The Nine Cauldrons
chapter-544

After the God of Heaven Palace arrived, the Ying Family and Mani Temple soon arrived as well. And so, the five sects Teng Qingshan had invited were all present.

"Sovereign Pei! Everyone, I must go pay my respect to the heavens and earth first."

Teng Qingshan cupped his hands and temporarily left the group of Emptiness Realm Experts.

At this very moment, over 2,000 people stood in the public square in front of the Xing Yi Sect. The person leading this group was Teng Qingshan. His three disciples, Teng Shou, Yang Dong, Xue Xin, stood behind him. Behind these three great disciples stood 98 boys, referred to as the third generation disciples. Behind the 98 boys were all the members of Teng Jia Village.

The day when Teng Qingshan established the Xing Yi Sect, all members of Teng Jia Village became members of the Xing Yi Sect.

"Music!"

Teng Qingshan shouted solemnly.

Immediately, the loud ringing of bells resonated in the sky above the public square. As the people listened to the heavy sounds produced, they felt their hearts pounding. It was shocking. The entire public square trembled at the sounds of the bells. After 9981 bells sounded, the melody of drums began. Immediately, the public square was filled with the beats of drums.

After a long time, the drummers stopped playing.

"Offering," Teng Qingshan said solemnly.

Immediately, many shirtless men of the same height came out. They had red cloths tied around their heads and they carried huge plates filled with roasted cow, roasted goat, fruits, and desserts. There were many different kinds of offerings, and all these offerings were carried up by 81 shirtless men.

Teng Qingshan took three incense sticks from the priest and said loudly, "Kneel!"

Rumble~~

Over two thousand people knelt at the same time. Everyone remained silent as they stared at the great cauldron ahead. Even the prideful members of the God of Heaven Palace became quiet. There were many people in the public square, but not a sound was made.

"The heavens above, today…" The priest began reading the oration offered to the heavens, and his voice resonated continuously.

Teng Qingshan held the incense sticks and looked towards the huge cauldron ahead as he listened attentively.

After a long time—

The priest finished reading the oration.

"Place the incense sticks," the priest shouted.

Everyone remained kneeling. Teng Qingshan was the only who stood up. He respectfully walked to the cauldron and placed the three incense sticks inside it.

Teng Qingshan then backed away and knelt down again.

"Bow!"

Teng Qingshan ordered and everyone did as told.

After the three kneels and nine bows, all the offerings were sent to the prepared bonfire and burnt as an indication that the the heavens and earth had eaten the food. In the end, the music sounded again. When the melody of the drums ended, the ceremony ended.

"Qingshan, after the offering and after announcing it to the heavens, your Xing Yi Sect is officially established," Pei San said with a smile.

Teng Qingshan smiled and shook his head

Because of the influence of his previous world, Teng Qingshan didn't really believe that gods, spirits, and sacrifices would be of any help. However, even the prideful Pei San and the other high-ranked people behaved nicely during the offering of the sacrifices. Almost everyone in the Land of the Nine Prefectures considered the offering of sacrifices something of great importance.

Therefore, Teng Qingshan had to do everything according to the rules.

On the day of the establishment of the sect, the guests were overjoyed as they gathered in the Xing Yi Sect and expressed good wishes on the establishment of the sect during the ceremony.

After the celebration, the representatives of the five sects came to a very quiet living room. These five people were Pei San of the God of Heaven Palace, Ying Haitong of the Ying Family, Wu Luo of the Snow Hawk Hall, Fan Kong of the Mani Temple, and Teng Qingshan!

The Sovereign of the Gui Yuan Sect was indeed Zhuge Yuanhong. However, without an Emptiness Realm Expert, it would be impossible for the Gui Yuan Sect to control the land of one prefecture.

To the other great supreme sects, the leader of the Gui Yuan Sect… the one who had lifted the Gui Yuan Sect up… was Teng Qingshan.

"Brother Qingshan, you should know why we are here today," Ying Haitong said with a helpless smile. "This time, you disseminated the cultivation manual "Tiger Form Fist Art". By doing this, the millions of people in the Land of the Nine Prefectures will acquire this fist art very easily. If they successfully practice this fist art, they will most likely join the Xing Yi Sect. As time passes, the Xing Yi Sect will be able to recruit disciples from the entire Land of the Nine Prefectures. Tell me! What should the other supreme sects do with this?"

"It's the first time we have encountered something like this." the black-cloaked elder of the Snow Hawk Hall said with a smile.

This was something only Teng Qingshan could do. No one else could do it.

"Qingshan, tell me. What do you plan to do?" Pei San said with a smile.

The white-browed monk, Fan Kong, also looked at Teng Qingshan, awaiting an answer.

The four sects' intention was evident—

The representatives of the sects were not fools. They couldn't watch Teng Qingshan do this. Although the supreme sects couldn't stop the people of the world from learning the cultivation of Internal Martial Art, they could weaken the influence. They could even combine forces and suppress the Xing Yi Sect together.

"Everyone."

Teng Qingshan smiled as he shook his head. "The Xing Yi Sect has very few members. We are of no threat to you guys."

"Not now. But it will be a threat in the future," Pei San said with a smile.

Teng Qingshan nodded and replied, "I have utmost confidence in the branch of Internal Martial Arts. However, as the founder of the Xing Yi Sect, I can vow to you all that the Xing Yi Sect will never contend for hegemony. We will only remain in the five counties of Yangzhou. The Xing Yi Sect will never fight for the rule of any other county beside those five.

"You don't plan to contend for hegemony?" The representatives of the four sects were very surprised.

A sect would only choose not to contend for hegemony if it had no choice. For example, the Wan Xiang Sect was not strong initially and so it chose not to contend for hegemony. However, it did become much more powerful after a long time. Still, it could never contend for hegemony. If Wan Xiang Sect broke its promise, it would cause rage in the entire world.

However, the Xing Yi Sect was different!

Teng Qingshan already had limitless potential. He might even become an Omnipotent Expert in the future. Even if Teng Qingshan didn't reach the level of Emperor Yu, he could most definitely reach the level of the Northeastern King,Hong Tian, easily.

Why would Teng Qingshan block his own path to success?"

"A land of five counties is enough," Teng Qingshan said with a smile. "Everyone, please do not worry. We will not contend for hegemony. This will be the first rule of the Xing Yi Sect! I will announce this to the world and let everyone know. Are you all at ease now?"

"Moreover, the cultivation of Internal Martial Art is extremely tough. Only one in a hundred can successfully master this cultivation method." Teng Qingshan shook his head as he spoke. "Even if the fist art spreads throughout the land, it won't affect the foundations of your sects."

Pei San, Ying Haitong, and the others all looked at each other, and smiles bloomed on their faces.

Only one in a hundred… Extremely high requirement…

In their opinion, there will be fewer Internal Martial Art cultivators than Daoist Sect cultivators and Buddhist Sect cultivators. It wouldn't affect them at all. Moreover, the Xing Yi Sect will be announcing to the world that they will not be contending for hegemony. It will be like the Wan Xiang Sect. This way, the Xing Yi Sect will be of no threat.

After all, if a sect announced this, no one in the sect would have the audacity to disobey. If the sect were to go against its words, it would be attacked by the people of the world. It would even cause instability and disloyalty in the sect.

"Hmph, how would you all know what I am truly thinking?" Teng Qingshan laughed internally. "Internal Martial Arts is different from the Daoist Sect and the Buddhist Sect. If an Internal Martial Arts cultivator is able to make some accomplishments, even if it is small achievements, he will still have the strength of 3,000-4,000 Jin. The small achievement in the cultivation of Internal Martial Arts at least opens up some of the meridians. If the cultivator then changes his cultivation and practices an inner strength cultivation manual, he will soon have rather rich inner strength."

Back then, Teng Qingshan and Teng Qinghu could practice the "Reckless Bull Power Burst". Although Qinghu had only made small accomplishments in the cultivation of Internal Martial Arts, he was able to make small achievements in the cultivation of the"Reckless Bull Power Burst".

"The cultivation of Internal Martial Art give you the physical strength of several thousand Jin, while the cultivation of the "Reckless Bull Power Burst" gives you the inner strength of several thousand Jin! The total strength would be an explosive strength of 10,000 Jin, which would be the strength at the level of a First Rated Warrior!"

This was the advantage of Internal Martial Art! It was the combination of physical strength and inner strength.

"By making small achievements in the cultivation of Internal Martial Art, the cultivator will become as powerful as First Rated Warriors. If the cultivator can have even higher achievements, he will be able to open up most of his meridians. He will be able to reach the eighth stage of the "Reckless Bull Power Burst"! With the combination of physical strength and inner strength, he will display an explosive strength of 10,000 JIn." Teng Qingshan felt very confident as he thought to himself, "There is a population of 200 million to 300 million in Yangzhou. A time of several dozen years could nurture several million strong Internal Martial Art cultivators in this population!"

"Several million experts of Internal Martial Arts! The inferior ones will at least be Second Rated Warriors! The ones who cultivate at a normal speed will definitely be at the level of First Rated Warriors."

"This means that the Xing Yi Sect could easily become an army of 100,000 First Rated Warriors." Teng Qingshan had thought this through.

However, Teng Qingshan was well aware—

"If the branch of Internal Martial Arts becomes too powerful, a schism will most likely occur! It's just like how the original Daoist Sect split up into numerous sects. If the branch of Internal Martial Arts is ambitious, it will also split up into numerous sects. Therefore, it's best to eliminate any forms of desire for power within the Xing Yi Sect. Without the desire for power, the Xing Yi Sect will eventually just become a powerful but sacred place held aloof from all worldly things."

Because the sect itself has no desire to rule over the entire land, the ambitious people in the sect won't be able to use the sect for their own ambitions and desires.

After all—

Firstly, this will be an instruction given by the Martial Ancestor.

Secondly, the sect will announce its promise to the world.

Thirdly, the entire Xing Yi Sect will agree to this.

By that time, the Xing Yi Sect will be indisputably ranked as the best of this world. It will become a sacred existence far superior to all the other sects in the Land of the Nine Prefectures.

The Xing Yi Sect won't be able to conquer the entire land, but there will be no other forces remaining that can vie with the Xing Yi Sect.

"However, it will take time to achieve all these things. I still need a great amount of Internal Martial Arts cultivation manuals," Teng Qingshan thought to himself.

There was still a long way to go. Teng Qingshan, the Martial Ancestor of the Xing Yi Sect, will have to work very hard to achieve these goals.

While the the Xing Yi Sect was being established before the eyes of the world, something was going on in the deeper areas of the desolate land far away in the south.

"Haha, I finally did it! I finally did it!"

A hoarse voice sounded.

A grey-cloaked man with horrifying scars on his face could be seen. As he darted southward, he left a stream of light behind. After experiencing the death of his son, the obliteration of his sect, and his disfiguration, Gu Yong finally gained realization. He finally gained enlightenment, overcame the last hurdle, and attained the Emptiness Realm.

The speed of an Emptiness Realm Expert was astonishing.

An unknown amount of time passed…

Whoosh!

A man with a face full of scars was looking at the forest ahead with cold-looking eyes. Many tree houses could be seen in the forest ahead. These houses were built on the branches of the trees. Chattering voices sounded. There was an unprecedented great number of wild men here.

Moreover, every single person here had a height of one Zhang (2.5m). All of them were like giants. In fact, the height of a rare amount of people was even more astonishing.

"It's here! I have finally arrived!" Gu Yong said to himself.

...