Immortal Martial Emperor

"Hong Yu? How can it be you?"

In the image projected by the Communication Array, a young man with a sinister face, dressed in a dark blue robe and wearing a Purple Gold Feather Crown, stared at Hong Yu in utter astonishment.

He was a familiar face, too!

Hai Cangtian, Prince of the Ancient Sea Kingdom and a mighty True Dragon of the Fifth Heaven Realm!

After his initial shock, Hai Cangtian gradually regained his composure. "Hong Yu, I never thought I’d see you here."

"I didn’t expect to be seeing you, either!"

Hong Yu was equally calm.

An uninformed observer would have surely thought they were two old friends catching up after a long time apart.

In reality.

These two were mortal enemies!

There was only one possible outcome between them: a fight to the death.

"To think that after not seeing you for over half a year, the ant from back then has already grown to the Primordial Embryo Realm?" Hai Cangtian said calmly.

Hong Yu couldn’t help but clench his fists.

He could never forget the battle at the Cyan Nether Sword Sect. He remembered Hai Cangtian’s palm strike descending and Beichen Celestial Frost shielding him, coughing up blood like the petals of a brilliant, wilting flower.

This was a blood feud!

Hong Yu had often wondered under what circumstances he and Hai Cangtian would meet again. He had even imagined they would break into a fight the moment they saw each other. But now, actually seeing Hai Cangtian through the Communication Array, Hong Yu found himself surprisingly calm.

Taking a deep breath and staring at Hai Cangtian’s image on the Communication Array, Hong Yu said calmly, "I’m looking forward to our meeting at the Southern Border Holy Assembly more and more!"

"Hm?"

Hai Cangtian narrowed his eyes, a ghostly light flickering within them. His tone was sinister and disdainful. "So, you still haven’t given up? Hong Yu, it’s not that I look down on you; you’re simply too weak. In my presence, you’ll always be an ant. I could crush you with a single finger."

He paused, a savage, taunting grin spreading across his face. "Just like I crushed that little bitch."

BANG!

A powerful aura erupted from Hong Yu.

A brilliant azure light pulsed in his left eye. His words rang out, sharp and jarring as the clash of steel. "Hai Cangtian, I’m here today to tell you one thing: the next time we meet will be the day I take your head!"

"Hmph, a mere ant dares to make such wild boasts?"

Hai Cangtian wore an arrogant expression as he crooked a finger at Hong Yu. "I’ll be waiting for you to come and die!"

BOOM!

Before Hai Cangtian could finish his sentence, Hong Yu had already thrown a punch.

The image instantly shattered, and the Communication Array itself exploded from the force of Hong Yu’s punch.

「At the same time...」

Far away in the Ancient Sea Kingdom, the smile on Hai Cangtian’s face gradually faded, replaced by a dark, grim expression.

"Your Highness," a powerhouse stepped forward.

Hai Cangtian squinted. "Relay my order," he said lightly. "We can begin that plan."

"Your Highness, are you referring to the plan targeting the various geniuses of the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom?" the powerhouse confirmed.

Hai Cangtian nodded. "The Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom has likely already detected our plan and has begun to secretly investigate our Ancient Sea Kingdom. For the final plan to be completed successfully, the other plans need to be initiated ahead of schedule." He paused, a cold smile touching his lips. "Oh, and pass this down: when targeting the geniuses of the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom, give special attention to someone named Hong Yu!"

"Understood!"

The man then withdrew.

Hai Cangtian stared at the broken Communication Array, a sinister light surging in his eyes. ’Heh heh heh... Hong Yu, oh, Hong Yu, you dare to oppose me? You’re simply courting death! Trash will always be trash; no amount of effort can change that. While you’re desperately trying to improve your strength to get revenge, have you ever considered that I only need to lift a finger to send a horde of people after you?’

’An ant should know its place. Don’t be a mantis trying to stop a chariot!’

Hai Cangtian waved his palm.

A wave of blue surged over his arm. This wave was not illusory, but tangible.

BOOM!

The broken Grand Array before him instantly turned to dust.

His strength had already reached the Primordial Spirit Realm.

...

「Three days had passed since the destruction of the Blood Demon Palace.」

During these three days, the news that the Blood Demon Palace was annihilated by Hong Yu alone gradually spread, and the entire Ice Kingdom was abuzz with the story.

The Ice Kingdom’s Royal Family went to great lengths to win Hong Yu over.

They even offered to make him a National Guardian King, but Hong Yu ignored them.

It wasn’t that Hong Yu’s standards were too high. Rather, ever since his encounter with Hai Cangtian, he felt his own inadequacy more keenly than ever and was unwilling to waste time and energy on trivialities.

He had already packed everything and was preparing to set off for the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom today.

The Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom was located in the eastern part of the Southern Border Profound Domain, bordering the sea, and was incredibly far from the Ice Kingdom.

Instantaneous arrival was only possible through a Void Passage, like the one Xiahuang Shang had used, which had been torn open by a powerhouse from the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom.

Otherwise, even if Hong Yu relied on his Divine Demon Wings to fly or traveled by land, it would take a year at the fastest.

Therefore, Hong Yu decisively chose to travel by sea.

Sailing to the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom was the fastest route besides a Teleportation Array. The Southern Border Profound Domain’s seafaring technology was very advanced, and the voyage would take just over four months.

Just over four months also happened to be when the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom’s True Dragon Competition was set to begin.

「On this day!」

Hong Yu was sitting cross-legged on the roof, cultivating. Auspicious purple qi drifted from the east. The morning’s Spiritual Power was exceptionally rich, and as it poured into his body, it felt like a clear stream flowing through his every pore—an incredibly refreshing sensation.

"Hong Yu."

A clear voice came from the doorway. It was Xu Wudi, holding Little Chenxi in her arms.

"Brother, hold me!"

Little Chenxi giggled, her arms outstretched.

Hong Yu leaped down from the roof, picked up Little Chenxi, and tweaked the little girl’s nose. "So, did you eat all your food today like a good girl?"

"Mhm!"

Little Chenxi nodded, her face a picture of blissful pride.

Xu Wudi chuckled lightly. "Hong Yu, the Royal Family has prepared the Celestial Dragon Warship. We can depart now!"

"So soon?"

Hong Yu’s face lit up with delight.

Upon hearing that he was going to the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom, the Ice Kingdom’s Royal Family had insisted he travel with Landy, Xu Wudi, and the others.

Hong Yu hadn’t refused the offer.

This Celestial Dragon Warship was the Ice Kingdom’s most powerful war vessel. It was said that its speed at sea was no less than the flight speed of a Primordial Embryo Realm Powerhouse.

"Where’s that guy Yeban?" Hong Yu asked.

The corner of Xu Wudi’s eye twitched, and she was speechless.

Instead, Little Chenxi pouted and said, "Brother Yeban went to set up a street stall."

"Huh?"

Hong Yu’s eyes widened.

’A great genius, a Spirit Cultivator who has reached the True Dragon Level, went to set up a street stall?’

Xu Wudi gave a wry smile. "After that guy had your barbecue last time, he pushed a custom-made cart to the city gate the very next day to set up a stall. And believe it or not, his business is pretty good. I just heard from a servant that the line of people waiting for his barbecue at the city gate is already over two kilometers long!"

"T-Two kilometers? What the..."

Hong Yu covered his face with his hand, speechless.

Two days ago, he had been bored and organized a barbecue, and everyone had been blown away.

’At the time, Yeban kept pestering me about how to make barbecue. I didn’t think much of it... who would have thought he’d actually go and set up a stall?’

Hong Yu said in frustration, "Send someone to find him and bring him back. We’ll head straight to the docks!"

"Okay!"

Xu Wudi left immediately.

’The Lifeless Secret Realm is the foremost of the Ten Great Secret Realms and is unpredictably dangerous. It’s probably better if I go to the Ancient Kingdom for the True Dragon War first, then head to the Lifeless Secret Realm to find the Soul-Guiding Hound after the war is over.’

Meanwhile, Hong Yu held Little Chenxi while part of his consciousness entered the space inside the tower. Demon Blood was bound and shackled by Xingtian inside a cage.

Seeing Hong Yu enter, he appeared rather calm. "I’ve already said everything I’m going to say. What else do you want from me?"

"Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you. I’m about to head to the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom, and soon after, I will set foot in the Desert North Wilderness. I know nothing about the situation there. I need you to be my guide!" Hong Yu said.

Demon Blood snorted coldly. "You want me to help you find the Saint Demon Hall? To fight the Saint Demon Hall?"

"That’s right!"

Hong Yu nodded without the slightest hesitation.

’The Saint Demon Hall destroyed my home and family, and even annihilated my mother’s entire clan. This is a blood feud, a hatred higher than mountains and deeper than the sea. This debt must be repaid!’

Demon Blood sneered and shook his head in disdain. "Truly overestimating your own abilities. I admit your talent and strength are formidable. Even among the Five Domains, your talent would rank high. But if you think you can take revenge on the Saint Demon Hall with your current power, you are far too naive."

"Your father, Primordial Chaos, was a man of great renown, yet even he could do nothing to the Saint Demon Hall. What makes you think you can?" Demon Blood said faintly.

Hong Yu was unmoved, his voice firm and resonant. "Whether or not the Saint Demon Hall can be destroyed isn’t up to you, nor is it up to me. History will give us the truest answer!"

"Fine. Then I’ll accompany you on this trip!"

Demon Blood closed his eyes and said no more.

Hong Yu withdrew from the tower’s space. His Divine Demon Wings flared, and he flew into the sky, arriving at the docks a short while later.

The Celestial Dragon Warship was magnificent and immense, standing two hundred meters high, over six hundred meters long, and more than two hundred meters wide. It was also armed with numerous Primordial Weapon Fire Cannons.

It was said that the Primordial Weapon Fire Cannons on the Celestial Dragon Warship were all personally forged by Lantian Dou.

Each one was comparable to a Fourth-Grade Primordial Weapon. If thousands of Primordial Weapon Fire Cannons were fired at once, even a Primordial Spirit Realm powerhouse would have to avoid their might.

"Hong Yu, you’re here!" Landy said respectfully, his gaze fervent.

Hong Yu had slain Blood Wen, single-handedly assaulted the Blood Demon Palace, and annihilated a power that the Royal Family had been helpless against for hundreds of years. These many heroic deeds had completely won over the proud and talented Crown Prince.

Hong Yu nodded slightly. "Have Wudi and Yeban arrived?"

"They’re not far from the docks. They just arrived!" Landy said.

"Then let’s set sail!"

They then raised the sails and set off. The Celestial Dragon Warship let out a RUMBLE RUMBLE, its speed astonishing as it sailed out of the harbor.

The scenery at sea was quite magnificent.

The morning sun was bright. Looking out at the horizon, one could see a brilliant, warm red sun hanging high in the sky.

A few crew members were chatting on the bow, and Hong Yu vaguely overheard them discussing a recent sea storm. Apparently, many ships had been swallowed by the merciless sea.

Even Primordial Embryo Realm powerhouses had been swept into the boundless ocean, their fates unknown.

Hong Yu also stood at the bow, gazing into the distance, struck by the unpredictable nature of the world. Humanity truly was insignificant when compared to the heavens and the earth.

Before he knew it, the Celestial Dragon Warship had already been sailing for half a day, leaving the coastal waters behind and reaching the deep sea.

Riding the wind and cleaving through the waves, its speed was incredibly fast.

Hong Yu greatly enjoyed the feeling of the sea breeze on his face, and he squinted his eyes in pleasure.

Suddenly, his squinted eyes snapped open. An intense blue light flashed in his left eye as he spotted a flickering light hundreds of miles away. Hong Yu couldn’t help but frown...

’What is that?’