Teng Qingshan’s six senses were incredibly sharp; he could even hear the rapid pounding of the heart belonging to the young man beside him, 'Mu Yunji': "Eleven years without arms, and now they are about to grow back. It would be strange not to be excited."

"Yes, War God."

Mu Yunji replied respectfully, simultaneously surging the azure light around his body, which strained his clothes until they puffed out. Mu Yunji’s body then contorted like an eel, swiftly emerging from his garments. As he retracted his innate true essence, the layers of clothing dropped to the ground, revealing Mu Yunji bare-chested.

"That's a quick way to shed clothes," Teng Qingshan let slip a faint smile.

Mu Yunji's torso was powerfully built, crisscrossed with countless scars, and the area around his shoulders where his arms should have been was starkly bare.

The Cloud Dream War God examined the dense web of scars covering Mu Yunji's body and marveled, "Losing both arms, unable to practice your swordsmanship. Yet, reaching the Innate realm by age twenty-nine... You have suffered greatly, indeed. However, Yunji... once you consume the Cloud Dream White Fruit, even the surface scars will vanish completely."

Mu Yunji sat cross-legged, holding his breath.

The Cloud Dream War God then lifted the jade box set before him. With a crisp kacha, the box opened, revealing a white, infant-shaped fruit nestled in a concave hollow carved from jade. This white fruit resembled a fist-sized baby lying there, its surface swirling with a faint green aura.

A rich fragrance immediately permeated the air.

"Truly worthy of being one of the Three Great Spirit Treasures, the Cloud Dream White Fruit," the Elder, 'Mu Wang', praised.

Teng Qingshan inhaled the scent, feeling an immediate sense of comfort spread throughout his body.

"Now, I will cut this Cloud Dream White Fruit into five pieces." The Cloud Dream War God retrieved an extraordinarily thin jade blade from the box. Holding the blade, he moved with phantom speed, slicing the White Fruit into five nearly equal portions. He then used his bare hand to grasp one piece of the flesh and offered it to Mu Yunji.

"Yunji, eat this," the Cloud Dream War God instructed.

"Yes."

Mu Yunji trembled faintly. He took a deep breath, accepted the fruit piece, and with a crisp kachak and kachak, chewed it a few times before swallowing it completely.

"Ah!" Mu Yunji’s eyes widened, and his face flushed crimson.

Kacha-cha~~ A very particular sound, akin to a mouse gnawing, began to emanate from within Mu Yunji's body. First, the scars on his skin vanished rapidly, leaving the skin smooth as an infant's. Then, with a sudden pa!, a sharp crack sounded. Mu Yunji’s bare shoulders twitched violently, and bone and flesh abruptly began to extend outward—his arms started to regrow.

There was a continuous sound of popping and cracking, interspersed with hissing noises.

"Truly miraculous," both Mu Wang and the Cloud Dream War God’s eyes gleamed.

"Bringing the dead back to life... it's real," Teng Qingshan was also stunned speechless. Arms that were severed—growing back continuously... such a feat was inconceivable. Whether in his previous life or now on the lands of Jiuzhou, Teng Qingshan had never heard of such a thing. He never imagined that one of the three supreme treasures of the Duanmu Continent, the 'Cloud Dream White Fruit,' was so magical.

As his arms continued to grow, the flushed face of Mu Yunji could not hide an expression of ecstatic joy.

The arms grew at a steady pace, slowing significantly once they reached the elbows.

"It’s about to stop," Mu Yunji urged anxiously, clearly sensing that the miraculous power within him was nearly depleted.

"Eat this piece now," the Cloud Dream War God immediately offered the next portion.

Teng Qingshan’s eyelid twitched as he glanced at the jade box. The White Fruit had been cut into five pieces, and this was the second portion being consumed.

Kacha-kacha~~ Mu Yunji quickly chewed and swallowed the second piece.

The growth rate, which had previously decelerated sharply, suddenly surged again!

Mu Yunji’s arms extended further, moving from the elbow to the forearm, and then the wrists began to form, followed by the hands. But just as the fingers started to emerge, the speed once more dropped dramatically.

"Just a little more," Mu Yunji stared intently at his hands; the growth of his fingers was noticeably slower.

"Don't rush," the Cloud Dream War God remained composed.

Teng Qingshan also frowned while watching. Mu Yunji’s ten fingers were growing simultaneously. The first knuckle had formed, the second was nearly done, and yes, it had grown. Now, the third knuckle was slowly forming, clearly on the verge of stopping growth.

"It really is just a bit short," the Cloud Dream War God raised the jade blade and sliced a piece of flesh the size of a fingertip from one of the remaining three portions.

"Eat this," the Cloud Dream War God tossed it over.

Mu Yunji immediately opened his mouth and swallowed it whole.

Chih-chih~~

In one fluid motion, all ten fingers finished growing.

Teng Qingshan secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this: "That’s good; there's still nearly sixty percent of the fruit left. That’s more than half."

"My hands, my arms..." Mu Yunji beside him tentatively waved his new limbs, opening and closing his fists several times. After a few attempts, he even formed hand-blades and swung them a few times, his face breaking into pure delight. "The meridians are completely intact, and there are no issues with the bones and sinews. It’s as if... as if there was never any injury at all."

"Haha, Yunji, this is the Cloud Dream White Fruit. If it couldn't fully heal you, would it still be called one of the Three Great Spirit Treasures?" The Cloud Dream War God laughed too.

"Thank you, War God," Mu Yunji expressed his gratitude.

The Cloud Dream War God shook his head and smiled, "Don't just thank me. The place where this White Fruit grows was found by Qingshan after he spent eighteen days searching every corner of the Cloud Dream Marsh. If you wish to express thanks, you should thank Qingshan." Mu Yunji turned gratefully toward Teng Qingshan. "Yunji thanks Mr. Teng."

Since his arms were severed, Mu Yunji had never dared to dream that he would one day see them regrow.

"There's no need to thank me; a senior used a treasure to request I search for the Cloud Dream White Fruit," Teng Qingshan replied with a slight smile.

"Qingshan, the remaining Cloud Dream White Fruit, according to our initial agreement, belongs to you." The Cloud Dream War God placed the jade blade back inside and closed the box with a kadata lock. "This box has a small mechanism here; press this spot, and the lid will open."

Teng Qingshan reached out and took it, his heart surging with excitement: "With this Cloud Dream White Fruit, I can heal Father's legs. My father, my father can stand up again!"

The thought of returning to Jiuzhou, giving this White Fruit to his father, Teng Yongfan, and witnessing his father stand up again filled Teng Qingshan with eager anticipation.

"Qingshan, the fruit Yunji consumed was used perfectly; it just managed to regrow his arms," the Cloud Dream War God chuckled. "The remainder, nearly sixty percent of the flesh, should be more than enough to heal your father's legs."

"Thank you, Senior," Teng Qingshan said gratefully.

This gratitude came from the bottom of his heart.

The Cloud Dream War God had deliberately waited for him before allowing Mu Yunji to consume the 'Cloud Dream White Fruit,' and he handled it so carefully, clearly aiming to waste as little of the fruit as possible. For instance—simply consuming the entire fruit could certainly heal Mu Yunji, but most of the energy would be wasted.

"Yes, Qingshan, don't be in a hurry to leave; I have already ordered a banquet to be prepared," the Cloud Dream War God stood up.

Teng Qingshan, Mu Wang, and Mu Yunji all rose as well.

In the vast palace gardens, with the sky as the canopy and the earth as the seats.

The Cloud Dream War God, Teng Qingshan, Mu Wang, and Mu Yunji sat cross-legged, spaced apart. In front of each was a low table laden with plates of exquisite food.

After they had eaten their fill, Elder 'Mu Wang' and Mu Yunji departed. Teng Qingshan had intended to return with the Wind Rider Eagle to Crescent Lake at Divine Axe Mountain, but the Cloud Dream War God stopped him.

"Qingshan, don't rush off; I have something to discuss with you." The Cloud Dream War God smiled warmly.

Teng Qingshan, who had already started to rise, settled back down cross-legged, asking with a slight smile, "I wonder what matter concerns Senior?"

"It has been a year since our last spar. I felt you had reached the Void Realm then, but you claimed you hadn't. Now that a year has passed, Qingshan, have you reached the Void Realm?" the Cloud Dream War God inquired. He placed great importance on this matter.

There were only two War Gods in the entire Duanmu Continent! If a third War God emerged, the continental power balance could shift, which was naturally a major concern for the Cloud Dream War God.

"Almost there," Teng Qingshan replied with a smile.

"Qingshan," the Cloud Dream War God said gently, "I entered the Void Realm over two hundred years ago. Although the Dao is an indescribable thing, I can still offer you some minor guidance so you avoid too many detours."

Teng Qingshan inwardly rejoiced at the prospect of guidance from the Cloud Dream War God.

"Please, Senior, elaborate," Teng Qingshan eagerly prompted.

"How to cultivate to reach the Void Realm, I cannot teach you. Perhaps even the Divine Axe Heavenly God or Thunder Blade Heavenly God couldn't teach it; it requires personal epiphany. But I can tell you this..." the Cloud Dream War God smiled, "The condition for advancing from the Innate Golden Core to stepping into the Void Realm is this: You must gain comprehension of one among the myriad Great Daos!"

"What does Senior mean?" Teng Qingshan’s mind raced.

"For example, someone might gain insight into the ocean, cultivating the 'Dao of the Ocean.' Once this single 'Dao' is perfectly understood, they enter the Void Realm!" The Cloud Dream War God grew serious. "When you sparred with me last time, you utilized the Way of Water! And Mu Wang told me that when you fought him previously, you employed the Way of Earth."

Teng Qingshan nodded. It wasn't surprising that the Elder could sense the Earth element's tough force when Teng Qingshan used 'Primordial Unity' during their match.

"A person’s comprehension is limited, and so is their lifespan, so do not be overly greedy," the Cloud Dream War God advised earnestly. "For example, if you cultivate the 'Way of Water,' once you completely grasp it, you will reach the Void Realm. If, however, you try to cultivate both the Way of Water and the 'Dao of Earth,' your energy will be dispersed, and neither will be mastered completely. In that case, you will fail to reach the Void Realm."

Teng Qingshan felt a deep shock.

In fact...

During the year he spent meditating on the six stone carvings, Teng Qingshan's Fist of Earth Element had recently reached the eighth stance. He had an ineffable feeling—a very clear sensation—that if he could create the ninth stance, he should be able to completely control the power of Earth!

'My feeling is correct; success means reaching the Void Realm.'

'If I manifest the ninth stance of my Fist of Earth Element, I should have completely grasped the Dao of Earth,' Teng Qingshan mused.

The Cloud Dream War God persuaded him, "So, taking this opportunity, I remind you: specialize in one path! The Heavenly Dao is difficult to grasp; even with your extraordinary talent, focus is essential. Once you comprehend one Dao and reach the Void Realm, it will not be too late to seek insight into others."

He had no idea...

Teng Qingshan had already achieved high proficiency in the Fist of Earth Element, Fist of Water Element, Fist of Metal Element, and Fist of Fire Element, with the Fist of Earth Element being the most advanced. If the Cloud Dream War God knew this, he would likely be terrified. Teng Qingshan’s rate of progress was astonishing.

The Cloud Dream War God still did not know the immense benefit the six stone carvings had brought to Teng Qingshan.