"Yes, we cannot deal with this lightly," Yang Dong, as the acting Sect Master, understood the gravity of the situation. "This Cannon Fist manual is a secret technique of our Xing Yi Sect, never to be shared outside. This leak... must be punished severely. We must shock all the sects in the world, ensuring such a thing never happens again. The best way is to make an example out of the Yu Huang Sect!"

Immediately, Yang Dong looked awkwardly at Teng Qingshan: "Master, but to make the Yu Huang Sect the first example?"

The Yu Huang Sect was the most ancient sect in the Nine Provinces.

How could they be easily provoked?

"Sect Master, dealing with the Yu Huang Sect requires long-term planning," Zong Lu frowned and said.

Across the lands of the Nine Provinces, mentioning the Yu Huang Sect brought a weighty feeling to everyone. The oldest sect, established by Emperor Yu himself—how could it have survived until now without some genuine ultimate trump card?

"Father," Hong Wu mused, "Father, are you truly set on attacking the Yu Huang Sect? In my view, we must first calculate carefully—how much certainty do we have? We cannot risk losing everything we have. Furthermore, if this attempt fails, what will be the consequences? Can our Xing Yi Sect bear them? And if we succeed, what are the benefits?"

Teng Qingshan couldn't help but smile as he glanced at his son.

In terms of meticulous thinking, this son, adept at business, was far superior to his daughter. Sometimes, Teng Qingshan realized, his son saw things more clearly than he did himself.

"Master, this matter requires careful consideration. Whether we can actually do it." Even with Yang Dong's ruthless nature, attacking the very gates of the oldest sect in the Nine Provinces was a major undertaking, and he dared not act rashly.

Teng Qingshan closed his eyes, allowing himself to regain composure.

Yang Dong, Elder Zong Lu, and Hong Wu exchanged glances, not daring to speak or interrupt Teng Qingshan’s contemplation, waiting quietly. After all, Teng Qingshan was the Sect Master of the Xing Yi Sect, the founding ancestor of the internal martial arts lineage. Within the Xing Yi Sect, Teng Qingshan held absolute, unquestionable authority.

The Xing Yi Sect was Teng Qingshan’s absolute dominion.

If he decided to act, then they would act.

The three of them awaited Teng Qingshan’s decision...

"In terms of strength, below the Void Glimpse Realm, no one in the Void Realm is my match."

"In terms of speed, the Undying Phoenix, 'Xiao Qing,' when using the ultimate technique taught by its mother, is unparalleled in the Nine Provinces. Compared to us, the Yu Huang Sect is at a severe disadvantage. If a real fight broke out, Xiao Qing and I combined have a real chance to decisively deal with both 'Liu Xia' and 'Huang Tianqin' in quick succession." Numerous calculations flashed through Teng Qingshan's mind.

What he was least certain about was this one thing—

What was the foundation that allowed the Yu Huang Sect to endure for six thousand years? What did they rely on?

"Hmph, regardless of what it is. However, from my investigations, over the years, the Yu Huang Sect has merely hunkered down in Yu Province. Back when the Northeastern King, 'Hong Tian,' was conquering the world, didn't the Yu Huang Sect hide within their small territory, daring not to provoke Hong Tian?" Teng Qingshan deduced from this, "Even if their trump card is powerful, we shouldn't fear it excessively. Otherwise, why would the Yu Huang Sect have shown absolutely no reaction when Yu Tonghai was burned to death by the Undying Phoenix?"

"Do it!"

"If we're going to do it, let's go big!"

"If we want to deter the lands of the Nine Provinces, if we want to stop major sects from daring to steal my Xing Yi Sect's manuals, we must let them know the cost and consequence of stealing our secrets! Therefore... we choose the oldest sect to make an example of. Only then will the shock be greatest." Teng Qingshan made his decision in an instant.

In the courtyard, Yang Dong, Zong Lu, and Hong Wu silently waited for Teng Qingshan, who sat with his eyes closed in thought; no one dared to disturb him.

Teng Qingshan’s eyes snapped open abruptly.

"Father?" "Master?" "Sect Master?"

The three spoke almost simultaneously.

Teng Qingshan gave them a slight smile, though a spark flickered in his eyes, and his voice was resonant and powerful: "The Yu Huang Sect was undeniably implicated in the previous ambush and massacre of my Qingshan Guild's caravan. Now, they have stolen my Xing Yi Sect's manual. Can my Xing Yi Sect really bow down? Hmph... This time, I will personally travel to the Yu Huang Sect."

Yang Dong, Zong Lu, and Hong Wu exchanged looks, somewhat stunned.

Were they really going to attack the Yu Huang Sect?

"Uncle Zong," Teng Qingshan looked toward Zong Lu.

"Your subordinate is here," Zong Lu responded promptly.

"Go and prepare all the evidence regarding the Yu Huang Sect members who ambushed and killed my Qingshan Guild's caravan in Yan Province last time. I will bring it all to the Yu Huang Sect when I go. I will confront them directly," Teng Qingshan understood clearly that righteousness breeds confidence.

"Yes." Zong Lu immediately left to prepare the evidence.

Teng Qingshan then sent a sound transmission to his wife, 'Li Jun.'

"Qingshan." Li Jun quickly arrived from another garden, smiling. "What is it?"

"Xiao Jun, have Dao Chi go to the Savage Lands and call Xiao Qing here," Teng Qingshan instructed.

"What is it, so urgent?" Li Jun smiled as she looked at him, but then she tilted her head back and let out a roar. Soon, a deep roar echoed from the depths of Dayan Mountain in response from the Six-Legged Dao Chi, and quickly, the Six-Legged Dao Chi broke through the air and arrived.

Teng Qingshan then turned his attention to Yang Dong.

"Ah Dong," Teng Qingshan said solemnly.

"Disciple is here," Yang Dong responded respectfully.

"This disciple who betrayed the sect, named 'Gong Yu,' is the very first traitor of the Xing Yi Sect! He absolutely cannot be let off lightly; you must bring him back at all costs. I want every disciple of the Xing Yi Sect to know the result of betraying the sect and leaking its secrets!" Killing intent vaguely shimmered in Teng Qingshan's eyes. If a disciple betrayed the sect for a special reason, that was one thing.

Everyone has a scale in their heart!

When Teng Qingshan betrayed the Gui Yuan Sect back then, everyone understood; Teng Qingshan did not want to implicate the Gui Yuan Sect or give Qinghu Island an excuse for retaliation.

But for someone like Gong Yu, who betrays the sect and leaks its secrets, death cannot atone for his sins.

"Post notices across the lands of the Nine Provinces, offering a bounty across the entire world to capture Gong Yu. Alive or dead, I want his body," Teng Qingshan said coldly.

"Yes." Yang Dong immediately went to carry out the order.

They all understood the importance of this matter. This was the first instance of betrayal and secret leakage. It was the beginning. If the punishment this time was not severe enough to shock the major sects, then in the future... there might be all sorts of secret manuals spreading outside, and the internal martial arts lineage in the Nine Provinces might end up like the Daoist lineage, splitting into numerous sects.

At that point, the Xing Yi Sect wouldn't just struggle to enhance its strength; perhaps even maintaining its current standing would be in jeopardy.

Only by truly making the Xing Yi Sect the only internal martial arts sect, the sacred land for internal martial arts cultivators, would the entire world's internal martial arts disciples aspire to join them. This is where countless internal martial arts masters could gather. In just seventeen years, the Xing Yi Sect possessed such a formidable army as the 'Blood Wolf Army'; its foundational strength could arguably surpass that of the Yu Huang Sect!

This was entirely because...

The internal martial arts lineage had only one standard-bearer! All internal martial arts disciples in the world would strive desperately to come here—how could the Xing Yi Sect not become powerful?

That evening, the Six-Legged Dao Chi had already brought the 'Undying Phoenix,' Xiao Qing. And the high-ranking figures and elders of the Xing Yi Sect had all learned of the matter. While they were greatly surprised and filled with apprehension, they were also expectant—if they could truly subdue the Yu Huang Sect without resistance, that would be a source of immense pride.

The next morning.

As the bright red sun had just revealed half its head in the east, more than ten people gathered in the Donghua Courtyard—all high-ranking members of the Xing Yi Sect. Today, Teng Qingshan wore a white robe, carrying the red-tasseled long spear, 'Reincarnation Spear,' on his back. Beside him stood the massive divine bird, the 'Undying Phoenix,' its entire body faintly wreathed in flames.

"Father, travel safely," Hong Wu said solemnly.

Teng Qingshan smiled at his son, patting Hong Wu's head. His daughter was seventeen, his son fifteen, but in terms of conduct and worldly wisdom, why did it feel like... his son was seventeen and his daughter fifteen?

"Father," Hong Lin also frowned, "Alas, it's a pity Elder Mu is in Yong'an Commandery. If Elder Mu could accompany you, it would be even better."

"Your Elder Mu is guarding the Gui Yuan Sect; how can he leave easily?" Teng Qingshan smiled.

"Qingshan, be careful," Li Jun couldn't help but say. After all, their target this time was the most ancient sect—the Yu Huang Sect!

Teng Qingshan smiled. He glanced at his wife, then at his two children, and finally surveyed the Xing Yi Sect elders standing nearby, laughing loudly: "Everyone, the Yu Huang Sect previously ambushed and killed my Guild's caravan, and now they have stolen our secret manual! This is the first time, and it must be the last time. If the Xing Yi Sect is to fight, we must fight with majesty and spirit!"

"Yes, fight so they never dare to have ideas against us again."

"Sect Master, be careful."

The words of these elders varied, as some of them were Teng Qingshan's elders.

Under the watch of the elders, Li Jun, and his two children, Teng Qingshan, clad in white and carrying the Reincarnation Spear, leaped onto the back of the Undying Phoenix, Xiao Qing. Xiao Qing then flapped its wings slightly and transformed into a streak of fiery red light, rapidly soaring into the sky, quickly vanishing from sight in the morning sun.

...

Teng Qingshan, riding on the back of the Undying Phoenix, Xiao Qing, had already entered the territory of Yu Province.

The sound of the howling wind rushed past his ears as Teng Qingshan gazed down upon the vast, boundless earth below.

"The Yu Huang Sect must have some powerful backing."

"Now that I am storming their gates, their trump card should be revealed at last." A slight smile appeared on Teng Qingshan's face. "Good. If they have no trump card... with my current strength, just those two—Liu Xia and Huang Tianqin—would be too dull. I have cultivated diligently for seventeen years... seventeen years without a true fight."

"This time, I will also see the results of my seventeen years of hard cultivation."

"I wonder, will their trump card be so fierce that I am forced to yield to the Yu Huang Sect? Or... will the Yu Huang Sect have to bow under my spear?" Facing the most ancient Yu Huang Sect, Teng Qingshan felt no absolute certainty, but it was precisely this lack of certainty that filled his heart with boundless heroic spirit.

Soon—

Teng Qingshan saw a massive, ancient city below—'Yu City'—and in the center of Yu City, under the morning sun, gleamed golden, luxurious palaces. This inner city, composed of luxurious palatial structures, was the sect founded by the Nine Provinces' first supreme expert, 'Emperor Yu'—

The Yu Huang Sect!

"Yoo~~"

The Undying Phoenix let out a cry that echoed across the heavens, and then, carrying Teng Qingshan, it swiftly dove downward!