North Han Territory, merely a few dozen li outside Tianfeng City, lay the 'Tianfeng Gorge,' one of the world's three most perilous locations. Hoo~~ Hoo~~ A biting wind howled, leaving no creature or beast in sight.

This Tianfeng Gorge was intensely cold; even a master of Inner Strength, struck by the gale at the edge of the gorge, would instantly freeze to death. And this was precisely the cultivation ground of the Tianfeng God of War.

Deep within the gorge, a palace carved entirely from pure ice was situated. Inside the sprawling hall, which spanned tens of zhang in width and length, the floor was layered with thick beast pelts.

There was nothing else in the vast chamber save for these furs, the Tianfeng God of War clad in black, and the Iron Sword Martial Saint, Helian Haoyan, draped in silver robes, both seated cross-legged, facing each other across the expanse. "Haoyan, is your arm exactly as it was before it was broken?" the Tianfeng God of War inquired indifferently.

"Yes, perfectly fine," Helian Haoyan nodded, flexing his right arm. "As if it had never been severed.

A pity... that the remaining half of the Cloud Dream White Fruit was almost entirely consumed.

Hmph, it's all thanks to that Teng Qingshan and that fiery monster bird!" A fierce glint flashed in Helian Haoyan's eyes. Across the entire Duanmu Continent, only the Tianfeng family understood the language of beasts, making their search for the Cloud Dream White Fruit the least difficult.

Even the Rising Sun Merchant Guild had to hire Teng Qingshan for the search, yet the Tianfeng family itself possessed the leftover half-fruit from years past, which was just enough to regrow Helian Haoyan's right arm completely. "The fiery monster bird…" The Tianfeng God of War narrowed his eyes.

"Our Duanmu Continent has never known such a demonic beast. Who knows where that Teng Qingshan acquired it." The Tianfeng God of War coveted that Azure Luan deeply.

"Haoyan, what movement has there been from Teng Qingshan?" the Tianfeng God of War asked. "That Teng Qingshan is timid and fears death; he hides in Cloud Dream Ancient City all day," Helian Haoyan said bitterly.

"The day before yesterday, he married that woman named Li Jun. But, very few people attended!

Even after the wedding, he has remained in the Donghua Garden where he resides, cultivating and spending time with his wife, rarely venturing out." The Tianfeng God of War frowned. "Haoyan, from today onward, you will arrange for someone to manage the family's affairs.

You will focus solely on secluded cultivation here with me." "Teacher?" Helian Haoyan started, taken aback. "Haoyan, you must achieve the Void Realm!" the Tianfeng God of War stated gravely.

"That Teng Qingshan has boundless potential. When I fought him at Ox Head Mountain, I realized he must have only just entered the Void Realm!

To reach the Void Realm so young, his future achievements are limitless. Worst of all, he has good ties with the Mu family but is an enemy of my Tianfeng family.

Hiding in Cloud Dream Ancient City, I simply cannot kill him." "Then, once your strength significantly increases, won't that be—" Helian Haoyan gasped in shock. "Worry not." The Tianfeng God of War said calmly, "He is merely in the initial stages of the Void Realm, he hasn't even achieved 'Divine Integration with Heaven and Earth.' Whereas I have trod the Void Realm for two hundred years.

How could he compare? Even if he cultivates faster, it will take him at least fifty years to catch up to me.

Haoyan, you absolutely must reach the Void Realm. Only then will I have confidence in dealing with that old man Mu!" "Understood." Helian Haoyan nodded solemnly.

"Also, relay this order: the moment Teng Qingshan leaves Cloud Dream Ancient City, report it immediately," the Tianfeng God of War commanded sternly. "Yes, Teacher." Helian Haoyan also harbored a killing intent toward Teng Qingshan.

"Teacher, what about those nine lotus seeds?" Helian Haoyan inquired. "How should we divide them?" "The lotus seeds contain marvelous efficacy.

One seed for a peak Inner Strength expert can elevate their 'Divine Essence' enough to break through to the Xiantian realm. For a Xiantian Golden Core Martial Saint, consuming one will allow them to instantly ascend to become a Xiantian Golden Core Martial Saint!" the Tianfeng God of War explained deeply.

"These seeds cannot be wasted. Deciding who consumes them must be done with the utmost caution.

Regardless of who it is, they must be examined and judged by me before they can take one... We do not need to rush to use the nine seeds; perhaps a true genius will arise in my Tianfeng family someday." Some geniuses possess high comprehension and perseverance, but they are born with weak 'Divine Essence.' For instance, among the experts listed on the 'Earth Ranking' across the Jiuzhou Continent, their comprehension and perseverance are not necessarily inferior to those of Xiantian experts.

However, they fall short in this single aspect of 'Divine Essence.' If one of them were given a lotus seed, it would be like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, their destiny changing entirely. "Return and arrange things in the family, then come back immediately," the Tianfeng God of War waved his hand.

"Very well, you may go." * Teng Qingshan was well aware that the Tianfeng family would always monitor him secretly. At Ox Head Mountain, when Teng Qingshan threatened the Tianfeng God of War into handing over the antidote, although the God of War endured the humiliation for the sake of his family, that suppressed breath of resentment filled him with murderous intent toward Teng Qingshan—a desire to kill him swiftly!

However... Teng Qingshan did not care!

... Within Cloud Dream Ancient City, in the Donghua Garden of the Inner City's Rising Sun district.

In the early morning, just as dawn was breaking, Teng Qingshan and Li Jun rose together. "Wash your face," Li Jun placed a basin of warm water on the table.

Teng Qingshan glanced at Li Jun with a smile; a mere exchange of looks between the couple naturally conveyed deep affection. "Mm, I'll go practice my boxing first, then come back for breakfast," Teng Qingshan said, washing his face with a smile.

Li Jun nodded, a blissful smile on her face. Descending the stairs and exiting the main hall, before him lay a body of water resembling a mirror.

The pavilions of the entire Donghua Garden were built upon the lake, and every morning, Teng Qingshan practiced his boxing right on the water's surface. "Teacher." "Teacher." Teng Shou and Yang Dong were practicing their forms on the floating wooden planks laid nearby.

Although Teng Shou now wielded an axe and Yang Dong used sword techniques, the morning practice session was mandatory. Teng Qingshan’s boxing was the Dao!

While his axe and sword styles were merely skills for slaying enemies! "Mm." Teng Qingshan leaped up, landing on the lake surface as lightly as a gust of wind.

He stood upon the water without sinking, two small whirlpools forming beneath his feet. "Comprehending the axe techniques, evolving my self-created boxing forms—I have already created the eighth punch for both the 'Earth Movement Fist' and the 'Fire Movement Fist,' and the seventh punch for the 'Metal Movement Fist.' But I am right at the threshold, I can feel it, yet I cannot break through." Teng Qingshan felt anxious, but comprehending the Heavenly Dao was not something one could rush.

Teng Qingshan calmed his mind and immediately used his hand-blade as a substitute for the axe, demonstrating one move after another of his axe techniques! These techniques were his personal insights gleaned after studying the 'Thirty-Six Forms of Sky Splitting,' and his understanding of the axe forms shifted slightly almost every day.

After practicing the axe forms once, Teng Qingshan’s state of mind settled completely. Following that, he began practicing his boxing forms!

He worked on the Earth Movement Fist for quite some time before switching to the Fire Movement Fist. "Chi—" Punch after punch from Teng Qingshan, though not delivered with immense brute force, caused the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth to vibrate.

The martial intent of the Fire Movement Fist he was practicing continually improved until it reached the intent of the eighth punch—the fury of a volcanic eruption threatening to tear the heavens and earth apart. "A pity, only up to the eighth punch has been created." Just then, Teng Qingshan felt a ray of sunlight on his body and instinctively looked up.

In the distant eastern horizon, a fiery red sun was just ascending above the ground. Although the morning sun was not yet glaring, the warmth it cast upon the skin was pleasantly comfortable.

"The morning sun... yet it is still the sun, inherently scorching hot.

But right now, I don't feel that intensity." "Keep a distance from the sun, observing it from afar, one only feels its warmth, its vastness." "But if one gets too close, it will incinerate everything into nothingness." Teng Qingshan’s eyes grew distant as he gazed at the round, red sun. "Crack!" It was as if a bolt of lightning flashed through Teng Qingshan's mind.

The barrier that he had sensed but could never break through suddenly revealed its crucial point. He had found the key to the door, and a smile—a joyous, childlike smile—gradually spread across his face.

Simultaneously, he remained standing on the water, silently watching the rising sun. At this moment— Li Jun, having just finished helping the maid prepare breakfast, smiled as she looked at the cooked porridge.

Although a servant assisted with the cooking, Li Jun still preferred to prepare some things for Teng Qingshan with her own hands. Just then, a shout came from outside: "Martial Mother, Martial Mother." "Hmm?" Li Jun walked out in confusion.

"Martial Mother, look over there," Yang Dong pointed toward the direction where Teng Qingshan was practicing, and Teng Shou pointed as well. Teng Qingshan rarely stood still like a fool while practicing his forms.

"Qingshan he..." Li Jun also looked toward the figure standing on the lake surface. Suddenly— Teng Qingshan in the distance moved again.

He resumed practicing his boxing forms, this time the Fire Movement Fist. However, Li Jun and the others all felt that although they had seen this Fire Movement Fist many times before, this performance felt completely different from the past.

Yet, they couldn't articulate exactly what had changed. Move after move, after delivering the eighth punch, Teng Qingshan stepped forward with a turn, delivering a simple, unadorned straight punch.

"Boom~~~" The entire space in front of him violently shuddered once. The nearby grass and tree branches growing on the lake shore visibly shook, and then—chch~~~—they disintegrated into dust.

"Teacher didn't use any True Qi or applied force in his boxing. How..." Yang Dong exclaimed in surprise.

"Qingshan has never damaged nearby plants while practicing," Li Jun was also startled. They saw that Teng Qingshan, standing on the lake, now wore a delighted smile.

The air around him seemed to subtly distort. Li Jun and the others, looking past Teng Qingshan into the distance, saw everything warped.

Streams of fiery-red light spun around Teng Qingshan. A faint, fiery-red glow enveloped Teng Qingshan, making him appear like an immortal being.

"Buzz~~~" The lake water beneath Teng Qingshan's feet, centered on him, surged violently outwards in all directions, creating powerful ripples. ...

In the inner city of Rising Sun, the Cloud Dream God of War, who had been quietly cultivating while stroking his massive wolf-headed battle saber while seated cross-legged before a low table, suddenly opened his eyes. Mu Wang, who was seated cross-legged beside him, looked at the Cloud Dream God of War in astonishment.

"Teacher, what is it?" The Cloud Dream God of War looked eastward. "Mu Wang, did you sense it?" "Sense it?" Mu Wang looked east, asking with uncertain confusion.

"It seems... there's a faint fluctuation of Fire Spiritual Energy, very subtle.

Is there something special about it?" "No, it is not ordinary spiritual energy fluctuation," the Cloud Dream God of War gazed eastward and spoke slowly. "From this day forward, the world has gained another God of War!" "Void Realm?" Mu Wang's eyes widened.

That lofty Void Realm... the realm he had always dreamed of!

"Teng Qingshan has stepped into the Void Realm."