"Thank you for your guidance, Senior." Teng Qingshan said gratefully. Although he had some suspicions before the Clouddream War God told him, what the Clouddream War God said confirmed his guesses.

"Haha, I was just reminding you. Comprehending the Heavenly Dao is ultimately up to you." The Clouddream War God laughed heartily, "But I believe, with your comprehension and talent, Qing Shan, stepping into the Void Realm within ten years will be no problem! Mu Wang's strength is inferior to yours, but I estimate he can enter the Void Realm within ten years too."

"Elder Mu Wang will enter the Void Realm within ten years?" Teng Qingshan was startled. Mu Wang's strength was indeed quite a bit weaker than his own.

"Yes." The Clouddream War God smiled and nodded, "Years ago, his realm was only one step away from the Void Realm. That’s why I initially thought Mu Wang was the strongest below the Void Realm. Later, when I learned you defeated him, I was even more puzzled how anyone on the Duanmu Continent, besides myself and that person from the Tianfeng family, could defeat Mu Wang."

"That's why I sparred with you last time. Haha, I truly didn't expect that even without reaching the Void Realm, you could display power nearly equal to it. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it." The Clouddream War God laughed heartily.

Teng Qingshan smiled. His body combined with the Gang Qi reached 1.6 million jin! This was exactly double the explosive power of Mu Wang’s fully activated innate Golden Core—double! True experts are separated by only a sliver, yet it determines victory or defeat. And he surpassed the opponent by a full 800,000 jin of explosive power! If even with this advantage he couldn't win, he would have no right to speak of contesting with Azure Lake Island in the future.

"Senior, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave now." Teng Qingshan cupped his hands in salute.

"Mmm, cultivate well. When the day comes that you reach the Void Realm, I have matters to discuss with you." The Clouddream War God said.

"Agreed, once I reach the Void Realm, I will certainly come find you, Senior." Teng Qingshan smiled, though he thought to himself: The Void Realm? After reaching the Void Realm, he would leave this Duanmu Continent and return to the Nine Provinces. But he was also puzzled... If he reached the Void Realm, this Clouddream War God had something important to discuss? What could it be? * "It sounds like the Clouddream War God has something important planned for after I reach the Void Realm! However... mentioning it in advance suggests it's at least not a bad thing." Teng Qingshan pondered briefly, "Well, the Duanmu Continent currently has two War Gods: the Clouddream War God of the Rising Sun Merchant Guild, and the Northern Tianfeng War God." "If I reach the Void Realm, it will likely affect the overall situation of the Duanmu Continent." "He wants to talk to me, probably hoping I'll lend him some help." Teng Qingshan quickly formed some hypotheses after just a slight reflection.

"Yoo~~~" The Rushing Wind Eagle let out a cry, spread its wings, and soared into the air, carrying Teng Qingshan on its back, tearing through the sky toward the southeast. ... After obtaining the Clouddream White Fruit and returning to Crescent Lake at Divine Axe Mountain, Teng Qingshan resumed his usual routine. He spent the vast majority of his days studying the six stone carvings, transforming the insights he gleaned into his boxing techniques.

Although the Clouddream War God had advised him to specialize in one path, Teng Qingshan did not follow this advice completely. Currently, his Earth Element Fist had seen the creation of its Eighth Fist. According to Teng Qingshan's vague feeling, creating the Ninth Fist would allow him to step into the Void Realm! However... the carvings of the Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Splitting, especially the three consecutive ones, simultaneously contained the Dao of Earth, the Dao of Metal, and the Dao of Fire. To gain insight into the Dao of Earth from the four carvings, Teng Qingshan needed to achieve sufficient mastery in the Dao of Metal and the Dao of Fire as well!

Of course... Teng Qingshan could choose not to rely on the four carvings and instead comprehend heaven and earth independently to create the Ninth Fist. But this path had its pros and cons. If he didn't study the four carvings, there would be no shortcut; his progress would be slower. But conversely, specializing only in the Dao of Earth and not wasting time on the Dao of Fire and the Dao of Metal would save time. Combining the two... it was impossible to calculate whether this approach would be faster or slower. If he studied the four carvings, he would achieve mastery in all three Daos, mutually reinforcing each other, a process that consumed time but might not ultimately be slower. "If I didn't have the four carvings, I would probably choose to specialize in one path and reach the Void Realm first! But since I have the four carvings... I might as well diligently study the other two Daos too." Teng Qingshan made up his mind. It had to be said, Emperor Yu was formidable, capable of decomposing a single stance into dozens of moves. It also had to be said that Teng Qingshan, being a Grandmaster in his previous life, possessed extremely high vision and comprehension in creating boxing techniques in this life. With the excellent teaching combined with the strong student, Teng Qingshan's progress reached a terrifying level. * One month after Teng Qingshan returned from Clouddream Ancient City. Snowflakes drifted from the sky, yet the official road below Divine Axe Mountain was bustling with people. As one of the four major routes leading to 'Nanshan City,' the greatest city in the world, traffic remained heavy even with the snowfall.

A chubby youth was walking with difficulty through the snow lining the official road, using a bamboo pole for balance, sinking deeply with each step. He was wearing a thick padded coat and a grey felt hat, with a short saber strapped to his back. After walking for a while, he looked up toward Divine Axe Mountain ahead and mumbled, "Within the woods north of Divine Axe Mountain, beside the crescent-shaped lake?" Immediately, the chubby youth lowered his bamboo pole, left the official road, and headed toward the nearby woods. ... Today, Teng Qingshan rarely emerged from the mountain belly, so Li Jun happily prepared a lavish meal. Amidst the relentless snowstorm, Teng Qingshan and the others ate the steaming hot dishes indoors.

"Brother Teng, roughly how much longer until we return to the Nine Provinces?" Li Jun inquired.

"As fast as a year or so, or perhaps two or three years at the slowest," Teng Qingshan replied with a smile.

Xiao Ping, holding her rice bowl nearby, asked doubtfully, "Uncle, just how far south is the Nine Provinces?"

"Very far, much further than the island where the Liu family of the Black Iron River was located. But if we travel by road, it would take about half a month," Teng Qingshan chuckled, adding internally, "Half a month—that's the time required when traveling on the Six-legged Saber-Toothed Tiger!" Yes, Teng Qingshan planned to ride on the back of the Six-legged Saber-Toothed Tiger to return to the Nine Provinces! Given the astonishing length of the creature's body, its back could easily accommodate a dozen people. With its speed, which was far faster than the Rushing Wind Eagle, covering ten thousand li a day was effortless; a hundred thousand li or more could indeed be covered in half a month. The journey there had taken nearly a year. But the departure would take only half a month.

"Half a month, that's quite far. The 'island' of the Nine Provinces is probably several thousand li, perhaps ten thousand li away from the Duanmu Continent," Xiao Ping sighed in awe.

"'Island'?" Teng Qingshan and Li Jun exchanged a smile. If the entirety of the Nine Provinces land was considered an 'island,' then the Duanmu Continent was merely a tiny islet. Neither Xiao Ping nor Teng Shou, nor Teng Qingshan or Li Jun, had told them the true nature of the Nine Provinces lands. They only said... they came from a place called the Nine Provinces, which was far south of the Duanmu Continent, requiring about half a month by sea route.

"Mmm, someone is here," Teng Qingshan's ears twitched, "A Shou, open the door." Teng Shou immediately flung the wooden door wide open.

Whoosh~~~ The cold wind carrying snowflakes swept inside. Teng Qingshan and the others looked through the doorway and vaguely saw a chubby youth at the edge of the woods, using a bamboo pole to navigate the snow with deep, unsteady steps.

"A youth?" Teng Qingshan looked slightly puzzled.

"He doesn't seem to know Internal Energy," Li Jun also wondered. Walking so arduously in the snow clearly indicated he lacked Internal Energy.

"Brother Teng, could he be here to ask to become your disciple?" Li Jun smiled. "I don't think he has reached the Innate Realm at all." Many people on the Duanmu Continent wished to become disciples of Martial Sage 'Teng Qingshan,' and many knew one crucial detail—the primary requirement to study under Teng Qingshan was reaching the Innate Realm! This strict condition meant that over the years, Teng Qingshan had only one disciple: Teng Shou.

"I've never seen a young boy foolishly run over here just to ask for tutelage," Teng Qingshan also smiled, knowing that those who knew Teng Qingshan resided at Crescent Lake, Divine Axe Mountain, were generally well-informed people with some influence.

"You, you all..." The youth, whose face was flushed red from the cold, walked over and stared wide-eyed at Teng Qingshan and the others.

"Which one of you is Mr. Teng?" the youth asked tentatively.

"Uncle, he's really looking for you," Xiao Ping laughed. Teng Qingshan also looked at the youth in surprise and smiled, "Little fellow, what are you looking for me for?"

The chubby youth carefully examined Teng Qingshan, and a flicker of joy appeared on his face: "Are you Mr. Teng?"

"Yes, I am. Who are you?" Teng Qingshan smiled.

The youth took a deep breath, "My name is Yang Dong."

"Yang Dong?" Li Jun, Xiao Ping, and Teng Shou all looked confused. "Who is Yang Dong?" Teng Qingshan was also perplexed; he did not know anyone named Yang Dong.

"My father asked me to find you, Mr. Teng," the youth said tentatively.

Li Jun beside him smiled, "Little fellow, and who is your father?"

Teng Qingshan’s heart suddenly moved...

"My father is named Yang Wang," the youth stated.

"Yang Wang?" All four present were stunned. The former groom, Old Wang, who had followed Teng Qingshan, had mentioned in the letter he left behind before departing that his real name was 'Yang Wang'!

"You are Yang Wang's son?" Teng Qingshan looked at the youth in astonishment.

"Old Wang's son?" Li Jun was equally shocked, then quickly exclaimed, "Child, the world is so chaotic, weren't you afraid of being killed by bandits traveling alone? Quick, quick, come inside. It's bitterly cold outside in this snow. Hurry in." Li Jun quickly ushered the chubby youth inside. Anyone who could mention the name 'Yang Wang' was worthy of trust. After all, only a few of them—Teng Qingshan and his immediate circle—knew Old Wang's real name was Yang Wang.

"Where is your father?" Teng Qingshan immediately asked.

The youth named 'Yang Dong,' who had just sat down, then carefully produced a neatly folded letter from his embrace. "Mr. Teng, this is the letter my father asked me to deliver to you!"

"Old Wang's letter?" Teng Qingshan reached out and accepted it.

"Since you're here, why are you still carrying that bamboo pole?" Li Jun reached for the bamboo pole in Yang Dong's hand, intending to toss it aside.

"Xiao Jun, don't throw it, that's this little fellow's weapon," Teng Qingshan said with a smile.

"Weapon?" Li Jun was greatly surprised. The eyes of Yang Dong, the youth who had seemed endearing and simple all along, involuntarily revealed a flash of shock.