With his power utterly drained, Chu Yuntian spoke with deep sincerity. It seemed Chu Yuntian himself understood that his doom was sealed today; completely powerless now, he no longer entertained thoughts of escape.

When he had strength, he couldn't evade the pursuit of Zhuifeng and Zhang Yang, let alone now. "Good, ask!" Zhang Yang nodded slowly.

Chu Yuntian was truly detestable, having slain over a thousand people; such a devil certainly deserved death. However, words spoken on the brink of death are often sincere.

Since Chu Yuntian merely wished to ask one question before dying, Zhang Yang saw no reason to refuse, nor any need to. "I want to know, what is your actual name?" Chu Yuntian forced himself to sit up.

The internal energy in his Dantian was slowly recovering, but regaining his former strength would take far too long; his failure this time was inevitable. Zhang Yang paused, surprised that this was the question Chu Yuntian chose to ask as his last.

At the point of death, all Chu Yuntian desired to know was his name. After a moment's hesitation, Zhang Yang finally inclined his head: "From the lineage of the Medical Saint, Zhang Yang!" "So you are from the Medical Saint lineage.

Fate, it is all fate. It seems destined that your Medical Saint lineage will rise to glory again.

Dying by your hand, Chu Yuntian, is not a loss!" Chu Yuntian let out a loud laugh, his gaze oddly fixed on Zhang Yang, his words carrying a strange undercurrent that made Zhang Yang uneasy. "My Master once told me that although we cultivate the demonic path, we should minimize slaughter whenever possible, never killing without cause, lest we invite heavenly retribution.

How laughable it seems now; I treated his words as a mere joke back then. What is the demonic path if not slaughter?

Now, I finally understand what Master meant!" Chu Yuntian continued speaking to himself, looking up at the sky as if lost in memory. Zhang Yang watched him quietly, remaining silent.

"Retribution. My retribution has finally arrived.

After killing so many, I wonder how many wronged souls await me in the underworld. It is as it should be.

Down there, I will give them the chance for vengeance. From this moment forward, I shall kill no more." Chu Yuntian shook his head slowly, then turned his gaze back to Zhang Yang.

"Zhang Yang, I have one final request!" Chu Yuntian spoke, and without waiting for a reply, continued: "After I die, everything I possess goes to you. Furthermore, I will tell you a closely guarded secret location—it holds the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Eye, which produces Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk, and there is still plenty left; I only took two bottles.

This should be of great benefit to you. All of this, in exchange for one promise from you!" Chu Yuntian stated this calmly; his tone gave no hint that he was a man awaiting death.

Zhang Yang’s eyebrows twitched sharply. When Chu Yuntian had swallowed the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk earlier, Zhang Yang had already suspected he had located the Spirit Eye.

Now, Chu Yuntian had admitted it himself. The Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk held significant allure for Zhang Yang.

After a brief consideration, Zhang Yang slowly replied, "Provided it does not violate righteousness and morality, I can agree to your request!" "Hahaha. Rest assured, I will not ask you to kill anyone!" Chu Yuntian laughed heartily.

Zhang Yang felt a slight easing of tension, though his expression remained unchanged. He had genuinely feared Chu Yuntian might ask him to commit an act against heaven’s will, such as slaughtering the entire Huang family.

It wasn't impossible, as Chu Yuntian surely held great resentment towards them, given that the Huang family’s actions had led to Zhang Yang cornering him here. Of course, Zhang Yang would have dealt with him even without the Huang family—it was a mission from the system—a fact Chu Yuntian did not know.

"I only hope that after I die, you can send my body back to Mount Paro in the Southern Border and bury me at the foot of the mountain. That is my homeland; I wish to return my fallen leaves to their roots.

I want to go home." Chu Yuntian spoke softly, a hint of melancholy returning to his face. Even practitioners of internal energy possessed homes, and many respected the principle of returning fallen leaves to their roots, often settling down after reaching old age rather than wandering.

Chu Yuntian's request was not excessive. Zhang Yang looked at him deeply, and after confirming the sincerity in his eyes, he gave a slight nod.

Zhang Yang agreed to this condition. "Very good.

I will tell you the location..." Chu Yuntian's voice suddenly lowered, but Zhang Yang clearly heard the location he specified. Once finished, Chu Yuntian’s body suddenly stiffened.

His eyes stared fixedly upward, and shortly after, his head pitched heavily backward. Knowing he had no chance of survival, Chu Yuntian had chosen self-termination.

Though a man of the demonic path, he was a formidable figure with backbone; he had not begged for mercy once. Had he done so, Zhang Yang might have held him in lesser regard.

Wuying sniffed the air and nodded again. Shandian immediately leaped over, releasing a cloud of poisonous mist near Chu Yuntian before swiftly retreating.

It feared Chu Yuntian might only be feigning death, planning a final, deadly ambush. The spirit beasts were intelligent and cautious.

After watching for a moment, Zhang Yang shook his head: "He severed his heart meridian; he is truly dead!" Dead. Chu Yuntian was indeed dead.

As a descendant of the Medical Saint lineage, Zhang Yang possessed unparalleled medical skill, making it easy to distinguish true death from pretense. Wuying also let out a cry; it could no longer sense any life force from Chu Yuntian.

A powerhouse, the demonic master Chu Yuntian, had fallen just like that. Zhang Yang slowly stood up and walked over to Chu Yuntian's body.

In life, Chu Yuntian had been a demon and his enemy, but in death, he was merely a corpse. When life ends, the light goes out, and all grievances vanish.

Looking up at the sky, this battle had begun at dusk, moving from the villa to the wild construction site, then back along the pursuit route, finally concluding here. Nearly a full night had passed.

The sky was now nearing dawn; the long fight was finally over. With a soft sigh, Zhang Yang used the small amount of recovered internal energy to place Chu Yuntian's body onto Zhuifeng's back.

Zhuifeng did not refuse this time. Chu Yuntian had been its enemy, but he was also a true powerhouse.

Spirit beasts possess an inherent respect for strength, let alone for one who was deceased. Zhuifeng was willing to carry him home.

Gathering the Flame Blade and Chu Yuntian’s black satchel from the ground, Zhang Yang mounted his horse. Zhuifeng let out a soft neigh, took a step, and instantly transformed into a white blur disappearing into the distance.

This battle was over; Zhang Yang was victorious, though it was a hard-won victory. The technique he used to stimulate his potential required a long recovery period, and Zhuifeng also sustained injuries requiring a few days of rest.

However, Wuying and Shandian were completely unharmed. The two small creatures were chirping softly, clearly excited.

Regardless of the cost, they had achieved victory this time. By the lakeside villa, Long Feng sat in the living room, his composure less tranquil than it appeared.

Staring out at the sky, a fresh wave of anxiety washed over him. An entire night had passed, and there was still no news of Zhang Yang.

He had no idea what the outcome of the battle had been. Had they caught Chu Yuntian and killed him, or had the devil managed to escape?

Or perhaps Chu Yuntian’s escape was a ruse, deliberately leading them into a final, fierce confrontation still underway. In that moment, Long Feng’s mind raced through countless possibilities, fueled by worry.

Until Zhang Yang returned, he knew he would continue to fret. "Creeeeak!" The outer door suddenly opened.

Long Feng instantly stood up. Seeing Zhuifeng outside with Zhang Yang seated upon it, his heart finally settled down.

A smile of profound relief bloomed across his face. Zhang Yang was safe; that was what mattered.

All his previous fears—that Zhang Yang might have been harmed—vanished the moment Zhang Yang appeared before him. Standing up, he quickly noticed Chu Yuntian’s corpse lying across Zhuifeng.

He paused for a moment, then his smile broadened. Unable to sense any life from the body and observing its unnatural posture on the horse, he quickly understood what had happened.

This devil had finally been executed under Zhang Yang's hand. "I promised him I would return his body to his hometown.

Settle him first; I need to rest," Zhang Yang said directly to Long Feng after dismounting. He then took his belongings and headed straight for his room.

The battle that night had exhausted him, especially using the acupoint stimulation technique to unlock his potential. He was deeply fatigued and desperately needed sleep.

Long Feng nodded immediately, saying nothing. He took custody of Chu Yuntian’s body and brought it to a nearby room.

At this point, he was absolutely certain that Chu Yuntian was beyond any possibility of return to life. The feud for the hundreds of comrades from the Western Regions, and for his own cousin, was finally avenged.

Looking at Chu Yuntian’s corpse, Long Feng was filled with reflection, most of it centered on Zhang Yang. When he first met him, Zhang Yang was only at the second layer of cultivation; now, in such a short span, he possessed the strength to slay a mid-fourth layer expert.

Regardless of the method Zhang Yang employed, he had undeniably killed such a formidable figure. And Zhang Yang’s entire progression had unfolded under Long Feng’s observation.

The more he understood Zhang Yang, the more terrifying he realized the young man was. Long Feng wondered just how far Zhang Yang might ascend in the future.

The actions taken by the Long family now seemed utterly foolish in retrospect. Though his personal relationship with Zhang Yang remained strong, the relationship between the Long family and Zhang Yang had completely fractured.

Long Feng was acutely aware that Zhang Yang treated him and the Long family with clear distinction. Zhang Yang slept for a full day before waking.

His internal energy had recovered to the early stage of the second layer. Recovery was slow after using the acupoint technique, but he was certainly safe from ordinary people, though not at his peak strength.

Not to mention that he had the three great spirit beasts by his side. After waking, Zhang Yang ate a simple meal and then began sorting through the spoils of the battle.

First was the Flame Blade, ranked eighth on the Divine Weapons List. This saber was indeed as formidable as rumored, a match for his Cold Spring Sword.

In Zhang Yang’s estimation, there was no need to argue which was stronger between the sword and the saber; both were equally powerful, supreme divine weapons. Strength ultimately depended on the wielder.

Now that Zhang Yang possessed the Flame Blade, his own might was correspondingly enhanced. After securing the Flame Blade, Zhang Yang opened the black satchel, pulling out scroll after scroll of secret manuals, followed by the items the Huang family had entrusted to Chu Yuntian.

Fourth update, the fifth chapter will be released around two o’clock. Those planning to sleep early can read it tomorrow morning!

RQ