Immortal Martial Emperor

Time was running out. Hong Yu knew this was his last chance.

’This one thought will decide life or death!’

If he could succeed with this final attack and shatter the Array Stele, the Celestial Fire Spirit Burning Array would naturally crumble.

But if he failed...

If he couldn’t destroy the stele this time...

Not only would he be unable to hold on, doomed to a horrible death within the Celestial Fire Spirit Burning Array, but the Wind and Snow Association and the entire Hong Family would perish in a sea of flames alongside him.

He didn’t feel much of a connection to the Hong Family.

The main reason he’d risked coming here was for his master, Bai Yunfeng. He owed everything to the kind, benevolent old man who had not only recognized his potential but had also saved his life.

He let out a long breath.

He stood quietly across from the stele, his eyes narrowed as he gathered his strength for the final, life-or-death blow.

Time continued to slip away until only ten-odd seconds remained. Under the searing heat of the Celestial Fire Spirit Burning Array, a fine sheen of bloody sweat coated Hong Yu’s body. Everyone could see he had reached his limit.

’I was still hesitating about whether to ask Prince Hai Cangtian for help, but who would’ve thought this brat would seek his own death by running into the Celestial Fire Spirit Burning Array. Hah. He really dug his own grave!’

Wang Jiankun’s lips twisted into a cold, sinister smile.

He hated Hong Yu with every fiber of his being.

If Hong Yu hadn’t killed Hong Renjie, which in turn forced the Demon Owl to break out of its Seal in the Forbidden Land, he would have reaped even greater rewards from his deal.

He might have even broken through directly to the Primordial Embryo Realm, becoming the most powerful expert in the Southern Ten Nations.

But Hong Yu’s appearance had thrown all his plans into disarray.

Not only had he lost all his bargaining chips with the Demon Owl, but more importantly, because the creature had escaped and possessed Hong Renjie, he—the great Sect Leader of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect—had been forced to abdicate his position to Hong Renjie.

He’d been reduced to nothing more than Hong Renjie’s loyal dog.

Even though Hong Yu had killed Hong Renjie, destroying the Blood Curse and setting him free...

Wang Jiankun could never forget the endless humiliation he had endured.

This was one of the many reasons Wang Jiankun wanted to kill Hong Yu with his own two hands.

And beyond that...

’The incredible terms Hai Cangtian had promised were another reason Wang Jiankun was willing to take such a risk. As long as I help Prince Hai Cangtian kill Hong Yu and seize his Treasures, His Highness will take me to the Ancient Sea Kingdom. With the resources and heritage of the Ancient Sea Kingdom, I’ll definitely be able to break through to the Primordial Embryo Realm!’

An ecstatic glint danced in Wang Jiankun’s eyes.

All of this happened in a flash.

With only three seconds left, Hong Yu’s eyes snapped open.

A ball of golden light condensed in his palm, upon which was a massive "Luo" rune.

This was none other than the Senluo Seal!

Hong Yu grabbed his right wrist with his left hand and thrust it forward.

VMMMM!

The giant Luo Rune in his palm expanded rapidly.

The Senluo Seal madly devoured the Primordial Gang and the vast reserves of Spiritual Power in Hong Yu’s body. The "Luo" rune swelled, growing until it was ten meters tall.

Hong Yu knew that even at ten meters tall, the Luo Rune Seal was still a far cry from its true form.

However...

Right now, the most he could push it to was twenty meters.

And doing so would leave him in a vulnerable state, his Primordial Gang and Spiritual Power utterly depleted.

’This should be enough!’

Hong Yu thrust his palm forward.

BOOM!

The brilliant golden Senluo Seal tore through the void.

It shot past like a meteor, slamming into the Array Stele with a WHOOSH.

WHOOSH!

The Senluo Seal flashed, piercing straight through the Array Stele.

The golden Luo Rune Seal then faded in the air, its energy depleted, and vanished.

Even though it was only a half-strength Senluo Seal, Hong Yu was already drenched in sweat, gasping for breath.

His eyes were glued to the Array Stele.

And yet...

The Array Stele appeared completely unharmed.

Seeing this, Hong Yu’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Outside the Array.

When the Senluo Seal had appeared, terror had gripped Wang Jiankun’s heart. He couldn’t help but worry the Array Stele would be destroyed.

But now, seeing the apparently undamaged Array Stele, his heart settled. He laughed mockingly. "All thunder and no lightning! Hong Yu, now you die!" With a roar, he formed a Seal Technique, attempting to unleash the full power of the Celestial Fire Spirit Burning Array to annihilate Hong Yu.

However...

Just as Wang Jiankun completed the Seal Technique...

The supposedly undamaged Array Stele began to issue a series of CRACKLING sounds as fine fissures appeared across its surface.

The fissures spread rapidly, covering the stele like a spiderweb.

Jets of black light shot out from every crack, shrouding the Array Stele in a dark glow.

"Wh-what is happening?"

Wang Jiankun’s expression changed dramatically.

Hong Yu, however, let out a long sigh of relief. ’Good. I finally succeeded.’

The moment he finished speaking...

BOOM!

An immense roar suddenly erupted.

The explosion was so powerful it shook the entire Cyan Nether Mountain Range.

At the instant the stele shattered, the tyrannical, rampaging Fire God Illusion let out a furious ROAR. It then began to grow faint and transparent, its three-thousand-meter-tall body shrinking until it vanished completely.

Everyone who witnessed this was stunned into silence!

The fiery glow that had engulfed the Cyan Nether Sword Sect gradually faded. Atop the massive peak, the chains of fire binding Bai Yunfeng and the others shattered and dissipated.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!

A cataclysmic tremor shook the Cyan Nether Mountain Range.

An incredibly terrifying wave of energy, immense and unbelievable, ripped through the mountains. The Cyan Nether Mountain Range began to split apart, starting from its very center.

A massive chasm, hundreds of kilometers long, tore through the Cyan Nether Mountain Range.

It had violently cleaved the entire range in two.

"H-How is this possible?"

Wang Jiankun stared in horror at the cataclysmic scene.

"Huh?"

Zhui Yang Ancestor and Ziyan Ancestor, who had been sitting cross-legged to recuperate, snapped out of their meditation.

Both were stunned by the Heaven-Shattering Earth-Splitting scene before them.

They exchanged a look, then their heads snapped in unison toward the young man standing proudly in the void, their faces masks of horror. "Th-This was Hong Yu’s doing?"

GULP!

They swallowed hard.

’Fear and regret filled their eyes. Dammit, if we’d known, we never would have provoked this monster!’

’Look at this! He even wrecked the Cyan Nether Mountain Range...’

When Zhui Yang Ancestor recalled Hong Yu’s earlier promise—that if he survived, he would pay a visit to their respective sects—his face twitched.

’He couldn’t let his Wind Chasing Sect end up like this!’

"We have to kill him," Zhui Yang Ancestor said, his gaze turning frigid.

Ziyan Ancestor nodded in agreement and turned to Wang Jiankun. "Sect Leader Wang, Hong Yu is at his weakest right now. The three of us must join forces and kill him immediately. If we let him recover, we’ll be the ones to suffer."

Wang Jiankun shuddered and nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, we have to kill him!"

The three shot into the air at once.

Three experts at the Peak of the Primordial Core Realm surrounding Hong Yu—the sight made the faces of the just-freed Bai Yunfeng and the others drain of color.

"Hong Yu, run! All three of them are at the Peak of the Primordial Core Realm! You’re no match for them!" Bai Yunfeng roared.

With bloodshot eyes, he tried to rush forward to help Hong Yu.

But his scapulae had been pierced and bound by a Pipa Lock, and his cultivation was sealed, preventing him from using even a sliver of his power.

Combined with his extreme weakness...

...he collapsed to the ground after taking only a single step.

Ignoring the searing pain in his shoulders, Bai Yunfeng stubbornly lifted his head and looked at Hong Yu. "Hong Yu, don’t throw your life away! Run! Just run!"

"Elder Bai!"

Feng Xue Xin flew over. He fought the urge to pull the weakened Luoo Xiaoguai into his arms and instead moved to help Bai Yunfeng up first.

Bai Yunfeng looked at him, his eyes red. He looked frail and pitiable as he shook Feng Xue Xin’s arm. "Feng Xue Xin, quick! Stop Hong Yu! Those three are all at the Peak of the Primordial Core Realm! You have to make him run! Don’t let him throw his life away...!"

Feng Xue Xin fell silent, looking at the frantic Elder Bai.

He knew Bai Yunfeng’s concern for Hong Yu came from the heart, a bond that went beyond that of a master and disciple and was more akin to the love of family.

Feng Xue Xin said quietly, "Elder Bai, don’t worry. Junior Brother Hong can handle them."

"W-What did you say?"

Bai Yunfeng froze.

Feng Xue Xin offered a small smile and quickly recounted the earlier battle: how the trio, including the Sun and Moon Old Demon, had ambushed Hong Yu, only for the Sun and Moon Old Demon to be killed, and for Zhui Yang Ancestor and Ziyan Ancestor to be hunted by Hong Yu like beaten dogs.

Bai Yunfeng’s eyes went wide with disbelief, and he stared up into the sky.

He still couldn’t believe it.

’In just one year, his disciple... had he really grown this powerful?’

In the void above...

Facing the three titans alone, Hong Yu let out a wild laugh. "Three old dogs! Today, I’ll settle all our debts, new and old!"

The moment he spoke.

Golden light flashed in Hong Yu’s palm. The Godslaying Spear appeared, roaring forward like a golden dragon—a pillar of light that shot through the air with a BOOM.

From the very beginning, Hong Yu held nothing back, unleashing one powerful technique after another.

One Finger Shakes the Heavens and Earth!

Two-Finger Shattering Mountains and Rivers!

Three-Fingered Annihilation of Living Beings!

The Illusion Spirit Spear Technique...

Wave after wave of devastating attacks struck out. Nine Nine Feather Flying Knives materialized around him, spinning and streaking through the air.

Under the relentless barrage of so many sharp, varied attacks...

...even with the three titans working together, they were completely suppressed by Hong Yu.

Hong Yu brought his spear around in a brutal, sweeping downward smash.

Wang Jiankun gripped his longsword with both hands and slashed upward to meet it. As their weapons collided, Hong Yu’s face flushed red and he let out a furious roar. The power of his Eight Desolates Dominating Body surged once more!

BOOM!

Wang Jiankun was smashed into the ground by the force of Hong Yu’s spear.

Next, Hong Yu’s right leg shot out in a vicious kick, striking toward Ziyan Ancestor with a WHOOSH.

The kick landed squarely on Ziyan Ancestor’s old face.

SPLAT!

Nose bleeding and eyes watering, the great Ziyan Ancestor was sent plummeting toward the ground by Hong Yu’s kick.

The last one remaining, Zhui Yang Ancestor, was battered by the Nine Feather Flying Knives. Amidst a series of explosions—BOOM! BOOM!—he screamed again and again, cutting a pathetic figure.

The battle had lasted only a moment, but with Hong Yu fighting with no regard for the energy he was expending, he had managed to completely dominate the three titans.

Such a feat left everyone staring, dumbfounded and in utter disbelief.

Bai Yunfeng swallowed hard, tears of pride and relief streaming down his aged face...

"The heavens have been kind to me! I, Bai Yunfeng, may have lived a mediocre life, but my disciple... he’s truly number one! The absolute best!"