The night was dim. Candlelight flickered. Teng Qingshan sat at his desk, casually sketching on paper with a brush in hand. Beside him lay a stack of drawings previously belonging to his master, 'Zhuge Yuanhong'.

"Qingshan, what are you doing?" Li Jun walked in, wearing an outer coat, and smiled as she watched.

"Go to sleep first, I'll be done shortly."

Teng Qingshan had drawn out a set of diagrams for the 'Tiger Form Fist' himself. Then, beneath each diagram, he left brief notes—sometimes just a sentence or two, or a short verse, explaining the key points of the stance depicted.

"Hmm? Qingshan, are you…?" Li Jun seemed surprised.

"Just compiling a manual," Teng Qingshan replied with a slight smile, not elaborating. He began writing from the first stance of the Tiger Form Fist, continuing until the very last sheet was filled. Then, he picked up the stack of drawings belonging to his master, 'Zhuge Yuanhong', and began inscribing text onto those sheets as well. This time, however, the descriptions were markedly more detailed and earnest.

If the previous manual for the Tiger Form Fist only contained a couple of simple sentences or verses for each move, this new manual detailed every single stance with extensive annotations—ten times more detailed than the previous one.

"Qingshan, why are these two manuals so different? The first one is obviously much rougher," Li Jun asked, genuinely confused.

Teng Qingshan turned back, smiled at her, and said nothing more.

On the twentieth day of the fourth month, in Nanxing County City.

"Young Master Meng, where are we heading for a meal?"

"Let's go to 'Spring Rain Tavern' just ahead."

Three spoiled young men, leading their servants and escorts, swaggered down the street. The one at the head was fair-skinned and rosy-cheeked, clearly from a wealthy family. He was currently carrying a birdcage containing a small bird with vibrant emerald feathers that chirped occasionally.

As they walked, no one dared provoke the trio of young dandies. Just looking at the imposing group of guards and servants trailing behind them was enough to signal their unusual status.

"Young Master Meng, please come in quickly." Upon seeing them, the manager of the Spring Rain Tavern rushed out to greet them personally. "We have a private room upstairs."

"Mmm," the young man surnamed Meng nodded, glancing around the bustling ground floor filled with people from all walks of life. He then chuckled, "Manager, we'll stay on the first floor today. Second and Third, what do you say?"

"Whatever Young Master Meng wishes."

The other two youths responded with lighthearted agreement.

"Manager, bring out the dishes, same as usual!" Young Master Meng and his entourage immediately occupied three tables on one side of the ground floor. Yet, the patrons already present, hailing from every corner of the realm, continued their loud conversations and laughter. They paid no mind to any young masters; men who had traveled the world had seen all sorts.

"Gentlemen! Do you know how the youngest Void Realm expert in our Nine Provinces since the world's creation, Teng Qingshan, managed to step into the Void Realm at such a tender age?" A voice resonated quite loudly throughout the tavern.

"Hmm?" Young Master Meng and the other two young idlers both turned their heads.

"Hey, what is the Void Realm?" Someone immediately shouted.

"Haha, you don't even know that?"

"You’ve been living under a rock! Above the Innate Experts comes the Xiantian Experts. And above the Xiantian Experts... are the lofty, supreme Void Realm existences!" Someone else called out. Since the rise of the Heavenly God Palace and the subsequent chaos across the Nine Provinces, Void Realm experts had begun to openly display their power before common people. Thus, the Void Realm was no longer a secret. In peacetime, many were ignorant of it, but in times of turmoil, most people had learned.

"Tell us! Why is Lord Teng Qingshan a Void Expert so young? What kind of treasure did he consume?" Various calls erupted.

"Listen to me, everyone," the goat-bearded old man who first spoke said triumphantly, stroking his whiskers. "Since Emperor Yu descended upon the Nine Provinces, the Daoist lineage was established! Subsequently, most major sects employ cultivation methods derived from the Daoist lineage! However... Patriarch Shakya, founder of the Manichaean Temple, was also exceptionally gifted and created the Buddhist cultivation method, entirely distinct from the Daoist path!"

"We all know about the Daoist and Buddhist lineages. Stop wasting time, quickly tell us how Lord Teng Qingshan reached the Void Realm," someone couldn't help but press.

"The Nine Provinces have the Daoist and Buddhist lineages," the goat-bearded old man chuckled. "But now, Lord Teng Qingshan has created the third lineage—the Inner Family Fist lineage!"

"Inner Family Fist?"

"How can there be an Inner Family Fist lineage alongside Daoism and Buddhism?" Many people expressed doubt. "Old man, don't start boasting here." Someone immediately challenged.

The goat-bearded old man glared: "I am not boasting! This is Nanxing County territory, not far from Jiangning County. Those with well-informed sources should know that last year, the Guiyuan Sect recruited a large number of youths to learn fist techniques from Lord Teng Qingshan. Three months later, almost all of them were dismissed, with only a very small fraction remaining with Lord Teng Qingshan! My nephew's son was one of them. He’s the one who heard the name of that fist technique—Inner Family Fist!"

"I know about that. Last year, Guiyuan Sect did recruit a large group of youths for Lord Teng Qingshan. Back then, we all thought Lord Teng Qingshan was 'Senior Jing Yi'. When I heard the news and wanted to send my own child over, Guiyuan Sect actually said they had filled their quota," someone in the tavern agreed.

"Yes, that happened," many admitted.

The goat-bearded old man smiled proudly: "Speaking of the Inner Family Fist, it’s no ordinary method of cultivation. It absolutely does not require sitting cross-legged to circulate internal energy. It is an entirely different method of training! Once mastered, the speed of progress is incredibly fast. Lord Teng Qingshan’s eldest disciple, named 'Teng Shou,' is recorded even in the texts of the Myriad Phenomena Sect. He’s a youth possessing Xiantian strength. By his appearance, he is also quite young. He achieved Xiantian strength by cultivating the Inner Family Fist!"

"The Inner Family Fist is that powerful?"

"Need you ask? In the entire history of the Nine Provinces since creation, have you ever seen anyone reach the Void Realm at twenty-one? Even Emperor Yu, Heavenly Emperor Qin Ling, and others couldn't match that speed."

"He was only twenty-one when he reached that level. How old was he when he took disciples? How many years have his disciples practiced the Inner Family Fist? Even his disciples have reached Xiantian! This Inner Family Fist truly is astonishing."

The entire tavern was filled with exclamations of awe. Ever since Teng Qingshan’s name spread across the Nine Provinces, many had wondered how he became so formidable. No matter how prodigious his talent, there had been no shortage of gifted individuals throughout the ages in the Nine Provinces. Why was Teng Qingshan so exceptional? Could it truly be that Heaven favored this person?

"So, it’s the Inner Family Fist," many murmured with wonder.

"However, the cultivation requirements for the Inner Family Fist are extremely harsh," the goat-bearded old man sighed in admiration. "So many youths were sent over back then, and almost all were sent back. Only a select few succeeded."

"A supreme cultivation method like the Inner Family Fist not having strict aptitude requirements would be stranger," someone shouted immediately.

"Ah, since the Inner Family Fist is so incredible, I should send my grandson over to try!"

"Forget it. Lord Teng Qingshan already accepted one batch of disciples and isn't accepting any more. Do you think this Inner Family Fist is something everyone can learn?"

...

Listening to these discussions, Young Master Meng, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, muttered to himself, "Lord Teng Qingshan? His disciple is also Xiantian? Inner Family Fist?" He seemed deep in thought.

"Second, Third, that's all for today, I'm leaving first." Young Master Meng barely touched his food before standing up and departing with his servants and guards.

"Young Master," the other two spoiled youths exchanged confused glances.

**

As if carried by a sudden wind, talk of the 'Inner Family Fist lineage' spread throughout Yangzhou Province. The world, which had long been curious about the speed of Teng Qingshan’s training and what he had been doing during his four-year disappearance, suddenly understood. They all grasped it now.

It turned out—the exceptionally gifted Teng Qingshan had created a cultivation method, the 'Inner Family Fist lineage,' entirely distinct from Daoism and Buddhism.

They also learned that the Inner Family Fist lineage was miraculous; Teng Qingshan's disciples were all Innate Masters, and this lineage enabled Teng Qingshan to become the youngest Void Realm expert in history!

Instantly, countless people wished to seek out Teng Qingshan as their master to learn the magical 'Inner Family Fist' method.

However—

The Teng Family Estate universally turned away all visitors, and Teng Qingshan absolutely refused to accept any new disciples.

...

The legend of the 'Inner Family Fist' was not confined to Yangzhou; it began spreading to other regions of the Nine Provinces. After all, this was the Nine Provinces—a world where the strong commanded respect. A genius whose speed of cultivation surpassed that of Emperor Yu, Heavenly Emperor Qin Ling, Patriarch Shakya, and Poet Immortal Li Taibai naturally attracted universal attention. The Inner Family Fist lineage, being radically different from Daoism and Buddhism, naturally evoked even greater astonishment and curiosity.

Nanxing County City, Meng Estate.

"What is this 'Three Stance Form'?" The young man surnamed Meng stood in the courtyard, repeatedly practicing the Three Stance Form. "It’s too simple! Just preparing to withdraw, throw a punch, withdraw again, throw another punch... repeating this. What is the point of practicing this?"

After practicing for a long time, Young Master Meng gave up.

Since hearing others discuss the legend of 'Teng Qingshan' and the term 'Inner Family Fist' at the tavern that day, the young master of the Meng Estate, 'Meng Lutong,' had been profoundly affected. He had been listless that whole day. In truth, he had grown weary of his pampered life as a young rake. He longed for genuine fervor! He craved drinking heartily, eating meat heartily! To be a hero roaming the martial world, living by the edge of the blade!

This time, he had finally awakened. He threw away the birdcage, abandoned his fair-weather friends, and stated one serious sentence to his father: "Father! I want to learn the Inner Family Fist, and I want to become a true master myself!"

The eight hundred or so youths dismissed by Teng Qingshan long ago had, unknowingly, eventually spread the Three Stance Form. Since the Three Stance Form was so simple, it was easily transmitted externally. Consequently, Meng Lutong had also acquired the 'Three Stance Form,' though only its surface movements, lacking the accompanying breathing and internal energy control methods.

"Lutong, Lutong." A voice suddenly called out.

Meng Lutong turned to see a middle-aged man, so plump he resembled a ball of fat, running towards him, waving a book: "Lutong, look what your father managed to get for you!"

"What is it?" Meng Lutong looked over in surprise.

"This is a cultivation manual your father spent one thousand taels of silver to acquire! This is a Tiger Form Fist manual that circulated from within the Teng Family Estate!" The stout middle-aged man, ignoring the sweat beading on his face, presented it to his son as a treasure.

Meng Lutong looked closely—

The three large characters on the thread-bound book read: Tiger Form Fist!