It was only as they left that Zhang Pinglu finally pieced together exactly what had happened, understanding everything that had transpired there. Even knowing the outcome, a lingering dread settled in his heart.

He had initially assumed the Five Great Powers would remain entangled, bickering amongst themselves due to their selfish motives. He believed the Long family’s own strength, coupled with Zhang Yang's aid, meant they would be safe for a time. It was for this reason he went to invite Master Shi Ming, planning to use the deterrent power of the three Great Perfection experts to completely scare off those factions.

His thinking was not wrong, but he had misjudged the situation. He hadn't anticipated the Five Great Powers would unite so swiftly, nor that they would launch their attack so rapidly. Fortunately, Zhang Yang possessed a hidden trump card, one even Zhang Pinglu was unaware of, which directly resulted in the severe injury of a Great Perfection expert and frightened the others away. Had Zhang Yang suffered any mishap today, Zhang Pinglu would have become the eternal sinner of the Zhang family.

"Old Master, you've arrived!"

Several more people came running from behind Zhang Yang and the others. The group was small, numbering only seven. These seven comprised all the Fourth-Layer powerhouses from the Long family’s contingent. Long Haotian and the Fourth-Layer Guardian Long Zhao bore some injuries; Zhang Daofeng and Ouyang Jiankang were slightly better off.

Seeing Zhang Pinglu and Master Shi Ming, Long Haotian felt a fresh wave of relief. As the Long family Patriarch, he had met more influential people than most. He had once had the honor of meeting Master Shi Ming when the master visited their Long family’s ancestor. He knew this was another Great Perfection level expert.

While the Shaolin Temple had sent no one during the Long family's crisis, Master Shi Ming had appeared here, standing beside Zhang Yang and Zhang Pinglu. Long Haotian was a perceptive man and understood Master Shi Ming's allegiance. With the Master's presence, there was no longer any danger to the Long family today.

Furthermore, he noticed two people missing from the opposition’s side: Di Wanfang, the Demonic Sect Great Perfection expert who had fought Zhang Yang, and the Zhou family’s Great Perfection expert were nowhere to be seen. Whatever the reason for their absence, it was good news for the Long family members. With fewer enemies and their own strength bolstered, the crisis of the day could be considered definitively resolved.

"Old Master!"

"Ancestor!"

The members of the Hua family, Li family, and Wudang faction also rushed over. They, too, had only brought their Fourth-Layer experts, leaving the rest behind. Seeing their protectors safe, all these people breathed sighs of relief.

"Quite the commotion. You old fools, be on your way. Just make sure you have that fine Monkey Wine ready for us!"

Looking up at them with a faint glance, Zhang Pinglu added another comment. Seeing the injuries on many of these people, coupled with the tragic state of the Long family members, he could already imagine the battle that had just taken place. Before their arrival, a true great battle had erupted here. Initially, the Great Perfection experts hadn't even engaged, forcing Zhang Yang to act in the end, which caused the massive disturbance. A fight capable of compelling a Great Perfection expert to act certainly couldn't have been minor.

Zhang Pinglu had guessed most of it correctly, but he was mistaken on one point: it wasn't that they had forced him out; rather, the Long family’s actions had forced the opponents’ Great Perfection experts to intervene, which in turn brought Zhang Pinglu out.

Li Jianyi managed a bitter smile, cupped his hands toward Zhang Pinglu and his group, and led the Li family members away immediately. The Li family had lost men and suffered heavy losses this time: a late-stage Third-Layer master, the Grand Elder Li Wei, sustained severe internal injuries, and the Patriarch Li Wenruo had lost an arm. After paying such a price, they gained nothing and would have to apologize to the victors upon returning—a true loss.

After the Li family departed, the Wudang and Hua families took their leave sequentially. The Five Great Powers had arrived in phases, and they departed on the same day. When these five factions had allied earlier, they were effusively warm towards each other; upon leaving, they reverted to a cold aloofness. Even the Li and Hua families exchanged few words. It had to be said that many people were overwhelmingly pragmatic.

With the Five Great Families completely withdrawn, the Long family members began clearing the battlefield and redeployed guards at the gates. They had won; they had preserved themselves and defeated the enemy. Despite the victory, not a single person could manage a smile. Their triumph was a Pyrrhic one—they had saved the Long Family Plain, but they had failed to protect their ancestral home. Eighty percent of the Long family palace, which had stood for so many generations, was now reduced to ruins. Only the main gatehouse remained standing at the forefront, where the solitary plaque bearing the Xuanyuan Family name stood out glaringly.

With no time for grief, Long Haotian hurriedly invited Zhang Pinglu and the others into the few surviving guest quarters at the rear. Ouyang Jiankang and the others who had helped were invited along as well. The Long family deeply appreciated Ouyang Jiankang and the rest; after all, they had offered aid during their most desperate moment—they were true allies. These individuals were also feeling fortunate now; they had clearly backed the right side. The Long family was safe, and they would surely reap rewards in the future. Aside from Ouyang Jiankang, the others were privately calculating opportunities to forge ties with the Zhang family, whose immense power they had witnessed firsthand. This rout of the Five Great Families was almost entirely credited to the Zhang family. Everyone liked to latch onto a strong patron, and they were no exception. Maintaining a good relationship with the Zhang family guaranteed them at least several centuries of peace—who wouldn't seize such an opportunity?

After settling them in, Long Haotian dragged his exhausted body over to where the general Long family members were gathered. The crisis was over, but the Long family felt no ease. The Long Family Plain could not be abandoned; the home had to be rebuilt. To secure their future, they needed to do much more. At the very least, they had to solidify their relationship with the Zhang family and secure their continued support. Without the Zhang family’s protection, the Long family would instantly become a tempting delicacy again, with everyone eager to take a bite.

"Patriarch, the Third Elder is missing!" Long Zheng reported to Long Haotian in a very low voice.

In this room lay the bodies of over a dozen Long family disciples who had died in battle that day, including the First Elder Long Yi, the Second Elder Long Gao, and the Guardian Long Shen. Among the Third-Layer disciples, Long Jiu, who had given Zhang Yang trouble during his first visit, was also among the fallen. The losses incurred by the Long family this time were almost unbearable.

"Missing?" A sharp glint flashed in Long Haotian’s eyes. Long Zheng nodded solemnly.

The Third Elder, Long Jiang, was one of the most crucial figures in the Long family. He had been responsible for presiding over the grand formation during today’s battle, yet at the final moment, the Long family formation failed, leading to escalating casualties. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been forced to resort to the Dragon Transformation Art by several members. Back then, Long Haotian had felt something was amiss, but the battle was too urgent to dwell on it. Now that the fighting was completely over and the Five Great Powers had retreated from the Long Family Plain, he finally had the chance to consider the anomalies.

Not only was Long Jiang missing, but the disciples guarding the formation’s core with him had vanished as well. There was certainly a major issue buried here. Long Haotian finally understood why the news of the Ancestor’s passing—such a significant secret—had spread so quickly. Very few knew of that event, perhaps only a handful within the Long family: himself and the three Elders. Now that Long Jiang was gone, Long Haotian instantly grasped the reason. It was their Third Elder who had leaked the information.

Although this conclusion was incredibly difficult for Long Haotian to accept, it was the only possible explanation for the truth. The traitor within the Long family was their Third Elder. The Third Elder held access to all the family’s core secrets! Long Jiang was genuine Long family blood; Long Haotian desperately wanted to know why he had done this, but since Long Jiang had fled, he had no one left to question.

This matter was immediately classified as a major family secret and suppressed. Many would find it hard to accept that the Third Elder was a traitor; such a revelation would deal a crushing blow to morale, perhaps causing widespread distrust and a sense of crisis among the members. Once family pride vanished, the Long family would collapse from within, without any external attack. Publicly, they would only announce that the Third Elder Long Jiang had taken men out to scout for information, without explaining the specifics—they didn't need to explain everything.

After laying the bodies of Long Yi, Long Gao, and Long Shen together separately, all Long family members donned mourning attire. By this time, the sky had turned completely dark. The great battle had consumed most of the day, and with the cleanup, the entire day was spent. This day would be the most unforgettable in the history of the Long family.

Dressed in mourning robes, they kept vigil with the First Elder for the entire night. Early the next morning, Long Haotian packed his necessary belongings and knocked on the door of the courtyard where Zhang Yang was staying. Regardless of the outcome, the Long family still existed, and most of its disciples were alive. As Patriarch, he needed to redouble his efforts to stabilize everything and lead the Long family back to its peak.

Accompanying him was Long Feng. The Zhang family’s willingness to help them this time was entirely due to Long Feng’s connection; Long Haotian fully recognized Long Feng’s crucial role in this affair. Originally, he would have been delighted and happy to see Long Feng succeed him as Patriarch, but now he no longer held that desire. The position of Patriarch in the current Long family was not an honor but a burden, and he was unwilling to place this burden—which was rightfully his—upon Long Feng, upon his own son.

Unfortunately, this outcome could not be changed. Long Feng had to become the Patriarch, and soon. To continue securing the Zhang family's assistance, Long Feng needed to be given a significant role; Patriarch was the most suitable position, especially since such a proposal had been raised before. There was another factor: the First and Second Elders were dead, and the Third Elder was a suspected traitor with an unknown whereabouts. Long Haotian needed to appoint new Elders, or the Long family would face the awkward situation of having none. Moreover, the Guardian Long Zhao must remain, becoming the Long family's new First Elder. Long Feng as Patriarch, with Long Zhao and Long Haotian as Elders, would form the future structure of the Long family.

Therefore, visiting Zhang Yang and the others at this time necessitated bringing Long Feng along, for any of the reasons mentioned. Long Feng understood all of this himself; in the span of one night, he seemed to have matured considerably.

Third update! (To be continued)