Immortal Martial Emperor

"I only need one eye to deal with you all!"

The calm voice came out of nowhere, like a sudden clap of thunder cracking through the void.

The instant the voice rang out, the expressions of the dozens of experts besieging the Ancient Tomb turned grim, and they all halted their attacks.

One of them even recognized the speaker. His hands trembled, and a ball of fire dropped onto his foot, instantly releasing the scorched, stinking smell of burnt flesh.

"Hong... Hong Yu?"

Xiahuang Dun gulped, turning with difficulty to stare at the young man floating in midair.

He wore practical black clothes, with neat, short hair and sharp, chiseled features.

His figure wasn’t particularly burly, yet it exuded a powerful, oppressive aura.

His left eye, in particular, swirled with blue and purple light, emitting an uncanny glow. It was as if a single glance could pull a person’s soul deep inside.

Xiahuang Ba was even more horrified. His heart pounded in his chest like a frightened deer. ’This... this feeling... How could he have become so strong? Impossible! How? Why is it that when I face him, I get the strange feeling that I’m facing the Eldest Prince?’

A wave of terror washed over Xiahuang Ba.

Before this, when he faced Hong Yu, he had merely felt a sliver of apprehension but was still confident he could put up a fight.

But now...

He suddenly felt that before Hong Yu, he was no more than a grain of sand before a towering mountain.

What Xiahuang Ba didn’t know...

...was that while this was certainly due to Hong Yu’s recent surge in power, it was more because of Hong Yu’s increasingly brilliant battle record. Even the Unparalleled Genius Li Yuancang had died a tragic death at his hands. This news had already been subtly weighing on his mind, exerting a profound influence.

Furthermore, Hong Yu had also inherited the faint, imposing pressure of the Thunder Emperor’s Divine Eyes.

And so...

As he looked at Hong Yu now, he was overcome with a sense of powerlessness and despair.

Hong Yu’s indifferent gaze swept over Xiahuang Ba and the others, sharp as a razor’s edge. Not one of them dared to meet his eyes.

GULP!

Xiahuang Dun swallowed hard and sent a trembling voice transmission. "Xiahuang Ba, wha-what should we do?"

Xiahuang Ba was silent for a long moment before letting out a helpless sigh. "Run."

"Run? Are you kidding me?"

Xiahuang Dun nearly jumped out of his skin, his fear of Hong Yu momentarily forgotten. "Have you forgotten what the Eldest Prince sent us to do? There’s an Ancient Tomb buried here, and our surveys suggest it might even be an ancient city! You want us to just hand this place over? If the Eldest Prince finds out, he’ll skin us alive!"

Xiahuang Ba glanced at him and said bitterly, "You think I don’t know how important this place is? But against the Hong Yu of today, we have absolutely no chance of victory."

"Th-then is running really our only option? What if we send a message to Bai Luoxue and the others? Have them bring reinforcements?" Xiahuang Dun asked, hesitating.

Xiahuang Ba didn’t reply.

Xiahuang Dun exploded in anger. "Xiahuang Ba, where the hell did your old arrogance go? You lose to Hong Yu a few times and suddenly you’ve got no spine left?"

Xiahuang Ba was at a loss for words.

’How domineering I used to be. How powerful.’

’I dared to fight even an Unparalleled Genius.’

’But now...’

’Facing Hong Yu, I truly can’t muster a single shred of courage to fight!’

"Are you two discussing how to escape?" Hong Yu asked, his tone laced with amusement.

His Divine Demon Wings vibrated gently, stirring up a fierce gale as he landed before the Ancient Tomb.

The dozens of experts who had been besieging the Ancient Tomb scrambled to get away.

CRACKLE!

The Defensive Array sealing the Ancient Tomb immediately opened.

Jian Chen and Landy, both covered in wounds, walked out. Their faces were a mixture of excitement and worry. "Hong Yu, that Xiahuang Ba is not to be trifled with."

"It’s fine."

Hong Yu smiled faintly, his eyes fixed on Xiahuang Ba and Xiahuang Dun.

Everyone else’s eyes fell upon them.

With his subordinates’ eyes on him, and stung by Hong Yu’s contemptuous words, Xiahuang Dun’s face alternated between pale and flushed. He took a deep breath and said gravely, "Hong Yu, we don’t wish for a conflict with you right now. A scenario where we both suffer heavy losses would benefit neither of us. I’m feeling generous today. I can let you and your friends leave, but this place must be handed over to us."

"Oh? Are you trying to negotiate with me?"

Hong Yu narrowed his eyes.

Xiahuang Dun said, "You can see it that way. Perhaps we are not your match, but the Eldest Prince has obtained a heaven-sent opportunity. Once he emerges from his seclusion, he will be invincible. Moreover, another Unparalleled Genius has joined our side, bringing our total to four Unparalleled Geniuses, not to mention countless other experts. You have no hope of contending with us. I advise you to..."

Before he could finish, Hong Yu waved his hand dismissively. "Enough. I don’t want to hear any more of this nonsense. I’ll ask you one question: do you dare to fight? If not, then get the hell out of my sight!"

"You..."

Xiahuang Dun’s face was darker than thunder. When had he ever been treated with such contempt?

He roared, "You’re too arrogant! Even if it means we both die, I’m going to take you down today!"

"Kill!"

"Dammit! We’re dead either way, might as well go down fighting!"

These men were all Celestial Pride Sons, brimming with pride and confidence.

With Xiahuang Dun leading the charge, even those who had been hesitating a moment ago now surged forward.

Jian Chen frowned and raised his sword, about to go help Hong Yu, but was stopped.

"There are so many of them! Let me help you!" Jian Chen said.

Hong Yu shook his head. "No need. They’re just a bunch of ants."

"Huh?"

Jian Chen frowned, thinking Hong Yu was being far too arrogant.

Landy, however, looked thoughtful.

"Bastard, you dare to look down on us so much? This is an utter humiliation!"

"I’ll fight you to the end!"

"I’ll take a pound of your flesh even if I die!"

Xiahuang Dun and the others were enraged, and even Xiahuang Ba had no choice but to charge forward with them.

Hong Yu looked at Xiahuang Ba—the man who had once pushed him into a corner with no way to fight back—and smiled playfully. "Die."

WHOOSH!

A blast of blue light shot out.

Pupil Technique: Sky-covering!

HUMMM!

All the experts, with the exception of Xiahuang Ba, shuddered. A dazed look filled their eyes, and then, as if possessed, they began to madly attack their own comrades.

It was a tragic, bloody scene of internecine slaughter!

"Th-this is..."

"My heavens! What kind of Magic did Hong Yu just use?"

Jian Chen and Landy were utterly dumbfounded.

The corner of Xiahuang Ba’s eye twitched. He had managed to stay lucid and had fled in a sorry state. As he watched his comrades slaughter each other until almost none were left, a bitter expression crossed his face.

When Xiahuang Dun was pierced by the Primordial Weapons of three of his men, he immediately self-destructed, taking all three of them with him.

Xiahuang Ba closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they glowed with a red light. "I knew you had become strong, but I never imagined you’d become *this* strong..."

"There’s a lot you haven’t imagined."

Hong Yu said coolly.

Xiahuang Ba took a deep breath. He knew now that there was no escape for him today.

Under Hong Yu’s gaze just now, even he had been lost for an instant.

He knew with perfect clarity that if Hong Yu had attacked him then, he would be dead without a doubt.

Under the threat of death, Xiahuang Ba seemed to recover a fraction of his old self. He stared at Hong Yu. "Today’s battle is inevitable. My only regret is not going all out back then. If I had just risked it all to kill you, even if we were both grievously injured, things might not be like this now!"

"There are no second chances in this world."

Hong Yu said calmly.

To be honest, if he put their positions aside, he actually had a good deal of respect for Xiahuang Ba.

This man had cultivated the incredibly difficult path of the Overlord Body Walker to such a high level. Though he only held the title of Unparalleled True Dragon, he possessed the combat prowess of an Unparalleled Genius.

He was, without a doubt, a true Celestial Pride Son.

But unfortunately...

They stood on opposing sides, with a history of grievances between them.

They had fought life-and-death battles before, and it was destined that one of them had to die.

Hong Yu would not allow himself to show any mercy to an enemy. "It’s time for you to go."

"Wait!"

Xiahuang Ba took a deep breath, looking at Hong Yu. "I know I’m no match for you, but I hope... that you will fight me with your full strength!"

His eyes were filled with fervent battle lust and a desperate hope.

He yearned for a true, honorable battle with Hong Yu!

Hong Yu stared at him for a long moment, then slowly shook his head. "I’m sorry."

"Haha... Haha... HAHAHA..."

But Xiahuang Ba laughed wildly, a string of ambiguous, unbridled cackles, as if he had expected this very answer.

If one looked closely, one could see a single, humiliating tear welling in the corner of his eye.

"I never thought... I truly never thought that I, Xiahuang Ba, after a lifetime of glory, would end up not even being worthy of forcing your hand. Hahaha, how laughable... truly laughable..."

Xiahuang Ba’s face gradually darkened, becoming frosty. His frigid gaze was like the Death God staring at his prey. He gritted his teeth. "You may be strong, Hong Yu, but I, Xiahuang Ba, am no pushover. Since you won’t fight, I’ll *force* you to fight!"

WHOOSH!

Xiahuang Ba’s figure abruptly vanished.

This wasn’t a Spatial Transfer Body Technique like Electric Flash; it was the explosive, ultimate speed of his physical body.

BOOM!

The spot where Hong Yu had been standing suddenly exploded.

A huge crater blasted open as if a comet had struck. The ground sank and collapsed, and a ring of earth and stone was forced up around the crater’s edge.

Jian Chen and Landy, who had been lifted into the air by Hong Yu, hadn’t even had time to react before they broke out in a cold sweat. ’Holy cow, Xiahuang Ba is that fast?’

’If it weren’t for Hong Yu just now, we’d both have been smashed to a pulp!’

Jian Chen and Landy exchanged horrified glances.

Then, in unison, they turned to look at Hong Yu. This ever-composed young man felt more and more like an enigma they could never hope to solve.

’Facing such a powerful Xiahuang Ba, is he really not going to fight back?’

"Damn you, fight me!"

Xiahuang Ba roared, shooting up from the swirling dust cloud to attack Hong Yu.

Hong Yu’s Divine Demon Wings vibrated as he continuously dodged, his hands clasped motionlessly behind his back.

Unable to land a single blow, Xiahuang Ba’s eyes were bloodshot and looked as if they might split from rage. "Fight! I’m begging you, fight me! Fight me in a fair battle..."

Hong Yu just shook his head slightly.

"AHHHH! YOU’RE FORCING MY HAND!"

Xiahuang Ba roared as eight Blood Arrows suddenly shot from his body. This was a desperate move of an Overlord Body Walker, forcefully opening all eight of his body’s internal gates. He was burning his very life force to fight.

Hong Yu glanced at him and sighed faintly. "I told you. All it takes to deal with you is a single glance."

"You bastard! Hong Yu, fight me!"

"I need you to fight me!"

"Stop insulting me!"

"Even if I have to die, I want you to be the one to do it! Kill me in an honorable fight..."

Xiahuang Ba continued to roar. With his eight gates open, his power had tripled, but he still couldn’t gain the upper hand against Hong Yu.

"Fine. Let me send you on your way."

Hong Yu narrowly dodged a powerful fist, then suddenly came to a halt. He took a deep breath as a trace of purple light flickered in his eye.

BOOM!

A bolt of purple lightning shot from his eye and struck Xiahuang Ba in an instant.

HUMMM!

Xiahuang Ba’s body convulsed as terrifying Thunder coiled around him. Black smoke instantly spewed from his eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth, and the light in his own eyes gradually faded.

That single bolt of lightning had incinerated his powerful physical body from the inside out, turning it to ash.

With his last ounce of life, he propped himself up to stare at Hong Yu, a bitter smile on his lips. "A single glance? To think... In the end, I still couldn’t even force you to lift a hand."