General Li was surrounded by several thousand personal guards, carrying the imposing aura of several thousand soldiers. A sharp rebuke from General Li would likely make even a master who had just stepped into the Xiantian realm pause for thought... After all, even a Xiantian Golden Core expert would choose to retreat when facing several thousand troops.

"Accomplice, a capital offense?" Teng Qingshan showed a faint smile, as if the thousands of people before him were mere air. He looked at General Li and smiled, "General, allow me to remind you as well: trespassing into my Jing Residence is also a capital offense!"

General Li froze.

"If even one of your soldiers steps into my residence, I will take your life. Do you believe it or not?" Teng Qingshan smiled, as if discussing something utterly mundane. Yet, before him stood soldiers bristling with killing intent, weapons in hand, their armor and blades subtly reeking of blood.

To casually threaten an enemy army in the face of such numbers was almost laughable.

But not a single person present dared to laugh! Teng Qingshan’s earlier furious roar had already sent shivers down the spines of many.

"You—" General Li's face darkened. He muttered internally, "Who exactly is this mysterious master? Judging by the sheer might of his single shout, he must be a Xiantian expert. Jing Residence, Jing Residence... On this continent of Jiuzhou, I am familiar with the famous and powerful Xiantian masters, yet I don't recall anyone surnamed Jing."

Despite this thought, General Li acted with caution and shouted, "Who are you? State your name!"

"Oh?" Teng Qingshan glanced at his disciple beside him, 'Xue Xin'.

Xue Xin understood Teng Qingshan's meaning and immediately stepped forward, declaring loudly, "My master’s surname is Jing, his name is Yi!"

"Jing Yi?" General Li pondered. "I have never heard this name. Where did this person spring from?" Not only General Li was perplexed; Madam Zhao Xi, standing beside him, was also deep in thought... She was, after all, a core disciple of Qinghu Island, having read books detailing information on Xiantian masters across the land. "There is absolutely no one named Jing Yi. It seems... this Jing Yi has only just broken through to the Xiantian realm."

"Jing Yi!"

General Li retreated slightly, prompting more soldiers to shield him. He boomed, "Your disciple dared to kill an outer deacon of my Qinghu Island on the street—this is a grave offense! As his master, you failed to discipline your disciple. Qinghu Island can overlook this, as disobedient disciples are not uncommon. If you hand your disciple over to us for punishment now... everything can be settled smoothly. Otherwise, if this drags on..."

Everyone present understood the implication of General Li's words.

If time passed, Qinghu Island would surely send Xiantian masters leading truly formidable experts. By then, it would be too late.

"General,"

Teng Qingshan looked at General Li and smiled lightly, "I am too lazy for this pointless chatter. You had better take your men and leave quickly. As for what happens afterward—whether you bring more men or report to Qinghu Island—I honestly don't care. As for my disciple... no one can touch him."

With that, Teng Qingshan turned and walked toward the residence, issuing an order: "Disciple, close the door!"

"Yes, Master!" Xue Xin replied excitedly in front of thousands of soldiers.

"You—" Teng Qingshan's lofty, dismissive attitude completely infuriated General Li.

Madam Zhao Xi beside him was even more enraged, screaming furiously, "Jing Yi, I don't care who you are, your disciple killed my husband on the street! He killed an outer deacon of Qinghu Island, and you, his master, are acting so arrogantly? Do you think Qinghu Island has no one? Everyone charge! Seize this disciple of Jing Yi, and I will reward you with one million taels of silver!"

One million taels of silver?

The entire fortune of a wealthy merchant likely amounted to just that much.

Before General Li could issue an order, the several hundred men under Madam Zhao Xi's command let out fierce cries and charged forward.

"Brothers, kill them!" Many soldiers also charged forward with bloodshot eyes.

Are Xiantian masters so formidable?

Who cares!

No matter how strong a Xiantian master is, he is still just one person. How many can he kill simultaneously? If their thousands of men rushed him together, whoever captured this 'disciple of Jing Yi' would be truly rich—one million taels of silver!

"Hmph." Teng Qingshan’s expression turned grim.

Whoosh!

A blurred phantom instantly appeared beside Madam Zhao Xi. She started in shock, but Teng Qingshan had already seized her by the neck.

Whoosh!

The phantom dissipated.

Teng Qingshan appeared holding Madam Zhao Xi right at the threshold of the Jing Residence gate, while the surging crowd was still three or four zhang away from the step. This demonstrated the sheer speed of Teng Qingshan.

"Stop, stop!" Madam Zhao Xi immediately shrieked.

The foremost group, personal guards and servants directly under Madam Zhao Xi’s command, stared blankly at their mistress being held like a chick by an eagle. The soldiers behind these servants and guards also froze. The bounty had been set by Madam Zhao Xi.

If Madam Zhao Xi died, even if they captured the 'disciple of Jing Yi,' who would pay the reward?

"Halt," General Li also yelled urgently.

Teng Qingshan smiled at General Li: "First, tell your men to back off further."

"Everyone retreat, all of you retreat," General Li shouted repeatedly. The stunned guards and soldiers could only back away one by one. Cold sweat beaded on General Li’s forehead... The death of Zhao Xi was a minor issue. But if Madam Zhao Xi died, it would be serious trouble.

The reason Zhao Xi could be adopted as an (sworn son) by the Zhao family and become sworn brothers with General Li—it was all thanks to this woman!

She was a woman capable of reaching the highest echelons of Qinghu Island.

"Jing Yi, I suggest you release Madam Zhao first," General Li forced a smile. "Madam Zhao lost her husband and is overcome with grief, which is why she acted this way. You must be understanding! She is merely a woman... Jing Yi, you are a noble Xiantian master; please release her. We can discuss the other matters easily."

Teng Qingshan turned his head and exchanged a look with Xue Xin beside him.

Easily discussed?

If General Li thought it could be easily discussed, Teng Qingshan certainly did not.

"If I reconcile with you now, how can I cause trouble for Qinghu Island?" Teng Qingshan thought to himself. "The Governor of Wu'an Commandery, 'Zhao Guangzuo,' should have arrived by now. With thousands of soldiers gathered here for such a significant event... how could a mere governor pretend not to see it?"

The fact that Teng Qingshan and Xue Xin were discovered entering the 'Jing Residence' earlier was entirely intentional on Teng Qingshan's part!

Otherwise, with Teng Qingshan's methods, he could have assassinated Zhao Xi secretly, and likely no one would have known.

But—

Teng Qingshan's goal was to provoke Qinghu Island!

"Easily discussed?" Teng Qingshan fiercely rebuked in front of thousands of soldiers, "My Jing Residence is not a place where mere soldiers can trespass... Since it was this woman who gave the order, the death penalty may be waived, but punishment for her crime is unavoidable." Saying this, Teng Qingshan exerted a slight force with his right arm, and Madam Zhao was flung upward.

"Ah!" Madam Zhao let out a painful scream high in the air, clutching her abdomen.

"Madam, Madam!"

Many servants and guards hurriedly rushed to catch Madam Zhao, but she was clutching her stomach, turning her head to glare venomously at Teng Qingshan, screaming shrilly, "You, you crippled my Dantian!" For a martial artist, one must cultivate inner strength from childhood, feel the flow of qi, and progress step by step to attain deep inner power.

Inner strength grants immense power, but it also allows women to age slowly.

An ordinary woman living to sixty or seventy is considered fortunate. But a master at the peak of Inner Strength can live to one hundred and twenty or thirty, perhaps even reaching the limit of one hundred and fifty years. If one reaches the Xiantian realm, one's appearance is almost eternally preserved, maintaining the look from the moment of breakthrough even past one hundred years of age.

Without inner strength, a woman's aging accelerates dramatically. How could Madam Zhao, who valued her appearance above all else, not hate Teng Qingshan?

"This woman will certainly harbor hatred and gossip about me to her master," General Li became increasingly enraged at Teng Qingshan.

"Jing Yi, this is..." General Li was furious.

"Hmph, is my Jing Residence a place for scoundrels like you to run wild?" Teng Qingshan glanced at General Li. "I trust General Li knows... taking your life is as easy as snatching something from a bag. You had better scram far away, or I won't mind crippling your Dantian as well."

Having spoken, Teng Qingshan didn't even spare General Li a glance, turning to walk into the residence. Xue Xin immediately prepared to close the door.

"Disciple, forget it, no need to close the door," Teng Qingshan's calm voice drifted from inside the residence, audible to almost every soldier. "I rather want to see who is so eager to court death that they dare trespass into my Jing Residence."

General Li's face turned beet red, his teeth clenched: "Too overbearing! Utterly overbearing!!!"

...

Inside the residence.

Teng Qingshan lounged leisurely in a pavilion in the front courtyard, reclining on a chair, while his disciple 'Xue Xin' stood beside him, his face flushed, his eyes glittering with both excitement and apprehension. "Master, what we just did is equivalent to slapping General Li hard across the face and then stepping on him a few times. Will they just let this go?"

"If they don't let it go, that’s even better," Teng Qingshan smiled faintly.

"Master..." Xue Xin, unaware of Teng Qingshan's plan, was filled with doubt.

"You will know shortly," Teng Qingshan replied.

Simultaneously, Teng Qingshan clearly sensed through his domain that another group was rapidly approaching his residence: "Hmm, most likely, it is the Governor of Wu'an Commandery, 'Zhao Guangzuo'. With the situation escalating to this extent, how could he, the Governor, pretend not to see it?"

According to Teng Qingshan's plan—

He was waiting for Zhao Guangzuo to show his face.

Teng Qingshan's ears twitched as he heard voices at the mansion gate—

"Uncle Zhao, you absolutely must avenge me!!! My Dantian was crippled by that Jing Yi, and Ah Xi was killed on the street by that bastard's disciple! You must avenge me and Ah Xi!" Madam Zhao’s weeping voice rang out.

"Rest assured, no one can offend my Qinghu Island and remain free." A deep voice sounded.

Teng Qingshan heard this and smiled slightly, standing up.

"Master?" Xue Xin was surprised; he hadn't heard the voices outside.

"Come with me, let's go to the main gate," Teng Qingshan said with a faint smile. Though Xue Xin was confused, he obediently followed his Master to the main gate.

The main gate of the Jing Residence was wide open, yet the thousands of soldiers on the street dared not enter the residence.

When Teng Qingshan and Xue Xin appeared at the main entrance, they immediately drew the gaze of thousands of people.

"Hmm?" Xue Xin suddenly stared fixedly at a tall middle-aged man surrounded by numerous personal guards, killing intent surging in his heart. "Zhao Guangzuo!"

"Disciple, hasn't the second one arrived?" Teng Qingshan said with a faint smile.