Zhang Pinglu, who had been trailing behind, caught up and burst into loud laughter upon hearing their conversation. The three of them were the absolute pinnacle of current cultivators, all three at the Great Perfection realm.

The appearance of these three together anywhere would cause a significant stir, yet now, two of them were chuckling like children. Even Zhang Pinglu, having lived for two hundred years, could not stop his booming, uncontrollable laughter.

When his laughter finally subsided, Zhang Pinglu was suddenly struck by a wave of profound reflection. They were Great Perfection masters, the Guardians, possessing formidable power, but they also bore immense responsibilities; not a single Great Perfection master could afford the slightest misstep.

Yesterday’s Long family served as a stark example. Zhang Pinglu had personally examined Old Ghost Long’s corpse and determined the cause of his demise.

There was no external factor in Old Ghost Long’s death; it was entirely self-inflicted—born of his own unwillingness, his relentless obsession with exploring the Fifth Level. Old Ghost Long’s strength was among the very best of the Great Perfection masters.

Facing him, even Zhang Pinglu felt no certainty of victory; typically, other Great Perfection masters encountering Old Ghost Long were focused solely on self-preservation and defense. Precisely because of this, other troubling thoughts had taken root in Old Ghost Long’s own mind.

For years, while in secluded cultivation, he had been continuously probing the Fifth Level. He yearned to shatter the barrier, to become the first to ascend to Great Perfection through inheritance rather than sheer power accumulation.

He was already 280 years old; without a breakthrough, he didn't have much time left. Even Great Perfection masters yearned for longevity.

This was another reason he had resolved to seek that breakthrough. There was one more point, a crucial one: Old Ghost Long had begun exploring this path much earlier and achieved notable success.

His strength surpassing other established Great Perfection masters was the clearest proof. This also eased many of his mental burdens; at least, practicing this way wouldn't inherently harm him, and even if he failed, there was still a chance to leave behind a legacy.

Yet, this very notion almost led to the annihilation of his entire Long family. Initially, he was exceedingly cautious, and no immediate problems arose, but that didn’t mean the risks didn't exist.

These issues had merely lain dormant, finally erupting during a recent cultivation session. Even with his established strength as a veteran Great Perfection master, he could not withstand the surge this time.

Qi deviation leading to instant death was his final outcome. Subsequently, when the Elders made their routine visit, they discovered something amiss, realizing their Guardian was dead—a shock that startled them profoundly.

Before they could formulate a response, the news leaked. The Long family immediately faced its greatest crisis in over two millennia.

Had it not been for Zhang Yang’s intervention, the Long family would surely have perished. Whenever these events came to mind, Zhang Pinglu was filled with melancholy.

Life as a Great Perfection master was far from easy; it was truly exhausting. For people like Zhang Yang and Master Shi Ming to gamble and play small tricks, walking, chatting, and joking with genuine innocence, was something that had virtually ceased to happen after they attained the Great Perfection realm.

In that moment, a flood of thoughts washed over Zhang Pinglu. "Old Master!" "Layman Zhang!" Zhang Yang and Master Shi Ming both turned simultaneously, gazing at Zhang Pinglu in astonishment.

Zhang Pinglu stood motionless, eyes closed. A sphere of energy was continuously coalescing around him, and over ten meters away, a ferocious gale had erupted.

This scene was not unfamiliar to them; rather, they knew precisely what was happening. Zhang Pinglu was experiencing a new realization.

This was not a sudden enlightenment, but something superior to it—a comprehension of the Dao of Nature that offered even greater aid. Zhang Yang had experienced this type of insight several times, and each instance brought him tremendous gains.

The first time was at the Leshan Giant Buddha, where he truly touched the Dao of Nature. The second came during the cultivation of the Heaven-Shattering Sword Art, an insight that allowed him to successfully master its first stance.

The Heaven-Shattering Sword Art had been immensely beneficial to Zhang Yang; it was the technique he relied on to repel the Five Great Powers this time. The third was in the Savage Mountains, and it was that occasion which granted him the strength of a Great Perfection master, elevating him to the mid-stage of the Fourth Level Great Perfection.

Each realization brought significant transformation to Zhang Yang. In just three instances, he had become a Great Perfection master.

He wondered what benefits this realization would bring to Zhang Pinglu. Master Shi Ming, standing nearby, watched Zhang Pinglu with nothing but envy in his eyes, devoid of jealousy.

He understood that such an insight was a rare gift, and he was well aware of the immense benefits it conferred. Eight or ten years prior, he himself had experienced such a realization, which had aided him immensely.

The two men stood silently, neither speaking, waiting for Zhang Pinglu’s experience to conclude. During this process, Zhang Pinglu could not be disturbed.

However, at this moment, no one could disturb him; he was guarded by two Great Perfection masters. The natural energy surrounding Zhang Pinglu grew denser, and the gale outside intensified, turning the vicinity an ashen gray.

Within fifty meters of him, only Zhang Yang and Master Shi Ming remained untouched, clean and unaffected by the wind. "Energy Solidification!" The eyes of both Zhang Yang and Master Shi Ming snapped wide.

The energy around Zhang Pinglu had begun to manifest faint white specks. Although these specks were transparent and few, they were undeniably present.

Soon, these white specks multiplied. Following this, the outer ring of gale began to spread, with the area within three meters of Zhang Pinglu entirely consumed by the wind.

The pale white motes of light gathered and concentrated, enveloping Zhang Pinglu’s body, making him appear indistinct, phasing in and out of view. Zhang Yang’s lips suddenly curved upward into a joyful smile.

He understood the energy before him even more clearly than Master Shi Ming. This was indeed Energy Solidification.

Zhang Yang’s initial solidification had been aided by the Heaven-Shattering Sword Art before becoming entirely his own doing. One could say that without the Heaven-Shattering Sword Art, Zhang Yang would never have reached this stage.

Zhang Pinglu, however, was different; he achieved this purely through himself, relying entirely on his own effort and comprehension. Zhang Pinglu had not yet awakened, but both Zhang Yang and Master Shi Ming already knew that upon his reawakening, his strength would be significantly enhanced.

The pale white specks compressed further, now clinging tightly only to Zhang Pinglu's immediate vicinity. Beyond the three Great Perfection masters, the outside world was a haze of gray—a maelstrom of dust stirred by the wind.

From a distance, it looked like a localized sandstorm, peculiar in its confined area. Zhang Pinglu’s eyes suddenly snapped open.

"Boom!" A tremendous sound pierced the heavens, causing the very earth to tremble violently. The compressed natural energy around Zhang Pinglu immediately scattered, leaving the ground in his immediate surroundings pitted and uneven.

The moment his eyes opened, Zhang Yang and Master Shi Ming sensed danger. Both swiftly erected energy shields and rapidly retreated, pulling back with all their might, holding nothing in reserve.

This was compressed energy; neither wished to be accidentally struck by it. They retreated together in the same direction, initially moving neck and neck, but soon a gap appeared.

By the time they stabilized their footing, Zhang Yang had retreated over a hundred meters further than Master Shi Ming. When Master Shi Ming reached Zhang Yang’s side, he shot him another strange glance.

Their earlier wager had been about pure speed. Zhang Yang had used the supernatural speed of his mount, Zephyr, to cheat, and Master Shi Ming had lost.

Honestly, at that time, Master Shi Ming had felt deeply unconvinced. But now, he had no lingering complaints.

In terms of raw burst speed, Zhang Yang was in no way inferior to him. This time, he conceded defeat wholeheartedly.

"Hahahaha!" A burst of hearty laughter echoed from afar—it was Zhang Pinglu’s voice. His experience had concluded, and the gains were immense.

Like Zhang Yang, Zhang Pinglu could now achieve Energy Solidification. While what he was doing wasn't as refined as Zhang Yang’s and he couldn't unleash such a powerful energy blast, it represented a fundamental shift from before.

This was a qualitative change. Zhang Pinglu didn't dwell on it or immediately consider attempting to break through to the Fifth Level based on this minor improvement; that was unrealistic.

However, anyone who achieves progress and acquires greater power cannot help but be delighted, and Zhang Pinglu was no exception. "Old Master, congratulations!" "Layman Zhang, congratulations!" Zhang Yang and Master Shi Ming returned to Zhang Pinglu’s side, smiling as they offered their felicitations.

"Shared joy, shared joy, hahaha! Since there is such happy news, we must find a place to drink a few rounds and celebrate.

Why go anywhere else? Let’s head straight to Mount Shu, to the Li family.

Didn’t that shameless old Li say his three jars of premium Monkey Wine were free for us? We cannot miss such an opportunity!" Zhang Pinglu said, his tone vibrant, his excitement utterly unconcealed.

"Very well, let us visit the Li family on Mount Shu!" Master Shi Ming was the first to nod in agreement, endorsing Zhang Pinglu's suggestion. Zhang Yang certainly had no objection.

Li Jianyi had extended an invitation before leaving. They wished to resolve the misunderstanding with the Zhang family, and Zhang Yang also intended to use the occasion to publicize his status as the Long family Guardian, lest they still dared to covet the Long family’s assets in his absence.

The three made their decision instantly and departed directly for the Li family on Mount Shu. The speed of the trio was incredible.

It didn't take long for them to reach Mount Shu. The fastest among them was naturally Zhang Yang, and he was the most relaxed, as he rode on Zephyr’s back.

This drew extreme envy from both Zhang Pinglu and Master Shi Ming. Zephyr could carry more than one person, but given its temperament, even a Great Perfection master would not be carried without its recognition.

Clearly, neither Zhang Pinglu nor Master Shi Ming currently qualified for its approval. "Dong!" The great bell of the Li family on Mount Shu, silent for a long time, began to peal continuously.

Everyone in the main hall atop Mount Shu moved swiftly; this was the ringing of the most important guest bell, signaling the arrival of a supremely honored visitor.