Immortal Martial Emperor

"What kind of place is that?"

Hong Yu stared at Xu Wudi in amazement.

The excitement on Xu Wudi’s face was simply too intense when she brought up the treasure-filled land.

It was enough to pique Hong Yu’s curiosity.

Xu Wudi took a deep breath to calm herself, then gave a mysterious smile. She pulled out her section of the Treasure Map and handed it to Hong Yu. "According to the description on the map," she said, "it’s an Ancient Battlefield."

"An Ancient Battlefield?" Hong Yu gave the Treasure Map a surprised glance.

Spreading open the Treasure Map, he saw a few lines of small text confirming that the Seventh Layer had once been an Ancient Battlefield.

This battle upended the entire Ice Tower, from the First Layer to the seventh. Legend had it that a powerful race emerged on the Seventh Layer and attempted to rule all the layers below, provoking the unified resistance of every living creature from the First to the Sixth Layer.

Ultimately, a cataclysmic war erupted on the Seventh Layer.

And it was this very battle that left the Ice Tower, from the First to the Seventh Layer, devoid of all life.

’A battlefield where every living thing from the First to Seventh Layer fought to the death?’

Now Hong Yu finally understood why Xu Wudi was so excited!

’The first six layers alone were already so rich in Treasures. The Seventh Layer, the burial ground for all life from the first seven layers... A battlefield like that would surely be filled with powerful Primordial Weapon Treasures. One might even be able to find the legacies of the Ice Tower’s original masters!’

’Just imagine...’

’The Snow Ape Race on the First Layer was already incredibly powerful.’

’They even possessed Innate Divine Techniques like Spatial Transfer. From just a sliver of insight, he himself had managed to master the Body Technique Secret Move, Electric Flash.’

’The Treasures hidden in the Seventh Layer’s Ancient Battlefield must be far superior to anything the Snow Ape Race possessed!’

At this thought, even Hong Yu felt a surge of excitement.

"No wonder Blood Cyan Robe and Landy were fighting so desperately for your part of the Treasure Map!"

After reading the map, Hong Yu had a better understanding of the Ancient Battlefield.

As it turned out, the entire Ancient Battlefield was divided into four regions, with entrances to the Eastern, Western, Southern, and Northern Combat Zones, and the map also showed detailed layouts within the battlefield itself.

The Treasure Map Xu Wudi held was for the Eastern Combat Zone, the Main Combat Zone of that ancient war.

This meant that the Treasures and powerful figures it contained were undoubtedly the best of the best!

’Blood Cyan Robe has one Treasure Map, and he took the ones Tang Rui and Cheng Hao found. That means he’s holding two maps by himself. Landy has one.’

Hong Yu mused for a moment, then looked at Xu Wudi. "Wudi, let’s set out right now and go brave this so-called Ancient Battlefield!"

"Alright!"

Xu Wudi nodded.

With the Ice Soul torrent gone, the two of them had nothing left to worry about and raced toward the Seventh Layer at full speed.

***

Desolate.

The entire Seventh Layer was utterly desolate.

The vast sky was completely shrouded in gray, without a single patch of blue in sight.

The sight instilled an oppressive weight, and one’s spirits would sink involuntarily. An invisible sorrow permeated the space between heaven and earth.

It filled one with an inexpressible weight and grief!

A figure suddenly appeared in the Western Combat Zone.

He looked a little worse for wear, but his eyes were bloodshot and brimming with intense excitement. "Hahaha, I finally made it into the Western Combat Zone!"

This person was none other than Landy.

Landy clutched a Treasure Map in his palm.

The map was covered in intricate lines, marking out a detailed route through the Western Combat Zone.

’According to the map, there’s a General’s Tomb to the east. A Commander who fell in the great war is buried inside. That Commander cultivated the same Ice Spirit lineage as my Ice Kingdom’s Royal Family. If I can obtain his legacy, my power will soar. The next time I face Hong Yu, I’ll be able to kill him for sure!’

At this thought, Landy picked up his pace, heading toward the General’s Tomb marked on the map.

「Southern Combat Zone...」

’The map says the Southern and Northern Combat Zones once formed a pincer movement, with the final battle taking place at their border.’

Blood Cyan Robe’s eyes glinted as he mused to himself, ’Even though I didn’t get the map to the Eastern Combat Zone, the site of this joint final battle between the south and north... I’m sure the Treasures hidden inside won’t be the slightest bit inferior.’

Blood Cyan Robe’s gaze turned dark and profound, his expression flickering with resentment. ’That bastard Hong Yu is so damn strong, and that Landy is just as infuriating. Hmph! I have to get my hands on something good in this Ancient Battlefield, inherit a powerful legacy. The next time we meet, I’ll make Hong Yu pay a brutal price!’

Taking a deep breath, Blood Cyan Robe followed the route on his Treasure Map and headed for the joint battlefield.

Not even Blood Cyan Robe himself could have imagined the changes that this trip to the joint battlefield would bring.

When he returned, his strength would have grown by leaps and bounds—a change so drastic that it would shock even Hong Yu the next time they met.

***

After Blood Cyan Robe and Landy had both entered the Ancient Battlefield.

Hong Yu and Xu Wudi arrived much later, appearing in the spatial world of the Seventh Layer. Following the Treasure Map’s directions, it took them a full six hours to reach the entrance to the Eastern Combat Zone.

The entrance to the Eastern Combat Zone was quite peculiar—it was a huge, withered old tree, riddled with boreholes and cavities, looking as if it might collapse at any moment.

Hong Yu asked, perplexed, "Are you sure this is the place?"

Xu Wudi looked just as lost. "I don’t know either, but the Treasure Map definitely marks this spot!"

Hong Yu rubbed his nose. "Well, I’ll go test it out."

He then walked toward the huge, withered tree.

His palm barely touched it, yet a piece of bark came away. The ancient canopy trembled, and it seemed as though the slightest bit more force would be enough to topple the entire tree.

Hong Yu: "..."

Xu Wudi: "..."

’Can something this fragile really house a Teleportation Array to a battlefield dimension?’

"Huhu!"

Little Beast Huhu suddenly popped out on its own.

The moment it landed, it hopped onto Hong Yu’s head and started rummaging around in his hair, messing it up into a bird’s nest before it settled down contentedly.

Hong Yu grumpily plucked Huhu off his head. "What are you doing out here?"

"Hu! Huhu!"

Huhu pointed at the withered tree, then at its own nose, looking incredibly smug, as if to say, ’I can help you!’

"Huh? Hong Yu, your Little Beast is so cute! Where did you find it?" Xu Wudi’s eyes were sparkling.

It just goes to show that a Cute Beast is always a girl’s soft spot.

Even a tomboy like Xu Wudi was instantly smitten by Huhu.

"Hu?"

Huhu seemed taken aback as well. Its large, bright, gem-like eyes studied Xu Wudi for a moment, and then with a SWOOSH, it leaped into her arms.

It rubbed its big, fluffy head against Xu Wudi’s delicate face, wearing an expression of pure bliss.

Hong Yu slapped his forehead. "What a little lecher!"

But Xu Wudi, on the other hand, was quite taken with it, giggling. "You’re such a cute little thing! Come on, I’ve got something tasty for you!"

She took out a Fourth-Grade Spirit Medicine, rich with life essence. It was one of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures she had harvested on the Fifth Layer.

Huhu’s gem-like eyes narrowed with excitement. It held the Fourth-Grade Spirit Medicine in its paws, took a little nibble, and then looked up at Xu Wudi, its eyes crinkling with a smile.

"Hong Yu, this little guy is so smart. Can I have him? Please?" Xu Wudi asked.

Hong Yu rubbed his nose. "If he’s willing, be my guest!"

"Little guy, why don’t you stick with me from now on? I’ll give you lots and lots of yummy treats!" Xu Wudi said, putting on a gentle voice to entice him.

Huhu squinted, studying Xu Wudi for a moment before glancing over at Hong Yu.

When it saw that Hong Yu wasn’t even looking its way, Huhu’s eyes darted about. It looked down reluctantly at the half-eaten Spirit Medicine.

It let out a couple of "Huhu" cries, but Hong Yu still ignored it.

Now Huhu was getting frantic!

It quickly shoved the half-eaten Spirit Medicine back into Xu Wudi’s hand. In a flash, the black-and-white Huhu was back on Hong Yu’s shoulder, nuzzling its furry body against his cheek and gently patting his shoulder with its front paws.

He was clearly trying to suck up to Hong Yu!

"Th-this little guy is just too smart!" The affection in Xu Wudi’s eyes deepened. "Come here, little one! I have something tasty for you!"

She took out a Fourth-Grade Spirit Fruit.

But Huhu completely ignored Xu Wudi.

Unwilling to give up, Xu Wudi took out a Fifth-Grade Spirit Medicine. But Huhu merely glanced at it before ignoring her again, continuing to massage Hong Yu’s shoulders and curry favor.

This made Xu Wudi grit her teeth in frustration.

"Alright, stop trying to suck up to me. If you can’t find the entrance to the combat zone today, you can forget about tagging along with me anymore!" Hong Yu said, unceremoniously yanking Huhu off his shoulder.

"Hey, be careful! Don’t hurt him," Xu Wudi cried out worriedly.

The next moment, she was exasperated...

Huhu bared its teeth at her, as if to say, ’Who asked you to butt in?’

Toward Hong Yu, however, its expression was all flattery. Its eyes curved into crescents, shimmering like jewels, as it lifted a furry little paw, picked up a fruit, and offered it to Hong Yu’s lips.

"You’re a smart one!"

Hong Yu chuckled, taking the fruit. "Now hurry up and find the entrance!"

"Hu!"

Huhu leaped to the ground and puffed out its chest.

It waddled over to the withered tree and plonked itself down on the ground, studying the tree. After a moment, the three golden hairs on its head began to sway, emitting a soft golden glow.

As the golden light entered the withered tree, the ancient trunk unexpectedly gained a flicker of life.

About three minutes later, the tree, which had been like dry kindling, suddenly burst with vitality. A shimmering green light—the dense aura of life—flowed through it.

"Hu! Huhu!"

Huhu chirped excitedly.

A look of amazement on his face, Hong Yu walked over, letting Huhu scramble up his leg and onto his shoulder.

Following Huhu’s directions, Hong Yu stepped into the golden light emanating from the tree.

A moment later...

The colors of the world before him changed drastically. The vibrant hues were gone, replaced by a monotonous, hazy gray.

Hong Yu stared at the scene before him in utter shock. He was about to pull out the Treasure Map when a heart-stopping premonition washed over him.

’What’s going on?’

Hong Yu’s brow furrowed. He suddenly sensed an extremely terrifying ripple of energy from nearby. As he looked toward its source, his expression changed drastically...

"Th-this is..."