The Nine Cauldrons

Translator: Iamgt  Editor: Lucas

Chapter 20: The Difference Between the Past and the Present

In the blink of an eye, Teng Qingshan turned three years old.

It was early in the morning. A boy with rosy lips and white teeth, dressed in cotton clothes was having breakfast with a kind-looking woman. It was Teng Qingshan and his mother, Yuan Lan.

"Qingshan, do you want a little brother or a little sister?" Yuan Lan looked benignly at her son.

"I want both." Teng Qingshan opened his big mouth and gobbled up the whole bowl of porridge.

"Ah. Then I'll give birth to twins." Yuan Lan smiled while she touched her belly. Her belly bulged slightly; she was already four months pregnant.

"Mother, I finished eating."

Teng Qingshan put down his bowl and chopsticks and ran out.

"Run more slowly, and watch your steps." Yuan Lan hastily said. She then took a look at Teng Qingshan's bowl and involuntarily shook her head while sighing, "Qingshan really has a huge appetite. He eats two loaves of bread and a big bowl of porridge in the morning. He is only three years old… but is already able to eat as much as me."

Teng Qingshan, a three year old boy, had a huge appetite. When mentioning Teng Qingshan, most of the people in Teng Jia Village would sigh in admiration at his immense appetite.

....

"Eating more is better…" Teng Qingshan muttered to himself while walked down a small path, "It means that my internal organs are mighty, that my absorption ability is strong, and that the vitality of my body is powerful."

After coming to this world, Teng Qingshan lived a relaxed life. There were no enemies here, only parents who loved and cared for him deeply. However, playing with other two or three years old children was absolute torture for him!

Teng Qingshan was relieved at the lack of enemies and began training according to his plan.

As the ultimate hitman and a previous Grandmaster of Internal Martial Arts, Teng Qingshan knew very clearly when and what to train.

Although he was three years old this year, babies turn one year old the moment they were born here, which meant that in this world, he was in fact only two years old. He did not dare to do any strength training during the past two years. The only thing he could do for now was train his body's flexibility and accelerate the growth of his bones.

Teng Qingshan based this kind of training method on Ancient Yoga and basic Internal Martial Arts training.

Since a child's body has good flexibility, it was easier to train his flexibility than to train his strength.

An adult would need to train a year or so before he could split his legs in a straight line. However, children would only need ten to fifteen days. This was because children's muscles and bones were more flexible, which was also due to their natural stage of growth and development.

The more flexible one's body was, the more powerful one's bones and muscles became, which was beneficial for practicing Internal Martial Arts.

"Qingshan, are you going to play in the training grounds?" On the way, there were some neighbors who smiled as they spoke to Teng Qingshan.

"Yes." Teng Qingshan nodded.

The training grounds was an empty field that was at least two-hundred meters long and wide. Every morning, the men of Teng Jia Village would train there.

"Ha!"

"Ha!"

The forceful and powerful "Ha" sounds that transmitted from the front were like the sounds of rolling thunder.

Teng Qingshan finally reached the martial arts field. In the center of the field, hundreds of people stood in an orderly fashion. Everyone was topless and covered in sweat. Each of them carried spears, from time to time they repeatedly thrust it towards their front as they shouted their slogan. As Teng Qingshan watched this scene, he couldn't help but feel his blood start boiling..

On the edge of the training grounds, there were many kids staring with their eyes wide open.

"The top, shoulder, spear, feet and body should all be balanced!" A loud shout resounded across the whole training grounds. A thin and middle-aged man with blazing eyes was walking in the center of the field. Suddenly, he lifted his foot and kicked the upper leg of a man holding a spear next to him, causing the man to stagger.

"Your body is wavering! Where is the strength of your waist? Did you waste all of that strength on some of your b*tches? Steady yourself now." The thin man bellowed harshly.

"Yes, Master." That man hastily stood still and did not dare to say even one word.

"We bear hardships now so that we bleed less when we face bandits and beasts in the mountain!" The thin man continued walking and spoke with a cold voice, "When we face danger, all we can do is depend on ourselves!"

"Alright, shake your spears now." The thin man shouted, "Hold it with your hand at the front and turn it with the hand at the back... Aim and thrust. No matter if it's for defense or attack, you can rely on this technique. If you practice it perfectly, you will all be able to save your own lives when you face dangers."

Every man was familiar with this technique.

This skill had been practiced by them numerous times already.

As Teng Qingshan watched this scene, a smile crept up on his face.

"The men in Teng Jia Village train every day. Although the training is very simple, it is very effective. The two techniques, 'Center Thrust' and 'Trembling Lance' are enough for them to practice their entire life." After all, Teng Qingshan was a Xing Yi Grandmaster in his previous life, and the fundamental of Xing Yi Martial Arts was exactly the Spear Fist.

Whether it was Bursting Fist or Drilling Fist, both contained the implication of a long spear.

Teng Qingshan could see that with just a dozen men of Teng Jia Village, a spear formation with powers that could not be underestimated could be formed.

"Depending on the force of Teng Jia Village, an ordinary bandit group wouldn't dare to offend us!"

However, Teng Qingshan couldn't help but think of the White Horse Gang, the biggest faction within the territory of Yi City. If one wanted to join the White Horse Gang, there was a high physical requirement. Even so, the White Horse Gang still had eight thousand core members!

Besides those eight thousand core members, there were also a large number of fringe members.

The White Horse Gang was definitely the local despot of Yi City!

Teng Jia Village also had to hand over an 'annual tribute' to them every year to be safe.

.....

Watching thousands of men practice, Teng Qingshan suddenly got an idea.

"The flexibility of my muscles and bones have been trained well enough. Although they are still not suitable for oppressive strength training, training Xing Yi Martial Arts should be fine." Teng Qingshan watched on for a little while longer before he trotted home.

"Qingshan, you are back." Yuan Lan was carrying dirty clothes, preparing to wash the clothes outside.

"Yes, Mom. I am tired and I want to sleep for a while." Teng Qingshan entered his own room. It would be impossible for his family members to ask a three year old child to do any work. As for the excuse of sleep, his Mother, Yuan Lan, did not doubt it at all.

The door and windows were then closed. "It's been a long time since I last practiced Xing Yi Martial Arts." Teng Qingshan did some exercises. He felt a little excited at this moment because he hadn't practiced in it for several years.

After taking a deep breath, his heart became calm, Teng Qingshan then began to practice. He combined Twelve Forms, Xing Yi Five Element Fists Art, Three Xing Yi Postures together and practiced them freely. He was like a fierce tiger going downhill for a second, a tangling python in the next, and a swimming dragon bursting out of the water after that again...

Even if the normal kids with small arms and legs practiced Internal Martial Arts, it would just be a show with absolutely no effect.

Even if he possessed the consciousness of a Grandmaster, he wouldn't be able to practice Internal Martial Arts if his body was too small and unable to fully stretch. Therefore, for the past two years, Teng Qingshan trained his flexibility and muscles. Now, his waist was able to bend backward, to the point that his mouth could touch his foot. In such a physical condition, it went without saying that he could easily perform Internal Martial Arts.

Now that he met the physical requirements and possessed the consciousness of a Grandmaster, the result was obvious.

His body moved in coordination with the breathing method. The more Teng Qingshan practiced, the more energized he became. This practice continued on for two hours. Teng Qingshan was not a beginner; his consciousness was at the level of a Grandmaster.

"He Ha!"

At the end of his practice, Teng Qingshan couldn't help but excitedly shout out twice

"My whole body feels comfortable and refreshed. Every bone and muscle feels numbed, but it still feels so comfortable. It is obvious that the effect of Internal Martial Arts is a lot better than Ancient Yoga." Teng Qingshan felt extremely happy.

Internal Martial Arts originally had the effect of strengthening the bones and muscles. In addition to Teng Qingshan's memories of his previous life, his performance of the Xing Yi Martial Arts was naturally excellent. He could even feel that, after every practice of Internal Martial Arts, his bones and muscles would undergo changes. As his bones and muscles were dramatically improving, he would obviously need more energy!

Therefore, Teng Qingshan's appetite became even bigger!

"Ha!"

Teng Qingshan did a flying leap in the yard of his house and then descended. He supported himself on the ground with just one hand, his legs flipped and strangled in the air.

"Inhale, exhale!"

Accompanied with the extreme exercises, Teng Qingshan also aided himself with the cooperation of a Breathing Method.

The secret of Internal Martial Arts was in fact the cooperation of the Breathing Technique and the Art of Body Form. This kind of breathing technique would strengthen the internal organs, as well as stimulate the bones and muscles.

Teng Qingshan would close the door and practice in the yard whenever his parents weren't home.

"Eh?"

Teng Qingshan was so shocked that he stopped and bent down. He smacked the ground and a "Puchi!" sound rang as a hole appeared on the muddy ground.

"How is this possible?" Teng Qingshan paused and froze. He murmured, "I, I have only practiced Xing Yi Martial Arts for one month. How is it possible for me to generate inner strength? Plus, my bones and muscles are still growing and haven't reach their limits. How is it possible to generate inner strength?

Just now, inner strength had been produced within Teng Qingshan's body.

According to the levels of Internal Martial Arts, the training of one's body should be first. When the body muscles reached a certain limit, and if there were adequate levels of energy and blood, the transmutation of energy and blood into internal force would be possible.

However, Teng Qingshan was only three years old and had only practiced Xing Yi Martial Arts for one month. His body is still a long way from reaching its limit, so how was it be possible to generate inner strength?

"I practiced the same Internal Martial Arts during both ancient and modern times. How is it possible to have such drastic differences?"

Teng Qingshan's facial expression then suddenly changed, "Could it be..."

Teng Qingshan had practiced the same Internal Martial Arts during ancient times and modern times. However, the ancient and modern times had different environments. During the modern times, the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth was already so thin that it could be ignored. What about during the ancient times?

"Legend says that during the ancient times, the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth could be absorbed and transmuted. This absorption of Spiritual Qi is actually a kind of breathing method." Teng Qingshan's eyes brightened as he spoke, "My Internal Martial Arts' Breathing Method should be able to absorb the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth. Could it be that during this one month, I have naturally absorbed the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth as I practiced Internal Martial Arts? And have just now transmuted the Spiritual Qi into inner strength?

There were no other possibilities.

Teng Qingshan's bones and muscles were still at the initial stage, so it would be impossible for the energy and blood within his body to produce inner strength.

There was only one explanation, producing inner strength by absorbing the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth.

"Being able to produce inner strength at the age of three is impossible in modern times. Teng Qingshan felt shocked. "People depended on eating, and the energy absorbed was limited. However, now that I can absorb the Spiritual Qi of the Heavens and Earth, what level will I be able to reach?"

During modern times, practitioners relied on eating to absorb energy since energy was limited. However, Internal Martial Arts Grandmasters could still reach the realm of a SS-level hitman.

As for ancient times, there was an unlimited amount of Spiritual Qi to absorb. What realm would a Grandmaster of an Internal Martial Art be able to reach?

Teng Qingshan's eyes brightened.

Suddenly, he felt a desire grow in his heart. A desire towards the future!

What level would he be able to reach in the future?!

"It looks like the training plan that I made for myself needs to be changed." As Teng Qingshan felt the inner strength within his body, he suddenly felt ambitious.