"The Nine Provinces are in turmoil? Good. This way, it's easier for me to fish in troubled waters!" A myriad of thoughts flashed through Teng Qingshan's mind instantly.

The Snow Lotus Cult Master continued, "Xiao Jun, the gathering point for the two flags of my Snow Lotus Cult, the 'Crimson Flame Banner' and the 'Azure Dragon Banner,' is the military camp outside Iron Dragon City. Thus... tonight when it gets dark, you will travel with me on the Divine Eagle to Iron Dragon City." Suddenly, her gaze fell upon Teng Qingshan, and she smiled radiantly, "Of course, Guest Elder Hu He, you are a guest elder, so I cannot force you; whether you go or not depends entirely on your own will."

"Iron Dragon City?" A ripple went through Teng Qingshan's heart.

Seeing that Teng Qingshan showed no reaction, the Snow Lotus Cult Master couldn't help but frown.

"Hu He, my disciple and I have many private matters to discuss, so we cannot keep you company." She immediately took Li Jun's hand and entered the adjacent pavilion. Li Jun could only cast a helpless glance at Teng Qingshan, offering a slightly apologetic smile. Teng Qingshan nodded and smiled back, his eyes signaling Li Jun to comfort her master.

In the courtyard, only the giant Divine Eagle, still lying around lazily, and Teng Qingshan remained.

The giant Divine Eagle’s gaze occasionally flickered toward Teng Qingshan, carrying a very strong sense of warning.

"Eagles are inherently aloof, and this Thunder Divine Eagle is a noble Beast of the Void Realm, moreover, it is a flying creature adept at flight... its preciousness is self-evident. I didn't expect the Heavenly God Palace to let this Thunder Divine Eagle protect the Snow Lotus Cult Master; it seems the Heavenly God Palace places great importance on the 'Snow Lotus Cult Master' as well."

Teng Qingshan held no ill will toward the Snow Lotus Cult Master. Were it not for her overbearing temper, Teng Qingshan would have long since dismissed her.

However...

She was his wife's master!

If things followed the normal procedure of betrothal and presentation of gifts, during the 'Second Bow to the Elders,' Teng Qingshan and Li Jun would have to pay respects to this Snow Lotus Cult Master. As an elder, it was only natural for her to feel some dissatisfaction that he had taken Li Jun away for over three years. A few sharp words were certainly permissible.

"Divine Eagle," Teng Qingshan said with a slight bow to the eagle, then immediately turned and left the courtyard.

The Thunder Divine Eagle watched Teng Qingshan depart, its eyes flashing with electrical light, before it lazily closed its eyes. ** Outside the courtyard, Teng Qingshan casually chose a pavilion to sit in.

"Lord Hu He." A voice sounded.

Teng Qingshan turned to see that the person approaching was Commander Cao Yan.

"Commander Cao," Teng Qingshan smiled, "Please, sit."

"Lord Hu He, how did your discussion with the Cult Master go?" Commander Cao also sat down with a smile. "When our Cult Master truly gets angry, it is quite terrifying; even the few Heavenly Gods in the entire Heavenly God Palace must defer to her."

A thought stirred in Teng Qingshan's mind.

"It was fine, just a few words," Teng Qingshan replied with a smile.

"Yes, the Cult Master dotes on the Divine Maiden; she must be happy to have her back," Commander Cao chuckled. "Although the Cult Master might be a bit displeased with you, Lord Hu He, since you have married the Divine Maiden, the Cult Master's love extends to you like a mother-in-law regarding her son-in-law... even if she says a few sharp things, deep down she must care for you."

Teng Qingshan paused momentarily.

A mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law?

"Lord Hu He." Commander Cao lowered his voice.

"Hmm?" Teng Qingshan noticed Cao Yan's peculiar expression.

"Lord Hu He is also an outstanding talent of this generation; I greatly admire you after sparring with you. After lunch, I must depart from Cinder Stone City. But before I go... I have a few words for you, Lord Hu He." Cao Yan spoke with utmost sincerity.

Teng Qingshan’s mind shifted, and he smiled, "Commander Cao, please speak."

"Lord Hu He, you are a distinguished Guest Elder, not a native of the Heavenly God Palace; no one here can command you. However... there are a few individuals in our Heavenly God Palace whom one absolutely cannot offend, especially the Heavenly Gods. But our Cult Master is even harder to provoke than the Heavenly Gods," Cao Yan stated solemnly. "If you maintain a good relationship with the Cult Master, then even if major trouble arises later, you will be safe! But if you sour your relationship with her... the trouble will be immense. It is better to provoke a Heavenly God than to provoke the Cult Master."

Teng Qingshan was startled.

"The Cult Master is a major pillar within the Heavenly God Palace. That is all I have to say," Cao Yan stood up, smiled, and cupped his hands in a formal salute. "I shall take my leave now."

"Thank you, Commander Cao," Teng Qingshan also stood up.

Watching Cao Yan leave, numerous thoughts surfaced in Teng Qingshan's mind. Indeed, regarding the Snow Lotus Cult Master... since she was his wife's master, to avoid putting his wife in a difficult position, Teng Qingshan would avoid offending her unless absolutely necessary.

"The Snow Lotus Cult Master seems to hold a very unique status in the Heavenly God Palace," Teng Qingshan sensed from Cao Yan’s words, unable to help but smile slightly. "This Commander Cao actually did me a favor." * The Snow Lotus Cult Master kept Li Jun with her, talking for nearly two hours before letting her return.

Only Teng Qingshan and Li Jun were inside the room.

With Teng Qingshan's Domain control, he knew there were no observers nearby.

"Qingshan," Li Jun looked at Teng Qingshan, apologizing slightly, "My master just has this temper; you..."

"I'm fine," Teng Qingshan teased, gently touching Li Jun's nose. "It's not your master's fault either; I took you away for three years; it would be strange if your master wasn't angry."

Li Jun couldn't help but let out a rare, happy smile.

"Mmm, Qingshan, are you going to Qing Province?" Li Jun asked somewhat apprehensively. "If you have things to do, it’s okay not to go. According to master, this mobilization is expected to be swift; the main action will be battles between high-level Void Realm experts. Once the Void Realm experts have settled their fighting, the armies taking cities and forts will be much easier."

"Qing Province, I am going," Teng Qingshan affirmed.

Li Jun's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "Qingshan, you—you are going?"

"Yes," Teng Qingshan nodded.

"Xiao Jun, I know... the Heavenly God Palace will never let you leave," Teng Qingshan said with a helpless smile. "Especially now that your master discovered you reached the Innate Realm! An Innate expert at seventeen, and also a Beast Taming Master—how could they possibly let you go?"

"Mmm," Li Jun bit her lip and nodded.

"For now, I don't wish to become an enemy of the Heavenly God Palace, nor has the Heavenly God Palace threatened me," Teng Qingshan smiled. "Since you cannot withdraw from the Heavenly God Palace... then we must accept it! I have thought this through carefully; being within the Heavenly God Palace... will be greatly beneficial to many of my future endeavors."

Li Jun was surprised: "Greatly beneficial?"

"Yes, Iron Dragon City is located in the southern part of Qing Province," Teng Qingshan chuckled. "When the Heavenly God Palace eventually conquers Qing Province, and their armies can expand again, given the importance the Snow Lotus Cult Master places on you, you might control hundreds of thousands of troops."

"If my Origin Returning Sect clashes with the Azure Lake Island."

"I only need to have the armies under your command move slightly to deter Azure Lake Island, making them suspicious and uncertain," Teng Qingshan smiled. "I also trust... that the Heavenly God Palace will give face to you, and in turn, give face to me! The news that I have reached the Void Realm will likely be exposed soon."

Li Jun understood Teng Qingshan's intention immediately.

To gain an ally for the Origin Returning Sect—the Heavenly God Palace! Naturally, this alliance would be facilitated by the Guest Elder 'Hu He.'

"Mmm," Li Jun nodded repeatedly. "If the Heavenly God Palace discovers the Guest Elder is a Void Realm expert... they will certainly show deference to a Void Realm expert."

"Qingshan, why didn't you tell Master that you reached the Void Realm?" Li Jun asked again.

"No rush for now."

Teng Qingshan shook his head. "The longer we delay, the more beneficial it is for you and me. During this time, we can fully familiarize ourselves with and gain control over those two armies, the Crimson Flame Banner and the Azure Dragon Banner, totaling 200,000 troops. If we reveal it now... it might attract the attention of the Heavenly God Palace, leading to quite a bit of trouble."

Teng Qingshan knew... his status as a Void Realm expert could not be hidden forever.

Once the 'Thunder Divine Eagle' interacted with someone in the Heavenly God Palace who understood Beast Language, the secret would likely be revealed.

"However—the information that I am Teng Qingshan must remain hidden from the Heavenly God Palace for now," Teng Qingshan stated seriously. "A twenty-one-year-old Void Realm expert... that is too startling. If the Heavenly God Palace knew, I cannot predict the consequences!"

Li Jun also nodded in agreement.

A twenty-one-year-old Void Realm expert...

Some tyrannical Void Realm experts, facing someone who posed too great a threat, might decide to—eliminate them! They would only choose to form an alliance if they lacked the certainty of successful elimination!

Teng Qingshan did not know the temperament or personality of the master of the Heavenly God Palace, so he dared not expose this fact.

"When my wings are fully grown—for example, if the Six-Legged Saber-Clawed Beast reaches the Void Realm, or if the Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing' arrives—only then will I confront the major sects head-on," Teng Qingshan said. "Therefore, for now, I will continue using the identity of 'Hu He.' Even if they discover that 'Hu He' has become a Void Realm expert and are shocked, they are unlikely to harbor killing intent." * The Snow Lotus Cult Master had no direct offspring; she regarded Li Jun as her own daughter and intended to groom her as her successor, the next Snow Lotus Cult Master.

At the same time, she also intended to rely on Li Jun to bind 'Hu He' tightly to the great ship that was the Heavenly God Palace.

However, while she wished to utilize Teng Qingshan for her purposes, Teng Qingshan was also looking to temporarily exploit the power of the Heavenly God Palace. After all, the strength of the Heavenly God Palace was truly immense, and utilizing its might during the early stages of his development would make many things significantly easier. * Night had fallen.

"Hu He, Xiao Jun, come up." The Snow Lotus Cult Master called out with a smile, seated on the back of the giant Divine Eagle.

Li Jun leaped up and landed on the back of the Thunder Divine Eagle.

But when Teng Qingshan leaped up, the Thunder Divine Eagle swiftly dodged away, simultaneously fixing its sharp gaze on Teng Qingshan with a clear warning in its eyes.

"Oh?" The Snow Lotus Cult Master was momentarily stunned and gently patted the feathers on the Thunder Divine Eagle’s neck, but the eagle continued to glare coldly at Teng Qingshan.

"Haha, Xiao Jun, it seems the Divine Eagle is unwilling to carry your man," the Snow Lotus Cult Master laughed, looking down at Teng Qingshan.

Teng Qingshan smiled. "Snow Lotus Cult Master, you and Xiao Jun should head to Iron Dragon City first. I will find my own way there; I should arrive tomorrow morning." In truth, given the speed of a Void Realm expert, reaching Iron Dragon City in Qing Province would only take an hour or two.

"Very well, Xiao Jun and I will leave first." The Snow Lotus Cult Master smiled down at Teng Qingshan. "Hu He, I am very pleased that you can accompany Xiao Jun this time..." As she spoke, the Snow Lotus Cult Master took Xiao Jun and ascended rapidly into the high sky on the Thunder Divine Eagle.

Li Jun still looked down below.

Whoosh!

The Thunder Divine Eagle vanished into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

"This Thunder Divine Eagle is truly wary of me," Teng Qingshan shook his head and smiled. "That's understandable. In a direct confrontation, this Thunder Divine Eagle does not fear me. But once I am on its back, I can kill it at any moment. It’s not surprising it won't let me mount it."

How could a Thunder Divine Eagle allow an unfamiliar Void Realm expert onto its back?

"Iron Dragon City?"

Teng Qingshan gazed north. "Two hundred thousand troops for just two banners... how many are there in total? Tsk tsk, the Heavenly God Palace certainly has deep pockets." Immediately, Teng Qingshan’s form flickered, and with a single step, he vanished from the mansion grounds.