"Yes, yes, we should return to the Dragon Family Plain first. Besides, the fight that just occurred here could not possibly have escaped the notice of outsiders, and we need to go back to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation to cause trouble." Hearing Zhang Yang, Zhang Pinglu immediately nodded in agreement.

"Benefactor Zhang is absolutely correct. Although Layman Zhang has taken the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill from our Shaolin Temple, he still needs to return and rest so that he can fully recover his strength before the Ten Thousand Year Peach ripens." Master Shi Ming also nodded, wholeheartedly agreeing with Zhang Yang's sentiment.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!" "Chirp, chirp, chirp!" Wu Ying and Shandian had consumed so many Essence Blood Pills earlier that their strength was nearly restored. Master Shi Ming had suddenly given up his claim to the Ten Thousand Year Peach, which had left the two little ones feeling dejected for quite some time.

However, upon hearing that they were returning to the Dragon Family Plain, the two small creatures became happy again. Zhuifeng also stood up.

Although its injuries were not completely healed, carrying both Zhang Yang and Zhang Pinglu away now was still an effortless task for it. Zhang Yang turned to look at the Golden Three-Eyed Beast and suddenly felt a pang of concern.

This Golden Three-Eyed Beast was heavily pregnant and thus slow in its movements, and the journey back to the Dragon Family Plain from here was far too long to bring it along. However, leaving it here meant he might not be able to return for some time, and if a cunning spirit monkey like the previous one were to launch a surprise attack, the situation would become extremely precarious.

"Benefactor Zhang, this place, with the Ten Thousand Year Peach Tree, is rich in spiritual energy, making it the most suitable environment for spirit beasts to thrive. Given that this Golden Three-Eyed Beast is currently inconveniently slow due to its pregnancy, I fear it is not suitable to leave this location.

Moreover, since Benefactor Zhang has achieved sudden enlightenment in Buddhist principles and advanced his cultivation today, I have been wondering how best to repay you. I am willing to take this opportunity to guard it here on your behalf, waiting for your return from the Dragon Family Plain after procuring the necessary medicinal herbs." "Heh heh, I only wonder if Benefactor Zhang and Layman Zhang trust this old monk.

If you do not, I will naturally return with you immediately and take my Shaolin disciples away from Kunlun." Master Shi Ming discerned Zhang Yang's worry, smiled faintly, and proactively offered to take on the responsibility of guarding the Golden Three-Eyed Beast here, preventing any sneaky villains from approaching with malicious intent. "If Master Shi Ming is willing to help us by guarding this place, we would naturally be overjoyed; how could we possibly not trust Master!" Zhang Yang paused only for a moment before immediately cupping his hands towards Master Shi Ming, his tone firm, indicating his profound trust in the monk.

"It would truly be best if Master Shi Ming is willing to guard the Golden Three-Eyed Beast here." Zhang Pinglu also believed that with Master Shi Ming present, not only would the Golden Three-Eyed Beast be safe, but it was equivalent to having someone guard the Ten Thousand Year Peach for them as well. To have a Great Perfection realm expert, especially one who had just achieved a breakthrough, guard this place for them—apart from Zhang Yang, perhaps no other person in this world could manage such a feat.

Master Shi Ming nodded, then walked towards the Golden Three-Eyed Beast, sat down cross-legged beside it, and began meditating with his eyes closed. Having just gained insight, this was the perfect moment for him to cultivate.

Furthermore, the spiritual energy here was abundant, and the concentration of heaven and earth energy was dense—it was an utterly ideal place for cultivation. His decision to stay and guard this location for Zhang Yang was certainly not without personal gain.

The Golden Three-Eyed Beast understood Zhang Yang's meaning. It held no particular aversion towards the monk who was chanting scriptures to aid the passing of its mate.

In truth, its only current concern was whether the child in its belly could be delivered safely; it was indifferent to everything else. Zhang Yang remained somewhat uneasy, so he lingered for another half an shichen (an hour).

He took the opportunity to further refine the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation he had previously laid out with his Tai Chi Staff, ensuring the safety of the Golden Three-Eyed Beast. After completing all this, he and Zhang Pinglu mounted Zhuifeng and departed from the underground plaza.

Wu Ying and Shandian, the two little ones, appeared to have recovered well from their injuries and had regained their vitality, chattering animatedly. What they were discussing amounted to nothing more than how they would make those shameless Great Perfection experts pay next time they met.

Riding Zhuifeng, Zhang Yang merely chuckled at this. A cold sneer flickered in his heart as well.

He was curious to see what sort of 'compensation' the Li family and Wudang would offer to quell the resentment he held. Successfully exiting the underground area, everyone finally saw the daylight again.

Faint glimmering light was already visible in the surrounding woods; an entire night had passed, and it was now the break of dawn. Although Zhuifeng's injuries had recovered somewhat, it was clear it had not fully healed, so its speed was noticeably slower than usual.

It took nearly an hour to leave the forest and return to the Dragon Family Plain. "Look, isn't that Zhang Yang!" "It's really Master!" "Elder Zhang has come out!" "Brother Zhang has come out!" ...

As Zhang Yang and Zhang Pinglu rode Zhuifeng out of the woods, accompanied by the two little ones, Wu Ying and Shandian, a large crowd had already gathered on the Dragon Family Plain. Mi Xue, Qu Meilan, Qiao Yihong, and the others stood at the very front.

Long Haotian and Long Feng, leading several Dragon family disciples, were also there. Upon seeing Zhang Yang and the group, they immediately became excited.

After leaving the perimeter of the Dragon Family Plain, Zhang Yang jumped down from the horse's back. Mi Xue immediately walked over, and at that moment, she noticed that Zhang Yang's complexion was troubling.

Mi Xue, who hadn't slept well all night, also looked pale. Her eyes were slightly red and swollen, clearly the result of a sleepless night.

Mi Xue had learned from her maternal grandfather, Zhang Daofeng, and her maternal uncle, Zhang Yunan, that Zhang Yang had entered this forest the previous night. Coupled with the incessant tremors shaking Mount Kunlun throughout the night, she had been deeply worried about Zhang Yang, which was why she had insisted on accompanying Long Feng and the others to wait outside the forest for his return.

"Zhang Yang, why do you look so terrible? Are you unwell?

Don't scare me, my husband..." Seeing the ashen-faced Zhang Yang, Mi Xue burst into tears from anxiety. "Don't worry, don't worry, I'm fine now..." Zhang Yang embraced Mi Xue and softly reassured her a few times before turning to look at Long Feng and the others.

He noticed that his maternal uncle, Zhang Yunan, and his maternal grandfather, Zhang Daofeng, were not among the crowd. The Elder, having taken the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill gifted by Master Shi Ming, did not show particularly obvious external signs of his severe injuries, though cultivators with higher levels of perception like Long Haotian and Qiao Yihong could tell the Elder was gravely wounded.

"Alright, since the Grand Elder and the Zhang family Elder are back, let's not linger here. Everyone, let's go back!" Long Haotian glanced at the Elder, then immediately turned to the other Dragon family disciples.

He then quickly instructed a disciple to prepare a clean, private room. Having perceived how weak both the Elder and Zhang Yang were, Long Haotian naturally understood that the tremors across Kunlun throughout the night could not have been a minor event.

However, the immediate priority was to secure resting places for the Elder and Zhang Yang before any further discussion. "Brother Zhang, what exactly happened?" Long Feng couldn't hold back his curiosity and wanted to ask Zhang Yang what had transpired.

Although Zhang Yang held the position of Grand Elder in the Long family, Zhang Yang was his sworn brother, so Long Feng felt no need to maintain formal address. "Feng'er!" Long Haotian frowned and chided Long Feng lightly, stopping him from pressing further.

He then turned to Zhang Yang and said, "We can discuss the night's events when we return. I have already instructed people to prepare rooms.

Let's first invite the Elder to rest and recover, then we can deliberate." "I am fine, and the Elder is temporarily stable too. You don't need to worry, Long Feng.

I will certainly tell you everything when we get back." Zhang Yang knew that the Elder was temporarily fine after taking the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill, and he also understood that recovery from severe injuries for a Great Perfection expert would be an extremely long process, not to be rushed. At this moment, however, he needed to ascertain the situation outside.

After the four Great Perfection experts from the Zhou family, Hua family, Li family, and Wudang escaped underground, he didn't know what changes this might have caused in the outside world. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but ask again.

"By the way, what is the situation outside now?" "Just a short while ago, the camps of the Southern Border Demonic Sect and the Zhou family, which were stationed outside the Dragon Family Plain, were suddenly deserted. The people of the Zhou family and the Demonic Sect fled Kunlun in such a panic that they didn't even have time to pack up many of their belongings.

No one knows where they went." Long Haotian was well-informed about the external situation and spoke with clear puzzlement, adding, "Moreover, right before we came, I received intelligence reports that the Li family of Mount Shu, the Hua family of Changbai Mountain, and Wudang—three major forces—for some unknown reason, followed closely behind the Zhou family and the Demonic Sect, departing Mount Kunlun." Long Haotian paused, then continued, "Because the Zhou, Li, Hua, and Wudang families left in such haste, the remaining sects and noble houses are currently observing the situation and have not made any significant moves for the time being." Zhang Yang nodded. Such a reaction from the Li, Hua, Zhou, and Wudang families was entirely expected.

"Hmph, do they dare not leave?" After hearing Long Haotian’s words, the Elder, Zhang Pinglu, snorted coldly. He looked around and asked with confusion, "Hey, why don't I see Yunan and Daofeng?" Because they were worried about Zhang Yang, Qu Meilan, Qiao Yihong, Yan Yifei, Li Juan, and others had come, but Zhang Yunan and Zhang Daofeng were nowhere to be seen.

"Senior Zhang and Brother Yunan have gone outside the Dragon Family Plain to handle a matter on behalf of our Long family," Long Haotian replied immediately when the Elder inquired. "Handling a matter?

Has something happened to the Long family?" Zhang Yang frowned upon hearing Long Haotian's words. The Long family had remained within the Dragon Family Plain recently; what sort of event could be happening outside their borders?

With the Elder severely injured and Zhang Yang not yet at full strength, the Long family—the very stronghold of the Medical Saint Zhang lineage—could not afford any chaos. Furthermore, the fact that this required both his maternal grandfather and maternal uncle to go together made Zhang Yang feel it was necessary to understand the situation clearly.

"This matter is somewhat complicated, but with Senior Zhang and Brother Yunan handling it, I believe it will be resolved perfectly," Long Haotian replied with a wry smile, looking somewhat ashamed before Zhang Yang.