The pills Zhang Yang produced were the ordinary ones he had refined at home before his internship at Jinghe Hospital. These pills inherently served to solidify one's foundation and nurture vital energy. Administering them to those harmed by the residual energy not only eliminated the lingering effects but also miraculously boosted their inner strength.

"Sect Master, you're finally awake!"

The middle-aged man who had previously implored Zhang Yang to sober up the unconscious members of the Spirit Beast Sect immediately rushed forward, his voice trembling with excitement as he saw the elder's complexion rosy and his condition returned to normal.

"Xiao Qi, what happened? Why do I feel like my inner strength is much more abundant?"

Once recovered, the elder glanced at Zhang Yang, who was still distributing pills to the others, and quietly asked the middle-aged man.

"Sect Master, it was these esteemed seniors who woke you up and generously bestowed these miraculous pills upon us."

The middle-aged man quickly explained. Merely inhaling the faint fragrance emanating from the pills had refreshed his mind and spirit, confirming their extraordinary value. He was at a loss for words regarding the gratitude he owed Zhang Yang and his companions for offering such precious medicine.

The elder had taken a pill himself and keenly understood its importance. Given that they had so generously shared these medicines, the prior trespass into the Spirit Beast Sect's territory could instantly be forgiven, especially since these visitors seemed genuinely intent on helping them.

Of course, even if he were unwilling, he had no choice. The immense power Zhang Yang had demonstrated already surpassed his comprehension. After all, the Spirit Beast Sect was merely a small faction hidden deep in the mountains, relying on a tenuous connection with a Third-Tier Spirit Beast for protection while cultivating in seclusion.

He had already recognized the Spirit Beast that had injured their Sacred Beast as the legendary Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox. However, he never anticipated that this fox would undergo successive mutations, increasing its power each time. Subtly, the elder even recalled a secret history concerning mutated Spirit Beasts; the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox’s previous appearance, radiating pure malevolence, bore a striking resemblance to the mutated beasts described in that hidden lore.

After Zhang Yang finished distributing the pills to every member of the Spirit Beast Sect, he returned to Zhang Pinglu’s side. Pu Chengen was dead here, and the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox was now submerged in the large pit behind the cliffside stream. The immediate danger had passed.

South Korea had only sent one person this time; next time, it might be two or three. Zhang Yang had already resolved to speak with the Old Master later, asking him to include him when meeting the state-affiliated cultivators. He needed to have a proper exchange with them.

Since the other party served Huaxia as part of the national apparatus, they could no longer afford to ignore this matter. Furthermore, Japan, which had lost the national treasure Muramasa demon blade, still had no representative appear. Zhang Yang refused to believe the Japanese would swallow that insult without seeking revenge.

Moreover, since these cultivators were affiliated with the state, they must know how the Koreans had treated this Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox, causing its unnatural mutation into a Demonic Beast.

Qiao Yihong, standing nearby, opened the sack containing the Spirit Beast Phantom Wolf and administered the antidote pill intended for the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox. Now that the immediate crisis was over, he planned to return this Phantom Wolf, captured by Pu Chengen, to the old man from Purple Gold Village. The elder surely missed his 'Big Black Dog' terribly, though it was uncertain if the old man would recognize the magnificent Phantom Wolf as his old pet.

This Phantom Wolf was poisoned by the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox and had also ingested anesthetic pills specially prepared by Pu Chengen. Although it had received the antidote, it remained unconscious and had not yet awakened.

"Esteemed seniors, since you have honored my Spirit Beast Sect with your presence, might I invite you to rest a while at our humble dwelling?" The elder, the Sect Master, seeing the subtle signs that Zhang Yang and his group intended to depart, quickly stepped forward and extended the invitation.

"There's no need for such courtesy, Sect Master. We came solely to deal with this scoundrel who sought to cause mayhem on Huaxia's soil. Now that he is dealt with, our business here is concluded."

Zhang Yang looked up at the sky; the moon was beginning to descend as the sun slowly ascended, signaling the approach of dawn.

At this hour, Zhang Yang estimated Mi Xue would soon wake up. To prevent her from becoming anxious upon finding him gone, he politely declined the invitation from the Spirit Beast Sect Master.

"Yangyang, the Purple Gold Tea of the Spirit Beast Sect is quite famous. It won't be too late for us to stay for a bowl of tea before leaving," the Old Master suddenly accepted the Sect Master's invitation, subtly giving Zhang Yang a significant look as he spoke.

Hearing Zhang Pinglu's response, the Spirit Beast Sect Master's eyes lit up, and he turned to Zhang Yang, hoping for a change of heart.

Zhang Yang frowned. The Old Master's action clearly implied a hidden motive, though what it was, he couldn't yet fathom. However, since the Old Master had spoken, sparing time for a cup of tea seemed feasible.

Seeing Zhang Yang nod, a wave of delight washed over the Spirit Beast Sect Master's face. He quickly gestured them forward and then turned to the middle-aged man, commanding, "Xiao Qi, hurry and prepare the finest Purple Gold Tea to entertain these esteemed seniors!"

"Yes!"

The middle-aged man, having received the order, immediately led a few others away. This canyon paradise was the territory of their Spirit Beast Sect; they knew precisely where to locate the supreme Purple Gold Mountain tea leaves.

Lightning and Shadow were still looking up at the sky, the two little ones gazing intently in the direction the Roc had flown, as if waiting for its return.

Zhang Yang, Zhang Pinglu, and Qiao Yihong followed the Spirit Beast Sect Master into a wooden cabin. The elder pulled out a chair and sat before a table, inviting the three to sit. Just then, the middle-aged man, whom the elder called Xiao Qi, entered carrying four cups of tea.

"Please sample this, the finest Purple Gold Tea, brewed with water from the cliffside stream."

The elder waved his hand, and as he did, the middle-aged man promptly retreated from the cabin, leaving only the elder and the three visitors inside.

"Old Sect Master, whatever you wish to say, please speak plainly," Zhang Pinglu, a Grand Completion cultivator who had long resided in Changjing, was not unfamiliar with the existence of the Spirit Beast Sect. Though the elder did not know Zhang Pinglu, that did not mean the elder’s knowledge was superior to his own regarding spiritual beasts.

"It is this: I wish to inquire about the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox. Do you gentlemen know anything about it?" The elder glanced cautiously at Zhang Pinglu, hesitated for a moment, and then abandoned the intention to exchange pleasantries, speaking directly.

"You mean to say, you know about that mutated Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox?" Zhang Yang’s interest was piqued by the elder’s words.

"Say what you know," Zhang Pinglu regarded the Spirit Beast Sect Master calmly. While the elder's inner strength cultivation might not be high, his knowledge of Spirit Beasts was likely no less than his own.

"Gentlemen, in our Spirit Beast Sect's Records of Spirit Beasts, there is a documented secret history concerning the mutation of Spirit Beasts. And this matter bears a striking resemblance to that mutated Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox."

The elder honestly recounted what he knew, then looked at Zhang Yang and his companions again, asking, "Have you seniors heard of Spirit Beasts falling into degradation and becoming Demonic Beasts?"

Zhang Yang's eyes brightened. Just moments ago, he had seen the matter of 'falling into degradation as Demonic Beasts' on the task panel of the Sacred Hand System, and this elder clearly knew more about Spirit Beasts becoming Demonic Beasts.

"You know about these things?"

Seeing Zhang Yang’s interest, the elder gradually lost his apprehension and opened up.

"Yes. In that secret history, someone researched a method involving making Spirit Beasts fight each other, raising them in a manner similar to the Gu-raising techniques of the Southern Frontier. By threatening the beasts with life and death, their maximum potential was forcibly unlocked to enhance their power, supplemented by special medicinal feeding. Spirit Beasts that survived this process were termed 'Degraded Spirit Beasts.'

"Among the surviving Degraded Spirit Beasts, there was an extremely low probability of one mutating into a 'Mutated Spirit Beast,' filling it with violent, murderous aggression. Once the beast mutated, after slaughtering everything in sight, a Spirit Beast Inner Elixir would condense within its body. Using this method, even a Second-Tier Spirit Beast could condense an Inner Elixir. Such a beast loses all its sentience, becoming no different from a savage animal, hence the name Demonic Beast. According to the records, inner strength cultivators who consume this Spirit Beast Inner Elixir can directly enhance their inner strength cultivation."

The elder finished speaking in one breath, took a sip from his teacup, and continued, "When I saw that Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox earlier, it perfectly matched the description of an incompletely degraded Spirit Beast in the records. Once it completely mutated, I was even more certain that someone is using this cruel and inhumane method to raise Spirit Beasts."

Zhang Yang and Zhang Pinglu exchanged glances. What the Spirit Beast Sect Master spoke of was something even the Zhang family of Medical Sages had never heard of.

As for his assertion that someone was using this method to raise beasts, that naturally pointed to those Koreans!

Zhang Yang's hands clenched into fists, veins bulging on his arms.

"No wonder these Korean cultivators suddenly arrived in Huaxia to wildly hunt Spirit Beasts—is this what they were after?" Old Master Zhang Pinglu slammed the table, rising to address the Spirit Beast Sect Master, "No! You must come with me to meet some people and tell them about this!"

What the Old Master meant was naturally taking the Spirit Beast Sect Master to meet those state-affiliated cultivators. To guard against Korean cultivators secretly hunting Spirit Beasts across the entire nation, this matter needed to be brought to their attention.

"I have no problem; I can go with you," the Spirit Beast Sect Master readily agreed, but immediately his expression soured, followed by a slump of defeat. "But could the esteemed seniors grant me a few days? Just until I resolve the issue of our sect’s hidden location being exposed, then I can leave with you, is that permissible?"