"Mr. Teng, our Rising Sun Merchant Guild is the largest in the world, and even our business is diverse," the Sixth Elder said warmly. "Beyond the surface-level transactions, we also manage an organization dedicated to resolving people's troubles. If you have problems or enemies, you can turn to us. This organization is called the 'Hall of Assassins.'"

"The Hall of Assassins?"

Teng Qingshan's brow twitched. "Elder Six, are you asking me to become an assassin?" In his previous life, Teng Qingshan was a top-tier assassin. While he didn't shy away from the act of killing, he certainly wasn't eager to take up the profession again.

"Mr. Teng, what is your status?" the Sixth Elder continued.

Though few knew about the battle between the Great Elder and Teng Qingshan, the elders within the Rising Sun Merchant Guild were certainly aware. Even the Great Elder, known as the 'Rising Sun God of War'—the foremost expert under the God of War—admitted he was no match for Teng Qingshan! This explains the immense value the Rising Sun Merchant Guild now placed upon him.

"We also have Martial Saint level assassins in our Hall of Assassins!"

"However, if a Martial Saint accepts a mission, it must naturally have the Martial Saint's own consent," the Sixth Elder chuckled. "We know Mr. Teng is extremely keen to acquire the thirty-six engravings. The elders of our Guild are all aware that Mr. Teng possesses extraordinary strength. Furthermore, our Hall of Assassins occasionally receives missions that are, quite frankly, impossible to complete."

"Of course, those so-called impossible missions are nothing in the face of Mr. Teng."

The Sixth Elder smiled broadly. "We also understand that powerhouses like Mr. Teng do not care for mere money. In our Hall of Assassins, Martial Saints are tiered. Innate Void Core Martial Saints are called Ordinary Martial Saints. Innate Solid Core Martial Saints are known as Top-Tier Martial Saints. And Innate Gold Core Martial Saints are referred to as Peak Martial Saints."

"We plan to establish yet another tier above the assassin ranks, one named—'Strongest Martial Saint.'"

The Sixth Elder gazed at Teng Qingshan. "Mr. Teng being called the 'Strongest Martial Saint' is entirely deserved. And there is only one condition to engage the 'Strongest Martial Saint'—one of the thirty-six carvings of the Mountain Splitting Thirty-Six Forms must be loaned to the Strongest Martial Saint for two or three years."

Teng Qingshan's heart stirred at this.

"Moreover, if someone truly invites you for a mission... we will show the task to you first, and whether you accept it is entirely up to your own decision," the Sixth Elder explained. "As for how many years you might need a carving, it's unlikely you could possess one permanently. A single stone carving is too valuable; although your expertise warrants the price, few families would be willing to part with one."

"If we only loan it to you for a few years, guaranteed by our Guild, then it poses no issue."

Teng Qingshan was genuinely tempted.

"Very well, I agree," Teng Qingshan nodded with a smile. "I will take three years for one stone carving."

In reality, he estimated it would take only a few months, but to be safe, he set the duration longer.

"Hahaha…" the Sixth Elder laughed. "Mr. Teng, rest assured. The world is in chaos now, with a hundred races vying for dominance. Some families prosper while others decline. There are countless feuds of eternal hatred between them! The most frustrating thing is—some missions are ones our Hall of Assassins simply cannot, or is not capable of, accepting."

"But with you here, out of the thirty-six stone carvings in the world, I dare guarantee that within ten years, you will see eight or ten of them, without a doubt!" The Sixth Elder was highly confident.

Many families possessed these carvings, but they were unwilling to surrender them. Many families would be willing to loan one for three years to eliminate a thorn in their side, especially with the guarantee of the Rising Sun Merchant Guild—a merchant guild with thousands of years of history whose credibility was unquestionable.

"Haha, then I shall await good news from Elder Six," Teng Qingshan replied.

"I will notify you immediately once there is news," the Sixth Elder rose, beaming. "Then I shall not disturb you further and take my leave."

...

The weather was cold as Teng Qingshan watched the Sixth Elder and his party depart. He understood... cooperation with the Rising Sun Merchant Guild benefited both sides. With Teng Qingshan joining the Guild's 'Hall of Assassins,' its standing among the major assassin organizations on the Duanmu Continent would rise significantly.

And Teng Qingshan, in turn, could conveniently acquire the stone carvings!

"Having the carvings will save me a considerable amount of time."

"My most crucial asset right now is time—to return to my homeland, Jiuzhou, as soon as possible!" Teng Qingshan gazed toward the south.

There, awaited his parents, his sister, and his brothers...

Deep beneath Divine Axe Mountain, within a vast cavern.

The cavern spanned twenty Zhang (sixty to seventy meters) in length and width, and was six to seven Zhang (sixteen to seventeen meters) high. Such an open space could easily accommodate fifty people, let alone the five of them. The only inconvenience was—the cave was underground, steeped in absolute darkness without any light.

Fortunately, they had Iron Leaf Fruits!

Fruits emitting a faint green halo were scattered throughout the cavern. Although the light from each Iron Leaf Fruit was weak, over two hundred of them distributed around allowed Li Jun, Old Wang, and the others, who practiced internal energy, to easily see most parts of the chamber.

Teng Shou, utilizing the illumination from more than two hundred Iron Leaf Fruits, could clearly make out every corner. He also carved several niches into the cavern walls. Each niche contained a long bed, two Iron Leaf Fruits, and even fabric curtains installed for sleeping!

...

On the seventh day of residing in the cavern.

The thirty-six stone slabs of (Tufan Stone) were propped against the wall. Teng Qingshan sat cross-legged in meditation; he was the only person in the cavern now.

At a certain moment, Teng Qingshan opened his eyes.

"Little Jun and the others truly aren't accustomed to living in this darkness. They only sleep here at night; otherwise, they stay outside," Teng Qingshan surveyed his surroundings; he was alone. "It makes sense; it’s pitch black, and they can’t see well—it’s natural for them to be uncomfortable."

Teng Qingshan glanced down at his chest.

The small cauldron had been completely sealed by Teng Qingshan using iron sheets, and he was wearing a thick sheepskin coat! Within this secluded space, the small cauldron suppressed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, keeping it calm and docile. Although it emitted a faint colored halo, due to the heavy sealing, no one else had noticed. Perhaps it was due to the cauldron's influence.

"Brother Teng, it's time for lunch."

"Lunchtime, lunchtime, lunchtime…" echoes traveled through the tunnel.

Teng Qingshan smiled, stood up, grabbed his Reincarnation Spear, and walked to the mouth of the tunnel, rapidly moving away through the passage.

"Roar~~"

The Six-Legged Blade Cicada peered over from the adjacent passage, its triangular head displaying a hint of strangeness in its eyes.

After seven days as 'neighbors,' the Six-Legged Blade Cicada had familiarized itself with the habits of the group of humans, the Azure Luan, and the Gale Eagle. However, because of the might of Teng Qingshan and the Azure Luan, the Cicada dared not provoke them. It clearly remembered—Teng Qingshan and the Azure Luan had soundly beaten it on the very first day they moved in.

A human girl had also sternly warned it.

"Humans... can also speak the beast language..." In these past few days, the Six-Legged Blade Cicada's favorite was that girl who spoke the beast language.

Retracting its triangular head, the Cicada returned to its slumber. It had spent at least nine hundred of the past thousand years asleep.

...

Teng Qingshan sat together with Li Jun and the others, enjoying a lavish lunch.

"Little Jun's cooking is getting better and better," Teng Qingshan commented while eating, speaking nothing but the truth. Teng Qingshan had noticed that during the nearly three months they had stayed at Divine Axe Mountain, Little Jun's culinary skills had been continuously improving, and the taste was getting increasingly excellent.

"Mm, good," Teng Shou also nodded repeatedly.

Hearing Teng Qingshan praise her, Li Jun's complexion became even more radiant and rosy. "It's alright, Xiao Ping has been helping me too." Li Jun couldn't help but recall what Xiao Ping had told her—the first way to capture a man's heart was to cook dishes that made his mouth water. Li Jun silently praised, "What Xiao Ping said is truly right."

Just as Teng Qingshan's table was happily eating...

"A'Shou, A'Shou…" an urgent voice suddenly rang out.

"Hm?" Teng Qingshan frowned.

Teng Shou's eyes widened, and he immediately darted out.

"Who is it?" Teng Qingshan felt puzzled. He had never heard that voice; it wasn't someone familiar. He also stood up and rushed out, followed by Li Jun, Xiao Ping, and Old Wang.

Outside.

Teng Qingshan spotted a farmer girl, ordinary in appearance but very slender and small, wearing a patched grey cotton jacket. She was clutching Teng Shou’s hand, her face streaked with tears: "A'Shou, quickly, save them, save them!" The farmer girl seemed overwhelmed by extreme anxiety and terror, her speech somewhat disjointed.

"Go, go," Teng Shou’s eyes also glared, like an enraged lion, ready to bolt out.

"A'Shou," Teng Qingshan stepped forward. "Ask this girl what exactly is happening."

"Teacher," Teng Shou turned to look at him. "She, she, she is A'Xiu!"

Li Jun quickly explained, "Brother Teng, A'Shou often practices his fists in the northern woods. There are some farmlands there, and many rural women and girls work there. Perhaps A'Shou met this one occasionally." Teng Qingshan realized instantly—this area was indeed close to Nanshan City. There were many villages around.

"If we don't leave now, it will be too late," the girl cried, tears streaming down her face in agitation.

"Teacher!" Teng Shou was equally anxious to leave!

"Old Wang, bring those two Crimson Wind Battle Fiends over." Teng Qingshan knew this wasn't the time for detailed questioning, and moreover, his disciple 'Teng Shou' was incredibly stubborn... if a rescue was needed, even he, the master, probably couldn't stop him.

The two Crimson Wind Battle Fiends were brought over.

"A'Shou, take the girl up," Teng Qingshan immediately leaped onto one Crimson Wind Battle Fiend, while Teng Shou immediately embraced the girl and mounted the other.

"Little Jun, A'Shou and I will go for a bit and be right back," Teng Qingshan said.

"Mm," Li Jun nodded firmly.

Old Wang watched the scene with a touch of melancholy. He wasn't worried; in his eyes, when the Young Master made a move, no matter how difficult the situation, it amounted to nothing.

"Girl, show us the way," Teng Qingshan instructed.

"Okay," the farmer girl nodded quickly.

"Giddy up! Giddy up!"

The two Crimson Wind Battle Fiends instantly spread their four hooves, churning the snow, and bolted away.