The Nine Cauldrons

After watching the Sixth Elder and his cohorts leave, Teng Qingshan opened the 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》.

“Big Brother Teng, is this Emperor Yu’s secret record of his fist arts?” Li Jun drew closer to look.

The secret record was very thin. The images within the secret record were drawings of a man demonstrating all thirty-six moves of the《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》. Teng Qingshan flipped through the secret record. As he inspected the secret record, Teng Qingshan naturally memorized the moves contained within.

He began to memorize more and more moves—the first move, the second move, third move...

As Teng Qingshan memorized more and more moves, he actually felt something was off. All of these continuous moves that Teng Qingshan saw and memorized was actually causing his heart to palpitate.

Teng Qingshan then saw the thirty-sixth move!

The thirty-six continuous moves seemed to transform into an enormous axe, causing Teng Qingshan to feel a somewhat agitated.

“Phew! Phew!” Drops of perspiration covered Teng Qingshan’s forehead and his face paled slightly.

“Big Brother Teng, what happened?” Seeing this, Li Jun, who was standing off to the side, was slightly surprised.

“Such a terrifying technique.” An unconcealed shock could be seen in Teng Qingshan’s eyes as he said to himself, “These thirty-six moves....Just the integrated and connected moves are actually able to produce an indescribable concept!” Teng Qingshan finally realized...That the thirty-six moves were actually interpretations of the Dao of Heavens!

Although Teng Qingshan didn’t understand the Dao of Heavens, he still felt the powerful pressure coming from the thirty-six moves!

“Big Brother Teng, are you alright?” Li Jun was slightly nervous.

“Little Jun.” Teng Qingshan glanced at her and smiled. “I am fine.”

As Teng Qingshan looked back at the secret record in his hand, he recalled the things that happened on Bright Moon Island.

“In the past, when I inspected the Celestial Jade Annulus, I only studied the beginning and didn’t dare delve any deeper.” Teng Qingshan sighed and thought to himself, “If I was overconfident and tried to sense and perceive the Dao of Sword contained within the Celetial Jade Annulus, I would have absorbed it to the point of bursting and the Spirit within my Niwan Palace would also have suffered damage.”

The secret record within Teng Qingshan’s hand was just a copy of the thirty-six moves. It was not something directly left by Emperor Yu. Yet it still possessed such power!

Thus, one could imagine just how powerful the 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》were.

“There’s still about a month until the 16th of August. I will try to practice this axe art during this month and see if it helps when comprehending the great Dao and creating new spear arts!” Teng Qingshan headed into the room and took out the Splitting Mountain Axe that was inside the chest!

The surface of the Splitting Mountain Axe was like a shield. As Teng Qingshan griped this shield-like section, he could faintly feel the power and strength contained within the Divine Axe.

Teng Qingshan walked out onto the spacious grassland by the Crescent Moon Lake.

“Uncle, are you practicing the axe?” Little Ping stared at the Splitting Mountain Axe in Teng Qingshan’s hand.

“Don’t tell me that Little Ping wishes to learn as well?” joked Teng Qingshan.

Little Ping promptly shook her head and answered, “Little Ping can’t possibly learn this.”

“Okay, go find Little Jun. Uncle has to practice wielding the axe.” Teng Qingshan didn’t talk much. He scrutinized the 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》again, and after memorizing everything clearly, he began practicing the thirty-six moves of the axe art!

“I wonder how many times Emperor Yu practiced this axe art with the Splitting Mountain Axe! The Splitting Mountain Axe contained the Dao of Emperor Yu’s world! If I practice with this Splitting Mountain Axe, I should be able to get twice the result with half the effort.”

Teng Qingshan began practicing, one move after the other.

Teng Qingshan moved very slowly during his first attempt. He had to confirm that none of his moves were were incorrect, and also had to pay close attention to his steps, postures, etc. As for how the Innate True Origin should be utilized, that was something that Teng Qingshan needed to learn by himself.

Teng Qingshan became slightly faster the second time around..

By the fifth time there was no longer any need for Teng Qingshan to pay close attention to his own posture. He could now experience and learn the concepts of the thirty-six moves of fist art with all his heart and mind.

By the eighth time—

“Eh?” Teng Qingshan suddenly stopped and thought to himself, “This 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》is not just a fist art, but is also a body art! A very nimble and swift body art!” Teng Qingshan now saw each of the thirty-six drawings in a new light.. He could now perceive and marvel at the fineness contained in each of the steps.

“This set of steps is very similar to the 《Swimming Pisces Body Art》I created in the beginning! Its feel like this set of steps even contain the 《Dao of Water Element》”

Teng Qingshan immediately began practicing the axe art according to his own comprehensions..

Since Teng Qingshan himself was accomplished in this Dao, practicing was significantly easier.

By the twelfth time—

“If I guessed correctly, the first form of the 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》should contain the Dao of the Earth Element, therefore, it should be performed this way!” Teng Qingshan drew an arc with the enormous axe in his hand, slowly pushing it forward, as if he was pushing a mill. A powerful and heavy concept was naturally formed before it.

Rumble~~~

The Earth Elemental Spiritual Qi of the Heavens and Earth even vibrated.

“Such a powerful defensive move! The first move is the Hand Rising Form, which has certain similarities with the Transmutation Unity Law that was developed through the Horizontal Fist of the Five Element Fist! The surface of the enormous axe is like a shield, and when I use this move with the axe, it creates an even stronger defence than my spear art!”

Teng Qingshan began inspecting and studying this set of axe arts.

This is Emperor Yu’s greatest technique! Emperor Yu once said that the 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》is even more powerful than the《Nine Cauldrons Heavenly Book》. However with just the thirty-six drawings....it is impossible for others to learn this ultimate technique. Teng Qingshan only managed to comprehend the steps and concepts in the first move because of his achievements in the 《Dao of Earth Element》and the《Dao of Water Element》.

As Teng Qingshan was immersed in cultivation, he couldn’t care less about any other things. The pitiful Teng Shou could only practice the Three Postures, Five Element Fist, and the Twelve Forms of Xing Yi that Teng Qingshan had taught him during the first few days. At this moment, his teacher wasn’t paying any attention to him.

By the ninth of August, the weather had become increasingly cold, and a thick layer of ice was formed atop the Crescent Moon Lake.

“Elder Sister Jun, since Uncle began practicing axe art, he hasn’t eaten or drunk anything.” Little Ping stared at the blurry figure from afar. It was Teng Qingshan, who was still practicing the axe art. His body repeatedly flashed, and instantly moved.. The whole scene appeared very strange, but both Little Ping and Li Jun kept their cool.

“It’s alright. He will be angry if we disturb him.” Li Jun said helplessly.

“Elder Sister Jun.” Little Ping suddenly whispered.

“Eh?” Li Jun looked at Little Ping as she answered.

“Do you like Uncle very much?” Little Ping asked.

“You are just a little girl, what do you know?” Li Jun blushed slightly.

LIttle Ping hastily answered, “Elder Sister Jun, I have seen many things. When I was a maid, I have seen many things that the young masters and ladies. Elder Sister Jun, I can tell you like Uncle very much. Also.....sometimes, even though you weren’t satisfied with the decisions that that Uncle made, you still endured!”

TLN: I really wonder.. what she had seen between the young masters and ladies..”

Indeed....

Teng rarely discussed his decisions with other people. When he said travel, they traveled. When he said live at the bottom of the Godly Axe Mountain, they lived there! As for Li Jun, while she might have the desire to go sightseeing around Duanmu Continent....she doesn’t want to go against Teng Qingshan, nor did she want to trouble him.

Teng Qingshan would practice martial arts, and she would cook.

When Teng Qingshan dirtied his clothes, she would wash them.

When Teng Qingshan encountered a demonic beast, Li Jun wouldn’t think it troublesome at all and would give an explanation by his side.

Li Jun served Teng Qingshan with all her heart.

“Elder Sister Jun, if you always go along with him, you will suffer in the future.” Little Ping said like a little adult, “I think Uncle’s heart is completely set on cultivating. If you continue doing that.....you will just end up...frittering all your time away.”

“Then tell me..what should I do?” Like a critically ill patient turning to any doctors he could find, Li Jun was so desperate that she asked a nine years old girl.

Li Jun just felt so helpless....She has desperately followed Teng Qingshan and she expressed her affection very clearly. Even as a girl, she still did something like that, yet Teng Qingshan had no reaction. What could she do?”

“Let me tell you, Elder Sister Jun.” Little Ping said confidently, “If you always treat a man well, he will become heartless! Therefore, you must learn to.....be cold to him first. For example, don’t make food for him and make him wash his own clothes! You always treated him well and now he’s used to it. You must learn to adjust to the situation!”

“It’s just like how the housekeepers of the great clans supervise the people under them. They can’t treat the servants too well; if they do, the servants will act inappropriately. They have to be cold and only give praise occasionally. This way, the servants will not only be obedient, they will also be thankful to the housekeeper.”

“Elder Sister Jun, you must learn this move and make him feel thankful to you!”

“Of course, you can’t offend him either.”

“You must use your brain to catch this man.”

Li Jun widened eyes shone as she listened.

She was originally from a wealthy family, but had suffered great disaster. After that, she had become the core member of the God of Heaven Palace, honored as the Goddess of the God of Heaven Mountain. Thus, how was it possible for her to know anything about relationships? Meanwhile, Little Ping, who was a maid in some clans and had seen many ways of the world, understood significantly more.

“Yes, Little Ping. You have to help you elder sister.” Li Jun hastily grabbed Little Ping’s hand.

She really desired Teng Qingshan to speak some romantic words to her one day.

“If I don’t help Elder Sister, who would I help?” Little Ping giggled. Suddenly, Little Ping’s facial expression froze.

“That—”

Li Jun also looked up..

In the sky above the Crescent Moon Lake, and on the surface of the lake itself, many dozen figures of Teng Qingshan could be seen. The figures seemed like Teng Qingshan’s clones, and each figure was performing a different move of the axe art.

A thin earthy yellow bladelike beam flew out from Teng Qingshan’s Splitting Mountain Axe.

This bladelike beam darted off like a bolt of lightning, flying into the dense forest ahead without making any sounds.

The several dozen figures dispersed and Teng Qingshan descended on the surface of the lake. He stepped on the thick ice and gazed at the forest before him.

“Whew!” Cold winds blasted past.

Crackcrack~~”

The thick, strong, and enormous trees began tilting slowly and soon the sounds of trees snapping was heard. The trees began to collapse one after the other! All the trees, rocks, weeds, and vines within a large ten-zhang area just half a zhang ahead of Teng Qingshan snapped cleanly.

It was as if all of them had been severed by an ethereal blade of light!

“Big Brother Teng!” Li Jun, Little Ping, the practicing Teng Shou, and Old Wang all ran over.

“Such terrifying power.” Teng Qingshan was extremely shocked.

“The bladelike beam is soundless and actually that thin!” Teng Qingshan exclaimed in astonishment. “The integration of power.....If I guess correctly, the cultivation of the 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》begins with the 《Dao of Earth Element》and then integrates with the 《Dao of Gold Element》....” After experiencing all these things, Teng Qingshan admired Emperor Yu even more.

“Unfortunately, the thirty-six drawings in this secret record were copied and drawn by someone else.

“If I could see the original carvings left by Emperor Yu, I would be able to comprehend a lot more through each carving, leading to a faster and better result!” Teng Qingshan was able to comprehend the concept of the moves only because he had a solid foundation. However, in the entire time he had been practicing, he had only cultivated up to the third move!

However, due to the fact that the steps of the 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》and his own《Swimming Pisces Body Art》corroborated one another, Teng Qingshan finally made progress in his《Swimming Pisces Body Art》.

Teng Qingshan determined that the realm he was now in would be the first level of the 《Swimming Pisces Body Art》

“Even if I can’t get the thirty-six stone inscriptions, it will be enough if I can see the Blunt Vanadium Stone Tablets. Since that is a printed copy of the original version, the drawing and words would be the same as the original version.” Teng Qingshan felt a great desire in his heart.

After cultivating for only half a month, the first level of the 《Swimming Pisces Body Art》became perfect.

Teng Qingshan even felt that there was hope of creating the seventh move of the 《Earth Element Fist》, in which he had neither improved nor progressed in for a long time.

There was even a possibility for his understanding of the《Dao of Gold Element》to experience a breakthrough.

“I was able to gain so much from just a secret record. If only I could get that set of Blunt Vanadium Stone Tablets!” Teng Qingshan made his decision and said to himself, “No matter what it takes, I will get those Blunt Vanadium Stone Tablets!”

......