Hua Feitian’s eyes were slightly bloodshot, even the veins on his **outer arm bulged taut, all of which indicated the intensity of the internal struggle accompanying his agonizing decision.

To speak nothing of the sheer difficulty of fully comprehending the Dao of Nature to break through to the Fifth Layer—how many Fifth Layer masters had emerged in China over the past millennia? Hua Feitian had once considered himself the most gifted internal energy cultivator of the past century, but only upon meeting Zhang Yang did he realize that there is always someone better.

As for the Three Elixirs and One Water method, beyond knowing its name, he was utterly ignorant of the refining or ingestion methods for the Three Elixirs, and rarely had he even heard mention of them over the years. This path was by no means easier than completely grasping the Dao of Nature.

Yet today, this old Korean man offered him an entirely different road. That display of power earlier was undoubtedly the strength of a Fifth Layer master, for those at that level already stood above the masses.

Park Tae-eun’s words were perfectly accurate. Hua Feitian knew exactly where he stood in the eyes of the Twelve-Crested Golden Python of Changbai Mountain; whether he became its pet was utterly irrelevant to the beast. If this proposed method worked, it represented the quickest and simplest path for Hua Feitian to ascend to the Fifth Layer.

He was the guardian of the Hua family, the youngest to hold that title, and a Great Perfection master who achieved advancement through self-comprehension of the Dao of Nature. Ambition burned brightly within him: to restore the Hua family to its former glory, perhaps even surpassing it.

Hua Feitian had perpetually sought breakthrough to the Fifth Layer; among all Great Perfection experts, he was the most likely candidate. To have such an opportunity suddenly placed before him—how could he not be tempted?

This alternate path to the Fifth Layer possessed a **power that completely surpassed that of the Ten Thousand Year Peach. If the person telling him all this were not a foreign cultivator, Hua Feitian would have accepted without a moment's hesitation.

A faint smile touched Park Tae-eun’s lips as he smugly watched the silent Hua Feitian. He felt absolutely no worry about the final outcome. As long as Hua Feitian harbored selfish desires, as long as he was unwilling to remain forever trailing behind Zhang Yang, he would agree.

“I… I cannot give you Rootless Water!”

Hua Feitian gritted his teeth, his jaw nearly shattering as he forced the words out through clenched enamel.

Park Tae-eun’s expression shifted subtly; he had never expected Hua Feitian to refuse the proposition.

“Why! This is your greatest current opportunity to reach the Fifth Layer. Do you truly believe you still have a chance to fully grasp the Dao of Nature? Don't be foolish. Even if you did have a chance, would Zhang Yang, who has already weathered the Celestial Tribulation and ascended to the Fifth Layer, afford you that opportunity?”

Park Tae-eun’s voice rose in volume. He stared fixedly at Hua Feitian, whose eyes betrayed a burning **desire to know the method for achieving the Fifth Layer. He refused to believe that someone exhibiting such yearning would outright reject his offer.

“Zhang Yang already knows you infiltrated China, and given how long Li Jianyi has been gone, the messenger sent to him will likely reach Dragon Family Plain soon. Your presence here cannot remain hidden for long. Zhang Yang is now the Alliance Master of our China’s World Alliance, and he has already issued the Alliance Master’s Decree: any sects or noble families colluding with foreign cultivators will face extermination of their entire lineage. Even if I obtain the method to advance to the Fifth Layer, Zhang Yang will still have an excuse to storm Changbai Mountain and wipe out the entire Hua family!”

Hua Feitian rapidly retreated. He was already close to the border of Changbai Mountain territory, and as he spoke those last words, he stepped back into its boundaries. Hua Feitian had long noticed that Park Tae-eun dared not enter the Changbai Mountain domain.

Finally understanding Hua Feitian’s apprehension, Park Tae-eun followed closely, stopping precisely at the boundary line of Changbai Mountain, and spoke with irritation, “Rest assured, this is absolutely not cooperation between us, nor does it involve Zhang Yang. It is purely an exchange: I offer you another method to reach the Fifth Layer in return for a single cup of Rootless Water you possess!”

“What exactly do you need Rootless Water for?”

Hua Feitian did not immediately leave, instead trying to shift his entire focus away from the tempting Fifth Layer method and onto other matters.

Park Tae-eun chuckled, now in no hurry, and spoke slowly, “I require Rootless Water because the method I propose for reaching the Fifth Layer still carries a flaw.”

“Can Rootless Water resolve this flaw?” Inadvertently, Hua Feitian was drawn back into the discussion about reaching the Fifth Layer.

Park Tae-eun nodded, the corner of his mouth curling into a distinctly malevolent smile, and continued, “Do you know the true function of Rootless Water?”

The Rootless Water lay deep within an underwater cavern in the Heaven Lake, where the temperature was high. Water in a certain pool constantly evaporated, turning into steam that flowed back down.

Some of this steam condensed in mid-air and, under specific conditions, could float—this was the Rootless Water of Heaven Lake. Its formation was already difficult, and its quantity inherently scarce. Furthermore, it resided in the lair of the Twelve-Crested Golden Python. Even the Hua family, which shared a profound connection with the beast, had never managed to hoard much.

Hua Feitian only knew it was the ‘Water’ component in the ‘Three Elixirs and One Water’ method—another route to the Fifth Layer via external aid—but he genuinely did not know its specific effect.

It appeared indistinguishable from ordinary water; drinking it offered no special sensation. Knowing its formation process, Hua Feitian had always assumed it was merely a peculiar variant of water, perhaps only exhibiting special properties when consumed with the Three Elixirs.

“In fact, for those of us who reach the Fifth Layer by forming a certain relationship with a spirit beast and sharing its abilities, there remains a flaw: we are still constrained by our physical bodies and cannot truly exert one hundred percent of our strength like genuine Fifth Layer masters. To be precise, we are only Pseudo-Fifth Layer masters. However, the Rootless Water from your Changbai Mountain Heaven Lake can help us temporarily overcome these physical constraints, allowing us to unleash the full energy of our bodies for a short duration, becoming true Fifth Layer powerhouses!”

To dismantle Hua Feitian’s doubts, Park Tae-eun proactively revealed the defect. “You must consider this carefully: the Heaven Lake’s Rootless Water is virtually unobtainable for me, but for you, it is almost inexhaustible. Once you become a Fifth Layer master through this method, this limitation will cease to be an issue for you!”

Saying this, Park Tae-eun stared straight into Hua Feitian’s eyes. As their gazes locked, he took a step forward and resumed his temptation, **“And all you need is a tiny cup of Rootless Water to trade with me for this method!”

“Hua Feitian, don't you want to become a Fifth Layer master?”

“Hua Feitian, are you willing to remain perpetually eclipsed by Zhang Yang?”

“Hua Feitian, don't you long to become the World Alliance Master of China, commanding all under heaven?”

After these three sentences, Park Tae-eun stood directly before Hua Feitian, the boundary of Changbai Mountain separating them. He was already taking an extreme risk; he could provoke the Twelve-Crested Golden Python’s displeasure at any moment, but for the sake of the Rootless Water, he had to take the plunge.

He was gambling: the Twelve-Crested Golden Python knew his true target was Zhang Yang. If the Python also desired Zhang Yang’s demise, it would not interfere with the transaction between him and Hua Feitian—of course, he would never let the Python know the exact terms of his offer to Hua Feitian, nor how he himself achieved the Fifth Layer.

Hua Feitian had resisted the temptation of the Fifth Layer once, but the second time… he found he simply could not refuse!

Park Tae-eun’s words were like swords, piercing directly into his core. He craved the breakthrough, he yearned to surpass Zhang Yang, and he desired to be the revered World Alliance Master commanding the world. Yet now, Zhang Yang loomed like a colossal mountain, crushing all his hopes into mere pipe dreams.

He hated it. He was unwilling to accept this fate!

“Fine!”

A trace of blood leaked from the corner of Hua Feitian’s mouth. Shivering slightly, he spoke the word, finally making his resolution.

Park Tae-eun narrowed his eyes into slits. He had anticipated this outcome; Hua Feitian could not withstand the allure of ascending to the Fifth Layer.

“As you said, tonight is merely an exchange of Rootless Water for an alternative path to the Fifth Layer. It has nothing to do with Zhang Yang or South Korea! If you commit any evil acts on Chinese soil in the future, I will still strike you down!”

Hua Feitian wiped the blood from his mouth and reiterated his condition firmly.

“Of course.”

Park Tae-eun smiled and nodded, watching Hua Feitian turn and depart to retrieve the Rootless Water from Changbai Mountain.

“Hmph, hmph…”

Once Hua Feitian was far away, Park Tae-eun took several steps backward, distancing himself from the Changbai Mountain boundary, tilting his head back to sneer faintly at the sky.

He would give Hua Feitian the genuine method for reaching the Fifth Layer, but whether Hua Feitian ultimately succeeded was entirely outside his consideration.

For Hua Feitian to succeed, it would ultimately depend on the attitude of the Twelve-Crested Golden Python. If it refused, Hua Feitian would still be unable to advance.

The Twelve-Crested Golden Python was vastly different from his own mutated spirit beast, which lacked any semblance of self-will. Even if Hua Feitian succeeded, the final result would only be the loss of his self, becoming a pet of that Python, completely obedient to it—thus posing no threat to him or South Korea whatsoever.

Park Tae-eun turned, gazing northwest. Having secured the Rootless Water, he could now confront Zhang Yang without reservation. Others might not understand Zhang Yang, but Park Tae-eun was perfectly aware: Zhang Yang, having only recently survived the Ninth Layer Celestial Tribulation, would certainly not have fully recovered.

To Great Perfection masters like Hua Feitian and Li Jianyi, even the weakest Zhang Yang was overwhelmingly superior. But for Park Tae-eun, Zhang Yang’s current frailty represented his only viable opportunity.

Either force Zhang Yang to acknowledge his ancestors and return to South Korea with him, or… seize the Immortal Peach Elixir and slay him to eliminate future trouble!

Hua Feitian returned quickly, clutching a small, exquisite white porcelain vial in his hand.

A thin layer of frost descended once more, enveloping the two men. No one could hear what Park Tae-eun murmured to Hua Feitian within that shroud.