Upon learning from Li Jun that the Cloud Dream White Fruit was ripe, Teng Qingshan was overjoyed. After all, this fruit was tied to whether his father, Teng Yongfan, could stand tall once more.

"Xiao Jun, tell the Six-legged Saber Cicada to guard the mountain's core. While I am away, no outsiders other than you two are allowed inside." Teng Qingshan instructed, simultaneously collecting the six stone carvings and the Mountain-Splitting Divine Axe, tucking them away in a hidden spot within the vast cavern.

"Mmm, okay."

Li Jun nodded, then directed a series of low growls toward the colossal creature resting beside her.

The Six-legged Saber Cicada’s triangular head lifted, its prominent, massive eyes lazily opened, casting a glance at Teng Qingshan before emitting a deep, slightly impatient roar.

"Brother Teng, the Six-legged Saber Cicada says if any outsider comes in, it’ll eat them," Li Jun chuckled.

"Tsk tsk, quite ruthless, even eating people." Teng Qingshan shot a sidelong glance at the creature, but the Six-legged Saber Cicada merely rested, eyes half-closed, completely ignoring him.

Teng Qingshan secretly let out a breath of relief.

He couldn't be blamed; those six stone carvings and the Mountain-Splitting Divine Axe were far too precious to risk losing.

"Brother Teng, this trip won't take too long, will it?" Li Jun inquired.

Teng Qingshan looked at her. "The Cloud Dream War God mentioned he would invite me to be present when treating his junior, 'Mu Yunji.' Once Mu Yunji is healed, I will return with the remaining Cloud Dream White Fruits. If nothing unexpected happens... I should be back tonight. Haha, we can have dinner together when I return."

Li Jun seemed to connect something with his words, nodding with a blush on her face.

Seeing her expression, Teng Qingshan savored his own statement and couldn't help but rub his nose. "What I just said sounded a bit like a husband instructing his wife?" With that, he strapped on the sheath containing his Samsara Spear and exited the passage.

...

"Mister Teng," the Second Elder said with deep deference. The group of warriors behind him looked at Teng Qingshan with eyes blazing with admiration.

As internal members of the Rising Sun Merchant Guild, these warriors knew a fair amount about Teng Qingshan.

Everyone with reliable information knew how Teng Qingshan had stormed the Dong Residence and captured Dong Zizhi back then.

"Haha, Second Elder, thank you for making the trip." Teng Qingshan laughed heartily. "I’ve been waiting for this day for ages. Tsk tsk, the Cloud Dream White Fruit really grows slowly! Hmm... Second Elder, I’m heading to Cloud Dream Ancient City immediately, so please excuse my lack of further company." A massive eagle swooped down from the high skies.

It was the Gale Hawk!

Teng Qingshan glanced with a smile toward Li Jun not far away; she had been the one to summon the Gale Hawk.

"Little Gray," Teng Qingshan called out.

The Gale Hawk immediately circled above him, and Teng Qingshan leaped up—a height nearly that of a large tree—landing squarely on the hawk’s back. From the hawk’s perch, Teng Qingshan looked down. Besides Li Jun and Xiao Ping, he also spotted two figures in the northern woods.

One was Teng Shou, and the other was the farm girl sitting beside him, watching Teng Shou practice his punches.

"It seems Ah Shou and that girl named A Xiu are growing closer," Teng Qingshan mused with a slight shake of his head.

"Yooo~~"

The Gale Hawk let out a high, excited cry, violently flapping its wings. The surging air currents carried it away as it rocketed into the northwestern horizon, vanishing swiftly.

Inside 'Rising Sun City,' the inner ward of Cloud Dream Ancient City.

In an ancient palace, waves of fragrance filled the air. The vast hall contained no chairs, only a single, sleek table, entirely dark crimson in color. This table was crafted from 'Red Dragon Wood'; the more it was used, the brighter it shone, emanating an ancient woody perfume.

A carpet lay beneath the table, and two figures were seated cross-legged on opposite sides.

One was the Great Elder, 'Mu Wang,' with a gigantic Blood-Drinking Saber strapped to his back. The other was a stern-faced, bald youth whose sleeves hung limp at his sides, empty. On the table sat a pot of steaming tea and two small, dark-brown bowls.

"Yunji, I honestly thought you’d never show nervousness," Mu Wang said, gently sipping his tea.

"Teacher, my state of mind hasn't reached that level yet. After all... once that strongest Martial Sage arrives, I can consume the Cloud Dream White Fruit and grow my arms back." The bald youth's eyes glittered like cold stars. "Eleven years! I lost both arms when I was nineteen; I'm thirty now."

Being armless had inflicted eleven years of torment. The Mu family comprised the main eight branches and seventy-nine side branches, with countless sub-branches beneath them! The Mu clan was massive; within Cloud Dream Ancient City alone, there were over 800,000 members, with hundreds of thousands scattered across the land.

This scale suggested the ferocity of competition among the younger generation.

The Mu family operated fairly: those with ability held high positions, regardless of whether they were from the main or side lines. Mu Yunji’s branch was extremely weak, but his youthful talent had elevated its standing, benefiting his parents, friends, and relatives.

But when his arms were severed, his branch’s status plummeted immediately. He was ridiculed in secret by many.

Mu Yunji, once a prodigy, had his future seemingly destroyed. He endured insults and mockery, and the engagement arranged for him was broken off—yet he paid it no mind. He sequestered himself indoors, sealing the courtyard gate against any turmoil outside. The severing of his arms only plunged him into gloom for half a month; thereafter, he began overcoming immense difficulties, managing to convert the Mu family's Rushing Thunder Blade Art into a set of leg techniques!

He buried himself in secluded cultivation, ignoring fame and gain. For ten solid years, by the age of twenty-nine, he reached the Innate Realm!

When this news spread, the entire Mu family was shaken.

Those who had looked down upon or mocked Mu Yunji were stunned silent. Those who had called off his engagement, along with numerous young Mu elites, were utterly aghast. An Innate expert at twenty-nine! Even on the entire Duanmu Continent, this qualified as a first-rate genius.

For instance, Teng Qingshan's master, 'Zhuge Yuanhong,' only reached the Innate Realm at age thirty.

Mu Yunji achieving it at twenty-nine was an astonishing feat. Given that the Duanmu Continent had a smaller population than the Nine Provinces, Zhuge Yuanhong was already an absolute prodigy there. Mu Yunji, by comparison, could be called a genius appearing once every three hundred years on the Duanmu Continent!

This indicated the terrifying potential Mu Yunji possessed.

It was the emergence of such a genius that compelled the Mu family’s highest authority, the 'Cloud Dream War God,' to lend out the six stone carvings and invite Teng Qingshan to help locate the Cloud Dream White Fruit. Subsequently, the War God personally guarded the Cloud Dream Marsh Serpent Mountain for a full year!

"Indeed, Yunji, your natural talent, comprehension, and perseverance are commendable. However, do not become arrogant," Great Elder 'Mu Wang' advised. "Take my friend, Teng Qingshan, for example. He is under fifty, yet his strength surpasses mine. I estimate he reached the Innate Realm around the age of twenty."

In Mu Wang’s view, the stages of Innate—Nascent Core, Solid Core, Golden Core—plus the comprehension of the Heavenly Dao, consumed a great deal of time.

By inference, Teng Qingshan must have been very young when he attained the Innate Realm.

"I understand," Mu Yunji nodded.

From the low point when his arms were lost, to becoming the most dazzling figure among the younger generation of the Mu family—this immense swing in fortune had forged Mu Yunji's character.

"Teacher, you also said that the strongest Martial Sage, 'Teng Qingshan,' is the figure right below the War God. I am very eager to meet him," Mu Yunji declared, his eyes gleaming sharply.

"Yooo~~" A loud cry echoed from the sky outside.

Great Elder 'Mu Wang’s' eyes lit up, and he stood, smiling. "Yunji, let's go. My friend has arrived."

"The Strongest Martial Sage?" Mu Yunji also rose instantly.

The two walked out of the palace one after the other, heading rapidly toward the residence of the Cloud Dream War God.

A gigantic eagle was swooping down from the sky, and seated cross-legged on its back was a stern-faced youth with long, unbound hair. Mu Yunji tilted his head back. "Is that the Strongest Martial Sage, 'Teng Qingshan'?" He felt a shock; based on his appearance alone, it was impossible to imagine that the man before him was the preeminent expert beneath the War God, stronger even than his own teacher, 'Mu Wang.'

The strong winds generated by the Gale Hawk’s descent kicked up a cloud of dust.

Teng Qingshan leaped down.

"Brother Teng," Mu Wang walked forward, smiling.

"Brother Mu," Teng Qingshan called back with a smile.

Mu Yunji was still studying Teng Qingshan intently. From his appearance, eyes, and bearing, he could sense that Teng Qingshan was not old.

"Yunji, come here," Mu Wang instructed.

Mu Yunji respectfully walked over.

"Brother Teng, allow me to introduce you. This is my newly accepted disciple, 'Mu Yunji,'" Great Elder 'Mu Wang' said with a hint of pride.

"Oh." Teng Qingshan smiled, looking at the bald, armless youth before him.

Having lost both arms yet overcoming such enormous obstacles to reach the Innate Realm by age twenty-nine—Teng Qingshan held deep admiration for someone with such tenacity.

"Mister Teng, I greet you," Mu Yunji bowed respectfully.

"Haha... let’s not chat at the doorway. I imagine Brother Teng is anxious to see the 'Cloud Dream White Fruit.' And Yunji is likely eager to regrow his arms. Let's go inside! If Brother Teng delays... Teacher won't treat Yunji's arms," Mu Wang laughed, walking into the palace alongside Teng Qingshan.

Mu Yunji followed close behind.

...

The three proceeded directly into a secluded chamber within the Cloud Dream War God’s residence. Sunlight streamed through a window, illuminating the room which contained only a carpet. The Cloud Dream War God was seated cross-legged, a jade box placed directly before him.

"Teacher."

"Senior."

"Lord War God."

Mu Wang, Teng Qingshan, and Mu Yunji all bowed simultaneously. In the presence of the Cloud Dream War God, even Teng Qingshan felt an inexplicable pressure.

The Cloud Dream War God opened his eyes and smiled slightly upon seeing the trio. "Haha, Qingshan, the last time we spoke, I said the Cloud Dream White Fruit would ripen anywhere from two or three months to a year and a half. I didn't expect it to actually take a full year to mature completely. You must be quite impatient."

Teng Qingshan smiled.

"Right, let's skip the pleasantries. This young fellow Yunji is probably beside himself with urgency." The Cloud Dream War God chuckled, turning to Mu Yunji. "Yunji, take off your upper garment."