The sun shone upon the earth, and Moon Crescent Lake remained covered in thick ice, with snow patches everywhere. A chilling cold permeated the air.

"Hah! Hyaa!" Yang Dong, clad in a leather jerkin, leaped and lunged in turn, his entire being transforming into that of a wild beast.

What he practiced now was the Xingyi Twelve Forms taught to him by Teng Qingshan. As the foundation of Xingyi internal martial arts, the Xingyi Twelve Forms naturally demanded rigorous practice.

His senior martial brother, 'Teng Beast,' having grown up among beasts since childhood, had mastered the Xingyi Twelve Forms in just a few short days. Tap!

Tap! Tap!

The sound of beast hooves echoed, and Yang Dong, mid-practice, stopped and looked up. He saw over a dozen Flame-Silver-Lined Hounds halt, and more than ten riders dismounted in one motion.

"Those Battle Hounds..." Yang Dong’s pupils involuntarily contracted, his heart struck with awe. "Hello there, young man," the lead rider removed his helmet and clasped his hands in a bow, smiling.

"May I ask where Mr. Teng is?" Normally, the haughty Tantai Huayan would never be so polite to a mere youth, but this was Shenfu Mountain’s Moon Crescent Lake—certainly not a place for them to act carelessly.

"You are looking for Teacher?" Yang Dong asked, surprised. "Ah, so you are Mr.

Teng's disciple," Tantai Huayan chuckled. "Indeed, a heroic youth.

We rushed here from the East Hua Domain specifically to seek an audience with Mr. Teng.

We request you convey our greetings." Beside Tantai Huayan, a tall woman also removed her helmet, revealing a countenance of beauty so captivating it could ensnare the soul. Her unbound, flowing hair, her skin so delicate it seemed ready to weep moisture, and especially her mesmerizing eyes, resembling pools of clear autumn water.

Yang Dong, a youth forged in hardship and exposed to the world’s cruelty since birth, prided himself on being immune to feminine wiles, yet even he found himself holding his breath now. "So beautiful..." Yang Dong felt his mind buzz.

Seeing his reaction, Tantai Qing’s smile bloomed, and she said softly, "Young man, we have come to see Mr. Teng.

We trouble you to announce us, please." Her gentle voice seemed to settle directly into the heart, making Yang Dong feel light and buoyant. Just then, a young girl emerged from the house.

"Are you here to see the Master?" "Xiaoping," Yang Dong snapped back to reality, cursing himself internally for being swayed by female beauty. Xiaoping, who had been nine when she followed Teng Qingshan for over a year, had been thin and malnourished, but now she had blossomed into a graceful young woman, barely shorter than Li Jun.

Girls typically developed earlier than boys, and this was a crucial growth period for Xiaoping. "Esteemed visitors," Xiaoping said, looking at the members of the Tantai family.

"My Lord is currently in secluded cultivation. He explicitly ordered that no one is to disturb him during this time.

I’m afraid you will have to leave." "Little girl, please convey our message," Tantai Huayan said, smiling as he offered a golden melon seed. Xiaoping did not take it, replying calmly, "Sirs...

I have made myself perfectly clear. No one is permitted to disturb the Master's cultivation, and we cannot approach him either.

If you truly wish to see him, you are welcome to wait here patiently. The Master occasionally emerges during his cultivation.

Other than that... there is nothing we can do." With that, she turned and walked back towards the stone house.

"She speaks the truth; if you want to see him, you must wait patiently," Yang Dong added, before also heading back inside. Teng Qingshan had indeed given instructions— If it were someone familiar, like the Great Elder of the Rising Sun Merchant Guild, they could interrupt his seclusion.

But outsiders... they were to be completely ignored.

For Teng Qingshan now, focusing solely on reaching the Void Realm as quickly as possible was paramount. As for the affairs of the Duanmu Continent, what did they have to do with him?

After all, he planned to return to the Nine Provinces eventually. "Third Uncle," Tantai Qing turned to Tantai Huayan beside her.

Tantai Huayan’s face showed immediate concern. "This is troublesome.

Several major clans from the East Hua Domain will likely send people rushing toward Shenfu Mountain in South Mountain City at top speed. Our Tantai family has the geographical advantage, allowing us to arrive first.

However... the other clans will certainly use superior One-Horned Battle Hounds; they can travel thousands of miles in a day, meaning they will be at most only an hour or two behind us." Being in the same East Hua Domain, the distances between them were not vast.

"Teng Qingshan is in seclusion," Tantai Qing frowned, appearing fragile and deserving of pity, possessing a truly heart-stirring charm. Alas...

Teng Qingshan was deeply immersed in cultivation and would not see her. ** Inside the stone house, Li Jun sat in a beast-hide covered chair, wearing a thick fur coat, knitting clothing with a serene smile—garments she was making for Teng Qingshan.

"Xiaoping, are those people still outside?" Li Jun paused, stretching languidly, revealing the graceful curves beneath her fur coat. Xiaoping glanced out the window and nodded.

"Sister Xiaojun, those people are still there. Huh..." "What is it?" Li Jun asked, surprised.

"Martial Saint of Thunder Blade, Mr. Fu, has arrived," Xiaoping said, peering out the window in astonishment.

"Mr. Fu Dao?" Li Jun set down the garment she was working on.

"Let's go out and see." Regardless, Fu Dao was an old acquaintance, a friend, of Teng Qingshan. ...

By Moon Crescent Lake, the Tantai family group had waited only a short while before Fu Dao appeared alone, riding a Battle Hound. "Haha, Tantai Huayan, you arrived quite quickly," Fu Dao laughed heartily.

"Mr. Fu Dao, you are not late either," Tantai Huayan glanced at him and managed a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Just then, Li Jun, accompanied by Xiaoping, walked out together. While Tantai Qing was breathtakingly beautiful, Li Jun’s unique aura, coupled with the blossoming grace of the young Xiaoping, equally drew the eye as they walked side-by-side.

"Mr. Fu," Li Jun greeted him with a smile.

"Miss Li," Fu Dao returned the greeting with a smile. Nearby, Tantai Huayan and Tantai Qing of the Tantai family subtly changed expression.

They knew that the person closest to Teng Qingshan was this girl named 'Li Jun.' "Greetings, Miss Li," Tantai Huayan and Tantai Qing spoke simultaneously. As a beautiful woman, Tantai Qing naturally compared herself to the other; this comparison only bolstered her confidence—she clearly judged that the woman closest to Teng Qingshan could not compare to her.

"Is Mr. Fu also here to see Big Brother Teng?" Li Jun asked with a smile.

"Yes, I have urgent business," Fu Dao nodded seriously. "Extremely important." "Oh?" Seeing Fu Dao’s gravity, Li Jun nodded.

"Then Mr. Fu, please wait here a moment.

I will ask Big Brother Teng to come out." Saying this, Li Jun walked toward the southern woods. This action made the Tantai family realize...

Teng Qingshan was not residing in the stone house but cultivating in seclusion elsewhere. In mere moments— A young man, wearing a casual blue leather jerkin, his long hair flowing loosely, and slight stubble dusting his face, walked alongside Li Jun.

This youth’s appearance immediately drew the attention of both the Tantai family and Fu Dao from a distance. Many in the Tantai clan gasped, and Tantai Qing’s eyes shone even brighter.

The legendary Strongest Martial Saint... An utterly mysterious powerhouse...

His name was... Teng Qingshan!

"Haha, Fu Dao, long time no see," Teng Qingshan’s hearty laugh reached them from afar. "It has been a long time since I last saw you, Sir.

But I confess, I came here asking for your assistance," Fu Dao replied with marked humility and respect. Witnessing this, Tantai Huayan sighed inwardly.

The rumors were clearly not baseless; the sheer deference shown by the Innate Golden Core Martial Saint, Fu Dao, suggested the astonishing strength of Teng Qingshan. "And who might these guests be?" Teng Qingshan’s gaze swept past Tantai Qing, and he smiled.

"This must be Miss Tantai Qing. We met last time at the auction for that set of Dull Vanadium Stone." "I had hoped to chat with you more last time, Sir, but you were busy collecting the gold to purchase that set of Dull Vanadium Stone, leaving me no chance," Tantai Qing replied with a smile, as if the surrounding scenery brightened because of her.

"This time, I finally get a few words with you. I am very honored to converse with the legendary Strongest Martial Saint." Teng Qingshan offered a slight smile.

It was undeniable that conversing with a beautiful young lady was refreshing, and this young lady was also quite perceptive. "Fu Dao, are you and the Tantai family here for the same reason?" Teng Qingshan surmised, asking the question.

"Sir is perceptive," Fu Dao nodded. "I wonder if you have heard, Sir, that a Fire Flowing Iron ore vein has been discovered in the East Hua Domain." "Fire Flowing Iron ore vein?" Teng Qingshan was slightly puzzled.

He had never heard of such a substance, at least not on the Nine Provinces continent. "Yes.

Let's discuss it inside," Teng Qingshan showed no impatience, glancing towards the Tantai family. "You two, please come in as well." Tantai Huayan and Fu Dao exchanged a look, both smiling, and followed Teng Qingshan into the house.

... In the spacious room specifically prepared for guests, the walls were adorned with numerous carvings, and several stone pillars featured winding divine dragon reliefs.

A large, smooth table dominated the hall, where Teng Qingshan, Fu Dao, Tantai Huayan, and Tantai Qing were seated. "Fu Dao, what is this Fire Flowing Iron you mentioned?

I truly know nothing about it," Teng Qingshan began. Tantai Qing couldn't help but glance at Teng Qingshan as she listened.

He truly is the strongest among Innate Martial Saints at such a young age, the one with the greatest hope of becoming a War God. He must be incredibly diligent, likely buried in his cultivation, ignoring trivial matters like this.

Teng Qingshan’s ignorance, paradoxically, earned him silent praise from Tantai Qing. Such is human nature.

If a nobody speaks the truth, they are mocked. But if a powerful figure speaks incorrectly, others will twist black into white for him.

"Fire Flowing Iron is an extremely precious material for forging battle armor and weapons," Fu Dao explained. "In terms of hardness, it surpasses Profound Iron by a significant margin.

A thin layer of Fire Flowing Iron armor is difficult for even an Innate Void Core Martial Saint to pierce. Moreover, it is incredibly light—far lighter than Profound Iron.

A full set of Fire Flowing Iron armor weighs only thirty to forty pounds." Hearing this, Teng Qingshan was greatly astonished. "Armor weighing only thirty to forty pounds?

And even an Innate Void Core expert can't break it?" Waves of shock surged within Teng Qingshan. "If my Guiyuan Sect used the 'Spirit of the North Sea' to create ten thousand peak Houtian realm martial artists, and then outfitted these ten thousand with armor that even Innate Void Core experts cannot penetrate, yet is unbelievably light—who could possibly stop this army of ten thousand?" "Flattening Azure Lake Island wouldn't even be difficult." Teng Qingshan immediately grasped the terrifying significance the Fire Flowing Iron armor held in any bid for supremacy.