"It was just the other day that we met," Teng Qingshan said with a smile. "Hu He, it must be close to four years since we last met," said the large monk in a dark crimson robe standing beside Pei San, squinting with a smile as he looked at Teng Qingshan.

"Tianshen," Teng Qingshan nodded back, smiling, "Four years." Although Teng Qingshan was speaking with Tianshen from Tianshen Palace, all the Void Realm experts present could feel the subtle tension and opposition between the Tianshen Palace faction and the Ying Clan faction, especially between the smiling Pei San and the stern-faced, golden-robed man. Their auras were beginning to clash faintly.

"Is this the confrontation of 'Gods'?" Teng Qingshan felt an inexplicable pressure, inwardly shocked. "Brother Jing Yi," Ying Haitong of the Ying Clan approached, completely ignoring Pei San, and instead smiled warmly at Teng Qingshan, "Come, let me introduce you." Teng Qingshan shot an apologetic glance at the large monk before walking over.

Ying Haitong pointed to a gaunt man also dressed in a dark purple long robe: "This is the Supreme Elder of our clan, 'Wang Tong'." This lean Void Realm expert, Wang Tong, offered Teng Qingshan a slight smile, appearing quite friendly: "Jing Yi, although I rarely leave my chambers within the clan, I have certainly heard of your great reputation." "You flatter me," Teng Qingshan replied with a smile. "This one," Ying Haitong then led Teng Qingshan before the golden-robed man.

Standing before the golden-robed man, Teng Qingshan couldn't help but hold his breath... this was a Cave Void level existence.

Looking at the golden-robed man's face, it was clear he rarely smiled, which made his entire demeanor appear exceptionally aloof. However, as Teng Qingshan approached, this golden-robed man surprisingly managed to let a trace of a smile show, his lips straining upwards...

it was immediately evident that the smile looked awkward on him. "Jing Yi, my name is Qin Shiqi," the golden-robed man said, looking at Teng Qingshan, "Feel free to simply call me Brother Qin." "This man's smile is so strange," Teng Qingshan mused inwardly.

He could see that this super expert named Qin Shiqi seldom smiled, perhaps having forgotten how to do so. That was why the smile appeared so unnatural...

but precisely because it was strained, Teng Qingshan sensed a genuine goodwill and friendliness from this super expert toward him. After all, such an aloof and supreme expert would disdain to feign sincerity.

If he smiled, it meant he genuinely held a good impression of you. "Brother Qin," Teng Qingshan decided internally that this Qin Shiqi could be a friend.

"Jing Yi, I heard that my junior brother invited you to join my Ying Clan last time, but you had difficulties?" The golden-robed man, now paying no attention to Pei San, focused entirely on Teng Qingshan, "Our Ying Clan is truly sincere toward you, Brother Jing Yi. I hope you will seriously reconsider, how about it?" Teng Qingshan sighed internally...

This dignified Cave Void expert treated him with no arrogance whatsoever, but rather with such courtesy. "Brother Qin," Teng Qingshan pondered for a moment, facing the expectant gaze of the Cave Void expert Qin Shiqi, he could only say, "I have not thought about joining any sect for the time being.

Even Tianshen Palace, I only hold the position of guest elder. If the day comes when I wish to join a sect, I will choose yours first, how does that sound?" "Our Ying Clan will be the first, I'll remember Brother Qin's words," Qin Shiqi was not angry at all; instead, he seemed happier.

Just at that moment— Whoosh! Whoosh!

An apparition descended nearby. It was a startlingly fearsome avian demon beast, about ten feet long from its sharp beak to its tail feathers, with a streamlined body covered in a thin layer of down.

Beneath the down were blocks of black-brown scales resembling dragon scales. The beast's eyes glowed green.

On the back of this avian demon beast were two figures: one was Yu Tonghai, a Void Realm expert from the Yu Huang Sect whom Teng Qingshan recognized, and the other Void Realm expert Teng Qingshan did not know. "He's likely from the Yu Huang Sect too," Teng Qingshan studied the avian Void Realm beast closely.

"Legend says the Yu Huang Sect possesses Void Realm demon beasts; could this be the one?" "Hahaha... Qin Shiqi!" Yu Tonghai, sporting a pair of bushy, broom-like eyebrows, jumped down from the Void Realm divine beast with a laugh, "You say Brother Jing Yi will join a sect and choose your Ying Clan first?

You are mistaken. Brother Jing Yi once told me that if he were to join a sect, the Yu Huang Sect would be his first choice." Qin Shiqi's face turned cold as he glanced at Yu Tonghai but said nothing.

Teng Qingshan frowned slightly: "Why is Yu Tonghai speaking like that?" Regarding both the Yu Huang Sect and the Ying Clan, Teng Qingshan had only offered polite evasions. If he had to choose a preference between the two sects, Teng Qingshan leaned toward the Ying Clan, which had always maintained a friendly demeanor.

He felt no affinity for the Yu Huang Sect, which seemed outwardly friendly but held clear arrogance deep down. "Brother Jing Yi, am I correct?" Yu Tonghai walked up to Teng Qingshan with a smile.

The Yu Huang Sect had grown accustomed to arrogance on the Nine Provinces Continent. Even if they treated Void Realm experts as equals, their words and actions carried an inherent haughtiness!

Having failed to recruit Teng Qingshan last time, Yu Tonghai harbored resentment and dissatisfaction toward him in his heart. In his view...

His Yu Huang Sect had come to invite him, and it was even he, a peak Void Realm expert, who had extended the invitation—how dare Jing Yi refuse to give face? Moreover— The Yu Huang Sect did not desperately need Teng Qingshan or the Six-Legged Saber Cicada.

Thus, their attitude was naturally condescending. "Brother Yu," Teng Qingshan looked at him with a simple, pure smile, "What did I say, Brother Yu?

Did I say I would join your Yu Huang Sect first? I really can't recall..." Yu Tonghai's expression changed, his face turning icy: "Jing Yi, you—" The people from the Ying Clan and Tianshen Palace nearby all showed amusement.

They were all aware of the Yu Huang Sect's mentality: 'We are the number one sect on the Nine Provinces Continent,' 'Our founding patriarch was the supreme expert Yu Huang,' 'Our sect is the most ancient.' Many people felt disgruntled by this. But there was nothing they could do; the Yu Huang Sect possessed too many legacies left by Emperor Yu in those ancient days, which was why they remained incomparably powerful even now.

"Did I say that?" Teng Qingshan slapped his forehead, "Ah, I am truly sorry, I have a poor memory. Brother Yu, please don't take offense." "I won't take offense," Yu Tonghai responded with a forced, unnatural smile before saying no more.

... As the Yu Huang Sect members arrived, the familiar Void Realm experts began conversing among themselves.

At this time, Li Chao walked up to Teng Qingshan and sent him a private message: "Brother Hu He, why are you bickering with the Yu Huang Sect people? They are known for their difficult temperaments.

Offending them is never a good thing." "Has the Yu Huang Sect always been like this?" Teng Qingshan asked, puzzled. "Not always, perhaps there are good-natured individuals.

But—the teachings within the Yu Huang Sect indoctrinate them to believe they are the oldest, most orthodox, and most powerful sect. Over time, most disciples are influenced," Li Chao shook his head.

"However... the Yu Huang Sect is indeed very strong.

Even Master is reluctant to provoke them." "A sect like that? Yet it hasn't declined?" Teng Qingshan was confused.

"They are only like this towards outsiders; internally, the Yu Huang Sect is extremely united," Li Chao messaged back. The Void Realm experts present were clearly divided into several major factions: Tianshen Palace, the Yu Huang Sect, and the Ying Clan formed the three main groups, while Teng Qingshan, Li Hang, and a Void Realm expert from the Snow Eagle Sect constituted the scattered individuals.

"Brother Jing Yi, look," Li Hang stood beside Teng Qingshan, smiling. "Look at what?" Teng Qingshan asked, puzzled.

Li Hang sent a private message: "Have you noticed that although the Yu Huang Sect and the Ying Clan aren't fond of each other, today... they are subtly targeting Tianshen Palace?

I think they are waiting for the last group of arrivals—the people from Mani Temple." "Oh?" Teng Qingshan suddenly looked up at the sky. "The people from Mani Temple are here," Teng Qingshan murmured with a slight smile.

In the sky, three streaks of light flew in, slicing across the horizon before landing precisely between the Yu Huang Sect and the Ying Clan contingents. The three arrivals were all dressed in yellow monk robes, the sleeves bearing nine purple stripes.

Among these three bald monks, one had entirely white eyebrows hanging down. Another was powerfully built, nearly ten feet tall.

The final Mani Temple monk appeared to be a chubby, youthful-looking figure, seemingly quite young. But— "If I'm not mistaken, these three should all be peak Void Realm experts," Teng Qingshan marveled inwardly.

Mani Temple truly deserved its reputation as the undisputed number one sect in the world, although the Yu Huang Sect would never concede that point. In the distance, the monks of Mani Temple were conversing familiarly with members of the Yu Huang Sect and the Ying Clan; these monks appeared very humble.

"Brother Li Hang, do you know why Qin Shiqi has such a name?" Teng Qingshan asked curiously via private message. His knowledge of the Void Realm experts on the Nine Provinces Continent was very limited.

Li Hang replied privately: "Brother Jing Yi, regarding Qin Shiqi... let me explain it this way.

Within the Ying Clan, there are two types of people who can become disciples: one is the native blood relatives of the Ying Clan. The other type consists of disciples recruited from all over Yongzhou.

Once these disciples join the Ying Clan and become integral members, they are generally bestowed with the surname Qin." "Qin?" Teng Qingshan also knew of this. Emperor Qin Ling had unified the world and named his dynasty Qin.

"Yes. But because there were too many internal disciples, the people managing the Ying Clan had to invent many names.

One administrator was lazy and simply started naming them randomly—from Qin Yi, Qin Er... and so on.

He went as far as naming eighty-seven of them in one go. Qin Shiqi was one of the names assigned then." "Did he not change his name even after becoming a Xiantian expert, even a Void Realm expert?" Teng Qingshan was puzzled.

"By rights, he should have changed it, or he could have," Li Hang chuckled. "But Qin Shiqi is extremely stubborn.

Rumor has it that even within the Ying Clan, he rarely paid attention to others; he is an incredibly isolated and proud person. Even after becoming a Void Realm expert, he remains Qin Shiqi." "But when people mention him, doesn't everyone give him a thumbs-up?" Li Hang exclaimed with admiration.

As Li Hang was speaking, suddenly— "Hmm?" Teng Qingshan and Li Hang started, turning their heads simultaneously to look over.