A sharp nasal sound exploded across the villa courtyard like thunder, and it was precisely this snort that jolted Jiang Tianxia, who had been about to kneel and beg Zhang Yang for mercy, back to his senses.

His expression shifted several times before Jiang Tianxia recovered from the shock of Zhang Yang’s materialized energy attack. Almost reflexively, he twisted his head, his entire gaze fixing on the mysterious figure in the black cloak behind him; that thunderous snort had originated from this very person.

Jiang Tianxia’s legs still trembled faintly. He knew exactly what a Fifth Layer expert signified, and moreover, this person had three extraordinarily powerful spirit beasts supporting him. How could his Jiang family possibly contend with such a formidable opponent?

Even now, Jiang Tianxia felt his scalp prickle and his breathing was severely constricted. This situation had not occurred since he cultivated his inner force to the Third Layer, illustrating the immense pressure Zhang Yang had brought upon him.

At this moment, Jiang Tianxia believed that the only one who could save their Jiang family was this mysterious figure whose power was equally unfathomable.

Jiang Tianxia had no idea of this man’s origins; in fact, this was only their second meeting.

When the man first arrived, he brought a young man who claimed to be from the Zhang family of the Medical Saints, demanding that the Jiang family shelter this youth. The Zhang family of the Medical Saints was renowned. For a disciple of such a great lineage to request shelter from a minor lineage like theirs could only mean he had provoked enemies too dangerous to name. Consequently, the Jiang family was reluctant to take him in. Then, the entire Jiang family was defeated in a single move by this mysterious man, forcing them to accept the young man.

Unexpectedly, after the mysterious man departed, the young man revealed half of a remnant peerless poison scripture, which truly made everyone in the Jiang family’s eyes burn with avarice.

Under the heavy lure of profit, the Jiang family began treating the young man with the utmost care and luxury, yet they secretly appropriated that half of the peerless poison scripture for themselves.

It was thanks to this incomplete scripture that the Jiang family was fortunate enough to gain the favor of the ancient Hu Yan family, thus latching onto their grand vessel. This allowed the formerly obscure Jiang family to leap from being a completely insignificant minor lineage to the foremost great family in the northern suburbs within just a few years, with the prospect of joining the ranks of first and second-tier great families in the future being almost certain.

Who could have imagined that just as the Jiang family was flourishing, they would incur the enmity of an enemy of this Fifth Layer expert, who would arrive seeking vengeance to wipe out the entire Jiang clan?

Jiang Tianxia looked at the mysterious figure behind him with eyes full of extreme supplication. The look clearly conveyed the message: if he would only help the Jiang family through this immediate crisis, the Jiang family would absolutely not refuse any subsequent demand the mysterious man might have.

“Who told you he is a Fifth Layer expert?” The mysterious man ignored Jiang Tianxia’s pleading gaze, seemingly asking himself the question.

Zhang Yang immediately frowned. The mysterious man’s voice was entirely like an electronically synthesized sound emitted by a machine, slightly hoarse while causing faint echoes in the ear, utterly devoid of any emotional coloring.

This voice, one could tell instantly, was fake, an attempt to conceal his identity and be deliberately cryptic.

“Ah?” Jiang Tianxia stiffened upon hearing this, daring not to believe it, and asked, “Isn't the outward projection of inner force, manifesting form from nothingness, the hallmark of an inner force Fifth Layer expert?”

Although the mysterious man was entirely shrouded by the black cloak, everyone present could feel the disdain in his response to Jiang Tianxia’s statement.

The Jiang family was, after all, merely a minor lineage without any deep foundation. The mere fact that they knew of the existence of Great Perfection and the Inner Force Fifth Layer was a miracle. The mysterious man hadn't expected him to distinguish Zhang Yang's move from that of a true Great Perfection or Fifth Layer expert.

“At most, he possesses the strength of the mid-stage of the Fourth Layer of Inner Force,” the mysterious man suddenly raised a hand, pointing at Zhang Yang, and said in that eerie voice, “He was merely fortunate enough to obtain a peerless secret manual and comprehend the Way of Nature, achieving the Great Perfection stage, which allows him to barely reach the level of projecting inner force externally and forming it into nothingness!”

Hearing the mysterious man say this, Jiang Tianxia’s eyes lit up, and the flame of hope reignited in his heart. Listening to the mysterious man’s words, Zhang Yang did not seem so formidable to him, and it appeared this great figure had no intention of abandoning the Jiang family.

Meanwhile, Yan Liangfei, standing nearby, had long been stunned by Zhang Yang. Both the earlier attack of projecting inner force to materialize a form, and the mysterious man’s subsequent assessment of Zhang Yang’s strength, were unbelievable to him.

He had always believed that Zhang Yang’s personal strength was only slightly greater than his own, and that he relied entirely on his status as a descendant of the Zhang family of the Medical Saints, along with the three spirit beasts—Lightning, Chasing Wind, and Shadowless—to possess the power necessary to help him reach the Jiang family’s doorstep for revenge!

Who knew that Zhang Yang’s own strength was so extraordinary? Yan Liangfei had never heard of the Great Perfection stage or the Fifth Layer of Inner Force before. In his view, a Fourth Layer expert was already the peak master. However, judging by the Jiang family’s attitude and the mysterious man’s words, Yan Liangfei understood that the Great Perfection realm or the Fifth Layer of Inner Force were legendary levels of attainment!

Zhang Yang’s eyes narrowed sharply, and he advanced another step, his entire body tense, projecting an indescribable solemnity!

“Jijiji!”

“Zhizhi zhi!”

Lightning and Shadowless, the two little ones, seemed to sense the threat posed by the mysterious man. They immediately stared at him, exerting pressure to assist Zhang Yang.

Even Chasing Wind slowly approached, raising its head proudly, glaring fiercely at the mysterious man, and let out a loud snort, seemingly mocking the man for hiding his face, daring not to show himself, and even falsifying his own voice.

The mysterious man maintained the exact same dismissive attitude.

Zhang Yang was also speculating about the identity of this mysterious man, who could see through Zhang Yang’s strength at a glance, yet Zhang Yang could not gauge the man’s power at all. This demanded caution from Zhang Yang.

Initially, Zhang Yang suspected the mysterious man was relying on some powerful secret technique to conceal his true strength, making it impossible to gauge his depth. But now, it seemed this mysterious man absolutely possessed strength beyond the late-stage Great Perfection of the Fourth Layer, perhaps even reaching the Fifth Layer of Inner Force!

Thinking of this, a profound fighting spirit surged from the depths of Zhang Yang’s heart!

Zhang Yang had encountered and fought experts at the Great Perfection of the Fourth Layer of Inner Force before, but he had never fought an expert at the Fifth Layer of Inner Force. Now, an excellent opportunity presented itself.

With Lightning, Chasing Wind, and Shadowless all having reached the Fourth Layer of spirit beasts, coupled with Zhang Yang himself, they certainly possessed the strength for a battle.

Zhang Yang laughed heartily, his entire body erupting with fighting spirit, bursting with high morale. He looked directly at the mysterious man without the slightest hint of timidity, declaring loudly, “Ha ha, then, do you dare to fight me!”

Hearing this, Yan Liangfei, standing beside Zhang Yang, felt his blood surge with excitement. Looking at Zhang Yang, his eyes were filled only with adoration.

As for the members of the Jiang family, including Jiang Tianxia, they dared not look directly at Zhang Yang, as if Zhang Yang were the scorching sun itself, radiating boundless light.

Silence descended upon the entire scene!

Faced with Zhang Yang’s provocation, the mysterious man surprisingly stopped speaking, maintaining his original stance facing Zhang Yang.

No one dared to draw a breath; all eyes were focused entirely on the mysterious man and Zhang Yang.

All members of the Jiang family knew that the key to their family’s survival now rested on this mysterious figure. If this man defeated Zhang Yang, their Jiang family could naturally survive this calamity safely. But if the mysterious man was defeated by Zhang Yang… the consequences afterward were unimaginable.

Yan Liangfei’s admiration for Zhang Yang had become blind faith; in his heart, he harbored no doubt that the mysterious man standing in the way of his vengeance was no match for Zhang Yang.

“Jie jie…” Just as everyone eagerly awaited the mysterious man’s move, he suddenly let out a strange laugh, his lips moving slightly, murmuring a phrase: “It is not yet time for you and I to fight…”

And this sentence, the mysterious man transmitted it directly into Zhang Yang’s ears using the secret sound transmission technique. Whether it was the Jiang family members beside him or Yan Liangfei next to Zhang Yang, they only heard the mysterious man’s sinister laughter and not this sentence.

Zhang Yang frowned, momentarily failing to grasp the meaning of the mysterious man’s words.

Following this, after his strange laugh, the mysterious man spoke aloud, “Didn’t the head of the Jiang family already state that this is merely a small grievance between their Yan family and the Jiang family, having nothing to do with you or me? Since it is irrelevant to us, why should we fight?”

As soon as the mysterious man uttered these words, Jiang Tianxia’s face instantly turned pale again. He never expected that when faced with Zhang Yang’s challenge, he would say such a thing?

Jiang Tianxia had never witnessed the mysterious man fight, but judging by the fact that the man always appeared and vanished without a trace, entering and exiting any place as if no one were around, coupled with his ability to instantly discern Zhang Yang’s strength, he likely was no weaker than Zhang Yang. Yet, for the mysterious man to say this now, wasn't it equivalent to telling everyone that he dared not respond to Zhang Yang’s provocation, much less engage him in battle!

Just as everyone in the Jiang family thought they had misheard, the mysterious man’s next statement utterly crushed all of Jiang Tianxia’s hopes.

“It is your business if you wish to help the Yan family, but I have no connection with the Jiang family, so why should I help the Jiang family fight you?” The mysterious man ignored Zhang Yang’s towering battle intent and continued speaking, “I came here only because I intended to reclaim what the Jiang family owes me. Now that I have retrieved it, I have nothing more to do here. What you decide to do next has nothing to do with me.”

With that, the mysterious man walked down the steps by himself and proceeded toward the main gate of the villa courtyard, ignoring everyone. As he had stated, he held no interest in what would happen to the Jiang family next.