Despite previous worries and the myriad possibilities they had imagined, Zhang Pinglu and Zhang Yanan immediately felt a wave of calm wash over them upon seeing that Zhang Yang was unharmed.

They had intended to press him with a few questions, but seeing Zhang Yang's demeanor, the words caught in their throats. For them, Zhang Yang standing there, perfectly fine, was already the best outcome they could have envisioned.

With their hearts settled, nothing else seemed to matter.

"Yangyang, you?"

After studying Zhang Yang for a moment, Zhang Pinglu’s eyes suddenly widened, staring in utter disbelief.

He was, after all, at the Great Perfection stage. His earlier confusion had stemmed from concern, but now he sensed something distinctly off about Zhang Yang.

As for Zhang Yanan, he only felt that Zhang Yang seemed changed somehow, though he couldn't pinpoint the exact reason for the shift or the nature of the transformation.

Zhang Pinglu suddenly reached out, grasping Zhang Yang’s arm.

Zhuifeng and Wuying slowly trotted over as well. The two little ones were still quite joyful, excited about Lightning’s breakthrough.

They felt a touch of envy—Lightning's majestic advancement made them a little jealous—but this did not affect their bond. The affection between spirit beasts was purer. The three youngsters hadn't been together for long, and they had been anxious when Lightning hadn't yet advanced. Now that Lightning, like them, had become a Fourth Tier spirit beast, they offered their genuine blessings and happiness.

"Mid Fourth Tier, and it seems much more stable. You've worked hard these past few days, achieving significant progress, but this still isn't right?"

Zhang Pinglu held Zhang Yang’s arm, his brow deeply furrowed.

He sensed a profound familiarity emanating from Zhang Yang. This was the mutual resonance between Great Perfection experts, which was why he had seized Zhang Yang's arm to directly probe his current strength.

He found that Zhang Yang had indeed improved, but the progress was limited; he was still at the Mid Fourth Tier.

At the Mid Fourth Tier, advancing through each subsequent step was difficult. This wasn't due to slow cultivation on Zhang Yang's part. Rather, his body needed time to gradually assimilate the power, much like a river that can hold a great volume of water, but too much will cause it to overflow and flood.

Zhang Yang was currently constrained by his physical limits, forcing a gradual progression.

However, his cultivation speed far surpassed that of ordinary Mid Fourth Tier cultivators. His realm had already reached the Great Perfection level; with the aid of that attainment, his cultivation speed was more than double that of a normal Fourth Tier practitioner.

"Old Master, is something wrong?"

Zhang Yanan asked curiously. His uncle, who was originally stronger than Zhang Yang, was now being surpassed by his nephew. Zhang Yang had reached the Mid Fourth Tier, while he himself was still in the initial stage, which greatly frustrated him.

"Yangyang, have you gained some new insight?"

Zhang Pinglu gently shook his head, not answering Zhang Yanan, and asked Zhang Yang again.

He was growing increasingly bewildered. Zhang Yang's cultivation level was only Mid Fourth Tier; he shouldn't give off the aura of a Great Perfection expert, yet that was precisely the feeling he projected. The sensation was profoundly awkward.

"I did gain something!"

Zhang Yang smiled and nodded. His raw power hadn't advanced, but his realm certainly had. There was no way the current Zhang Pinglu could track him by stealth using the Way of Nature anymore.

Having also achieved a skilled mastery over the Way of Nature, Zhang Yang could now fully see through such attempts.

The mutual sensing between Great Perfection masters was precisely the Way of Nature. However, this perception was only detectable at close range, face-to-face.

"Just 'something'?"

Zhang Pinglu shook his head again, his confusion deepening. Seeing his expression, Zhang Yang's smile broadened even more brilliantly.

Zhang Yang removed the items he was carrying and placed them on Zhuifeng’s back. He then turned back to Zhang Pinglu and laughed, "Old Master, care for a few exchanges?"

"A few exchanges?"

Zhang Yanan exclaimed, staring at Zhang Yang with disbelief.

He knew Zhang Yang possessed the ability to materialize energy and had even slain Hu Yanfeng. However, at that time, Hu Yanfeng was a severely injured Great Perfection expert, and the victory had been achieved with Zhang Pinglu's assistance in the fight.

No matter how formidable Zhang Yang was, he was considered peerless at his own level. Zhang Yanan never imagined he could truly contend with a Great Perfection master. Now, for Zhang Yang to suggest a friendly spar seemed like asking for a beating. Against a Great Perfection expert, even a late Fourth Tier powerhouse stood no chance.

"Good!"

To Zhang Yanan's astonishment, Zhang Pinglu actually agreed. Moreover, as soon as he spoke, his figure vanished, launching the first strike.

Zhang Yanan’s mouth slowly dropped open. It was one thing for the Old Master to agree; it was another entirely for him to disregard his status and launch a sneak attack, which surprised Zhang Yanan even more than when Zhang Yang had issued the challenge earlier.

This was the Old Master, a powerhouse at the Great Perfection level!

Even if their Zhang family cared little for mundane conventions and everyone possessed a self-willed nature, stooping so low as to attack a junior—one of their own juniors—was excessive. If they hadn't been alone, Zhang Yanan felt he might have blushed with embarrassment.

But soon, he forgot about blushing, his mouth gaping even wider.

Zhang Pinglu’s surprise attack had indeed thrown Zhang Yang into momentary disarray, but that was all. Zhang Yang managed to block Zhang Pinglu’s assault, parrying every move, matching him blow for blow.

Neither of them moved swiftly; their exchange resembled a sparring session between low-level cultivators at the first layer of Inner Strength.

However, with every strike and every stance, they stirred significant amounts of Heaven and Earth Energy. A faint, pale white mist enveloped Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang was fighting the Old Master to a standstill?

This was utterly unbelievable to Zhang Yanan. Especially since the Old Master had just stated that Zhang Yang had only made minor progress and hadn't broken through. Yet, the current Zhang Yang was engaged in an inextricable battle with him.

By this feat alone, Zhang Yang was reason enough to be proud among all Fourth Tier experts; even a late Fourth Tier expert could not achieve this parity.

As Zhang Yang and Zhang Pinglu continued to trade blows, Zhang Pinglu’s eyes widened further.

Facing Zhang Yang, he felt as though he were fighting an equal. More than that, Zhang Yang was employing the genuine Way of Nature—Heaven and Earth Energy under his own command, rather than the borrowed energy he utilized before via the Fifth Tier Sword Techniques.

Both involved Heaven and Earth Energy, but the difference in control meant a vast disparity in power. The previous Zhang Yang had amazed Zhang Pinglu, who had remained confident he could still defeat him—just like Hu Yanfeng. Even when Zhang Yang could manipulate Heaven and Earth Energy, Hu Yanfeng felt no apprehension.

Now, everything had changed. Zhang Yang achieving this meant he possessed the same means as a Great Perfection master, and consequently, all the associated capabilities. With such power, did that not imply Zhang Yang was a Great Perfection master?

A Great Perfection master at the Mid Fourth Tier? This was unheard of.

Gradually, Zhang Pinglu noticed a subtle difference. The Heaven and Earth Energy Zhang Yang could control was less than his own; there was a clear disparity in quantity.

However, the purity of the energy Zhang Yang controlled was higher than his own, compensating for the quantitative deficit. The current Zhang Yang was such that even Zhang Pinglu could not guarantee an easy victory.

"Stop, hold! Yangyang, have you truly advanced to Great Perfection?"

A few minutes later, Zhang Pinglu suddenly stepped back, shouting aloud. His expression held a hint of astonishment, but it was overshadowed by joy—even bordering on ecstasy.

He had confirmed it with his own senses: Zhang Yang was now a Great Perfection master.

"Great Perfection?"

Zhang Yanan felt his brain might short-circuit. Zhang Yang's rapid advancement to the Fourth Tier had already shocked him; he recalled that Zhang Yang had advanced to the late Third Tier while still under his observation.

Afterward, Zhang Yang had advanced to the Mid Fourth Tier, a point at which Zhang Yanan had nearly become numb to the surprises. Now, Zhang Yang had suddenly achieved Great Perfection, and an unprecedented Mid Fourth Tier Great Perfection at that?

But it was plausible; otherwise, the Old Master wouldn't have asked. Thinking this way, Zhang Yanan felt dizzy. Zhang Yang wasn't just a genius; he was a monstrous anomaly.

Zhang Yang stopped as well, nodding gently, then slowly shaking his head. "Theoretically, I have reached the realm of Great Perfection, but realistically, I haven't quite yet. I haven't broken through to the late Fourth Tier!"

Traditionally, Great Perfection was synonymous with the late Fourth Tier, a title bestowed upon those who grasped the Way of Nature, referred to as 'Half Fifth Tier' because one foot was already planted in the Fifth Tier.

Zhang Yang, still at the Mid Fourth Tier—not even at the late Fourth Tier—yet possessing the capabilities of a Great Perfection master completely overturned all established knowledge. Even the parrot’s former master had never achieved this in the past.

This was why Zhang Yang nodded and then shook his head.

"Whether you've broken through to the later stage or not, your strength is undeniably equivalent to a Great Perfection master. You are a genuine Great Perfection master now!"

Zhang Pinglu also nodded. Zhang Yang's situation was indeed strange, but judging purely by combat prowess, Zhang Yang could absolutely claim the title of Great Perfection master.

A Great Perfection master at the Mid Fourth Tier—Zhang Yang had set a precedent, meaning the Zhang family had also pioneered a new path.

At this moment, Zhang Pinglu was so overcome with excitement that it was plainly visible on his face.

Nearby, Zhang Yanan had become even more stunned, his mouth remaining wide open.

If the news that Zhang Yang was a Great Perfection master—an unprecedented Mid Fourth Tier Great Perfection master—were to spread, it would undoubtedly send shockwaves through the entire cultivation world.

This fundamentally challenged long-held conventional wisdom. If Zhang Yang succeeded, it meant others held hope for the future: they could attempt to grasp the Way of Nature upon reaching the Fourth Tier, and if successful, they would immediately ascend to become Great Perfection masters.

At this thought, Zhang Yanan considered himself. If he too could grasp the Way of Nature, didn't that mean he too could become a Great Perfection master? A Great Perfection master at the Early Fourth Tier was still vastly more powerful.

Of course, these were mere thoughts; he understood clearly he wasn't made of the right material and could never truly grasp the Way of Nature. The idea was just wishful thinking.

"Hahahaha!"

Zhang Pinglu, caught up in his excitement, suddenly threw his head back and roared with laughter, the sound echoing far and wide.

Dark specks suddenly appeared in the sky; small birds spanning dozens of li in every direction rapidly flew upward, all startled by Zhang Pinglu’s laughter.

He wasn't just laughing; he was pouring all his power into the sound. With such a potent vocalization, it was no wonder the birds fled.

Around them, various objects continuously tumbled to the ground.

They were all stunned into unconsciousness by the sheer force of Zhang Pinglu’s laughter. Even Zhang Yanan, Zhuifeng, and the others felt a degree of discomfort; the full release of a Great Perfection master’s power had a significant impact on them.

Only Zhang Yang remained completely unaffected, standing there with an unchanging smile.