The Nine Cauldrons

Book 7 Chapter 22 Seclusion

Teng Qingshan and Li Jun stood shoulder to shoulder on the slightly protruding terrace of the cliff. As the scathing cold wind blew by, Li Jun’s body swayed and involuntarily stepped back as her face became slightly pale.

“Haha…..” Teng Qingshan turned and glanced at Li Jun as he laughed, “Little Jun, you almost fell just now.”

“This place is so high. If I fell down and no one saved me, I would definitely die.” As Li Jun recalled what just happened, she felt slightly scared. “Big Brother Teng, don’t stand at the edge.” Although Li Jun had been with Teng Qingshan, she didn’t know that…..even if the practitioner of the Internal Martial Arts jumped off the cliff, they still have their own means of keeping their life safe.

“Me?”

Teng Qingshan smiled and said, “Let’s return to the cave!” Grasping the Reincarnation Spear, Teng Qingshan returned to the naturally-formed cave. He gazed up at the mountain wall, which had already transformed into an azure jade stone.

“Big Brother Teng, when are we leaving?” Li Jun asked.

“Leave? There’s still time.” Teng Qingshan shook his head.

“We have nothing to do here, so why shouldn’t we leave?” Li Jun questioned in suprise, “Big Brother Teng, didn’t you say that the concept contained in this Celestial Jade Annulus was Poetic Sword God Li Taibai’s concept of the Dao of Sword? Didn’t you say that you didn’t want to learn his Dao of Sword? So why are we still here?”

Teng Qingshan looked up at the four lines of flamboyantly written words in a calm manner.

“Little Jun, I told you before that I am going to the Northern Sea Continent to find the Godly Axe Mountain and to watch Emperor Yu’s 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》! The 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain 》 is a very powerful Art of Axe. Although I won’t learn the Art of the Axe nor will I walk the path that Emperor Yu had tread. Even though I knew that I wouldn’t, why should I still go?”

“It is because all techniques and methods are connected! Whether it’s the Dao of calligraphy, Dao of drawing, or the Dao of the skill of instruments…..if it reaches the highest level, it becomes the Dao of Heavens! Therefore, I wanted to watch the 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》! I hope to use the 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms to 》as reference and seek enlightenment through it.”

Teng Qingshan’s eyes glimmered within the pitch-black cave. “ Although the four lines of words written in Poetic Sword God Li Taibai’s 《Poem of Azure Lotus》contained the Dao of Sword, it could still be used as a reference.”

With the heavens and earth as one’s teacher, one would be able to comprehend the Dao of Heaven! However, it would still be incredibly difficult!”

“The quatrain on the Celestial Jade Annulus contained Senior Li Taibai’s concept of the Dao of the Sword! Emperor Yu even informed me of the fact that if one used the Splitting Mountain Axe, one would be able to experience the 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》even more clearly, allowing it to become even easier for one to use the experience as reference.” Teng Qingshan smiled as he explained, “By using it as reference, one would be able to comprehend the Dao of Heaven even quicker!”

“I see!” Li Jun slightly understood.

The Dao of Heavens was indescribable.

It wasn’t able to be described with a specific speech. Enlightenment was necessary. Thus, the concept comprehended by the four Omnipotent Experts was extremely precious.

“No wonder the Sword Tower’s skill of Sword could reach such a realm!”

Teng Qingshan praised, “This Senior Li is rather powerful. His Dao of calligraphy is also extremely high! Just these four lines of words contained the Dao of Sword!” For example, Shiga, Martial Ancestor of Buddhist Sect. It would be hard for Martial Ancestor Shiga to instill the Dao he comprehended into calligraphy and poems.

It was also difficult for Teng Qingshan to instill Dao into calligraphy! This was due to that fact he was not skilled in calligraphy.

“Big Brother Teng, were you able to comprehend anything?” Li Jun asked with expectation. “Senior Li’s Dao of Sword is immeasurably deep.” A smile crept up Teng Qingshan’s face as he replied, “However, according to what I perceived earlier, Senior Li entered the Dao of Sword through the water element!

The legendary Poetic Sword God Li Taibai loved alcohol.

He also likes to stay at places near the water.

“Entered Dao through the water element?” Li Jun was surprised as she heard his reply.

“Yes. There are two reasons as to why I made that statement. First of all, I sensed the water element. Secondly……” Teng Qingshan smiled before saying, “During my fight with the Tower Lord Huangfu Yujiang, I noticed that the《Bright Moon Sword Codex》which Huangfu Yujiang had practiced also contained the Dao of water. Water is flexible and can resist against all things. Water is also strong and thus, nothing can destroy it. The third martial ancestor of the Sword Tower should be like me. He must have comprehended the first stage of Senior Li’s Dao of Sword! Using this, he created the 《Bright Moon Sword Codex》!

The first stage of the Dao of Sword which had belonged to Li Taibai, one of the four Omnipotent Experts, was water.

“Earlier, I was involuntarily influenced by the concept of the Dao of Sword and began learning the sword art.” Teng Qingshan smiled as he shook his head and continued speaking, “If I allowed myself to indulge, my own Dao would be completely influenced and I would be unable to improve in the Dao of Spear in the future. This consequence is unthinkable. Fortunately….During the crucial point, I bit my tongue in order to free myself from this influence.”

Li Jun was shocked as she listened to Teng Qingshan.

Teng Qingshan explained his experiences as though it were a very easy job. However, Li Jun couldn’t forget….the image of Teng Qingshan covered in sweat with blood trickling out from the corner of his mouth.

It was obvious that breaking free of the influence was extremely hard!

“However, after this hardship, my frame of mind has become even more determined. The greatest benefit is that my understanding of the water element also deepened!” Teng Qingshan grinned and said, “Little Jun, from today onwards, I prepare to cultivate in silence at this place for a long time. I will comprehend Senior Li’s sword art in order to improve and elevate my 《Water Element Fist》at the same time.”

“For a long time?” Li Jun was astonished.

“Yes. With a calm state of mind, I am going to cultivate in seclusion.” Teng Qingshan nodded.

Teng Qingshan was clear that possessing the Celestial Jade Annulus which had belonged to the four Omnipotent Experts was such a rare opportunity. This time,cultivating within this Bright Moon Island would produce an even better result than cultivating within the land of the nine prefectures! Of course, when Teng Qingshan arrived at the Godly Axe Mountain on the Northern Sea Continent, the results of his cultivation wouldbe even better with the aid of the Splitting Mountain Axe.

However—

Emperor Yu and Li Taibai probably started their cultivation of Dao differently. Since Teng Qingshan was practicing the 《Water Element Fist》, using Li Taibai’s Dao of Sword as reference would naturally be the wisest thing to do.

“However….” Li Jun said, “The men of Sword Tower will probably deliver food tomorrow. If the four Guardian Elders doesn’t appear by that time, the men of Sword Tower will definitely harbor suspicion. They will even dispatch a great number of experts here. If we are here—”

“Don’t worry!”

With a smile on his face, Teng Qingshan said, “I will be here. Even if two Huangfu Yujiang came, I can still make them leave in a sorry state!”“Little Jun.” Teng Qingshan stared at Li Jun and said, “From tomorrow onwards, during meal time, you can ask the Whole Gale Eagle to bring you to the tungsten wood vessel or other places to eat food. As for me….I just need to eat once in every ten to fifteen days during this period of cultivation in silence.”

When Li Jun heard his instructions, she nodded and responded, “Big Brother Teng, the meal is a trivial matter. You don’t need to worry about this.” Simultaneously, Li Jun looked at Teng Qingshan who had been cultivating assiduously—Teng Qingshan’s hair draped over his shoulder and he had a face full of stubbly beard, looking totally different from the handsome and elegant teenager that she had first met in the past.

Li Jun sighed in her heart…..

From the famous, handsome, and elegant teenager, Teng Qingshan had grown and matured. Teng Qingshan was probably not afraid of anyone whose cultivation is below the Emptiness Realm.

Now, he is even going to cultivate in seclusion.

“Maybe a few years later, Big Brother Teng will be an Emptiness Realm Expert, an existence like the God of Heaven. He would become one of the most powerful experts in the land of the nine prefectures!” Li Jun held some expectation as she thought.

“Little Jun, I still have one thing to ask of you.” Teng Qingshan said hastily.

“Hm?” Li Jun stared at Teng Qingshan.

“The people of Sword Tower will probably come tomorrow. By that time, they will raise a storm! After this event is solved, I will cultivate in seclusion at this place. Each day, if I am still immersed in Senior Li’s Dao of Sword at noon, you must stop me. Stopping me is simple, all you need to do is to throw a rock at me,.” Teng QIngshan instructed, just in case.

“Alright, I understand.” Li Jun nodded.

Teng Qingshan smiled and said, “Of course, if nothing unexpected happens, I will be able to stop by myself during midday.” Teng Qingshan was clear that he couldn’t immersed too deep in this Dao of Sword. He should only comprehend the deeper levels without being influenced when his own Dao elevates.

“Now, I am going to cultivate in silence for a long period of time.” With this, Teng Qinghsan sat cross-legged and placed the Reincarnation Spear atop his knee as he cultivated in silence.

A section of the Dao of Sword that he comprehended earlier appeared in his mind. Teng Qingshan began dissecting the Dao of Sword, assimilating the concept of the water element and merging it with his own 《Water Element Fist》.

……

The second day, the sun rose and noon soon arrived.

Everything was as Teng Qingshan had expected. The young man that delivered the food shouted in front of the cave at the Forbidden Area for a long time. The moment the Guardian Elders didn’t appear, he immediately guessed that….something big happened. The frightened young man immediately went to report. It has been an extremely long time since something big happened in the cave at the Forbidden Area.

The four Guardian Elders didn’t respond at all.

There was a high possibility that they were dead!

This event shocked the Sword Tower. If one said that the cave at the Forbidden Area was not important, it is not important, since the mental cultivation methods and mnemonic chant that coordinated with those sword arts carved on the wall were not within the cave; the important sword arts were also not in the cave. However, because of the Celestial Jade Annulus, the cave at the Forbidden Area had become extremely important. The entire Sword Tower absolutely depended on the Celestial Jade Annulus.

With the Celestial Jade Annulus, the Sword Tower will prosper forever.

The sun hung high up in the sky. Basking in the sun during a cold day was extremely comfortable.

However, none of the experts of the Sword Tower felt comfortable.

Swishswash~~~

On the meandering mountain path of the mountain, at the location of the Forbidden Area, the experts of the Sword Tower were speedily rushing towards the cave at the Forbidden Area. Leading the cohort was the Lord of the Sword Tower Huangfu Yujiang. An white-haired elder followed closely by his side; this elder was the previous Tower Lord.

This elder was also Huangfu Yujiang’s teacher, Tian Hong!When Huangfu Yujiang’s ability surpassed his own teacher Tian Hong, Tian Hong renounced on his own accord and Huangfu Yujiang became the new Tower Lord! According to the rule of the Sword Tower, the strongest expert became the Tower Lord!

“For over thousand of years, no one has ever intrude the cave at the Forbidden Area.” With an anxious expression, Tian Hong said as he sprinted, “Ordinary inner strength experts can’t enter the cave of the Forbidden Area. As for innate experts….there are only six or seven innate experts in the entire Bright Moon Island, and they are all men of Sword Tower! If they wanted to see the Celestial Jade Annulus, they could just enter directly. There would be no need to trespass and kill. This….this….”

The experts of the Sword Tower just didn’t understand….

Who could the intruder be!?

“I am now more worried that the intruder will destroy the Celestial Jade Annulus!” As Huangfu Yujiang spoke, his face turned slightly pale.

The group of people dashed to the entrance of the cave in the Forbidden Area.

“The stench of blood!”

Huangfu Yujiang and his teacher Tian Hong were the only two Golden Dan innate experts in the entire Sword Tower and both of them simultaneously discovered the cavern that the four Guardian Elders died in.

“They have been killed at the same time! They didn’t even have time to tell the men outside.” Tian Hong said with a frown.

“It’s a spear! The weapon used to kill them is a spear!” Huangfu Yujiang shouted when he saw the dried bloody hole on the four Guardian Elders’ necks, “It really is him!” Huangfu Yujiang already guessed that the killer was the terrifying opponent that used spear.

“Tower Lord…..” The other experts of the Sword Tower also rushed in.

“The Celestial Jade Annulus!” Huangfu Yujiang’s complexion changed.

Whew! Whew!

One after the other, Huangfu Yujiang and Tian Hong rapidly dashed towards the location of the Celestial Jade Annulus.

Huangfu Yujiang and Tian Hong was forced to stop in the great hall with great number of sword art carved on the wall. The cohort behind them stood at the side. All of them gazed at the single figure in the great hall.

Dressed in azure long cloak! A face full of stubbly beard! A flashing silver-colored long spear!

“Teng Qingshan!” With eyes as sharp as sword, Huangfu Yujiang squeezed words out from between his teeth.