"Many wish to kill me." Wantu You's eyes held a chilling glint as he sneered, "But after all these years, Wantu You is still alive, aren't I? And living quite well at that!
You call yourself Hu He? It seems my blade is about to claim another life!" On Tianshi Island, he had nowhere to run!
It had to be a fight! Once this was clear in his mind, Wantu You dismissed everything else; his gaze fixed solely on his opponent—Teng Qingshan!
"Bold!" Teng Qingshan grinned, pushing off the ground, charging straight at Wantu You, who stood at the pass entrance above. His Black Flame Rod transformed into a streak of black light, stabbing directly toward Wantu You's chest!
Wantu You moved his feet deftly, like an eagle fixated on Teng Qingshan, and his curved blade easily deflected the rod. Whoosh!
Whoosh! In a few quick movements, the two had ascended to a higher, rockier area.
Both masters had the same idea: find a quiet place for an all-out battle. "Hu He, watch my Soaring Eagle Heaven-Rending Saber!" Wantu You laughed wildly, his figure flashing rapidly as he dodged, his curved blade striking at Teng Qingshan like the talons of a great raptor.
Each strike brought forth explosions that sounded like the earth splitting apart! The shockwaves generated by the explosions rippled outward in all directions.
Sand and stone shattered and flew, trees snapped, and large boulders broke loose, tumbling down to crush the soldiers still fighting below. Bo Rileimu, who was supervising the battle from below, looked up.
Seeing the two fighting evenly matched made him frown deeply: "What is Brother Hu He doing? Setting aside everything else, how can Wantu You so easily block the sheer power of his staff techniques?" He vividly recalled how Bo Rileimu himself had been sent flying by Teng Qingshan's repeated impacts back then.
Bo Rileimu was acutely aware of Teng Qingshan's terrifying offensive power. "Shing!" Wantu You moved like a phantom, his saber techniques sharp and relentless, unleashing one move after another of his ultimate skill, the Soaring Eagle Heaven-Rending Saber, with ever-increasing might.
Being able to execute them so fluidly and freely, Wantu You couldn't help but let out a triumphant roar. The soldiers of the Snow Eagle Sect guarding the pass cheered upon seeing this display.
"Brother Hu He, what are you playing at? Why haven't you killed him yet?" Bo Rileimu bellowed from below.
"Playing?" Wantu You paused, surprised. Teng Qingshan was currently using only his physical strength to execute the 'Primal Chaos Unity' staff technique, purely defensively against Wantu You's attacks.
Hearing the shout from below, Teng Qingshan chuckled lightly, "Wantu You, your saber work is truly mediocre. No wonder you didn't make the top ten on the Heavenly Roster." Suddenly— The staff technique, already immensely powerful, saw its might suddenly surge!
"Clang!" With one collision, Wantu You felt a terrifying force transfer through the weapon. "Whoosh!" His curved blade was actually flung away; the tiger's mouth area on his right hand split open, bleeding profusely!
Before, Teng Qingshan had relied solely on physical strength, delivering nearly 800,000 catties of force. This allowed Wantu You to feel satisfied during the exchange.
But—once Teng Qingshan infused his Inner Force Aura (Neijia Gangjin), his explosive power instantly increased by about 400,000 catties, reaching a staggering 1.2 million catties! In duels between masters, when evenly matched, a mere five percent increase in strength by one side can be the final straw that breaks the camel's back!
Yet, Teng Qingshan had just increased his offensive power by fifty percent! Wantu You was no 'Bo Rileimu,' and coupled with the surprise, his curved blade was violently knocked aside!
"No—" Wantu You's expression changed drastically. "Hmph!" As his strength surged and knocked the weapon from Wantu You's grip, Teng Qingshan redirected his Black Flame Rod into a swift thrust!
Wantu You tried to flee, but it was too late! How could the speed of a human body outrun the speed of a weapon thrust?
Thwack! The Black Flame Rod plunged directly into Wantu You's abdomen, at his Dantian location.
"No—" Wantu You shrieked in unwilling anguish, but the Black Flame Rod's tip pierced effortlessly through his innate True Essence protective shield. "Fffft!" The rod head bored straight through his abdomen, and blood began to spill.
With the Black Flame Rod having pierced his Dantian, that energy center was ruined. All of Wantu You's cultivation vanished instantly.
"I, I—" All the courage, madness, and bravado Wantu You possessed evaporated in a flash. Stripped of his power, he didn't even have the capacity for revenge.
"Ah!" Feeling a sharp pain in his throat, Wantu You stared up at the man before him in horrified shock. Teng Qingshan seized Wantu You by the throat, pulling him close, and whispered, "Wantu You, have you noticed that I resemble an acquaintance of yours?" It wasn't surprising that Wantu You hadn't recognized Teng Qingshan, as the one he saw at Dayan Mountain had been in disguise.
"You—" Wantu You's face contorted with realization. "You heard it?" Teng Qingshan revealed a faint smile.
At this moment, Teng Qingshan's voice had changed to the one he had used when disguised as 'Qin Lang' back at Dayan Mountain. "No, impossible!" Wantu You stared with wide, fearful eyes.
He couldn't believe that after only half a year, Teng Qingshan—the man who could only hide behind Zhuge Yuanhong and constantly flee across the land—could now confront and kill him head-on! Innate Golden Core realm (Xiantian Jindan)!
Teng Qingshan, coming from the lineage of internal martial arts, couldn't strictly be judged by Daoist cultivation standards. But in terms of power level, the current Teng Qingshan was indeed at the level of an Innate Golden Core expert!
Teng Qingshan was only eighteen years old! An Innate Golden Core at eighteen?
Wantu You was filled with terror; an eighteen-year-old Innate Golden Core was unprecedented in the history of the Nine Provinces! "He, if he reaches the Void Realm (Xujing), it will surely be a certainty!
If he seeks revenge against my Snow Eagle Sect..." The more Wantu You thought, the more afraid he became. "You are Teng—" Wantu You began to say.
Teng Qingshan tightened his grip on his throat. Wantu You's face immediately flushed red as Teng Qingshan chuckled softly, "It's enough that you guessed.
I am no saint! I remember the faces of those bastards clearly.
You are just the first to die..." Teng Qingshan suddenly squeezed harder. "Crack!" "Hhng~~ Hhng~~" Wantu You's eyes bulged, blood trickled from his mouth, and his gaze was filled with rage and disbelief.
Only now did he truly understand— At the Battle of Dayan Mountain, the major sects had offended what kind of terrifying monster! How he wished he could warn the sects to send their absolute strongest experts immediately to kill this monster and prevent future calamity!
But he had no opportunity... As death approached, Wantu You dimly foresaw the storm of blood and slaughter that Teng Qingshan would unleash upon the Nine Provinces!
An Innate Golden Core at eighteen! In another ten, twenty, or thirty years, what level would he achieve?
In the future, for the various sects of the Nine Provinces, he would be a true scourge, a genuine catastrophe! Perhaps some of the Eight Great Sects would be completely annihilated in the havoc Teng Qingshan would create!
However... no one knew now; those sects had no idea what was happening on a small island in the distant Northern Sea.
"Hmph." Teng Qingshan loosened his grip, and Wantu You's corpse slumped limply to the ground. "Awoo~~~" "Kill!
Kill!" Frantic shouts rose from below. Because of Wantu You's death, the last shred of confidence among the Snow Eagle Sect soldiers vanished completely.
All the soldiers broke into a desperate rout, while the soldiers of Tianshen Mountain pursued them relentlessly. Teng Qingshan stood high on the rocks, watching the slaughter unfold below, silent.
"Whoosh!" A white Divine Condor swooped down, landing beside Teng Qingshan. Li Jun, clad in light green armor, jumped down, her face blooming into a bright smile as she lowered her voice, "Big Brother Teng, what were you just saying to Wantu You?" Seeing Li Jun's playful expression, Teng Qingshan was reminded of his past life, of his wife, Xiaomao, acting spoiled and cute after losing a sparring match of internal martial arts.
"What are you looking at?" Li Jun’s cheeks flushed slightly. "Thinking about some things," Teng Qingshan replied quickly, changing the subject.
"Xiao Jun, this matter is settled here. I’ll tell Bo Rileimu and the others immediately, and then we set sail!" "Not staying for dinner?" Li Jun paused.
"Let's stay for the victory feast first." "No need," Teng Qingshan shook his head. Seeing his demeanor, Li Jun felt a deep ache in her heart.
She cherished every moment she spent with Teng Qingshan, but no matter what... the time to set sail had arrived.
She was powerless to stop it. "Big Brother Teng..." Li Jun said softly.
"Hm?" Teng Qingshan looked at her. Li Jun gazed at him, "Big Brother Teng, do you remember the letter I gave you back then?" "I do," Teng Qingshan nodded.
Li Jun showed a faint smile and nodded, "I said in that letter that after I finished my training, I would definitely come looking for you! Definitely!" "After I left with Master, I never stopped thinking about you, Big Brother Teng.
I practiced my whip techniques desperately! Later, when I heard about Dayan Mountain, I was so worried.
I only found out you were safe from Martial Uncle." "Martial Uncle taught me Beast Speech, and I studied it diligently. I thought if my Beast Speech grew strong, and my standing within the sect rose, I could help you, Big Brother Teng." "Heaven must have been watching, because I finally ran into you, Big Brother Teng!
It was on the great grasslands. I was so happy, so incredibly happy." Li Jun trembled slightly from excitement.
"I was so moved I almost lost control." "The days that followed were the happiest I've had in the past half year." "I could watch Big Brother Teng eat the food I cooked." "I could lie on the grass and watch you practice your forms from a distance." "I could sit with you, under the starlight, and chat." "I am very happy." Li Jun looked at Teng Qingshan, blinking slowly, "The days spent near you, even just watching from afar, brought me genuine joy! Big Brother Teng, I promised in my letter that I would find you!
I don't ask for anything more; I can be your younger sister, or even a maid, a servant. As long as I can see you, that’s enough." Teng Qingshan stood silent on the rock.
"Big Brother Teng, let me sail with you!" Li Jun looked at him. "Xiao Jun..." Teng Qingshan took a deep breath, wanting to speak.
Li Jun shook her head rapidly, "Big Brother Teng, no need to say more. It won't be a burden for you to have another maidservant..." Li Jun inhaled deeply, "Big Brother Teng, I only need an answer from you.
Can I go or not? I won't pester you; just give me one answer!
If you say no, I won't cling on; I will leave immediately." Li Jun stared at Teng Qingshan, anxiety in her eyes. Teng Qingshan felt a pang in his heart.
Should he let a young girl cross oceans with him? Xiaomao was gone, Qingqing was gone...
Teng Qingshan did not want to cause harm to another woman. "Go back," Teng Qingshan looked at Li Jun and said softly, "In time, you will meet many new friends, and you will be happy." "Big Brother Teng..." Li Jun took a deep breath, forcing a smile, "Okay, I'll listen to you!
I'll go back! But even in the future, I will always remember you, Big Brother Teng..." Suddenly, Li Jun tilted her head back and let out a clear cry— "Yooo~~" The cry echoed across the sky, sharp and heartbreakingly sorrowful.
"Thwack!" The white Gale Divine Condor beside them flapped its wings sharply, knocking Teng Qingshan off balance. He quickly braced himself, landing on a nearby stone.
The white Divine Condor glared fiercely at Teng Qingshan. Li Jun immediately leaped onto the Divine Condor's back.
"I won't see Big Brother off," Li Jun looked at Teng Qingshan, struggling to maintain a smile. "I'll return to Tianshen Mountain first!" With that, she turned away, tears already streaming down her face.
"Wuwu~~" Li Jun slumped against the condor's back, her tears soaking the feathers. Whoosh!
The Gale Divine Condor spread its wings and took flight. One black and one white, the two Divine Condors rapidly flew south.
Teng Qingshan looked up at the scene, sighing inwardly: A sharp, short pain is better than a lingering one. He could never forget the deaths of Xiaomao and Qingqing.