"Oh," the girl in blue could only nod, then whispered, "Miss, what formidable fist technique is the Sect Master trying to create during his seclusion? I recall the Sect Master was in seclusion for quite a long time three years ago." "I don't know either," the girl in green frowned, shaking her head. "But my father has secluded himself quite a few times these past few years.

All for this so-called Ninth Fist.

It seems this technique is incredibly difficult to master.

Never mind.

Let's not worry about it.

Hmm, after we eat, we'll stroll around Wu'an Commandery, and leave tomorrow." The girl in blue nodded: "Leaving Wu'an Commandery, where to?" "We'll see when the time comes," the girl in green replied with a casual smile.

Whoosh! A small white bird flew in through the window and landed on the shoulder of the girl in green. "Xiao Bai must be hungry," the girl in blue said, smiling at the white bird. "Xiao Bai," the girl in green held up a small piece of meat with her chopsticks and offered it to the bird's tiny beak.

The small white bird actually pecked twice, snatched the piece of meat, and swallowed it in a few quick gulps.

This bird was one the girl in green had raised since childhood; it was extremely obedient.

At Great Yan Mountain in Jiangning Commandery, it was high noon.

Yet, the foothills of Great Yan Mountain were still bustling with passersby.

The former official road had also been widened considerably.

In fact, at the foot of Great Yan Mountain, there were quite a few luxurious mansions built, giving it an air of prosperity.

Currently, Great Yan Mountain held immense fame across the Nine Provinces.

Because— This was the sacred ground for Inner Martial Arts practitioners! Within the most secluded area of Great Yan Mountain's Xingyi Sect, the 'Donghua Courtyard'. "Young Master!" "Young Master!" A spirited young man walked through the Donghua Courtyard.

The serving maids in the courtyard greeted him with smiles, appearing very familiar with him.

However, there was no master-servant feeling between them, and the young man also cheerfully greeted a maid nearby: "Sister Chunlan, you look even more beautiful than last time." "The Young Master has a sweet tongue." The maids teased back jokingly. "Where is my mother?" the young man inquired. "She is over by the flower garden, waiting for the Sect Master to come out of seclusion," the maid named 'Chunlan' replied.

The young man nodded and hurried toward the flower garden.

Having grown up here, he was intimately familiar with the Donghua Courtyard; he could find the flower garden with his eyes closed.

Soon, walking through a corridor and entering a courtyard gate, he arrived at the flower garden courtyard, a sight of vibrant colors everywhere.

In this courtyard, purple flowers gathered in one spot, and yellow flowers gathered in another.

Entering the courtyard felt like stepping into an ocean of flowers.

Inside the center of the flower garden, a woman dressed in loose white robes seemed to move like an exiled immortal, gracefully executing a set of fist techniques amidst the blossoms. "Mother," the young man called out twice.

The practicing woman executed a graceful spin and landed lightly on the bluestone pavement beside him.

This woman in white was none other than Li Jun.

Compared to sixteen years ago, the current Li Jun carried a trace of elegance and maturity.

Her eyes held a gentle warmth, making her appear like a piece of warm, lustrous jade that brought tranquility to the heart. "Hongwu, you're back," Li Jun walked over, smiling, a hint of doting affection in her eyes.

Shortly after giving birth to their daughter, 'Honglin', Li Jun became pregnant again and gave birth to their son, 'Hongwu'.

Naming him 'Wu' (Martial) was partly to commemorate the time Teng Qingshan and Li Jun spent in Wu'an Commandery, and partly to hold onto a hope: a man needed peerless martial power on this land of the Nine Provinces.

Teng Qingshan also hoped his son would possess supreme martial might.

However— Sometimes the way things unfold is completely contrary to one's imagination.

Daughter Honglin, though very obedient in front of her father Teng Qingshan, was quite mischievous in private.

But—it was undeniable that Honglin had an incredible affinity for Inner Martial Arts.

After practicing for more than a decade since childhood, Honglin had actually reached the Innate Limit, lacking only the opening of the meridians in her face.

Furthermore, in terms of fist technique mastery, Honglin excelled.

Among the Five Elements Fist of Xingyi, the daughter Honglin's specialty was the 'Crushing Fist' (Beng Quan).

Teng Qingshan had placed great hopes on his son Hongwu.

Yet, although Hongwu practiced diligently, as he grew older, Hongwu found himself increasingly drawn to the affairs of the 'Qingshan Guild'.

Today, the Qingshan Guild was a colossal entity in the commercial circles across the Nine Provinces.

Supported secretly by the Xingyi Sect, and benefiting from the vast numbers of Inner Martial Arts practitioners spread throughout the provinces, coupled with its foundation in the prosperous Yangzhou, the Qingshan Guild now managed numerous businesses, including restaurants, illicit salt trade, and security escorts.

While Hongwu's achievements in martial arts were not as astounding as his father Teng Qingshan's, his aptitude was still upper-middle tier.

Coupled with hands-on teaching from the famous master Teng Qingshan and an excellent environment, his achievements were decent.

His strength was already approaching that of a first-rate martial artist.

Of course, compared to his older sister, he clearly lagged behind.

However, Hongwu possessed considerable talent in business management. "There’s nothing one can do against fate.

The children turn out as they will, not necessarily according to the parents' wishes," Teng Qingshan could only sigh helplessly about this.

…… "Mother, Father hasn't emerged from seclusion yet?" Hongwu looked toward the tall martial arts training hall not far away. "Mmm," Li Jun looked with a helpless smile at the training hall built ten years ago. "Your father has been in seclusion for about twelve days now.

But who knows when he’ll come out.

However...

if a month passes, even if your father isn't successful, he will come out then." Teng Qingshan had entered seclusion several times in order to create the Ninth Fist of the Way of Wood.

Evidently, among the Five Elements Ways, the Way of Wood had proven the most challenging for Teng Qingshan. "Mmm, by the way, Mother," Hongwu looked around, "I didn't see Sister this time when I returned." "Your sister?" Li Jun shook her head and smiled. "You don't know your sister's temper.

When your father is around, she doesn't dare to run off and cause trouble.

Your father can catch her easily.

But...

when your father goes into seclusion, he pays her no mind.

I don't have your father's 'Domain,' and if I'm not careful, this little imp will drag Xiao Xiao out with her." Hongwu also chuckled: "Sister is skilled in disguise techniques; she’s truly hard to find." Suddenly— "Hmm?" Li Jun turned her head with a slight look of alarm toward the training ground. "What is it, Mother?" Hongwu asked, puzzled. "Something's not right," Li Jun stared intently at the training hall.

Through the gap beneath the training hall door, she could faintly see a trace of pale green light, almost imperceptible.

Just then. "Hahahaha..." A hearty, unrestrained laugh echoed from within the training room, the sound reverberating above the Donghua Courtyard. "Roar~~" A roar also came from the distant Great Yan Mountain. "That's Uncle Daochi," Hongwu looked toward the distance in surprise.

But Li Jun's eyes shone brightly as she stared at the massive stone doors of the training hall.

With a sound of "Rumble~~," the two colossal stone doors began to slowly open outwards, and a tall figure emerged from the darkness of the training hall.

He wore loose black robes, his long hair flowed freely, and his face was resolute.

It was Teng Qingshan! Compared to sixteen years ago, the changes were not significant, only that he was much more composed and inwardly focused.

Occasionally, a penetrating light flickered deep within his eyes.

Having long held a high position, as the founding patriarch of the 'Xingyi Sect,' which now held a pivotal position across the Nine Provinces, and as the leader upholding the 'Guiyuan Sect,' one of the Seven Great Sects of the Nine Provinces—Teng Qingshan's aura naturally transformed over time from constantly occupying such status and being revered by the world as a Grandmaster. "Xiaojun," Teng Qingshan smiled at his wife, then looked at his son, "Awu, when did you return?" "Just returned today," Hongwu replied.

Teng Qingshan nodded with a smile.

Between his two children, although Hongwu was younger, his son was clearly much more mature than his daughter in handling social interactions, and he gave his father less cause for worry. "Has Linlin run off again?" Teng Qingshan asked with a chuckle. "Yes, she slipped out right after you went into seclusion," Li Jun walked over.

Teng Qingshan shook his head and smiled: "I sensed her slipping away in the training room, but I couldn't do anything.

Forget it...

have you found out where she’s gone now?" "I asked Xiaoqing," Li Jun replied. "Xiaoqing also asked her subordinates; we should have results in the next day or two." "Oh," Teng Qingshan nodded.

Hongwu, standing nearby, couldn't help but lower his voice: "Father, have you...

have you already created the Ninth Fist of the Way of Wood?" "Hahahaha..." Teng Qingshan couldn't help but laugh heartily again. "Look at your father laughing; can't you tell?" Li Jun couldn't help but smile too.

She was genuinely happy for Teng Qingshan, as he had spent an immense amount of time cultivating the Way of Wood, especially this Ninth Fist, for which he had entered seclusion multiple times, only achieving a true, complete breakthrough today.

After spending a full sixteen years on the Way of Wood, he finally broke through to Great Accomplishment.

With this, Teng Qingshan had finally reached the Great Accomplishment of the Void Realm! "Ten-tenths of the Heaven and Earth Force combined with physical strength.

Looking across the Nine Provinces, perhaps only those in the Cavernous Void Realm can surpass me," Teng Qingshan was very confident.

His sixteen years of arduous practice were not solely devoted to the Way of Wood; he had also spent considerable energy researching and refining his spear techniques.

Now, Teng Qingshan asserted— Below the Cavernous Void, no one could surpass him! "I have now reached the Great Accomplishment of the Void Realm.

And one step beyond the Great Accomplishment of the Void Realm...

is the Cavernous Void." "How exactly does one reach the Cavernous Void Realm?" Teng Qingshan pondered internally.

After Teng Qingshan, Li Jun, and their son Hongwu managed a rare meal together that day.

As night fell, in the study.

Teng Qingshan occasionally practiced his fist techniques within the study, and occasionally walked to the desk to record some essential notes on the martial arts. "Qingshan, are you creating a new technique?" Li Jun walked in through the side door of the study, smiling. "Mmm.

Reviewing the old helps one understand the new.

In fact, creating this technique has also allowed me to gain a clearer insight into the Five Elements Ways," Teng Qingshan smiled. "Today, with my Way of Wood finally complete, my understanding of the 'Crushing Fist' within the Xingyi Five Elements Fist has deepened considerably.

I thought of two different ways to practice the Crushing Fist.

I'll perfect them first, then record them." Suddenly, Teng Qingshan looked up toward the south. "What is it?" Li Jun startled. "Xiaoqing has arrived," Teng Qingshan said with a smile and strode toward the study door.