The Nine Cauldrons

Ever since Teng Qingshan established the Xing Yi Sect, the chaotic Land of the Nine Prefectures suddenly became peaceful. The God of Heaven Palace also showed no activity. The Land of the Nine Prefectures was in peace for some time.

Time flies. Spring came and then it was summer. This repeated as years passed by.

Sixteen years later.

In the Spring Rain Restaurant in Wuan County City:

The Spring Rain Restaurant was a restaurant that could be found in almost all the major county cities in Yangzhou. It was currently noon. At this moment, customers from all over the Land of the Nine Prefectures gathered on the first floor and noises sounded incessantly. Strangely, most of these customers from all over the Land of the Nine Prefectures seemed to have something in common. Indeed, most of them carried longspears.

Spears were very difficult to master.

Initially, not many people in the Land of the Nine Prefectures wielded spears. Normally, there would be more swordmasters and blademasters. However, in the Spring Rain Restaurant, there were much more people wielding spears.

"Haha, Brother Wang, we are able to meet when we live several thousand Li apart, and we just so happen to be going to the same place. This must be fate. Let’s toast."

"Cheers, Brother Li!"

Two young men held their wine cups and clinked them before they drank all the wine. The two young men each had a longspear, which they had placed beside the table.

Of the two young men, one had messy hair and was wearing simple plain cotton clothes with a tiger skin strapped around his waist, while the other was wearing a green cloak and appeared much more handsome.

"Brother Wang, since we have reached Wuan County, it means that we are quite near the Great Yan Mountain." The green-cloaked young man said with a smile, "After the journey of several thousand Li, we will finally reach the Great Yan Mountain soon. According to the rumors, there are several hundred thousand Internal Martial Arts cultivators in the Xing Yi Sect, which is located deep within the Great Yan Mountain. Think about the 100,000 Blood Wolf Soldiers! I have been dreaming of seeing them."

"Hm. Several hundred thousand cultivators practicing Internal Martial Arts... That scene—" The young man with the tiger skin strapped around his waist said as his eyes gleamed, "I will be one of them."

"Hm, yes. Both you and I will be part of them." The green-cloaked young man then lifted his cup again and said, "Let’s toast for this."

"Cheers."

The young man with the tiger skin strapped around his waist then drank another cup.

"By the way..." The young man added grudgingly, "Let me tell you. My third young brother was also practicing the Tiger Form Fist Art, but he has no patience. Back then, I asked my brother to walk with me through the journey of several thousand Li to the Great Yan Mountain. We were going to be disciples of the Xing Yi Sect and learn even higher level techniques of the Internal Martial Arts. We were going to be powerful experts. However, my third younger brother was lured away by the benefits given by Emperor Yu’s Hall and actually joined Emperor Yu’s Hall. Hmph! The Internal Martial Arts cultivator is now practicing the cultivation of the Daoist schools. Even though he is powerful now, he will only be temporarily powerful. His prospects are now limited!"

"Indeed!"

The green-cloaked young man agreed as he said, "Compared to the Xing Yi Sect, Emperor Yu’s Hall is nothing. The 100,000 Blood Wolf Soldiers are the lowest-ranked in the sect. They are all Second Rated Warriors. I was told that only the First Rated Warriors could vie for the position of corporal! This is the invincible army! This time, I am joining the Xing Yi Sect for the Blood Wolf Army."

"Yes, Blood Wolf Army. Let’s join them together." The young man with the tiger skin strapped around his waist lifted his cup and said, "Brother Li, let’s cheers once again for us joining the Blood Wolf Army."

"Cheers."

The two passionate young men came from other prefectures that are very far away. Their journey here had been very tough. They either worked as guards for the merchants or used some other ways to get here. And now, they have finally arrived and they only have one goal, which was to reach the sacred land yearned by every Internal Martial Arts cultivators in the Land of the Nine Prefectures—the Xing Yi Sect in the Great Yan Mountain!

"You two." Suddenly, a voice sounded.

Bang! Suddenly, someone smacked the table.

The two young men who were drinking turned and looked at the person who had just smacked the table. It was a very big and tall young man dressed in a purple cloak. He stood before the table with a big blade on his back. He scanned the two and sneered as he said, "I heard you two say that Emperor Yu’s Hall is not as good as the Xing Yi Sect Hmph, you can’t say such reckless words."

"Why?"

The young man with the tiger skin strapped around his waist immediately stood up. It was then when the crowd realized that the young man with the tiger skin was actually slightly taller than the man carrying the huge blade. The young man with the tiger skin glared at the person before the table and roared, "My brother and I are talking here. It’s none of your business! Emperor Yu’s Hall is powerful, but the Xing Yi Sect is the land of the Internal Martial Arts cultivators. What forces can defend against the 100,000 soldiers of the Blood Wolf Army?

"Moreover, the founder of the Xing Yi Sect is the youngest Emptiness Realm Expert.

"The Eldest Martial Disciple of the Xing Yi Sect, ’Xiong Shou,’ was listed in the Heavenly Ranking at a very young age. He isn’t highly ranked, but he is still young... Within a short period of 16 years, the Xing Yi Sect was able to raise 100,000 powerful Blood Wolf Soldiers!"

The young man in the green cloak glanced at the person before the table and added, "Only Internal Martial Arts cultivators have the best prospects.

"Hmph."

Carrying the huge blade, the young man’s face darkened as he laughed grimly. "How dare a 16-years-old sect founded just by an Emptiness Realm Expert be comparable to Emperor Yu’s Hall, which was founded by the Omnipotent Expert Emperor Yu!"

"Hah! If Emperor Yu’s Hall is strong enough, why are they luring in a great number of Internal Martial Arts cultivators with all kinds of benefits?" the young man with the tiger skin laughed weirdly and responded. "It doesn’t have to be very ancient. Just the time of 16 years is enough for the Xing Yi Sect to become even stronger than Emperor Yu’s Hall. This is real power. Do you not understand?"

The purple-cloaked young man with the huge blade was even more furious as he shouted, "Hmph! If you are strong enough, then spar with us." As he said this, he drew his huge blade.

"Fight me then. I am not afraid."

The young man with the tiger skin immediately grabbed the long spear beside the table.

"Customers! Customers!" When the restaurant manager saw the situation, he immediately ran over.

"Back off! We will compensate for any broken things!" The young man in the purple cloak glared at the manager. Hearing this, the manager laughed and no longer interceded. Immediately, the customers who were eating in the restaurant began cheering. Simultaneously, they moved the tables and backed away to watch the fight from the side.

Killing was prohibited in the city, but it was fine to compete and engage in a spar.

If the truly powerful experts killed, they would be long gone even before the city guards arrived.

"I will show you the Breaking Mountain Blade Art of Emperor Yu’s Hall!" the young man holding the huge blade said coldly.

"We have only used this spear art against tigers and boars. It’s just a technique used in the countryside." The young man with the tiger skin strapped around his waist lifted his spear up horizontally and simultaneously said, "Brother Li, stand to the side. Let me show you how I will teach this impudent fellow a lesson."

Hearing this, Brother Li smiled as he stepped to the side. Brother Li had met the young man with the tiger skin while they were guarding for a caravan. Therefore, both of them knew what each other was capable of doing.

Brother Li had to admit that the young man who only used techniques from the countryside was indeed slightly stronger.

"Show me your moves," the purple-cloaked young man said confidently.

"Oh?" The young man with the tiger skin grinned and responded, "Watch this!"

As he spoke, the huge spear in his hand revolved and launched towards the young man carrying the huge blade. The spear moved forward like a gigantic snake leaping out of its lair and bit towards its prey.

Clang! The purple-cloaked young man forcefully struck his blade forward, causing it to move as fast as lightning.

At that very moment, the spear and blade clashed.

"Hmph." The young man with the tiger skin was forced back one step. Immediately, he stooped down and responded with a sweep kick. The purple-cloaked young man actually leaped up as though he was flying.

Whoosh!

The young man with the tiger skin continued smoothly as he pushed his spear upward.

"Break! Break! Break!" the purple-cloaked young man roared. The blade in his hand displayed tremendous force. As he swooped down, he slashed forcefully three times. The first slash pushed the long spear away. When the second slash was about to reach the young man with the tiger skin, the young man with the tiger skin threw his long spear towards the blade.

Simultaneously, a fierce glint flashed. The young man with the tiger skin leaped forward like a ferocious tiger pouncing forward.

Clang! The long spear was struck away by the second slash. But then, the third slash was still about to hit the young man with the tiger skin. At this moment, the young man with the tiger skin twisted his body and tried to take down the opponent at the risk of getting hurt.

Chi!

Suddenly, a long spear blocked the third slash.

Clang!

When the third slash was blocked, the purple-cloaked young man borrowed the force of the blade and dodged his opponent’s claws. He then laughed out loud and mocked, "And you claimed that the Xing Yi Sect is stronger than Emperor Yu’s Hall. You look the same age as me. However, if it weren’t because that fellow shamelessly interrupted and helped you, you would have been dead or disabled."

"Hmph! If I were to be disabled, you would be dead!" The young man with the tiger skin emanated the aura of a tiger. The close-combat techniques of Internal Martial Arts were very famous in the Land of the Nine Prefectures.

"Hey, purple-cloaked guy! You are already part of Emperor Yu’s Hall and learned their blade art. These two have not even joined the Xing Yi Sect. They have been learning and practicing the Tiger Form Fist Art by themselves. Why are you proud that you won by one to two moves? You are not in Youzhou. This is Yangzhou." A young girl dressed in green wrinkled her nose and scorned as she walked down the stairs.

The young girl looked ordinary. She was just slightly pretty.

"This is none of your business," the purple-cloaked young man said with a frown.

"I am just trying to teach the members of Emperor Yu’s Hall a lesson—Don’t act arrogantly in our Yangzhou." With this, the young girl dressed in green picked up the huge spear that was struck away earlier. When the young girl forcefully gripped the long spear, she seemed to have given life to the long spear. Immediately, the long spear flew towards the purple-cloaked young man.

"You are overestimating yourself." The purple-cloaked young man sneered. His body swayed as he slashed his blade forcefully.

Chi!

When the tip of the long spear touched the blade, the purple-cloaked young man’s expression changed drastically. He could feel a peculiar spiraling force gradually causing him to lose complete control of his blade.

Pu!

The tip of the long spear stopped right before the purple-cloaked young man’s throat. The purple-cloaked young man turned very pale. Just one move! He had lost after just one move.

"Awesome!"

"How dare a member of Emperor Yu’s Hall acts impudently in our Yangzhou."

"Good spear art."

Immediately, many people in the restaurant cheered. The people in the Land of the Nine Prefectures were very loyal to their own prefectures and regions. The people in Yangzhou were proud of the Xing Yi Sect and the Gui Yuan Sect.

"Hmph, you are still weak," said the girl dressed in green. She then threw the spear shaft to the young man with tiger skin strapped around his waist. The young man with tiger skin was now looking at her with eyes full of reverence. With this, the young girl went back up to the second floor.

******

In the private room on the second floor:

A girl dressed in green and another girl dressed in blue sat together.

The girl dressed in blue frowned and said, "Miss, you know we snuck out here. Please don’t cause any trouble. Let’s go back to the Great Yan Mountain."

"No!" The girl in green laughed and said, "Father rarely goes into closed-door cultivation. He said that he is going to create the ninth move... This is a good chance. I seized this opportunity and escaped. How can I go back that easily? Don’t worry. I learned my skills of disguise from my talented father. Even if Mother appeared before me, she wouldn’t be able to recognize me."