"I'm not unwilling to attack! It's because my offensive fist techniques are still too weak!" Teng Qingshan said helplessly. Currently, in the Five Elements of Heaven and Earth, his comprehension of the second segment of the Earth Element Fist has significantly amplified the power when he executes the 'Primal Unity Qi' boxing style! Yet, out of the five elements of Heaven and Earth, Teng Qingshan has grasped none of the others.
The path up Mount Tianshen was rugged.
Teng Qingshan and Li Jun hurried toward the Goddess Palace.
...
On the Cliff of Life and Death, the masters who had been knocked unconscious by the shockwave quickly awoke. Having personally experienced the might of the Thunder God's Descent, they were even more astonished. Their awe for the demon 'Arada,' who managed to defeat the First Divine General, deepened immensely! A large group began discussing the event excitedly.
Where there was excitement, there was also resentment. The black-robed divine envoy, 'Wan Tianyang,' felt particularly bitter watching Teng Qingshan and Li Jun depart together!
"Huhe, you are so arrogant, but you have no backing. One day, someone will kill you, inevitably!" Wan Tianyang cursed inwardly, departing alone in silence, thoroughly displeased with this viewing experience.
"Senior Brother, how did that Huhe defeat you with just one Bei Kao? I simply cannot fathom it," the Fifth Divine General 'Erizier,' troubled by this question, asked repeatedly. The other Divine Generals all looked toward the First Divine General. The First Divine General, 'Borileimu,' offered his junior brothers a wry, helpless smile. "To this day, I still don't know how he executed that move!"
"Senior Brother, surely you didn't intentionally hold back, did you?" the Eighth Divine General chuckled slyly.
Borileimu shot him a glare. The Third Divine General standing nearby interjected, "Eighth Junior Brother, don't speak nonsense. Is Senior Brother the kind of person who would do that?"
"You little brat! You accuse me of holding back? Go try tasting Huhe's Bei Kao yourself?" Borileimu laughed and cursed. The eight Divine Generals chatted and laughed as they walked the mountain path. Despite losing the match... Borileimu’s mood was surprisingly excellent.
Just as the eight were proceeding along.
Suddenly—
"Eight Divine Generals!" Three youths, with short, cropped hair and uniformly clad in grey robes, blocked their path.
Short, cropped hair signified they were disciples of Esoteric Buddhism. The gold trim embroidered along the edge of the grey robes indicated their status as personal attendants to the Heavenly God.
"The Heavenly God commands the eight Divine Generals to proceed immediately to the Heavenly God Pagoda!" the leading youth announced.
The eight Divine Generals exchanged glances, some confusion evident, but none dared to hesitate, immediately heading toward the Pagoda on the summit.
In the guest quarters where Teng Qingshan was staying.
As soon as Teng Qingshan and Li Jun stepped inside, Li Jun turned to Teng Qingshan, barely able to contain her excitement. "Brother Teng! That was the First Divine General! A figure easily ranked among the top three on the Heavenly Ranking. For you, Brother Teng, to defeat him when you are only eighteen—it is truly, truly astonishing!"
Even those who held no particular affection for Teng Qingshan would likely be stunned if they learned of this achievement.
And Li Jun, who already leaned favorably toward Teng Qingshan in her heart, magnified his success tenfold within her estimation!
"If he had tried to flee, I wouldn't have been able to catch him," Teng Qingshan said with a smile.
Li Jun laughed lightly. "The strong have no need to flee, because everyone else is weaker than them, and that is why they run!"
Teng Qingshan let out a faint laugh.
Teng Qingshan’s mood was excellent; this battle had given him a clearer understanding of his own strength: "I've only just reached enlightenment, and I haven't integrated the intent of the second segment of the Earth Element Fist one hundred percent into my 'Primal Unity Qi' spear art. Even so, I can already contend with top-three Heavenly Ranking experts. With some time, my power will certainly improve! Looking across the Nine Provinces, no expert on the Heavenly Ranking currently inspires fear in me!"
The path he walked was that of the Inner Strength martial arts lineage!
Completely different from the paths of Daoism or Buddhism! Although the path was arduous, it destined him, the originator, to possess immense power once enlightenment and breakthroughs were achieved!
"Even if Gu Yong or Zhao Danchen came now, I could send them scattering!" Teng Qingshan couldn't help but think of the legendary 'Blind Sword Saint' of Qinghu Island. "The Blind Sword Saint is one of the supreme figures across the entire Nine Provinces. At my current level, I still cannot return to the Yuan Sect!"
But Teng Qingshan was not discouraged.
"The 'Inner Strength Gang Qi' produced by the Inner Strength lineage—my current application of it is still extremely rudimentary!"
"Both the Buddhist and Daoist schools can employ Qinggong (light-body skill)! And Inner Strength Gang Qi can stimulate acupoints, and even stimulate tendons and muscles. Theoretically—in principle—a far more formidable Qinggong technique should be possible!" Teng Qingshan understood this point. The Daoist and Buddhist schools possessed vast libraries of Qinggong manuals.
However—
The Qinggong aspect of the Inner Strength lineage was a complete blank slate; not a single manual existed! Everything depended on Teng Qingshan, the founder, to compose!
"Beyond that, this Earth Element Fist contains the 'Way of Earth' within the Five Elements of Heaven and Earth. This 'Way of Earth' shouldn't just be applied to defensive boxing or spear techniques. It should also be applicable to Qinggong!" Teng Qingshan vaguely sensed, immersed in that realm of insight during his breakthrough.
Teng Qingshan had a feeling—
He might be capable of achieving incredible leaps in a single step. But he hadn't yet devised this specific type of Qinggong!
"I have the Way! Now, all I need is sufficient time to continually create!" Teng Qingshan was ambitious. "If I fully comprehend all Five Elements of Heaven and Earth... then I too will become one of the supreme powers across the Nine Provinces. At that time, why should I fear the Blind Sword Saint?"
Teng Qingshan most looked forward to the day of success, when he could finally return to the Nine Provinces, back to Yangzhou!
"Mmm, I must use the time wisely. After having lunch with Xiaojun, I will leave Mount Tianshen this afternoon!" Teng Qingshan made his decision.
"Xiaojun!" Teng Qingshan looked toward Li Jun, who was currently on the second-floor corridor, issuing orders to the maids below.
Li Jun entered the room, smiling. "Brother Teng, I'll have someone prepare lunch. You haven't eaten anything in over a day."
"Xiaojun, I plan to leave this afternoon," Teng Qingshan stated directly.
Li Jun froze momentarily.
"Leave this afternoon? Today?" Li Jun was caught completely off guard.
These past few days had been the happiest of her life!
Being able to eat and converse with the Brother Teng she cared for.
Being able to quietly watch Brother Teng practice from a distance.
Being able to assist Brother Teng with small matters, like procuring a weapon.
...
Although Li Jun knew Teng Qingshan had to set sail, subconsciously, she didn't want to dwell on such thoughts. Because the mere idea of Teng Qingshan leaving made Li Jun deeply miserable.
He was leaving!
He was leaving after all! And this voyage would be long; for many years, perhaps even longer, she wouldn't see Teng Qingshan!
"Yes, this very afternoon. Xiaojun, after I leave, you still have many fellow disciples here on Mount Tianshen, as well as the demonic beasts to keep you company," Teng Qingshan comforted her. Li Jun managed a slight smile and nodded. "Mmm, my fellow disciples are quite good to me, and the demonic beasts—Big Black, Big White, and that group including Tiger Wolf—they all listen to me; they are very well-behaved."
Teng Qingshan sensed Li Jun’s mood was off.
Li Jun suddenly bit her lip, her face flushing crimson up to her earlobes, and lowered her voice: "Brother Teng..."
"Mmm?" Teng Qingshan looked at Li Jun. "What is it? Tell me."
Li Jun whispered, "You are going to sea, if I..."
Before she could finish her sentence.
"Your Highness, the Heavenly God requires you and Lord Huhe to proceed to the Heavenly God Pagoda immediately!" A loud voice echoed from below.
"The Heavenly God Pagoda?" Teng Qingshan was slightly surprised. "The Heavenly God wants to see me?"
Li Jun, her face still flushed, had her intended words derailed by the interruption. After a brief pause, she said, "Brother Teng, the Heavenly God wishes to see you. You should accompany me to meet him! Here on Mount Tianshen, you cannot truly escape if they command it!"
Teng Qingshan agreed with this notion.
If a Void Realm expert wished to deal with him, it would be as easy as lifting a finger! A request to see him likely wasn't something ill-intentioned.
"Let's go!" Teng Qingshan immediately walked toward the exit, with Li Jun accompanying him.
Within the main hall on the first floor of the towering red Pagoda on the summit of Mount Tianshen—the Heavenly God Pagoda.
Teng Qingshan and Li Jun entered the hall together.
"Mmm?" Teng Qingshan immediately noticed that in this vast, empty hall, besides the attending maids, only the eight Divine Generals were present.
"Brother Huhe!" Upon seeing Teng Qingshan, all eight Divine Generals stood up simultaneously! They did not greet Li Jun; instead, their gazes were fixed entirely on Teng Qingshan! To the Divine Generals, although Li Jun held a higher status, she was ultimately only a Houtian realm expert. Deep down, these generals placed greater importance on sheer strength!
The ability to defeat the First Divine General commanded immense respect from these generals toward the man rumored to be the demon 'Arada.'
"Old Brother Borileimu," Teng Qingshan smiled. "And this must be the Fifth Divine General, Brother Erizier. The others... I haven't been on Mount Tianshen long enough to know everyone."
The First Divine General, 'Borileimu,' clapped Teng Qingshan heartily on the shoulder and laughed. "Let me introduce you. This is my Second Junior Brother, the Second Divine General 'Hairigute'! This is my Third Junior Brother..." He hadn't finished speaking when footsteps sounded from above the tower.
"Master is coming down," Borileimu immediately stood respectfully in place.
"The Heavenly God is here," Li Jun whispered in Teng Qingshan's ear.
The eight Divine Generals, Teng Qingshan, and Li Jun—ten people in total—stood respectfully in solemn waiting within the hall, none daring to make a sound.
As the footsteps grew nearer, Teng Qingshan finally saw the elderly figure descending from the tower.
Dressed in loose white robes, his face was round and soft, as delicate as an infant's, marked by an ever-present smile, his small eyes perpetually squinted... When Teng Qingshan saw the face of the Heavenly God, his mood involuntarily brightened, and an intense goodwill toward the Heavenly God bloomed within him!
"What is this?" Teng Qingshan instantly awoke to awareness.
Having undergone rigorous training in resisting hallucinogenic agents in his previous life, Teng Qingshan immediately sensed something was amiss.
"Inconceivable. A mere smile can influence my state of mind!" Teng Qingshan found it hard to believe.
The Heavenly God smiled as he surveyed the Divine Generals one by one, finally resting his gaze upon Teng Qingshan. "You are called Huhe?"
"Yes, Heavenly God," Teng Qingshan replied respectfully and politely.
"Are you the perpetrator called the demon 'Arada,' rumored to have slain nearly twenty thousand soldiers of the Golden Wolf Empire?" the Heavenly God asked next.
"I am," Teng Qingshan admitted without hesitation.
"Which sect do you belong to? To be able to teach a disciple like you." The Heavenly God continued inquiring.
"I belong to no gate or sect," Teng Qingshan answered.
The Heavenly God's smile widened, and he nodded slightly. "Very good. Mount Tianshen currently has eight Divine Generals. Will you agree to become the Ninth Divine General of Mount Tianshen?"