In the Jiangning County City of Yangzhou, the people had just celebrated the Yearly Sacrifice. In the city, groups of two or three could be seen walking around or chatting in the teahouse by the street.

　　“It can’t be fake. I just heard it in the restaurant. The Sovereign of the Heavenly God Palace sent duel challenges to the Emperor Yu’s Hall, the Ying Family, and even the Xing Yi Sect of Yangzhou! What are the names of the other two? I don’t remember. Anyway, Pei San challenged our Sovereign Teng and the other two…” The one speaking was the son of a wealthy family. The wealthy young man had pimples all over his face. He wobbled as he mumbled to the other hedonistic sons of wealthy families.

　　“He’s right. I heard the same thing.” A handsome young man with very fair skin spoke with a tone that seemed to imply that he is the boss in this group. He continued saying, “Right now, there are six supreme sects in the Land of the Nine Prefectures. The Heavenly God Palace is powerful enough to destroy the Mani Temple, which it did. And now, Pei San had challenged Huang Tianqin of the Emperor Yu’s Hall, Qin Shiqi of the Ying Family, and Teng Qingshan of the Xing Yi Sect. The three duels will respectively be on the 6th of December this year, the 12th of December in two years, and the 18th of December in five years. The location of the first duel will be on the Thousand Island Lake in Yuzhou. The second duel will be on the Green Dragon Hill in the Qinling Mountain Range in Yongzhou. The last duel will be on the White Horse Lake in Jiangning of Yangzhou.”

　　“Right. That’s what I was about to say…” The wealthy young man, who had pimples on his face and looked slightly chubby, suddenly exclaimed, “Boss, you are right! That Huang… I forgot his name… Qin Shiqi, and our Sovereign Teng… Pei San is so brave. He actually dared to challenge our Sovereign Teng… Is he trying to die?”

　　“Third Brother, you are wrong. Pei San is the Sovereign of the Heavenly God Palace…” A wealthy young man, dressed in yellow, had just started talking when the wealthy young man with pimples on his face glowered and interrupted fiercely, “Sixth Brother, that’s OUR Sovereign Teng! Our Sovereign Teng! Who the heck is Pei San? In the Land of the Nine Prefectures, who can win against our Sovereign Teng? Just you wait. When I generate the inner strength with the cultivation of the Internal Martial Art, I am going to join the Xing Yi Sect. It’s my dream to meet Sovereign Teng.”

　　“Third Brother, you drank too much today.” The handsome young man burst out in laughter.

　　The wealthy young men continued walking around while chatting and laughing. The discussions about the duels could be heard in the teahouses, restaurants, weapon stores, and many other places.

　　“It seems like Pei San think that these three are the only ones worthy of being his opponent.”

　　These kinds of discussions could be heard everywhere on the streets.

　　“Of course! Currently, the four most powerful cultivators are Pei San of Qingzhou, Qin Shiqi of Yongzhou, Huang Tianqin of Yuzhou, and Teng Qingshan of our Yangzhou.”

　　…

　　Discussions and comments about it were just everywhere.

　　No one knew where the news about the duel of the current four most powerful cultivators came from… Everyone in the Land of the Nine Prefectures was just talking about it the next day. They even knew the names, location, date, time, and every little detail.

　　Teng Qingshan and his family were having a meal together in the East Flower Garden in the Xing Yi Sect.

　　“Who spread the news?” Honglin’s face flushed red with rage. “Father, it seems like the whole world knows about it.”

　　“My dear sister, please remain seated.” Hongwu laughed and said calmly, “Why are you mad? Everyone knows that the Heavenly God Palace was the one that secretly spread the news, allowing the few billion citizens in the Land of the Nine Prefectures to find out about the three fights that will soon occur.”

　　“Correct.”

　　Teng Qingshan nodded and said with a smile, “Since the Xing Yi Sect, the Emperor Yu’s Hall, and the Ying Family had no idea that there were also other individuals who were challenged to a duel and considering that the news contained such detailed information, the Heavenly God Palace must have spread the news. It is the only sect that knows about everything. I did not know where the other two were fighting and only found out through the news.”

　　“The 16th of December this year, on the Thousand Island Lake in Yuzhou.”

　　“The 12th of December in two years, the Green Dragon Mountain in the Qinling Mountain Range in Yongzhou.”

　　“18th of December in five years, the White Horse Lake in the Yi City of Yangzhou.

　　“The people whom Pei San had chosen were the Insightful Emptiness Realm Experts in the Land of the Nine Prefectures. We are probably the only four Insightful Emptiness Realm Experts in the Land of the Nine Prefectures.” Teng Qingshan was well aware of the powerful forces in the Land of the Nine Prefectures. After all, the intelligence agency of the Xing Yi Sect had grown to become quite powerful.

　　Through the intelligence agency, Teng Qingshan found out that Pei San and Pei Hao used to be part of the Wan Xiang Sect! Initially, the Pei Clan was a family that was part of the Wan Xiang Sect.

　　However, because of Pei San, the Pei Family had to leave the Wan Xiang Sect.

　　After all, the Wan Xiang Sect had promised to never contend for hegemony.

　　This allowed Teng Qingshan to understand how Pei San was able to rise so mysteriously and secretly. Wan Xiang Sect had been helping Pei San secretly. Although Wan Xiang Sect could not contend for hegemony, it could provide some support.

　　“Father, who is the strongest?” Honglin could not help but ask.

　　“Pei San should be the strongest…” Teng Qingshan pondered and answered, “I am not sure how strong Qin Shiqi is, but he should be almost as strong as Pei San. I think I am the third most powerful and the weakest one should be Huang Tianqin.”

　　“Hongwu hastily said, “Father, if Pei San is the strongest, your fight with Pei San…”

　　Teng Qingshan interrupted with a smile, “Don’t worry. We still have six years. Pei San is smart. He was worried that we might hide and avoid fighting with him, and so, he spread the news. He wanted the entire land to know about the duels so that we three will have no choice but to fight him. Once everyone knew, we would no longer represent ourselves, but would only represent our own sect. If I chose not to show up for the duel, it will bring shame to the Xing Yi Sect and even Yangzhou. These are things the other two would have to think about…” Teng Qingshan knew well that Pei San was using the billions of people to force them to accept the duel.

　　Li Jun said softly with a worried expression, ‘Qingshan, this fight with Pei San…”

　　“I kind of know what Pei San is trying to do.” Teng Qingshan said with a smile, “Pei San went berserk when he was destroying the Mani Temple. I guessed Pei San must have resented the Mani Temple. After the destruction of the Mani Temple, Pei San’s state of mind must have changed… Half a year after the elimination of the Mani Temple, Pei San must have figured something out or understood something. And so, he decided to challenge me and the other two Insightful Emptiness Ream Experts.”

　　“He specially arranged the sequence of the duels too.” Teng Qingshan said with a smile.

　　Honglin, who sat beside Teng Qingshan, guessed, “The sequence? Father, you said that Huang Tianqin is the weakest, but he is the first to compete with Pei San. Why are you the last to compete with Pei San?”

　　“He did not arrange the order of the duels according to the opponents’ abilities. I think it is arranged according to his expectations.” Teng Qingshan answered, “Pei San must have expected the least from Huang Tianqin, and so, he decided to fight Huang Tianqin first just to intimidate me and Qin Shiqi. He probably has high expectation for Qin Shiqi. As for me, I think he arranged for me to be the last to compete because he believes that I improve very quickly. He is hoping that I will become strong enough to compete with him in six years. In the final duel, he wants to gain enlightenment and reach the Omnipotent Realm.”

　　Honglin, Hongwu, and Lei Xiaoru, who had been listening quietly, finally understood everything and nodded their heads.

　　In Lei Xiaoru’s opinion, Teng Qingshan’s story was very appealing.

　　Because…

　　This is a story about the four people who are known as the current four most powerful cultivators in the Land of the Nine Prefectures.

　　…

　　The pressure Teng Qingshan felt encouraged him and gave him the will to fight!

　　In his previous life and this life, Teng Qingshan had never been afraid of duels and challenges.

　　Because of the duel that will happen in six years, Teng Qingshan became even more obsessed with the cultivation of the Three Postures. He wanted to transmute the Five Elemental Power of the World into Power of Life.

　　…

　　A month after the news regarding the fights between the four most powerful cultivators spread throughout the land…

　　“Father! Father! Look.” Honglin ran over quickly with a book in her hand.

　　Teng Qingshan looked over and instantly saw the title of the book in Honglin’s hands. The book was titled “The Duels of the Strongest”

　　“Father, the Wan Xiang Sect just published this book. It’s about you and the other three most powerful cultivators. Check it out.” Honglin said excitedly as she gave Teng Qingshan the book. Teng Qingshan knew that the books published by the Wan Xiang Sect were displayed on the counter. Before it was displayed on the counter, the Xing Yi Sect had no idea that the Wan Xiang Sect was going to publish this book.

　　“Oh?”

　　Teng Qingshan took the book and flipped it open.

　　“For the past thirty years, the Land of the Nine Prefectures have undergone a series of chaotic events. Since the creation of the Land of the Nine Prefectures, there have only been two other periods when the Land of the Nine Prefectures was more chaotic. Since Teng Qingshan and the Heavenly God Palace rose to power, many things have changed. Teng Qingshan created the branch of Internal Martial Art and his branch of cultivation was taught everywhere in the Land of the Nine Prefectures. Currently, 49 of the 72 experts named in the “Earthly Ranking”are cultivators of the Internal Martial Art. On the other hand, the Heavenly God Palace revealed to us its terrifying power. This sect conquered Qingzhou, Youzhou, and the northern part of the Great Prairie. To destroy the Mani Temple, the Heavenly God Palace led an army of millions and traveled through the great desert, the western regions, and the golden road. Eventually, this powerful sect eliminated the Mani Temple, a sect was once considered the most powerful sect in the Land of the Nine Prefectures.”

　　“And now, the Sovereign of the Heavenly God Palace, the mysterious and powerful Pei San, had challenged to fight a duel with each of the three strongest cultivators.”

　　“The Wan Xiang Sect had compiled detailed information about these four cultivators for the past few hundred years. With the editors’ help, this book titled “The Duels of the Strongest”was published.”

　　Teng Qingshan was intrigued as he continued reading.

　　The book described the background and history of Huang Tianqin, Qin Shiqi, Pei San, and Teng Qingshan. It even included the details of many things that Teng Qingshan himself had already forgotten.

　　A few hundred years ago, Huang Tianqin and Qin Shiqi were also very famous.

　　Pei San had always been very mysterious. Thus, some of the things revealed by the Wan Xiang Sect shocked Teng Qingshan.

　　…

　　When Teng Qingshan saw the book, it was already sold throughout the entire Land of the Nine Prefectures. A great number of warriors and wealthy people were talking about it before their meals and after their meals. Because of the book, everyone knew the four strongest cultivators better and knew how powerful these four cultivators were…

　　“Sovereign Pei will win. He had the guts to challenge all three. If he is not strong enough, he wouldn’t dare to do that.”

　　“But I think Qin Shiqi will win. Qin Shiqi has been cultivating for about four hundred years and he has won every fight. Didn’t you read the book? It said that Qin Shiqi was seventeen when he traveled around with his sword…”

　　“Teng Qingshan will win. He will win. Teng Qingshan was able to create the branch of Internal Martial Art, which has now become a form of cultivation that is comparable to the Buddhist cultivation and the Daoist cultivation. Who can compete against Teng Qingshan?”

　　“If this happened a hundred years later, I would say that Teng Qingshan would most definitely win. But currently, Teng Qingshan is still too young.”

　　…

　　For some time, fervent discussions about the current four most powerful cultivators could be heard everywhere in the Land of the Nine Prefectures. Pei San, Huang Tianqin, Qin Shiqi, and Teng Qingshan had numerous fans. There were countless warriors in the Land of the Nine Prefectures looking forward to the upcoming fights—The three duels between the most powerful cultivators!

　　They looked forward to the battle… They wished for the day to come…

　　While they waited for the day, they debated each other.

　　The day that the people in the Land of the Nine Prefectures have been waiting for finally arrived.

　　Finally, the 6th of December had arrived.

　　The first of the three duels will happen today.

　　The fight between Huang Tianqin and Pei San!