The Nine Cauldrons

“Fang Clan of Danyang City?”

Teng Qingshan could not help but turn his gaze toward the crowd. The one in the lead amongst the people of Fang Clan was a middle-aged man who wore a black-colored fur coat. Teng Qingshan immediately saw a familiar-looking person behind the middle-aged man; it was Fang Hong, the personal bodyguard of the Young Master Li Teng Qingshan had killed!

Due to them being in close proximity, Fang Hong naturally noticed Teng Qingshan and his eyes widened in shock!

“Patriarch! Patriarch!” Fang Hong called out promptly.

“Hmm?” The Patriarch of Fang Clan glanced over with creased brows. “What’s the matter?”

“Patriarch, look ahead! The youth wearing a white cloak is Teng Qingshan, the one that killed young master!” Fang Hong hastily answered. Fang Hong hadn’t known Teng Qingshan’s name when Young Master Li died. However—the death of the young master by Teng Qingshan’s hand had enraged Fang Clan, which set off a detailed investigation behind the matter.

During the period when Teng Qingshan still resided within Danyang City, everything had been investigated thoroughly, including the name of Teng Qingshan.

“Teng Qingshan?” Upon the mention of that particular name, the eyes of the thin middle-aged man shone with a piercing light as he turned to look instantly.

At this moment, Teng Qingshan also glanced over.

Both gazes collided!

The corners of Teng Qingshan’s lips curled upward faintly. Afterwards, he turned around and strode into the garden in the company of Li Jun and the Second Elder from Rising Sun Trading Company.

“Second Brother, the handsome youth up ahead is Teng Qingshan?” Beside the Patriarch of Fang Clan, another middle-aged whose face shared a few points of similarity with the patriarch inquired, “From the looks of it, he seems rather young. From the traces of battle left behind in the outside the city, it’s estimated that this Teng Qingshan is a Martial Saint of the Golden Dan Innate Realm.”

Fang Clan’s lord harrumphed coldly, “Cease the nonsense, let’s go. Enter!”

With this, the Patriarch of Fang Clan strode into the garden with four men behind him.

In the garden, there was a square-shaped hall that was nearly two Zhang (est 6 meters) wide. At the moment, the pathway was furnished with high quality, dark ink stone tables. Surrounding each of these tables were six sandalwood chairs. At present, nearly thirty tables had been filled up with over twenty clans!

Next to each table, two beautiful maids served their respective guests.

Beside a dark ink stone table that was situated near the entrance.

A lithe and graceful young married woman sporting a purple fur coat held the hands of a girl who wore a pink marten coat. “Little Qing, you only stayed over for a short while the last visit. After the auction, you must stay over at my place for at least a few days. Your aunt really misses you.”

“I understand, Sister Lan.” A slight smile emerged onto the lady’s face, like the blossoming of a flower in the middle of winter. Below her brows shaped like the leaves of willows were a pair of eyes that resembled the limpid autumn waters, and were able to move the hearts of men.

“Little lass, you are growing more gorgeous with each passing year.” The young woman could not help sighing. She then swept her gaze around the vicinity, “Look, in the garden there are quite a number of young gentlemen with influential backgrounds who attended the auction, some of whom have cast occasional glances at you. Just a moment before, Young Master Murong even addressed you as the first beauty under the heavens. There are many young masters that wish to court you.”

The young lady snorted lightly. “Hmph, we’ll talk about that when they become Martial Saints.”

“Hmm, the Second Elder of Rising Sun Trading Company is here.” The young lady looked to the entrance.

They saw the Second Elder walking over, accompanying Teng Qingshan and Li Jun. Teng Qingshan had a lofty figure, yet possessed a rather delicate face with pupils resembling that of black jade. Although he was not exceptionally good-looking, with a closer look, he exuded the aura of an expert. Had it been the average person, attending a grand event such as this would undoubtedly render them timid.

“Who are other two?” the young lady inquired.

“I don’t recognize them.” The woman with the purple coat shook her head puzzled.

“From the looks of it, the Second Elder of Rising Sun Trading Company seems to value the youth greatly. As the three walked, that youth had always been walking in the middle!” The young lady was befuddled. “Where did this fellow come from?”

In the square-shaped hall, the crowd of various influential families looked over and began their small discussions.

The characters from the upper echelons of Duanmu Continent were few in number.

Excluding the prominent families, there merely remained several powerful Martial Saints. Generally, they would have heard of them! Yet, amongst them, none of them knew the identity of Teng Qingshan.

As Teng Qingshan and crew entered the garden, the people of Fang Clan entered a moment after them.

“Mister Teng!” A resounding voice rang out abruptly, causing a number of people to look toward the source of the voice. They saw the Patriarch of Wang Clan in Nanshan City, ‘Wang Meng’, walk up to them with a smile.

“Mister, you also came.”

At this moment, a loud and hearty voice sounded. It belonged to Fu Dao who carried an enormous machete on his back as he also strutted over to greet Teng Qingshan.

This particular scene surprised numerous prominent clans that witnessed it.

“Who in the world is that person? Even Thunder Blade Martial Saint ‘Fu Dao’ refers him as mister?”

“That youth... what exactly is his identity?”

Although they were astonished, the respective individuals from each clan were people who had significant statuses. And so they remained seated, and merely exchanged views and discussions with their acquaintances nearby.

“Look, Rising Sun Trading Company’s Eldest Elder also went up!”

“The Eldest Elder, the Rising Sun Martial Saint, also welcomed him personally?”

This scene gave the audience an even greater shock.

Whether it be the identity of the ‘Eldest Elder’ who held the greatest authority of Rising Sun Trading Company, or the title of the unparalleled one amongst the experts ranked below Martial Immortals, they both warranted an extremely high position within Duanmu Continent. However, when faced with this youth, the Eldest Elder actually welcomed him personally...

“He is probably a powerful expert.” The eyes of the young lady who wore a pink marten coat lit up.

......

Teng Qingshan observed the Eldest Elder that stood before him just as he was being observed by the Eldest Elder.

The Eldest Elder had caught wind of Teng Qingshan’s matters, and he knew that the juvenile standing before him possessed startling strength.

While Teng Qingshan had also heard of the number one expert amongst the experts ranked below the Martial Immortals. That title was not to be taken lightly.

‘The number one expert amongst the experts ranked below the Martial Immortals? I am confident that none of the experts ranked below the Emptiness Realm are worthy of being my opponent. I am number one amongst the experts, and if I were to battle with the Rising Sun Martial Saint, I wonder who would emerge victorious!’ Teng Qingshan muttered in his mind. Even without a competition, Teng Qingshan had full confidence in himself!

An unshakeable confidence in his own strength!

‘This Eldest Elder has the appearance of a youth.’ Teng Qingshan praised mentally as he studied the Eldest Elder that stood before him. ‘He must’ve been really young when he attained the Innate Realm. Otherwise, it’d be extremely difficult to maintain such a youthful appearance.’

Teng Qingshan had the appearance of a delicate juvenile, while the Eldest Elder had retained a youthful appearance, but the hair on his temples contained a few shreds of silver. His brows were like a pair of sharp blades, and his abstruse gaze seemed like a deep and gloomy pond.

“Teng Qingshan!” A faint trace of a smile appeared on the Eldest Elder’s face.

Despite him attaching importance to Teng Qingshan... Teng Qingshan had yet to possess the requirements for the elder to address him as ‘mister’.

“Eldest Elder.” Teng Qingshan’s gaze was on the elder’s back and stopped on the handle of the terrifying blade.

Next to him, the Second Elder chuckled. “Let’s take a seat over there.”

Rising Sun Trading Company had a significant amount of people on their side, so they took up two tables.

“Rustle, rustle~”

The maid who waited by the side immediately poured tea for Teng Qingshan and Li Jun.

“Big Brother Teng, there are so many people looking at us.” Li Jun giggled, “That young lady on the side looks so pretty.”

Teng Qingshan peered at the square-shaped hall, and after he had spotted a young lady wearing a pink marten coat, his gaze could not help but brighten! Based on her appearance, this young lady definitely belonged to the highest levels that Teng Qingshan had ever encountered. Based on her countenance, she was a realm prettier than Li Jun, and was equal to Zhuge Qing.

“Qing Qing...” The image of a young lady that was as pure as a Goddess that had descended from heaven appeared in Teng Qingshan’s mind.

“Big Brother Teng, what’s wrong?” Li Jun inquired in a small voice.

“It’s nothing.” Teng Qingshan shook his head, and did not continue.

At the center of the square-shaped hall was a pond. A pavilion was constructed in the middle of the pond! From the hallway, there was a blackstone path that led toward the pavilion.

Teng Qingshan and the Eldest Elder chatted casually.

“Eldest Elder, when will the auction begin?”

“At noon sharp! If everyone arrives ahead of time, then the auction will start earlier.” The elder laughed.

“Tianfeng Clan has arrived!”

A resounding voice traveled from the entrance of the garden. In an instant, the entire garden quieted down, and everyone turned their attention to the entrance in unison.

“Tianfeng Clan... The number one clan of Duanmu Continent?” Teng Qingshan glimpsed over.

A total of eight people, dressed uniformly in thick, snow-white cloaks, walked in. Amongst the eight were two gorgeous woman. The man who led at the forefront looked to be between thirty and forty years of age. One could slightly tell that he must have looked handsome and extraordinary in his early days. He touched his mustache and surveyed the garden, revealing a smile.

“Brother Helian!”

“Haoxing!”

Within the garden, many stood up and greeted him enthusiastically.

Whereas no one on the Rising Sun Trading Company’s side budged, not even in the slightest.

“Brother Teng, this person is called Helian Haoxing! He’s the third brother of the current Patriarch of Tianfeng Clan. He’s also someone of capability.” The Eldest Elder laughed, “If the Tianfeng Clan also wish to fight for the Blunt Vanadium Stone Tablets, then it will be slightly troublesome for us.”

Although the Eldest Elder said that, Teng Qingshan could sense... through the Eldest Elder’s words that... the Eldest Elder held no fear of Tianfeng Clan.

“Big Brother Teng, someone is transporting the chests over,” Li Jun whispered.

Teng Qingshan flicked a glance toward the pavilion in the center of the pond, and saw three men, each hoisting a chest, walking rapidly to the pavilion. They placed the three iron chests in the pavilion and left as swiftly as they accomplished their task.

‘The Blunt Vanadium Stone Tablets should be in the three iron chests,’ Teng Qingshan thought.

“Everyone!” A deep voice echoed through the garden.

A chubby elder led three of his subordinates along the blackrock path and stopped at the pavilion. He smiled at the crowd, “Haha. This old man’s name is Situ Fan. It is this old man’s honor to be able to gather the prominent clans and experts in one spot.”

“Old Situ, just open the trunks. Let’s see what’s inside.” Laughter traveled over, and immediately, waves of laughter erupted in the crowd.

Situ Fan guffawed. “Alright, I shall cease the nonsense.”

“Open the chests!”

Under Situ Fan’s commands, the three subordinates opened the iron chests with thuds, revealing the Blunt Vanadium Stone Tablets that were stacked together.

Teng Qingshan’s eyes gleamed as he stared at the pavilion in the center.

“Hm?” He looked at his surroundings, and said to himself, “Looking at the situation, many clans have come here with a great desire for the set of Blunt Vanadium Stone Tablets. I hope the gold I prepared will be enough to buy the set of Blunt Vanadium Stone Tablets.” Teng Qingshan was not confident he could purchase the Blunt Vanadium Stone Tablet during the bid.