Immortal Martial Emperor

Hong Yu and Yao Yueye reached the Gatekeeper Puppet’s side at almost the exact same moment.

Both radiated powerful auras.

Their speed was astounding, like two bolts of lightning.

Yao Yueye naturally noticed Hong Yu, who had come from behind to catch up. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. ’You want to snatch first place from me? You’re not worthy!’

With his pride, he naturally wouldn’t bother to hide the disdain and contempt in his heart.

The long sword on his back shot out with a SWISH, tracing sharp arcs of sword light through the void.

The sword’s edge pulsed with a piercing light.

Layer upon layer of sword light intertwined, coalescing into a sharp Sword Aura that erupted with a BOOM.

In that moment, it was like a peacock spreading its tail feathers.

Of course...

...this peacock did not reveal splendid feathers, but a dazzling and intricate display of sword light, weaving together to form a curtain of blades.

The vast and mighty surge of energy made one’s blood boil!

At the same time, Hong Yu also launched his attack.

He didn’t use a Primordial Weapon!

This wasn’t Hong Yu being arrogant or trying to provoke Yao Yueye.

Rather, after Hong Yu had elevated his True Martial Arts Intent, the Vibrating Rune Technique, to the Realm of Perfection, the combat power of his fists had already surpassed the destructive force and might of the Godslaying Spear.

When he threw this punch, its speed was actually very slow.

Besides being slow, it could perhaps only be described as simple and unadorned.

And yet, from this very attack, layers of fist shadows stacked upon one another, and the coalesced edge of the fist was no less shocking than Yao Yueye’s splendid offense!

As the two geniuses unleashed their attacks, the Gatekeeper Puppet showed no reaction, merely letting out a low grunt like a clap of thunder.

It was a full ten meters tall, yet despite its massive frame, it possessed incredibly agile reactions and attack speed.

Its two fists were like a pair of raging, sentient dragons, one rushing toward Hong Yu and the other toward Yao Yueye.

Describing all this makes it sound incredibly slow.

In reality, it all happened in a flash, in the blink of an eye.

BOOM!

The punch from the right came crashing down, its condensed power utterly terrifying. The sheer force of its vibrations compressed the surrounding air, creating a series of ear-piercing sonic booms.

Under the influence of this punch, Yao Yueye’s impossibly fast Sword Aura momentarily stagnated.

Yao Yueye’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he had long anticipated this.

The corners of his lips curled up into a confident arc. "Demon God Sword Technique—Chaotic Sealing Technique!"

What was the Chaotic Sealing Technique?

It was an attack that Yao Yueye had created himself and was constantly perfecting. As he executed the swordsmanship, the previously layered sword light suddenly churned and spun.

The surrounding air whistled under the force of this rotation.

A storm of swordsmanship, formed entirely from sharp sword light, boomed as it blocked the Gatekeeper Puppet’s punch. With a SWISH, it broke through the puppet’s spatial influence and slammed into its right arm with a BANG.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Under the impact of the fist shadow, the layers of sword light—enough to make even Primordial Core Realm experts break out in a cold sweat—shattered one by one.

Starting from the sword’s tip, the sword image that Yao Yueye had painstakingly formed was completely shattered in an instant.

The fist’s momentum didn’t diminish, arriving before Yao Yueye with a WHOOSH.

Yao Yueye’s gaze sharpened; he clearly hadn’t expected the Gatekeeper Puppet’s power to be so terrifying.

However...

This was obviously not enough to defeat a First Transformation Heavenly True Dragon genius!

"Demon God Sword Technique—Chaotic Heaven Technique!"

One sword soared to the heavens, throwing the world into turmoil!

With this strike, Yao Yueye’s swordsmanship was even more profound, and the condensed sword light was so intense it was comparable to the Heaven-Slaying Divine Sword!

BOOM!

The huge Sword Gang, shimmering with a demonic light, crashed into the Gatekeeper Puppet’s heavy iron fist, causing cracks to appear all over it.

"Hahaha, I’d like to see how many more attacks you can withstand!"

Yao Yueye laughed wildly.

Brilliant radiances condensed one after another behind him, his swordsmanship solidifying the void. It was clear that in his earlier moment of comprehension, he had found the Gatekeeper Puppet’s weakness.

Sharp attacks followed one after another.

Under the bombardment, the cracks on the Gatekeeper Puppet’s right arm grew larger and began to spread. It likely wouldn’t be long before it was shattered completely.

Then there was Hong Yu...

Compared to Yao Yueye who was using brute force, Hong Yu’s attacks lacked some of that sharpness but possessed a greater sense of stability, a feeling of advancing steadily and surely.

BOOM!

The winds from their fists clashed.

The might of the Vibrating Rune Technique, having already reached the Realm of Perfection, was truly extraordinary!

Though both were using Vibrating Power, in terms of realm, Hong Yu and the Gatekeeper Puppet were worlds apart!

But at this moment, the Gatekeeper Puppet was not attacking with its full strength; it had its own restraints.

The Path of Heart Refinement was difficult, but it always left a sliver of hope!

It was not meant to slaughter every genius!

Otherwise, with the Gatekeeper Puppet’s immense power, it would have long since pounded Yao Yueye and Hong Yu into meat paste.

It was because of this...

...that the power of their Vibrating Power was actually evenly matched!

SCREECH! SCREECH!

The sound was extremely ear-piercing, like metal grinding against metal.

Blinding sparks erupted.

"Hmph!"

Hong Yu grunted and suddenly took two steps back.

After their initial exchange, Hong Yu was clearly in a much sorrier state than Yao Yueye.

"Good, again!"

Hong Yu was not the least bit discouraged.

A faint blue light flared in his eyes. It wasn’t the Ice Divine Blade; this wasn’t the first trial, and it wasn’t time to reveal all his trump cards!

Besides...

...did he really need to use a trump card to pass the mere Path of Heart Refinement?

Obviously not!

’The Realm of Perfection isn’t the final stage for the Vibrating Rune Technique, but it’s already difficult to improve it any further just by relying on the Shadow Martial Space’s deductions. At times like this, only battle will do. I must personally experience the profound mysteries within the Gatekeeper Puppet’s fighting style!’ Hong Yu took a deep breath, gathered his Fist Momentum once more, and struck with a BOOM.

This time, he struck with both fists!

BOOM! BOOM!

The sonic booms caused by the Shaking Power were deafening.

The surging energy condensed into fist shadows. Amidst the chaos, there was a strange attractive force pulling them all together.

Watching the dazzling and shocking battle between Hong Yu, Yao Yueye, and the Gatekeeper Puppet, the other experts behind them couldn’t help but gulp nervously.

Yao Yueye’s strength was beyond doubt!

One could even say that if he had directly broken through the Gatekeeper Puppet and completed the Path of Heart Refinement’s trial, few would have been shocked or disbelieving.

But the fact that Hong Yu also had the strength to be locked in an even battle with the Gatekeeper Puppet was what truly astonished everyone.

"Damn, Hong Yu’s strength is this terrifying?"

"Is he on track to trample over the other three True Dragon Geniuses?"

"But from the looks of it, Hong Yu is still a little bit behind!"

"After all, Yao Yueye is still stronger. Look, the puppet’s arm blocking him is almost completely shattered!"

"Even so, Hong Yu is still amazing!"

In the crowd, Hong Renjie’s face was extremely grim. ’That little bastard’s strength has improved again in just a few days? Damn it, is there no limit to his progress?’

Generally speaking, even the most powerful geniuses would encounter bottlenecks.

Take Xiahuang Shang, the number one genius of the current Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom, for example!

He is a Fifth Heaven Transformation True Dragon Demon Fiend!

His journey from the Essence Realm to the Primordial Embryo Realm took him only ten years!

But...

...he has been stuck at the Primordial Embryo Realm for a full five years!

Compared to the time it took him to reach the Primordial Embryo Realm, five years was a very, very long time, yet he was still stuck, unable to break through.

This was an issue of limits.

Unless one could reach the level of an Unparalleled Genius of the Sixth or even Seventh Heaven Transformation, such an existence could probably cultivate all the way to the Primordial Spirit Realm or even the Yin Yang Realm without obstruction!

But even for geniuses like that, their potential would have a limit. It’s impossible to break through endlessly.

In Hong Renjie’s perception, Hong Yu didn’t even have First Heaven Transformation talent.

Strictly speaking, it had only taken him about two years to go from the Essence Realm to the Peak of the Celestial Soul Realm!

Such speed was clearly more terrifying than Yao Yueye’s.

Moreover, his cultivation and strength were still improving at an extremely rapid pace, which was simply inconceivable.

Hong Renjie’s gaze was incredibly dark. ’Is this guy... another primordial beast? No, I absolutely cannot let him continue to improve like this, or else even I won’t be his match in the future. I must use this tournament to completely eradicate this menace. Otherwise, I will never have a day of peace.’

At this thought, a grim coldness flickered in Hong Renjie’s eyes as he thought to himself: ’Good thing I already instructed Hai Cangtian to make sure he’s left behind in this Land of Trial!’

In the blink of an eye, Hong Yu and Yao Yueye’s attempt to break through had reached a critical moment!

"Demon God Sword Technique—Golden Sword Cuts the Void!"

Yao Yueye’s figure leaped high into the air.

His long sword spun and returned to its scabbard with a SWISH.

But an even sharper Sword Intent erupted from Yao Yueye’s body, more formidable than his precious Primordial Weapon long sword. Man and Sword as one, at this critical moment, Yao Yueye had astonishingly entered that profound state.

BUZZ!

Golden light burst forth from his body.

One strand, two strands, three strands...

In the blink of an eye, countless strands of sharp Sword Intent had gathered. Using his body as a foundation, they coalesced into a giant golden sword that swung down with a roar toward the puppet’s attacking arm.

BOOM!

The giant golden sword surged forward with Yao Yueye’s body, completely pulverizing the puppet’s giant hand.

"First place on this Path of Heart Refinement is mine!"

Yao Yueye’s lips curved upward, a look of confidence on his face.

However...

Just as he was preparing to take the final step, a sudden cry of alarm came from behind him, disturbing his confident and invincible state of mind.

"Hm?"

Yao Yueye froze. He glanced to the side, and the triumphant look on his face crumbled.

He saw Hong Yu, with his body of flesh and blood, gather his power into a single punch and charge forward to slam it into the Gatekeeper Puppet.

BOOM!

This punch was unstoppable, blasting the Gatekeeper Puppet’s fist into pieces.

The might of his punch was not over yet!

"BREAK! BREAK! BREAK!"

A sharp light gleamed in Hong Yu’s eyes as he charged forward. His unstoppable punch sent the Gatekeeper Puppet’s entire arm flying.

The more he fought, the stronger he became!

As layers of fist shadows stacked upon one another, he actually smashed half of the Gatekeeper Puppet’s left shoulder, causing it to collapse and crumble.

And in that instant, Hong Yu’s figure stepped past the Gatekeeper Puppet’s blockade, one step ahead of Yao Yueye...

The first person on the Path of Heart Refinement had finally emerged!