After a period of rest, Zhang Yong finally stood up, tossed a medicinal pill into the air, and swallowed it.
Immediately, the skin on his arms began to reappear.
Su Ming couldn't help but sigh in exasperation.
"You idiot, you could've died from the lightning."
Zhang Yong shrugged helplessly.
"And let the pill be destroyed? Impossible. That's a small price to pay for success."
Both the King of Thieves and Zhang Guan walked toward the two. A bright smile spread across the King of Thieves' face.
"So? What happened? Was the pill refined successfully?"
Zhang Yong raised his hand, revealing two pills glowing with a deep, poisonous green hue.
"Yes, but I think because my blood accidentally dropped onto them,two pills were created instead of one."
The King of Thieves stepped forward slowly, his eyes gleaming with interest.
"Two instead of one?" he said with a radiant grin. "That might actually be a good thing."
Su Ming carefully examined the pills, then raised an eyebrow.
"I've never seen this type before, but I can tell it's… different, somehow."
Zhang Guan, who had been watching silently the entire time, finally spoke.
"Zhang Yong, now that the pill has been refined, there are things you need to know — about my disappearance, and also about the Zhang family. Let's speak privately."
Zhang Yong stopped looking at the pills and focused on Zhang Guan.
"As you wish. Let's move away from here first."
He waved his hand and quietly stored the pills back into his spatial ring.
They walked away slowly, leaving Su Ming and the King of Thieves behind.
The King of Thieves glanced at Su Ming and asked,
"Is he related to the boy's family?"
Su Ming raised his hands helplessly.
"I don't know, but I'd guess they know each other."
---
As Zhang Yong and Zhang Guan walked farther from the others, the air between them grew heavy with silence. The wind blew softly.
Zhang Guan finally spoke,
"Can you tell me first how you met the Zhang family?"
Zhang Yong raised an eyebrow but answered reluctantly.
"After a long battle against one of my enemies, I crawled for days until I collapsed in front of a family's home. They took me in, treated my injuries, and I took the youngest son as my disciple. Later, I joined the family competition as their representative."
Zhang Guan was silent for a few moments before he spoke quietly,
"So that's how it was… I was gone so long that our family fell into decline. What a pity."
Zhang Yong clenched his teeth, his gaze cold.
"Now your turn. Why did you disappear?"
Zhang Guan took a deep breath, uncertain how to begin.
"When I left the family, I started wandering across the lands. Eventually, I entered the Vientiane Continental Talent Tournament. After securing one of the top positions, I caught the attention of the Emperor. When he realized I was from the Zhang family, he branded me with a slavery seal that allows him to know my location as long as I live in this world."
Zhang Yong's eyes widened.
"Wait, what do you mean realized you were from the Zhang family? Wasn't the Zhang family just a Bronze-rank clan back then?"
Zhang Guan shook his head slowly.
"Yes, that's what I thought too. But after being forced to serve under the Emperor for years, I made friends in the imperial court. One of them was the Imperial Minister, Bo Hao — the father of the boy Bo Qi. You may not know this, but ministers are forbidden from having children, so his son's existence was kept secret, known only to a trusted few. But suddenly, Bo Qi disappeared — kidnapped."
Zhang Yong stroked his chin, thinking.
"That explains how he knew you."
Zhang Guan nodded.
"Yes. Bo Hao helped me in the palace and even searched the secret archives for me. Do you know of the Great War a thousand years ago?"
Zhang Yong nodded.
"Yes, I've heard many kings and emperors perished then."
Zhang Guan exhaled deeply.
"The story goes that our Zhang ancestor was involved in that war — in fact, he was the enemy of the entire continent. He challenged the emperors and kings themselves as he tried to ascend to the higher realm — the rank of Heavenly Emperor."
Zhang Yong's eyes widened again.
"But I thought no one had ever managed to break through to that realm!"
Zhang Guan nodded.
"That's true. But the ancestor found a way. Unfortunately, he failed due to the combined siege against him. He fell — or so the records say."
Zhang Yong trembled slightly.
"He found a way to ascend to the Heavenly Emperor rank but failed? If he had succeeded, the power of the Zhang clan would have been unimaginable!"
Zhang Guan snorted.
"After studying the archives, Bo Hao and I managed to locate the battlefield where he fell. Bo Hao covered for me while I went there. I found a fragment of the ancestor's soul — and he recognized me as his descendant."
He continued,
"That's when I learned the truth. The current imperial family is not the real ruling line. A thousand years ago, the Zhang ancestor was a close ally of the true imperial family. The Zhangs were one of the six golden clans. But then a demonic creature appeared — an extinct race, the true enemy of the continent. It overpowered emperors and kings alike. The true imperial family sacrificed themselves to stop it, but even so, the creature killed many sovereigns."
Zhang Yong's expression twisted in shock.
"The current imperial family is fake?! Damn it, I never expected that!"
Zhang Guan sighed.
"There's more. The ancestor told me he came from another continent — a place where the Zhang clan held immense authority. He didn't share many details, only that our bloodline descends from the dragon race. Over the millennia here, our blood weakened. Still, he passed a single drop of his blood to me, greatly increasing my strength — and entrusted me with a mission."
He raised his hand, revealing a stone-like seal topped with a dragon carving.
"He said this seal is something he regretted bringing with him. If I ever found a way to reach that other continent, I must return it to the main Zhang family."
He gazed at it for a moment before extending his hand toward Zhang Yong.
"I want you to keep it.After the death of the third prince I was tasked to protect, the Emperor will want me dead. He can track me in the main world, but not here, in your small world. I can't return to the Zhang family myself, so I need you to take this seal."
Zhang Yong hesitated, staring at the seal. The weight of responsibility pressed on his heart.
He chuckled softly.
"Heh, so you're asking me to go to another continent and finish the task you couldn't complete."
But Zhang Guan's eyes were sincere.
"I'm not asking for my sake — but for the sake of the Zhang family."
Zhang Yong looked at him, then at the seal again. Finally, he reached out and took it.
"As you wish. But I have things I must do first. If I can't carry out the mission, I'll return the seal to the Zhang family and explain everything."
Zhang Guan nodded with relief.
"I trust your judgment, Zhang Yong. I know you won't fail our family."
Zhang Yong studied the seal for a moment before storing it away.
"By the way," he said, "your niece was kidnapped by some people. They mentioned something about a Yin Physique and their symbol was a black dragon clutching a shining star."
Zhang Guan's eyes flashed dangerously.
"The Sky Claw Organization! Did you say they went after my niece?"
Zhang Yong nodded.
"Who are they? And why target someone with a Yin Physique?"
Zhang Guan exhaled heavily, clenching his fists.
"Not just Yin Physique. They kidnap people with sacred bodies, erase their memories, and turn them into puppets. Any person from them is branded a traitor to the Empire."
Zhang Yong nodded slightly, recalling what he'd learned before. The Yin and Yang Physiques weren't just laws — they were the source of all things. The Yin Physique dominated others, and only Yang could balance it. If Zhang Zian was refined properly, she could become the gem that would change this era — not to mention, she was from the Zhang family, the dragon race
Zhang Yong looked up at the sky and sighed.
"So much to take in. Well, you've told me everything already, and I'm not angry you left the family. Anything else you want to say? I need to deliver the pill to my master. The sooner, the better."
Zhang Guan took out a small vial from his ring and handed it over.
"I don't have much to offer, but this contains dragon blood — the blood of the Zhang lineage. Drinking it will grant you a trace of that heritage and strengthen your body. It's better than nothing."
Zhang Yong accepted it and stored it.
"Alright, that settles it. Let's return to the others."
---
After the talk, the two returned to Su Ming and the King of Thieves, who had been waiting patiently.
Su Ming smiled faintly. "Everything alright?"
Zhang Yong nodded silently, refocusing his mind. He didn't want to talk about what he'd learned — there would be a time for that.
"Let's go. No need to keep Master waiting."
Su Ming nodded and gestured toward Zhang Guan and the King of Thieves.
"See you later."
As Zhang Yong and Su Ming vanished, silence fell between Zhang Guan and the King of Thieves. After a while, the latter spoke:
"So… want to play chess?"
---
Zhang Yong and Su Ming emerged into the open sky, flying high on Kuro as they headed back to the sect.
When they landed, Kuro shrank and perched on Zhang Yong's shoulder as they walked quietly.
"Zhang Yong!"
A voice called from a distance — it was the senior brother Wang Fei.
Zhang Yong and Su Ming approached him calmly.
"Senior Brother Wang, where are you headed in such a rush?" Su Ming asked curiously.
"I was on my way to the disciples' hall. What about you two?"
Zhang Yong smiled faintly.
"We've completed the task. The pill to heal Master has been refined."
"The pill has been refined?!" Wang Fei exclaimed, his tone filled with admiration.
"Then what are you doing here? Go give it to him! I'll tell the others — haha!"
He rushed off, laughter echoing behind him.
Without wasting time, Zhang Yong and Su Ming hurried toward their master's quarters, their hopes pinned on the healing pill.
Zhang Yong knocked softly.
A weak voice answered, "Who's there?"
"It's us, Master," Zhang Yong replied.
"Oh, Zhang Yong. It's a bit late, but you may enter."
They entered to find Gu Zixian sitting on a simple bed, his face pale and frail, his body thin and weak.
Zhang Yong bowed respectfully and presented the pill.
"Master, we managed to refine this healing pill. We hope it can help you recover."
Gu Zixian sighed quietly.
"Zhang Yong, I've tried many pills already. I don't want to give you — or myself — false hope. You may go."
But Zhang Yong insisted.
"Master, this pill is of the sixth grade. It can definitely heal you."
Gu Zixian's tired eyes widened slightly beneath his thick brows.
"A sixth-grade pill?! Where did you find its formula?"
Without hesitation, Zhang Yong replied,
"We found the recipe in the Tomb of the King of Thieves. It must be fate that we obtained it."
Gu Zixian muttered, "Fate…" and sighed.
"Very well. I'll try it this time."
He took the pill. "You two may leave now."
Zhang Yong and Su Ming quietly left the room, leaving their master to take the pill in peace.
---
Outside, Su Ming whispered,
"I hope it works. His condition was worse than I expected."
Zhang Yong nodded.
"Yes. But if anything can bring him back, it's that pill."
Su Ming looked up at the starry sky.
"More than seven months… it all passed in a blink."
Zhang Yong chuckled softly.
"Yeah. A long time, yet so short."
Su Ming understood what he meant but didn't press further. Together, they headed toward the disciples' hall.
---
Clack!
With the sound of wine bottles clinking, all disciples of Serenity Peak had gathered in the hall.
Liu Yan gulped down a full cup of wine.
"Ahh! Finally! Whew, Master will recover for sure — maybe we'll even get new junior brothers soon!"
Wang Fei raised his hands to calm her down.
"Alright, alright, keep it down. Maintain your image in front of the juniors."
Qing Feng laughed loudly.
"And you used to call me the drunk one! Look at yourself now, haha!"
Among them, Liu Yin sat quietly, sipping diluted rice wine.
Su Ming smiled faintly as he drank.
"Too bad I've never drunk before — I don't have much tolerance."
Zhang Yong instantly mocked him.
"Oi, Su Ming, you're way too weak."
He lifted his cup of aged wine and drank it.
(Activating Poison Resistance)
'Let me at least enjoy this moment,' Zhang Yong thought with a mental sigh.
"You're useless, sister," Liu Yin muttered quietly.
"What? I don't want to hear that from you!" Liu Yan leaned on Liu Yin's shoulder, grabbed a bottle, and poured it straight into her sister's mouth.
As the bottle fell, Liu Yin's cheeks turned red, a silly smile spreading on her face before she slumped over the table
Zhang yong laughed softly as he looked at the scene, though his eyes held a trace of nostalgia — for the days with his partner, when he had no worries, no burdens beyond cultivation. Those days now felt like a fleeting dream.
Zhang Yong quietly stood, holding a wine bottle.
"Forgive me, brothers, I think I've had enough. I'll go rest."
Qing Feng pointed at him with a teasing smile.
"Heh, don't run off so soon! The party's just getting started!"
Zhang Yong smiled faintly.
"Thanks, Senior Brother Wang, but I really think I've had too much."
Then he turned and walked out quietly, leaving the others to their drinking and laughter.
---
As he walked through the cool night, the breeze brushed his face, bringing him back to reality. He lifted his gaze toward the star-filled sky, lost in thought.
He reached the edge of the peak and sat down, his legs dangling in the air.
"You seem deep in thought, man," came a voice from behind.
Zhang Yong looked over his shoulder — it was Su Ming.
"Oh, Su Ming. It's you." He didn't seem surprised.
Su Ming approached quietly and sat beside him.
"You look more distracted than usual. We've healed Master — what's on your mind?"
Zhang Yong stared into the distance. Healing the master was just one of many things on his mind — dealing with the children of destiny, gathering the seeds of Yggdrasil — on a doubtful hope of fixing things , finding a way to reach the other continent , reclaiming his dantian, and countless other burdens swirled silently in his thoughts.
He finally spoke.
"Su Ming… you know, when I'm with all of you — you, the others from the peak — I really feel like I belong. Like this sect is my home, and you're all my family , you must know already thay i am an orphan now , so , yeah, when i say it , you truly treat me like a member"
Behind them, every disciple of Serenity Peak was quietly listening, tears glimmering in their eyes, deeply moved by his words.
'This junior brother…' thought Qing Feng.
'Damn it, something got in my eye,' thought Liu Yan.
'We're lucky to have a brother like him,' thought Wang Fei.
'Heh… I'm sorry I can't tell you,' thought Liu Yin.
Su Ming was deeply touched. He paused, then said with determination,
"Zhang Yong, I promise — I'll find a way to cure your condition, no matter what it takes , and when that happens, better stop risking your life"
Zhang Yong stood as Su Ming did.
"You don't need to worry about me. But I'll help you too — to make your father acknowledge you."
That had been one of Zhang Yong's goals all along — which was why he'd stepped back in the alchemy competition, letting Su Ming take the title as they'd planned with Ku Linan.
Su Ming lifted his bottle toward Zhang Yong.
"This reminds me — we never held our brotherhood ceremony."
Zhang Yong smirked and raised his bottle as well.
"As you wish, brother."
The next moment, both tilted their bottles and poured them onto the ground.
There was no need for a grand ritual — the bond between brothers was theirs to define.
"Born in different places, yet united in spirit."
It was this bond that would one day shake the entire continent.