Teng Qingshan left Li Jun and the Six-Legged Blade Cicada outside. He shouldered the Mountain-Splitting Divine Axe and entered the cave with Pei San.

Walking for a long time along the deep cavern, they arrived at a quiet chamber where a faint glimmer of light mapped itself onto the walls through cracks.

"Sit." Pei San settled cross-legged before a low stone table. Teng Qingshan sat opposite Pei San.

"Speak, what is it?" Pei San asked with a light smile.

"Palace Master." Teng Qingshan frowned, "I hear you are mobilizing the army, specifically deploying the Divine Guard, the Blood Lotus Army, and the Tu Yuan Guard, preparing to march south to attack Yangzhou?"

"That is correct." Pei San nodded.

"Palace Master, those three elite forces are indeed formidable, especially the Tu Yuan Guard... twelve thousand first-rate martial artists. That is a terrifying strength. If I estimate correctly, the Tu Yuan Guard must have been forged using the 'Spirit of the North Sea,' right?" Teng Qingshan smiled. "The battle at Dayanshan back then, it was rumored many 'Spirits of the North Sea' emerged." Back then, the emergence of the Spirits of the North Sea triggered contention among the major sects. Although kept secret, it was hardly a secret to Void Realm experts.

"Precisely." Pei San nodded again.

"Palace Master, the Tu Yuan Guard is very strong. I must give my thumb up to the strength of the Heavenly God Palace's forces." This pleased Pei San, whose face betrayed a slight smile—everyone enjoys compliments. But Teng Qingshan’s topic pivoted: "However, to my knowledge, the entities that obtained the Spirits of the North Sea back then were not just your side, Palace Master."

Pei San’s brow tightened slightly.

"This time, the Palace Master first destroyed the Carefree Palace of Qingzhou. Second, destroyed Hongtian City of Youzhou. And now, you intend to attack Yangzhou! What will the world think? Never mind the other sects, firstly, Qinghu Island in Yangzhou will certainly resist to the death. And as one watches the rabbit perish, the fox grieves... I fear the Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain knows that once Qinghu Island is finished, they too will be next. Therefore, it is not strange that the two Void Realm experts and one Void Realm demonic beast from the Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain would go to aid the Blind Sword Saint." Teng Qingshan spoke with gravity.

Pei San smiled and nodded: "Yes."

"Palace Master, you now control the Northern Great Steppe, Youzhou, and Qingzhou, governing nearly a billion subjects. The Yu Emperor Sect, the Ying Clan, and the Mani Temple are already on high alert. If the Palace Master eradicates Yangzhou and targets Yanzhou as well... I fear even the Mani Temple, furthest in the south, might be provoked."

"In terms of military might!"

"Several parties obtained the Spirits of the North Sea back then. They too can forge armies composed of powerful first-rate martial artists. Add the support of the Yu Emperor Sect, the Mani Temple, assisting the Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain and Qinghu Island. Then—an army of first-rate martial artists exceeding ten thousand is not unexpected."

"In terms of Void Realm experts."

"The Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain and Qinghu Island have four! If the Mani Temple and Yu Emperor Sect tolerate it, fine. But if they refuse to tolerate it and war erupts! Then... it might not just be four Void Realm experts, but seven, eight, or even over ten!"

"Their troops are no fewer than yours, and they occupy strategic advantage. If the Mani Temple and others also intervene, I fear..."

Teng Qingshan sighed, "Palace Master, last time Brother Li Chao lost an arm. The enemy was merely Hongtian City. But if you attack Yangzhou again this time, once the Mani Temple and others erupt... I fear the Heavenly God Palace will also see Void Realm experts perish, perhaps more than one. Palace Master, can you bear to see that?"

Pei San’s brow furrowed. Li Chao’s severed arm was indeed a thorn in Pei San's side. Pei San had cultivated Li Chao since childhood, viewing him almost as a son. Li Chao’s maiming had enraged Pei San beyond measure. It had to be admitted— Teng Qingshan’s words had struck the vital point of Pei San.

"Palace Master. If you endure for ten or twenty more years," Teng Qingshan continued, "with the vast territories and large populations of Qingzhou, Youzhou, and the Great Steppe, after ten or twenty years, your foundation will be solid. Raising tens of millions of troops from these three provinces will not be difficult. By then, tens of millions of troops marching south... sweeping away all resistance, who could stop them?"

"Even the Mani Temple, in terms of territorial foundation, is inferior to the Heavenly God Palace."

"And in ten or twenty years, if the Palace Master achieves further breakthroughs, your strength will be even greater. Leading an army to traverse the world, your chances of success will increase severalfold."

"If you endure for a century, with the prosperity of the three provinces, it would not be impossible for the Heavenly God Palace to gain two or three more Void Realm experts. At that time, the Heavenly God Palace will be mightier, even surpassing the Mani Temple. Victory achieved without a fight." Teng Qingshan smiled. "Palace Master, consider it yourself. Is it better to fight now, bloodying your nose and damaging your vitality, even risking the death of several Void Realm experts? Or to endure until your strength is consolidated and achieve overwhelming victory in one sweep? The choice is yours, Palace Master."

Pei San frowned. What Teng Qingshan said held much logic. However, Pei San’s angle of thinking differed from Teng Qingshan’s; what he intended to accomplish was beyond Teng Qingshan’s scope of thought.

"Haha, Hu He." Pei San suddenly laughed.

"Has the Palace Master decided?" Teng Qingshan remained calm.

Pei San looked at Teng Qingshan and smiled: "Void Realm experts are accustomed to long seclusion; they are generally not skilled at negotiation and debate. But I observe that you, Hu He, are quite adept at persuasion and negotiation. I admit... your words have shaken my confidence somewhat."

Teng Qingshan was startled inwardly. The situation was not good!

"For you to come and persuade me, it must be for the Guiyuan Sect, right? I heard you share considerable friendship with the Guiyuan Sect." Instead of answering, Pei San countered.

"Yes, the Guiyuan Sect showed me kindness in the past," Teng Qingshan replied.

Pei San nodded: "Repaying kindness is a good thing. Hu He, to be frank with you... the mobilization against Yangzhou was planned long ago. It naturally cannot be changed. Moreover, I am fully prepared for all possible contingencies." The smile on Pei San’s face was inscrutable to Teng Qingshan.

"The Guiyuan Sect showed me kindness," Teng Qingshan said in a low voice. "I do not wish to see its sect destroyed."

"If I march south and conquer all the way to Jiangning Prefecture, will you stand against me?" Pei San’s eyes held a faint gleam as he looked at Teng Qingshan.

Stand against him? Teng Qingshan stared at Pei San, spitting out a single word from between his teeth: "Yes!"

"Good." Pei San smiled and nodded. "That is what a true man does. Daring to stand against my Heavenly God Palace for the sake of gratitude."

"However... admiring you as I do, it is useless." Pei San chuckled lightly. "Invading Yangzhou has been planned by my Heavenly God Palace for centuries, endured for centuries; our current burst forth is precisely to occupy several provinces. Centuries of forbearance... how could it be altered by your words, or by my admiration for you? Hu He, you may leave. You can tell the people of the Guiyuan Sect to disperse as much as possible now. Go into hiding and prepare for a comeback."

Teng Qingshan's expression became grim.

"Palace Master, you owe me a favor," Teng Qingshan stated grimly.

"That is true." Pei San nodded.

"I wish to use this favor to request that the Palace Master does not attack Yangzhou," Teng Qingshan challenged Pei San with his gaze.

"Use this favor? To stop me from attacking Yangzhou?" Pei San paused, a wry smile touching his lips. "It seems I have trapped myself."

Teng Qingshan held his breath, watching Pei San.

"Haha..." Pei San couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh, the sound echoing in the quiet chamber, shaking loose much dust and gravel. Pei San suddenly stood up, and Teng Qingshan rose as well.

Pei San picked up a pot of wine sitting in the corner of the chamber, took a long gulp, then turned, his eyes sharp as lightning, fixed on Teng Qingshan: "Hu He, you overestimate me, Pei San. My favor is not worth as much as conquering Yangzhou. You can ask me to kill someone for you. But to ask me to halt the conquest of Yangzhou—the mere favor I owe you is not enough for me to do that."

"Then add the solemn promise of a great reward you owe me," Teng Qingshan pressed, his voice low.

"Still not enough." Pei San’s hair suddenly began to flow wildly. He glared at Teng Qingshan. "You still haven't understood? Conquering territory and occupying a province is a grand, epoch-making undertaking. What are a mere personal favor and a promise worth in comparison? Therefore—the conquest of Yangzhou is inevitable for me. Stop wasting your effort."

Teng Qingshan’s face turned pale with fury. This Pei San... He truly was a figure of ruthless ambition. A favor, a promise? He could dismiss them with a single sentence: 'A favor is not as important as conquering Yangzhou.' Such a person, if asked to do something he truly did not wish to do, could offer the same rebuttal: 'This favor is not worth me doing that.' The weight of any favor rested entirely on Pei San's word.

"However, this favor and that promise can be exchanged for one prefecture, to preserve the continuation of the Guiyuan Sect. What do you say?" Pei San smiled faintly.

"A favor plus a solemn promise of great reward, exchanged for the territory of one prefecture?" Teng Qingshan hesitated slightly, then looked at Pei San. "Palace Master, it is a deal."

"Good." Pei San nodded. "Since that is the case... then, within Yangzhou territory, choose either the northernmost Chu Prefecture, or the southernmost 'Southern Barbarian Prefecture' bordering the wilderness. Choose one for the Guiyuan Sect to reside in."

"What?" Teng Qingshan was stunned. "Palace Master, I requested Jiangning Prefecture! To let the Guiyuan Sect remain in Jiangning Prefecture."

"Haha... Jiangning Prefecture?" Pei San laughed loudly at Teng Qingshan. "Hu He, you are not a fool, do you not understand? Jiangning Prefecture is located in the central part of Yangzhou, a place of immense prosperity. Furthermore, the Great Yu-Yang Canal passes right through it. Such a strategically important location—do you think I would let another sect occupy it?"

"If you choose, pick the northernmost Chu Prefecture, or the southernmost Southern Barbarian Prefecture. One favor plus one promise is only worth one of these two prefectures," Pei San stated, looking at Teng Qingshan.

Teng Qingshan’s expression turned icy. His heart grew cold. What was most vital to a sect? Its foundation! Just like the Heavenly God Palace, despite currently controlling Qingzhou and Youzhou, their governance was shallow; their control was weak. It was the same for the Guiyuan Sect. The Guiyuan Sect had resided in Jiangning for over a thousand years, becoming deeply rooted. Even the remote mountain villages knew that the 'Heaven' of Jiangning was the Guiyuan Sect! Such cohesion could not be forged in a mere decade or two; two decades could achieve control at best, but loyalty born of the people required generations, centuries, or even millennia. To abandon Jiangning Prefecture and move to the remote, unfamiliar 'Southern Barbarian Prefecture' or 'Chu Prefecture'?

"Master once said that as long as the Guiyuan Sect could remain in Jiangning, that would suffice. I did not expect Pei San to be so ruthless," Teng Qingshan seethed with anger.

"If it comes to it, we fight!" "The Heavenly God Palace took several months to destroy Qingzhou, and almost half a year to conquer Hongtian City. Destroying Qinghu Island in Yangzhou... will likely take even longer. The Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing,' based on our prior agreement, should arrive within another month or two at the latest. If it comes to war, let it be! Once Xiao Qing arrives, with her speed... and combined offensive capability with the Six-Legged Blade Cicada—the Heavenly God Palace will be the one crying."

Teng Qingshan had no other recourse. He could only gamble! Gamble that the 'Undying Phoenix' would arrive before the Guiyuan Sect was taken down.

"If it comes to that, and there's no time, I will take the Six-Legged Blade Cicada to the Phoenix Island and invite them directly," Teng Qingshan made his decision. Severance! For the sake of the Guiyuan Sect, this was the only path left!