The young man loudly recounting the earlier scramble for the Ten Thousand Year Peach in the pavilion was none other than Xin Lei, son of Xin Tianfeng, the head of the Xin family in the Northeast. Everything he knew had been told to him by his father.

When the crowd collected themselves, they noticed the arrival of Mi Xue and Zhang Yang behind them. Although many of the younger generation were stunned by Mi Xue's beauty, being disciples from major aristocratic families and sects, they maintained their composure and avoided outright rudeness. While many surreptitiously glanced at Mi Xue, no one was foolish enough to approach her directly.

Because Zhang Yang and Mi Xue were close to their age, their arrival did not draw much attention, and everyone quickly refocused on the young man who had just spoken.

"Impossible, right? Zhang Yang of the Medical Sage Zhang family is said to be around our age, maybe twenty-something. But the Hua and Zhou families have guardians at the Great Perfection realm. How could they possibly be defeated by just one person like Zhang Yang!"

Immediately, a young man spoke up, refuting what the Xin family disciple had said.

"Exactly. I heard my elders say that the guardians of the Zhou and Li families, and the Wudang Demonic Sect, are all ancestors who haven't been seen for a hundred years. They've cultivated for far more than a century. How could they lose to a young man in his twenties?"

Another young disciple quickly chimed in, voicing his disbelief.

After the Ten Thousand Year Peach appeared, the martial world of Huaxia nearly converged in Kunlun. The Fourth Layer of Internal Strength and Great Perfection were no longer mysteries; it seemed everyone now knew that Internal Strength was divided into four layers, with Great Perfection being the level above the fourth.

As for the Fifth Layer, that remained knowledge known only to the super-sects, aristocratic families, and a select few first-rate private sects.

"You all don't believe me?"

Seeing the expressions of doubt on everyone’s faces, Xin Lei immediately raised his voice and questioned them, a little flustered.

"Then tell me, why did those five families immediately leave Kunlun the moment before the Ten Thousand Year Peach was revealed, and why did Shaolin follow right after and head toward the Long Family Plains?"

Xin Tianfeng clearly hid nothing from his son; this young man knew everything that had transpired. Seeing that no one around could offer a rebuttal, Xin Lei swelled with triumphant pride. "If you don't believe me, go ask your elders. They were invited to the Northwest Zhao family's encampment at the time and knew all the details. Do you also know about that traitor from the Long family, the former Third Elder? I heard he also died at Zhang Yang's hands."

"It was only because Zhang Yang was merciful and didn't excessively trouble the Northwest Zhao family afterward, otherwise, there wouldn't be a Northwest Zhao family in the cultivation world today."

As Xin Lei spoke, he shot a disdainful look at the young men who had challenged him earlier. "In any case, on that day, before the Ten Thousand Year Peach manifested, all the Great Perfection masters of the Huaxia cultivation world gathered. They fought fiercely, dark clouds gathering, just to contend for that single peach. Don't you all know the Kunlun Mountains shook violently several times that night? That was the result of several Great Perfection masters clashing!"

Mi Xue turned her gaze back toward Zhang Yang; she hadn't known any of this. Zhang Yang could only offer a wry smile. While this young man’s account was factually correct, the five Great Perfection masters had, in reality, been forced to retreat, not defeated. But Zhang Yang also knew that Qiao Yihong had deliberately exaggerated the story to intimidate the sects and families, claiming he had vanquished the five Great Perfection experts.

Xin Lei was eloquent and convincing; most of the crowd was swayed now, their faces filled with admiration.

Merely a few individuals fighting had caused the entire Kunlun mountain range to convulse. What immense power that represented! Seeing the envious gazes directed toward him, Xin Lei felt a hollow sense of pride, knowing they were actually admiring Zhang Yang.

"Hmph, Zhang Yang must have used some despicable trick to force the Great Perfection guardians of the five super-sects and families to leave, allowing him to claim the Ten Thousand Year Peach all for himself. You all saw that immensely powerful Heavenly Thunder from a few days ago; that must have been punishment for the Medical Sage Zhang family using vile means to steal the peach."

Just then, a jarring voice broke the mood. It came from a young man, looking pale and perhaps twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.

"Li Muren, don't spread malicious rumors! I think your Sword Sect is just jealous of the Medical Sage Zhang family, trying to smear their name!" Xin Lei roared at the sight of the young man.

This pale-faced youth was a disciple of the Sword Sect, a first-rate sect near Mount Shu. The Sword Sect had always maintained close ties with the Li family of Mount Shu, even sourcing many of their Internal Strength cultivation methods from them. Essentially, they were a sect nurtured by the Li family.

This young man, Li Muren, naturally refused to accept Xin Lei belittling the Li family while elevating the Zhang family.

Zhang Yang subtly shifted his gaze toward the young man. Few sects friendly with the Li family of Mount Shu, the Hua, Zhou, and Wudang Demonic Sect were still lingering in Kunlun. Most remaining factions were wholeheartedly helping the Long family rebuild their palace. Although the Sword Sect was among them, the number of people they sent to aid the Long family was significantly smaller than other sects.

The Li family of Mount Shu had departed in too much haste and sealed their mountain upon return, making it impossible to gather any intelligence. The Sword Sect seemed to have been nursing its own agenda, and their representatives assisting the Long family appeared more focused on gathering news for themselves than genuinely helping rebuild the ruins.

Zhang Yang’s lips curved into a subtle smile, and he remained beside Mi Xue, continuing to listen.

"What? Are you all just afraid of the power of the Medical Sage Zhang family? Look at you all, acting like slaves to the Long family, still helping them rebuild their rubble."

Li Muren sneered, leaning against a pavilion pillar with an air of disdain.

This statement managed to offend nearly every young person present, yet he seemed unconcerned by the angry glares he received, continuing to mutter contentedly, "Look around. Who of any significance remains at the Long Family Plains besides that Qiao Yihong, the Protector of the Medical Sage Martial Sect, and Long Feng of the Long family? Long Haotian, the former head of the Long family, is reportedly still recovering from severe injuries. As for this Zhang Yang you speak of, he hasn't shown his face once."

"Li Muren, I'm warning you, watch your words, or you'll bring trouble upon your Sword Sect!"

Xin Lei’s face turned ashen, and he ground his teeth as he spoke to Li Muren. Having learned of Zhang Yang's astonishing achievements, he now regarded Zhang Yang as his idol, and Li Muren's words were a direct insult to that idol.

"Trouble?" Li Muren laughed heartily, smugly. "That Zhang Yang probably didn't survive the Heavenly Thunder from the other day. You all witnessed its power. I suspect that insidious little man who stole the Ten Thousand Year Peach through despicable means was already struck dead by lightning, which is why he hasn't shown himself!"

"You!"

Even Mi Xue couldn't bear it any longer. Her beautiful eyes flashed, and she was about to retort, but Zhang Yang held her back.

Zhang Yang had already advanced to the Fifth Layer. In his eyes, these young people, whose strength likely barely reached the First or Second Layer of Internal Strength, were no different from ants.

Why would one care about the accusations and curses of ants?

"Stop arguing, everyone! Look who that is!"

Suddenly, a young man jumped to his feet, pointing outside the pavilion in alarm.

Everyone turned their heads and saw a young man with a shaved head, clad in monk's robes, rapidly approaching them.

"It's Shi Fang from Shaolin!"

Xin Lei was momentarily stunned. If not for Zhang Yang, Shi Fang from Shaolin would undoubtedly be their idol. Everyone knew this young Shaolin disciple's cultivation had progressed swiftly, rumored to have already reached the Third Layer of Internal Strength, making him the most likely candidate to break through to the Fourth Layer before the age of forty.

Now that Shi Fang had spotted them, they knew there was no escaping; they all stood up, lowered their heads, and looked ashamed. After all, they had snuck away while everyone else was busy helping out on the Long Family Plains, assuming Shi Fang had come to drag them back.

Regrettably, upon entering the pavilion, Shi Fang walked directly toward the man and woman who had entered last, cupping his hands in respect and bowing deeply: "Senior Zhang, Benefactor Mi, this humble monk has finally found you."

It turned out to be Shi Fang, whom Zhang Yang had met once before. Zhang Yang smiled and nodded.

Letting out a small sigh of relief, standing before Zhang Yang, Shi Fang felt immense pressure. Simultaneously, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Zhang Yang was once just an astonishing Third Layer master; now, he had reached a level Shi Fang couldn't even imagine.

It seemed Shi Fang knew a little—that Zhang Yang’s current strength definitely surpassed Great Perfection, placing him in the legendary Fifth Layer. He lowered his head, showing the utmost deference.

The surrounding young men were completely dumbfounded.

Who was this young man that even Shi Fang of Shaolin showed such profound respect?

"Senior Zhang, the patriarchs and sect masters of the Li, Hua, Zhou families, and the Wudang Demonic Sect have returned to the Long family with gifts, awaiting the chance to apologize to you personally. An elder informed this humble monk just now that you might be touring nearby, so I searched along this path and indeed found you."

After stating his purpose, Shi Fang stood quietly to the side, daring not to say another word.

Finally here? Zhang Yang let out a cold laugh. He had already anticipated that those Great Perfection experts would never dare to risk returning to Kunlun themselves. Sending their sect masters and family heads to offer apologies in their stead was exactly what Zhang Yang had predicted.

Nodding to Shi Fang, Zhang Yang then drew Mi Xue close, waved his hand casually, and vanished from the pavilion in the blink of an eye.

Outside the pavilion, Big Thunder and Little Thunder, who had been playing with the Swift Lightning Chasing Wind, saw Zhang Yang depart. The little creatures immediately jumped onto the Chasing Wind's back and followed it back toward the Long family grounds.

Shi Fang stood rooted in the pavilion, his gaze vacant. Zhang Yang had taken Mi Xue with him when he left. Even a Great Perfection expert would leave some residual trace when moving with another person; complete disappearance in the blink of an eye was impossible.

This undoubtedly confirmed that Zhang Yang had indeed surpassed Great Perfection and ascended to the legendary Fifth Layer.

"Senior Zhang… could that truly have been Zhang Yang?"

Xin Lei, standing behind Shi Fang, gaped, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.

As for the Sword Sect disciple who had just been maligning Zhang Yang, he suddenly pitched forward from his seat with a thud, striking the stone blocks outside, resulting in a bloody gash on his head. (To be continued.)