"The third match: Teng Family Village's Teng Yongxiang, and Li Family Village's Li Jinfu. Both of you, please enter the ring," declared the silver-haired elder leaning on his cane.

Teng Qingshan carefully observed Li Jinfu.

"This Li Jinfu, look at the killing intent in his eyes—he's a veritable wild beast," Teng Qingshan felt a twinge of worry for his great-uncle, 'Teng Yongxiang'.

"Yongxiang, be careful. Don't clash head-on with him," Teng Yongfan murmured softly. "This Li Jinfu’s arm strength is definitely not inferior to mine." Within the Teng Family Village, when it came to sheer strength, Teng Yongfan was the undisputed number one. If even he said so, one could imagine the opponent's power.

"Understood," Teng Yongxiang nodded slightly.

The thousand spectators watching fell into a profound silence.

Li Jinfu's bell-like eyes swept over Teng Yongxiang, then he strode into the fighting circle, his voice low, "You, hurry up." Teng Yongxiang’s eyes narrowed slightly, then he too walked purposefully into the circle. The two faced off, and Teng Yongxiang dared not let his focus slip for an instant; beads of sweat broke out even on his forehead.

"Both of you, begin." As soon as the silver-haired elder's voice faded, Li Jinfu moved.

"Roar~~~"

Li Jinfu let out a savage roar, akin to a great beast. He suddenly pushed off the ground with both hands and feet, charging towards Teng Yongxiang like a tiger pouncing at full speed. Especially with the animal hide draped over him, Li Jinfu looked even more like a savage predator.

"So fast," Teng Yongxiang retreated sharply. "I thought I could rely on speed to fight him, but it seems... his speed is even greater than mine."

"Swish!" "Swish!" Along with the tiger pounce came two clawing strikes, instantly leaving gashes on Teng Yongxiang's body.

Li Jinfu’s eyes snapped wide open, his ferocious glare fully exposed.

Pushing off the ground once more, he leaped up, his hands like iron clubs, smashing down in succession.

Teng Yongxiang had no time to dodge and could only meet the blows.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"...

A series of heavy punches landed. Teng Yongxiang blocked the first two, but the subsequent two slammed into his chest, sending him flying up, only to crash heavily outside the ring, blood constantly spilling from his mouth.

"Yongxiang," Teng Yongfan, who was holding Teng Qingshan, rushed over.

"Great-Uncle," Teng Qingshan also watched closely.

"Hmph, since you didn't kill my uncle, I showed restraint and spared his life. When my fist landed on him, it carried only five-tenths of my strength; he won't die," Li Jinfu rasped, his gaze fixed on Teng Yongfan. "Teng Yongfan, your strength is decent... In the Teng Family Village, only you are worthy of being my opponent."

Teng Yongfan looked up.

Li Jinfu, standing eight feet tall, resembled a demon god as he stared down at Teng Yongfan, sneering, "It’s a pity you’re stuck in this village; you’ll amount to nothing more in this lifetime." With that, he turned, picked up the chilling wolf-tooth club, slung it over his shoulder, and strode toward the exit.

The people of the Li Family Village immediately parted to create a path for him.

"Third match: Li Family Village, Li Jinfu wins. Three matches are concluded. The Teng Family Village and Li Family Village each have one victory and one draw. According to the rules, starting today, the water from the irrigation ditch will be shared, with both villages using it for six shichen each day." The silver-haired elder announced the result.

Half and half. Both the Teng Family Village and the Li Family Village accepted the decision calmly.

"Li Huojun, your grandson—it seems he is about to leave your Li Family Village?" Teng Yunlong remarked.

"Hahaha..." Li Huojun spoke loudly, concerned that the surrounding people might not hear. "My grandson, Jinfu, at the age of thirteen, entered the Great Yan Mountain alone. He spent five years in arduous training, living alongside wild beasts, and developed a technique called the 'Fierce Tiger Fist.' He has just completed his intensive cultivation and has already decided to participate in the assessment to join the 'Guiyuan Sect'."

A clamor immediately erupted.

"Guiyuan Sect?" Hearing those three words, Teng Qingshan jumped.

"A Sect?" Teng Qingshan had never heard of such a sect in Chinese history.

"It seems your precious grandson has boundless prospects ahead of him," Teng Yunlong laughed heartily.

The competition for water rights concluded, and the members of the Teng and Li villages dispersed. However, everyone was buzzing with discussion, talking about that one fight, and the central topic of conversation was almost always Li Jinfu.

On the way back.

"Father, what is the Guiyuan Sect?" Teng Qingshan asked doubtfully.

"A very, very powerful sect. My future goal is to enter the Guiyuan Sect," Teng Qinghu, who was beside him, declared firmly.

Father Teng Yongfan smiled. "Qinghu has ambition! Qingshan, this Guiyuan Sect is a martial sect. These sects teach their disciples how to cultivate Neijin (Inner Strength). This Neijin is different from bone and muscle strength; its power is immense. Experts from those sects might look delicate, but a single palm strike from them can shatter a massive boulder."

Teng Qingshan nodded secretly.

The mysteries of Neijin, he naturally understood.

"Father, why don't you go to the Guiyuan Sect?" Teng Qingshan continued to ask. "And are there no other sects? Must it be the Guiyuan Sect?"

Teng Qingshan was intelligent and well-behaved; although only four years old, his questions were quite logical.

Teng Yongfan was delighted to have such a son.

Teng Yongfan sighed, explaining in detail, "Qingshan, the entire world is divided into Nine Provinces. Yangzhou is the most prosperous. Within Yangzhou Prefecture, the foremost sect is 'Qinghu Island,' and the second is the 'Guiyuan Sect.' Of course, the 'Iron Cloth Gate' ranks equally second with the 'Guiyuan Sect'; their power is nearly identical!"

Teng Qingshan nodded. "Then why not join 'Qinghu Island'? Isn't Qinghu Island the number one sect?"

"The Yangzhou Prefecture has thirteen Juncheng (Prefectural Cities). Of these thirteen, nine are entirely controlled by the 'Qinghu Island' sect. Within those nine cities, Qinghu Island is the sole sect. The magistrates and military forces of those nine cities, and the hundreds of smaller towns under their jurisdiction, are all appointed by Qinghu Island. To put it accurately, the government forces are merely the outer perimeter members of Qinghu Island."

Teng Qingshan's head spun from listening.

What kind of world was this?

What era was this?

A martial sect actually controlled entire prefectural cities? And the so-called government troops were appointed by the sect and counted as its external personnel?

"Out of the thirteen cities in Yangzhou, the number one sect, 'Qinghu Island,' completely controls nine. The Guiyuan Sect, however, completely controls our Jiangning Prefecture! The so-called official soldiers in the nine cities of our Jiangning Prefecture are actually outer members of the Guiyuan Sect. The officials themselves are disciples of the Guiyuan Sect! In Jiangning Prefecture, the Guiyuan Sect is Heaven! No other sect dares to meddle in Jiangning Prefecture!"

Teng Qingshan’s mind was still reeling.

Teng Qingshan was certain that in recorded Chinese history, there was never a situation where a martial sect controlled the realm.

This world was absolutely not any of the dynasties from Chinese history!

"Qingshan," his cousin 'Teng Qinghu' chimed in excitedly, "Do you think the White Horse Gang is formidable? Eight thousand core members. But even they have to pay tribute to the City Lord of Yicheng every year! If the City Lord is displeased, he can lead a group of martial artists over. Hmph, never mind their eight thousand men; just a couple of hundred martial artists could wipe them out without a trace!"

Teng Qingshan finally understood.

In Jiangning Prefecture, the Guiyuan Sect was the Emperor!

Government officials were disciples of the Guiyuan Sect! Even gangs like the White Horse Gang had to tread carefully, not daring to offend the Guiyuan Sect.

"Is it very hard to enter the Guiyuan Sect?" Teng Qingshan inquired.

"Yes, it is very hard," Father 'Teng Yongfan' sighed. "There are only two ways to enter the Guiyuan Sect. The first is for children under ten; they can pay five hundred taels of silver for a chance to study their secret manuals. If they fail to cultivate Neijin within a year, they are kicked out."

Teng Qingshan understood in his heart that even with the secret manuals, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to cultivate Neijin was not something everyone could achieve.

Success in cultivating internal martial arts was one in ten thousand.

And refining Neijin by absorbing spiritual energy, while seemingly simple, probably only one out of dozens would qualify.

"Just five hundred taels of silver for one chance. Most people would never part with it," Teng Yongfan lamented.

"Aren't there two ways?" Teng Qingshan immediately followed up.

"The Sect also has armies for conquest and slaughter! The Guiyuan Sect, for instance, has the 'Black Armored Army.' The second way I mentioned is finding a way to join the Black Armored Army!" Teng Yongfan continued, his tone heavy. "The assessment rules are simple: one who can lift a five-hundred-jin boulder is considered a third-rate martial artist and qualifies for the Black Armored Army. One who lifts two thousand jin is a second-rate martial artist, and one who lifts ten thousand jin is a first-rate martial artist!"

Teng Qingshan gasped inwardly.

First-rate martial artist? A ten-thousand-jin boulder? In his previous life, after reaching the Grandmaster realm and mastering the Tiger Form Penetrating Spirit Art, at his peak, he could barely lift a ten-thousand-jin boulder.

The spiritual energy in this world was abundant, and there were quite a few strong individuals whose physical capabilities were impressive.

"An ordinary adult male can lift nearly three hundred jin. But the higher you push that strength, the harder it becomes. To lift four hundred jin, perhaps only one in ten can do it. And to lift over five hundred jin, maybe only one in a hundred," Teng Yongfan lamented. "I have trained arduously since childhood, and now I can lift twelve hundred jin! I am the strongest in the Teng Family Village, yet... among the martial artists, I am merely a third-rate martial artist."

Five hundred jin to two thousand jin are all third-rate martial artists. Two thousand jin to ten thousand jin are second-rate martial artists. The ability to lift over ten thousand jin makes one a first-rate martial artist.

"Third-rate martial artists are just low-ranking soldiers in the Black Armored Army—cannon fodder in battle. If I went there, I might get the most basic Neijin cultivation methods. But at over thirty, pursuing Neijin cultivation is long past the point of promise," Teng Yongfan sighed.

Teng Qingshan sighed inwardly.

Even someone like his father was mere cannon fodder in the Black Armored Army.

"Gang organizations like the White Horse Gang seem formidable to us. But to the Guiyuan Sect's 'Black Armored Army,' sending over a mere hundred-man squad, clad in 'Black Armor,' impervious to ordinary arrows and blades, a few charges would crush the White Horse Gang into dust, like rolling stones," Teng Yongfan said dismissively.

Teng Qingshan sucked in a cold breath.

Was there such a terrifying army in Chinese ancient history?

No!

Those who could lift a thousand jin were just common soldiers, cannon fodder. Those who could lift two thousand or ten thousand jin were the elites!

An army like this, clad in thick armor, would absolutely be an unstoppable torrent of steel.

"If they have eight thousand men like that, even an army of a million ordinary people would be swept away," Teng Qingshan began to understand why, in this world, sects could become the highest ruling power.

"Father, how many men are in the Guiyuan Sect's Black Armored Army?" Teng Qingshan asked.