The Nine Cauldrons

“Huhe. Has it already been four years since we last met?” A voice sounded. A plump monk donned in red stood at Pei San’s side. His eyes squinted as he grinned at Teng Qingshan.

“God of Heaven.” Teng Qingshan nodded, replying with a smile, “Indeed, it has.”

Although Teng Qingshan was speaking with the God of Heaven, he could sense the tension between the Heavenly God Palace and the Ying Family. In fact, every Emptiness Realm Expert could, particularly the hostility between the smiling Pei San and the cold-looking, golden-cloaked man. It was a quiet clash of two imposing mannerisms.

“Is this a fight of one’s Spirit?” Teng Qingshan felt an indescribable pressure. He couldn’t help but feel surprised.

“Brother Jing Yi.” Ying Haitong of the Ying Family walked over. Ignoring Pei San, he looked towards Teng Qingshan with a smile. “Come, let me introduce you to the people here.”

Teng Qingshan glanced apologetically at the great monk before walking over.

Ying Haitong pointed at a skinny man wearing a dark long purple cloak. “This is Wang Tong, the Grand Elder of my family.” The skinny Emptiness Realm Expert, Wang Tong, seemed very friendly as he smiled at Teng Qingshan. “Jing Yi, although I rarely leave my home, I have heard of your great name.”

“I am flattered.” Teng Qingshan replied with a grin.

“This.” Ying Haitong led Teng Qingshan to the man in the gold cloak.

Teng Qingshan held his breath as he stood before him... This was an Insightful Emptiness Realm Expert.

Judging from the appearance of the golden-cloaked man, it was evident that he rarely smiled. His entire being gave off a cold vibe. However, as Teng Qingshan approached, the man gave a rare smile. The corner of his mouth tried to curve up, which resulted in a very awkward looking smile...

“Jing Yi, I am Qin Shiqi.” The golden-cloaked man said to Teng Qingshan, smiling, “You can call me Brother Qin.”

“This person’s smile looked incredibly stiff.” Teng Qingshan thought to himself. He could tell that the mighty expert before him rarely smiled. In fact, he might have even had forgotten how to smile, which could be why his smile appeared so awkward. However, because of how off it seemed, Teng Qingshan could feel the man’s friendliness and goodwill.

Such proud, exceptionally powerful experts would usually never stoop so low as to engage in such hypocritical behavior.

However, if one did smile, it shows that they favoured you.

“Brother Qin.” Teng Qingshan had determined that Qin Shiqi was a potential friend.

“Jing Yi, I have heard that this disciple of mine had asked that you join the Ying Family. Is that such a difficult choice?” At this moment, the golden cloaked man couldn’t have been bothered with Pei San as he was focused entirely on Teng Qingshan. “The Ying Family has shown you good faith and sincerity. I hope that you do take it into consideration. What do you think?”

Teng Qingshan sighed inwardly...

Qin Shiqi was an Insightful Emptiness Realm Expert. Yet, he treated Teng Qingshan with humility. He was certainly courteous.

“Brother Qin.” Teng Qingshan pondered. Even as he faced the anticipating eyes of the Insightful Emptiness Realm Expert Qin Shiqi, he could only say, “As of now, I have no intention to join any sects. Even within the Heavenly God Palace, I am only a Foreign Dignitary. Someday, however, if I wished to join a sect, your sect will be my first choice. What do you think about that?”

“Ying Family is your first choice. I will remember this.” Qin Shiqi was not angry. Instead, he was delighted.

Right at that moment—

Whoosh! Whoosh!

A phantom descended at their side. It was a flying demonic beast that radiated a deep sense of terror in people’s hearts. The flying-type demonic beast was three Zhang in length. Its body was streamlined from its beak to its tail feathers. A thin layer of fur covered the surface of its body. Underneath the fur were pieces of black and brown scales that resembled the scales of a dragon and the demonic beast had emerald green eyes..

There were two figures on its back. One of them was Yu Tonghai, the Emptiness Realm Expert of Emperor Yu’s Hall, that Teng Qingshan was familiar with. However, Teng Qingshan did not recognize the other Emptiness Realm Expert.

“The other Emptiness Realm Expert must be from Emperor Yu’s Hall as well.” Teng Qingshan thought to himself and continued observing the flying-type Emptiness Realm Demonic Beast. “I have heard that Emperor Yu’s Hall possessed an Emptiness Realm Demonic Beast. Perhaps this is the one?”

“Haha... Qin Shiqi!” Yu Tonghai snickered as he hopped off the Emptiness Realm Demonic Beast and said, “Did you say that the Ying Family is Brother Jing Yi’s first choice? You are wrong. Brother Jing Yi had told me that if he ever wanted to join a sect, Emperor Yu’s Hall would be his first consideration.”

Qin Shiqi’s appeared indifferent. He cast a glance at Yu Tonghai and remained silent.

Teng Qingshan frowned and thought to himself, “How could Yu Tonghai say such words?”

The words that Teng Qingshan had said to both Emperor Yu’s Hall and the Ying Family were merely out of courtesy. If Teng Qingshan had to compare the two Supreme Sects, he preferred the friendly Ying Family more. In all honesty, he didn’t have a good impression of the seemingly friendly but really arrogant Emperor Yu’s Hall.

“Brother Jing Yi, am I right?” Yu Tonghai smiled as he walked to Teng Qingshan’s side.

In the Land of the Nine Prefectures, Emperor Yu’s Hall was infamously arrogant. Even though they would treat other Emptiness Realm Experts equally, the way they talked and the way they did things always gave off an arrogant vibe.

Meanwhile, from Yu Tonghai’s perspective...

Emperor Yu’s Hall had sent an invitation first! Moreover, it was Emptiness Realm Culmination Expert Yu Tonghai himself that had asked Jing Yi to join! Yet, this man would actually refuse?

Furthermore—

Emperor Yu’s Hall did not absolutely need Jing Yi and the Six Legged Bladelike Chi. Therefore, they naturally acted with a superior attitude.

“Brother Yu.” Teng Qingshan stared at Yu Tonghai, flashing him an innocent smile. “Brother Yu, what are you on about? Did I say that Emperor Yu’s Hall would be my first choice if I were to ever join a sect? Why can’t I remember saying this...”

Hearing this, Yu Tonghai’s expression changed. His face darkened as he raised his voice, “Jing Yi, you—”

At the side, the members of both the Ying Family and the Heavenly God Palace smirked. They were all aware that Emperor Yu’s Hall held the belief that their sect was number one in the Land of the Nine Prefectures only because their sect was founded by the first Omnipotent Expert Emperor Yu , also known as thee Splitting Mountain Martial Ancestor. Being the most ancient sect, the members of the Emperor Yu’s Hall held themselves proudly aloof.

Many were resentful of Emperor Yu’s Hall.

However, none of them could do anything about it. Emperor Yu had given Emperor Yu’s Hall so much support that it allowed them to remain powerful even to this day.

“Did I say anything like that?” Teng Qingshan pat his head as he spoke, “Ah, I am so sorry. I have poor memory. Brother Yu, I hope that you won’t mind.”

“I don’t.”

Yu Tonghai replied as he faked a smile before becoming silent

......

As the members of Emperor Yu’s Hall arrived, the Emptiness Realm Experts that knew each other well began chatting away. At this moment, Li Chao walked up to Teng Qingshan’s side and with the use of the Sound Transmission Technique said, “Brother Huhe, why did you argue with Yu Haitong? The members of Emperor Yu’s Hall have always been like that. It would be ill-advised to offend them.”

“Even the past generations of Emperor Yu’s Hall?” Teng Qingshan asked, bemused.

“Probably not every past generation. There might have been ones with good character. However, the teachings within Emperor Yu’s Hall have led their disciples to believe that Emperor Yu’s Hall is the most ancient, authentic, and powerful sect. In time, they were all influenced by this teaching.” Li Chao shook his head as he said, “However, Emperor Yu’s Hall is very powerful. So much so that even teacher is unwilling to provoke them.

“A sect like this actually remained powerful?” Teng Qingshan couldn’t understand why.

“They only treat outsiders with that attitude. Emperor Yu’s Hall itself is very united.” Li Chao explained with the use of the Sound Transmission Technique.

The Emptiness Realm Experts here were obviously divided into a few groups—Heavenly God Palace, Emperor Yu’s Hall, Ying Family, and the others such as Teng Qingshan, Li Hang, and another Emptiness Realm Expert of the Snowy Hawk Hall.

“Brother Jing Yi, look.” Li Hang grinned as he stood beside Teng Qingshan.

“At what?” Teng Qingshan asked with bemusement.

Li Hang, once again using the Sound Transmission Technique, said, “Even though Emperor Yu’s Hall and the Ying Family do not have a good opinion of each other, they are both targeting the Heavenly God Palace. Did you notice this? I think they are waiting for the last group of people—the Mani Temple.”

“Oh?” Suddenly, Teng Qingshan looked up at the sky.

“The people of Mani Temple are here.” Teng Qingshan whispered and smiled.

“Three beams of light shot down from the sky and landed in between Emperor Yu’s Hall and the Ying Family. Three bald monks donned in yellow monk robes with nine purple stripes embroidered on the sleeves descended. One had droopy white brows, the other was muscular, with a height of one Zhang, and the last one was a chubby monk that had the young appearance of a teenager.

However—

“If I am right to assume, these three have achieved culmination of the Emptiness Realm.” Teng Qingshan said in admiration.

The Mani Temple was recognized by the entire world as the number one sect. Of course, Emperor Yu’s Hall would never agree.

In the distance, the monks of the Mani Temple were talking with the people of Emperor Yu’s Hall and the Ying Family. The monks appeared to be very humble.

“Brother Li Hang, do you know why Qin Shiqi was given this name?” Teng Qingshan asked, curious. He knew too little of the Emptiness Realm Experts in the Land of the Nine Prefectures.

[TLN: Qin Shiqi means Qin Seventeen. Shiqi means seventeen.]

Li Hang replied with the use of the Sound Transmission Technique, “Brother Jingyi, let me explain it this way. In the Ying Family, there are two types of people that can become disciples. They are either the clansman of the Ying Family or the people of Yongzhou that have been recruited. If the ones that were recruited were to become internal disciples, then they would be given the surname Qin.”

“Qin?” Teng Qingshan knew about this.

Back in the day, when the Heavenly Emperor of the Qin Mountains conquered the entire world, the official surname was Qin.

“Yeah. However, because there were too many internal disciples. The people-in-charge of naming had to name many people. One of the people-in-charge became lazy and so, he started naming without giving it any thought. Qin Yi, Qin Er, and so on... That person named eighty-seven people all in one go and Qin Shiqi was one of the eighty-seven.

[TLN: Qin Yi is Qin ONE, Qin Er is Qin TWO, and so on. In the end, it’s Qin Baqi. (EIGHT SEVEN).]

“He didn’t change his name when he reached the Innate Realm? Not even when he attained the Emptiness Realm?” Teng Qingshan asked, puzzled by this.

“He should and he could have.” Li Hang answered with a grin, “However, Qin Shiqi is very stubborn. I heard that he doesn’t even pay attention to many people in the Ying Family. He is a very prideful person. Even when he became an Emptiness Realm Expert, he still used the name Qin Shiqi.”

“However, his name is praised by everyone in the Land of the Nine Prefectures.” Li Hang said with admiration.

Suddenly, while he was speaking—

“Eh?” Teng Qingshan and Li Hang were shocked as they turned and looked.