"The Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting stone carvings?" The Second Elder and the Sixth Elder exchanged glances, both showing a hint of surprise.

Because...

They had previously heard Mu Wan mention that this formidable 'Mister Teng' used a long spear. How could a spear master be interested in the Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting?

"What, the esteemed Sunriser Merchant Guild doesn't even know the whereabouts of the Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting?" Teng Qingshan's gaze swept over the two men before him.

"Of course not!" the Sixth Elder quickly asserted.

The Second Elder chuckled beside him, "Mister Teng, you must know about the Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting stone carvings. They were lost thousands of years ago. Through generations, no one has managed to gather all thirty-six pieces. These carvings are likely scattered among the great families across the land, held by hidden powers, or lost in some perilous locale."

"I know all this."

Teng Qingshan was direct. "Right now, I just want the two of you to tell me how I can obtain all thirty-six stone carvings."

"There is no way," the Second Elder replied without hesitation. "Even the Thunder Blade Heavenly God couldn't achieve it back then, and after three thousand years, it's impossible for our Sunriser Merchant Guild to do so."

"What if it's just one or two?" Teng Qingshan pressed.

"That's simple," the Second Elder smiled. "First, issue massive wealth bounties across the world; perhaps families facing financial hardship might be willing to sell a carving. Second, approach each family directly and demand it! Of course, both methods have very low probabilities. Even if they possess one, they won't tell you. You can't exactly slaughter entire armies by yourself."

Teng Qingshan frowned.

The Second Elder and Sixth Elder shared a look, a smile touching their lips.

"Mister Teng," the Second Elder continued, "If you merely wish to view the Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting, that is not difficult! The Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting only details the moves, nothing else. Although... this set of techniques is the ultimate skill of the Divine Axe Heavenly God, and the families guarding it are extremely secretive. However... our Sunriser Merchant Guild itself possesses the manual for the Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting, which contains thirty-six illustrations of axe techniques. If you wish to see them, we can certainly lend them to you!"

"Oh?" Teng Qingshan felt a stir of interest.

Although thirty-six mere illustrations in a manual could never fully convey the profound artistic conception due to the varying skill of the artists, seeing them was still valuable.

"Then I shall trouble the Merchant Guild," Teng Qingshan smiled.

"No trouble at all," the Second Elder replied, shaking his head with a smile. "However, the manual for the Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting is not located here in Nanshan City. It is in the West Tang Domain. Therefore, we must issue an order... The distance between the West Tang Domain and the Nanshan Domain is quite far. Even traveling quickly, it will take four or five days for the round trip!"

"No hurry," Teng Qingshan said with a smile. "I am very grateful to the Merchant Guild for allowing me this glimpse of the Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting."

The Second Elder and Sixth Elder laughed; forging a closer relationship with Teng Qingshan made any effort worthwhile.

In truth, while the Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting axe technique was powerful, without the accompanying cultivation mantra and detailed descriptions, thirty-six static pictures alone made mastering the powerful axe work exceedingly difficult! Because this axe technique, much like Teng Qingshan's spear technique, relied less on the superficial movements and more on the underlying conception.

"Mister Teng, once the manual arrives, where should we deliver it?" the Second Elder inquired.

"I will find lodging near the Divine Axe Mountain," Teng Qingshan mused. "You can send the manual there when the time comes."

"Agreed."

Both elders were straightforward; knowing a general area was enough for the Sunriser Merchant Guild's resources to easily locate Teng Qingshan's residence.

"May I ask, Mister Teng, why you are interested in this axe technique as well?" the Sixth Elder asked curiously.

"Spear techniques and axe techniques share common principles," Teng Qingshan replied casually.

The Second Elder interjected, "Mister Teng, forgive my presumption! The Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting manual only has thirty-six illustrations. Relying solely on these pictures to cultivate the axe technique is almost impossible. It is a pity... back when Divine Axe Mountain was at its peak, they possessed nine sets of stone slabs made of Tufan Stone, replicas of the Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting. These were completely replicated and cast from rubbings taken from the thirty-six stone carvings. Observing that set of stone slabs while practicing the axe technique would likely have been much easier."

"Tufan Stone slabs? Replicas?" Teng Qingshan was startled.

"When Divine Axe Mountain was extremely powerful, all thirty-six stone carvings were kept in the forbidden grounds, not easily shown to outsiders. The disciples of Divine Axe Mountain learned the axe technique by observing those replicated Tufan Stone slabs!"

"Whether it was the carvings or the 'Dao' characters, the Tufan Stone slabs were identical to the thirty-six sculptures."

"The only difference, perhaps, is that the thirty-six carvings possessed some mysterious ability."

"Since they were taken as rubbings from the stone carvings, these nine sets of slabs were also snatched away when Divine Axe Mountain was conquered. However, we heard news of one set of Tufan Stone about two hundred years ago," the Second Elder shook his head. "Given the material of Tufan Stone, they should still exist even after several millennia."

Teng Qingshan could only shake his head as well. Whether it was the thirty-six carvings or the nine sets of replicated Tufan Stone slabs, he had no means of obtaining either currently.

**

The people of the Sunriser Merchant Guild were naturally delighted to successfully invite Teng Qingshan to become their esteemed guest and returned to Nanshan City. Meanwhile, Teng Qingshan and his companions searched for a temporary residence around Divine Axe Mountain.

Deep within the quiet forest north of Divine Axe Mountain, lay a crescent-shaped lake.

"Starting today, we live here!" Teng Qingshan announced with a smile, standing by the lake shore.

"We don't even have a place to live," Xiaoping muttered.

"Let's get to work!"

Teng Qingshan shouldered his Reincarnation Spear and began constructing their new home. He selected massive boulders from Divine Axe Mountain, hollowed them out, and sculpted them into the appearance of houses.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Spear shadows blotted out the sky as the tip of the Reincarnation Spear pierced the boulders again and again, sending clouds of crushed stone powder flying. What was once a giant rock was carved by Teng Qingshan's Reincarnation Spear into a beautiful stone house, complete with roof tiles sculpted onto the top. Teng Qingshan's general carving skill might be mediocre, but his control over his spear technique was absolute.

Though slightly rough in its execution, the stone house possessed a certain rustic beauty.

"Hey!" Teng Qingshan slung the Reincarnation Spear onto his back, then, like a deity, lifted the entire stone house with both hands. Like a giant ape, he dashed down the mountain at great speed, arriving at the crescent lake.

Peng! The stone house landed softly by the lakeshore.

Li Jun and Xiaoping watched the beautifully carved stone dwelling in astonishment.

"Xiao Jun, Xiaoping, this is your place," Teng Qingshan said, before heading back up the mountain.

He made several trips back and forth.

Teng Qingshan built three stone houses: one for Li Jun and Xiaoping, one for Teng Shou and the stable hand 'Old Wang,' and one for himself. The three stone houses encircled the crescent lake like stars revolving around a moon. Afterward, Teng Qingshan's group journeyed into the city to purchase many daily necessities before finally setting up the three stone residences completely.

...

The next morning, by the lake shore, Teng Qingshan was practicing the Earth Element Fist, moving seamlessly into the Water Element Fist. The very essence of heaven and earth vibrated because of his movements. Intermittent sonic booms echoed through the air, waves of energy surging and receding.

The mythical divine bird, the 'Azure Luan,' which seemed to exist only in a dream, perched nearby, watching Teng Qingshan's boxing forms.

The fierce beast-boy 'Teng Shou' also crouched like a wild animal, observing Teng Qingshan's practice. Man and monstrous beast watched side-by-side.

After a long while...

He concluded his practice!

"Teacher!" Teng Shou uttered with difficulty.

Teng Qingshan's gaze swept over him. "Stand up!" he barked.

Teng Qingshan had reprimanded Teng Shou with the command 'Stand up' more than once already. Teng Shou instinctively snapped to attention, standing bolt upright! After all, for over a decade, he had survived like a wild beast; a moment's lapse and he would slump back to the ground.

"Xiao Jun!" Teng Qingshan called.

"Coming, coming! I'm busy with breakfast," Li Jun chirped, running over. "Big Brother Teng, are you ready to teach Ah Shou the boxing techniques?"

Teng Qingshan nodded.

"Starting today, I will teach you the boxing techniques!" Teng Qingshan began. "You will do exactly as I instruct." As Teng Qingshan spoke, Li Jun interspersed encouraging shouts. Teng Shou listened intently and immediately nodded firmly but slowly, "Yes... Teacher!" Teng Shou knew very few words currently, but words like 'Teacher' and 'Teng Shou' were among them.

"Watch closely," Teng Qingshan began his instruction, guiding the only disciple he had garnered across both his lifetimes. He immediately demonstrated the Three Body Stance.

The Three Body Stance was incredibly simple to grasp.

Yet within that simplicity was contained a unique and profound artistic conception.

If Ah Shou can reach the realm of Cords and Bones Resonance, he should be able to perceive the conception of this 'Three Body Stance'. I will let him practice the 'Three Body Stance' for a month first, and only then teach him the Earth Element Fist," Teng Qingshan had already planned out the development of Teng Shou. Teng Shou had excellent raw potential; the only issue was that he didn't understand many spoken words and required Li Jun to translate alongside him.

Teng Qingshan taught, Li Jun interpreted, and Teng Shou learned!

This was the dynamic of the three of them.

...

On the third day of their residence by the crescent lake at the foot of Divine Axe Mountain.

"Mister Teng, Mister Teng!" a voice called from a distance.

At that moment, Teng Qingshan wore only a thin, long-sleeved shirt and trousers, his hair unbound, his feet bare, holding the Reincarnation Spear while practicing his spear forms by the lake shore. Each movement, though seemingly simple, encapsulated the Dao of Heaven and Earth. The Azure Luan watched from a nearby tree branch above.

The Reincarnation Spear thrust out, then snapped back into a poised stance.

Teng Qingshan looked toward the distant call. He saw dozens of figures leading War Ferocious Beasts approaching. The person leading them was the slender, silver-haired Sixth Elder.

"I didn't expect to witness Mister practicing," the Sixth Elder laughed heartily.

"Sixth Elder, what brings you here?" Teng Qingshan asked with a hint of anticipation. "Has the Thirty-Six Forms of Mountain Splitting manual arrived? Didn't you say it would take several days? It has only been two."

"Haha, the manual hasn't arrived yet. However, I have better news to share with you, Mister," the Sixth Elder said mysteriously.