The Nine Cauldrons

Numbering over ten thousand, the core and outer disciples of the Black Armored Army and Gui Yuan Sect were divided into three massive groups. They gathered in the largest school ground of the Black Armored Army. Under the lead of the Sovereign, Zhuge Yuanhong, and many elders, the crowd of over ten thousand people started the Yearly Ceremony, worshipping Emperor Yu!

Then, the exciting competition began! Rewards would also be given to the winner of the competition.

However.....

Teng Qingshan didn’t join the Yearly Ceremony Competition, as the one in the limelight was the Young Sovereign, Zhuge Yun. Zhuge Yun’s Azure Lightning Sword Technique possessed extremely great power and continuously defeated more than ten people. Because Yue Song participated in the end, Zhuge Yun was forced to use the Nine Lightning Sword Technique, and actually defeated Yue Song!

In the blink of an eye, two months had passed since Teng Qingshan had joined the Black Armored Army. The dead of winter had passed, and the beginning of spring was now arriving.

In Teng Qingshan’s courtyard.

“Brother, you have to win this time!” Lady Qing shouted happily in the courtyard.

“I still think he’s going to lose.” Teng Qinghu said as he smiled proudly.

In the courtyard, Teng Qingshan and Zhuge Yun were currently sparring. Zhuge Yun seemed to

transform into an illusion as he moved at lightning speed around Teng Qingshan. Teng Qingshan only moved within an area of one Zhang, holding his spear with one hand as he blocked Zhuge Yun’s lightning fast trenchant sword every single time.

“Clang!” “Clang!” “Clang!” ......

The clashing sounds of the long spear and trenchant sword were very concentrated.

“Such a fast sword,.” Teng Qingshan said to himself in awe. “With just the speed of his sword, he could be considered the number one of the younger generation in the Gui Yuan Sect. Plus, Xiao Yun’s speed is as fast as mine when all of my physical strength is exerted.” Teng Qingshan’s body could be called monstrous. Even if Qingshan didn’t perform Crossing World, just the extreme speed his body could achieve was already terrifying.

Through this, one could see how amazing Zhuge Yun’s speed is.

“Haha......Xiao Yun. Your Nine Lightning Sword Technique is indeed as fast as lightning and as fluid as water. It’s also incorporated in your steps perfectly. Unfortunately, you couldn’t break my spear arts. No matter how fast your movement speed is, how could it overtake the speed of my spear?” Teng Qingshan laughed and said while he blocked, “If you don’t have any unique moves, you will still lose today!”

This was the third time Zhuge Yun and Teng Qingshan had competed in secret.

During the first two times, he lost. However, after every lost, Zhuge Yun would improve and be even stronger during the next fight. Unfortunately, Teng Qingshan’s Transmutation Unity Law

Defending Spear Art could be called a turtle shell.

Whew!

Zhuge Yun backed away rapidly and looked at Teng Qingshan solemnly as he spoke, “ Big brother Teng, the two previous fights with you caused me to successfully cultivate my “Nine Lightning Sword”. During this half a month, I have been learning One Line Sword. In Gui Yuan Sect’s Sword Arts, this is considered the supreme sword technique. I only have a limited understanding of it.

However, you should be careful!”

From Azure Lightning Sword Technique, Nine Lightning Sword, to One Line Sword; it was an advancing technique, progressing from one technique to another.

The practitioner can only learn One Line Sword after the Nine Lightning Technique is achieved.

“Oh?” Teng Qingshan’s eyes brightened.

“Don’t disappoint me then.” Teng Qingshan said as he accumulated strength for the next clash.

Zhuge Yun held his three Chi long Azure Trenchant Sword and gathered momentum.

Suddenly——

Zhuge Yun’s eyes suddenly became fierce and the three chi long sword disappeared from his hand. Teng Qingshan could only see a beam of azure light glowing in the front of him.

Just this beam of azure light!

“Bang!” Teng Qingshan’s physical strength instantly burst out and the long spear in his hand changed into a mirage!

“Clang!”

The long spear blasted away the Azure Trenchant Sword and touched Zhuge Yun’s chest once.

The Azure Trenchant Sword was thrown far away forcefully, and when it hit the wall, it caused the wall to shudder and a few cracks to appear. As for Zhuge Yun himself, after being touched by the spear, his whole body was thrown into the air by the powerful force. Crashing to the ground, Zhuge Yun stood up without any injuries. Teng Qingshan’s control of his strength was very good, thus, Zhuge Yun was not wounded at all.

“The sword just now was so quick.” Teng Qingshan was secretly surprised as he said, “I actually had to use more than twenty percent of my physical strength just then!”

Zhuge Yun’s sword was only a beam of azure light!

It was so quick that Teng Qingshan had to use twenty percent of his strength just to allow his long spear to catch up to the sword.

“Brother, you lost again.” Lady Qing chuckled and said.

“The sword just now was so fast.” Teng Qinghu praised, ““But Qingshan’s spear is even quicker!”

Zhuge Yun smiled helplessly and cast a glance at Teng Qingshan as he spoke, “Big brother Teng, you really are a monster! I achieved understanding in both the Azure Lightning Sword Technique and Nine Lightning Sword and have scanty knowledge of the One Line Sword. The power required by this One Line Sword consumed a massive amount of my inner strength! And the speed of my Nine Lightning Sword was extremely fast, yet you could still resist it!”

“Xiao Yun, your sword art is very terrifying indeed. If it was even faster, I’m afraid that even I wouldn’t be able to handle it.” Teng Qingshan praised, “If it wasn’t because I practiced the 《Vigor of the Reckless Bull》, I wouldn’t be able to go against that strike.”

Zhuge Yun’s sword was very fast indeed!

“My father said that among the sword arts of this world, only fast speed is unbreakable! Once I have succeeded in comprehending the One Line Sword, I will definitely be recorded in the seventy-two people of the Earthly Ranking!” Zhuge Yun said confidently.

“Only fast speed is unbreakable?” Teng Qingshan smiled, yet he did not agreed with this point.

Nothing is invincible or unbreakable. For a sword art to be extremely fast is indeed scary, but if the opponent’s body is extremely strong and your strike can’t even wound the opponent, how could you possibly win?

Extreme Yang against extreme Yin. Extreme speed against an extremely strong defense......

In this world, the paths are divided into millions and when each path reached the end, it would

always be terrifying.

“When I can attain ten percent of my father’s ability, then I can win against you and rule the world.” Zhuge Yun said.

Zhuge Qing beside giggled and said, “Brother, do you think you can catch up to father with your character? You don’t even practice your sword for three hours everyday. You should go ask the martial uncles. When father was young, he practiced the sword everyday, and even slept with his sword in his arms! During that time, he was called the Sword Demon. Father is far more diligent than you. However, it’s weird that father won’t even touch sword now. All he does everyday is draw or play chess. Wouldn’t father worry that his ability might decrease?”

“What do you know. Father’s sword has reached an unfathomable level!” Zhuge Yun said with veneration in his eyes.

Teng Qingshan felt his heart move.

“Just how strong is the Sovereign, Zhuge Yuanhong?” Teng Qingshan asked himself. Teng Qingshan really wanted to challenge Zhuge Yuanhong once. “However, he is hiding his ability so deeply that I can’t feel how powerful his ability actually is! But the strength Xiao Yun showed is already powerful enough. Then what about Sovereign? The innate expert?

Teng Qingshan only admired Zhuge Yun’s ability, but he didn’t care about it at all.

Among the postliminary experts, no one could be considered his opponent. The only ones that could threaten him were the far more frightening innate experts.

Although Teng Qingshan did desire to challenge the Sovereign, he didn’t want to expose his last trump card, therefore he could only endure this desire.

......

During the night, Teng Qingshan was practicing his spear arts alone in his courtyard.

Whew! Whew! Whew!

His long spear transformed into an illusion and sped through the air at an extremely fast pace.

“This Pursuing Shadow Spear Arts was developed through the Smashing Fist. With wood as its element, it should grow continuously. This Pursuing Shadow Spear Technique not only has to be quick, it should have the conception of endless growth and continuous succession.

Teng Qingshan was gradually improving upon the three great spear arts, Pursuing Shadow Spear Technique, Transmutation Unity Law Spear Technique, and Toxic Dragon Drill Spear Technique.

“Bang!” “Bang!”

Knocks on his door suddenly resounded.

Teng Qingshan withdrew his spear and walked over to open the door. A male disciple of the Gui Yuan Sect stood outside the door.

“Teng Qingshan, please come with me. The Sovereign requests your presence.” The disciple said.

“The Sovereign wants to see me?” Teng Qingshan asked in surprise.

“Yes.” The male disciple said as he nodded.

Although he was suspicious, Teng Qingshan still followed the male disciple out of the room with his long spear in hand and they headed towards the region belonging to the core disciples of the Gui Yuan Sect.

......

Outside Zhuge Yuanhong’s study room.

Teng Qingshan had already arrived outside the door and glimpses of light could be seen coming from inside the study. The male disciple then bowed and said, “Sovereign, Teng Qingshan is here.” With this, the male disciple left.

“Qingshan, come in.” A calm voice resounded from within the study.

“What does this Zhuge Yuanhong want? To take me in as his disciple?” Teng Qingshan had doubts in the depths of his heart, but his actions showed no hesitation. He went directly forward and pushed open the door of the study.

Creak!

The door to the room opened and Teng Qingshan saw Zhuge Yuanhong sitting in front of his study desk, reading a thread-bound book. When Zhuge Yuanhong heard the sound of the door opening, he placed his book down and looked towards Teng Qingshan with a smile,”Oh. Qingshan, carrying your spear even when you’re just coming here to see me. Now this explains why you could attain such a high level in spear arts at such a young age.

“I, Qingshan, know nothing else but only to practice assiduously.” Teng Qingshan replied.

“Ah!”

Zhuge Yuanhong smiled and nodded, “Not proud or arrogant, very good! I was really surprised when I heard that you broke Little Yun’s One Line Sword when you competed with him. It looks like the burst of your inner strength has grown a lot more stronger than during the competition for the position of the centurion. Regarding your 《Vigor of the Reckless Bull》, what stage have you practiced to?”

“The eighth stage.” Teng Qingshan answered.

Of course Teng Qingshan had successfully practiced all nine stages, but because of the meridians’ limit, the burst of strength Teng Qingshan exerted by relying on the inner strength would equal to around fifty thousand jin of his physical strength.

However, Teng Qingshan wouldn’t dare to tell Zhuge Yuanhong this.

If he had said that all nine stages had been successfully practiced, wouldn’t that mean that his eight extraordinary meridians were all fully opened?

“Yes. Your eight extraordinary meridians are almost all opened. Only the Conception and Governing Vessels haven’t opened..... It looks like... you encountered something very extraordinary in your past.” Zhuge Yuanhong praised. For someone to rely on himself to open this many meridians and only being at the age of seventeen is absolutely impossible.

“You have reached the eighth stage and combined with your spear arts, you should have the ability to be recorded in the 《Hidden Dragon Ranking》 of Prefectures.” Zhuge Yuanhong praised. He then continued saying, “However, don’t get too proud. Although your spear arts are very powerful, it seems like you have never learned the foundation of spear arts.

With this, Zhuge Yuanhong threw the book in his hand towards Teng Qingshan. Teng Qingshan caught it with a dumbfounded expression and when he looked down, he saw that there were four words written on the cover of the book. “Ardent Flame Spear Art.”

“This Ardent Flame Spear Art has a total of eighty-one techniques and each move is performed in cooperation with the inner strength. This can be considered a good human level secret martial arts. Learn the foundation of spear arts well. I believe this will also benefit your understanding of your own spear arts.” Zhuge Yuanhong said with a smile.

Teng Qingshan was secretly delighted.

His own spear arts were developed from the Five Elements Boxing, and he hadn’t learned even one technique of the spear arts of this world.

“Thank you, Sovereign.” Teng Qingshan hastily said.

“Alright, do your best on practicing. If you do, you will be able to be recorded in the Hidden Dragon Ranking》 and the 《Earthly Ranking》 which will reflect honor back onto the Gui Yuan Sect!” Zhuge Yuanhong smiled and said, “By the way, your barrack’s men will be heading to guard the Gui Yuan Sect’s gold mines at Huafeng City in a few days. You should prepare yourself first...... Plus, that Huafeng City is not far away from your hometown, Yi City. If there’s a chance, you can go back and take a look.”