Immortal Martial Emperor

After consuming the Enlightenment Fruit.

Hong Yu immediately felt his Perception become extremely sharp, and he grew closer to the world and all living things.

The sensation was like a seamless blend!

As if they all came from the same origin.

The reason comprehending True Martial Arts Intent becomes a hundred times more difficult after entering the Primordial Core Realm is because experts at this level have already condensed a Primordial Core. This is equivalent to having their own core, gradually becoming independent from the world around them.

It was like how it’s easy to press a pile of soybeans into oil!

But trying to make that oil experience the form of a soybean again is incredibly difficult.

Because of this, the vast majority of experts choose to comprehend as much True Martial Arts Intent as possible while in the Celestial Soul Realm. That way, they can surpass most other experts right from the start once they reach the Primordial Core Realm.

Of course...

Some people rush to break through to the Primordial Core Realm, even attempting it without comprehending any True Martial Arts Intent.

While this does speed up their advancement to the Primordial Core Realm, it’s tantamount to ruining things with undue haste!

’Wind! The wind is so fast, so ethereal. Not even the densest net can capture the elusive wind!’

’The wind dances, the wind is everywhere...’

’The candlelight flickers. Is the wind making it move, or is the flame itself moving...’

’So this is wind... Ethereal, transcendent, swift, and illusory. You can’t be seen or grasped, yet your presence can be clearly felt. Is this the True Intent of Wind?’

A strange scene unfolded in Hong Yu’s mind.

First, a vast, utterly silent plain where the wind was so strong it could nearly blow a person away.

Next, a boundless ocean appeared. The sea wind howled, whipping up monstrous waves that could kill even a top-tier expert of his generation.

The image in his mind changed again.

This time, it was a dense forest. The wind swept through, sending ripples of green across the emerald canopy, wave after wave spreading out in an endless cascade.

’Different places give the wind different characteristics. The power of the plains, the violence of the sea, the ceaselessness of the forest...’

’They are all wind. Though their forms differ, their essence is the same.’

’"A great wind rises, the clouds fly high! The wind sighs and groans, the river runs cold!"’

’"Let him be strong, for I am but a gentle breeze caressing the hillside. Let him run rampant, for I am but the bright moon shining on the great river..."’

Suddenly, Hong Yu leaped to his feet.

Within his eyes, images flickered—flashes of lightning in the wind, gales raging, hurricanes howling...

’This is it! The speed of wind, the flash of lightning!’

The image in Hong Yu’s eyes suddenly froze on a tornado. It swept through, a storm howling at incredible speed.

Hong Yu began to practice, over and over again.

With the aid of the Enlightenment Fruit, his mastery of the True Wind Martial Arts Intent grew more profound, integrating fully until he was close to Peeping Essence.

He formed the Wind Rune Seal Technique with his hands and pointed a finger...

HUHU!

An extremely faint, miniature tornado coiled around his index finger. With a gentle rotation, it shot forward with a SWISH.

He hadn’t used much power in this strike.

But as the small tornado spun forward, it continuously absorbed the surrounding energy, growing stronger.

In the blink of an eye...

The finger-sized tornado had grown to the thickness of an arm. It drilled into the ground with a BOOM, then exploded with a BANG, blasting a half-meter-deep pit in the earth.

’What terrifying power!’

Hong Yu was secretly astounded.

He had expected the True Wind Martial Arts Intent to be formidable, but he had never imagined it would be this terrifying.

’That last attack increased my offensive power by more than ten times!’

"A tenfold increase in power? Not bad, not bad at all..."

Hong Yu laughed heartily.

His strength had risen yet again. Setting aside everything else, just successfully comprehending the True Wind Martial Arts Intent was a significant step forward.

’With my current strength, without using the Senluo Seal, I can fight an ordinary Early-stage Primordial Core Realm expert. However, actually killing one would still be quite difficult...’

Hong Yu murmured, "The Southern Ten Nations Martial Assembly is a Holy Assembly for the strongest young geniuses in all of the Southern Ten Nations. There are bound to be many experts, especially the legendary Four Great True Dragon Geniuses. They are all true geniuses, far more powerful than Zheng Tian!"

Hong Yu narrowed his eyes.

He felt a faint sense of anticipation and excitement.

He took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and muttered, "Master and Master Xin should be participating in this Southern Ten Nations Martial Assembly too! Hehe, it’s been almost a year. I wonder if Master Xin is still the same old glutton. I hope Master is doing well."

As he spoke to himself, Hong Yu found his thoughts beginning to drift.

Just then, Beichen Tianshuang, who had been waiting quietly outside the courtyard for Hong Yu to finish cultivating, walked in.

Her icy face would only shed its cold arrogance when she was with Hong Yu. Smiling softly, she said, "Brother Yu, someone is here to see you!"

"Who is it?"

Hong Yu raised an eyebrow, taking the towel Beichen Tianshuang handed him to wipe his hands as he asked.

Beichen Tianshuang stuck out her pink tongue, her dark eyes curving like crescent moons.

She considerately took the towel back from Hong Yu and chuckled. "He said he’s an old friend of yours, and that you’ll know who it is when you see him!"

"So mysterious?"

Hong Yu was taken aback. "By the way, Tianshuang, have they decided when we’re leaving for the Yaoyue Kingdom?"

Beichen Tianshuang folded the towel and nodded. "The Royal Family sent a notice earlier. We leave tomorrow afternoon. I saw you were cultivating, so I didn’t want to disturb you!"

"Tomorrow afternoon? That’s quite soon..."

Hong Yu nodded, then smiled and playfully tapped Beichen Tianshuang on her delicate nose. "Then help me pack some things later. We’ll leave with the group tomorrow afternoon!"

Beichen Tianshuang nodded with a sweet smile.

She was as obedient and considerate as an adorable kitten!

***

As the Southern Ten Nations Martial Assembly drew closer, the entire Southern Ten Nations Alliance buzzed with excitement.

The activities of the young geniuses, particularly the highly self-regarded prodigies of the Martial Dao, grew more and more frequent.

The Proud Moon Kingdom was the host of this year’s Southern Ten Nations Alliance Martial Assembly.

Shuangyue City, located on the border of the Proud Moon Kingdom.

On a normal day, the streets of Shuangyue City were practically empty.

Today, however, it was packed with a sea of people, exceptionally crowded. "Have you heard? That guy won again!"

"You’ve got to be kidding! He’s already won ninety-nine matches in a row. Is the fighting ring really going to let him keep winning?"

"Of course not! If he wins this next fight, the fighting ring will be bankrupted from the payouts!"

"Who is his opponent this time?" someone asked.

The previous speaker said, "I heard his opponent this time is the City Lord’s son. That’s right, the genius son who’s about to go to Yaoyue City for the Southern Ten Nations Martial Assembly. They say he’s already at the Peak of Celestial Soul Realm. His strength is nothing to scoff at!"

A crowd of people surged toward the fighting ring.

Amidst the sea of people, two young men stood on the arena stage, staring at each other.

One of them, dressed in a brocade robe and a white shirt like a proud, cold-faced scholar, held a feather fan and looked arrogantly at his opponent. "You should just surrender! This young master already has the combat power of the Peak of Celestial Soul Realm. I am a genius who will shine not just in Shuangyue City, but even at the Ten Kingdoms Alliance Martial Assembly in Yaoyue City. You are no match for me!"

Across from him, a young man in tattered clothes, with bare feet and a grimy, disheveled appearance, slowly looked up.

Through his sparse hair, a pair of black eyes gleamed like a crazed beast’s, terrifying to behold.

"You are not my opponent," the slovenly man said.

The cold-faced scholar flew into a rage. "What arrogance! How dare you look down on this young master! I’ll—"

However...

Before he could finish his sentence, the beast-like, slovenly man had appeared before him.

One punch. With just a single punch, he sent the cold-faced scholar crashing to the ground.

The entire fighting ring fell silent!

The slovenly man paid no mind to the downed scholar, crouching down to rummage through his clothes. He pulled out a Jade Scroll and grinned. "The qualification Jade Scroll for the Ten Kingdoms Martial Assembly. Finally got it."

He looked up toward the distance, his eyes burning with battle intent. ’Master said that only by securing a True Dragon Genius position in the Southern Ten Nations Alliance will I be qualified to avenge my family. I will kill anyone who dares to stop me from taking a True Dragon Position!’

Meanwhile, in the Celestial Star Kingdom, which bordered the Fengyue Kingdom...

In a gloomy grand hall, a middle-aged man sat upon a throne made of bones.

He glanced down at the sinister-looking young man standing below and said flatly, "Zhentian, in this Southern Ten Nations Alliance Martial Assembly, you must secure a True Dragon seat. Do you understand?"

Ding Zhentian raised his head. "Rest assured, Hall Master. I will definitely seize a True Dragon throne!"

The middle-aged man said coolly, "Many capable people will appear at this assembly. Besides the experts listed in the files I gave you, you must pay special attention to that fellow named Hong Yu!"

"Hong Yu? From the Qin Kingdom?"

A trace of disdain appeared on Ding Zhentian’s face. "That trash Zheng Tian was only considered a genius by the Guiyuan Sect. As for Hong Yu, if he dares to stand in my way, I’ll just kill him!"

In the Shuixiu Kingdom, inside the Imperial Palace.

The King of the Shuixiu Kingdom, Shui Qianzhong, dressed in a Dragon Robe, looked dotingly at his daughter. "Rou’Er, with your strength, it shouldn’t be difficult to obtain a True Dragon Position. But one can never be too careful. I’m giving you this nation-guarding Primordial Weapon, Shui Linglong. I hope you perform well at the assembly!"

"Yes, Father-King!"

The young woman, Shui Rou’Er, had a gentle appearance but possessed an unyielding will to win.

Sword Edge, an isolated peak in the south of the Cyan Peak Kingdom, soared ten thousand zhang high. Legend had it that a peerless expert lived in seclusion on this hurricane-swept peak, and ordinary people dared not approach.

And at this very moment...

A young man carrying a Cyan Peak Long Sword on his back soared into the sky from the ten-thousand-zhang-high peak. He rode a streak of cyan sword light as if it were an extension of his body, an excited look on his face. "I can finally go down the mountain! Hehe, Master said the Southern Ten Nations Martial Assembly that’s starting soon should be fun. I’ll go check it out!"

Across the vast Southern Ten Nations, as the martial assembly approached, countless geniuses began to emerge one by one.

And just as the genius experts of every kingdom were coming forward, their sights set on the positions of the True Dragon Geniuses, an earth-shattering change was taking place within the Cyan Nether Sword Sect in the Fengyue Kingdom...

[The Ten Kingdoms Martial Assembly is about to begin! A series of climaxes are coming up!]