Immortal Martial Emperor

"He is my brother!"

A simple statement, yet it rang with unshakable conviction.

The moment he spoke, a dead silence fell over Bright Mirror Lake. People even forgot to breathe.

Who was Xiahuang Shang?

Without a doubt, he was the man in the entire Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom closest to the supreme throne!

If he weren’t the Emperor’s fifth Prince instead of the firstborn, his ascension to the throne would have been a certainty.

Even so, those in the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom who could rival Xiahuang Shang’s status and power could be counted on one hand!

If a man like him so much as smiled at someone, it would be considered the blessing of a lifetime.

Countless factions vied to curry his favor.

But now...

He was actually claiming Hong Yu was his brother?

What did the word "brother" mean?

Aside from one’s own kin, it meant a bond forged through life and death, a friendship for which one would willingly lay down their life!

Hong Yu and Xiahuang Shang shared that kind of bond?

It made everyone’s head spin; they couldn’t wrap their minds around it.

Hong Yu looked at Xiahuang Shang, his expression unreadable, but a warmth spread through his heart.

Though he didn’t know why Xiahuang Shang had deigned to treat him with such genuine regard, Hong Yu believed in repaying every kindness a hundredfold.

Xiahuang Shang had given him a way to resurrect Beichen Celestial Frost.

This was a debt of gratitude as vast as the sky and as deep as the ocean.

Xiahuang Dun nearly stumbled and pitched headfirst into Bright Mirror Lake. He stared blankly from Hong Yu to Xiahuang Shang, his mouth suddenly dry. "B-Brother Huang, you can’t be serious, can you?"

"Hmph. Have you ever seen me joke?"

Xiahuang Shang said with immense dignity.

His words were accompanied by an overwhelming pressure that made Xiahuang Dun’s face drain of color. He nearly coughed up blood.

He looked at Xiahuang Shang in horror.

Xiahuang Shang said coolly, "You have troubled Younger Brother Hong again and again. For that, you deserve death. However, for the sake of our eldest brother, I won’t press the matter today. Apologize to my brother, and then get lost!"

Get lost!

Telling a royal expert, one of the top thirty Unparalleled True Dragons, to get lost.

If anyone else had said that, Xiahuang Dun would have fought them to the death.

But facing Xiahuang Shang, he couldn’t even muster a single thought of resistance.

His face livid, Xiahuang Dun looked at Hong Yu, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed the rage in his heart.

A venomous light, sharp as a razor’s edge, glinted in his eyes. Gritting his teeth so hard they audibly gnashed, he growled, "I’m sorry. Please forgive me!"

Hong Yu said coolly, "For Brother Xiahuang’s sake, I’ll let it slide today!"

"Th... Thank you!"

Xiahuang Dun’s lowered gaze burned with ultimate fury and chilling killing intent as he bit out the words.

Too ashamed to remain any longer, he bowed respectfully to Xiahuang Shang. "My apologies, Brother Huang. I’m not feeling well. I’ll take my leave."

"Mm."

Xiahuang Shang nodded faintly.

Flapping his wings of lightning, Xiahuang Dun fled like a shooting star.

The crowd below didn’t dare to move. With Xiahuang Shang still present, how could they dare to leave?

"Right, Brother Xiahuang, let me introduce you to some of my friends!"

Hong Yu flew down with Xiahuang Shang.

The crowd parted for them.

Young Master Yeban, Landy, Xu Wudi, and Little Chenxi stood waiting.

Aside from Young Master Yeban and Little Chenxi, Landy and Xu Wudi were both a little nervous.

Landy, in particular, was so excited he could barely control himself.

He understood better than Hong Yu and the others what Xiahuang Shang represented. To put it dramatically, a single sentence from Xiahuang Shang could decide the fate of the Ice Kingdom.

Xiahuang Shang chuckled. "There’s no need to be so formal. Since you are Younger Brother Hong’s friends, you are my friends as well!"

With one simple sentence, he closed the distance between them.

Xu Wudi hesitated for a moment before asking, "Your Highness, I was wondering... have we met before?"

"Hm? And you are?" Xiahuang Shang was taken aback.

Xu Wudi said, "Xu Wudi, from the Ice Kingdom!"

"Xu Wudi? Your surname is Xu?"

Xiahuang Shang’s expression changed slightly, and his aura seemed to become agitated and chaotic.

Even that slight leakage of his aura made everyone’s expression change. They felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy, and a cold sweat broke out on their brows.

’They were all shocked by Xiahuang Shang’s immense power.’

Hong Yu sent a mental message to Xiahuang Shang: "She’s Xu Wanrong’s younger sister!"

"Wanrong?"

Xiahuang Shang shuddered, his eyes swirling with an unidentifiable emotion.

But he seemed to have some reservations. He took a deep breath and said lightly, "I have rarely left the Ancient Kingdom since birth, and I have certainly never been to the Ice Kingdom. You must have mistaken me for someone else!"

"Oh, I see. Heh, that makes sense. How could you be the bastard who put my sister in a coma for three years..." Xu Wudi muttered, a mix of disappointment and relief in her voice.

Her words, however, were like a knife twisting in Xiahuang Shang’s heart.

’In a coma for three years?’

’Wanrong, please forgive me...’

He suppressed his complex emotions and said, "Younger Brother Hong, have you arranged for a place to stay?"

Just then, Zhangg Lang, who had been hiding in the crowd and waiting for a good show, suddenly emerged. His face was a mask of sycophantic charm as he said, "Yes, yes, of course, Your Highness! Lord Hong Yu and his companions are staying at our Aolai Inn. We’ve arranged our most luxurious suite and highest standard of service for them!"

Zhangg Lang’s thinking was very simple.

Previously, he had assumed Hong Yu’s group had no power, influence, or connections to speak of in the Imperial Capital.

He could naturally push them around as he pleased.

But things were different now.

Hong Yu was Xiahuang Shang’s brother. This was a much more profitable deal than cozying up to Xiahuang Dun.

And so!

Boss Zhangg Lang upheld the grand tradition of the Aolai Kingdom, unleashed his *No Face No Skin Divine Skill*, and made his move.

Hong Yu: "..."

Xu Wudi: "..."

Landy: "..."

Young Master Yeban and Little Chenxi exchanged a look. ’Damn it. We’ve seen shameless people, but we’ve never seen anyone *this* shameless.’

’The same guy who was just trying to get Xiahuang Dun to kill us, who made things difficult for us over and over, has become this much of a bootlicker in the blink of an eye?’

However, once they recalled Zhangg Kang’s personality, they all accepted the reality of the situation.

’The Aolai Kingdom... what a bunch of freaks!’

Xiahuang Shang, unaware of the history here, looked at Hong Yu. "You’re staying at the Aolai Inn?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Zhangg Lang said repeatedly, looking at Hong Yu with a pleading gaze.

Hong Yu was utterly disgusted.

Xu Wudi cut in. "We were staying there, yes. But all seven or eight of us had to crowd around a tiny table meant for four. While others feasted on fish and meat, all we got was a pot of thin soup and some rotten apples..."

Xiahuang Shang frowned.

Knowing who she was, he felt an extra measure of concern for her.

Hearing the resentment and hurt in her voice, anger flared within him. He said coolly, "So this is what the Aolai Inn calls its ’highest standard’ of service? It seems I’ll have to send someone to investigate the Aolai Inn thoroughly."

"What? No, please don’t...!"

Zhangg Lang’s face turned ashen, and he begged bitterly, tears streaming down his face.

But Xiahuang Shang ignored him.

With a cold snort, a vortex of energy spun out, flinging Zhangg Lang directly into Bright Mirror Lake.

The Two-winged Unicorn pulling the Chariot flew down, and Xiahuang Shang ushered them all inside.

The interior of the Chariot was a world of its own.

Though it looked like it could only seat three or four from the outside, the interior was spacious enough for thirty to fifty people.

Everyone’s faces filled with shock and amazement.

Xiahuang Shang smiled. "This is a Primordial Weapon refining technique our Imperial Family has mastered, allowing us to create a separate dimension within a chariot. Mine is actually quite small. My father, the Emperor’s, Dragon Chariot can hold a thousand people. What’s more, it’s pulled by an Azure Dragon and is unbelievably fast—it can travel thousands of miles in a single day!"

Everyone gasped.

’Thousands of miles a day... wouldn’t that be even faster than a Primordial Spirit Realm expert can fly?’

Xiahuang Shang said, "Since you have no place to stay, come to my estate for now. In a few days, the Pre-War Hunt begins. You can accompany me to participate."

"The Pre-War Hunt?"

Hong Yu asked, puzzled.

"It’s essentially a warm-up for the True Dragon War," Xiahuang Shang explained. "It provides a platform for everyone to get to know their opponents and gauge their strength. However, we Ten Great Unparalleled Prodigies don’t participate." After a pause, he added, "You could also consider it a preliminary ranking of the hundred Unparalleled True Dragons."

"I see!"

Hong Yu nodded. "Brother Xiahuang, do you know if the True Dragon representatives from the Southern Ten Nations Alliance have arrived yet?"

Xiahuang Shang shook his head. "The Southern Ten Nations are quite far from the Ancient Kingdom, so Feng Xue Xin and his group haven’t arrived. But don’t worry, I’ve already had my men keep a close watch. We’ll know the moment they arrive in the Imperial Capital."

"Okay."

Everyone nodded.

They soon arrived at Xiahuang Shang’s estate. It was immense, comparable in size to the Royal Palace of an ordinary Kingdom.

Xiahuang Shang arranged rooms for everyone, then sent a mental message to Hong Yu. "Younger Brother Hong, come with me."

Puzzled, Hong Yu followed Xiahuang Shang.

In Xiahuang Shang’s room, Hong Yu asked with a smile, "Brother Xiahuang, don’t tell me you want to ask about Xu Wanrong?"

"I do miss her," Xiahuang Shang admitted. "But given my position, many things are simply out of my hands. But let’s not speak of her for now. I brought you here to discuss your own affairs..."

Hong Yu was taken aback. "My affairs?"

Xiahuang Shang nodded, his expression growing grave. "Younger Brother Hong, you should know that you’re in serious trouble."

"Trouble? Is it because I offended Xiahuang Dun?" Hong Yu frowned.

Xiahuang Shang shook his head. "What’s Xiahuang Dun? He’s nothing but our eldest brother’s dog. Even if you killed him, as long as I’m here, our eldest brother wouldn’t dare touch you."

"Then why?"

Hong Yu pondered, then his eyes suddenly widened. "You mean... Hai Cangtian?"

"It seems you’ve guessed."

Xiahuang Shang nodded, his face grave. "I’ve received news that Hai Cangtian is preparing to make a move against you!"

"Isn’t he in the Ancient Sea Kingdom? How does he plan to make a move against me?" Hong Yu asked, confused.

Xiahuang Shang’s eyes turned cold. "Deceit and trickery are commonplace among the Four Ancient Kingdoms. Just as we have spies in their courts, they have agents in ours. They think our Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom is ignorant, but in truth, we know exactly who their people are. This latest report came from one of my subordinates."

"It seems someone couldn’t resist the chance to lick the Ancient Sea Kingdom’s boots and wag their tail to show their loyalty," Xiahuang Shang said.

Hong Yu frowned. "Who’s making the move?"

Xiahuang Shang took a deep breath, his tone growing heavy as he uttered two words...

"Unparalleled Genius!"