Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

Transformation into the Dao meant a Martial Artist would dissipate between heaven and earth. It meant death.

Lin Hao was in a bizarre state. He had touched upon a sliver of the Martial Dao Domain, creating a terrifying phenomenon in the sky, but he was only at the Seventh Layer of the Soul Gathering Realm. Such power was not something he could control at his level.

At this very moment, both Lin Hao’s physical body and the form of his True Self Divine Soul had become ethereal and indistinct.

Even Hua Jianzhong and Sun Yingrui, with their cultivation at the Fourth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm, almost failed to perceive Lin Hao’s form.

One could say that Lin Hao was already on the verge of Transformation.

This threw the two of them into a panic.

Lin Hao was in a peculiar state. If they were to interfere by force, it could have unimaginable consequences for his body.

But if they did nothing, Lin Hao would inevitably vanish from this world, dissipating through Transformation.

"Look!" Sun Yingrui suddenly exclaimed while they were caught in their dilemma.

Hua Jianzhong followed his gaze and, after a moment of surprise, breathed a sigh of relief.

In the sky, Lin Hao seemed to have realized his predicament and was contemplating a solution.

"To be aware of his own situation under these circumstances... It’s unbelievable," Sun Yingrui gasped.

"You probably couldn’t find another Martial Dao genius like this on the entire Celestial Yang Continent!" Hua Jianzhong exclaimed with a sigh.

When they had broken through from the Soul Gathering Realm to the Spirit Transformation Realm, they had also faced the crisis of Transformation. They were well aware of its dangers.

To advance from the Soul Gathering Realm to the Spirit Transformation Realm, one must first touch upon the gateway to the Martial Dao Domain.

As a Holy Land for Martial Artists on the Celestial Yang Continent, the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion possessed many precious texts left behind by their predecessors.

Touching the gateway of the Martial Dao Domain meant one must face the crisis of Transformation.

Even with the precious texts left by their ancestors, some Martial Artists of the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion still dissipated through Transformation while advancing to the Spirit Transformation Realm.

One had to understand that among the countless Martial Artists of the Celestial Yang Continent, not even one in a hundred million could touch the gateway to the Martial Dao Domain.

Those Martial Artists capable of advancing to the Spirit Transformation Realm were, by definition, all Martial Dao geniuses.

Yet even these well-prepared geniuses sometimes failed and underwent Transformation, a testament to the immense danger involved.

But for Lin Hao to encounter this on his very first time—and even become aware of it on his own—was simply unimaginable!

Hua Jianzhong and Sun Yingrui had always believed that the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion had gathered the continent’s greatest prodigies. And if they themselves weren’t prodigies, they were at least top-tier geniuses.

But now, compared to Lin Hao, they realized they were nothing but utter trash!

The two pitiful Martial Artists, both at the Fourth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm, felt their sense of superiority completely evaporate in Lin Hao’s presence. They could only feel their faces burning with embarrassment.

And their guess was correct. Lin Hao had indeed become aware of his own predicament.

Just a moment ago, as Lin Hao prepared to take another step and utterly annihilate the azure giant sword, a hair-raising sensation washed over him, jolting him back to his senses.

In the next instant, Lin Hao realized the state he was in.

His body was actually melting into the void, and an unseen, immense power was decomposing him.

At the same time, an immeasurably vast power was descending upon him!

In that moment, Lin Hao had the illusion that if he took just one more step, he could control the very heavens and earth!

A powerful longing surged within him.

It was a longing that threatened to consume him.

Fortunately, at the critical moment, Lin Hao felt a warmth in his Dantian—it was his Lifebound True Blood stirring.

That simple warmth was enough to pull Lin Hao completely free from the alluring desire.

He had been on the verge of taking that final step!

Coming to his senses, Lin Hao broke out in a cold sweat.

He knew what he had just faced.

Transformation!

He had almost dissipated through Transformation.

Though Lin Hao was lucid again, the Transformation Power had not ceased.

For Lin Hao, at the mere Seventh Layer of the Soul Gathering Realm, to have genuinely touched the power of the Martial Dao Domain was an act that defied the heavens. The Transformation Power he now faced was consequently beyond imagination.

From the great beyond, Lin Hao heard a sound.

The sound was mysterious and vast, possessing unimaginable power. It seemed to be summoning Lin Hao, calling for him to break through the void and depart.

Hearing this sound, Lin Hao was both shocked and overjoyed.

Although his cultivation was only at the Seventh Layer of the Soul Gathering Realm, he had absorbed the memories of a Heavenly Monarch. Thus, he knew that advancing from the Soul Gathering Realm to the Spirit Transformation Realm involved facing the crisis of Transformation.

And during the crisis of Transformation, this sound was the most terrifying element.

This was the Dao Sound, capable of making a Martial Artist lose themselves completely.

To be consumed by it meant Transformation; to endure it meant breaking through to the Spirit Transformation Realm.

Furthermore, the Dao Sound offered immense benefits for one’s future cultivation.

By comprehending the Dao Sound, a Martial Artist could perfect their understanding of the power within the Martial Dao Domain.

After entering the Spirit Transformation Realm, a Martial Artist wields the power of the Martial Dao Domain itself; at that point, Cultivation Techniques and martial skills become secondary.

Lin Hao even knew that the reason a Great Emperor could achieve their station was because they had fully comprehended the Dao Sound. On that foundation, they created their own unique Martial Dao Domain and, through a heaven-defying feat, established their own martial laws.

In other words, the Dao Sound was an essential element for any Martial Artist who wished to become truly powerful.

Other Martial Artists could only hear the Dao Sound when advancing to the Spirit Transformation Realm, yet Lin Hao was hearing it at the Seventh Layer of the Soul Gathering Realm. How could he not be overjoyed?

But more than joy, Lin Hao felt shock.

Having absorbed Chu Tiandu’s memories, Lin Hao knew the terror of the Dao Sound.

After all, even Chu Tiandu had nearly dissipated through Transformation when he first heard the Dao Sound!

Thus, when the Dao Sound appeared, Lin Hao, for a rare moment, hesitated.

But his hesitation lasted only an instant before he made his decision.

’This is a perfect opportunity. I can’t give it up!’

Having made his decision, Lin Hao opened his mind and began to welcome the Dao Sound.

BOOM!

The moment Lin Hao opened his mind, something terrifying happened. His body was completely unable to resist the magnificent power of the Dao Sound and was involuntarily dragged an inch through the void.

Under the influence of the Transformation Power, the slightest movement could lead to disastrous consequences.

Moving that single inch was nearly fatal for Lin Hao.

Thankfully, at that moment, the Lifebound True Blood in his Dantian flared with heat once more, causing his body to pause for a fraction of a second.

Immediately, his True Self Divine Soul returned, materializing above his head.

Lin Hao directly activated the power of his Lifebound True Blood, using it in conjunction with his True Self Divine Soul to resist the Transformation Power.

But in doing so, he was forced to neglect another threat.

The azure giant sword was still in the sky. With the return of his True Self Divine Soul, the giant sword broke free from the restraints of the Azure Sky Tai Chi Array Map.

Although the Azure Sky Tai Chi Array Map had absorbed most of the giant sword’s power, making it appear no different from an ordinary blade, it had been manifested by a Royal Physique using five Divine Techniques. It still possessed immense energy.

As Lin Hao channeled his True Blood and Divine Soul to resist the Transformation Power and listen to the Dao Sound, the Azure Sky Tai Chi Array Map gradually faded, eventually vanishing into nothingness.

The azure longsword was infused with Proud Moon’s spiritual will, and it had only one purpose: to slay Lin Hao.

Sensing Lin Hao’s aura once more, it shot across the sky, intent on piercing through his body.

Completely occupied with resisting the Transformation Power, Lin Hao was left utterly defenseless...