"Thirty-six carvings," thought Teng Qingshan. "The 'Dao' contained within them must become increasingly profound, ascending to the very pinnacle!

However, for me, only the initial few of these thirty-six carvings will likely prove truly useful!" Having witnessed the Immortal Jade Wall on Bright Moon Island, Teng Qingshan certainly understood this principle. Li Taibai's 'Azure Lotus Sword Song'—he could only begin to decipher its opening movements.

Similarly, for the Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Splitting, the earliest carvings would benefit him the most. "Fu Dao!" Teng Qingshan called out.

"Sir," Fu Dao responded respectfully, appearing before Teng Qingshan like a devoted disciple before his master. "The Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Splitting has thirty-six carvings in total.

Do you happen to know anything about the first five or six?" Teng Qingshan asked with a flicker of hope, "Even news of just one would suffice." Fu Dao offered a helpless smile and shook his head. "Sir, it is not that I withhold information.

It is that these thirty-six carvings have been scattered for millennia; no one knows their current whereabouts. Even if a family possessed one, they would likely hoard it and never reveal its existence.

Just like Brother Wang... Brother Wang, your Wang family is a renowned great family on the Duanmu Continent; surely you must possess one of these carvings?" Wang Meng, the Wang family patriarch, chuckled.

"Brother Fu Dao, don't tease me! My Wang family has only risen in prominence over the last few centuries; how could we possibly have ancient stone carvings?

Oh, yes... About a century ago, during an auction held by the Rising Sun Trading Company, they actually sold one of the Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Splitting carvings!" "An auction?" Teng Qingshan was greatly surprised.

"Someone was willing to part with it?" "Haha, perhaps some lucky fool acquired one of the Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Splitting carvings! While the carvings left by the Divine Axe Celestial God are precious, they are useless to ordinary people.

It's better to trade them for coin," Wang Meng laughed. "That time, a single carving fetched the sky-high price of three hundred and sixty thousand taels of gold!" Teng Qingshan was taken aback.

A single carving, worth three hundred and sixty thousand taels of gold? Even with all the gold he currently possessed, including the two extra chests buried under the shore, it amounted to only thirty-two thousand taels of gold.

He couldn't even afford one carving. "However, such opportunities are rare.

Anyone with even a modicum of power would never be willing to sell the stone inscriptions left by the Divine Axe Celestial God, 'Yu'," Wang Meng remarked. Teng Qingshan nodded.

"Brother Teng," Li Jun also voiced her concern for him, "where shall we go now?" Teng Qingshan turned to glance at Li Jun, a slight smile touching his lips. "First, we'll make a trip to Divine Axe Mountain.

We can decide on what to do next after that." It was only thirty-six carvings, after all. Currently, his Fist of Earth Manipulation and Fist of Water Manipulation had both reached the sixth form, and Teng Qingshan could even vaguely sense the Heaven and Earth power of earth and water, managing to utilize small portions of it.

"Even without the thirty-six carvings, at my current level, reaching the Void Realm within ten years won't be difficult!" Teng Qingshan was filled with confidence. "The carvings of Emperor Yu’s Thirty-Six Styles of Mountain Splitting are merely for my reference," Teng Qingshan resolved.

"If I cannot obtain the carvings, I will dedicate myself to secluded cultivation, striving to reach the Void Realm sooner, so I can return to the Nine Provinces!" Deep within Teng Qingshan's heart, he perpetually longed for the Nine Provinces. His parents were there, as was his little sister...

His entire Teng Clan resided there... When his achievements were complete, he would surely return home!

"Brother Fu Dao, I have matters to attend to, so I won't keep you both company any longer," Teng Qingshan stood up, shaking his head with a smile. "Although I probably won't have a chance to see those thirty-six carvings, I’ve never visited Divine Axe Mountain.

I must take this opportunity to see it properly." Wang Meng and Fu Dao both rose immediately to see Teng Qingshan and Li Jun off. "Xiao Jun, let's go." Teng Qingshan immediately took Xiao Jun and returned to the second floor of the inn, then took the others to travel toward Divine Axe Mountain by carriage.

* In a secluded residence, an elderly man with a gaunt face and long silver-white hair cascading over his shoulders lay reclining in a chair, basking in the sun. The chief manager of the Rising Sun Inn was present.

"Sixth Elder!" the chief manager greeted him with profound respect. The Rising Sun Trading Company held vast influence.

And within the company, the highest authority lay with the Nine Elders! The entire enterprise was jointly managed by these nine—who ascended through seniority.

The 'First Elder' held the most power, followed by the Second, then the Third. As for the Fourth Elder through the Ninth, their status was equal.

The First Elder of the Rising Sun Trading Company was much like the 'Patriarch' of a great family! "Hm, what is it that requires such haste?" the Sixth Elder inquired indifferently.

"Sixth Elder, a major incident occurred in my inn," the chief manager quickly stated. "What major incident?

Recount it from start to finish, in detail," the Sixth Elder remained half-reclining on his lounge chair, his eyes narrowed. The chief manager respectfully recounted the altercation between Teng Qingshan and the Wang family's third young master: "At that time, the Third Young Master tried to pin the blame on us, the Rising Sun Inn.

Just then, the Wang family patriarch, 'Wang Meng,' descended from the third floor. Naturally, he had to safeguard his Wang family's reputation, so he used his status to pressure the other party." "But who would have thought...

that person named Teng utterly ignored him. At the critical moment, the Thunder Blade Martial Saint, 'Fu Dao,' also came down from the third floor.

To everyone's astonishment, he respectfully addressed that man named Teng as 'Mister Teng'!" "Hmm?" The Sixth Elder opened his eyes and sat up straight. "What did you say?" The chief manager nodded repeatedly.

"Fu Dao actually called that man 'Mister Teng'! And I was present; I saw it clearly.

Fu Dao’s attitude was exceptionally respectful, as if a disciple greeting his master! Fu Dao is a martial fanatic; the only person I can imagine commanding such reverence from him would be an expert whose strength surpasses his own." The Sixth Elder narrowed his eyes, pondering.

"Respect and reverence do not necessarily mean that the man named Teng is stronger than Fu Dao," the Sixth Elder murmured slowly. "Someone who possesses cunning tactics or other unique skills can also earn deep respect and be addressed as 'Mister'!

This man named Teng might possess a singular, masterful skill that leaves Fu Dao utterly impressed." "For instance, this man named Teng could be a physician with astonishing medical skills! If he treated Fu Dao's injuries, it wouldn't be surprising for Fu Dao to be grateful and respectful." After speaking, the Sixth Elder shook his head.

"Of course, it is also possible that this man named Teng is genuinely powerful! Possessing unparalleled martial might!" "If he is so strong that the Thunder Blade Martial Saint 'Fu Dao' respectfully calls him 'Mister'...

that level of strength is truly terrifying!" the Sixth Elder said slowly, his eyes narrowed. "Bang!" "Bang!" A series of rapid knocks sounded at the door.

"Uncle, it's me," an aged voice called out. "Go open it," the Sixth Elder commanded.

The chief manager hurried over to open the door, admitting an old man wearing a felt hat and a thick fur coat, who smiled upon seeing the manager. "Yi Feng, you're here too?" "Steward Mu has returned with the goods this time?" the chief manager said flatteringly.

The old man nodded with a smile. "Over five thousand slaves have arrived and are currently at the military camp outside the city.

The troops have all gone back to rest." This old man was precisely Steward Mu Wan, who had previously led the escort of the slaves—the same time the ferocious youth 'Teng Beast' had killed someone, and Teng Qingshan had exchanged a few words with Mu Wan. "Oh," the Sixth Elder responded with a faint smile, though his brow remained furrowed.

"Uncle, is something troubling you?" Mu Wan could sense his uncle’s distress. "Yi Feng, explain it to Mu Wan," the Sixth Elder instructed.

Mu Wan looked at the chief manager with curiosity, and the chief manager proceeded to recount the events. As he listened, Mu Wan's expression grew peculiar.

"You said that person's surname was Teng?" Mu Wan asked in astonishment. "Yes," the chief manager affirmed.

"And was his given name Teng Qingshan?" Mu Wan pressed further. "That I do not know.

I only heard Fu Dao address him as Mister Teng," the chief manager replied, shaking his head. Mu Wan then asked, "And was there a youth beside him who looked wild, like a beast?" "Yes, yes, there was one!" the chief manager nodded emphatically.

He vividly remembered the terrifying youth gripping a piece of bloody flesh when he first looked onto the second floor of the inn. "Mu Wan, you know him?" the Sixth Elder asked, surprised.

Mu Wan nodded quickly. "Uncle, I actually do know this person.

His name is Teng Qingshan! Yesterday evening, while the army was camped, they had a minor conflict with them.

Uncle... I was with Fu Dao at the time.

I even asked Fu Dao, and Fu Dao said he didn't know Teng Qingshan! But later, Fu Dao rushed off in pursuit of Teng Qingshan and his group, intending to challenge him." "I suspect that Fu Dao and Teng Qingshan definitely fought that night!

And Fu Dao must have lost wholeheartedly to be able to respectfully address Teng Qingshan as 'Mister'," Mu Wan stated with absolute certainty. Having interacted with Teng Qingshan previously, Mu Wan could easily deduce the truth of the matter now.

"Tsk, tsk, I truly didn't expect this. I initially thought Teng Qingshan was merely a Martial Saint, but I never imagined he was this strong!" Mu Wan exclaimed, shaking his head repeatedly in amazement.

Whoosh! The Sixth Elder stood up abruptly, his expression turning grave.

"Mu Wan, accompany me to see the Second Elder. A super expert whose strength surpasses Fu Dao’s, one whom Fu Dao respectfully calls 'Mister'—that places him easily within the top five on the entire Duanmu Continent!

Few people likely know this information now; we must seize this opportunity and bring Teng Qingshan over to our side." "Understood," Mu Wan nodded. The Rising Sun Trading Company had a long history, exceeding that of many great families.

This longevity was partly due to its internal systems. Even Fu Dao maintained close ties with the Rising Sun Trading Company.

They strove to bring any powerful figure under their banner. Naturally, the Rising Sun Trading Company treated these top experts with utmost care, knowing what such formidable individuals desired.

They did not seek to restrain these experts, because they differed from families. Families sought dominance, whereas the Rising Sun Trading Company’s business spanned the entire Duanmu Continent.

... Northwest of Nanshan City, at the foot of a towering, cloud-piercing majestic mountain, a four-wheeled carriage drawn by two Red Wind War Hounds came to a halt.

"Xiao Jun, you wait here at the base of the mountain. I will make a trip up Divine Axe Mountain," Teng Qingshan said with a light smile.

In the sky, the Gale Eagles and the Azure Luan were circling. Immediately, Teng Qingshan transformed into an illusory wisp of smoke, flickering briefly on Divine Axe Mountain before vanishing into the depths of the range.