In the murky depths of the lake, Deng Geng stared blankly at the inscription on the black iron treasure map.

"One of the Nine Cauldrons?" Deng Geng frowned. "Finding the treasure map isn't enough; now I need one of the Nine Cauldrons too! What a hassle…" Of course, Deng Geng knew about the Nine Cauldrons. The once peerless Emperor Yu, after unifying the realm, divided the world into the Nine Provinces.

Simultaneously, Emperor Yu gathered numerous precious metals from across the Nine Provinces and forged nine massive tripods.

These Nine Cauldrons represented the Nine Provinces themselves.

From that time forward, all citizens of the Nine Provinces, from the lowliest mountain dweller to the powerful figures of the Eight Great Sects, were required to pay homage to Emperor Yu and the Nine Cauldrons during the annual 'Nian Ji' festival. The Cauldrons thus became sacred sacrificial artifacts.

The legend of Emperor Yu and the Nine Cauldrons was known to every inhabitant of the Nine Provinces. Who skipped the Nian Ji offerings?

"Elder Emperor Yu, leaving this map with such a condition. The Nine Cauldrons… Since you departed this world, the realm has descended into chaos. Those Nine Cauldrons vanished without a trace. It seems only the Immortal Poet Swordsman, Senior Li Taibai, ever possessed one." Deng Geng, as an Enforcement Elder of the Iron Robe Sect, was privy to much information regarding past masters.

Throughout history, the four most remarkable figures, whose greatness could be compared across ages, were Emperor Yu, the Qinling Heavenly Emperor, the Patriarch Shakya, and the Immortal Poet Swordsman 'Li Taibai'.

"Senior Li Taibai once obtained one Cauldron and used it to hold his wine," Deng Geng recalled the old records.

Li Taibai was likely the most unrestrained and romantic among those four greatest figures in history. Despite possessing unmatched martial power that could conquer the world, he never sought to unify the realm or establish a sect by taking disciples. He roamed the world freely with his Green Lotus Sword, leaving behind legends—one of which was using a Nine Cauldron to drink wine.

At that time, Li Taibai had exclaimed, "These Nine Provinces Cauldrons, having received the devotion of the people, have become miraculous. Originally colossal objects, they are now only the size of a bowl, and even my Azure Peak Sword cannot leave the slightest mark upon them. Marvelous, truly marvelous!"

Major figures in the various sects across the Nine Provinces were also aware of these anecdotes.

The Nine Cauldrons could change size and were utterly indestructible!

The Immortal Poet Swordsman 'Li Taibai' was comparable to Emperor Yu himself, yet even he could not harm these Cauldrons. This attested to their profound mystery.

Since Emperor Yu’s time, generations of citizens across the Nine Provinces had paid homage to him and the Nine Cauldrons. Over countless years, in the minds of many, the Nine Cauldrons were no longer mere artifacts; they were the very symbol and representation of the Nine Provinces, embodying the aspirations of its people!

...

At the bottom of the lake, Deng Geng’s anxiety mounted.

"My Iron Robe Sect's successive Sect Masters and Enforcement Elders have searched for this treasure map for generations! Now that I’ve finally found it, after over a thousand years, damn it—it warns me I still need a Cauldron, and not just any cauldron, but one of the Nine Cauldrons! Isn't that playing games with me!" Deng Geng was so frustrated he wanted to curse Emperor Yu. "The Nine Cauldrons are miraculous; how is my Iron Robe Sect supposed to find one? Even if it were placed right before me, I doubt I'd recognize it."

Suddenly—

An image flashed through Deng Geng’s mind: the small black cauldron worn on the chest of Senior Wei Dan’s skeletal remains.

"Hmm!" Deng Geng’s expression shifted, and his eyes lit up.

"Yes! Yes!" Deng Geng was overcome with excitement. "The Nine Cauldrons are supremely miraculous and can change size. The Cauldron that Immortal Poet Swordsman 'Li Taibai' acquired was bowl-sized. Naturally, this means it could also shrink to the size of a finger! No wonder Wei Dan wore that little cauldron close to his body!"

"Furthermore, this small cauldron has been submerged in water for hundreds of years without corroding or growing algae. I originally thought it was just made of precious material, but now I see—haha! If it qualifies as one of the Nine Cauldrons, why would being soaked in water spoil it?"

The more Deng Geng considered it, the more plausible it seemed.

Wei Dan was a Xiantian Golden Core expert. How could it be such a coincidence that he wore such a peculiar small cauldron? And Wei Dan happened to find this latter half of the treasure map... Combining the two, the deduction was clear. Wei Dan must have searched meticulously for the small cauldron because of the treasure map. Upon accidentally obtaining it, he naturally kept it close!

"Hahaha… Heaven is helping my Iron Robe Sect!" Deng Geng felt a wave of elation. "I needed this little cauldron, and Heaven immediately provided it. Now that the treasure map is complete, and I have the small cauldron, my Iron Robe Sect can open Emperor Yu's treasure! Within decades, my Iron Robe Sect will surely crush the Guiyuan Sect and Qinghu Island, controlling all of Yangzhou! We’ll be numbered among the Eight Great Sects!"

With that, Deng Geng tucked the map into his robes and swam upwards toward the surface.

Looking up at the water above, Deng Geng’s expression changed abruptly, and he stopped dead.

"That's not right!" Deng Geng surveyed his surroundings. "I’ve spent nearly an hour down here at the lakebed. Why haven't I seen Elder Tian and the others?" The lakebed wasn't that vast; if the three of them were searching, they should have run into each other often. Yet, Deng Geng realized he hadn't encountered Elder Tian and the rest for a long time.

Deng Geng looked up at the rippling water surface.

His face turned cold. "It seems the situation has changed." Deng Geng immediately drew a silver longsword. This sword was named 'Silver Scale Sword' and was itself a rare divine weapon.

Teng Qingshan waited on the shore for over an hour. By then, the sky had darkened, and a crescent moon hung in the heavens.

"Whoooosh~~~" The mountain wind howled fiercely atop the peak.

"Caw, caw—" Some unknown raptors soared overhead, letting out unpleasant cries. Teng Qingshan crouched by the lake's edge, wearing his Hawk Claw gloves, holding a throwing knife in each hand. Even after waiting an hour, he felt no anxiety; waiting a few more hours would not be difficult.

The mountain wind screamed, and the birds shrieked.

"Rumble~~~" Suddenly, the previously calm surface of the lake exploded violently. A stretch of water over ten zhang wide erupted, sending water spray soaring several zhang high.

With such a massive spray, it was impossible to discern where any person might be hidden.

"Not good, Deng Geng must have sensed someone lurking." Teng Qingshan frowned. After waiting an hour, it was all for nothing!

Suddenly, at the edge of the soaring spray, a shadow flashed and shot onto the shore. It bounced off the bank and charged straight toward Teng Qingshan.

"Hmph!" Teng Qingshan’s right-hand knife whistled as it flew!

Swish!

Swish!

The two throwing knives, one leading and one trailing, sliced through the air like twin streaks of lightning. When they were about a zhang away from the shadow, the first knife abruptly curved in an arc.

"Clang!"

A string of silver sword flashes appeared, sweeping over Teng Qingshan's throwing knives like a cascading waterfall. With two sharp 'clang' sounds, Teng Qingshan's two knives were shattered into fragments. The charging figure halted abruptly, even retreating two steps.

Deng Geng stared at the scarred man before him. "This scarred fellow's throwing knives carry such formidable force; my hands are still tingling from the impact."

Deng Geng’s gaze swept over the skeleton’s chest, and his pupils contracted. "The small Cauldron is gone!"

"Killing my Iron Robe Sect disciples! Die!" Deng Geng roared, charging toward Teng Qingshan.

"You think you’re worthy of killing me?" Teng Qingshan’s voice was rough. He stomped hard with his foot, surging toward Deng Geng like a fierce tiger descending a mountain.

The two were initially only a few zhang apart, and their charge immediately plunged them into battle.

"Shing!"

The Silver Scale Sword flashed once and stabbed toward Teng Qingshan’s face. Teng Qingshan’s footwork was agile; he swung his right hand, spinning his body. With a sharp clang, his right hand collided directly with the Silver Scale Sword. The 'Hawk Claw' proved worthy of being the weapon of a Xiantian Golden Core expert—it remained completely unscathed.

In that instant of impact, Teng Qingshan launched a forward-thrusting Uppercut!

Thud!

The fist was like an arrow released from a bow. The air ahead of the fist was compressed, creating a visible, curved pressure wave. The very air vibrated, and the air density changed, making Teng Qingshan's punch appear blurred. Deng Geng’s heart tightened upon seeing this; he immediately retreated while simultaneously sweeping the Silver Scale Sword in a curve.

"Boom!" An explosion erupted—a tangible blast of high-pressure air.

Sand and stones immediately flew everywhere.

Teng Qingshan attacked with both fists—one blocking, one striking. Sometimes his fists struck in quick succession. His footwork shifted slightly between advancing and retreating, but his execution was precise. His control over space had reached an astonishing degree. The ceaseless onslaught of his Uppercuts completely enveloped Deng Geng.

The Uppercut was like an arrow, endlessly cycling!

Deng Geng’s swordsmanship was equally terrifying. Every strike he made formed an arc—some wider, some tighter—and the Xiantian True Essence contained within them fluctuated in strength, yet they successfully kept Teng Qingshan’s Uppercuts entirely outside.

"This Deng Geng, his sword defense is likely no less potent than my 'Primordial Unity Spear Technique.' Every arc acts like a shield, and these shields are infinite," Teng Qingshan recognized his opponent’s strength. "My physical power combined with True Essence cannot gain the upper hand!"

He was astonished, but Deng Geng was equally shocked.

"Where did this scarred fellow emerge from? He is suppressing me to mere defense with nothing but a pair of fists. I haven't heard of such an expert among Xiantian Solid Core masters!" Deng Geng felt a surge of panic.

Boom!

A clap of thunder from clear skies!

"Not good!" Deng Geng, seeing the fist that instantly pierced the air, seemingly filling all space, was greatly alarmed. This incoming fist contained a peculiar force, with visible twisted energy currents swirling around it. Deng Geng could only fly backward while horizontally parrying with the Silver Scale Sword.

"Bang!"

Deng Geng staggered back several steps. Each step shook the ground, creating deep pits and sending large rocks scattering everywhere.

"Stop!" Deng Geng shouted repeatedly.

Teng Qingshan looked at Deng Geng. "The 'Tiger Cannon Fist' I execute using the 'Hawk Claw,' although slightly slower in speed, has an explosive power no less than the 'Poison Dragon Drill.' This Deng Geng actually managed to block it."

Deng Geng felt a throbbing pain in the tendons and bones of his arms. "If I want to kill this scarred man, I’ll likely have to pay a considerable price."

"Brother, you have remarkable skill! I didn't expect such a master of the fist technique to exist at the Xiantian Solid Core level." Deng Geng spoke.

"Your swordsmanship is not bad either," Teng Qingshan boomed.

On the mountaintop, the two great experts regarded each other with apprehension.

A slight smile appeared on Deng Geng's face as he spoke. "My Iron Robe Sect's juniors offended you, and you killed them; that matter can be considered settled. However… Brother, I must ask you to return the heirloom of my Iron Robe Sect—that black small cauldron—to us!"