The Nine Cauldrons
chapter-531

"Qingshan, I have a task I need you to complete." Zhuge Yuanhong's expression suddenly became serious.

"Teacher, tell me," Teng Qingshan responded.

Zhuge Yuanhong said softly, "Qingshan, I presume you can also tell that when you compare my Gui Yuan Sect with Qing Hu Island, the greatest weak point we have now is that we don't have enough people! There are 13 counties in Yangzhou, populated with as many as two to three hundred million people. Just to maintain control over the other 12 counties, we'd need at least several hundred thousand troops. However, excluding the defense troops, my Gui Yuan Sect can only dispatch the Long Gang Guards and a hundred thousand ordinary troops at most."

Teng Qingshan brows knitted together and he nodded.

This was indeed a difficult problem.

The Gui Yuan Sect was, after all, only established in one county. They were naturally completely unable to compete with Qing Hu Island in terms of manpower, and of course, it was even more impossible for them to compete with the Heavenly God Palace.

"So, Qingshan, go to the Tai Ah Mountain Range," Zhuge Yuanhong said. "The Tai Ah Mountain Range is located in the southern part of Yangzhou. It runs through the land of several counties! Didn't you make arrangements there early on to have the Vicious Beast Gang become a support troop? Go there and help them expand their power. When the time comes for us to attack the southern part of Yangzhou… we'll need their help."

Teng Qingshan gave a slight nod, inwardly understanding what his teacher meant.

"Teacher, I need 500 sets of Fiery Gilt Battle Armor as well as 1500 sets of Flaming Feathers Battle Armor," Teng Qingshan said.

"Mm, sure." Zhuge Yuanhong smiled with a nod. "Even if you didn't ask for it, I'd still let you take the battle armor over. With some of these sets of battle armor… along with the two bottles of Elixir of the North Sea that you have over there, you'll be able to train up a division of elite troops. However, Qingshan, it's better to use the Elixir of the North Sea sparingly. After all, the loyalty of bandits isn't as good as that of our sect's disciples."

"Understood, Teacher. I will select 500 men and let them consume some of the Elixir of the North Sea.

"Regarding their loyalty, Teacher needn't worry. Those bandit disciples are extremely gutsy. Only the unyielding and gutsy men were chosen to join my disciple's Vicious Beast Gang." Teng Qingshan understood this very clearly. These bandits, who spent every day spilling blood with the edges of their blades, were much braver than these city guards.

Once they recognized someone as their leader, they would never betray their chief before reaching the end of the road.

During the early morning of the second day, Teng Qingshan left the Teng Family Village with Little Blue and headed to Jiangning County-City first. After fetching the sets of Fiery Gilt Steel Battle Armor and the Flaming Feathers Battle Armor, he placed them all together inside an extremely large metal trunk. Teng Qingshan lifted up that huge metal trunk with one arm while standing on Little Blue's back as they flew straight to the Tai Ah Mountain Range.

"Hu~~"

Above the clouds at a high altitude of 10,000 Zhang:

As the morning sun's rays radiated all around, Teng Qingshan was holding up a huge metal trunk that weighed no less than 200,000 Jin. Yet he seemed as relaxed as if he were carrying a small parcel.

"Little Blue, stay here."

Teng Qingshan naturally sensed the Tai Ah Mountain Range below, and he also discovered the Vicious Beast Gang's location.

Swoosh! Teng Qingshan jumped off Little Blue's back, dropping down in a straight line from a high altitude at an astonishing speed like that of a meteorite. After his body escaped into the Power of the Heavens and the Earth, Teng Qingshan's speed actually became even faster. He continued moving at a rapid speed, descending near the tips of numerous tall trees in the Tai Ah Mountain Range. It was only then that his speed suddenly took on a steep decline.

Chichi~~ Faint vibrations ran through the air.

Teng Qingshan smashed straight onto the mountain, with his two feet sinking in amongst the rocks. He looked at the huge metal trunk in his hand and could not resist smiling. "It sure is hard to land steadily while holding over 200,000 Jin."

Following this, Teng Qingshan held up the metal trunk and transformed into a phantom. He flitted through the mountain forest a few times and quickly entered the strategic location of the Vicious Beast Gang.

...

Yang Dong's hand grasped a slender dark red sword. He was currently on his own exclusive training field, practicing the sword art that Teng Qingshan had taught him. For a moment, his entirety seemed to have become one with the sword, distinctly carrying a gloomy, cold, and strange vibe.

"Hm?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Yang Dong caught a glimpse of a person suddenly appearing on the training field, and it gave him a shock. Then, when he took a more attentive look…

"Teacher." Yang Dong stopped practicing and walked over to Teng Qingshan respectfully.

"Ah Dong, your sword art is rather good now." Teng Qingshan smiled as he let go of the metal trunk he was carrying. The huge metal trunk, which weighed as much as over 200,000 Jin, fell onto the ground and caused the ground to shake slightly. "This time around, I've come because I want you to do something big for me."

"Teacher, please tell me about it." Yang Dong's eyes lit up. "I've been itching greatly for battle after staying here all this time. There's simply no one worthy of being my opponent in this Tai Ah Mountain Range!"

"Hu!"

A gray figure suddenly dropped down beside them. Teng Qingshan turned to look and found that it was truly Little Gray, the Whole Gale Eagle. The Whole Gale Eagle hadn't seen Teng Qingshan for many days and was clearly very happy to see him. It flew over and even rubbed its head against Teng Qingshan's arm twice, expressing their closeness.

"This Little Gray, it ate up so much of my food and still doesn't give me any respect. Yet, Teacher, the moment you arrive, it gets this close to you," Yang Dong said with a pout.

"Haha," Teng Qingshan laughed as he stroked the Whole Gale Eagle's feathers. Then he turned toward Yang Dong and instructed him, "Ah Dong, in the near future, the Gui Yuan Sect's army is going to begin attacking every county-city under Qing Hu Island's jurisdiction. When that time comes, I'll need your help, especially with attacking the southern part of Yang Zhou. I'm giving you one command—

"Become the strongest gang in the Tai Ah Mountain Range within three months at the latest. You'll also need to have the greatest number of people," Teng Qingshan instructed.

"Ah?" Yang Dong opened his eyes wide and forced a smile as he said, "Teacher, currently, my Vicious Beast Gang is already considered the best or the second best in the Tai Ah Mountain Range. However, we only have 8,000 brave men. Right now, the biggest gang in the Tai Ah Mountain Range has close to 100,000 men. Teacher, are you thinking that I have nothing better to do…? It will be really difficult to find 90,000 genuinely brave men."

Clang!

Teng Qingshan lifted open the lid of the huge metal trunk with one hand, revealing the large quantity of armor, helmets, and so on, as well as various items, inside the trunk.

"There are 500 sets of Fiery Gilt Steel Battle Armor, as well as 1,500 sets of Flaming Feathers Battle Armor in here," Teng Qingshan said seriously.

"Fiery Gilt Steel?" Yang Dong's eyes opened wide like round balls. Naturally, he knew just how amazing Fiery Gilt Steel was.

Teng Qingshan then took out a black jade bottle from the clothes at his bosom. "Ah Dong, there are approximately 1,000 drops of the Elixir of the North Sea in this jade bottle. Every drop of the Elixir of the North Sea can train up a First Rated Warrior! You just need to pick 500 of your most trusted men out of the 8,000 you currently have in your Vicious Beast Gang. Let them take the Elixir of the North Sea and have them wear the Fiery Gilt Steel Battle Armor!"

"Teacher, I have no complaints, even if you want me to attack a county-city," Yang Dong shouted excitedly.

500 First Rated Warriors fitted with Fiery Gilt Steel Battle Armor…

They would be absolutely unrivaled.

"These 500 Innate Cavalrymen are essential. As for the remaining 500 drops of the Elixir of the North Sea, as well as the 1,500 sets of Flaming Feathers Battle Armor, think about it for yourself as to how you'll use them," Teng Qingshan instructed. "With this to rely on, there should be no problems taking command of the entire Tai Ah Mountain Range, right?"

"None. To begin with, my Vicious Beast Gang is the best or second best in the Tai Ah Mountain Range anyway. With these… my gang will be able to wipe out all of the other gangs." Yang Dong grinned darkly. "However, I would hate to wipe them out. After all, they're my subordinates-to-be. Teacher, don't worry. Just watch how I'll take command of the entire Tai Ah Mountain Range."

Teng Qingshan smiled while nodding.

The Tai Ah Mountain Range ran through the southern parts of the lands of numerous counties, and the population of bandits went as high as a million. It was completely possible to create a division of troops from them. By that time, they could be raised to have a wonderful efficacy. After all, the thing that the Gui Yuan Sect was currently lacking the most was the basic troops.

*******

Now, throughout the entire Land of the Nine Prefectures, there were many sects watching Yangzhou. Ever since Qing Hu Island was burned down, they all knew… Qing Hu Island and the suddenly emerging Gui Yuan Sect were bound to start a war!

"Giddyup! Giddyup! Giddyup!"....

Aside from the 2,000 troops who were left behind to defend, the 10,000 soldiers of the Long Gang Guards took along 100,000 ordinary troops and marched majestically toward the north!

At the northern border of Jiangning County, the originally dispatched troops of Qing Hu Island were assigned to a base inside a small city called 'Feng An City' this morning. The permanent residents of this small city only amounted to close to a population of 100,000. However, today, with the addition of the Qing Hu Island troops, the number of people inside the small city exceeded 200,000.

"If one wants to fight, one has to fight the strongest."

Amidst the clouds and mist at a high altitude of several thousand Zhang, Teng Qingshan was sitting on the back of the Undying Phoenix. They were rushing toward Feng An City at around the same speed as their army.

This time, aside from Teng Qingshan and the Undying Phoenix, there was also the extremely warlike Dreamy Cloud Martial Immortal, Mu Tao, following the army.

Mu Tao was currently mixed in with the main forces of the army. He was really longing for the Blind Swordmaster to come over.

...

It was recorded in the books of the Wan Xiang Sect:

3rd of September, the Gui Yuan Sect's army set off.

Very early in the morning of the 4th of September, the Gui Yuan Sect's army launched an attack on Feng An City. The first to attack was a division of densely packed elite warriors, dressed in blood-red battle armor. The innumerable warriors charged toward the city's wall at the same time. With two easy leaps, every one of them jumped onto Feng An City's wall. None of the opposing forces could stop them.

The battle was over within the time it would take merely to make a cup of tea.

The 200,000 Silver Dragon soldiers and 100,000 ordinary troops completely fell apart. The reason why the Gui Yuan Sect could have the strongest troops during this battle was completely due to exposing the existence of the Long Gang Guards, which consisted of First Rated Warriors. Before them, no other army or city could stand in their way.

...

Very early in the morning of the 4th of September, that battle completely stunned the numerous sects throughout the Land of the Nine Prefectures.

When Qing Hu Island's upper echelons, as well as every large county-city still under their control, found out that the army of 200,000 Silver Dragon soldiers and 100,000 ordinary troops, who were inside their city, had actually collapsed within the very short period of time it took to make a cup of tea… they all froze with fear. The forces they had been battling were at a totally different level! It could be said…. that this was simply a fight between an adult and a child.

Overwhelmingly one-sided!

Previously, Qing Hu Island had originally wanted to use their elite and ordinary forces to suppress the enemy…

However, now that their hopes were dashed, many of Qing Hu Island's upper echelons collapsed. Quite a few of the county-cities even had their high-ranking members send out secret letters to the Gui Yuan Sect, expressing their intentions to surrender and join the Gui Yuan Sect.

This news was naturally immediately passed on to the members of the Heavenly God Palace who harbored ambitions about conquering Yangzhou.

"Father, it's unexpected that this Gui Yuan Sect has an army of First Rated Warriors as well." The High Priestess of the Snowy Lotus Cult watched Pei San, who was still drinking tea. "Moreover, according to the intelligence scouts… the Silver Dragon Army's soldiers were simply unable to pierce through the battle armor that the First Rated Warriors were wearing. Clearly, this army is even stronger than our Energy Destroyers."

"If this Gui Yuan Sect is this strong, it will be really difficult for us to resolve their occupancy in Yangzhou. Dad, what should we do for this to work?" the High Priestess of the Snowy Lotus Cult asked anxiously.

"If they're strong… isn't that even better?" Pei San answered with a slight smile.