currently reading this but I skipped volume 1 because it's a long long prologue (18 chapters worth). I would recommend starting with Volume 2 when he was reborn into another world. From the author of Coiling Dragon and Desolate Era:
http://gravitytales.com/the-nine-cau...nc-chapter-19/
Emperor Zi Yu used 5 strikes of his axe to split mountains and unify everyone underneath the heavens. He partitioned the land into 9 areas, thus establishing the Nine Cauldrons which eventually became known as the 9 prefectures.
When Emperor Zi Yu died, disputes unceasingly arose
One thousand years later, a once in a generation genius, Celestial Emperor Qing Ling was born. Able to split a one hundred meter river, equipped with his peerless martial prowess, he finally united the land under the heavens. However, once Celestial Emperor Qing Ling died, chaos once again shrouded the land. Another one thousand years passed and no one was able to consolidate the nation.
From contemporary society, great Chinese Martial Artist Teng Qingshan, unexpectedly arrived into this world.