The Nine Cauldrons
chapter-133

Teng Qingshan was only seventeen, yet, he possessed such powerful strength.

"He specializes in the cultivation of spear art, while I practice saber art! How can I teach him? In fact, I might have even weaker spear art than him. Although he is only a Postliminary Expert, his understanding of the concepts is almost as good as mine! I am not capable of teaching him. Moreover, I already have a precious disciple! I do not need another disciple… Then, should I kill him? If I were to kill him now, that Zhuge Yuanhong will definitely be enraged and he may even rush over here personally. If he were to find out that I was the killer, it'd be troublesome."

The old man was still very wary of Zhuge Yuanhong.

"Even if he can't find the killer, it will be very hard for me to seize the Black Fire Spirit Fruit when he is here! Mmm, I need to prioritize the important things first. I will kill Teng Qingshan when I have gotten my hands on the Black Fire Spirit Fruit! Hmph. I'll then wipe out any traces of his body and Zhuge Yuanhong won't be able to find out! Zhuge Yuanhong, Zhuge Yuanhong... Who told you to help Wei Wuya. You can't blame me for this!"

After deciding on his plan, the silver-haired old man continued watching with a grin.

At this moment, loud cheers rang out from the surroundings!

Everyone praised Teng Qingshan. He had put up a great fight, and his longspear seemed just like a docile dragon slithering around. Sometimes it would be terrifyingly fast, while at other times, it was very violent. Swinging his longspear, he forcibly beat the Lord of the Zhong Jian Sect, Sima Feng to the ground.

"Brother Wang, you've also been famous for several decades. Why don't you go up and challenge him?

If you win, your reputation would soar." A skinny man next to the silver-haired and gray-robed old man smiled and said.

"That's right, Brother Wang. You're also one of the few experts in our Fanwu City." Other people started chipping in.

The silver-haired old man shook his head and said smiling, "Aren't you guys aware of my abilities? You want me to compete with an expert who is on the level of the "Earthly Ranking"? Am I complaining that I have lived too long a life?" The few warriors around him laughed. They were just teasing 'Wang Yun', who was considered to be considerably strong in Xuyang County's Fanwu City.

He had reached the pinnacle of the Postliminary Realm.

The silver-haired and gray-robed old man continued to smile despite being teased by the others. However, a cold gleam flashed in his eyes, revealing his ruthlessness.

*******

There were over one thousand warriors and quite a number of warriors were shouting loudly.

"Teng Qingshan is really amazing! He defeated Sima Feng so easily!"

"Teng Qingshan... As expected of an expert listed on the "Earthly Ranking"."

...

Many warriors who were not that strong were the loudest in shouting out. They had teased Teng Qingshan earlier and were now trying very hard to shower him with praises. The new copy of the "Earthly Ranking" was not out yet and there was no way to be sure if the Wan Xiang Sect would really add Teng Qingshan into the newest list of the "Earthly Ranking".

However, this was how many warriors were. They would easily believe in rumors and loved to stir up trouble.

"Sect Master!""Sect Master!"

Many people crowded around Sima Feng, who was seated cross-legged on the ground, trying to control his injuries through his inner strength. After a short while, he opened his eyes and got up to his feet with great difficulty and with the help of the members of his sect. He looked at Teng Qingshan and although he was unwilling to accept this, he still said in a loud voice, "Lieutenant Teng, as expected of one who can defeat Meng Tian, an expert on the "Earthly Ranking". Your spear art has already reached the level of being able to use your opponent's force onto themselves. I, Sima Feng, admit that I'm no match against you! Coughs..."

As Sima Feng had spoken loudly, his internal injuries became worse, and he coughed uncontrollably to the point that he started coughing blood.

This scene shocked quite a number of warriors.

Teng Qingshan's spear attack actually managed to wound Sima Feng to such a degree.

"Thank you, Lieutenant Teng, for showing mercy." Sima Feng cupped his hands together and immediately departed with the help of the members of his sect.

Showing mercy?

It was true that Teng Qingshan had shown mercy. Sima Feng's heavy sword had been sent flying and rendered in a state where he was unable to fend off the attack, Teng Qingshan had smashed with an 'Inflamed Passion' attack. He would be able to smash Sima Feng to his death even if it was with just a strength of several ten thousand Jin. At the very end, Teng Qingshan drew back his spear attack.

He only broke the opponent's two rib bones, inflicting injuries to his internal organs.

Although he would need to take a year or more to recuperate, he at least got to keep his life.

"Defeating Teng Qingshan will allow one to be listed onto the "Earthly Ranking"."

"Yan Tie, since you can defeat Feng Wuxue, then you may be able to defeat Teng Qingshan as well." Someone shouted out. Yan Tie frowned and looked over. However, there were too many people in the surroundings. There were also some people who were especially tall and had blocked his vision. He couldn't see the person who had shouted.

"Hmph," Yan Tie snorted coldly but did not step forth.

Yan Tie stared at Teng Qingshan from the distance, "What an amazing spear arts! I'll be able to fend off these two attacks if I were to block at full power. However, from what Teng Qingshan said before he fought, he was clearly demonstrating his moves for his cousin.

This guy...Could it be that he's really concealing his abilities?" Yan Tie did not dare to take action.

Just the abilities which Teng Qingshan had revealed already caused Yan Tie to feel a great headache.

"Seems like I've underestimated the experts in the world! Mmm, there are many experts here. I'll wait first... After the things here are over, I'll return to Youzhou and look for Teacher! After having traveled around for eight years, it's about time to head back!" Yan Tie thought to himself.

...

Teng Qingshan stood there for very long and only returned back to the crowd after seeing that no one was coming up to challenge him.

The over one thousand warriors around him also left after seeing that there were no other challenges. That Thunder God Blade Wu Yue looked at Teng Qingshan's departing back view and a gleam of cold light flashed in his eyes, "What amazing spear arts. Looking at one part allows one to understand the entire picture. This Teng Qingshan has definitely yet to bring out his strongest spear art...He really does have the ability to kill Meng Tian! In this attempt to seize the Black Fire Spirit Fruit, he will be a powerful opponent. However... I've practiced my saber arts for so many years. I don't believe that a seventeen-year-old young man like him would be able to fend it off!" Wu Yue was extremely confident.

The crowd dispersed and everyone returned to their own places.

However, they were still talking about the two sparrings earlier. They had all been taken by shock.

******

At the Gui Yuan Sect's base.

"Brother Qinghu, that two techniques that Lieutenant Teng displayed were the two techniques you displayed in the Centurion competition?" Some members of the Black Armored Army crowded around.

"Mmm," Teng Qinghu's eyes lit up. "Flashing Fire and Inflamed Passion are two of the simpler techniques that Qingshan had taught me. I did not expect him to make these two techniques so amazing! If I'm able to reach half of what Qingshan can do with these two attacks, then I'd be able to become first in the Centurion competition!"

"Just boast."

Everyone laughed.

"However, why is it that the prowess that I display is so much weaker when they are the same techniques?" Teng Qinghu mumbled. On that night, Teng Qinghu spent a very long time practicing his spear arts. What Teng Qingshan had demonstrated for him earlier stirred up great emotions in him.

...

It was a complete silence at night.

Teng Qingshan sat on the grass, leaning against a big tree.

He was at the edge of the Great Yan Mountain. If he were to look down, he would be able to see the tents set up by Gui Yuan Sect.

"The two moves, Inflamed Passion and Flashing Fire... They are completely different moves but can also be fused together. "This "Five Techniques of the Ardent Flame"..." Teng Qingshan closed his eyes and tried to simulate the fusing. He then stood up and started performing it, constantly changing his moves.

Teng Qingshan had wanted to fuse the "Five Techniques of the Ardent Flame" with the concepts of the Cannon Fist, merging them into one.

This attack would also become the fourth move of the Five Elemental Spear Arts.

Teng Qingshan had already been working on trying to change the Cannon Fist into spear arts for a few years but had been unable to succeed.

The "Five Techniques of the Ardent Flame" was an opportunity.

In the "Five Techniques of the Ardent Flame", the techniques which were the hardest to fuse together were the 'Inflamed Passion' and 'Flashing Fire' which had completely different concepts. This two moves could be fused together and Teng Qingshan's progress in fusing the five moves instantly got faster. On this night, Teng Qingshan was completely submerged in his spear arts, not sensing the passing of time at all.

He continued this until early next morning.

Teng Qingshan did not feel tired at all. He felt a little puzzled, "Where should I start to create the four technique of my Five Elemental Spear Arts?" In the process of fusing his spear art, there was a need to get rid of useless parts and fuse the essence together. He had to bring out the concept of the fire attributed spear arts completely.

However——

Which of them was the essence?

"If I were to fuse the moves of the Wildfire Flames and Silver Flower of the Flaming Tree, then combining the fusion with the Cannon Fist, it would be an attack used against group attack. And if I were to use the Legacy of the Ultimate Flame as the primary move, then I would be able to fuse in the concept of the Tiger Cannon Fist, thereby, creating the most powerful spear art for the attack of one particular target!" Teng Qingshan was well aware of this.

There were two choices. One of it was area attack, while the other was a targeted attack.

The Tiger Cannon Fist was the strongest fist technique he had in his previous life and it could be merged with the concepts of the Legacy of the Ultimate Flame.

Teng Qingshan had a feeling——

Once he chose the targeted attack, the difficulty in creating this move will be ten times or even one hundred times more than in creating the area attack. However... This one move, in his predictions, would surpass that of the Toxic Dragon Drill and it would become the most powerful move amongst the four spear techniques!

"Area attack? My Pursuing Shadows can be used as both a targeted attack or an area attack. The prowess of the Toxic Dragon Drill is strong enough as well! There's no need for some kind of area attack with a great prowess at the moment. Forget it, it's better to have a little more patience and spend more effort. After all, I've already been working on this for so many years. A few more years won't make a difference!"

Teng Qingshan had decided to devote all his efforts into studying and creating the fourth technique of the Five Elemental Spear Arts, a spear technique with a fire attribute!

This would be the most terrifying attack amongst the four techniques, and would also be the one which took up the most time.

Teng Qingshan went down the mountain and returned to the base.

"Qingshan, you entered the mountain so early for your morning practice?" Ji Hong just came out from his tent.

Teng Qingshan smiled and nodded.

Just then, Commander Guan Lu also walked out, throwing a glance toward Teng Qingshan. Her gaze had changed a little, but it soon returned to the previous coldness. She walked pass Teng Qingshan and her voice rang out, "Lieutenant Teng, don't forget our promise. Once the things here are settled, there would be no need to worry about any injuries. The two of us shall have a good fight."

After saying that, Guan Lu left.

Teng Qingshan was stunned.

...

In the days that followed, the Gui Yuan Sect continued to be split into three teams as they searched the entire Blazing Mountain. However, the mountain area was too wide, and as time passed by, more and more warriors arrived.

Despite there being so many warriors on a mountain, they were irrelevant just like a single drop of water in the ocean.

Very soon, the members of Yangzhou's top sect, Qing Hu Island, arrived.

Qingzhou's number one sect, Xiao Yao Palace, had also sent a team of over one hundred members. There were also other warriors, both famous and not, who arrived progressively. In a month's time, the number of warriors who had gathered around the Blazing Mountain had surpassed ten thousand. Every night, the warriors would all return to the foot of the mountain.

With there being over ten thousand warriors, of course there would be a lot of disagreements.

Sparring, settling of feuds and enmities were a common sight.