This was no longer mere separated sword energy, but a single surge imbued with the profound intent of the sword.

Vast energies of heaven and earth swept in from all directions, instantly splitting Hua Feitian’s figure into four—a technique of cloning. While these were not clones powered by potent energy reserves, the infusion of power granted them the ability to deceive the eye.

It was just like the situation with Hu Yanfeng in the past, who had created illusions that Zhang Yang couldn't distinguish.

But that was before. Such simple clones could no longer fool Zhang Yang now.

Four figures of Hua Feitian, one real and three illusions, yet even the fake Hua Feitians carried his aura and possessed considerable strength.

The four figures separated toward four different directions, and the sword strike Zhang Yang unleashed scattered as well, enveloping them even faster than their retreat.

In an instant, three figures were completely shredded, vanishing without a trace.

Hua Feitian’s clones relied on mere cultivation techniques supplemented with a small infusion of heaven and earth energy. Zhang Yang's Potian Sword Art directly harnessed the energies of heaven and earth; the two were fundamentally on different tiers. Upon contact, the clones were utterly annihilated.

Even Hua Feitian’s true body was enveloped by Zhang Yang’s Potian Sword Qi.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A series of explosive sounds followed, forcing Hua Feitian to stagger back seven or eight steps before finally planting his feet far away. The layer of pale white sword energy that had wrapped around him vanished completely.

Hua Feitian’s outer garment was completely shredded, revealing a gleaming, golden vest underneath—a vest that remained entirely unscratched.

Aside from his clothing, his hair was a total mess, and the gold-rimmed glasses he had been wearing were nowhere to be seen.

A faint streak of crimson blood traced the side of his cheek; he was injured, and it was an external wound.

Zhang Yang likewise did not press the attack, merely holding his position.

The Potian Sword Art was a fifth-tier sword technique. Hua Feitian was unaware of this fact. To confront it using methods intended for a fourth-tier technique would inevitably lead to disadvantage. Had he not deployed the three clones at the critical moment, this single strike could have inflicted significant harm upon him.

A fifth-tier technique could wound even those at the fifth-tier level, let alone someone at the Great Perfection of the fourth tier.

After steadying himself, Hua Feitian still looked considerably astonished. Clearly, this sword move from Zhang Yang had completely caught him off guard.

Zhang Yang had evidently not used his full strength. If he had, and Hua Feitian had no clones, the result was unknowable.

Lifting his head, Hua Feitian called out loudly to Zhang Yang, "What sword art is that?"

He did not know that when Zhang Pinglu sparred with Zhang Yang previously, he too suffered a considerable loss against the Potian Sword Art. However, Zhang Pinglu knew the origins of the technique, so he was not surprised.

Hu Yanfeng also knew this sword art, but unfortunately, when Zhang Yang practiced it then, he was merely a novice, unable to unleash the technique's true power, so Hu Yanfeng hadn't placed particular importance on it.

"The Potian Sword Art—a sword strike that can shatter the heavens!"

Zhang Yang smiled faintly, raising his head as he spoke. Hua Feitian paused again.

"The name Potian Sword Art is very fitting. This technique truly possesses the domineering might to break the sky. No wonder that old fox Hu Yanfeng spoke of you as he did. If I had met you sooner, I would have eliminated you at any cost!"

Hua Feitian nodded, now understanding why Hu Yanfeng had said what he did.

That was because Hu Yanfeng had glimpsed Zhang Yang’s potential, recognized his formidable nature. Unfortunately, Hu Yanfeng forgot one crucial point: everything he knew, Hua Feitian did not know. Thus, in Hua Feitian’s mind, there had been no immediate urge to eradicate this potential threat.

That changed only upon meeting Zhang Yang today, when he truly discovered his adversary's might.

The pity was that Zhang Yang’s strength had now reached an even more terrifying level, putting him beyond the reach of someone Hua Feitian could casually eliminate.

"Your words are blunt, but they certainly don't sit well with people!"

Zhang Yang shook his head slightly. This brief exchange had given him greater confidence.

Hua Feitian was indeed slightly stronger than Zhang Pinglu, but only slightly. The Great Perfection realm itself represented half a fifth-tier level; the gap between them was not immense.

One must not forget that they were still subject to the restraints of their physical bodies, naturally preventing them from deploying their full might. In that context, the difference between Zhang Yang and them was not vast. At the very least, Zhang Yang was not yet constrained by his body; he was only in his early twenties, and with the modifications from the system, his physical resilience was even greater than these Great Perfection cultivators.

"I am blunt, but it is the truth. In this world, perhaps no one can pose a threat to you all!"

Hua Feitian nodded again. The Zhang family, possessing two Great Perfection masters, was no longer a target the Hua family could simply deal with, whether he wished to admit it or not.

To truly eliminate two Great Perfection cultivators would require deploying at least five Great Perfection masters to ensure they could not escape, and that was under normal circumstances.

Deploying five Great Perfection masters was something everyone knew was simply impossible.

That was why Hua Feitian spoke as he did; for now, all he could do was talk. He clearly understood that he no longer possessed the opportunity or possibility to destroy Zhang Yang.

"Again!"

Zhang Yang smiled faintly, raising the branch sword once more as a massive ball of sword energy materialized again.

He was now fully engaged in the fight. Having broken through to Great Perfection, finding a suitable opponent had become difficult. Sparring with Zhang Pinglu always involved some constraints, as his body bore old wounds that had never fully healed.

Hua Feitian, however, was different. He was an opponent against whom Zhang Yang could genuinely fight at full capacity. The current Zhang Yang yearned for a battle against an equal, one that would clarify the exact disparity between them.

Hua Feitian ceased speaking. His hands, red and white, reappeared. This time, it was not merely palm wind, but a storm mass composed of even grander internal energy bolstered by external energy.

He had also not used his full power in his Kaishan Palm earlier; if he had, the harm inflicted upon Zhang Yang would have been more than just the minor setback he sustained; it could have caused substantive damage.

A shadow of intermingled red and white, against a faint white silhouette, collided fiercely in the depths of the mountain forest.

Initially, both individuals maintained restraint, avoiding the use of overwhelming force.

This was, after all, the outskirts of the provincial capital; any excessive display could easily reveal a clue to observers.

However, soon neither could hold back, and the force of their exchanges escalated rapidly. Zhang Yang’s energy purity was high, but his reserves were thinner. Hua Feitian was not as constrained by reservations as Zhang Pinglu, and he exploited Zhang Yang’s weakness several times, nearly inflicting harm.

This compelled Zhang Yang to exert himself to elevate the energy he controlled.

Zhang Yang was not faring perfectly, but Hua Feitian was no better off.

The Potian Sword Art was, after all, a fifth-tier technique, and Zhang Yang was applying it with greater proficiency now. Combined with his Great Perfection realm, Hua Feitian felt overwhelmed and faced several dangerous moments.

For a time, without breaking free from his physical constraints and accepting potential injury, the two were evenly matched.

Gradually, the energy they unleashed grew stronger, and the resulting destruction expanded.

On another side of Changjing, Zhang Pinglu, who had been meditating atop a tree in the mountains, suddenly snapped his eyes open and shot away with astonishing speed.

Meanwhile, over at Black Dragon Cave, a reclining figure sat upright and drowsily gazed in the direction of Zhang Yang and his opponent.

"Those two youngsters fooling around, disturbing my sleep. Wait until I get out and spank their bottoms!"

Muttering under his breath, the figure lay back down, only to resume a faint snoring sound a moment later.

Back in the mountain forest, the battle between Zhang Yang and Hua Feitian grew increasingly fierce.

Hua Feitian had already had ten energy-infused clones destroyed by Zhang Yang, and now his forehead was beaded with sweat. Creating Great Perfection level clones infused with power was not limitless; controlling external heaven and earth energy still demanded a massive outlay of internal essence.

It was just that their internal reserves far surpassed what other cultivators could sustain.

In his current state, Zhang Yang was perhaps even more strained than Hua Feitian.

After all, his promotion to Great Perfection was recent, placing him in the mid-stage of the fourth tier. This was akin to military service: a fifteen-year-old recruit would naturally differ from an eighteen-year-old veteran.

A fifteen-year-old body could not match an eighteen-year-old's in confrontation, inevitably leading to some disadvantage.

Zhang Yang’s clothes were now much more tattered. If not for the support of the Potian Sword Art, he might have already been defeated.

Of course, if he had the Hanquan Sword in hand, his situation would be considerably better; the branch sword imposed significant restrictions, lacking the fluid ease of the Hanquan Sword.

Currently, the two were locked in a temporary balance, neither able to subdue the other.

A surge of immensely powerful energy flew rapidly from the distance. Both Zhang Yang and Hua Feitian jolted in surprise, recoiling simultaneously and coming to a halt.

This surge of energy was completely undisguised, carrying a distinct hint of urgency.

From the sheer feeling of it, Zhang Yang knew instantly that this was Zhang Pinglu. He was intimately familiar with this energy signature.

After stopping, an involuntary, wry smile touched Zhang Yang’s lips.

They had indeed lost control for a moment, causing too much commotion, which Zhang Pinglu had detected. Zhang Pinglu was deeply familiar with his energy signature; discovering him fighting someone else meant there was no reason for him not to come running.

Anyone who could fight him to a standstill must undoubtedly be a Great Perfection realm expert.

Never mind that Zhang Yang was only mid-stage fourth tier; even late-stage fourth-tier masters were no match for him now, as Zhang Yang was utilizing a higher-grade heaven and earth energy, rather than relying purely on his own internal strength.

The opposing Hua Feitian also sensed Zhang Pinglu’s arrival, and like Zhang Yang, a hint of a bitter smile played on his face.

Cupping his hands in salute, Hua Feitian stated directly, "Brother Zhang, my apologies. Please convey my regards to Brother Pinglu; we shall meet again!"

Without waiting for Zhang Yang’s assent, he flashed away rapidly.

Whether he genuinely wished to avoid Zhang Pinglu or feared being trapped between Zhang Yang and Zhang Pinglu attacking together, he vanished swiftly.

Zhang Yang had considered calling out to him, but seeing him depart so quickly, he let it go. Hua Feitian could not defeat Zhang Yang, but Zhang Yang equally could not keep him.

Watching Hua Feitian leave, Zhang Yang couldn't help but let a small smile curve his lips.

This was his first meeting with Hua Feitian, but the impression he left was not as poor as imagined. At least, he wasn't as overbearing as the initial warnings from Hu Yanfeng suggested.

This man, who comprehended the Way of Nature on his own to reach the Great Perfection realm, was not as unapproachable as other masters of that level. Although he verbally stated his intent to eliminate Zhang Yang, during all their exchanges today, there was no genuine killing intent present.

He was an interesting individual.