The sudden appearance of Zhang Yang startled everyone, including Old Master Zhang Pinglu. No one could have imagined that the person just undergoing the Heavenly Tribulation would instantly be standing beside them.

Dressed in new clothes and sporting a smile, Zhang Yang looked nothing like someone who had just survived the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation. In fact, the feeling he now projected was even more formidable than when he had previously achieved the state of Fan Pu Gui Zhen (Returning to Simplicity); he showed no hint of weakness.

This was the impression felt by Zhang Pinglu, Zhang Daofeng, and everyone else, including Qu Meilan. They couldn't detect any discernible change in Zhang Yang. If the previous state of enlightenment regarding the Dao of Nature, which led to Fan Pu Gui Zhen, made him seem like an ordinary person devoid of internal energy cultivation, the current Zhang Yang felt like a supreme powerhouse that commanded reverence from all who beheld him.

The difference between the two states was like that between heaven and earth—a vast gulf.

"Yang Yang…"

Old Master Zhang Pinglu was suddenly overcome, tears streaming down his face. Having witnessed Zhang Yang successfully pass the tribulation and break through to the Fifth Layer, he felt that he could die contentedly now.

"Old Master, the Immortal Elixir of the Flat Peach, I have refined it."

In a daze, no one noticed Zhang Yang had already moved to the Old Master’s side, gently helping him back into the wheelchair waiting in the courtyard. He slowly squatted down, offering a bright smile.

"How can you crouch down?"

The Old Master instantly panicked, trying to pull Zhang Yang up. In the history of Huaxia, anyone who achieved the Fifth Layer immediately became a senior figure in the entire cultivation world. Now that Zhang Yang was a Fifth Layer expert, his seniority surpassed everyone else; even Zhang Pinglu, who had reached the Great Perfection stage, was bound by custom to address Zhang Yang as 'Senior.' How could he allow Zhang Yang to stand beside his wheelchair like a junior?

But before Zhang Pinglu’s outstretched hand could even touch Zhang Yang’s arm, his hand was clasped securely in Zhang Yang’s palm.

"Old Master, regardless of whether I am a Fifth Layer expert or not, you are the senior of my Medical Saint Zhang family, you are my Old Master."

Zhang Yang’s smile was radiant, showing none of the demeanor of a master. Instead, he looked exactly like a devoted grandson caring for his severely injured grandfather.

"Yang Yang, Yang Yang you…"

The Old Master trembled with emotion—out of pride, out of sheer satisfaction, and most of all, for the Medical Saint Zhang family, which had produced a descendant like Zhang Yang!

Who doesn't feel nostalgic in their later years? After struggling for half a lifetime, one becomes indifferent to honor and disgrace. If there is any remaining ambition, it lies in seeing one's descendants achieve greatness and bring glory to the ancestors.

Zhang Daofeng and Zhang Yun'an stood nearby. Seeing this scene, they couldn't help but turn their heads away, secretly wiping away tears of joy that welled up.

They, too, felt the immense pride and honor that the millennia-old Medical Saint Zhang family could boast a descendant like Zhang Yang.

Qu Meilan, witnessing this, also couldn't help but cover her face and sob softly, sharing in the collective happiness.

"Alright, Yang Yang succeeded in the tribulation, why is everyone weeping? Be happy, everyone must be happy!"

The Old Master was the first to wipe the tears from his eyes and collect his thoughts. At this moment, he was completely unconcerned about his injuries; whether he lived or died mattered not to him. After scanning the group, the Old Master looked back at Zhang Yang and asked softly, "Yang Yang, you just passed the Heavenly Tribulation, are you truly alright? Perhaps you should go back and rest; we aren't in a hurry to deal with the Flat Peach Immortal Elixir right now!"

"After the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation, I currently have no internal energy left. It will likely take at least a year for me to fully recover."

Hearing the Old Master's concern, Zhang Yang gave a wry smile and revealed the truth. Since everyone present was family, he held nothing back.

"What!" "What!"

This time, not only the Old Master was stunned, but Zhang Daofeng and Zhang Pinglu were also taken aback.

"Old Master, Maternal Grandfather, Uncle, please don't worry." Seeing their expressions of shock caused by their concern for him, Zhang Yang quickly added, "Even though I have no internal energy now, my body has already undergone a qualitative change infused with the world's spiritual energy from the lightning tribulation. Even without internal energy, there is no need to worry."

As Zhang Yang spoke, he stood up and casually raised one arm. A ball of pale white mist suddenly condensed in his palm. The purity of the world energy within this white mist was exceptionally high. Even the severely injured Old Master Zhang Pinglu could sense the terrifying world energy contained within that mist.

Having no internal energy yet being able to control the world energy like this… Fifth Layer experts were indeed extraordinary…

"Good, that’s good!"

Taking a deep breath, the Old Master, being a Great Perfection master, possessed unique insight into controlling world energy. Seeing Zhang Yang demonstrate this, he knew there was no need for further concern.

Zhang Yang nodded and turned back to the Old Master, saying, "Old Master, although the Flat Peach Immortal Elixir has been successfully refined, it cannot be given to you directly right now. It will be far more effective if I spend some time conditioning your body first before you take it."

The Medical Saint Zhang family were inherently a family of apothecaries, so Zhang Pinglu, Zhang Daofeng, and the others understood the logic in Zhang Yang's words. The Old Master’s body was currently riddled with injuries. While consuming the ten-thousand-year Flat Peach immediately would surely save his life and restore some strength, it would inevitably lead to a massive waste of the elixir’s potency. If his body were first optimized with the help of a Fifth Layer expert before taking the elixir, its effects could be maximized.

The Old Master nodded. He knew that no matter how much he refused, Zhang Yang would not agree. One of the two immortal elixirs was specifically reserved for him by Zhang Yang anyway, so he stopped being overly polite and accepted it readily.

"Yang Yang, to withstand the pressure of the tribulation, Mi Xue, Yan Ye Fei, and the disciples of the Long family have all been withdrawn from the Long Family Palace under Qiao Yihong’s orders. What is your next plan?"

Noticing that Zhang Yang did not intend to give the Old Master the Flat Peach Immortal Elixir immediately, Zhang Daofeng approached and asked quietly.

"Oh, right, Yang Yang. The Golden Three-Eyed Beast has also been brought back from underground and settled in a secluded spot on the Long Family Plain. Master Shi Ming is still inside the Long Family Palace accompanying Long Feng and Long Haotian. I wonder how they are faring?"

Zhang Yun'an turned and looked toward the Long Family Palace, his brow tightly furrowed with concern.

Under the force of the Ninth Lightning Tribulation, most of the Long Family Palace had collapsed, with only small sections remaining intact. The once magnificent palace now looked like a dilapidated, half-demolished building.

Although the ninth bolt of the tribulation lightning did not strike the palace directly, the meditation chamber where Zhang Yang was refining medicine was extremely close, resulting in the current ruins.

"Don't worry, Master Shi Ming, Long Feng, and Long Haotian are safe and sound."

Glancing at the ruins of the Long Family Palace, Zhang Yang smiled faintly and then stated, "Master Shi Ming is bringing Long Haotian and Long Feng over to us now."

"Congratulations, Benefactor Zhang, congratulations, Benefactor Zhang!"

As soon as Zhang Yang finished speaking, Master Shi Ming’s congratulatory voice echoed from a distance. A bald monk carrying two unconscious figures rapidly streaked across the far distance, arriving before them in the blink of an eye.

"Master Shi Ming."

Zhang Daofeng, Zhang Yun'an, and Qu Meilan bowed slightly to the stout monk in greeting.

"Master Shi Ming is in high spirits."

Old Master Zhang Pinglu, hearing Zhang Daofeng’s comment, understood that Master Shi Ming must have been observing Zhang Yang’s tribulation up close inside the Long Family Palace, which explained his current remark.

Master Shi Ming entered the small courtyard and gently placed the unconscious Long Feng and Long Haotian down. His face was also pale, suggesting he had sustained some injuries.

Had Master Shi Ming not been at the peak of his Great Perfection strength, he would have been utterly pulverized by the aftershock of the Heavenly Tribulation had he observed Zhang Yang's tribulation at such close range within the palace.

But in reality, even at his peak, Master Shi Ming could not withstand the final bolt of tribulation lightning. From the moment the Ninth Lightning Tribulation appeared, he realized the Long Family Palace was no longer tenable, prompting him to swiftly evacuate with Long Feng and Long Haotian.

However, he left slightly too late. When the final bolt struck, although it wasn't aimed at him, its residual power remained. Furthermore, Master Shi Ming was unable to resist it fully while protecting Long Feng and Long Haotian, resulting in his injuries.

Of course, only Zhang Yang could discern the true extent of his injuries. Zhang Yang paused for a moment, understanding why Master Shi Ming was hurt.

Master Shi Ming saw the expression on Zhang Yang's face and knew he couldn't hide it. He shook his head, clasped his hands together, and bowed to Zhang Yang: "Amitabha, Shaolin Shi Ming, pays respects to Senior Zhang."

After all, it was the custom spanning millennia in Huaxia: since Zhang Yang had become a Fifth Layer expert, he was the senior of the entire cultivation world, and even a highly respected Great Perfection master from Shaolin could not bypass this protocol.

Zhang Yang nodded without saying much. Master Shi Ming secretly breathed a sigh of relief, yet a look of confusion quickly followed.

Heavenly Tribulations always came in odd numbers; they never appeared in even counts. Yet, Zhang Yang had only experienced eight bolts of lightning. This was the puzzle that utterly baffled Master Shi Ming.

"Senior Zhang, could you possibly inform me why there were only eight bolts of lightning at the end, and why the ninth bolt of lightning vanished without descending?"

"Heh heh, this was indeed the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation, and there were indeed nine bolts of lightning. It's just that the Ninth Lightning Tribulation absorbed the power of the Eighth Lightning Tribulation, which is why the Eighth Lightning Tribulation descended without any corresponding reaction."

Zhang Yang repeated the explanation he had given the Old Master and the others to Master Shi Ming. Hearing this, Master Shi Ming finally understood.

Recalling that Ninth Lightning Tribulation, even though Zhang Yang had survived it safely, a lingering fear remained in his heart.

The immense power contained within the Ninth Lightning Tribulation was something he could never have resisted. Even if he had skipped the preceding seven tribulations and faced the ninth one at his absolute peak, the outcome would have been the same.

Zhang Yang had lost consciousness at that time and believed he was surely doomed. But for some unknown reason, after the lightning, he felt reborn, regaining consciousness and surviving the unprecedented Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation.

Even Zhang Yang himself did not know that it was the 'Sacred Hand System' within him that had saved him.