"What are you, to dare say my daughter is ill-mannered!" That angry roar echoed in the air, and the numerous soldiers among the cavalry troop stared wide-eyed, utterly incredulous at the scene unfolding.
The figure that had rushed forward was now hurtling back even faster. "Rumble~~" That figure slammed directly into the warhorse he had been riding moments before. "Neigh~~" The warhorse whinnied in pain, lifted off the ground by the impact, and then crashed violently into the surrounding cavalry, causing over a dozen horsemen to be thrown off balance, their horses tumbling over.
The bald old man who had been struck recoiled with a "Pfft," spitting out a mouthful of bright crimson blood as he fell to the ground, his body instantly covered in dirt. "Who, who is it?" The bald old man was filled with terror.
He hadn't even seen his opponent; he had only felt an invisible force slam into him.
If he hadn't managed to erect his Innate True Essence shield in time, he likely would have been shaken to death on the spot. "How could Master be defeated?" The young general was stunned speechless.
The reason Master had been brought along was the concern that 'Wei Jiang,' who had swept through three major stockades with a single spear thrust, was too formidable.
That was why he had invited his Master, who was already at the Innate Void Core stage, knowing that Wei Jiang’s ability to reach such a level simply by self-teaching the Tiger Form Fist meant the vast majority of his meridians must be clear.
Once one practiced an inner strength manual, most manuals could be cultivated to near perfection.
Achieving an explosive force of tens of thousands of jin would not be difficult.
Therefore, they needed an Innate expert to be present to capture Wei Jiang this time. "This is—" The young general stared at the figure in the white robe, standing as straight and unyielding as a spear shaft. "Who is he?" "I lost without even seeing the person.
This...
even an Innate Golden Core couldn't manage this.
Could it be..." The heavily wounded, spitting old man, 'Hu Zhong,' stared at the white-robed man nearby. "A Void Realm existence!!!" Hu Zhong, who had roamed the martial world his entire life, had never encountered a 'Void Realm' expert before.
He had always been arrogant. "Master." The young general immediately rushed over, helping the bald old man up.
Along the official road, hushed discussions murmured among both the merchant caravan and the cavalry army.
Teng Qingshan couldn't be bothered to spare the bald old man another glance.
He turned towards his daughter, 'Hong Lin,' and commanded sharply, "Hurry over here." "Dad!" Hong Lin stuck out her tongue and obediently ran over.
Although the face Teng Qingshan currently wore wasn't his true face, Hong Lin had grown up with her father.
She could recognize Teng Qingshan just from his silhouette, let alone...
Teng Qingshan's build and 'voice' were unchanged.
The maidservant 'Xiao Xiao' in the distance also hurried over, not daring to look at Teng Qingshan, sticking close to Hong Lin’s side. "Thank you, Xiao Hong, for your timely assistance." Wei Jiang first cupped his hands in a salute towards Hong Lin, then bowed to Teng Qingshan, "Wei Jiang pays his respects to the senior." Wei Jiang understood one thing clearly: "This is a true master, a genuine master! It's just a pity that I cultivate the Internal Martial Arts, and I intend to join the Xing Yi Sect and study under Senior Teng Qingshan." If he hadn't held this ambition, Wei Jiang likely would have already found a way to pledge allegiance to the man before him. "Mm." Teng Qingshan glanced at him, nodded slightly, then smiled at his daughter. "Xiao Hong?" "Hehe." Hong Lin winked.
This Xiao Hong was clearly a fake name Hong Lin had made up herself. "So mischievous." Li Jun suddenly appeared beside Hong Lin, patting her shoulder.
Hong Lin jumped in fright, turning to look.
She was slightly confused; she didn't recognize Li Jun, who was wearing a mask.
But upon seeing the necklace around Li Jun’s neck, she immediately understood. "Mother." Hong Lin also called out obediently. "Esteemed Senior." An aged voice sounded.
Teng Qingshan turned to see the bald old man standing beside the young general.
The bald old man clasped his hands in a salute and said, "Senior, the young man next to you, 'Wei Jiang,' is a wanted fugitive captured by our Yu Huang Sect.
In Lian'an City, he brutally massacred an entire family of thirteen.
I humbly ask the Senior to allow the Yu Huang Sect to apprehend him and bring him to justice." "What is your name?" Teng Qingshan asked indifferently.
The bald old man choked, then respectfully replied, "Your junior is Hu Zhong." "Hu Zhong, Hu Zhong." Teng Qingshan gave him a faint smile. "Just now, I heard you say something about ill-mannered and unruly?" The bald old man looked extremely awkward, and the young general beside him dared not utter a sound.
He knew very well...
that even his Master, an Innate expert, had been sent flying backward without even clearly seeing his opponent.
And this man commanded such respect that his Master had to address him as 'Senior.' He was certainly not someone the young general could afford to provoke. "Senior, your junior acted without knowing the rules," Hu Zhong apologized again, clasping his hands.
He then pointed at Wei Jiang, "However, this Wei Jiang is a wanted criminal who murdered a family of thirteen.
Our Yu Huang Sect personally ordered me to lead the army to arrest him.
I implore the Senior to hand this scoundrel over to the Yu Huang Sect.
Such a heinous criminal deserves death." The young general beside him also cupped his hands, "Senior, this is a direct order from the Yu Huang Sect, commanding my Master to lead the men personally.
I presume the Senior understands the gravity with which the Yu Huang Sect views this matter." Hu Zhong and his disciple were clearly attempting to leverage the authority of the Yu Huang Sect to pressure the Senior.
The reputation of the Yu Huang Sect held considerable weight across the Nine Provinces.
Even Void Realm experts, unless necessary, would avoid provoking this most ancient sect.
... "Who exactly is this person? Even the General of the Yu Huang Sect is so respectful." "That Hu Zhong is a very famous figure across the Nine Provinces; rumor has it he is already an Innate master.
Yet, he calls this white-robed man 'Senior.' Could he be an Innate Golden Core expert, a super powerhouse listed on the Heavenly Ranking?" Many in the merchant caravan and the cavalry army were pondering this.
However, no one could recognize him.
... "Murder?" "An entire family of thirteen? And committing murder within the city?" Teng Qingshan nodded slightly. "This indeed offends your Yu Huang Sect.
Your coming to make the arrest is entirely justified." Wei Jiang couldn't help himself and glared at Hu Zhong, shouting, "You people from the Yu Huang Sect are too shameless! It’s only because I refused to join your Yu Huang Sect.
I never imagined that after trekking across mountains and rivers, I would join this merchant caravan midway, and you still tracked me down so quickly! I haven't even entered Lian'an City, how could I have committed murder?" "Still trying to argue," the young general sneered. "We have witnesses and physical evidence; no amount of talking will help," the bald old man said, cupping his hands toward Teng Qingshan. "I trust the Senior can clearly see the nature of this treacherous villain." Teng Qingshan glanced at him with a smile. "Yes, I can clearly see treacherous villains." The bald old man smiled faintly. "You are the treacherous villain," Teng Qingshan continued with a faint smile, causing the bald old man's expression to freeze. "Senior, my Yu Huang Sect..." The bald old man tried to press the matter, brandishing the authority of the Yu Huang Sect again.
Teng Qingshan's expression finally darkened, and he spoke directly with a commanding tone: "Hu Zhong, listen to me clearly! Go back and tell your Yu Huang Sect's Supreme Elders, Liu Xia and Huang Tianqin, this: It is one thing to lure my Internal Martial Arts disciples away with petty favors.
But if my Internal Martial Arts lineage refuses to join your Yu Huang Sect, do not resort to such despicable tactics like framing and malicious persecution to forcibly seize them! If this gets out, it will be a disgrace! It will not only shame your Yu Huang Sect but also shame...
your founding ancestor, Senior Yu Huang!" The bald old man's face instantly turned purplish-red. "You..." The bald old man was utterly dumbfounded. "Hmph.
Convey my words, exactly as I said them, to Liu Xia and Huang Tianqin," Teng Qingshan said coldly. "Who, who are you? Your Internal Martial Arts lineage? Who are you?" The bald old man couldn't help but ask repeatedly.
Everyone among the surrounding caravan and the cavalry troops was also confused.
Teng Qingshan then remembered the issue of his appearance.
He lightly touched his face, and as if changing masks, his face instantly reverted to Teng Qingshan's true appearance. "You are—Teng, Teng..." The bald old man was terrified. "It's Teng Qingshan!" The young general couldn't help but exclaim.
Teng Qingshan had created the Internal Martial Arts lineage, a third path entirely distinct from the Daoist and Buddhist schools—plus, he was the youngest Void Realm expert since the creation of heaven and earth, achieving this feat at the age of twenty-one.
All of this caused news about Teng Qingshan to spread like wildfire across the Nine Provinces.
Portraits of Teng Qingshan had long been circulated.
In many mountain villages, they had affixed portraits of Teng Qingshan and instructed all the young men practicing the Tiger Form Fist to worship him as their ancestor. "Teng Qingshan!" "Teng Qingshan, the founding ancestor of the Xing Yi Sect?" "Teng Qingshan, the creator of the Internal Martial Arts lineage?" Whether it was the merchant caravan or the soldiers of the Yu Huang Sect army beside them, everyone erupted in excitement! Heavens.
Teng Qingshan possessed countless admirers across the Nine Provinces, given the immense influence of the Internal Martial Arts over the past sixteen years.
Even major sects like the Yu Huang Sect and the Celestial God Palace had tried every means to attract Internal Martial Arts practitioners to join them.
There were quite a few who practiced Internal Martial Arts within the Yu Huang Sect itself.
Many young men who failed in cultivating Internal Martial Arts later switched to practicing Daoist or Buddhist lineages.
In their hearts, they naturally revered Teng Qingshan, the founder of the Internal Martial Arts! "Senior Teng," the bald old man said with lingering fear. "Did you clearly hear my words?" Teng Qingshan looked at him coldly. "Convey my words, Teng Qingshan's words, verbatim to Liu Xia and Huang Tianqin! Tell them to stop disgracing your Yu Huang Sect, and stop disgracing...
Senior Yu Huang!" Cold sweat beaded on the bald old man's forehead. "We are leaving," Teng Qingshan turned and said to Li Jun and his daughter Hong Lin.
Seeing Wei Jiang, he smiled, "Wei Jiang, if you are willing to join my Xing Yi Sect, then come with us." "Your junior, your junior is willing," Wei Jiang said excitedly.
It turned out...
The father of 'Xiao Hong,' whom he knew, this white-robed man before him, was actually the founder of the Internal Martial Arts lineage he most revered, 'Teng Qingshan'!!! "Senior Teng, I also wish to join the Xing Yi Sect." A young man, very sturdy and carrying a silver spear on his back, ran out from the merchant caravan. "Me too." Another slightly younger but very stocky youth, holding a spear, rushed out.
Clearly, Wei Jiang was not the only one in this merchant caravan heading toward Yangzhou to join the Xing Yi Sect.
Teng Qingshan glanced at the people and nodded with a smile. "Good, we'll go together." Immediately, a five-colored light shimmered around Teng Qingshan’s body, rapidly enveloping the few people around him.
With a "Whoosh," the colored light flashed, and Teng Qingshan and the others completely vanished.
Only the still-excited members of the caravan and the many soldiers in the Yu Huang Sect army who admired Teng Qingshan remained.