"Beast Boy, why are you looking at me like that?" Teng Qingshan asked the fierce beast youth; the expression on the youth's face startled him slightly. The fierce beast youth had followed him all the way from Danyang City for quite some time now, yet he had never looked at Teng Qingshan with such an expression before.

There was a trace of longing in his gaze, mixed with a hint of hesitation...

"Mr. Teng!" Fu Dao approached.

Teng Qingshan turned to look at the Thunder Blade Martial Saint, 'Fu Dao'. Fu Dao’s face was still beaming with joy. He bowed deeply, saying, "Before encountering you, I believed my swordsmanship had reached its zenith! That it could not improve further. I thought there were few in this world who could surpass me. Only now do I realize that there are hidden masters like you, Mr., unknown to the world, who quietly practice! I, Fu Dao, would never dare forget the grace of your guidance."

"Your blade technique is nearly perfection," Teng Qingshan stated.

Fu Dao paused, taken aback.

"Blade technique, blade technique, it is still ultimately a skill!" Teng Qingshan continued. "The saying goes: skill advances toward the Dao! You have reached the pinnacle of skill; what lies beyond is the 'Dao'! Your next breakthrough lies in seeking your own Dao! Once your Dao shows some fruition, you will become a War God level expert!"

On the Duanmu Continent.

Experts at the Innate level were called 'Saints,' or 'Martial Saints.'

While experts of the Void Realm were called 'Gods,' or 'War Gods.'

Only those who reached the Ultimate Expert realm were revered as 'Heavenly Gods.'

"Skill advances toward the Dao... my Dao?" Fu Dao murmured, then his gaze cleared. He bowed once more, "I dare not disturb your rest, Mr. I shall take my leave now!"

Teng Qingshan nodded.

Looking at Fu Dao, Teng Qingshan seemed to see himself in the pursuit of the 'Dao.' He and Fu Dao were not fundamentally different; the only distinction was... Fu Dao had yet to gain much insight into the 'Dao,' whereas he himself had already traveled some distance down that path.

The step into the Void Realm was not far off now.

"Sir, that flying demonic beast!" Fu Dao looked with surprise at the Gale Eagle perched on the carriage roof. "Is that yours too?"

"Acquired by chance," Teng Qingshan replied, glancing at the Gale Eagle as well.

Fu Dao clicked his tongue in admiration several times. "Sir is truly extraordinary, to command such a formidable demonic beast. I, Fu Dao, know much about the world's experts, and I know the few who can control demonic beasts. Yet, I have never heard of you, Sir." Fu Dao’s respect for Teng Qingshan deepened. An expert, generally, would have their name spread far and wide upon reaching the Innate Nascent Core—that is, the threshold of the Martial Saint realm.

If one reached the Innate Golden Core, even the great families across the land would surely know of such a person.

Yet Teng Qingshan’s renown was scarce. In Fu Dao’s eyes, this was the mark of a true reclusive master.

"Admirable, truly admirable!" Fu Dao then mounted his camel beast. "Giddy up!"

The camel beast bolted, vanishing at the bend of the road.

"Brother Teng," Li Jun said, her face alight with joy, "That was the Thunder Blade Martial Saint, a top-tier expert on the Duanmu Continent. And you defeated him in a single move! In my opinion, there should be hardly anyone on the Duanmu Continent who surpasses you."

"Little Jun, one must never look down upon the people of the world," Teng Qingshan shook his head.

"Uncle, look at Old Man Wang," Xiao Ping laughed.

Teng Qingshan turned to look. Old Wang, at that moment, didn't even dare to blink. He took a deep breath to calm his surging emotions and looked at Teng Qingshan with a wry smile. "Master, you needn't be so modest. You defeated the Thunder Blade Martial Saint! That’s no ordinary Martial Saint. Moreover, you won in just one move. It's a pity there are no others around. If this had happened under the gaze of the masses, this news would surely spread across the entire continent at an astonishing speed. By then, everyone would know your name, Master!"

"Old Wang, are there any War God experts in this world?" Teng Qingshan inquired.

"There should be," Old Wang replied hesitantly.

"What do you mean, 'there should be'?" Teng Qingshan smiled. "If there are, there are; if there aren't, there aren't!"

Old Wang offered a self-deprecating smile. "Master, I am merely an ordinary martial artist, not even an Innate expert. How much secret knowledge can I possess? The Duanmu Continent has four domains and thirty-six main cities, with great families whose heritage spans millennia. Even fallen or disadvantaged families hide away on islands or deep in the mountains. It is genuinely difficult to track down hidden experts."

"However, the outside rumor suggests that the foremost family on the Duanmu Continent, the 'Heavenly Wind Family,' does indeed possess a War God level expert! Of course, this Heavenly Wind Family is the overlord of the Northern Cold Domain. And the rumor further suggests that this War God expert resides in one of the Three Great Perils, the 'Heavenly Wind Canyon'!"

At these words, both Li Jun and Xiao Ping gasped in astonishment.

"Rumor, rumor... who knows if it’s true."

"If the outside world says so, it should be true."

Teng Qingshan fell silent. He knew a little about the Duanmu Continent. The core of this entire world was the 'Nine Provinces Land,' where disasters had practically ceased after Emperor Yu cast the Nine Cauldrons to stabilize the world's origin energy.

Yet, the Duanmu Continent suffered continuous natural calamities!

The most severe in environment were the Three Great Perils—

The first, in the Eastern Radiance Domain, was the 'Flame Dominion.' This area was rife with frequent volcanic eruptions. Across the eight hundred li of the Flame Dominion, volcanoes stood one after another; a volcano could erupt at any moment! At its shortest interval, an eruption occurred several times a year. The longest gap between two eruptions was eight years!

The second, in the Western Soup Domain, was the 'Cloud Dream Marsh.' Spanning three thousand li, the Cloud Dream Marsh was the largest of the three perils, covering more than half of the entire Western Soup Domain. The Marsh was rife with hidden dangers; even Martial Saint level experts dared not venture recklessly within it.

The third was the 'Heavenly Wind Canyon' in the Northern Cold Domain. This canyon was the coldest place on the entire Duanmu Continent! The biting cold air blowing out from the canyon entrance could freeze a peak Houtian expert to death in a few breaths! Without Martial Saint level cultivation, entry into the canyon was impossible. And an ancient family occupied this Heavenly Wind Canyon; this family was also known as the 'Heavenly Wind Family,' currently the most prominent family on the Duanmu Continent!

"A War God resides in the Heavenly Wind Canyon?" Teng Qingshan nodded to himself. "This family nearly unified the Northern Cold Domain and is the number one family on the Duanmu Continent. It would be strange if they lacked some formidable backing."

"Besides this one, rumor suggests there are other War God level experts in the world!" Old Wang said mysteriously.

"Who?" Li Jun asked with a smile.

"I only heard whispers," Old Wang shook his head.

Teng Qingshan smiled. The Duanmu Continent had only two to three hundred million people. "My hometown, Yangzhou, is also one of the Nine Provinces. It has a population of two to three hundred million. Yet, we only had the Blind Sword Saint of Azure Lake Island and the elder from my Guiyuan Sect as Void Realm experts—only two in total! This Duanmu Continent probably only has one or two as well!"

After all, this was land that had birthed Ultimate Experts; Teng Qingshan dared not underestimate the residents of the Duanmu Continent.

"Little Jun," Teng Qingshan looked toward the fierce beast youth. "Ask him what he wants! Ever since I defeated Fu Dao, he hasn't stopped staring at me."

"Beast Boy!" Li Jun turned and let out a series of low growls toward the fierce beast youth.

The fierce beast youth looked at Li Jun and responded with a rapid series of growls, sounding very anxious.

"Hmm?" Li Jun paused.

"What is it?" Teng Qingshan inquired.

Li Jun looked back at Teng Qingshan with a strange expression. "Brother Teng, didn't I keep telling Beast Boy to ask you to take him as a master earlier?"

"What did he say?" Teng Qingshan nodded, an undeniable excitement bubbling up within him.

Could it be?

This little savage beast was finally willing to become his disciple? Teng Qingshan had exhausted every method to persuade the fierce beast youth to accept him as a master. But facing the stubborn youth, Teng Qingshan had finally decided to bring him along temporarily, wearing down his resolve bit by bit! He was determined to see who would tire first! Such a promising disciple was not something Teng Qingshan was willing to give up.

"Beast Boy just told me that he is willing to take you as his master," Li Jun said, unable to suppress a laugh.

"Really?" Teng Qingshan couldn't hide the joy on his face as he looked at the fierce beast youth who was still staring at him with a stern expression. "Why did he suddenly agree?"

Li Jun's expression was peculiar. "I asked him just now. He said... the man with the saber was more powerful than the old man leading the army earlier. And you are more powerful than the man with the saber! And Beast Boy said he wants to be as powerful as you. Therefore—he wants to take you as his master."

"What nonsense is that?" Teng Qingshan was at a loss for words.

Who was stronger than whom?

Xiao Ping, thinking she understood, chimed in brightly, "Ah, Uncle, I get it! The (Rising Sun Merchant Guild) army was escorting slaves. And that Steward Mu was the leader of the army, showing great deference to Fu Dao. And Fu Dao just showed great deference to you after losing to you, Sir, even respectfully calling you 'Sir.' This Beast Boy must have suffered too much while being escorted as a slave in the past, and now he wants to become as powerful as you."

"That makes sense," Li Jun agreed.

"What sense?" Teng Qingshan chuckled wryly. "Didn't I fight the Fang Family's cavalry outside Danyang City so badly that they only dared to lie flat on the ground? He should have known my strength then; why didn't he ask to be my disciple then?"

"Beast Boy's mind works differently from ordinary people," Li Jun couldn't help but chuckle.

Teng Qingshan looked at the fierce beast youth, who was still making a sour face, and sighed inwardly. His potential first disciple was adept at fighting and killing, even reaching the state of 'Muscle and Bone Resonance' without a teacher. But... in terms of normal logic, he was like an ill-mannered child.

And even more stubborn than a child!

"Little Jun, tell him to kowtow and formally accept me as his master," Teng Qingshan instructed.

"Alright," Li Jun immediately relayed the message.

The fierce beast youth looked pleadingly at Li Jun. He had never kowtowed before and had no idea how to do it. Under Li Jun's guidance, the youth finally learned the essential movements: kneel down, place hands on the ground, and knock his head on the floor!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three solid knocks! After the third, he was about to continue.

"Roooar~~" Li Jun had to remind him before the fierce beast youth stopped.

Teng Qingshan rubbed his forehead. Heavens above, he needed instruction even for kowtowing. Guiding such a disciple was probably going to be very arduous in the future.

"From today forward, I am your teacher, and you are my disciple! Remember, whatever your teacher tells you to do, you must do it. If your teacher forbids you from doing something, you must absolutely not do it." Teng Qingshan could only resort to stern methods. Li Jun stood nearby, translating Teng Qingshan's meaning to the fierce beast youth.

The fierce beast youth knelt there, letting out low roars, giving the appearance of obedience to Teng Qingshan.

A slight smile appeared on Teng Qingshan's face.

"You have no name. From today on, you share my surname. You grew up alongside wild beasts; you shall be named Teng Shou," Teng Qingshan said with a faint smile. Li Jun then explained this to the fierce beast youth, repeatedly emphasizing the pronunciation of the two characters, 'Teng Shou.'

"Teng... Hou..." The fierce beast youth struggled to pronounce the two words, but the pronunciation of 'Shou' was consistently wrong.

"Teng Hou!" The fierce beast youth cried out with increasing excitement.

He finally had a name!

Thus, the youth who grew up among the beasts, 'Teng Shou,' became the first disciple under Teng Qingshan!