"Elder, are you saying that because I've broken through again, they might form an alliance to compete for the soon-to-be-matured Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach?" Zhang Yang quickly inquired. If Shaolin, Wudang, the Li family, and the Hua family truly allied to contend for the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach, their combined strength would be terrifying.

What puzzled Zhang Yang most was Shaolin's involvement. Shaolin had maintained a cordial relationship with the Zhang family until now; otherwise, Master Shi Yuan of Shaolin wouldn't have offered a great restorative elixir like the Grand Elixir to show goodwill during Zhang Yang's engagement to Mi Xue.

"It won't be an alliance. Those four old fellows are likely just gathered together, having reached some agreement out of apprehension toward the Zhang family's strength, not wanting to leave empty-handed when the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach ripens. It hardly qualifies as an alliance. If it were something that significant, they wouldn't have met for such a short duration."

The Elder's guess was quite close to the truth, yet he hadn't anticipated that the four Great Perfection experts would set aside their pride to forge a temporary joint pact.

Zhang Yang forced a wry smile. It seemed he had underestimated the allure of the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach for those at the Great Perfection level. He never imagined that even a sect like Shaolin, which typically distanced itself from worldly strife, would be drawn in by this treasure.

"Of course, Yang Yang, you needn't worry too much. Regardless of any private agreements they strike, as long as they don't align against my Medical Saint Zhang Family, it’s fine. After all, natural treasures go to the virtuous; everyone will compete based on their own abilities to seize the prize. So, we just need to be vigilant," the Elder said, seeing Zhang Yang's wry expression and offering comfort.

Zhang Yang lowered his head, pondering for a long moment before suddenly looking up at the Elder. "Elder, I'm not worried about that. What concerns me is that someone intends to take advantage of the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach's emergence to execute a malicious scheme."

Zhang Pinglu’s brow furrowed, and even Zhang Yun'an looked puzzled.

"You mean, the Third Elder of the Long family?"

It was his maternal grandfather, Zhang Daofeng, who immediately grasped Zhang Yang’s underlying concern. This was because Zhang Daofeng had been managing affairs at the Long family recently and knew that no one in the Long family currently held anything but hatred for the former Third Elder, Long Jiang. If it weren't for him, the Long family wouldn't have fallen to its current state. After the previous battle on the Long Family Plain, the Long family dispatched many people to hunt down the fugitive Third Elder Long Jiang, all without success.

Zhang Yang nodded and stated, "The last time the news of the Long family's Great Perfection expert's sudden death was leaked, it was by the Third Elder Long Jiang. His objective is clearly to drag the Long family down to ruin."

Zhang Daofeng nodded and continued, "Indeed. I questioned Long Haotian and the others afterward, but the Long family members also cannot fathom why the Third Elder Long Jiang harbors such intense hatred for them. The only ones who might know the truth, the First and Second Elders of the Long family, both perished in the battle on the Long Family Plain. This truth can only be uncovered by capturing Long Jiang."

"Yang Yang, are you suggesting that the Third Elder Long Jiang leaked the news of the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach's impending appearance in the Kunlun Mountains not only to cut off the Long family's chance for resurgence but also to use the chaos to destabilize the Long family once more?"

"Precisely. Therefore, besides being cautious, we must also guard against someone playing the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind," Zhang Yang meant exactly that. Throughout his journey, he knew that countless sects and noble families were gathered around the Kunlun Mountains. There were roughly fifty to sixty cultivation families and sects possessing experts at the fourth level or higher. In essence, almost the entire cultivation world of Huaxia was concentrated near Kunlun, hoping to try their luck during this Flat Peach emergence.

With so many sects and families gathered, numerous incidents were bound to occur. If minor friction or misunderstandings escalated, it could easily trigger an internal conflict. Zhang Yang suspected that the Third Elder Long Jiang’s intention in drawing everyone here with the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach was precisely this: to divert disaster, aiming it toward the Long family. The only uncertainty was exactly how the Third Elder planned to execute this.

"I understand Yang Yang's meaning. You and the Elder need not worry about this matter," Zhang Daofeng quickly grasped Zhang Yang's intention. He took Zhang Yun'an’s arm and said to the Elder and Zhang Yang, "Neither Yun'an nor I are at the Great Perfection level, so we won't be much use in the actual competition for the Peach. This task is perfect for us."

"That is good then. We will have to trouble both Daofeng and Yun'an," the Elder nodded. At this critical juncture, every factor needed careful consideration. The Long family effectively served as the Zhang family’s home base. If something unexpected happened to the Long family during the competition for the Peach, it would mean their rear base was compromised, inevitably affecting their efforts for the Peach.

"Oh, right, Elder, Grandfather, Uncle—take a look at this," Zhang Yang suddenly remembered something and quickly reached into the canvas bag he carried, retrieving and opening a jade box.

"Jade-Spotted Spirit Fungus!"

"Jade-Spotted Spirit Fungus!"

"Jade-Spotted Spirit Fungus!"

As Zhang Yang opened the box, the moss-green lichen inside emitted a faintly cool aura, releasing a refreshing spiritual energy that caused Zhang Pinglu, Zhang Daofeng, and Zhang Yun'an to exclaim in astonishment simultaneously.

"I obtained this purely by chance on a stone from Kunlun while on my way here."

Zhang Yang recounted the entire process of how he found the Jade-Spotted Spirit Fungus to the Elder, his maternal grandfather, and his uncle. After hearing his story, the three were left speechless by their renewed shock.

This descendant of the Zhang family had provided them with too many staggering revelations. Just traveling from Changjing to Kunlun, he had not only achieved a breakthrough in his internal energy cultivation but also stumbled upon such a marvel. His luck was truly heaven-defying.

With such an heir, how could the Zhang family fail to regain its former glory?

Zhang Yang closed the jade box containing the Jade-Spotted Spirit Fungus and then looked at the three, continuing, "It seems that not only is the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach emerging in the Kunlun Mountains, but many other treasures are appearing alongside it. So, Elder, my next plan is to personally go to the area where the Peach grows. Even if I don't find the Peach, I can see if any other treasures have surfaced."

In truth, after seeing the Jade-Spotted Spirit Fungus, the Elder knew he could no longer stop Zhang Yang from exploring that forest. Thus, upon hearing Zhang Yang’s proposal, he simply nodded, agreeing with his idea.

The location of the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach lies on one side of the Long Family Plain, where a lush forest sprawls. This forest is flanked by mountains on two sides and a labyrinthine field of jagged rocks on the third. The Long Family Plain offers the simplest and shortest route into this forest—an undeniable geographical advantage that everyone hoped to exploit.

This is why everyone wished to pass through the Long Family Plain to explore and treasure-hunt near the Peach's growing site early on, forcing Zhang Pinglu to seal off the Plain, forbidding external sects and families from using it as a thoroughfare.

Furthermore, Zhang Pinglu, along with the four Great Perfection experts from the Li, Hua, Shaolin, and Wudang families, established a strict rule: no sect was permitted to approach that forest until the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach fully matured. This was one reason why, despite the large gathering of major powers nearby, no one was currently venturing toward the Peach's growing site.

However, many still relied on their considerable cultivation to attempt bypassing the Long Family Plain—either through the rocky maze or over the two large mountains—in hopes of finding the location of the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach.

Alas, the area where the Peach grows is evidently guarded by an unknown, immensely powerful entity. All those overestimating their abilities entered but never returned. The Long family disciples, always aware of this danger, never dared to step into that forest, limiting themselves to observing from the periphery in every way they could devise.

It seemed only those who reached the Great Perfection level could safely enter and exit that forest unscathed. Yet, the number of Great Perfection experts gathered at Kunlun was small, and they were constantly watching, guarding against, and being wary of each other, none daring to risk entering the forest first.

But the situation was different now. Zhang Yang’s arrival at the Long Family Plain meant they effectively had two Great Perfection experts there. As long as one Great Perfection master remained stationed on the Plain, the external Great Perfection experts outside would not dare to act recklessly.

Moreover, Zhang Yang himself had returned to simplicity (Fǎn Pǔ Guī Zhēn); whether he entered the forest or not, none of the external Great Perfection experts could possibly detect his movements.

If such a treasure could be hidden in a rock at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains, who knew what else lay within that forest? Even setting aside these other treasures, scouting the status of the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach would be immensely beneficial. Everyone currently knew the Peach would mature within the next few months, but no one knew the precise date, nor even exactly how many peaches would emerge when ripe.

Even if Zhang Yang returned empty-handed this time, merely obtaining news about the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach would outweigh the combined efforts of the four Great Perfection families—Hua, Li, Shaolin, and Wudang. Furthermore, Zhang Yang possessed the treasure-seeking spirit beast Wuying; how could he possibly return empty-handed?

The Zhang family currently held the Long Family Plain, securing the geographical advantage (Dì Lì). Obtaining definitive intelligence on the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach would equate to acquiring the celestial timing (Tiān Shí). When the Peach finally matured and emerged, the Zhang family, possessing two Great Perfection experts, would soon command the human factor (Rén Hé).

With the Celestial Timing and Geographical Advantage in the hands of the Zhang family, the benefits they secured were immense.

"Yang Yang, you must be careful," the Elder cautioned, though he had agreed, still filled with worry for Zhang Yang, as no one knew the actual strength of the guardian spirit beast lurking in that wood.

"Rest assured, Elder," Zhang Yang replied, unconcerned. After leaving the Elder's room, he gathered his three spirit beasts, who had been idle at the Long family residence, and set off toward the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach's growing site.