Upon realizing Zhang Yang's identity, Zhao Zhichen's immediate instinct was to swiftly lead his disciples back to Emei, seal the mountain gate, and simply seek a temporary reprieve. What was about to emerge from Kunlun Mountain—a ten-thousand-year natural treasure—could never compare to the legacy of their Yitian Sect; he would rather forfeit the treasure entirely than see his sect annihilated.

If Zhang Yang truly intended to deal with their meager Yitian Sect, it would be effortless. With just a word from Zhang Yang, countless sects would surely move to wipe them out personally, all in a bid to curry favor with the Medical Saint Martial Sect.

However, after a moment's thought, Zhao Zhichen dismissed fleeing as the best strategy. The superior course of action now was to immediately take his sincerity and go personally to offer apologies and make amends. Even if Zhang Yang ultimately disdained their offerings, it would at least demonstrate the Yitian Sect's sincerity.

To the Medical Saint Zhang family, their Yitian Sect was too insignificant. Perhaps if they presented enough sincerity, the Medical Saint Wuzong might spare them. Otherwise, even if they fled back to Emei to hide, it would be utterly useless!

In his panic, Zhao Zhichen completely disregarded Long Shisi, the Fourth-Layer expert whom Zhang Yang had casually swatted away. His mind was entirely consumed with how to apologize to Zhang Yang and the Medical Saint Wuzong.

The Yitian Sect disciples finally began to stir, scrambling back to their tents to find the treasures their sect had distributed over the years.

Before long, a large pile of weapons, armor, and even some porcelain artifacts and scrolls were amassed before Zhao Zhichen. These items were a mixed bag and lacked any truly weighty significance.

Seeing these, Zhao Zhichen nearly fainted. The Yitian Sect truly seemed incapable of producing any treasure worthy of demonstrating their sincerity. Gritting his teeth fiercely, he unclasped the treasured sword he carried, casting it a lingering, reluctant glance.

This sword was the Emei Sword, passed down through generations of the Yitian Sect. It was infinitely superior to the Emei Sword held by Zhao Zhibing, practically serving as the symbol of the Yitian Sect Master. Now, Zhao Zhichen had no choice, but this sword was the only thing he could use to prove the sincerity of his apology.

At this point, the leaders of the other small sects gathered in the camp slowly recovered from their shock. Now they finally knew who those young people were, and they secretly congratulated themselves that their disciples had not offended them earlier; otherwise, their fate might have been far more miserable.

Ling Tianyun, the master of the Spirit Snake Sect, was particularly gloating. Watching Zhao Zhichen act like a clown in utter disarray, he laughed loudly, "Sect Master Zhao, what are you up to? Don't forget, you are still our alliance leader!"

"Whoever wants this dog-cursed leadership can have it! Our Yitian Sect is done. We are withdrawing and heading straight back to Emei as soon as this matter concludes!"

Zhao Zhichen had no patience for Ling Tianyun and the others. After a quick retort, he gathered the Yitian Sect disciples who were hastily packing their belongings and tents, and chased after the direction Zhang Yang had left.

The Yitian Sect disciples followed Zhao Zhichen out of the camp with their heads hung low. However, not long after leaving the camp, some younger disciples secretly slipped away from the group.

The reason they left was that after this incident, they refused to remain in the Yitian Sect, following Zhao Zhichen in constant fear.

In the end, the Yitian Sect was reduced by more than half; Zhao Zhichen could do nothing about it.

As for Zhao Hailiang, he was utterly forgotten in the camp; Zhao Zhichen didn't even take him when he left.

Ling Tianyun and the others, after casting a disdainful glance at Zhao Hailiang, certainly wouldn't take in someone who had offended a disciple of the Medical Saint Wuzong. He turned to look at the other sect masters with a cold, chuckling sneer.

"Esteemed Sect Masters, it seems Sect Master Zhao will not be staying in our camp, so then..."

"Sect Master Ling, before the Yitian Sect arrived, we recommended you as our leader. Now is the perfect time; why don't you take the role of our leader again!"

"Yes, we must unite, otherwise, we certainly won't gain any benefit when this rare treasure emerges."

"Very well, I shall be the leader. As for this Zhao Hailiang, the apostate of the Yitian Sect, he can serve as a gift to appease the Medical Saint Zhang family!"

Saying this, Ling Tianyun looked at Zhao Hailiang, his mind already made up.

The other sect masters followed Ling Tianyun’s gaze toward Zhao Hailiang; not one of them showed him any sympathy.

Zhao Hailiang felt tears welling up, unable to fathom that Yan Yefei and Li Juan, whom he had always looked down upon, turned out to be Zhang Yang's disciples. Especially when he saw the way Ling Tianyun and the others looked at him, he suddenly felt a chill run through his entire body, as if he had plunged into an ice cave.

His fate seemed already sealed.

Zhao Zhichen led the Yitian Sect disciples, pursuing the direction Zhang Yang had taken with great effort. After exchanging words with countless passing miscellaneous sects, he finally managed to ascertain that after arriving at Kunlun, Zhang Yang was residing in Longjia Plain, so now he had to rush to Longjia Plain to offer his personal apology.

Currently, not even the Hua family from Changbai Mountain or the Li family from Shu Shan could gain entry to Longjia Plain, let alone a small sect like the Yitian Sect, which barely qualified as first-rate.

Soon, all the sects gathered near Kunlun Mountain knew that a rash, second-rate sect, ignorant of Zhang Yang, had offended the Medical Saint Wuzong and was now desperately trying to find a way to apologize to the Medical Saint Zhang family residing in Longjia Plain.

And Ling Tianyun, the master of the Spirit Snake Sect who had taken charge of the camp formerly led by the Yitian Sect, made no attempt to conceal what had happened. He even publicly announced that the renowned successor of the Medical Saint Zhang family, celebrated throughout the cultivation world, had spent a night lodging in their camp.

After the news that Zhang Yang had stayed in their camp circulated, the small sects allied with Ling Tianyun suddenly saw their reputations soar, and many similarly sized allied forces rushed to curry favor with Ling Tianyun.

Ling Tianyun, who had replaced Zhao Zhichen as the alliance leader, was now enjoying immense prestige. He was fully aware that all of this was due to Zhang Yang's influence. From time to time, he would secretly sigh, grateful that he hadn't offended Zhang Yang back then; otherwise, his fate would have been even more miserable than Zhao Zhichen’s.

This matter spread rapidly through Kunlun Mountain. Soon, every sect in the cultivation world, big or small, knew that the illustrious successor of the Medical Saint Zhang family had established his own sect called the Medical Saint Martial Sect. And Zhang Yang was the Sect Master of the Medical Saint Martial Sect.

In just a few days, the fame of the Medical Saint Martial Sect surpassed that of the millennium-old great families, as well as the Shaolin and Wudang sects, becoming the most dazzling sect in the current cultivation world.

There was no choice in the matter, as the current leader of the Medical Saint Martial Sect was the foremost figure in the cultivation world: Zhang Yang.

And the Yitian Sect, still down at the foot of Kunlun Mountain trying every means possible to apologize to Zhang Yang through the Long family, became the recognized laughingstock of the cultivation world.

As for Yan Yefei and Li Juan, they also garnered significant attention in the cultivation world due to this incident. Now, the young disciples of every sect envied them for having been able to join the Medical Saint Martial Sect.

After all, apart from Zhang Yang, the Medical Saint Martial Sect reportedly boasted only a handful of select members, and being one of those few was naturally enough to incite immense envy.

Of course, these were matters for later.

Shortly after Zhao Zhichen and his group departed, an old man was left hanging on a withered tree outside the camp in the barren northwest wilderness. The tree’s bare branches already held few leaves, but when this person fell from the sky and slammed into the branches, many of the remaining leaves dropped, making the tree look even more desolate.

After spitting out another mouthful of blood, the old man fell from the branch onto the ground. He slowly got up, leaning against the trunk of the withered tree, and it took a good while before he managed to recover.

This old man was none other than Long Shisi, who had been casually swatted out of the camp by Zhang Yang earlier. At this moment, he felt terrible.

A strike formed by the manifestation of Great Perfection energy, even if delivered casually with a slight wave, was not something an ordinary cultivator could easily withstand. Furthermore, he had been completely unprepared, absorbing the full impact of that white light.

Zhang Yang’s control over heaven and earth energy had clearly reached a terrifying level; this casual strike of his was far more potent than a strike delivered by another Great Perfection master. Fortunately, Long Shisi had reached the Fourth Layer of Inner Strength long ago, keeping his body robust; otherwise, this blow would have easily cost him three to four parts of his life force.

Moreover, this was the desolate and uninhabited northwest. If he had suffered such severe injuries, where would Long Shisi find spiritual medicine for healing?

Long Shisi had only coughed up a few mouthfuls of blood and been thrown out of the camp, but his foundation remained intact. After a short rest, concentrating on regulating his breathing and nourishing his qi, he felt mostly recovered after half an hour.

Standing up, Long Shisi spat a thick glob of phlegm onto the ground with a curse!

Great Perfection!

From that final move the young man made, he was certain the other party had absolutely reached the Great Perfection realm. Looking at it this way, the young man's identity immediately became clear.

There was only one person in the cultivation world who had reached Great Perfection at the age of twenty-something: Zhang Yang!

Considering that the name of the sect he mentioned—Medical Saint Martial Sect—coincidentally contained the words "Medical Saint," Long Shisi became even more certain.

After confirming his injuries were not serious, Long Shisi did not return to the camp, nor did he have any intention of finding Zhao Zhichen of the Yitian Sect. He turned, fixed on a direction, and strode forward.

Long Shisi’s speed was incredible as he galloped across the deserted wilderness of the northwest. After changing direction several times, he arrived at a remote corner of this barren land.

This area was filled with towering boulders, resulting in countless caves and grottoes, though they were scattered chaotically, resembling a veritable graveyard of rocks.