Immortal Martial Emperor

"WHOOSH!"

A cold wind gusted past. Within a ten-li radius, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

More and more powerhouses gathered, but all of them stood at a great distance. Not one dared to approach rashly.

Within a hundred-zhang-wide expanse, already blasted into a barren wasteland by Meng Tian’s attack, Hong Yu stood alone. He held the Godslaying Spear proudly, his eyes flashing with a piercing, thunder-like light as he confronted six great prodigies!

Across from him...

Stood the six great prodigies, led by Ling Bingxin, Ziyan Wuhen, and Hong Renjie.

Terrifying currents of energy swirled around each of them. All six were at the Primordial Core Realm, and the sheer pressure radiating from their bodies was enough to make an ordinary Earth Soul Realm powerhouse’s limbs go weak.

As for Celestial Soul Realm powerhouses, who were slightly weaker, they would feel their hearts tremble and their palms grow cold.

A stir went through the crowd as Zheng Tian arrived with the powerhouses of the Qin Kingdom...

"Senior Brother Zheng, Hong Yu really is here."

"Ling Bingxin? Ziyan Wuhen? Hong Renjie? They’ve actually joined forces to besiege Hong Yu?"

Zheng Tian’s gaze flickered. He saw Yao Yueye and Jian Chen standing in the air and frowned slightly. ’Yao Yueye is here too. But with his pride, he would never take advantage of someone’s predicament. Still, even without Yao Yueye, can Hong Yu possibly win against six great prodigies by himself?’

At this moment, Zheng Tian felt extremely conflicted.

Deep down, he actually wanted to see Hong Yu killed by the six prodigies.

That way, he could reclaim the title of the Qin Kingdom’s number one genius.

But his reason told him he should help.

But...

’They’re six great prodigies, and Ling Bingxin and Ziyan Wuhen are both stronger than me, not weaker. Even if I intervene, I can’t change the outcome of the battle.’

Zheng Tian felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

He suddenly realized that the strength he had always been so proud of seemed pathetic in the wider world beyond the Qin Kingdom.

Naturally, there were many others who felt the same way.

As more powerhouses arrived and heard that Hong Yu was fighting six great prodigies alone, their initial shock gave way to mockery, ridicule, and schadenfreude.

Hong Yu’s performance on the Path of Heart Refinement had simply been too outstanding.

As a result, he had unknowingly offended many people.

"Does this idiot think he’s Yao Yueye? Fighting six great prodigies alone—what was he thinking?"

"Too bad. With the six great prodigies making a move, that sky-high bounty has nothing to do with us anymore."

"Hehe, how about we make a bet? Let’s see which round Hong Yu gets killed in!"

"I bet on the third round!"

"I bet on the fifth round!"

"He should be able to last ten rounds, right?"

「Meanwhile...」

Within the central hub of the array that monitored the trial, several new people had appeared besides the middle-aged man in black armor and the woman in white armor.

The two Inspectors, Xiahuang Shang and Hai Cangtian, were both present.

Behind them were the representative powerhouses of the Ten Kingdoms and Ten Sects.

The expressions on the faces of all the powerhouses were completely different...

Xiahuang Shang and Hai Cangtian remained indifferent and calm. Clearly, a duel of this level could not enter their Dharma Eyes.

Yuan Cang’s face was as dark as water, and his clothes were torn. He had just fought a vicious battle with Zhui Yang Ancestor, and if Xiahuang Shang hadn’t stopped them, they would have fought to the death.

Yuan Cang glared coldly at the Zhui Yang Old Monster. "Zhui Yang, you old bastard! How dare you issue that kind of bounty in the Land of Trial to harm Hong Yu. You just wait. If even a single hair on Hong Yu’s head is harmed, I will personally go to your Wind Chasing Sect to demand justice."

"Hmph! Yuan Cang, you brat, stop your tough talk with me."

Zhui Yang Ancestor was also bruised and battered, looking utterly wretched. Just moments ago, when Yuan Cang learned that he had issued a sky-high bounty for Hong Yu, he had charged over without a word and given him a sound thrashing.

Caught off guard, even with Zhui Yang Ancestor’s formidable cultivation, he had still been beaten viciously.

He twitched the corner of his mouth, hissing through his teeth as he said sinisterly, "That little bastard Hong Yu dared to kill my grandson, Zhui Ri, and even devoured my wisp of Three-legged Fiery Firebird True Martial Arts Intent. If I don’t punish him severely, how can I, Zhui Yang, continue to show my face in this world?"

"Motherfucker! Are you senile or just blind? From the very beginning, it was your useless grandson who was looking for trouble with Hong Yu. He was purely acting in self-defense. Your grandson died because his skills were inferior," Yuan Cang roared in fury.

He even let "motherfucker" slip out. One could only imagine how furious Yuan Cang was at this moment.

Zhui Yang said with a cold face, "Inferior skills? Then if Hong Yu can’t survive the hunt for the bounty, that’s also because his skills are inferior. Hmph!"

"Fuck, you..."

Yuan Cang exploded with rage, rolling up his sleeves to start another fight.

Zhui Yang Ancestor was not the least bit afraid.

Watching the two men at each other’s throats, Xiahuang Shang snorted coldly. "Distinguished masters of the Southern Ten Nations and Ten Sects, acting like shrews screaming in the street. Have you no decency? If you keep arguing, get the hell out."

Xiahuang Shang’s cultivation was terrifyingly profound.

His cold snort alone made both Yuan Cang and Zhui Yang Ancestor grunt, almost coughing up a mouthful of old blood. The pressure was suffocating.

The two glared fiercely at each other.

Hai Cangtian smiled faintly. "Xiahuang Shang, the people from your Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom are truly interesting! Tsk tsk, these are all geniuses from your Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom, after all. If you can’t bear to watch them fall, this King wouldn’t mind you overstepping your authority to enter the Land of Trial and stop them!"

Xiahuang Shang shot Hai Cangtian a cold glance and said flatly, "No genius grows by relying on the help of others. If they die in battle because their strength is lacking, they can only blame their own inferior skills."

"Good, good. This King truly admires your decisiveness, Xiahuang Shang. I’m rather curious, who do you think will have the last laugh?" Hai Cangtian said with a half-smile.

Xiahuang Shang gave him a faint look but did not reply.

However, a closer look would reveal that Xiahuang Shang’s eyes had been fixed on Hong Yu from the very beginning and had never moved away.

...

「Inside the Illusionary Forest.」

Seven people, two camps. Terrifying auras erupted from them simultaneously, clashing with one another.

Vast and mighty, seven powerful auras shot into the sky.

Above their heads, the auras coalesced into what looked like seven great Ancient Wild Beasts. A powerful shockwave exploded outward as they collided, causing the clouds to scatter and the wind to howl like thunder!

Hong Renjie had a grim and cold expression. "Hong Yu, you should be proud that you’ve forced the six of us to join forces!"

"Enough talk. Let’s do this!"

Ling Bingxin said with a frosty expression.

"Jiejie, let’s go then!"

The six reached an agreement almost instantly. With a series of SWISHES, they spread out, surrounding him from six directions.

Feng Xue Xin, who had been forced into the battle, stared at Hong Yu, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. "Junior Brother Hong, be careful!"

Hong Yu nodded slightly. "Don’t worry, Senior Brother Feng!"

"Kill!"

The six attacked at once.

Hong Renjie swung his fists. A blood-red tiger-knuckle ring circled his fingers as he threw a punch, instantly forming a blood-red tiger.

This tiger was a full five meters long and nearly three meters tall.

It opened its massive, bloody maw, its sharp tusks like two rows of daggers, and lunged forward to bite.

Ling Bingxin possessed a rare Frozen Yuan Vein.

Her five fingers clenched. With a flick, streams of blue ice dragons twisted and roared as they charged forward. They intertwined in the air, gathering into a massive storm of ice and snow in the shape of a Divine Dragon that howled as it descended.

Ziyan Wuhen’s attack was even stranger.

A layer of purple flame enveloped his body, making him look like a Purple Fire Demon God. He strode through the air, and with every step that landed on the ground, a blinding flash of fire would erupt, scorching the earth with a SIZZLE and sending up plumes of black smoke.

Each of the six great prodigies had the strength to contend for the True Dragon Demon Fiend Level.

If the six of them joined forces, they probably had the power to tie down even Yao Yueye.

’So every one of you wants me dead, huh? Perfect. I’ll use you to make an example and intimidate the other vultures eyeing this bounty.’

Hong Yu took a deep breath.

The allure of Zhui Yang Ancestor’s sky-high bounty was simply too great!

Even Hong Yu himself couldn’t help but feel a little tempted. A Celestial-Level Primordial Weapon, an Earth-level Technique, one trillion Gold Coins, and even a favor from a dignified Half-step Primordial Embryo Realm powerhouse.

With a reward like this, even some of the older generation’s powerhouses would be tempted to act against him if they knew.

The hardest thing to eliminate in this world is greed!

The only way to completely solve this problem was to kill Zhui Yang Ancestor, which was clearly something the current Hong Yu could not do.

’Since I can’t solve this once and for all, I’ll at least intimidate the powerhouses inside the Land of Trial for now.’

Hong Yu understood his situation as clearly as if looking in a mirror.

He had just devoured the Five Yin Demonic Intent and had to find a place to refine it as soon as possible. Otherwise, this intent, filled with powerful corrosive energy and resentment, would likely cause permanent damage to his body.

What’s more...

Although he was confident he could survive the tournament with his current strength, once it ended and he left the Land of Trial, Zhui Yang Ancestor would surely come after him again. His current power level was clearly insufficient to deal with that potential crisis.

Quickly dealing with the six prodigies’ siege, refining the Five Yin Demonic Intent, and increasing his strength—these were the most urgent matters for Hong Yu.

’I must end this quickly!’

At this thought, the cold light in Hong Yu’s eyes grew even sharper.

He held the Godslaying Spear in his hand and activated Wind Rider with his feet.

His figure moved like a dragon and a tiger!

He dove and stopped abruptly, weaving between the many powerful attacks.

With a horizontal sweep of his spear, golden light shattered the air, forcibly shredding Hong Renjie’s blood-red tiger to pieces.

He spun around for another attack, unleashing a Three Flames Palm that sent a scorching wave of fire rushing out.

A sea of fire spread across the area.

The searing heat caused Ling Bingxin’s Ice Dragon attack to falter, and its descent slowed considerably.

Seizing the opportunity, Hong Yu flashed forward and charged at Ding Zhentian.

’If it weren’t for this man, I would have left this place long ago. I wouldn’t have ended up in such a passive situation.’

Ding Zhentian’s eyes turned cold. He could not forget Hong Yu’s brutal methods from moments before.

"BANG! BANG!"

Under the barrage of fists.

Ding Zhentian’s body shook violently, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Losing the Five Yin Demonic Intent had a more devastating impact on his strength than suppressing it had ever had on Hong Yu.

But Ding Zhentian was a ruthless man.

As he spat blood, a ruthless glint appeared in his eyes. He formed a Hand Seal, and his blood coalesced into eighteen scarlet chains that went "Huhu" as they wound toward Hong Yu.

’What the hell is this stuff?’

Hong Yu’s heart went cold. The blood-red chains had already wrapped around his body, and a wave of paralysis washed over him. Even with the boost from Wind Rider, he was as slow as a snail.

Ding Zhentian’s face was deathly pale as he roared, "He’s been restrained by my Heart and Soul Blood Lock! Hurry up and kill him!"

"Jiejie, I’ve been waiting for this moment!"

Along with a bloodcurdling cackle, a scorching heatwave rolled in. Ziyan Wuhen appeared with a savage expression, smashing a fist toward Hong Yu’s head...