Since Teng Qingshan returned to the Xingyi Sect carrying two Heavenly-grade Secret Canons, he began to enter seclusion frequently.

Each period of seclusion would typically last for about a month. Even when he emerged for three to five days to handle some sect matters and spend time with his wife and children, he would soon retreat again… This frequency astonished even his wife, 'Li Jun.' After all, if seclusion yielded no progress, forcing more would be counterproductive and could negatively impact one's state of mind.

Within the Xingyi Sect, in the Donghua Courtyard.

Li Jun stood by the pond, scattering feed for the fish. A group of fish scrambled eagerly for the food, occasionally leaping out of the water.

"Madam, the Sect Master has not yet emerged from seclusion," beside Li Jun stood her personal maid, named Qiuju.

"Mm, probably another half a month," Li Jun shook her head.

Qiuju stayed nearby, chatting with Li Jun.

"Rumble~~"

The two great doors of the distant training room slowly slid open, causing Li Jun to turn sharply. She saw a figure emerge from the doorway of the training room.

"Qingshan!" Li Jun cried out joyfully and ran over.

"Xiao Jun," Teng Qingshan’s face was wreathed in smiles.

"You finished much faster this time! And you have such a bright smile, you must have gained something significant, haven't you? What, have you broken through to the Void Interpretation Realm?" Li Jun did not possess a 'Domain' and thus could not sense the changes in Teng Qingshan’s aura.

"Is it that easy to break through?"

Teng Qingshan smiled, and with a gentle wave of his left hand, as if scattering thousands of drops of sweet dew, the surrounding space filled with the breath of life. "This time, I comprehended the 'Path of Life.' Now, I have fully grasped both the 'Paths of Life and Death.' To comprehend these two Paths is also a sign that my understanding of the Five Elements has reached a higher level."

The fusion of Metal, Fire, and a portion of 'Water' manifests as the 'Path of Death,' which is the Path of Destruction.

Conversely, the fusion of Wood, Earth, and a portion of 'Water' manifests as the 'Path of Life.'

It had been a full year since his confrontation with 'Huang Tianqin' of the Yuhuang Sect. During this year, Teng Qingshan felt he made progress with almost every seclusion. Until today… he had finally grasped the Path of Life. Understanding both the Path of Life and Death did not directly increase his combat strength.

"Regarding the Five Elements, reaching the 'Perfected' state is very close. In fact, I can feel that I am just a hair's breadth away from the Void Interpretation Realm."

"After comprehending the Paths of Life and Death, I even considered continuing the seclusion immediately, breaking through to the Void Interpretation Realm in one seamless motion. However… having just grasped the Paths of Life and Death, my state of mind is unsettled. I cannot sink into deep cultivation." Teng Qingshan shook his head. "I will rest for a few days, then settle my mind and cultivate properly, striving for that unbroken breakthrough to the Void Interpretation Realm."

Haste makes waste.

Advancing to such a realm is not something achievable merely by wishing for it.

"Where are Hongwu and Linlin?" Teng Qingshan frowned. "Not here again?"

"They are in Yong'an Commandery," Li Jun replied.

"Mm."

Ever since the last incident where he sensed a conspiracy behind the ambush of the Inner Strength Martial Arts disciples' team, Teng Qingshan had been extremely cautious. He commanded his children to preferably stay within the Great Yan Mountain, or go to Yong'an Commandery! They were absolutely forbidden from going anywhere else until the crisis was resolved.

Great Yan Mountain was Teng Qingshan's main base.

Yong'an Commandery was the core location of the Guiyuan Sect, and the War God of Yunmeng, 'Mu Tao,' was stationed there. Teng Qingshan felt assured.

...

The afternoon of the day Teng Qingshan emerged from seclusion.

"Master, Master," the Second Disciple, Yang Dong, rushed over in haste.

Teng Qingshan was sitting by the pond, sipping tea and watching the fish.

"Ah Dong, what is the rush?" Teng Qingshan asked, frowning. Usually, after emerging from seclusion, Yang Dong would choose a time to report events that occurred over the past month. It was rare for him to be this hurried.

"Master," Yang Dong continued quickly, "I hurried over as soon as I heard Master exited seclusion… There is indeed an important matter right now."

"Speak," Teng Qingshan’s brows furrowed slightly.

"Two days ago, after our Xingyi Sect searched the entire Nine Provinces for a full year, someone finally discovered that 'Gong Yu' was hiding under an assumed name in a small city in the northeastern You Province," Yang Dong reported.

"Gong Yu?" Teng Qingshan’s eyes lit up.

This renegade disciple was truly a thorn in Teng Qingshan’s heart! Failing to capture the very first traitor would inevitably affect the sect's prestige.

"Was he captured?" Teng Qingshan asked immediately.

"I have already ordered the men to begin a full-scale arrest," Yang Dong said. "Master, rest assured, the Xingyi Sect has dispatched a large contingent of forces to surround that small city… Furthermore, in capturing Gong Yu, we received assistance from the Heavenly God Palace in You Province. I believe this Gong Yu definitely cannot escape."

When putting a bounty across the Nine Provinces, the Xingyi Sect naturally had to maintain good relations with all major sects.

"Good, this Gong Yu must be captured," Teng Qingshan said solemnly.

"This disciple understands." Yang Dong was also grinding his teeth in frustration. A traitor hiding for a year without being caught—if he slipped away again this time, he, as the acting Sect Master, would lose even more face.

...

Three days later.

In the Donghua Courtyard, the Teng Qingshan family of four gathered together.

"Are you two finally willing to come back?" Teng Qingshan smiled, looking at his son and daughter.

"Father, we weren't just playing; we were busy with serious matters," Hong Lin stated.

"You are the most slippery one," Teng Qingshan chuckled, then his gaze fell upon his son, Hongwu. "Hongwu, how did things go with that young lady from the Lei family in Yong'an Commandery? If you two are serious, I will send someone to propose marriage and discuss the wedding date with the Lei family."

"Father… Xiao Ru is still in her mourning period," Hongwu replied.

"Oh, look at my memory, I forgot," Teng Qingshan nodded with a smile.

His son and daughter were grown now.

Teng Qingshan naturally paid close attention to his children's important life decisions. After all, marriage was a serious affair that could not be handled carelessly. For the girl his son 'Hongwu' liked, Teng Qingshan had already secretly ordered background checks to be done on her history and affairs. Although the Lei family was not a major powerhouse, merely possessing some modest assets, in Teng Qingshan's eyes, wealth counted for nothing.

A clean family background and a girl of good character were sufficient.

Hongwu doesn't make me worry, Teng Qingshan thought secretly. He finds exactly the right kind of girl. The Teng family was now undeniably one of the foremost great families on the Nine Provinces mainland. Many sought to join the Teng Family Estate, let alone marry into the family as Teng Qingshan's son. Therefore, Teng Qingshan dared not be careless.

As for Linlin… Teng Qingshan sighed inwardly.

The young man named 'Wei Jiang' she encountered back then was now an elite figure heavily cultivated by the Xingyi Sect. Unfortunately, Linlin had only been curious about Wei Jiang initially, and after entering the Xingyi Sect, Wei Jiang became utterly obsessed with cultivating Inner Strength Martial Arts, never actively approaching Linlin.

Naturally, no affection developed between them; they remained strictly fellow disciples.

Could it be that my daughter will also remain unmarried her whole life, like Pei San's daughter? Teng Qingshan pondered. But Jun'er mentioned that her master, Pei Xuelian, was deceived by a man, which led her to remain single forever. I certainly don't want Linlin to end up that way.

While Teng Qingshan was contemplating, Li Jun was conversing with their children.

"Mother, I have something to tell you," Hongwu suddenly said.

"What is it?" Li Jun asked, surprised.

"Actually, my sister has someone she fancies now," Hongwu chuckled slyly.

"Ah!"

Teng Qingshan and Li Jun were both greatly surprised, looking toward their daughter, Hong Lin. Hong Lin’s face flushed deeply, but she tried to act as if nothing was wrong. She first shot a warning glare at her younger brother, then laughed heartily, "Father, Mother, there aren't many people in this world who catch my eye. Don't worry, whoever marries me must at least be able to defeat me, otherwise, I wouldn't think highly of him."

"This current one, we've only chatted a few times. Nothing is set in stone yet," Hong Lin stated confidently.

Teng Qingshan and Li Jun exchanged glances and smiled.

Good, I'll have someone investigate thoroughly who this man close to Hong Lin is, Teng Qingshan thought secretly. He dared not be careless now.

"Hmm? Ah Dong?"

Teng Qingshan clearly felt Yang Dong’s aura rapidly approaching the Donghua Courtyard.

"Ah Dong is here," Teng Qingshan announced.

"Why is Second Senior Brother here?" Hongwu and Hong Lin were also surprised, looking toward the entrance, where Yang Dong soon appeared.

"Master, Master," Yang Dong called out from a distance.

"What, did you catch Gong Yu?" Teng Qingshan asked, as this was his primary concern now.

"That traitor Gong Yu?" Hongwu exclaimed in shock.

"That scoundrel was found?" Hong Lin’s eyes widened.

Yang Dong looked at Teng Qingshan, revealing a trace of bitterness, then handed over the secret letter in his hand: "Master, the intelligence is all here." Seeing Yang Dong’s expression, Teng Qingshan sensed trouble and frowned as he took the intelligence and began reading it carefully.

"Second Senior Brother, speak quickly," Hong Lin couldn't help urging.

Yang Dong stood aside and spoke to Hong Lin, Hongwu, and Li Jun: "Last night, our men located Gong Yu's hiding spot. We surrounded it in three layers inside and out; the man had absolutely no way to escape. But… he didn't try to flee at all. When we rushed in to apprehend him."

"This Gong Yu had already doused himself in kerosene before we arrived. When we burst in, he lit himself on fire."

"And he was shouting that…"

"'Teng Qingshan, don't even dream of getting my body intact,'" Yang Dong recounted, glancing at Teng Qingshan.

Hongwu and Hong Lin, hearing this, imagined a man setting himself alight while yelling such a defiant statement, visualizing the hideous, venomous expression, and they felt a chill run down their spines.

"That man is insane."

"How old is Gong Yu? What grudge does he have with Father?" Hongwu and Hong Lin couldn't help but wonder.

Teng Qingshan stared at the line of text in the secret letter. Self-immolation, specifically to deny him a complete corpse—this meant Teng Qingshan couldn't prove the body was indeed 'Gong Yu’s.'

"The person truly holding a grudge against me is certainly not this young man. It is his father, or perhaps his master! Or… an entire sect!" Teng Qingshan spoke slowly.