The Nine Cauldrons

“Whoosh~ Whoosh~”

The cold wind howled endlessly, and a single living creature couldn’t be seen anywhere in the cold, frozen Tianfeng Canyon. Even an Inner Strength expert venturing into this canyon would be instantly frozen from a blow of the cold winds. This cold and desolate canyon was where the Tianfeng Martial Immortal practiced and where his palace was located.

A solitary palace stood deep within the canyon. Inside the palace, there was only a single sculpture made of ice. The floor was covered with an animal skin rug. Aside from the rug and the sculpture, there was nothing else in the palace. The black-clothed Tianfeng Martial Immortal and the silver-robed Steel Sword Martial Saint, Helian Haoyan, sat down cross-legged across from each other.

“Hao Yan, your arm is still the same as before it was broken, right?” Tianfeng Martial Immortal asked with little concern.

“Yep, it’s very good.” Helian Haoyan nodded his head and waved his right arm around. “It’s like it was never broken. Unfortunately, the rest of the Dreamy Cloud White Fruit is almost used up. Hmph, it’s all because of Teng Qingshan’s weird fiery bird!” A fierce glint flashed in Helian Haoyan’s eyes.

In the whole Duanmu Continent, only the Tianfeng clan understood beast language. So, it was easiest for the Tianfeng Clan to look for the Dreamy Cloud White Fruit. The Rising Sun Trading Company had requested Teng Qingshan to search for it, but the Tianfeng clan had half of the Dreamy Cloud White Fruit left from years ago, and they used it to help Helian Haoyan grow back his arm.

“Weird Fiery Blaze Bird....” The Tianfeng Martial Immortal’s eyes narrowed. “Never have I seen a creature like that in Duanmu continent. Who knows where or how Teng Qingshan got his hands on it.”

Tianfeng Martial Immortal really desired to possess the Blue Luan.

“Haoyan, is there any news of Teng Qingshan?” Tianfeng Martial Immortal asked.

“Teng Qingshan is a coward; he has been hiding inside Dreamy Cloud Ancient City this entire time,” Helian Haoyan said with hatred in his voice. “Two days ago, he and that girl, Li Jun, got married, but only a few people were invited. After the wedding, he continued to stay in the East Flowery Garden to practice and spend time with his wife. He rarely ever comes out.”

The Tianfeng Martial Immortal’s eyebrows knitted together. “Haoyan, from today onwards, send someone else to take care of the clan’s problems. Stay here with me and practice instead.”

“Teacher?” Helian Haoyan was shocked.

“Haoyan, you must attain the Emptiness Realm!” The Tianfeng Martial Immortal bellowed. “Teng Qingshan has great potential. When I fought with him at Ox-Head Mountain, I realized that he had just reached the Emptiness Realm! To attain Emptiness Realm at such a young age means that he has great potential ahead of him. And the worst thing is that he’s tight with the Mu Clan and feels animosity toward the Tianfeng Clan. While he is hiding in Dreamy Cloud Ancient City, I can’t kill him at all.”

“Then... what if his power increases drastically?” Helian Haoyan said fearfully.

“Don’t worry.”

The Tianfeng Martial Immortal said confidently, “He is only a Novice Emptiness Realm Expert. He has not yet achieved Harmonization of the Spirit and the Heavens and the Earth. As for me, I have been in the Emptiness Realm for 200 years. How can he ever compare to me? Even if he is a fast learner, to catch up with me, he will need at least 50 years. Haoyan, you must attain the Emptiness Realm. This way, I will have confidence to go against old man Mu.”

“Got it.” Helian Haoyan nodded.

“Also, pass this down. Once Teng Qingshan leaves Dreamy Cloud Ancient City, report to me at once,” Tianfeng Martial Immortal ordered.

“Yes, Teacher,” Helian Haoyan said obediently as he also wanted to kill Teng Qingshan.

“Teacher, how are we going to split the nine lotus seeds” Helian Haoyan asked.

“The lotus seeds have magical effects. Eating just one will improve one’s Spirit, which is enough to achieve breakthrough and attain the Innate Realm. When the True Dan Innate Experts Martial Saints eat them, they can instantly become Golden Dan Innate Experts Martial Saints!” The Tianfeng Martial Immortal bellowed. “The lotus seeds cannot be wasted. We must be careful in selecting the people who will eat them. Whoever wants to eat a seed must have my approval...... There is no need to rush into using the nine lotus seeds. Who knows, maybe a talented one will appear in the Tianfeng clan.”

Some talented ones were smart and had strong willpower, but their ‘Spirit’ was naturally weak. For example, in the Land of Nine Prefectures, the experts with Earthly rankings were not necessarily weaker than the Innate Experts when it came to intellect and willpower. However, their ‘Spirit’ was no match for the Innate Experts.

Once they were given a lotus seed, their lives would change completely.

“Go home and set up arrangements, and then return here.” Tianfeng Martial Immortal waved his hand. “Alright, get going.”

Teng Qingshan naturally knew that the Tianfeng Clan would spy on him. At the Ox-Head Mountain, when Teng Qingshan forced Tianfeng Martial Immortal to hand over the antidote, the Tianfeng Martial Immortal had swallowed his pride and resentment, and done it for the sake of his clan. However, as he swallowed his pride and resentment, he also had thoughts about killing Teng Qingshan.

However......

Teng Qingshan did not care!

......

Inside Dreamy Cloud Ancient City, at the East Flowery Garden within the Rising Sun Inner City:

Morning came, and the sky was still gloomy when Teng Qingshan and Li Jun woke up together.

“Wash your face.” Li Jun put a bowl of warm water on the table.

Teng Qingshan looked at her and smiled, as they gazed at each other warmly.

“Alright, I’m going to go practice my martial arts. I’ll be back for breakfast later.” Teng Qingshan washed his face, still smiling.

Li Jun nodded her head and smiled happily.

He walked down the stairs and into the hallway, facing the mirror-like lake before him. The whole East Flowery Garden was built on the lake, so every morning when Teng Qingshan practiced his martial arts, he practiced on the lake.

“Teacher.”

“Teacher.” Teng Shou and Yang Dong practiced boxing on top of a floating plank beside Teng Qingshan.

Although Teng Shou used an axe and Yang Dong used a sword, their daily morning practice was a necessity. Teng Qingshan’s fist arts were his main cultivation, while the the sword art and axe art were the techniques he used to kill the enemies.

“Mm.” Teng Qingshan leapt up and floated down like a leaf on the lake.

Stepping on the surface of the water without sinking, small whirlpools formed under Teng Qingshan’s feet.

“Since the time I comprehended the Axe Art and created fist arts, the 《Earth Element Fist》and the 《Fire Element Fist》have both reached the eighth move, while the 《Metal Element Fist》 has reached the seventh move. However, I can feel that I am now only one step away and just unable to breakthrough.” Teng Qingshan felt very impatient and anxious, but it was impossible to rush the cultivation of the Dao of Heaven.

Teng Qingshan calmed his mind. Immediately, using his knife-hand as a replacement of the axe, he started practicing the art of the axe! These arts of the axe were understood by Teng Qingshan after he studied the 《Thirty-six Sky Splitting Forms》. Almost everyday, the axe art which Teng Qingshan comprehended was slightly different.

After practicing the art of the axe, Teng Qingshan’s mind calmed down.

Soon after, he started practicing his fist art.

He practiced the 《Earth Element Fist》 for a long time before switching to the 《Fire Element Fist》.

“Chi-”

Although he did not summon his full strength, Teng Qingshan’s every fist made the grounds tremble around him. As he practiced the 《Fire Element Fist》, its concept progressed continually until it reached the concept of the eighth move, which struck with a power that was as strong as an volcano eruption tearing apart the heavens and the earth.

“Unfortunately, only eight moves were created.”

At this time, Teng Qingshan felt the sunlight on his body. He couldn’t help lifting his head to look at it, only to find himself staring at the horizon far toward the east. The red sun had just risen above the horizon, and this morning sun was not harsh but warm and comfortable.

“Morning sun... It’s still the sun. It’s always hot, but we just can’t feel it right now.

“Far from the sun, we look at it, and we can only feel its warmth.

“But if we go near, it will disintegrate everything around it.”

Teng Qingshan squinted his eyes and looked at the red sun.

“Crack!”

Suddenly, it seemed as if bolt of lightning flashed inside Teng Qingshan’s mind. Although Teng Qingshan had originally felt that he’d been unable to achieve a breakthrough, he had now caught the crucial point. It was like finding the key to the lock. Slowly, a childlike smile appeared on Teng Qingshan’s face.

In the meantime, he just stood on the surface of the water, looking at the morning sun quietly.

At this moment—

As Li Jun finished making breakfast, she looked at the porridge and smiled. Although there are maids to prepare the meals, Li Jun still enjoyed cooking for Teng Qingshan personally.

Suddenly, voices yelled for her from the outside, “Madam, madam!”

“Huh?” Li Jun walked out, confused.

“Madam, look over there,” Yang Dong said, pointing toward Teng Qingshan. Teng Shou also pointed in that direction.

Teng Qingshan rarely had times when he went blank while practicing.

“Qingshan is......” Li Jun also looked at the silhouette standing on the lake.

Then suddenly—

Teng Qingshan, who was far away, started moving again. He started practicing his martial arts. This time, it was 《Fire Element Fist》. However, Li Jun and the others felt that this time, Teng Qingshan’s 《Fire Element Fist》 was totally different.

However, they couldn’t really tell the difference.

Teng Qingshan struck fist after fist, and when the eighth move was performed, he turned and stepped forward. Then he threw out a horizontal punch... a very easy and simple horizontal punch.

“Boom~~~”

The whole space before him shook forcefully, and the grass and trees flourishing by the lake quivered before disintegrating into nothing.

“Teacher’s fists don’t contain Supreme Force, so why......” Yang Dong said in shock.

“Qingshan has never destroyed the plants around him when he practices martial arts,” Li Jun also said in shock.

On top of the lake, Teng Qingshan smiled. The air around him appeared faintly warped. Li Jun and the others looked at Teng Qingshan’s surroundings, and they were all twisted.

A faint stream of fiery red light enveloped Teng Qingshan’s body, making him look like a supernatural entity.

“Buzz~~~”

The water below Teng Qingshan parted into a circle around him, rippling out into strong waves.

......

In the Rising Sun Inner City, the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal was sitting cross-legged in front of a table and stroking his enormous wolf-head war saber while meditating. Then suddenly, he opened his eyes.

Mu Wang, who was sitting beside him, looked at the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal in surprise. “Teacher, what’s wrong?”

Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal looked toward the east. “Mu Wang, did you feel that?”

“Feel what?”

Mu Wang looked toward the east, unsure. “There seems to be a faint Spiritual Power of Fire vibrating. It’s faint. What’s so special about it?”

“No, this is not a normal motion of the Spiritual Power.” The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal looked toward the east and said, “From today onwards, the continent has one more Martial Immortal.”

“The Emptiness Realm?” Mu Wang’s eyes widened.

It was the untouchable Emptiness Realm...... the Emptiness Realm he had been dreaming about!

“Teng Qingshan has attained the Emptiness Realm.”