The sheer might of this energy was profound; as the five Great Perfection masters focused their attention on him, he kept a constant watch on them in return.

The figure that flashed across the sky arrived swiftly and departed just as fast; before most people could even clearly discern the shadow, it had already retreated, standing once more upon the wooden dais.

"BOOM!"

A deafening roar echoed overhead as two immense torrents of Heaven and Earth energy collided, causing the very ground to shudder.

The Fourth Layer experts fared somewhat better; they were only shaken momentarily before steadying themselves, each taking a single step back to align with their respective factions.

Those masters at the Third Layer fared much worse; they felt a dizzying disorientation, barely managing to keep their footing.

As for the Second Layer disciples who were not engaged in the battle, many were thrown violently to the ground; the powerful shockwaves of energy inflicted visible harm upon them.

After a brief moment of stunned disorientation, Long Yi suddenly seemed to realize something crucial. He moved with ghost-like swiftness, closing the distance, his divine weapon slicing through the air with a predatory gleam, carving a magnificent, colorful arc.

He had already activated the Dragon Transformation Art; not a single second could be wasted now.

As he struck, Di Ao, the Demon Sect Master across from him, sensed something was terribly amiss, but it was too late for him to react. Long Yi attacked in a blaze of righteous fury, pouring nearly two hundred percent of his strength into the blow.

At this moment, even Di Wanfang’s attempt to intervene was futile.

"Ao'er!"

A wave of Heaven and Earth energy swept towards Long Yi, and simultaneously, a visible surge of Heaven and Earth energy, dotted with faint white motes of light, materialized mid-air, intercepting the attack directly.

"Hahahaha!"

Long Yi roared with fierce laughter, suddenly changing direction again, hurtling towards the Grand Elder of the Li family.

"Insolent brat, how dare you!"

A furious shout rang out once more; this time it was Li Jianyi, the Great Perfection master of the Li family.

Li Jianyi stepped down from the wooden dais, glaring at Long Yi. Long Yi’s body only made brief contact with the Li family’s Grand Elder before being violently flung backward.

"Grand Elder!"

Long Haotian and the others rushed forward anxiously, catching the recoiling Long Yi.

The Li family's Grand Elder also flew backward, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. Li Jianyi, the Great Perfection master, had repelled Long Yi with his vital energy, but before being thrown back, Long Yi had managed a desperate, full-force clash with him.

Long Yi completely disregarded the Great Perfection master’s counter-attack; having used the Dragon Transformation Art, his lifespan was now limited. Before his inevitable death, if he could kill the Li family’s Grand Elder, all the better; if not, he had to injure him and reduce his combat effectiveness.

He himself was at the peak of the late Fourth Layer; even a Great Perfection master could not expect to kill him in a single move.

The serpentine form on Long Yi’s body remained, but his breathing was now ragged and uneven. The strike from the Li family’s Great Perfection master wouldn't kill him, but it inflicted severe internal injuries. Furthermore, since the Li family’s Grand Elder was also a late Fourth Layer expert, his counter-attack had dealt significant damage to Long Yi.

"Ao'er!"

Di Wanfang, the Demon Sect’s Great Perfection master, held the body of Di Ao in heartbroken grief; all life had already left Di Ao’s face.

Long Yi’s attack had cleanly severed Di Ao’s head. His body remained upright only because Di Wanfang was desperately maintaining it; if he let go, his head would fall.

Di Ao, the Demon Sect Master, had fallen.

In just half a day of fierce fighting, the five major powers and the Long family’s side had each lost three Fourth Layer experts. In total, six Fourth Layer powerhouses had perished, with many more injured.

Such a casualty count had not been seen in many years.

Watching these Fourth Layer elders, who were usually held in such high esteem, die one by one, sent a profound shockwave through the inner strength cultivators at the First, Second, and even Third Layers.

Holding Di Ao’s lifeless body, a chilling cold began to emanate from Di Wanfang, spreading outwards in an icy aura.

No matter how intense his hatred, it extended beyond just the Long family; he resented his own allies as well.

His faction had lost three Fourth Layer experts, and all three were members of the Demon Sect, including their very Master. The magnitude of this loss threatened to destabilize the Demon Sect’s standing among the five powers.

"Long family, not a single one of you will leave alive today!"

Di Wanfang swept his gaze over every member of the Long family. Anyone caught in his stare felt an icy chill pierce to the bone. They all understood that Di Wanfang was a powerhouse whose strength far surpassed their own—he was a Great Perfection master.

Slowly, Di Wanfang rose and took a deliberate step forward. After taking this step, he did not immediately attack, but instead tilted his head upwards, his gaze fixed precisely on Zhang Yang.

His resentment toward Zhang Yang was second only to his hatred for the Long family. If Zhang Yang hadn't intervened, he would surely have saved Di Ao and killed Long Yi.

It was Zhang Yang’s obstruction that cost him that opportunity. However, the prior shockwave had also made him realize that this young man, barely in his twenties, possessed strength equal to his own. To eliminate the Long family, he would first have to defeat Zhang Yang.

As he stared at Zhang Yang, many others turned their heads in astonishment towards the young figure standing on the high platform.

The greatest shock was registered by the Long family and their allies; save for Zhang Daofeng, Long Feng, and Ouyang Jiankang, every mouth hung open.

Now they recalled that there had been a voice just moments ago that had forced the opposing Great Perfection master to retreat.

Only an entity of equal rank could make a Great Perfection master back down. Did this mean their side also possessed a Great Perfection master?

Looking at Di Wanfang’s demeanor and recalling that familiar voice, many had already guessed: if their side had a Great Perfection master, it could only be Zhang Yang, who had remained inactive until now.

Zhang Yang was only twenty-one years old. His mere presence at the Mid-Fourth Layer was already the subject of countless jealousies. Great Perfection was something they dared not even imagine.

Besides, was there such a thing as a Mid-Fourth Layer Great Perfection master?

The Long family members were stunned and confused, but the members of the five rival powers were no less bewildered. Few among them knew Zhang Yang’s true strength.

At this moment, many stared blankly at Zhang Yang, unsure of what was transpiring.

"Zhang Yang, as long as your Medical Saint lineage does not interfere in the Long family's affairs, I guarantee that the Long family's wealth will be shared. Our five families will take eighty percent, and we can grant you twenty percent!"

Di Wanfang wished he could tear Zhang Yang limb from limb, but his reason currently triumphed over impulse. He faced Zhang Yang and spoke evenly.

The others on the wooden dais felt their eyebrows twitch. Di Wanfang's proposal was something they had not discussed beforehand.

However, none of them objected. They recognized the situation today: taking down the Long family was not as simple as they had imagined. If they could remove the obstacle that was Zhang Yang, yielding twenty percent of the fortune was acceptable.

His words caused the two groups, who had separated without continuing the brawl, to gasp once more.

Di Wanfang's offer unequivocally confirmed Zhang Yang’s identity; only an equal, a Great Perfection master, would prompt another Great Perfection master to address him so peer-to-peer.

Long Yi, supported by Long Haotian, also stared wide-eyed at Zhang Yang.

"Long Feng is my best brother!"

Zhang Yang offered a slight smile, still standing on the platform, and said softly.

Zhuifeng, Shandian, and Wuying had gathered by his side by now. With a temporary ceasefire called, they were content to rest.

"So, you intend to fight alongside the Long family to the very end?"

A fierce glint flashed in Di Wanfang's eyes. Eliminating Long Feng was a certainty for them if they destroyed the Long family.

At twenty-seven, possessing the strength of the Mid-Third Layer, Long Feng’s potential was terrifyingly high. No one could say if he might one day grasp the Dao of Nature and become a Great Perfection master. Even if he didn't reach that height, achieving the Fourth Layer was inevitable. Long Feng had personally witnessed the destruction of the Long family, meaning his hatred for them was the deepest. Such a potential enemy was someone they could not tolerate; Long Feng was one of those who must be killed.

"Very well, then I shall have the pleasure of testing the strength of you, the greatest genius in history, the youngest Great Perfection master!"

Seeing Zhang Yang remain silent, Di Wanfang spoke again slowly, a slight distortion appearing on his face.

Zhang Yang was momentarily startled. 'Youngest Great Perfection master'—this was the first time he had heard that title, but he supposed it made sense. Since ancient times, no one had broken through to the Great Perfection at his age, much less achieved the Great Perfection while still only at the Mid-Fourth Layer.

Furthermore, the four other masters on the high platforms remained still. As Zhang Yang had predicted, although they were allied, each harbored selfish motives. They might unite against him, but certainly not right now. They were quite content to watch the Demon Sect's Great Perfection master battle Zhang Yang. If Di Wanfang met with misfortune, it would be the best possible news for them. Without a Great Perfection master in the Demon Sect, they would become the next target, the 'fat meat' for others to carve up.

Only the Zhou family’s Great Perfection master showed a slight hesitation. The one who least wanted the Demon Sect’s Great Perfection master to perish was them. Although the Zhou family and the Demon Sect had always had disputes, those were internal rivalries, normal competition. If the Demon Sect collapsed, the Southern Border's Demonic Path could not be sustained by the Zhou family alone, potentially leading to a catastrophe for the entire Demonic Path later on.

"Good!"

After assessing the situation of his opponents, Zhang Yang nodded lightly.

He slowly descended from the high platform. Unlike others who simply leaped down, he descended using the stairs, just as he had walked up to the stage during the Long family's grand competition.

It was a very short distance, yet after walking down, Zhang Yang was entirely transformed. He was no longer the inconspicuous figure he had been; he radiated an air of dominance that scorned the world. A faint, pale white cluster of energy swirled slowly around him, lending his entire figure an ethereal, almost mystical quality. Some of the younger disciples with lower cultivation bases were utterly mesmerized.

"Please instruct me!"

Zhang Yang extended both hands, cupping them in a respectful salute. In his left hand, he held a long sword, encased in an ancient scabbard. Having anticipated a fierce battle in aiding the Long family, Zhang Yang had prepared thoroughly. This sword was his most trusted divine weapon: the Cold Spring Sword, a famed armament from the Divine Weapon Ranking.