"CRACK!"

A deafening thunderclap split the sky, which was already choked with dark clouds. A bolt of lightning, winding like a man’s arm, struck down, as the rain between heaven and earth intensified, rendering the boundless world a mere expanse of water. In the inner courtyard, on the covered walkway, Zhuge Yuanhong, Teng Shou, Li Jun, and Xue Xin stood, their faces etched with undeniable worry.

"Auntie Master, Master will definitely be fine. Don't worry," Xue Xin murmured, unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere.

"Mmm."

Li Jun looked toward Zhuge Yuanhong and whispered, "Sect Master Zhuge, do you think Qingshan..."

"Li Jun, rest assured. Qingshan has the Six-legged Blade Chi helping him. Moreover, he possesses a treasure like the 'Undying Grass,' so even if he can't kill the enemy, he can at least ensure his own safety. And as long as he escapes to Tianyun Mountain, he'll be safe," Zhuge Yuanhong said, though even as the words left his lips, he felt they lacked conviction; he himself was uncertain.

The strangeness of the Six-legged Blade Chi had long been known.

The enemy dared to come only because they had a countermeasure for both the Six-legged Blade Chi and Teng Qingshan.

Qingshan, you must not die. You cannot die! Zhuge Yuanhong prayed silently.

Li Jun gently stroked her abdomen, where a life yet unborn stirred. She thought to herself, Qingshan. Our child hasn't been born yet. I don't want our child to be born without a father. Hurry back. I beg you, please come back quickly. Tears shimmered faintly in Li Jun’s eyes.

"Master."

Teng Shou and Xue Xin also looked up, praying silently.

They were completely unable to help Teng Qingshan; all they could do was wait and hope.

Pat! Pat! Pat!

The relentless pounding of the torrential rain on the ground was incessant, as if the sound of the rain was the only noise in existence.

"Yooo~~~" A high-pitched, vibrant, and ecstatic cry pierced through the endless curtain of water from an immense distance, reaching directly into the inner courtyard.

That familiar sound instantly brought a flicker of joy to the faces of Li Jun and Teng Shou.

"It’s Xiao Qing," Teng Shou exclaimed, looking up.

"Xiao Qing is here, Xiao Qing is here!" Li Jun, forgetting the rain, rushed out onto the open training grounds, looking heavenward while letting out cries from her throat.

"Yoyo~ Yoyoyooo~~~" The voice of the Undying Phoenix, 'Xiao Qing,' sounded again, and within the downpour, a streak of fiery red light was faintly visible, hurtling closer at speed.

Li Jun abruptly turned, her rain-soaked long hair flying loose. With ecstatic surprise, she shouted to Teng Shou, Zhuge Yuanhong, and the others, "Qingshan is fine! Qingshan is safe, he’s perfectly alright!" After shouting, she looked up at the sky again, seeing several streaks of light descend almost simultaneously onto the adjacent training grounds.

Two massive, fire-red divine birds, the 'Undying Phoenixes,' bathed in flame, emitted an innate pressure that instantly solidified the atmosphere in the inner courtyard.

"Tssshhh~~~"

The surrounding rainwater instantly vaporized into mist; this ordinary water could not touch the Undying Phoenixes. A hazy mist soon enveloped the training ground, within which also stood the Six-legged Blade Chi, its injuries significantly healed, the Cloud Dream War God 'Mu Tao' bearing a giant wolf-head saber, and Teng Qingshan, carrying his massive mountain-splitting battle axe.

"Qingshan—"

The moment Li Jun saw Teng Qingshan, her eyes turned red. She immediately sprinted forward, enveloped him in an embrace, burying her face into his chest. She had held back her fear and anxiety while waiting, refusing to cry, but now seeing Teng Qingshan returned safe and sound, she could no longer suppress the tears, weeping uncontrollably.

"Xiao Jun, I’m fine, everything is fine," Teng Qingshan murmured softly, stroking her long hair and revealing a gentle smile.

Tears and rainwater mixed on Li Jun’s face as she looked up at him, her eyes blurred: "Qingshan, I was so scared. I was terrified you wouldn't make it to Tianyun Mountain. Dayan Mountain is so far from Tianyun Mountain. If you... I... I couldn't live without you either. And our unborn child."

"It’s alright now," Teng Qingshan said slowly, his voice soft but firm. "From now on, nothing will go wrong."

"Yoo~~"

A displeased cry sounded, and a head crowned as if with royalty stretched forward. A trace of dissatisfaction flickered in its eyes, which held subtle, dreamlike colors, fixed upon Li Jun.

"Xiao Qing," Li Jun cried upon seeing the phoenix, immediately reaching out to embrace the neck of the Undying Phoenix, 'Xiao Qing,' hugging it affectionately and rubbing her face against its neck feathers.

Only then did the Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing' call out happily. Although it followed Teng Qingshan and gleaned insights into the 'Dao' through his martial arts, Li Jun understood the language of beasts. For Teng Qingshan, the Undying Phoenix regarded him as a friend, someone who had shown him great kindness. But towards Li Jun, Xiao Qing viewed her as a true companion.

"Qingshan," Zhuge Yuanhong approached, his face wearing a smile.

Looking at Zhuge Yuanhong now, it was impossible to imagine the profound anxiety he had felt moments before.

"Master..."

Teng Qingshan smiled faintly. "Nothing will go wrong from now on. Master, let me introduce you—"

Saying this, Teng Qingshan pointed toward the Undying Phoenix, Xiao Qing, beside him: "Master, this is the Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing' that I often mentioned to you. It drifted with me across the sea and entered the Duanmu Continent back then. As for this one... this is the Undying Phoenix recorded in our Jiuzhou continent, the one who followed the Supreme Expert, the Sword Saint 'Li Taibai.'"

The Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing' also nodded kindly toward Zhuge Yuanhong.

However, the Mother of Phoenixes merely glanced coldly at Zhuge Yuanhong before ignoring him, appearing utterly proud.

Two Undying Phoenixes, Zhuge Yuanhong marveled internally, deeply impressed. Truly worthy of following a Supreme Expert; a divine beast from legend.

"Master, this is 'Mu Tao,' the Cloud Dream War God from the Duanmu Continent, whom I mentioned to you before. He is also a good friend I made in the Duanmu Continent. Mu Tao, this is my Master, Zhuge Yuanhong." Teng Qingshan introduced with a smile. Mu Tao, with his silver hair, laughed heartily and cupped his hands: "Brother Zhuge is truly remarkable; to have cultivated such an astonishing disciple, I am in awe."

"Disciple?" Zhuge Yuanhong felt a slight confusion, but he still smiled and cupped his hands in return, "Senior Mu, I am deeply grateful for your help to Qingshan."

"Haha, it was nothing. Furthermore, I didn't even make a move. Killing those two Void Realm Perfection experts has nothing to do with me. It was this Undying Phoenix that was formidable." Mu Tao laughed.

"Killing two Void Realm Perfection experts?" Zhuge Yuanhong paused, looking at Teng Qingshan.

Teng Qingshan nodded: "Below Tianyun Mountain, it was primarily thanks to the Mother of