The Nine Cauldrons

"What’s wrong?" Teng Qingshan was shocked by Li Jun’s expression. He immediately took the piece of information.

The information described the recent movements of the soldiers in Qingzhou and Youzhou.

"What does the Heavenly God Palace wants to do?" Teng Qingshan roared furiously. "It seems like they are sending their all their troops to Youzhou." As the Heavenly God Palace was the originator of the chaos in the Land of the Nine Prefectures, Teng Qingshan had been paying close attention to their movements. Because of Teng Qingshan, the Heavenly God Palace could not continue their conquest southward and conquer Yangzhou.

Therefore, the Heavenly God Palace had been very quiet for 16 years, which was rather rare.

The time of 16 years was enough for a baby to grow into a young man.

"The Heavenly God Palace is about to take action," Teng Qingshan said worriedly.

"Hm, that’s highly possible." Li Jun nodded as she said, "Back when I was in the Snow Lotus Cult, I knew that the Sovereign of the Heavenly God Palace was planning something big. The conquest of Yangzhou was part of the plan. Now that the Heavenly God Palace has rested for 16 years, it must have gained better control of Qingzhou, Youzhou, and the Great Prairie."

"Qingzhou has the most population. Youzhou is the land of bitter coldness and the people there are known to be very tough. It’s the same for the Great Prairie. If the troops in these three lands combine, they will be the toughest army in the Land of the Nine Prefectures." Li Jun said worriedly, "I just don’t know how ambitious the Heavenly God Palace is..."

"If the Heavenly God Palace is only going to conquer two prefectures, then it’s fine." Teng Qingshan shook his head as he said, "I am just worried that he will try to imitate the Northeastern King, who set the Northeast as the foundation and strived to conquer the entire Land of the Nine Prefectures!"

If the Heavenly God Palace wants to achieve world domination, the Xing Yi Sect would also become the enemy of the Heavenly God Palace!

"After all, no other sect has more forces than the Heavenly God Palace." Teng Qingshan was very worried. The population of Qingzhou, Youzhou, and the Great Prairie was almost one billion. Moreover, all the inhabitants of the Great Prairie were as strong as soldiers. Indeed, the Heavenly God Palace definitely had the power to assemble an invincible army of ten million!

"Moreover, according to the Little Blue’s mother, the cultivator who had acquired one Grass of Immortality resides in Qingzhou. I am afraid that cultivator is Pei San."

Teng Qingshan was certain that only the Insightful Emptiness Realm Expert could compete against Little Blue’s mother.

"Back then, when Pei San fought against another Insightful Emptiness Realm Expert, Qin Shiqi, he continuously performed several techniques of the Buddhist Sects, Tantra, and Beasts."

In the Land of the Nine Prefectures, it was obvious that Pei San, the one Teng Qingshan could never read, was the most intimidating.

"Pei San’s concealed weapon was able to injure an Emptiness Realm Demonic Beast, the Six-Eared Earth-Drilling Mouse, with extremely high defense. With an unrivaled army and his ability and strength..."

As Teng Qingshan thought about it, he couldn’t help but feel pressured.

"However, the Xing Yi Sect occupies a very small territory. If Pei San really desires to conquer the entire land, his enemies will be the most historic Emperor Yu’s Hall, the Ying Family, and Mani Temple."

The movements of the Heavenly God Palace’s army actually made all the other sects in the Land of the Nine Prefectures tense.

Compared to the Xing Yi Sect, the sect that occupied the land of only five counties, the Heavenly God Palace ruled over a population of one billion. The Heavenly God Palace was truly the sect that incited fear in all the supreme sects

...

Two days later:

"Hah! Hah!"

In the Great Yan Mountain, the sounds of cultivators practicing fist art rang. These were the sounds of the several hundred thousand disciples of the Xing Yi Sect practicing together in the morning.

Teng Qingshan was also practicing his fist art in the courtyard. Occasionally, he would take a step back and perform the Bursting Fist. His moves would then randomly change into the Water Element Fist, making him seem like a python. He performed different types of fist art whenever he wanted and however he wanted. For some time, the maid who was serving tea afar felt that Teng Qingshan was occasionally like a terrifying erupting volcano and occasionally like surging flood. The sight was so frightening that the maid turned her head away and refused to look.

Teng Qingshan’s fist art was able to affect one’s "Spirit."

"Elder, Sovereign is practicing his fist art," the maid said softly.

At this time, Zong Lu stood quietly beside the maid and waited.

"Whew!"

Teng Qingshan exhaled deeply and stood calmly.

"Uncle Zong." Teng Qingshan turned and approached with a smile. He took the tea from the maid and placed the cup down after a few sips. "What brings you here this early morning? Did you find Linlin?"

"As expected, you are very smart." Zong Lu nodded and said, "We have found her. She is about to join a huge caravan in Yuzhou.

"Oh, a caravan." Teng Qingshan nodded.

"I have planted our men in that caravan. They will report Lady Linlin’s location continuously," Zong Lu said. Simultaneously, Zong Lu handed over a piece of information and added, "These are the details." Teng Qingshan took the report and flipped through it quickly. He then looked up at the sky and realized that the sun during the autumn morning felt very comfortable. "Today, I will be strolling around the area with Little Jun. I will bring Linlin back."

"If Sovereign is going, then nothing will go wrong. I can be at ease now," Zong Lu replied with a laugh.

While it was still morning, Teng Qingshan asked Li Jun, who was hanging out with Little Blue in the Great Yan Mountain, over.

"Are we going to go sightseeing?" Li Jun’s eyes gleamed.

"Yes. I haven’t had the chance to go out with you since the beginning of this year." Teng Qingshan nodded as he replied with a smile. "We can go with Little Blue to Yuzhou and join the caravan to see what our daughter is doing? It will be a carefree trip. We will have fun for a few days and bring Linlin back to the sect."

Although Teng Qingshan had spent almost all his energy on cultivation, he would accompany his wife to the famous mountains and great rivers in the Land of the Nine Prefectures every year.

"Good. This can’t wait. Let’s go now," Li Jun said. She was really looking forward to the fun trip.

"Don’t rush. Let’s disguise ourselves first. We mustn’t let our daughter recognize us," Teng Qingshan said with a smile. As he touched his face, his appearance immediately changed.

That day, Teng Qingshan changed his appearance, while Li Jun wore a human-skinned mask.

After notifying the Substitute Sovereign, Yang Dong, the couple rode on the Undying Phoenix and left the Great Yan Mountain, flying towards Yuzhou.

On the 16th of August:

On an official road in the region of Yuzhou during midday:

The clear and refreshing autumn weather during this time was certainly very suitable for a trip.

A caravan with over a thousand people continued advancing forth on the official road. This caravan was formed by several loners who were venturing the world, multiple small trading groups, and some merchants that went around buying things that were scarce in certain regions. Of course, 30% of these people were guards!

"Giddyup!"

In the caravan, three horses were walking together. It was a couple and a grey-cloaked middle-aged man with a face full of smiles.

"Sovereign! Miss is just right ahead," the middle-aged man said softly.

"Oh." Teng Qingshan replied with a nod. Actually, he had already solidified the air around him, making it impossible for the voices to be transmitted beyond his surrounding area.

"Has Linlin been acting weirdly during this trip?" Teng Qingshan asked.

"Sovereign, there is something I must tell you." The grey-cloaked middle-aged man hastily answered, "Yesterday afternoon, around a dozen people joined the caravan. Among those dozen people was a young man who was slightly famous in the region of Yuzhou. The young man’s name is Wei Jiang. It seems like Lady Linlin has feelings for this Wei Jiang. She has been walking with him all the time."

"Wei Jiang?" Li Jun, who was at the side, was shocked, while Teng Qingshan frowned.

As parents, they were naturally slightly nervous when they discovered that their daughter had been rather close to a young man.

"Do you know Wei Jiang’s background?" asked Teng Qingshan.

"Report to Sovereign..." A smile showed on the grey-cloaked middle-aged man’s face as he answered, "Wei Jiang is from Yuzhou. When he was young, bandits robbed his hometown, a village called Wei Clan Village. The entire village suffered great casualties and the members of the clan scattered. Since then, Wei Jiang became an orphan. However, all thanks to fate, he learned the "Tiger Form Fist Art". Wei Jiang is extremely gifted. Not long ago, he alone obliterated three local gangs with a long spear and killed the leaders of the three gangs. He had avenged his hometown and his relatives."

"Three gangs?" Teng Qingshan was very astonished.

Could a person who self-learned the cultivation of Internal Martial Arts attain such a level?"

"Yes, three gangs. According to the rumors, Wei Jiang couldn’t figure out which gang destroyed his hometown. Therefore, he destroyed all three gangs." The grey-cloaked middle-aged man smiled and said, "Sovereign, he attacked in the middle of the night. He didn’t do it openly. Still, it is true that Wei Jiang has the power of a First Rated Warrior. Haha, only an Internal Martial Arts cultivator can take on three gangs alone. The cultivators of the Daoist Sects and Buddhist Sects would eventually be captured after using up their inner strength."

This was the advantage of Internal Martial Art.

Because of physical strength, Internal Martial Art cultivators had great endurance.

"Linlin has always been crazy for cultivation and martial arts," Teng Qingshan muttered as he looked ahead at a very slim figure. "She must have known that Wei Jiang has reached this level through the practice of "Tiger Form Fist Art". This must have made her curious. And so, she temporarily drew closer to this guy. It’s not weird."

"Qingshan, don’t be reckless." Li Jun immediately glared.

Linlin was now 17 years old, and there were numerous matchmakers visiting for the young men of other families.

After all, many people dreamt of becoming the son-in-law of the Grandmaster Teng Qingshan. However, Teng Qingshan and Li Jun had decided that their son-in-law had to be someone whom they and their daughter approved of.

"Wei Jiang!" Teng Qingshan scrutinized the young man beside his daughter and said with a grin, "This young fellow has a rather strong ’Spirit!’ It seems like he attained high accomplishments in the cultivation of "Tiger Form Fist Art". Haha, Little Jun, if our daughter really did get along with this young man named Wei Jiang and if Wei Jiang has a good character and temperament, I will approve of them being a couple."

Li Jun could only stare at Teng Qingshan speechlessly.

...

In the caravan, Teng Qingshan and Li Jun listened to the merchants around them talk about the interesting things that had happened all around the world. Occasionally, they would enjoy the sceneries and simultaneously pay close attention to their daughter and that young man, Wei Jiang. This trip had been very carefree and relaxing.

The next morning:

The caravan had just gathered outside the city. After the caravan had only departed for several Li...

"Eh?" Teng Qingshan frowned.

"Eh, what’s going on?" Li Jun said as she looked behind in surprise.

"The army belongs to Emperor Yu’s Hall. Why are they here?" The grey-cloaked middle-aged man was puzzled at the sight of the troops. However, he wasn’t worried at all. After all, the founder of the Xing Yi Sect was right by his side. In the Land of the Nine Prefectures, the founder of the Xing Yi Sect was someone whose words incited fear in the hearts of men.

Seeing that a vigorous army of cavalrymen had stormed out of the city and upon a realization that this army was part of Emperor Yu’s Hall, the caravan obediently moved to the side to make way for the huge group of cavalrymen.

"Everyone, move to the side."

"Move to the side," the organizers of the caravan immediately shouted.

Clop! Clop! Clop!

The sounds of war horses galloping could be heard as a great number of cavalrymen dashed right ahead of the caravan. Immediately, "Neigh~~" The cavalrymen actually all halted. They actually intercepted the caravan.