The Nine Cauldrons

After Pei San started his closed-door cultivation, the entire Land of the Nine Prefectures regained its peace and quietness. There were only small-scale battles happening in Rongzhou and Liangzhou, the two prefectures located in the west. The Emperor Yu’s Hall and the Ying Family, the two sects that governed the prefectures bordering Liangzhou and Rongzhou, had dispatched troops and had started conquering more and more areas in Liangzhou and Rongzhou. In fact, even the Gui Yuan Sect, a sect that was not considered powerful, managed to conquer several county cities near Yanzhou.

The remnants of the Mani Temple was the only force that obstructed the three supreme sects.

The Mani Temple had built such a strong foundation. There were still so many Buddhist warriors and monks in Liangzhou and Rongzhou. Moreover, the citizens of Liangzhou and Rongzhou were Buddhists. Thus, the process of unification would be extremely difficult.

Compared to these three sects, the Xing Yi Sect had it easy. The branches of Qingshan Enterprise were easily set up in every county city.

The three supreme sects were reluctant to antagonize the Xing Yi Sect over the establishment of the branches of Qingshan Enterprise in Liangzhou and Rongzhou. The remnants of the Mani Temple were even more reluctant to provoke the Xing Yi Sect. Soon, the branches of the Qingshan Enterprise were rapidly established in every area of Liangzhou and Rongzhou. Furthermore, the cultivation technique, Tiger Form Fist Art, sold by the Qingshan Enterprise promoted the dissemination of the Internal Martial Art.

Although small-scale battles were still happening in the Land of the Nine Prefectures, the Emptiness Realm Experts had resumed their peaceful lives. Some started their closed-door cultivation and some started teaching their disciples.

Soon, six months had passed and winter arrived.

…

“Whew~~””Howl~~”

The howling cold wind sounded like a shapeless beast. Featherlike snow fluttered into the air and away. The heaven and earth had transformed into a world of snow. In the Heavenly God Palace within the region of Qingzhou, Pei Xuelian could be seen dashing out of her room. Wearing a white fox fur coat, she looked very graceful. Like a fairy, she quickly drifted away.

“Is father’s closed-door cultivation ending soon?” With a cheerful look, Pei Xuelian hurried over to the place where Pei San had been cultivating in seclusion.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two figures could be seen rushing in the Heavenly God Palace. They were Pei Xuelian and Li Chao of the Sword Sect. The two siblings stopped outside a beautiful penthouse.

“Father has been cultivating in seclusion for such a long time. This closed-door cultivation is finally ending.” Pei Xuelian looked very happy.

“Junior Martial Sister, what kind of breakthrough do you think our teacher has achieved through this closed-door cultivation?” Li Chao’s eyes glowed with excitement. “With teacher’s current achievement in cultivation, he might…just need another breakthrough to reach the Omnipotent Realm.”

“Omnipotent Realm?” Pei Xuelian froze slightly before she nodded and said, “Possible. Father has not done a closed-door cultivation for a long time. I am sure he will gain something from this closed-door cultivation.”

Suddenly, the door of the building opened by itself; it was as though an invisible hand had opened it. Pei San, wearing a long and loose golden cloak, emerged behind the door. Currently, he had a full beard and his eyes looked like two black jade stones. The crystal clear skin on his face glowed like a high-quality jade stone.

“Omnipotent Realm? Xuelian, it’s not that easy to become an Omnipotent Expert.” Pei San said with a smile.

“Father?” Pei Xuelian muttered with a confused expression.

“Teacher?” Li Chao was surprised as well.

Both Pei Xuelian and Li Chao had been with Pei San for over a hundred years. They knew Pei San well. Throughout all these years, Pei San had always treated his disciple and daughter very well. However, even while Pei San had been very gentle and calm, whenever Pei Xuelian and Li Chao saw Pei San, they could still sense this extremely terrifying and fierce aura.

They knew that Pei San would never hurt them, but they were still very afraid of Pei San.

However, today, they could no longer sense this terrifying and fierce aura. Instead, Pei San emanated a very mellow aura. Li Chao and Pei Xuelian felt that Pei San was like a peaceful and gentle elder. Because of the change of aura, Li Chao and Pei Xuelian knew that Pei San must have gained something during his closed-door cultivation.

“Xuelian. Ah Chao.”

Pei San handed over three letters and said, “Read these three letters.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

“Alright, Father.”

“Pei Xuelian and the lone-armed Li Chao took the letters. Pei Xuelian took two, while Li Chao took the last one. The two held the three letters up together and quickly started reading. They were very eager to find out what Pei San had written on the papers.

“What!”

“No, Teacher”

The moment Pei Xuelian and Li Chao started reading, their expressions changed. They looked astonished and terrified. If anyone saw their expressions, they would assume that Li Chao and Pei Xuelian had just seen a ghost.

“Father, you…” Pei Xuelian quickly looked over at Pei San.

“Don’t ask.” Pei San said with a smile. “Just do as I say. Order someone to send these letters to the three sects as fast as possible…”

Pei Xuelian and Li Chao exchanged glances. They looked very worried.

“Eh?” Pei San frowned.

Still, even though Pei Xuelian and Li Chao were worried, they knew that it was impossible to go against Pei San’s command.

“Yes, Father.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

Pei Xuelian and Li Chao immediately placed the letters carefully into the envelopes and issued the order.

The scene changed to the south of the distant Yangzhou. In the East Flower Garden, the place where Teng Qingshan, the Sovereign of Xing Yi Sect, lived…

While the cold wind blew, thirteen elite disciples of the Xing Yi Sect could be seen cultivating on the training field. Teng Qingshan had personally taught these thirteen disciples. Eight of these thirteen individuals had reached the Grandmaster Realm of the Internal Martial Art. The other five had reached even higher levels in their cultivation; these five were extremely gifted in the cultivation of the Internal Martial Art. The Xing Yi Sect had been specially training the five elite disciples and placed upon them the most expectations.

Teng Shou, the Eldest Martial Brother of Xing Yi Sect, was one of the thirteen elite disciples.

Meng Hong, who was only 14 years old this year, was also one of the thirteen elite disciples.

“Practice the first three moves of Five Elemental Truth and the first three moves of Nine Metal Elemental Forms.” Teng Qingshan instructed.

“Yes.”

A muscular and big dude, dressed in grey sportswear, responded obediently and immediately started performing the first three moves of the “Nine Metal Elemental Forms” on the training field.

Currently, the “Five Elemental Truth” was considered the most important codex in the entire Xing Yi Sect. This book taught the right breathing techniques, the correct form of the body, and the right state of mind needed during the cultivation of the Metal Element Fist, Wood Element Fist, and the other elemental fist arts. The Nine Metal Elemental Forms was basically the Metal Element Fist. Teng Qingshan would teach the fist art in an order that is based on the disciple’s level of cultivation.

The cultivator could only learn the first three moves after he had attained the Grandmaster Realm.

If the disciple had generated the Supreme Force, he would be taught the first six moves.

If the disciple had reached the middle phase of the Supreme Force, he would then be given the chance to learn all nine moves.

After watching the cultivator, who had reached the Grandmaster Realm, perform the three moves, Teng Qingshan shook his head and instructed, “You are not doing it right. It might seem to you that you are doing every move right, but honestly, you are not… When you go home, practice the Cannon Fist and the Yin Yang Cannon Fist. You can only practice the first three moves of the Nine Metal Elemental Forms after you have fully comprehended the Yin Yang Cannon Fist.”

“Yes.” The muscular dude did not look disappointed at all. Instead, he looked very happy as he hastily bowed.

All the cultivators of the Xing Yi Sect cherished the opportunity to be taught by Teng Qingshan. Occasionally, they would struggle to understand the techniques they have been practicing. However, because Teng Qingshan’s level of cultivation was much higher, Teng Qingshan could easily point out the problem and come up with a solution for them.

Although it made no sense that the practice of the Cannon Fist would help him understand the cultivation of the Nine Metal Elemental Forms, the muscular dude believed that there must be a reason why Teng Qingshan had asked him to do so. No one in the Xing Yi Sect doubted Teng Qingshan’s words.

“Next… You are Meng Hong, right?” Teng Qingshan asked with a smile. Meng Hong was the newest savant in the Xing Yi Sect.

“Sovereign.” The skinny teenager looked very nervous as he stood before Teng Qingshan.

“You…” Teng Qingshan was just about to say something when he suddenly frowned. He turned and saw Yang Dong, the Substitute Sovereign of the Xing Yi Sect, running towards him. Normally, when Teng Qingshan was instructing the elite disciples of the Xing Yi Sect, no one was allowed to disturb. Even if the intelligence agency had sent over information, Teng Qingshan would only collect the information after the session with the elite disciples had ended. Yang Dong would only disturb if it is something very urgent.

“Dong, what’s wrong?” Teng Qingshan asked.

“Teacher! Look…” Yang Dong’s expression was horrible and he looked slightly pale as he hastily handed over a letter.

Teng Qingshan took the letter. He looked at it and noticed the cover of the envelope radiating a purple and golden glow. This envelope was made with the most expensive paper in the Land of the Nine Prefectures. This paper was called the Purple Golden Paper and was made with purple gold, which was much more expensive than gold. Just this envelope alone was enough to buy a very nice house in the city.

“Eh?” Seeing the envelope, Teng Qingshan frowned and asked, “Is this from Pei San?”

Scratch!

He opened the envelope and took out the piece of paper.

A few lines of words were written beautifully on the paper. “Teng Qingshan, I am challenging you to a duel, which will happen on the 16th of December, six years from now. We will meet on the White Horse Lake in Jiangning County of Yangzhou. Currently, there are only a few who are worthy of being my opponent and you are one of them. Through this duel, we might gain enlightenment and reach the Omnipotent Realm. I hope you can come when it is time. If I don’t see you, I will visit the Xing Yi Sect and invite you myself.”

The letter was signed off with Pei San’s name.

“Did he just challenge me to a duel that will happen in six years?” Teng Qingshan furrowed his brows.

Teng Qingshan was well aware that he was no match against Pei San.

“Pei San said he’s inviting, but he is really forcing me to fight! He basically said that if I don’t show up, he will come after me.”  The letter completely ruined Teng Qingshan’s good mood.

Six years later?

A fight with Pei San on the White Horse Lake?

“Teacher.” Yang Dong looked at Teng Qingshan worriedly.

“You may leave. I know what to do.” Teng Qingshan folded the letter and instructed.

…

Teng Qingshan was not the only one who received this letter. The Emperor Yu’s Hall and the Ying Family also received a letter from Pei San.

“What!”

The scene changed to the Blind Bear Mountain Range. Huang Tianqin could be seen reading a letter in his hands. With a horrible expression, he said to himself, “This duel happens in one year? What is Pei San doing? If I don’t go, he is going to come to the Emperor Yu’s Hall? He’s just forcing me to fight. Hmph… But there is really no chance of me winning. I would just be humiliated.”

“Hmph, I reject his invitation. I just don’t believe that he will really come after me.” Huang Tianqin threw the paper on the ground. Before the paper reached the ground, it turned into dust.

…

The scene then changed to the gloomy underground palace in the Qinling Mountain Range. This palace belonged to the Ying Family.

Qin Shiqi, who wore a long golden cloak, opened the envelope and took out the letter. After he had read the letter, his lips formed into a stiff smile. “Interesting… I can’t believe Pei San just challenged me! I have already achieved the culmination of the Insightful Emptiness Realm and am only one step away from the Omnipotent Realm.”

“But this last step is just hard as hell.”

“A fight with Pei San might help me understand and complete the final step to the Omnipotent Realm.” A beam of sword light seemed to flash in Qin Shiqi’s eyes. Qin Shiqi said to himself, “The 12th of December, three years from now? The top of the Green Dragon Hill in the Qinling Mountain Range? Deal. Pei San… Let us meet in three years. I would love to know who the stronger one is!”