Immortal Martial Emperor

"Will a miracle actually happen?"

"If Hong Yu can kill Xue De, he’ll be the first Demon Fiend in our Southern Ten Nations since the Eight Desolates Old Demon to kill a Primordial Core Realm expert while still in the Celestial Soul Realm!"

"Even though the legendary Four True Dragons are said to have the power to fight above their level, none of them have a record of actually killing a Primordial Core Realm expert. If Hong Yu truly kills Xue De, he’ll be a strong contender for the new generation of True Dragons in this Southern Ten Nations tournament!"

"That’s not a given. I heard this year’s Southern Ten Nations tournament is grander than ever, with many supreme geniuses from every kingdom."

"That’s right. And it’s very strange this year—the vast majority of those supreme geniuses have come from the weaker kingdoms."

"Enough chatter! The outcome is about to be decided!"

As the powerful experts were deep in their heated discussion, someone suddenly cried out, and everyone instantly shifted their attention toward the blinding golden light.

At that very moment, the power of the Senluo Seal was gradually receding. Having unleashed its explosive force, it had exhausted its destructive energy.

After the blinding golden light faded, the area before Guiyuan Hall, which had just been buzzing with noise, controversy, and doubt, fell silent. The guests at the hundreds of tables all stared, eyes wide and jaws agape, fixated on the spot where the light had vanished.

The Celestial Ladder, which stretched for several thousand meters from the foot of Celestial Essence Peak to Guiyuan Hall, had a 1,200-meter section that had completely collapsed into a pile of rubble.

An enormous crater, thirty to fifty meters deep, was a jarring sight.

From a distance, it looked as if someone had taken three or four consecutive bites out of the middle of a cucumber.

On the edge of the shattered stone steps, Zheng Tian, naked and covered in wounds, was draped over a fallen tree like a sausage.

His arms swung back and forth limply. The life or death of this former number one genius of the Qin Kingdom was now unknown.

WHOOSH!

A mountain breeze swept by, sending a chill from the base of everyone’s spine straight to the top of their heads.

Every face was filled with horror.

"D-did Hong Yu really cause this?"

"My god, I doubt even a powerhouse at the Peak of the Primordial Core Realm could unleash such terrifying destructive power, right?"

"When Hong Yu launched that attack, a golden Seal Technique seemed to appear in his palm. Could it be that he possesses some kind of Treasure?"

"To cause such terrifying destruction, that Seal Technique must be a Supreme Treasure! It might be a Celestial-Level Primordial Weapon, or even one that surpasses the Celestial Level!"

"A Primordial Weapon that surpasses the Celestial Level?"

The eyes of many experts began to burn with greed. They were all itching to move, eager to rush into the ruins and search for that mysterious, powerful Seal Technique that might even surpass the Celestial Level.

In the vast Southern Ten Nations, there wasn’t a single Tier Four Spiritual Craftsman capable of forging a Celestial-Level Primordial Weapon!

Because of this, Celestial-Level Primordial Weapons were exceedingly rare and precious.

They were enough to trigger a bloody struggle among the second-rate powers of the Southern Ten Nations.

Let alone a Primordial Weapon that might surpass the Celestial Level?

If it really was a Treasure of that level, then even a top-tier power like the Guiyuan Sect would stop at nothing to seize it!

But just as the crowd grew restless, barely able to contain their greed, a giant boulder in the ruins suddenly came crashing down with a BOOM.

Behind the boulder was a large hole, and from within it, Hong Yu’s figure finally appeared in everyone’s sight.

Hong Yu’s face was terrifyingly pale.

His eyes were filled with exhaustion. He glanced at the empty, devastated landscape outside.

He took a deep breath and gestured behind him. "Little Feng, help your aunt out!"

The weakened Hong Yu, along with Beichen Feng, supported the unconscious Beichen Tianshuang as they walked through the ruins. They stumbled, their steps labored.

However, when the crowd saw that familiar face, the silence that had fallen over Guiyuan Hall was shattered completely.

An uproar erupted—a mix of fervor, madness, and hysteria!

At that moment, no words could accurately describe the feelings of the crowd at Guiyuan Hall.

Hong Yu was alive, while Xue De was nowhere to be found.

After so much time had passed with no sign of Xue De, and after several Primordial Core Realm experts had scanned the area with their Spiritual Power and still found no trace of him...

The conclusion was obvious: Xue De had died at Hong Yu’s hands.

Fighting a Primordial Core Realm expert while still in the Celestial Soul Realm was not a mere legend in the Southern Ten Nations; many had witnessed it with their own eyes.

Moreover, it wasn’t something only one person could do. The geniuses who had claimed the Four True Dragon positions in the last tournament were all true prodigies capable of challenging the Primordial Core Realm while at the Celestial Soul Realm.

However, even those Four Great True Dragon Geniuses had never successfully *killed* a Primordial Core Realm expert!

Challenging, defeating, and killing were all completely different concepts!

The last time a Celestial Soul Realm expert in the Southern Ten Nations Alliance had killed someone in the Primordial Core Realm was the renowned Eight Desolates Old Demon.

Until now. The Southern Ten Nations finally had another Celestial Soul Realm Demon Fiend capable of killing an expert from a higher realm!

"My heavens, he actually killed Xue De?"

"Damn it, good thing I didn’t make a move just now. If that kid had used that Treasure again, we would’ve been the ones to suffer!"

"But look how weak he is," someone suddenly analyzed. "He seems completely spent. He probably can’t activate such a powerful Treasure again, can he?"

Hearing this, the greedy fire in some people’s eyes rekindled, their gazes flickering as they grew restless once more.

"Hmph?"

Hong Yu frowned slightly. Although he was weak, his Spiritual Perception was by no means lacking.

He sensed many malicious gazes fixed on him.

He couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. ’I knew it. Using the Senluo Seal was bound to attract this kind of trouble.’

Hong Yu was indeed extremely weak right now.

Forcibly activating the Senluo Seal didn’t just consume Elemental Power; more than that, it drained his Spiritual Power.

His Dantian was now completely empty, and his Spiritual Power was almost depleted.

If he hadn’t just broken through and greatly increased his strength, he probably wouldn’t even be able to stand after using the Senluo Seal.

But he couldn’t let anyone see his weakness now. Hong Yu took a deep breath, relying on the cool stream flowing from the Star River Spirit Bone in his mind to maintain his body’s functions, while secretly circulating the Primordial Gang Fighting Technique to absorb the Elemental Ore within the Profound Celestial Tower and recover his strength.

Hong Yu slowly raised his head toward Guiyuan Hall, his gaze sharpening as he bellowed, "Elder Wang of the Guiyuan Sect, things have come to this. Are you still not going to come out and meet me?"

"Hm?"

"That kid’s voice is so powerful. He doesn’t sound weak at all!"

"He dares to openly challenge Wang Ba at a time like this? Is he really that confident, or is he just bluffing to confuse us?"

Regardless of what everyone was thinking, Hong Yu’s bellow did indeed cause the experts who had been itching for a fight to settle down.

On the high platform of Guiyuan Hall, Wang Ba slowly stood up, his expression grim. His body gradually rose into the air, and he stood proudly at the edge of the hall, his feet treading on empty space.

Looking down at Hong Yu from his high vantage point, he said, "To think that an ant I could have crushed with a flick of my finger has grown bold enough to challenge me in just ten short months. Good. Very good. A genius like you will surely lead our Southern Ten Nations to glory in the future. However..."

Wang Ba’s eyes glinted with a deathly cold light, as if he were looking at an insignificant insect.

His voice grew even colder. "The centuries-old dignity and reputation of the Guiyuan Sect will not be trampled on by anyone! You caused a disturbance in my Guiyuan Sect today. If I don’t make you pay a price, where will our sect’s prestige be? In the future, wouldn’t everyone think they can disrespect the Guiyuan Sect?"

BANG!

Several powerful streams of air erupted from Wang Ba’s body.

As his power surged, a violent aura, like a volcanic eruption, spread across all of Celestial Essence Peak.

"Peak of the Primordial Core Realm? That old bastard has been hiding his strength all this time?" Old Sir Tie’s expression changed abruptly.

Tang Long also gave Wang Ba a deep look. "To be able to suppress his power and only show the Mid-stage Primordial Core Realm for so many years... this man’s cunning is truly terrifying."

Wang Ba descended from his high position, flying down into the crater.

He landed in front of Hong Yu, a deathly cold light glinting in his eyes.

How powerful was a Peak of the Primordial Core Realm expert?

The sheer pressure of his power was like a heavy mountain pressing down on Hong Yu, nearly forcing him to his knees. Only thanks to the support of his Star River Spirit Bone and his powerful consciousness did Hong Yu manage to remain standing.

Even so, he couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan as a trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth.

Wang Ba narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Hong Yu as a smile played on his lips. "Hahaha, I found it strange how someone with your meager strength could activate such a powerful Treasure. So, you were just putting on a brave front to hide your exhaustion, an arrow at the end of its flight."

"Hong Yu, for the crime of destroying my Guiyuan Sect’s Mountain Gate and killing and injuring so many of our disciples, you should face certain death. However..."

Wang Ba gave Hong Yu a sinister look, a flicker of greedy fire burning deep in his dark eyes. "If you hand over that Treasure you possess to the Guiyuan Sect, I can personally absolve you of all punishment. I can even make an exception and allow you to join the Guiyuan Sect and become our Chief Disciple!"

"Hong Yu, oh, Hong Yu, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Once you join my Guiyuan Sect, you will be second to only one and above tens of thousands!"

After the enticement, Wang Ba’s expression turned grim as he began to threaten him. "If you insist on opposing my Guiyuan Sect to the very end, then I can tell you this clearly. While my Guiyuan Sect is a righteous and prestigious sect and would never do something like forcibly taking your Treasure, if you were to leave the Guiyuan Sect’s territory... heh heh, who knows what might happen!"

Faced with Wang Ba’s threats and promises, Hong Yu took a deep breath and lifted his chin slightly. "Sorry, I can’t do that!"

"Oh?"

Wang Ba’s expression turned cold. He let out a snort, a murderous intent surging in his eyes. "Are you sure?"

Hong Yu nodded, neither servile nor overbearing.

Even under the full pressure of Wang Ba’s power, he showed not a single hint of submission.

Looking at the stubborn, exhausted youth who still stood with a straight back like a resilient pine tree, Wang Ba ground his teeth. "Fine, fine, fine! In that case, you can kneel! Atone for the fallen spirits of my Guiyuan Sect with your head and your blood! After you’re dead, your Treasure will still be mine!"

As he spoke, Wang Ba thrust a palm straight at Hong Yu’s head.

Faced with a full-power strike from a Peak of the Primordial Core Realm expert, let alone a weakened Hong Yu, even at his peak he would be no match for Wang Ba.

And yet, at this moment of life and death, Hong Yu’s eyes widened in a furious glare. Without blinking, he stared coldly at Wang Ba and let out a roar...

"You’re the one who should be kneeling!"