Unless he could somehow contact Zhang Pinglu, but with the pursuers hot on their heels, making contact was utterly impossible. At this juncture, only the terrifying Illusionary Rats of Yinlong Mountain could possibly save them.

The Illusionary Rats shared the same lineage as Wuying; since they had spared them last time, they should not harm them this time either.

Zhuifeng didn't know the way, but Wuying did. With the clever Wuying guiding them, Zhuifeng was already tearing south at full tilt.

With a clear destination, Zhuifeng's speed seemed to increase. Hu Yanfeng pursued relentlessly from behind but could never close the gap.

It had to be admitted that navigating the mountain terrain was indeed advantageous for Zhang Yang and his companion's escape. Unlike open plains or grasslands where a direct line allowed Hu Yanfeng to slowly shave off distance, the rugged paths provided cover.

As one fled and the other chased, countless small creatures of the Kunlun Mountains were alarmed.

When they passed, whether it was ordinary animals or the extremely rare hidden Spirit Beasts, they were all so terrified they dared not utter a sound; the more timid ones often soiled themselves.

Zhuifeng's speed chilled them, but the powerful energy trailing behind struck deeper fear into their hearts. Spirit Beasts possess a far greater sensitivity to energy fluctuations than humans do.

One running, one chasing, time gradually slipped into the evening.

Bash County. Long Feng stood alone on the rooftop of the guesthouse, gazing toward the distant horizon.

His brow was deeply furrowed. Bash County was not far from Bawang Peak. Given Zhuifeng's incredible pace, Zhang Yang and the others should have returned that afternoon, or at the very latest, they should have arrived by now.

Yet, in the distance, there was not even a shadow of them.

Long Feng had tried calling Zhang Yang. Unfortunately, the calls would never connect. The places Zhang Yang traveled often had no signal, and even if they did, his speed would prevent him from receiving a call.

The sky gradually darkened, and a bright moon ascended into the heavens.

It was the night of the full moon, casting an intensely bright light; the sparkling starry sky looked incredibly beautiful. Regrettably, Long Feng had no appreciation for the scenery; his mind was consumed with worry about where Zhang Yang could possibly be.

He waited until ten o'clock at night. Still no sign of Zhang Yang. This planted a seed of foreboding in his heart.

After long hesitation, Long Feng decided to leave that very night. He needed to go to Bawang Peak to find Zhang Yang. As a member of the Long family, the Hu Yan family would likely not dare harm him. Reaching Bawang Peak would at least allow him to understand Zhang Yang’s current predicament.

As Long Feng set out, Zhang Yang had just cleared the Kunlun Mountain range.

Riding on Zhuifeng’s back, Zhang Yang constantly felt the energy pressing from behind, inwardly cursing under his breath.

This damned old fellow was pursuing them so relentlessly; it seemed he intended to let none of them escape, no matter what. If he managed to survive this ordeal, once he also cultivated to the Great Perfection realm, he would certainly make that man pay.

He would mark this grudge down for now, vowing to return for revenge once he became powerful enough.

The moon journeyed across the sky, and Zhuifeng continued to gallop onward at a fierce pace.

Having left the mountains, Zhuifeng stuck to terrain that was less smooth and open. Since he was unfamiliar with the routes, he occasionally swept past the edges of towns.

Fortunately, they were only small settlements, and few noticed them. Even if they were spotted, people likely dismissed it as a trick of the light or some other strange paranormal event, given how many such incidents were already attributed to inner-force cultivators.

Checking his own injuries, Zhang Yang decided to use the time on Zhuifeng's back to practice the Shattering Heaven Sword Art.

This was an incredibly miraculous sword technique that could significantly boost Zhang Yang's strength. He had a strong feeling that if he could master the second stance of the art, provided he could withstand the technique's energy output, he might not need to fear that old man Hu Yanfeng anymore.

A small ball of energy gradually coalesced at the tip of Zhang Yang’s finger.

Hu Yanfeng, chasing behind, paused briefly, then a cold sneer quickly returned to his lips.

He did not know Zhang Yang was practicing a sword technique, nor did he understand that the natural energy of heaven and earth, channeled by Zhang Yang’s Dao of Nature, was being generated through the sword art. But he understood one thing: Zhang Yang was undoubtedly practicing his skills.

"Does polishing your spear right before battle truly help?"

Hu Yanfeng uttered this lightly. The ambient energy around him increased noticeably. His leisurely demeanor stood in stark contrast to Zhuifeng’s desperate flight.

With his eyes closed, Zhang Yang moved his finger as if it were a sword, allowing the energy of heaven and earth to pour in from his fingertip. Zhang Yang discovered that this energy surprisingly aided in the recovery of his injuries.

This realization brought him great joy. At this rate, the internal wounds that should have required a month of quiet recovery would heal in less than three days.

Thinking of healing, a subtle thought moved Zhang Yang’s mind; he began controlling the energy drawn by the sword technique and directing it into Zhuifeng’s body.

If this energy was beneficial to him, perhaps it could also help Zhuifeng.

A surge of energy enveloped Zhuifeng, causing its body to tremble slightly. Its beautiful eyes also revealed a hint of surprise.

Galloping at high speed inflicted significant damage on its body. Although it had the Essence Blood Pills to sustain it, those merely enhanced its power; the physical damage had already occurred.

As this energy flowed in, it rapidly mended the areas previously damaged, making Zhuifeng feel its condition improving, perhaps even allowing it to run slightly faster.

Furthermore, the soft, gentle sensation brought by this energy made it want to let out a joyful roar of comfort.

Since the energy benefited Zhuifeng, Zhang Yang was even more delighted and increased the energy transfer.

In no time, much of the damage to Zhuifeng’s body was repaired, its hooves quickened slightly, and its speed abruptly rose once more.

At this velocity, even the fastest high-speed rail could not catch them now.

Sensing the Spirit Steed ahead suddenly increase its pace, Hu Yanfeng’s eyebrows twitched a few times. He could accelerate further, but increasing his speed would similarly cause damage to his own body.

Old beings like them, having lived over two hundred years, sustained their bodies primarily through Bigu Pills, which limited the full expression of their power. Pushing past their bodies' limits would cause irreversible harm.

This was the real reason he hadn't sped up despite having greater velocity in reserve.

He did not want to sustain damage to his body because of Zhang Yang—damage that no spiritual medicine could mend, especially since their physiology differed from ordinary people.

"Even if you can accelerate, don't think you can escape!"

Hu Yanfeng sneered again. While he didn't increase speed, he maintained pursuit in a bizarre, straight-line fashion. Whether encountering slopes or houses, he simply leaped over them, avoiding detours.

At this moment, Hu Yanfeng truly looked as if he were flying, clearing dozens of meters in a single bound, which terrified quite a few onlookers.

The clear starry sky was without a single cloud; the perfectly round moon floated above, seemingly looking down upon the earth.

The moon appeared curious about the one fleeing and the one pursuing, casting its bright light steadily upon them both... Shu Mountain, a place even more wondrous, steeped in myths.

Since ancient times, countless legends have circulated here. The five thousand years of development in Chinese civilization have endowed this area with brilliant cultural heritage.

Long ago, Shu Mountain was home to a renowned great sect that ruled the region for hundreds of years.

During that era, every place within the entire range of Shu Mountain where an inner-force cultivator resided had to obey their commands.

It was said that the Shu Mountain of that time even produced a Fifth Layer powerhouse.

A tall tree catches the wind; even possessing a Fifth Layer expert was not enough. In just a few hundred years, this powerful sect vanished, eventually dissolving completely.

Even the largest branch that eventually emerged, Emei, ultimately failed to escape the fate of annihilation.

Only after these mighty sects disappeared did the Li family gradually establish themselves here, prospering and maintaining their ancestral legacy through a different approach.

Today, Shu Mountain no longer hosts as many cultivators, but some minor ones remain, though none can compare to the Li family, which now stands as the true orthodox lineage of Shu Mountain.

Leaving Kunlun Mountain and exiting Qinghai Province, Zhang Yang soon arrived at the Shu Mountain range.

The terrain of Shu Mountain was even more challenging. Unfamiliar with the paths, Zhuifeng dared not venture too far up the slopes. There had been one instance where he ran right to the edge of a massive cliff.

Fortunately, Zhuifeng managed to change direction just in time; there was an alternative route rather than backtracking, otherwise, Hu Yanfeng would have caught them then.

Now, traversing the even more difficult roads of Shu Mountain, Zhuifeng had to be even more cautious.

Once they passed Shu Mountain and crossed the Sichuan-Chongqing area, they would reach the domain of Nanjiang. From there, they would be close to their ultimate destination: Yinlong Mountain.

"Great Elder!"

At a steep precipice within Shu Mountain, under the moonlight, Li Changfeng spoke softly to an old man with white-gray hair.

The old man regarded Li Changfeng with attention before smiling with satisfaction.

"Changfeng, you are very good, and very diligent. You have achieved another breakthrough recently, successfully entering the late Second Layer. Among the younger generation of our Li family, you are the most outstanding!"

The old man spoke slowly, appearing thoroughly pleased.

This elder was the Li family's late Fourth Layer Great Elder. Unlike the Long family's Great Elder, he had already reached the late Fourth Layer. Even if he failed to comprehend the Dao of Nature, relying on the legacy of the family Guardians would allow him to continue his Guardian status upon advancing to the Great Perfection realm.

Of course, achieving it through self-comprehension was preferable, as that would mean the Li family would simultaneously possess two Guardians, inevitably overshadowing the aging Long family.

"Thank you, Great Elder. Changfeng will certainly work even harder!"

Li Changfeng bowed slightly, and the elder smiled even wider, nodding again without restraint. "Very good. Not becoming arrogant over achievement. Changfeng, I believe you will have even greater success in the future. In the entire cultivation world, there are few young people who can compare to you; you are the future of our Li family!"

The elder's words caused Li Changfeng to pause slightly, unable to reply immediately.

The Great Elder had just emerged from secluded cultivation and was not fully aware of outside affairs; he had not heard about the Long family’s recent grand competition.

Within the Li family, he was indeed an exemplar, but placed in the context of the entire inner-force cultivation world, he was only considered average.

Not looking too far ahead, Zhang Yang, who reached the Fourth Layer at the age of twenty, was an opponent he dared not even contemplate, let alone catch up to. Long Feng, and Hua Tian of the Hua family, were also rare young talents who had broken through to the Third Layer at a very young age.

Whereas he had only just reached the late Second Layer, still far behind them.

The elder was unaware of his thoughts. Just as he was smiling, his expression suddenly changed sharply, and he stared toward the distance in alarm.

Second update. Xiao Yu has kept his promise to update continuously throughout the New Year period. If anyone has monthly tickets, please offer support; the results are pitiful! RQ