Immortal Martial Emperor

The violent fluctuations of the Grand Array affected Hong Yu as he received the Dragon Blood Inheritance.

In his moment of distraction, Hong Yu’s spirit lost its protective power. The delicate balance he had maintained with the Dragon Blood Inheritance shattered in an instant.

It was like a burst dam, unleashing a surging, tumultuous flood.

It was utterly unstoppable.

"PTHOO!"

Hong Yu coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Bathed in a bloody light, his body was like a balloon. It was already filled to capacity, but suddenly, several times more air was forced into it.

It far exceeded the balloon’s capacity.

The balloon could no longer hold, on the verge of bursting.

This was exactly Hong Yu’s situation.

His body was covered in bloody gashes, with streams of blood flowing down them. It was a terrifying sight.

"HISS!"

Hong Yu sucked in a sharp breath.

He fiercely circulated the Primordial Gang Fighting Technique, the Heaven-Swallowing Divine Technique, and the Cyan Celestial Transformation Dragon Technique.

All three Cultivation Techniques were incredibly profound.

The three techniques merged.

They combined Primordial Gang, spirit, and body into a trinity. Streams of golden light surged from his Primordial Embryo and circulated throughout his body. They enveloped and protected the meridians that had been shattered by the Dragon Blood Energy, slowly healing them.

Blue Spiritual Power surged out from his left eye like an ocean wave.

It spread throughout his brain, keeping him constantly clear-headed.

At the same time.

He pushed the Cyan Celestial Transformation Dragon Technique to its absolute limit. His Dragon Spirit Sacred Body manifested, its cyan Dragon Scales shimmering with a faint, azure light.

It was a Cultivation Technique designed for strengthening the physical body.

Now, Hong Yu’s body was several times stronger than normal. He finally restored the balance, preventing himself from shattering apart.

「Outside the Fallen Dragon Pool.」

A look of deep regret flashed across Xiahuang Ba and Zhao Wushuang’s eyes. "What a pity," Xiahuang Ba said. "He was so close to being affected—he would have suffered cultivation deviation and died. I can’t believe that guy could still hold back his trump cards while receiving the Dragon Blood Inheritance. I really don’t know if he’s just arrogant or if he’s truly that powerful."

"Regardless, it at least proves that our method can affect him."

Zhao Wushuang’s eyes flashed coldly, a thick jealousy lurking in their depths. "Why is that bastard so damn lucky? The Dragon Blood Inheritance... He actually managed to obtain such a powerful inheritance."

Xiahuang Ba licked the corner of his lips. "Don’t worry. He can’t possibly complete the Dragon Blood Inheritance."

"Oh?"

Zhao Wushuang was stunned.

Xiahuang Ba said, "We’ll have everyone focus on breaking the Prohibition. That will interfere with him. At the same time, have Zhang Weilong and Xiahuang Dun torture Feng Xue Xin and Yeban even more brutally. We’ll use their screams to provoke Hong Yu. I refuse to believe he can withstand that."

Zhao Wushuang nodded. "It’s the only way. Good thing Hong Yu is sentimental. If he were a heartless bastard, this method would be completely useless against him!"

"Hmph. So what if he’s sentimental? He’ll die because of it!"

Xiahuang Ba said proudly.

It was as if he had already foreseen Hong Yu’s death.

"Heheheh, let’s get back to it!"

"This time, let’s be even more ruthless!"

Zhang Weilong and Xiahuang Dun grinned and sneered.

Before them...

Feng Xue Xin and Young Master Yeban were deathly pale. The Pipa Locks piercing their shoulders were made of steel bars as thick as a baby’s arm.

The black iron chains had already been dyed a dark red color.

When the wind stirred the iron balls attached to the chains, their recently scabbed-over wounds were torn open again, releasing fresh spurts of blood.

Blood splattered onto the high platform.

A ghastly and glaring sight.

Worst of all, ten steel needles pierced through their fingernails, running all the way to their palms. The agony was excruciating and impossible to endure.

Blood flowed down along the steel needles.

"In a moment, I’ll let you experience a little something called ’ants climbing a tree’!"

Zhang Weilong grinned ferociously.

A small knife appeared in his hand, the sharp blade glittering brightly.

"SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!"

With a series of slashes, he carved five wounds on Feng Xue Xin and Young Master Yeban, running from their abdomens to their necks. The wounds weren’t deep, but blood welled up from them.

"This is top-grade honey, and I even added some salt for you!"

His eyes filled with mockery and bloodthirsty madness, Xiahuang Dun poured the salted honey over their wounds.

Pouring salt on a wound, as is well known, magnifies the pain a hundred, even a thousand times over. Waves of agony sent them writhing, their teeth clenched as cold sweat beaded on their skin.

But this movement pulled on the Pipa Locks, tearing their flesh again.

"Don’t worry, we’re not done yet!"

Zhang Weilong and Xiahuang Dun took a jade bottle from their pockets, each filled with a dense swarm of ants. Each bottle must have contained at least ten thousand of them.

"These are a type of Carnivorous Ant. They just love flesh coated in honey. In a moment, they’ll crawl along the honey trails on your wounds. Then, they’ll eat the honey and greedily burrow into your bodies. Tsk, tsk... just imagine, tens of thousands of ants gnawing on your flesh from the inside. That feeling..."

"Tsk, tsk. How delightful!"

"Haha, just thinking about it gets me excited!"

Xiahuang Dun and Zhang Weilong grinned ferociously as they poured the ants from the bottles onto the two men.

Ants swarmed over their bodies, an unbearable itching sensation.

But then...

They felt the ants gathering on their wounds, excitedly gnawing at the honey and burrowing into their bodies.

These Carnivorous Ants were terrifying.

They began to gnaw on the outer layer of skin, taking bite after bite. They licked up the blood before burrowing inside to destroy the blood vessels.

As a result, Feng Xue Xin and Young Master Yeban began to hemorrhage.

Blood gushed out, covering their entire upper bodies and flowing down to soak their clothes and pants crimson.

The two of them trembled violently.

But they clenched their jaws tightly and stubbornly refused to make a sound.

Their earlier scream had already caused Hong Yu to nearly suffer from cultivation deviation. They were unwilling to be a burden to him again.

"Well now, you’re a tough pair of nuts to crack, aren’t you? Not even a single scream?" Xiahuang Dun marveled with a grin.

Zhang Weilong raised his voice, as if to ensure Hong Yu could hear. "You’re enduring such horrific torture without making a sound. Are you afraid of distracting Hong Yu? But have you ever stopped to think? He’s completely focused on his inheritance. He couldn’t care less about what’s happening to you!"

"That’s right! If I had friends like that, I’d be heartbroken!"

"A guy like Hong Yu isn’t worth your loyalty!"

The two went back and forth, taunting them.

Young Master Yeban spat out a mouthful of blood. He could feel that the ants had chewed through one of his major blood vessels, and blood was now gushing out uncontrollably.

His mouth filled with blood, staining his teeth crimson. He glared at Zhang Weilong and Xiahuang Dun with a ferocious and cold gaze, shouting in a hoarse voice, "Hong Yu, don’t mind us! You have to complete the inheritance! Get stronger, then come back and kill every last one of these bastards! Make them all accompany me in death!"

"That’s right, Junior Brother Hong! Our... Yeban’s and my revenge is up to you!"

Feng Xue Xin also roared.

"Bastards!"

Zhang Weilong was furious and kicked the two of them.

Feng Xue Xin and Young Master Yeban were already grievously wounded. The vicious kick inflicted even more damage, and their eyes rolled into the back of their heads as they passed out.

"Fuck, seriously? They fainted already?"

"Go get a torch. We’ll burn them awake!"

The two continued to provoke Hong Yu.

Inside the Prohibition...

Two trails of bloody tears streamed from the corners of Hong Yu’s eyes. He could clearly perceive everything happening outside.

He knew clearly everything that Zhang Weilong, Xiahuang Dun, and the others were doing.

He knew exactly what kind of torment and torture Feng Xue Xin and Young Master Yeban were enduring just so they wouldn’t disturb him.

He knew all of this.

But Hong Yu knew even more that he could not give up halfway.

Many experts were gathered outside the Fallen Dragon Pool. If he gave up the Dragon Blood Inheritance now, he would only be going to his death for nothing.

The only thing he could do was to complete the Dragon Blood Inheritance as quickly as possible.

At this thought.

Hong Yu sent a wisp of his spirit into the Profound Celestial Tower. Looking at Little One’s solemn expression, he said, "Little One, help me!"

"Fine!"

This time, Little One surprisingly didn’t make any demands.

Seeing Hong Yu looking at him with confusion,

Little One jumped up in a huff and bonked Hong Yu on the head with his Smoking Pipe. "I might be greedy, but I know how to prioritize! Your two friends are enduring that kind of pain and torture just so they don’t disturb you. I’ve been with you for this long, you think I can’t do something for you too?"

"Thank you, Little One!"

Hong Yu said gratefully.

Little One grinned and turned away, trying to look like a total badass.

But Hong Yu saw a crystal clear tear fall from the corner of Little One’s eye.

Huhu hopped over and patted the head of Hong Yu’s spiritual projection with its furry paw, as if to comfort him.

Hong Yu smiled. "Huhu, don’t mess around. When this is over, I’ll come back and play with you!"

"Huhu!"

Huhu stood up straight and waved its furry paw.

It looked as if to say, ’You can do it! I believe in you!’

Hong Yu smiled, looking at Little One who had returned. "What do I need to do?"

"This is a Star Meteor Soul Stone. My old master retrieved it from a destroyed star long ago. In a moment, I’ll activate the Profound Celestial Tower to help you absorb the power of the Nebula Soul Stone, which will unlock the Second Layer of your Star River Spirit Bone’s Innate Divine Techniques. Once the Second Layer of the Innate Divine Techniques is unlocked, completing the Dragon Blood Inheritance will be child’s play for you."

Little One continued, "And you’ll also receive great benefits, but I have one condition!"

"What condition?"

Hong Yu said anxiously.

He was desperately short on time. He needed to complete the inheritance as soon as possible, break out, and kill his enemies.

A vicious look appeared on Little One’s face. "When you get out of here," he said menacingly, "I want you to slaughter those bastards!"

Hong Yu was stunned.

Then he nodded fiercely. "Don’t worry. I’ll slaughter them until none remain!"

"Good!"

Little One then activated the Profound Celestial Tower.

Under the Profound Celestial Tower’s immense power, the Nebula Soul Stone was quickly refined, and its essence was injected into Hong Yu’s body.

When the Nebula Soul Stone energy entered his body, Hong Yu clearly felt the speed of absorbing the Dragon Blood increase tenfold. Powerful streams of Nebula Soul Stone energy surged into his mind, converging in the Star River Spirit Bone.

"CRACK!"

A crisp shattering sound rang out.

Inside Hong Yu’s mind, his purely blue Star River Spirit Bone gained a new layer of dark golden light.

Shrouded in both blue and gold light,

Hong Yu’s aura exploded, like a rampaging Ancient Wild Beast, overwhelmingly powerful and fierce.

The sheer force of this new Momentum shattered the entire Array of the Dragon Blood Inheritance. All the Dragon Blood scattered into the air, but with a single inhale from Hong Yu, it all surged into his body.

"VMMMMM!"

Hong Yu’s long hair danced wildly without any wind.

His aura climbed steadily higher.

Until, at last...

He snapped his eyes open. His gaze was like a bolt of Thunder, incredibly sharp, piercing through the thirty-three layers of the Prohibition to land on Xiahuang Dun and the others. His cold shout boomed like a thunderclap...

"Anyone who harms my friends will die!"