Immortal Martial Emperor

An uproar!

Utter chaos!

When Zhui Yang Old Monster’s voice boomed through the air, every powerhouse in the Illusionary Forest was thrown into a frenzy.

Who was Zhui Yang Old Monster?

He was the Supreme Emperor of the Wind Chasing Kingdom—one of the top three kingdoms in the Southern Ten Nations—and the Supreme Elder of the Wind Chasing Sect!

A mighty powerhouse at the Half-step Primordial Embryo Realm, his terrifying strength placed him among the absolute pinnacle of experts in the Southern Ten Nations.

Though no one knew how Zhui Yang Old Monster had appeared in the Illusionary Forest, they were certain of one thing: this astronomical bounty was from the man himself, and absolutely not a fake.

This was because at the moment the bounty was announced, every powerhouse in the Illusionary Forest felt a stir in their soul.

It was a soul oath made by Zhui Yang Old Monster, one that had been recognized by the Martial Dao itself!

’One trillion Gold Coins? A Celestial-Level Lower-Grade Primordial Weapon, an Earth-Level High-Grade Martial Skill, and a favor from a Half-step Primordial Embryo Realm powerhouse?’

’Damn it, if I can kill Hong Yu and get those treasures, my strength will soar! I could even contend for a True Dragon Position!’

’Forget everything else, just the favor from a Half-step Primordial Embryo Realm expert, the Zhui Yang Ancestor, would be enough for me to run roughshod over the Southern Ten Nations!’

’But Hong Yu is no pushover. I’d better find some allies to work with.’

’Hong Yu might be strong, but if enough of us team up, he’s dead for sure, even if he had three heads and six arms!’

Countless powerhouses were tempted by the astronomical bounty.

Money makes the world go ’round.

And what’s more...

The chips Zhui Yang Old Monster had thrown on the table weren’t just money; they were status, strength, and power.

Faced with such temptations, the vast majority of powerhouses were drawn in.

Even the aloof and prideful geniuses couldn’t help but reveal their greed in the face of such a frighteningly high bounty...

Ziyan Wuhen licked the corner of his mouth, his eyes flashing with fervent desire. "Ten thousand Gold Coins is nothing special, but that Celestial-Level Primordial Weapon and Earth-level High-Grade cultivation technique are the real prizes. If I had those two, I’d even have the confidence to take on Yao Yueye!"

’But Hong Yu is no weakling.’

Ziyan Wuhen rubbed his nose in frustration. Suddenly, a grim look crossed his face. ’I could try and find Ling Bingxin. If she agrees to team up with me, taking down Hong Yu would be a sure thing!’

In a dense part of the woods...

A black aura, thick with the stench of death, coiled around a young man like the chains of the Death God himself. Wherever this necrotic energy passed, flowers, grass, and trees withered into rot and decay.

A pungent, nose-wrinkling odor spread through the air.

At the young man’s feet lay the unmoving corpse of a massive bear, seven or eight meters tall.

It was an Earth Demon Bear, a beast whose power was comparable to a Late-stage Primordial Core Realm powerhouse.

Thick skin, tough flesh, and high defense were the hallmarks of the Earth Demon Bear. Compounding this, they were cunning creatures that liked to camouflage themselves to deceive opponents before launching a sudden attack. For these reasons, an Earth Demon Bear was rarely killed.

But now, a bloody hole half a meter wide gaped in the Earth Demon Bear’s chest, fresh red blood still pouring out.

Its heart had been ripped from its cavity and now hung grotesquely from the wound.

The black aura from the young man swirled around the bear’s corpse. Instantly, the massive body shriveled as if desiccated, and the black aura visibly grew stronger.

The young man narrowed his eyes and gazed into the sky. "Tsk, tsk. What on earth did this Hong Yu do to make Zhui Yang Old Monster angry enough to put such an astronomical bounty on his head? Heh heh heh, my Five Yin Demon Prison Technique has just improved. This is the perfect chance to test it out. A Celestial-Level Primordial Weapon... If I could bring that back to the Hall Master, it would be a monumental contribution!"

His body enveloped in the black aura, the young man moved like a wisp of dark smoke carried on the wind.

Within a canyon, the air was filled with the singing of birds and the fragrance of flowers.

A young man with a longsword strapped to his back stood quietly, his calm gaze surveying his surroundings. He raised a hand slightly and uttered a single word, "Disperse."

HUMMM!

With a soft wave of his hand, the idyllic scenery of singing birds and fragrant flowers dissolved away.

Not far in front of him, a stone emitting a peculiar fragrance shimmered with a five-colored light. Resting atop this stone was a golden key.

The young man waved his hand, and the key flew into his grasp. He glanced at the character for "Two" inscribed on it and nodded slightly. ’Key obtained. Now to leave the Illusionary Forest. I wonder if Hong Yu got his key... Heh, Yao Yueye, oh Yao Yueye, has one failure really made you so wary of this man?’

As he thought this, Yao Yueye put the key away and prepared to depart.

Just then, Zhui Yang Old Monster’s voice echoed from the sky. Yao Yueye frowned. ’Why is Zhui Yang Old Monster here? Could it be... Hong Yu killed Zhui Ri? Interesting, very interesting. In that case, there’s no need to rush off. Plenty of people will be moved to action by a bounty like this. I wonder if Hong Yu can survive this ordeal?’

With that thought, he rode a beam of Sword Aura and shot straight up into the clouds.

Not far from the valley, in a stretch of swamp...

Hong Renjie stood with his arms crossed, watching a beleaguered Feng Xue Xin navigate the swamp. The man narrowly avoided one danger after another, finally snatching his key from the clutches of a swamp monster.

A peculiar expression played on his face. ’Feng Xue Xin’s talent is truly terrifying. Back on the Path of Heart Refinement, the speed at which he comprehended that puppet’s moves was in no way inferior to Yao Yueye’s. But what does it matter how amazing he is? He’s still under my control, isn’t he? Heh heh heh!’

Feng Xue Xin finally made it back from the swamp and handed the key to Hong Renjie.

Hong Renjie nodded, satisfied.

Just then, the Zhui Yang Ancestor’s voice drifted down from the sky.

"Junior Brother Hong?"

Feng Xue Xin snapped his head up, his eyes flashing with shock and uncertainty.

Hong Renjie paused, noticing the change in Feng Xue Xin’s demeanor, and sneered, "What’s this? Worried about that junior brother of yours?"

"I wouldn’t dare!"

Feng Xue Xin quickly lowered his head.

But his downcast eyes betrayed a flicker of worry, as well as a cold glint.

Hong Renjie stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I was just wondering how I should deal with Hong Yu, and to think he’d bring such a massive disaster down on his own head. Heh heh heh... a Celestial-Level Primordial Weapon... even I’m tempted to make a move now!"

"Feng Xue Xin, let’s go watch how your precious little Junior Brother Hong gets himself hunted down and killed!"

Hong Renjie roared with laughter and led the way.

Feng Xue Xin’s expression darkened, his heart pounding with anxiety and worry. ’Junior Brother Hong, you have to be alright!’

...

By a dry riverbed.

Having absorbed the True Martial Arts Intent of the Three-legged Fiery Firebird, Hong Yu’s body was now enveloped in a faint red glow.

Combined with the golden radiance of his circulating Eight Desolates Saint Slaying Technique, he was bathed in a mixture of gold and red light.

WHOOSH... HAAA...

With each cycle of his breathing technique, Hong Yu’s chest rose and fell.

As his muscles contracted and relaxed, they seemed to brew a potent energy. The red True Martial Arts Intent of the Three-legged Fiery Firebird was apparently still struggling, rampaging within Hong Yu’s body.

However...

Hong Yu’s Eight Desolates Saint Slaying Technique had already formed a Golden Battle Axe. It swung down with a mighty crash, cleaving the rebellious firebird intent into several pieces. The golden radiance then pounced, swallowing the fragments and beginning to devour and refine them.

It merged into his body.

WHOOSH!

The long exhalation condensed into two jets of scorching air.

Hong Yu slowly opened his eyes, which shone with excitement and elation. ’I never imagined the Eight Desolates Saint Slaying Technique would gain such a powerful ability after reaching the Eighth Transformation! The Eight Desolates Dominating Body, capable of devouring True Martial Arts Intent... how domineering! I now possess three types of True Martial Arts Intent: the Fire Element True Intent, the Vibrating Rune Technique, and the Wind Vortex.’

Normally, once a Martial Artist comprehends a single True Martial Arts Intent and their cultivation reaches the Peak of the Celestial Soul Realm, they will choose to break through to the Primordial Core Realm.

Some geniuses, however, choose to comprehend multiple True Martial Arts Intents before making their breakthrough.

But even True Dragons like Ziyan Wuhen and Ling Bingxin only comprehended around three Intents before they advanced to the Primordial Core Realm.

Hong Yu now had three True Martial Arts Intents; he was fully capable of advancing to the Primordial Core Realm.

It was just that...

’The Eight Desolates Dominating Body is capable of containing eight different True Martial Arts Intents. Add to that my two original Intents, and that makes for a full ten. If I could actually gather ten before breaking through to the Primordial Core Realm, that would be absolutely insane! But unfortunately...’

His excitement fading, Hong Yu sighed. ’How difficult would it be to possess ten True Martial Arts Intents? The only way would be to kill other Martial Artists who have comprehended them and seize their Intents, but I’m not willing to go around indiscriminately slaughtering the innocent. Oh well, I’ll just let nature take its course.’

With that thought, Hong Yu slowly got to his feet.

Suddenly, he heard the sharp WHOOSH of something cutting through the air behind him.

Instantly on alert, Hong Yu pushed off the ground and dodged to the side.

THUD! THUD!

Two sharp arrows struck the spot where Hong Yu had just been standing.

Hong Yu frowned and glared toward the trees. "What kind of coward shoots arrows from the dark? Show yourself!"

"Hahaha! As expected of the man the Zhui Yang Ancestor wants dead for an astronomical price. Hong Yu, you’re not half bad!"

Five figures burst out from the trees with a rush of air.

Hong Yu didn’t recognize any of the five young powerhouses. Four were at the Late-stage Celestial Soul Realm, and their leader was an Early-stage Primordial Core Realm expert.

It was, without a doubt, a powerful combination.

Hong Yu frowned at the five men. "Who are you? Why did you attack me?"

"Hahaha, are you really that clueless, or are you just pretending?"

The leader, the Early-stage Primordial Core Realm expert, sneered. "The Zhui Yang Ancestor issued an astronomical bounty to every powerhouse in the Illusionary Forest. Whoever kills you gets one trillion Gold Coins, a Celestial-Level Primordial Weapon, and an Earth-level High-Grade cultivation technique. Heh heh, I bet you didn’t even know your own head was worth so much, did you?"

"An astronomical bounty?"

Hong Yu was taken aback.

He had vaguely heard the Zhui Yang Ancestor say something to that effect earlier, but he had been at a critical juncture in absorbing the True Martial Arts Intent and hadn’t paid attention. He never expected this was what the old man had meant.

An astronomical bounty... on his head?

’That old dog is really willing to spare no expense.’

Hong Yu muttered to himself before looking at the men and shaking his head. "I admit, the bounty is tempting. But the five of you are no match for me. I don’t wish to kill needlessly. Leave now, and I’ll pretend this never happened."

"Hahaha! You’ve got some nerve!"

"Let me tell you something. Every single person in this forest is looking for you right now, hoping to kill you and claim that bounty. We’re not about to give up!"

"Heh heh, with us brothers working together, you’ll have to surrender even if you had the power of a True Dragon!"

"Enough talk, brothers! Let’s do this! Kill him, and riches and glory will be ours!"

He watched the five men charge at him, their faces radiating killing intent.

Hong Yu felt their resolve and their chilling killing intent. He let out a soft sigh. "Since you insist on forcing my hand, then you have only yourselves to blame."

The words had barely left his lips when Hong Yu activated Wind Rider and vanished in a flash.

Lightning crackled in his hand.

A Thunder Blade screamed through the air and, with a sickening squelch, cut one of them down.

His hands were now stained with blood, but his eyes held not a shred of pity.

After learning of the astronomical bounty, he understood that reaping this one life was merely...

...the beginning of the slaughter.

A storm of blood and viscera was sure to follow.

[Author’s Note: I’m from Lishui. If you’ve been watching the news, you’ll know about the floods. The power is out in my neighborhood, so I’m writing this update from an internet cafe. The water has flooded my house, so I have to go back and help with an all-night cleanup. I can only release two Chapters today. Natural disasters are unpredictable. Please pray for everyone in Lishui!]