The Nine Cauldrons

Teng Qingshan had been a hitman in his previous life and had also suffered greatly in this life.

Therefore, he had a very fierce temperament that really matched the heavy murderous aura of the Hong Tian Godly Armor.

“I am flattered,” Teng Qingshan said and then glanced at the feast. “It looks like Sovereign and the others are celebrating the victory in Youzhou.”

The High Priestess of the Snowy Lotus Cult chuckled and said, “Yeah, it was a great victory. We managed to conquer all of Youzhou. In the future, Qingzhou in the east, Youzhou in the northeast, and the Great Prairie in the north will be united as one. Of course, this is a delightful occasion! However, during this war to destroy Hong Tian City, the most dreadful thing that happened was allowing You Shijin to escape with the Godly Armor. Fortunately, Foreign Dignitary Huhe was able to help us retrieve them.”

“Little Lian,” Pei San called out with a frown.

The High Priestess of the Snowy Lotus Cult was Pei San’s daughter, and she had been pampered since she was young. When she was stubborn, even Pei San’s words would be ineffective.

“Foreign Dignitary Huhe, are you here to give us the Godly Armor?” The High Priestess of the Snowy Lotus Cult said with a smile. “Oh... Foreign Dignitary Huhe, you have done a meritorious deed. The Heavenly God Palace will remember what you have done.” When Teng Qingshan heard the High Priestess’ words, his expression hardened. Actually, the High Priestess of the Snowy Lotus Cult was already in a very bad mood because of what had happened in Hong Tian City!

She was very angry because of what had happened to the arm of her Eldest Martial Brother, Li Chao. After all, Li Chao had grown up with the High Priestess and was like a brother to her.

Furthermore, because of her identity as Pei San’s daughter, Li Chao and the others had always allowed her to do whatever she wanted. Ever since the death of the High Priestess’ mother, Pei San felt that he owed his daughter a debt and pampered her even more. Therefore, the High Priestess of the Snowy Lotus Cult was used to being bossy... From her perspective, when Jing Yi went after the Godly Armor, he had been committing an action similar to snatching away food from the jaws of a tiger.

He had been snatching away treasure which belonged to the Heavenly God Palace.

As the High Priestess was already angry, she naturally vented her anger.

“High Priestess of the Snowy Lotus Cult, did you say I am here to gift the Godly Armor to you? Did you say I’m doing a meritorious deed?” Teng Qingshan furrowed his brows and asked, “What meritorious deed?” With this, Teng Qingshan stared at the Sovereign of the Heavenly God Palace, Pei San. The arrogant and cunning words of the High Priestess had enraged him greatly. If the Sovereign of the Heavenly God Palace Pei San was someone like the High Priestess, then Teng Qingshan would walk away immediately!

After all, without the Six Legged Bladelike Chi, the Heavenly God Palace wouldn’t even be able to obtain the Godly Armor. In fact, their battle against Hong Tian City would have been even more difficult.

“Foreign Dignitary Huhe, you have indeed done a meritorious act,” Pei San said, stepping forward and standing right in front of the High Priestess. He spoke to Teng Qingshan with a smile, “When I asked you to chase the Six-Eared Earth-Drilling Mouse, I said that you could choose to have one set if you manage to obtain the two sets of Godly Armor. But I also said that if you give the other set of Godly Armor to the Heavenly God Palace, the Heavenly God Palace will repay you with a great reward.

“Foreign Dignitary Huhe, it seems like you have chosen the Hong Tian Godly Armor. Haha, you’re already wearing it.”

Pei San stared at the dark green Godly Armor in Teng Qingshan’s hands and said, “Is this set of Godly Armor the one you are giving us?”

Immediately, the God of Heaven Su Mengte, the Sovereign of Sword Sect Li Chao, the King of Beasts Wu Hou, Pei Hao, and the High Priestess of the Snowy Lotus Cult all stared at Teng Qingshan... Even Pei San himself was staring at Teng Qingshan. Pei San’s words obviously indicated clearly that the Heavenly God Palace had to get one set of Godly Armor.

If Teng Qingshan took the Hong Tian Godly Armor, they would take the other one. This was the bottom line.

If Teng Qingshan was too greedy, Pei San would most likely be unhappy... And if Pei San was unhappy, there would be grave consequences.

Now, it was all up to Teng Qingshan. Would he give them the armor?

“Sovereign,” Teng Qingshan said with a smile, “Of course, I will go along with what we agreed previously. Since I have the Hong Tian Godly Armor, the other set of Godly Armor is of no use to me. However—”

“However...?”

Pei San and the others stared at Teng Qingshan, waiting for him to finish his sentence.

“However, the other set of Godly Armor is missing its outer armor,” Teng Qingshan said, shaking his head. He went on to explain, “Let me tell you what happened. To prevent us from getting the Godly Armor, You Shijin collaborated with Emperor Yu’s Hall. I put in a great amount of effort to snatch the two sets of Godly Armor away from Emperor Yu’s Hall. However, Yu Tonghai and another member of Emperor Yu’s Hall took the outer armor of this dark green Godly Armor.

“As such,the members of Emperor Yu’s Hall resent me because of this Godly Armor,” Teng Qingshan expounded with a helpless smile.

“Emperor Yu’s Hall?” Pei San smiled calmly as he replied, “When I saw the Six-Eared Earth-Erilling Mouse, I already guessed that Emperor Yu’s Hall was involved. The Six-Eared Earth-Drilling Mouse loves the Fiery Dragon Fruit, which is a fruit that Emperor Yu’s Hall possesses the most of. I understand that the sets of Godly Armor have caused resentment between you and Emperor Yu’s Hall. However, don’t worry. Emperor Yu’s Hall might appear arrogant and domineering, but they are very careful. Since the Heavenly God Palace is involved, they won’t make a move.”

“As for this set of Godly Armor, it doesn’t matter even if the outer armor is missing,” Pei San said without a care. “The outer armor is rarely worn anyway.”

“Sovereign.” Teng Qingshan handed over the dark green Godly Armor with a smile.

Seeing this, a satisfying smile appeared on Pei San’s face. At the side, the God of Heaven Su Mengte, Pei Hao, and the others heaved sighs of relief, and smiles could be seen on their faces as well.

“Ah Hou,” Pei San turned and called out.

“Teacher.” The King of Beasts, Wu Hou, went forward hastily.

“As far as I know, this dark green Godly Armor used to belong to an Insightful Emptiness Realm Expert of Hong Tian City, Yan Wushan. From today onward, it is yours.” Pei San handed the set of Godly Armor over to Wu Hou with a solemn attitude.

The eyes of the King of Beasts, Wu Hou, beamed with excitement. He took a deep breath and accepted the set of Godly Armor.

There were very few treasures which could tempt Emptiness Realm Experts, and the Godly Armor was one of those.

“I see. So, Pei San asked for the Godly Armor because he wanted to give it to his disciple,” Teng Qingshan thought. “No wonder he isn’t forcing me to give him the Hong Tian Godly Armor... If he were asking for himself, he might have asked for the Hong Tian Godly Armor since it is better. However, Pei San is an Insightful Emptiness Realm Expert. He can refine his own Godly Armor.”

“After all, a Godly Armor that you refine yourself will suit you better than a set of Godly Armor left behind by an Insightful Emptiness Realm Experts from the past.”

Teng Qingshan’s gaze swept over Pei San, yet he didn’t see Pei San wearing any Godly Armor. “Maybe he’s wearing it underneath his clothes,” Teng Qingshan thought.

“Huhe.”

“Hm?” Teng Qingshan responded as he looked at Pei San.

Pei San watched Teng Qingshan and asked with a smile, “I said that if you gift a set of Godly Armor to the Heavenly God Palace, the Heavenly God Palace will definitely repay you with a great reward. Tell me. What reward do you want?”

“What reward?” Teng Qingshan pondered.

“Just say it. The Heavenly God Palace is not stingy like you,” the High Priestess of the Snowy Lotus Cult commented as she glanced at Teng Qingshan. Actually, back when Teng Qingshan and the High Priestess of the Snowy Lotus Cult first met, he High Priestess did not have a good impression of Teng Qingshan. Now, her dislike for Teng Qingshan had increased.

Teng Qingshan cast a glance over at the High Priestess and suddenly grinned. “Sovereign, can you conquer all of Yangzhou and give it to me?”

Pei San froze.

The other Emptiness Realm Experts were astounded by Teng Qingshan’s suggestion.

...Attack and conquer Yangzhou? And gift it to him?

Yangzhou was one of the nine prefectures. Furthermore, it was known as one of the two most flourishing prefectures. Only Yuzhou could compete with Yangzhou.

“You...” Pei San shook his head and burst out in laughter. “Jing Yi... Jing Yi... Do you know how much manpower and resources are needed to attack and conquer one prefecture? The Heavenly God Palace prepared for several hundred years to conquer Qingzhou and Youzhou with such a great force. Even so, just because of the conquest for Youzhou, over one million soldiers were killed! They gold and silver we spent for this conquest was immeasurable.

“Moreover, Ah Chao even lost an arm for this!

“We managed to obliterate Xiao Yao Palace because we had infiltrated Qingzhou for a very long time. However, when the Sovereign of Xiao Yao Palace dealt revenge upon the Heavenly God Palace, it caused us to suffer greatly.

Pei San stared at Teng Qingshan with a smile and said, “if you really want me to give you Yangzhou, I can do that. Just give me five sets of Godly Armor and five stalks of the Grass of Immortality. Also, I will no longer owe you a favor. What do you think?”

“Five sets of Godly Armor, five stalks of the Grass of Immortality, as well as the favor you owed me?” Teng Qingshan was shocked.

Actually, he had given the suggestion just as a joke.

Only Omnipotent Experts would dare promise a prefecture as a gift. No matter how powerful Pei San was, he wouldn’t bear to give away one prefecture. After all, the price for the conquest of one prefecture was too great.

“Sovereign, I won’t be able to give you five sets of Godly Armor and five stalks of the Grass of Immortality even if you killed me,” Teng Qingshan laughed, shaking his head. “As for the reward? I can’t think of one right now.”

“Since you can’t think of one, we will talk about it when you think of one,” Pei San said with a smile.

Teng Qingshan nodded and immediately cupped his hands together as he replied, “Sovereign, I have left Yi City for quite some time. So, I will be leaving now! Also, I plan to take Little Jun along with me. Sovereign and everyone else, there won’t be any need to send us off.”

Under the gazes of Pei San and the others, Teng Qingshan rode the Six Legged Bladelike Chi and left the courtyard. They flew rapidly to another residence and took Li Jun away.

On that same night, they soared toward Yi City of Jiangning County in Yangzhou.

In the night sky:

The Six Legged Bladelike Chi pierced through the air as it flew.

Teng Qingshan sat cross-legged on the Six Legged Bladeliked Chi, while Li Jun laid in Teng Qingshan’s arms andwatched the starry night sky,

“Qingshan, did you really give them a set of Godly Armor?” Li Jun was somewhat surprised and sat up suddenly.

“Of course,” Teng Qingshan shook his head and laughed as he explained, “If I don’t, I am afraid your teacher, the High Priestess of the Snowy Lotus Cult, will tear me apart.”

“I know you did it because of me,” Li Jun stated. Turning to gaze at Teng Qingshan, she said apologetically, “If it wasn’t because of me, you probably wouldn’t need to be involved in the business of the Heavenly God Palace. I know what Teacher is like... She is slightly domineering. Qingshan, were you upset when you gave away the Godly Armor? Are you upset about this?”

“Upset?” Teng Qingshan smiled as though he didn’t care. He then replied, “Little Jun, you can only get something in return if you are willing to give! I gave them a set of Godly Armor that is of no use to me for now, and I gained another promise of reward from the Heavenly God Palace. Moreover, I now have a reason to ask the Heavenly God Palace to deal with those troublesome members of Emperor Yu’s Hall.

“It is currently the time for me to build the foundation!”

“My foundation in the Land of the Nine Prefectures is too weak. Since I am trying to build my foundation here, I must make some sacrifices,” Teng Qingshan said with a smile. “It’s impossible to rise up to the top if you are not strong enough and still refuse to make some sacrifices! That’s just dreaming!”

Li Jun nodded.

“Qingshan, we won’t have to act like this when Little Blue returns, right?” Li Jun asked with beaming eyes. “Although I am the powerful Substitute High Priestess of the Snowy Lotus Cult, I feel like I am being held hostage by the Heavenly God Palace to intimidate and influence you.”

Teng Qingshan stretched his hands and pulled Li Jun into his arms as he said, “Don’t worry. Soon... Very soon. No one will be able to influence us.”

“It’s the 9th of June tomorrow. Tomorrow, the 91 children will have cultivated the Internal Martial Art for three months. Tomorrow, we will know how many of the third generation disciples of the Internal Martial Art are still remaining,” Teng Qingshan said softly. The first generation of the Internal Martial Art was obviously Teng Qingshan alone. The second generation were Teng Shou and the others. These kids were the third generation.

For a faint moment, he seemed to have seen the future.

“This day will definitely come,” Teng Qingshan muttered inwardly.