In the pitch darkness of the desolate, gloomy mountain forest. Whoosh! An afterimage blurred past with incredible speed. Any venomous snakes or ferocious beasts that dared to attack the shadow were instantly slain. Hearing an enraged roar echoing from the distance—"Sect Master of Skyhawk Sect, I will absolutely tear you to pieces!"—Teng Qingshan merely sneered, "Sect Master of Skyhawk Sect? If you have the skill, first find me a Skyhawk Sect on this continent of Jiuzhou." The name 'Skyhawk Sect' was just something Teng Qingshan had tossed out casually. As for whether such a sect actually existed, he didn't know; at least, he had never heard of it. If it truly did exist, it would simply be bad luck for that sect if the Ironclad Sect came looking for them.

"This 'Selflessness Realm' truly lives up to its reputation as the ultimate combat state; it pushes the limits of space and one's own power to their peak. In the battle just now, the opponent always seized the initiative! Fortunately, for a straight-line sprint to escape, it has nothing to do with the realm," Teng Qingshan marveled as he recalled the recent fight.

According to the realms: Innate Void Core typically corresponds to the Subtle Realm. Innate Solid Core is either the 'Selflessness Realm' or the 'True Self Realm'. Innate Golden Core is Transcending Purity!

If the 'Selflessness Realm' and the 'True Self Realm' represent the pinnacle of combat awareness, then 'Transcending Purity' adds something more—the ability to negate environmental factors like air resistance! Experts in the Innate realm can shatter mountains and crack stones with every movement. A single thrust of a sword generates astonishing air resistance. The faster one moves, the greater the resistance! Even those in the 'Selflessness Realm' or the 'True Self Realm' cannot eliminate air resistance. But Innate Golden Core experts can! For the exact same sword strike, using the same Innate True Essence, removing air resistance could result in a speed two or three times faster. What does being two or three times faster mean? Instant kill! This is why Innate Golden Core experts, in every move and stance, produce no sonic booms or howling gales. Their actions appear utterly ordinary. Hence the name, the 'Transcending Purity' realm! It was this 'Transcending Purity' technique that Zhuge Yuanhong displayed when he took Teng Qingshan as a disciple. Teng Qingshan only learned this fact after reading the Yue Moon Spear Canon.

"According to the Yue Moon Spear Canon, only when one's realm ascends can one's 'Spirit' undergo metamorphosis. This transformed 'Spirit' then merges with the Innate True Essence, causing the True Essence itself to transform! What I need now is to grasp the 'True Self Realm'," Teng Qingshan thought. He certainly didn't want to cultivate the 'Selflessness Realm'; once lost in selflessness, one wouldn't even care about grievous injury during combat. Furthermore, cultivating selflessness makes it exceedingly difficult to reach the Innate Golden Core realm later. In fact, many powerful experts try to avoid the 'Selflessness Realm.' However, because the 'True Self Realm' is so elusive, they are forced to settle for the less difficult 'Selflessness Realm' as a fallback. ...

Teng Qingshan did not rest that entire night, pushing forward at breakneck speed, slaying countless ferocious beasts and venomous snakes along the way, finally allowing himself just one night's rest on the second evening. By the morning of the third day, Teng Qingshan reached the very edge of the wilderness.

By a river, Teng Qingshan discarded his tattered clothing and washed himself thoroughly in the water before putting on a clean set.

Crack-pop! A faint sound emanated from Teng Qingshan's bones and sinews. His already muscular arms seemed to have retracted slightly, while his height had increased marginally. Simultaneously, he removed the human-skin mask from his face. Instantly, the rough, scarred brute transformed into a refined young man.

He stored the 'Skyhawk Claw' gauntlets into his pack, strapped on the Blood-Quenching Saber, hoisted the pack onto his shoulders, and set off again.

Moments later, Teng Qingshan stepped out of the wilderness.

"It's so much better outside!" As he exited the wild lands, the morning sun warmed his skin, and a gentle breeze caressed his face, bringing immense comfort. "The air is so much fresher, unlike the interior of the wilderness where the stench of rotting beast carcasses lingers year-round." Teng Qingshan's mood lifted considerably.

This near ten-day venture into the wilderness, and the subsequent battle with Deng Geng! In that fight, Teng Qingshan was indeed at a disadvantage. However, this was precisely because Teng Qingshan had not used his spear! After all, his entire life had been devoted to spear techniques. A longer weapon grants the advantage—if his Reincarnation Spear were fully unleashed, despite being a realm below his opponent, Teng Qingshan's spear mastery was far more terrifying. In a life-or-death struggle, his winning probability would not be less than fifty percent! But... there were too few true spear masters, and Teng Qingshan's spear techniques were widely known. If he used his spear, he would have to fight to the death. If he didn't kill Deng Geng, his identity would likely be exposed. If he used fist techniques, even if he didn't kill Deng Geng, his identity would remain hidden!

"In any case, my goal was just to disrupt their plans! Achieving the effect is enough," Teng Qingshan mused. He hadn't cared much whether Deng Geng lived or died. "This trip to the wilderness was quite rewarding after all." He had consumed the Vermilion Fruit to step into the Innate realm and acquired items like the Skyhawk Claws.

"The most important thing is this one!" Teng Qingshan touched the small black cauldron resting on his chest before tucking it back inside his robes. Teng Qingshan couldn't be bothered with the relationship between the small black cauldron and the treasure map; in his heart, the cauldron held greater sentimental value.

Wuan Commandery City. Tap, tap, tap.

Teng Qingshan walked along Willow Lake Street in Wuan Commandery City, leading his Tawny-maned horse. This was where he had settled that young woman, 'Li Jun,' and where he had promised to avenge her.

"I wonder how that little girl is doing now." As he walked, Teng Qingshan was surprised to notice, "Eh? Why is Willow Lake Street so lively today!" Alongside Willow Lake Street stood grand mansions; only wealthy merchants and influential figures could afford residences here. Willow Lake Street was usually very quiet during the daytime. On the lake beside the street, numerous elegant, large boats were moored. Teng Qingshan recognized them—they were Pleasure Boats! Usually, at night, these lakes would be crowded with Pleasure Boats, attracting wealthy merchants ashore for entertainment.

"It's daytime now, why are there so many Pleasure Boats?" Teng Qingshan was slightly astonished.

The Pleasure Boats were moored quite close together, with one of the largest boats actually docked right against the shore. On the grassy bank nearby, a dense throng of people had gathered—at a glance, at least a thousand individuals, forming a crowd tens of yards long.

As Teng Qingshan led his horse toward where Fatty Wang usually stayed, he listened to the lively commotion. He heard a clear announcement: "Stepping out now is the foremost of the Four Fragrances from our Heavenly Fragrance Garden—Miss 'Spring Fragrance'!" Instantly, the dense crowd of thousands cheered wildly.

"Miss Spring Fragrance, tonight, you are mine!" "Haha, I've come to support you!" The laughter erupted in waves. ...

As Teng Qingshan approached, he finally saw clearly. It turned out that on the grassy area by the shore, fifty tables, all draped with fine carpets, had been set up. Wealthy merchants and nobles, all adorned in luxurious clothing, sat at these tables, while their guards and servants stood respectfully to the side. The merchants leisurely sipped drinks and enjoyed fruit while watching the performance on the Pleasure Boats. Beyond the perimeter of the fifty tables, even more people were packed shoulder-to-shoulder, watching the spectacle. Those onlookers had it rough, squeezed tightly together.

"Old Wang," Teng Qingshan's gaze swept over the scene until he spotted Fatty Wang, who was currently eating grapes. Fatty Wang, wearing a golden robe and flanked by two guards, clearly held some status, occupying a table all to himself.

Hearing the call, Fatty Wang whipped his head around instantly and rushed to Teng Qingshan's side, bowing respectfully, "Commander, you've returned! Congratulations, Commander."

"Old Wang, you seem to be enjoying yourself quite well," Teng Qingshan said with a smile.

"Heh heh, when there’s nothing else to do, one must seek small pleasures," Fatty Wang chuckled, simultaneously shouting at the two guards who were trailing him, "Why are you standing there like fools? Fetch the Commander's horse!"

Teng Qingshan handed over the reins. "Old Wang, I asked you to look after Miss Jun last time. How is that young lady now?"

"Miss Jun?" Fatty Wang shook his head. "Commander, you had only been gone for two days when this Miss Jun suddenly acquired a master! She told me she must leave with her master... Before she left, she asked me to give you a letter. Oh, and Miss Jun also told you not to seek revenge for her; she and her master will handle that."

Teng Qingshan frowned in confusion. "A master?"

"Yes," Fatty Wang nodded. "It was a woman, appearing to be in her mid-thirties or early forties, but... her eyes were terrifying. She only glanced at me once, and my back broke out in a cold sweat. She must be an incredibly formidable figure. However, that woman seemed very fond of Miss Jun."

Teng Qingshan knew well that Jun's meridians were too polluted with impurities, making it impossible for her to circulate inner strength techniques. How could she suddenly have a master?

"Old Wang is also a Houtian expert, and he was terrified by that woman, so she must be a truly powerful master. If she took Jun as a disciple, she likely possesses the means to resolve Jun's meridian issues." Teng Qingshan felt a measure of relief. "Old Wang, go fetch that letter for me. I'll rest here and have lunch."

Fatty Wang immediately ushered him forward. "Commander, please take my seat." Fatty Wang then ordered someone to bring dishes.

...

On the shore, the lake breeze blew gently.

Feasting on delicious delicacies while watching beautiful, enchanting women perform on the Pleasure Boat decks was indeed quite pleasant.

"Selecting the Courtesan Queen?" After sitting down for a moment, Teng Qingshan gathered from the surrounding chatter that today was the quadrennial 'Courtesan Queen Selection' of Wuan Commandery City, featuring all the famous courtesans. Teng Qingshan had previously assumed that women from brothels would carry a thick air of vulgarity. However, the ten women competing for the title were not only stunningly beautiful but also possessed distinct temperaments, none of whom were inferior to Zhuge Qing in terms of looks or aura. They each excelled in the arts—qin, qi, shu, hua (music, strategy, calligraphy, painting).

"It's just that fate dealt them a poor hand, trapping them in the dust of the red-light district," Teng Qingshan murmured, shaking his head secretly as he looked at the women. In these chaotic times, if one had a poor family background and was excessively beautiful, their fate was all the worse.

"Hmm?" Teng Qingshan involuntarily turned his head.

He saw two men in dark green tight-fitting outfits approaching. One of them barked out, "You at the table in the far corner behind us, move to that spot! We from Green Lake Island claim this table. And you two, we from Green Lake Island claim this table as well!" The tone of these two men was undeniably arrogant.

"Green Lake Island? No wonder they're so overbearing," Teng Qingshan realized with a flicker of understanding. In Yangzhou, Green Lake Island was virtually the Emperor.

"Hmph, didn't you hear me speaking?" The green-clothed man's expression darkened as he glared at Teng Qingshan.

"Oh, Commander Teng, haha, what a small world!" A cheerful voice rang out. Teng Qingshan turned to see a youth clad in a silver-white long robe walking side-by-side with a young woman in a purple dress. Trailing behind them were five other young men and women.

"Gu Shiyou!" Teng Qingshan recognized the newcomer immediately—the Young Island Master of Green Lake Island, 'Gu Shiyou'.

"Young Island Master," Teng Qingshan said with a smile.

"Tie Fan, stand down," Gu Shiyou commanded the green-clothed man. "This is the foremost Commander of the Guiyuan Sect, Teng Qingshan! In the Earth Ranking released in the latter half of this year, Commander Teng ranks forty-sixth! Commander Teng, would you mind if my junior sister and I sat at your table?"

"Please," Teng Qingshan nodded, his mind churning with confusion. Forty-sixth on the Earth Ranking?