Single-Arm Cauldron Lift

The mysterious old man seemed to have seen Liu Yandong's panic and comforted him. "Good steel belongs on the blade's edge. This was the most correct thing you have ever done for the clan."

Liu Yandong panted, not knowing what to say.

"But you must bury this secret in your heart forever. Though you now know that Liu Ding is your own grandson, he must still go through the Sect Lord Contention. Otherwise, everything will return to square one. Do you understand?" The Cloaked Elder's old eyes were clouded, yet they shone brightly.

"I understand." Liu Yandong knew that strength was king. "General Jiang, your abilities are vast. Could you perhaps offer Ding'er some guidance?"

"Other than knowing a few secrets about Liu Coffin, I do not understand much more than you do. Otherwise, I would not be in such a sorry state. Can't you tell?" General Jiang said blandly.

Liu Yandong shuddered. He had always felt that there was something indescribable about this mysterious old man. So it was desolation.

"But there is no need for you to lose heart. After more than seven years of medicinal baths with the Soul Forging Cauldron, Liu Ding has already solidified his foundation at the Four-Vessel Martial Apprentice Realm." General Jiang cast out a glimmer of hope, and Liu Yandong's eyes shone again.

"However, advancing his realm from here on will be exceedingly difficult. Whether he can rise above the rest in the Sect Lord Contention will depend on his own fortune." With another sentence, General Jiang poured a basin of cold water over the delighted Liu Yandong.

"General Jiang, could you say everything at once? These shocks and surprises are more than my heart can take." Liu Yandong smiled bitterly.

"I can tell you clearly: by the time of the clan's Sect Lord Contention, Liu Ji will enter the Seven Cauldrons Martial Apprentice Realm." General Jiang dropped a bombshell.

"What? That's impossible! He isn't even sixteen yet!" Liu Yandong nearly jumped up. Seeing General Jiang's solemn expression, he knew it was true. After all, he had once witnessed Grand Fate Master Fang's means of seeing through the secrets of Heaven. He calmed himself. "Then what should we do?"

"There are no shortcuts. You can only put pressure on Liu Ding—make him strive, make him fight, make him unable to bear losing what is most precious to him." General Jiang's voice trembled, as if he himself were the one struggling.

"I know what to do." In Liu Yandong's mind appeared Little White Fox's lovely little face. That was the softest place in Liu Ding's heart, and also the thing that could spur him onward most fiercely.

Liu Ding left the watchtower while pretending to be casual, but his heart was burning with anxiety. He wanted to see Xiao Zhi, the Little White Fox imprisoned in the clan's Heavenly Prison.

At the entrance to the Heavenly Prison stood two clansmen in the prime of life, both at the Six-Vessel Martial Apprentice Realm. Inside, an elder of the Seven-Vessel Martial Apprentice Realm was stationed.

No matter how Liu Ding played the fool, acted cute, or clung to them, he could not shake the resolve of the clansmen guarding the Heavenly Prison.

At last, the Seven-Vessel Martial Apprentice elder came out and personally told him, "Ding'er, I do not know whether you understand this or not. The Sect Lord ordered us to guard this place in order to protect your Little White Fox. If we let you in, others would have something to hold against us, and our iron-handed defense would lose its effect. Rest assured, Little White Fox is eating and sleeping well. Nothing will happen to her."

Liu Ding opened his mouth. His anger vanished without a trace. The ugly little face he had been holding taut finally broke into a smile. He reached out and gave the elder's shoulder a heavy pat. "Then, Elder Yannan, I'll have to trouble you."

Leaving behind the guarding elder, whose old face kept twitching, Liu Ding departed with a smile. Rubbing his nose, he said, "Looks like being a fool has its advantages too. No need to bow and scrape or play the obedient grandson. Not bad at all."

Leaving did not mean giving up. Liu Ding's eyes rolled, and he thought of his grandfather, the Sect Lord. If he could obtain his written pass—speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives. The thought had barely crossed his mind when he saw Liu Yandong striding over. Liu Ding hurried forward in delight. "Grandfather."

"Hehe, Ding'er, why are you still here so late?" Liu Yandong stopped before Liu Ding and looked his own grandson up and down, unable to conceal the joy on his face.

"Well, I want to see Xiao Zhi. Grandfather, could you give me a written pass?" Liu Ding felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze. Guessing that his little scheme had been seen through, he simply asked outright.

"Ding'er, you are twelve—thirteen this year, aren't you? Do you know how many cauldrons you have reached in the Soul Forging Realm?" Liu Yandong changed the subject.

"I'm not too sure about that either." Liu Ding shook his head. He had not tried lifting a cauldron in seven years, though he had gained many insights into cultivation realms.

"Come. Let's test it. You might need it tomorrow." As Liu Yandong spoke, he strode toward the ancestral hall.

Liu Ding followed in confusion. Once they entered the ancestral hall, he saw Liu Yandong standing before the Seven Soul-Forging Cauldrons. Smiling, Liu Yandong said, "Try it casually. See how many cauldrons you can lift."

Try it casually? Liu Ding's mouth twitched. These Soul Forging Cauldrons were treasures the Liu Clan held dearly. Whenever someone wanted to lift one, it had always been a solemn affair, requiring them first to consume Soul Forging Pills such as Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise Pills.

"Then I'll give it a try." Liu Ding grasped the rim of the First Soul-Forging Cauldron. He was already twelve years old now, and the First Soul-Forging Cauldron nearly reached below his waist.

"It's pretty light." After testing its weight, Liu Ding easily lifted the First Soul-Forging Cauldron with one hand.

"Try the other cauldrons too." Liu Yandong acted as though nothing had happened.

Though Liu Yandong kept his expression perfectly composed, Liu Ding knew there had to be crashing waves in his heart. After all, lifting one cauldron meant entering an entire new realm.

The Second Soul-Forging Cauldron, the Three Soul-Forging Cauldrons—both still felt light. The Fourth Soul-Forging Cauldron was somewhat heavier, but Liu Ding still lifted it with one arm.

"Try the Five Soulforging Cauldrons as well." Liu Yandong could no longer pretend to be calm. Without taking a Soul Forging Pill, lifting cauldrons one-handed—such divine strength could only be called monstrous.

Liu Ding was confident as well, but the instant he placed his hand on the rim of the Five Soulforging Cauldrons, he immediately sensed something was wrong. It would not move in the slightest. That's impossible. Liu Ding refused to believe it. He placed his other hand on it, but it still stood firm as a bell.

"The weight of each cauldron doubles by more than a factor of two. It is perfectly normal that you can lift the five-thousand-jin Fourth Soul-Forging Cauldron but cannot budge the Five Soulforging Cauldrons, which weigh over ten thousand jin." Liu Yandong's expression grew grave. "Come, take this Qilin Soul Pill and try again."

Liu Ding also became solemn. He swallowed the Qilin Soul Pill and refined it, feeling the Qilin divine beast's Soulforce circulate within his body. He began to breathe deeply, guiding this wave of Primordial Power and turning it into a vortex.

To unleash Primordial Power, one had to form the divine beast Soulforce contained within the Soul Forging Pill into a whirlpool, drawing it inward without end until ripples burst forth and Primordial Power suddenly descended.

Yet in his perception, this wave of Qilin divine beast Soulforce sank into silence without a trace before it could even condense into a vortex.

Damn it, did the gap have to be this huge? Liu Ding was vexed. He gave it a fierce shove, but the Five Soulforging Cauldrons remained utterly silent. He had failed.

Liu Yandong's heart tightened. Sure enough, it was exactly as General Jiang had predicted. Even if he could protect Liu Ding for a time, he could not protect him for a lifetime. It was time to place a heavy burden upon him.

He said sternly, "If you want to become strong, you can only strive to make yourself stronger."

Smearing shit on walls? Another phrase flashed through Liu Ding's mind, and he smiled bitterly. In that dream of another life not long ago, he had felt that as long as he could lie in bed with a beauty in his arms, he would be satisfied.

"Only when you are strong enough can you protect those you need to protect." Liu Yandong continued piling on the burden, but seeing Liu Ding's crestfallen face, he could not bear it. He patted Liu Ding's shoulder. "As for Xiao Zhi, you need not worry. You will see her tomorrow."

"Really?" Liu Ding suddenly lifted his head. Seeing Liu Yandong nod with a smile, he said joyfully, "Thank you, Grandfather!"

Yet Liu Yandong sighed inwardly. Tomorrow, he hoped Liu Ding could withstand an even crueler blow.