The Martial Saintess

　　“I will return to the Nine Prefectures in the future. The situation there is even more chaotic than that of Duanmu Continent. Additionally, the waters of the Nine Prefectures are even muddier and deeper than the waters here! If I wish to destroy Qing Hu Island and replace it with the Gui Yuan Sect, not only will I have to fight an Emptiness Realm Expert, I will also need a powerful army!” Teng Qingshan knew this well.

　　It was impossible for an Emptiness Realm Expert to contend for hegemony by himself!

　　A sect must have an Emptiness Realm Expert and a formidable army in order to be capable of dominating the continent. In the past, the Northeastern King, Hong Tian, had led eighty thousand Steel Cavalrymen from Youzhou and Yanzhou, and conquered over half of the Nine Prefectures. There was no doubt that the Northeastern King, Hong Tian, was capable, but his eighty thousand cavalrymen from Youzhou and Yanzhou were the trenchant sword which aided his conquest of the Land of the Nine Prefectures!

　　“If I have in my possession the power of the Northeastern King, Hong Tian, and spawn ten thousand Innate Steel Cavalrymen with the use of the Elixir of the North Sea and the Fiery Gilt Steel… even if I can’t conquer the entire Land of the Nine Prefectures, I will be able to seize control of a vast area for the Gui Yuan Sect. Establishing a base for the future cultivators of the Internal Martial Arts is not a difficult thing.” As Teng Qingshan thought of this, he couldn’t help but feel exceedingly ambitious.

　　After all, the Fiery Gilt Steel Battle Armor was something which even the Hollow Dan Innate Expert couldn’t pierce through!

　　It wasn’t wrong at all to address the Steel Cavalrymen who were clothed in this type of battle armor as ‘Innate Steel Cavalrymen’! Even if there were over a hundred Innate Experts, they would be charged to death by the ten thousand Steel Cavalrymen.

　　……

　　Fu Dao continued expounding in the house.

　　“In the many years that have passed, the amount of Fiery Gilt Steel discovered in Duanmu Continent has been exceedingly rare. Moreover, 90% of the Fiery Gilt Steel in Duanmu Continent was taken by the Tianfeng Clan. Of course, even though the Tianfeng Clan was able to seize control of most of the Fiery Gilt Steel, the amount they seized wasn’t actually much as the total amount of Fiery Gilt Steel was too little.”

　　“And now, Fiery Gilt Steel Ores have been discovered in one of the Ox-Head Mountains near the Blazing Flame Territory in the Eastern Flower Region. That was a huge vein of Fiery Gilt Steel Ores!” Fu Dao couldn’t suppress his feelings. “The members of a village at the bottom of the Ox-Head Mountain Range were digging and accidentally excavated around a thousand Jin of Fiery Gilt Steel! This amount is enough to forge thirty to forty suits of armors. Also, what those villagers excavated was just a little bit of the surface layer.”

　　When Teng Qingshan heard this, he was secretly happy.

　　No matter what…

　　He had to think of a way to acquire a share of the Fiery Gilt Steel Ores.

　　“Haha, Mister Teng.” Tantai Huayan laughed and said, “The significance of the Fiery Gilt Steel Ores doesn’t need to be explained. Currently, the clans in the Eastern Flower Region are all fighting to seize control of the Fiery Gilt Steel Ores. However, it is tough to win this fight. Besides the army, Martial Saints are also needed. Therefore, Mister Fu Dao and the Tantai Clan have come to invite Mister.”

　　Teng Qingshan glanced at Fu Dao in surprise. “Fu Dao, which clan do you serve?”

　　“The Fu Clan,” Fu Dao said.

　　“The Fu Clan?” Teng Qingshan stared at Fu Dao in surprise.

　　“Otherwise, why would I spend so much gold to purchase that set of Blunt Vanadium Stone Tablets?” Fu Dao laughed as he responded. “However, the Fu Clan is not some great clan in the Eastern Flower Region. It has only become more prominent during the last two years.”

　　At the side, Tantai Qing chuckled and said, “Mister Fu Dao, you mustn’t look down on your clan. With the Thunder Blade Martial Saint, the day when the Fu Clan thrives is not far off.” It was exceedingly rare for the clans in the continent to have Golden Dan Innate Experts. Since Fu Dao was part of the Fu Clan, it would indeed thrive with ease.

　　Suddenly—

　　“Clop! Clop! Clop!”

　　The sounds of the hooves came from outside. As Tantai Huayan flicked a glance outside, his facial expression changed, and he immediately said with a smile, “Mister Teng, the Wu Clan has arrived.”

　　“The Wu Clan?” Teng Qingshan couldn’t help but turn to look. When he saw the guests, his facial expression changed.

　　Among the group of people who had arrived, there was a brave and noble-looking woman. She wore an azure light armor and carried an ancient long sword on her back.

　　“She……” Teng Qingshan gawked at the woman in the distance. In regards to her disposition, this woman seemed indifferent and cold. She emitted an aura very similar to his wife, Cat. As for her appearance, although she wasn’t identical to Cat, there was a similarity of 70-80%.

　　Therefore, seeing the Martial Saintess caused Teng Qingshan to hold his breath involuntarily for a second.

　　The Martial Saintess was very similar to his significant other from his previous life.

　　“Is she the Martial Saintess? The most powerful woman in Duanmu Continent?” Teng Qingshan thought to himself. When he had been chatting with the elders of the Rising Sun Trading Company, they had mentioned that Li Jun’s appearance was very similar to that of the Martial Saintess. Their auras were even more alike.

　　“The Martial Saintess has arrived,” Fu Dao chortled and said.

　　The Martial Saintess walked over with an elegant, smiling man. When they arrived at the door, the elegant man looked at Teng Qingshan with a smile and said, “Mister Teng, I am Wu Baiwei, the Patriarch of the Wu Clan, and this is my wife, Jiang Yan. Pleased to meet you.”

　　“Patriarch Wu, you are quite impressive.” Tantai Huayan smiled and said, “Many people wooed the Martial Saintess, but who would have thought that you would be the one to succeed in the end.”

　　The Martial Saintess cast an indifferent glance at Tantai Huayan and remained silent.

　　“Uncle Wu, you sure were very perseverant. You pursued the Martial Saintess for a total of twenty years. For those twenty years, from the age of 20 to 40, you had remained unmarried. I, your junior, wasn’t able to attend your wedding ceremony last year, so please allow me to congratulate you two now,” Tantai Qing said with a grin.

　　When Wu Baiwei heard this, he responded with a nod and a smile. His courtship of the Martial Saintess, which had gone on for twenty years, proved that he had great perseverance.

　　“The Martial Saintess is his wife?” Teng Qingshan glanced and said, “Please, sit down.”

　　Immediately, a total of six people—Teng Qingshan, Tantai Huayan, Tantai Qing, Fu Dao, Wu Baiwei, and the Martial Saintess, Jiang Yan—sat around the table.

　　“Big Brother Teng—” Li Jun walked out from the inner room, and when she saw the Martial Saintess, she froze briefly.

　　When the Martial Saintess saw Li Jun, she was also stunned.

　　The two ladies stared at each other.

　　“Big Brother Teng, I’m guessing this must be the Martial Saintess.” Li Jun smiled as she walked to Teng Qingshan’s side and placed a teapot and cups on the table. She then sat beside Teng Qingshan and remarked while grinning, “I heard that the Martial Saintess looks like me. Now that I have seen it today, it is truly……”

　　“We do look very alike,” the Martial Saintess said with a slightly hoarse and deep voice.

　　“Everyone,” Teng Qingshan said while he scanned the visitors with eyes as sharp as trenchant swords, “I already know the purpose of your visit. Due to the discovery of the Fiery Gilt Steel Ore Vein, the great clans all desire to seize control of the deposit. Therefore, you have all come to ask me to help you. However, I would like to know… why should I?”

　　Teng Qingshan spoke candidly and directly.

　　“I heard that Mister Teng is very fond of Emperor Yu’s 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》. The Wu Clan has prepared a piece. If Mister is willing to help, the Wu Clan can lend Mister this stone inscription for ten to twenty years,” Wu Baiwei said with a smile.

　　“The 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》?” Teng Qingshan flicked a glance at Wu Baiwei.

　　There were four successive forms among the six stone inscriptions that he obtained from the Rising Sun Trading Company. However, the four successive forms were the four intermediate forms in the thirty-six forms, and they were extremely difficult. Therefore, Teng Qingshan hoped to obtain some forms that were closer to the first few forms.

　　“Which form is this?” Teng Qingshan asked.

　　“The twenty-seventh,” Wu Baiwei answered as he smiled.

　　When Teng Qingshan heard this, he sneered inwardly. If the four forms, the seventeenth to the twentieth, were already difficult for him, then what about the twenty-seventh form? Even if he obtained it, he wouldn’t be able to understand it.

　　“Mister Teng,” a voice which sounded like the tinkle of spring waters echoed out. Tantai Qing stared at Teng Qingshan with a bright smile as she said, “The Tantai Clan has also prepared one of the《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》 stone inscriptions. If Mister is really willing to aid the Tantai Clan, we can even lend it to you for a hundred years.”

　　“Oh?” Teng Qingshan looked over and asked, “Which form is it?”

　　Tantai Qing answered while smiling, “The fifth.”

　　“The fifth form?” Teng Qingshan couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.

　　One would need to start off from the earth element to pick up the 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》, which meant that the beginning moves contained the Earth Elemental Dao. Later on, it would gradually assimilate with the Metal Elemental Dao. According to Teng Qingshan’s speculation, the fifth form should describe a rather profound part of the Earth Elemental Dao.

　　“Mister.” Fu Dao smiled and said, “The Fu Clan has also prepared a stone inscription for Mister.

　　“You have one too?” Teng Qingshan was slightly surprised.

　　Suddenly, Teng Qingshan realized…

　　The thirty-six stone inscriptions were really difficult to damage. Even if it suffered damage, it would still restore itself. There were only a certain number of great clans in this continent, yet there were likely to be many clans which were secretly in possession of the stone inscriptions. Even if the clans that wanted to invite him didn’t have a stone inscription, they might have expended an enormous amount of money to purchase a stone inscription from other clans.

　　“Fu Dao, which form does the Fu Clan possess?” Teng Qingshan asked with a smile.

　　“The eleventh,” Fu Dao answered.

　　“Oh?” Hearing this reply, Teng Qingshan was exhilarated.

　　The twelfth form was among the six stone inscriptions he had obtained from the Rising Sun Trading Company. As the twelfth form was very profound, Teng Qingshan could only understand some of it. Due to his inability to understand it completely, he couldn’t proceed with any further examination of the stone inscription. Therefore, he started analyzing the other four stone inscriptions.

　　“With the eleventh form, which is before and easier than the twelfth form, it will be sufficient for improving my Earth Elemental Dao and the Metal Elemental Dao substantially. I may even be able to reach the Emptiness Realm,” Teng Qingshan thought to himself. He secretly felt a sense of joy. Both the eleventh form and the Tantai Clan’s fifth form would be of great benefit to him.

　　Of course, the Wu Clan’s twenty-seventh form would be useless.

　　“If Mister agrees to help when the Fu Clan obtains the deposit of the Fiery Gilt Ores, the Fu Clan is also willing to give ten percent of the total amount of ores excavated,” Fu Dao added.

　　Immediately, the members of the Tantai Clan and the Wu Clan both looked at Fu Dao in astonishment.

　　The Fu clan was also giving ten percent of the Fiery Gilt Steel Ores?

　　“Mister is not part of any clan. Thus, the Fiery Gilt Steel Ores would be useless to you.” Wu Baiwei smiled as he stared at Teng Qingshan and said, “But if Mister needs this Fiery Gilt Steel Ores, once the Wu Clan obtains the deposit, the Wu Clan is also willing to give 20% of the total amount to Mister.”

　　Unfortunately, the pitiful Wu Baiwei didn’t know that…

　　Teng Qingshan had already rejected him secretly.

　　“Haha, I didn’t expect everyone to come so quickly.” Hearty laughter rang out, and a figure walked over quickly.

　　“Yan Baishou?” The members of the Tantai Clan, the Wu Clan, and the Fu Clan were shocked.

　　“Yan Baishou greets Mister Teng.” The big-bearded, hefty man dressed in a white leather coat cupped his hands together as he spoke with a smile, “The Yan Clan is situated at the northern side of the Easter Flower Region. Although I travelled hastily overnight by myself, I still arrived later than the others. However, the Yan Clan’s wish to invite Mister is exceedingly sincere.”

　　“How sincere?” Teng Qingshan laughed. He had a somewhat good impression of this hefty fellow.

　　When Yan Baishou saw this, he was secretly delighted and continued saying, “The Yan Clan has made an agreement with another clan. We have gathered three stone inscriptions of the 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》. If Mister is willing to help the Yan Clan, we will lend the three stone inscriptions to Mister for several decades.”