Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

"Gu Yunfei, you miscalculated, didn’t you?" Surrounded by several disciples, Wu Kui couldn’t get anywhere near Lin Hao.

He had been watching Gu Yunfei. Now, he walked over and whispered in his ear.

Gu Yunfei started, then nodded and said through gritted teeth, "You’re right. I can’t believe these junior brothers have no sense of propriety. They did everything I was supposed to do. It’s infuriating!"

Wu Kui’s eyes darted around. He then announced loudly, "Excuse me, Junior Brothers, please make way! Senior Brother Gu says he should be the one doing what you’re all doing."

Wu Kui was also quite skilled at kicking a man when he was down.

Gu Yunfei felt a metallic tang in his throat and nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

"I suddenly feel my qi and blood are unstable. It must be a deviation in my training. I’ll have to trouble you junior brothers for now. Eldest Senior Brother, I’ll take my leave." Gu Yunfei cupped his fists and rushed off.

He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he wouldn’t be able to contain his rage.

’In three days, after Lin Hao is dead, I’ll deal with you properly!’

Gu Yunfei had already gotten a clear look at the martial skill manuals. He was going to instruct Qin Huayang to use those very same skills to defeat Lin Hao.

Back in the Scripture Pavilion, after seeing Gu Yunfei leave, Lin Hao, who had maintained a calm facade, began to feel a bit restless himself.

He wasn’t used to being waited on, nor did he like seeing proud Sect Disciples brown-nosing him just because of his status.

"Alright, alright, go on about your business. Don’t disturb the Eldest Senior Brother." Wu Kui, ever observant, quickly shooed the other disciples away.

As the disciples dispersed, a worried expression appeared on Wu Kui’s face.

"Senior Brother, that Gu Yunfei is just like his father—deeply calculating. It’s not good that you’ve offended him. Even Master can’t see through his father, Gu Qingyang. He’s like a hibernating venomous snake; no one knows when he’ll strike. Why don’t we have Master announce your identity?"

Lin Hao knew of Gu Qingyang. He was the Peak Master who always seemed aloof, with his eyes closed in meditation, as if nothing in the world concerned him.

Lin Hao had a very deep impression of him.

But Lin Hao was completely unconcerned. "If Celestial Dui Peak or Celestial Qian Peak come looking for trouble, you can just push all the blame onto me. I’ve already offended enough people; I don’t mind adding a few more."

"Senior Brother, that’s not what I meant!" Wu Kui said, flustered.

"I’m not implying anything else. Since you’re on my side, I have a duty to ensure your safety," Lin Hao stated.

He then stopped Wu Kui from speaking further and picked up the martial skill manuals Wu Kui had chosen for him, starting to flip through them.

Lin Hao flipped through the pages at a startling speed, leaving Wu Kui dumbfounded at his side.

Before long, Lin Hao finished scanning the seven or eight martial skill manuals and selected three from the pile.

Wu Kui took a look, and his eyes immediately lit up.

*Dragon-Form Tyrant Emperor Fist*, a Yellow Level Top Grade martial skill. *Infuse the sinews and bones with True Essence, let them take the form of a dragon. With the form of a dragon, dominate all under heaven. In this world, I am the emperor!*

*Jing Hong Ghostly Shadow Step*, a Yellow Level Top Grade Body Technique. *Move like a startled shadow, blending the real with the illusory.*

Seeing these two manuals, Wu Kui couldn’t help but admire Lin Hao’s choices.

Although they were only Yellow-level Martial Skills, the fact they were kept on the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion spoke to their value. They were also the absolute limit of what a Martial Artist in the Blood Coagulation Realm could hope to cultivate.

The combination of the Tyrant Fist and the Body Technique, in particular, was nothing short of perfect.

But when he saw the last manual, Wu Kui was dumbfounded.

This manual was incredibly thick, more than twice as thick as the previous two combined. It was bound with an unknown type of wood, which had been worn smooth and shiny from frequent handling.

*Compendium of Martial Skills*, the Heaven-Stepping Sect’s introductory and foundational martial arts text. All disciples may learn it.

This compendium didn’t belong on the third floor; it was supposed to be on the first. Wu Kui had brought it along while helping Lin Hao choose, and to his surprise, Lin Hao had now selected it.

"Senior Brother, the first two manuals are excellent, but you should just forget about the *Compendium of Martial Skills*."

Its main purpose was for disciples to browse and select other martial skills. Even the outer sect disciples looked down on it.

Not only did Lin Hao not put it down, but he caressed it carefully, as if handling a priceless treasure.

"Junior Brother Wu, please put the other two manuals back. I’ll just take this one." In the end, Lin Hao had decided to forgo even the *Dragon-Form Tyrant Emperor Fist* and the *Jing Hong Ghostly Shadow Step*.

"This... this..." Wu Kui was on the verge of tears.

Qin Huayang was already at the Seventh Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm. ’Surely the Eldest Senior Brother doesn’t expect to defeat him with the *Compendium of Martial Skills*, does he?’

"Eldest Senior Brother, please, reconsider! Qin Huayang’s martial skills are terrifying, and his Body Technique is superb. You absolutely cannot choose this. If you do, you’ll... you’ll be at a huge disadvantage!" Wu Kui was still trying to persuade him.

How could Lin Hao not know what Wu Kui was thinking? He smiled and said, "I’ve already memorized those other two manuals; I’ll cultivate them. This one, on the other hand, is too thick. I need to take it back and study it slowly."

Wu Kui was still unconvinced.

"Do you think I would gamble with my own life?"

Only after Lin Hao said this did Wu Kui finally relent.

"By the way, is there a Body Technique up there called the Heaven-Stepping Step?"

As he stood up to leave the Scripture Pavilion, Lin Hao recalled the time Wu Taichu had helped him select a martial skill. He remembered glancing at the manual on the very top of the pile, a Body Technique called *Heaven-Stepping Step*.

Besides, there was a specific reason he had picked out the *Jing Hong Ghostly Shadow Step* earlier.

Lin Hao had noticed that the movement style was surprisingly similar to his own Ghostly Divine Step.

Hearing Lin Hao’s question, Wu Kui nodded. "That’s right. On the highest floor, there is indeed a Body Technique called the *Heaven-Stepping Step*. Its origins are rather intimidating."

At this, Wu Kui’s expression became one of solemn reverence.

"Legend says it was the Body Technique used by our sect’s founding ancestor. Right here on Heaven-Stepping Peak, the ancestor used the Heaven-Stepping Step to ascend to the heavens, one step at a time!"

’A martial skill used by an Emperor Venerable... that would be an Emperor Art!’

Lin Hao’s eyes widened, and he was suddenly eager to see it for himself.

"Senior Brother, even with its intimidating history, you shouldn’t waste your time and energy on it," Wu Kui said, shaking his head.

"Why not?"

"Because it’s incomplete. The first part has been lost. You’d be better off with the *Jing Hong Ghostly Shadow Step*, which was developed by several generations of Heaven-Stepping Sect Leaders based on their study of the incomplete *Heaven-Stepping Step*."

Hearing this, Lin Hao’s interest only grew.

’Just now, I saw a similarity between the *Jing Hong Ghostly Shadow Step* and my Ghostly Divine Step. What about the *Heaven-Stepping Step* itself, then?’

"Wait here. I’m going upstairs to take a look." With that, Lin Hao started toward the upper floor.

Wu Kui jumped in alarm. "Senior Brother, you can’t! You need a jade token for the floor above!"

"It’s fine. I’ll just go up, take a look, and come right back down. I’m just curious what this *Heaven-Stepping Step* that no one can master is all about."

"Uh, Senior Brother... actually, someone has learned the *Heaven-Stepping Step*," Wu Kui said meekly.

This took Lin Hao by surprise.

’An incomplete Emperor Art with the first half missing, and someone still managed to learn it? That’s completely unexpected.’

"Originally, no one could learn the *Heaven-Stepping Step*. But as the sect was in decline, in order to silence the wagging tongues, Master once brought out the *Heaven-Stepping Step* for all sect members to see. In the end, someone actually managed to learn the form of its footwork. Though he didn’t grasp its divine essence, just the form of an Emperor Art is terrifying."

"Who was it?" Lin Hao asked, shaken by the news.

Wu Kui uttered a single name. "Qin Huayang!"

Lin Hao’s eyes narrowed.

Now he finally understood why Wu Kui held Qin Huayang in such high regard.

This was definitely a formidable opponent!

"His Body Technique is uncanny, which is how he achieves the greatest victories with minimal effort. If nothing else, just relying on that technique makes him invincible among those at the same cultivation level!" This was Wu Kui’s assessment.

"’Invincible at his level, is he?’" Lin Hao murmured, a ferocious battle lust igniting in his eyes.

At his own level, he feared no one either. This Qin Huayang was shaping up to be a worthy opponent.

"You should go. Master Shan Dan probably hasn’t left yet. You should spend more time with him. And help Master out more with the collaboration." Lin Hao had Cang Yan’s keepsake, so he could come and go as he pleased in the Scripture Pavilion. Wu Kui, on the other hand, truly had a talent for Alchemy. Following Lin Hao around these past few days hadn’t done him any favors.

Having been around Lin Hao for a while, Wu Kui knew that once Lin Hao made up his mind, no one could change it. So, he respectfully took his leave.

After Wu Kui left, Lin Hao found the *Jing Hong Ghostly Shadow Step* manual again. After reviewing it one last time with extreme care, he started toward the fourth floor.

Just then, an angry roar came from outside the Scripture Pavilion.

"Lin Hao, get your ass out here!"

Like a clap of thunder on a clear day, the roar echoed over the entire Heaven-Stepping Sect. Inside the Scripture Pavilion, books tumbled from the shelves.

Lin Hao frowned. He recognized the voice clearly. It was Qin Tianlong.

He was about to ignore it when he heard a guard’s shout, followed immediately by Qin Tianlong’s furious voice.

"Lin Hao, you’re absolutely lawless! You even dare to take my gold token for yourself!"

Now, Lin Hao understood what was happening.

Turning to head downstairs, Lin Hao emerged from the Scripture Pavilion to find a tense standoff at the entrance.

"Lin Hao, you’ve gone too far! Don’t think you can do whatever you please just because you have backing!" Hatred surged in Qin Tianlong’s eyes as Lin Hao appeared.

Lin Hao gave a faint smile. "It’s just a worthless token. Is it really worth all this fuss? There. I left it inside. You can come in and get it yourself."

With that, Lin Hao casually tossed the gold token, sending it sailing to the top of a bookshelf inside.

Then, paying him no further mind, Lin Hao turned and re-entered the Scripture Pavilion.

Qin Tianlong was stunned. One needed a token to enter the Scripture Pavilion. Now that he didn’t have his, he couldn’t even get through the front door, let alone retrieve it.

"You... you... If you’ve got any guts, you won’t come out!" was the only thing Qin Tianlong could manage to choke out.

Lin Hao glanced back with a wicked grin. "If you’ve got the guts, why don’t you come in?"

Qin Tianlong trembled with rage.

However, he was not without his own methods. Just as Lin Hao reached the third floor and was about to head to the fourth, Qin Tianlong’s figure appeared on the same floor.

"Little brat, let’s see where you run now!" Qin Tianlong snarled, lunging for Lin Hao...

This time, the guard did not reappear.

But Lin Hao remained unhurried, a strange smile playing on his lips.

The next moment, a shocking scene unfolded.