Unknown to all, the four Great Perfection experts from Shaolin, Wudang, the Li family, and the Hua family had met in secret and reached an agreement to join forces.

These four Great Perfection masters naturally could not publicize such a deeply embarrassing matter, so even the Abbots of Wudang and Shaolin, and the Patriarchs of the Li and Hua families, remained completely unaware of it.

Within the allied camp of the Southern Border Demon Gate and the Zhou family, the atmosphere was no longer as tranquil as before. Since news spread that Zhang Yang had arrived at the Dragon Family Plain, the Demon Gate's Great Perfection expert, Di Wanfang, and the Zhou Family's Great Perfection expert had been holding secret discussions with increasing frequency and duration.

"Brother Zhou, this time, we must obtain the Ten Thousand Year Peaches of Immortality, no matter what!"

Inside a massive tent, Di Wanfang's face was deathly pale, yet it couldn't conceal his fervent excitement. He had repeated this statement countless times recently.

It seemed the injuries sustained during their previous engagement on the Dragon Family Plain had not fully healed. Di Wanfang's face was ashen, and he would occasionally cough. He fixed his gaze upon the Zhou Family's Great Perfection expert, his eyes blazing with fury, and continued through gritted teeth, "If the Ten Thousand Year Peaches of Immortality fall into the hands of the Medical Saint Zhang family, who in the entire cultivation world will be their match?"

Observing Di Wanfang's pallor, the Zhou Family's Great Perfection expert remained utterly expressionless, sitting calmly without offering any response to Di Wanfang's urgency.

"Brother Zhou, I say the same thing again: this time, I don't need the Ten Thousand Year Peaches of Immortality. I can even promise that from now on, our Demon Gate in the Southern Border will recognize your Zhou family as the paramount leader. There is only one condition: kill Zhang Yang!"

Di Wanfang's hatred for Zhang Yang was like a monstrous, surging tide. It was no wonder; after the battle on the Dragon Family Plain, three of the Demon Gate's five experts above the Fourth Layer perished, throwing the sect into chaos and causing its power to plummet. Now, in the Southern Border, if he, the Great Perfection master, were not still alive, the Demon Gate might struggle even to survive there.

By saying this, he had completely abandoned the pride associated with being a Great Perfection master, and he had discarded the pride of the Demon Gate itself. His sole objective was revenge for that single sword strike Zhang Yang had delivered.

The Zhou Family's Great Perfection expert understood the depth of Di Wanfang's resentment. He, too, held a nagging concern regarding that young man named Zhang Yang. Barely twenty-one years old, he had already achieved Great Perfection and possessed powerful offensive capabilities far exceeding those of a Fourth-Layer expert. He was truly terrifying. If it weren't for the appearance of the Ten Thousand Year Peaches of Immortality this time, the Zhou expert would never have waded into this treacherous situation.

"Enough, Brother Di, I know your grievances, but that Zhang Yang is genuinely too formidable. Even if we manage to kill him, we cannot escape the retribution of the Medical Saint Zhang family. Don't forget, the Medical Saint Zhang family does not possess just one Great Perfection expert."

The Zhou Family's Great Perfection expert sighed. His sole focus was the Ten Thousand Year Peaches of Immortality. As for avenging Di Wanfang and the Demon Gate, he held absolutely no interest. He had zero desire to make an enemy of that terrifying young man. Moreover, the only reason he had saved Di Wanfang on the Dragon Family Plain previously was because he understood the relationship of mutual dependence between the Demon Gate and the Zhou family—a connection where if one fell, the other would suffer. To protect the bigger picture, he had gone to great lengths to preserve Di Wanfang’s life.

He lifted his head and persuaded Di Wanfang, "Brother Di, I still hope that this time, you and I can join forces and dedicate all our attention to competing for the Ten Thousand Year Peaches of Immortality. Once you and I obtain them, will we still need to fear that brat Zhang Yang?"

Di Wanfang coughed painfully twice. He held little hope for the Peaches, so he said with bitterness, "In this contest for the Ten Thousand Year Peaches of Immortality, the Li family, the Hua family, and Wudang cannot possibly stay uninvolved. Even Shaolin has sent people. How can we possibly obtain them!"

"Heh heh..."

The Zhou Family's Great Perfection expert suddenly chuckled. He looked seriously at Di Wanfang and then stated, "We are not without a chance. Brother Di, due to your unhealed injuries, you might not have noticed, but not long ago, just outside the Dragon Family Plain, four powerful auras of Great Perfection experts gathered together."

"Hmm?" Di Wanfang frowned deeply. His strength was far below its peak, so it was entirely normal that he couldn't sense the presence of other Great Perfection masters.

"That means the Li Family's Great Perfection expert, Li Jianyi, the Hua Family's Great Perfection expert, Hua Feitian, Master Shi Ming of Shaolin, and the Wudang Great Perfection expert—these four met in secret, hiding their movements from everyone. Brother Di, think about it: why would these individuals convene so covertly?"

"You mean... they might be forming an alliance again?" Di Wanfang asked, his brow furrowed, then immediately shook his head, refuting his own thought: "No, that's impossible. If those four families allied, it would be equivalent to targeting the Medical Saint Zhang family. This time, everyone is merely here to contest the emerging Ten Thousand Year Peaches of Immortality; there is absolutely no need to provoke the Medical Saint Zhang family of Yi Zhongtian like that."

"Indeed, an alliance among those four families is improbable, but a joint effort between those four Great Perfection masters is quite possible!" The Zhou Family's Great Perfection expert nodded and continued.

"What!"

Di Wanfang's eyes widened instantly. He stared at the Zhou Family's Great Perfection expert and exclaimed involuntarily, "Four Great Perfection masters joining forces? This—how is this possible!"

The only reason he was willing to cast aside his pride as a Great Perfection master and align with the Zhou Family's Great Perfection expert was because he was severely wounded and had no other choice. But how could the four Great Perfection masters from Shaolin, Wudang, the Hua family, and the Li family abandon their arrogance to unite? If they were collaborating, it could only be against the Zhang family.

"The allure of the Ten Thousand Year Peaches of Immortality is too great, and the Medical Saint Zhang family is too powerful right now. Everyone is unwilling to let them monopolize the Peaches, so a joint effort is not out of the question." The Zhou Family's Great Perfection expert seemed utterly convinced. He narrowed his eyes slightly and went on, "Brother Di, Li Jianyi and Hua Feitian only met briefly. But the four major factions are still operating independently. This suggests that at most, they are cooperating, not forming a formal alliance. Doesn't that present an opportunity for us?"

"You mean... cough, cough!"

Di Wanfang understood what the Zhou Family's Great Perfection expert implied. A faint hint of color returned to his pale face, but before he could finish speaking, he felt discomfort in his throat and broke into a fresh fit of coughing.

"Heh heh. If they truly cooperate, it will definitely be to target the Medical Saint Zhang family when the Ten Thousand Year Peaches finally emerge, to prevent the Zhang clan from claiming them. At that precise moment, if you and I join forces, our chances of snatching the Ten Thousand Year Peaches will be extremely high! This is the classic case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. And we, my friend, are going to be that oriole!"

The Zhou Family's Great Perfection expert took up the thread, speaking gently. After finishing, he comforted Di Wanfang, "Don't worry, Brother Di. As long as we secure the Ten Thousand Year Peaches, I will certainly share some with you. Then your injuries will no longer be an issue... Of course, once I obtain the Peaches and my strength surges, I will definitely help you settle that score with Zhang Yang!"

"Good. If that is the case, I will dedicate all my effort to helping you seize the Ten Thousand Year Peaches of Immortality!"

Di Wanfang nodded through clenched teeth. He failed to notice the subtle flicker in the eyes of the Zhou Family's Great Perfection expert as he spoke, realizing the thoughts and intentions behind the words were likely far more complex than voiced.

Upon returning to the Dragon Family Plain and entering the Dragon Family Palace, Elder Zhang Pinglu, along with Dragon Family Patriarch Long Haotian, and others including Long Feng and Zhang Daofeng, were already waiting to receive them.

The moment Zhang Pinglu laid eyes on Zhang Yang, he gasped in astonishment. Zhang Yang's transformation had not escaped his notice.

Even Zhang Daofeng and Zhang Yun'an noticed the change in Zhang Yang. Zhang Pinglu and Zhang Daofeng simultaneously turned their gazes toward Zhang Yun'an, as he had accompanied Zhang Yang for most of his journey since leaving Changjing. Yet, when Zhang Yun'an returned to the Dragon Family ahead of schedule, he had said nothing about any changes in Zhang Yang.

Long Haotian also looked at Zhang Yang with a bewildered expression of surprise. As for Long Feng, she couldn't hold back any longer; she stepped forward, examined Zhang Yang closely, and then blurted out, "Zhang Yang, why have you turned into an ordinary person!"

Long Feng and Long Haotian both perceived that the current Zhang Yang appeared to be nothing more than a commoner devoid of inner strength.

"Yangyang, why have you..."

The Elder could no longer restrain himself. He addressed Zhang Yang directly, sensing that he wasn't entirely an ordinary person without internal energy, but rather seemed shrouded in mist, impossible to truly discern.

With a wry smile, Zhang Yang had no choice but to explain his transformation and his subsequent breakthrough to everyone once again.

The Elder and Zhang Daofeng listened, their faces alight with joy. Zhang Yang had broken through again, gaining another flash of sudden enlightenment. Didn't this mean he had advanced another step on the path toward becoming a Fifth-Layer expert!

Long Haotian stared at Zhang Yang in disbelief, too stunned to speak. How much time had passed since the last crisis that struck the Dragon Family? Zhang Yang had achieved another breakthrough already. This young man was too terrifying.

Long Feng, however, wore a genuine smile. Hearing of Zhang Yang's further progress, her blessings came straight from the heart.

"Alright, now that we are back at the Dragon Family Plain, it's like coming home. Come, come! I have already prepared a grand banquet. Let's eat heartily and welcome Zhang Yang properly!"

Long Haotian snapped out of his shock and immediately turned to everyone with a smile. The more powerful Zhang Yang became, the safer the Dragon Family, which was currently experiencing a gap in its protectors, would be. Long Haotian was naturally overjoyed by Zhang Yang's latest advancement.

After the lavish feast, Mi Xue, Qu Meilan, and the others were quickly settled into accommodations by the Dragon Family staff. Zhang Yang’s primary goal in bringing them out this time was for practical tempering and experience; subsequent events were irrelevant to them and did not require their participation.

Mi Xue was astonished by the Dragon Family's opulent palace and was naturally delighted. She happily dragged Qu Meilan around exploring. Knowing that Mi Xue was Zhang Yang's fiancée, the Dragon Family members treated her and the others with profound respect and courtesy. All arrangements were made according to the standard for the most honored guests—even Yan Yefei and Li Juan were no exception.

While Yan Yefei and Li Juan enjoyed top-tier treatment in the Dragon Family, they often recalled their past servitude in the Shu Mountain Li family with deep emotion. They remained unaware that, outside the Dragon Family Plain, they had become the objects of envy among the young disciples of various sects.

During the banquet, Elder Zhang Pinglu specifically sent a telepathic message, instructing Zhang Yang not to alert anyone after the feast but to proceed to his quarters alone.

When Zhang Yang arrived at Elder Zhang Pinglu's room after the banquet, he found his maternal grandfather, Zhang Daofeng, and his uncle, Zhang Yun'an, already waiting for a long time.

No Dragon Family members, including Long Feng, were present in the room. This meant that everyone present belonged to their Zhang family.

"Elder, gathering everyone so formally, what is the matter?"

Noticing the absence of the Dragon Family members, Zhang Yang understood that the Elder's actions must have a specific purpose.

The Elder sat above, his expression calm and thoughtful. Uncle Zhang Yun'an was the first to rise, gesturing for Zhang Yang to sit down, and then stated, "This is essentially a private meeting for our Zhang family, so it's just the few of us."

After Zhang Yang was seated upright, Zhang Pinglu finally raised his head. A look of seriousness he had never shown before was etched onto his face. He looked at Zhang Yang, knitting his brows, and asked, "Yangyang, on your way to the Dragon Family Plain, did you meet any other Great Perfection experts?"

"Yes. Before arriving, I met the Li Family's Great Perfection expert, Li Jianyi, and the Hua Family's Great Perfection expert, Hua Feitian."

Zhang Yang didn't understand why his grandfather was asking this, but he nodded nonetheless.

"Alas, Yangyang, you are simply too young."

Hearing Zhang Yang’s reply, Zhang Pinglu looked as if his suspicions were confirmed, and he let out a sigh, his face clouded with worry.

"Elder, what is wrong?"

Zhang Yang frowned, unable to comprehend why meeting Li Jianyi and Hua Feitian would cause his grandfather such deep distress.

"Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but your recent breakthrough and subsequent rapid advancement in strength have complicated matters."

The Elder’s eyes held a mixture of joy and worry. He was pleased by Zhang Yang’s increased power but troubled by the impending situation. Seeing that Zhang Yang still hadn't grasped the full implication, he offered a hint: "Yangyang, you should have sensed that the Great Perfection masters outside—excluding the Demon Gate and the Zhou family—including Shaolin, had a brief meeting shortly after you returned to the Dragon Family Plain, correct? You must understand, this was the first time these four Great Perfection masters had gathered. Initially, I paid it no mind, but upon further reflection, I suddenly realized something was amiss. Although their meeting time was short, at this critical juncture of vying for the Ten Thousand Year Peaches of Immortality, it demands our utmost attention!"

There were very few cultivators at the Great Perfection level in Huaxia. They generally knew each other’s auras well. With everyone gathered on the Dragon Family Plain now, any movement by any one of them would be difficult to conceal from the others, especially since not every Great Perfection master had reached the stage of returning to primal simplicity like Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang had indeed sensed the gathering of the four Great Perfection masters, but he hadn't given it much thought. Hearing the Elder explain, he began to understand, though he was even more astonished by the implications.