The Great Yan Mountain now seemed draped in a silver mantle. Feathery snow drifted down across the heavens. Yet, within the Inner Strength Sect of the Great Yan Mountain, these internal martial arts disciples paid it no mind; many practiced their forms in only a single layer of clothing amidst the snow. Sounds of focused exhalation and contraction echoed throughout the sect grounds. Numerous disciples sparred with one another, the dull thuds of fists meeting flesh audible everywhere.

On one peak of the Inner Strength Sect, named 'Dragon Tiger Mountain,' sat a tranquil residence.

This was the abode of the Acting Sect Master, Yang Dong.

On the third-floor veranda of a quiet pavilion within the residence, Yang Dong, clad in a purple robe, stood overlooking the grounds. Because the residence was situated at the summit of Dragon Tiger Mountain, he could gaze down and see thousands upon thousands of disciples practicing their techniques below. Now married and a father, Yang Dong was far more seasoned than in his youth, sporting a faint mustache.

"Back then, all I ever wanted was to be the leader of a massive band of brigands. I never expected to command such a vast sect now," Yang Dong mused, looking down upon the sea of practicing disciples, a surge of grand spirit rising within him.

After all, Teng Qingshan existed beyond the mundane world, rarely interfering with sect affairs.

Furthermore, Yang Dong excelled in matters of administration.

"Hmm?" Yang Dong frowned slightly, gazing toward the courtyard below.

"Sir. Sir, an important secret missive has arrived from Youzhou." A voice called from outside the courtyard gate. A maidservant in the courtyard below looked up at Yang Dong. Yang Dong gave a slight nod, and the maid opened the main door.

Whoosh!

Yang Dong descended lightly from the third floor, landing soundlessly in the residence's courtyard.

"What secret message is so urgent it comes directly here?" Yang Dong frowned.

"Sir, please see." The young disciple respectfully presented the sealed letter.

Yang Dong took it and broke the seal. Upon reading it, his expression drastically changed.

"Who dares to be so audacious!" Yang Dong’s gaze turned cold.

"You may withdraw." Yang Dong waved his hand.

"Yes." After the young disciple retreated, Yang Dong stood in the snow, contemplating for a moment, before walking towards the exit. Just then, a beautiful young woman in a white robe approached, smiling, "A'Dong, it's nearly lunchtime. Still heading out?"

"Mm, just a quick trip to Master's place. I'll be back shortly," Yang Dong said, then swiftly departed.

"To see the Sect Master?" The young woman watched her husband leave, puzzled. "A'Dong usually handles most matters within the sect. It’s rare he needs to bother the Sect Master. What matter requires consultation with the Master?"

Beneath a pavilion, beside an exquisitely crafted, dark-red wooden table, sat the family of four—Teng Qingshan and his family—enjoying lunch. Eating in the pavilion, watching the surrounding snowflakes drift down, was a simple pleasure.

"Master." Yang Dong walked in.

"A'Dong." Teng Qingshan smiled, putting down his chopsticks. "Have you eaten? If not, join us."

Yang Dong, however, solemnly presented a letter. "Master, please look at this."

"Oh?"

Teng Qingshan sensed something amiss from Yang Dong's expression. Setting aside everything else, he immediately took the secret missive. Li Jun beside him, along with Hong Lin and Hong Wu, all looked over curiously. Hong Lin even muttered, "So secretive, what is it?"

Swish!

Teng Qingshan unfolded the letter. It was written by the master of the 'Qingshan Guild Hall' in Blood Saber Commandery, Youzhou. It stated that the previous night, a mysterious Innate master had visited the guild hall master. This Innate master was masked, briefly displayed a hint of his power, and then left a secret letter behind.

The secret letter delivered by the mysterious Innate master stated that...

Within the next month, an 'ambush' targeting internal martial arts cultivators would occur within 'Yanzhou' of the Nine Provinces.

"What?" Teng Qingshan's expression shifted.

"Yanzhou?" Li Jun, who had also seen the letter, gasped. "Qingshan, our Inner Strength Sect. In the various 'Qingshan Guild Halls' within Yanzhou, we generally accept a large number of cultivators wishing to join our sect. Then, we escort them all in one group to Yangzhou. Every time, there are hundreds, even thousands! If they are intercepted and slaughtered..."

Teng Qingshan nodded slowly.

"Master, this cannot be ignored," Yang Dong pressed. "Although such an incident has never occurred in Yanzhou over the years, this information comes from Youzhou, delivered by a mysterious Innate master. We cannot be careless."

If the warning had come from an ordinary person, it might not have even reached Acting Sect Master Yang Dong.

But a warning from a mysterious Innate master carried a different weight.

"I understand." Teng Qingshan frowned.

"Which faction is so vicious as to slaughter our internal martial artists?" Teng Qingshan wondered aloud.

One must know that Yanzhou was home to two to three hundred million people, many of whom studied internal martial arts. Furthermore, Yanzhou was the closest province to Yangzhou, meaning a great many external internal martial artists traveled from there to join! The provinces closest to Yangzhou were Yanzhou and Qingzhou. Qingzhou, however, was controlled by the Heavenly God Palace.

The Heavenly God Palace was too powerful, and its control too tight.

Though cultivators arrived from Qingzhou and Youzhou every year to join the Inner Strength Sect, the numbers were not overwhelmingly large.

Yanzhou was different because the 'Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain' feared Teng Qingshan! Since Shen Gongtu's death, the Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain was left with only one Human Void Realm expert and the Sun-Shooting Celestial Wolf. If Teng Qingshan aided the Guiyuan Sect, he could easily wipe out the Divine Mountain. Therefore—the Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain dared not provoke Teng Qingshan.

After the Qingshan Guild Halls in Yanzhou had gathered many recruits, they were escorted to Yangzhou in batches of several hundred or even a thousand. For years, the Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain had refrained from any action, terrified that Teng Qingshan might use it as an excuse to erupt in anger and destroy them.

"The Sun-Shooting Divine Mountain wouldn't dare move!" Yang Dong shook his head. "Most of the other sects have decent relations with our Inner Strength Sect. That leaves the Yu Emperor Sect and the Mani Temple... but the Mani Temple only guards its own small territory. That leaves only the Yu Emperor Sect."

"The Yu Emperor Sect?" Teng Qingshan's thoughts stirred.

"Master, the harsh words you spoke last time—the Yu Emperor Sect might hold a grudge and resort to such insidious tactics," Yang Dong said, then frowned again. "But is the Yu Emperor Sect truly that petty and vengeful?"

Teng Qingshan narrowed his eyes slightly.

"A'Dong," Teng Qingshan said in a low voice.

"Master." Yang Dong immediately cupped his hands in greeting.

"Go summon your Eldest Senior Brother. Now!" Teng Qingshan commanded.

"Yes." Yang Dong dared not delay and left immediately.

In the East Splendor Garden, Teng Qingshan had lost all appetite for his meal.

"Qingshan, is the Yu Emperor Sect really that ruthless?" Li Jun couldn't help but ask.

"Hmph, I embarrassed them with my sharp words. They might be retaliating," Teng Qingshan shook his head. "However, there is no proof yet, so we'll let it rest for now. Regardless—Yanzhou is where our Inner Strength Sect recruits the most disciples among the other eight provinces. We absolutely cannot afford any mishap there. If a batch were massacred, it would mean the loss of over a thousand internal martial arts cultivators."

The thought of those young men and women dreaming of cultivating internal arts, a thousand of them slaughtered, brought a surge of rage to Teng Qingshan’s heart: "They dare target juveniles!"

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. This bizarrely timed message could not be ignored.

"Dao Chi." Teng Qingshan sent a sound transmission.

"Roar~~~"

A deep growl echoed from the depths of the Great Yan Mountain. Soon, a streak of light flashed, landing in the courtyard with a soft thump. Its tall frame, blood-red eyes, six blade-like arms, and two pairs of wings resembling a cloak—it was the Six-Footed Saber Chi.

"Master." A figure darted in from outside as well.

A sturdy man in black robes entered—the current Eldest Senior Brother of the entire Inner Strength Sect, and the highest-ranked cultivator after Teng Qingshan in the internal arts lineage! Teng Qingshan glanced at Teng Shou and secretly praised him. In sixteen years, his eldest disciple had progressed from the early stage of Gang Jin to the late stage.

Though it took a full fifteen years, Teng Qingshan was quite satisfied with this rate of advancement.

"A'Shou." Teng Qingshan tossed the secret missive over. "Read this first."

Teng Shou took it with confusion. After reading it carefully, his expression changed, and he looked up. "Master..."

"I have a persistent feeling that something is wrong with this matter," Teng Qingshan instructed. "Just in case, this time, you will go out with Dao Chi! I will order the Qingshan Guild Halls in Yanzhou to stagger their disciple escort times! Ensure that only one escort team travels at any given moment. Then, you will conceal your identity and blend into the group. I will have Dao Chi follow secretly along the way. If danger arises, call out immediately, and let Dao Chi assist!"

"Yes." Teng Shou acknowledged.

"Remember, if someone truly intends to ambush the Qingshan Guild Hall's disciple escort team, it would be best to leave a few alive," Teng Qingshan stated gravely. "I need to find out who is stirring up trouble behind the scenes!"

Following Teng Qingshan's arrangements, that very afternoon, the Six-Footed Saber Chi and the well-prepared 'Teng Shou' departed the Great Yan Mountain. Simultaneously, the Inner Strength Sect issued orders to the various Qingshan Guild Halls within Yanzhou. Clearly... Teng Qingshan had cast a vast net in Yanzhou, awaiting the enemy's appearance!

Time slipped by swiftly until the day of the Year Sacrifice. On this day, the entire Inner Strength Sect held grand celebratory activities, culminating in a massive banquet for the whole sect that evening.

"Master."

That night, as Yang Dong walked with Teng Qingshan through the sect grounds, he asked doubtfully, "Eldest Senior Brother has been in Yanzhou for over half a month now, but there's been no news. Is that message even true?"

"Don't rush," Teng Qingshan replied, shaking his head. "The missive mentioned within the next month or two. Have your Eldest Senior Brother stay in Yanzhou for three months. If nothing happens after three months, then—we will instruct the various Qingshan Guild Halls to send disciples in more batches, with fewer than a hundred people each time."

"Understood." Yang Dong nodded slightly.

Since arriving in Yanzhou, Teng Shou had been constantly busy, not daring to slacken for a moment. Yet, an entire month passed without him spotting any attempted ambush.

"Master said I must stay for the full three months," Teng Shou thought to himself.

Currently, Teng Shou was within a massive caravan of nearly two thousand people. This caravan belonged to the Qingshan Guild Hall. It contained 1081 internal martial arts cultivators wishing to join the Inner Strength Sect; genuine merchants were relatively few.

"Hmm?" Teng Shou's eyebrows twitched sharply.