"Brother Wang, did you manage to chase down Elder Hu who fled Qinghu Island?" Ying Haojiang turned his attention to the expert from She Ri Divine Mountain, the burly man with four braids who shook his head. "He ran the fastest and didn't care about his life at all. We only chased through two forks before we lost him. We didn't dare wander around randomly, so we turned back. When we returned, we saw Yuwen Liufeng trying to kill Brother Qin Lang!"

In this battle, the combined experts from all factions totaled 47; four Xiantian Solid Cores died, and several others were injured.

As for the Qinghu Island side, two of the six managed to escape.

"Xiantian Gold Core can eliminate air resistance. That aspect alone is absolutely superior to Xiantian Solid Core!" Teng Qingshan sighed inwardly, even as the muscles in his shoulder contracted, causing specks of minced flesh and waste blood to seep from the wound. Following that, Teng Qingshan's shoulder wound stopped bleeding entirely.

Teng Qingshan flexed his left shoulder. "When a sword stabs the body, and Xiantian True Essence then explodes inside, that move is extremely insidious. Fortunately, it only struck the shoulder. Hmm, I can still use seventy percent of my strength!"

...

"There is another one here, why not kill him?" A large crowd of Xiantian experts stared at the Qinghu Island master who sat on the ground with both legs severed.

"It was Brother Qin Lang who said to leave a living witness," said the elder from the Snow Eagle Sect who had narrowly escaped Yuwen Liufeng's sword, clutching his abdomen. "Brother Qin Lang said the labyrinth map does not show the location of the treasure."

"It doesn't!"

Ying Haojiang and ten other Xiantian Gold Core level experts also gathered around.

The fat monk from Mani Temple frowned. "The labyrinth map on Yuwen Liufeng didn't have the treasure location drawn on it either."

"Neither of the two labyrinth maps we obtained shows the treasure location. Brother Qin Lang, what about the map you acquired?" Many people turned to look at Teng Qingshan.

Teng Qingshan also shook his head. "I was the one who shouted to keep someone alive when I discovered there was no treasure location on the map."

The experts from the major sects became worried, all fixing their gaze on the man with the severed legs.

"Elder Wen Qian, you might as well tell us, and suffer less," Ying Haojiang stared at him.

Everyone watched him.

The Enforcement Elder of Qinghu Island, 'Wen Qian,' whose face was still streaked with blood, scanned the surrounding people with his eyes and sneered. "Hahaha... you pack of stupid donkeys! The labyrinth map is incredibly complex; our brains cannot memorize it all. Every person carries a map for fear of getting lost. However... the treasure location is just a single dot on the map! It can absolutely be memorized!"

"Hahaha..."

"The Island Master thought things through! Hmph, even if you seize the maps, you people will never know where the treasure is." Wen Qian laughed wildly, blood oozing from the corners of his mouth. "Want to get the treasure? Compete with Qinghu Island for the treasure? Hahaha... dream on!" As he spoke, he violently threw his head back.

Bang!

His head slammed hard against the nearby wall, blood gushing out.

"Ah." The more than forty Xiantian experts present couldn't intervene in time and could only watch the man commit suicide.

"Hoo." A black-robed enforcer from the Ying family immediately bent down, retrieved a map from Elder Wen Qian's embrace, opened it, examined it closely, and then turned back to the crowd with a helpless shake of his head. "No treasure location here either!"

Everyone had expected this, nodding with resignation.

"Qinghu Island was clearly prepared beforehand," the fat monk from Mani Temple said, surveying the crowd. "Everyone... the labyrinth maps currently available do not show the treasure location. What should we do now?"

"There are only a few of these maps. Those who don't have one should copy one first."

Among all these people, although no one carried a writing brush, paper was plentiful.

Because—clothing could serve as paper.

And for a brush, one could simply sharpen a piece of broken silver with a sharp sword and dip it in a bit of blood to draw. Soon, those who wanted a map had drawn one. As for Teng Qingshan, since he had confiscated his, he didn't need to copy another.

Everyone examined the maps, guessing where the treasure was most likely to be located.

"Alright, everyone now has a labyrinth map," Elder Shi from the Carefree Palace said with a faint smile. "The labyrinth routes are complex; I suppose every major sect has its own ideas... I suggest we all go our separate ways. Whoever wants to take which path, takes that path. Whoever can obtain the Yu Emperor's Treasure will depend on luck."

"Our Mani Temple will take the first step," the fat monk stated.

The group of eleven Xiantian experts from Mani Temple left first.

Soon after, the people from the Carefree Palace also departed.

The experts from She Ri Divine Mountain were the third wave.

"Brother Qin Lang, we are leaving now. Would you like to join us?" the white-robed youth 'Liu Xiu' asked, and the other three lone Xiantian masters also looked towards Teng Qingshan.

"Which path are you taking?" Teng Qingshan inquired.

"The left fork, then into the alleyway behind it," Liu Xiu replied.

Teng Qingshan shook his head and smiled. "No, you all go ahead."

"It’s a disadvantage for you to be alone," Liu Xiu continued to persuade him.

"Liu Xiu, if you aren't going, we'll leave first. Brother Qin Lang probably wants to try his luck finding the treasure alone; let's not disturb his good intentions," said the old man 'Zhongli Lin.' The young woman in the green shirt, 'Shuifei,' and the youth named Baili Hong looked at Liu Xiu with some dissatisfaction.

Zhongli Lin, Shuifei, Baili Hong, and Liu Xiu were all somewhat known across the land of Jiuzhou, whereas the name 'Qin Lang' was not famous. Naturally, the four of them were closer.

Liu Xiu glanced at Teng Qingshan, then could only shake his head helplessly. "Let's go."

Group after group departed, while Teng Qingshan kept his head down, staring at the labyrinth map.

A moment later—

Teng Qingshan was the only living person left in that alleyway.

"Everyone chooses a path they think is correct and believes they will succeed?" Teng Qingshan shook his head and smiled. The experience gained from his training as an assassin in his previous life was indeed helpful. "The possibility of them finding the treasure by going that way is less than one percent!"

Teng Qingshan smiled, studying the map. "Actually, looking at this labyrinth map, finding the route to the treasure is not impossible."

"First point: the palace entrance must be part of the correct route. The starting point for the treasure route is the palace gate! This is certain."

"The Yu Emperor spent such immense effort building such a palace, with such a complex labyrinth! The treasure route map cannot possibly be confined to just a small section of the labyrinth. Otherwise, wouldn't the other sections have been built in vain and be useless? Therefore, the correct route map should span over most of the palace! This is the second point!"

"Third point: without a map, it must be difficult to find! Furthermore, the route must be unique. Therefore, this location should only be reachable by one route map; other route maps should not be able to reach it!"

Based on these three points, Teng Qingshan began his filtering process.

At the palace entrance alone, there were three alleyways, each with forks. One of these forks only extended for a few dozen feet before becoming a dead end.

A short route map must be wrong!

A route map that covers a small area must be wrong!

A route map location that can also be reached by other paths must also be wrong!

"By eliminating routes this way, there shouldn't be many that fit these conditions. At least there won't be too many route maps, and I can test them one by one." With this purpose-driven trial, a route spanning several dozen li would take him half an hour to explore several routes at his speed.

Constantly searching, constantly filtering...

This process of searching and filtering consumed a considerable amount of time.

In the pitch-black alleyway, apart from the corpses of Yuwen Liufeng and a few others, Teng Qingshan was the only living person squatting there, constantly filtering and searching while looking at the map.

At noon, the sun shone high.

The North Gate of Guiyuan Sect in Jiangning Commandery City.

A soldier in black armor rapidly dismounted his Azure-Maned Snow-Treading Horse.

"Brother Liu, in such a hurry?"

"Watch my horse for me." The soldier tossed the reins and sprinted inside.

...

Outside the study of 'Zhuge Yuanhong,' the Sect Master of Guiyuan Sect.

"Sect Master, Centurion Liu Tong of Commander Teng's personal guard requests an audience," a green-robed disciple said respectfully outside.

"Let him in." A faint voice sounded.

Liu Tong ran in immediately and knelt down on one knee. "Liu Tong pays respects to the Sect Master."

"What is it, speak?" Zhuge Yuanhong glanced at Liu Tong, who quickly and respectfully stated, "Last night, Commander Teng led our personal guard unit to his hometown, Teng Family Village in Yicheng. This morning, everyone from Teng Family Village has relocated and is making their way towards Jiangning Commandery City."

Zhuge Yuanhong immediately set down the book in his hand, frowning as he looked at Liu Tong.

Two thousand people coming to Jiangning Commandery City was a small matter. Some large salt merchants had households with over a hundred family members alone; when servants and guards were added, it approached a thousand people. Settling over two thousand people in Jiangning Commandery City was easy. However... why was Teng Family Village relocating its entire populace when things seemed fine there?

Recalling that the Qinghu Island army was stationed at Great Yan Mountain, Zhuge Yuanhong felt a twinge of unease.

"Qinghu Island wouldn't stoop to attacking ordinary mountain villagers, would they?" Zhuge Yuanhong thought to himself.

"Sect Master, yesterday the people of Qinghu Island captured hunters in many villages around Great Yan Mountain. Three hunters were also captured in Teng Family Village. One was Commander Teng's cousin! One was his uncle, and the last one... was his father!" Liu Tong continued. "Last night, his cousin escaped back and reported that Qinghu Island had ordered all captured hunters to be killed. Commander Teng's father and uncle did not escape; they are likely dead!"

Zhuge Yuanhong's expression darkened.

"Qinghu Island!" Zhuge Yuanhong angrily slammed the table.

"The relocation of the entire village started this morning. It's only three hundred li; for two thousand people, it will likely take four days to arrive. When I left with the relocation this morning, I rode ahead alone to report to the Sect Master," Liu Tong explained. "Sect Master, Commander Teng has entered Great Yan Mountain all by himself!"

Zhuge Yuanhong's eyes snapped wide open.

"What? Qingshan entered Great Yan Mountain? That's reckless!"

Zhuge Yuanhong was keenly aware of the situation in Great Yan Mountain. Aside from the Qinghu Island army stationed there, experts from major sects across Jiuzhou would likely converge there as well. The thought of Teng Qingshan being there alone caused Zhuge Yuanhong to worry deeply.

"Xiao Tie," Zhuge Yuanhong called out.

"Sect Master," the green-robed disciple bowed outside.

"Issue an order immediately: tell the First and Second Brigades of the Black Armored Army—three thousand soldiers—to gather at the training grounds with their warhorses and weapons! Hurry, do not delay by even a moment." Zhuge Yuanhong commanded sternly.

"Yes." The green-robed disciple rarely saw the Sect Master so anxious and dared not slack off, quickly running towards the Black Armored Army barracks.

"I must also bring Elder Yan with me for this matter." Zhuge Yuanhong understood how perilous the situation in Great Yan Mountain was. He had long anticipated... with the allure of the Yu Emperor's Treasure, the killing among Xiantian experts would be inevitable. Teng Qingshan, caught within, was like a small skiff in a vast ocean, constantly in danger of capsizing.

Whoosh!

Zhuge Yuanhong immediately stood up. "Liu Tong, you may withdraw for now." As he spoke, he reached out and grabbed his weapon, striding toward the exit. He was going to find Elder Yan.