Immortal Martial Emperor

The streak of blood-red light vanished inconspicuously.

Moments later...

It disappeared completely from the Land of Trial.

In Yaoyue City, within the control center for the Land of Trial’s array, a group of titans waited anxiously. These were men whose every stomp and finger-flick could decide the fate, even the very survival, of the Southern Ten Nations.

"Why is it taking so long to repair the Water Mirror Image? What in the world happened in the Illusionary Forest?"

"It’s so strange. To think something could affect the Water Mirror Image... This is the first time anything like this has ever happened!"

"I’m more curious now about whether that little fellow Hong Yu can escape the siege of so many geniuses!"

Hearing the crowd’s whispers, the Zhui Yang Ancestor let out a contemptuous sneer.

Looking at Yuan Cang beside him, he said with a sinister sneer, "Heheheh, is there really any doubt? Facing a siege from so many powerful geniuses, unless Hong Yu is a Demon Fiend on par with Yao Yueye, a First Transformation Heavenly True Dragon, he’s a dead man!"

Yuan Cang glanced at the Zhui Yang Ancestor but said nothing.

This indifferent attitude infuriated the Zhui Yang Ancestor.

It was like mustering all your strength for a punch, only to hit a ball of cotton.

The feeling of powerlessness and futility was extremely frustrating!

"Yuan Cang, from the looks of it, you don’t seem to care whether Hong Yu lives or dies, do you?" the Zhui Yang Old Monster said with a sneer.

Yuan Cang frowned, then replied calmly, "Just as some shameless people have the gall to shamelessly post an exorbitant bounty, and no one can stop them, whether Hong Yu can overcome this bounty is up to him and him alone. No outsider can influence the outcome!"

"Who are you calling shameless?"

The Zhui Yang Old Monster flew into a rage.

He rolled up his sleeves, ready to charge.

Yuan Cang stared back, not showing a hint of weakness.

The Peak Powerhouses of the Ten Kingdoms and Ten Sects quickly intervened to stop them.

While the group of titans behind them tried to mediate, Xiahuang Shang and Hai Cangtian, at the front, were engaged in their own veiled confrontation.

"Xiahuang Shang, your Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom truly is getting weaker with each generation!"

Hai Cangtian shook his head, a look of pity on his face.

Xiahuang Shang said flatly, "Among the Four Ancient Kingdoms, doesn’t my Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom still rank slightly higher than your Ancient Sea Kingdom?"

"You..."

Hai Cangtian’s eyes narrowed, a glint as sharp as a blade flashing within them.

He suddenly let out a cold laugh. Just as he was about to speak again, his expression changed abruptly.

His Spiritual Power surged into the ancient ring on his finger.

Inside, a piece of blood-colored jade had shattered.

A flicker in Hai Cangtian’s eyes betrayed his thoughts. He pondered for a moment before his indifferent expression returned. He said coolly, "This waiting around is too boring. Xiahuang Shang, have someone inform me when the Water Mirror Image is fixed."

With a wave of his hand, Hai Cangtian left the array’s control center.

Xiahuang Shang narrowed his eyes, a trace of doubt on his face. ’Hai Cangtian’s expression is strange. Did something happen?’

Of course, it was just a fleeting doubt.

He looked up at the still-dark Water Mirror and urged, "Black Armor, Lady Bai, you two fix this Water Mirror Image as quickly as possible."

"Yes, Prince Shang!"

The middle-aged man in black armor and the woman in white armor replied in unison.

「Meanwhile...」

Hai Cangtian left the control center and found a dark corner. He pulled the shattered Blood Jade from his robes.

Hai Cangtian frowned. ’Strange, why did Demon Owl’s communication Blood Jade shatter? Father-Emperor said this Blood Jade has a unique texture; not even a Primordial Embryo Realm Powerhouse could hope to destroy it.’ His expression suddenly changed. ’Could it be... something happened to Demon Owl?’

How could Hai Cangtian not be shocked?

He clearly remembered how, before he left the Ancient Sea Kingdom, his father, the Emperor, had repeatedly warned him not to offend Demon Owl lightly.

He had even expressed disdain for a mere Primordial Spirit Realm expert who had been reborn through possession, but the Ancient Sea Emperor—one of the top three figures in the Ancient Sea Kingdom—had warned him with utmost seriousness: ’If Demon Owl were at his peak, he would rank among the top ten Primordial Spirit Realm powerhouses in the entire Southern Border Profound Domain!’

This ranking was not to be underestimated.

This was the entire Southern Border Profound Domain!

There was no shortage of Primordial Spirit Realm powerhouses in the vast Southern Border Profound Domain. To rank in the top ten meant one was a talent of heaven-defying proportions!

’Father-Emperor ordered me to find out what Demon Owl and his people are after in the Southern Ten Nations. Unfortunately, Demon Owl is an incredibly insidious man, and I haven’t been able to pry a single useful piece of information out of him.’

Hai Cangtian muttered to himself as thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning. ’A pity he’s dead now. This means I have even less of a clue what they were after in the Southern Ten Nations.’

He toyed with the shattered Blood Jade in his hand.

Suddenly...

OMMM!

A streak of blood-red light shot out from the array’s control center and plunged into the Blood Jade.

Hai Cangtian froze. He looked down at the Blood Jade and saw it was enveloped in a layer of red light, which then transferred into his body.

Hai Cangtian’s expression was first one of confusion, then it began to change.

From suspicion...

...to disbelief...

...until finally, it turned to utter shock.

He blinked his eyes. ’So that’s how it is... so that’s how it is! No wonder even a being of *that* level personally descended as a spiritual projection. No wonder Father-Emperor sent me to this shithole to meet with Demon Owl. To think such a Treasure exists in this world...’

’Hong Yu, is it? Heheheh, to think that kind of Treasure is on you. It’s enough to make anyone burn with envy!’

Hai Cangtian licked his lips. ’But this kid actually managed to kill Demon Owl. If Demon Owl hadn’t been bound to this communication Blood Jade by a Soul Contract, which transmits a portion of his key memories before death, Hong Yu really would have gotten away with it. But since he could slay the five great prodigies, doesn’t that mean his talent has reached Yao Yueye’s level?’

’This is going to be tricky!’

Hai Cangtian frowned, deep in thought.

The True Dragon Competition between the Four Ancient Kingdoms of the Southern Border Profound Domain was imminent. This was a grand event that would determine the future destiny of the Four Ancient Kingdoms, and they were all competing fiercely, both openly and in secret.

Each kingdom placed great importance on and paid close attention to the geniuses within its borders.

Of course...

The geniuses in question were not ordinary ones.

These geniuses were those who had stepped into at least the First Transformation Heavenly True Dragon Realm.

Only True Dragons who had reached the First Transformation or higher had met the minimum requirement to participate in the True Dragon Competition!

Previously, the Southern Ten Nations only had one such genius, Yao Yueye. Now, with Hong Yu, both of them would surely become figures of great importance to the Southern Ten Nations, and even to Xiahuang Shang himself.

’If I try to move against Hong Yu now, Xiahuang Shang and those from the Southern Ten Nations definitely won’t stand by and do nothing.’

Although Hai Cangtian was proud, he wasn’t blindly arrogant.

Xiahuang Shang alone was enough to make him act with caution.

’Huh? Demon Owl seemed to be controlling a group of captives from the Hong Family and the Cyan Nether Sword Sect, right? Heheheh, I know what to do now...’

Hai Cangtian let out a sinister chuckle...

...

「Illusionary Forest.」

All was silent. Between heaven and earth, there was only the sound of the wind and the RUSTLE of leaves it stirred.

The several hundred powerhouses watching from a distance looked at each other, the only sound being their frantic gulping.

A full five minutes passed before someone finally broke the silence...

GULP!

Zheng Tian swallowed hard, a bitter taste in his mouth. The corner of his eye twitched as he asked, "Hey, hey, pinch me. I feel like I’m dreaming."

"Oh!"

The disciple from the Guiyuan Sect, a Late-stage Celestial Soul Realm cultivator, nodded.

He pinched Zheng Tian’s cheek between two fingers and gave it a 720-degree twist.

"AHHH!"

Zheng Tian cried out. He then stared ahead in disbelief. "Sh-shit, that really hurt. D-does this mean I’m not dreaming? Did Hong Yu really win?"

"Holy hell! He was besieged by six True Dragons, with five of them fighting to the death, and he actually won?"

"Not only did he win, but all five of those True Dragons died at his hands!"

"I-if you include Prince Zhui Ri, doesn’t that mean six masters from the Dragon Ranking have died by his hand?"

"This guy’s a fucking badass!"

"Is he on the same level as Yao Yueye now?"

"I think he might be even stronger than Yao Yueye."

「In the void above...」

Jian Chen wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "This guy is just too incredible, isn’t he? Yao Yueye, do you still think your odds of winning against him are fifty-fifty?"

Yao Yueye didn’t answer.

But his body was trembling slightly, and the Treasure Sword on his back was HUMMING, letting out a series of piercing sword cries.

A soaring battle intent blazed in his eyes.

ROAR!

A clear, powerful roar erupted from Yao Yueye’s lips.

He stood in mid-air, his eyes fixed on Hong Yu, his gaze like two brilliant sunbeams shooting forth.

He laughed heartily. "Hong Yu!"

Hong Yu snapped his head up.

The two peerless geniuses looked at each other. Where their gazes met, four dazzling beams of light clashed in the void, erupting with fiery intensity.

Hong Yu narrowed his eyes. "Yao Yueye?"

Yao Yueye strode through the air like a meteor, flying into the distance. His heroic voice, however, echoed long in the void: "Hong Yu, rest and recover well. At the end of the tournament, you and I will have our battle. I hope you won’t disappoint me then!"

"Hahaha, I, Yao Yueye, have been as lonely as snow for over a decade. Today, I have finally met a worthy opponent!"

"Hahaha, splendid! How truly splendid!"

Treading on air as if on snow, leaving no trace, Yao Yueye departed.

Hong Yu narrowed his eyes...

’Lonely as snow for over a decade, a worthy enemy hard to find!’

This was Yao Yueye’s wildness, his arrogance, his absolute confidence!

He truly had the strength and capital to back it up!

’Just a few days ago, Yao Yueye wouldn’t have even given me a second glance. But now, after today, he already considers me his only true rival in the Southern Ten Nations!’

This earth-shattering change came from the growth of his own strength, but even more so from the pressure of life-and-death trials.

It was this pressure that ultimately stimulated him to break through his shackles!

"Senior Brother Feng."

As he was lost in thought, Hong Yu saw Feng Xue Xin get back on his feet.

Feng Xue Xin looked a little disheveled, but his eyes were clear again. He gave Hong Yu a wide, sunny grin.

Hong Yu felt a sense of relief in his heart.

This was the Feng Xue Xin he knew from before—the carefree, untroubled, pure foodie.

Just as the two were about to speak, they heard the sharp sound of something cutting through the air behind them, followed by a cold, sinister voice...

"Hong Yu..."