"What is it?" Teng Qingshan was also startled by Li Jun's expression. He took the intelligence report and looked.

The report detailed the troop movements that had recently occurred in Qingzhou and Youzhou.

"What is the Heavenly God Palace trying to do?" Teng Qingshan said, angered, "Judging by their actions, it seems they intend to concentrate their armies in Youzhou?" As the originator of the chaos that once engulfed the Nine Provinces, Teng Qingshan paid close attention to every move the Heavenly God Palace made over the past sixteen years. Because of Teng Qingshan's presence, the Heavenly God Palace was prevented from advancing south to attack Yangzhou.

As a result, the Heavenly God Palace had, unusually, remained quiet for a full sixteen years.

Sixteen years was long enough for an infant to grow into a young man.

"The Heavenly God Palace is preparing for something big," Teng Qingshan worried.

"Yes, very likely," Li Jun nodded. "When I was with the Snow Lotus Sect, I knew the Palace Master had some grand plan. The planned attack on Yangzhou was merely one step. After sixteen years of recuperation, the Heavenly God Palace’s control over Qingzhou, Youzhou, and the Great Grasslands must be much stronger."

"Qingzhou has the largest population, while Youzhou is a harsh, cold land with a fierce populace. Not to mention the Great Grasslands. The armies from these three regions, when gathered, will undoubtedly be the fiercest on the Nine Provinces' lands," Li Jun worried. "It's just uncertain just how vast the ambition of the Heavenly God Palace truly is."

"If they merely conquer one or two regions, so be it," Teng Qingshan shook his head. "My greatest fear is that they harbor the same desire as the former King of the Northeast—to use the Northeast as a base and conquer all of the Nine Provinces!"

If they sought to unify the world, the Form-Intention Sect would inevitably become an enemy of the Heavenly God Palace!

"After all, in terms of manpower, no single sect in the world can compare to the Heavenly God Palace," Teng Qingshan was deeply concerned. Qingzhou, Youzhou, plus the Great Grasslands—that represented nearly a billion people. The Great Grasslands, especially, mobilized its entire populace for war. From these three areas, the Heavenly God Palace could easily muster an invincible army of nearly ten million!

"Moreover, according to what the Mother of the Phoenix said when she departed, the powerhouse who obtained an Immortal Grass from her is in Qingzhou. That must be Pei San."

Teng Qingshan was certain that only a powerhouse at the Void Transcending Realm could contend with the Mother of the Phoenix.

"When he fought the other Void Realm expert, Qin Seventeen, Pei San seemed to casually employ numerous techniques, including those from the Buddhist Sect, Esoteric Sect, and the Beast Path," Teng Qingshan mused. If one were to name the person he was most wary of across the Nine Provinces, it was undoubtedly that enigmatic Pei San, who remained impossible to fully gauge.

"He once threw a hidden weapon and severely wounded the Iron-Scaled Earth-Drill Rat, a Void Realm demonic beast with extremely strong defenses."

"With an invincible army, coupled with his personal strength..."

Teng Qingshan couldn't help but feel a wave of pressure.

"However, my Form-Intention Sect’s territory is small. His biggest rivals in striving for supremacy are the ancient Yu Emperor Gate, the Ying Clan, and the Manichaean Temple."

The mobilization of the Heavenly God Palace's armies had indeed put all the major sects across the Nine Provinces on high alert.

Compared to the Form-Intention Sect, which controlled only five commanderies, the Heavenly God Palace, governing nearly a billion subjects, was the entity that inspired the deepest dread in the hearts of the other major powers.

...

Two days later.

"Hah!" "Hup!"

In the Great Yan Mountains, cries of martial arts practice, like an incoming tide, could be heard from afar—it was the sound of hundreds of thousands of Form-Intention Sect disciples practicing together at dawn.

Teng Qingshan was also in the courtyard, casually practicing his fists. One moment, a retreating Bursting Fist; the next, shifting into a Water Path Fist, fluid like a python. Various techniques flowed from him at will, executed purely by impulse. For a moment, the serving girl holding tea in the distance felt that Teng Qingshan was either a terrifying, erupting volcano or a surging flood, startling her so much that she turned her head away, afraid to look.

Teng Qingshan’s martial arts had reached a level where they could influence a person’s ‘spirit.’

"Elder, the Sect Master is practicing his fists," the serving girl whispered.

At this moment, Zong Lu stood quietly beside the serving girl, waiting patiently.

"Hoo!"

With a long exhalation, Teng Qingshan stood serene.

"Uncle Zong," Teng Qingshan turned and walked over with a smile, accepting the tea offered by the serving girl. After taking two sips, he put it down. "Rushing over so early, is there something important? Have you found Linlin?"

"The Sect Master is indeed formidable," Zong Lu nodded. "We have located the young mistress. She has now joined a large merchant caravan within Yuzhou territory."

"Oh, a caravan," Teng Qingshan nodded.

"I have already arranged for someone to infiltrate the caravan to constantly report the young mistress's whereabouts," Zong Lu stated, simultaneously handing over an intelligence scroll. Teng Qingshan took it and flipped through it, then looked up at the sky. The autumn morning sun felt quite comfortable. "The weather is good now. I plan to take Little Jun out for a stroll to relax. We can bring Linlin back then."

"If the Sect Master goes personally, it is naturally foolproof. This subordinate is relieved," Zong Lu said with a smile.

By late morning, Teng Qingshan found Li Jun, who was enjoying time with the Undying Phoenix, 'Little Qing,' on the upper slopes of the Great Yan Mountains.

"Go out for a walk?" Li Jun’s eyes lit up.

"Yes, I haven't properly taken you out this year," Teng Qingshan nodded with a smile. "We'll go with Little Qing to Yuzhou. We’ll join that caravan. Let's see what our daughter is up to. It will serve as a relaxing trip. We’ll have fun for a few days and then bring Linlin back."

Although Teng Qingshan devoted most of his energy to cultivation, he still took his wife to visit some famous mountains and rivers across the Nine Provinces every year.

"Good, let's leave immediately," Li Jun said with anticipation.

"No rush. Let's alter our appearances a bit. We don't want our daughter to recognize us," Teng Qingshan chuckled and touched his face. His appearance immediately changed drastically.

That day, Teng Qingshan altered his looks, while Li Jun wore a human-skin mask.

The couple rode the Undying Phoenix, 'Little Qing,' after entrusting the temporary sect leadership to 'Yang Dong,' and departed the Great Yan Mountains, flying toward Yuzhou.

On August sixteenth, at noon, on an official road within Yuzhou territory, the weather was crisp and clear—perfect for traveling.

A magnificent merchant caravan, consisting of over a thousand people, advanced slowly along the road. This caravan was formed by the convergence of several smaller trade groups, freelance merchants, and adventurers traveling the land. Naturally, nearly thirty percent of these thousand people were guards!

"Giddy up!"

Within the caravan, three riders moved abreast: a husband and wife, accompanied by a middle-aged man in a gray robe, whose face was wreathed in smiles.

"Sect Master, the young mistress is just ahead," the middle-aged man murmured.

"Oh," Teng Qingshan nodded. In truth, he had already condensed the surrounding space, ensuring their voices could not carry.

"Has Linlin shown any peculiarities along the way?" Teng Qingshan inquired.

"Sect Master, there is one piece of news this subordinate must relay," the gray-robed man continued. "Yesterday at noon, over ten more people joined this caravan. Among them was a young man well-known in Yuzhou named 'Wei Jiang.' The young mistress seems quite fond of him. They have been keeping close company throughout the journey."

"Wei Jiang?" Li Jun exclaimed in surprise beside him.

Teng Qingshan’s brows furrowed slightly.

As parents, seeing their daughter close to another young man always brought a measure of anxiety.

"Do you know Wei Jiang's background?" Teng Qingshan asked.

"Reporting to the Sect Master," the gray-robed man offered a slight smile. "Wei Jiang is from Yuzhou. When he was young, his small ancestral village, called 'Wei Family Village,' was ravaged by bandits. Many villagers died or were scattered. From then on, Wei Jiang became an orphan. However, by a stroke of fate, he learned the 'Tiger Form Fist.' And Wei Jiang’s innate talent must be extraordinary, for just recently, he, alone with a single spear, managed to sweep through the three major mountain strongholds nearby, causing them to collapse, and killing all three stronghold leaders. He avenged his old home, Wei Family Village, and some of his kin."

"Three major strongholds?" Teng Qingshan was greatly surprised.

Someone who self-taught internal martial arts could achieve this level?

"Yes, three strongholds. According to local rumors, Wei Jiang might not have known which bandit group actually destroyed his village, so he swept through all three," the gray-robed man chuckled. "Sect Master, that was accomplished through night raids, not in open battle. However—Wei Jiang possesses the strength of a First-Class Martial Artist, that much is true. Haha, only our lineage of internal martial arts could achieve attacking three strongholds single-handedly. The Daoist lineage or the Buddhist Sect lineage would be easily subdued once their internal energy is depleted."

This was one of the advantages of internal martial arts.

Physical strength could be sustained for a very long time.

"Linlin is quite the martial arts fanatic," Teng Qingshan gazed toward the front, vaguely spotting a graceful figure. "Knowing that Wei Jiang achieved this level relying only on the 'Tiger Form Fist,' it's not strange that she is momentarily drawn to him out of curiosity."

"Qingshan, don't be careless," Li Jun immediately shot him a look.

Linlin was seventeen now, and countless suitors had already approached them.

After all, securing the son-in-law of the Grandmaster Teng Qingshan was a dream for many. However, Teng Qingshan and Li Jun were firm that their daughter had to consent willingly, and they themselves had to approve.

"Wei Jiang!" Teng Qingshan sensed the young man beside his daughter and smiled. "This fellow's 'spirit' is quite strong. It seems his attainment in the 'Tiger Form Fist' is exceptionally high. Haha, Little Jun, don't be too quick to judge... If our daughter gets along well with Wei Jiang, and if Wei Jiang proves to be a decent person, they might truly make a good match."

Li Jun gave him a helpless glance.

...

In the caravan, Teng Qingshan and Li Jun found themselves pleasantly relaxed, listening to the merchants around them sharing interesting tales from afar and observing the scenery, while occasionally paying attention to their daughter and the young man named 'Wei Jiang.'

The next morning.

The caravan had just assembled outside the city walls. They had only traveled a few miles when...

"Hmm?" Teng Qingshan frowned.

"Eh, what's happening?" Li Jun also looked back in surprise.

"It's the Yu Emperor Gate. What are they doing out here?" the gray-robed middle-aged man wondered, though he felt no real worry, as the Form-Intention Sect Ancestor was by his side—a figure whose mere word could shake the Nine Provinces.

From the city they had just left, a massive cavalry force emerged—the very army belonging to the Yu Emperor Gate. Faced with such a formation, the merchant caravan obediently pulled aside to let the soldiers pass.

"Everyone make way."

"Hurry and move to the side." The caravan organizers immediately shouted.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The warhorses galloped, and a large contingent of cavalry swiftly rushed past the front of the caravan, only to suddenly halt with sharp neighs. This cavalry formation completely intercepted the merchant caravan.