Immortal Martial Emperor

"How could this thing be here?"

Qi Tianbao’s shocked whisper drew everyone’s attention.

Tie Heng, Xue De, Hong Yu, and the others all sped up. When they saw what Qi Tianbao was pointing at, they too revealed looks of utter shock.

"An Enlightenment Fruit?!"

Even with Tie Heng’s usual composure, he couldn’t help but cry out in alarm upon seeing the item.

Martial Artists are divided into distinct levels.

And each stage of cultivation has different goals and methods.

For example, novice Martial Artists in the Essence Realm focus on cultivating their physical strength. Only after their bodies can withstand Elemental Power can they advance to the Earth Soul Realm.

Once in the Earth Soul Realm and Celestial Soul Realm, a Martial Artist’s cultivation focuses more on accumulating and using Elemental Power.

But upon reaching the Primordial Core Realm, the path and method of cultivation change fundamentally.

Experts of the Primordial Core Realm focus on comprehending True Martial Arts Intent!

Generally speaking, only by reaching the Primordial Core Realm Level and successfully fusing one’s Celestial Soul and Primordial Spirit can a person comprehend True Martial Arts Intent from the natural world.

Of course, there are some talented Demon Fiends who, either through their innate gifts or other special opportunities, can comprehend True Martial Arts Intent ahead of time. Hong Yu is one such genius!

True Martial Arts Intent is divided into four stages: Minor Achievement, Middle Achievement, Great Success, and Perfection.

These correspond to the Initial Stage, Middle Stage, Late Stage, and Peak of the Primordial Core Realm!

Take Hong Yu, for example. If judged solely on his True Martial Arts Intent, his understanding of the Martial Dao is already at the level of a Mid-stage Primordial Core Realm expert. But his own power is insufficient to support that level. Moreover, the key to truly unleashing the might of True Martial Arts Intent is Primordial Gang!

Hong Yu was still a considerable distance from being able to generate Primordial Gang.

Unless he could cultivate the Primordial Gang Fighting Technique to the Peak of the First Layer, only then might Hong Yu be able to generate Primordial Gang and advance to the Primordial Core Realm!

But...

The advancement of one’s True Martial Arts Intent is not limited by one’s Cultivation Realm.

With enough talent or opportunity, a Celestial Soul Realm expert could even possess a Perfection Level True Martial Arts Intent, comparable to someone at the Peak of the Primordial Core Realm.

However, such a genius is a one-in-ten-thousand-year occurrence in the entire Southern Border Profound Domain, let alone in a small place like the Southern Ten Nations.

Besides innate talent, there are also special Heaven and Earth Spirit Essences that can raise the Level of one’s True Martial Arts Intent.

The Enlightenment Fruit is one of them!

A single ripe "Enlightenment Fruit" represents a line of True Martial Arts Intent. Consuming it is equivalent to opening up a brand-new path of True Martial Arts Intent.

For instance, if a Primordial Core Realm expert who has only comprehended one type of True Martial Arts Intent consumes an Enlightenment Fruit, they are guaranteed to unlock a second one, and their progress in comprehending this new True Martial Arts Intent will be unstoppable.

The real reason the "Enlightenment Fruit" is considered a ’Heaven and Earth Treasure Medicine’ and ranked as a Fifth-Grade Spirit Medicine is that it has no lower-limit restriction on the user’s cultivation!

Anyone below the Primordial Embryo Realm, even an Essence Realm Martial Artist, can successfully comprehend a True Martial Arts Intent after consuming an Enlightenment Fruit!

Because of this, the Enlightenment Fruit is a rare Treasure coveted by all experts below the Primordial Embryo Realm!

GULP!

Even Xue De and Tie Heng were swallowing hard, their eyes glazed over with fiery desire.

Xue De gazed at the Enlightenment Fruit Tree, his eyes burning. ’An Enlightenment Fruit... If I could consume it and comprehend another True Martial Arts Intent, my position would be even more secure. At that point, not only would Wang Ba no longer be able to suppress me, but even the position of Sect Leader would be within my grasp!’

Tie Heng was also filled with excitement. ’The Enlightenment Fruit... Father has been stuck at the Peak of the Primordial Core Realm for over fifty years. If I can get this fruit for him, he might even have a chance to break through to the Primordial Embryo Realm!’

The two seemed to sense each other’s thoughts. They exchanged a look, both feeling the blazing battle intent in the other’s eyes.

Xue De snorted coldly. "Tie Heng, this Enlightenment Fruit belongs to my Guiyuan Sect. I can concede another ten percent of the mining rights to this vein to your Iron Soldier Pavilion!"

"Bullshit! My Iron Soldier Pavilion discovered this mineral vein in the first place; your Guiyuan Sect just forcefully seized it. And now you want to trade the vein for the Enlightenment Fruit? You must be dreaming," Tie Heng sneered.

"In that case, we’ll let our skills decide!"

Xue De sneered and waved his hand, and the experts of the Guiyuan Sect presented a united front.

His face was filled with mockery and smugness. "I didn’t make a move against you before because you had the advantage in numbers. But you just lost quite a few helpers to the Ghost-faced Demon Vine. If our sides were to fight now, it would be a fifty-fifty chance. Are you sure you want to compete with me?"

"I am determined to get the Enlightenment Fruit!"

Tie Heng retorted with a cold laugh.

The experts of the Iron Soldier Pavilion also drew their weapons, the tension palpable.

Both sides were radiating aggression, on the verge of erupting into a bloody, life-or-death battle at the slightest provocation.

BUZZ!

Just then, the roughly nine-meter-tall Enlightenment Fruit Tree suddenly radiated a three-colored light. Blue, black, and golden-yellow hues converged into a smooth rainbow that danced in the air.

A rich, fruity fragrance wafted through the air.

"The Enlightenment Fruit is ripe! Get it!"

Someone shouted, and the delicate balance between the two sides was finally shattered. Both groups charged toward the Enlightenment Fruit Tree at the same time.

"Tie Heng, you dare to fight me for the Enlightenment Fruit? This is an open act of defiance against my Guiyuan Sect! Does your Tie Family no longer wish to remain in the Qin Kingdom?" Xue De roared furiously.

He had intended to rely on his cultivation and speed to be the first to pick the Enlightenment Fruit.

However...

Tie Heng was prepared and immediately entangled him.

This left Xue De both furious and helpless.

His strength was on par with Tie Heng’s; there was no way to determine a winner in a short amount of time.

Wielding a pair of Vajra Great Axes, Tie Heng moved with wide, sweeping motions, relentlessly engaging Xue De like an unparalleled Demon King. "You can forget about getting the Enlightenment Fruit!"

"Damn it..."

Xue De roared again and again, shouting at Qi Tianbao, "Qi Tianbao, get the Enlightenment Fruit at all costs! As long as you bring it back, I guarantee you’ll be made the First True Disciple when we return to the Sect!"

"Yes!"

A cold glint flashed in Qi Tianbao’s eyes as he nodded sharply.

Picking up his pace, Qi Tianbao charged toward the Enlightenment Fruit Tree at extreme speed.

Experts from the Iron Soldier Pavilion repeatedly tried to block him, but they were no match for this Demon Fiend disciple of the Guiyuan Sect.

"Qi Tianbao, don’t even think about passing!" The armored Tie Tongtian blocked his path.

Qi Tianbao sneered. "Trash, get the hell out of my way!" As he spoke, he condensed a Thunder Spear in his palm and swatted it sideways, the immense force sending Tie Tongtian flying.

"I hate rich young masters like you the most."

A sinister chill flickered in Qi Tianbao’s eyes.

He hurled the Thunder Spear in his hand toward Tie Tongtian. It shot forward with incredible speed, slicing through the air with a SWISH, about to kill him.

In the nick of time, Hong Yu condensed Elemental Power into his palm and struck out with a heavy blow.

Sinister Flame Power surged forth.

BOOM!

Under the violent impact of energy, the Thunder Spear and the fiery palm were both annihilated.

Hong Yu saved Tie Tongtian and said to the shaken and furious man, "Brother Tie, please stand aside!"

"Then be careful!"

Tie Tongtian nodded and retreated.

Hong Yu took a deep breath and looked at Qi Tianbao, but said nothing.

Qi Tianbao stared at Hong Yu, then suddenly broke into a sinister, cold smile.

"Our previous battle outside Qin Royal City wasn’t satisfying. Today, let’s have a proper fight." Qi Tianbao pointed at the Enlightenment Fruit Tree and said casually, "Let’s see who can pick an Enlightenment Fruit from the tree first. How about it?"

Hong Yu was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.

"In that case, then..."

As Qi Tianbao spoke, he suddenly shot forward at extreme speed. Employing a Mysterious Step Technique, his figure became like a ghostly shadow, unbelievably fast.

"Despicable!"

Hong Yu snorted coldly.

He executed Tyrant’s Walk, his Thunder Step booming. The sound of thunder accompanied his every stride, rolling on and on as his speed became as fast as lightning.

"What a fine Body Technique!"

Qi Tianbao glanced with surprise at Hong Yu, who was gradually catching up to him. A cold light flashed in his eyes. "Take this!"

With a series of gestures, he condensed one Thunder Spear after another and swung them out.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Wave after wave of Thunder Spears came like a rain of arrows, blanketing the sky. There were no fewer than a hundred of the densely packed spears.

"Begone!"

Hong Yu’s brows furrowed as he let out a cold shout.

The shout brewed and rolled in his chest, erupting like a thunderous sound wave. It was like a Tiger Roar in the Forest, or a Dragon’s Roar shaking the nine heavens.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The rolling sound wave was actually in harmony with the Vibrating Rune Technique. Each vibration of the sound wave shattered the Thunder Spears.

’A Sound Wave Martial Skill? Doesn’t seem like it. Well, whatever. I don’t care what kind of Martial Skill it is, you’re dead today for sure!’

Qi Tianbao’s charging figure came to an abrupt halt.

His speed was so immense that even after stopping abruptly, his momentum carried him forward more than ten meters. His hands moved continuously, forming a Mysterious Seal Technique.

Vast power gathered between his hands, coalescing into a purple Thunder Energy Ball.

"Heaven-and-Earth-Shattering—Blast Thunder Bullet!"

Qi Tianbao roared.

This Blast Thunder Bullet was a Spirit-Level High-Grade Martial Arts Secret Technique. It was condensed at the cost of ninety percent of his body’s Elemental Power. Even a Primordial Core Realm expert would have to pay a price if caught in its explosion.

He clearly intended to use this one move to completely obliterate and kill Hong Yu!

"Go to hell!"

The immense Blast Thunder Bullet shot toward Hong Yu.

BOOM!

The canyon shook as the terrifying explosion of Thunder Energy swept through the area with the roar of a tempest.

Dark clouds swirled and gathered in the sky above.

’He should be dead now, right?’

Qi Tianbao frantically stuffed Pills into his mouth to replenish his consumed Elemental Power, his expectant gaze fixed on Hong Yu’s last known position.

But just then, a calm voice that made the pores on Qi Tianbao’s entire body stand on end suddenly sounded from behind him: "Sorry to disappoint you!"

"What?"

Qi Tianbao spun around in terror.

He was met with the shadow of a fair-skinned fist, which slammed into his nose with a BANG. Tears and blood gushed out as Qi Tianbao’s body was sent flying backward.

He bounced and tumbled across the ground, clearly having suffered no light injury.

Hong Yu gave him a cold glance, then turned to look at the Enlightenment Fruit Tree, not far behind him, his expression growing fervent. ’The Enlightenment Fruit? If I get it, I can comprehend another True Martial Arts Intent. That would drastically increase my chances of winning the Southern Ten Nations Martial Competition!’

He took a deep breath to calm his turbulent emotions.

Hong Yu walked up to the Enlightenment Fruit Tree. Gazing at the three round, plump Enlightenment Fruits, he took another deep breath and reached out to grab them.

However...

Just as Hong Yu was about to pick the Enlightenment Fruits, his hand froze mid-air. Unease and horror flickered in his eyes.

The other experts, who were still locked in battle, also stopped fighting one after another.

Everyone looked around with shock and confusion, because in that brief instant, they had all felt a chilling fluctuation of energy.

Just as they were unable to find its source and began to think it was an illusion, the powerful and terrifying fluctuation came again. It was followed by a low roar that nearly burst their eardrums...

[First, thank you all for the tips and votes! Also, the first round of character selection is over. The reader who voted with a monthly pass, Su Dandan, and the reader who gave a tip, ’You Exist Deep In My Mind,’ have been selected. Could you two please leave the names you’d like to appear in the book in the comments section? Qiye will arrange for them to be in the story. Qiye will continue to select readers to be added as characters! There will be plenty of opportunities, so please participate enthusiastically!!]