The sound echoed through the study, yet Zhuge Yuanhong and Elder Wu, within the room, were momentarily stunned into silence by the declaration.

"This terrifying Void Realm expert who has mastered the Way of Fire and the Way of Sharp Metal... is that young man, Teng Qingshan, from back then?" Elder Wu’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head, staring intently at the youth kneeling with tears glistening in his eyes. "How is this possible? He, he, he... how could he possibly be Teng Qingshan?"

Even for Zhuge Yuanhong, the Sect Master, a tidal wave surged within his heart.

Kneeling, Teng Qingshan was overcome with guilt. "I sought vengeance for my father and clan, confident that my true identity wouldn't be exposed... But what happened? My identity was discovered in the end, and I even implicated the Guiyuan Sect! So many brothers in the Black Armored Army perished, and Qingqing is gone too—it was all because of my selfishness, my madness!"

Towards his Master, 'Zhuge Yuanhong,' Teng Qingshan felt only boundless remorse.

If not for him, how could his Master have lost his beloved daughter?

"Master," Teng Qingshan looked up at Zhuge Yuanhong.

"You... you are Qingshan?" Zhuge Yuanhong was completely engulfed in shock at this moment.

Teng Qingshan suddenly realized his appearance was a disguise. He immediately touched his face; the shape of his face subtly shifted. The previously soft contours became significantly sharper, and the distance between his eyes altered slightly. He transformed from the appearance of an ordinary young man from a wealthy family into a stern-faced youth. Since reaching the late stage of Gang Jin, the limit of the human body, achieving internal and external perfection, Teng Qingshan could make minute changes to the bones and muscles of his face.

Disguise and transformation were now achievable without brushes or other materials.

"This..." Elder Wu gasped in astonishment, and Zhuge Yuanhong couldn't help but be shocked too.

Standing before them now was that disciple who had been utterly fanatical in the Great Yan Mountains—the most prodigious disciple in the entire history of the Guiyuan Sect—Teng Qingshan!

Although he was more mature than four years prior, and his aura more restrained, he was instantly recognizable.

"Qingshan," Zhuge Yuanhong walked over emotionally, pulling Teng Qingshan up. "Get up, quickly, quickly."

Teng Qingshan clearly saw the faintest hint of tears welling up in his Master's eyes as well.

"You child, it’s been almost four years, not a single word." Zhuge Yuanhong held Teng Qingshan's hand. "Your parents have been worried sick about you, fearing some accident befell you. Thank heavens... you are finally back, back. It is good that you have returned! I can finally rest easy."

Teng Qingshan could feel the depth of his Master's concern; threads of silver hair were still visible in his Master's temples.

"Master..." A sharp ache pierced Teng Qingshan’s heart.

Since planning to marry his daughter to Teng Qingshan, coupled with his son marrying Qingyu, and most importantly, his prior intent to have Teng Qingshan succeed him as the Sect Master of Guiyuan Sect—Zhuge Yuanhong had long regarded Teng Qingshan as his own child, caring for him as such!

Upon this reunion, Zhuge Yuanhong was moved to genuine excitement.

"Master, this disciple has failed you."

Teng Qingshan knelt once more, his eyes brimming with tears. "It was this disciple's wanton actions back then that forced Master to mobilize troops to the Great Yan Mountains to save me. In the end, it led to the deaths of so many brothers in the Black Armored Army, and also Qingqing... This disciple has failed Master!" Guilt, overwhelming guilt.

The scene at the Great Yan Mountains that day was still vivid in his mind.

...

"Master, Qingshan killed the people from Qinghu Island, and he has no regrets! Qingshan has failed Master’s teachings... Qingshan is unworthy to be Master’s disciple."

"Everyone bear witness, I, Teng Qingshan, today officially defect from the Guiyuan Sect!"

"Everything I, Teng Qingshan, have done from this moment on has absolutely no connection with the Guiyuan Sect!"

...

The scenes from the Great Yan Mountains that day were something Teng Qingshan would never forget in his life! The people he felt most indebted to were Qingqing, the numerous fallen brothers, and most of all, his Master, 'Zhuge Yuanhong.' However, during his flight, he never found an opportunity to explain himself to his Master.

Today, the chance for atonement had finally arrived!

"Qingshan," Zhuge Yuanhong sighed, shaking his head. "You child... Your Master does not blame you. When you spoke of defecting from the Guiyuan Sect at the Great Yan Mountains! Not only was your Master not angry, I was deeply moved. I knew you did it for the sect's sake."

"I only regret that my Guiyuan Sect was not strong enough, I, Zhuge Yuanhong, was not capable enough... Otherwise, how could my disciple Zhuge Yuanhong suffer such humiliation? How could my beloved daughter die innocently?"

"You are the disciple, I am the Master."

Zhuge Yuanhong looked at Teng Qingshan. "If the sky were to collapse, it is the Master who should bear it! It was my incompetence that forced you to bear everything alone and flee across the world!"

"Master..." Hearing these words, tears streamed down Teng Qingshan’s face.

"Looking at you two, today is a good day, a day of great joy!" Elder Wu chuckled beside them. "Qingshan has returned safely, and our Guiyuan Sect has gained another Void Realm expert! Such good fortune, why are you crying?"

"Indeed, Qingshan, you're already a Void Realm expert and you’re crying," Zhuge Yuanhong also smiled as he helped Teng Qingshan up.

Teng Qingshan took a deep breath and dried his tears.

In several years on the Duanmu Continent, apart from weeping for Li Jun himself, he had rarely shed tears. Seeing his Master today, mixed feelings of the joy of returning, guilt, and deep emotion caused Teng Qingshan to lose control.

"Qingshan, sit, sit down, and tell your Master everything in detail, what exactly happened?" Zhuge Yuanhong said with a smile. "How did my genius disciple, in just a few short years, go from being a master who was at best at the level of Innate Solid Core, to becoming a Void Realm expert? Your Master hasn't broken through yet."

"Right, Qingshan, how did you, how did you reach the Void Realm?" Elder Wu looked at Teng Qingshan, his eyes full of disbelief. "A Void Realm expert! Even the foundation of Qinghu Island, one of the eight great sects of the world, only has one Void Realm expert! Qingshan, you..."

The most astounding fact was that Teng Qingshan was only twenty-one years old!

"Master, Elder Wu."

Teng Qingshan took a deep breath. "Listen to me. Back then, I was pursued relentlessly in Wu City, Yuzhou, and then I fled secretly all the way to the northern Great Grasslands..."

The study fell silent, save for the sound of Teng Qingshan narrating.

"What? The Celestial Palace?"

Both Zhuge Yuanhong and Elder Wu were greatly alarmed.

"Yes. This Celestial Mountain is indeed just one branch of the Celestial Palace. Moreover, after I defeated the First Divine General, 'Bolileimu,' I was invited by that Celestial Deity to become one of the three current Guest Elders of the Celestial Palace." Teng Qingshan continued to recount his journey, speaking of crossing the sea and various other matters.

For matters that were inappropriate to disclose, Teng Qingshan kept them brief.

However, his journey across the North Sea to the Duanmu Continent, and the subsequent events—especially the battle between Teng Qingshan and the Heavenly Wind War God—caused Zhuge Yuanhong and Elder Wu to gasp in cold air. Fighting a true Void Realm expert?

After a long time—

The study remained quiet.

"And that's how it was. After leaving Phoenix Island, Xiao Jun, my two disciples, and I returned to Jiuzhou aboard the Six-Legged Blade Chi." Teng Qingshan concluded.

Elder Wu and Zhuge Yuanhong both let out long sighs of relief.

"The Duanmu Continent? There is such a place in this world?" Zhuge Yuanhong couldn't help but exclaim, then looked at Teng Qingshan. "Qingshan, the news you bring now is like sending charcoal in snowy weather for our Guiyuan Sect! Even the 'Fire Gold Iron,' the 'Undying Grass,' and the 'Flame Red Lotus Seed' you mentioned are valuable, but the most marvelous thing is the Undying Phoenix!"

"Qingshan, it is truly great fortune that you could become friends with such a Divine Beast." Zhuge Yuanhong praised.

Teng Qingshan sighed. "It was thanks to Xiao Jun; otherwise, communication with the Divine Beast would have been impossible."

"Indeed."

Zhuge Yuanhong nodded. "The information you brought this time is fantastic news for our Guiyuan Sect. It is not impossible for our Guiyuan Sect to turn the tide, perhaps even replace Qinghu Island and become one of the Eight Great Sects."

Teng Qingshan allowed a faint smile to surface. In terms of strategy and planning, he was indeed inferior to his Master. Zhuge Yuanhong, renowned as the 'Guiyuan Zhuge' (the Zhuge of Guiyuan), was truly first-rate in matters of strategy. And Teng Qingshan trusted his Master completely. Of course, there were certain things Teng Qingshan omitted.

Purely because he did not wish for the Duanmu Continent to suffer calamity!

For example, the relationship between the Mountain-Splitting Divine Axe and the Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting. Although Teng Qingshan brought the Divine Axe back, the myriad martial insights contained within the Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting stone carvings were all memorized in his mind, so the stone carvings themselves were not brought back. This way, even if the Divine Axe circulated, no one would discover the connection between the axe and the carvings.

After all, the stone carvings were still on the Duanmu Continent!

"Master, what do you think we should do now?" Teng Qingshan asked, seeking guidance.

"Let me think, let me think."

Zhuge Yuanhong's eyes shone, clearly exhibiting extreme excitement. Teng Qingshan had brought back an abundance of resources. Whether it was the 'Fire Gold Iron' Teng Qingshan mentioned, or the 'Undying Grass' and 'Flame Red Lotus Seeds,' the most significant assets were the Six-Legged Blade Chi and the future arrival of the 'Undying Phoenix.'

"Perhaps, Master, I should go see my parents and little sister first?" Teng Qingshan suggested.

"Yes."

Zhuge Yuanhong smiled and nodded. "But remember, do not let them discover you yet. Your current identity is not suitable for public revelation. And your parents are certainly under surveillance by Qinghu Island secretly. If your parents were to inadvertently reveal your return, it would be disastrous. I need to properly consider what you should do; I will give you some advice shortly."

"Understood," Teng Qingshan nodded.

Teng Qingshan had no worries about his Master leaking secrets, nor did he worry about his Master coveting the treasures... After all, even if he gave all these treasures to his Master, Teng Qingshan wouldn't mind.

Because...

He owed his Master too much! And relying on his Master’s wisdom would ensure his resources were utilized to the maximum extent.

Teng Qingshan touched his face, the bones shifted, and the contours of his face softened once more, accompanied by minute changes in his features. Just these minor alterations made Teng Qingshan an entirely different person. Watching Teng Qingshan complete this transformation, Zhuge Yuanhong and Elder Wu couldn't help but marvel inwardly.

Whoosh!

Teng Qingshan transformed into a streak of rainbow light and vanished from the study.

"Yuanhong, I still can’t believe that young fellow Teng Qingshan... actually, actually reached the Void Realm. And he mastered more than one Dao." Elder Wu shook his head repeatedly. "I simply cannot believe it. Twenty-one years old, Teng Qingshan is merely twenty-one years old."

Zhuge Yuanhong took a deep breath and gazed out the window. "I can't believe it either, but Qingshan is back. And he has reached the Void Realm!"

"A twenty-one-year-old Void Realm expert!"