The Nine Cauldrons

Recognizing Oneself

Amidst the high altitudes, the Tianfeng Martial Immortal sat on the gigantic great condor.

“Teng Qingshan actually managed to restrain himself?” The Tianfeng Martial Immortal immediately sneered indifferently as he thought to himself, “If you can’t restrain yourself and you challenge me, I’ll be able to take this chance and kill you. If you can restrain… Hmph, then just keep acting like an ostrich!” With the Tianfeng Martial Immortal’s status, it was impossible for him to do this unless he had been driven up the wall.

Teng Qingshan’s potential and the mutual hatred they had for each other, as well the fact that Teng Qingshan had captured a member of the Helian Clan by force, all caused the Tianfeng Martial Immortal vow to kill Teng Qingshan.

……

The East Flower Garden was in complete silence.

“Qingshan…” Li Jun was about to speak, but she then hesitated and looked at Teng Qingshan worriedly. Regardless of whether it was in the Nine Prefectures or the Duanmu Continent, reputation was very important. Many people were willing to sacrifice their lives for fame and reputation! So, Tianfeng Martial Immortal’s words were equivalent to spitting on Teng Qingshan’s face.

“Qingshan, you must not be tricked by that reverse psychology,” the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal said solemnly.

Teng Qingshan’s expression looked extremely cold, like a layer of ice was covering it.

“Kill!” A desire to kill arose in Teng Qingshan’s heart as he thought to himself, “Tianfeng Martial Immortal, do you think this method of yours can make me throw away my life? Hmph, I am not that impulsive. You want me to challenge you… Don’t worry. That will happen soon!” The experiences he’d had in this life made Teng Qingshan feel more heroic.

However, because of the hitman experience from his previous life, Teng Qingshan was not someone who would not be instigated by a few words.

“Older Brother Mu.” Teng Qingshan looked toward the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal.

“Qingshan.” The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal smiled and said, “It seems like you have adjusted your mental state well. Actually, you don’t have to care about the things he said. Emptiness Realm Experts often threaten each other. However, he won’t dare to provoke me because of the Tianfeng Clan. He’s afraid that I may slaughter the members of his clan. It’s the same for me. Taking my Mu Clan into consideration, I refuse to provoke him as well.

“However, Qingshan, you are different. You are not part of any clan.” The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal said with a smile, “Therefore, he fears you greatly. If you go against him, he will suffer because he needs to protect over ten thousand clan members! Moreover, you are on my side. Therefore, he wishes to kill you as soon as possible.”

“I understand that. A man who has nothing fears nothing.” Teng Qingshan smiled.

The eight Supreme Sects of the Nine Prefectures had been able to flourish until now because they were all protected by Emptiness Realm Experts. No one wished to offend an unrestrained Emptiness Realm Expert with no ties and no worries. The enemy of such an Emptiness Realm Expert would have to remain at the base of his own sect constantly to keep his own sect safe.

If there were a disparity between the strength of the two Emptiness Realm Experts, like how the Tianfeng Martial Immortal was much stronger than Teng Qingshan, then the unrestrained but weaker one would be able to intimidate the stronger one in this way.

If the strength of the two Emptiness Realm Experts were similar, the one restrained by his own sect would indeed suffer.

“Older Brother Mu, do you know how strong the Tianfeng Martial Immortal is?” Teng Qingshan asked.

“Haha, I have fought him before. He is slightly weaker than me.” The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal couldn’t help but laugh.

“Older Brother Mu, please spar with me and tell me how different I am from the Tianfeng Martial Immortal in terms of strength.” As Teng Qingshan said this, he waved his hand and the Reincarnation Spear that had been leaning on the wall flew into his hand.

The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal smiled and nodded. “Good. I also wanted to know how strong you’ve gotten since attaining Emptiness Realm!”

Li Jun, Teng Shou, Mu Yunji, and Great Elder Mu Wang were watching from the lakeside of the Eastern Flower Garden.

On the surface of the lake, Teng Qingshan faced the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal.

“Sizzle~~

The light in their vicinity seemed to twist. Streaks of flowing flames twirled around Teng QInghsan’s body, while black streaks of light surrounded the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal. The black streaks of light were like lightning as well as the dark night.

“Qingshan, strike first,” the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal said and drew out the gigantic wolf-head saber on his back.

Teng Qingshan held his breath. The aura of the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal seemed to be formed with numerous streaks of thunderbolt, much like the gloomy clouds that covered the horizon.

Meanwhile, Teng Qingshan’s aura was like a blazing sun. Although it was not hot, the clouds could not cover its presence.

“When I hadn’t reached the Emptiness Realm, the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal hadn’t even used his weapon when he sparred with me.

“Let’s see what the attack of my most powerful technique is like!”

At this moment, Teng Qingshan seemed to have immersed in the realm of the ‘Fire Elemental Dao’ as he shouted, “Older Brother Mu, check out this move, Vermillion Tiger Roar!” The sound boomed and caused the entire lake surface to tremble. The Reincarnation Spear in Teng Qingshan’s hands instantly transformed into a roaring and fiery dragon!

“Boom~~~”

The Fire Elemental Power in his vicinity surged crazily into the Reincarnation Spear, drastically increasing the force of the spear. The light of the fiery dragon twirled and swirled along the spearhead, condensing to a point on the speartip!

“Break!” With eyes as sharp as knives, Teng Qingshan’s voice thundered!

“Roar~~” It sounded like the howl of a heavenly wolf. The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal’s wolf-head saber instantly transformed into a streak of black thunderbolts as it smashed against the shiniest point at the tip of the Reincarnation Spear.

“Bazuboom!” The sound of an explosion rang out.

A streak of thunderbolts spread out from the wolf-head saber and moved along the Reincarnation Spear, blasting into Teng Qingshan. As his body shook, Teng Qingshan was unexpectedly unable to control his body. Then with a quiver, he fell into the water. The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal took seven steps backward before he managed to steady himself on the surface of the lake. At this moment, he couldn’t help but stare at Teng Qingshan with a shocked expression.

“Qingshan.” Li Jun, who was watching at the side, just felt worried.

“Plop~~” A figure burst out of the water and once again stood on the lake surface. He flicked a glance at Li Jun and said with a grin, “I am alright.”

“Brother Qingshan, I have underestimated you.” The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal looked at Teng Qingshan in shock as he remarked, “I almost lost just now.”

“Older Brother Mu, how different am I from the Tianfeng Martial Immortal in terms of strength?” Teng Qingshan asked quickly.

“Now, it seems like the difference isn’t great.” The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal said in admiration and astonishment, “I initially thought that you would control 20% of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth after attaining the Emptiness Realm, but… the attack just now shows that you have control of about 40% of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth.”

“40%?” Teng Qingshan was shocked.

“Qingshan, let me explain it to you this way,” the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal said with a smile. “The explosive strength of a Golden Dan Innate Expert is around eight hundred thousand Jin. If one can control 10% of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth, one’s explosive strength will increase by eight hundred thousand Jin. Of course, this is just an estimate. In a real battle, many factors influence the result.

Teng Qingshan nodded.

The explosive strength of an Emptiness Realm Expert should be the explosive strength of the True Origin with the addition of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth!

“The first time I competed with the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal, I exerted an explosive strength of one million and six hundred thousand Jin. It’s no wonder he thought that I had attained Emptiness Realm at that time,” Teng Qingshan muttered to himself, finally understanding the situation. “As for the Vermillion Tiger Roar, this technique is the combination of the physical strength, Supreme Force, and 20% of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth. My physical strength in combination with my Supreme Force would already display an explosive force of two million and four hundred thousand Jin.

“Therefore, the statement about me being able to control 40% of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth… isn’t true.” Teng Qingshan understood it completely.

His advantage was that the additional physical strength—800,000 Jin—was equivalent to 10% of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth.

Furthermore, the Vermillion Tiger Roar would add another 800,000 Jin to the strength of the performer, which was equivalent to 10% of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth.

In addition to the 20% of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth, the total would be exactly 40%!

“Amazing. As a Novice Emptiness Realm Expert, you are actually able to possess such an attacking power,” The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal praised.

“How is it compared to the attacking power of the Tianfeng Martial Immortal?” Teng Qingshan asked expectantly.

The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal smiled and said, “Qingshan, in a fight between two Emptiness Realm Experts, the amount of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth controlled is the basis! For example, an expert who has attained Emptiness Realm Culmination can control 100% of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth. Even if they don’t have any special skills or techniques, they can still kill us with just the 100% of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth.”

Teng Qingshan nodded.

“Some well-suited finishing blows may display some special effects.” The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal explained, “Some special techniques can allow people who can only control 20% of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth to display a force that’s equivalent to 30%.

Teng Qingshan smiled as the ‘Vermillion Tiger Roar’ was his own unique technique.

However, the special thing about the Vermillion Tiger Roar was that it relied on Teng Qingshan’s Supreme Force. The Supreme Force could be performed externally, like the True Origin, and immersed into the muscles and bones, causing the body to exert an explosive strength of one million six hundred thousand Jin. However, the Innate True Origin couldn’t submerge in every area of the muscles and cells.

“Create some special finishing blows according to your own specialty.” The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal praised, “Qingshan, the Tianfeng Martial Immortal can perform 60% of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth.”

“60%?” Teng Qingshan was shocked.

The accumulation of his own advantages only resulted in 40%.

“Haha, don’t be discontent. How long have you cultivated and how long has Helian cultivated?” The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal smiled.

“That’s true.” Teng Qingshan smiled and nodded.

“However, Qingshan, an Emptiness Realm Expert values the understanding of Dao the most. The finishing blow is secondary. Simultaneously, weapons are also important! One needs weapons which allow one to display their utmost strength. I noticed that your weapon seems slightly strange,” The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal commented.

“Yes, the shaft of the Reincarnation Spear can’t take such power explosive strength.”

Teng Qingshan smiled bitterly.

In the past, when Teng Qingshan exerted an explosive strength of 240 Jin, he had needed to maintain his spear shaft cautiously. Now, with the addition of the 20% of the Power of the Heavens and the Earth… the internal of the shaft had already taken some damage.

“How can you not have a good weapon?” The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal laughed and said, “Don’t worry. Just let me handle this.”

“Older Brother Mu.” Teng Qingshan said hastily, “How’s this? There is no need to change the head of Reincarnation Spear. Please deal with this spear shaft.” The Reincarnation Spear had been forged by his father and grandfather. It had taken the longest time to forge the spearhead, but the spear shaft had been forged easily.

The Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal cast a glance over the spear and said, “The head of your long spear is indeed made of high-quality material. It is even tougher than Fiery Gilt Steel. There is no need to change it.”

The Millennium Coldsteel… was the toughest material in the nine prefectures. So, naturally, there was no need to change it.

Then in the blink of an eye, a month went by.

The appearance of the Reincarnation Spear had changed. The spearhead was still made of the Millennium Coldsteel, but the spear shaft had become silver in color. If one looked at the spear shaft from a certain angle, a faint red glow could be seen. At the same time, the weight of the Reincarnation Spear had increased drastically, reaching a weight of 168 Jin.

According to the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal, the material which had been used for the spear shaft was Violet Essence Jade Iron’ from the Dreamy Cloud Swampland. It was extremely tough and could be said to be the most suitable material in the entire Duanmu Continent for forging spear shafts.

Teng Qingshan had also tested the spear, and the Reincarnation Spear could now withstand his full strength easily.

……

Inside a secret room, Teng Qingshan was sitting cross-legged. As his ears twitched, he could hear the discussions being held outside in the streets, several Li away.

“What’s there to be afraid of?! In this continent, there are three Martial Immortals. The Dreamy Cloud Ancient City has the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal and the Blazing Flame Martial Immortal. Thus, why should we be afraid of the Tianfeng Martial Immortal?”

This caught Teng Qingshan’s attention.

“The Three Martial Immortals are the Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal, the Tianfeng Martial Immortal, and the Blazing Flame Martial Immortal?” Teng Qingshan was stunned, “The Blazing Flame Martial Immortal is… me?”