Zhang Yang wasn't clear why the five-layered elder wanted him to agree, but when he saw Elder Zhang Pinglu’s ardent gaze, he knew he was bound to accept today. “Fine, this World Alliance Leader position, I shall take it.” Zhang Yang nodded in assent, thereby agreeing to the proposal.

Now, with the Millennium Noble Family, the Xuanyuan Dragon Clan, making the suggestion, and the Shaolin and Wudang sects both giving their endorsement, every faction present unanimously supported Zhang Yang taking the mantle of World Alliance Leader; thus, his position was formally established…” The meeting hall immediately burst into renewed activity, everyone discussing what scale of ceremony should be held for Zhang Yang to assume this leadership. Undoubtedly, this upcoming ceremony would be the grandest event in the cultivation world of Huaxia in a thousand years, its impact certainly no less than the maturation of the Ten-Thousand-Year Flat Peach.

Long Haotian guided Long Feng aside, clearing a space for Zhang Yang, who stepped to the front center of the hall and held his hands down in a gesture for silence. The previously bustling hall instantly quieted, all eyes fixed on Zhang Yang, awaiting the man who was about to become the third World Alliance Leader in Huaxia’s long history.

“Everyone, please be quiet. Since all present today represent the major sects and noble families of our Huaxia cultivation world, consider this my formal inauguration as the World Alliance Leader.” Zhang Yang paused, then continued, “Although I have agreed to be the World Alliance Leader, it is absolutely not because I covet this empty title, nor will I interfere in the affairs within your respective sects and families.” “My hope is that going forward, our Huaxia cultivation world will stand united, and incidents like the five major families ganging up on the Dragon Clan during the recent guardian gap will never happen again.

And today, I will also forgive the offenses of the Li Family of Shushan, the Hua Family of Changbai Mountain, and the Wudang Sect for attempting to slay me back then.” “Alliance Leader Zhang is magnanimous and broad-minded; this is truly the blessing of Huaxia!” “Indeed! Alliance Leader Zhang possesses both virtue and talent; he will surely lead Huaxia to soar!” ...

In an instant, the hall grew lively again, bursts of congratulatory voices erupting everywhere. Li Wenruo and the others couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief; hearing Zhang Yang say that meant the purpose of their visit and apology had been achieved.

“But there is one thing.” Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes, sweeping his gaze around the assembly, and suddenly spoke again, causing everyone in the hall to immediately clamp their mouths shut. Li Wenruo and the others felt a jolt in their hearts, fearing what Zhang Yang might say next.

“Matters concerning Huaxia naturally have their own rules. However, if anyone dares to collude with foreign cultivation forces and disregard the well-being of Huaxia—I will personally visit them and demand justice for Huaxia!” The moment Zhang Yang’s final word faded, the temperature in the council hall dropped noticeably; everyone could sense the chilling killing intent he exuded when speaking those words.

“Indeed! Alliance Leader Zhang speaks wisely!” Li Wenruo stepped forward, bowed deeply toward Zhang Yang above him, and then declared, “Now that Huaxia has Alliance Leader Zhang, this scattered sand of a cultivation world is finally consolidated.

If any outside cultivators dare to cause trouble in Huaxia again, they will certainly never return.” “Precisely! Our Xin Family of the Northeast absolutely supports Alliance Leader Zhang!” The burly man from the Xin Family of the Northeast immediately shouted, and only then did everyone else snap out of their daze and join in the clamor.

Zhang Yang nodded. Then he turned to Long Haotian and said, “Next, I must ask Clan Leader Long to entertain these sects and noble families.” Long Haotian quickly waved his hands, pulled Long Feng closer to his side, and said with a smile, “Alliance Leader Zhang, Long Feng is already the current Clan Leader of the Dragon Clan.

I, Long Haotian, will absolutely no longer interfere in the Dragon Clan’s affairs.” “Very well. Long Feng, you must work hard,” Zhang Yang smiled as he looked at Long Feng.

Long Feng glanced at his father, Long Haotian, then at Zhang Yang, before nodding heavily. He turned around to begin greeting the various sect leaders and clan heads.

Watching Long Feng already displaying a semblance of a clan leader, Long Haotian felt deeply gratified. “Old Sir, you should return and rest first.

In three more days, I can administer the final Flat Peach Immortal Pill for you.” Zhang Yang approached the Old Sir, helping him to stand. The Old Sir’s eyes crinkled into thin lines from smiling so broadly.

He allowed himself to be helped up, and Qu Meilan hurried over to support him, escorting the Old Sir back. In the following days, after leaving behind the gifts of apology from the Li Family of Shushan, the Hua Family of Changbai Mountain, and Wudang, these factions were the first to depart the Dragon Clan plains, rushing back to report everything that happened at the Dragon Clan estate to their respective Grand Perfection masters.

Following them, cultivators from various other sects and families came one after another to present gifts and offer congratulations to Zhang Yang, the successor of the Medical Saint Zhang family, on becoming the long-vacant World Alliance Leader of Huaxia. Fortunately, with the full support of the major sects and noble families, the Dragon Clan palace was rebuilt in record time, now boasting many more guest rooms to accommodate the crowds coming to offer congratulations and gifts.

The Dragon Clan’s treasury was overflowing; they hadn't even finished accepting all the celebratory offerings yet. Three days passed quickly.

The Old Sir’s physical condition had finally been adjusted to the state Zhang Yang deemed most satisfactory—today was the day he was to help the Old Sir ingest the final Flat Peach Immortal Pill. Even the five-layered elder, who hadn’t shown himself for days, couldn't resist joining the occasion and made his way to Elder Zhang Pinglu’s private courtyard.

As for Master Shi Ming, he was unceremoniously chased out of the courtyard by this elder; even Qu Meilan was no exception. Now, only Zhang Yang and the five-layered elder remained in the courtyard.

Outside the courtyard, a thin mist lay like a membrane, enveloping the entire area. This film was almost perfectly transparent, nearly invisible to the naked eye, and only Zhang Yang could perceive its existence.

Without a doubt, this barrier had been erected by the five-layered elder, specifically to conceal the spiritual energy emanating from the Flat Peach Immortal Pill, thereby preventing excessive covetousness from others. It was important to remember that the fellow from Changbai Mountain had been casting envious glances at the Flat Peach Immortal Pill in Zhang Yang’s hand from the very beginning.

After settling the Old Sir comfortably onto a reclining chair in the courtyard, Zhang Yang took out the jade porcelain bottle containing the Flat Peach Immortal Pill, retrieved the pill, and helped the Old Sir swallow it. The process of administering the pill to the Old Sir went smoothly, largely thanks to Zhang Yang’s prior conditioning of his body.

Although the Flat Peach Immortal Pill was saturated with potent spiritual energy, it caused the Old Sir no discomfort. Immediately upon swallowing the Immortal Pill, Elder Zhang Pinglu slowly closed his eyes, appearing to drift into a deep slumber.

“So fragrant…” The five-layered elder stared at the green jade porcelain bottle Zhang Yang held, taking a deep breath with an expression of sheer delight. “Senior, why did you persuade me to become that World Alliance Leader earlier?” After confirming the Old Sir was processing the Flat Peach Immortal Pill, Zhang Yang turned to the five-layered elder and asked his question with evident confusion.

“Because the cultivation world of Huaxia is scattered like loose sand. If you can become the World Alliance Leader, you can unite this power and make it as cohesive as a single rope.” The five-layered elder smiled and replied casually, “Setting that aside for a moment.

Little fellow, the greatest benefit of you becoming the World Alliance Leader now is that you can openly admonish the Japanese and Korean cultivators who dared to cause trouble in Huaxia recently. Even killing him won't invite any repercussions.” “Hm?” Zhang Yang frowned; he clearly heard that the elder’s words carried an underlying meaning.

“Let me tell you the truth: the Flat Peach Immortal Pill not only made that fellow from Changbai Mountain restless but also attracted the attention of that old man from Korea.” The five-layered elder straightened up, gazed into the distance, and suddenly sneered before continuing, “That old bastard actually dares to step foot on Huaxia soil again. It seems he has long forgotten the lessons I taught him.

Very well. Since a new five-layered expert has emerged in our Huaxia, I will hand him over to you.” “A Korean five-layered expert?” Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes, looking at the elder.

Someone who could draw the attention of this five-layered elder—could he also be a five-layered expert? Although Zhang Yang had not fully recovered his strength, if a five-layered expert entered Huaxia, he should still have some perceptible inkling, hence his question.

“What nonsense, a five-layered expert? He’ll be lucky to be considered a Pseudo-Five-Layered even when he dies,” The elder scoffed dismissively, showing utter contempt.

“Little fellow, have you ever heard of Gu Beasts?” The elder turned back to Zhang Yang and asked. Zhang Yang nodded: “The Gu Beasts of the Southern Border Demonic Path?” “Precisely.

Someone once researched the art of Gu cultivation and refined it, using spirit beasts to fight each other, integrating the methods of raising Gu in the Southern Border to nurture these beasts, exploiting their life-or-death struggle to force out their maximum potential and enhance their power. Coupled with special medicinal feeding, the spirit beasts that survive this process undergo mutation.

These mutated spirit beasts are also known as Fallen Spirit Beasts.” As the elder spoke, he couldn't help glancing sideways. The courtyard walls offered no obstruction to his vision, and several spirit beasts outside the walls naturally fell into his sight.

“And Korea borrowed this very method to raise mutated spirit beasts. Upon their complete transformation, they condensed a Spirit Beast Inner Core and, through some method, achieved co-existence with the beast, thereby gaining a sudden breakthrough in rank.

The reason Korea has produced two Grand Perfection experts and one Pseudo-Five-Layered expert in just the last hundred years is due to this same technique.” This five-layered elder knew more about that period of hidden history than the former Sect Master of the Zijin Mountain Spirit Beast Sect, and he was clearer about how the Korean Grand Perfection masters and that Pseudo-Five-Layered expert came to be. Zhang Yang involuntarily clenched his fists.

Raising spirit beasts in that manner meant the chance of generating a mutated beast was extremely low, and spirit beasts capable of fully mutating and condensing an Inner Core were rarer than phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. How many spirit beasts would ultimately need to be slaughtered to obtain just one such beast completely degenerated into a demon beast?

This number was something Zhang Yang dared not even contemplate. “Little fellow, as long as you can find a way to deal with its spirit beast, we don't need to worry about that Korean Pseudo-Five-Layered expert at all.

Without the assistance of that fallen demon beast, the fellow is, at best, only a Grand Perfection realm cultivator.” The five-layered elder seemed extremely confident in Zhang Yang, believing that Zhang Yang could certainly make the Korean Pseudo-Five-Layered expert, who had infiltrated Huaxia to covet the Flat Peach Immortal Pill, pay blood for the spirit beasts he had caused to be slain! (To be continued...)