Pei San's hands curved slightly, shaped into claws, held loosely together as if they could encompass the entire world between them. Teng Qingshan's tip of the Samsara Spear, however, was honed to the ultimate sharpness; even an obstruction formed by heaven and earth would be pierced through.
"Hah!"
All of Teng Qingshan's fighting spirit converged into this single thrust. In that instant, as the spear tip passed, the lake water below naturally parted, surging in endless waves that rolled and churned, serving as subjects to honor Teng Qingshan’s Samsara Spear. Furthermore, the vast world power churning within Teng Qingshan spun, accelerating the spear’s speed, its momentum continuously climbing, rising higher and higher!
"Whoosh~~" Pei San’s eyes narrowed. The towering Divine Ape phantom behind him slightly stooped, its hands also adopting a held-together posture, gathering endless world power toward the center of those two hands.
The ultimate move!
The moment Teng Qingshan and Pei San engaged, they unleashed the moves with the greatest instantaneous offensive power! In true contests between powerhouses, there is no slow preamble, moving up step-by-step from weaker techniques. Since their strengths were equal, they brought out their true trump cards, intending to shatter and defeat the opponent with a single blow.
"Splat!"
The tip of the Samsara Spear, carrying endless piercing force, met Pei San’s clasped hands head-on! The spear tip precisely pierced the center where Pei San’s hands met.
"Hmm?" Teng Qingshan's expression shifted. He felt as if his spear had pierced into an expanse of infinite cotton, an absolute softness. Pei San’s move was not merely soft! It was a perfect blend of hardness and softness; the softness served as defense, while the attack was pure hardness!
"Break, break, break for me!!!" Teng Qingshan roared inwardly. This spear strike took the form of the Water Element's Poisonous Dragon Drill, yet it contained the power of life and death combined. Life and death were like two complementary forces; the spear’s power continuously accumulated—life gathering strength, while death unleashed devastating destructive might.
"Release!" Pei San's face twisted in ferocity, and he roared.
"Clang!"
Pei San’s fingers fiercely flicked against the body of Teng Qingshan's Samsara Spear. The immense impact power caused the surrounding space to violently contort. Whether it was the momentum contained within the Samsara Spear or the astonishing force held within Pei San’s fingers, they collided frontally. This earth-shattering collision produced a sound that echoed across heaven and earth. On White Horse Lake, a wave surge rose a full hundred zhang high, looking like hundreds of massive white dragons sweeping out in all directions. For a moment, the entire surface of White Horse Lake bucked violently up and down, and even on the shore, the water surged up nearly ten feet high.
"Pfft." Soaked to the bone by the spray, the tens of thousands gathered on the banks stared wide-eyed toward the center of the lake.
"That is too incredible."
"One exchange, and the entire White Horse Lake shook. Truly worthy of being the two strongest figures in the Nine Provinces Continent."
"This battle looks uncertain. Who wins and who loses is truly hard to call." The spectators along the shore were stirred with excitement.
On the lake surface.
Teng Qingshan and Pei San were separated by a full mile.
Teng Qingshan narrowed his eyes slightly, his right hand gripping the spear shaft involuntarily loosening for a moment before clenching tight again: "Pei San’s hand skills are indeed formidable; he actually managed to take that strike head-on. That technique first used yielding force to deflect my attack's power, then counterattacked with hardness. Truly remarkable. My right hand is numb. It seems... the method of defeating Pei San with my strongest attack is not viable."
Across from him, Pei San clenched and unclenched his hands slightly.
"That spear strike was truly powerful; my fingers and palms still ache." Pei San also felt that using his bare hands for this kind of defense put him at a slight disadvantage. "My counterattack actually failed to jar the Samsara Spear from his grasp."
The simultaneous flicking force from both hands, a strange, interwoven power, had even made Teng Qingshan’s palm go numb.
The first exchange...
Both great experts realized one thing: simply going for a head-on clash with their strongest moves was likely futile.
A cold glint flashed in Teng Qingshan’s eyes.
Pei San, however, broke into a grin, a fierce light shining in his gaze: "Good."
Swish! Swish!
Both men lunged toward each other, their speeds utterly astonishing. At this moment, both Teng Qingshan and Pei San instinctively employed the same tactic—speed! In martial arts, nothing can overcome sheer speed! Once one moves so fast that the opponent cannot react defensively, a decisive strike is guaranteed. Normally, two opponents of equal attack power dare not simply withstand the opponent's incoming blows. After all, the body's general tolerance is rarely as terrifying as its offensive capacity.
"Faster, faster, faster! As long as I am slightly faster than him, one spear thrust will wound him, and I will gain the advantage." As Teng Qingshan darted across the lake, the Samsara Spear in his hands began to churn violently. In an instant, the entire spear seemed to come alive, brimming with boundless vitality.
A strange, high-pitched cry echoed!
Behind Pei San, the Divine Ape phantom vanished, replaced by a Fox Spirit phantom. Pei San’s entire demeanor instantly changed; the blood-red glow in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a chilling coldness. Pei San himself dissolved into blurred afterimages, rapidly pouncing toward Teng Qingshan. In terms of short-range, rapid movement and overall velocity, Pei San clearly held the advantage!
"It’s not about overall movement speed, but attack speed!" Teng Qingshan's eyes sharpened. "No matter how fast you run, can you be faster than my drawing of the spear?"
The two blurred shadows collided instantly!
"Clang-clatter~~" "Crack!" "Whoosh~~"
Various sounds erupted continuously. Towering water splashes soared into the sky above White Horse Lake, and within the watery chaos, Teng Qingshan and Pei San engaged in rapid combat while constantly shifting position. Teng Qingshan’s Samsara Spear was like blades of grass sprouting ceaselessly with the arrival of spring, filled with endless life force, one strike following another without pause. Sometimes a fiercely sharp, decisive attack would erupt, only to quickly shift into a life-filled thrust akin to an arrow from a bow. The transition between life and death, executed flawlessly.
Pei San’s ten fingers were like the strings of a zither being plucked, swift and imbued with a strange charm. Even a Void Realm expert would hesitate to stare directly at Pei San's hands; the melody danced by those hands was enough to inflict fatal mental bewitchment upon them. While a Cave-Void expert wouldn't be completely mesmerized, they would certainly feel some influence.
Therefore— Teng Qingshan completely contained his spirit within, focusing on unleashing thrust after thrust. His spear work was sometimes short and sharp, sometimes heavy with destructive force. The transition of life and death was utilized to perfection.
"Boom boom boom~~~"
Wherever Teng Qingshan and Pei San clashed, towering waves erupted, making it seem as though a giant was wantonly stirring White Horse Lake. Even some boats anchored near the edge were tossed over violently. Especially when the two powerhouses fought their way to the small island in the lake's center...
"No!"
Elder Liu San, observing from a distance, had been very agitated moments before, but his face suddenly changed drastically.
"Rumble~~" As expected, the two frenzied experts, Teng Qingshan and Pei San, tore through the island they passed over, shattering the earth until it cracked open and was eroded by the lake water. In mere breaths, Teng Qingshan and Pei San had already fought their way clear of the island's vicinity, but nearly half of the entire island had vanished.
Liu San stared with wide eyes: "My... my island!"
"Boss, Boss," the men from the White Horse Gang following Liu San called out repeatedly.
Liu San was on the verge of tears. He had expected that even if peerless experts like Teng Qingshan and Pei San reduced the island to ruins, he wouldn't fear it; he could always rebuild. But now, nearly half the island was gone—that was beyond reconstruction.
"Teng Qingshan, my dear brother, that was my stronghold! Show some respect," Liu San cried out inwardly.
...
Splash!
As the water waves subsided and scattered, spraying water everywhere, snowflakes drifted wildly from the sky. Finally, people could see the two figures standing on the lake surface: Teng Qingshan and Pei San. Despite the fierce battle they had just endured, both emerged completely unharmed, unscathed. However, the veins on both their hands bulged visibly, and their faces were slightly flushed. The exchange of pure speed had indeed been incredibly draining, both mentally and physically. A single lapse in concentration could have given the opponent an opening for a serious injury. But both men maintained near-perfect states; neither had made a mistake.
"Teng Qingshan, you are quite formidable," Pei San said, a sharp light shining in his eyes.
"You are not bad either," Teng Qingshan acknowledged, sensing the difficulty in facing his opponent.
The ultimate move, the clash of speed—neither had managed to secure victory.
"Teng Qingshan, do you remember what we discussed over wine the night before last?" Pei San’s aura began to slowly shift. "If I die, remember my request." The Divine Ape phantom reappeared behind Pei San, and his aura turned wildly savage, brimming with endless aggression.
Teng Qingshan narrowed his eyes slightly, holding the Samsara Spear in both hands.
Both men understood...
What came next!
Since the ultimate move and the clash of speed could not determine a victor, only one path remained—close-quarters combat to the death! Once two individuals engaged in a desperate, wild melee at close range, the outcome became unpredictable. It was in such a life-or-death struggle that the monk 'Lao Yuan' from Mani Temple and Pei San had settled their scores— Pei San was severely wounded, while Lao Yuan had his head cleanly severed by a hand-chop.
"Close-quarters death match!" Pei San’s eyes flushed blood-red, his demeanor turning frantic. "Teng Qingshan, this is what I excel at."
"Do you think I fear you!" A wolf-like madness burned in Teng Qingshan's eyes. In his past life, Teng Qingshan relied solely on his hands for close-range slaughter. After all, he had studied Internal Martial Arts, which excelled in close combat! Now, with the Samsara Spear, Teng Qingshan could blend long-range and close-range fighting. In terms of close-quarters skill, Teng Qingshan was confident... across the Nine Provinces, no one could compare to him!
"Roar~~" Pei San let out a roar like a Divine Ape, charging toward Teng Qingshan like a furious beast.
"Hah!"
Teng Qingshan gritted his teeth, grasping the Samsara Spear, and surged forward just as madly.
"Shred~~" Pei San lunged, his hands aiming to grapple Teng Qingshan.
"Open!"
Teng Qingshan shouted sharply. The Samsara Spear seemed sentient, its tip violently whipping left and right, slamming hard against Pei San’s grappling hands. But Pei San madly pressed forward, trying to wedge himself close to Teng Qingshan. Teng Qingshan grinned, suddenly pulling the Samsara Spear back.
"Clang!" "Clang!"
The spear tip blocked two more impacts from Pei San, but then Pei San's insidious knee strike shot forward.
"Boom!" "Boom!"
Teng Qingshan's knees countered just as swiftly, executed with greater familiarity than Pei San's. The instant they separated from that impact, the right leg Teng Qingshan used to strike seemed boneless. Like a spinning wind wheel, his lower leg rotated fiercely, delivering a powerful kick to Pei San's waist and abdomen, sending Pei San flying back nearly a mile. The raging world power accompanying the blow caused the surrounding lake water to shake violently.
"Pfft!" Pei San spat out a mouthful of blood, looking at the distant Teng Qingshan in shock.
This scene stunned Pei Xuelian and the others watching from mid-air.
"Master, injured in a close-quarters fight?" Li Chao couldn't believe it.
"Impossible. No one can beat Father in close combat," Pei Xuelian said, having missed the details of the preceding exchange but seeing her father vomit blood. "Father will be fine; he definitely will be."
The faction from the Celestial God Palace was shocked and worried, while the Xing Yi Sect members were ecstatic.
"Pei San spat blood," Hong Lin couldn't help but exclaim happily.
"He did spit blood. But Father is completely fine," Hong Wu shouted immediately. Instantly, Teng Yongfan, Yuan Lan, and the others nearby stared wide-eyed.
Meanwhile, Li Jun was conversing with the Immortal Phoenix beside her.
"They were in close combat just now," Li Jun explained. "But Pei San took a kick from Qingshan."
"Haha, challenging my Master in close combat? My Master is the founding ancestor of Internal Martial Arts," Yang Dong laughed heartily.
The two factions, Celestial God Palace and Xing Yi Sect, held completely opposite emotions.
On the banks of White Horse Lake, the tens of thousands of spectators were agitated and in disbelief.
"Pei San actually spat blood. Before, he killed Huang Tianqin and Qin Seventeen consecutively. I thought he would have the upper hand this time, but he got kicked and bled."
"He bled, and Teng Qingshan is completely fine." Many onlookers murmured amongst themselves.
...
On the lake surface, Pei San looked at Teng Qingshan, some disbelief in his eyes. His 'Way of Ten Thousand Beasts' was inherently a ferocious style of close-quarters fighting.
"Pei San, don't be shocked," Teng Qingshan smiled confidently. "My Internal Xing Yi Quan is founded upon the Twelve Forms of Xing Yi. These twelve forms draw inspiration from the twelve most unique types of beasts. I have thoroughly researched all manner of close-quarters combat. In terms of fighting up close, I truly fear no one." These close-combat techniques of Internal Martial Arts were not created by Teng Qingshan alone. They were the culmination of a thousand years of development by successive geniuses in Teng Qingshan's previous life; how could they be inferior to what Pei San developed by himself?
"The winner is not yet decided," Pei San’s figure blurred, and he charged forward again.
Teng Qingshan, holding the Samsara Spear, left an afterimage on the original lake surface and met Pei San once more.
"Dragon's Roll!"
Teng Qingshan momentarily dove into the lake water, moving like a flood dragon inhabiting the depths, before suddenly erupting back out, unpredictable and elusive. Moreover, Teng Qingshan's pair of legs seemed weak and boneless, executing exquisite moves that Pei San could not possibly anticipate. Although Pei San's body could manage such attacks, he simply never conceived of them. For instance, while dodging or rolling, Teng Qingshan's calf would hook out, and that hook felt as sharp as a blade.
"Joint Locks!"
Unlike Pei San, who used his fists, knees, and head to attack vital areas, Teng Qingshan was exquisitely precise. The shaft of the Samsara Spear would occasionally strike Pei San's joints, and the force Teng Qingshan used was peculiar; every touch felt as if it could dislocate Pei San's joints.
"The human body can be manipulated so subtly?" Pei San was utterly shaken during his brutal exchange with Teng Qingshan. He had never conceived of such profound methods of attacking the body.
Swish!
As Teng Qingshan thrust his spear,
"Joint locks, eh?" A sharp glint flashed in Pei San’s eyes. He surprisingly did not defend fully but used his left hand to block. His right hand shot out diagonally toward Teng Qingshan to grab.
"Seeking death?" Teng Qingshan gritted his teeth. The power of the Samsara Spear increased sharply. With the force of Teng Qingshan's spear arts, if he used full power on a strike, Pei San would typically need both hands to stop it; one hand was entirely insufficient. Pei San’s overconfidence this time had clearly infuriated Teng Qingshan.
Ching!
The tip of the Samsara Spear directly shook open Pei San’s fingers, and with a slight tremor, pierced through Pei San’s left arm.
"Shush!"
The spear tip emerged from the opposite side of Pei San’s arm.
"Whoosh!" Meanwhile, Pei San's right claw reached Teng Qingshan's chest area. Teng Qingshan immediately pulled the spear back with his right hand, while his left hand intercepted. Relying on his close-quarters hand skill, Teng Qingshan was confident he could block that claw.
"Smack!"
Their hands crossed instantly. Teng Qingshan felt a sharp pain in his left hand just as Pei San's right claw fiercely raked toward his chest and abdomen. Teng Qingshan immediately mobilized his internal energy; his muscles and bones shifted, causing his chest and abdomen to cave inward. "Whoosh!" Pei San's sharp claw still managed to tear through the inner armor Teng Qingshan wore and rip away a large piece of flesh. Blood streamed down.
Swish! Swish!
Teng Qingshan and Pei San rapidly separated.
...
Silence! The tens of thousands surrounding White Horse Lake fell quiet, while the factions of the Celestial God Palace and Xing Yi Sect were both stunned.
"Qingshan."
"Master."
"Father."
Li Jun, Teng Shou, Yang Dong, and the group, as well as Hong Wu and Hong Lin, all saw the blood pouring from Teng Qingshan's waist and abdomen. Across from him, Pei San was tattered, clearly wounded in several places. His left arm was twisted at a bizarre angle—the limb was clearly ruined. *
Teng Qingshan took a deep breath, controlling his muscles to stop the bleeding around his waist. But such a large wound significantly impacted his ability to generate force and fight up close. However, fortunately, at his level, close-quarters combat relied primarily on world power, making physical strength almost negligible. Therefore, the impact on his offensive power was not substantial.
"Pei San, you... you actually learned joint locking techniques?" Teng Qingshan looked at the distant Pei San in shock.
"Hahaha..." The severely wounded Pei San began to laugh instead. "Teng Qingshan, I must thank you, thank you! You've shown me that this close-quarters slaughter is not just about acting like a wild beast." Saying this, Pei San, whose left arm was unusable, laughed maniacally and charged toward Teng Qingshan once more.
"Pei San, surrender," Teng Qingshan said. He didn't believe he could lose to an opponent who could only use one hand.
Swish! Swish!
The two blurs on the lake surface instantly vanished, then intersected at the center once more.
"Stab!"
"Slice!"
"Shred~~" Pei San’s attacks were bloody and desperate; he completely ignored his gravely wounded body, sometimes even trading injury for injury. Yet, strangely, Pei San’s eyes grew brighter, and his spirit grew increasingly exhilarated: "Yes, that's it. Haha, so exquisite."
Rumble~~~
Teng Qingshan and Pei San separated again. By this time, Pei San was covered in blood, and his right arm was so injured it was almost useless.
"Pei San, are you not conceding? Are you seeking death?" Teng Qingshan bore injuries, but he held an absolute advantage; after all, Pei San’s arms were now both crippled.
...
"Father, Father." Pei Xuelian in the air had tears streaming down her face.
"How can this be? Master, is Master about to lose?" Watching Pei San below flash a look of crazed ecstasy, Li Chao, the Beast King 'Wu Hou', and Pei San's younger brother, 'Pei Hao', found it impossible to believe.
...
"Teng Qingshan is going to win!"
"Pei San is going to lose; he’s nearly crippled."
On the banks of White Horse Lake, the tens of thousands of people from all corners of the Nine Provinces Continent sighed in amazement. They believed they were witnessing the fall of a demonic figure. Pei San was indeed desperate now, unable to lift either hand, covered in wounds everywhere. With his entire foundation resting on his two hands, did he still have a fight left against Teng Qingshan?
**
On White Horse Lake. The snow grew heavier. Spectators in the distance could only vaguely make out the two figures standing on the lake; only the true experts could discern the extent of their injuries.
"Pei San, surrender," Teng Qingshan held the Samsara Spear steady.
"Surrender?"
Pei San let out a strange laugh. "Are you jesting, Teng Qingshan... Take my final move!" The moment the words left his mouth, Pei San's aura shifted dramatically, as if he were a god who had just rent the heavens. He leaped upward, then swung his right leg high, resembling a colossal axe cleaving the firmament.
Buzz~~~~ Heaven and earth trembled before this single kick.
"What!" Teng Qingshan’s expression changed utterly. The entire world instantly vanished, replaced by pure darkness. In the darkness, only this terrifying descending kick remained! Teng Qingshan wanted to move his body, but he felt his movements agonizingly slow, far too slow to evade Pei San’s unbelievable kick. He wanted to thrust the Samsara Spear, but he felt the speed of his thrust was insufficient, far too slow! His actions seemed to have slowed down drastically. Dodging was impossible; blocking was too late!
"I..."
"Faster, faster!" Teng Qingshan held the Samsara Spear, desperately willing it to accelerate, to intercept that terrifying kick.
Yet the speed of the Samsara Spear was simply not enough. "Rumble~~~" Before the kick even landed, the spatial tremor caused by the immense power within it already reached Teng Qingshan. Teng Qingshan felt his entire body tremble, as helpless and resistant as an infant toyed with by a giant. Doomsday! Death, so agonizingly close. "I don't want to die, I don't want to die! Father, Mother, Xiao Jun... Hong Wu, Lin Lin..." Images of his loved ones flashed through Teng Qingshan's mind. He desperately did not want to die, but Pei San's kick had rendered him utterly unable to resist. "Too slow, too slow." Teng Qingshan felt the Samsara Spear was agonizingly slow. Despair! In his previous life, he had fought a life-and-death battle against two of the Divine Kingdom's three giants. That death, he could accept with a sense of solace. At least, he had saved his younger brother. His former self had no lingering attachments; the little cat was long dead, and he had nothing left to yearn for. But this time... He truly did not want to die! Previous life, this life... It felt like a bubble bursting! "To die once more?" Teng Qingshan fell into despair, his spirit dampened. Teng Qingshan felt as though he were re-experiencing the departure of his previous life; this time, he was dying again—that sensation of life draining away, of death arriving. ... As Pei San unleashed this kick, he was simultaneously observing Teng Qingshan. Seeing the look of death etched on Teng Qingshan's face, he couldn't help but sigh with regret. Yet, just as Teng Qingshan seemed completely lost to death, the Samsara Spear in his right hand instantly accelerated to an unbelievable speed. "Peng~~~~" The Samsara Spear and the long leg collided. This single impact caused the entire heaven and earth to violently shake, followed by a ripping sound, sī lā~~~ It was as if a giant had violently torn the fabric of heaven and earth apart. The entire world suddenly fractured, revealing a massive black hole over ten zhang wide. The tens of thousands watching by White Horse Lake stared blankly, eyes wide, gazing at the colossal black hole hanging above the lake. Then, the hole rapidly began to repair itself, its opening constantly shrinking, until it finally vanished. "Shattering the Void!" "Shattering the Void!!!" "It is Shattering the Void!" The entire White Horse Lake erupted, following the first cry, into a tidal wave of cheers that shook the heavens and earth. Everyone cheered, even the disciples of the Yu Huang Clan, who held enmity towards Teng Qingshan and Pei San, stood stunned, completely dumbfounded. Everyone knew what Shattering the Void signified! Supreme Experts!!! What was most terrifying was... if their collision could shatter the Void, what did that imply? Both of them were Supreme Experts! Two Supreme Experts!!! Unprecedented! "Life and death, death and life, this final step is truly like this." Teng Qingshan murmured, looking at Pei San not far away, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "My final spear technique shall be named 'Samsara'." In that final moment, Teng Qingshan grasped the profound mystery that life and death were one. Life and death merging, that is Samsara. Endless Samsara, ultimately returning to the Primordial Beginning. "I too have been lost in confusion," Pei San smiled faintly. "The Way of Ten Thousand Beasts, the Way of Ten Thousand Beasts... The spirit of these ten thousand beasts resides in Man! The veneration of these ten thousand beasts also belongs to Man! Be it the flood dragon, the spirit turtle, or the divine ape... the one that most perfectly embodies the mysteries of heaven and earth, achieving self-perfection, is the human body. The human body is the most exquisite among all beasts." After uttering these words, both closed their eyes. Within the Niwan Palace. "Rumble~~" Teng Qingshan's Niwan Palace was undergoing violent transformation. The World Force completely converted into a chaotic grey power. All forces continuously condensed, and the color of the Niwan Palace itself began to change, finally forming a grey, 'egg'-like shape. Within this egg pulsed endless, mercury-like flowing chaotic power. Chaos unified, returning to the Primordial Beginning. Everything reverted to its source! Without birth, without death! "This is the nascent form of a world," Teng Qingshan mused internally. "The Nine Provinces Mainland is like a giant growing up. The world formed in a Supreme Expert's Niwan Palace is now an egg, unhatched. But it has already returned to Chaos, returned to the Primordial Beginning; seemingly dead quiet, yet possessing infinite vitality." Simultaneously, boundless Primordial Chaotic Force rapidly permeated Teng Qingshan's entire body. "Hissing~~" "Crackling noises!" Teng Qingshan's bones and sinews sang with explosive force. From the deepest recesses of his internal structure to the skin, a world-shaking transformation occurred. The power of his body soared, leap after leap, reaching an inconceivable level. The force of a single open-palm strike was enough to kill a Cave Void expert. Moreover, his sinews, bones, and skin continuously evolved, becoming exponentially tougher, reaching an unbelievable degree. The divine armor on Teng Qingshan's body and the Samsara Spear in his hand also underwent changes. Comparatively, the changes in the weapons were less dramatic than those in the body. For a long time... a very long time... All transformations finally ceased. ... The snow had stopped. Teng Qingshan and Pei San opened their eyes almost simultaneously, meeting each other's gaze, and both burst into laughter. Pei San's previously nearly crippled arms were now perfectly intact, and there was not a single trace of injury on his body. The injured parts of Teng Qingshan were also completely restored, not even a scar remained visible. "Supreme Experts, they are truly this powerful," Pei San couldn't help but exclaim, clenching a fist that made space tremble. "Indeed, they are powerful. After reaching the Supreme Expert realm, although our worlds are still only nascent forms, they are already on the same tier as the Nine Provinces Heaven and Earth." It was as if the Nine Provinces Heaven and Earth was one living being, and the Supreme Expert's Niwan Palace world was an unhatched egg, also a living being. At least in terms of life level, they were equivalent. Teng Qingshan smiled, "The Nine Provinces Heaven and Earth can no longer suppress us." The so-called limits of lifespan. The so-called physical limits, these were merely shackles imposed by the Nine Provinces Heaven and Earth upon the beings living within it. It dictated that the strongest human force could only reach eighty thousand jin. In reality, based on human cultivation, physical strength could certainly become greater. But this was the restriction of the world. Upon reaching the Supreme Expert realm, one transcended these limitations. The physical strength of both Teng Qingshan and Pei San had reached an unbelievable degree. "No wonder the Supreme Experts left behind the Supreme Battle Armor," Pei San chuckled. Teng Qingshan also smiled, "With our current state, do we still need Supreme Battle Armor?" While gripping the Samsara Spear, Teng Qingshan felt an instinct... that with a sudden exertion of force, he could crush the Samsara Spear, which was already considered a 'Supreme Weapon'! The physical body of a Supreme Expert surpassed Supreme Battle Armor. Naturally, Supreme Experts cared little for armor or weaponry. "Hmm?" The tidal wave of cheers from the banks of White Horse Lake suddenly caused both Teng Qingshan and Pei San to frown simultaneously. They exchanged a look, both feeling an instruction transmitted from the Nine Provinces Mainland. Although vague, they both understood... the Nine Provinces Mainland was directing them to shatter the Void and depart the Nine Provinces before their lifespan reached five hundred years. If they refused, the Nine Provinces Mainland would directly expel them! "I finally understand why Supreme Experts in the Nine Provinces Mainland could only exist for so many years," Pei San laughed. "No choice," Teng Qingshan smiled. "If we don't leave, the Nine Provinces Mainland will forcefully cast us out." Heaven must have awareness. It had its own set of rules for operation. Reaching the Supreme Expert realm already exceeded its limits; therefore, it could only compel Supreme Experts to leave before reaching the age of five hundred. If they failed to leave, the rules of heaven and earth would directly transport the Supreme Expert away. "Teng Qingshan, when do you plan to shatter the Void and depart?" Pei San asked with a smile. Teng Qingshan smiled faintly. Having achieved the Supreme Expert realm, he could clearly feel that this world could no longer constrain him; he could even tear open a hole with a slight exertion of force. "I don't intend to leave yet," Teng Qingshan stated. "I plan to shatter the Void and leave after my daughter is married," Pei San smiled faintly. "The Nine Provinces Mainland holds little attraction for me now. What lies beyond Shattering the Void? I am immensely curious; that is where Pei San should be heading. Teng Qingshan, we shall journey together." The path beyond Shattering the Void was unknown, and Pei San sincerely hoped Teng Qingshan would accompany him. "You have no attachments to the Nine Provinces, but I have many. I do not wish to leave." Teng Qingshan shook his head in denial. Pei San shook his head regretfully, "That is acceptable. But this battle... we have both benefited immensely, reaching the Supreme Expert realm. Haha, it can be considered a fulfillment." Teng Qingshan laughed happily. To become a Supreme Expert, to attain that state, to break free from the shackles of the Nine Provinces and do as one wills without restraint—that feeling was indeed wondrous. The two exchanged smiles and then flew towards where their respective families waited. Whoosh! Whoosh! In a mere flash, they appeared beside their families, their speed a significant margin faster than the ultimate speed of the Undying Phoenix. And this was without them exerting their full strength. This was the power of a Supreme Expert! An invincible existence that had shed the limitations of the Nine Provinces Mainland. No wonder they could unify the world if they wished! * "Shattering the Void!" "Supreme Experts!" The entire White Horse Lake seemed to boil. Countless people cheered excitedly. It had been a very, very long time since a Supreme Expert had appeared in the Nine Provinces Mainland—two thousand years had passed since Patriarch Sakyamuni. For two Supreme Experts to emerge from a single battle at White Horse Lake was utterly unbelievable. "Qingshan." "Father." When Teng Qingshan arrived at the pavilion by White Horse Lake, Li Jun, Hong Wu, and Hong Lin rushed over and embraced him. The family held each other tightly. "Qingshan," nearby, Teng Yongfan stared, his eyes wide, looking at Teng Qingshan. "Father, Mother," Teng Qingshan smiled. "You, you..." Teng Yongfan stammered slightly, "You have become a Supreme Expert?" Yuan Lan beside him also stuttered, "A Supreme Expert, just like the Yu Huang and the Qinling Heavenly Emperor?" Teng Qingshan nodded. Teng Yongfan and Yuan Lan, the aging couple, looked at each other. Yuan Lan murmured distractedly, "Old man, my son is the same as the Yu Huang and the Qinling Heavenly Emperor?" These two simple country folk could not possibly comprehend that their son had instantly reached the legendary Supreme Expert realm of the Nine Provinces Mainland. The Yu Huang, the Qinling Heavenly Emperor, the Patriarch Sakyamuni—who were they? They were figures worshipped as gods. Teng Qingshan, possessing the lineage of Inner Martial Arts and having reached the Supreme Expert realm, would similarly be worshipped as a god by countless people in the future. "This son has reached this level?" Teng Yongfan touched his face. "Heavens above, I, Teng... I, Teng Yongfan, actually have such a powerful son." Teng Shou, Yang Dong, Xue Xin, and others nearby were ecstatic with excitement. Outside the pavilion, the large crowd of Xing Yi Sect disciples cheered ceaselessly, their shouts echoing to the heavens. Their Sect Master, the Ancestor of their Inner Martial Arts lineage, had achieved the Supreme Expert realm. This guaranteed that... the Inner Martial Arts lineage would rise again, reaching an extremely formidable height. "Grandpa, you are a Supreme Expert?" Xiu Xiu's crisp voice rang out. Teng Qingshan looked down and smiled, lifting the little girl Xiu Xiu. "But Grandpa, what is a Supreme Expert?" Xiu Xiu looked up with innocent, wide eyes at Teng Qingshan. Clearly, at her age, she did not grasp the meaning of 'Supreme Expert.' "Haha." A wave of laughter filled the room instantly.
A long time had passed since the battle at White Horse Lake on the eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month, yet discussions about this legendary fight continued unabated across the entire Nine Provinces Mainland. In numerous taverns and tea houses, storytellers could be found constantly narrating the Battle in the Snow above White Horse Lake. After all, this was the battle that heralded the birth of two Supreme Experts! Even if ten thousand years, or a hundred thousand years, passed, the Battle of White Horse Lake would forever be remembered by the world. Not only that— The Myriad Manifestations Sect specially published a book titled The Battle at the Apex on White Horse Lake. ... In Donghua Courtyard, at the Xing Yi Sect on Mount Dayan in Yangzhou. "Father, look how interesting this book is," Hong Wu entered the study holding a book, saying with a smile to Teng Qingshan. "How does this book describe it?" Teng Qingshan put down his brush and asked with a smile. "It says this," Hong Wu smiled. "The book states that the Yu Huang became a Supreme Expert over six thousand years ago, and the Qinling Heavenly Emperor became one over five thousand years ago. Four thousand years ago, the Poet Sword Immortal Li Taibai became a Supreme Expert. Over two thousand years ago, Patriarch Sakyamuni became a Supreme Expert. Now, two Supreme Experts have been born simultaneously. Based on the timeline, one Supreme Expert should emerge, on average, every thousand years. But since Patriarch Sakyamuni, a full two thousand years have passed without a single Supreme Expert appearing. Therefore... this birth of two at once is an accumulation up to the present time." Teng Qingshan let out a wry smile, "Accumulation? Can Supreme Experts be accumulated?" "But Father, what it says actually makes some sense," Hong Wu chuckled. Teng Qingshan nodded, "Yes, it is roughly one Supreme Expert every thousand years." "Alright, go practice your forms. I'll finish writing this secret manual first," Teng Qingshan said with a smile. "Yes, Father." Hong Wu obediently departed. Teng Qingshan returned to writing his manual. Since reaching the Supreme Expert realm and comprehending the principles of Chaotic Primordial Force, the secrets of Inner Martial Arts were now entirely clear to him. With a little concentration, a secret manual materialized. He finally understood why the Mani Temple possessed so many manuals. It was because creating manuals was relatively easy for a Supreme Expert. ... After becoming a Supreme Expert, Teng Qingshan lived a leisurely life. He spent time with his family, occasionally penned a manual, or selected the true elites of the Xing Yi Sect to offer guidance. Those Inner Martial Arts prodigies facing Teng Qingshan were all nervous and thrilled. Teng Qingshan had become a near-divine figure within the Inner Martial Arts lineage. * A year passed since the battle at White Horse Lake. In Qingzhou, within the Heavenly God Palace, on the eighteenth of the first lunar month, the palace was adorned with lanterns and decorations, filled with joy. Today was the wedding day of Pei San's daughter, 'Pei Xuelian,' and Pei San's eldest disciple, 'Li Chao.' When Pei San had casually mentioned it that day, he had actually managed to arrange the match. This wedding was a grand event for the Heavenly God Palace. The upper-echelon figures from various subordinate lineages of the Heavenly God Palace arrived bearing heavy gifts. Invitations were also sent to the Yu Huang Clan, the Ying Clan, the Gui Yuan Sect, the Snow Eagle Cult, and others. After all, 'Pei San' was a Supreme Expert of the Nine Provinces Mainland; no one would dare refuse the wedding of his daughter. Even the Yu Huang Clan, despite past grudges with the Heavenly God Palace, acted as if nothing had happened. "Ying Haitong of the Ying Clan, arrived—" The voice from the reception area rang throughout the entire Heavenly God Palace. "Brother Haitong," the Void Realm expert arriving was personally greeted by the groom, Li Chao. "Brother Li, today is your great wedding day, how can you be here?" Laughter erupted continuously within the Heavenly God Palace. Innate experts were not surprising here; there were even quite a few Void Realm experts present. Those figures who dominated various regions behaved quite meekly here. "Sect Master Teng of the Xing Yi Sect, arrived—" The voice of the greeter trembled; he dared not directly utter Teng Qingshan's name. "Sect Master Teng is here." "It is Teng Qingshan." In the vast main hall of the Heavenly God Palace, many people whispered to each other, seeming expectant. "Brother Qingshan is here?" A clear, hearty voice sounded, and Pei San, who had not appeared among the other guests, personally stepped forward, walking towards the hall entrance with a smile. Teng Qingshan, clad in white robes, and Li Jun, in a matching white silk dress, floated in like an immortal couple. Pei San greeted them from afar with clasped hands: "Brother Qingshan." "Elder Brother Pei," Teng Qingshan also returned the greeting with a smile. In the Nine Provinces Mainland, only the two of them were Supreme Experts now! Naturally, there was a mutual appreciation between experts. Moreover, in achieving the Supreme Expert realm, Pei San had been inspired by Teng Qingshan to grasp that final step, and Teng Qingshan had only understood it due to the threat of Pei San's kick. "Sect Master Teng." "Sect Master Teng." As Teng Qingshan and Pei San walked side-by-side into the hall, all the assembled guests rose to bow. Teng Qingshan smiled and nodded. Some younger attendees who had accompanied their parents saw Teng Qingshan and were extremely excited, wanting to approach and speak with him but daring not. "Sect Master Teng is so young," a young girl in the corner of the hall exclaimed, her face flushed with excitement, speaking to her father. "Sect Master Teng entered the Innate realm at seventeen, so of course he appears young," her father replied with a smile. ... Teng Qingshan naturally occupied the seat of honor and witnessed the ceremony where Pei Xuelian and Li Chao paid respects to heaven and earth. Teng Qingshan and Li Jun had to attend this wedding for Pei Xuelian, as Li Jun was Pei Xuelian's disciple. Their presence helped smooth over previous relational tensions. Since Teng Qingshan and Pei San had become friends, there was naturally no lingering animosity between Pei Xuelian and Li Jun. "Enter the bridal chamber together!" Following a resounding call, Li Chao took Pei Xuelian's hand and left the hall. "Haha, haha," Pei San couldn't help but let out bursts of laughter. "Elder Brother Pei, it is rare to see you so delighted," Teng Qingshan remarked with a smile. "Xuelian is married, and I have fulfilled a wish," Pei San turned to Teng Qingshan, and their conversation instantly isolated the surrounding space, preventing others from overhearing. "Qingshan, I plan to shatter the Void and leave the Nine Provinces Heaven and Earth tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" Teng Qingshan was greatly surprised—so soon? "If it weren't for my daughter's wedding, I suspect I would have departed shortly after reaching the Supreme Expert realm. Now that my daughter is married, I have no further ties... I truly wish to know what kind of place lies beyond the Nine Provinces Heaven and Earth. Where did Da Yu, Ying Zheng, Li Taibai, and the others go?" Pei San's eyes held a trace of yearning. Curiosity also welled up in Teng Qingshan's heart. Indeed, where did one go after Shattering the Void?
That night, Teng Qingshan and Li Jun did not return to the Xing Yi Sect but stayed at the Heavenly God Palace. Since Pei San was scheduled to shatter the Void and leave the Nine Provinces Heaven and Earth tomorrow, Teng Qingshan naturally intended to see him off. "Qingshan." Li Jun lay next to Teng Qingshan, asking, "Pei San is shattering the Void and leaving the Nine Provinces Heaven and Earth. You, you aren't planning to leave too, are you?" "Don't overthink things," Teng Qingshan gently embraced Li Jun. "Even if forced to leave, I wouldn't want to go. Beyond the Nine Provinces Heaven and Earth, there is no wife as good as you, no son as good as ours." Li Jun chuckled softly, "You are already a Supreme Expert, yet you are still so smooth-tongued." Teng Qingshan smiled without saying more. "Right, Qingshan. Tell me..." Li Jun frowned slightly, "After Shattering the Void, where do Supreme Experts go?" "I don't know either," Teng Qingshan shook his head. "I once saw a stone tablet left by Li Taibai; he didn't know either. This is an unknown path... If one doesn't walk it personally, one can never know where the road leads. But once this path is taken, there is no returning." Li Jun nodded. Historically, none of the Supreme Experts who took that path had ever returned. "Let's sleep, stop overthinking," Teng Qingshan whispered with a smile. ... Night passed, and dawn broke. In the open space outside the back courtyard of the Heavenly God Palace, Teng Qingshan and others, including the newly married Pei Xuelian and Li Chao, were gathered. However, Pei San, who was meant to shatter the Void, was absent. "That is Father's forbidden ground; no one is allowed inside," Pei Xuelian said, looking toward the backyard entrance. "I only know it is a tomb, but I don't know whose tomb it is."
"How old are you?" Li Chao chuckled from the side. "Before you were born and before I became your disciple, Master must have experienced many things. Everyone has secrets; no need to overthink it." Teng Qingshan and Li Jun, standing nearby, waited in silence.
A moment passed—
Pei San, clad entirely in black, emerged from the back courtyard gate, offering a smile to those gathered outside. "Brother Qingshan, thank you for waiting." "No hurry," Teng Qingshan replied with a smile.
"Snow Lotus." Pei San looked at his daughter, and Pei Xuelian instinctively threw herself into his arms. She knew... once her father left, he would never return. He held his daughter, letting her cry in his embrace, though Pei San’s own eyes were slightly moist. After all, this was the daughter he had raised with his own hands.
"Ah Chao," Pei San turned to Li Chao and smiled, "Xuelian is in your hands now. Don't disappoint me." "Rest assured, Master," Li Chao said confidently, smiling. Pei San nodded in satisfaction. He had watched Li Chao grow up and knew his temperament well.
"Yes," Pei San looked towards his disciples Su Mengte, the Beast King 'Wu Hou', and his sworn brother 'Pei Hao' beside him. "Fifth Brother, I'm leaving now." Pei Hao nodded slightly, sighing, "Big Brother and the others are all gone. If they knew you, Third Brother, could reach the Apex Realm, they would surely be very happy." Pei San nodded, his heart heavy with complex emotions. After all, his relatives had passed away one after another.
"Alright, no more talk," Pei San looked at Li Chao and Pei Xuelian. "Ah Chao, my weapons and the Apex Armor are left behind. This Apex Armor, I entrust it to your safekeeping." Li Chao nodded.
"Father, where exactly do you go when you shatter the void? I, I..." Pei Xuelian struggled to find the words.
"Ask Brother Qingshan. Even an Apex expert doesn't know where one goes after making that final leap," Pei San smiled. "Well, I've left behind the numerous secret manuals, the Apex Armor, and so on. I will only take this simple robe and this small cauldron that has always been with me."
Pei San took out the small black cauldron from his chest—identical to Teng Qingshan's—and held it up. "Through past and present lives, it has accompanied me. Treasures have spirits; if I gave it to you, it would leave too. Since I am shattering the void, it will not leave me. It shall come with me." Teng Qingshan nodded. He understood Pei San’s implication: Pei San's previous life was Xiang Fanchen, and he possessed this small black cauldron; even after reincarnation, the small black cauldron followed him.
"Brother Qingshan, I must go. I ask you one last time: are you willing to leave this Nine Provinces Heaven and Earth with me to explore the unknown?" Pei San looked at Teng Qingshan. Li Jun's expression shifted slightly.
Teng Qingshan smiled at Pei San, then turned to his wife. Seeing her worried face, Teng Qingshan grasped her hand before smiling back at Pei San: "Old Brother Pei, for me... no matter where it is, home is most important! My home is in the Nine Provinces, and I will not leave."
"No matter where it is, home is most important?" Pei San shook his head and sighed, "Forget it. In five hundred years, you will have to leave regardless. Brother Qingshan, I will depart first." He immediately turned, raised his right hand high, and the Primordial Chaos Force immediately surged into his hand. With a violent swipe!
HSSSSSS~~~~ Instantly, a massive black hole rift, three zhang high, appeared before them. The inside of this spatial rift was utterly dark, nothing visible at all.
"Others come naked and leave naked; I am born with the Nine Provinces Cauldron, and I leave with the Nine Provinces Cauldron, ha ha ha..." Pei San roared with laughter and stepped through, directly entering the mouth of the black hole. Then, the black hole rift swiftly contracted, until it became a black speck, and finally vanished completely.
"Father!" Pei Xuelian cried out in anguish and knelt down. "Master," Li Chao, Su Mengte, and the Beast King Wu Hou also knelt. Teng Qingshan and Li Jun remained standing.
"Qingshan," Li Jun asked softly, "Pei San mentioned five hundred years when he left; do you also have to leave?" "Yes, I..." Teng Qingshan nodded. "An Apex expert cannot remain in the Nine Provinces forever. At the latest, they must depart by the age of five hundred. Otherwise, even if I don't leave, the Nine Provinces Heaven and Earth will expel me. This is the rule of the cosmos. At that time, I too will have to leave the Nine Provinces just like Pei San. I suspect then, I will also leave with a small cauldron—" Teng Qingshan's expression changed drastically.
"Qingshan, what is it?" Li Jun was startled by his expression. Teng Qingshan waved his hand, easily tearing open a black hole rift nearby, pitch dark. Teng Qingshan stared intently at this rift—a mysterious opening whose interior remained utterly indecipherable—muttering, "I never understood how the Nine Provinces Cauldron appeared in that other world. Now I know..."
"Qingshan, Qingshan?" Li Jun was frightened by Teng Qingshan's face. Teng Qingshan turned to Li Jun, smiling faintly: "Xiao Jun, I think I finally know where Apex experts go after shattering the void."
—————— (End of Book)