Immortal Martial Emperor

Hong Yu watched Xiahuang Shang quietly.

These two questions had troubled him for quite some time.

He was especially curious about the title of "Heaven-Transforming Realm genius." While he’d heard the term before and knew it ranged from the First Transformation of Heaven Realm at the lowest to the Seventh Transformation Realm for the greatest prodigies, he was completely in the dark about the specific criteria for these divisions.

As for True Dragon Martial Fortune, that was a brand-new term he had only just heard from Yuan Cang.

He never liked leaving questions unanswered.

Xiahuang Shang laughed. "So that’s what you’re asking about. Very well, I shall explain it to you. The talent levels of Heaven-Transforming Realm geniuses are divided from the First to the Seventh Heaven. The specific distinction is actually very simple."

"Take Yao Yueye, for instance. Although he’s at the Mid-stage Primordial Core Realm, he’s capable of leaping realms to slay a cultivator at the Peak of the Primordial Core Realm. However, doing so would come at a significant cost. On the other hand, he could kill a Late-stage Primordial Core Realm powerhouse and walk away unscathed."

Xiahuang Shang explained, "Therefore, Yao Yueye is a First Heaven True Dragon Demon Fiend, approaching the Second Heaven."

"As for you... you’re a bit harder to define."

Xiahuang Shang looked at Hong Yu with a helpless expression.

Hong Yu’s cultivation is only at the Early-stage Primordial Core Realm, yet he can slay Late-stage Primordial Core Realm powerhouses. Logically, that should make him a Second Transformation Heavenly True Dragon.

However, he didn’t kill that Late-stage Primordial Core Realm powerhouse with ease, so he can only barely be considered a First Heaven, approaching the Second Heaven Transformation Realm.

But the problem is...

...just now, Hong Yu managed to defeat Yao Yueye, and Yao Yueye is someone who can, at his best, kill a powerhouse at the Peak of the Primordial Core Realm.

By that logic, Hong Yu would seem to be at the Third Heaven Realm.

But you can’t really count it that way. After all, defeating someone isn’t the same as killing them. After weighing all the facts, Xiahuang Shang concluded that Hong Yu was a First Heaven True Dragon, approaching the Second Heaven Transformation Realm.

"Your Highness, you mean to say that the level of a Heaven-Transforming Realm genius is determined by their ability to kill enemies of a higher realm with ease?" Hong Yu asked.

"Strictly speaking, the calculation starts from the Primordial Core Realm. Before that realm, the difference in combat strength between Martial Artists isn’t strongly tied to talent."

Xiahuang Shang corrected him, then pointed to himself. "Take me, for example. Although I am only at the Mid-stage Primordial Embryo Realm, I can easily slay a Late-stage Primordial Spirit Realm powerhouse. Therefore, I am at the Fifth Heaven Realm!"

He then pointed to Hai Cangtian. "Prince Hai is also a Fifth Transformation Heavenly True Dragon. However, he is at the Late-stage Primordial Embryo Realm and can easily slay even a powerhouse at the Peak of the Primordial Spirit Realm!"

Hong Yu sucked in a sharp breath.

He finally understood why the Netherworld Mansion Master had said that among the countless geniuses in the Southern Border Profound Domain, he probably wouldn’t even rank in the top million.

’With my own strength, even with the help of the Senluo Seal, the most I could do is probably kill someone at the Peak of the Primordial Core Realm, and only seriously injure someone at the Early-stage Primordial Embryo Realm. But Xiahuang Shang and Hai Cangtian, with their Primordial Embryo Realm cultivation, can easily leap five minor realms to kill Primordial Spirit powerhouses. Of course... and that’s just what they can do with ease. If they went all out, the level of the experts they could kill would be even higher! And they’re only at the Fifth Heaven Realm. There’s still the Sixth and Seventh Heaven above that. Just imagine... A Seventh Heaven genius could probably leap two entire major realms to kill a powerful foe with ease!’

GULP!

Even Yao Yueye and the others, who already had some knowledge of Heaven-Transforming Realm geniuses, couldn’t help but swallow hard.

Xiahuang Shang continued, "As for True Dragon Martial Fortune, that’s a wonderful thing. If I had to describe it, you could think of it as a unique type of energy that specifically serves to improve a Martial Artist’s talent and strength, and can even alter their physical constitution!"

"Improve talent?" Hong Yu was startled.

Xiahuang Shang nodded. "That’s right. Ordinary Spiritual Qi can increase one’s strength, but as for talent... unless you find some rare Heaven and Earth’s Treasured Fruit, there’s no other way. True Dragon Martial Fortune is one of those rare exceptions. Every Heaven-Transforming Realm genius can absorb True Dragon Martial Fortune from the Dragon Sealing Platform."

"The True Dragon Martial Fortune for a First Transformation of Heaven Realm genius is generally one to ten zhang in size; for the Second Heaven Realm, it’s eleven to twenty zhang; for the Third Heaven Realm, twenty-one to thirty, and so on..."

As Xiahuang Shang spoke, a tower slowly materialized behind him, standing a full forty-seven zhang tall.

This forty-seven-zhang tower was filled with a thick, golden energy, so majestic and heavy that it was intimidating to even look at.

Xiahuang Shang said, "This is the Martial Fortune Tower, condensed from my True Dragon Martial Fortune. Once you have absorbed your own, you too will form a similar tower!"

With that, Xiahuang Shang withdrew his Martial Fortune Tower.

Meanwhile...

Jian Chen pumped his fists in excitement. "A Martial Fortune Tower... so badass! I wonder how big mine will be..."

He blinked, then noticed Feng Xue Xin’s indifferent expression and frowned. "Hey, foodie, aren’t you the least bit curious how tall your Martial Fortune Tower will be?"

Feng Xue Xin shot him a look and said flatly, "What’s the point of a tall Martial Fortune Tower? Can you eat it?"

Jian Chen’s face twitched. "..." ’Trying to talk to a foodie about anything other than food is just asking for it!’

"Hong Yu, let’s have a competition! We’ll see whose Martial Fortune Tower is taller!" said Yao Yueye.

Hong Yu glanced at him and laughed. "Alright, let’s do it!"

Seeing that everyone was ready, Xiahuang Shang waved his hand, manipulating the nine Azure Dragon Stone Pillars on the Nine Dragon Platform to converge in the center.

RUMBLE!

The nine Azure Dragon Stone Pillars merged into one, and a massive cavern slowly appeared at its peak.

Within the cavern, clusters of golden light swirled about.

Xiahuang Shang announced, "This is the True Dragon Martial Fortune gathered by your Southern Ten Nations. The four of you may enter and absorb it. Remember: do so in moderation and according to your own capacity. Do not be greedy, or it will backfire!"

"Yes!"

The four nodded in succession.

They then flew toward the Martial Fortune Cave.

One by one, they entered the cave, disappearing into the vast ocean of Martial Fortune.

As the Martial Fortune washed over them, all fatigue was swept away from Hong Yu and the others. Even their injuries began to heal under the nourishment of the True Dragon Martial Fortune, and they were filled with a vibrant vitality.

Their minds became crystal clear, and naturally, excitement began to build.

Hong Yu took a deep breath and sat cross-legged within the River of Martial Fortune. ’I’m about to find out just how tall of a Martial Fortune Tower I can build!’

Hong Yu slowly closed his eyes and began to absorb the energy with abandon.

Yao Yueye, Feng Xue Xin, and Jian Chen were all greedily absorbing it as well.

As they absorbed the True Dragon Martial Fortune, a golden tower began to slowly form behind each of the three of them.

Yao Yueye’s tower, in particular, shot straight up to nine zhang before slowing. It continued to grow steadily toward ten zhang, and by the looks of it, would likely break past eleven zhang to reach the Second Heaven Realm.

Jian Chen’s Martial Fortune Tower began to slow after reaching five zhang.

However, judging by its rate of growth, it would probably reach the nine-zhang height Yao Yueye had started at.

It was worth noting that Jian Chen was only fifteen, two years younger than even Hong Yu.

In a few more years, he would undoubtedly become another Yao Yueye, perhaps even rivaling Hong Yu at the same age.

The most surprising of the three, however, was Feng Xue Xin.

His Martial Fortune Tower shot straight up to eight zhang.

From the looks of it, he too would likely surpass ten zhang and become another prodigy of the Second Heaven Realm.

And then there was Hong Yu...

While he was absorbing the True Dragon Martial Fortune, he felt a stir from the Profound Celestial Tower within him.

Hong Yu had asked Little One about it before, but received no explanation.

That greedy and lazy Tower God seemed to be slacking off again.

Hong Yu could only rely on himself.

As he absorbed the True Dragon Martial Fortune, the tower behind him grew steadily, reaching ten zhang in height—already surpassing Yao Yueye.

As he absorbed the True Dragon Martial Fortune and his tower took shape, Hong Yu felt a certain energy quietly awakening within his body. Unfortunately, the energy was so elusive that he couldn’t get a handle on it.

Left with no other choice, he began to devour the True Dragon Martial Fortune even more frantically.

The Martial Fortune Tower behind him shot upwards at an astonishing speed.

Eleven zhang...

Twelve zhang...

Thirteen zhang...

Before he knew it, the Martial Fortune Tower behind him had grown to a massive fifteen zhang, and its speed had barely diminished.

It looked as though he would soon form a tower over twenty zhang tall, sending the spectators outside the Nine Dragon Platform into a state of excited uproar.

The corner of Xiahuang Shang’s eye twitched. He muttered, ’Holy shit, this is just monstrous, isn’t it? I may be at the Fifth Heaven Realm, but back in the day, it took me a full twenty-four hours to reach twenty zhang, and two whole months to reach forty-seven. How long has it been for Hong Yu? He started from nothing and he’s already at fifteen zhang?’

’No, wait... in just this short time, he’s already at sixteen zhang?’

Xiahuang Shang felt like he was seeing things.

Hai Cangtian was equally incredulous.

He frowned deeply, his mind racing with a profound sense of worry. ’This is bad. The more brilliantly this guy performs, the more attention Xiahuang Shang will give him. If Hong Yu’s Martial Fortune Tower surpasses twenty zhang, Xiahuang Shang might just decide to take him to the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom through the Transmission Channel, no matter the cost. That would make things very difficult...’

Sharing Hai Cangtian’s distress and worry were Wang Jiankun and the Zhui Yang Ancestor.

The two exchanged a glance, a deep sense of unease passing between them.

"Damn it, this little bastard is a monster, isn’t he?" the Zhui Yang Ancestor said sullenly. "If this keeps up, I’m afraid it won’t be long before even you and I are no match for him."

A grim coldness flashed in Wang Jiankun’s eyes. "No matter what, as soon as this tournament is over, we move forward with the plan. We have to get rid of him as soon as possible. Otherwise, neither of us will ever know a moment’s peace."

The two exchanged a nod.

Their killing intent toward Hong Yu intensified.

However...

But what no one expected was that just as the Martial Fortune Tower behind Hong Yu reached twenty zhang...

...his body suddenly gave a slight tremble. Hong Yu’s eyes snapped open, flashing with unease and bewildered shock.

Something shocking and unexpected was happening to him!