With Teng Qingshan gone, only his disciple 'Xue Xin' and the corpse of 'Zhao Guangzuo' remained in the courtyard.

"The one Master just crippled the Dantian of—was that Zhao Danchen? The One-Armed Sword Saint, Zhao Danchen?" Xue Xin swallowed hard, his eyes wide with shock. Before becoming a disciple, he had been a guard, traveling far and wide, knowing a great deal. The One-Armed Sword Saint 'Zhao Danchen,' ranked among the top ten on the 'Heavenly Ranking,' was naturally a name that thundered in his ears.

Zhao Danchen was a truly legendary figure. Originally ranked in the top ten of the 'Heavenly Ranking,' he had his right arm severed by 'Zhuge Yuanhong,' the Sect Master of Guiyuan Sect, causing his rank to plummet past the thirtieth spot on the 'Heavenly Ranking.' Yet, who would have thought that merely two years later, Zhao Danchen had actually climbed back up to ninth on the 'Heavenly Ranking'?

In Xue Xin's eyes... Zhao Danchen was nothing short of a supreme powerhouse across the Nine Provinces!

"Kicked away with one foot, Dantian destroyed?" Xue Xin still couldn't believe it. "In front of Master, Zhao Danchen was like an infant who didn't know swordsmanship."

"Master, just how strong are you!"

Xue Xin blinked, feeling both excitement and profound astonishment. Although he was now a disciple of Teng Qingshan, he still had no idea... that Teng Qingshan was a Void Realm expert! In fact, Xue Xin didn't even know what the 'Void Realm' was.

"Xue Xin."

Teng Qingshan’s voice sounded eerily close, right by Xue Xin's ear.

Xue Xin startled, and the voice continued, "While I am away at Qinghu Island, you remain within the inner compound. If any danger arises, leap onto the back of the Six-Legged Saber-toothed Tiger; it will ensure your safety."

"Yes, Master."

Xue Xin looked around, but he couldn't see Teng Qingshan anywhere.

Outside the gates of the Jing Residence, General Li was holed up in a tavern, staring intently at the manor.

"Why hasn't Elder Zhao come out yet?"

"Not a single sound."

General Li was extremely anxious.

Suddenly—

General Li felt a gust of wind sweep past, causing his body to involuntarily shudder. As if sensing something, he turned his head to look beside him. Standing there, clad in a white robe and carrying a sword, was Teng Qingshan. Teng Qingshan held Zhao Danchen's robes in one hand, looking at General Li with a slight, mocking smile.

"You, you..." General Li trembled violently, his face turning pale.

The sight of the person Teng Qingshan held only made General Li’s face paler: ". This, Elder Zhao!"

"What did you do to Elder Zhao?" General Li panicked. Zhao Danchen was absolutely one of the highest-ranking masters on Qinghu Island.

Pain flickered in Zhao Danchen's eyes, but though his mouth moved, he couldn't utter a word.

"General," Teng Qingshan said with a faint smile, "you truly are relentless. I warned you once: if you let anyone trespass into my Jing Residence, I would take your life." This statement rendered General Li utterly bloodless, beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"No, My Lord, Senior." General Li pleaded immediately.

He harbored no thought of resistance... If even Zhao Danchen was captured alive by this man, how dare he, General Li, resist?

Teng Qingshan smiled faintly. "However... you managed to invite 'Zhao Danchen' from Qinghu Island over; I suppose that counts as a service. Merit cancels out demerit, so I will spare you this once. But remember this clearly... do not let anyone else enter my Jing Residence again. If there is a next time, I won't be in such a pleasant mood."

With that, Teng Qingshan, still gripping Zhao Danchen, vanished from General Li's sight as if dissipating into thin air.

"Uh..."

General Li felt as if his throat had been seized. He gasped, drawing labored breaths, his entire body slick with cold sweat.

"I'm not dead, I'm not dead," General Li wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "This terrifying expert, 'Jing Yi,' said earlier that inviting Zhao Danchen over was a service? What service did I perform?"

……

With Zhao Danchen held in his grasp, Teng Qingshan transformed into a streak of rainbow light, rushing toward Qinghu Island at an astonishing speed.

"Zhao Danchen," Teng Qingshan looked down at him. During the Battle of Dayan Mountain four years ago, this Zhao Danchen had been the most aggressive and ferocious one stirring things up on Qinghu Island.

"Un, ah," Zhao Danchen could only manage a weak sound, unable to speak.

"Don't worry, we'll reach Qinghu Island soon enough." Teng Qingshan's figure skimmed over a river dozens of yards wide, stepping across the treetops of the forest before swiftly vanishing into the distance.

In the morning, on Qinghu Island's forbidden area, 'Sword Edge Mountain.'

Sword Edge Mountain was the cultivation ground of the strongest on Qinghu Island, and one of the few supreme experts across the Nine Provinces—the Blind Sword Saint.

On Sword Edge Mountain, before the dilapidated stone hut already draped with cobwebs, the Blind Sword Saint sat cross-legged on a stone. Dust had gathered thickly upon him. The wind on the summit was fierce, yet even the chilling gusts failed to stir his clothing. Suddenly—

The Blind Sword Saint opened his eyes; they were a strange, ashen grey-white. He turned his gaze towards the northeast.

"Void Realm?" A sharp, black glint flashed across the Blind Sword Saint's grey-white eyes. He extended his right hand—

Whoosh!

A beam of black light shot out from the ruined stone hut beside him, landing in the Blind Sword Saint's hand. It was a thin, black iron rod, subtly infused with a circulating purple glow.

"He truly has courage!"

"He actually captured Danchen!"

The Blind Sword Saint's expressionless face tightened almost imperceptibly, his eyes narrowing like those of a primeval viper. "He captures someone from my Qinghu Island, and then dares to come to Qinghu Island himself!"

"Hmph, he's heading towards Iron Fan!" The aura surrounding the Blind Sword Saint surged dramatically.

Boom! The Blind Sword Saint’s robes billowed violently, shaking the dust from his black garments. Then, the Blind Sword Saint shot skyward, transforming into a sharp black streak, flying rapidly toward the northeast.

……

On Qinghu Island, there were tens of thousands of disciples, along with numerous elite soldiers.

"Hmm? Did something just flash past?"

"You must have seen wrong."

A dozen Qinghu Island disciples chatted as they walked along a winding path. But one suddenly pointed into the distance: "Look over there, quickly!" The dozen disciples immediately turned their heads, gazing into the distance where they saw a white-robed, sword-carrying man walking along the mountain path, carrying someone in his hand. With every step he took, he covered nearly a mile.

"Who is that?"

"Who dares approach the Island Master's area?"

There were many surrounding disciples, and Teng Qingshan was deliberately using 'Journey to the Horizon.' If he had merged with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, he would have appeared as a streak of rainbow light. But by employing 'Journey to the Horizon,' he left behind a distinct silhouette with every stride. The disciples of Qinghu Island could see him clearly.

"Ah, that's Elder Zhao."

"In his hand, that's Elder Zhao."

"Elder Zhao, why is he being held in his hand?" The disciples were shocked and enraged; Zhao Danchen was the pride of Qinghu Island's disciples.

……

Hearing the panicked voices of the large number of Qinghu Island disciples—voices full of anger but daring not to intercept him—Teng Qingshan allowed a smile to surface: "By bringing Zhao Danchen here openly, even the ordinary disciples of Qinghu Island now know... the Blind Sword Saint can't pretend this never happened!"

What Teng Qingshan intended was precisely to provoke Qinghu Island deliberately! To make Qinghu Island lose face!

Only this way could the two sides become irreconcilable!

Teng Qingshan wanted to provoke Qinghu Island!

"He's quite fast," Teng Qingshan sensed. The Blind Sword Saint had already landed in a pavilion ahead. Beside the Blind Sword Saint stood a man whose aura was extremely potent. Based on Teng Qingshan's guess... such a powerful aura likely belonged to a peak Innate Golden Core expert.

At the Dragon Locking Pavilion, only the Qinghu Island Master, 'Tie Fan,' and the Blind Sword Saint were present.

"Truly arrogant," the Blind Sword Saint felt Teng Qingshan deliberately slowing his pace so the disciples of Qinghu Island could witness the scene, which only fueled his rage.

"Grand-Master, who is this person coming?" Tie Fan seemed worried.

The Blind Sword Saint let out a cold snort. "He will introduce himself soon enough."

Whoosh!

A blurred shadow suddenly materialized in the Dragon Locking Pavilion, then solidified: it was Teng Qingshan, still dangling Zhao Danchen by his robes.

"This is the Blind Sword Saint," Teng Qingshan observed the man before him carefully. Although he had heard of the Blind Sword Saint's great name, he had never met him. The Blind Sword Saint before him stood with his eyes closed, holding a 'thin iron rod' that resembled a cane. His silver-white, snow-like long hair floated around him, and his black robes looked like bat hide.

As the man stood there, Teng Qingshan felt as if night had descended; the overwhelming aura completely suppressed him.

"Worthy of being called a Great Perfection Void Realm expert; truly formidable," Teng Qingshan thought to himself.

"Haha, you must be the Blind Sword Saint, right?" Teng Qingshan laughed heartily, tossing Zhao Danchen onto the ground. "I've long heard that Qinghu Island's 'Blind Sword Saint' is a top-tier figure in the Nine Provinces. I have long admired him, and seeing him today, you are indeed extraordinary."

The Blind Sword Saint stood motionless, and the Island Master 'Tie Fan' standing behind him appeared quite insignificant.

"Who are you?" the Blind Sword Saint asked in a low voice.

"I am Jing Yi," Teng Qingshan replied with a loud laugh. "I have often heard of the fame of the Blind Sword Saint; may I ask what your real name is, Blind Sword Saint?"

If it had been anyone else mentioning the title 'Blind Sword Saint,' this Sword Saint might have exploded in anger long ago. But today... the Blind Sword Saint clearly perceived that this visitor harbored ill intentions.

"Tie Wu!" the Blind Sword Saint stated flatly.

"Oh?" Teng Qingshan nodded with a smile. "Tie Wu, hmm, a good name."

The Island Master 'Tie Fan' nearby was becoming anxious, as Zhao Danchen on the ground was trembling slightly and couldn't even manage to crawl up. The Blind Sword Saint remained expressionless, like carved rock, and stated grimly, "Jing Yi, you are also a Void Realm expert, yet you came here openly after destroying one of my Qinghu Island's Innate Golden Core experts... what is your purpose?"

"Hmph."

Teng Qingshan’s expression turned severe. He glanced at Zhao Danchen on the floor. "A few days ago, the forces from your Qinghu Island's Wu'an County attempted to forcefully enter my residence. I gave a clear order then... if anyone dares trespass upon my Jing Residence, I will certainly kill them! This Zhao Danchen, upon arriving at my Jing Residence, didn't report to the gate guards for my summons but instead snuck in, even killing the guards of my residence... and when he saw me, he cursed and attacked, attempting to kill me..."

"Blind Sword Saint, how does Qinghu Island teach its disciples?"

"I, Jing Yi, never actively seek trouble, but... I will not allow others to bully me on my doorstep. A mere Innate Golden Core dared to act presumptuously in my residence."

Teng Qingshan looked at the Blind Sword Saint. "Crippling his Dantian was merely a minor punishment. However, out of respect for you, the Blind Sword Saint, I spared his life... Blind Sword Saint, your Qinghu Island should indeed teach its people better—not every residence is a place they can barge into!"