From Zhuge Feng's memories, Ye Ling discovered that Zhuge Feng brought Zhuge Yehan to find Zhang Zhiyue with the sole purpose of sacrificing Zhuge Yehan to control Zhang Zhiyue.
After the battle years ago, Zhang Zhiyue, in a bid to prolong his life, reversed his cultivation technique. However, he accidentally suffered a qi deviation, falling into a state of frenzied madness.
To control the maddened Zhang Zhiyue, the Zheng Yi Sect was forced to bind him with chains, plunging him into a deep slumber to prevent him from completely losing his mind and becoming a demon that would wreak havoc.
Zhuge Feng's return to Long Dao Mountain was also at Ye Feng's behest.
Regardless of Ye Feng's intentions in controlling Zhang Zhiyue, the fact that Ye Feng had set his sights on him indicated that Zhang Zhiyue undoubtedly harbored other hidden secrets.
Pushing Zhuge Feng aside, Ye Ling turned to Zhang Muya and asked, "Do you know how to awaken Zhang Zhiyue?"
"Does Master want to awaken Uncle-Master?"
Upon hearing Ye Ling's words, Zhang Muya's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. "Uncle-Master has suffered qi deviation. If he is awakened, perhaps..."
Ye Ling replied, "It's nothing. Qi deviation is merely a misdirection in the flow of spiritual energy that affects the nerves. As long as the spiritual energy circulation path is reversed, the person can return to normal."
Hearing Ye Ling's statement, Zhang Muya was instantly astonished.
Her face lit up with surprise and excitement, and she eagerly asked, "Master, can you save Uncle-Master?"
"If there are no unforeseen circumstances, I should be able to save him," Ye Ling said with a smile. "Among the disciples I've taught before, qi deviation was a common occurrence. I got used to saving them."
"I'm a professional in this regard."
"Master Ye, your..."
Zhang Xiaoxia, standing nearby, twitched her lips, unsure of how to respond.
The fact that qi deviation was commonplace among his disciples made her question how Ye Ling actually taught them.
However, Zhang Muya paid no mind to these details. Her entire focus was on saving Zhang Zhiyue. She quickly stated, "To awaken Uncle-Master is simple. Just inject spiritual energy derived from the 'Great Dao Heart Art' into Uncle-Master's body, and he will awaken!"
"Please, Master, you must save Uncle-Master!"
She was incredibly excited. If not for Ye Ling's spiritual energy holding her, she might have knelt before him directly!
Although Zhang Zhiyue's cultivation was no longer at its peak, he was still at the seventh-grade realm. His revival would be a tremendous boon to the Zheng Yi Sect!
Furthermore, for Zhang Muya personally, she was willing to sacrifice her own life if Zhang Zhiyue could recover!
For the past century, Zhang Zhiyue and Xu Shuya had been her greatest burdens, preventing her from sleeping soundly.
Seeing Zhang Muya's agitated state, Ye Ling shook his head and smiled. "Don't get too excited yet. Let me examine Zhang Zhiyue's condition first."
"Xiaoxia, you go."
"Me?"
Upon hearing Ye Ling suddenly call her name, Zhang Xiaoxia was startled again.
"Who else but you? I've already passed the 'Great Dao Heart Art' and its derived spiritual energy to you. Only you can awaken Zhang Zhiyue now."
"Oh..." Hearing Ye Ling's words, Zhang Xiaoxia dared not argue and nervously approached Zhang Zhiyue.
Zhang Muya comforted her, "Xiaoxia, don't be nervous. Just inject spiritual energy into Uncle-Master's body. It's not difficult."
"Mm..." Zhang Xiaoxia pursed her lips and tremblingly placed her hand on Zhang Zhiyue's forehead, transferring her spiritual energy.
After all, Zhang Zhiyue was a renowned figure in Yan Hua, a legend of the Zheng Yi Sect. Zhang Xiaoxia had grown up listening to his stories and had always regarded him as an idol.
Now, being so close to a legend and bearing the responsibility of awakening him, she felt an inexplicable nervousness.
Moreover, Zhang Zhiyue was currently in a state of qi deviation. If he were to awaken and go berserk, it would be extremely dangerous.
As Zhang Xiaoxia's spiritual energy flowed into Zhang Zhiyue's body, his aura began to surge, and the surrounding chains rattled violently.
Zhang Xiaoxia's face showed fear, and she instinctively wanted to retreat.
"Don't interrupt the spiritual energy flow. He's not awake yet," Ye Ling's voice echoed in Zhang Xiaoxia's ears, startling her.
"I know!"
Zhang Xiaoxia gritted her teeth, mustered her courage, and injected a large amount of spiritual energy into Zhang Zhiyue's body.
As the injected spiritual energy increased, Zhang Zhiyue's aura began to climb at an incredible speed. Everyone in the cave, except for Ye Ling, felt immense pressure!
"Is this a seventh-grade异士 (yi shi)?"
Zhuge Yehan was bewildered. The aura he felt from Zhang Zhiyue was even stronger than Zhuge Feng's!
Such an aura could never belong to a seventh-grade 异士.
Ye Ling also became serious, his gaze fixed on the reviving Zhang Zhiyue, his brow furrowed.
After Zhang Xiaoxia's spiritual energy entered Zhang Zhiyue's body, it began to surge erratically through his meridians, even stimulating Zhang Zhiyue's own spiritual energy.
Vast amounts of spiritual energy flowed chaotically within Zhang Zhiyue's body, a complete mess, as if engaged in a battle!
Furthermore, this spiritual energy was continuously stimulating Zhang Zhiyue's potential, overdrawing his life!
This was not a state of qi deviation at all!
"That's enough, Xiaoxia! Retreat quickly!"
As soon as Ye Ling spoke, Zhang Xiaoxia quickly withdrew her hand and retreated rapidly. Before Ye Ling spoke, she had already instinctively sensed the danger. If she had remained in place, she would have surely died!
"Roar!!!"
The moment Zhang Xiaoxia retreated, Zhang Zhiyue opened his blood-red eyes and let out a beast-like roar, causing the entire cave to shake.
"Uncle-Master?"
Seeing Zhang Zhiyue awaken and transform into a beast, Zhang Muya's face showed panic. She had no idea what was happening. His previous outbursts were never like this!
Ye Ling used demonic energy to ensnare Zhang Muya, pulling her to Zhang Xiaoxia's side. He quickly said, "Something unexpected has happened. He's not suffering from qi deviation; his mind has been tampered with."
Zhang Muya was astonished. "His mind has been tampered with?"
"To put it plainly, Zhang Zhiyue was ambushed at some point in the past, and his mind was altered."
"The spiritual energy circulation pathways in his body are very chaotic, and it's as if he's manipulating that spiritual energy to run wild. This is not a state of qi deviation."
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Zhang Muya's eyes immediately turned red, and she nearly fainted.
"How could this happen?"
"Most likely, Ye Feng is responsible. I'll subdue him first, and then see if I can restore him to normal."
Ye Ling spoke quickly, flashing to Zhang Zhiyue's front. At that moment, Zhang Zhiyue had also broken free from the chains binding him and lunged at Ye Ling.
Ye Ling spread his fingers slightly and uttered two words.
"Prison Heaven."
Demonic energy surged from Ye Ling's palm, rapidly forming a spherical cage around Zhang Zhiyue, trapping him within!
Simultaneously, demonic energy coiled around Zhang Zhiyue's limbs, rendering him immobile.
Zhang Zhiyue was subdued.
The violent aura dissipated, and the cave returned to its calm state.
After subduing Zhang Zhiyue, Ye Ling discovered...
At the back of Zhang Zhiyue's head, three needles, thinner than hair and less than five millimeters long, were embedded!