"My legs, my feet." Teng Yongfan stared at his own large feet, his expression one of disbelief.

Yuan Lan and Qingyu, mother and daughter, also revealed expressions of excitement.

"Grandpa, Grandpa, you have feet!" Qingyu's son said in a milky, surprised voice.

"Haha, yes, yes," Teng Yongfan chuckled.

"Father, stand up and take a walk," Teng Qingshan urged.

"Right, stand up and try walking," Yuan Lan also prompted, suppressing her excitement.

Teng Yongfan took a deep breath, looked at his wife and children beside him, released his hands from the wheelchair grips, and gently placed his two large feet on the ground. He exerted a slight force in his thigh muscles—

Whoosh!

He stood up effortlessly.

"It's done, completely healed." Teng Yongfan felt the long-lost sensation of having his feet firmly on the ground, his eyes moist with emotion. For a person crippled and unable to stand, to suddenly be able to rise again one day—this joy was simply beyond words. Teng Yongfan walked back and forth across the main hall, occasionally even hopping a couple of times.

"Not a problem at all. It’s like it was never broken."

Teng Yongfan stamped his feet again. "The old knee injury is also gone. It feels better than when it was never broken." At this moment, Teng Yongfan was like a child, curiously moving his legs constantly.

Yuan Lan and Qingyu both wore expressions of ecstatic smiles.

"Qingshan," Li Jun gently held Teng Qingshan's hand. Teng Qingshan exchanged a knowing smile with his wife. Seeing his father stand again, seeing the happy smiles of his mother and sister... Teng Qingshan felt that all the suffering he endured was worth it.

"Haha, Qingshan, Xiaoyu."

Teng Yongfan was filled with vigor, no longer the aging disabled man of before. He was the former foremost strongman of Teng Family Village, and that heroic spirit had returned. After all, in terms of age, Teng Yongfan was only just over fifty, and having consumed the Vermilion Fruit Wine, reaching his natural limit of 'one hundred and fifty years' would not be difficult.

This lifetime of his was not even half over.

At this age, he was truly in his prime!

"Today, your father, I, will personally cook," Teng Yongfan laughed heartily. "I'll prepare a table of my specialty dishes for you all to taste."

"Father, you're cooking?" Qingyu deliberately pouted.

"What, don't believe me?" Teng Yongfan glared.

Yuan Lan laughed: "Xiaoyu, your father used to be an excellent cook. I was hooked precisely because of your father's wonderful food. That's how I ended up bound to him for this lifetime." Teng Yongfan roared with laughter: "It's been so many years, but our skill won't be forgotten. Alan, you manage the fire. Qingshan, Xiaoyu, you go wash the rice and vegetables."

"Yes."

Teng Qingshan and Qingyu, brother and sister, immediately stood up with smiles, and Li Jun also helped out nearby.

...

Instantly, the entire family was busy in the kitchen. Old Mother Yuan Lan tended the fire, while Old Father showcased his culinary skills. Teng Qingshan and Qingyu passed over the washed radishes and greens, assisting at the side.

"Mmm, it smells wonderful," Teng Qingshan sighed, inhaling the savory meat aroma wafting from the pot.

"My cooking skills aren't fake," Teng Yongfan stood perfectly straight before the stove, his bare feet planted firmly.

"Father," Qingyu pouted beside him, "Put on your shoes. It just rained, and you’re barefoot."

"I like being barefoot; it feels comfortable." Even now, Teng Yongfan felt like he was dreaming. Only by being barefoot could he clearly sense his feet, making him understand... this wasn't an illusion.

Suddenly—

"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"

The sound of knocking echoed.

"Xiaoyu, open the door," Zhuge Yun's voice came from outside. Qingyu, however, peered suspiciously through the kitchen door toward the courtyard entrance: "Brother. There seem to be quite a few people outside." Not just Qingyu, even Yuan Lan, who possessed no internal energy, heard the murmur of discussion outside the courtyard earlier; clearly, there were many people.

"There are quite a few," Teng Qingshan replied with a faint smile. "It's the Enforcement Elders, Elders, and Commanders from the Sect." Sensing their auras, Teng Qingshan identified many acquaintances.

"Enforcement Elders, Commanders?" Teng Yongfan was startled. "Xiaoyu, hurry and open the door. We absolutely cannot keep the Enforcement Elders waiting outside." To a country man like Teng Yongfan, the Enforcement Elders of the Guiyuan Sect were formidable Xiantian experts—they deserved respect, not neglect!

"Yes, Father."

Qingyu rushed to the courtyard gate, pulled the wooden bolt with a swish, and opened the door.

"So many people," Qingyu gasped, startled. Outside the gate stood the three Chief Enforcement Elders—Elder Yan, Elder Ni, and Elder Zang Feng—led by them. Alongside them stood Zhuge Yun. Behind them were numerous other Elders of the Guiyuan Sect and the Commanders of the Longgang Army Black Armor Guard, all standing properly.

Even Elder Yan and the others were behaving with utmost propriety.

"Elder Yan, Elder Ni, what brings you all here..." Qingyu was taken aback by their deferential attitude. In the Guiyuan Sect, even when facing the Sect Master, the Enforcement Elders would not be treated with such ceremony.

After all, in this Nine Provinces Continent, strength dictated respect. Zhuge Yuanhong was a Xiantian Golden Core expert, and Elder Ni and Elder Yan were also Xiantian Golden Core experts; they were relatively equal among themselves.

"Qingyu. We heard your brother has returned?" Elder Yan began.

"Uh..." Qingyu glanced at Zhuge Yun beside her, then nodded with a smile, "Elder Yan, my brother is back, he’s inside."

"We wish to see your brother. Would you mind announcing us?" Elder Yan requested.

"'Wish to announce'?"

Qingyu was stunned.

Within the Guiyuan Sect, for this entire group of Enforcement Elders, Elders, and Commanders to jointly see someone, they still required an announcement?

"If you want to see my brother, just come in. Why bother announcing?" Qingyu said casually.

"Protocol must be observed," Elder Ni added from the side.

In the minds of the high-ranking Guiyuan Sect officials like Elder Yan and Elder Ni now, Teng Qingshan was the most dazzling and peerless figure in the entire Nine Provinces Continent—a Void Realm expert at twenty-one years old! This achievement surpassed even the four legendary supreme experts of history. The mere status of a Void Realm expert was enough to command awe. Not to mention the prerequisite: the four words 'twenty-one years old' preceding 'Void Realm expert.'

Furthermore—Teng Qingshan had declared his secession from the Guiyuan Sect at Mount Dayan. While many in the sect believed Teng Qingshan was still one of their own, if they were being strictly factual, Teng Qingshan was indeed no longer a member of the Guiyuan Sect.

Facing a disciple who was not technically a member.

Facing an unprecedented, unbelievable existence—a 'twenty-one-year-old Void Realm expert.'

Facing an individual who had repeatedly aided the Guiyuan Sect, ensuring its survival.

Elder Yan, Elder Ni, and their group could not afford to be anything less than reverent. To greet him casually as 'Qingshan' would seem excessively presumptuous, like a vain peacock. After all, what was his status? A lofty Void Realm expert! A Void Realm expert possessing a Void Realm demonic beast, and still only twenty-two years old this year!

"Elder Yan, Elder Ni, there's no need for such courtesy. Please, all of you, come in," Teng Qingshan said with a smile as he walked out of the kitchen door and stood in the courtyard.

"If it were an ordinary person with Qingshan’s achievements, their ego would be sky-high," Teng Qingshan’s politeness clearly pleased Elder Yan, Elder Ni, and the others, who praised him silently. After all, this was the greatest figure to ever emerge from their Guiyuan Sect—indeed, perhaps the most supremely gifted figure in the entire Nine Provinces!

"Elders, please come in and take a seat."

Yuan Lan and Teng Yongfan walked out, and Teng Yongfan even went to fetch stools and chairs.

"Hm?" Many noticed Teng Yongfan's feet and froze.

Teng Yongfan, the man with the severed leg, could stand?

"No need, no need," an Elder behind Elder Yan quickly said. "We have come to pay respects to Senior Jingyi... that is, Lord Teng Qingshan." As a Houtian master, he naturally addressed a Void Realm expert respectfully as 'Lord.' In fact, when Teng Qingshan was in the Guiyuan Sect, he was already an Enforcement Elder. His status was extremely high.

"Jingyi?" Qingyu frowned in confusion. "What are you talking about? What connection does Senior Jingyi have with my brother?"

"Elders, I have heard the name Jingyi you speak of. What does that have to do with my son?" Teng Yongfan frowned. The great name of Jingyi had long been famous throughout the Guiyuan Sect and the Teng Clan. Everyone regarded this senior master who saved the Guiyuan Sect from peril as a great benefactor, marveling at his profound strength.

"Lord Teng is Senior Jingyi," a Longgang Army Commander stated.

Teng Yongfan and Yuan Lan looked at Teng Qingshan, disbelief coloring their faces... Could the esteemed senior master, rumored to be three to four hundred years old, actually be their son?

"Father," Teng Qingshan touched his face with a wry smile. Simultaneously, the structure of his bones and tendons subtly shifted, transforming him directly into the appearance of Jingyi.

"This—" Even though everyone present knew Teng Qingshan was Jingyi, this ability to change form and appearance stunned everyone.

"Jingyi is just an alias," Teng Qingshan touched his face again. A faint crackling sound emanated from his body, and he returned to the form of Teng Qingshan.

"Jingyi... my son?"

"Qingshan?"

Teng Yongfan blinked, then looked at his wife, who was equally bewildered. They knew their son was extraordinary... but this, this was too unbelievable.

Yangzhou, Sword Edge Mountain on Qinghu Island.

The Blind Sword Saint sat cross-legged on a piece of black stone, yet his heart was far from calm. Since yesterday, when Shen Gongtu and his group passed by on their way to kill Jingyi, they had transmitted a message telling him to prepare to raze the Guiyuan Sect once Jingyi was dead. But until now... he had not received news of Jingyi's demise.

"Crack!" A sharp sound rang out.

Nearby, Tie Pan, who was holding a secret letter, had accidentally shattered a tea cup.

"What is going on?" the Blind Sword Saint barked.

"Grandmaster, there is... there is news," Tie Pan's face was deeply troubled.

"Speak quickly," the Blind Sword Saint commanded. "Is that Jingyi dead?"

"There was a Void Realm expert who died, but it wasn't Jingyi," Tie Pan reported.

"How could this be?" The Blind Sword Saint frowned. "The Yu Huang Gate made a move; it shouldn't have turned out like this."

Tie Pan's face grew exceedingly grim, and he continued: "Grandmaster, according to intelligence... Jingyi had an additional Void Realm ally this time, described as highly likely to be the Undying Phoenix. Moreover, below Mount Tianyun, the intelligence described a strong expert wielding a divine bow who could fly, who was burned alive. That should be Shen Gongtu, a Peak Void Realm master!"

"Shen Gongtu is dead? Jingyi had the Undying Phoenix as an ally? The Undying Phoenix who once followed the supreme expert Li Taibai?" The Blind Sword Saint exclaimed in shock. This news was too staggering.

"Grandmaster... That Jingyi has always been an alias. His true identity is..." Tie Pan's voice trembled.

"Who?" The Blind Sword Saint felt a sense of dread.

"Teng Qingshan!" Tie Pan forced the words out between his teeth.

The Blind Sword Saint's body froze abruptly.