Immortal Martial Emperor

RUMBLE!

A humanoid creature emerged from the void.

It was massive and imposing, standing three hundred meters tall. It had the appearance of a middle-aged man with a stern, rock-like face, clad in armor.

In its left hand, it held a massive, ancient shield.

In its right, a one-hundred-meter-long War Axe.

Majestic and awe-inspiring, its killing intent soared to the heavens.

This was the True Dragon War God!

According to legend, it was a puppet left behind after the death of Emperor Xiahuang, the founding emperor of the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom.

It was supremely powerful, representing the pinnacle of strength, and it guarded the True Dragon Battlefield of the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom!

ROAR!

The moment the True Dragon War God appeared and its feet touched the ground, the entire Royal Duel Arena shook violently. The immense storm it kicked up shot straight into the clouds.

It slowly opened its eyes, which were as cold as ice, seeming to peer out from an ancient time.

Even Celestial Venerable Xiahuang, upon seeing the True Dragon War God, shed all pretense of being an Emperor. He adopted the posture of a junior and said respectfully, "This junior, Emperor Celestial Venerable Xiahuang, greets Your Excellency, the War God!"

"Celestial Venerable Xiahuang? You must be the Master’s eighteenth-generation descendant, aren’t you?"

The True Dragon War God’s voice rumbled like thunder. He sized up Celestial Venerable Xiahuang and nodded. "Not bad. Although you can’t compare to the Master’s unparalleled talent, reaching your current level means you haven’t disgraced the Xiahuang family name!"

"Thank you for your praise, Your Excellency!"

Celestial Venerable Xiahuang said, "Your Excellency, today marks the beginning of the True Dragon War. We must trouble you to open the True Dragon Battlefield!"

"Hmm, it is about that time."

The True Dragon War God nodded, then said, "However, there’s no rush to open the True Dragon Battlefield. First, have all the little ones participating in this True Dragon War come out. This seat has some business to attend to!"

"Yes!"

Celestial Venerable Xiahuang didn’t dare to disobey and immediately had the experts participating in this True Dragon War brought forward.

A few minutes later, more than thirty thousand prodigies participating in the True Dragon War stepped into the duel arena, arriving before the True Dragon War God.

The True Dragon War God scanned the crowd and said flatly, "Hmm, this generation of juniors has some decent talent. Some of them are even worthy of being put to good use. However, over thirty thousand is far too many. Allow this seat to weed some of you out!"

The True Dragon War God let out a soft snort.

BUZZ!

The sound of that snort instantly spread out.

Rings of energy, visible to the naked eye, radiated outward with the sound, immensely powerful and sharp.

"Ah!"

"My ears..."

"My head hurts so much, it feels like it’s going to explode..."

Instantly, over ten thousand of the experts participating in the True Dragon War collapsed to the ground in agony. They struggled desperately, and some even died, bleeding from all seven orifices.

Standing in the crowd, Hong Yu frowned slightly, utterly horrified.

Every single person who came to participate in the True Dragon War had either survived brutal competitions in their respective kingdoms to earn a spot or was a prodigy with a powerful background who had the right and confidence to enter directly.

Anywhere else, they would be considered a prodigy.

And yet, so many of them couldn’t even withstand a single snort from the True Dragon War God?

The True Dragon War God glanced at the remaining twenty thousand people and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. All of you who are still standing have passed the initial screening. You are all pillars of the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom; its future glory will be built by you. However, before that, this seat has something to remind you of!"

In an instant, everyone held their breath, staring intently at the True Dragon War God.

They all knew the identity of the True Dragon War God.

This was a being who had fought alongside Emperor Xiahuang, the founding emperor of the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom. How could someone so powerful speak without purpose?

Every word he spoke was likely related to the True Dragon War!

The True Dragon War God said, "This True Dragon War will be different from those in the past. Previously, to protect the geniuses of the Ancient Kingdom, this seat would manipulate the rules of the battlefield so that death would not occur. This time, however, if any of you fall within the True Dragon Battlefield, you will be truly dead."

HISS!

BOOM!

An uproar erupted, filled with sharp intakes of breath!

’If you die in battle on the True Dragon Battlefield, you’re really dead?’

This was undoubtedly a bombshell.

Almost ninety-nine percent of the people had been unaware of this news, so they were utterly stunned.

Hong Yu couldn’t help but frown.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Venerable Xiahuang and Bai Luoxue were completely calm, as if they had known this all along.

The two of them seemed to sense Hong Yu’s gaze. They both revealed a sinister smile and raised a hand, slowly drawing a finger across their own throats.

The meaning was self-evident—’Brat, you’re a dead man!’

Hong Yu took a deep breath, a sense of unease creeping over him. ’Venerable Xiahuang and Bai Luoxue will definitely do whatever it takes to deal with me. And, according to Brother Xiahuang, they’ve been contacting many experts lately. I’m afraid they plan to target Xiahuang Shang on the True Dragon Battlefield.’

’Xiahuang Shang will have his own hands full, which means I’ll be in great danger too. It seems I’ll have to be even more careful once I’m on the True Dragon Battlefield!’

Taking another deep breath, Hong Yu turned his attention back to the True Dragon War God.

The True Dragon War God said flatly, "If you’re afraid of dying, it’s not too late to withdraw now."

Silence reigned for a full half-minute.

Sure enough, several hundred people backed out. The True Dragon War God shot them a contemptuous glance, and his eyes flared.

Before those few hundred people could even scream, they exploded with a BOOM, showering the area in a rain of blood.

The True Dragon War God said with disdain, "A bunch of trash. How can we Martial Artists be afraid of death?"

Then, his cold, stone-like face turned to the remaining crowd, and he continued, "Since none of you moved, this seat will take it that you agree to enter the True Dragon Battlefield. I am very pleased with this. As a reward for your courage, this seat will give you one piece of good news and one piece of bad news!"

"The good news is that this time, the True Dragon Battlefield will be different. It won’t just be outsiders entering. The battlefield also has many natives, whom this seat calls the War Race Tribes."

"On the True Dragon Battlefield, besides dealing with your competitors, you will also need to face the experts of the War Race. By the way, the experts from the War Race Tribes are extremely bloodthirsty and possess powerful abilities. If they kill you, you will die on the battlefield just the same. And..."

The True Dragon War God gave a wicked smile that sent a chill down everyone’s spine. "Aside from the War Race Tribes, in past True Dragon Wars, quite a few prodigies either got trapped in dangerous places or coveted the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essences on the battlefield and were unwilling to return. They are still alive on the battlefield, and some have even established factions no weaker than the War Race Tribes. According to the rules, they are not qualified to return to the Southern Border Profound Domain, but this time, this seat has given them a chance!"

"As long as they can kill you, they can exchange your lives for their freedom. This means that in addition to the experts of the War Race Tribes, you must also worry about the predecessors left behind on the battlefield from past eras!"

As soon as the True Dragon War God said this, a wave of gasps swept through the crowd.

Even Venerable Xiahuang and Xiahuang Shang couldn’t help but pale.

Hong Yu, however, didn’t have much of a concept of this. He sent a voice transmission, asking, "Brother Xiahuang, are those people very strong?"

Xiahuang Shang gave a bitter smile. "Very strong? Let me put it to you plainly. Among them, many were on par with me and my older brother in their own eras, and some were even greater Demon Fiends than us. It’s just that for various reasons, they never left the True Dragon Battlefield, remaining there to cultivate or comprehend its profound mysteries."

"The amount of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, Heaven and Earth Spirit Essences, and even some powerful Ancient Inheritances within the True Dragon Battlefield far exceeds that of the outside world. They have been in there for decades, some for centuries. Their strength can no longer be described as merely terrifying. And what’s more..."

Xiahuang Shang’s expression turned incredibly grim, as if he had thought of something horrifying. "Among them are four prodigies at the Sixth Heaven Realm, who were the True Dragon Kings of their respective eras. They were just unable to leave the True Dragon Battlefield. But this time, they finally have a chance to get out. They definitely won’t show any mercy."

HISS!

Hong Yu sucked in a sharp breath, nearly biting through his tongue.

’Four experts at the Sixth Heaven Realm?’

He wasn’t particularly afraid of the Sixth Heaven Realm itself.

After all, although his Martial Fortune Tower was only about thirty zhang tall, it was genuinely comparable to a Demon Fiend of the Sixth Heaven Realm.

However...

Those four True Dragon Kings had been cultivating for decades, even centuries.

Facing such True Dragon Kings, even Hong Yu felt immense pressure.

The True Dragon War God continued, "As for the good news, the duration of this True Dragon War will be very long—at least half a year, and at most, three years. It will last until one of you manages to open the True Dragon Ancient Hall and the ten strongest Unparalleled Geniuses are decided! Little ones, this is both a trial for you and a tremendous opportunity."

"If you can distinguish yourselves, your futures will be boundless. If you fail, then death is all that awaits you!"

The True Dragon War God took a deep breath, his vast voice booming like rolling thunder. "Little ones, are you ready?"

"We’re ready!"

ROAR!

Twenty thousand people roared in unison.

Even with the threat of the War Race Tribes and the unparalleled experts of the past, they still had the pride of geniuses. How could they be afraid?

The True Dragon War God laughed heartily. "Good, good, good! In that case, this seat will await your triumphant and glorious return!"

With that said, the True Dragon War God suddenly moved his right arm, swinging his War Axe through the air.

RUMBLE!

A powerful surge of energy shot toward the heavens.

A beam of light from the axe, several thousand meters long, soared into the clouds and, with a SWISH, tore a massive rift in the void.

Immediately after, an ancient altar descended from the void, hovering above the Royal Duel Arena.

CLANK! CLANK!

The sound of grinding gears echoed from the void.

From above the altar, a giant, eight-sided water curtain slowly descended.

The True Dragon War God said, "This is a Mirror Water Curtain. Through it, one can observe your exploits on the True Dragon Battlefield. Any expert in the Royal Duel Arena can pay a corresponding price to purchase a chance to watch. Of course, the stronger the target of observation, the higher the fee and the greater the cost!"

This was clearly standard practice, so no one raised any objections.

Then, the True Dragon War God waved his hand, and a pillar of light showered down from the altar, enveloping the more than twenty thousand people.

Everyone’s figures gradually became illusory, clearly about to be teleported to the True Dragon Battlefield.

Xiahuang Shang said, "Younger Brother Hong, this teleportation is random. We’ll use the Spirit Communication Jade Orders to stay in contact!"

"Brother Xiahuang, be careful!"

Hong Yu nodded.

Xiahuang Shang nodded in response as his figure faded away.

Hong Yu’s heart skipped a beat. He glanced to the side and saw Venerable Xiahuang and Bai Luoxue staring coldly at him.

Beside them were several other youths with powerful auras, all at the level of an Unparalleled Genius.

Hong Yu couldn’t help but frown. ’Have they teamed up?’

Venerable Xiahuang suddenly grinned. He said nothing more as his figure disappeared.

Bai Luoxue, however, gave a venomous smile. "Hong Yu, the True Dragon Battlefield will be your grave!"

"Heh heh, just you wait for fear and death!"

The other youths sneered one after another, making no effort to hide their killing intent toward Hong Yu.

Watching them disappear, Hong Yu took a deep breath, his gaze growing colder...

’You want to kill me? We’ll see who lives and who dies!’