The two guards specifically hired by Old Zhang watched the horses and cargo, while Teng Qingshan and the other four squeezed into the crowd.

"Stop pushing!"

"Push your ass!" Some of those pushed aside cursed under their breath.

But cursing was useless; even more curious onlookers surged inward. Teng Qingshan easily reached the innermost part.

"Wanted Notice!" Teng Qingshan immediately spotted a bulletin pasted on the wall, flanked by two armored guards, clearly ensuring the notice remained undisturbed.

Teng Qingshan scrutinized it—

"Teng Qingshan, seventeen years old, formerly ranked first on the Qian Long Bang (Hidden Dragon List). Formerly the commander of the Black Armored Army of the Gui Yuan Sect, and an Enforcement Elder of the Gui Yuan Sect. Has now betrayed the Gui Yuan Sect. This Teng Qingshan employed treacherous techniques to kill the Enforcement Elder of my Qinghu Island. This person possesses the strength of a Xiantian Solid Elixir, is adept at disguise and altering his appearance, even changing his height.

He excels in spear techniques, boxing, and hidden projectile weapons. He can use pebbles as projectiles to easily slay experts on the Di Bang (Earth List).

He is currently a fugitive. He should be carrying the Reincarnation Spear. This spear has a silver shaft, a black spearhead, and a red tassel!

Furthermore, he carries a massive black axe.

His Xiantian True Essence is fiery red.

This individual is extremely treacherous and cunning. If anyone discovers a mysterious master carrying the Reincarnation Spear or this great axe, and can roughly confirm it is Teng Qingshan, they may notify any stationed point of the Eight Great Sects of the Nine Provinces. Once my Qinghu Island confirms it is indeed Teng Qingshan and the information is true, a reward of one thousand taels of gold will be issued. If anyone can capture or kill Teng Qingshan, Qinghu Island rewards one hundred thousand taels of gold, one Heaven-Grade Secret Manual, and one city: 'Fengyang City' in Tiannan Commandery. As long as Qinghu Island exists, the three hundred li radius around Fengyang City will belong entirely to the one who kills Teng Qingshan!"

Seeing this message, Teng Qingshan sucked in a sharp breath.

"Damn it, one hundred thousand taels of gold," came voices from nearby, overlapping one another. "I couldn't spend that in ten lifetimes. A Heaven-Grade Secret Manual? And Fengyang City? As long as Qinghu Island exists, Fengyang City forever belongs to the killer of Teng Qingshan? A local emperor!"

"If I knew where this Teng Qingshan was, I would find a way to kill him, no matter what."

"Damn dog, you think you can kill Teng Qingshan? He could blow you away and turn you into dust."

The people around marveled and discussed amongst themselves.

Teng Qingshan’s face showed amazement, but a chill crept into his heart.

"Qinghu Island is ruthless! This has become quite troublesome now," Teng Qingshan worried. "One hundred thousand taels of gold, a Heaven-Grade Secret Manual! This might be a massive attraction. But for true experts, it's not that useful. However, the third reward—'one Fengyang City'—and Qinghu Island’s guarantee that ownership is permanent, this is enough to attract some Xiantian Golden Elixir experts!"

Teng Qingshan knew clearly that on the lands of the Nine Provinces, there were indeed some formidable reclusive masters.

Since the lands of the Nine Provinces were dominated by the Eight Great Sects, it was hard for ordinary Xiantian Golden Elixir experts to secure territory to establish their own sects.

But Qinghu Island made such a promise, and announced it to the world, so it must be true.

For Qinghu Island, in the vast Yangzhou, one city within the Tiannan Commandery—one of Yangzhou’s thirteen commanderies—'Fengyang City,' held little significance. But... for those dreaming of establishing their own sect, controlling territory with two or three million inhabitants completely was the stuff of dreams!

"One hundred thousand taels of gold can drive many ordinary people mad searching for me! Using all sorts of insidious methods against me."

"And the Heaven-Grade Secret Manual will tempt experts who struggle without good manuals to target me."

"As for 'one Fengyang City,' that’s enough to draw some wandering supreme experts against me. Perhaps it won't attract all the idle supreme experts, but certainly some."

Teng Qingshan understood.

Qinghu Island’s 'Wanted Notice' was equivalent to asking the entire world to hunt him down.

"And they say if one can roughly confirm it’s me, they can notify any stationed point of the Eight Great Sects of the Nine Provinces?" The other seven Great Sects might not commit their own manpower to capture him, but offering slight assistance to Qinghu Island would be completely normal.

Because Teng Qingshan had deliberately lured out the Flood Dragon, causing heavy losses to various factions.

Those sects might not entirely blame Teng Qingshan for their losses, but they certainly held no goodwill toward him!

"One hundred thousand taels of silver, a Heaven-Grade Secret Manual, and an entire city, with three hundred li around it belonging to the victor," the bearded youth 'Heizi' sighed. "If I could own a city someday, and be a local emperor, I'd gladly live thirty years less! One hundred thousand taels of gold is gold! How many wives could that buy?"

"I’m going to practice Internal Strength, I’m going to kill Teng Qingshan!" Heizi deliberately shouted loudly.

"Heizi, stop dreaming," Old Zhang laughed heartily.

"Heizi, you haven't even started drinking yet," Teng Qingshan also chuckled. Teng Qingshan understood... Qinghu Island truly hated him to the bone! Or rather, the fact that the seventeen-year-old him possessed the strength to kill a Xiantian Solid Elixir expert with one move worried them. That was why Qinghu Island offered such a steep price.

**

Several days later, in the evening, Teng Qingshan and his group arrived at 'Huacheng,' the northernmost city in Xuyang Commandery.

"Huacheng!"

Teng Qingshan looked at the familiar city gate, filled with emotion. Years ago, when he went to compete for the Black Fire Spirit Fruit, he stayed in Huacheng for a period. The memory of competing for the fruit was still vivid. That time, he had killed the Xiantian expert 'Sima Qing' and obtained scales from the Molted Skin of the Crimson Scaled Beast.

And now...

He had thoroughly retaliated against Qinghu Island, left the Gui Yuan Sect, and begun his solitary journey.

"Gather at the West City Gate tomorrow morning at the usual time. Don't be late, we won't wait for just one person! Everyone is free now—those wanting to drink, gamble, or visit the pleasure houses, go have your fill..." As the organizer shouted, the merchants and guards dispersed.

Teng Qingshan and the seven of them walked together.

"Brother Qin, we're staying overnight in Huacheng tonight. We have nothing to do tonight, so let's eat and drink to our hearts' content," Heizi laughed loudly.

"You might have nothing to do tonight, but I do," Old Zhang said with a sly smile.

"You old pervert, going to the pleasure houses again?" Heizi teased him with a laugh.

Old Zhang exchanged a look with the bald man Jia next to him, then jested, "Heizi, you're still young. You only think of your 'Ah Hua.' Wait until your Ah Hua becomes an old hag and you get tired of her... then you'll understand." These merchants who risked their lives gambled less and frequented pleasure houses more.

Because these merchants understood that no matter how much money they earned, if they took it to the casino, they would just give it away to the house.

"Qin Wei, are you joining us tonight?" Old Zhang asked with a smile. "It's a rare chance today, staying overnight in the city."

"Me? I need to procure goods tonight," Teng Qingshan smiled. "Didn't Huacheng just build a large tea house?"

"Ah, procuring goods is important, we won't hold you up then."

...

When Teng Qingshan first met them, he had briefly mentioned that his trip to Yangzhou was partly for procuring goods and partly to visit friends. There were quite a few places to sell tea bricks in Yangzhou. These items were scarce and precious in the north, but much cheaper in the south.

He instructed the two guards to watch the cargo, gave them two jugs of wine, and ordered some small dishes.

Afterward, Teng Qingshan and Heizi ate in the tavern, while the other three merchants went off to the pleasure houses.

In the tavern, discussions were rampant, many centered on Teng Qingshan.

"So many people are talking about Teng Qingshan these days," Heizi remarked with emotion.

"Everyone wants to get rich and own a city," Teng Qingshan smiled. "But I wouldn't dare dream of killing Teng Qingshan; he could crush us into meat paste with one punch. Better to stick to honest work."

"Right, thinking about wishful things is useless," Heizi nodded in agreement.

Teng Qingshan had heard these discussions countless times. In truth, hearing the entire world talk about him was certainly a strange feeling.

"Brother Qin, look, isn't that Teng Qingshan?" Heizi suddenly nudged Teng Qingshan’s shoulder.

"Teng Qingshan?" Teng Qingshan turned to look.

At the entrance of the tavern, three people walked in; the leader was a handsome youth. He wore a black robe and carried a silver spear with a black head and a red tassel. This spear-wielding youth strode into the tavern, followed closely by his two guards.

"Waiter, wine and food!" the handsome youth shouted.

"That spear looks a lot like the Reincarnation Spear," Heizi whispered. "His age is also close to Teng Qingshan's."

Teng Qingshan couldn't help but smile.

Someone was impersonating him, even faking the spear almost perfectly.

"Young Master Wu San, do you think just by carrying a big spear you can pretend to be Teng Qingshan?" A tall youth accompanied by two maids at another table laughed, pointing at the spear-wielding youth. "Look at you, Teng Qingshan is destined to be hunted by the whole world, yet you dress like that, and deliberately get a 'Reincarnation Spear'? Haha, you’re killing me!"

The two maids beside him also covered their mouths and laughed.

"Peng!" The spear-wielding youth slammed the table hard, his eyes wide with anger, and he pointed fiercely at the tall youth. "Old Man Mei Er, shut your mouth! Someone like you dares to look down on Teng Qingshan?"

"Esteemed Young Master 'Mei Er,'" a lone drinker tucked away in a corner sneered. "This Teng Qingshan reached Xiantian Solid Elixir at seventeen, unmatched in a thousand years! Qinghu Island reportedly lost more than ten elders, including a Xiantian Golden Elixir elder! This is mainly because of Teng Qingshan! Precisely why Qinghu Island issued such high rewards... and you pampered young masters dare to look down on him?"

The tall youth grew enraged, snorted coldly, and said, "Just a criminal wanted by the entire world."

"Mei Er, if you keep spouting nonsense, watch out that my Reincarnation Spear doesn't put a few holes in you," the spear-wielding youth snapped angrily, and his two guards immediately stood up as well.

Mei Er glanced at his own meager company—only two maids. He realized he hadn't brought any guards out this time; a miscalculation.

...

"Brother Qin, although I really wish I could kill Teng Qingshan and become a local emperor, I also admire him greatly—to make Qinghu Island offer such rewards," Heizi sighed. "If I, Heizi, could make the Eight Great Sects offer such rewards, becoming famous throughout the world, I wouldn't mind dying tomorrow."

Teng Qingshan could only lower his head to eat and drink, muttering, "Yes, Teng Qingshan is truly formidable. I admire him too."