Immortal Martial Emperor

Hong Yu froze, his eyes, burning with cold fury, snapping toward the main gate.

As Hong Yu watched, Hong Renjie’s figure slowly emerged from the gateway.

Hong Renjie was dressed in black robes today. He regarded Hong Yu with a smirk, showing no surprise or confusion at his arrival. Instead, he exuded the calm composure of one who had everything under control.

It was as if he had expected Hong Yu to follow him here all along.

"Hong! Ren! Jie!"

When mortal enemies meet, their hatred burns brightest. Hong Yu’s eyes were bloodshot. With a peerless strike, his Godslaying Spear cut through the air, its golden brilliance dazzling in the night.

Hong Yu had harbored a murderous intent toward Hong Renjie ever since Tie Shou had returned with a severed arm, with Gao Zijie’s fate unknown, and Liu Liyun tragically poisoned.

That killing intent had only grown after he witnessed the miserable fate of the Third Elder, who had always been so fond of him. The rage in his heart was like dynamite with a lit fuse, ready to explode at any moment.

And then... when he saw Feng Xue Xin arrive bearing the finger of their master, White Cloud Peak, and saw how even the once-dashing Feng Xue Xin’s personality had been warped, he could barely contain the murderous rage surging within him like a fountain.

But he had suppressed it all this time, not wanting to alert his enemy.

Now, seeing Hong Renjie, that lit fuse reached its end. The pent-up fury in his heart erupted completely.

"Hong Renjie, I’ll take your life!"

The Godslaying Spear pulsed with a sharp Spear Aura, its golden brilliance flared, and a terrifying force surged forward.

Such a fierce attack clearly startled Hong Renjie for a moment.

His scarlet tongue darted out to lick the corner of his lips, a frosty glint in his eyes. "Well now, little whelp. To think you’ve reached this level in just one year. If I let you keep growing, perhaps even I won’t be a match for you."

A fiery greed surged in Hong Renjie’s heart. ’That Treasure must be on him. Heh heh heh, once I kill him, the Treasure will be mine. After I master it and return to the Desert North Wilderness, I might even be able to contend for the position of Hall Master!’

At this thought, a blood-red demonic palm materialized at Hong Renjie’s side.

The demonic palm was covered in thick, blood-red Scale Armor. Radiating a monstrous aura and immense power, it shot in from the side with a BANG, viciously clamping down on the Godslaying Spear.

VMMMM!

Hong Yu’s forward charge came to an abrupt halt.

The Godslaying Spear, caught in Hong Renjie’s blood-red hand, was completely immobilized.

"Heh heh heh... Hong Yu, if this is all you’ve got, then you might as well lie down and die!" Hong Renjie sneered.

Hong Yu snorted, offering no rebuttal. A faint blue light flickered in his eyes. "Seal, release—War God’s Burning Blood!"

With a mighty roar, the fist-sized, blood-red, coiling dragon design on the Godslaying Spear began to emit a ring of crimson light.

The crimson light swirled, spreading from the spear and crawling up Hong Yu’s arm.

In the blink of an eye... the red energy had completely enveloped his arm.

As the crimson energy stained his arm, Hong Yu’s first sensation was warmth, quickly followed by scorching heat.

It felt as though a raging fire had poured into his body, making his blood boil and his fighting spirit soar!

This was the first Spirit Array Rune bestowed by the Godslaying Spear after its First Layer Seal was undone—War God’s Burning Blood!

It was a terrifying enhancement Inscription, capable of instantly amplifying a Martial Artist’s power and boosting their combat strength tenfold for a short period.

What was more terrifying was that under the effect of the War God’s Burning Blood Inscription, Hong Yu’s power would only grow more ferocious the longer he fought.

He would meet force with force, strength with strength!

"Illusion Sea Technique!"

With a sudden twist, the spear’s afterimages coalesced into a vast expanse of golden ripples, rolling like ocean waves.

"Break! Break! Break!"

With three fierce roars... the blood-red demonic palm was shattered inch by inch by the surging, brilliant golden light. A web of cracks spread across its surface before it exploded with a loud CRACK!

The force of the blast sent Hong Renjie stumbling back several steps.

His eyes flickered with shock and disbelief. ’How is that possible? How could his power increase so much in an instant?’

Hong Renjie was supremely confident in his own strength.

After all, the soul residing within his body was Lord Owl, a former Primordial Spirit Realm powerhouse. Even though that original cultivation was gone and this body was merely at the Early-stage Primordial Core Realm...

...his experience and judgment remained.

In Hong Renjie’s eyes, even a genius on the level of Yao Yueye was merely worthy of a "not bad" evaluation.

As for Hong Yu...

...even the news that he had killed a Primordial Core Realm expert hadn’t changed Hong Renjie’s opinion of him in the slightest.

In fact, Hong Renjie was utterly confident that killing Hong Yu would be as easy as slaughtering a dog.

The only reason he had set up so many schemes was that he wanted to enjoy the process of watching Hong Yu walk step-by-step into despair and pain before finally killing him.

But now, the power Hong Yu was displaying put him under immense pressure.

As Hong Renjie’s thoughts churned, Hong Yu’s attack formed once more.

"Illusion Heaven Technique!"

A screen of golden spear light floated above, like a golden cloud. Hong Renjie was shocked. ’This attack should be a Spirit Level Technique. How can he unleash such terrifying might from such a Low Level technique?’

Hong Renjie couldn’t help but think back to over a year ago.

Back then, Hong Yu was only at the Earth Soul Realm. He had fled in a panic before him, as pathetic and weak as an ant.

If that latent True Martial Mysteries within his body hadn’t activated, he would have been crushed like an ant long ago.

’Only a year has passed, and that ant has actually grown this strong?’

Even considering that his own body had been destroyed, forcing him to possess a new one, he couldn’t ignore the terrifying speed of Hong Yu’s growth.

’This brat must be eliminated as soon as possible.’

Hong Renjie’s body trembled, and a sinister, blood-red light danced in his eyes. Behind him, streams of crimson light wove together to form a blood-red screen.

The screen of light warped and condensed.

A blood-red Demon Shadow materialized and floated behind him. It slowly drifted forward, enveloping Hong Renjie’s entire body in its crimson energy.

"Demon Shadow Fist!"

Enveloped by the blood-red Demon Shadow, Hong Renjie abruptly looked up.

The moment he did, the Demon Shadow behind him moved in sync. A blood-red fist shadow shot upward, rising to meet the descending attack.

The Demon Shadow flickered as countless blood-red fist shadows were unleashed, surging forward like a million blood-red bats.

At the same time... Hong Yu’s Illusion Heaven Technique descended, a torrent of countless spear auras, brilliant gold, like a vast meteor shower.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The sound of powerful energy explosions shook the heavens and the earth.

RUMBLE!

The shockwaves from the explosion radiated outward, blasting the surrounding walls of the National Guest Garden to pieces and sending dust and debris flying.

BOOM!

Both Hong Yu and Hong Renjie were thrown backward.

A hundred-meter distance opened up between them.

They stared at each other, tangible fury blazing in their eyes. Their gazes clashed in mid-air, igniting an intense battlelust.

Just as they were about to resume their fight to the death, a long roar suddenly echoed from within the National Guest Garden.

ROOOAR!

It was a heaven-shaking beast’s roar.

A majestic Desolate Beast, as magnificent as a lion but with wings sprouting from its ribs and a single, golden horn on its head, strode through the air toward them.

It was a Tier Five Desolate Beast, a creature whose power was comparable to a Primordial Embryo Realm Powerhouse—the Golden Flame Lion Emperor!

The Golden Flame Lion Emperor let out a heaven-shaking roar, and the rolling sonic wave washed over the area, dissipating the tense, blade-drawn atmosphere between Hong Yu and Hong Renjie.

On the back of the Golden Flame Lion Emperor stood a young man, his hands clasped behind him. He wore an elegant feathered cap and an embroidered robe, standing with an air of pride.

He was high and mighty, like a king ruling the world!

He was proud and self-assured, looking down on all creation!

He was domineering and ostentatious, like a sovereign surveying his realm...

His cold gaze swept over Hong Yu and Hong Renjie, a flash of displeasure crossing his face as he looked at Hong Renjie. He then turned his attention to Hong Yu. "Was it you who destroyed my residence?"

That one cold glance made Hong Yu’s face pale, as if he’d been struck by lightning.

This person’s power was so immense it made him feel utterly powerless and insignificant, like an ant that could be crushed with a flick of a finger.

Gritting his teeth, Hong Yu forced himself to look up, staring at the youth in the sky. "Who are you?"

"Who am I?"

The youth smiled faintly. His smile was like the winter sun, but his eyes held a chilling light. "You are not worthy to know!"

You are not worthy to know!

You are not worthy...

Six simple words, yet they were laced with an arrogant confidence, an innate superiority that looked down on all living things!

Hong Yu felt his chest tighten, and he clenched his fists.

The youth in the sky looked at Hong Renjie and frowned. "This is the fellow you’re taking such pains to deal with?"

Hong Renjie nodded.

The youth sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "You’re getting more pathetic with age. You need this much trouble for a piece of trash like this? I can just have my beast here take care of him for you. Do you want him dead or alive? Or half-dead? It’s up to you. I’ll have it control its strength."

"Heh heh heh... no need," Hong Renjie chuckled sinisterly. "I want to slowly savor the pleasure of torturing him, of watching him fall into despair before I kill him with my own two hands!"

The youth curled his lip, not sparing Hong Yu another glance. "If you want to play your games, then go ahead. But I advise you to be more discreet. The Inspector from the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom will be here in a couple of days. If he learns about certain things, it won’t be good for either of us!"

"Don’t worry, I know how to handle things."

Hong Renjie nodded.

The youth gave Hong Yu one last glance and shook his head slightly. He said nothing, but the profound disdain and indifference in his eyes were unmistakable.

GRR!

With a low growl, the youth’s Golden Flame Lion Emperor soared into the sky and departed.

Once again, only Hong Yu and Hong Renjie remained.

Hong Renjie licked his lips, looking at Hong Yu with a vicious grin. "Heh heh heh... I must say, your growth truly surprises me. But no matter how strong you become, you’re still just a native from some forgotten corner of the Southern Ten Nations. Compared to the true geniuses of the outside world, you are nothing but an ant."

"I know why you’re here, Hong Yu. Today, I’ll give you a chance!"

Hong Renjie chuckled slyly. "Let’s make a wager. We’ll bet on which of us can last longer in the upcoming tournament. If you win, I’ll release everyone. If I win, you’ll give me the Treasure your father left behind. How about it?"

Hong Yu froze, then frowned. "My father’s Treasure?"

"Heh heh heh, don’t play dumb."

Hong Renjie said confidently, "Lord Owl told me everything. If I weren’t worried you might have hidden it somewhere, I wouldn’t bother with a wager—I’d just kill you and take it. But to avoid any hassle, we’ll settle this with a bet. What do you say?"

Hong Yu’s eyes flickered.

The appearance of that young man had made it clear that trying to forcibly rescue Feng Xue Xin and the others from Hong Renjie was impossible.

After a moment’s consideration, he took a deep breath. "I’ll accept your wager. But you must guarantee their safety until the bet is settled!"

Hong Renjie said, "You have my word!"

"You have my word!"

Hong Yu narrowed his eyes, his gaze lingering on the residence as if he could see the suffering Feng Xue Xin and White Cloud Peak within. He turned and walked away in silence, his expression growing ever more resolute...

’Master, Senior Brother Feng, I will save you!’