"My 'Thirty-Six Axes of Mountain Splitting' possesses no internal cultivation method, merely thirty-six axe techniques! They are, however, my most potent axe skills. In contrast, the 'Nine Cauldrons Heavenly Tome' is structured from low to high, written in far greater detail and clarity, making it easier for practitioners to cultivate," stated Emperor Yu. "If we speak purely of cultivation, the 'Nine Cauldrons Heavenly Tome,' from beginning to end, describes the Dao of Heaven and Earth so clearly and plainly. Relying on this 'Nine Cauldrons Heavenly Tome,' reaching the 'Void Realm' is substantially easier than cultivating through the other secret manuals I left behind."

Teng Qingshan understood.

The founder of his own sect, the Gui Yuan Sect, likely only reached the Void Realm himself, possessing only a superficial grasp of the Heavenly Dao and having no true comprehension of the essence of Heaven and Earth. Thus, the 'Gui Yuan Heart Canon' he penned naturally appeared profound and obscure, difficult for later generations to grasp.

But Emperor Yu, having such a clear understanding of the essence of Heaven and Earth, could describe it in simple, accessible terms. Cultivating the 'Nine Cauldrons Heavenly Tome' would thus naturally be faster than practicing the 'Gui Yuan Heart Canon.'

"The 'Thirty-Six Axes of Mountain Splitting' has no internal cultivation method, yet it remains my strongest axe art," Emperor Yu sighed. "Precisely because there is no cultivation method, studying the axe technique diagrams alone makes true mastery exceedingly difficult. Therefore, on 'Divine Axe Mountain' in the North Sea Continent, I inscribed thirty-six characters representing the 'Dao.' Beside each inscription, there is a diagram of one axe technique. By observing my script, you might grasp the very essence of my axe mastery!"

Teng Qingshan smiled; Emperor Yu was much like him.

His own Five Elements Spear Techniques—'Shadow Following Close,' 'Primal Chaos Unity,' 'Poison Dragon Drill,' 'Scarlet Tiger Roar'—similarly lacked explicit cultivation mantras; instead, they were imbued with a distinct Artistic Conception! Once that conception was truly internalized, the spear technique would be realized.

Teng Qingshan inwardly sighed: "In the future, if I truly pass down my Five Elements Spear Techniques, it will likely be difficult. Without a deep understanding of the Five Elements Conception, grasping these techniques will be near impossible."

It was the same principle.

Teng Qingshan dealt in spear arts; Emperor Yu, in axe arts.

"However, if you bring the Mountain Splitting Divine Axe with you, when the Divine Axe interacts with the 'Imprints' contained within the script I left behind, you will be able to witness the very scene of me carving those thirty-six characters with the Divine Axe. Seeing my axe techniques executed firsthand, and contemplating them over a long period... you will certainly gain insight. Reaching the Void Realm after a few decades of contemplation should be no issue," Emperor Yu stated with confidence.

As Teng Qingshan listened to Emperor Yu's millennia-old message within the core location of the Tian Shui Palace, he was unaware that his master, 'Zhuge Yuanhong,' had already led the army to the Great Yan Mountain range.

...

As evening approached, a residual flush of crimson still stained the western horizon.

Several thousand soldiers were assembling at the foot of the Great Yan Mountain range. Leading them was a man clad in light armor, who was directing his subordinates while gazing intently toward the east.

"Rumble~~~" The earth trembled violently.

In the distance, a 'black dragon' formed by a massive contingent of heavy cavalry was rapidly closing in.

"Quickly, follow me to welcome the Sect Master," the man in light armor commanded.

This time, the Black Armored Army was traveling at maximum speed, every single Black Patterned Horse galloping without restraint. The vast, imposing army swiftly covered several miles and arrived before the large assembly of guards.

"Halt!" a shout echoed across the heavens.

"Neigh~~~" The warhorses stopped instantly.

"Dismount!"

At the order, the many soldiers of the Black Armored Army dismounted. Zhuge Yuanhong, clad in white robes, was followed by the Enforcement Elder 'Yan Motian,' the Pang Shan Commanders, and numerous Captains. Even Zhuge Qing was among the crowd, wearing light green armor.

"This subordinate Yang Ke pays respects to the Sect Master," the guard commander Yang Ke immediately bowed deeply. This man was none other than the City Lord of Yi City, Yang Ke.

"Hmm," Zhuge Yuanhong instructed coolly. "Take good care of all the Black Armored Army's horses, and prepare the reception point here."

"Yes," Yang Ke replied with a bow.

"Have you located where the forces from Green Lake Island have encamped?" Zhuge Yuanhong inquired. Before departing, the Gui Yuan Sect had immediately sent word to Yi City. City Lord Yang Ke had naturally rushed over quickly with several thousand guards from the city guard.

"Sect Master, the position of the Green Lake Island forces remains unchanged. This is the map of the Great Yan Mountain range; the location of the Green Lake Island forces has already been marked," Yang Ke respectfully presented the map.

Zhuge Yuanhong accepted it, flicked his wrist, and the map unfolded. With a single glance, he roared loudly, "All soldiers of the Black Armored Army, follow me into the mountains!"

"Elder Yan, let's go. We shall pay a visit to the people of Green Lake Island," Zhuge Yuanhong looked toward Yan Motian beside him.

Yan Motian smiled and nodded in assent.

Immediately, led by the two Xiantian Golden Core experts of the Gui Yuan Sect, the three thousand Black Armored Army soldiers advanced mightily into the Great Yan Mountain range, heading toward the encampment of Green Lake Island.

Zhuge Yuanhong understood perfectly: if they waited foolishly outside the Great Yan Mountain range, they might not even know if Teng Qingshan had died. The best and fastest approach was to confront Green Lake Island directly! With the assistance of the three thousand Black Armored Army soldiers... and the Four-Foot Azure Edge Sword in his hand, Zhuge Yuanhong did not fear the forces of Green Lake Island.

Teng Qingshan remained completely oblivious to the events unfolding outside.

In the depths of the Tian Shui Palace, bathed in a dim, faint green light, at its core, surrounded by the Nine Cauldrons, Teng Qingshan was listening to the final message of 'Emperor Yu,' the foremost supreme expert in the history of the Nine Provinces land.

"What I need you to do, you now know," the tall virtual figure chuckled softly. "For my descendants, I can no longer offer them direct aid; this method is all I can leave. Oh, right... when you retrieve the Mountain Splitting Divine Axe shortly, there will be a small surprise."

Teng Qingshan started; another surprise?

"But don't expect too much!" the tall virtual figure continued. "Achieving perfection in the Cave Void realm means possessing an 'Inner Void' capable of shattering the 'Outer Void.' This Inner Void resides within the body. As one's own void—one's own world—becomes more complete, the pressure on the physical body increases. Therefore, every Cave Void expert must continuously strengthen their physical form."

Teng Qingshan grasped the meaning: "I never realized that experts who reached the Cave Void realm still had to find ways to reinforce their bodies."

"My method involves utilizing the void world I created to refine vast amounts of Ice Cold energy to transform and strengthen the body," the tall virtual figure explained. "Currently, the 'Mountain Splitting Divine Axe' I left behind contains my Dao of the Void, which is why it can sustain the Tian Shui Palace. Simultaneously... this Mountain Splitting Divine Axe will naturally refine Ice Cold energy."

"The moment you touch the Mountain Splitting Divine Axe, this 'Ice Cold energy' will temper your body," the virtual figure stated.

Teng Qingshan rejoiced inwardly.

Temper?

"The rate at which the Mountain Splitting Divine Axe refines Ice Cold energy is far slower than mine. However... it has likely been refining it for countless years. So, there will be a considerable amount of Ice Cold energy," the virtual figure shook his head and smiled. "But do not harbor excessive hope. Even for a Xiantian Golden Core expert, physical tolerance has its limits. I estimate you can gain at most one or two thousand jin of strength before your body can no longer improve. Any excess Ice Cold energy will simply be wasted."

"Understood... As the owner of the Nine Cauldrons! Having received these boons, I only request that you offer some care to the descendants of my two lineages... I cannot force you, this is merely a request..." Emperor Yu offered Teng Qingshan a slight smile, and the virtual light projection dissipated.

Inside the golden barrier, peace returned.

The bottom level of Tian Shui Palace was silent, with only Teng Qingshan remaining.

Teng Qingshan closed his eyes for a moment before his emotions fully calmed.

"Emperor Yu, you've certainly dangled a magnificent carrot before me," Teng Qingshan was clear-headed. Concepts like the Void Realm, the Cave Void Realm—they all felt too abstract.

He himself was currently only at the 'Microscopic' stage in terms of cultivation, not even having reached the 'True Self Realm,' let alone the Void Realm?

As for the Cave Void Realm, according to Emperor Yu, perhaps only one in ten Void Realm experts managed to reach it.

"What I need to focus on now is how to take the Nine Cauldrons out without being detected." Teng Qingshan looked at the nine three-legged cauldrons. "To move the cauldrons, I must retrieve the Mountain Splitting Divine Axe!" Teng Qingshan looked at the Divine Axe hovering in mid-air, faint wisps of bluish-green light coursing through it.

Teng Qingshan’s eyes brightened.

"Emperor Yu said the massive amount of 'Ice Cold energy' refined by the Divine Axe over thousands of years can strengthen the body?" Teng Qingshan narrowed his eyes. "Emperor Yu, perhaps the physical tolerance of a Xiantian Golden Core expert limits them to gaining only one or two thousand jin of strength. But... I am different from them."

Teng Qingshan was certain his body's tolerance was definitely stronger than that of a Xiantian Golden Core expert!

He took three steps forward!

Looking up at the dark, rugged Mountain Splitting Divine Axe hovering close at hand, feeling the immense pressure radiating from it, Teng Qingshan extended his right hand.

"So cold!" The first sensation upon gripping the axe handle was absolute coldness.

Immediately following—

The pale green light flowing throughout the entire Tian Shui Palace abruptly ceased.

"Crack! Crack~~" A burst of white light emanated from the Mountain Splitting Divine Axe, rapidly spreading along the handle to Teng Qingshan's arm. Then... this peculiar white light permeated into Teng Qingshan's body.

Cold!

A bone-chilling coldness! A coldness that froze the soul! Beyond the cold, there was intense pain, a pain that penetrated to the marrow... spreading through every inch of his body.

"Buzz~~~"

The white light on the surface of the Mountain Splitting Divine Axe flared intensely, and faint white light also shot out from Teng Qingshan’s skin.

Teng Qingshan’s face turned pale white, veins bulged on his forehead, his muscles contorted, and his eyes burned red. Whether it was his internal organs, bones, or muscles, astonishing transformations were taking place... His sinews and bones felt as if they were being hammered relentlessly by a colossal iron maul, constantly being broken through, becoming exponentially harder. His entire body felt as if being gnawed by ten thousand ants, his limbs twitching uncontrollably.

"Ah~~" A suppressed, agonizing roar erupted from Teng Qingshan’s throat.

Pfft!

The bulging veins on Teng Qingshan's forehead ruptured, splashing a spurt of bright crimson blood.

Smack! Smack!

The skin on his face also cracked, blood splattering across him. His face was covered in blood, causing the human-skin mask he was wearing to peel away.

"Aargh~~~" With a stifled roar, Teng Qingshan's muscles and bones emitted violent creaks, and his height slowly began to increase.

"This goddamn hurts," Teng Qingshan couldn't help but bellow, dropping to his knees, slamming his fist into the ground in sheer agony. The skin on his right fist was largely cracked, the knuckles turned stark white. Waves of terrifying power, like that of a savage beast, surged through his body.

"Boom!" "Boom!" With thunderous impacts, frightening pits appeared in the pale green ground. Teng Qingshan, completely drenched in blood and now standing over eight chi tall, resembled a blood-soaked demonic god slamming down onto the earth.

It seemed only by doing this could he momentarily divert some of the excruciating pain.