Immortal Martial Emperor

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

Feng Xue Xin’s figure slowly emerged from the ice.

Snowflakes constantly flew about him, circling his body several times before all of them converged back inside him.

Feng Xue Xin smoothed his slightly messy blue hair and smiled faintly. "Hong Renjie, do we really need to resort to tricks like playing dead? Come on out!"

"Hahahaha..."

A burst of wanton and wild laughter suddenly erupted on the fighting ring.

A twenty-meter-tall iceberg exploded with a BOOM, sending a chilling wind filled with shards of ice and snow swirling into the air. Amidst the hazy blizzard, a white figure flashed past and landed in front of Feng Xue Xin.

This person was none other than Hong Renjie!

His clothes were slightly torn and his hair was quite messy, but his aura showed no major fluctuations.

Feng Xue Xin’s Celestial Soul Power, "Frozen Heaven and Earth," had clearly failed to inflict any severe injuries on Hong Renjie.

The moment Hong Renjie landed before Feng Xue Xin, he let out a triumphant sneer. "Feng Xue Xin, oh, Feng Xue Xin. Three years ago, we fought for countless rounds, and in the end, I lost to you by a mere three moves. For these past three years, not a moment has gone by that I haven’t dreamed of getting my revenge. Today, it’s finally my turn!"

SWISH!

Hong Renjie raised his hands, a Thunder Spear forming in each of his palms.

"Die!"

He struck out with both hands simultaneously.

Two sharp Thunder Spears, powerful enough to pierce mountains, shot toward Feng Xue Xin in an instant.

SWISH!

Feng Xue Xin gave a light wave of his hand.

A hazy mist of snow coalesced before him, forming a hand of ice and snow that viciously grabbed for the two Thunder Spears. In its grasp, the frenzied Thunder Elemental Power on the spears gradually calmed and quieted, and their flight slowed more and more.

Just as they were about to strike Feng Xue Xin, they came to a complete stop.

The hand of ice and snow glowed with a faint blue light, and a layer of frost formed over the Thunder Spears.

"I said it before: as long as you could withstand Frozen Heaven and Earth without being defeated, this fight would be your win! Congratulations, Hong Renjie!" Feng Xue Xin said with a wide grin.

It was not an act, not a fake smile—it was from the heart!

He yawned, turned, and started walking off the ring, muttering as he went, "Should I keep that Red Jade Tyrannosaurus as a mount? Or should I just butcher it and eat it? Ugh, what a tough decision..."

Hong Renjie: "..."

Li Tie: "..."

Everyone stared at each other, speechless. "..."

"Wh-What’s going on?"

"Feng Xue Xin clearly had the upper hand. Why did he just give up like that?"

"He’s probably afraid of an embarrassing loss!"

"What do you know? This is the true style of a master!"

Everyone had their own opinion.

But Feng Xue Xin seemed oblivious, still lost in the dilemma of whether to eat the Red Jade Tyrannosaurus or keep it as a mount!

Seeing the confusion on Hong Yu’s face, a slight, inexplicable smile appeared on Tie Shou’s resolute features. "That’s just Brother Xin’s personality. As long as you don’t cross his bottom line, he doesn’t care about anything. He seems thoughtless and carefree, but in reality, he holds everyone he approves of dear to his heart. It’s this sincerity that makes all of us brothers in the Wind and Snow Association willing to follow him!"

Hong Yu nodded.

A newfound respect filled his gaze as he looked at Feng Xue Xin. After all, not everyone could disregard a vainglorious title like First True Disciple.

While some admired Feng Xue Xin’s magnanimity, others were naturally enraged and contemptuous.

Hong Renjie’s expression was incredibly dark as he roared, "Feng Xue Xin, you’re insulting me! I, Hong Renjie, don’t need you to let me win! I want to defeat you with my own hands and take the position of First True Disciple. Get back here!"

For this day, Hong Renjie had waited three long years.

Every day and night for those three years, he had fantasized, looked forward to this day, when he could defeat Feng Xue Xin fair and square.

But when Feng Xue Xin simply handed the fruits of victory to him, Hong Renjie felt not excitement or joy, but shame.

He struck out in anger, fast as a thunderclap. With a BOOM, a Thunder Sword shot forward.

"Watch out!"

The crowd below shouted a warning.

Without turning his head, Feng Xue Xin’s footwork shifted slightly. As if treading upon the myriad stars of the heavens, he moved along a profound trajectory, and his figure vanished with a WHOOSH.

The Thunder Sword pierced through the ring’s Defensive Array with a BANG and shot toward the crowd below.

"Get lost!"

The Thunder Sword was aimed right at Hong Yu. Hong Yu’s brow twitched coldly.

SWISH!

He crossed his hands before his chest. The lines on his palms vibrated, and a wave of Vibrating Power billowed from his fist. Under the vibrations of his Vibrating Rune Technique, the sharp Thunder Sword’s speed dropped abruptly, as if it had flown into thick mud. Then, fine cracks began to spread across its surface.

With a muffled BANG, the Thunder Sword suddenly shattered and disintegrated.

’Huh? Is this the True Martial Arts Intent that Hong Yu comprehended? It’s certainly something special.’ Li Tie witnessed all this, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Comprehending True Martial Arts Intent was an extremely rare feat in the entire Southern Ten Nations.

You could even say...

If news that Hong Yu had comprehended True Martial Arts Intent were to spread, the sects of the other nine kingdoms in the Southern Ten Nations Alliance would be shaken, perhaps even to the point of losing sleep!

Feng Xue Xin’s figure reappeared beside Hong Yu. He gave Hong Yu a surprised look and chuckled. "Your techniques are truly incredible, kid!"

"You praise me too much, Senior Brother Feng!"

Hong Yu said with a modest smile.

Feng Xue Xin shook his head, then looked toward the ring. "Hong Renjie, I’ve already conceded. What more do you want?"

"Get your ass back up here and fight me fair and square," Hong Renjie said, his eyes bloodshot.

Feng Xue Xin shrugged. "I’ve already conceded, so of course I’m not going back up! Come on, Hong Renjie, you’re not a child anymore. Stop being so willful and come on down!"

"You... you..."

Hong Renjie’s face turned red with anger.

’What does he mean, I’m not a child anymore, stop being so willful?’

Feng Xue Xin was clearly speaking like an elder scolding a junior. How could the proud and arrogant Hong Renjie possibly bear it?

Hong Yu couldn’t help but chuckle from the side.

’This Feng Xue Xin’s words are just too savage!’

Hong Renjie was burning with fury, but since Feng Xue Xin had already conceded, it would be beneath him to press the attack. Yet the resentment in his heart had nowhere to go; he felt like he was about to explode. His eyes, filled with venomous, blood-red light, swept back and forth before suddenly landing on Hong Yu.

Hong Yu was still mulling over Feng Xue Xin’s words, a faint smile on his face.

’That bastard, he dares to laugh at me?’

A muscle in Hong Renjie’s cheek twitched.

He already had an old grudge with Hong Yu, and now new hatred was piled on top of old.

Fuming with rage, Hong Renjie glared and roared through clenched teeth, "Hong Yu, I challenge you! If you have any guts, get up here and fight!"

"Get up here and fight!"

"And fight!"

"Fight..."

His voice, filled with rage, boomed like a great bell, creating a soul-stirring echo.

"What? Hong Renjie is challenging Hong Yu?"

The Fourth Elder and Fifth Elder exchanged a glance, both revealing gloating smiles. The Fourth Elder said sinisterly, "Jie jie, Renjie has done well! That brat Hong Yu is too arrogant. Getting lucky and winning the first two rounds has already inflated his confidence to an unbearable degree. Now that Renjie is making a move, he’s sure to beat that arrogance out of him."

The Fifth Elder nodded, a vicious glint in his eyes. "I hope Renjie shows no mercy. It would be best if he crippled him directly. I can’t rest easy as long as this brat is around."

Their conversation was completely blatant, without any attempt at concealment.

The Third Elder, Hong Tianduan, frowned as he listened. ’With Hong Renjie’s methods, if Hong Yu really fights him, he definitely won’t show any mercy. Hong Yu, oh, Hong Yu, whatever you do, don’t rashly agree to his challenge!’

On the fighting ring, Li Tie asked, "Hong Yu, are you willing to accept Hong Renjie’s challenge?" As he spoke, his expression was somewhat complicated.

Although Hong Yu was a Celestial Pride Son who had comprehended True Martial Arts Intent and would surely become a powerful asset to the Cyan Nether Sword Sect if properly cultivated...

...Hong Renjie’s status was also extraordinary.

It wasn’t just because of his talent, but also because of a secret connected to him. This secret afforded Hong Renjie an extremely high status within the Cyan Nether Sword Sect. As long as he didn’t betray the Sect or break its rules wantonly, not even the Sword Sect Master would punish him too severely.

Moreover, he was now challenging Hong Yu through official channels.

Li Tie had no grounds to stop it.

He smiled bitterly to himself and muttered, ’All I can do is stay vigilant and intervene to save Hong Yu before he’s killed. A genius who has comprehended True Martial Arts Intent... If it weren’t for Hong Renjie...唉, what a waste of Hong Yu’s talent...’

"Hong Yu, if you’re a man, get up here and fight!" Hong Renjie declared from his high perch, looking down on Hong Yu.

Contemptuous and arrogant.

It was as if simply deigning to challenge Hong Yu was a great honor he was bestowing.

Below the ring, Hong Yu lifted his chin slightly, his narrowed eyes fixed on Hong Renjie. The corners of his lips pulled into a faint, roguish arc.

’Once, when I first entered the Cyan Nether Sword Sect, I should have been able to enter the inner sect directly. But because of a single word from Hong Renjie, my name was forcefully erased from the list.’

’Back then, I was powerless to resist!’

’I still remember when Hong Long appeared at the Mountain Gate, crushing me with the pressure of his aura. He looked down on me from on high, proclaiming, "I am stronger than you!"’

’Back then, I was powerless to resist!’

’After entering the Sword Sect, first came Chen Xing’s harassment, then Shi Tao’s venomous schemes, and then the suppression and framing in the ruins of the Eight Desolates Mansion.’

’Back then, I was still powerless to resist!’

’Even during the promotion tournament, the faction led by Hong Renjie never gave up on targeting and making things difficult for me. Open plots, secret schemes, endless tricks—they used every means possible against me. And now, Hong Renjie has openly challenged me in front of hundreds of thousands of people.’

’He’s trying to use me as a punching bag to vent his frustrations, trying to cast me into a bottomless abyss.’

’But this time...’

’...I am no longer powerless to resist!’

Hong Yu walked slowly toward the fighting ring. A cyan light flickered in his left eye. The corners of his lips curved slightly upward in an unyielding and defiant arc. He met Hong Renjie’s gaze and spoke, his voice calm but firm...

"You want a fight? Then I’ll give you one!"