"Everyone stand back, move further away," commanded the Void Realm expert 'Yu Feng' to the elite disciples of the Yu Huang Sect.

Though these elite disciples were puzzled as to why their Ancestor would fight again after already being defeated, they quickly retreated into the distance. For them, the sheer shockwaves generated by a clash between Void Realm experts, or even between a Void Realm and a Cave Void expert, were more than these disciples, most of whom were still in the Post-Heaven realm, could possibly withstand.

Before the Holy Temple, Teng Qingshan, a peak Void Realm Grand Completion expert, and Huang Tianqin, who had just entered the Cave Void realm, prepared to exchange blows.

Yu Feng and Liu Xia, both Void Realm masters, stood on the steps of the Holy Temple, ready to intercept any stray energy bursts that might damage the temple during the imminent battle.

"A peak Void Realm Grand Completion dares to fight a Cave Void expert? Truly courting death," Liu Xia said, utterly confident in his Martial Uncle.

"Let's see how Teng Qingshan makes a fool of himself," Yu Feng commented lightly.

Common sense dictated—

When a Cave Void expert fights a Void Realm expert, the Cave Void expert will inevitably win!

"Hmph!"

Teng Qingshan's eyes suddenly flashed bright, his aura erupting violently. His figure blurred instantly, leaving behind only a fading afterimage where he stood. Wielding the Samsara Spear, he charged towards the Cave Void expert, Huang Tianqin, with the unstoppable momentum of ten thousand galloping horses, delivering a ferocious thrust!

As the spear shot out, it seemed as if a vortex materialized from thin air!

"Overestimating yourself," Huang Tianqin smiled, confidently sweeping his heavy, purple-black battle saber. The saber carved a profound arc through the air, instantly colliding with Teng Qingshan's spear. Simultaneously, the momentum of the saber shifted slightly, aiming to sever the left hand holding the spear.

"Indeed, there's a difference."

Teng Qingshan's eyes lit up. He violently retreated, immediately transforming his 'Shadow Follower' technique into 'Primal Unity.'

It was as if a massive grinding stone appeared from nowhere, weighty and solid as the earth itself.

"Clang!" It blocked Huang Tianqin's strike.

Teng Qingshan had already retreated dozens of feet, while Huang Tianqin hadn't budged an inch.

The difference in strength was immediately apparent!

"Good."

"Satisfying." Watching from the side, Yu Feng and Liu Xia revealed faint expressions of delight. "This Teng Qingshan is too arrogant. It's time he learned that there is always a higher peak," Liu Xia sneered at Teng Qingshan.

After retreating, Teng Qingshan let out a loud laugh: "Fine saber technique, worthy of a Cave Void expert."

"Your spear work is not bad either," Huang Tianqin replied with a faint smile. "But today, you are certain to lose." Saying this, Huang Tianqin flickered, pressing toward Teng Qingshan, his movement subtly more elusive and profound than before.

"Boom!"

Teng Qingshan met the attack again!

"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"...

Under everyone's gaze, Teng Qingshan was repeatedly knocked back by the strange impacts, yet each time he charged forward again to engage the Cave Void expert, Huang Tianqin. Everyone could see clearly that Teng Qingshan was at a distinct disadvantage.

I have only just entered the Cave Void realm; my physical body has not yet strengthened. My strength has perhaps only increased by about ten percent compared to my peak Void Realm days. What a pity... If I had another year or two to fully temper my body, my physical strength would rival one-tenth of the Heavenly Might. Then, I could ignore the recoil and attack ferociously, potentially even killing Teng Qingshan.

For now, I can only defeat him, not kill him! Huang Tianqin sighed inwardly.

Indeed—

The strength increase for a Cave Void expert is gradual. Advancing from peak Void Realm Grand Completion to stepping into the Cave Void realm does not grant an overwhelming leap. But even this modest gain, combined with a successfully reinforced body, is enough to kill a peak Void Realm Grand Completion expert head-on.

"Rumble~~"

Vast amounts of energy burst outwards, once again sending Teng Qingshan reeling back.

"Teng Qingshan, surrender," Huang Tianqin's voice echoed through the forest.

"Teng Qingshan, you've come this far, why not yield?" Liu Xia called out loudly from afar.

"Hm?"

Huang Tianqin suddenly noticed that despite being repeatedly struck by his attacks, a faint smile played on Teng Qingshan's face.

So that's how it is, so that's how it is, Teng Qingshan thought with surging ecstasy. Breaking through from peak Void Realm Grand Completion to the Cave Void realm—this is the way! Complete perfection, absolute balance. Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth... it's like a perfect circle, from beginning to end, repeating back to the start. Utterly complete and harmonious.

Teng Qingshan was no masochist.

He charged forward time and again for direct confrontation with Huang Tianqin simply to experience the special nature of a Cave Void expert!

Good fortune, sheer luck.

What luck to have this fight with Huang Tianqin—it's the greatest gain from my visit to the Yu Huang Sect. Teng Qingshan was intensely excited. Huang Tianqin has only just entered the Cave Void realm. His level is only slightly higher than mine... That's why I can engage him in repeated frontal clashes and feel the nuances of his realm.

If he were too far beyond me, I wouldn't comprehend anything, Teng Qingshan understood this principle.

It was like teaching a child who has just learned to count to one through ten about eleven, twelve, and thirteen—that's relatively easy.

But if you suddenly taught that child highly complex calculations, they wouldn't understand.

It was the same principle: if Pei San fought Teng Qingshan, even without injuring him, Teng Qingshan would have no way to decipher Pei San's move sets and realm.

However, Huang Tianqin had just entered the Cave Void, making him only slightly superior to Teng Qingshan.

Teng Qingshan could carefully meditate and manage to grasp a shred of insight.

"Haha, again! Are you afraid?" Teng Qingshan roared with laughter, charging forward once more with the Samsara Spear.

"Madman."

Huang Tianqin cursed inwardly, furiously deploying his strongest saber techniques, trying every way to defeat Teng Qingshan. But unexpectedly, Teng Qingshan grew only more excited.

This is the Cave Void realm... I must enter seclusion upon my return. I believe I am not far from breaking through to the Cave Void realm! Teng Qingshan was thrilled; he truly wasn't far. Being able to fully express the Dao of the Five Elements through his fists was already astonishing.

Having also developed the 'Five Elements Poison Dragon Drill,' Teng Qingshan was, in truth, only one step away from the 'Cave Void realm.' Yet, he had remained vague, unsure how to make the breakthrough.

Now, Huang Tianqin had illuminated the path, showing Teng Qingshan exactly where to go. Take this one step, and he would be Cave Void. How could Teng Qingshan not be thrilled and excited?

Seclusion, I must go into seclusion immediately upon return. Teng Qingshan already wanted to start cultivating right then.

Huang Tianqin's face grew gloomy, turning to anger.

He had never seen such a shameless Void Realm expert. The situation was clear: Huang Tianqin was suppressing Teng Qingshan, but because Teng Qingshan could withstand the recoil, he was repeatedly thrown back but remained unharmed. This meant... no matter how hard Huang Tianqin hit, he couldn't kill Teng Qingshan. Continuing this fight was simply a waste of time.

"Teng Qingshan, you are no match for me, why drag this out?" Huang Tianqin roared in frustration.

"Hahahaha..."

Teng Qingshan laughed heartily. "Huang Tianqin, I'm no match for you? Then take this spear thrust!" As the words fell, Teng Qingshan’s entire spirit condensed onto the Samsara Spear.

"Oh?" Huang Tianqin's expression shifted slightly.

For a moment, the surroundings seemed to transform into a roaring ocean. Endless seawater surged violently, and in the center of that sea was only this single spear, carrying the boundless, majestic power of the entire ocean, aimed at Huang Tianqin with a terrifying momentum capable of tearing the heavens apart.

"Hmph," Huang Tianqin snorted, gripping his saber with both hands.

Saber met spear!

"Bang!" A dull sound, like a massive drumbeat.

Huang Tianqin was sent flying backward, slamming into a long-ruined palace behind him, spitting out a mouthful of blood. "Rumble~~" The palace collapsed entirely, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Bang!" Teng Qingshan was also jolted backward, crashing into some nearby rocks, causing them to explode. However, Teng Qingshan rose up as if unharmed.

...

In the Xiongxia Mountain Range, the Yu Huang Sect members, who had been laughing confidently moments before, seemed as if their throats had been suddenly choked; every one of them stared wide-eyed, unable to utter a sound.

Teng Qingshan and Huang Tianqin—both were shaken backward?

But while Huang Tianqin spat blood, Teng Qingshan stood up completely fine.

"Impossible!"

An enraged shout rang out. Huang Tianqin stood up from the wreckage of the palace, glaring at Teng Qingshan. "What was that just now? Teng Qingshan, tell me, what in the world happened? You are a peak Void Realm Grand Completion; you absolutely cannot defeat me. Absolutely impossible!" Huang Tianqin refused to believe what had occurred.

"The fact is happening right before your eyes, and you still don't believe it? What, do you want to try again?" Teng Qingshan looked at him with a cold sneer.

"No, it shouldn't be like this." Huang Tianqin kept shaking his head.

Having just entered the Cave Void realm without having reinforced his body, he could only unleash the power equivalent to thirteen-tenths of the Heavenly Might.

The 'Five Elements Poison Dragon Drill' was also at thirteen-tenths of the Heavenly Might.

And the recoil... Teng Qingshan could clearly withstand it easily, whereas Huang Tianqin was injured by the shock.

"Hmph!"

Teng Qingshan swept his gaze across Liu Xia and Yu Feng, who wore equally incredulous expressions, before settling his eyes on the Holy Temple. "Learning how to take that final step into the Cave Void realm during this visit to the Yu Huang Sect is a great gain... However, I need to figure out exactly who this Venerable Lord is!"

"Xiao Qing," Teng Qingshan called out.

Whoosh!

The Undying Phoenix, 'Xiao Qing,' swooping down from the sky, quickly landed beside Teng Qingshan. A faint smile touched Teng Qingshan's lips... Even if this Venerable Lord was truly formidable, the worst-case scenario was simply relying on the Undying Phoenix 'Xiao Qing' to escape.

"Huang Tianqin called you Venerable Lord just now!"

"I wonder, Venerable Lord, if you will show yourself?" Teng Qingshan looked toward the Holy Temple and laughed loudly. "Otherwise, I might just destroy this Holy Temple. I believe... these three can no longer stop me now." Teng Qingshan glanced over the three figures—Huang Tianqin trembled with suppressed rage.

If he were given some time, even without advancing his realm, just by strengthening his body, he would be capable of defeating Teng Qingshan!

"Young man, it seems you are very eager to see me," a deep, resonant voice echoed throughout the forest. "Then you may enter the Holy Temple."

Teng Qingshan, holding the Samsara Spear, flew directly into the Holy Temple alongside the Undying Phoenix.