Zhang Yang didn't move; Zhang Pinglu made no effort to conceal the potent aura he released, a signal meant for his reinforcement, letting him know his arrival was imminent. Leaving now was impossible; he had to wait for Zhang Pinglu to arrive first.

Zhang Pinglu’s speed was terrifyingly fast; he no longer cared if anyone in the city witnessed the breathtaking display.

Fortunately, very few people were truly paying attention, and he maintained a degree of concealment. Just two or three minutes after Hua Feitian departed, Zhang Pinglu arrived at the scene.

"Yang Yang!"

Seeing the devastation and Zhang Yang’s disheveled state, Zhang Pinglu rushed over anxiously.

The worry etched across his face was unmistakable; this elder truly cared for Zhang Yang and feared for his well-being.

Faced with Zhang Pinglu’s intense concern, a wave of emotion washed over Zhang Yang. It was wrong of him to cause an elderly man such hurried distress. If he had been more cautious moments ago, this situation might have been avoided, though admittedly, he had been utterly unable to restrain himself then. Fighting a peer while simultaneously suppressing his own power was excruciatingly difficult.

Strictly speaking, Zhang Pinglu and Hua Feitian were cut from the same cloth.

They were individuals capable of sacrificing everything for their clans, people possessing absolute loyalty to their families.

"Elder, I am unharmed!"

Zhang Yang shook his head slightly. Zhang Pinglu scrutinized him for a moment before finally letting out a breath of relief. Zhang Yang appeared physically fine—at least, that much he could ascertain—but the ambient energy fluctuations were still chaotic, clearly indicating a fierce battle had just taken place. Moreover, the surrounding area showed significant damage.

"Who was it?"

Zhang Pinglu inquired softly. His question was simple, but Zhang Yang understood its depth immediately. Anyone capable of threatening him and engaging in such a battle could only be a Great Perfection master. Given the limited number of Great Perfection experts in the country—a number easily counted—it had to be one of them.

It was similar to how Hua Feitian, merely sensing the aura, had known it was Zhang Pinglu arriving. In Changjing, there were only three Great Perfection experts. Someone arriving so openly and urgently could only be Zhang Pinglu.

"Hua Feitian!"

Zhang Yang whispered the name. Zhang Pinglu paused slightly, blurting out, "It was him?"

Among the Great Perfection experts, only two commanded the genuine apprehension of the established masters like himself. Both those individuals had reached Great Perfection through self-enlightenment regarding the Way of Nature. Zhang Yang was, in a sense, the third. Of those two, one was regarded with the most caution.

That was Hua Feitian, who was not yet eighty years old—the youngest among the Great Perfection echelon. Having achieved his level through self-comprehension, nobody knew if he could breach the Fifth Layer. Should Hua Feitian ascend to the Fifth Layer, the Hua family’s rise would be unstoppable, even by the Long family. Therefore, upon hearing Hua Feitian's name, Zhang Pinglu was surprised, yet it was also expected. This man held significant potential for the Fifth Layer and naturally wouldn't wish to see another rising contender with similar prospects.

"Elder, he couldn't defeat me. He left just before you arrived!"

Zhang Yang added quietly. This was his first encounter with Hua Feitian, yet he found the man quite interesting, leading to a slight softening in his tone. At least he hadn't immediately resorted to complaints or malicious gossip about Hua Feitian.

"Hmph, good thing he left early, or today I would have made him pay a price!"

Zhang Pinglu snorted, a trace of murderous intent flashing unnaturally across his body. Zhang Yang was now the Zhang family’s absolute weakness, and Zhang Pinglu’s as well. Anyone who targeted Zhang Yang was his enemy, and he would never let it pass. When he said he would make Hua Feitian leave something behind, it wasn't an empty boast. The combined force of two Great Perfection masters against Hua Feitian would be overwhelming. Killing him might be difficult, but severely injuring him was highly probable. The combined power of two Great Perfection experts was formidable—this was precisely why, once the Zhang family possessed two such masters, no other force could impede their ascent.

"Elder, I apologize for worrying you and making you rush over here!"

Zhang Yang offered with chagrin. Zhang Pinglu’s frantic arrival had, in the end, been for naught. Yet, if Zhang Pinglu hadn't arrived, his duel with Hua Feitian might not have ended when it did. He could hold out for a short while, but given the gap in overall strength, he would eventually lose the endurance battle against Hua Feitian. Of course, using the Energy Burst was a different matter, but that technique carried too much destructive power; even Zhang Yang couldn't guarantee its use every time.

"What good would coming here do? If he dares return, I dare make a trip to the Hua family!"

Zhang Pinglu puffed out his beard, seeming still agitated.

Zhang Yang could only shake his head resignedly, remaining silent. He knew the elder was speaking out of sheer concern, uttering angry words that lacked practical foundation. The elder had the capability to confront the Hua family, but what could he truly accomplish there? He must remember that the Hua family resided in Changbai Mountain, guarded by a fearsome spirit beast renowned as much as the Illusory Mouse of Yinlong Mountain. With such a creature present, Zhang Pinglu was fated to be helpless against the Hua family; otherwise, he would have met the same grim fate as Huyan Feng. Zhang Yang naturally couldn't allow him to pursue such a course, but the elder was still fuming, and the situation would only calm down once they returned home.

Since Zhang Yang’s clothes were ruined, Zhang Pinglu eventually went out to buy him a new set, and only then did the two slowly head back. Though today's battle ended without a definitive victor, it clarified for Zhang Yang that a slight gap still existed between him and a true Great Perfection master. While his Shattering Heaven Sword Style could bridge this gap momentarily, it couldn't sustain it over long periods. The fight had been immensely beneficial; it was his first truly exhilarating engagement against a peer since reaching the Great Perfection realm. He even found himself wishing Hua Feitian hadn't left, hoping for future sparring opportunities in Changjing to aid his continued growth.

Their return together surprised both Zhang Daofeng and Zhang Yunan. The elder often remained unseen for days, yet today he returned with Zhang Yang. The earlier commotion between Zhang Yang and Hua Feitian had been considerable, but it had only alerted Zhang Pinglu; the other two hadn't perceived anything amiss—a clear testament to the difference in their power levels.

After resting for half a day, Zhang Yang made a rare visit to the school the next morning. His unannounced arrival startled Zhu Daoqi, who wondered if the sun had risen in the west. Despite his confusion, Zhu Daoqi was delighted by Zhang Yang’s presence and quickly escorted him to the project research group, urging him to give a lecture to the members. Yesterday, Zhang Yang hadn't interacted with them due to the incident with Hua Feitian.

Zhang Yang agreed to Zhu Daoqi’s request, his primary objective for visiting being to see if Hua Feitian was still present. To his disappointment, Hua Feitian was absent that day; he had requested a three-day leave from Zhu Daoqi. Even after three days, Zhang Yang had no certainty of his return. It was highly likely that this newly appointed guardian of the Hua family would leave Changjing and return to Changbai Mountain, as teaching wasn't his actual profession.

He dutifully lectured the research group for the entire day before Zhu Daoqi finally released him. That day left the students and teachers filled with satisfaction. Zhang Yang’s explanations were the most accurate, and this session illuminated key concepts for many, deepening their admiration for him.

Returning from school, Zhang Yang didn't venture out again; instead, he opted for a temporary retreat into seclusion. His confrontation with Hua Feitian had provided him with several new insights, and having reached Great Perfection only recently, he needed time to consolidate his foundation—retreating was the best course.

This period of seclusion lasted a full month. Apart from dedicating two fixed days each week to assisting Mi Xue with her cultivation, Zhang Yang remained immersed in solitary practice. In that month, Zhang Yang's harvest was significant; his realm stabilized considerably. Now, facing Hua Feitian again, he could last longer and pose a far greater threat.

"Young Master, you are out of seclusion!"

Qu Meilan, pruning the flowers and grass at the doorway, suddenly turned, crying out in pleasant surprise. This joy was genuine. Qu Meilan now held Zhang Yang in even greater reverence than before.

"Well done, you have worked diligently!"

Zhang Yang smiled faintly. Qu Meilan had been forced to restart her cultivation after Zhang Yang crippled her previous efforts; it had been over a month. Her recovery pace wasn't as swift as Long Feng’s, but she had already regained the initial stage of the First Layer, reacquiring her internal energy. Furthermore, her internal energy was now much more profound. At this rate, she would quickly recover her middle stage of the First Layer, a speed far exceeding her previous progress. She now held a real possibility of breaking through to the Second Layer, perhaps even the Third Layer in the future—the Third Layer was once an impossible fantasy for her, yet the old hag she once served, whom she considered divine, had only reached the Third Layer of internal energy. Naturally, she was profoundly grateful and respectful toward Zhang Yang.

"I thank you for your cultivation, Young Master!"

Qu Meilan quickly bowed in respect. She was now an official disciple of the Medical Saint Martial Sect and maintained a clear boundary between superior and subordinate when addressing Zhang Yang, unlike her previous casual demeanor.

"This is the result of your own effort; you need not thank anyone else!"

Zhang Yang smiled lightly, not stopping her gesture. Truthfully, Zhang Yang disliked such formalities, preferring a more natural interaction. Nevertheless, no matter what he said, Qu Meilan persisted, her ingrained notions from her time with the old hag dictating a strict hierarchy within the sect. She couldn't truly relax around him, so Zhang Yang decided to let her maintain her deference.

"Zhang Yang, you’re out!"

A car pulled into the drive. Before it had even fully stopped, with the keys still in the ignition, Mi Xue leaped out joyfully. Mi Xue had also cultivated internal energy and now stood at the middle stage of the First Layer, slightly stronger than Qu Meilan. Jumping out of the car was a trivial feat for her. Qu Meilan hurried over to turn off the engine, but Zhang Yang had already taken Mi Xue’s hand and led her toward the house. Through the slight shake of his head, however, it was clear he didn't entirely approve of Mi Xue’s rather 'joyful' entry.