Immortal Martial Emperor

"Why wouldn’t I dare?"

Under the relentless pressure from Prince Zhui Ri and Zhui Yang Old Monster, Hong Yu was utterly enraged!

From the very beginning, Prince Zhui Ri had been the unreasonable one, hell-bent on killing him. He had merely been defending himself.

This had ultimately drawn out Zhui Yang Old Monster, a Half-step Primordial Embryo Realm powerhouse.

Hong Yu had thought that since Zhui Yang Old Monster was a senior expert who had been famous for years, he would be able to distinguish right from wrong. Yet, Zhui Yang Old Monster hadn’t given him a single chance to explain, immediately and unreasonably declaring he would avenge Prince Zhui Ri.

’Avenge him?’

’Avenge my ass!’

’From start to finish, I’m the real victim here, okay?’

’If not for that Heaven-Reaching Crocodile in the river that had been provoked by the Three-legged Fiery Firebird and appeared just in time to counter its attack, I would have been burned to ashes.’

On top of that, Prince Zhui Ri had cursed him without restraint. Any curse involving his family was a Reversed Scale that Hong Yu would not tolerate being touched.

With malice fueling his courage, Hong Yu’s palm blade struck down like thunder.

"SPLURT!"

A spray of blood erupted. Flesh, organs, and bones alike were torn asunder.

The arrogant, rampant smile in Prince Zhui Ri’s eyes, born of his confidence in his backing, slowly dimmed into despair before finally losing focus.

A magnificent True Dragon Genius!

Prince Zhui Ri was hailed as the strongest Spirit Cultivator of the Southern Ten Nations. He stood above all other geniuses of the Ten Kingdoms, second only to the First-Transformation Heavenly True Dragon Genius, Yao Yueye. And just like that, he was cleaved in two by Hong Yu’s single strike!

Split into two halves...

"THUD!"

The two halves of his body fell to the ground.

Blood pooled out, staining the earth beneath them red.

"What? You... you... you actually killed my grandson?"

The Three-legged Fiery Firebird flickered erratically, its light unstable. It was clearly furious and shocked to the extreme.

It flapped its wings violently. Surging fury and killing intent swirled around it, and orbs of fire pulsed with a chilling, terrifying light.

"How could this happen? Zhui Ri, my grandson! To think you would die such a miserable death!"

Zhui Yang Old Monster’s venomous gaze fell upon Hong Yu as he let out a heaven-shaking roar. "Hong Yu, I will kill you! I will tear you to pieces and make you wish you were dead!"

"BOOM!"

A crimson radiance exploded from the body of the Three-legged Fiery Firebird.

Although it had expended most of this True Martial Arts Intent’s energy killing the Heaven-Reaching Crocodile, by gathering its final dregs for one last desperate attack, it could still unleash a strike comparable to the Peak of Primordial Core Realm.

"VMMMM!"

The firelight gathered, coalescing into a swirling ball of flame in the Three-legged Fiery Firebird’s mouth. It was one of Zhui Yang Old Monster’s killing moves—Fiery Flame Frenzy Wave!

Legend had it...

...that if Zhui Yang Old Monster himself were to unleash Fiery Flame Frenzy Wave, a single blow could instantly evaporate a hundred-meter-wide river.

While the Three-legged Fiery Firebird’s Fiery Flame Frenzy Wave couldn’t possibly be as terrifying as the real thing, it was by no means easy to block!

’Eight Desolates Saint Slaying Technique, I’m counting on you!’

Hong Yu took a deep breath.

A resolute light gathered in his eyes, shining like two brilliant stars. As a sharp aura pulsed from him, a layer of golden light began to flow beneath his skin and muscles.

"SHING!"

The Godslaying Spear appeared in his hand.

He unleashed every stance of the Illusion Spirit Spear Technique...

Illusion Mountain Technique!

Illusion Peak Technique!

Illusion Sea Technique!

Illusion Heaven Technique!

...and even the strongest Phantom Spirit Strike. They appeared one after another, forming layers of barriers in front of him to block the Three-legged Fiery Firebird’s final attack.

"ROAR!"

"Die!"

With a long cry to the heavens, the Three-legged Fiery Firebird spat out the fiery orb it had been brewing for so long.

The fiery orb spun, emitting waves of scorching heat.

And then...

A pillar of fire shot directly from the Three-legged Fiery Firebird’s mouth.

The long pillar of fire shot through the air, wreathed in spiraling ribbons of flame that further amplified its power.

"BOOM!"

Under the impact of the Fiery Flame Frenzy Wave, the first spear-image barrier from the Illusion Mountain Technique was torn apart like window paper!

Next came the Illusion Peak Technique...

...the Illusion Sea Technique...

Only the Illusion Heaven Technique and the Phantom Spirit Strike managed to hold for a moment, drastically reducing the speed and power of the Fiery Flame Frenzy Wave.

A fine crack suddenly appeared on the golden spear image formed by the Phantom Spirit Strike.

The tiny crack rapidly spread and expanded like a spiderweb, making the golden Spear Aura look like a fractured Porcelain Bottle.

"BOOM!"

The golden spear image finally shattered.

Shards of energy scattered in every direction, like a shower of golden starlight raining down from the sky.

The Fiery Flame Frenzy Wave had lost fifty percent of its power, but the remaining fifty percent now shot toward Hong Yu, completely unopposed.

Hong Yu clenched his jaw, took a deep breath, and with two loud THUMPS, planted his legs into the ground like iron pillars.

’With Zhui Yang Old Monster’s mastery over fire, there’s no way I can dodge this.’

’I can only take it head-on!’

"BANG!"

His arms suddenly flexed. Flood Dragon-like muscles bulged, and the veins on his arms throbbed wildly.

At the same time...

...the Fiery Flame Frenzy Wave reached him, completely engulfing his body.

"BOOM!"

A pillar of fire shot up from the ground, continuously burning Hong Yu.

Strands of golden light emanated from Hong Yu’s body within the flames. Even though the formidable Eight Desolates Saint Slaying Technique resisted the energy assault of the Fiery Flame Frenzy Wave, it couldn’t withstand the intense heat. All his clothes and hair were burned away completely.

In the glow of the fire, his body looked like a piece of red-hot steel.

Beads of sweat continuously seeped from his skin, only to be instantly vaporized. As the high temperature continued to burn him, what seeped from under his skin was no longer sweat, but pea-sized beads of blood.

The blood beads were bright red, but they gradually turned purplish-black.

It turned out that the many impurities in his body were being expelled along with the blood.

His face turned pale.

It looked as if he was about to collapse, about to be roasted into a dried-up husk by the ferocious flames.

Finally, at this critical moment, it felt as if something inside Hong Yu’s body suddenly shattered!

’Hm? The Eight Desolates Saint Slaying Technique... the Eighth Transformation?’

Hong Yu’s heart leaped, and his eyes danced with excitement and ecstasy.

It had been some time since his Eight Desolates Saint Slaying Technique had reached the Seventh Transformation. With his recent cultivation and the resources he had acquired, he had long since accumulated enough power to reach the peak of the Seventh Transformation.

However, he had been unable to break through to the Eighth Transformation. He never expected that being burned by this Fiery Flame Frenzy Wave would force out all the toxins and impurities accumulated in his body.

At this moment, Hong Yu suddenly felt a sense of lightness throughout his entire body.

The golden light, which had previously only been concentrated in his muscles and skin, was now no longer obstructed by impurities and toxins. It flowed freely into his bones, his blood, and even every single one of his cells.

"ROAR!"

Hong Yu suddenly threw his head back and let out a roar.

An incredibly powerful energy fluctuation erupted from him, surging like an awakened Ancient Fierce God. Completely naked and still wreathed in flames, he began to advance on the Three-legged Fiery Firebird with the gait of a Dragon Walk and Tiger Stride.

"How is this possible?"

It had thought that its True Martial Arts Intent, condensed from its cultivation at the Half-step Primordial Pill Realm, would be more than enough to kill Hong Yu. Thus, it hadn’t reserved much energy after that last attack.

Now, watching Hong Yu walk toward it, its expression flickered uncertainly. "I never thought you could achieve a breakthrough in the middle of a battle. To withstand my Fiery Flame Frenzy Wave with just your physical body... it seems you cultivate an extremely powerful Body Refining Divine Technique. However, little brat, do you really think this bit of strength is enough to oppose me?"

Hong Yu glanced at it and said coolly, "Naturally, I am no match for your true self. However, right now, you are nothing but a weakened True Martial Arts Intent. And I’ve heard that True Martial Arts Intent can be devoured!"

"What? You want to devour my True Martial Arts Intent? HAHAHA, brat, you’re truly delusional! You killed my grandson, which makes you a mortal enemy of my Wind Chasing Kingdom. If you dare to touch even a shred of my True Martial Arts Intent, I will make you pay a terrible price," the Three-legged Fiery Firebird roared.

Hong Yu narrowed his eyes. "Price? With my current breakthrough, although I’m still not Yao Yueye’s match, it won’t be difficult for me to seize a True Dragon Position in this tournament! Do you think the Qin Kingdom and the Guiyuan Sect will allow you to move against a True Dragon Powerhouse?"

"You..."

The Three-legged Fiery Firebird’s expression changed slightly.

The Qin Kingdom hadn’t produced a True Dragon Genius in many years.

If Hong Yu truly attained a True Dragon Position, he would become a national hero of the Qin Kingdom. While the Wind Chasing Kingdom didn’t fear the Qin Kingdom, they were unwilling to provoke the overlord of the Southern Ten Nations.

Zhui Yang Old Monster’s eyes flickered with an unsteady light as he gnashed his teeth. ’My grandson, Zhui Ri, died at his hands. This debt must be repaid. But if I let him leave this Land of Trial, with that fellow Yuan Cang’s methods, it will be difficult for me to take revenge. Moreover, if I act forcefully, it could easily trigger a full-scale war between our kingdoms.’

’The Wind Chasing Kingdom is strong, but we can’t afford a fight to the death with the Qin Kingdom. The only foolproof solution is to leave this little bastard here forever!’

The Three-legged Fiery Firebird looked up at Hong Yu and laughed coldly, "Little bastard, just you wait to die!"

However...

...the moment it finished speaking, Hong Yu had already charged forward.

After reaching the Eighth Transformation of the Eight Desolates Saint Slaying Technique, he had achieved the Eight Desolates Dominating Body!

Only at this moment did Hong Yu finally understand why the Eight Desolates Old Demon had been able to sweep across the Southern Ten Nations with the Eight Desolates Saint Slaying Technique. It was because once one reached the Eighth Transformation and achieved the Eight Desolates Dominating Body, it would unlock another terrifying ability of the physical body—the ability to devour True Martial Arts Intent!

The Eight Desolates Dominating Body could devour a maximum of eight types of True Martial Arts Intent!

The Eight Desolates Old Demon, for example, had devoured five True Martial Arts Intents, creating the legend of a Celestial Soul Realm expert slaying a Primordial Core Realm powerhouse.

"A True Martial Arts Intent from a Half-step Primordial Pill Realm powerhouse... let’s see how I devour you!"

Hong Yu sneered. His Eight Desolates Dominating Body pulsed with terrifying might, and with a BOOM, it began to absorb the Three-legged Fiery Firebird, which transformed into a stream of red light and surged into his body.

Golden light flowed as the Eight Desolates Dominating Body acted like a world-crushing grinding disc, absorbing and refining all the power of the True Martial Arts Intent for itself.

The Three-legged Fiery Firebird’s eyes looked like they would split open. It had never imagined that Hong Yu could actually devour even True Martial Arts Intent. Feeling its energy drain away, it let out a roar of rage and venomous hatred.

"Hong Yu, you will not die a good death! I will see you dead!"

Suddenly, a terrifying energy fluctuation swept across the sky above the entire Illusionary Forest. This was not physical energy, but a profound and insidious curse...

"Everyone in the Illusionary Forest, listen up! This is Zhui Yang! Whoever can kill Hong Yu will receive my bounty upon the end of this trial: one trillion Gold Coins, one Celestial Level Lower Grade Primordial Weapon, one Earth-Level High-Grade Martial Skill, and I promise you one favor! I, Zhui Yang, swear on my soul that this bounty is valid for life!"

"BOOM!"

This astronomical bounty was like a bolt from the blue. The entire Illusionary Forest was thrown into a complete uproar...