However, it was already the end of September, the temperatures were lower, and several heavy snowfalls had left the mountains surrounding Shenfushan entirely blanketed in white. By the shore of Crescent Lake, the snow had been trodden down repeatedly, becoming extremely hard. A tall figure in a white robe was practicing spear techniques by the lake, gripping a silver long spear.
Whoosh~~
Spear shadows that morphed into phantom images formed a hemispherical shield of light, completely enveloping Teng Qingshan.
This shield possessed an earthy yellow nimbus.
Looking at the semi-spherical barrier formed entirely of spear shadows, it felt as though this light shield was one with the earth itself, unshakable. Furthermore, the surrounding heavens and earth seemed subtly distorted; looking at the trees surrounding the hemispherical shield, they appeared warped.
Rumble~~ The semi-spherical shield collapsed and dissipated, simultaneously emitting a low, continuous reverberation, like the sound of the earth itself.
Teng Qingshan’s figure was revealed as the dissipating sphere vanished.
"Haha, this seventh punch realm is truly different!" A flicker of excitement shone in Teng Qingshan's eyes. "Cultivating the seventh punch of the Fist of Earthly Motion, applying the Way of Earth mastered to the 'Primordial One Qi' spear technique. It has actually increased the might of my 'Primordial One Qi' spear technique so significantly!"
"If I encounter the Six-Legged Saber-Claw again..."
More than a month had passed since the last battle with the Six-Legged Saber-Claw.
During this past month, by meditating upon the set of granite inscribed with the Thirty-Six Forms of Sky-Splitting, Teng Qingshan had finally created the seventh punch of the Fist of Earthly Motion! If the first three punches were the foundation, then punches four through six had elevated Teng Qingshan’s spear art to a level comparable with experts like the 'Rising Sun Sword Saint'!
And the seventh punch...
It had elevated Teng Qingshan to yet another tier.
"Last time, I couldn't defend against the attacks from the six saber-legs of the Six-Legged Saber-Claw. But now... relying on the Swimming Fish Movement Technique and defensive spear arts, I can completely retreat without harm!" Teng Qingshan pondered internally. "My Fist of Earthly Motion seems to be segmented into threes. The first three punches form the first segment, punches four through six are the second segment, and this seventh punch is the beginning of the third segment! Of course, if my guess is correct, the third segment should have an eighth and a ninth punch as well!"
"It's a pity. In terms of raw physical strength, I am weaker than the Six-Legged Saber-Claw," Teng Qingshan sighed quietly.
"Otherwise, with my spear skill, why would I fear the Six-Legged Saber-Claw?"
The power of demonic beasts surpassed that of human cultivators of the same rank!
Like the Crimson-Eyed Snow Lion Beast, which was evenly matched with the Teng Qingshan of those days!
And the Six-Legged Saber-Claw possessed even more astonishing strength!
In terms of the profound mysteries of swordsmanship and saber techniques, demonic beasts lagged behind humans. But in terms of physical constitution, they far surpassed humans.
"When my Inner Family Gang Qi reaches the late stage! And my physical explosive power reaches 1.6 million jin! Then, suppressing the Six-Legged Saber-Claw will be effortless." Teng Qingshan felt a touch of helplessness thinking about the Inner Family Gang Qi. This Gang Qi was formed when the inner energy and the 'Spirit' underwent transformation within the body.
Gang Qi, True Essence (Zhenyuan), and Buddha Essence (Foyuan) require different proportions of the 'Spirit'.
Buddha Essence demands the highest requirement for the Spirit, True Essence requires a moderate amount, while Gang Qi has the lowest requirement.
But even with the lowest requirement, reaching the late stage of Gang Qi still demanded considerable 'Spirit'.
Teng Qingshan was, after all, too young!
"My cultivation of the Fist of Earthly Motion and Fist of Watery Motion aligns with the Dao, causing my 'Spirit' to increase daily. The speed at which my 'Spirit' improves is astonishing. But even now, there is still a tiny gap." Teng Qingshan felt he was just one step away, but this final membrane was not so easy to break through.
On the physical level, Teng Qingshan’s body strength had already surpassed 800,000 jin. No matter how he cultivated, the increase in physical strength was minimal.
The human body had a true limit!
It was impossible to break through indefinitely, just as birth, aging, sickness, and death were the laws of the world. At Teng Qingshan's level, this physical strength was the extreme. Reaching the late stage of Gang Qi meant the physical conditions were met; only the requirement for the 'Spirit' remained. Once the Spirit met the threshold, Teng Qingshan would naturally achieve the late stage of Gang Qi.
Standing inside the house, looking out the window at Teng Qingshan practicing his spear, the coachman Old Wang sighed deeply before sitting back down in his chair, puffing on his large tobacco pipe.
"Pa, pa..."
Smoke billowed, and Old Wang's single eye looked hazy, as if recalling something.
"Escape... escaping my whole life like this..."
"Living like this is worse than fighting for it once. What if I die?"
"Heaven has already helped me by letting the Young Master appear before me, such a master..."
"Although the chance is slim, if the Young Master would teach me..."
Old Wang drew on his pipe, and gradually, the gaze in his single eye became firm.
Suddenly, Old Wang stood up, took a deep breath, walked out of the house, and headed toward Teng Qingshan.
...
Teng Qingshan held his long spear, yet his feet traced mystical steps: "The Way of Earth utilizes the power of Earth! That Grand Elder of the Rising Sun Merchant Guild turned his body into electric light when fleeing, extremely swift. I too should be able to create a set of lightness skill based on the Way of Earth."
The Swimming Fish Movement Technique was about swift maneuvering within a localized space! It was not about straight-line escape.
"Hmm, Old Wang?" Teng Qingshan stopped.
"Young Master," Old Wang said respectfully.
Teng Qingshan was slightly surprised. In the time Old Wang had been following him, he had been very well-behaved. When he practiced, Old Wang had never interrupted. Unless it was something important... Old Wang wouldn't interrupt him like this, so he couldn't help but ask, "Old Wang, is something the matter?"
"Young Master!"
Old Wang looked up at Teng Qingshan, his single eye burning intensely. "I wish for the Young Master to teach me swordsmanship."
"Teaching you is not impossible, swordsmanship?" Teng Qingshan frowned and looked at Old Wang. "Old Wang, I recall you use a saber?" When traveling, Old Wang always carried a cleaver on his back, but living by Crescent Lake, he kept that cleaver inside the house.
Old Wang shook his head. "I do not use a saber. Carrying a blade is just for show; I use a sword."
"You use a sword, how do you usually practice it?" Teng Qingshan was somewhat astonished.
"I usually use this large tobacco pipe to practice my swordplay," Old Wang confessed without hiding anything.
Teng Qingshan scrutinized Old Wang carefully... A pipe is a pipe; at most, it can be used for practicing forms, but it couldn't kill with the swiftness of a real sword: "This Old Wang carries a saber but it's just a disguise. He doesn't even dare bring his sword... and an expert at the Houtian Peak is willing to be a coachman. This Old Wang must have some secrets."
Just like Teng Qingshan disguised himself as a merchant on the Divine Continent.
This Old Wang was also disguised.
"He doesn't want to reveal his secrets, and I won't force him." As Teng Qingshan’s gaze fell upon him, Old Wang’s breathing became slightly erratic.
Clearly, Old Wang was nervous, worrying that Teng Qingshan would refuse.
"Alright, starting today, you will learn swordsmanship from me," Teng Qingshan stated calmly. "The swordsmanship I teach you is from a predecessor master. Although I only grasp the superficial aspects, even this small fraction is enough for a Xiantian Golden Core expert to immerse themselves in for a lifetime."
Old Wang was overjoyed to hear this.
A sword art that even a Xiantian Golden Core expert would need a lifetime to comprehend—what kind of sword art was this?
"I will first teach you three moves," Teng Qingshan said, extending his sword finger. A wisp of water-blue sword light condensed, resembling a sharp sword. Back when he studied the 'Immortal Jade Stele' in the forbidden area of the Sword Pavilion on Bright Moon Island, Teng Qingshan had learned a great deal about swordsmanship. Although Teng Qingshan's sword skills could not compare to the supreme expert, the 'Poet Sword Immortal' Li Taibai.
However, the power of this sword art was enough to rival the saber techniques of that Grand Elder!
"Watch closely," Teng Qingshan commanded sharply.
Old Wang immediately widened his eyes.
Teng Qingshan executed the three moves in one fluid motion. These three sword forms unfolded like a lotus blooming in water, their essence of gentle fluidity capable of shaking one's very soul.
"This sword art." Old Wang held his breath entirely.
He possessed some discernment and immediately recognized how exquisite this sword art was!
"Now, first learn the first form. Practice it once for me to see," Teng Qingshan instructed.
"Yes." Old Wang responded obediently, like a true disciple.
...
After teaching Old Wang three moves, Teng Qingshan spent an hour studying lightness skills before beginning to practice the Three Body Forms. He moved like a colossal ancient giant practicing punches; every move and every stance caused the surrounding heaven and earth to tremble, the forces of nature subtly influenced by his actions.
By the time evening arrived.
"Hoo!" Teng Qingshan exhaled, the gust causing some small trees in front of him to sway.
Teng Qingshan’s gaze fixed on the towering, vast mountain range ahead: "If I had the Six-Legged Saber-Claw sparring with me during my regular spear practice, the effect would probably be even better. Moreover, when I eventually return to the Divine Continent, I will need some helpers. This Six-Legged Saber-Claw is actually a very good helper."
"But after fighting me and being scorched by Qingluan’s fire, the Six-Legged Saber-Claw probably burrowed far away."
Teng Qingshan shook his head.
Suddenly, Teng Qingshan’s eyes lit up as he looked toward the front mountain. "The Six-Legged Saber-Claw fled, but... powerful demonic beasts all seek out good places to dwell! Like the Violet Light Flood Dragon residing at the bottom of the Azure Cold Pool. The Scarlet Scale Beast coexists with the Black Fire Spirit Fruit. The Iron Arm Monkey troop is also found where Vermillion Fruits are abundant."
"The Six-Legged Saber-Claw, such a formidable demonic beast, resides deep within that mountain belly..."
"Could there be hidden treasures deep within that mountain belly?"
Thinking of this, Teng Qingshan immediately grabbed the Cycle Spear stuck into the soil beside him and called out loudly, "Xiao Jun, I’m heading into the mountains for a bit. I’ll be back for dinner later."
"Okay, Brother Teng, come back early," Li Jun, already busy preparing dinner and wearing an apron, ran to the door of the house and replied.
Teng Qingshan pushed off the ground, shooting into the air like an arrow. He tapped a branch of a thick, large tree, and Teng Qingshan transformed into a phantom, swiftly flashing several times through the forest before flying into the vast mountain range.
...
Standing amidst the forest, Teng Qingshan gazed at the mountain face ahead, where a terrifying large cavity marred the rock.
More than a month ago, during that confrontation, the Grand Elder had been blasted back by a spear strike from Teng Qingshan and slammed into the mountain wall, creating a huge pit that led to the emergence of the demonic beast, the 'Six-Legged Saber-Claw'.
"Whoosh!"
Teng Qingshan, with the Cycle Spear on his back, leaped up nearly thirty zhang (about seventy-five meters) high, landing directly inside the large hole on the cliff face. Standing in the cavity, Teng Qingshan looked ahead and walked about three zhang forward until he reached the side of a deep, dark cave. With Teng Qingshan’s dark vision, he could see that the shadowy cavern plunged into unfathomable depths.
"Hoo~~ Hoo~~"
A sound, vaguely like the wind or perhaps snoring, emanated from the dark cave.
"Hmm? Could the Six-Legged Saber-Claw not have fled?" Teng Qingshan frowned slightly. "That seems unlikely." Without overthinking, the bold and skilled Teng Qingshan jumped directly into the dark cave.