After concluding the tale of the Long Family Plains, the young man shifted his narrative to other matters concerning Zhang Yang.

Most of these subsequent anecdotes were fabrications of his own making, yet they were woven with such skill that they painted Zhang Yang as the quintessential hero. Young men are prone to hero worship, and Zhang Yang was his idol; naturally, only the most superlative adjectives were employed.

Yan Yefei and Li Juan listened, their astonishment growing with every word.

It was only now that they truly grasped the extent of Zhang Yang’s might and power. Before this, they knew he was a practitioner of Neijin, a powerful one at that, but the precise magnitude of his prowess remained elusive. Only after gaining genuine insight into the world of Neijin cultivation did they realize Zhang Yang stood among the absolute apex of practitioners.

Furthermore, Zhang Yang was heralded as perhaps the most brilliant genius in millennia.

The realization that such a talent had offered to take them on as disciples, granting them the opportunity to cultivate, only to have them forfeit it due to their own conceited notions, left the pair wracked with regret.

Both desperately wished they could rewind time, back to the moment Zhang Yang had extended his offer, certain they would not refuse a second time.

Alas, regret’s antidote is the scarcest commodity in this world.

Trapped within the Li Family compound, they were as helpless as newborns; leaving was an impossibility.

They had tried before to leverage their connection to the Zhang lineage of the Medical Sage. During their last attempt to secure a Marrow Cleansing Pill, Yan Yefei had mentioned knowing Zhang Yang to a certain Li Family disciple, but the man had dismissed their claims entirely, meeting them with further derision and mockery.

Yan Yefei could still vividly recall the sound of that Li Family disciple’s booming laughter when he recounted the tale.

“If you had known this day would come, why did you act as you did?”

Yan Yefei couldn’t help but sigh, barely registering the rest of the young man’s ongoing eulogy of Zhang Yang. The more magnificent the youth portrayed Zhang Yang, the deeper his own remorse became.

“Old Yan, what did you say?”

His sigh was rather loud, catching the attention of the young man currently holding court atop a large boulder. This speaker had already cultivated Neijin—though only to the mid-stage of the first layer—he was still considerably stronger than Yan Yefei.

“Nothing, I said nothing!”

Yan Yefei hastily shook his head. Here, he was merely a servant, while this young man was the son of the steward; offending him would surely bring no benefit.

The young man shot him a look of deep displeasure and was about to resume his oration when his expression suddenly shifted.

The sound of an ancient bell rang out, startlingly crisp in the mountain air.

“That’s the highest-grade Guest Welcoming Bell. Which VIP has arrived?”

The young man exclaimed in surprise. Though he had never heard this particular chime before, the family’s protocols were ingrained in him, and he quickly deciphered the bell’s meaning.

“I don’t know, but it must be an important guest. Brother Hua, shall we go take a look?”

The other young men below grew visibly excited. The arrival of a distinguished guest meant many prominent figures within the family would surely emerge to greet them—a rare chance to glimpse some truly important people.

“Alright, let’s go see!”

Youngsters thrive on excitement. The speaker leaped down from the boulder and quickly sprinted toward one side.

The group of over twenty youths immediately followed, leaving only Yan Yefei and Li Juan standing still.

“Forget it, let’s go look too,”

After a moment, Yan Yefei gently shook his head. He was currently consumed by regret, and frankly, he held little genuine interest in the identity of the arriving guest.

Today was one of their rare days off, otherwise, they wouldn't even have been present to hear the tales of Zhang Yang.

It was indeed Zhang Yang and his two companions who were arriving at the Li Family grounds.

Before the trio even set foot on the property, their Great Perfection auras had already spread out, signaling their presence to the Li Family.

Li Jianyi, the Great Perfection expert of the Li Family, dared not show any negligence. He immediately ordered the highest-level Guest Welcoming Bell to be struck and personally led the elders and the Clan Head to the mountain gate to welcome them.

A single Great Perfection master warranted the status of honored guest; three arriving simultaneously demanded the utmost reverence.

It was the first time in many years that the Li Family had hosted so many Great Perfection experts, and among them was the youngest Great Perfection expert Zhang Yang, whose aura Li Jianyi had already indelibly memorized.

They had not waited long at the entrance when a flash of white appeared first.

Zhang Yang, mounted upon Zhuifeng, appeared exquisitely dashing, sparking considerable envy among the younger disciples of the Li Family standing behind.

“The honored guest has arrived; we have failed to meet you sooner. Forgive our tardiness, forgive our tardiness!”

Li Jianyi strode forward, cupping his fists in a respectful bow. The arriving party comprised Great Perfection masters, so the reception party had to be led by one of their own.

“Brother Li, you are too kind!”

Zhang Yang dismounted, and immediately two more figures arrived behind him: Zhang Pinglu and Master Shi Ming.

Having received the three Great Perfection masters, Li Jianyi led them inward. The Clan Head and the elders could only follow slowly behind; only the four of them walked at the forefront.

The Neijin cultivation world was a place structured rigidly by hierarchy.

After they departed, a throng of other Li Family members gathered—disciples and servants alike who had rushed over upon hearing the welcome bell.

This group included the earlier cluster of youths and the couple, Yan Yefei and Li Juan.

Upon learning that one of the distinguished guests was none other than Zhang Yang, the youths were overcome with regret. The young man who had been recounting Zhang Yang’s exploits began to beat his chest and wail in despair.

Such a wonderful chance to see his idol, now completely missed.

He failed to notice the Yan Yefei couple trailing behind them; upon hearing Zhang Yang’s name, surprise blossomed on their faces, their very muscles twitching.

Zhang Yang and his companions had already entered the Li Estate, but many people lingered at the gate. These individuals had not caught sight of the trio and waited, hoping to see what Zhang Yang looked like upon his departure.

Many were engaged in animated conversation, querying those who had seen Zhang Yang moments before.

When they learned that Zhang Yang had arrived astride a spirit horse, Zhuifeng, with breathtaking elegance, more people became reluctant to leave. Some who had duties forced them away still instructed their comrades to notify them the moment Zhang Yang reappeared.

These were the individuals unqualified to enter the core areas of the family; otherwise, they would have long since rushed inside instead of waiting at the main gate.

The Li Family’s architectural style was also antique; most thousand-year-old clans maintained ancient designs, having been constructed long ago.

The Li Family was situated in the mountains, offering an abundance of trees and stone. Along the pathways, one occasionally spotted meticulously constructed artificial gardens. Environmentally, this setting was comparable to the Long Family Plains, only the cultivation conditions were not as conducive.

This was Zhang Yang’s first visit to the Li Family. He had passed by Mount Shu several times previously, and even skirted the Li Family’s vicinity when he was being pursued by Hu Yanfeng—though at the time, he had no idea the Li Family resided there.

Upon entering the rear hall, only the four of them remained.

Li Jianyi felt no displeasure at Zhang Yang’s sudden visit; on the contrary, he felt a great weight lift from his shoulders.

Regarding the events at the Long Family, the details had not been fully clarified due to the crowd present during their departure. Li Jianyi had worried that if the Five Great Powers fractured, the Zhang Family or the Long Family might exploit this ambiguity to strike at them, prompting him to make defensive preparations.

Now that the three had arrived together and made no mention of prior issues, he finally felt relieved.

The Premium Monkey Wine truly was exceptional, which explained why Li Jianyi had previously sought to use it to entertain Zhang Yang.

Moreover, crafting Premium Monkey Wine was extremely arduous, requiring significant time and incomparably valuable ingredients. Its components included not one, but several Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. A single sip offered an effect comparable to a standard spirit medicine.

Even for a Great Perfection master like Li Jianyi, he possessed only three jars of this vintage remaining.

He produced all three jars at once for this occasion, honoring his word. However, the intermittent twitching of the muscles in his face clearly betrayed his profound heartache.

Three jars for four people meant they could not finish it all in one sitting. Even Great Perfection experts could not metabolize an entire jar at once, much like one could not consume too much spirit medicine in a single dose.

In the end, the four of them drank two jars, and Zhuifeng, Wuying, and Shandian also received their portions.

These three little ones, having followed Zhang Yang constantly and smelled the wine’s fragrance, naturally could not forgo such delicacies. After each consumed a bowl, they quickly fell into deep slumber, allowing their bodies to process the medicinal essence of the spirit wine.

Even Master Shi Ming partook generously this time.

Master Shi Ming usually abstained from alcohol, but the allure of Premium Monkey Wine was irresistible, especially since this brew was less true liquor and more akin to a potent spirit medicine.

Having drunk two jars, Zhang Yang and the others felt a distinct intoxication. They decided to remain there to rest.

The after-effects of the Monkey Wine were notoriously potent. Due to the inclusion of spirit medicines, even Great Perfection masters could not disperse the residual effects using Neijin; they simply had to endure it.

The next day, the three bade farewell. Li Jianyi presented them with numerous gifts upon their departure.

He had already learned that Zhang Yang had become the Guardian of the Long Family, a fact that surprised him.

Appointing an outsider to safeguard one's family was a remarkably bold move by the Long Family. The Li Family, in their estimation, would never dare place the entirety of their affairs into the hands of an outsider.

Concealed on either side of the main gate of the Li Family grounds were more than thirty individuals, most of whom were young servants.

“They’re coming, they’re here!”

A boy who looked barely thirteen or fourteen ran forward, shouting the announcement. The hidden group quickly rose and took their positions near the main entrance.

They frantically smoothed their clothes, some even adjusting their hairstyles, hoping to catch an extra glance from their idol.

The Li Family was not excessively strict, apart from prohibiting unauthorized excursions beyond the mountain. As these young men merely wished to see Zhang Yang and lined up so neatly, no one bothered to question them.

Not just them; many direct disciples of the Li Family had also converged here, positioning themselves firmly in the best viewing spots.

“Fei Ge, are you truly determined to do this?”

At the very edge, in an inconspicuous spot, Li Juan gripped Yan Yefei’s hand and asked in a whisper.

Yan Yefei’s hand tightened unnaturally, and he nodded firmly. This was their last chance. To live out his remaining years as a servant within the Li Family—he would rather die. It was better to take a desperate gamble.