Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

Heaven-Stepping Sect, God-Proving Stage.

Today, Lin Hao was set to answer Qin Huayang’s challenge here. Aside from the disciples in seclusion or away on missions, nearly everyone had come.

The God-Proving Stage, capable of holding tens of thousands, was bustling with excitement, but most of them were here for Qin Huayang.

Qin Huayang was a prominent figure among the disciples of the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

When he was at the Sixth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm, he not only went undefeated in ten consecutive battles but won each with a single move.

Afterward, he even broke into the top ten Core Disciples while still at the Sixth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm.

Such a record was nothing short of astounding.

As for Lin Hao, who had become the sect’s chief grand disciple with a mere mortal body—it was safe to say many disciples were unconvinced.

Today, with Qin Huayang taking action, many disciples had come with the mindset of watching a good show.

No one believed Lin Hao would be a match for Qin Huayang.

They all wanted to see what methods Qin Huayang would use to humiliate Lin Hao.

The disciples waited for a long time. The two main characters hadn’t arrived, but people of even more distinguished status had.

The eight Peak Masters, the three Grand Elders, the Sect Leader, and even Master Shan Dan and his apprentice from the Danling Sect were all present.

It was safe to say this duel had captured many people’s attention.

"What’s going on? Even the Sect Leader is here, but they haven’t arrived yet?" a disciple in the crowd whispered, seeing that the two main attractions had yet to appear.

A disciple beside him responded, "Don’t you think making everyone wait is a great way to feel important?"

That disciple nodded. "Senior Brother Qin’s record speaks for itself, so it’s normal for him to be a little late. But for Lin Hao to be so arrogant too? He’s completely lawless."

"Heh, that guy rubs me the wrong way too. I hope Senior Brother Qin teaches him a good lesson for us. Look, Senior Brother Qin is here!"

Following the disciple’s finger, they looked toward the iron chain connecting the God-Proving Stage to Celestial Dui Peak. A figure in white was gliding over gracefully.

Upon seeing him, the eyes of the more powerful Martial Artists all narrowed.

They had discovered that Qin Huayang was actually walking on air.

His feet were about three inches above the iron chain, yet he walked as if on solid ground, with a calm and leisurely stroll.

"Walking on air at the Seventh Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm! That’s an incredible feat even in the entire Southern Border Prefecture. Sect Leader Wu, your sect is truly remarkable."

Even Master Shan Dan couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration upon seeing this scene.

Ordinarily, Wu Taichu would have been delighted to hear such words.

But today, Qin Huayang was challenging his Uncle-Grandmaster, so Wu Taichu couldn’t help but feel even more worried for Lin Hao.

"Brother Qin, your son is incredible. To be able to walk on air at such a young age... I’m afraid his ranking in this year’s sect competition is bound to rise even higher," a Peak Master remarked to Qin Tianlong with a sigh of admiration.

A look of pride appeared on Qin Tianlong’s face, but he said modestly, "Not at all, not at all. My humble son still has a long way to go."

If even they were heaping praise on Qin Huayang, it went without saying for the other Sect Disciples.

A powerful Sect Disciple noticed Qin Huayang’s Body Technique and muttered, "I can’t believe his Body Technique has improved again. I hope I don’t run into him in this year’s sect competition."

Under everyone’s gaze, Qin Huayang stepped onto the God-Proving Stage.

He looked to be about sixteen or seventeen, with a slender figure and a face as handsome as jade. His white robes fluttered in the strong wind, making him look like an Immortal from a painting.

Some female disciples stared at Qin Huayang, infatuated, their hearts completely captured.

"He’s so handsome!" a female disciple murmured, her gaze filled with adoration.

"Senior Brother Qin will definitely win!" another female disciple declared, clenching her small fists to cheer Qin Huayang on.

"Even Senior Brother Qin is here. Why hasn’t that Lin Hao shown up yet?" another female disciple grumbled indignantly.

They wouldn’t mind waiting a few more hours for Qin Huayang, but they weren’t happy that Lin Hao dared to be so arrogant.

"If you ask me, he’s probably chickening out."

"True. Senior Brother Qin could probably knock him flat with a single punch."

The disciples shared their opinions in small groups.

However, Qin Huayang, having landed on the God-Proving Stage, remained composed. After respectfully bowing toward the pavilion, he stood on the stage as still as a wooden post. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Sect Leader, is he too scared to come? If he doesn’t show up, then please have him relinquish the position of chief grand disciple! A person like that is not qualified!"

Another half hour passed, and Qin Tianlong was losing his patience.

He had seen Lin Hao and Wu Taichu coming down from the Scripture Pavilion before he left.

Moreover, he had seen that Lin Hao’s cultivation hadn’t improved, which was why he was so confident.

To be honest, Qin Tianlong really wanted Lin Hao to appear, only to suffer a crushing defeat in front of everyone.

Now that Lin Hao wasn’t coming, he was more anxious than anyone.

Who would have thought that Wu Taichu would just glance at the sky and say calmly, "I’ve seen the letter of challenge. It said this morning. See? It’s still early. No need to rush."

"You..." Qin Tianlong was about to get angry, but what Wu Taichu said was true. He had written the letter of challenge himself and had carelessly forgotten to specify the exact time.

They waited for another half hour.

By this point, a commotion stirred through the crowd, and the sound of discussion was endless.

This Lin Hao was too audacious, making them wait for a full hour.

Making them wait was one thing, but this kind of behavior clearly showed he had no respect for Qin Huayang.

"Is he coming or not? If he was too scared, he shouldn’t have accepted the challenge," a disciple complained.

Just then.

The iron chain connected to Heaven-Stepping Peak suddenly began to shake violently.

Everyone’s gaze converged on one spot.

A black dot appeared.

The crowd’s eyes widened.

They knew it had to be Lin Hao.

A few minutes later, Lin Hao’s figure gradually came into focus.

He was seen stumbling along the iron chain, looking as if he could fall off at any moment.

Stifled laughter rippled through the crowd.

Compared to Qin Huayang’s entrance, his was leagues behind.

"He can’t even stand steady on the iron chain, yet he dared to accept the challenge. I really have to admire his courage," a disciple sneered.

Amidst the sneers...

"Yaaawn..."

A long yawn echoed from the iron chain.

"Sorry, sorry for making you all wait. I just fell asleep and only woke up now."

The moment those words were heard, even Qin Huayang’s body stiffened, and a murderous glint appeared in his eyes.

’He fell asleep? And only just woke up? This is blatant disrespect!’

Qin Tianlong’s fists clenched so tightly they crackled. Lin Hao’s words could always easily provoke his anger.

He never would have imagined that after leaving the Scripture Pavilion, Lin Hao would actually go take a nap.

"Lin Hao, you disappoint me. As the chief grand disciple, you don’t even understand basic respect. Since you accepted my challenge, shouldn’t you respect your opponent?"

Qin Huayang said coldly as he watched Lin Hao step onto the God-Proving Stage.

Lin Hao’s expression turned serious. "You’re wrong. It’s precisely because I take you seriously that I spent two days and two sleepless nights in the Scripture Pavilion studying martial techniques. Your old man and my master can both attest to that. And it’s because I take you seriously that I needed to rest and recuperate to get my spirit to its peak."

Then, Lin Hao gave a wicked smile and said, "If you feel I’m not respecting you enough, should I go sleep for a few more hours first?"

The corner of Qin Huayang’s mouth twitched. He hadn’t expected Lin Hao to be so eloquent and argumentative. ’Sleep for a few more hours? Isn’t he just trying to mess with me?’

"Since you’re so lacking in confidence, we can postpone our duel. You can decide the time!" Qin Huayang said, brimming with confidence.

With that one sentence, he seized the initiative once more.

Lin Hao shook his head. "Today is perfect. Any later, and they’ll start saying I’m bullying you."

Qin Huayang was arrogant, but Lin Hao was even more so!

But when they spoke, their words had two completely different effects.

When Qin Huayang spoke, the disciples saw confidence. But when Lin Hao said what he did, almost everyone thought he was a madman.

"Senior Brother Qin, teach him a good lesson!" One disciple couldn’t hold back and shouted out his thoughts.

Qin Huayang’s eyes sparkled. "Since you’re so confident, then let’s meet in the center of the God-Proving Stage!"

But Lin Hao held up a hand. "Hold on. Since you just brought up the issue of respect, I think we need to have a proper discussion before we start. You yourself said that I’m the chief grand disciple now. So, shouldn’t you be calling me Senior Brother?"

Qin Huayang froze.

’If I call him that, I’ll immediately lose the upper hand.’

’But if I don’t, it’s disrespectful to Lin Hao.’

He was finally getting a taste of what it felt like to be hoisted by his own petard.

In the end, Qin Huayang could only suppress his anger and unwillingly mutter, "Senior Brother."

"What was that? I didn’t quite hear you?" Lin Hao said with a punchable-looking grin, not letting it go.

’Qin Huayang served his own face up on a platter. It’d be a shame not to slap it a couple of times.’

"You..." Qin Huayang was so angry he trembled all over.

"Senior. Brother!" Qin Huayang ground out the two words through clenched teeth.

Lin Hao answered cheerfully, then sighed. "Ah, Junior Brother Qin, they say like father, like son. But not only are you so handsome, you’re also much more polite than your old man. It’s truly a mystery."

Lin Hao cursed people without using a single dirty word.

Lin Hao’s voice was loud, and many people heard him. Wu Taichu’s facial muscles tightened abruptly; he was afraid he’d burst out laughing if he didn’t control himself.

As the leader of a sect, he was struggling hard to hold it in.

Master Shan Dan, however, was different. He had no such reservations.

Besides, because of what happened in the secret realm, he had no favorable impression of Qin Tianlong at all. Hearing Lin Hao’s words, he burst out laughing and even added insult to injury, "You know, the little fellow really doesn’t look like you."

Qin Tianlong’s face twisted into an inhuman grimace.

Lin Hao’s words were just too venomous.

"Today, I’m going to make you die a horrible death!" Qin Huayang’s expression was terrifyingly cold as he walked toward the center of the God-Proving Stage.

"No need!" Lin Hao’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was incredibly arrogant. "Suppressing your realm? You think too highly of yourself."

Qin Huayang whirled around.

The entire arena fell silent.

Qin Huayang was known as being invincible within the same realm, with a record of defeating a Seventh Layer cultivator while he was only at the Sixth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm. Now that he had reached the Seventh Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm, his power was surely even more terrifying. Yet this Lin Hao dared to challenge him directly.

Was this arrogant conceit, or was he certain of victory?

"Are you sure?!" Qin Huayang didn’t insist. His desire to kill Lin Hao was so intense now that he no longer cared about giving people a reason to talk.

"Could you not look down on me so much? For your sake, I even spent two whole days and nights studying martial techniques in the Scripture Pavilion," Lin Hao said with a wounded expression.

The implication was that to deal with Qin Huayang, two days and nights of studying martial techniques was all it took.

The spectating disciples really wanted to say: ’Just who is looking down on whom?’

This Lin Hao was just too shameless.