"Master, let Jun and I go ask the Six-legged Saber Cicada about this," Teng Qingshan immediately rose, a man of action, and headed straight for the dwelling of the Six-legged Saber Cicada with Li Jun.

In the pavilion.

"Father, owing someone a favor for this?" The Snow Lotus Cult Master, Pei Xuelian, looked at her father. In her eyes, her father was the most formidable and talented figure across the entirety of Jiuzhou. Even if they approached other sects, borrowing a favor to invite a Void Illusion Realm demonic beast wouldn't be difficult.

Even if Pei San disliked bowing to other sects, Pei San understood the language of beasts!

The abilities of the Beast King, 'Wu Hou,' were all taught by Pei San.

Since he understood the beast language, Pei San could easily seek out some unaffiliated, independent Void Illusion Realm demonic beasts. As a Cave Void expert, he could easily persuade a Void Illusion Realm beast with a single favor. Perhaps even a beast at the Great Perfection of the Void Illusion Realm would agree, nine times out of ten.

But—

Pei San actually sought out this person named Hu He.

Pei San smiled at her and transmitted his voice: "Xiao Lian, yes, I do have other methods. However, owing favors is also a matter of technique. Sometimes, owing a favor is not a bad thing... Now, I owe this 'Hu He' a favor. Naturally, our relationship will become much closer. Even if I can't bring him into my Celestial Palace, his connection with my Celestial Palace will deepen."

The Snow Lotus Cult Master suddenly understood.

"Bestowing kindness upon others excessively can turn them into enemies. The same principle applies: owing someone a favor can instead forge a better friendship." Pei San turned toward the Six-legged Saber Cicada's room. "I hope this Hu He can persuade that demonic beast. That old thief from the Carefree Palace is like a flea, always hopping out to cause trouble."

Inside the room.

Teng Qingshan controlled the power of heaven and earth, solidifying the surrounding space to prevent any sound from escaping.

"Brother Hu He, a favor?" Li Jun looked at Teng Qingshan with a hint of happiness. "That's a good thing."

"Mmm, obtaining his favor does bring quite a few benefits," Teng Qingshan nodded. "Xiao Jun, you talk to the Saber Cicada." In truth, based on his understanding of the Six-legged Saber Cicada's temperament, the beast would almost certainly agree, because... the Six-legged Saber Cicada was simply a battle-hungry demonic beast.

"Roar~ Roar roar~~" The sounds Li Jun produced from her throat rose and fell, possessing a certain rhythm.

The Six-legged Saber Cicada stared at Li Jun, a hint of pleasure in its blood-red pupils.

Evidently, it hadn't seen Li Jun in a long time, and it responded with low roars, chatting with her.

A moment later—

"Brother Hu He." Li Jun remained very cautious; Pei San and the others were outside, so she dared not call Qingshan. "The Six-legged Saber Cicada said that helping kill someone is simple. It agreed, but—"

"But what?" Teng Qingshan started.

Li Jun giggled, "The Six-legged Saber Cicada said it enjoys fighting experts. However... if the enemy is too strong, don't let it go; it doesn't want to die yet."

"Haha," Teng Qingshan laughed. "Xiao Jun, tell it this: in the future, if its domain senses anything like the 'black hole' sensation from outside, it must be extremely vigilant, ignore everything else, and turn tail to flee. That person is a Cave Void expert."

Like Teng Qingshan, this was the first time the Six-legged Saber Cicada had sensed a Cave Void expert.

"Mmm." Li Jun reminded the Six-legged Saber Cicada once more.

From now on, if it sensed a 'black hole,' the Six-legged Saber Cicada would know... the opponent was a Cave Void expert.

...

"Master, this matter is settled," Teng Qingshan and Li Jun sat down together. "The Saber Cicada agreed."

"Oh, since that is the case."

Pei San immediately stood up. "Hu He, Li Jun, prepare yourselves. Take this Six-legged Saber Cicada and accompany me to Youzhou."

"Northeast Youzhou, right now?" Teng Qingshan was somewhat taken aback.

"Of course, it's now," the Snow Lotus Cult Master said beside him. "Guest Official Hu He, that old master of the Carefree Palace is extremely cunning; who knows when he might strike? We can only wait for him. If you wait here in Yicheng for us to discover the old master of the Carefree Palace and then invite you, he would have long since fled elsewhere."

"You will come with us, and that demonic beast called Saber Cicada too. When the old master of the Carefree Palace appears, you two will strike and kill him," a cold glint flashed in the Snow Lotus Cult Master's eyes.

Teng Qingshan fully understood their meaning.

"Haha, alright then. I have nothing pressing in Yicheng anyway," Teng Qingshan nodded with a smile. "Besides, the Celestial Palace army is reportedly making swift progress in Youzhou, having occupied more than half of it. It shouldn't be long before they attack Hongtian City. I must witness this battle properly."

"Mmm," Pei San smiled and nodded. "Let's leave now."

Teng Qingshan, carrying the wooden box containing the Mountain-Splitting Divine Axe, along with Li Jun and the Six-legged Saber Cicada, followed Pei San and the Snow Lotus Cult Master out of Yicheng. Before leaving, Teng Qingshan also entrusted certain matters to his eldest disciple, 'Teng Shou.'

The Six-legged Saber Cicada after reaching the Void Illusion Realm was not large, especially since its back was rather narrow, allowing only three people to sit on its back comfortably.

Currently, the Snow Lotus Cult Master, Li Jun, and Teng Qingshan were all seated on the Six-legged Saber Cicada's back, while Pei San flew alongside them. Fortunately, the Six-legged Saber Cicada slowed its speed to match Pei San's pace; otherwise... the Six-legged Saber Cicada would have quickly left Pei San far behind. Although Pei San was powerful, his flight speed still couldn't match a Void Illusion Realm flying demonic beast.

...

Ten thousand zhang high, above the clouds.

The four people and one demonic beast were flying northward.

"Hu He," Pei San said with a smile while flying alongside. "In the future, Li Jun will be the Cult Master of my Celestial Palace's Snow Lotus Sect. As for you, Hu He, you belong to no sect or faction... I, Pei San, in my capacity as the Master of the Celestial Palace, invite you to join my Celestial Palace today. What do you say?"

Teng Qingshan started, turning his head to look. Pei San's gaze was filled with sincerity.

If Teng Qingshan truly were a lone wolf with no ambition, joining the Celestial Palace would indeed be a good thing. However, he still had many responsibilities; the Guiyuan Sect needed him to hold things steady. How could he join the Celestial Palace and take orders from others?

"I must disappoint the Master," Teng Qingshan politely declined. "The Celestial Palace surely has intelligence; you already know there are quite a few youths residing where I live. My entire life's goal is to pass down what I have learned and realized, generation after generation."

Pei San's eyebrows flickered, but he only smiled faintly and said, "Founding a sect is a noble pursuit." He said no more.

What was his status?

Since the formal invitation had been rejected, Pei San would not press further through coercion.

...

After flying for a long time, they finally entered the territory of Youzhou.

"It's down there." The hazy gray light surrounding Pei San suddenly surged, enveloping Teng Qingshan, the Snow Lotus Cult Master, and Li Jun. "We're descending." He directly swept the few of them downward in a dive, the Six-legged Saber Cicada following close behind... However, at this moment—

Pei San's expression changed; he took a deep look at Teng Qingshan beside him.

There were very few things in this world that could cause Pei San's expression to shift so drastically.

Because, just now, while enveloping Teng Qingshan, the Snow Lotus Cult Master, and the others during the descent, Pei San had simultaneously scrutinized Teng Qingshan's entire body!

A Cave Void expert needed to release a thread of their world power to investigate. In the perception of a Void Illusion Realm expert, this thread of world power appeared as a pitch-black line. When Pei San previously sought Teng Qingshan's help, it was impossible to use such a thread to probe him, as it would be incredibly rude.

Only now, during the casual moment of sweeping them down together while diving, did he manage to observe Teng Qingshan thoroughly!

"He, he actually..." Pei San was profoundly shocked internally.

He was not shocked by the Mountain-Splitting Divine Axe in Teng Qingshan's wooden box, because world power merely acted like an eye for observation and could not analyze the substance of matter. Thus, in his observation, the Mountain-Splitting Divine Axe was merely a slightly more formidable weapon. Its appearance was different from several years ago.

He failed to discern the special nature of the Mountain-Splitting Divine Axe.

What truly shocked him was—

A jade box and a small tripod in Teng Qingshan's possession!

The jade box held two Undying Grasses, and what Teng Qingshan wore over his chest was the Jiuzhou Cauldron. Teng Qingshan carried two stalks of Undying Grass with him as an emergency precaution during combat, for immediate first aid. After all, Undying Grass was essential for saving a life at a critical juncture!

For example, if Li Jun's vital point were pierced and she was clearly dying, there would be no time for Teng Qingshan to run back to fetch the Undying Grass. Carrying them was crucial!

The small tripod was something Teng Qingshan had always kept close.

"Undying Grass? He actually has Undying Grass?"

"The Jiuzhou Cauldron? He even possesses such a treasure?" Pei San was utterly stunned.

"This Undying Grass can only be obtained from the Undying Phoenix in the North Sea. Years ago, I traversed the entire Barren Lands and explored all of Jiuzhou, only to finally find that Undying Phoenix in the North Sea! This Undying Phoenix once followed the Supreme Expert Li Taibai. Even I could only procure a single stalk of Undying Grass from her!"

Pei San knew how terrifying that Undying Phoenix was!

In terms of pure talent among Void Illusion Realm demonic beasts, the Undying Phoenix was already at the pinnacle. Very few could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with it.

Furthermore, this Undying Phoenix was at the Great Perfection of the Void Illusion Realm, which was the limit for a demonic beast.

Secondly, since the Undying Phoenix had followed the Supreme Expert 'Li Taibai,' Li Taibai would naturally have helped the Phoenix, pointing out how to utilize its advantages to unleash its greatest power.

Combined with the Phoenix's own thousands of years of comprehension, the current Undying Phoenix was indeed the most terrifying existence among Void Illusion Realm demonic beasts. Although Pei San was arrogant, after a brief exchange of blows with the Undying Phoenix, both sensed the other was not easy to deal with. Coupled with Pei San's politeness, the Undying Phoenix only gave him one stalk of Undying Grass.

"Two stalks of Undying Grass? Yes, this Hu He must have truly been traveling the seas," Pei San concluded. "Given his strength, he couldn't have taken them by force. And with the Undying Phoenix's speed... unless it was a Supreme Expert, no one could use force against that Phoenix."

"That means his relationship with the Undying Phoenix is exceptionally good. Otherwise, why would the Phoenix willingly give him two stalks when I only managed to get one?" Pei San mused internally, unaware that... Teng Qingshan had actually obtained nine stalks.

"And the Jiuzhou Cauldron."

Pei San sighed inwardly. "No wonder this Hu He's cultivation speed is so astonishing. Even with his innate talent, without the Jiuzhou Cauldron, his cultivation speed would likely be several times slower."

...

The group of four and the Six-legged Saber Cicada had landed.

"Father, what are you thinking about?" The Snow Lotus Cult Master noticed Pei San seemed distracted; she could recall this happening only a few times in her memory concerning her father.

"Nothing," Pei San smiled at Teng Qingshan. "Hu He."

"Mmm? Master?" Teng Qingshan was startled.

Pei San casually touched the area near his chest, and a small cauldron was revealed beneath his robes.

Teng Qingshan’s pupils contracted as he stared at Pei San's chest—

He had carried the Jiuzhou Cauldron once in his past life, and he was wearing it now; he could not be mistaken. The small cauldron on Pei San's chest...

"The Jiuzhou Cauldron, the same as mine." Teng Qingshan was truly astonished.