At night, in the house where Qing Shan was staying at the hostel.

  The door was tightly closed, and the room was pitch black. In this darkness, Teng Qing Shan, dressed in black, stood with his eyes closed, practicing the Xing Yi "Three Body Style" in the cramped space of the room.

  Sometimes the footwork distance is large, sometimes the footwork distance is small.

  The speed of punching is not uniform.

  But there is a special sense of coordination, like clouds and flowing water.

  "'Three-Body Stance' is what Teng Qing Shan practices every night. Nei Jia Quan, after cultivating to the realm of Teng Qing Shan, 'Wu Xing Quan' doesn't count as a big deal anymore. Only this seemingly simple 'Three-Body Stance' makes Teng Qing Shan feel the harmony of yin and yang, a complete and unified state."

  Suddenly——

  Teng Qing Shan opened his eyes and quickly came to the window, through the hole in the paper on the window, he easily saw a blurry figure jumping into the distance.

  "The horse whinnies, and finally sets off." Teng Qing Shan's face was covered with a black cloth as he opened the window and unleashed "Tian Ya Xing", transforming into a phantom that flashed twice before leaving the inn. In terms of speed and stealth, it was clearly superior to Ma Jin Xiao by a large margin.

  ……

  Ma Jin Xiao and Teng Qing Shan, one in front of the other, flew over the eaves and walked on the walls. However, Teng Qing Shan's movements did not make a single sound, and Ma Jin Xiao didn't notice at all.

  It's still early in the night, and the streets of the county town are still bustling with activity. The lanterns cast a bright glow over the streets.

  Teng Qing Shan and Ma Jin Xiao swiftly moved northward from the shadows.

  Soon, leaving the hustle and bustle behind, we arrive at a district of mansions that only the wealthy and celebrities can afford, with luxurious villas standing side by side.

  "What's going on with Ma Jin Xiao?" Teng Qing Shan wondered in his heart. These days, following Ma Jin Xiao, Teng Qing Shan also felt that Ma Jin Xiao was a good person, never putting on airs. He even valued his apprentice 'Tan He'. But this evening, the words exchanged between Ma Jin Xiao and his apprentice caught Teng Qing Shan's attention.

  Obviously, Ma Jin Xiao is going to do something big and probably risks his life.

  If you can lend a hand, help once.

  "Oh, it seems like that's the one up front." Teng Qing Shan saw Ma Jin Xiao jump into a courtyard of a mansion and quietly followed suit.

  This mansion occupies a vast area of land, with artificial hills and flowers and plants all over the place. Inside the mansion, there are also many guards carrying lanterns on patrol.

  "Hmm, these guards? Are they the Divine Guard of the Carefree Palace?" Teng Qing Shan instantly identified the patrolling guards' identities. The elite troops of the eight major sects on the continent all wore similar attire, with only minor differences. Most sects' elite troops wore black heavy armor, but there were some subtle distinctions.

  Like the Immortals, the most distinctive feature of the Imperial Guard's heavy armor is the sword-shaped mark on the shoulder guard.

  "Enough to let the 'Divine Guard' of Xianyao Palace serve as the mansion's guardian. The master of this mansion is not of low status!" Teng Qing Shan thought to himself, his feet quietly following Ma Jin Xiao, continuously advancing deeper into the mansion... As for the so-called "Divine Guard", even a strong cultivator of the First Heaven Golden Elixir couldn't detect Teng Qing Shan's movements, let alone these so-called elite guards.

  A rockery.

  Huh! Teng Qing Shan was hiding quietly behind the fake mountain.

  "What is Ma Jin Xiao doing? Standing there, not moving?" Teng Qing Shan glanced at the distance, and Ma Jin Xiao was hiding behind another fake mountain in front, constantly looking at the main hall of the mansion.

  In the distant great hall, a bright light shines. Inside, there is also an endless stream of cheerful laughter, with many people drinking and having dinner together, and maids frequently carrying exquisite dishes into the hall.

  "It seems that Ma Jin Xiao's target should be inside the hall." Teng Qing Shan listened leisurely to the sounds in the hall.

  "Everyone can stay at my place, Old Zhao is delighted. This mansion of mine has a large space, it's just that there are fewer people. All the seniors, protectors, and Second Master, you all must stay for a longer period." The sound of laughter erupted.

  In the hall.

  There were six people around a square table, the surface of which was made of smooth clear stream stone cut and polished. The plates on the table for dishes were very exquisite, and each pair of chopsticks was carefully carved by craftsmen. A pot of fine wine was also placed aside. These six people seemed to be having a great time eating and drinking.

  "Sixth younger brother! You're living comfortably in the city of Hu Yue, aren't you?" A middle-aged man with two white eyebrows smiled and said, "Unlike us, who are always staying on the mountain, we don't have it as easy as you."

  "It's not that we can't get fine wine in the carefree palace, but this exquisite food is gone. The palace won't specially invite a group of people to cook for us old guardians." A slender white-robed middle-aged man beside him said with a smile.

  "Don't be kidding me."

  That stout, big-eared middle-aged man laughed and said, "I'm the only one who's been to the present! I often run around everywhere, thinking that you brothers can stay in the palace. Especially Second Brother... Among our nine fellow disciples back then, Second Brother was the most formidable, reaching the realm of Xiantian. Second Brother, my grandson is eleven years old this year, and he's currently learning basic sword techniques and internal energy. However, his performance is quite impressive, better than my son, better than me when I was young! Second Brother, take my grandson to your branch!"

  That white-browed man smiled and said, "You say, Xiao An'an? Hmm, that child is quite talented. Alright, after this storm passes, when I return to the palace, I'll have him transferred to my branch. I'll often instruct him... At least, Xiao An'an, he's got to be stronger than you, lazy bones!"

  A stout middle-aged man with big ears chuckled: "I'm just this lazy surname."

  "Minister Zhang." An elderly man with silver hair frowned and said, "You say this turmoil, when can it pass?"

  The white-browed man also fell silent upon hearing this.

  "I really don't know why that divine eagle insisted on attacking our Xianyao Palace, making everyone anxious. Now, it's forced so many people in the palace to leave the mountain." The thin and pale man in white said discontentedly.

  A stout middle-aged man with a serious expression said, "This divine beast is as intelligent as humans and won't attack us without reason... When did our Carefree Palace offend this divine beast?"

  "Never mind." The white-browed man frowned and growled, "This god of luck has repeatedly provoked the carefree palace, the old master will definitely resolve this matter."

  The other five people present also nodded when they heard the three words "Old Palace Master".

  The Xianyao Palace was actually very miserable, being forced by a divine eagle to leave the majority of people in the palace and temporarily live in the nearby county city. Because... the previous thunderbolt divine eagle had sprayed out thunderbolts three times, causing many deaths in the Xianyao Palace. Even the pre-heavenly strong cultivators could not withstand the thunderbolts of the thunderbolt divine eagle.

  Can only retreat first!

  So these guardians, elders, including the law enforcement elders, can only temporarily reside in the homes of fellow villagers who have residences within the county town.

  ……

  Because the hall door was wide open, Qing Shan also vaguely heard part of the conversation.

  "Hmph, the Xianyao Palace is indeed quite miserable." Teng Qing Shan secretly smiled to himself, "It seems that it's because of the pressure from the Thunderbolt Divine Eagle that many experts are living in the county city. Therefore, the Divine Guard Army will also be dispersed to protect each and every mansion!" Teng Qing Shan glanced at Ma Jin Xiao not far away.

  Ma Jin Xiao was quietly waiting in ambush, like a hunting wild beast.

  After a long time, finally, with some hearty laughter, the six people who had gathered together also dispersed at the entrance of the hall.

  "Haha, Brother Dong, look at you staggering while walking, do you want me to send you back?"

  The master of the mansion, a stout middle-aged man with a big head and ears, laughed and shouted, watching as the other five people returned to their respective residences. Afterwards, he ordered: "Take all these away and clean up. Order it... Tomorrow morning's banquet will still be made with the highest quality ingredients."

  "Yes, sir." The two maids went to pick up the clothes.

  And this old man, humming a little tune, walked towards his residence with satisfaction.

  Hoo! Hoo!

  Ma Jin Xiao quietly followed past, while Teng Qing Shan was quietly following Ma Jin Xiao.

  In a dimly lit corridor.

  That stout middle-aged man with big ears was in a good mood, walking along shaking his head: "Second Brother rarely comes to my place, tsk tsk, he's the Law Enforcement Elder. This opportunity is rare, gotta serve him well. Hmm... which room should we go to tonight? That new little demoness is too ruthless, or maybe find..."

  His mind was still on the woman when he suddenly felt a pang in his throat.

  Pong!

  A room next to the corridor was kicked open, and this stout middle-aged man with big ears was pinched by his throat and pushed into the room. All that could be heard was a "creak" as the door was closed with him inside.

  "Who are you?" The middle-aged man felt a sudden relaxation in his throat and immediately spoke up.

  He didn't dare shout!

  Able to defeat him with one move, this post-heavenly pinnacle expert's strength... is probably beyond the top ten figures on the Earth Ranking. Perhaps... it could be a pre-heavenly expert!

  "Take a good look at me." The newcomer waved his hand and a matchstick lit up, followed by the lighting of a candle.

  "I don't know you." The stout middle-aged man frowned, "Have you caught the wrong person?" As a general of the Divine Guard Army, he was very clear about the situation in front of him.

  "Qiao Zhong!" Ma Jinxiao stared at the fat middle-aged man, "You mustn't say that you are not Qiao Zhong."

  A stout middle-aged man was taken aback.

  "Yes, I am Qiao Zhong, the commander of the Divine Guard Army, Qiao Zhong." The fat middle-aged man replied.

  "Oh, you've been promoted and become a Du Tong?" Ma Jin Xiao said with a cold smile.

  "I've long since given up, it's been over a decade. " The stout middle-aged man looked at Ma Jin Xiao in confusion, "I don't even know you... I have no idea what I did to offend a hero like you. Can you please explain?"

  ……

  At this moment, on the rooftop, Teng Qing Shan's ear was stuck to the roof, listening carefully.

  "Ah!" A low, mournful cry came from inside the house.

  "Huh? Did Ma Jin Xiao kill Qiao Zhong?" Teng Qing Shan could tell that the miserable cry was muffled, so the sound was very small. Suddenly, a very low voice came from inside the house again...

  "Qiao Zhong, now I've crippled your martial arts skills. You don't need to speak, just listen and you'll know... why I came looking for you." The voice was eerily cold.

  （）