After the heavy snow in Qingzhou, the sky and earth are covered with a layer of silver.

  In a certain wilderness beside the official road, Teng Qing Shan and his merchant group were resting there because there was no wild inn around, they could only drink water and eat big buns.

  "Drink!" "Ah!" A boy was holding a wooden stick and kept waving it forward.

  Teng Qing Shan and Old Zhang were standing nearby, leaning against the cart and eating steamed buns while watching the child practice with a smile.

  "Xiao He is really serious about this." Old Zhang sighed.

  Teng Qing Shan laughed and shouted: "Xiao He, stop practicing for now. Take a break first. Come on, have some mantou, I still have some pickled vegetables here."

  "Master made me practice a thousand times, now I don't practice, and at night I won't have time to sleep." The boy rubbed his frozen red nose, but didn't listen to Tan Qing Shan and the others. His mother stood beside him, watching silently. After a long while, when he really couldn't swing the wooden stick anymore, he finally stopped.

  "Come, He'er, sit down." His mother helped him massage his arms.

  Just then, the savage who had changed into a suit of strong clothes came over from a short distance away.

  "Master." The boy stood up immediately.

  "Here, eat this chicken leg, it's just been roasted and is still hot." The savage handed a large chicken leg to the boy.

  "Thank you, Master." The boy exclaimed with surprise, connected the chicken leg and took two big bites.

  "Daughter, eat." The boy ate half of it and then handed it over to his mother.

  Teng Qing Shan smiled as he watched the scene, the wild man and the woman with her child had joined their merchant group for ten days now. In those ten days, Teng Qing Shan and his companions also learned about the relationships between these three people. The boy was named Tan He, while the woman was addressed by everyone as Mrs. Tan.

  As for that wild man, his name is Ma Jin Xiao.

  The child named 'Tan He' and his mother were fleeing for their lives. Fortunately, they met a skilled person named 'Ma Jin Xiao', who saved their lives.

  "Ma brothers, come over and have a few drinks to warm up." Old Zhang shouted.

  Nima Jinxiao also walked over with a smile, took the wine pouch thrown by Old Zhang, and drank two mouthfuls: "Hmm, the wine is not bad, it's comfortable."

  "Ma brother, I still don't understand... A few days ago, Little He wanted to become your apprentice, but you refused. Yesterday, the child knelt for a whole night in the heavy snow, and I felt heartbroken just watching him. Only then did you agree. It's not me saying it, but you're really tormenting this child." Old Zhang sighed and lamented.

  The big-bearded young man 'Heizi' beside him said: "Old Zhang, you don't understand! A master taking on an apprentice must thoroughly test the apprentice!"

  Ma Jin shook his head and said, "No, actually I didn't want to take on an apprentice."

  "Oh?" Teng Qing Shan also looked at Ma Jin Xiao.

  "But I've thought it through. And my heart likes this young Xia He." Ma Jinsheng glanced at the boy standing with his mother, "Xia He is also filial to her... Actually, a seven or eight year old child, facing bandits and robbers after their family was destroyed, still managed to stand in front of his mother... After I saved him, he wanted to become my apprentice and has been so persistent... This determination alone is enough for him to be my disciple."

  Ma Jinxiao looked at Tan He's eyes, somewhat absent-minded, as if thinking of something else.

  "This is a man with a story." Teng Qing Shan had some understanding of Ma Jin Xiao after ten days of contact.

  At least in Teng Qing Shan's view, Ma Jinbiao's strength was definitely among the top ten on the Groundhounds List!

  Teng Qing Shan understood...

  All those who can be ranked in the top ten of the "Earth List" are extremely high in both willpower and talent. The reason they cannot enter the Innate Realm is that they fundamentally do not understand the way of 'nourishing the spirit'. For example, practicing swordplay or Taoist techniques all day has no benefit to the 'spirit', and instead will consume the body's 'spirit'.

  It's not easy for 'God' to be strong enough to reach the innate threshold.

  ……

  Inside Qingzhou, sometimes heading north, sometimes northwest, and after several more days.

  The sky is a brilliant blue, as clean as a porcelain plate, and seems to be one with it.

  On the long official road, a merchant team is moving forward.

  The red horse was trotting along leisurely.

  Teng Qing Shan sat on his horse with a smile, looking very leisurely. But no one knew... Teng Qing Shan's state was actually cultivating on the horse. Because he was immersed in that harmonious and unified realm, Teng Qing Shan felt joyful, and a faint smile would naturally appear on his face.

  "Uncle Qin! Uncle Qin!" Suddenly, a childish voice came from beside him.

  Hong Qingshan turned his head and saw Tan He sitting on the flatbed cart.

  "Xiao He, something's up?" Teng Qing Shan asked with a smile.

  "Uncle, why didn't you say a word all the way? We're almost at Hu Yue County City, everyone is very excited," said Tan He.

  "This journey is very tiring, let's talk less and rest." Teng Qing Shan smiled as he gazed into the distance towards the north. He could already vaguely see the city wall that connected the northern and southern cities, a massive structure stretching tens of miles wide, its end invisible to the naked eye.

  It seems like a terrifying monster is lurking there.

  "Oh." Tan He nodded vaguely.

  "Brother Qin," shouted Heizi, the young man with a big beard beside him. "Up ahead is the county town of Hu Yue. It's also the final stop for our merchant group this time around. Once we arrive at the county town, everyone will have to go their separate ways! Brother Qin... it's been over a month since we set out on this journey. From now on, it'll be hard to meet again."

  "Hmm, Qin Wei is going back to his hometown in Yan State. We are in Qing State...Qin Wei, today at noon, we brothers must have a good drink." Old Zhang shouted.

  "Let's go, today we won't return until we're drunk!" Tan Qing Shan had also become deeply acquainted with these few businessmen over the past month.

  And later on, I'm afraid it will be hard for us to meet again.

  Originally, Qing Shan and his group had a total of five merchants. Two of the merchants left the team in other cities within Qingzhou. Lao Zhang and Hei Zi are now living in the county seat of Hu Yue County. This is the final stop. The entire merchant team has lost at least nearly half of its members.

  Before long, Teng Qing Shan and his group arrived at the south gate of Hu Yue City.

  Heng Qing Shan had actually discovered from afar that the city walls of Hu Yue County were packed with a large number of guards, as far as the eye could see. Even at the city gate, over a hundred guards were gathered, checking every single person who entered the city.

  "What's going on with such strict checks?" Teng Qing Shan wondered in his heart, "It can't be, are they looking for me?" This was within the borders of Yangzhou, on the territory of Qing Hu Island. Even Teng Qing Shan hadn't noticed that the city gate would be checked so strictly. It's worth noting that the Pre-Heavenly Masters could easily escape by jumping over the city walls.

  So, investigating at the city gate is useless.

  "What's with all these soldiers at the city gate?" Hei Zi muttered.

  "It's not like this in other cities along the way. Something must have happened." Old Zhang frowned and said.

  Teng Qing Shan and his men lined up, advancing one by one towards the city gate.

  "Huh? Who's there?"

  "Yan brother, these are all idle businessmen who went out to do business together. Everyone rushed over from Yangzhou, and it took two or three months for the round trip. Exhausted to death. No need to investigate further." The leader of the merchant group said very casually, and the soldier officer also waved his hand at the soldiers, "Brothers, hurry up."

  At this moment, the speed of entering the city accelerated.

  When they arrived at Teng Qing Shan's place, those guards just took a few glances and then let all of them in.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, we are the He family business, this time going to Yangzhou, back and forth is also thousands of miles. Everyone has returned safely, this is a joyful event! Haha... I believe that today many people will celebrate well. Let's disperse here." The organizer shouted loudly.

  Suddenly a burst of cheerful laughter, and many people also opened their eyes at this moment.

  "Brother Ma," Old Zhang exclaimed warmly, "you're bringing the two of them along, and I reckon you'll need to find a place to rest. Don't worry, I'm very familiar with this county town, so there's no rush to go looking now. Let's go have lunch first, and after eating, I'll arrange a good place for you all to sleep."

  "Then I'll have to trouble Old Zhang." Ma Jin Xiao also laughed and said.

  Lao Zhang looked at Tun Qing Shan: "Qin Wei, go, hurry back to your hometown of Yan State. You won't be leaving today, will you? Come with us to have lunch... rest well for a day and we'll discuss other matters tomorrow."

  "Alright." Teng Qing Shan also burst out laughing.

  Several people followed Lao Zhang and Heizi to a pretty good wine tower, where Lao Zhang invited everyone to dinner and directly booked a luxurious private room on the second floor.

  Adding the child 'Tan He', six people sat around and started.

  Old Zhang familiarly ordered some dishes, and his mouth was still praising that this is their Hu Yue County's famous dish: "Hmmm, okay...this wine, a pot at a time is too slow, let's get a vat directly! We few people today must drink to our heart's content."

  "Alright, Old Zhang, just wait a moment, the dishes will be served immediately." The waiter seemed to be quite familiar with Old Zhang.

  Before long, the wine and dishes were served.

  Everyone eats comfortably and drinks happily!

  Being able to travel thousands of miles back and forth safely, of course, is a happy thing. Hei Zi was still excitedly talking about his wife and his son. Old Zhang also looked proud, talking about his children.

  Teng Qing Shan gazed out of the window beside him at the bustling streets outside.

  "It's already the twelfth month, and after a few more days, it'll be the New Year's festival. I wonder how Father and Mother are doing now!" Teng Qing Shan couldn't help but think of his parents in this atmosphere, shaking his head secretly, "Nowadays, if I were by Father and Mother's side, I would only bring them disaster, no benefits! Let me cultivate quietly, at my current speed, within ten years, I'll definitely reach the Golden Elixir of the Prior Heaven."

  Teng Qing Shan was very confident.

  The secret to cultivating a strong and resilient spirit, combined with daily practice on horseback and nighttime training in the three-body stance. Teng Qing Shan's 'spirit' was improving at an astonishing rate without interruption.

  Only half a month after enlightenment, Teng Qing Shan clearly felt that his 'god' had become much stronger.

  "In two years, I can reach the level of Xiantian Zhen Dan. In ten years, I will reach the level of Xiantian Jindan! With my physical strength and internal energy, at least I can achieve invincibility below the Void Realm." Teng Qing Shan was very confident, if others knew about it, they would probably be shocked stiff. Zhuge Yuanhong only reached Xiantian at the age of thirty.

  Teng Qing Shan said that he himself had achieved the Xiantian Golden Elixir before the age of thirty.

  "Qin Wei, what are you daydreaming about? Come on, let's have a drink together." Old Zhang said, patting Qin Qingshan on the shoulder.

  The words had barely fallen—

  "Boom~~" A loud explosion sound came from a distance.

  Hong Qingshan even clearly felt that the entire building was slightly trembling.

  "This explosion is very far away, it should be tens of miles outside! But the shockwave has reached here, with such power..." Teng Qing Shan was shocked and stood up involuntarily.

  "What's going on?"

  Others by the wine table also rushed to the window and looked out.

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