Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

"Damn it, damn it all..." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Zhao Qiankun’s face was livid, his features contorted in a mask of fury. His iron-like arms thrashed about, his silver heavy hammer smashing into the surging river again and again.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

The silver heavy hammer flared with a blinding light, like silver lightning exploding in the river, sending towering columns of water shooting skyward. Violent waves surged outward, crashing in all directions. The churning water and crashing surf mirrored Zhao Qiankun’s own irascible and enraged heart.

"Jiang Chen? Jiang Chen? I’ll remember you. Don’t let me find you again, or I’ll make you regret ever being born into this world!"

"ROAR..."

The silver heavy hammer erupted with a vast silver light and plummeted from the sky, crashing down violently upon the raging river.

BOOM—

The river’s surface was torn asunder. For a brief moment, the rushing current was cut off, and a corridor of water leading straight to the riverbed appeared in its place.

He had parted the river with a single strike!

Zhao Qiankun’s power was truly terrifying.

...

The current of this river was especially turbulent, with raging waves rolling and crashing against the shore.

Within the turbulent water, a gleam of red light rose from the depths, growing brighter and brighter.

BOOM!

The red light suddenly burst through the water, trailing a white column of water, and leaped onto the bank. After gasping for breath for a moment, he finally recovered.

He glanced upstream, the corners of his mouth twitching into a pleased smile. ’I finally shook off that big oaf. Zhao Qiankun... truly a disciple of the Saint Martial Sword Sect. That technique to cover his body in metal must be a Defensive Martial Skill. I couldn’t even break through his defense. Thankfully, I have the Eight Celestial Dragon Divine Fist. The concussive power of Fierce Tiger Shocks the Sky can ignore external defenses. Even though forcing myself to use that move nearly shattered my right hand, Zhao Qiankun’s injuries are definitely no lighter than mine.’

’For the next few days, Zhao Qiankun should be off finding a place to heal, so he won’t be looking for me. I also need to find a safe spot to fix my broken hand. Besides, after these last few days of bloody battles, I feel like I’m on the verge of another breakthrough. If I can break through to the True Martial Realm, I won’t have to fear facing Zhao Qiankun again!’

With this in mind, Jiang Chen began to survey his surroundings and found himself in a canyon.

He was flanked by towering cliffs, with the rushing river running through the middle. The bank he stood on was nothing more than a large rock jutting out from the cliff face.

’There’s a cave up ahead?’

Aided by the light of the Curse Blood Mist, which extended for two thousand zhang and bathed half the canyon in a crimson glow, Jiang Chen spotted a cave on the cliff face.

The cave was dark and deep. A chilly breeze drifted out, indicating it wasn’t a dead end.

With the light from the Curse Blood Cloud, Jiang Chen didn’t even need a lantern and entered the cave directly.

The sides of the cave bore the marks of rushing water; it was a natural cavern, not artificially carved.

Dragging his injured arm, he walked for over an hour before finally reaching the end of the tunnel. The place was like a whole new world. The cavern was over a hundred meters high, and countless stalactites hung from the ceiling like the sharp fangs of giant beasts, looking as if they could fall at any moment, filling one with a chilling dread.

Below was an azure lake!

Jiang Chen’s gaze swept across the cavern. Aided by the two-thousand-zhang-long crimson light of the Curse Blood Mist, he could clearly see a protruding stalagmite in the very center of the lake.

This stalagmite rose from the lakebed, its sharp tip pointing toward the sharp tip of a hundred-meter-long stalactite hanging from the center of the ceiling. They were about half a meter apart. In a few hundred years, the two would likely connect completely, forming a shape like an hourglass.

DRIP!

The crisp sound of dripping water seemed exceptionally loud in the silent cave.

Jiang Chen froze. Focusing his gaze, he saw a drop of translucent, milky-white liquid drip from the tip of the hundred-meter stalactite and land on the stalagmite protruding from the lake.

’That huge stalactite is a hundred meters long, there can’t be any water on the cave ceiling!’ Filled with doubt, Jiang Chen flickered a few times and appeared beside the stalagmite.

As soon as he got close to the stalagmite, a faint, refreshing fragrance wafted over him.

Just smelling it made him feel refreshed in both body and soul, as if every pore in his skin had opened.

"What is this?" Jiang Chen’s eyes shone as he examined the stalagmite closely.

It turned out that the top of the stalagmite that rose from the lake, which was about the size of a human head, had a small indentation.

The indentation was filled to the brim with the milky-white liquid, and it was from this liquid that the faint fragrance emanated. Jiang Chen’s eyes went wide, his breathing growing ragged. "Earth Spirit Stalactite? I can’t believe this legendary treasure actually exists! HAHAHA, I’ve struck it rich! I’ve really struck it rich this time!"

Earth Spirit Stalactite, also known as the Essence of the Earth!

It is a type of Spirit Liquid that only forms under special conditions, when the earth’s Spiritual Qi condenses into a liquid and absorbs the endless essence of the earth!

It is said that...

A single drop of Earth Spirit Stalactite can extend the life of a dying person by ten years!

For a Martial Artist, Earth Spirit Stalactite is an even rarer treasure, a naturally formed Spirit Pill.

Not only can it temper a Martial Artist’s physical body, but the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi it contains can also accelerate the growth of their cultivation.

It is an incredibly rare treasure of heaven and earth!

Jiang Chen had once heard that a single drop of Earth Spirit Stalactite had appeared in the Royal Capital of the Saint Martial Dynasty and was eventually auctioned off to a mysterious powerhouse for two million gold coins!

This small pool of Earth Spirit Stalactite before him had at least two or three hundred drops. Wouldn’t that make it worth four or five hundred million gold coins?

Even a power as great as the Qinghuo Gang, one of the three Overlords of Yulan Mansion, would be unable to produce four or five hundred million gold coins on the spot!

’I’ve really hit the jackpot this time.’

Jiang Chen’s eyes gleamed, the corners of his mouth turned up in an excited smile. He rubbed his hands together, a sharp light in his eyes. ’With this Earth Spirit Stalactite, I’m confident I can break through to the True Martial Realm before the Celestial Demon Ancient Realm opens. Zhao Qiankun, Qinghuo Gang... you made me a hunted rat, scorned by all. The day I break through to the True Martial Realm will be the day I have my revenge!’

Jiang Chen took a large mouthful of the Earth Spirit Stalactite and swallowed it.

That one mouthful must have been at least a dozen drops!

As soon as the Earth Spirit Stalactite entered his stomach, a cool stream spread throughout his body. It was one of the rare few treasures of heaven and earth with gentle medicinal properties that could be consumed directly.

As Jiang Chen swallowed that mouthful, the bones in his broken right hand began to regrow and rapidly mend.

The torn muscles, skin, and blood vessels also began to heal at a visible rate.

In just a few short minutes, Jiang Chen’s right hand was completely restored. He gently clenched his fists, his eyes shining with excitement. "This Earth Spirit Stalactite truly has the miraculous power to bring the dead to life and regrow flesh on bones. Healing my hand only used a tenth of the medicinal power from that mouthful. Now, I’ll use the rest of this Earth Spirit Stalactite to help me step into the True Martial Realm!"

With this thought, Jiang Chen sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to circulate the Profound Yellow Undying Technique to its absolute limit.

He began his official assault on the True Martial Realm!