The Nine Cauldrons

“Qingshan, you had something to talk to me about?” Teng Qinghu’s recent success during the competition of fifty sergeants made him into a centurion; of course, he was extremely proud of it.

Teng Qingshan put a serious face on: “Looking at you, I guess you have forgotten that there will be another competition in June to recruit new people. When the time comes, the Black Armored Army will choose the eight weakest centurions. The eight weakest centurions and the other new First Rated Warriors will battle it out for the available positions.”

Teng Qinghu got startled and immediately touched his head. He then awkwardly laughed: “What do I do when the time comes?!”

“Catch.” Teng Qingshan took a book out from his bosom and threw it towards his cousin.

“What is this?” Teng Qinghu caught it and noticed that it was a book with some rough drafts and write by a brush. On the white cover, there were five large words on it. ‘Five Techniques of the Ardent Flame!’

Full of surprise, Teng Qinghu glanced through it.

“Qingshan, this, this... ” Teng Qinghu’s eyes lit up and looked Teng Qingshan with a pleasant surprised, “Qingshan, this is a secret spear art that you can combine with inner strength! Where did you get it from? Haha, once I combine my spear arts with inner strength, my power will increase tremendously.

However, this looks very complex.”

Suddenly, Teng Qinghu got dumbfounded for a moment and stared at Teng Qingshan. “Qingshan, this... this is a secret technique from the Gui Yuan Sect? The Sect has a rule that you are not allowed to pass secret techniques randomly to others! Otherwise, it violates the rules of Gui Yuan Sect! I cannot learn this!” While saying, he threw it back at Teng Qingshan.

“Relax, do I look like the type of person that doesn’t know the severity of those things?” Teng Qingshan threw it back with a smile, “this secret technique, Five Techniques of the Ardent Flame, was created by me, so you can learn it without a problem.”

“Qingshan, you created it?” Teng Qinghu’s eyes widened.

Teng Qingshan took another book, Ardent Flame Spear Art, out from his bosom: “The Gui Yuan Sect gave me this Ardent Flame Spear Art. In fact, I wanted you to learn Five Techniques of the Ardent Flame after you practiced Ardent Flame Spear Art. However, I cannot violate the rules of the Gui Yuan Sect and moreover, the time until the next competition is too short. If I made you learn the Ardent Flame Spear Art, you won’t have time to learn the Five Techniques of the Ardent Flame anymore.”

The Gui Yuan Sect had strict regulations.

If they granted a person a secret technique and this person spread it everywhere under the heavens during this chaotic time, what secret technique would the Gui Yuan Sect still have at the end? Therefore, the secret technique can only be learned by that person alone. If he passed it to another person, the offense is extremely grave.

If the offense is light, the offender would be imprisoned for a year or so to repent.

During heavy offense, for example passing on a very important secret technique, they would take the offenders martial art (cripple him) or directly execute him.

However, Gui Yuan Sect didn’t forbid techniques like the Five Techniques of the Ardent Flame, which were self made. On the contrary, once known, the Gui Yuan Sect would be very happy and they would want to include this secret technique. If someone created a new powerful secret technique, they would give its creator a high reward.

“You will directly learn Five Techniques of the Ardent Flame, but the difficulty will be big! However, I will teach you personally, so there won’t be any problems.” Teng Qingshan was very confident, “Your current strength is already quite good. I estimate that in several years later, you can achieve the realm One with the Spear.” Teng Qingshan had already achieved One with the Spear when he was still young.

That was because Teng Qingshan was a Grandmaster in his previous life.

However, for Teng Qinghu to achieve One with the Spear, he had to practice with a big pole spear for a long time.

“Ah, Qingshan I will listen to you.” Teng Qinghu was full of anticipations.

“Starting today on, you will practice this spear technique an hour each morning and night.” Teng Qingshan said.

“Yes, Master cousin!” Teng Qinghu said while laughing.

Whether Crossing Worlds or the Five Techniques of The Ardent Flame, they were all taught by Teng Qingshan. Although, Teng Qingshan and Teng Qinghu were cousins, they had a mentoring relationship with each other. In the world of martial arts, mentorship formed regardless of age.

“Be more serious, you don’t want to become one of the eight weakest centurions. If this spread, it wouldn’t look good on me too.” Teng Qingshan said.

“Rest assured Qingshan, I will not make you lose face!” Teng Qinghu said.

......

The following day, Teng Qingshan carefully started teaching Teng Qinghu. Because he knew about his cousin’s strength, he could teach his student in accordance with his ability. While teaching him personally, Teng Qinghu’s strength progressed fully according to Teng Qingshan’s expectation.

Among the Five Techniques of The Ardent Flame, Teng Qinghu mastered two moves, Inflamed Passion and Flashing Fire.”

As for Silver Flower of the Flaming Tree and Wildfire Flames, they were difficult to learn and Teng Qinghu could only learn a trace of it. As for the strongest technique, Legacy of the Ultimate Flame, because Teng Qingshan reached a dejected state in his previous life, he was able to use this technique after a long time. Teng Qinghu didn’t understand this technique at all.

He didn’t have the slightest experience of walking on the fine line of close death during a dejected mood.

There were no methods...

In this realm, Teng Qinghu still had many disparities.

“Inflamed Passion is the most ferocious move out of the five and Flashing Fire is the most sinister one. With these two techniques, cousin could be counted as medium ranked among the centurions.” Teng Qingshan was very determined, “Later, it all depends on cousin’s display during the competition of the Black Armored Army!”

......

Very soon, March passed and their guarding mission finished.

One evening.

“Brother Qingshan, haha... the last time, my brother and I said that you have boundless prospects. Look at you now, you are a lieutenant! If you don’t mind, I would like to call you brother!” The mayor of Huafeng City, Gui Qing said with a smile. Teng Qingshan had a favorable impression towards Gui Qing, since the opposite party wasn’t in the slightest bit arrogant.

He already treated him well the last time.

“Brother Gui, I am also very fortunate.” Teng Qingshan said with a smile.

“The Purple Gold theft could be considered a blessing in disguise to you, my brother.” Gui Qing the mysteriously mentioned, “Did you find the identity of the culprit who crippled Bai Qi?”

“Hm”, Teng Qingshan had some doubts on the culprit, but he didn’t go on the bottom on it seriously.

“It was a ruthless youngster called Dong Yan.” Gui Qing said after a sigh, “that Dong Yan is well known in my Huafeng City amongst the common people. His fame is not big, but in the circle of the rich merchants, everybody knows him. He is a cruel and merciless punk. Amongst everyone who fought him, even if they won, it would be a tragic victory.”

Teng Qingshan still remembered that youngster.

At that time, the companion of that youngster was killed and he revealed a crazy appearance while trying to kill Bai Qi. He actually shot a hidden weapon all of the sudden.

“I only saw that Dong Yan once.” Teng Qingshan exclaimed, “However, he was extremely sinister! He faked his madness. Moreover, there were also several First Rated Warriors under him. Being able to use hidden weapon and poison, this kind of person shouldn’t be trifled with.”

“Really can’t be trifled with. That punk, when he was twelve years old, he dare to poison a rich merchant’s family and he didn’t even spare the guards. His methods are too ruthless. I just obtained the news that Dong Yan fled to Xuyang County! Furthermore, he joined a big gang there.” Gui Qing continued, “I have the feeling... that Dong Yan will become an influential man in Yangzhou in ten years!

Teng Qingshan secretly became startled.

At the age of twelve, he poisoned and killed a rich merchant’s family. He was indeed ruthless... “Lord Lieutenant!” A sergeant of the Black Armored Army on duty ran over and reported, “The new battalion of troops responsible for guarding the mines will arrive at the foot of the mountain soon.”

“Let go, we will go down to greet them.” Teng Qingshan ordered.

Immediately, Lieutenant Teng Qingshan and the mayor of Huafeng City Gui Qing descended the mountain together.

Early in the morning, after bidding farewell to the other battalion of troops and the mayor of Huafeng City, Teng Qingshan led the 500 Black Armored Army under him away. Riding on his warhorse, he marched away from Tielian Mountain and entered the Jiangning County!

When he arrived at the mountain, Teng Qingshan was still a centurion and Teng Qinghu a sergeant.

However, Teng Qingshan was now a lieutenant and Ten Qinghu a centurion when they left. The fate of life was full of secrets and wonders.

......

The warhorses of the Black Armored Army dashed and rapidly advanced on the public road.

A dust cloud could be seen and no matter rich merchants or the common people walking on the public road, they all thought that they were mounted bandits. They would all retreat to the side of the road, while fearing to disturb the Black Armored Army.

Jia! Jia! Jia!

The warhorses rode with flying speed. The morning sun was dazzling in the sky. Teng Qingshan and his men left the territory of Huafeng City and entered in Yi City.

“Stop!” Teng Qingshan ordered.

“Hu, Hu!”

Like according to practice, the sergeants of the Black Armored Army dismounted in orderly fashion. The five centurions immediately rushed to Teng Qingshan’s side.

“Lord Lieutenant... ” Tian Dan and the others looked at Teng Qingshan.

“Bro Tian, I will temporarily separate from you guys. Qinghu and I will go home first! You guys can go to Yi City, eat a meal and rest. I am sure that the mayor of Yi City has prepared a lot of food and wine for you! Qinghu and I will rush back to Yi City in the afternoon and meet up with you. When the time comes, we will leave together and return to Jiangning!” Teng Qingshan said.

Tian Dan and the rest nodded.

When they arrived, Teng Qingshan wanted to go home, but failed because of his superior, Lieutenant Bai Qi. However, now Teng Qingshan was the lieutenant and the highest command in this battalion of troops. Of course, whatever he said counts.

“We can finally go home.”Teng Qinghu said.

“When I am gone, Old Du, Brother Tian, you four led the men.” Teng Qingshan ordered.

“The Lieutenant can feel assured.” The four smiled.

Teng Qinghan slightly nodded and immediately looked at Teng Qinghu: “Qinghu, let’s go!” In the presence of the numerous sergeants, Teng Qingshan had to uphold the dignity of a lieutenant and he used Qinghu instead of cousin.

“Jia! Jia!”

Teng Qingshan and Teng Qinghu rode away on their war horses in a gallop and quickly vanished from the view of the Black Armored Army.

“Let’s go as well.” Tian Dan said.

Du Hong nodded and immediately yelled: “Depart!”

Immediately, the mightly soldiers of the Black Armored Army continued on their horses and rode towards Yi City. After another hour, they finally arrived at Yi City.

......

On the main road of the Yi City, the enormous and powerful Black Armored Army marched on. The stalls, merchants and people all retreated to the edge of the road and they didn’t dare to annoy these frightening soldiers. On the last section of the road with restaurants, the mayor of Yi City Yang Ke led one group of men to greet the Black Armored Army.

“Lord Major!” A man with a knife scar on his face who wore a brocade gown said with a smile, “All these people came to greet Lieutenant Teng Qingshan. He is from our Yi City and we have a good relationship with each other.”

That person was Master Liu San, the Big Master of the White Horse Gang. His posture had some air of grace.

Those who knew the deeds of Master Liu San, amongst them, who didn’t know about his ruthlessness?

“Haha, could it be, Teng Qingshan’s strength was so astonishing that Master Liu San intends to become friends with him?” A middle-aged man wearing white said with a smile, “But your luck sure is good. Shortly after Teng Qingshan entered the Black Armored Army, he had already become a lieutenant. The sovereign personally appointed him. The Sovereign is giving him very favourable treatment... he is now a young lieutenant and he will have boundless prospects later. You also can be considered an insightful man finding such friend.”

Master Liu San revealed a big smile.

“Oh, the Black Armored Army has arrived. You can soon see your good friend Teng Qingshan.” The mayor of Yi City Yang Ke said with a smile and immediately walked with Master Liu San to greet them.