Huyan Feng caught every moment of Zhang Pinglu's hesitation. A small joy stirred within him; the main reason Zhang Pinglu was finding it difficult to decide this time was Zhang Yang's performance.

Everything has two sides. While Zhang Yang's display of energy materialization was shocking, offering the hope of advancing to the Fifth Layer, it also exposed him prematurely, making him much more dangerous than before.

"Old Man Zhang, let's settle this now. I am willing to compensate for the previous misunderstandings.

What do you say?" Taking advantage of Zhang Pinglu's indecision, Huyan Feng quickly added another line. Had it not been for Zhang Yang showing the promise of reaching the Fifth Layer, perhaps Zhang Pinglu wouldn't have hesitated at all, choosing to fight him even at the risk of injury to settle accounts.

Even if he sustained injuries, Zhang Yang could still grow up to become a Great Perfection expert later, and the Zhang family would still have its guardian. But now the situation had drastically changed.

Zhang Yang’s hope was no longer just to reach Great Perfection, but held a significant possibility of advancing to the Fifth Layer. The gap between Great Perfection and the Fifth Layer was razor-thin, yet the difference in power was immense—Huyan Feng could see this gap when he couldn't even withstand a single move from the Phantom Rat.

This was the root of Zhang Pinglu's hesitation. Growing into the Fifth Layer was an entirely different concept from achieving Great Perfection.

Zhang Yang's circumstances would become much more perilous, placing considerable pressure on him as his guardian. And all of this became a new hope for Huyan Feng.

"Old Master, he just said he wants to leave no one alive in our entire family—chickens and dogs included!" Zhang Yang suddenly spoke, the intense killing intent on him somewhat receded. But his (light, casual) words pierced Huyan Feng's heart like a sharp sword.

Zhang Yang saying this clearly signaled a refusal to reconcile. "Leave no one alive?" A cold glint flashed in Zhang Pinglu's eyes as he repeated the four words, and a surge of killing intent gradually arose from him.

He had now realized that what Huyan Feng had said earlier could also be interpreted as a threat—threatening to pay with his life to ensure Zhang Pinglu was injured. Having lived so long, Zhang Pinglu truly feared no threat.

His only concern was Zhang Yang. Zhang Yang was the hope for the Zhang family's resurgence, perhaps even its peak glory.

All his worries stemmed from Zhang Yang, fearing he could not protect this junior's growth. And now, Zhang Yang's words served as a sharp reminder.

The Great Perfection experts from other families needed vigilance, but the greatest threat truly lay with the Huyan family right before him. It was the Huyan family who hated them the most, the family most eager for revenge against Zhang Yang.

The very reason he had personally come here was to avenge Zhang Yang, ensuring no one dared to lay a finger on him. Threatened by Huyan Feng, he had almost forgotten this initial objective.

What did injury matter? He was Zhang Pinglu, a descendant of the Medical Saint lineage.

Even with irreparable damage, he could adjust his condition. If anyone still dared to court death, he wouldn't mind unleashing a massacre once more.

Hua Feitian was formidable, but so what? At worst, he would have Zhang Yang hide in Yinlong Mountain until he broke through to Great Perfection before emerging.

As for himself, the moment he became enraged, no disciple of the Hua family could withstand him. If he abandoned his status and acted without restraint in revenge, it would likely be the nightmare of any family or sect.

In truth, they should be the ones worrying. This was the real purpose behind his assault on the Huyan residence.

Once this purpose was achieved, Zhang Yang would be safest, and he could project greater deterrence to better protect him. "Old Man Zhang, are you determined to wipe out my Huyan family today?" Seeing Zhang Pinglu’s expression darken and his killing intent resurface, Huyan Feng urgently called out again.

This time, he was genuinely worried. He realized he had made a huge mistake: he had overlooked Zhang Yang, ignored Zhang Yang’s attitude.

He had almost swayed Zhang Pinglu, but one sentence from Zhang Yang changed everything. "Old Master, stop wasting words with him.

If this man lives, my Zhang family will never have peace. Old Master, if you and I join forces, dealing with him while he's injured will be much easier!" Zhang Yang added, though ever since Huyan Feng mentioned leaving no one alive, he hadn't planned on letting this man go.

Regardless of what was said, even if Zhang Pinglu hadn't intervened, he would have fought this man to the end today. He would not allow the safety of his loved ones to be jeopardized, nor would he allow them to be harmed because of him.

"Join forces?" Zhang Pinglu was briefly startled, then broke into a smile, nodding firmly: "Good. Today, you and I join forces.

First, we kill the old madman, then we slaughter the entire Huyan family!" Zhang Yang's suggestion to team up was excellent. Though Zhang Yang was only at the early stage of the Fourth Layer, he could refine Heaven and Earth energy to produce attacks typically seen from Fifth Layer experts—much like how Wuying could project inner strength while still in the Third Layer.

This attack wouldn't be enough against a true Fifth Layer expert, but it posed a considerable threat to anyone below the Fifth Layer, even Great Perfection experts. He had managed to duel Huyan Feng alone just moments ago; if they truly teamed up, Huyan Feng would fare far worse.

Zhang Pinglu was naturally placid, but being a Great Perfection expert, he had never considered joining forces with another, especially a junior of his own family. However, now, for Zhang Yang's sake, for his better development in the future, he was willing to set aside all superficial concerns and cooperate, combining his Great Perfection status with Zhang Yang to confront the severely wounded Huyan Feng.

With the decision made, Zhang Pinglu showed no further hesitation. A surge of Heaven and Earth energy gathered around him, and two massive streams of inner strength roared out.

"Shameless!" Huyan Feng began mobilizing his energy again, but the Heaven and Earth energy he gathered was clearly far less than Zhang Pinglu’s. His injuries severely impacted his strength.

He was already no match for the intact Zhang Pinglu, and now Zhang Pinglu was uniting with someone else to attack him, making Huyan Feng nearly explode with rage. Furthermore, Zhang Pinglu’s parting words—first killing the old madman, then exterminating the Huyan family—signaled that the greatest crisis for the Huyan family had truly arrived.

The moment Zhang Pinglu moved, his body blurred into an afterimage, relentlessly pounding Huyan Feng with inner strength and heavy fists. The might of the Great Perfection expert manifested once more.

Zhang Yang realized that even with his energy materialized and his strength improved, he was still no match for a Great Perfection expert in peak condition. His previous ability to fiercely battle Huyan Feng was entirely due to Huyan Feng being critically injured.

"Chh-chh!" Two streaks of silvery-white sword light flashed past Huyan Feng's arm and leg. Huyan Feng was already struggling against Zhang Pinglu head-on; now, with the highly threatening sword lights from Zhang Yang, his situation worsened.

"Jee-jee-jee!" Wuying, perched on Zhuifeng, suddenly shrieked, and Zhuifeng slowly began to move. Huyan Feng falling behind was the perfect opportunity to beat a drowning dog.

Previously, they couldn't participate, but now they had also become Fourth Layer Spirit Beasts and could offer assistance. "Squeak-squeak-squeak!" Even Lightning jumped out, shouting loudly.

Huyan Feng was too fast; it couldn't approach carelessly, only cheering from the sidelines. "Pfft!" Wuying spewed two successive upgraded blasts of inner strength.

Its inner strength was now more than ten times more potent than before; even a Great Perfection expert would suffer from being struck. These blasts also posed a genuine threat to Huyan Feng.

Zhuifeng’s body transformed into a white streak; at close range, it was impossible to see, only feeling the white shadow constantly shifting. It was looking for an opening, ready to strike the accursed fellow with its hoof if the chance arose.

It remembered Huyan Feng most vividly for the relentless chase; now was the chance for revenge. Zhang Daofeng stood nearby, wanting to help, but Huyan Feng was already quite pathetic.

Besides being grazed by Zhang Yang’s sword lights, he had been hit twice by Wuying’s inner strength and sent flying twice by the Old Master. At this stage, he wasn't needed; stepping in now might just cause trouble.

"Ancestor!" A mournful cry echoed from the distance, and a figure rapidly approached. Zhang Daofeng’s body moved, intercepting the newcomer directly.

"Zhang Daofeng, it really is you!" Seeing Zhang Daofeng before him, the running figure stopped, eyes red, grinding his teeth as he spoke, while anxiously glancing at Huyan Feng, who was being ganged up on nearby. "Huyan Ming, you and I fought thirty years ago to a draw.

Let's have another match today!" The one Zhang Daofeng intercepted was Huyan Ming. After arranging the family affairs, he sensed his Old Ancestor’s situation was precarious and rushed over, hoping for a chance to assist, only to be blocked right at the perimeter.

"The last time I didn't kill you was the thing I regret most in my life!" Huyan Ming’s gaze shifted back to Zhang Daofeng, speaking hatefully. His feud with Zhang Daofeng spanned decades, and their relationship had never been amicable.

In truth, the Zhang and Huyan families had always maintained a poor relationship. The Huyan family had never asked the Zhang family to prepare medicine for them, and there had never been any positive exchanges between the two houses.

This was also why the Huyan family had consistently targeted Zhang Yang last time. "Last time you didn't kill me?

Then I’ll give you another chance this time!" Zhang Daofeng scoffed dismissively, and his body moved. Two mid-Fourth Layer experts engaged in a separate fight nearby, and the surrounding mountains and trees once again suffered collateral damage.

Huyan Feng, standing aside, was now in dire straits. He was missing an arm, and the fingers of his remaining hand were disabled, his strength greatly diminished.

Dealing with a healthy Zhang Pinglu was already taxing; having so many helpers now made it impossible. In a short while, he sustained more serious injuries, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.

"Die!" Huyan Feng suddenly roared, his body seemingly growing larger in an instant, and his energy rapidly amplified. His remaining crippled hand slashed irregular symbols in the air, and as he drew these diagrams, a faint, foul, putrid odor emanated from his palm.

His expression turned incredibly ferocious, resembling a demon from hell. "Soul Devouring?

Huyan Feng, you actually cultivated this vicious demonic art! Aren't you afraid that all the Great Perfection experts in the world will hunt you down?" Zhang Pinglu instantly retreated a step, a look of horror flashing across his face as he shouted loudly.

Zhang Yang and Zhuifeng also sensed something wrong and quickly backed away, watching Huyan Feng from a distance, unwilling to rush the attack. We will have two chapters today first; the delayed chapter will be made up later.

I am outside, haven't rested well, too tired! RQ