Immortal Martial Emperor

HUM!

From the depths of the Ice Blue Copper Coffin, two beams of light shot out, as brilliant as stars.

They carried a heart-stopping, oppressive feeling.

As the light filled the Ice Blue Copper Coffin, an overwhelming sense of grief permeated the space, enough to move one to tears.

"What’s going on?" Hong Yu tensed instantly.

Xu Wudi, her beautiful face streaked with tears, looked around in astonishment. "What... what was that just now?"

Hong Yu’s expression was grave as he slowly shook his head.

Inside the Ice Blue Copper Coffin, it suddenly became pitch-black, so dark you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

An ethereal, disembodied voice drifted by their ears. "Who are you? And why have you come here?"

The voice was soft, so gentle it could make one’s heart melt.

But Hong Yu felt a chill run down his spine.

’Could someone still be alive inside this Ice Blue Copper Coffin, sealed for at least a thousand years? Or is it a Martial Arts True Soul, formed from a lingering obsession, like the Netherworld Ghost Lord?’

"I am the junior, Hong Yu. I came here by chance. Please forgive me if I have disturbed you, Elder!" Hong Yu said in a deep voice, trying his best to calm himself.

His powerful voice echoed and reverberated throughout the Ice Blue Copper Coffin.

"Oh, so you came in here by chance!"

The gentle voice seemed somewhat relieved, yet also a bit helpless. "Do you... wish to receive the inheritance of my Ice and Snow Goddess Clan?"

"Huh?"

Hong Yu and Xu Wudi stared at each other, both a little stunned.

When the voice first appeared, they had been incredibly tense, assuming this mysterious entity would take its anger out on them. They were completely focused on how to save their own lives, so the thought of receiving an inheritance had never even crossed their minds.

But now...

This mysterious entity was asking them so directly if they wanted its inheritance?

A look of doubt in his eyes, Hong Yu asked, "Excuse me, Elder, but are you the person from the mural?"

"Mm, it is I!"

As the calm voice spoke, the dark Ice Blue Copper Coffin began to emit a faint blue light. In the center stood a massive ice sculpture, and within it was a stunningly beautiful woman with a cold, frosty demeanor.

She wore magnificent robes, her long blue hair draped over her shoulders, and her belly was prominently swollen.

It was the beautiful woman from the mural, the one who had single-handedly destroyed the entire Ice and Snow Goddess Clan and the many experts from the first through sixth layers.

"Elder, could you tell this junior your identity?" Hong Yu asked.

"I am Bing Xuewei, the thirteen-thousandth Saintess of the Ice and Snow Goddess Clan."

Bing Xuewei’s voice turned desolate. "At the same time, I am also the last Saintess of the Ice and Snow Goddess Clan!"

"So it is Elder Bing. This junior, Hong Yu, pays his respects!"

Hong Yu and Xu Wudi quickly bowed respectfully.

Even though they didn’t know what kind of existence the Ice and Snow Goddess Clan was, the fact that they could occupy the Seventh Layer was enough to prove their power.

Moreover...

The power Bing Xuewei had displayed in the Illusion Realm created from the mural was also terrifying.

Bing Xuewei’s eyes remained closed within her Ice Seal as she spoke calmly, "I know you must be wondering why I would ask if you want the inheritance of the Ice and Snow Goddess Clan. In truth, you have no need to be suspicious. If I had wished you harm, I would have acted when you first entered the Eastern Combat Zone!"

"Excuse me, Elder, but is there something you wish for this junior to do?" Hong Yu asked cautiously.

’These beings who have lived for untold years are all cunning monsters who would eat you alive and not spit out the bones. It’s best to be careful when dealing with them.’

’I absolutely cannot lose my life to a moment of greed.’

Bing Xuewei smiled faintly. "You’re a cautious little one. Oh well, I don’t have much time left. If I wait any longer, who knows how long it will be before someone else comes in..."

After a pause, Bing Xuewei continued, "I only need you to accept a trial from me. If you pass, I will entrust you with a task. If you fail..." Her voice suddenly turned sharp. "Then you will remain here forever to keep me and my child company!"

Hong Yu frowned slightly.

Bing Xuewei’s forceful words made him feel very uneasy.

’I don’t like the feeling of having my fate manipulated like this, but my current strength is nowhere near enough to deal with Bing Xuewei. The fact that she can still control the Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin is proof enough.’

’Refusing is a dead end!’

Hong Yu gave a bitter smile. "Elder, do you think I have a choice?"

"Heh heh, little one, don’t you worry! This trial of mine isn’t that difficult... Hmm, well, perhaps for you it won’t be too hard!"

Bing Xuewei muttered to herself.

Hong Yu rubbed his nose. "Elder, please present the trial!"

"Very well!"

The ice sculpture around Bing Xuewei pulsed with faint blue light, which enveloped Hong Yu and Xu Wudi.

Hong Yu felt a BUZZ in his head, and then he lost all consciousness...

***

"No, I beg you, don’t take the child away."

A mournful voice cried out.

Hong Yu started, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on a bed.

He tried to move to see what was happening, but found he couldn’t stir at all. His vacant gaze drifted toward the door.

There, an extremely ugly middle-aged woman was kneeling on the ground, holding a swaddled infant.

Before her, a pot-bellied, big-eared middle-aged man spoke with a cold expression, "You’d better think this through. If you don’t give me your child, you can forget about getting money to treat your husband. In his condition, if this drags on, he’ll be dead within three days!"

The ugly woman’s body trembled. She looked blankly at Hong Yu on the bed, her face a mask of misery. "My child, oh, my child... Mommy couldn’t protect you. Mommy is so sorry!"

Sobbing, the ugly woman handed the infant to the pot-bellied middle-aged man.

Lying in bed, Hong Yu forgot his own identity in that moment. He only knew that he was the man of this simple, destitute household.

The ugly woman was his wife, and the swaddled infant was his son.

He felt their pain as if it were his own, his heart twisting as if struck by a knife. Watching the man about to take the baby, Hong Yu let out a hoarse roar, "No! You can’t! You can’t let him take our son!"

"Hmph? I say, you old cripple, are you looking to die?" the middle-aged man snarled.

The ugly woman was at a complete loss.

Hong Yu roared, "Even if I die, I won’t let my son live at the mercy of others! I will never let him go with you!"

"Damn it, aren’t you afraid of dying? If you don’t give me your son, you won’t have money for medicine. You’ll be dead in three days for sure!" the middle-aged man sneered.

He was brazenly confident!

He simply couldn’t believe someone would give up their own life for a child.

Seeing Hong Yu’s pale face, the middle-aged man continued, "Listen here, you damn cripple! Give me your son, and you can buy medicine and cure your illness. Once you’re better, you can just have another one. It’s just a kid. Why throw your life away for him?"

Hearing this, the ugly woman’s face was covered in tears, but she nodded and tried to persuade him, "Husband, just give the child to him! As long as you can be cured, we can always have another..."

Hong Yu felt a wave of confusion.

At this moment, his entire being, from his identity to his memories, was steeped in unbearable suffering.

His parents had died shortly after his birth. He was born with a disability and could only rely on odd jobs to get by.

Even his wife was an unwanted, ugly woman who had eventually married him and borne him a child.

He had already suffered for half his life.

He had never known a single good day.

And now, he was critically ill and on the verge of death...

’Who doesn’t want to live?’

’Who would be willing to die?’

’People would sell their own Soul to survive, let alone a child!’

Seeing Hong Yu’s silence, the middle-aged man knew he had almost succeeded. He continued, "Cripple, I see your family is quite pitiful. How about this? Not only will I help you cure your illness if you give me your son, but I’ll also give you a large sum of money and fifty acres of farmland. Then you and your wife can live a good life. How about it?"

"Husband, please agree to it!" the ugly woman said.

Hong Yu stared blankly at the ceiling.

His son...

His life...

Property, wealth, and prosperity...

They were like tangled vines in his mind, a chaotic mess.

Seeing this, the middle-aged man chuckled slyly and tossed a bag of money to the ugly woman. "Looks like your husband agrees. Give me the child!"

"Child, Mommy is doing this for your own good! You’ll be with Boss Hu from now on, he’ll definitely treat you well!"

The ugly woman’s face was washed with tears, full of reluctance.

Just as the infant was about to be handed to the middle-aged man, as if sensing he was about to leave his parents, the baby let out a loud, clear cry.

On the bed, Hong Yu’s whole body jolted.

His vacant eyes became crystal clear. "No! You can’t! I absolutely cannot give you my child."

Ignoring his crippled body, he scrambled out of bed, tumbling and crawling to the door to snatch the infant back. He held the baby close, carefully gazing into his innocent eyes. With a withered, rough hand, he gently wiped the tear from the corner of his son’s eye. "My son, my son... even if I die, I will never let you leave me."

"Damn it, are you messing with me?"

The middle-aged man roared and started punching and kicking Hong Yu.

Hong Yu turned his back, shielding the infant in his arms, and remained motionless, letting the man beat him relentlessly.

He coughed up blood, turning his head to avoid getting it on the baby. He was in agony, but he still had a smile on his face.

The baby opened his arms, wanting to be held by Hong Yu.

Hong Yu smiled. "Don’t fuss, little one... Hmph..." He grunted and spat out another mouthful of blood, then continued to smile. "Daddy’s here. No one is going to hurt you. No one is going to take you away from me."

After a full half-hour of beating, the middle-aged man was also panting with exhaustion.

He looked at Hong Yu with exasperation and anger. "You damn cripple, are you insane? It’s just a child, is all this necessary?"

Hong Yu’s face was covered in blood and his hair was a mess, but the infant in his arms was completely unharmed, not even touched by a speck of dust.

Hong Yu smiled at the middle-aged man. His breath was weak, but his words were unwavering. "In this life, besides staying alive yourself, the most important thing is to raise your children. I’m useless. I might even die tomorrow. But as long as I live for one more day, I will never let my child leave me. I will do my utmost to protect him and care for him."

"You face what life throws at you. Even if it’s hard, even if I’m exhausted, I won’t let my child suffer. I can eat shit and drink piss myself, but my child must eat well and be well-dressed. I want him to know that his father is a man who can live with his head held high, not some useless trash who would abandon his own son just to survive."

As Hong Yu spoke, his expression was utterly resolute.

The middle-aged man slowly stood up and stared at Hong Yu. After a long moment, with a BOOM, the Illusion Realm shattered.

"Huh?"

Hong Yu’s eyes flew open in confusion. He instinctively looked down at his arms, but they were empty.

Just as he was feeling bewildered, Bing Xuewei’s voice once again echoed within the Ice Blue Copper Coffin, making Hong Yu tense up instantly.

Because every word Bing Xuewei said next would decide his very life or death...