"In this Nine Wolf Island... although Qing Shan had caused chaos on Green Lake Island under the alias 'Jing Yi,' purely on that basis, it shouldn't have been enough for the Blind Sword Saint to come for him.

Moreover, other sects likely wouldn't lend him a Void Realm demon beast to help the Blind Sword Saint kill Qing Shan." Though Zhuge Yuanhong had already made inferences. He believed Qing Shan's chance of survival was less than one in ten.

Yet, he worried! "If even Qing Shan meets with misfortune, I will be the sinner!" Zhuge Yuanhong's body trembled faintly; after all, everything Qing Shan had done was based on his guidance as a master.

Zhuge Yuanhong moved like a gust of wind, stepping across the lake's surface before leaping ashore onto Nine Wolf Island. "Master." A voice reached Zhuge Yuanhong's ears, causing a hint of joy to surface.

He peered intently and saw a figure standing amidst the curtain of rain ahead. As the heavy rain approached this figure, it naturally parted, and only upon clearly seeing the person did Zhuge Yuanhong finally exhale with relief.

"Master, what's wrong with you?" Teng Qingshan was greatly startled to see Zhuge Yuanhong before him, drenched and pale. His Master, Zhuge Yuanhong, never lost his composure even if a mountain collapsed before him.

What situation could render his master so disheveled? "It's nothing with me, but..." Zhuge Yuanhong's eyes were filled with sorrow, "Elder Wu...

I fear he is dead." "What!" Teng Qingshan gasped. Elder Wu is dead?

Elder Wu was the Void Realm expert guarding the Gui Yuan Sect. Now his master claimed Elder Wu was dead, and his master himself looked utterly miserable.

What state must the Gui Yuan Sect be in now? "Master, what exactly happened?

What occurred?" Teng Qingshan asked in a flurry of panic. "Is the Gui Yuan Sect alright now?

Are they safe? Who was it?

Was it Green Lake Island?" Teng Qingshan fired off a barrage of questions, clearly unnerved. He couldn't help his panic, as the Teng Clan resided in Jiangning Commandery City, where his parents, sister, and many relatives were.

While Teng Qingshan might sigh over Elder Wu's death— Clearly, his parents and clan were far more important in his mind. "The Gui Yuan Sect is temporarily safe," Zhuge Yuanhong sighed.

Teng Qingshan inwardly relaxed, "Master, what truly happened?" "Just the day before yesterday," Zhuge Yuanhong stated gravely. "Around dusk, Elder Wu and I were both within the sect, when suddenly—Elder Wu transmitted a message to me, saying that a human Void Realm expert and a Beast Kind Void Realm expert had joined forces to hunt him down.

He urged me to flee quickly, or I wouldn't escape in time." Teng Qingshan's expression shifted. It was very difficult for a Void Realm expert to kill another Void Realm expert; one could use the full power of Heaven and Earth, while the other was limited to only twenty percent.

The gap was immense. However—once one reached the level of 'Body Fused with Heaven and Earth,' the speed of a peak Void Realm expert and one just entering the Void Realm was nearly identical.

Thus, without the aid of a Void Realm demon beast, it was extremely hard for a human Void Realm expert to kill another. "Is it Green Lake Island?" Teng Qingshan thought immediately.

"Yes, besides them, I can't imagine any other sect willing to pay such a high price to kill a Void Realm expert from our Gui Yuan Sect," Zhuge Yuanhong said grimly. "Green Lake Island!" Teng Qingshan’s eyebrows furrowed, a faint murderous aura emerging.

"Qingshan, don't act rashly," Zhuge Yuanhong cautioned. "Master, rest assured," Teng Qingshan took a deep breath.

"If I had the strength, I would have flattened Green Lake Island long ago." In the battle of Great Yan Mountain, Teng Qingshan still resented Green Lake Island for the death of his uncle, the crippling of his father, the deaths of his Black Armored Army brothers, and the fate of Miss Qing. Green Lake Island was hunting him across the entire world!

Teng Qingshan naturally hated Green Lake Island to the bone! And Green Lake Island believed that it was because of Teng Qingshan that they had suffered the indirect loss of thirteen Innate masters!

Green Lake Island, naturally, also wanted Teng Qingshan dead. Teng Qingshan and Green Lake Island were an irreconcilable knot of enmity!

"Good, that's good," Zhuge Yuanhong nodded. "With your talent...

given enough time, destroying Green Lake Island in the future will definitely not be an issue." "Oh, Master, the day before yesterday, the night before last, the Blind Sword Saint passed right over my Nine Wolf Island," Teng Qingshan recalled suddenly. "He was likely returning to Green Lake Island after chasing Elder Wu then." "He didn't attack you?" Zhuge Yuanhong was surprised.

"No," Teng Qingshan shook his head. "At that time, I only sensed him; I didn't detect a Void Realm demon beast." "Just as I expected," Zhuge Yuanhong nodded.

"Qingshan, let's go inside to talk." Teng Qingshan and Zhuge Yuanhong—one a Void Realm expert, the other the Sect Master of Gui Yuan Sect—had discussed matters in the rain for a long time... Clearly, the death of Elder Wu was a heavy blow to both of them.

** The two sat facing each other beneath the pavilion, the relentless rain falling outside. "This was my oversight." Zhuge Yuanhong shook his head.

"I was momentarily careless and didn't anticipate that the Blind Sword Saint could borrow a Void Realm demon beast, leading to Elder Wu's demise." Zhuge Yuanhong was well aware that with the Blind Sword Saint coordinating with a Void Realm demon beast, Elder Wu's chance of survival was less than one in ten. Moreover, Zhuge Yuanhong had confirmed through Gui Yuan Sect intelligence that Elder Wu had not returned to Gui Yuan Sect.

There was a ninety-nine percent probability that Elder Wu was dead. "Void Realm demon beasts are that easy to borrow?" Teng Qingshan frowned.

"No," Zhuge Yuanhong shook his head. "Before the Heavenly God Palace rose to prominence, the Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain and Green Lake Island did not have a good relationship.

They were neighboring sects, after all, and everyone was wary of the other. Furthermore, this cautious relationship between Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain and Green Lake Island had lasted for a thousand years; subconsciously, I never considered the Blind Sword Saint could borrow a Void Realm demon beast." "These past few months, I've been solely focused on comprehending the Dao.

I forgot that under the threat of the Heavenly God Palace, Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain and Green Lake Island would form an alliance." Zhuge Yuanhong sighed, shaking his head. Inertia of thought had betrayed him.

"If I had realized this earlier, I would have made you stay at the Gui Yuan Sect," Zhuge Yuanhong offered a bitter smile. "Even if the Blind Sword Saint came, with two Void Realm experts present—you and Elder Wu—I could have claimed you were Elder Wu's friend.

Even if the Blind Sword Saint brought a Void Realm demon beast, he could only kill one. The other would bring disaster upon Green Lake Island.

Therefore, Elder Wu would certainly have been protected." "Master, even the wisest man makes mistakes. There's no need to feel so guilty; we must look forward," Teng Qingshan advised.

"Right now, my biggest worry is that the Blind Sword Saint might send a large army to wipe out my Gui Yuan Sect." "Hmm?" Zhuge Yuanhong's expression shifted slightly. "That is quite possible." "Even if I were present then," Teng Qingshan shook his head with a wry smile, "if the Blind Sword Saint came with a Void Realm demon beast, I wouldn't be able to stop him." "Qingshan." Zhuge Yuanhong shook his head.

"There is no need to worry. Firstly, the Blind Sword Saint would never borrow a Void Realm demon beast just to destroy the Gui Yuan Sect, which lacks a Void Realm expert.

Secondly, even if he wanted to borrow one, he probably couldn't." "Oh?" Teng Qingshan was surprised. "Qingshan, Void Realm demon beasts are extremely difficult to borrow," Zhuge Yuanhong explained.

"The sects in this world that possess Void Realm demon beasts are likely the Snow Eagle Sect, Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain, and a few other major powers... You must understand, lending out a Void Realm demon beast to kill an enemy requires an extremely close relationship with that sect." "Secondly, the Void Realm expert you wish to kill must have no background.

Otherwise—if they have some backing—the sect lending the Void Realm demon beast could also face trouble later." "Thirdly, you must be stronger than the person you intend to kill. The Void Realm demon beast will only help restrain the opponent; it will not attack directly." "Fourthly, you must pay a great price!

Take the Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain, for example. They take a risk when they lend out a Void Realm demon beast.

If the target Void Realm expert isn't killed, doesn't the Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain gain another Void Realm enemy? Therefore—a substantial price must be paid to borrow a Void Realm demon beast." Teng Qingshan listened, suddenly enlightened.

With these four conditions laid out, it was indeed exceedingly difficult for one Void Realm expert to kill another. "Qingshan, your current identity is 'Jing Yi,'" Zhuge Yuanhong said with a smile.

"'Jing Yi' has no trace of history across the Nine Provinces. Such a mysterious identity...

even if the Blind Sword Saint wanted to kill you, the Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain wouldn't agree to lend a Void Realm demon beast, lest they provoke a mysterious enemy." Teng Qingshan nodded. "As long as there is no Void Realm demon beast, just the Blind Sword Saint alone—Qingshan, you should be able to handle it, right?" Zhuge Yuanhong looked at Teng Qingshan.

"Yes," Teng Qingshan affirmed. "However, Qingshan...

although the chances of the Blind Sword Saint bringing a Void Realm demon beast to kill you are almost nil, still, be careful. We should leave this Nine Wolf Island," Zhuge Yuanhong stated solemnly.

"That Blind Sword Saint knows Qing Shan is on Nine Wolf Island." * Teng Qingshan didn't hesitate. Amidst the heavy rain that day, after dispatching his third disciple, 'Xue Xin,' to fetch his two senior brothers, Teng Qingshan departed Nine Wolf Island with Zhuge Yuanhong, the Six-Legged Blade Chi, and the Gale Hawk.

... Jiangning Commandery, Yi City.

In a very quiet estate, Teng Qingshan and Zhuge Yuanhong were now residing. "Qingshan, from today onward, you will temporarily reside in Yi City.

Yi City is close to Jiangning Commandery City, making it convenient to offer assistance if anything happens. And the Blind Sword Saint will likely assume you are still on Nine Wolf Island," Zhuge Yuanhong looked at Teng Qingshan, his expression suddenly complicated.

"Qingshan, your Martial Ancestor is dead; you absolutely must survive!" Being stared at by his master, Teng Qingshan paused slightly. "You must survive," Zhuge Yuanhong’s gaze sharpened.

"Even if my Gui Yuan Sect is temporarily destroyed, you must live. As long as you live...

only then can my Gui Yuan Sect rise to prosperity again." Teng Qingshan felt the weight settling upon his shoulders. "Yes, Master," Teng Qingshan nodded.

* Yang Province, Green Lake Island. On the morning of the twenty-eighth day of the third month, on Sword Edge Mountain, Gu Yong, clad in a gray hemp robe, and Tie Fan, dressed in luxurious furs, stood respectfully beside a blind man in black robes.

"Martial Ancestor, the orders have been transmitted. The garrison troops stationed around Jiangning Commandery should receive the message by noon today and will immediately advance on Jiangning Commandery City from three directions," Tie Fan reported respectfully.

"Mhm," The Blind Sword Saint said indifferently, "I do not take the petty Gui Yuan Sect seriously. However...

that Zhuge Yuanhong, when I killed Elder Wu, he escaped. I worry that while our army is attacking the Gui Yuan Sect, Zhuge Yuanhong might strike at Green Lake Island.

This Zhuge Yuanhong is only a single step away from the Void Realm—he might break through at any moment. We cannot be careless." "Tie Fan," the Blind Sword Saint commanded, "send word down.

Temporarily disperse all the Innate experts within the sect, along with all elite disciples and the younger generation. Have them travel to surrounding commandery cities for a relaxation period, and return in ten days." These people were the future of Green Lake Island.

"Yes, Martial Ancestor," Tie Fan replied respectfully. "Leave only some elderly and veteran members to guard Green Lake Island," the Blind Sword Saint instructed.

"Tie Fan, you should also go out and clear your head... Gu Yong, you will accompany me to Jiangning Commandery.

You will lead those three armies to flatten the Gui Yuan Sect." "Yes, Martial Ancestor." "Yes, Martial Ancestor." The Island Master of Green Lake Island, 'Tie Fan,' and 'Gu Yong,' the member of Green Lake Island most likely to step into the Void Realm, responded respectfully.

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