Dark night.

  It has been a month and three days since arriving at Flame Mountain, where tens of thousands of warriors have gathered at the foot of the mountain. The area is filled with tents and countless torches. At this moment, Teng Qing Shan, Guan Lu, and Ji Hong are inside a tent, discussing something.

  "More and more powerful people are coming." Ji Hong furrowed his brow, "Just the strong ones from the 'Earth List' that I know of, there are already six! The strong ones from the 'Hidden Dragon List' and the 'Young Phoenix List' combined exceed ten. And many of these powerful people, although not on the 'Earth List', their strength is not much different either! Qing Shan, Guan Lu, we're in trouble now!"

  What a bother!

  Currently, the two most powerful ones are 'Qinghu Island' and 'Xiaoyao Palace', these two major sects, are both among the nine states eight major sects.

  Compared with these two major factions, the Return to the Origin Sect is far inferior.

  "Master ancestor, the strong men sent by Qinghu Island and Xianyao Palace are many, but they are all in the open. What I'm most worried about is the strong men in the dark! After all... now there are already tens of thousands of martial artists gathered. Xianyao Palace and Qinghu Island also have more than a hundred people, who knows if there are some super strong masters hiding among the crowd."

  Ji Hong nodded.

  "Your Excellency, Black Fire Spirit Fruit, will it attract any congenital strong practitioners?" Teng Qing Shan suddenly said.

  " Innate?" Ji Hong was taken aback, shaking his head with a smile, "The Black Fire Spirit Fruit is useless to innate experts, and... look, the Carefree Palace and Qinghu Island, have they sent any innate experts? There are too few innate experts in this world! Each one of them can take care of their own face, if an innate expert comes, we'll just give it to him! Does he even have the face to take it?"

  "The innate strong, just want to get the spiritual fruit, enter the barbaric wilderness to find it, isn't it easier? The barbaric wilderness is rarely visited by people, and there are many treasures! If you have the ability, go into the barbaric wilderness." Ji Hong said.

  Hong Qingshan somewhat understood.

  Barbaric, for ordinary warriors it's a forbidden zone, but for innate strong ones it doesn't count as anything. Perhaps only those monstrous beasts can threaten the innate strong ones. Of course... Teng Qing Shan, this human with eighteen thousand jin in both arms, should also be considered a humanoid monster.

  "One month and three days." Teng Qing Shan furrowed his brow and said, "The Black Fire Spirit Fruit is almost ripe too, isn't it?"

  "Hmm." Ji Hong also worried, "For such a long time, that Red Scale Beast should be two zhang tall by now. Estimated, in at most ten days to half a month, the Black Fire Spirit Fruit will ripen. Until now, not one person has discovered where the Black Fire Spirit Fruit is located. Once the Red Scale Beast eats the Black Fire Spirit Fruit and undergoes metamorphosis, it can completely slaughter us!"

  The transformed Red Scale Beast's scales are as hard as those of a strong Heaven's Chosen.

  The Crimson Scaled Beast back then was truly a terrifying monster.

  "Even if someone finds out where he is, they'll keep it a secret and won't spread it around," Guan Lu said.

  Teng Qing Shan, Ji Hong and Guan Lu had no choice but to wait.

  When there is an opportunity, seize it; when there isn't, endure.

  "Hei Huo Ling Gen!" Teng Qing Shan had been yearning for that Hei Huo Ling Gen. It was his chance to strengthen his body.

  Just as the three of them were chatting.

  "Someone is challenging Gu Shiyou! Brothers, hurry up!" The voice of the Black Armor Army soldier outside rang out, causing Lu Qingshan and the other two to immediately exit the large tent. They saw that a circle of people had gathered in the west, and at first glance, there were already at least several thousand people. Most of the warriors from Huoyan Mountain had rushed over.

  "We're going." Ji Hong said with some anticipation.

  "Old friend!" Guan's green eyes sparkled.

  Ji Hong glanced at Teng Qing Shan and smiled, "Qing Shan, this Gu Shiyou is probably the only young master in the entire Nine States who can match up to you. This time, someone else is challenging him, so you should take a good look."

  "Never seen him make a move." Teng Qing Shan thought curiously.

  This ancient world friend, is the first sect of Yangzhou 'Qinghu Island' young master, now twenty-eight years old, listed in the "Hidden Dragon List" first, "Earth List" forty-eighth! It can be said that the entire nine states young generation's top figure. Throughout the nine states, many young people worship him, and many young people take him as their goal.

  "On the double list!" Teng Qing Shan and others quickly squeezed out a large space for Yuan Zong.

  Ordinary warriors would automatically give way when they see someone from the Guiyuan Sect.

  Teng Qing Shan, Ji Hong and Guan Lu naturally stood at the very front, in the position where they could see most clearly.

  Heng Qing Shan's eyes picked out the figure in the center of the empty space, dozens of feet long and wide. A man in a green robe, holding a black long spear, was none other than Gu Shiyou, the current number one on the Hidden Dragon List and the young master of Qing Hu Island. His opponent was a middle-aged man using a long staff.

  Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!

  The stick's shadow is like a mad wave, sweeping towards old friends of the ancient world.

  Gu Shiyou stood still, the black long spear in his hand instantly transformed into dozens of black illusions, each one blocking a stick shadow.

  "Hmm..."

  The middle-aged man suddenly jumped up, holding a stick in both hands, with an aura of opening the sky and earth, and fiercely chopped down from mid-air.

  "What a fierce move." Teng Qing Shan secretly praised.

  Pong!

  A huge pit appeared on the ground, about one zhang deep and several zhang wide, with mud and stones splashing everywhere. That ancient friend had long since dodged to one side.

  "Thirteen rods of furious sea!" The middle-aged man shouted loudly.

  One stick is faster than one stick, one stick is heavier than one stick!

  ……

  "Leading, this middle-aged man is what kind of person, so fierce and overbearing with his stick method." Teng Qing Shan was somewhat surprised, originally thinking that this battle would be an easy victory for Gu Shi You, but who would have thought that this challenger could actually suppress Gu Shi You and gain the upper hand, indeed a rare occurrence.

  "This person, I don't know either." Ji Hong said in puzzlement.

  Ji Hong sighed, "In this world, some diligent cultivators like Wu Yue can focus for twenty years. With one explosion, they can rank in the top ten of the Earth List. This middle-aged man using a long staff should also be a high-ranking cultivator who has been diligently cultivating for many years!"

  Hong Qingshan secretly admired him.

  Many skilled martial artists, if they don't make a move, then so be it. But once they do, they choose to fight in grand arenas, engaging in public battles that bring them instant fame throughout the land.

  Pong!

  It was another heavy blow, and Gu Shiyou couldn't help but retreat more than a dozen steps, staring in shock at the middle-aged man in front of him who was dressed simply and looked like a mountain villager.

  "Where did this master come from!" Gu Shiyou was secretly puzzled, he was ranked first on the "Hidden Dragon List" and forty-eighth on the "Earth List". Many people challenged him, of course. He was happy to accept the challenge, however, every time he made a move, his opponent would be seriously injured, disabled, or even killed.

  Of course, there are more masters who come to challenge for fame and fortune, without fear of death.

  This middle-aged man is just like him.

  It's just that the other party seems to be even stronger. From the start, the middle-aged man had completely taken the initiative, one stick more terrifying than the last, with an overbearing aura that completely suppressed Gu Shiyou.

  Pong!

  With great effort, he blocked another blow. Gu Shiyou involuntarily flew up and then fell to the ground, retreating several steps. He repeatedly shouted: "Stop!"

  That sallow-faced middle-aged man held that long stick and looked at Gu Shiyou.

  "This time, I admit defeat." Gu Shiyou said calmly.

  The surroundings suddenly became chaotic.

  The middle-aged man smiled and said: "Young Master Shō's marksmanship is also impressive. Until now, I haven't been able to hit Young Master Shō."

  Gu Shiyou laughed and said: "Until now, I still don't know your name, older brother."

  "I, Hua Chi Zhu!" The middle-aged man said with a smile, this sentence was particularly loud, and the surrounding warriors immediately began to discuss, mentioning "Hua Chi Zhu". Being able to make Gu Shiyou admit defeat directly, Hua Chi Zhu's strength is undoubtedly unquestionable. It seems that another master will be added to the "Earth List".

  Gu Shiyou smiled and then walked back to his own camp.

  "Master Shao!" Those people all gathered around.

  "Let's go back." Gu Shiyou instructed, and then he lowered his head to look at his palms, which were red and oozing blood.

  "What a terrifying stick method." Gu Shiyou secretly admired, he knew that if he didn't admit defeat soon, his long spear would probably be shaken off directly next time. Now his hands were already numb with pain.

  ……

  Another emerging strong man, defeated the master of "The Earth List". This made the surrounding warriors very excited, and the great name of 'Hua Chi Zhu' would soon spread throughout the world. And many warriors also admired Hua Chi Zhu in their hearts, while also yearning for themselves to be like that one day.

  To be famous all over the world, even if I die, I will be content.

  ******

  The next day in the afternoon, Teng Qing Shan led his men to carefully search for something within Flame Mountain.

  "That Huajizhu's stick method is really overbearing! Moreover, it seems that he hasn't burst out his strongest power yet." Teng Qingshan walked while secretly marveling at him, and the idea of fighting Huajizhu had already moved in his heart. "That Gu Shiyou, although very desperate, should still have a lifesaving trump card that hasn't been used. Moreover, with nearly ten thousand warriors watching, he doesn't feel embarrassed to admit defeat at all! This person... has an unlimited future prospects."

  Looking up at the sky, it's already late.

  It's still about an hour before noon.

  "Green Mountain, we've been searching for so long, where is that Red Scale Beast hiding? Tens of thousands of people have searched and can't find it. Can't even find the Black Fire Spirit Fruit." Tang Qinghu said helplessly.

  Teng Qing Shan furrowed his brow in contemplation.

  Suddenly, Teng Qing Shan recalled the first time he chased that Red Scaled Juvenile Beast. The beast climbed up a high mountain and then jumped down from the cliff.

  "Not true!"

  Hong Qing Shan's heart stirred, "I chased the Red Scale Beast, and it felt danger, so it must have chosen a safe path to run. There are many surrounding peaks, why did it specifically choose that one? And after it jumped down, I followed closely behind, not slowing down for several seconds, how could I not find it? Is there something special about that gorge?"

  "Follow me!" Ting Qing Shan gave an order and immediately rushed towards that canyon where they were before.

  In the canyon.

  "This Black Fire Spirit Fruit is really mysterious, the entrance is actually in this place. Who could have thought of it?" A lean man climbed out from under the wisteria-covered cliff on the other side of the canyon, and beneath the wisteria was a hidden cave, with a look of pride on his face.

  Nowadays, only he knows where this Black Fire Spirit Fruit is hidden.

  "Hmph, I won't let it out, every day staring at this Black Fire Spirit Fruit, it's mine! Although my strength is inferior, even if I can't snatch it from that Red Scale Beast, at the very least, I'll still be able to eat that Black Fire Spirit Root. At that time, I'll also become a top-notch martial artist." The lean man was complacent.

  But his face suddenly changed, he stared blankly at a group of people in the distance, and the black-clothed man who was holding a long gun was staring at him.

  （）