The reasoning is the same; the Medical Saint Zhang family is too powerful, and the restraint among Great Perfection masters is too weak for them. The Li family, the Hua family, Wudang, and even Shaolin have harbored such concerns.

If Zhang Yang were to break through to the Fifth Layer, he would become the foremost expert of this age, someone no one could possibly threaten. At that point, they wouldn't dare refuse whatever Zhang Yang commanded.

Every Great Perfection master safeguards their own lineage or sect; who would willingly submit to another's orders? Now was the perfect opportunity to stifle Zhang Yang, thereby preventing that future from materializing.

Hua Feitian stared intently at Zhang Yang. Without Zhang Yang, he himself would have been the youngest Great Perfection master to advance through his own comprehension of the Dao of Nature, and thus the youngest Guardian.

No one should forget that Hua Feitian always harbored immense ambition—to restore the Hua family to its former glory, perhaps even make it the strongest. Now that such a golden opportunity presented itself, he certainly wouldn't let it pass.

"Excellent. If we seize this chance to weaken the Medical Saint Zhang family, then when the Ten Thousand Year Flat Peach finally ripens, we will have one less major obstacle!"

"Agreed. We already formed an alliance against the Medical Saint Zhang family; this is the perfect moment to act on it!"

With Hua Feitian having clearly stated his position, Li Jianyi and the Wudang Great Perfection master, Zhang Hefeng, immediately nodded in agreement. They then turned their gaze to Zhang Yang, no longer bothering to conceal the killing intent churning within them.

There was no helping it; Zhang Yang was simply too monstrous. Every time they encountered this young man, they felt a sense of shock—a pleasant surprise that, upon repetition, morphed into sheer terror. And now was precisely the best moment to eradicate this terror.

"Master Shiming, now that the six of us Great Perfection masters have joined forces, the Great Perfection experts of the Medical Saint Zhang family are certain to suffer losses!"

The Wudang Great Perfection master, Zhang Hefeng, certainly had not forgotten Master Shiming, who had been silently chanting sutras nearby. Since the five of them had resolved to seize this moment to slay Zhang Yang, adding Master Shiming would make their success far more certain.

"Amitabha. Donor Zhang, Donor Li, Donor Hua, our initial agreement was merely to prevent the Medical Saint Zhang family from monopolizing the Ten Thousand Year Flat Peach. Given the current circumstances, how can we join forces?"

Master Shiming opened his eyes and was the first to voice his objection. His opposition caused Di Wanfang, who had been eager to strike, to forcibly withdraw the Heaven and Earth energy he was gathering.

Looking at Master Shiming, Di Wanfang hurriedly tried to persuade him, "Master Shiming, by slaying Zhang Yang today, are we not precisely preventing the Medical Saint Zhang family from becoming overwhelmingly dominant? Are you truly willing to let such a perfect opportunity slip away?"

"Insolent fool! How could my venerable Shaolin sect align itself with you, agents of the Demonic Path!"

Shiming coldly reprimanded, feeling absolutely no goodwill toward Di Wanfang.

"Master Shiming, you must think clearly. Facing us are two Three-Eyed Beasts! I, Di Wanfang, only seek Zhang Yang's life and nothing else!" Di Wanfang was furious but dared not utter harsh words to Master Shiming. He glanced again at the two Three-Eyed Beasts, resolving to use them to provoke Master Shiming.

It was a pity that Master Shiming showed him no quarter, not even a shred of courtesy.

"It matters not. If Shiming is unwilling to join us in slaying Zhang Yang, then so be it. As long as Master Shiming does not aid the Zhang family, that is enough!" Zhang Hefeng of Wudang understood Shiming's temperament best. He knew that Shiming, priding himself on the righteous path of Shaolin, would absolutely refuse to conspire in killing Zhang Yang; trying to persuade him was futile, so he promptly gave up.

"That is acceptable as well. Master Shiming, since we still have agreements between us, we ask only that you remain an impartial observer during today's events."

Li Jianyi shared the same sentiment, but for the sake of certainty, he specifically addressed Master Shiming with this request.

"Amitabha."

This time, Master Shiming simply closed his eyes, stepping back to his own corner, remaining utterly motionless.

His posture clearly declared his stance: he would neither help Di Wanfang, Li Jianyi, and the others slay Zhang Yang, nor would he assist Zhang Yang against them.

Zhou Gu, the Great Perfection master of the Zhou family; Li Jianyi of the Li family; Hua Feitian of the Hua family; Zhang Hefeng of Wudang; plus the gravely injured Di Wanfang of the Demonic Path—all five stepped forward in unison.

The five positioned themselves in five different directions, and the abundant Heaven and Earth energy in the ground once again coalesced into five streams, surging toward the space before them.

The Old Man shielded Zhang Yang behind him, inching backward. Behind them lay the lakeside where the Three Spirit Beasts and the two Three-Eyed Beasts resided. Retreating here meant they had the lake at their backs, eliminating a directional threat. He finally understood: these individuals were determined not to let this opportunity to strike down Zhang Yang pass them by.

After falling back beside the Three Spirit Beasts, the Old Man narrowed his eyes. Seeing the five Great Perfection masters gathering their inner strength and commanding the Heaven and Earth energy, he knew they had made up their minds to move against Zhang Yang.

"What virtue or merit does my Medical Saint Zhang family possess to warrant such attention from you old, withered things!"

Zhang Pinglu let out a cold laugh. Seeing that the five no longer bothered to hide their killing intent, he roared his defiance.

"Brother Zhang, natural treasures are acquired by those destined for them. Please forgive any offense!"

Zhou Gu, the Great Perfection master of the Southern Border's Demonic lineage, uttered these words without the slightest blush. While he appeared poised to claim one of the Three-Eyed Beasts behind Zhang Pinglu, his eyes clearly betrayed that their focus was squarely on the weakened Zhang Yang.

"Hahaha, I'll go first!"

Di Wanggu was inwardly delighted that the other four were finally willing to join forces. He needed no pretext; he charged directly at Zhang Yang, raising his long sword, intent on severing Zhang Yang's life beneath the blade!

"Insolent whelp, how dare you!"

The Old Man stomped his foot in fury and charged forward, drawing a circle with one hand while violently channeling a surge of Heaven and Earth energy with the other, launching it toward Di Wanggu!

Di Wanggu's expression shifted, and he hastily dodged. Being heavily wounded, he dared not meet Zhang Pinglu’s attack head-on. At this critical moment, he looked toward Zhou Gu, Li Jianyi, and the others, shouting: "What are you waiting for!"

Hua Feitian, Li Jianyi, Zhang Hefeng, and Zhou Gu completely ignored Di Wanfang's clamor. The four of them fixed their sights on Zhang Pinglu, unleashing an overwhelming pressure that bore down upon him!

Di Wanggu’s attack was easily deflected by Zhang Pinglu, but facing the combined might of Hua Feitian, Li Jianyi, Zhang Hefeng, and Zhou Gu, he dared not relax even for a moment.

Initially, the four employed only extremely conservative probing attacks, with Di Wanfang spearheading the assault in the front. Yet, even this placed Zhang Pinglu under immense strain.

Fighting five opponents single-handedly, how could Zhang Pinglu find ease?

With Zhang Pinglu blocking the front, Zhang Yang and the Three Spirit Beasts were temporarily safe. For the moment, with the Old Man desperately resisting at the forefront, it was impossible for the five Great Perfection masters to break through instantly.

"Jee jee jee!"

"Chee chee chee!"

"Hiss~~!"

The three little ones—Shadowless Lightning, Chasing Wind, and the third—though severely injured, understood the gravity of the situation. Shadowless Lightning, possessing explosive potential, moved forward with the intention of aiding Zhang Pinglu. Chasing Wind even suggested that Zhang Yang immediately mount its back, promising to protect him and ensure his escape, even if it meant triggering a debilitating acupuncture-point berserk state.

Zhang Yang’s face was deathly pale. Looking at the gazes cast by the five Great Perfection masters opposite him, he could not misunderstand the blatant killing intent. He reached once more into his canvas bag and his fingers brushed against the High Mountain Cloud Fruit.

Although the Golden Three-Eyed Beast had previously warned him that Great Perfection masters could not consume the High Mountain Cloud Fruit, under the current dire circumstances, his opponents were unlikely to grant him time to recuperate.

How long could the Old Man, fighting five opponents and risking his very life to protect him, possibly last?

"Human, how about we make a trade!"

A surge of energy suddenly entered Zhang Yang’s mind. He spun around sharply and saw the Gray Three-Eyed Beast lying on the ground, all three of its eyes fixed directly on him.

This voice was naturally transmitted by that Great Perfection Three-Eyed Beast. It watched Zhang Yang, and another pulse of energy flowed from its third eye. The intent conveyed within this energy manifested directly inside Zhang Yang's mind.

"Once you consume that High Mountain Cloud Fruit, the side effects are severe. Even if you later obtain the Ten Thousand Year Flat Peach, at best, you will only recover to your current strength, with no further breakthroughs possible. It would be better if you let me consume it, and I will help you deal with those Great Perfection cultivators!"

The intent of this Great Perfection Spirit Beast was actually to consume the High Mountain Cloud Fruit in Zhang Yang's stead and help them fight off Li Jianyi and the others!

"Hand over the High Mountain Cloud Fruit to me, and I will help you deal with those Great Perfection masters. Are you willing to strike this bargain?"

The Great Perfection Spirit Beast transmitted another pulse of energy, though this time it sounded even weaker.

Zhang Yang looked at the Great Perfection Three-Eyed Beast, withdrawing his hand from the canvas bag. A single green fruit rested quietly on its pristine white branch.

The reason this Great Perfection Spirit Beast's life force was rapidly draining and it appeared so frail was entirely due to its reckless exertion in condensing Heaven and Earth energy. If its depleted energy were replenished, its life could be saved. At this moment, the only things capable of compensating for the energy it had lost, besides the yet-unripe Ten Thousand Year Flat Peach, were the High Mountain Cloud Fruit.

This meant that regardless of the side effects of consuming the High Mountain Cloud Fruit, in its current state, it offered the Great Perfection Spirit Beast a means of immediate resurrection.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, a cry of pain erupted from Zhang Pinglu. It turned out that after being tied down by Hua Feitian, Li Jianyi, and Zhang Hefeng, Zhou Gu had managed a sneak attack, finally landing a blow.

The Old Man spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered back several steps, clearly showing signs of defeat.

"Good!"

Hearing the Old Man's cry of pain, Zhang Yang immediately hurled the High Mountain Cloud Fruit in his hand toward the Gray-and-White Three-Eyed Beast.

"Roar!"

Zhang Yang’s action drew the attention of the Golden Three-Eyed Beast. As it focused and recognized what Zhang Yang had thrown, a flicker of terror flashed through its eyes, followed by an intense glare fixed upon the Gray-and-White Three-Eyed Beast beside it.

The Gray-and-White Three-Eyed Beast bit down on the High Mountain Cloud Fruit Zhang Yang had thrown and swallowed it whole.

"Roar!"

In an instant, the Great Perfection Three-Eyed Beast burst forth with boundless vitality. Its wounds stopped bleeding, instantly scarring over, and a colossal wave of Heaven and Earth energy once again enveloped its form.