Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

Only now did the cheering Martial Artists from the Moon Worship Empire finally understand what that dragon was.

It wasn’t a real dragon, but a manifestation of the Emperor Dragon Qi from within the Jade Seal.

With the Jade Seal seized by Lin Hao, the Emperor Dragon Qi had lost its vessel and could only manifest in this form.

Outside the Jade Seal, the Emperor Dragon Qi couldn’t exist for long. No wonder Young Master Moon had spoken up to Lin Hao.

Hearing Lin Hao’s words, Young Master Moon wanted nothing more than to tear him to shreds.

But the Emperor Dragon Qi was too important to him. Young Master Moon gritted his teeth and forced out a single word in a low voice: "Yes."

"Are you begging me?" Lin Hao asked, a broad, mocking smile spreading across his face as he looked at Young Master Moon.

Young Master Moon’s expression was utterly foul. He clenched his fists so tightly they crackled.

The giant dragon beside him looked majestic, as if it possessed the power to suppress all creation, but Young Master Moon knew it was merely a manifestation of the Emperor Dragon Qi. Without a vessel, it could not last long.

Of course, Young Master Moon didn’t have to beg Lin Hao; he could just absorb the Emperor Dragon Qi into his own body.

Doing so would even cause his cultivation to skyrocket.

But this Emperor Dragon Qi was the masterwork of three generations of Moon Worship Empire Monarchs. Even with his royal physique, he couldn’t possibly absorb such a vast amount of it.

"You’d better decide quickly. It can’t last much longer." When Young Master Moon didn’t answer, Lin Hao nonchalantly toyed with the Jade Seal in his hand and spoke again.

"Lin Hao, give me the Jade Seal, and I promise I won’t touch you on the Ancient Road," Young Master Moon said, exhaling sharply. His face was dark, his voice filled with immense frustration.

’To think that I, Young Master Moon, Crown Prince of the Moon Worship Empire and one of the Ten Great Young Masters of the Celestial Yang Continent, would be cornered like this by Lin Hao even after using my Divine Soul and the Jade Seal.’ The frustration Young Master Moon felt was immense.

It was arguably the first time Young Master Moon had ever uttered such words.

But Lin Hao still wasn’t letting him off the hook.

"Your Highness, you really don’t know how to ask for something, do you? That’s not how you beg at all." Lin Hao’s tone was light and breezy.

The Martial Artists at the gates of Wangchuan City were stunned speechless.

This was one of the Ten Great Young Masters, yet Lin Hao had the absolute upper hand. He showed him no respect whatsoever, determined to make him bow his arrogant head.

Forcing Young Master Moon to beg... Lin Hao was surely the first person to ever do it.

As for the Martial Artists of the Cangnan Empire, their faces were alight with excitement. Several of them were so thrilled their faces were flushed beet-red.

Seeing Lin Hao have one of the Ten Great Young Masters completely at his mercy filled them with the urge to roar to the heavens in triumph.

"Lin Hao, don’t you dare go too far!" Young Master Moon was an incredibly proud man. Lin Hao’s repeated provocations finally made him snap.

As he spoke, a terrifying, world-shaking aura erupted from his body.

"Hmph!"

In response, Lin Hao let out a cold snort, the smile vanishing from his face. It was replaced by an endless, chilling frost.

"You rely on your cultivation to treat others’ lives as worthless. A moment ago, when you were about to slaughter the Martial Artists of my Cangnan Empire, did the word ’insolent’ even cross your mind? What I’m doing now is nothing compared to what you did," Lin Hao said coldly, his words a sharp counter to Young Master Moon’s.

Young Master Moon’s expression changed, but he retorted, "This world has always been about the weak being prey for the strong. Their skills were simply inferior—"

He abruptly stopped, as if he had just realized something.

But it was too late. Lin Hao’s expression grew even colder. "You’re right," he said. "And now, your Jade Seal is in my hands, which proves that your skills are also inferior. I’m more merciful than you, though. I’m not going to kill you. You want the Jade Seal back? Fine. Beg me."

Young Master Moon had no rebuttal for Lin Hao’s words.

"Lin Hao, you’ve gone too far!" Young Master Moon’s chest heaved violently as he finally erupted in fury.

The next moment, Young Master Moon’s Divine Soul manifested once more.

This time, the Divine Soul didn’t take the form of a divine vine. Instead, it stretched out, longer and longer, until it finally touched the giant dragon formed from the Emperor Dragon Qi.

As one of the Ten Great Young Masters, Young Master Moon had his pride. Pushed to the brink by Lin Hao, he finally exploded.

Although he knew this would only allow him to absorb a small fraction of the Emperor Dragon Qi while the rest dissipated into the heavens, Young Master Moon proceeded without a shred of hesitation.

The moment its seven branches touched the Emperor Dragon Qi, they began to frantically absorb it.

At the same time, however, the draconic form of the Emperor Dragon Qi began to break apart.

This one action set everything in motion.

When Lin Hao saw what Young Master Moon was doing, he didn’t react at all, simply letting him proceed.

But the moment the Emperor Dragon Qi began to dissipate, Lin Hao moved.

With a low shout, the Jade Seal in Lin Hao’s hand suddenly grew in size.

Simultaneously, his other hand began forming a series of seals in the air.

Then, something astonishing happened. Under Lin Hao’s control, the Jade Seal erupted with an unparalleled, terrifying aura.

Young Master Moon’s eyes flew wide in disbelief.

’This Jade Seal is a Spiritual Artifact, one infinitely close to Tier Four! I’m the Crown Prince of the Moon Worship Empire, and even though I’ve carried it since I was a child, it still took me ten years to master it!’

’How can Lin Hao, an outsider, not only seize the Jade Seal but actually wield it? This is completely beyond my expectations!’

He wasn’t the only one; even Yang Qingtian, watching from the gates of Wangchuan City, had a flash of shock in his eyes.

’Spiritual Artifacts all contain the seal of their refiner. After acquiring one, the new owner should need a great deal of time to attune to it.’

’This Lin Hao is just too much of a monster! He can use it directly.’

Just as he had this thought, something even more shocking occurred.

In the sky, the Emperor Dragon Qi that had been scattering moments before was now re-condensing in the distance!

Although the resulting dragon form was much smaller than before, the sight was still breathtaking.

A feat like this was likely impossible even for a Martial Artist at the Spirit Transformation Realm!

Before the onlookers could recover from their shock, the dragon form vanished completely.

But high in the air, Young Master Moon’s hair whipped about wildly as he roared like a madman, "Lin Hao, I’m going to kill you!"

’I saw it clearly! The dragon qi didn’t disappear—it re-entered the Jade Seal!’

’Lin Hao had the ability to recall the dragon qi all along! That’s why he provoked me, goading me into using my Divine Soul.’

Only then did Young Master Moon understand. Every single one of his actions had been part of Lin Hao’s calculations.

Lin Hao had not only stolen his Jade Seal but had now also pocketed the Emperor Dragon Qi that he himself couldn’t absorb. Young Master Moon was driven mad.

In stark contrast to Young Master Moon’s frenzy, Lin Hao was feeling utterly fantastic.

Young Master Moon had guessed correctly. Everything had gone according to Lin Hao’s plan.

However, Young Master Moon was wrong about one thing. Lin Hao actually hadn’t been sure if he could regather the Emperor Dragon Qi himself.

Dealing with the Jade Seal itself was simple. Never mind an artifact that was merely close to Tier Four; even a true Tier Four Spiritual Artifact wouldn’t have posed a problem for Lin Hao.

When it came to Artifact Refining, it was likely that no one on this entire continent could match him.