The Nine Cauldrons - One Year Later

Teng Qingshan and his family had arrived the Xing Yi Sect on the Great Yan Mountain. When the Undying Phoenix flew into the East Flower Garden, Hongwu, Honglin, Lei Xiaoru, and Teng Qingshan’s parents all leaped down from the Undying Phoenix’s back     

“Hongwu, just wait and see.” Honglin said confidently, “Why do you praise the enemy and belittle your own forces? So what if Pei San is now the most powerful person in the world? In three years, our father will beat him up so badly that he won’t ever get up again! Right, Father?” Honglin giggled as she looked over at her father.     

Teng Qingshan couldn’t help but laugh along.     

“Qingshan, come over for a second.” Teng Yongfan suddenly said.     

“Father? Mother?” Teng Qingshan was confused. However, he still followed his parents and went to his parents’ house.     

When they had all entered the living room, Teng Yongfan instructed, “Lan, close the door.”     

“Creak!” The door was closed.     

The room was very dark as the only light source was the light shining through the window. Teng Yongfan sat down, while Yuan Lan remained standing. Both of them stared at Teng Qingshan.     

“Father, why did you ask for me?” Teng Qingshan could guess what his father would soon say.     

“Qingshan, I have watched you grow up.” Teng Yongfan took a deep breath and continued saying, “You have always been smart. When you were young, you always acted like an adult. And now, you are one of the most influential individuals in the Land of the Nine Prefectures. Just your words alone can shake up the Land of the Nine Prefectures. Both your mother and I have witnessed Pei San’s power and abilities. He is inhumanly powerful. He is like a god… A demon.”     

“Father, don’t worry.” Teng Qingshan assured.     

“Listen to me.” Teng Yongfan interrupted.     

Immediately, Teng Qingshan kept quiet and listened.     

“I just have a question. I am asking you this question as your Father. Qingshan, don’t act as if you don’t know the answer. How powerful are you when compared to Pei San?” Teng Yongfan stared deeply at Teng Qingshan as he said, “Your mother is here as well. Both of us asked you a very simple question. Don’t try to fool us.”     

Teng Qingshan froze. He looked over at his mother, who was looking at him.     

Teng Qingshan did not know what to do.      

Initially, Teng Qingshan thought he could just trick his parents. However, considering how his parents had asked the question in such a serious manner, Teng Qingshan felt that he could not simply lie to his parents.     

“Father.” Teng Qingshan nodded and answered seriously, “I am not as powerful as Pei San and I am not confident that I can win the fight with Pei San!”     

Teng Yongfan was shocked. When Yuan Lan heard this, she stumbled backward.     

“Mom, be careful.” Teng Qingshan hastily supported Yuan Lan.     

“I am fine.” Yuan Lan held onto a chair and sat down.     

Teng Qingshan continued explaining, “Father, Mother, I am not confident about winning now, but I still have time. I still have three years! Both of you know that my speed of progress is extremely fast. Even when I had no teacher, I was able to reach the Omnipotent Realm at the age of 21, even earlier than the four Omnipotent Experts! Three years of cultivation for me is equivalent to a hundred years of cultivation for ordinary individuals. I am just slightly weaker than Pei San now. I am sure I will make progress within the next three years. I just need to improve a little bit more to have more confidence in myself. Therefore, please don’t worry.”     

In order to calm his parents down, Teng Qingshan made exaggerated statements and bragged about himself.     

Actually, Teng Qingshan knew that it would become harder and harder to improve and make a breakthrough in his cultivation. If it was that easy, there would have been many Omnipotent Experts. Qin Shiqi only made one breakthrough when he was at the brink of death. Pei San was extremely close to the Omnipotent Realm but the heavens obstructed his pathway, refusing to give him the chance to complete that last step. Thus, one could well imagine how difficult it was to make this final breakthrough.     

However, his parents knew nothing of these. Therefore, they might believe him.     

“Qingshan…” Teng Yongfan stared at Teng Qingshan and said in a serious tone, “You are my son! You are the most powerful person in the history of the Teng Jia Village. I, your father, might not even be as thoughtful as you. I just want to say… Please think twice before you do anything! Don’t be impulsive. If you are able to do these things, I will support whatever decision you make.”     

“Old man! What are you saying?”     

Hearing this, Yuan Lan was so mad. She immediately stood up and grabbed Teng Qingshan by the arm. She looked at Teng Qingshan and instructed, “Qingshan, please listen to me. If you are not confident about winning, then don’t fight against Pei San. If something bad happens to you, I will die as well.” Her eyes reddened as she spoke.     

“Stop crying.” Teng Yongfan, who was beside Yuan Lan, frowned and scolded.     

Yet, Yuan Lan ignored Teng Yongfan. Her eyes were filled with tears.      

Teng Qingshan knew that his parents weren’t avid readers and they didn’t know much about this world. His father was just a blacksmith who had been through hardships. His mother was just a simple village wife. Their parents could not be more proud to have a son like Teng Qingshan.     

When Teng Qingshan had gone missing, Teng Yongfan and Yuan Lan cried so much. If their child, Teng Qingshan, died before they did, they might not be able to bear the pain.     

Teng Qingshan felt very grateful to his parents. “Father, Mother,” Teng Qingshan called out.     

Teng Yongfan and Yuan Lan both looked at Teng Qingshan, waiting for him to finish his words.     

“I promise you. If I am not confident that I can win the fight three years from now, I will not risk my life.” Teng Qingshan said solemnly.     

When Teng Yongfan and Yuan Lan heard this, they heaved a sigh of relief.     

Knowing that their son dared to make this promise, they felt relieved.     

They were worried that their son might risk his life for the pursuit of the pinnacle of cultivation.     

“Father… Mother… I am leaving now. Why don’t you guys rest for a while first? We can eat lunch together later.” Teng Qingshan said.     

“Mhm. Go.” Yuan Lan said hastily.     

When Teng Qingshan left, Yuan Lan turned and glared at Teng Yongfan, complaining, “Old man, you told me you would stop him no matter what. Why did you tell him that earlier…”     

“Woman, you know nothing. Qingshan is much smarter than us! He thinks things more thoroughly than us. We don’t have to say much. A reminder is enough for him to understand what we want.” Teng Yongfan explained.     

…     

After Teng Qingshan had reassured his parents, he returned to his room.     

“So I guess you have successfully comforted Mother and Father.” With some tea in her hand, Li Jun walked over.     

“You guessed it right.” Teng Qingshan smiled.     

“We have been together for so many years. Of course I know.” Li Jun sat down beside Teng Qingshan as she said, “Our parents are not the only ones worried because of the duel between Pei San and Qin Shiqi. Honglin and Hongwu are also very worried as well.”     

Teng Qingshan glanced over at his wife Li Jun. He could not resist the urge to hold onto his wife’s hand.     

Li Jun stared at Teng Qingshan. Both Teng Qingshan and Li Jun could guess what each other were thinking.     

“I won’t be by your side often for the next three years.” Teng Qingshan said.     

“I will be fine.” Li Jun said with a smile.     

While being with Li Jun, Teng Qingshan felt an unprecedented calmness.     

After the duel between Pei San of the Heavenly God Palace and Qin Shiqi of the Ying Family, discussions about the fight spread crazily throughout the Land of the Nine Prefectures. Many people had to imagine what had happened through the reckless comments about the fight.     

However, everyone on the Land of the Nine Prefectures all agreed to one thing.     

Teng Qingshan was the only person who can find the demonic Pei San!     

Who will win in the duel three years from now? This was the hottest discussion topic in the Land of the Nine Prefectures.     

Pei San represented invincibility and dominance, while Teng Qingshan represented the unfathomable miracle!     

…     

Because of the upcoming duel, the world went berserk. Inevitably, the millions of disciples of the Xing Yi Sect would often chat about the upcoming duel. As they were disciples of the Xing Yi Sect, they naturally sided Teng Qingshan. Because Pei San was extremely strong, they were worried for their Sovereign Teng Qingshan.     

The first two duels had already happened. In both duels, Pei San survived and his opponents died.     

What about the third duel?     

No one could confidently predict if Teng Qingshan could win…     

Teng Qingshan wasn’t confident as well. After the second duel, Teng Qingshan went to the East Flower Garden. While he was living in the East Flower Garden, he focused entirely on his cultivation. He tried very hard to understand the Dao of the Omnipotent Realm.     

Because Teng Qingshan cultivated in seclusion, no one knew if he had made a breakthrough.     

Within the blink of an eye, a year has passed since the second duel.     

In the East Flower Garden:     

Teng Qingshan’s daughter, Teng Honglin, had mastered the Half-Step Bursting Fist and had reached the Grandmaster Realm of the Internal Martial Art. She would soon practice the Supreme Force. As Honglin had reached the Grandmaster Realm, she was allowed to teach a few disciples.     

“Father has been cultivating in seclusion for over two months. When will he be done with his closed-door cultivation?” Wearing a full suit of black, Honglin had just finished teaching her disciples. As she thought about this, she frowned sadly.     

Teng Honglin is very beautiful.     

However, because she is Teng Qingshan’s daughter and because she always looked cold in front of the disciples of the Xing Yi Sect, many people thought that they weren’t good enough for her. They didn’t dare to court her. In addition, Teng Honglin never liked anyone again.     

“Eh?” Suddenly, Teng Honglin heard something.     

A voice sounded nearby. “Martial Brother, nonsense! Since Sovereign started his cultivation, everything he has done is incredible and almost miraculous! No one believed he could do it, but he did it! Even if he can’t win the fight with Pei San, I am sure the fight will end in a draw.”     

“Junior Martial Brother, you practice the Internal Martial Art. You should know that our cultivation gets harder and harder. Sovereign is powerful. However, when Pei San said those things publicly in the Qinling Mountain Range, our Sovereign did not respond. What does this mean?”     

“What does it mean?”     

“Think about it. If I am as powerful as you, will I say those things in such an arrogant way? Will you allow yourself to suffer in silence? Pei San must have known that he is stronger than our Sovereign, and so, he dared to say those words publicly. Our Sovereign did not respond because he knows that he is indeed the weaker one. I do respect our Sovereign, but this is the simple truth.”     

When Teng Honglin heard this, she began trembling.     

The disciples of the Xing Yi Sect had always refrained from talking about the Sovereign in front of Honglin. Moreover, Teng Qingshan himself had avoided talking about this. Therefore, Teng Honglin never really thought about it.     

However, after hearing those two disciples, Honglin realized that she resonated with those two disciples.     

If Pei San wasn’t stronger than Teng Qingshan, he wouldn’t dare to say those things.     

Teng Qingshan didn’t respond because he knows he is not as powerful as Pei San.      

…     

“Bang~~” The doors to the cultivation room opened.     

Dressed in a white loose cloak, Teng Qingshan stepped out of the cultivation room and took a deep breath. When he had started this closed-door cultivation, it was still autumn. And now, it was already halfway through winter and the temperature had dropped drastically.     

“Eh?” Suddenly, Teng Qingshan heard something.     

He instantly disappeared and appeared beside a pond in another courtyard. He saw his daughter Honglin crouching near the pond and weeping softly.     

“Don’t cry.” A voice sounded in Honglin’s ears.     

Honglin turned back and saw Teng Qingshan looking at her with a smile.     

“Father, are you done with your closed-door cultivation?” Honglin’s eyes looked red and puffy. When she saw her father, her eyes lit up with surprise and joy.