Within Green Lake Island, tens of thousands of disciples were terrified by Teng Qingshan's words: "To have Green Lake Island be buried with me—how satisfying, how very satisfying!"

Green Lake Island buried with him? Who dared speak such arrogant words?

Whoosh! The Blind Sword Saint shot out like a black streak of light, slicing through the air toward Teng Qingshan, simultaneously transmitting his voice: "Jing Yi, those are mere juniors. You are also a Void Realm expert; why must you slaughter the younger generation? That Zhao Fu... I will send someone to seize him immediately."

At this juncture, no matter how furious the Blind Sword Saint was, he had to swallow it down.

Hoo! Teng Qingshan’s silhouette flickered, landing atop a palace roof.

Standing on the palace, his white robe billowing in the strong wind, Teng Qingshan stared at the Blind Sword Saint suspended mid-air, also transmitting his voice: "Tie Wu, you demand I stop? Earlier, at the very beginning, if you had handed over Zhao Fu, I would have shown you respect. You could have left with Zhao Fu. But—now, it is too late!"

The Blind Sword Saint's expression shifted slightly.

Teng Qingshan continued to sneer, "You dare threaten me? Threatening to hunt me down across the Nine Provinces at any cost? I, Jing Yi... detest being threatened the most! And I hate threats above all else! I’d like to see just what this Green Lake Island, one of the Eight Great Sects, can do to me?"

Rage burned within the Blind Sword Saint's chest; he was furious!

But he had to endure!!!

"I cannot argue with this Jing Yi. He’s a madman, a lunatic who has lived for several hundred years, unattached and unafraid of death," the Blind Sword Saint repeatedly convinced himself. After all, he had the entire Green Lake Island to watch over; he couldn't be as reckless as this 'Jing Yi.'

The adage, 'the barefoot man does not fear the one with shoes,' was clearly illustrated in this moment.

"Jing Yi." The Iron Sword Martial Saint’s voice also softened. "My fault earlier. Let us consider the matter settled. I will immediately order someone to hand Zhao Fu over to you."

"One admission of fault settles it?" Teng Qingshan snorted coldly.

...

The two Void Realm powerhouses—one standing atop a palace, the other suspended in the air.

This scene was witnessed by thousands upon thousands of Green Lake Island disciples, who were stirred to the point of near madness.

"Look, he can fly! That man in black is in mid-air."

"He can fly, he can actually fly!"

"That man in white... he seemed to appear suddenly on the palace roof just now."

From every direction, thousands of disciples stared intently at the two Void Realm experts, discussing animatedly, unable to contain their excitement! After all, while many on the Nine Provinces Continent knew that there were stronger beings above the Innate Realm, they did not truly grasp the meaning of 'Void Realm.'

Furthermore, they had never witnessed beings who surpassed the Innate level!

Whether it was legendary invincible figures like the 'Great Yu Emperor' or the 'Celestial Emperor of Qinling,' or the peak existences on the Nine Provinces Continent—the Void Realm experts—none had had the chance to see them.

And today, they were witnessing it!

...

"Jing Yi, I concede this was my error. Tell me, what will it take to let this matter pass?" The Blind Sword Saint's aged, deep voice held no trace of anger. Yet, Teng Qingshan could surmise that the Blind Sword Saint must be boiling inside, suppressing a torrent of fury.

"I still do not have a place to settle down," Teng Qingshan sighed softly. "Your Green Lake Island is vast and prosperous. How about this... In Yangzhou Prefecture, west of the Tai'a Mountain Range, there is the 'Nine Wolf Lake,' and within it, a lake-heart island. It is quite suitable for residence. Your Green Lake Island rules almost the entirety of Qing Province; you wouldn't miss the possession of such a single lake island, would you?"

The Blind Sword Saint froze.

Nine Wolf Lake?

Even the Blind Sword Saint knew what kind of place Nine Wolf Lake was.

It must be known that the 'Tai'a Mountain Range' was the largest mountain range in all of Yangzhou, home to hundreds of thousands, perhaps rumored to be nearly a million, bandits and brigands. Could the living conditions and geographical advantages within the mountain range compare to the lake-heart island in Nine Wolf Lake? The lake-heart island possessed the natural barrier of the surrounding water, firstly. Secondly, the living environment was far superior.

Consequently, on the lake-heart island of Nine Wolf Lake, there was a massive gang known as the 'Nine Wolf Gang,' the largest among the many bandits in the Tai'a Mountain Range! Its membership alone approached one hundred thousand.

"What, you are unwilling to part with a mere Nine Wolf Lake?" Teng Qingshan's face darkened.

The Blind Sword Saint was infuriated internally, yet helpless.

One was a Void Realm powerhouse. The other was merely a gang of bandits; there was no need to ponder who was stronger or weaker. Although the Nine Wolf Gang boasted a membership of one hundred thousand, to Green Lake Island, they were utterly fragile.

"Very well. Within half a month, we will resolve the matter of Nine Wolf Lake. Afterward, Jing Yi, you may take possession," the Blind Sword Saint said, though filled with reluctant anger. At this moment, he only wanted to smooth over this entire affair with 'Jing Yi.'

"Jing Yi, you and I should descend," the Blind Sword Saint suggested. Although his eyes were blind, his ears could hear and his senses could perceive... He knew that tens of thousands of Green Lake Island disciples were looking up at them both.

"That is acceptable," Teng Qingshan replied calmly. "And bring Zhao Fu here quickly."

In a palace near the Dragon Locking Pavilion, Teng Qingshan and the Blind Sword Saint were present, accompanied by the Island Master of Green Lake Island, 'Tie Fan,' and Zhao Danchen.

"Tie Fan, you go personally and have someone bring Zhao Fu here," the Blind Sword Saint stated deeply.

"Yes, Ancestor-Master."

The Island Master, 'Tie Fan,' then turned to Teng Qingshan, "Senior Jing Yi, may I ask which Zhao Fu? Our Green Lake Island has numerous disciples."

"The nephew of the Governor of Wu'an Commandery, 'Zhao Guangzuo.'" Teng Qingshan glanced sideways at Zhao Danchen. "This Zhao Danchen surely knows."

Zhao Danchen's eyelid twitched; he dared not utter a sound.

"I already know," Tie Fan said without elaborating, immediately leaving to find Zhao Fu.

"Jing Yi," the Blind Sword Saint's tone smoothed out, "To this day, I still do not know... how exactly this Zhao Fu offended your disciple? Tell me."

"My disciple is named Xue Xin!" Teng Qingshan looked toward Zhao Danchen, whose face immediately changed, clearly now understanding the reason. "The feud between Xue Xin and this Zhao Fu, you can ask Zhao Danchen about it."

"Danchen," the Blind Sword Saint inquired of Zhao Danchen.

Zhao Danchen dared not conceal anything and began to relate the story respectfully: "Ancestor-Master, it happened this way. Three years ago..."

...

After the Island Master 'Tie Fan' left the palace, he stepped outside the courtyard and was confronted by the ground covered in blood, including severed limbs.

"Island Master."

"Island Master." Many disciples and Guardians outside the courtyard saluted him.

"What is the situation?" Tie Fan inquired. "What is the casualty count?"

A silver-haired Elder approached, his expression grim. "Island Master, a streak of light flashed just now... Fifty-three of us perished, and thirteen were severely wounded. Among the fifty-three dead were two Elders, Senior Brother Wan, and Junior Nephew Li Tong."

"What?" Tie Fan exclaimed in shock.

Those who could hold the rank of Elder on Green Lake Island were all Innate Realm experts. Since the battle at Dayanshan, Green Lake Island’s number of Innate experts was already low; to lose two more just now was devastating.

"There were nearly a thousand people outside the courtyard. Including me, there were only three Elders present! I cannot fathom how so coincidentally... a single flash of light could kill Senior Brother Wan and the other two," the silver-haired Elder said, clearly incensed. Tie Fan understood immediately—it must have been intentional by that person named 'Jing Yi'!

Void Realm experts could discern strength levels based on aura. Innate experts possessed a distinctly stronger aura. Teng Qingshan's sword strike was aimed at maximizing the kill count among Innate experts.

"Zhao Fu!" The Island Master 'Tie Fan' inwardly seethed. "This Zhao Fu, relying on his Zhao family status, has actually brought such a formidable enemy upon our Green Lake Island! Today, two Innate experts died, and Elder Zhao was crippled. Soon, we even have to conquer Nine Wolf Lake... This Zhao Fu causes too much trouble."

"You few, go and find that waste, Zhao Fu—the nephew of the Governor of Wu'an Commandery, Zhao Guangzuo," Tie Fan commanded.

The silver-haired Elder and several Guardians immediately accepted the order and went in search of Zhao Fu.

Green Lake Island, being the stronghold of one of the Eight Great Sects, its sheer size was evident.

Zhao Fu resided deep within the island's interior.

"What was that just now? Lived over three hundred years? And threatened to make Green Lake Island be buried with him?"

"I don't know, the sound seemed to come from the east."

Except for the disciples near the Dragon Locking Pavilion area, over ninety percent of the island’s disciples had no idea what had transpired.

"Don't worry, what could possibly happen? Probably just some madman coming to cause trouble on our Green Lake Island," a young man in a blue robe trimmed with silver said with a smile to a beautiful young woman walking beside him. "Junior Sister, I still have some parts of the 'Drifting Wind Nine Swords' that Master taught me that I don't understand. Shall we spar and cultivate enlightenment together?"

The beautiful young woman suppressed her disgust, forcing a smile. "Senior Brother Zhao, I have something to attend to. Perhaps next time." Toward this young man, 'Zhao Fu,' she dared not show overt offense, as he was the son of the current head of the Zhao family, and the Zhao family held considerable influence within Green Lake Island.

"Good, next time. Hmm, how about tomorrow morning?" the blue-robed youth 'Zhao Fu' asked with a smile.

The beautiful young woman reluctantly nodded and quickly departed.

Zhao Fu's expression turned cold, then a sneer touched his lips. "Interesting. I'll play nice for a few more days. If she still doesn't know her place... don't blame me."

Suddenly—

"Where is Zhao Fu?"

"Zhao Fu!"

Several angry shouts echoed.

Zhao Fu frowned and turned to retort, but upon seeing who had arrived, he jumped in fright. Among the dozen or so people approaching were two Elders, including his own Master, and the rest were Guardians.

"Master, Elders," Zhao Fu greeted them deferentially.

"Hmph, you wicked disciple."

"Now is not the time for scolding. Hurry and take him to the Island Master," another voice urged.

Zhao Fu was completely stunned into silence, daring not to speak, and was obediently escorted away by the two Elders and over ten Guardians. No matter how arrogant he was, it was only directed toward other disciples.

"What is going on? I, I didn't cause trouble, did I?" Zhao Fu was utterly bewildered.

After a while—

Zhao Fu was brought outside the courtyard of the Dragon Locking Pavilion. Seeing the collapsed courtyard walls and the bloodstains on the ground, Zhao Fu's heart chilled.

"Zhao Fu, come here," a sharp command cut through the air.

Zhao Fu looked up and saw the Island Master 'Tie Fan,' whose golden hair resembled an angry lion, glaring at him as if he wanted to kill him. The value of a Core Disciple could never compare to that of three major Innate Realm powerhouses.

"Island Master," Zhao Fu stammered, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Follow me inside," Tie Fan commanded. Zhao Fu obediently followed behind him, entering the palace together.

Inside the palace, Zhao Fu was extremely nervous.

"Oh, is this Zhao Fu?" A detached voice inquired.

Zhao Fu looked up and saw the speaker was a white-robed youth carrying a sword. He secretly wondered, "Who is this person?"

He then watched as the Island Master of Green Lake Island, 'Tie Fan,' bowed deeply. "Senior Jing Yi, this is Zhao Fu. He is now yours to command, for you to dispose of as you see fit."

"Dispose of me? Me?" Zhao Fu blinked in astonishment.