him.

Since there was no one at home, he had to bring them along when he went out.

He was gone for the entire afternoon and only returned that evening, laden with a pile of purchased goods.

Before his return, Long Feng was already back.

“The place has been secured.

It’s an unfinished resort complex.

It’s somewhat remote, but there’s no one within a ten-mile radius.

I’ve already had the workers all removed.

Not a single one remains!” Long Feng delivered this news, dropped a map, and immediately retreated to his room.

Once inside, he swiftly swallowed the Essence Blood Pill.

He knew clearly that his current strength was the weakest; to aid Zhang Yang in the battle, he needed to elevate his power as quickly as possible.

An Essence Blood Pill derived from a Fourth Layer spirit beast was of maximum benefit to him; even in a short time, it would significantly boost his internal energy and enhance his combat prowess...

By the shores of West Lake in Hangcheng, the night breeze blew softly, suffusing the lakeside with a delicate, mesmerizing fragrance of fresh water.

A solitary figure moved slowly along the water’s edge.

This person appeared to be around forty years old, not particularly tall, perhaps 1.73 meters, clad in a black trench coat and sporting gold-rimmed glasses.

At first glance, this man seemed either a well-read scholar, a senior executive from a major corporation, or perhaps a mid-level official.

After walking for a while, he paused by the water, gazing at the bright reflection of the moon on the lake.

The moonlight tonight was exceptional, rendering the evening even more beautiful.

After observing the surface for a time, he tilted his head up toward Leifeng Pagoda.

“What was the nature of that energy fluctuation here a few days ago?” He murmured softly to himself.

If one looked closely at this moment, they would notice his eyes had shifted to a blood-red hue, laced with a homicidal intent.

This man was Chu Yuntian.

Chu Yuntian, a notorious powerhouse of the Demonic Path, had not actually been in Hangcheng previously, but in a city near it.

He had been cultivating when he suddenly sensed an extremely powerful energy surge emanating from the direction of Hangcheng.

Even though he was outside the city, the fluctuation reached him; its intensity could only be imagined.

At that moment, he immediately set out for Hangcheng, eventually narrowing the source of the energy waves to the entire West Lake area, though the precise location remained elusive.

In truth, he already sensed that the root of the disturbance lay near Leifeng Pagoda.

However, Leifeng Pagoda had been crowded with people for the past few days, including many military personnel.

He had sneaked in once, found nothing, and retreated, never returning.

He was a man of the Demonic Path—ruthless and cruel—but not a fool.

If he were to start slaughtering soldiers wantonly in Hangcheng, it would inevitably cause massive repercussions, sure to be noticed by the Inner Strength families and sects.

If they learned of the existence of such a fiend among them, the old guards of these factions would likely unite immediately to hunt him down, refusing to rest until he was dead.

These people were certainly capable of such a unified effort; they never concerned themselves with fighting fair or numbers.

If faced one-on-one, he feared none of them, but in a group assault, he would have no choice but to flee.

Worse, if he accidentally alerted one of those ancient, tenacious guardians, he would truly be in deep trouble; he was acutely aware of how formidable those old masters were.

Therefore, he could not act without restraint.

Slaughtering the Huang family was different from killing soldiers.

The Huang family had once been an Inner Strength lineage, and although they were no longer one, they retained many of the habits of such clans.

Furthermore, they possessed something that was of immense use to him.

Especially the secret treatise on how to break through to the Fifth Layer—he considered it a priceless treasure.

He had never imagined there existed a different path to reaching the Fifth Layer.

The Fifth Layer! If he could break through, he would undoubtedly be the foremost figure of his generation, capable then of wiping out these Inner Strength families and sects.

It was infuriating that the Huang family dared to conceal the most crucial part of the knowledge.

If he hadn't feared alerting other Inner Strength cultivators, he would have already annihilated the entire Huang lineage, leaving not a soul alive.

Despite his refined, scholarly appearance, he had committed massacres multiple times, his hands stained with untold amounts of blood.

If the vengeful spirits trailing behind him were to line up, their queue might stretch beyond the confines of Hangcheng.

“When I obtain that vital component, that will be the day your entire family perishes!” Looking towards Leifeng Pagoda, a cold glint flashed in his eyes again.

He clenched his fist so tightly that his palm and head instantly changed color, becoming eerily, profoundly crimson.

If anyone were to witness this transformation, they would likely faint on the spot, believing they had encountered a ghost.

After standing by the West Lake for a while longer, he slowly departed.

Finally, he settled into a BMW parked by the roadside and sped away.

Although Chu Yuntian’s cultivation was high, he was not overly old.

He could accept and utilize many modern conveniences.

The car rapidly disappeared, heading in the exact opposite direction from where Zhang Yang resided.

Zhang Yang was unaware that Chu Yuntian had recently been separated from him by only a lake, just as Chu Yuntian didn't know that nearby, someone was plotting his demise.

“Mr.

Zhang!” Zhang Yang opened the villa gate.

Standing outside were two women, next to a yellow sports car.

“What brings you here?” Zhang Yang’s eyebrows arched slightly.

The visitors were Huang Jing and Ren Lijuan.

Huang Jing looked utterly fragile and pitiable, while Ren Lijuan appeared somewhat annoyed.

“And you dare ask? Did you trouble Sister Jing? How did she end up like this?” Ren Lijuan immediately demanded.

Today, Huang Jing had sought her out, asking her to accompany her to see Zhang Yang.

At the time, Ren Lijuan had been perplexed.

When Huang Jing made her requests, she seemed infused with fear, yet showed an unusual reverence toward Zhang Yang, along with an emotion Ren Lijuan had never seen before.

This baffled her, and she had inquired, but Huang Jing refused to explain, only pleading for her company.

Receiving no answers from Huang Jing, Ren Lijuan concluded she must find the truth at Zhang Yang’s residence, thus agreeing to accompany Huang Jing, leading to the interrogation just now.

“Lijuan, don't speak nonsense.

No, Mr.

Zhang did nothing to trouble me.

We are the ones who wronged Zhang Yang!” Ren Lijuan’s words startled Huang Jing, who hastily grabbed her and spoke loudly.

The family had finally reached a consensus, pinning all their hopes on Zhang Yang.

There had been opposition—some wanted to hand the item over to Chu Yuntian, hoping he would spare them.

But those holding this view were few, consisting only of the most intensely cowardly members.

Any intelligent person understood that a fiend like Chu Yuntian would never let them go.

One only needed to observe his methods; he spared not even servants or bodyguards, so how could he possibly spare the main family? “Then why are you like this, Sister Jing? Don't be afraid, I will stand up for you!” Ren Lijuan shook her head, then shot a glare at Zhang Yang, as if Zhang Yang’s bullying was the cause of Huang Jing’s drastic change.

As she spoke, Ren Lijuan couldn't help but survey Zhang Yang’s living situation.

This was the premier villa district by the lake, and the house Zhang Yang occupied was far from small; it ranked among the upper tier in the vicinity.

Acquiring such a property here was no easy feat currently.

This indicated that Zhang Yang hadn't lied about his words; he genuinely wasn't short of money.

“Lijuan, please, stop that.

I’ll be angry if you continue.

Mr.

Zhang truly didn’t trouble me!” Huang Jing called out again, genuinely agitated this time, even regretting bringing Ren Lijuan along.

She had brought Ren Lijuan as per her family’s wishes; as classmates, their bond was naturally much closer, and having a familiar face would help smooth over relations.

“Fine, I won’t say anything more!” Ren Lijuan sighed helplessly, then turned back to cast a final glare at Zhang Yang, seemingly convinced that Huang Jing’s condition was Zhang Yang’s responsibility.

“Miss Huang, what brings you here so late?” Zhang Yang offered a faint smile, shaking his head slightly, and inquired of Huang Jing.

“N-nothing really.

Just wanted to ask if Mr.

Zhang needs anything.

Please instruct us if you require anything.

And we have the item you wanted here!” Huang Jing held a box in her hand and quickly handed it over to Zhang Yang.

This box contained the very item Chu Yuntian had demanded the Huang family deliver within three days—the missing, most crucial segment of the secret treatise on ascending to the Fifth Layer.

“Very well, I will keep this.

Rest assured, I will keep my word.

If there is nothing else, you should return; it is very late.” Zhang Yang took the box without opening it, standing there and speaking softly.

Huang Jing dared not speak further, nodding before preparing to leave, though Ren Lijuan remained with wide, staring eyes.

Today’s return journey—from Zhuhai and Guangzhou to Zhengzhou—was shared, so they left early.

The flight was delayed, and then they were stuck in traffic tonight.

In short, the entire day was utterly miserable.

Posting one chapter first; I’ll eat something and then return to write more, allowing me to catch up on deficits tomorrow! (To be continued) RQ