Unlike the near-vacuum state of the Wildman Mountain back then, this time it was the complete opposite; countless streams of heaven and earth energy raged wantonly within the barrier, whether it was Zhang Yang or the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python, their mastery over this energy had reached the extreme, and their spiritual energy was equally vast.

Outside the barrier, although they had not emerged from within, everyone could clearly feel the violent energy inside, powerful enough to tear everything apart!

Inside and outside the barrier, it was clearly delineated, like heaven and hell.

"This, is this the shock brought by a Fifth-Layer expert?"

Master Shi Ming of Shaolin pressed his palms together, his eyes vacant, murmuring softly.

"Yang Yang..."

Old Master Zhang Pinglu frowned deeply, his face etched with worry.

The several spirit beasts stared fixedly into the interior of the barrier, straining their sight as much as possible, hoping to see the battle unfolding by the Tianchi Lake, but ultimately, they could only be disappointed.

"Huh? Strange?"

Mid-air, Ah Hua and Ah Cai flapped their wings. The two parrots suddenly tilted their heads and shot towards the sky, attempting to fly higher so they could look further.

"Ah Hua, do you feel it too?"

"Ah Cai, this feeling, could it be..."

"Impossible!"

"Yes, impossible, but..."

"This damned barrier!"

At the epicenter of this great battle, by the shore of Tianchi Lake, no one should have been able to glimpse even a fraction, nor did anyone know why the two parrots had suddenly acted so abnormally.

With three swords drawn, Zhang Yang held the sure victory; the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python would next be cleaved into several segments by the cage woven from countless sword rays of spiritual energy. But just then, the feeling of being spied upon in his heart erupted like a volcano!

If Zhang Yang previously felt that his battle against the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python was completely exposed to others' notice, the feeling now was that the watcher could no longer restrain themselves and had finally decided to act.

"Do you have an accomplice!"

Zhang Yang’s gaze was sharp; after a loud shout, he gripped the Ice Sword tightly, scanning his surroundings vigilantly!

Someone else was definitely nearby!

And that person's strength must also be above the Fifth Layer!

Who could it be?

Could it be that black-robed elder who returned after visiting Japan and Korea?

Just as Zhang Yang was intensely alert, the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python let out a long hiss, its massive body coiling into a ball, expanding outward. The myriad sword rays formed from spiritual energy acted like rolling blades on flesh; countless slashes scored the python’s body, and countless scales instantly cracked!

The Twelve-Crowned Golden Python could not hold out much longer. It expanded its body, enduring the pain akin to a thousand cuts, all for this final moment!

Swish!

The impenetrable cage of sword intent had somehow developed a flaw, creating the only vulnerability in Zhang Yang’s otherwise certain third strike.

The dying Twelve-Crowned Golden Python burst through this opening, gathering all its strength, and rammed forward!

Boom!!

A bolt of lightning split the sky. The Twelve-Crowned Golden Python was covered in gore, but it ultimately escaped Zhang Yang’s fatal sword blow.

The third form of the Sky-Breaking Sword Strike was the manifestation of one sword into ten thousand.

Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes; now he was even more certain that someone was hidden nearby during his decisive battle with the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python… or perhaps, had just arrived?

Before entering Changbai Mountain, Zhang Yang was certain that besides the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python and the Three-Eyed Demonic Beast, there were no other Fifth-Layer experts nearby. So who had saved this great python?

Zhang Yang’s pupils suddenly dilated. He suddenly recalled that earlier, when he was under attack by the Three-Eyed Demonic Beast, the barrier preventing energy leakage outside Tianchi Lake was already on the verge of collapse. Someone had helped him re-establish that barrier then, thereby saving everyone outside Changbai Mountain's Tianchi Lake.

The person who had previously reinforced the barrier to save everyone outside, and the person who just saved the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python, must be the same individual!

Zhang Yang let out a hiss...

In the air, the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python was extremely weary. Its previously high-held head was now lowered significantly, blood dripping from its entire body, creating what seemed like a light rain upon the surface of Tianchi Lake.

Its tongue flickered out, but its speed had slowed considerably; the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python had completely lost its will to fight.

Zhang Yang leaped up, appearing above the head of the giant python in the mid-air in the blink of an eye, like a flash of lightning.

His feet stood firm on the massive skull of the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python, the Ice Sword held vertically before him, Zhang Yang’s internal Zhou Tian Great Cycle was spinning furiously.

The Twelve-Crowned Golden Python was pinned beneath Zhang Yang’s feet, yet it showed no anger. The previous three strikes had already shattered all its pride; had no one intervened, it would now be nothing more than countless pieces of corpse.

Having seized opportunity for a century and cultivated for a millennium, ascending to the Fifth Layer after surviving the thunder tribulation, the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python was essentially a beast that had shed its skin to become a Jiao; though not yet a true dragon, it was already a demon. Being alive meant that mere pride counted for nothing, especially when the man standing on its head possessed both the strength and the qualification!

"Hiss..."

As the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python exhaled, it seemed to clearly understand who had saved it.

The barrier near Tianchi obstructed the way, but aside from the previously leaked heaven and earth energy, a large amount of spiritual energy still diffused around. As Zhang Yang’s Zhou Tian Great Cycle spun wildly within his body, countless streams of spiritual energy converged above the head of the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python, being absorbed into Zhang Yang’s body. In an instant, the spiritual energy Zhang Yang had expended was more than halfway recovered!

At this point, even if another enemy as powerful as the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python appeared, he would not feel the slightest fear!

It’s just that… Fifth-Layer experts, how could there be so many in this world?

"Since Senior has returned from Japan and Korea, why hide away and refuse to show yourself for a meeting!"

Zhang Yang spoke with full confidence, showing no trace of exhaustion after the fierce battle; he was brimming with energy.

Unfortunately, there was no reply.

However, far beyond the borders of Changbai Mountain, that Fifth-Layer elder had already returned; he was naturally the one who had reinforced the barrier earlier. But the one who saved the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python was the person beside him—this person appeared to be only in his twenties, yet his eyes held the vicissitudes of a hundred years.

"Heh, Old Man Potian, why aren't you going over yet? If you don't go soon, I’m afraid his little snake will end up as a dead soul under someone else’s blade."

The Fifth-Layer elder chuckled freely, laughing heartily at the "youngster" beside him.

Old Man Potian.

This youngster was actually the Old Man Potian who created the Sky-Breaking Sword Style!

Seeing that Old Man Potian remained silent, the Fifth-Layer elder continued to laugh loudly, his face beaming with joy. He reached out and heavily patted Potian's shoulder, continuing, "I think, this little fellow’s Three Sky-Breaking Sword Strikes are completely more formidable than yours, the man who created the Sky-Breaking Sword Style. Are you interested in going over and challenging him to see whose Sky-Breaking Sword Style is superior?"

"Not interested."

Old Man Potian finally spoke; he was extremely calm, completely unmoved by the elder beside him. He turned his head toward the south, frowned slightly, and murmured, "Wait a little longer; he hasn't arrived yet. When he gets here, we’ll go up Changbai Mountain together. Saving his pet, of course, is more appropriate for him to do."

"That fellow?"

The Fifth-Layer elder pouted, muttering discontentedly, "It’s rare indeed. That old geezer who managed to successfully disguise himself as a Fifth-Layer spirit beast and fool all of China is finally willing to move from the South Sea. I always thought he planned to spend the rest of his life there."

"But Potian, now that you’ve emerged from that place, what exactly is your purpose this time?"

After the lighthearted banter, the Fifth-Layer elder suddenly grew serious, gazing at the youngster beside him.

"You know perfectly well; why ask?" Potian replied coolly.

"You need to think clearly. That little fellow is extremely stubborn, perhaps even more so than the one from the South Sea," the Fifth-Layer elder narrowed his eyes, his tone also turning cold.

"Hmph, this Zhang Yang is far more talented than that coward from the South Sea, so naturally, he is willing to go there. A body tempered by nine bolts of tribulation lightning—perhaps only he can truly grasp the profound truth that we haven't comprehended in thousands of years, over there."

"Vague and boastful. Old Man Potian, how many years have you been there, and what have you comprehended? How many years did I guard there, and what did I gain? Why can't you let go?"

The Fifth-Layer elder scoffed, full of disdain for Old Man Potian's words.

"When I was guarding Black Mountain Valley, I thought the same as you. But only after you entered did you realize how laughable your prior convictions were!" Old Man Potian frowned slightly, looking at the Fifth-Layer elder beside him as he replied.

"Apologies, perhaps I share the same thought as that fellow from the South Sea: Not interested."

The Fifth-Layer elder uttered this last sentence and fell silent, waiting quietly.

The two of them became quiet simultaneously, waiting intently for the person who had been hidden in the South Sea to arrive.

At Changbai Mountain Tianchi, Zhang Yang was already growing impatient.

Neither the Fifth-Layer elder nor anyone else had appeared.

"If you refuse to show yourself, then I must force you to," Zhang Yang’s eyes turned cold. He raised his Ice Sword a mere few centimeters, the tip pointing downwards; in an instant, this sword could pierce the massive skull of the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python.

"Little fellow, show mercy."

Finally, an aged voice slowly rang out.

An elder with a head full of white hair and a long beard walked unsteadily from the horizon.

It was neither Old Man Potian nor the Fifth-Layer expert. The impression he gave was that of an old man nearing the grave.

"Hiss!"

Upon seeing this old man, the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python forgot Zhang Yang hovering above it; its massive body shot towards the ground like an arrow, instantly nudging the elder onto its back.

The giant snake head looked towards the elder on its back, its tongue flickered out, like a child acting spoiled, seeking favor before the old man.

"Heh heh, good boy."

The elder reached out and gently patted the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python beneath him.

A scene that seemed almost miraculous suddenly occurred: the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python, which had been bleeding profusely from the sword marks of the instantaneous strikes, instantly stopped bleeding under the old man's light pat.

"Who exactly are you..."

Zhang Yang leaped down from the air, looking at the white-haired elder, his mind churning like stormy seas. He couldn't possibly fathom who this man was.

The elder looked up, stroked his snow-white beard, laughed heartily, and slowly said, "This old body is Zhang Sanfeng."