As Sect Master ‘Zhuge Yuanhong’ departed, Liu Tong also rushed out: “The reporting task is complete. The Commander instructed me to purchase two large mansions, along with food, mansion renovations, and other necessities—all of which must be handled within three days.” With this thought, he swiftly moved toward the northern gate of the Guiyuan Sect.

…… In Jiangning Commandery City, at the Teng Residence, beneath a pavilion. Teng Qinghu, Zhuge Qing, and Zhuge Yun were gathered together.

“Don’t worry, Brother Qinghu. Nothing will happen at Teng Family Village,” Zhuge Qing offered in reassurance.

Teng Qinghu frowned and shook his head repeatedly. “You don’t understand!

If it weren’t an urgent matter, Qing Shan wouldn't have rushed back without even informing me. Something must be very pressing!

Furthermore, the maids said people arrived from my hometown yesterday. Qing Shan and Qing Yu immediately led the personal guard detachment back.

It’s my fault! My fault for not being there last night!” When the messengers arrived at Teng Family Village last night, Teng Qingshan and Qing Yu were present, so they mobilized men and rushed back to the village overnight, relocating the entire clan at dawn the next day.

However, Teng Qinghu was absent last night; as a Centurion, he was burdened with numerous military trivialities. Unlike Teng Qingshan, who held the rank of Commander and thus had fewer immediate duties.

Given the emergency, Teng Qingshan didn't have time to seek out Qinghu and rushed back immediately. This left Teng Qinghu… still completely unaware of what had transpired at Teng Family Village.

“Brother Qinghu, I’m sure we will have results soon,” Zhuge Yun added with a smile. “With Qing Shan’s methods, plus the personal guard detachment, nothing should be too difficult for him.” “Mmm…” The thought of Qingshan’s capability somewhat eased Teng Qinghu’s worry.

Just then— “Hmm?” All three heard the sound of intense footsteps and instinctively turned their heads. They saw Liu Tong running toward them rapidly in the distance.

Teng Qinghu’s eyes instantly lit up. “Liu Tong!” Teng Qinghu stood up abruptly.

“Qinghu.” Liu Tong rushed over. He and Teng Qinghu were both Centurions; naturally, Liu Tong, as a Centurion of the Personal Guard Detachment, held a slightly higher status.

“Liu Tong, didn't you go with Qing Shan to my hometown, Teng Family Village? Tell me, what exactly happened at Teng Family Village?” Teng Qinghu’s face was etched with anxiety.

Zhuge Qing and Zhuge Yun, the siblings, also looked toward Liu Tong. Liu Tong quickly replied, “Qinghu, people arrived from your hometown last night saying that Qingshan’s eldest uncle, and his cousin ‘Teng Qinghao,’ along with Qingshan’s father, were captured by people from Qinghu Island!

That’s why Qing Shan and Qing Yu rushed back in panic…” “What? People from Qinghu Island?” Teng Qinghu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“How can they be so shameless?” Zhuge Yun exclaimed indignantly. “I heard people from Qinghu Island were in the Great Yan Mountain, but… how could they capture mountain hunters?” Miss Qing also grew anxious.

Liu Tong continued, “They didn't just capture people from Teng Family Village. They also seized many hunters from the villages surrounding the Great Yan Mountain.

When we arrived at Teng Family Village overnight, we received news… that Teng Qinghao narrowly escaped back to the village and simultaneously informed us that Qinghu Island had ordered the execution of all captured hunters. That man named Teng Yongxiang, and Qingshan’s father, are both dead.” “Uncle?

And Uncle Fan? Both dead?” Teng Qinghu’s face turned ashen.

“Yes. Early this morning, the entire Teng Family Village began migrating toward Jiangning Commandery City.

I rushed here at dawn, having just delivered the news to the Sect Master! The Commander also instructed me to procure two large mansions, remodel them, and purchase numerous supplies to house everyone from the village,” Liu Tong stated.

“Qinghu, I have many things to attend to, I must go first.” Settling over two thousand people was an arduous task. “Wait a moment.” Teng Qinghu grabbed Liu Tong’s arm.

“Qingshan, where is Qingshan?” Teng Qinghu knew his brother’s temperament well. His father was dead?

What would Teng Qingshan do? “He… he entered the Great Yan Mountain,” Liu Tong replied.

“Entered the Great Yan Mountain?” Zhuge Qing’s rosy cheeks instantly drained of all color. “Qingshan really…” Teng Qinghu also grew frantic.

Liu Tong continued, “Just now, the Sect Master already gave the order for the First and Second Companies of the Black Armored Army to assemble at the drill ground with their warhorses and weapons.” With that, Liu Tong swiftly departed. “How did things escalate to this?” Teng Qinghu couldn't believe it.

Although he had anticipated a major event, he never imagined something like this occurring. “Brother Teng, he went into the Great Yan Mountain.

And there are so many experts from Qinghu Island there, this, this…” Zhuge Qing’s pale face was filled with intense worry. Just then— A figure charged in quickly from outside.

“Lord Teng, the Sect Master commands that all personnel of the First and Second Companies, bringing their warhorses, weapons, and heavy armor, assemble at the drill ground immediately, without delay.” This Black Armored Army soldier relayed the order urgently. “Lord Teng, please hurry.

I shall take my leave first.” The soldier also appeared rushed, and as soon as he finished speaking, he hurried away. Upon hearing this, Teng Qinghu immediately dashed toward his quarters.

“Brother, let’s go to the drill ground,” Miss Qing urged anxiously. “Let’s go.” Zhuge Yun and his sister swiftly left the Teng Residence and hastened toward the Guiyuan Sect’s drill ground.

…… On the drill ground, Black Armored Army soldiers, each leading a heavy cavalry mount, were rapidly converging. Since almost all the soldiers lived within the barracks, their assembly speed was exceptionally fast.

By the time Zhuge Yun and his sister rushed breathlessly onto the field, over ninety percent of the troops had already gathered. Only those few scattered soldiers, or high-ranking Black Armored Army officers residing outside the barracks, were slightly slower to assemble.

“Father is over there!” Miss Qing spotted her father at a glance. The Sect Master, ‘Zhuge Yuanhong,’ with his long hair unbound and wearing a loose white robe, stood on the highest platform at the southernmost end of the drill ground, carrying a long sword on his back.

Beside him was the Enforcement Elder, ‘Yan Motian.’ The Guiyuan Sect possessed only two Innate Golden Core experts in total: Zhuge Yuanhong and Yan Motian! “Father, Father!” Zhuge Qing rushed over anxiously.

Zhuge Yuanhong frowned upon seeing his daughter and son in the crowd. “Father, are you heading toward the Great Yan Mountain?” Zhuge Qing asked urgently.

“Father, is Senior Brother Qingshan alright?” Zhuge Yun inquired. Zhuge Yuanhong looked at his two children and ordered sternly, “I have no time to entertain you two.

Yun’er, take Qingqing away from the drill ground.” Zhuge Yun paused, then turned to look at his sister. “Father!” Zhuge Qing’s eyes instantly reddened, her lips tightly bitten, tears shimmering in her eyes.

“I know how urgent this is. That Great Yan Mountain must be extremely dangerous, and Brother Teng is surely in grave danger there!

Regardless, I must go with you. Father, please take me along.” “Nonsense!” Zhuge Yuanhong became angry.

“Yun’er, take Qingqing away!” Zhuge Yun hesitated but still reached out to pull his sister. “Let go of me.” Miss Qing violently shook him off, staring at her father with tear-filled eyes.

“Father, Brother Teng must be facing a life-or-death crisis… otherwise you wouldn't be this rushed. Even if you refuse to take me, I will go alone; no one can stop me!” Seeing this, Zhuge Yuanhong felt a headache coming on.

His daughter was usually obedient, but once she became truly stubborn, even eight horses couldn't pull her back. “Fine, hurry and put on your light armor.

Come with Father.” Zhuge Yuanhong finally yielded. “But you must remember one thing: do not wander off.

Stay by my side.” If his daughter went off alone, who knew what might happen? Keeping her close was far safer.

Zhuge Qing was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes.” …… The army of the Guiyuan Sect, led by the two Innate Golden Core powerhouses—Zhuge Yuanhong and Yan Motian—moved mightily and swiftly toward the Great Yan Mountain.

* The Great Yan Mountain, underground, inside the Heavenly Flood Palace. In the pitch-black labyrinth, Teng Qingshan was crouched in an alleyway, studying the maze map and calculating meticulously.

“Filtering through, ninety-nine percent of the routes must be eliminated… there are thirty-two routes with higher probability! And thirteen routes with the highest probability!” Teng Qingshan pondered for nearly half an hour before finally excluding them one by one, isolating the necessary routes.

The thirteen routes Teng Qinghan considered most likely all traversed the greater part of the Heavenly Flood Palace, and their destinations could not be reached by any other means. “There’s no choice but to try them one by one.” Since the number of routes was small, Teng Qingshan could afford the time for testing.

If he had tested randomly like other sects, it would have taken ten days to half a month without success. “Hmm, going this way can lead to a key node!

This node connects to four of the thirteen most probable routes!” Teng Qingshan held the maze map and immediately accelerated. He turned into a black shadow, like a phantom in the dead of night, moving rapidly through the labyrinthine alleys.

Following the map, turning left, turning right… After running for about ten li, Teng Qingshan suddenly stopped. “Hmm?” Teng Qingshan’s ears pricked up.

“Elder Hu, is your injury serious?” “Nothing major. We must meet up with Martial Uncle quickly… Let’s go, next fork, turn left.” …… Teng Qingshan’s hearing was extremely acute; although the other party’s voices were low, he still heard them clearly.

“They are about six or seven zhang to my left,” Teng Qingshan immediately opened the maze map, glanced briefly, “They are right here!” A hint of a smile appeared on Teng Qingshan’s face. “They actually followed this exact route?

Then… of the route maps leading to the treasure… only two of the thirty-two highly probable ones are still possibilities!” Even though Elder Hu and the other person from Qinghu Island were in the alleyway six or seven zhang away— Teng Qingshan couldn't fly out because of the intervening walls. There was only one solution— “Turn back.” Teng Qingshan swiftly reversed direction, pushing his speed to the absolute limit.

…… For anyone else, even if they detected Elder Hu and the other person there, it would be futile. Because the alleyway where Elder Hu’s pair was located could lead to many places.

But Teng Qingshan had already filtered out a large number of possibilities; with this additional screening, only two route maps remained. The absolute darkness had no negative effect on Teng Qingshan.

His ghost-like figure flickered through the alleys, constantly advancing, circling a large loop before chasing back. Fortunately, Teng Qingshan’s speed was much faster than the traveling speed of Elder Hu’s pair.

After all, Elder Hu’s pair were not fleeing for their lives, so they were naturally slower due to keeping a close watch. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Teng Qingshan suddenly heard bursts of furious roars. “Roaring sounds ahead?

On the correct route map, only demonic beasts would be lurking! This route map is indeed the right one.” Teng Qingshan’s eyes brightened.

“Hmm, the roars are less than a li from here… It’s highly likely that Elder Hu’s pair encountered a demonic beast.” Teng Qingshan could vaguely sense the location of the roars, and he continued advancing.

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