Pei San let out a long, slow breath. He smiled faintly. "The vengeance is exacted, and the foundation of the Heavenly God Palace is secure. I have nothing left to accomplish, save for one thing—reaching the absolute peak of the Martial Dao." Pei San turned his gaze to Teng Qingshan at his side, his eyes sharper than ever before, filled with an endless torrent of battle intent. "Teng Qingshan, on the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, we meet at White Horse Lake! Do not, under any circumstances, disappoint me," Pei San declared. Teng Qingshan understood the implication behind Pei San's words. Given his current strength, he certainly wouldn't disappoint Pei San. However, if Teng Qingshan chose to deliberately avoid the fight that day, pulling a stunt like that 'Huang Tianqin,' Pei San would be utterly helpless. Against Huang Tianqin, Pei San could resort to killing. But if Teng Qingshan simply evaded the battle, Pei San would have no chance whatsoever to lay a hand on him. "I, too, look forward to that battle," Teng Qingshan met Pei San's gaze. "Excellent." The stern expression on Pei San’s face instantly broke into a smile as he poured a cup of wine. Teng Qingshan mirrored the action, pouring a cup for himself as well. "Today, we share laughter and wine in conversation. But the eighteenth of the twelfth month will be a duel to the death," Pei San raised his cup. "Teng Qingshan, I, Pei San, hold you in high esteem. Come, let us drink." "Indeed, cheers," Teng Qingshan raised his cup in return. Both men drained their cups in one go. Then, with a hearty laugh, Pei San turned and departed with a swift, graceful movement.

The seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month dawned under a heavy, overcast sky. In Yong’an Commandery, within the Pagoda Forest of the Guiyuan Sect. These towering pagodas housed countless urns of ashes, and at this moment, a streak of grey light shot down from the heavens, descending before one specific tower. It was Teng Qingshan, carrying a bamboo basket filled with incense, wine, steamed buns, and other sacrificial offerings. Though the tower was monitored by patrolling guards, they passed right by Teng Qingshan without even registering his presence. "Here!" Teng Qingshan swept his World Power across the area and immediately located the distinct ash box crafted from 'Ice Crystal Jade Stone.' On the third floor of the pagoda, numbered eleventh in sequence, Teng Qingshan stood quietly before the first stone tablet, which was covered in densely packed names. Fifth row, seventeenth name— ‘Zhuge Qing’. Teng Qingshan’s gaze settled upon the highly conspicuous urn made of near-transparent jade. The box bore the three characters, ‘Zhuge Qing,’ and in the lower right corner, the small inscription read, ‘Inscription left by Father Zhuge Yuanhong.’ The entire tower radiated a chilling cold, with only faint traces of burnt incense near the memorial marker. "Qingqing..." Teng Qingshan knelt down, personally arranging the offerings and lighting the candles. "I fight Pei San tomorrow," Teng Qingshan murmured softly while setting out the tributes. "After the great battle, I will come to see you again. If... if I don't return, perhaps that’s for the best; we might meet then." Having completed his rites, Teng Qingshan stood silently before Zhuge Qing's urn, gazing for a long time. Only when the candles had burned down by nearly half did Teng Qingshan finally leave the tower. …… The eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month! A day destined to set the entire land of the Nine Provinces ablaze with excitement! It was the day countless martial artists across the Nine Provinces had dreamed of anticipating! Uncountable numbers had begun flocking toward White Horse Lake before this day even arrived. The area surrounding the lake was already packed with thousands of people, including a substantial contingent of disciples from the Xingyi Sect itself. As the pitch-black night sky began to yield to a faint grey light, the entire Xingyi Sect stirred with rising clamor. The hundreds of thousands of disciples knew this was the day of the decisive battle between Teng Qingshan and Pei San. Early that morning, countless voices discussed what might unfold in the impending clash. In the Donghua Courtyard, Teng Qingshan’s residence, however, profound tranquility reigned. "Xiuxiu, eat a bit more," Teng Qingshan said in the main hall, placing a sweet pastry in front of Xiuxiu as his entire family gathered for breakfast. "Thank you, Grandpa," Xiuxiu chirped clearly. Teng Qingshan couldn't help but smile. "From now on, I’ll eat with Grandpa every time. Mother always forbids me from having sweets," Xiuxiu pouted, a remark that instantly brought laughter to the table. Li Jun, sitting beside her, affectionately stroked Xiuxiu's head and agreed, "Xiuxiu is right; we'll eat with Grandpa every single day." Teng Qingshan smiled softly. Looking at his parents, his wife, his children beside him... and his granddaughter... a deep warmth surged within his heart. This was home! This was Teng Qingshan’s home! They lingered over the breakfast for a long time. "Alright, time to go," Teng Qingshan rose first. Quite a few people were already waiting outside: his three principal disciples—'Teng Shou,' 'Xue Xin,' and 'Yang Dong'—along with their families, his cousin from Teng Family Village, Teng Qingshan, and his maternal grandfather, Teng Yunlong, and a whole host of others. They had all waited outside, careful not to interrupt the family's morning meal. The Six-legged Saber Beetle was also waiting nearby, accompanied by a Gale Eagle. Seeing Teng Qingshan approach, "Master!" Teng Shou, Xue Xin, and Yang Dong all bowed respectfully. "Wait a moment," Teng Qingshan turned and went into his study. Moments later, he returned, carrying three thick, bound volumes of secret manuals. "Ah Shou, listen closely, all three of you," Teng Qingshan said solemnly. "These three manuals are titled, respectively, The Way of Life, The Way of Death, and Detailed Explanation of the Three Stances. I didn't have time to think of proper names for the manuals. However, these three books contain the essence of the Dao I have comprehended." Teng Shou, Xue Xin, and Yang Dong held their breath. They already knew... the Three Stances were the source of Xingyi Fist. The fact that their master dared to compile the Detailed Explanation of the Three Stances indicated the supreme importance of this manual. "Each of you take one of these manuals back and make a copy. The copies are to be placed within the Xingyi Sect archives. The originals, for now, are to be entrusted to your martial mother for safekeeping," Teng Qingshan instructed seriously. "Remember, you must transcribe them yourselves. Do not delegate this task to anyone else." "Yes, Master." The three men solemnly accepted a manual each. These three volumes, which had taken Teng Qingshan nearly two months to write, represented the zenith of the Xingyi Sect's secret teachings—truly treasures to guard the sect. "Grandfather," Teng Qingshan looked toward his grandfather standing not far off and smiled faintly. "Qingshan," Teng Yunlong, though well over a hundred years old, was full of vigor. He slapped Teng Qingshan on the shoulder. "Grandfather is coming to watch the fight! You must make it spectacular!" "Understood." Teng Qingshan nodded. …… Following this, the mighty entourage of the Xingyi Sect, led by Teng Qingshan, nearly ten thousand people mounted their horses and galloped toward White Horse Lake. The lake lay near the Great Yan Mountain, not far away. At the speed of the Xingyi Sect's superior warhorses, the journey would take only about half an hour. ** On the banks of White Horse Lake—though the lake spanned dozens of li, its shores were now thronged with countless people from every corner of the Nine Provinces. Many had even brought large boats to watch the contest directly upon the water. Although there was a small island in the center of White Horse Lake, no one dared approach it. Because... Everyone feared being caught in the collateral damage of a battle between two supreme powerhouses. "The sky is so gloomy today; do you think it will rain?" "Who knows." Two young men who had been waiting there for several days were chatting when suddenly the one in the grey leather coat pointed into the distance and shouted, "Look! Over there are the people from the Xingyi Sect! Wow, so many of them! You can’t see the end of the line!" Indeed, a winding column of cavalry was rapidly approaching on the distant official road, led by a proudly waving banner bearing the blood-wolf emblem of the Xingyi Sect. Above this cavalry procession flew the Six-legged Saber Beetle and a Gale Eagle. Teng Qingshan, clad in a white robe and bearing the Reincarnation Spear on his back, traveled alongside his wife, Li Jun, chatting and laughing. "It's Teng Qingshan!" "That is Teng Qingshan!!!" Immediately, many people who had already arrived at White Horse Lake from various parts of the Nine Provinces cried out in astonishment. "Where is he? Where is Teng Qingshan?" some asked with extreme excitement. "Teng Qingshan!" Countless martial artists who worshipped him, and the many ambitious youths of the Nine Provinces, went into a frenzy upon seeing him. In their hearts, they already revered Teng Qingshan as a 'deity.' Many dreamed of becoming like him. "Look, the one in white, carrying a long spear on his back—that's Teng Qingshan," roared a sturdy, white-haired old man with a scar across his face, his voice filled with emotion. "This Teng Qingshan and I were once brothers!" "Stop bragging," sneered a stout, plump man. "Bragging about what?" The scarred, sturdy old man glared, and immediately a dozen or so strong men behind him glared at the fat man, startling him. One of these men proudly announced, "This is Third Master Liu, the chief of our White Horse Gang! Teng Family Village was once in our Yicheng. Sect Master Teng drank with our Third Master Liu back in the day; they were sworn brothers!" "White Horse Gang's Third Master Liu?" Many surrounding people turned to look. This scarred old man, Third Master Liu, laughed heartily and cupped his hands to the crowd. "I am indeed Liu San. It is a great honor for me that Sect Master Teng and Palace Master Pei will fight on my White Horse Lake. My brothers who were on the island have all been withdrawn. Since Sect Master Teng and I were sworn brothers back then, never mind one island; I would gladly stake my entire fortune to host this great battle." "So this White Horse Lake belongs to Master Liu," people murmured. "Haha, the White Horse Gang will become famous now." Discussion erupted all around. Many people began greeting Third Master Liu. Liu San was originally just the chief of the White Horse Gang in Yicheng—in short, a bandit leader. But now, associated with the supreme powerhouse of the Nine Provinces, 'Teng Qingshan,' his status instantly changed. Furthermore, since White Horse Lake was now the battlefield for Teng Qingshan and Pei San, the White Horse Gang would naturally gain special significance in the future. "Look, the sturdy man behind Teng Qingshan is his father, Teng Yongfan, one of the finest heroes from Teng Family Village. And that white-haired elder is Teng Yunlong, the old clan leader of Teng Family Village. He and I were quite friendly in the past," Third Master Liu laughed heartily. Liu San was genuinely delighted by the battle at White Horse Lake. After all, the island would revert to his control once the fight was over. …… Amidst the ceaseless chatter of tens of thousands, the Teng Qingshan family settled into a pavilion overlooking the lake, previously prepared by the Xingyi Sect. "The Heavenly God Palace delegation hasn't arrived," Hong Wu observed, looking outside. Beside him, Teng Qingshan sat quietly at a table, holding a teacup, sipping the tea calmly as he waited. His state of mind was slowly settling down, beginning its necessary adjustment for the impending confrontation of peak power. "Why hasn't Little Qing shown up today?" "I don't know." Discussion could be heard from behind them. * As Teng Qingshan waited silently, many Void Realm experts began arriving across the Nine Provinces. "These two, Teng Qingshan and Pei San, are fighting to the death, hoping to attain the Supreme Being realm? That realm is not so easily earned. Since the time of Ancestor Sakyamuni, no one has reached the Supreme Being realm in over two thousand years," observed 'Liu Xia' of the Yu Huang Gate, suspended amidst the clouds above, looking down. Beside him stood Yu Feng. "Elder Liu, who do you predict will live or die in this battle?" Yu Feng inquired. Liu Xia sneered, "Pei San murdered our Martial Uncle, and Teng Qingshan is no saint either. No matter who dies, it is a good outcome for our Yu Huang Gate. I hope they both perish together." "Hm?" Yu Feng looked toward the distance in surprise. "A Dragon Spirit?" Liu Xia exclaimed in shock. In the distant clouds, a divine dragon was coiling and winding—it was the Dragon Spirit of Great Yan Mountain, 'Zixi.' Its black-purple scales reflected an icy cold glint in the clouds, causing a wave of gasps among the people of the Nine Provinces below who spotted it. Not only that— "Look over there." On the banks of White Horse Lake, countless people looked up. Two enormous masses of flame were approaching, and upon closer inspection, they were revealed to be two colossal Undying Phoenixes. "Two Undying Phoenixes!" "There are two of them!" "They are the Xingyi Sect's Undying Phoenixes!" Cheers erupted as, under the gaze of thousands, these two phoenixes flew toward the pavilion where Teng Qingshan was temporarily staying. The appearance of the two Undying Phoenixes and the Dragon Spirit clearly excited many onlookers. "Look there, another Dragon Spirit!" "Yes, to the south, a purely black one." Countless people scrutinized the sky and indeed discovered a black dragon lurking within the mist. A gaunt old man sat cross-legged on its back, none other than the Grand Elder of the Barbarian Tribe Temple from the Savage Lands. The elder looked down upon White Horse Lake. "Teng Qingshan and Pei San engaging in a life-and-death duel? They once joined forces to attack my Temple, and now they slaughter each other? The outside world is truly chaotic." …… Among the endless crowds lining the banks of White Horse Lake, numerous experts, even Void Realm existences, were intermingled. "Qingshan, your opponent today is Pei San. I hope you win," the broad-shouldered, silver-haired War God of Mengmeng Yun stood silently amidst the crowd, watching. About three li away from the War God of Mengmeng Yun, a patch of crowd remained conspicuously empty. In this void stood a single man, clad in a silver-grey robe, carrying a purple sword on his back. His face was icy, and even standing there, he exuded the presence of a giant sword, inspiring awe and keeping others away. This man was 'Huangfu Yujiang' of Moonbright Island. After being struck down by Teng Qingshan a second time, Huangfu Yujiang realized how provincial his perspective had been. Since Teng Qingshan flew south, he too left Moonbright Island and journeyed south, finally reaching the Nine Provinces. Upon arriving, he finally understood what true prosperity meant, and what a mere patch of land truly was. "Within my domain, in a radius of thirty-four li, I count sixteen Void Realm existences," Huangfu Yujiang trembled internally. "Is this the Nine Provinces?" Reaching the Void Realm meant near invincibility on Moonbright Island. But in the Nine Provinces, being a Void Realm expert was far from supreme. "Teng Qingshan," Huangfu Yujiang looked toward the distant pavilion on the lake shore. "It seems you are already among the absolute peak powers of the Nine Provinces. Your opponent today is equally formidable. But I believe... you will win!" Huangfu Yujiang thought silently. Having been defeated by Teng Qingshan twice, he was convinced that Teng Qingshan was a miraculous being. Thus, he held firm confidence in him. …… Across the Nine Provinces, whether ordinary folk, skilled martial artists, Void Realm experts, or even several informed Void Realm demonic beasts, all gathered around White Horse Lake. In an instant, the lakeside was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, hosting over half of the top experts from the entire Nine Provinces. "It's the Heavenly God Palace." "The people from the Heavenly God Palace have arrived." Many cried out in surprise as the Lightning Divine Eagle flew in. Pei San, wearing his bright yellow robe, descended slowly, holding his daughter's hand. Beside him were Pei San's disciples, Su Mengte, Li Chao, and Wu Hou, as well as his sworn brother, 'Pei Hao.' As for Pei San himself, many on the lakeshore had met him before. In mid-air. Pei San turned to look at his daughter, Pei Xuelian, who looked back at her father. "Father, I will wait for your return. When you come back, I will marry within three years," Pei Xuelian said. Pei San couldn't help but smile. "So you are finally willing to marry." Since experiencing an emotional setback in her youth, Pei Xuelian had never considered marriage. Although she was older, for experts who reached the Innate Realm, their figure and appearance remained largely unchanged. Thus, for Innate experts, age was not a barrier to marriage. "Yes," Pei Xuelian nodded, looking at her father. "Haha... A'Chao," Pei San turned to his disciple beside him and laughed. "How about I arrange your wedding with Xuelian after this battle is over?" Li Chao and Pei Xuelian froze momentarily, exchanging a glance. Although Li Chao was advanced in years, he had always remained single. As for their feelings for each other... it was hard to define, given they had grown up together as childhood friends. "Haha..." Pei San laughed loudly. "Then when I return, I will officiate your wedding." With that, Pei San turned and flew toward White Horse Lake. …… Inside the pavilion by White Horse Lake. Teng Qingshan, who had been sitting calmly and sipping tea, saw Pei San fly toward the lake. He glanced sideways at Li Jun and reached out to grasp her hand. "I'm going now," Teng Qingshan whispered softly. "I will wait for your return," Li Jun replied softly. Teng Qingshan nodded, stood up, and looked back one last time. His father, Teng Yongfan, and mother, Yuan Lan, were watching him. His son, Hong Wu, and daughter, Hong Lin, including the still-too-young Xiuxiu, were all watching. Facing the concern and worry of his loved ones, Teng Qingshan offered only a gentle smile. "Wait for my return!" With those words, Teng Qingshan stepped out and flew out of the pavilion. "Screech~~" "Roar~~" The Undying Phoenix 'Little Qing' and the Mother Phoenix hovering above the pavilion, along with the Six-legged Saber Beetle and the Gale Eagle, all watched Teng Qingshan. Teng Qingshan flashed them a slight smile and then landed upon the surface of White Horse Lake. At that instant— The entire bank of White Horse Lake fell instantly silent, the noise rapidly vanishing. Teng Qingshan was positioned on the southern side of the lake, while Pei San stood on the northern side. Both men stepped onto the water’s surface, walking slowly toward the center. Their pace was unhurried, yet this measured gait carried a strange, mesmerizing power. "Buzz... Buzz..." Ripples spread across the lake, changing and evolving, causing many spectators to feel as if the entire heaven and earth had vanished, leaving only these complex wave patterns and the two focal points generating them—Pei San and Teng Qingshan—as they slowly advanced. "Such terrifying mastery," Huangfu Yujiang was stunned silent. "Is this the strength approaching that of a Supreme Being?" Yu Feng of the Yu Huang Gate murmured from the clouds, while Liu Xia, though wanting to refute, merely opened his mouth but remained speechless. Across the White Horse Lake banks, excluding the Void Realm experts, everyone below the Void Realm—Innate practitioners and ordinary people—felt an impact on their spirits. Their eyes could only perceive the magical 'water surface ripples' and the two sources creating them: 'Teng Qingshan' and 'Pei San.' Heaven and earth seemed to lose all color, dissolving into nothingness. Hoo... Hoo... Teng Qingshan listened to the wind, holding his Reincarnation Spear, walking in silence. "Fight!" Though Teng Qingshan did not deliberately fix his gaze on the distant Pei San, his spirit registered the corresponding powerful aura from his opponent. During this slow walk across the lake, Teng Qingshan's state of mind gradually transformed, becoming utterly calm, devoid of any ripple, his emotions completely pacified. Step by measured step... Both men moved in the same fashion! They knew their strengths were comparable; therefore, the mental state and condition during the fight would be paramount. This was why they both chose to walk, constantly adjusting, constantly harmonizing, until they reached their absolute peak states! They would only do this when facing a true equal. It was impossible to say how long they walked... Stop! Teng Qingshan and Pei San halted when they were approximately half a li apart, facing each other across the distance.

And because of the ripples caused by the stampede, they gradually became chaotic and dissipated as Teng Qingshan and Pei San came to a halt. The tens of thousands of people, who had been mentally bewitched, all sobered up, as if, in an instant, the world that had vanished into the void, and the onlookers, had all returned.

They gazed at each other in shock.

"Did you notice just now? The surrounding world disappeared; only they and the ripples on the lake remained."

"Yes, I thought I was hallucinating. You too?"

As they conversed, the tens of thousands of people were stunned to realize that everyone had been affected, and each felt it was incredible. For the power of 'Charm' to reach such a degree was utterly unimaginable.

...

On White Horse Lake.

The wind blew, and the states of mind of both Teng Qingshan and Pei San had reached clarity and perfection; spiritually, they had no other attachments. They had only one thing left—

Fight!

Teng Qingshan's family, watching from a distance, worried for him. On the side of the Heavenly God Palace above, Pei Xuelian and the others also worried for Pei San. They all knew... although their relatives were the pinnacle existences on the Nine Provinces Continent, neither of the two was certain of defeating their opponent.

This battle would be perilous.

"I don't know why, Teng Qingshan," Pei San said, stepping across the lake surface and gazing at his opponent with a slight smile. "Though my state of mind is perfect now, I have a peculiar feeling, as if back in my first life, when I was a child, I felt the same excitement and apprehension when Mani Temple was selecting inner disciples."

"This battle hasn't even started, but I truly look forward to it, and I feel so apprehensive," Pei San smiled, yet his expression remained as calm as ever.

"I feel the same. Aside from you, Pei San, there is no one else on the Nine Provinces Continent who can make me feel this apprehension," Teng Qingshan stated, his spirit infinitely relaxed, feeling every minute detail of the surrounding area for several miles, even sensing the precise trajectory of the wind.

Suddenly—

Whoosh~~ As the wind blew, snowflakes began to drift down, gradually falling thickly and continuously. Teng Qingshan and Pei San appeared like two deities amidst the snow.

"Swish!"

Pei San instantly donned a pair of gloves and said with a smile, "Teng Qingshan, these gloves are called Buddha Slayers! I forged them after traveling across the breadth of the land, gathering vast amounts of precious materials, and then tempering them with the Power of the World for over a century to reach their current level." Weapons refined by the Power of the World possess sentience.

Even if damaged, their owner can repair them using the Power of the World. Of course, if the owner dies, others who obtain them cannot restore them.

"This long spear of mine is named 'Samsara.' It was originally forged by my father and maternal grandfather, then damaged and reforged with the help of my friend, the War God of Cloud Dream, 'Mu Tao.' Afterward, it was tempered by my Power of the World to reach this state," Teng Qingshan explained slowly, gently stroking the Samsara Spear.

There was still a faint trace of bloodlust clinging to the red tassel of the Samsara Spear.

Under this spear, the Blind Sword Saint 'Tie Wu' of Azure Lake Island, a Void Realm expert, and 'Shen Gongfu' of Sun Shooting Divine Mountain, had both met their demise; the bloodstains of Void Realm experts remained.

As his words faded, the two fell silent.

Whoosh~~ Whoosh~~~

The tens of thousands of people along the banks of White Horse Lake were deathly still; snowflakes drifted down, and both Teng Qingshan and Pei San held their weapons. Though neither had attacked, the spectators felt the bated-breath tension growing stronger, so intense it seemed to steal their breath away. Faint wisps of the Power of the World began to uncontrollably dissipate from the surfaces of their bodies.

The moment the Power of the World leaked out, the eyes of Teng Qingshan and Pei San instantly flashed with lightning-like sharpness.

"Roar~~~"

A towering phantom of a black divine ape appeared behind Pei San, as solid as reality, even the ape’s features clearly discernible, every tooth visible beneath its great maw. At this moment, the divine ape roared at Teng Qingshan, and then Pei San’s eyes turned blood-red, as if a peerless fierce beast were instantly lunging forth!

"Rumble~~" The fierce momentum instantly churned the surrounding lake water dozens of feet high, mixing endless spray with the snow.

Teng Qingshan erupted only after Pei San made his move!

"Ang~~~"

The Samsara Spear in Teng Qingshan's hand emitted a piercing sound; in an instant, the entire heaven and earth seemed to be drilled through. The endless lake water surrounding them surged apart violently, and the Samsara Spear in Teng Qingshan's hand, like a giant dragon emerging from White Horse Lake, roared as it lunged to bite at Pei San.