Immortal Martial Emperor

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

The crisp sound of applause drifted over.

Before Hong Yu stood a young man clapping his hands. A sinister, cold aura emanated from him, and streams of black energy slowly swirled around his body.

His eyes were devoid of any human emotion.

If one had to describe his gaze, it was like that of a dispassionate executioner, one who viewed all life with the cold intent to snuff it out.

Ding Zhentian, a genius powerhouse from the Celestial Star Kingdom.

He had mastered the *Five Yin Demon Skill*, and his cultivation had already reached the Mid-stage Primordial Core Realm.

However, this person rarely ventured out into the world, so his reputation wasn’t widespread.

In fact, few had ever seen him fight, because anyone who had was already a pile of withered bones, buried beneath Ding Zhentian’s Five Yin Demon Prison!

Hong Yu frowned, his gaze fixed on Ding Zhentian.

This man’s information and name weren’t on the Dragon and Tiger List. In fact, many powerhouses like him, comparable to a True Dragon Genius, had not appeared on the latest list.

After all, the rankings on the Dragon and Tiger List required solid evidence and intelligence.

If no one had ever witnessed Ding Zhentian in action, how could he be judged?

But this didn’t stop Hong Yu from taking Ding Zhentian seriously.

Back in the Eight Desolates Tower, he had fought Ding Yuanshan from the Celestial Star Kingdom. That man’s strength and methods had been bizarre and almost impossible to defend against.

Since this Ding Zhentian also had the surname Ding, he was probably related to Ding Yuanshan.

Furthermore, this Ding Zhentian was far more powerful than Ding Yuanshan.

’I can’t be careless when dealing with him!’

"Tsk, tsk. Back in the Celestial Star Kingdom, I heard my useless uncle mention you and Hong Renjie."

Ding Zhentian was the first to speak, a faint smile on his lips. "After the battle in the Eight Desolates Tower, you two crippled my uncle’s hands. His life hasn’t been great since then, which makes me, his nephew, very unhappy! Before I left, my uncle specifically instructed me that if I ran into either of you, I should find a way to bring your heads back to him!"

"However..."

Ding Zhentian licked his lips, a bloodthirsty red light flickering in his eyes. "Hong Renjie is now the Sect Leader of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect, surrounded by a large group of people. It’s not easy to make a move on him. I was planning to wait for a better opportunity to deal with you both, but I never expected you to provoke the Zhui Yang Old Monster into posting such a massive bounty. Tsk, tsk, that reward isn’t small. Even I can’t help but be tempted!"

Hong Yu frowned and pointed to the bodies on the ground. "They were also here for that massive bounty."

"Hahaha, are you trying to threaten me?"

Ding Zhentian laughed coldly. "I’ll admit I’m surprised that someone at the Peak of the Celestial Soul Realm like you could so easily slay a Primordial Core Realm expert. I even have to concede that you’re a genius on par with any True Dragon. Unfortunately for you, today you’ve met me..."

Ding Zhentian slowly approached Hong Yu.

He wasn’t walking. Instead, black energy swirled beneath his legs, lifting his body so that it floated in mid-air.

He drifted forward like a phantom.

Ding Zhentian came to a slow stop about five meters from Hong Yu.

He brazenly flicked a finger, and a stream of black energy, like a venomous snake, shot from his fingertip and coiled around the corpses of the experts on the ground.

The black energy circulated once before flying back to Ding Zhentian.

The corpses on the ground shriveled, leaving behind nothing but skin and bones, like desiccated mummies.

"Hsss! Hah!"

Ding Zhentian let out a low groan.

His eyes filled with a look of intoxicated pleasure as he grinned at Hong Yu. "The blood and qi from a freshly dead Martial Artist are so fragrant! It’s a fragrance that the blood of those Desolate Beasts can’t even compare to. Just smell it—so rich, yet with a hint of freshness. One breath makes every pore on my body stand on end!"

"This feeling... it’s truly wonderful!"

"It’s just like..."

A strange swirl of black energy appeared in his eyes. He lifted his chin slightly, staring at Hong Yu with a sinister glint. "It’s just like the feeling of a True Dragon Prodigy about to die at my hands."

SHING!

Ding Zhentian extended his crimson tongue and licked his five fingers.

On those fingers, his nails grew long and took on a silvery, metallic sheen.

It was as if ten steel sabers were mounted on his hands.

"Hehe, hehehe... The mere thought of killing you, draining your blood, and chewing on your organs makes me so excited!"

A sick, greedy fire burned in Ding Zhentian’s eyes.

He pushed off the ground, and his body shot forward like a bolt of black lightning.

His speed was incredible. In the blink of an eye, he had already streaked past Hong Yu.

Five streaks of cold light flashed. Hong Yu felt a chill on his chest, and when he looked down, he saw five ghastly white claw marks.

’What sharp claws. They’re probably no weaker than an Earth-level Middle-grade Primordial Weapon!’ Hong Yu raised an eyebrow.

Just a moment ago, even an Earth-level Lower Grade Hidden Weapon hadn’t been able to leave a mark on him.

The fact that Ding Zhentian’s claws could leave a mark showed just how formidable they were.

Little did he know, Ding Zhentian was even more shocked.

His claws had been forged from precious materials collected by the Five Yin Demon Sect over a hundred years, and their strength was comparable to an Earth-level High-Grade Primordial Weapon.

In a normal fight, let alone a human Celestial Soul Realm expert, even a Tier Four Desolate Beast would have had its flesh torn open by that last attack!

Yet Hong Yu was left with only five white scratches?

’Is this guy’s body a Primordial Weapon? How is it so tough?’ Ding Zhentian’s pupils contracted.

But he quickly composed himself.

’The stronger the physical body, the more abundant the blood and qi. Devouring your life force will be even more beneficial to my cultivation. Jie-jie, with your blood and qi, I might just be able to push my *Five Yin Demon Skill* to the next level and reach the Late-stage Primordial Core Realm.’

Ding Zhentian was already counting his chickens, full of confidence. ’Once I reach the Late-stage Primordial Core Realm, I’ll even be confident enough to fight Yao Yueye!’

At this thought, Ding Zhentian turned back, his phantom-like figure preparing a killing blow. "Heaven-Ripping Hand!"

He crossed his hands and then tore them apart to his sides.

Ten streaks of cold light danced on his fingertips.

As the light glittered, a piercingly sharp chill radiated outward.

Hong Yu snorted coldly, and his Godslaying Spear shot through the air.

Their brief exchange had given him some understanding of Ding Zhentian’s power. He knew the man’s methods were vicious and tricky, and he couldn’t afford to be careless.

As the Spear Aura pulsed, a torrent of sharp, golden flames surged forth.

The surrounding air couldn’t withstand the searing heatwave. With a WHOOSH, the nearby trees burst into flames.

The forest erupted into a sea of fire.

Across from him, Ding Zhentian’s pupils shrank at the sight of the towering wave of fire. Just as the Golden Light Spear Aura was about to hit him, his body flickered into black smoke, and the spear aura passed straight through him.

But then, something strange happened.

Ding Zhentian didn’t die from being pierced by the Godslaying Spear.

After the Golden Light Spear Aura passed through him, his body continued its charge toward Hong Yu, its momentum unbroken, following the path of the spear light.

Hong Yu’s brow twitched. He activated Wind Rider, dodging away with a whistle of wind.

In the spot where he had just been standing...

Ten streaks of cold light whistled past with a SCRAPE, leaving ten intersecting gouges in the ground.

Each gouge was bottomlessly deep.

It was easy to imagine how terrifying Ding Zhentian’s ten Vajra Sharp Claws were.

WHOOSH!

Missing his attack, Ding Zhentian was not discouraged in the slightest. His form instantly reformed behind Hong Yu.

He grinned. "My *Five Yin Demon Skill* allows me to turn into black smoke. No matter how strong your attacks are, they can’t harm me. Hong Yu, die!"

"Turn into black smoke? The *Five Yin Demon Skill* is certainly wondrous. In that case, try this—Illusion Heaven Technique!"

As Hong Yu spun around, a ball of golden brilliance gathered at the tip of his Godslaying Spear and shot toward the heavens.

The golden brilliance pulsed and spun in the air before condensing into several thousand golden spear auras that rained down like a torrential storm.

An attack like this was impossible to defend against!

But as these unstoppable golden spear auras struck Ding Zhentian, his body once again dissolved into black smoke. One after another, the spear auras clearly passed through his body, shooting out the other side and into the ground.

Logically, under such an assault, he should have been turned into a sieve.

And yet, when the Illusion Heaven Technique dissipated, the black smoke around Ding Zhentian vanished, and his form reappeared, completely unscathed.

Ding Zhentian looked at Hong Yu with a smug expression. "I told you, you can’t hurt me! Hong Yu, to show my respect, I will use my strongest attack against you! Jie-jie, this Five Yin Demon Prison is my ultimate killing move. To date, I have only used it twice!"

"The first time, I was at the Late-stage Celestial Soul Realm and used it against a Celestial Soul Peak Powerhouse. The second time, I was in the Early-stage Primordial Core Realm and used it against a Mid-stage Primordial Core Realm expert. On both occasions, the people who forced me to use this move are now under the Yellow Springs."

Ding Zhentian took a deep breath, and a violent fluctuation suddenly appeared in his indifferent eyes. "Today, it’s your turn!"

A surging energy fluctuation danced between his five fingers.

Before him, five black Energy Vortexes slowly took shape. The vortexes were pitch-black, deeper and colder than the night itself.

It felt as if, on the other side of these black holes, they connected to the Netherworld Yellow Springs Demon Prison itself.

Vaguely, one could even sense a ferocious Demon sealed within each Energy Vortex, letting out cries of insatiable hunger for blood and life.

"Hong Yu, you should be proud to die by my Five Yin Demon Prison!"

"When you’re under the Nine Springs, remember to tell King Yama that the one who killed you was Ding Zhentian of the Celestial Star Kingdom’s Five Yin Demon Sect!"

The moment he finished speaking, Ding Zhentian let out a furious roar.

As he clapped his palms together, the Five Yin Demon Prison swept up the five Energy Vortexes and howled toward Hong Yu, like five murderous Ancient Fierce Demons.

The crisis of death loomed over Hong Yu’s heart...

Faced with the unkillable and fearless Ding Zhentian, as well as this terrifyingly powerful and unpredictable Five Yin Demon Prison, what was he to do?