From the direction they were walking, they were indeed heading straight for him. Grasping Mi Xue’s small hand, Zhang Yang whispered, “Darling, we have guests.

Why don't you head back and rest for a while!” Zhang Yang smiled as he spoke, but his heart held no joy. Anyone whose intimate moment with a loved one was interrupted would hardly be pleased.

Mi Xue obediently nodded and returned to her room immediately. She hadn't seen any guests, but she had absolute trust in Zhang Yang.

She knew his capabilities; if he said someone was coming, someone would certainly arrive. Of course, she was unhappy too.

It was such a rare, beautiful morning, only to be disturbed. The moment Mi Xue entered her room, Zhang Yang stood up.

The two figures had already reached the doorway of their home. Standing at the threshold, Ouyang Jiankang hesitated slightly.

He had met Zhang Daofeng, but he had never seen Zhang Yang. Moreover, everything that happened yesterday was relayed by a peripheral disciple; they hadn't witnessed the actual events themselves.

If this Zhang Yang wasn't the one they suspected, this whole trip would turn into a huge farce. “A’Hao, knock on the door!” With a soft sigh, Ouyang Jiankang still gave an instruction to the person beside him.

Since they had come this far, there was no sense in turning back now; that would be even more embarrassing. They had to investigate the matter thoroughly, no matter what.

If everything proved true, this would be a matter of immense importance for the Ouyang family. “Since you’ve come a long way, you are guests.

Please come in, both of you!” Just as Ouyang Hao, who was accompanying Ouyang Jiankang, raised his hand, the door opened automatically, accompanied by a clear, resonant voice. Ouyang Jiankang and Ouyang Hao’s eyes instantly narrowed, and they quickly straightened their attire before stepping inside with firm strides.

By this moment, Ouyang Jiankang understood that their initial guess was correct. The only one possessing such power, capable of evading even his detection, could only be Zhang Yang of the Medical Saint lineage.

He hadn't sensed anyone inside previously. The two walked into the courtyard and immediately saw Zhang Yang waiting for them beneath the jujube tree.

Seeing Zhang Yang’s appearance, they were surprised once again; he was truly as young as the rumors claimed—perhaps even frighteningly so. “I wonder what brings you both here from afar?” As they approached, Zhang Yang smiled faintly and asked directly.

His question was simple in phrasing, yet profound in meaning; it was essentially asking whether they were friend or foe, and what their purpose was in seeking him out. Fellow internal energy cultivators, when approached suddenly by unknown peers, would naturally feel wary, and Zhang Yang was no exception.

But it was only wariness; the strength of these two posed no significant threat to him, though caution was always wise. “May I ask if you are Mr.

Zhang Yang of the Medical Saint lineage?” Ouyang Jiankang was the first to cup his fists in a greeting. He was astonished by Zhang Yang’s youth, but he showed no carelessness in his attitude toward him.

Zhang Yang nodded slightly, unsurprised by this. Since they had come directly to his door, they must have understood something about him beforehand.

“So it is truly Mr. Zhang.

I am Ouyang Hao of the Ouyang family, and this is our Great Elder, Ouyang Jiankang. Our juniors were disrespectful yesterday; we have come today to beg forgiveness!” This time, Ouyang Hao spoke.

Ouyang Hao was a vital senior within the Ouyang family, a figure equivalent to the Clan Head. When the Clan Head was absent, he handled many internal family affairs.

One could say that one was responsible for external matters while the other managed internal affairs. Relative to the family’s lineage, the one responsible for internal stability was considered more crucial.

Zhang Yang nodded and then invited the two to sit. The Ouyang family—Zhang Yang had heard of them.

They were a mid-to-upper tier family, not quite matching the status of the thousand-year lineages, but far stronger than those small families relying on experts at only the Third Layer. Zhang Yang also knew of the Ouyang family’s unique position: they were integrated with the government.

Even the thousand-year lineages, if they didn't have serious friction, would be hesitant to offend these people. After all, opposing them could mean opposing the entire nation.

While family forces were strong, they hadn't reached the point where they could afford to fight the whole country, let alone risk inciting widespread chaos—which would invite retribution from other great families and sects. There had been precedents: super-powers in the past that tried to seize secular supremacy had caused immense suffering, eventually leading to their annihilation by a coalition of great families and sects.

Zhang Yang’s knowledge of the Ouyang family extended only this far, but he was slightly surprised that Ouyang Xuan was a member of the Ouyang family. Ouyang Xuan possessed no internal energy, and though he had mentioned the Ouyang family yesterday, Zhang Yang hadn't connected the dots then.

As soon as they were seated, Qu Meilan brought the tea set and brewed a pot of fine tea. Since the visitors hadn't come to cause trouble but to apologize, Zhang Yang naturally wouldn't greet them with a sour face.

“Excellent tea, thank you, Mr. Zhang!” Ouyang Hao took a sip of the tea and praised it profusely.

Zhang Yang merely smiled, thinking inwardly that while the tea was good, it wasn't the absolute finest. The Ouyang family, stationed in the capital and responsible for protecting various government officials on special missions, must have sampled every kind of good tea imaginable.

Ouyang Hao’s comment was merely polite flattery, an attempt to align with him. The Ouyang family, being the most intertwined with the secular world, had unavoidably adopted some of its customs.

After sipping tea for a while and discussing their past acquaintance with Zhang Daofeng, Ouyang Jiankang slowly came to the crucial point: “Mr. Zhang, forgive my bluntness, but have you broken through and become a Great Perfection expert?” After asking this question, his eyes remained fixed intently on Zhang Yang.

Ouyang Hao beside him was the same. Zhang Yang had already admitted his identity, and he hadn't refuted anything about yesterday’s events, which amounted to an admission that a strong wind had indeed moved the car.

That strong wind could not have been natural; it must have been man-made. And only a Great Perfection expert could generate such a powerful gust.

That was why Ouyang Jiankang asked this, as it was the answer they most desired and cared about. The fact that Zhang Yang had advanced to Great Perfection was known only to Zhang family members and Hua Feitian of the Hua family.

If Hua Feitian hadn't disclosed it, not even the Long family or Shaolin Temple would know. “I am currently only at the Mid-Fourth Layer, not a true Great Perfection expert!” Zhang Yang said softly.

Hearing this, Ouyang Jiankang and Ouyang Hao seemed to breathe a collective, palpable sigh of relief, as if a great weight had been lifted. Zhang Yang was so young, much younger than them.

If he truly had reached Great Perfection, wouldn't that make their entire lives seem wasted? Even the greatest individuals harbored envy.

To hear that Zhang Yang wasn't yet Great Perfection made them relax together. However, for someone so young to possess the strength of the Mid-Fourth Layer was still terrifying.

But if that were the case, the powerful gust of wind became inexplicable. Could it really have been a coincidence—a coincidence so precise that such a powerful gale materialized just to move the car?

Looking at them, Zhang Yang smiled again and continued, “Although I am not truly Great Perfection, I have completely grasped the laws of nature. I can achieve everything a Great Perfection expert can, just that the amount of Heaven and Earth energy I can manipulate is less than that of a true Late-Fourth Layer Great Perfection expert!” Before Zhang Yang finished speaking, both men’s mouths dropped open.

What had they heard? Mid-Fourth Layer, yet having comprehended the Dao of Nature?

If he could do everything a Great Perfection expert could, what else could he be? The reason Great Perfection experts were so powerful was precisely their comprehension of the Dao of Nature.

Great Perfection practitioners utilized Heaven and Earth energy, a power vastly superior to the internal energy held within the body. Regardless of Zhang Yang's layer, as long as he could manipulate Heaven and Earth energy, he was no longer someone an ordinary internal energy cultivator could contend with.

“You, you mean, at Mid-Fourth Layer, you have completely grasped the Dao of Nature—you are not Great Perfection, but you possess the combat strength of a Great Perfection expert?” Ouyang Hao quickly inquired again. Zhang Yang smiled and nodded, this time readily admitting it.

The truth that Zhang Yang was Great Perfection-level couldn't be concealed for long anyway, and they hadn't intended to hide it indefinitely. With two Great Perfection experts in the Zhang family, their rise was inevitable.

Such formidable power required no obfuscation; telling these visitors was fine. “Mr.

Zhang, I admire you deeply!” After a moment, Ouyang Hao cupped his fists in a bitter smile. Ouyang Jiankang’s mouth also held a hint of helplessness.

The casual ease, even the momentary sense of relief they had felt earlier, had completely vanished. Whether he was truly Great Perfection or not, if he possessed the requisite strength, he had to be treated as one.

In the world of internal energy cultivation, strength was still paramount. At this point, they finally understood everything and confirmed their previous suspicions were correct.

This provided an explanation for the strong wind; it was indeed generated by Zhang Yang to move the car. Even if he was only Mid-Fourth Layer, possessing the abilities accessible to Great Perfection experts meant he could achieve it.

If this was true, then the Medical Saint Zhang family essentially had two individuals with Great Perfection strength. And one of them was so incredibly young, promising an even more glorious future, perhaps even reaching the Fifth Layer realm—a level that seemed almost divine.

Ouyang Jiankang paused for a moment, then cupped his fists toward Zhang Yang and said, “Mr. Zhang, this old man has a favor to ask.

I wonder if I should speak of it?” “Elder Ouyang, please speak your mind!” “I wonder if the Ouyang family could be fortunate enough to form an alliance with the Medical Saint lineage? Of course, this alliance would not require you to actively do anything for us, only to offer assistance should our Ouyang family face difficulties.

Rest assured, my Ouyang family will offer generous compensation!” Ouyang Jiankang stood up, bowed slightly to Zhang Yang while clasping his fists, and spoke with utmost sincerity. Ouyang Hao was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected the Great Elder to suddenly propose an alliance.

However, upon reflection, he understood. The Medical Saint lineage now boasted two Great Perfection experts, making them the strongest singular force in the country, against whom no other family or sect could contend alone.

The Ouyang family was also powerful, but lacking a Great Perfection expert, they had always existed in the margins. If they could secure the backing of the Zhang family, the future of the Ouyang family would become far more stable, especially with someone as young as Zhang Yang in the Zhang family; as long as he existed, he could secure not only the Zhang family but also the Ouyang family.

This essentially meant the Ouyang family would have a powerful guardian charm for the next few centuries.