"Yo~ Yooo~~" Seeing Teng Qingshan accept the Undying Grass, the Phoenix Mother let out a cry, and then called out to the nearby Undying Phoenix, 'Xiao Qing.'

Li Jun showed a look of astonishment.

"What's wrong?" Teng Qingshan quickly asked.

"Qingshan, Xiao Qing's mother said that since the matter is settled, we can leave," Li Jun said somewhat anxiously. "She wants Xiao Qing to go with her to build a new nest."

"What?" Teng Qingshan was startled. "Does the Phoenix Mother mean for Xiao Qing to stay here while we leave?"

"Yes, that's what it means," Li Jun replied anxiously.

Teng Qingshan's expression changed drastically. After the Green Luan transformed into an Undying Phoenix, she possessed astonishing strength. Upon returning to the Nine Provinces, Teng Qingshan was naturally unwilling to lead an ordinary life, and in his plans... the Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing' was a very important helper. If Xiao Qing didn't go with them, his loss would be immense.

"Qingshan, what should we do?" Li Jun also felt caught off guard.

"There's nothing we can do."

Teng Qingshan calmed down, shook his head, and said, "Although Xiao Qing said she would go to the Nine Provinces with us, if she listens to her mother and stays on this island, not coming with us to the Nine Provinces, there's nothing we can do." For an Undying Phoenix, one could only let it do what it wished; it could not be forced.

"Yo~ Yooo~~" The Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing' looked at her mother with dissatisfaction and cried out.

"Qingshan, Xiao Qing says she wants to come with us!" Li Jun said with surprise and joy.

Immediately, the Phoenix Mother showed displeasure.

The Phoenix Mother and the Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing' continuously chirped at each other, but their calls were exceptionally melodious.

"Xiao Jun, what are they saying?" Teng Qingshan understood nothing.

"Xiao Qing says she wants to go to the Nine Provinces with us. She also said... she hasn't truly experienced the Nine Provinces, and life on the island is boring," Li Jun said as she listened. "Xiao Qing also said—Qingshan, your fist techniques are superb, and you've even comprehended the Dao of Metal. Following you will make comprehending the Dao of Metal much easier!"

Teng Qingshan also grew tense.

Whether the Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing' would accompany him was a decision only Xiao Qing and her mother could make; outsiders could not interfere.

Suddenly, the Phoenix Mother stopped, turned her head to look at Li Jun, and called out softly.

"Hm?" Li Jun looked slightly surprised and responded with a bird's call.

A moment later—

Li Jun showed a trace of disappointment. The Phoenix Mother and Xiao Qing also ceased their quarrel.

"What happened?" Teng Qingshan sensed something was wrong.

"Qingshan." Li Jun managed a wry smile. "There's good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"

"Tell me the bad news first," Teng Qingshan said, his heart hanging in suspense.

"Xiao Qing and her mother have discussed it... and agreed with her mother's view—we are going to the Nine Provinces, but Xiao Qing will not be coming with us." Upon hearing this, Teng Qingshan's expression couldn't help but change slightly.

The Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing' was truly not going to the Nine Provinces with him.

Forget it, let's respect Xiao Qing's own choice, Teng Qingshan sighed inwardly.

Li Jun continued, "The good news is... the Phoenix Mother is keeping Xiao Qing behind because she needs to teach her some secret techniques that an Undying Phoenix can use after achieving that status—techniques unique to the Undying Phoenix. The same power, the power of heaven and earth, and flame, when manifested differently, yield different degrees of might."

"Phoenix secret techniques?" Teng Qingshan understood.

It was just like how executing a 'Poison Dragon Drill' or a 'Crimson Tiger Roar' was much more powerful than simply thrusting a spear forward foolishly.

The Phoenix Mother had lived for thousands of years and had even followed the Supreme Being 'Poet Sword Immortal Li Taibai.' Having received guidance from a Supreme Being and contemplated for millennia, she naturally possessed her own set of secret techniques!

"The Phoenix Mother says the Nine Provinces are too dangerous! She absolutely will not allow a child who has just become an Undying Phoenix to go to the Nine Provinces now! After debating with Xiao Qing, the Phoenix Mother backed down a step and agreed... that once Xiao Qing masters that set of 'Phoenix Secret Techniques' and possesses the power to protect herself, she will allow Xiao Qing to go to the Nine Provinces to find us!" Li Jun showed a hint of a smile.

Teng Qingshan breathed a sigh of relief.

So, Xiao Qing would only go to the Nine Provinces after learning the 'Phoenix Secret Techniques.'

"The Nine Provinces are very dangerous?" Teng Qingshan suddenly woke up. How fast was an Undying Phoenix? For an Undying Phoenix, were the Nine Provinces dangerous?

"Xiao Jun, ask the Phoenix Mother, where in the Nine Provinces is dangerous?" Teng Qingshan urged.

Li Jun nodded and immediately went to inquire with the Phoenix Mother.

The Phoenix Mother looked at Teng Qingshan, then emitted a pleasant chirp, answering Li Jun's question, which caused Li Jun's expression to change drastically.

"What is it?" Teng Qingshan asked immediately.

"Qingshan," Li Jun said solemnly. "The Phoenix Mother says the Nine Provinces are the core of the world, possessing quite a few powerful Void Realm demonic beasts. Although she reigns supreme among the divine avian beasts, in the Nine Provinces, there are still many terrifying Void Realm demonic beasts that have lived since before Emperor Yu's tribal era. As of now, even Xiao Qing's flight speed can be surpassed by several Great Perfection Void Realm demonic beasts. There are even more demonic beasts whose overall strength surpasses Xiao Qing's!"

Teng Qingshan understood. The Great Yan Mountain alone housed two Void Realm demonic beasts.

How many Void Realm demonic beasts were there in the entire Nine Provinces? It was impossible to determine. After all, if they weren't disturbed, some Void Realm demonic beasts might be lying dormant somewhere. Take the demon dragon 'Zi Xi,' for instance; perhaps neither the Yu Emperor Gate nor the Mani Temple knew that the demon dragon 'Zi Xi' was in the Great Yan Mountain.

"And the rulers of the Nine Provinces are not the demonic beasts, but humans! Void Realm demonic beasts rarely provoke human sects. That is because—some of the Eight Great Sects possess extremely terrifying experts," Li Jun stated solemnly.

"The Phoenix Mother also admitted... that the human expert who came to demand an Undying Grass last time is among the top few experts in the Nine Provinces. In terms of strength, even the Phoenix Mother believes it would be difficult to defeat that opponent," Li Jun's words greatly shocked Teng Qingshan.

The Phoenix Mother, a Great Perfection Void Realm divine avian beast!

Yet there was a human that the Phoenix Mother admitted she could not defeat!

"The Phoenix Mother also said that in the Nine Provinces, many Void Realm human experts enjoy taking in weaker Void Realm demonic beasts! If Xiao Qing goes to the Nine Provinces now, it's very dangerous. Only after learning her secret techniques will she have the confidence to protect herself," Li Jun said solemnly. "Qingshan, the Phoenix Mother also reminds you not to underestimate the major sects of the Nine Provinces. The older the sect's history, the more immeasurable its power is likely to be."

"For example... the Myriad Manifestations Gate!" Li Jun murmured.

"What?"

Teng Qingshan was greatly astonished.

The Myriad Manifestations Gate? An organization merely dedicated to recording the experts of the world? Even they were deemed to have immeasurable strength by the Undying Phoenix? In the Nine Provinces, the status of the Myriad Manifestations Gate was far below that of the Eight Great Sects. They were only proficient in business.

"I was truly foolish," Teng Qingshan suddenly realized. "The Myriad Manifestations Gate might avoid conflict with the Eight Great Sects by not vying for dominance over the world. But their business spans the entire realm, accumulating endless wealth. Even if the Eight Great Sects aren't covetous, wouldn't other slightly lesser sects be? Yet, how could the Myriad Manifestations Gate survive for thousands of years if it were as simple as it appeared on the surface?"

"Even my Guiyuan Sect can hide a Void Realm expert; how could the world be as simple as described in books."

Cold sweat broke out on Teng Qingshan's forehead.

The depths of the Nine Provinces... were indeed profound.

"I should thank the Phoenix Mother," Teng Qingshan repositioned himself. "Even the Heavenly God Palace, with its formidable power, I didn't know of its existence until I came into contact with it! How many powerful forces are lurking in the shadows of the Nine Provinces? However—I shouldn't underestimate myself either."

"I have already stepped into the Void Realm, my strength comparable to that Wind Battle God.

"Even if I cannot stir up great storms across the entire Nine Provinces for the time being, it is certainly enough to make waves in Yang Province." Teng Qingshan quickly asked Li Jun, "Xiao Jun, ask the Phoenix Mother, how long will it take for Xiao Qing to master these 'Phoenix Secret Techniques'?"

Li Jun turned to ask.

"Qingshan, the Phoenix Mother says it will take anywhere from half a year to a full year," Li Jun replied.

Teng Qingshan nodded: "That's fine. This half a year or year will be just enough time for me to familiarize myself with the true face of the Nine Provinces! With my current strength, I can only make subtle moves in secret; it's not yet time to stir up massive turmoil. When my 'Dao of Earth' makes another breakthrough... when Xiao Qing masters the 'Phoenix Secret Techniques,' and the Six-Legged Saber Cicada breaks through again... if my master 'Zhuge Yuanhong' also breaks through to the Void Realm..."

Teng Qingshan pondered carefully, filled with confidence.

"Challenges make things interesting!" Teng Qingshan's eyes flashed. "I have endured in obscurity for years, carrying so many treasures, holding such a massive advantage—I am hidden, and they are in the open. If I still lose to Qinghu Island? I might as well commit suicide."

"Yo yo yo~~~" The Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing' chirped towards Teng Qingshan and Li Jun.

"Qingshan, Xiao Qing asks how she can find us once she gets to the Nine Provinces?" Li Jun looked at Teng Qingshan. Teng Qingshan was momentarily stunned and pressed: "She is unfamiliar with the Nine Provinces, if we tell her, she won't know where to go."

"Yo~~ Yooo~~" The Phoenix Mother also chirped.

Li Jun showed a look of delight: "Qingshan, the Phoenix Mother says she will send Xiao Qing over then. The Phoenix Mother is very familiar with the Nine Provinces... she said that at that time, she will set a fire on Mount Tianyun, one of the high mountains in 'Qingzhou' of the Nine Provinces, burning down half the mountain! Then, they will wait there for ten days to half a month for Qingshan to arrive."

"Mount Tianyun? Good," Teng Qingshan nodded. "When Mount Tianyun catches fire, I will rush over immediately."

...

After making such an agreement, Teng Qingshan and Li Jun could only bid farewell to the Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing.' Afterward, Teng Qingshan and the others had to rely on the 'Six-Legged Saber Cicada' to travel to the Nine Provinces. As for the Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing,' she would remain under her mother's tutelage, learning the 'Phoenix Secret Techniques' that her mother had comprehended over thousands of years, supplemented by the guidance of the Poet Sword Immortal.

If Teng Qingshan and the others wanted to see Xiao Qing again, they could only wait a year or so, for the time Mount Tianyun burned!

The strength of the Six-Legged Saber Cicada was astonishing. It flew for two days and rested for only half a day, crossing numerous islands and passing by that Moon Island.

On the ninth day after leaving the Phoenix Island.

"Qingshan, look!" Li Jun said with joy.

"So big!" Yang Dong and Teng Shou also stared south in shock.

They saw, at the end of the ocean, an endless coastline stretching to the horizon in the south. Although the Six-Legged Saber Cicada was still some distance from the Nine Provinces at that moment, its flying speed was incredible. In just a moment, the Six-Legged Saber Cicada flew from the ocean area and entered above the vast grasslands.

"Hoo~~" After flying for fifteen days, they finally arrived. Even the Six-Legged Saber Cicada was excited, performing a sharp dive and gliding low across the grassland once.

Teng Qingshan inhaled the fragrance of the soil and the scent of the wild grass on the prairie, his expression complex, his eyes faintly showing tears.

"This is the prairie of the Nine Provinces!"

"I am finally, home."