The Nine Cauldrons

The right road on the map

Watching Sovereign “Zhuge Yuanhong” leave, Liu Tong also ran out as he pondered, “I have already reported. Lord Commander also ordered me to buy two big mansions and food and have the mansions renovated. These things must be done within three days.” As he thought, he rapidly headed towards the Gui Yuan Sect’s north entrance.

……

Beneath the pavilion of the House of Teng in Jiangning County.

Teng Qinghu, Zhuge Qing, and Zhuge Yun gathered together.

“Don’t worry, Big Brother Qinghu. Everything in Teng Jia Village is fine.” Zhuge Qing hastily comforted.

Teng Qinghu furrowed his brows and shook his head as he responded, “You don’t understand! If it wasn’t something really urgent, Qingshan wouldn’t head back immediately without notifying me. It must be a very urgent affair! Plus, the maids also said that some people from my hometown came yesterday, and soon after Qingshan and Qingyu immediately rushed back home with the guards. It’s my fault! All because I wasn’t here at night.”

When the few people from Teng Jia Village came with the message, Teng Qingshan and Teng Qingyu were here. Therefore, they led men and rushed back overnight to Teng Jia Village. All the clan members moved to Jiangning County City the next morning.

However, Teng Qinghu hadn’t been here last night, He was a centurion and had to deal with many trivial matters in the army, unlike Teng Qingshan, who was the noble Commander with nothing to do. Because the situation during that time was urgent, Teng Qingshan had no time to find Qinghu and immediately went home. This caused Teng Qinghu……to still have no knowledge of what happened in Teng Jia Village.

“Big Brother Qinghu, I believe we will eventually know the outcome,” Zhuge Yun smiled and said, “With Qingshan’s ability plus the elite guards, nothing can beat him.”

“Right……”

As Teng Qinghu thought of Teng Qingshan’s ability, he felt slightly at ease.

At this moment——

“Eh?” Some loud footsteps were heard. The three couldn’t help but turn their heads towards the source of the sounds and saw Liu Tong running speedily towards them. When Teng Qinghu saw Liu Tong, his eyes instantly brightened.

“Liu Tong!” Teng Qinghu hastily stood up.

“Qinghu.” Liu Tong speedily ran over. He and Teng Qinghu were both centurions. Of course, Liu Tong was the centurion of the elite guards, and thus, his position was slightly higher.

“Liu Tong, didn’t you go back with Teng Qingshan to my hometown, Teng Jia Village? Tell me. What happened to Teng Jia Village?” Nervousness could be seen in Teng Qinghu’s face while the two siblings, Zhuge Yun and Zhuge Qing, also stared at Liu Tong.

Liu Tong answered, “Qinghu, someone from your hometown came last night and said that Qingshan’s uncle, cousin Teng Qinghao, and his father were taken captive by men from Qing Hu Island! Because of this, Qingshan and Qingyu immediately hurried back……”

“What? Men of Qing Hu Island?” Teng Qinghu’s eyes widened. He couldn’t believe it.

“Have they no shame?” Zhuge Yun asked angrily.

“I heard that the men of Qing Hu Island were at the Great Yan Mountain, but why did they take the hunters captive?” Lady Qing was also anxious.

Liu Tong continued his response, “It was not just the men of Teng Jia Village who were caught. Many hunters from the villages near the Great Yan Mountain were also caught. When we arrived at Teng Jia Village, we received news……that Teng Qinghao luckily escaped back to Teng Jia Village. At the same time, we were told that Qing Hu Island gave an order to kill all of the hunters taken captive. The one named Teng Yongxiang and Qingshan’s father both died.

“Great Uncle? And Uncle Fan? They both died?”

Teng Qinghu’s face turned pale white.

“Yes. This morning, all the people of Teng Jia Village started moving to Jiangning County City. I hurried over here this morning to report this news to the Sovereign! Sovereign ordered me to purchase two huge mansions, renovate the houses, buy furniture, and make preparations for all the villagers to live in.” Liu Tong hastily added, “Qinghu, there are a lot of errands to run, so I will be leaving first.” Settling over two thousand people was a very complex and busy affair.

“Wait.”Teng Qinghu grabbed Liu Tong and asked, “Qingshan. Where’s Qingshan?”

Teng Qinghu knew clearly of his cousin’s temper.

If Teng Qingshan’s father died, what would Teng Qingshan do?

“He…he went into the Great Yan Mountain.” Liu Tong hastily replied.

“Into the Great Yan Mountain?” Zhuge Qing’s ruddy face suddenly lost all color.

“As expected, Qingshan…..” Teng Qinghu became nervous.

Liu Tong hastily mentioned, “Sovereign commanded that the first team and second team of the Black Armored Army are to gather at the Training Field with their weapons and horses.” With this, Liu Tong rapidly departed.

“How did things became like this?” Teng Qinghu couldn’t believe it.

Although Teng Qinghu guessed that something big happened, he did not expect something like this to happen.

“Big Brother Teng went into the Great Yan Mountain, but there are so many experts from Qing Hu Island in the Great Yan Mountain. This…this……” Anxiousness could be seen on Zhuge Qing’s pallid face.

At this moment——

A figure speedily dashed in.

“Lord Teng, Sovereign has ordered the first team and second team of the army to gather at the training field with their weapons, heavy armor, and war horses. No delays!” The black armored soldier reported the command, “Lord Teng, please hurry. Your subordinate, will leave first.” This soldier seemed to be in a hurry as he immediately left right after he finished talking.

After Teng Qinghu heard the order, he immediately darted towards his own house.

“Brother, let’s go to the training field.” Lady Qing said hastily.

“Let’s go.” Zhuge Yun and his sister rapidly left the House of Teng and headed towards the training field of Gui Yuan Sect.

……

On the training field, numerous black armored soldiers led their horses as they gathered in haste. Because most soldiers lived in the army, the assembling speed was still extremely fast. When Zhuge Yun and Zhuge Qing arrived at the training field, more than ninety percent of the soldiers were already there.

Only the soldiers who were outside or had higher positions ones like lieutenants gathered at the training field with a slower speed.

“Father is there!” Lady Qing casted a glance

With his hair untied, Sovereign Zhuge Yuanhong wore a loose white cloak and carried a long sword on his back. He stood on a high platform on the south of the training field with Law Enforcing Elder Yan Motian standing beside him. Gui Yuan Sect had a total of two Golden Dan Innate Experts. One was Zhuge Yuanhong, and the other was Yan Motian!

“Father, Father!” Zhuge Qing ran over with a nervous expression.

As Zhuge Yuanhong saw his daughter and son running towards him in the midst of the crowd, he couldn’t help but frown.

“Father, you are heading towards the Great Yan Mountain, right?” Zhuge Qing asked anxiously.

“Father, is Martial brother Qingshan safe?” Zhuge Yun asked.

Zhuge Yuanhong stared at his kids and roared softly, “I don’t have time for you two. Yun, take Qingqing away from the Training Field.”

When Zhuge Yun heard this, he froze for a second and turned to look at his sister.

“Father!” Zhuge Qing’s eyes instantly reddened. As tears flashed in her eyes, she bit her lips and said, “Since you guys are so nervous, I know that the Great Yan Mountain is definitely very dangerous. Big Brother Teng must be in a very dangerous situation! No matter what, I am going with you. Father, take me with you.”

“Nonsense!” Zhuge Yuanhong became angry and yelled, “Yun, take Qingqing away.”

Zhuge Yun hesitated slightly but still stretched his hand and pulled his sister. “Let me go.” Lady Qing swung fiercely and stared at her father as her eyes welled up with tears. She exclaimed, “Father, Big Brother Teng must be in a dangerous life or death situation…….Otherwise, Father and the others wouldn’t be this nervous. Even if you refuse to bring me to the Great Yan Mountain, I will still go myself! No one can stop me!”

Seeing this, Zhuge Yuanhong felt his head start to ache.

This daughter of his had always been very obedient, but once she made up her mind, not even eight horses could pull her back. That was how stubborn she was.

“Okay then. Quick, go don your light armor and follow me.” Zhuge Yuanhong could only give in as he said, “However, you must remember one thing. Don’t wander off and just stay beside me.” If Zhuge Qing was walking alone, who knew what would happen? It would be safer if she stayed by Zhuge Yuanhong’s side.

Zhuge Qing felt a great sense of joy and hurriedly nodded, “Yes, yes.”

……

Under the command of Zhuge Yuanhong and Yan Motian——the two Golden Dan Innate Experts of the Gui Yuan Sect’s great army, the army advanced vigorously and speedily towards the Great Yan Mountain.

In the Heavenly Flood Palace under the ground of the Great Yan Mountain.

In the pitch-black maze, Teng Qingshan was squatting in a passageway as he scrutinized the map of the maze, calculating carefully.

“After elimination, ninety-nine percent of the routes would be excluded……. There are thirty-two routes with a higher probability of success. There are a total of thirteen routes that have the highest possibility of succeeding!” Teng Qingshan pondered for almost one hour . After he finally eliminated the routes one by one, he chose some routes that met the requirements.

The thirteen routes with the highest possibilities stretched through half of the entire Heavenly Flood Palace. Plus, there were no other ways of getting to the destination of each of the routes.

“There’s no other way. I can only venture each route one by one.”

Because there were not a lot of routes, Teng Qingshan could still afford the time to go through each route. If he simply venture randomly onto a route like the other sects, he probably wouldn’t even succeed within ten to fifteen days.

“Yes, I can reach a central point if I start walking from here! This central point connects to four passageways of the thirteen routes that might be right.” Teng Qingshan held the map of the maze and started speeding forward. He transformed into a black figure, like a ghost during the dark night, and advanced in the maze passageway.

According to the route map, he should turn left and turn right.

After running for around ten Li, Teng Qingshan suddenly stopped.

“Eh?” Teng Qingshan pricked up his ears.

“Elder Hu, is your injury alright?”

“It’s fine. We should hurry and meet Martial Uncle and the others……Let’s go. Take the left passageway.”

……

Teng Qingshan’s sense of hearing was extremely sensitive. Although the sound wasn’t loud, Teng Qingshan still heard it.

“They are around six to seven Zhang to my left.” Teng Qingshan immediately opened the map and casted a glance as he spoke to himself, “They are here!” A smile appeared on Teng Qingshan’s face as he said to himself while pointing on the map, “They actually walked along that route? Then among the thirty-two routes that lead to the treasure, only these two routes are possible.”

Elder Hu of the Qing Hu Island was at the passageway six to seven Zhang away, but——

A wall was blocking, and there was no way Teng Qingshan could fly out.

There was only one way——

“Turn back.” Teng Qingshan rapidly turned around and accelerated to his fullest.

……

If it was anyone else, even if they noticed Elder Hu and his companion, they could do nothing since the passageway that Elder Hu and his companion were in led to many places. However, Teng Qingshan had already eliminated many routes, and he eliminated even more now. Thus, there were only two routes left.

The dark environment did not affect Teng Qingshan.

A ghost-like figure flashed in the passageway, advancing continuously. The figure then made a turn and pursued Elder Hu and his companion. Fortunately, Teng Qingshan was a lot faster than Elder Hu and his companion. Since Elder Hu and his companion weren’t fleeing for their lives, they naturally ran with a slower speed.

Fifteen minutes later.

Teng Qingshan suddenly heard a series of angry roars.

“There’s a furious roar in front? Demonic beasts would only be in the right route! I am definitely on the right route.” Teng Qingshan’s eyes brightened as he thought, “Eh? The roar is less than one Li away from here……It’s possible that Elder Hu and his companion encountered demonic beasts.” Teng Qingshan could sense the location of the roars and continued forward.