Teng Qingshan smiled, "No wonder. When I was at Ox-Head Mountain last time, that Sky Wind War God wanted to kill me and seemed puzzled why I hadn't achieved Shen Rong Tian Di."

"Even if I hadn't told you, you would have discovered it soon enough," the Cloud Dream War God chuckled lightly. "After all, by constantly observing the surrounding area, the 'God' essence will naturally merge with the Fire elemental energy, inheriting the characteristics of Fire. Once you achieve Shen Rong Tian Di, you can sense everything within your domain at all times, and you won't need to fear the Sky Wind War God."

Teng Qingshan frowned, "Brother Mu, just how powerful is this Sky Wind War God?"

"Haha, you can't aim too high too soon."

The Cloud Dream War God smiled, "I stepped into the Void Realm over two hundred years ago. Although the Sky Wind War God started slightly later than me, he has also been in the Void Realm for two centuries! The power of Heaven and Earth he can command is far greater than what you currently control. You should be able to sense how much ambient elemental power is available, right?"

Teng Qingshan nodded.

In the world inhabited by people, various forces of Heaven and Earth congregate. Different methods of classification yield different results.

For instance, some comprehend the Dao of 'Glacial Cold,' while others comprehend the Dao of the 'Bright Moon.' These Daos also have hierarchies!

The Dao of Heaven, for example, is the supreme one, encompassing all other Daos!

It could be said that there is only one Dao in Heaven and Earth—the Dao of Heaven!

Yet, one could also argue there are only... two Daos in Heaven and Earth—Yin and Yang, based on that division. If classified by life and death, there are only the two Daos of Life and Death. Based on the Five Elements, they can be divided into Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. This doesn't mean the various 'Daos' are incompatible. For example, the Dao of the Fire element contains both 'Yin' aspects and 'Yang' aspects.

If we divide them more finely, even the Dao of Water has the Dao of Glacial Cold and the Dao of Gentle Water.

"Qingshan, the more broadly and deeply one comprehends the Dao, the more power of Heaven and Earth one can control!" the Cloud Dream War God said with a smile. "When you can control all the ambient elemental power around you—then—you will have reached Great Completion in the Void Realm!"

Teng Qingshan nodded.

The power of the Fire element constitutes two-tenths of the entire elemental power of Heaven and Earth! Teng Qingshan can, at most, currently control these two-tenths.

"Your Dao of Fire is considered relatively high-tier," the Cloud Dream War God smiled. "It should account for a full two-tenths of the elemental power. When I first entered the Void Realm, I relied on the Dao of Lightning... at that time, I could only control one-tenth of the elemental power."

"Lightning?"

Teng Qingshan secretly nodded. Among the Heavenly Daos, the Five Elements are relatively high-tier, and the Dao of Lightning is considered inferior to the Dao of Fire. That is why he could only control one-tenth of the elemental power.

"The ancestor of our Duanmu family entered the Dao using the Slaughtering Thunder Blade, and upon first entering the Void Realm, he could immediately control five-tenths of the elemental power," the Cloud Dream War God's eyes held a look of reverence.

"Five-tenths?" Teng Qingshan gasped inwardly, "Are you speaking of the Thunder Blade Celestial God?"

"Mmm," the Cloud Dream War God appeared quite proud. The Great Elder 'Mu Wang,' who had remained silent beside them, also showed a look of pride.

The Thunder Blade Celestial God, 'Duanmu Yu,' was the greatest pride of the descendants of the Mu family.

"Controlling five-tenths of the elemental power right upon entering the Void Realm?" Teng Qingshan still couldn't quite believe it. "What exactly is this Dao of Slaughtering Thunder Blade?"

"It is, essentially, the Dao of Slaughter and Destruction!" the Cloud Dream War God explained.

"Destruction?" Teng Qingshan nodded. In the Dao of Heaven, the Dao of Destruction constitutes half, which is only natural.

"Depending on the Dao one comprehends, the amount of Heaven and Earth power one can control varies," the Cloud Dream War God smiled. "Brother Qingshan, you are actually quite accomplished."

If one comprehends a Great Dao, their initial strength upon entering the Void Realm is tremendously formidable, like the Thunder Blade Celestial God! If one comprehends a Minor Dao, their initial strength in the Void Realm is lower, but their future achievements can still be very high, like Emperor Yu. Looking at the Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting reveals that Emperor Yu was similar to Teng Qingshan, having entered the Five Elements at the introductory level—this is one of the major reasons Teng Qingshan benefited so much. There are also some Void Realm experts who comprehend even smaller 'Daos,' such as the Dao of Glacial Cold, the Dao of Lightning, and so on.

"Once one steps into the Void Realm, they can achieve Shen Rong Tian Di. They can perceive a radius of thirty-four li. Once another Void Realm expert is within that range, they can be detected," Teng Qingshan was currently sitting cross-legged in the secret chamber of East China Garden, continuously trying to feel the surrounding thirty-four li. His 'God' essence was gradually depleting, while simultaneously recovering slowly...

... On the sixth day that Teng Qingshan attempted Shen Rong Tian Di. In the secret chamber. Only Teng Qingshan sat within. Suddenly, voices rose from below: "Mister Teng, Mister Teng!" "Qingshan! Qingshan!" Both voices sounded almost simultaneously.

"Hm? Mu Yunji is here?" Teng Qingshan opened his eyes in confusion. He had long sensed their presence. He immediately rose and left the secret chamber, going downstairs to the living room. In the living room, Mu Yunji stood waiting respectfully.

"Mister Teng," Mu Yunji hurried forward to meet him.

"Yunji, what is it?" Teng Qingshan asked, perplexed. From his expression, it seemed to be bad news. Mu Yunji let out a wry smile, "Mister Teng, several months ago, didn't you ask my Rising Sun Merchant Guild to investigate a man named 'Yang Wang'?"

"Old Wang?" Teng Qingshan frowned, "What happened?"

"What happened to Old Wang?" Li Jun and Fu Yuping, standing nearby, both looked anxious and worried.

"He's dead!" Mu Yunji shook his head and sighed.

"Dead?" Li Jun and Fu Yuping showed looks of shock. Fu Yuping’s face turned deathly pale. During the years she followed Teng Qingshan, Old Wang had been diligent and extremely caring towards the equally tragic Xiao Ping. Xiao Ping considered Old Wang like family.

"How did he die?" Fu Yuping asked urgently.

Teng Qingshan’s face darkened, "Xiao Ping, go and fetch Ah Dong."

"Qingshan, is this the right time to tell Ah Dong?" Li Jun worried. Yang Dong only had a father; how would he bear it now that his father was dead?

"He must be told. You can hide it for a while, but not forever," Teng Qingshan said. Fu Yuping bit her lip, her eyes red, and nodded before rushing out.

Teng Qingshan gazed northwards... Old Wang was dead?

"Teacher," Yang Dong ran in, smiling, "Why such an urgent summons? Little Ping here refuses to tell me anything."

"Listen to Yunji," Teng Qingshan instructed.

"Yes." Although Yang Dong’s face held a smile, he had already sensed the atmosphere was tense.

Mu Yunji spoke respectfully from the side, "Mister Teng, you asked my Rising Sun Merchant Guild to investigate Yang Wang. My guild couldn't find any trace of him before. It turns out he wasn't living in Sky Wind City at all, but in a very ordinary village outside the city walls." As soon as this was spoken, Yang Dong's expression shifted.

Teng Qingshan glanced at Yang Dong, "Continue."

"This Yang Wang intended to kill his enemy, Helian Haotong. He must have investigated and determined that Helian Haotong did not hold a high status in the Helian family and resided in the 'West Wild Garden' within the inner city. The West Wild Garden is where the direct lineage of the Helian family, and those of generally average status, reside. The West Wild Garden is adjacent to the 'Dietary Hall.'"

"Thereafter, Yang Wang spent some money to purchase quite a bit of farmland in that village. Then, he established contact with a restaurant named 'Spring Rain Tavern,' supplying them with a large quantity of vegetables at a low price. Coincidentally, this restaurant was one of the suppliers for various meats and vegetables to the Helian family's 'Dietary Hall.'"

"The tavern often sent people to deliver goods to the Helian family's Dietary Hall. Yesterday morning, Yang Wang went with the tavern staff to deliver vegetables and meat to the Helian residence. After entering the Dietary Hall, Yang Wang found an opportunity to sneak into the West Wild Garden, which was very close by."

Mu Yunji paused here. Teng Qingshan, Li Jun, and the others held their breath completely; Yang Dong bit his lip, his body trembling faintly from tension.

"After sneaking into the West Wild Garden, it was unfortunate—that garden was enormous! Thousands of people from the Helian family resided there. One can imagine the scale of the West Wild Garden. Even members of the Helian family could get lost if they walked around carelessly inside. " Mu Yunji sighed, "It's likely Yang Wang never found where Helian Haotong lived, but who in the Helian family doesn't cultivate? There were too many experts, and Yang Wang was discovered!"

"However, Yang Wang's swordsmanship was superb!"

"At that moment, Yang Wang killed several people consecutively, causing a massive commotion throughout the West Wild Garden. Many clan members rushed out armed, and quite a few women stood watching from the sidelines. At that time, Helian Haotong and Wu Shuang were both in the crowd."

"Yang Wang saw Helian Haotong!"

"If he had fled then, perhaps there might have been a sliver of hope for survival," Mu Yunji sighed. "But Yang Wang's eyes turned bloodshot, and he lunged directly toward Helian Haotong and his ex-wife, Wu Shuang!"

"Truly one sword strike, one kill! Yang Wang’s sword art was bizarre and swift. The patrolling guards and the Helian clan disciples fell one by one. But Yang Wang was also covered in blood."

"Helian Haotong and Wu Shuang were terrified and fled!"

"More and more Helian family experts arrived to surround him. Yang Wang fought like a madman, showing no fear. Wu Shuang didn't understand internal energy and ran slowly. Yang Wang ran her through with a single sword thrust, killing her instantly! However, Helian Haotong understood internal energy and was fast. Furthermore, too many people surrounded and attacked Yang Wang, so he couldn't catch up. Before he died, he fiercely hurled the sword in his hand, piercing Helian Haotong's abdomen. But at the same time, he was struck down by machetes and sharp swords. As he died, he still threw his head back and roared with laughter!"

The living room was profoundly silent, broken only by the sound of Mu Yunji's narration. Teng Qingshan’s heart trembled faintly; he knew... Old Wang had gone to seek revenge fully prepared to die.

"Well killed, well killed, well killed!!!" Yang Dong, who had already squatted down, trembling, said hoarsely with bloodshot eyes.

His father killing his mother—the pain Yang Dong suffered was unimaginable?

"In that fight, one hundred and seventy-six people from the Helian family perished, and three were seriously injured," Mu Yunji stated in a low voice. "And among the one hundred and seventy-six dead, one hundred and three were direct descendants of the Helian family! This is a blow the Helian family has not suffered in hundreds of years. Although those direct descendants didn't hold high positions, they were still direct lineage, and many of their fathers and grandfathers held high positions within the Helian family. The Helian family was enraged, and that very night, they flayed Yang Wang alive!"

"Afterward, his remaining corpse was hung on the West Execution Gate. Rumor has it, it will be exposed to the elements for a month!"

As Mu Yunji finished speaking. Yang Dong beside him had his eyes split in fury, his gaze scarlet, letting out a roar of rage and pain from his throat.

"Helian family!" Yang Dong, eyes blazing red, charged outward like a madman.

But suddenly— He was caught by the shoulder by Teng Qingshan, completely unable to break free.

Yang Dong turned to look at Teng Qingshan, his scarlet eyes, faintly threaded with blood vessels, staring fixedly at Teng Qingshan. He hissed, "Teacher, I, I must kill them, kill them all!" Yang Dong at this moment looked like a rabid dog whose eyes had turned red.

"Come with me, to the Helian family," Teng Qingshan's voice was ice-cold to the bone.