Immortal Martial Emperor

The Cyan Nether Sword Sect.

This powerful Sect, nestled within the Cyan Nether Mountain Range of the Fengyue Kingdom, had a heritage and history stretching back hundreds of years since its founding.

Over the past few hundred years, countless experts had emerged from the Cyan Nether Sword Sect.

In the generation of its founding ancestor, the Sword Demon Elder, the Sect had even produced countless supreme geniuses, once elevating its reputation to rank among the top three sects of the Southern Ten Nations.

But times had changed.

Since the time of the Sword Demon Elder, the Cyan Nether Sword Sect had long since failed to reach its former glory.

Now, with the Southern Ten Nations Alliance Tournament fast approaching, the various major sects, families, kingdoms, and even some lone young experts had all fixed their gazes upon the competition.

As one of the ten strongest sects among the Southern Ten Nations, the Cyan Nether Sword Sect naturally focused its attention on the tournament as well.

After the chaos caused by the Demon Owl in the Forbidden Land, the Cyan Nether Sword Sect had been nearly half destroyed. Although it had been repaired and rebuilt in just a year’s time thanks to its vast wealth and resources, the scars of that day’s battle remained visible in many places.

The Cyan Nether Main Peak was now only half its former size. The grand hall on its summit remained as luxurious as ever on the outside, but the interior had lost its former sense of solemn dignity and light. Instead, it gave off a gloomy and dark feeling.

At this very moment...

In the center of the grand hall sat a figure dressed in a black robe. A string of crimson clouds was branded upon its flowing sleeves, and long hair cascaded over its shoulders, a faint red mist swirling just above the strands.

If Hong Yu were present, he would have seen clearly that this person was none other than Hong Renjie!

However, the soul currently inhabiting Hong Renjie’s body was not his own. It was—Lord Owl!

That day, Lord Owl had nearly been killed by Tiger Instructor. He had subsequently fled into the body of the critically injured, dying Hong Renjie, seizing it to be reborn. Since then, he had hidden his identity to recuperate and recover his strength.

A year had now passed. Relying on his own methods, "Hong Renjie" had not only restored his strength to the Early-stage Primordial Core Realm.

But he had also, through various means, brought the entire Cyan Nether Sword Sect under his complete control.

Before Hong Renjie, in the vast, empty hall, the former Sect Leader Wang Jiankun, Elder Li Tie, and the other Elders stood with their heads bowed. A faint red glint flickered in each of their eyes as they gazed respectfully at the man on the high seat.

"Elder Wang, how are things progressing?"

The former Sect Leader Wang Jiankun had evidently become the Grand Elder, while the position of Sect Leader had fallen into Hong Renjie’s hands.

"Reporting to Master, this subordinate has already dispatched experts to hunt down Gao Zijie, Liu Liyun, and Tie Shou."

Wang Jiankun continued, "My men have sent word back. Liu Liyun has been slain. As for Gao Zijie and Tie Shou, they leaped into the Huang River, and we lost their trail. However, the Huang River is the most turbulent and dangerous river in the Fengyue Kingdom; even a Celestial Soul Realm expert would be certain to perish after falling in."

Hong Renjie snorted coldly. "A bunch of useless trash. I said I want to see them alive or see their corpses. And you’re telling me you can only confirm one is dead?"

"Master, please calm your anger! This subordinate has been incompetent. I await your punishment!"

The dignified Primordial Core Realm expert, the once-great Sword Sect Master Wang Jiankun, actually knelt on the floor, trembling as he begged for forgiveness.

Hong Renjie shot him a cold glance. "Forget it. This is a time when I need men... By the way, are those two, Bai Yunfeng and Feng Xue Xin, still refusing to submit?"

"Reporting to Master, neither of them has shown the slightest sign of yielding," said Elder Tie.

A trace of bitterness and guilt filled his eyes.

Even he had been unable to withstand Hong Renjie’s insidious methods and had ultimately chosen to submit. Now, the task of torturing Bai Yunfeng and Feng Xue Xin had fallen to him.

Every time he watched his old friends being tortured until they were barely human, Elder Tie felt his own heart being twisted like a knife.

Hong Renjie’s eyes narrowed, glinting dangerously. "The Southern Ten Nations Alliance Tournament is drawing closer. I’ve heard that bastard Hong Yu is thriving in the Qin Kingdom. He will certainly participate in this tournament. If it comes to it, use the method I spoke of earlier. You must bring Bai Yunfeng and Feng Xue Xin under our complete control before the tournament begins. Those two are crucial bargaining chips for me to use against Hong Yu!"

"This subordinate understands! It’s just..." Elder Tie trailed off.

Hong Renjie prompted, "What?"

Elder Tie replied, "Master, dealing with Bai Yunfeng and Feng Xue Xin with the method you mentioned is one thing. But you also previously ordered this subordinate to capture everyone from the Hong Family in Shishui City. This subordinate doesn’t quite understand..."

"When I tell you to do something, you need only obey," Hong Renjie snorted.

That single snort made Elder Tie tremble. He fell to his knees in terror and began kowtowing repeatedly.

"Alright, you are all dismissed!"

Once everyone had departed, Hong Renjie gently tapped the armrest of his chair, then triggered a mechanism on it. The chair swiveled and sank into the platform of the high seat.

Within the wall behind the high seat lay a secluded and exceptionally gloomy secret chamber.

As Hong Renjie walked through it, nothing could be seen but the sharp glint of his eyes; even the outline of his figure was lost in the darkness.

"Since you’re here, show yourself!"

Hong Renjie’s indifferent voice echoed through the darkness.

"As expected of Lord Owl. To be beaten until your soul nearly scattered, yet still recover so much of your strength in just one year... you truly have my admiration!" a calm voice rang out.

From the darkness, the figure of a young man walked forward.

The light was so dim, however, that his features remained obscured.

Hong Renjie glanced at the newcomer indifferently. "Enough with the pleasantries. Did you pass on the message I gave you last time?"

"Not yet."

"Not yet? It’s been three months, and you still haven’t sent it? What the hell are you people good for?" Hong Renjie demanded angrily.

The visitor snorted, displeased. "Lord Owl, you had best speak to me with more respect. While we may have dealings of mutual interest, we are not your subordinates. We are the masters here in the Southern Border Profound Domain. I hope you haven’t forgotten your place."

"You..."

Hong Renjie’s expression flickered between livid and pale. After a moment, he took a deep breath. "Why have you come to see me?"

"Nothing of great importance. The Southern Ten Nations Tournament will be held soon, and I have been invited to observe. It occurred to me that Lord Owl would also be participating, so I came to ask if you required any assistance," the mysterious man said with a light chuckle.

Hong Renjie sneered, "You’d be so kind?"

"Heh heh."

The mysterious man said, "There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world, of course. We simply desire that Secret Technique of yours for the ’Control of Divine Will.’"

Hong Renjie narrowed his eyes. A vicious glint flickered within them, and for a moment, he radiated killing intent.

The mysterious man, however, was completely unafraid. He said calmly, "Lord Owl, I’d advise you to calm down. At your peak, I would naturally be no match for you. But as you are now... before me, you are as weak as an ant. If we weren’t wary of the one backing you, we would have captured you long ago and forced those Secret Techniques out of you instead of striking a deal."

"You..."

Rage surged in Hong Renjie’s heart.

But he knew full well that if his identity were exposed, there would be no place for him left in the Southern Border Profound Domain.

At this thought, he took a deep breath. "Fine. You can have the Secret Technique. But I have one condition!"

"And what is that?"

Hong Renjie said, "During the tournament, I will need to do a few things that may provoke the other experts of the Southern Ten Nations. I have no fear of ordinary experts, but top-tier masters like Yuan Cang from the Qin Kingdom and Yao Huntian from the Proud Moon Palace could pose a threat to me. I hope that when the time comes, you can..."

The mysterious man nodded in understanding. "Rest assured, Lord Owl. It is only the Southern Ten Nations. I guarantee your safety."

"In that case, this ’God Control Forbidden Technique’ is yours."

"Excellent. I shall take my leave."

The secret chamber fell silent once more.

Hong Renjie’s eyes were narrowed to slits, vicious light dancing within them like flames. ’Heh heh heh... with their protection, I’ll be able to do as I please at the tournament. Hong Yu, oh, Hong Yu... you made me lose my Demon Body and a century of cultivation in a single day. I will tear you limb from limb, refine your soul, and present it to the Hall Master to be tempered in the Nine Yin Demon Flame...’

’I will make you wish you were dead! I will make you taste the agony of being betrayed by all, abandoned by your friends and family...’

’You will suffer every torment imaginable!’

"HEH HEH HEH..."

...

「Qin Kingdom. Beichen Family. Main Hall.」

"What did you say?"

A terrifying wave of aura surged forth, like a ferocious Ancient Fierce Beast awakening from its slumber. With a BOOM, it shot into the sky, blasting the main hall’s roof—a structure over three hundred square meters in area and more than ten meters high—to smithereens.

Dust and debris rained down from above.

Hong Yu, however, was completely oblivious.

His eyes were crimson as he tightly gripped the collar of the man before him, his bloodshot gaze fixed on the other’s face.

Hong Yu’s voice was bone-chilling. "Tie Shou, say that again... You’re saying my master and Master Xin were both captured by Hong Renjie, and that the entire Qingming Sword Edge is now under his control?"

"Y-Yes."

The burly young man before Hong Yu—disheveled and covered in stubble—nodded heavily, his face a mask of dejection and pain.

This was Tie Shou, once a high-spirited True Disciple of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect and a close friend of Feng Xue Xin.

But now...

Tie Shou’s right arm, once his greatest pride, was gone from the shoulder down, leaving only his left.

His face was contorted with venomous hatred and rage. "Hong Yu, you have to avenge us! You must! That day, Sect Leader Wang suddenly abdicated his position to Hong Renjie. Immediately after, they brought men to surround and destroy our Wind and Snow Association. If Elder Bai and Brother Xin hadn’t desperately held them back, the rest of us would have died at his hands."

"Even so, Liu Liyun and some of our other brothers were killed while we fled. Only Gao Zijie and I managed to escape with our lives by leaping into the Huang River. Gao Zijie’s whereabouts are still unknown, and I... I’ve become a cripple."

Tie Shou suddenly dropped to his knees. Scalding tears streamed down the iron-willed man’s face as he kowtowed heavily before Hong Yu. "Hong Yu, I’m begging you! You must help us get revenge! You have to save Brother Xin and Elder Bai! Please, I’m begging you!"

Hong Yu quickly helped Tie Shou to his feet.

He took a deep breath, a deathly chill flashing in his eyes as he gritted his teeth. "Don’t worry. I will get revenge for all of you."

’Hong Renjie,’ he vowed, ’if my master or Brother Xin have been harmed in the slightest, I will make you regret the day you were born.’