Immortal Martial Emperor

First place on the Path of Heart Refinement!

Before this, there had been absolutely no debate!

Or perhaps...

The final champion of this Ten Kingdoms Martial Arts Tournament was also considered completely undisputed!

It was supposed to be the First-Transformation Heavenly True Dragon Demon Fiend, Yao Yueye, the undisputed top genius of the Southern Ten Nations!

Absolutely no one believed the number one spot would fall to anyone else!

But when Hong Yu used a brutal method to nearly destroy half the Gatekeeper Puppet’s body, powerfully surging past it and sprinting toward the exit of the Path of Heart Refinement, everyone was shocked.

Or rather, they were all stunned by the sheer contrast.

It was like a group of people comparing who was richer. Just as the nation’s wealthiest man was counting his assets in the bank, some unnoticed nobody suddenly stepped forward and, with facts, told everyone, "The entire national treasury is mine. You want to compare wealth with me?"

Although the two situations were completely different, the meaning they represented was exactly the same!

"My heavens, f-first place is actually Hong Yu?"

"Is he even human? Or was he just playing the pig to eat the tiger all along?"

"Even Yao Yueye couldn’t beat him?"

Inside the Path of Heart Refinement, gasps echoed one after another, and a flurry of whispers broke out.

Yao Yueye stood there dumbfounded, watching Hong Yu run further and further away toward the exit of the Path of Heart Refinement. Even now, he still couldn’t believe what he was seeing was real!

"H-How is this possible? The power of that punch was even stronger than my Golden Sword Cuts the Void?"

Yao Yueye muttered to himself in disbelief.

Even his Golden Sword Cuts the Void had only managed to destroy one of the Gatekeeper Puppet’s arms, but Hong Yu had obliterated half of its body with his bare fists!

The difference in their power was instantly clear!

Yao Yueye, who had always stood at the very peak, looking down on all other geniuses, tasted defeat for the first time.

But Yao Yueye was no mere mortal, after all!

After a moment of defeat, he recomposed himself, the sharp glint of confidence returning to his eyes. ’No, I haven’t lost. My Golden Sword Cuts the Void focuses on a single, decisive kill, eliminating the target in the shortest time with the least effort. Hong Yu’s attack, on the other hand, is focused on destruction—obliterating any obstacle in his path...’

’In a real battle, Hong Yu is still no match for me!’

At this thought, Yao Yueye took a deep breath, a chilling glint and surging battle intent flickering in his eyes. ’To think there’s someone like this in the Southern Ten Nations. Hong Yu, is it? Hmph, just you wait. This will be the only time you ever make me taste defeat. In the end, I am the strongest!’

With that, Yao Yueye activated his Sharp Sword Body Technique, surpassed the Gatekeeper Puppet, and sprinted toward the exit.

"Everyone, let’s go! The Gatekeeper Puppet is at its weakest right now!" someone shouted abruptly amidst the shock.

Everyone snapped back to their senses and unleashed their fastest speeds, trying to fish in troubled waters as they rushed toward the exit of the Path of Heart Refinement.

However...

Just as they reached the Gatekeeper Puppet’s side, the puppet—which had clearly been mostly destroyed—suddenly materialized new arms. With two loud THUDS, it smashed another dozen living people to death.

For a moment, all the remaining experts could do was tremble and smile bitterly.

This Land of Trial truly allowed for no luck or loopholes. The only way to pass was to rely on one’s own strength!

...

「Yaoyue Kingdom, Royal Palace.」

The great magnates of the Southern Ten Nations and Ten Sects had all gathered here. The trial had only been underway for a day, and the first stage, the Path of Heart Refinement, was not yet over.

This kind of "mass audition" designed to weed out the vast majority of unqualified participants held no interest for these worldly top-tier experts.

Besides, they had more important matters to attend to.

Yuan Cang, Yao Chuheng, Zhui Yang Old Monster, and the other experts all stood respectfully in the great hall.

Their gazes occasionally shifted to the two people sitting on the head seats!

The one on the right was none other than Hai Cangtian, the Prince from the Ancient Sea Kingdom. He was one of the Martial Arts Inspectors for this tournament and the one who had been riding the Tier Five Wild Beast, the Lion Emperor!

His face remained calm and indifferent, showing no regard for the top magnates before him—men who could make the entire Southern Ten Nations tremble with a stomp of their feet. His gaze was fixed on the young man seated beside him.

He wore a black robe that was impeccably tailored.

His build was neither burly nor frail, but about average.

His long black hair was tied back casually. He had a handsome, jade-like face and a dignified bearing, with a faint, constant smile that made people feel as pleasant as a spring breeze.

This person was the leading figure of his generation from the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom, Prince Xiahuang Shang!

Hai Cangtian glanced at Xiahuang Shang, his heart filled with disdain and his face wearing a mocking expression. "Xiahuang Shang, your Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom isn’t all that impressive! In your whole alliance, you’ve only got one genius who has reached the First Transformation Heaven Realm. The rest are all a bunch of trash!"

"Your Highness Hai Cangtian, you jest. These Southern Ten Nations, to our Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom..." Before Xiahuang Shang could speak, one of the magnates in the hall, a man at the Peak of the Primordial Core Realm, stepped up with a smile, intending to explain.

But before he could finish, Hai Cangtian snorted coldly. "Did I give you permission to speak?"

His words were imbued with a formless Thunder Sound.

Vast and oppressive.

Under the pressure of this powerful momentum, the Peak Primordial Core Realm expert actually coughed up a mouthful of blood with a "WAH," his expression one of extreme pain.

Xiahuang Shang frowned slightly. With a casual lift of his hand, a continuous and gentle stream of energy flowed into the magnate’s body.

Only then did the pain on the magnate’s face fade somewhat. He bowed respectfully to Xiahuang Shang. "Many thanks to Prince Shang for your assistance!"

"Mm."

Xiahuang Shang nodded with a smile, then turned to Hai Cangtian. "Hai Cangtian, this is the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom, after all. Isn’t it a bit inappropriate for you to act this way?"

"Hmph. If it weren’t for you, I would have killed him already."

Hai Cangtian said without restraint, "I was speaking with you. For some old piece of trash who’s over a hundred years old and still struggling in the Primordial Core Realm to dare interrupt... he was simply asking to die!"

"You..."

The expressions of all the magnates in the hall changed.

Hai Cangtian’s words were a blatant slap in the face—and it was a slap that had swollen the faces of the entire Southern Ten Nations.

With a smile, Xiahuang Shang dispersed the terrifying pressure that Hai Cangtian had gathered.

He maintained his faint smile. "The territory of my Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom is vast and complex. Some places are barren of resources, so it’s natural they would lack some experts. However, I am rather curious. Since the Southern Ten Nations are so beneath your notice, why did you choose to come here and serve as an Inspector?"

"JIE JIE, Xiahuang Shang, you don’t need to try and get information out of me!"

Hai Cangtian sneered, his gaze full of provocation. "Xiahuang Shang, are you interested in a little spar with me?"

"Hai Cangtian, a battle between us is inevitable. Why be in such a hurry?"

Just as Xiahuang Shang was speaking, someone rushed in from outside in a great hurry, shouting, "Something’s happened! Something big has happened!"

"Hm?"

All the experts turned to look.

A cold glint flashed in Yao Chuheng’s eyes. The person who had arrived was none other than the King of the Yaoyue Kingdom, Yao Chen.

However, at this moment, Yao Chen completely lacked the calm and solemnity befitting the ruler of a nation. An displeased look flashed in Yao Chuheng’s eyes as he snorted, "Yao Chen, what is the meaning of this panic? Have you no sense of decorum?"

Yao Chen’s heart trembled. He quickly said, "Father, something big has happened!"

"What is it that has you in such a panic?" Yao Chuheng asked.

The others were also curious.

What on earth could make the dignified King of the Yaoyue Kingdom lose his composure like this?

Yao Chen gave a bitter smile. "The first person to finish the first stage, the Path of Heart Refinement, has appeared."

"Oh? I thought it was something major. So what if the first person has appeared!"

Yao Chuheng said faintly, "That boy Yao Yueye has made some progress, though. I thought it would take him several more hours to pass, but I didn’t expect him to be so early!"

Yao Chen’s expression was strange as he said, "Father, the first person i-is not Yao Yueye."

"Hm? What did you say?"

Yao Chuheng froze.

Zhui Yang Old Monster, however, said excitedly, "Not Yao Yueye? Could it be my worthless grandson, Zhui Ri? HAHAHA, I told you Zhui Ri’s talent in spirit cultivation is unrivaled in the Southern Ten Nations! Even when he gets to the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom in the future, he’ll have a chance to shine. Aiya, I’ll have to reward him handsomely when he gets back!"

Yao Chen continued to smile bitterly. "Senior Zhui Yang, the first person wasn’t Zhui Ri either."

"Not him either? Then who could it be? That girl Ling Bingxin? Or that kid Ziyan Wuhen?"

"Hahaha, why must it be one of those kids? My Celestial Star Kingdom’s Ding Zhentian is not weak either!"

"My Shuixiu Kingdom’s Shui Rou’Er was personally taught by our Old Ancestor! When it comes to talent, she isn’t lacking either!"

The various magnates all began to guess.

Zhui Yang Old Monster’s interest waned. Since it wasn’t Prince Zhui Ri, it no longer mattered much to him who it was.

Just as he was feeling bored, he suddenly saw the silent Yuan Cang. A cold sneer flashed in his eyes as he said loudly, "Aiya, I suddenly remembered, Yuan Cang, didn’t your Qin Kingdom have two geniuses this time who claimed they would compete for the True Dragon Position? Why don’t you guess if the first one to complete the Path of Heart Refinement is from your Qin Kingdom?"

Yuan Cang glanced at him and said calmly, "If guessing was useful, with your, Zhui Yang Old Monster’s, talent for nagging, wouldn’t your Zhui Ri have become the head of the True Dragons long ago?"

"You..."

Zhui Yang Old Monster snorted. "I don’t care who it is. In any case, it definitely won’t be someone from your Qin Kingdom."

Yao Chen wiped the cold sweat from his brow and interrupted with a strange expression, "Um... Senior Zhui Yang... the first person to pass the Path of Heart Refinement... i-is actually Hong Yu from the Qin Kingdom!"

"What?"

Zhui Yang Old Monster’s face changed, as if he’d just eaten bitter melon and coptis root.

...

Everything that happened in the Yaoyue Royal Palace had nothing to do with Hong Yu in the trial grounds.

At this very moment...

Relying on the Wind Rider of his "Tyrant’s Walk" and the enhancement from his True Martial Arts Intent’s Wind Vortex, he had finally become the first to charge out of the exit of the Path of Heart Refinement.

He had finally left the endless darkness behind.

Hong Yu felt his blood surge with excitement. He stood at the exit, took a deep breath, and stepped out.

As he left the Path of Heart Refinement, a black figure appeared before him at that very same moment. But it wasn’t to offer congratulations or a welcome.

What came at him...

...was the sharp glint of an axe, chopping straight for his head!