On the vast grasslands.

Li Jun stood before the male Gale Condor, emitting a string of melodious sounds from her mouth.

The Gale Condor glanced at Teng Qingshan, while Li Jun continued her soft persuasion beside it.

Finally, the large head of the black Gale Condor nodded slightly.

Li Jun turned excitedly to Teng Qingshan: “Brother Teng, Da Hei has agreed.

Come on, sit on its back.” “This Gale Condor really listens to you.” Teng Qingshan walked over in surprise, then leaped up, landing on the back of the Gale Condor.

The feathers on the Gale Condor’s back were incredibly hard, like steel arrows.

“Roar~~” The crimson-eyed Snow Lion Beast beside them let out a dissatisfied roar.

“That Snow Lion Beast looks quite unhappy,” Teng Qingshan chuckled.

“Ignore it.” Li Jun immediately let out a pleasant cry.

Instantly, one black and one white, the two Gale Condors took to the air, soaring with outstretched wings.

A gentle flap of their massive wings was enough to generate astonishing speed.

Sitting on the divine bird’s back, precisely in the depression behind the neck, the headwind encountered was not severe.

Looking down, the felt tents below resembled white specks, dotted across the expanse of the grassland.

Whoosh! Whoosh! The two Gale Condors swiftly pierced through the air and vanished.

Tian Shen Mountain towered high, seemingly poised to pierce the firmament.

At the mountain’s base, countless grassland people knelt on the grass, offering their prayers toward Tian Shen Mountain.

“Great Heavenly God, I pray that the people of my Liu Yan Tribe can pass this year safely.

I hope that among the youths of the Liu Yan Tribe, a truly formidable warrior will emerge, capable of entering Tian Shen Mountain to serve the Heavenly God.” An old, hunched woman knelt on the grass, mumbling continuously.

Many people around her were doing the same.

“Look, it’s the divine condors!” someone suddenly shouted.

Many worshippers looked up, only to see a black divine condor and a white divine condor flying directly from the high heavens into the upper reaches of Tian Shen Mountain.

Those who frequently worshipped had noticed the black and white divine condors returning to Tian Shen Mountain more than once.

…… On Tian Shen Mountain.

The two Gale Condors circled, slowly descending to an open area before a palace.

Along the corridor steps of this palace stood rows upon rows of serving maids, all clad in green leather robes.

When they saw the two Gale Condors land, they, led by a tall, beautiful woman, bowed in unison.

“Your Highness!” the group of maids greeted respectfully.

“Quite an impressive entrance,” Teng Qingshan praised, jumping down from the condor’s back as he spoke.

At this moment, Li Jun, her face veiled with a silk scarf, also dismounted.

She uttered a melodic avian call and affectionately hugged the head of the white Gale Condor.

The Gale Condor reciprocated the affection, rubbing its face against Li Jun’s.

Finally, the female Gale Condor let out a soft cry, and the male immediately responded in kind.

Whoosh! Whoosh! The two Gale Condors spread their wings and flew away.

Just then— “Junior Sister! Junior Sister!” a shout echoed from nearby.

Li Jun looked toward the sound and saw Sun Feng, dressed in black, running toward her with a smile: “Junior Sister returned quite quickly.

The Fifth Divine General only just returned to Tian Shen Mountain… and here you are with Hu He.” Teng Qingshan recognized the person upon seeing his face and couldn’t help but be greatly startled.

“It’s him? Sun Feng? Wasn’t he a merchant?” Teng Qingshan finally realized that the deception he suffered last time might be connected to this Sun Feng.

Sun Feng closely examined Teng Qingshan, then his eyes drifted to the package on Teng Qingshan’s back.

“Junior Sister, is this Hu He?” Sun Feng inquired.

“Senior Brother Sun!” Li Jun nodded with a faint smile.

“This is my friend, ‘Hu He.’ But I don’t have time to spend with you right now… I need to arrange temporary lodging for Hu He and myself.” Sun Feng scrutinized Teng Qingshan, a strange smile playing on his lips: “Very well, I shall return first…” Watching Sun Feng depart, a shadow of unease fell over Teng Qingshan! Ever since his trace was discovered in Wu City, Teng Qingshan had never understood… how his identity had been revealed.

But seeing Sun Feng now gave rise to many thoughts in his mind: “Last time, when I was disguised as a merchant, Sun Feng wasn’t even in disguise.

Perhaps Sun Feng is just a minor player! However, the exposure of my identity last time must be related to Junior Sister Li Jun’s sect!” Teng Qingshan naturally drew this conclusion.

“Hu He,” Li Jun said, turning to Teng Qingshan, “This palace is where I reside… As for you, you will temporarily stay there!” Li Jun pointed to a pavilion not far away.

Teng Qingshan smiled and nodded: “Agreed.” The palace was the Goddess’s residence; having a man stay there would likely spread throughout Tian Shen Mountain rapidly, which wouldn't be good for Li Jun.

“I’ll take you,” Li Jun led the way.

“Auntie Gongsun, arrange for a few people to clean and prepare that guest house.” Li Jun instructed.

“Yes.” The beautiful woman leading the palace guards replied respectfully, immediately beckoning six maids who hurried toward the pavilion nearby.

Li Jun then whispered: “Brother Teng, there are too many people watching from a distance, so I’ll call you ‘Hu He’ for now… Yes, regarding the intelligence reports, I will arrange them immediately.” “Thanks,” Teng Qingshan replied with a smile.

A faint blush appeared on Li Jun’s face as she smiled: “Everything I’m doing is proper; there’s no need to thank me.” Li Jun and Teng Qingshan then proceeded together toward the pavilion.

Moments later, a thin man in a black robe arrived before the Goddess’s Palace.

“Divine Emissary!” the maids greeted respectfully.

“Mmm, has the Goddess returned?” the thin man in black asked coolly.

“She returned not long ago, but Her Highness is currently with her friend at the adjacent guesthouse,” replied the head maid.

“Friend?” The thin man in black frowned.

“What friend?” “We are not sure, seemingly named ‘Hu He,’” the maid answered.

The thin man in black stared at the maid and demanded sharply: “How did that ‘Hu He’ arrive at Tian Shen Mountain?” If Hu He came alone, the situation would be less complicated.

If the Goddess brought him personally, it would be troublesome.

“Her Highness and that Hu He arrived at Tian Shen Mountain separately, each riding a Gale Condor,” the maid explained.

The thin man in black’s face darkened upon hearing this, a hint of murderous intent flickering in his eyes! Just then— Li Jun, her face veiled in purple, led a group of maids back toward the palace.

The thin man in black saw her from a distance and, as if his expression completely shifted, immediately walked toward Li Jun with a smile, calling out from afar: “Junior Sister! I thought you would stay out for a few more days.

I just heard someone say the Gale Condors had returned.

I guessed that you, Junior Sister, were back.” “Senior Brother Wan,” Li Jun said with a faint smile.

“You didn't go to tame the demonic beasts?” “Taming them on Tian Shen Mountain is the same thing,” the thin man in black replied with a smile.

“Oh yes, let’s have dinner together tonight.” Li Jun pondered for a moment, then nodded: “That’s fine.

Senior Brother Sun has been on Tian Shen Mountain for some days; I’ve been away and haven’t seen him much.

How about this… tonight, we invite Senior Brother Sun, and you, Senior Brother Wan, to have dinner together.

Right here in my quarters.” “Sun Feng?” The thin man in black hesitated slightly, then broke into a broad smile: “Very well, I won’t keep you then!” Li Jun then led the large group of maids back to her palace.

The thin man in black walked down the mountain path step by step.

“Hu He? Where did this figure pop up from?” The thin man in black’s gaze, cold and venomous like a serpent’s, swept over the pavilion.

He sneered, “Aside from Master himself, only Senior Sister and I understand the language of beasts now.

It would be best if Senior Sister and I married! Master and the others would surely approve… As for that fool Sun Feng, he can dream.

And Hu He? He’s not even worth mentioning!” The thin man in black soon departed.

…… Teng Qingshan was walking along the corridor on the second floor of the pavilion, observing his surroundings.

He frequently saw platoons of elite soldiers marching along the mountain paths.

“This Tian Shen Mountain truly has masters hiding everywhere!” Teng Qingshan murmured in admiration after observing for a moment.

“Hmm?” Teng Qingshan suddenly caught sight of a figure in black walking up to the Goddess’s Palace and then entering it.

“It’s Sun Feng!” Teng Qingshan recognized him instantly.

“What is he doing in Junior Sister Li Jun’s palace?” …… Inside the Goddess’s Palace.

Li Jun was seated at her desk, holding a brush and writing large characters! Before the disaster struck her, her family was wealthy, and she had been well-versed in the classics since childhood.

Now, after cultivating inner strength and discerning methods, whenever her state of mind became turbulent, she would practice calligraphy to calm her heart and stabilize her emotions! Still! Still! Still! Writing one character after another, Li Jun suddenly paused her brush.

“Junior Sister is practicing calligraphy?” a voice sounded from outside.

“Senior Brother Sun, please come in,” Li Jun picked up a blank sheet of paper nearby to cover the characters she had written.

Sun Feng then entered with a smile, glancing at Li Jun: “Junior Sister certainly has the leisure to practice calligraphy.” “Senior Brother Sun, what is the matter?” Li Jun turned to face him.

Sun Feng smiled faintly: “As far as I know, Junior Sister, you used to remain in the Central Plains.

You’ve only been on Tian Shen Mountain for a few months! And that Hu He must be the legendary demon, ‘Alada.’ He traveled all the way from the Central Grasslands to reach us.

Logically, Junior Sister shouldn’t know this ‘Hu He,’ right?” “Senior Brother Sun, what are you implying?” Li Jun’s expression turned cold.

“And as far as I know, Teng Qingshan has shown Junior Sister great kindness,” Sun Feng continued.

Li Jun narrowed her eyes, coldly glancing at Sun Feng: “Why bring up Brother Teng?” Many people within the core of their sect knew about the relationship between Li Jun and Teng Qingshan.

“No, I am merely thinking… Logically, you shouldn’t know this Hu He.

Yet you stopped the Fifth Divine General from acting against him, and even allowed him onto Tian Shen Mountain.

I suspect this Hu He is actually ‘Teng Qingshan,’” Sun Feng said with a light chuckle.

“And the package he carries… Most importantly, I discovered that you ordered people to gather detailed intelligence on Teng Family Village, Guiyuan Sect, and others.

When these pieces of information are combined, can one not reach a conclusion?” Sun Feng stared intently at Li Jun! Li Jun let out a light laugh, her eyes filled with murderous intent: “Senior Brother Sun! Don’t you think you are meddling too much? I will tell you clearly right now, yes, Hu He is Teng Qingshan! So what… are you planning to inform on us? Haha… Our Martial Uncle and the others have a favorable impression of Teng Qingshan.

Even if the sky falls, Brother Teng can escape in the Northern Grasslands.” Li Jun’s expression immediately turned cold, as if covered in frost.

“Senior Brother Sun, let me warn you!” Li Jun’s gaze was like a sharp sword, cold and piercing as she looked at Sun Feng, “If you dare to be clever again and place Brother Teng in grave danger… I, Li Jun, swear I will retaliate a hundredfold upon you!” Sun Feng froze for a moment, then rubbed his nose and laughed: “Don’t be angry.

I was just asking, just asking.”