Though Tie Fan held the title of Island Master of Green Lake Island, facing a Void Realm expert, especially a hostile one, caused cold sweat to prickle his brow.

"Senior Jing Yi, I know that Green Lake Island and you, Senior Jing Yi, have had several past grievances." Tie Fan was nervous inside, but his voice remained firm. "There were indeed shortcomings on the part of my Ancestral Master. This time, I have come as the Island Master of Green Lake Island to offer my deepest apologies to Senior Jing Yi."

"Oh?" Teng Qingshan showed a hint of surprise.

Apologize to him? Even that Iron Blind Man would stoop so low?

"Senior Jing Yi, the attack on Guiyuan Sect by my Ancestral Master, and the ensuing conflict between you two... it was all done out of consideration for Green Lake Island," Tie Fan said respectfully. "I implore you, Senior, to be magnanimous and overlook these past matters."

"This is a small token of appreciation from my Green Lake Island."

Saying this, Tie Fan drew a booklet from his robes and respectfully moved to hand it to Teng Qingshan.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind swept through, catching the booklet and lifting it away, landing directly on the table beside Teng Qingshan.

Teng Qingshan opened it: "Harmony Jade, three jin; Three-Colored Flowers, two blooms..." The booklet was a detailed ledger of gifts, meticulously recording dozens of rare treasures. These items were almost all priceless and impossible to find on the open market. Teng Qingshan was astonished; Green Lake Island was truly wealthy.

"I hope Senior will allow the matters between my Green Lake Island and you to pass just like this," Tie Fan watched Teng Qingshan’s expression intently.

"Pass just like this?" Teng Qingshan glared coldly at Tie Fan.

Tie Fan’s heart immediately tightened.

He had long known from his Ancestral Master, the Blind Sword Saint, that after the two great battles, this Jing Yi and the Blind Sword Saint were irreconcilable enemies. If either side had possessed sufficient power, they would surely have eliminated the other. For such antagonistic figures to mend their relationship and pretend the feud never existed—it was far too difficult!

"Just as Senior Brother Gu Yong said, Void Realm experts all place great importance on 'face.' At their level, reputation is paramount! My Ancestral Master and Jing Yi have clashed time and again; they are sworn enemies," Tie Fan fretted internally. "And now that the news of that Void Realm demonic beast is known throughout the world, many sects will surely seek to curry favor with this Jing Yi."

"If Jing Yi uses that demonic beast to issue a condition—asking for aid to kill my Ancestral Master—it is absolutely possible!" Tie Fan understood this clearly.

In truth... after the Blind Sword Saint returned and his anger subsided, he grasped the situation.

Gu Yong was the first to realize the impending crisis.

A crisis threatening the very extinction of Green Lake Island!!!

Suppose someone were to borrow the 'Six-Legged Blade Cicada' from Teng Qingshan; Teng Qingshan would only need to name one condition—help join forces to kill the Blind Sword Saint! It was likely that Yu Huang Sect or the Ying Clan would not refuse. Because if the Blind Sword Saint died, Green Lake Island would have no Void Realm protection and would pose no threat whatsoever.

Such a task, not inherently difficult, would certainly garner the agreement of supreme experts!

The Blind Sword Saint knew clearly that there were indeed experts on the Nine Provinces Continent capable of killing him! Ignoring those in the Cave Void realm, just two Great Accomplishment Void Realm experts, aided by the 'Six-Legged Blade Cicada' coordinating alongside them, could kill the Blind Sword Saint!

"If Ancestral Master dies, my Green Lake Island is finished."

"Currently, Senior Brother Gu Yong has not yet broken through to the Void Realm. Who knows if it will take ten years, twenty years, or even longer for him to achieve it," Tie Fan worried, fear gripping him.

Suddenly—

Swish!

The gift ledger was flung back from the pavilion, slapping down in front of Tie Fan.

Tie Fan’s heart trembled: "It’s over?"

Unwilling to accept defeat, he looked up at Teng Qingshan, pleading anxiously, "Senior, Green Lake Island is sincere this time. We absolutely will not attack Guiyuan Sect again."

"Hmph, you think these trinkets can buy me off?"

Teng Qingshan sat on the pavilion, looking down at Tie Fan, whose forehead glistened with sweat. "Tie Fan, these items are indeed rare Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasures, but they are of no use to me whatsoever. As for that Iron Blind Man... Hmph, if he stays put on Green Lake Island and refrains from any actions, perhaps I will be too lazy to deal with him. But if he makes even the slightest move, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

"Senior is magnanimous!" Tie Fan cried out in relief.

He could hear it: as long as the Blind Sword Saint took no further action, the other party was content to leave Green Lake Island alone.

"Aren't you leaving yet?" Teng Qingshan demanded coldly.

Tie Fan hastily chuckled, "Your humble servant will leave immediately. These items, in half a day..."

"I said I don't want them, so I don't want them." Teng Qingshan’s expression darkened. "Get out of here!"

Seeing Teng Qingshan’s sudden rage, Tie Fan’s heart seized with fright. He dared not say another word, merely cupped his hands in a slight bow, and quickly departed.

Watching Tie Fan vanish from sight, Teng Qingshan picked up his teacup, took a gentle sip, and sneered, "That Iron Blind Man is quite clever... Indeed, I could use the 'Six-Legged Blade Cicada' right now to ask other sects to send Void Realm experts to help kill him."

"However—"

"It is not yet time," Teng Qingshan had long thought this through.

What would be the consequence of killing the Blind Sword Saint?

The collapse of Green Lake Island!

Who would control Yangzhou then? Guiyuan Sect? Most likely, the outcome would be the Celestial God Palace and Yu Huang Sect carving up the spoils.

It would become even harder for Guiyuan Sect to occupy Yangzhou.

"Let your Green Lake Island bear the brunt for now," Teng Qingshan mused silently. "It won't take too long, perhaps a few more months. When Xiao Qing arrives, with her speed—she is merely a Thunder God Eagle skilled in the Dao of Lightning—she probably won't even compare to Xiao Qing."

"When that day comes—I'll deal with them one by one!"

With the Six-Legged Blade Cicada, and the even mightier Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing' assisting him, even if he claimed dominion over Yangzhou, it was unlikely anyone in the Nine Provinces Continent would dare object.

After all, the combination of the Six-Legged Blade Cicada, Xiao Qing, and Teng Qingshan would likely be far more formidable than the pairing of the four Void Realm experts from Green Lake Island and Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain.

"And Xiao Qing has learned her mother's ultimate technique," Teng Qingshan anticipated internally. "According to the Phoenix Mother, when Xiao Qing first broke through to the Void Realm, she couldn't roam freely across the Nine Provinces Continent. Only after learning the ultimate move she cultivated over millennia could she travel unimpeded and possess the means to protect herself."

Teng Qingshan keenly awaited the strength of a more powerful Xiao Qing.

Furthermore—

Behind Xiao Qing lay the even more terrifying Phoenix Mother, a hidden force.

"If I accept these paltry gifts now, I'll be compromised, and it will be harder to destroy Green Lake Island."

"I'll just pacify them with a few words for now. Wait until Xiao Qing arrives!"

Teng Qingshan's eyes held a chilling glint.

The arrogance and overbearing nature of Green Lake Island back then, hunting him across the world—never mind that his father nearly died tragically, or that gentle, pure Miss Qing...

"Soon, very soon. Over half a year has passed. If Xiao Qing is any later, three to five months at most, she should be here," Teng Qingshan murmured. "That will be the time to settle all accounts!"

Everything unfolded as Teng Qingshan predicted. Upon learning that Teng Qingshan possessed a fearsome demonic beast adept at both flight and burrowing, great sects sent Void Realm experts to visit him. Some, knowing they couldn't recruit him, came to build bridges and forge connections. Others offered vast quantities of treasures as gifts to entice Teng Qingshan to join them.

In Teng Qingshan’s estimation, among the four most powerful factions—Mani Temple, Yu Huang Sect, Ying Clan, and Celestial God Palace—only the Mani Temple and Celestial God Palace had not sent emissaries.

Of the major sects, the Ying Clan was the most sincere!

"It seems the Ying Clan is truly desperate to have a Void Realm demonic beast to anchor their family," Teng Qingshan thought as he held the Reincarnation Spear on the training ground. "Not only are they offering me a set of Cave Void Divine Armor, but they are even willing to loan me their Ying Clan’s supreme treasure, the Heavenly Emperor Divine Mirror, for enlightenment."

"For an ordinary wandering Void Realm expert, this offer would surely be tempting."

The Four Great Divine Tomes of the Nine Provinces—the Green Lotus Sword Chant exists only in legend, with no one inheriting this supreme art.

However, the Mani Temple's Golden Body Buddha, Yu Huang Sect's Nine Tripod Heavenly Codex, and the Ying Clan's Heavenly Emperor Divine Mirror were all supreme arts capable of tempting Void Realm experts.

Take Teng Qingshan, for instance. How long had he been in the Void Realm?

Yet, by utilizing the most powerful supreme art of Yu Huang, the Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Splitting, he could harness seventy percent of the Heaven and Earth power (including his physical strength) to unleash an effect slightly exceeding eighty percent! Without this supreme art, with seventy percent of his power, Teng Qingshan could probably only manifest sixty-five percent!

The difference amounted to nearly twenty percent of Heaven and Earth power!

For those at Great Accomplishment Void Realm, the effect of a Divine Tome was even more pronounced!

Take Shen Gongtu from Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain, though he was at Great Accomplishment Void Realm, his ten-tenths of Heaven and Earth power, channeled through his saber techniques, could only achieve ninety percent effectiveness.

If he had a Divine Tome to study, his peak effectiveness, even with ten-tenths power, could potentially reach twelve-tenths! This swing amounts to a full thirty percent difference in usable power. Therefore, a Divine Tome could even be more beneficial than comprehending an extra path.

...

While Teng Qingshan focused on lying low in Yicheng, diligently practicing his spear arts, striving to comprehend the Water Element Dao, and trying every means to reach the threshold of the 'Wood Element Dao'—

In Qing Province, Hu Yue Prefecture, the main headquarters of the Snow Lotus Sect.

"Master," Li Jun, clad in purple, respectfully greeted the Snow Lotus Sect Leader.

"Xiao Jun, this gentleman here is the Palace Master." The Snow Lotus Sect Leader spoke with deference.

Li Jun held her breath completely: "He, he is the Palace Master? The Palace Master of the Celestial God Palace?" Li Jun furtively glanced at the man standing beside the Snow Lotus Sect Leader. He was a middle-aged man with a warm, approachable smile, fair skin, and a slightly plump build. His eyes held the depth of an infinite starry sky, capable of drawing one in.

"Xiao Jun," the Snow Lotus Sect Leader sharply called out.

Only then did Li Jun snap back to attention and quickly bowed, "Greetings to the Palace Master."

"Haha, our Celestial God Palace's Beast Language Master is so young, and to have reached Xiantian at such an age—truly remarkable," Pei San praised. "Moreover—he has a very formidable husband. Li Jun, do you realize your husband possesses a Void Realm demonic beast?"

"I only just learned," Li Jun replied respectfully, though pride swelled in her heart for Teng Qingshan. She thought secretly, Hmph, is this enough to shock you? If you knew Jing Yi was Teng Qingshan, your eyeballs would probably pop out in astonishment.

"Mmm," Pei San nodded with a faint smile.

"Your husband is an esteemed guest of our Celestial God Palace, yet I have never met him. Let us go... Li Jun, come with your Master and me to see your husband." Pei San said lightly. His original plan was to meet Jing Yi after destroying Hong Tian City, but the presence of a powerful Void Realm demonic beast in Jing Yi’s service prompted him to act earlier.

"Meet Hu He?" Li Jun exclaimed in shock.

"Xiao Jun, aren't you coming?" The Snow Lotus Sect Leader quickly moved to take her disciple's arm.

Immediately, under Pei San's guidance, the Snow Lotus Sect Leader and Li Jun broke through the air and flew toward Yangzhou.