The Nine Cauldrons

Chapter 52 A Game of Guessing Pebbles?

On the Great Yan Mountain, the torches burned, making “Chi Chi” sound. Millions of soldiers stared at the young man who was only seventeen years old.

“From now on, I, Teng Qingshan, betrayed Gui Yuan Sect and will no longer be part of it!”

It might seemed heinous, but the innate experts here all knew clearly of what decision Teng Qingshan made! If Teng Qingshan wanted to protect himself, the three thousand Black Armored Army would be able to tie down many innate experts, and Zhuge Yuanhong could feasibly take Teng Qingshan away from this place.

However, if that happened, it would cause the Gui Yuan Sect to fall into a precarious state

And now.........the words “betrayed Gui Yuan Sect and will no longer be part of it” and the words “is not related to the Gui Yuan Sect” caused the others to have no more excuse to go against Gui Yuan Sect. Yet, Teng Qingshan himself would now be in an extreme crisis. He is now facing a large group of innate experts by himself like a sheep in a pack of wolves.

“Qingshan.....Teacher is sorry.” Zhuge Yuanhong said in his heart. He closed his eyes painfully and kept quiet.

“Really brave.” Ying Haojian, the one leading the Ying Family, praised.

“He’s a man! Even if he were to die, we must let him die a quick death. We can’t let the men of Qing Hu Island torture him.” The gruff, masculine voice came from the midst of the experts of Shooting Sun God Mountain.

Teng Qingshan’s eyes swept past the large group of innate experts and the corner of his mouth curved into a weird smile.

“You men of Qing Hu Island desired to kill me.” Teng Qingshan pointed at the five men of Qing Hu Island as he said. Gu Yong and his men all wore a gloomy expression. If it wasn’t because there were too many innate experts here, they would have made their move already. Teng Qingshan continued saying, “Gu Yong, don’t show a sour expression. Only eight Law Enforcing Elders died. I think more of your elders will die soon enough.”

Gu Yong’s facial expression turned cold as he responded, “Hmph, Still acting arrogant at the end of your life.”

Teng Qingshan shook his head and smiled.

“The men of Mani Temple want the two cauldrons too, right?” Teng Qingshan walked before the group of Arhats of Mani Temple. Those people all stood calmly and responded in silence. “Not speaking. Looks like they all admitted. Desiring the two cauldrons of the Elixir of the North Sea isn’t something shameful,” said Teng Qingshan.

“The Ying Family, Shooting Sun God Mountain, Snow Hawk Hall, and Hong Tian City.”

Teng Qingshan stepped forward and walked to the expert of Hong Tian City who was at the side.

“You all wanted the two cauldrons of the Elixir of the North Sea, Tell me..Who should I give them to? This gives me a headache.” Teng Qingshan looked at the surrounding crowds. At this moment, none of the people around him spoke, which was rather weird. It was very quiet. Everyone of them stared at Teng Qingshan and occasionally looked towards another group of innate experts.

“How about you guys guess pebbles.” Teng Qingshan squatted down and picked up three pebbles from the ground.

The innate experts froze for a second.

Guess pebbles?

“I have a total of three pebbles in my hand. Each sect has a chance to guess how many pebbles are in my left hand and how many are in my right hand. The one that guesses it right can get the two cauldrons.” A jesting smile appeared on the corner of Teng Qingshan’s mouth, but this smile made the people feel cold from the bottom of their heart.

“Ridiculous.” Elder Wan of the Snow Hawk Hall frowned.

“Teng Qingshan, stop playing,” the long-browed old monk said indifferently. The fight for the two cauldrons couldn’t be decided by a game of guessing pebbles. Mani Temple was the most powerful sect, thus, how would it be willing to rely on luckily guessing pebbles to obtain the cauldrons?

“So boring. No one wants to guess.” Teng Qingshan stood up and said, “Let me announce the answer.......”

Teng Qingshan grinned, and his left and right hands waved out instantly almost at the same time.

Three streaks of phantom-like figures pierced through the air!

Xiu! Xiu! Xiu!

The three pebbles brought along an ear-piercing whistling sound and visible ripples in the air, leaving three blurry phantom-like afterimages. The three pebbles instantly slashed a distance of thirty Zhang and flew towards the unprepared Gu Shiyou, who was in shock.

Gu Yong’s facial expression changed drastically.

However, Gu Yong was ten Zhang to the left of Teng Qingshan while Gu Shiyou was around thirty Zhang ahead of Teng Qingshan. Gu Yong and his men couldn’t stop the three pebbles, and with Teng Qingshan’s arm strength, the three bullets pierced through the air like three bullets. A terrifying scream sounded——

“No!” Gu Shiyou didn’t even have time to escape, and there were no innate experts around him.

Pu! Pu! Pu!

The three pebbles pierced through Gu Shiyou’s left chest, stomach, and thigh, leaving three horrifying bloody hole with blood flowing out. Because it wasn’t a headshot, with Gu Shiyou’s vitality, he didn’t die immediately.

“Wh..why?” Gu Shiyou stared at Teng Qingshan.

A cold glint flashed in Teng Qingshan’s eyes.

Father and the others were forcefully taken away by Gu Shiyou. Plus Qing Qing’s death.......Teng Qingshan had already given Gu Shiyou a death sentence!

Along with a “Bang”, Gu Shiyou’s body collapsed on the ground, but Teng Qingshan was still chuckling as he curled his lips and said, “Everyone should know the answer of the pebble guessing game by now. The answer is——” Teng Qingshan raised his left and right hands and continued saying, “I have zero pebbles in my left hand and zero pebbles in my right hand!”

“Teng Qingshan, you are courting death!”

When Gu Yong showed a horrifying expression and roared, a figure had already dashed out.

“Stop!” A loud roar was heard.

Whew! Whew! Whew!

Dozens of figures jumped out almost simultaneously and stood in between Teng Qingshan and the men of Qing Hu Island. They were the experts of the Ying Family and Shooting Sun God Mountain.

“Everyone, Teng Qingshan killed my son, Shiyou. This hatred is irreconcilable!” Gu Yong roared in a deep voice.

“Teng Qingshan can’t be killed.” Ying Haojiang yelled coldly.

“Gu Island Lord, please remain calm.” The long-browed old monk said calmly.

Gu Yong stared at Teng Qingshan, who was behind the group of innate experts. Teng Qingshan was smiling at him, but that smile made Gu Yong’s heart to shiver coldly. Gu Yong thought to himself, “Just now, he purposely walked to the expert of the Hong Tian City, who was standing at the edge, so that when the time of danger arrived, the group of people would have enough time to stop Qing Hu Island. Guessing pebbles? It was just an excuse use to kill my son! But I actually didn’t think of that! As expected, Teng Qingshan’s tricks are impressive. He actually has the techniques to instill the Innate True Origin in the pebble without breaking the pebbles.”

A figure moved.

The long-browed old monk instantly appeared beside Teng Qingshan and stared at him as he said, “Teng Qingshan, you should know that if you don’t give us the two cauldrons, you will be in a living hell. You are a responsible young man. Give us the two cauldrons, and Mani Temple can let you die a quick and painless death.”

“Thank you for that.” Teng Qingshan cupped his hand and said, “Old monk, among the people I know, your Qinggong is the best.”

“Not worth mentioning.” The long-browed old monk said.

“I will lead all of you to the two cauldrons now.” Teng Qingshan looked at the surrounding innate experts and said, “Before that, I must have my weapon back. Even if I die, I must have it in my hand.” The volume of Teng Qingshan’s voice suddenly increased. He gazed towards northeast area where the Black Armored Army were located and shouted, “Tian Dan, can you help me get my Reincarnation Spear!”

Teng Qingshan’s voice resounded in the night sky.

“Okay!” A loud shout sounded. Tian Dan, who was in the midst of the Black Armored Army, dashed towards the camp. Soon, he ran back with the two parts of the Reincarnation Spear.

Everyone had their eyes focused on Teng Qingshan and Tian Dan.

“Brother Qingshan.” Tian Dan stood in front of Teng Qingshan and handed the two parts of the Reincarnation Spear as he said solemnly, “Be careful.”

“If I die, please burn a stick of incense and pour a cup of wine on the location of my death next year. That would be enough.” Teng Qingshan smiled and took the Reincarnation Spear. He connected the two parts of the Reincarnation Spear and immediately said, “Everyone.....Didn’t you guys desire to obtain the two cauldrons of the Elixir of the North Sea? Follow me!”

Teng Qingshan strode forward, and the innate experts of the other supreme sects immediately followed. With so many Golden Dan innate experts, they weren’t afraid that Teng Qingshan would escape.

‘Follow!” Gu Yong waved his hands.

All the Silver Dragon Soldiers followed vigorously.

At this moment, Teng Qingshan led the way at the forefront like a general leading his great army.

......

Zhuge Yuanhong half-knelt before Qing Qing’s body.

“Qing Qing!” Zhuge Yuanhong said softly, “Father is sorry for not being able to protect you and not being able to protect Qingshan! You are a good child, and Qingshan is also a good child......It’s Father’s fault. Father didn’t have enough power to protect you two.” As soon as the tears flowed, it was dried by his Innate True Origin.

Yan Motian stood beside him silently.

“Sovereign.” Yan Motian’s hoarse voice was heard. “When I was young, I was born in a village like Teng Qingshan. Mounted gangsters indulged in wanton massacres, and many villagers died every year. My father died when I was six and my mother died of a sickness when I was eleven years old. At the time, I understood that if you don’t have enough power in this chaotic world, you can only watch your own family die. Therefore, I trained assiduously and joined the Gui Yuan Sect........It’s the same between the sects! The Eight Supreme Sects didn’t dare to start a battle easily among themselves, because they have to take the other supreme sects into consideration. However, they look down on the Gui Yuan Sect. If......if Teng Qingshan was a disciple of the Ying Family, Emperor Yu’s Hall, or the Mani Temple, who would have the audacity to treat him like this? If we have to blame something, we can only blame ourselves for not being strong enough.”

Zhuge Yuanhong stood up. He gaze at the distant blurry figure far away from Qing Hu Island’s Silver Dragon Army.

“I understand.”

“It’s because we aren’t capable enough, so we could only let Qingshan face all of this alone.” Zhuge Yuanhong smiled bitterly, “I am really not worthy of being a teacher. I am not worthy of being a father. My daughter died, and I must endure even when I am her father. When facing a dangerous situation.....as his teacher, I could only let my disciple declare that he has betrayed and left the sect, leaving him to shoulder the responsibility alone.

Zhuge Yuanhong’s face was slightly pallid.

“Sovereign.”Yan Motian frowned and shouted, “Yuanhong! Wake up! You have done well enough. You are the Sovereign of my Gui Yuan Sect! Everything you have done must be for the thousand years foundation of the Gui Yuan Sect! For the ten thousand-plus men of the Gui Yuan Sect! This is not your fault.”

Zhuge Yuanhong nodded and immediately turned to look behind him. The large number of Black Armored Soldiers were carrying their comrades’ bodies. Some of the soldiers were heavily injured.

Zhuge Yuanhong sighed, “Since ancient times, among mountaineers, civilians, and the warriors of the supreme sects, the winners are crowned and the losers are vilified! The mountaineers and civilians needed protect their clan. The mounted bandits and robbers needed to make their gang and men stronger. As for the sects, they needed to make their own status higher and at least be called one of the Eight Supreme Sects!”

“Some people endure for over ten years just to be famous in this world one day.”

“Some people venture the world alone, train themselves in a state of life or death, and kill numerous people just to pursue the peak.”

“Some people form gangs and lead men to steal and rob. They wish to control the mountains and forest and become the local despot of the area.”

“Some people have great ambition. They desire to establish a powerful sect of warriors, control millions of civilians, and build a thousand year-old foundation.”

Zhuge Yuanhong stared at the arrows and the dark red bloodstains on the ground.

“This is the chaotic world!” Zhuge Yuanhong said softly.