The Nine Cauldrons

As the golden masked man, dressed in a black cloak, fell, madness could still be seen in his eyes. The abyss of this madness revealed a sense of sadness.

Since young, he had been the savant of the sect.

Back then, both him and Zhuge Yuanhong had been known as the pride of Yangzhou. Even before they turned age 50, their names were listed in the top ten of the “Heavenly Ranking.” Zhuge Yuanhong was the Sovereign of the Gui Yuan Sect, while he was the Sovereign of the Qing Hu Island, one of the eight Supreme Sects during that time. He had been one of the greatest authority figures in the Land of the Nine Prefectures.

Now, everything has changed.

Since the birth of Teng Qingshan, the gifted cultivator, things had completely changed.

Because of what his dumb son had done, Teng Qingshan became Qing Hu Island’s enemy. Because of what had happened in the Great Yan Mountain, Qing Hu Island suffered massive losses. He had no choice but to abdicate and bequeath the position of Sovereign to his junior martial brother. He had then become an ordinary boatman, which was embarrassing for an expert named in the Heavenly Ranking.

Later on, he felt relieved. He was able to take off his human skinned mask and reveal his appearance to every customer who needed a boatman to cross the lake. As he sent the ordinary disciples from one end of the lake to another and vice versa, rumors about him were flying around. People made comments about him—a powerful cultivator named in the Heavenly Ranking who had fallen to such a depressing state… Even throughout all these things, his heart remained strong and firm like a rock, and he began advancing by leaps and bounds in his path of cultivation.

Suddenly—

Everything changed!

Teng Qingshan, who had been pursued by the entire world, came back. The entire Land of the Nine Prefectures was shocked to find out that Jing Yi was Teng Qingshan. After that, Teng Qingshan rode the Undying Phoenix, led the Six Legged Bladelike Chi, and forcefully enfeebled the Emperor Yu’s Hall. Moreover, they even killed the Emptiness Realm Culmination Experts of the Shooting Sun God Mountain and the Emperor Yu’s Hall. With this, Teng Qingshan announced his return! He was merely 21 during that time! And at the age of 21, he had reached the Emptiness Realm! Teng Qingshan was truly a terrifyingly gifted cultivator.

And so, Gu Yong became worried! He was afraid!

Soon, what he had expected happened. Gui Yuan Sect attacked Qing Hu Island. During that time, Gui Yuan Sect had been a small sect that only governed the land of one prefecture. It was not powerful enough to threaten Qing Hu Island. However, with the help of Teng Qingshan, the unprecedentedly talented cultivator, this tiny sect gained great potential.

Gu Yong really wanted Qing Hu Island to win this battle. But the result showed otherwise…

The death of the Martial Ancestor! The destruction of Qing Hu Island! The deaths of many martial brothers! The fleeing disciples…

It was during this moment of despair, Gu Yong achieved the final step and reached the Emptiness Realm! And since then, the only purpose of his existence in this world was revenge!

He disfigured himself and explored the Desolate Land, hoping to find the legendary Barbarian Tribe. And so, he started planning his revenge and making preparations for it…

This preparation took twenty years!

During these two decades, he won the respect of the entire Barbarian Tribe. The men of the Barbarian Tribe thought of him as the virtuous benefactor. He then explored the Land of the Nine Prefectures, traveling across the East Sea, the Great Prairie, and the Western Regions, to find powerful cultivators who could be willing to help him. All these acts had been done for the sake of revenge. He thought of all kinds of ways and methods, and the various schemes of vengeance were executed. However, during that time, Teng Qingshan had already dominated the land.

Teng Qingshan led the Xing Yi Sect and the 200,000 soldiers of the Blood Wolf Army. His name was known throughout the entire world. Numerous disciples who cultivated the Internal Martial Arts revered Teng Qingshan as their god.

Revenge was too difficult

For the many schemes he had planned, he exploited many people. In the end, he took advantage of the Barbarian Tribe Temple, which he had the most faith in…

Yet, he still lost!

He had no choice but to give up all hope! After witnessing how Teng Qingshan reached the Emptiness Realm at age 21 and the Insightful Emptiness Realm after another twenty years of cultivation, and how Teng Qingshan defeated the talented Emptiness Realm Culmination Demonic Beast, the Purple Haired Godly Ape, despair was all he could see! He knew that there was no escape this time. The speed of the Undying Phoenix had determined that if he had failed to kill Teng Qingshan, he would then die!

Death awaits him!

Still, even if he had to die, he refused to die in Teng Qingshan’s hands. He refused to let Teng Qingshan know his real identity!

He just hated how life had been unfair to him!

It was not like he did not put in any effort. He tried everything. He just could not catch up with Teng Qingshan’s speed of progress!

Bang!

His lifeless body dropped into the ruined forest. No matter how glorious he had been while he was alive, he would eventually become part of the soil after death.

Whoosh!

Teng Qingshan moved, leaving a white afterimage. He then descended before the body of the black-cloaked golden masked man. “He committed suicide?” Teng Qingshan was shocked. For an Emptiness Realm Expert to commit suicide, how much hate and how much courage could there be? This expert must have felt so much despair that he decided to commit suicide!

Another beam of light descended and transformed into the figure of a human. It was Pei San.

“Jin Sheng…” Pei San glanced at the body and smiled slightly before he continued, “I looked down on him. I thought all he knew was how to plan schemes. I did not expect him to commit suicide. He finally has some characteristics that I can admire. Who would have thought that an Emptiness Realm Expert would commit suicide? Teng Qingshan, this person named Jin Sheng really hated you.”

Teng Qingshan nodded in response.

Jin Sheng tried to destroy Xing Yi Sect and kill his daughter and son. Who would do that if not for revenge?

“Let’s see who he is!” Jin Sheng looked down and grabbed the golden mask.

Whew!

The mask was removed!

“Eh?”

Teng Qingshan’s expression changed, astonished by what he saw.

The face before his eyes were horrifying. A face covered with frightening scratches. Besides the pair of eyes, every inch of the face was scratched. As a matter of fact, if the pair of eyes were covered, no one would think that this was someone’s face!

“Disfigured?” Pei San said, unable to believe what was before his eyes. “Teng Qingshan, can you recognize him?”

“Who is he?” Teng Qingshan could only respond with another question.

Teng Qingshan stared at the horrifying face and the madness in the eyes. He shook his head and sighed. “I always thought that Elder Jin Sheng is Gu Yong of Qing Hu Island. However, until I get a glimpse of his face, I cannot say for sure. But now, I still don’t know.”

“Elder Jin Sheng might be Gu Yong…” Pei San mumbled. Suddenly, he burst out in laughter and said, “He’s dead. Like a lamp without light… Everything is over.”

Teng Qingshan shook his head. Something still bothered him greatly, gnawing at his mind. After all, no one knew who this person truly was… The extremely ugly face was the only information they had of Jin Sheng.

A gust of wind blew and the Undying Phoenix and the Thunderbolt Godly Hawk landed behind Teng Qingshan and Pei San.

While the black gigantic centipede, the black flying demonic beast, the Purple Haired Godly Ape, the Black Demonic Dragon, and the three elders of the Barbarian Tribe Temple hovered in mid-air. All of them felt a mix of emotions surging through their bodies. The elder, dressed in the Omnipotent Armor, then spoke, “He has died. Can you two leave now?”

“Don’t touch Elder Jin’s body.” The bald giant said in a serious tone, “Elder Jin is a great benefactor of the Barbarian Tribe. We will bury him in our Elders Tomb.”

“Whatever. Who cares about a dead body?” Pei San said, seeming to not care at all.

Although Teng Qingshan hated this man, he really could not hate a dead body.

“Sovereign Pei, shall we leave now?” Teng Qingshan glanced at Pei San, who stood beside him, as he asked.

Pei San looked at Teng Qingshan and laughed, “Teng Qingshan, I came with you and helped you kill Elder Jin, who might be Gu Yong. You achieved your goal, but I have not found the stone tablet. I am wondering if you can help me find it.”

Teng Qingshan froze and quickly responded with a smile, “Since Sovereign Pei asked, how can I not comply with your request?”

“Haha, youngster.” Pei San burst out in laughter.

For people like Teng Qingshan and Pei San who had achieved such a high level of cultivation, there remained only a few whom they could admire. Teng Qingshan admired Pei San’s capabilities. The fact that Pei San could achieve phenomenal success in the cultivation of both the Dao of Beast, the Dao of Buddhism, and the Dao of Sword was worth Teng Qingshan’s admiration.

Pei San admired Teng Qingshan as well. When he was Teng Qingshan’s age, he was much weaker.

Whether it was creating the branch of Internal Martial Art or attaining the culmination of the Insightful Emptiness Realm at such a young age, all these achievements amazed Pei San.

“Alright. Let’s find that stone tablet.” Pei San grinned as he said.

“Okay. Let us begin.”

Teng Qingshan and Pei San ascended into the sky together. The beam of greyish light with sparks of electricity streaked across and headed towards the area around the Barbarian Tribe Temple. The black beam of light with a faint mix of rainbow colors also headed the same direction. The two Insightful Emptiness Realm Experts began searching every area of the Barbarian Tribe Temple.

This enraged the members of the Barbarian Tribe Temple.

“What are you two doing?” The Great Elder roared.

Pei San gave him a disdainful look and scoffed, “Old man, I suggest that you keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, I will destroy the Barbarian Tribe Temple and take away the Omnipotent Armor.”

This shocked the Great Elder of the Barbarian Tribe Temple. He was seething with anger, but he did not dare to say another word.

…

The two Insightful Emptiness Realm Experts, Teng Qingshan and Pei San, began searching every area of the Barbarian Tribe Temple.

“Sovereign Pei, we have been searching for such a long time, but the Omnipotent Tablet is still nowhere to be found. Maybe Jin Sheng lied to you?” Teng Qingshan stared at Pei San as he asked. Pei San, who was flying in mid-air as well, glanced over and responded with a smile, “My charming skills and lie detecting skills are better than anyone else in this world. I am certain that Elder Jin said the truth.”

“Teng Qingshan, search this place with me for three days. If we still find nothing after three days, we will leave.” Pei San said with a smile. “Sovereign Teng, what do you say?”

Teng Qingshan grinned.

“Okay. Three days then.”

And so, with the Barbarian Tribe Temple as the starting point, they gradually searched areas farther and farther away. They even searched underground.

…

On the second night of their search, they reached a high mountain with waterfalls, which was located in the deepest areas of the Desolate Land.

Whoosh~~~ Gurgle~~~

As the sunlight passed through the mist of falling water, a pattern of light in all colors of rainbow was reflected.

“Teng Qingshan!” A voice sounded from far away.

Soon, two beams of light, one following the other, appeared before this waterfall.

“We finally found it.” Pei San grinned as he stared at the falling waters.

“I can’t believe it was hidden this far.” Teng Qingshan said with a smile.

The two had scanned every area with the use of their power and discovered that a tablet made of jade or stone, was hidden behind the falling waters. They detected this peculiar energy flow and instantly confirmed that the item must be a remnant of an Omnipotent Expert.

Pei San stretched his hand out and the shadow of a huge claw emerged, hovering in mid-air.

The shadow of the huge claw scratched the wall behind the waterfall and grabbed the peculiar tablet out of the waterfall. The tablet then fell into Pei San’s hands. It looked just like the Celestial Jade Annulus Teng Qingshan had seen before. The entire tablet reflected a greenish flow. Under the sunlight, it looked extraordinary.

Teng Qingshan and Pei San both looked at the stone tablet.

On the tablet, it was written:

Great Yu and Ying Zheng both reached the Omnipotent Realm.

They both broke through the void and never returned.

What is the meaning of this final step into the void?

What happens in the void? No one knows. Forget it.

Since I long for nothing in this world,

let me drink the last cup of strong liquor

and depart from this world with a free spirit.

Teng Qingshan and Pei San were both drawn by the words written on the tablet and remained silent for a long time.