Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

The four of them nodded and left, disappearing into the crowd.

Lin Hao followed the stream of people, entering the ancient city before them.

As soon as he stepped inside, Lin Hao ran into Ling Xiao.

"Senior Brother Lin, Master Duan sent me to get you." Ling Xiao rushed to greet Lin Hao as soon as he saw him.

Lin Hao asked in surprise, "She’s leading the team this time?"

Ling Xiao nodded.

Although Duan Mushuang’s cultivation was by no means weak, the Six Courtyard Martial Competition was a matter of great importance. For the Saint Institute to actually let her lead the team was rather unexpected for Lin Hao.

"Senior Brother, there’s something you don’t know. With the opening of the Starry Sky Ancient Road this time, even the Sect Leaders of the five great divine sects have made an appearance. The Dean of our Saint Institute even came out of seclusion early to enter the Ancient Road. You didn’t get to see it—the spectacle of dozens of Martial Artists tearing through the sky, all fighting for priority access. Every last one of them was a peerless expert at the Spirit Transformation Realm!"

Ling Xiao spoke, lost in a daze of awe and lingering fear, still replaying the scene in his mind.

Lin Hao was also stunned. He hadn’t seen it himself, but the thought of dozens of Spirit Transformation Realm experts gathered in one place... The sheer pressure must have been immense!

However, after a moment of shock, Lin Hao asked doubtfully, "The entire Cangnan Empire has dozens of Spirit Transformation Realm experts?"

"Not just the Cangnan Empire. This ancient city has gathered experts from six different nations. I even heard there are people from the Li Long Dynasty," Ling Xiao said, lowering his voice.

Lin Hao understood. ’So it’s not just the disciples of our Saint Institute who were teleported here, but those from the other nations as well,’ he thought. ’The Heaven-Breaking Pavilion is starting the trial early on the Starry Sky Ancient Road, forcing the six great Saint Institutes to fight amongst themselves.’

Ling Xiao’s words confirmed Lin Hao’s suspicions. "Senior Brother, this trial is particularly brutal. I heard the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion realized that far too many people from the six great Saint Institutes were participating, so they completely changed the rules."

After a brief pause, Ling Xiao continued, "According to the new rules, every disciple participating in the trial has a Token. Participants must hunt their opponents on the Starry Sky Ancient Road and seize their Tokens, continuing until they reach the end of the road."

Lin Hao’s heart grew heavy. ’So the winner will be determined by the number of Tokens they have. The Heaven-Breaking Pavilion is truly ruthless.’

Ling Xiao’s voice continued, "The trial only recognizes the Token, not the person holding it. To get into the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion, many factions have used all sorts of methods to get into this ancient city. Oh, right! The Starry Sky Ancient Road opens in an hour! Senior Brother, we need to hurry and get our Tokens."

As he finished speaking, Ling Xiao slapped his forehead, as if he had just remembered something important.

He then spun around, about to dash off.

But as he turned, he slammed right into someone.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!

In the next instant, Ling Xiao was sent flying backward. If Lin Hao hadn’t intervened to stop his momentum, there was no telling how many steps he would have staggered back before regaining his footing.

PTHH!

As Ling Xiao steadied himself, he violently coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Ling Xiao was horrified. He had been consuming the Divine Spring for the past few days, and his progress had been astonishing—he’d even awakened his bloodline and broken through to the Soul Gathering Realm First Layer. Yet, from a simple collision where his opponent hadn’t even seemed to do anything, he had been grievously injured. One could only imagine the other person’s power.

"You’re courting death!" Ling Xiao had just regained his balance and hadn’t even gotten a clear look at the other person’s face when a cold voice rang out. An immense and overwhelming force surged toward him.

Ling Xiao was terrified, realizing he was completely powerless against this force.

But a moment later, a figure appeared in front of him, followed by a thunderous explosion.

Even without looking up, Ling Xiao knew that Lin Hao had blocked the attack for him, clashing with their opponent.

Seizing the opportunity, Ling Xiao turned his head and got a clear look at his attacker.

It was a young man around his own age, whose head of bright red hair gave him an unsettlingly fiendish appearance.

The red-haired young man was now staring coldly at Lin Hao, murderous intent swirling in his eyes.

"Get your lackey out here to die!" the red-haired youth demanded, his tone utterly condescending.

"My junior brother was indeed in the wrong just now, and I apologize on his behalf. However..." As Lin Hao spoke, his figure blurred and vanished.

The next instant, a resounding slap echoed through the air.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!

The red-haired youth staggered back several steps before catching his balance. He clutched his face, staring at Lin Hao in utter disbelief. "You... you... you actually dared to hit me!"

Just then, a voice from the crowd cried out, "Gods, am I seeing things? Someone actually dared to hit Tang Jun!"

"Who’s Tang Jun? Is he supposed to be some big shot?" another voice asked.

"Tang Jun is an upper-rank disciple of our Celestial Star Saint Institute. He’s at the Fourth Layer of Soul Gathering Realm."

Pah!

Hearing this, Ling Xiao spat heavily on the ground.

’That bastard actually called me a lackey,’ Ling Xiao thought with contempt. ’I thought he was some big deal, but it turns out he’s just a Martial Artist at the Fourth Layer of Soul Gathering Realm. Compared to Lin Hao, he’s nothing.’

"Tch, a mere disciple at the Fourth Layer of Soul Gathering Realm from the Celestial Star Saint Institute dares to provoke him? Do you have any idea who that is? That’s Lin Hao! I’m telling you, ten of Tang Jun wouldn’t be a match for one Lin Hao," a Martial Artist from the Cangnan Empire interjected.

At a time like this, no matter what personal feelings they had, Lin Hao was one of their own.

"I don’t know who Lin Hao is. The only name that matters from your Cangnan Empire is Lin Wu. Tang Jun might not be a big shot, but he serves a master who is. If someone can make a cultivator at the Fourth Layer of Soul Gathering Realm like Tang Jun submit so willingly... well, you can imagine his master’s strength for yourselves."

The speaker deliberately trailed off, leaving Tang Jun’s master unnamed.

However, everyone who heard this felt their hearts sink. When they saw Tang Jun’s smug expression—taking pride in his servitude rather than shame—their estimation of the master behind him grew even higher.

"So, you’re Lin Hao," Tang Jun sneered, his arrogance returning. "I know you’re stronger than me, but a pathetic level of cultivation like yours is nothing in my master’s eyes. Kill that worthless junior brother of yours, then come and personally apologize to my master. For the sake of your surname, Lin, my master might just spare your miserable life."

Lin Hao raised an eyebrow and suddenly asked, "I hear all the Saint Institute disciples have been issued a Token. Did you get yours?"

Tang Jun flicked his wrist, and a Token materialized in his palm.

The instant the Token appeared, Lin Hao struck like lightning, his hand shooting out to grab it.

Lin Hao’s move was as fast as lightning, and normally, success would have been guaranteed. This time, however, his strike failed.

BOOM!

Just as Lin Hao’s hand was about to close around the Token, a powerful surge of energy erupted from it, colliding with his hand.

Lin Hao’s body swayed, but Tang Jun was sent flying backward, landing several meters away.

CLANK!

The Token fell from his hand, clattering to the ground with a crisp metallic ring.

At that moment, the Token on the ground began to vibrate on its own. A second later, a wisp of green smoke began to rise from it.

In just a few moments, the green smoke coalesced into a blurry face. A voice then rang out, "Who dares be so lawless? To fight within Beginning City and attempt to seize a Token of my Heaven-Breaking Pavilion!"

This sudden turn of events left the crowd stunned, wondering why such a bizarre thing was happening.