Though the Battle of Wucheng had made Qinghu Island the darling of gossip across the Nine Provinces, life on the island itself continued as usual. In fact, the ridicule had only spurred the disciples to practice with even greater diligence.
They were one with Qinghu Island! If the island was disgraced, so were they! If Qinghu Island commanded respect, every disciple who traveled abroad would carry themselves with pride. The Master’s demands were strict, leading the disciples to relentless cultivation… and yet, Qinghu Island had never been so united! Simultaneously, they hated Teng Qingshan so intensely their teeth ached.
Qinghu Island, the Dragon-Locking Pavilion!
“Island Master!” Gu Yong entered the Dragon-Locking Pavilion, finding a man with long, golden hair seated in meditation. This man was the current Island Master of Qinghu Island, ‘Tie Fan’!
Tie Fan smiled. “Senior Brother has arrived. Please, have a seat.”
“Island Master, half a month has passed since Wucheng. Is there any news of Teng Qingshan yet?” Gu Yong fixed his gaze on Tie Fan.
Tie Fan’s brow furrowed. He glanced at Gu Yong before saying, “Since Teng Qingshan escaped that incident at Wucheng, we’ve heard many reports of sightings, but not a single one has been true! As of now, we have no idea where that man is hiding!”
“Is he still disguised as a merchant, or perhaps tucked away in some remote mountain corner? No one knows!”
“With his skill at disguise, finding him again is as difficult as ascending to heaven! Last time, we only found the Divine Axe and the Samsara Spear because of that master thief. Teng Qingshan must have learned his lesson and won't make such a mistake again!”
Gu Yong’s face darkened at this. He spoke in a low voice, “Island Master, are we, Qinghu Island, just going to let Teng Qingshan roam free?”
Tie Fan’s expression hardened, and he suddenly barked coldly, “Senior Brother!”
Gu Yong was startled. Tie Fan, his junior martial brother, usually showed him considerable respect. Although Gu Yong was no longer the Island Master, he had held the position for many years. Subconsciously, he still felt his status was superior!
“Junior Brother, what is it you wish to say?” Gu Yong frowned.
Tie Fan was agitated and glaring, like an enraged lion: “Senior Brother, you were the most talented of our generation! I only reached Innate Golden Core several years after you. My strength is far inferior to yours! Even now, are you still obsessing over Teng Qingshan? That is a minor matter!”
“What does the world say? It’s nothing! Who in this world dares to look down on Qinghu Island?”
“Elder Zhao went to Yuzhou this time, and the Yu Huang Sect received him with respect! Why? Because we have our Ancestor!”
“And our Ancestor only has a few decades left before his five-hundred-year limit! Decades, Senior Brother! Aren’t you anxious?” Tie Fan’s eyes turned red. “Once the Ancestor reaches his limit and ascends, Qinghu Island will have no Void Realm expert! What then? A thousand-year foundation wiped out in a day?”
“Teng Qingshan is a small matter, insignificant! A Void Realm expert is the real priority! Senior Brother… you stepped down two months ago, but seeing you like this now, I am truly worried!”
Gu Yong fell completely silent under the barrage.
Right…
Teng Qingshan had only slightly damaged Qinghu Island’s reputation. The island’s status remained unshaken! The foundation of Qinghu Island, its very ‘Heaven,’ was a Void Realm expert. Without one, their sky would collapse!
“Guiyuan Sect has a Void Realm expert, and Zhuge Yuanhong’s progress is astonishing. It looks like Zhuge Yuanhong might step into the Void Realm any year now! In a few decades or a century, Guiyuan Sect could have two Void Realm experts, while Qinghu Island has none! At that time, ‘Qinghu Island’ will follow the fate of the ‘Sword Sect’ from over a thousand years ago!”
“Then Qinghu Island will turn to dust and cease to exist! Senior Brother, compared to that, what does the matter of Teng Qingshan even count for?”
Gu Yong remained silent, his expression shifting dramatically, clearly struggling with the weight of the decision.
After a long pause—
Gu Yong’s face regained its calm. He bowed deeply. “Island Master! My anger blinded me. Starting today, I will no longer concern myself with the pursuit of Teng Qingshan! I will focus entirely on secluded cultivation, striving to reach the Void Realm!” Hearing this, a slight smile touched Island Master Tie Fan’s lips.
After the Battle of Wucheng, Teng Qingshan first spent ten full days in the Iron Blade Mountain Range within the Yuzhou territory, experimenting with the transformation of Innate True Essence. He accumulated significant experience and felt confident. Against an Innate Golden Core expert, even if he couldn't win, he could at least ensure his escape!
Following this, Teng Qingshan left the Iron Blade Mountain Range and hurried north.
Every night, Teng Qingshan would ride a purchased Black-Marked Horse, speeding along the official roads. With his night vision, traveling under the cover of darkness posed no obstacle. He could cover a thousand li in one night. This method of travel also allowed him to cultivate on horseback, wasting no time. During the day, Teng Qingshan would stop to rest in uninhabited areas like dense forests, where he could meditate and practice the Three-Body Stance.
...
Thus, moving by night and resting by day!
Half a month after the Wucheng incident, Teng Qingshan had traveled for only five days before leaving the borders of Yuzhou and penetrating deep into Yan Prefecture, the northernmost region of the Nine Provinces.
White Lotus City, a small city in northern Yan Prefecture.
A lone figure approached the entrance of the Myriad Manifestations Tower.
This person wore a simple single tunic, his hair loose, carrying a large pack on his back and a curved saber hanging from his waist. He stopped before the Myriad Manifestations Tower.
He looked up at the three gilded characters: Myriad Manifestations Tower!
“This Myriad Manifestations Tower has a branch in Yicheng, and now one here in White Lotus City! It seems every city across the Nine Provinces must have one of these branches. This Myriad Manifestations Gate never seeks dominance; they remain incredibly low-profile. But in terms of wealth, the collective worth of every Myriad Manifestations Tower across the land must be staggering. Many of the Eight Great Sects of the Nine Provinces haven't existed as long as this Gate. A sect this ancient must also have numerous masters,” Teng Qingshan mused internally.
Wealthy, with disciples spread throughout the Nine Provinces, and never seeking power, they naturally preserved immense strength. Just how powerful such a sect truly was remained difficult to ascertain.
“To enter my Myriad Manifestations Tower, please check your weapons,” the two sword-carrying maidens at the entrance requested simultaneously.
Teng Qingshan handed over the curved saber at his waist and walked inside.
These two disciples of the Myriad Manifestations Gate did not stop him further… although Teng Qingshan had weapons in his pack, they were unaware. Moreover, even if they knew, they couldn't force a guest to open their baggage—that would be too egregious.
Inside the Myriad Manifestations Tower, the space was vast.
“Earth Ranking! Crouching Dragon Ranking! Fledgling Phoenix Ranking!” Teng Qingshan’s eyes immediately settled on the first three books displayed on the counter. The first time he had entered a city, he had purchased an ‘Earth Ranking’ volume here, learning much about the Nine Provinces from it.
“Clerk, I’ll take one copy of each of these three books,” Teng Qingshan stated.
“The Crouching Dragon Ranking and Fledgling Phoenix Ranking are one hundred silver taels each, and the Earth Ranking is ten silver taels,” the clerk quoted.
Teng Qingshan reached into his robe and pulled out a stack of silver notes, peeling off three one-hundred-tael notes.
The clerk’s eyes flickered with envy upon seeing the stack of notes in Teng Qingshan’s hand. He sighed internally: One can’t judge a book by its cover. A man who looks like a minor nobleman has few coins, while this ordinary-looking fellow pulls out a stack! He quickly produced the three books for Teng Qingshan, along with ninety silver taels in change. Although exchanging silver notes incurred a fee, merchants preferred them, while common folk disliked them.
“Do you have the ‘Heaven Ranking’ here?” Teng Qingshan inquired.
“No, that is not for public sale,” the clerk shook his head.
Holding the three books, Teng Qingshan moved to the counter selling materials, his gaze instantly locking onto the Star-Patterned Steel. “Give me one jin of Star-Patterned Steel!” Saying this, he took ten one-hundred-tael notes from the stack in his hand.
“One jin? Star-Patterned Steel?” The clerk at that counter was momentarily surprised. Star-Patterned Steel, which was priced higher than gold, was rarely purchased in such quantity.
The clerk swiftly retrieved one jin of Star-Patterned Steel, weighed it carefully, and then handed it over. One jin of Star-Patterned Steel was equivalent to one jin of gold, or one thousand silver taels!
Teng Qingshan placed the steel and the three books into his pack. “With this Star-Patterned Steel, I can finally repair the shaft of the Samsara Spear… Moving further north, I will soon enter the Great Grasslands! It will be much harder to buy Star-Patterned Steel or find a weapon refiner there!”
White Lotus City was less than a thousand li from the Great Grasslands. At Teng Qingshan’s pace, it would take only one day’s travel.
...
In the backyard of the Yang Family Weapon Forging Shop in White Lotus City.
“Master Liu, this is Mr. Qing, who has offered a hefty sum to ask Master Liu to help repair a weapon,” a slightly stout middle-aged man wearing a felt hat said to a robust old man with graying hair wearing a round cap.
Master Liu, the old craftsman, looked at Teng Qingshan. “Mr. Qing, may I ask what weapon you need repaired?”
“Master Liu, can you repair weapons made of Star-Patterned Steel?” Teng Qingshan asked directly.
“Star-Patterned Steel?” Master Liu chuckled heartily. “That is not difficult, but the pricing will depend on the extent of the damage to your weapon!”
Teng Qingshan replied flatly, “The commission is one thousand silver taels! I need you to repair it immediately.”
“Done, no problem.” Master Liu’s eyes instantly lit up. Even forging a Star-Patterned Steel weapon did not command such a high price as a thousand silver taels, let alone a mere repair.
A moment later, inside the specialized workshop for craftsmen, Master Liu’s face changed drastically as he looked at the Samsara Spear handed over by Teng Qingshan: “This is, this is—”
“Master, isn't this weapon…” the apprentice beside him also widened his eyes in shock.
News of Teng Qingshan’s capture had spread like wildfire, and details about the Samsara Spear had become increasingly specific, as many Qinghu Island soldiers at Great Yan Mountain had noticed damage to the spear. Both men looked at Teng Qingshan with confusion and dread.
They feared Teng Qingshan would silence them!
“If you repair it well, there will be a bonus! If you harbor any other intentions…” Teng Qingshan’s gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over the two craftsmen. They trembled and nodded frantically. The old craftsman quickly assured him, “Lord Qing, rest assured, I will fix it perfectly!” Teng Qingshan’s fame echoed across the land; even the Four Great Innate Golden Core experts couldn’t kill him—who would an ordinary person dare to provoke?
As darkness fell, Teng Qingshan shouldered his pack and rapidly left the forging shop. “By tomorrow morning, I will be out of Yan Prefecture and entering the Great Grasslands!”
In the forging shop, only the master and apprentice remained, breathing sighs of relief after escaping a near-death experience.
“Master, was he… was he Teng Qingshan?” The apprentice finally dared to let out a breath.
“Our customer was Mr. Qing. What does that have to do with Teng Qingshan?” The old craftsman glared at his apprentice, then looked down at a gold note worth ten taels in his hand, finally letting out a long sigh. Only then did he realize—his back was slick with cold sweat.
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