Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

What Lin Hao saw in Yang Peng, aside from his talent and insight, was his indomitable spirit.

At Lin Hao’s word, he had waited outside the Scripture Pavilion for over three days without eating or drinking.

Back then, his heart was full of hope—a commendable spirit.

But now, all Lin Hao heard in his words was utter despair.

To Lin Hao, a person without hope was not truly a person at all—just an empty shell.

So after hearing what Yang Peng said, Lin Hao fell silent. In the end, he spoke just three words. "You may go."

Lin Hao had a detailed plan for his own future, for the enemies he had to face were immensely powerful.

It was no exaggeration to say his ambition reached the heavens.

’In Lin Hao’s eyes, the Yang Peng of this moment wasn’t even qualified to serve him tea—and this was despite Lin Hao himself only being at the Seventh Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm.’

Yang Peng looked up, his face a mask of astonishment that quickly twisted into a bitter smile.

"It’s hopeless for me to awaken my bloodline. I’m a cripple now. I have disappointed you. I’ll leave at once."

He understood the meaning in Lin Hao’s eyes.

Lin Hao slapped his own forehead, silently cursing himself for his foolishness.

’To him, the bloodline issue was no longer a problem, but of course, others didn’t know that.’

Failing to awaken one’s bloodline before the age of sixteen meant being doomed to be useless for life. This was a curse upon the continent, one that no one had broken in a thousand years.

It was perfectly normal for Yang Peng to be in despair, knowing he couldn’t awaken his bloodline.

Lin Hao had judged another by his own standards and had nearly made a grave mistake.

Having realized this, Lin Hao smiled. "What if I told you," he said, "that the very moment my bloodline awakened, it was brutally stolen from me?"

Yang Peng, who had already reached the door, froze. He spun around, trembling, and uttered two words: "Teach me."

Yang Peng’s insight was truly remarkable. From that one sentence, he had already inferred a great deal.

’Having one’s bloodline stolen was far worse than being unable to awaken one, yet Lin Hao’s current cultivation level...’

In an instant, ignited by Lin Hao’s words, the long-extinguished embers of hope in Yang Peng’s heart flared back to life, burning hotter than ever before.

Lin Hao remained silent.

He was waiting, waiting to see what Yang Peng would do next.

’Helping Yi Mingcheng create a bloodline, and later providing him with a Cultivation Technique and martial arts—Yi Mingcheng earned all of that by risking his life. He deserved it.’

’But his relationship with Yang Peng was merely a passing acquaintance. To receive the same treatment as Yi Mingcheng, Yang Peng had a long way to go.’

"As long as I can walk the path of martial cultivation again, I’ll do anything you ask. Please, give your command, Young Master," Yang Peng said.

A ghost of a smile played on Lin Hao’s lips. "Are you certain?"

Yang Peng nodded without a moment’s hesitation.

"Who was it that taught you martial arts in the Outer Sect?" Lin Hao asked suddenly.

"Master Bai Ming. He’s a Hall Master in the Outer Sect. He said my comprehension was good and even gave me personal guidance once," Yang Peng replied. Though he didn’t know why Lin Hao was asking, he answered truthfully, his voice filled with gratitude.

The corner of Lin Hao’s mouth lifted. "This Bai Ming you mentioned... is he the one who was in charge of the disciple entrance examination?"

Yang Peng nodded.

Suddenly, Lin Hao’s expression turned exceptionally grim.

"So it was him. What a coincidence," Lin Hao said viciously. "When I was joining the sect, he looked down on me and made things difficult for me time and time again. I still haven’t settled that score!"

Yang Peng’s eyes narrowed. In a low voice, he asked, "Young Master, what do you mean?"

"Go and kill him for me!" Lin Hao’s voice was brimming with killing intent.

Yang Peng hesitated for a brief moment, then actually nodded.

"He was your teacher. To kill him would be a betrayal of the highest order. Are you sure?" Lin Hao asked.

"A promise is a promise. I am sure," Yang Peng replied.

Lin Hao nodded. "Then go."

Without another word, Yang Peng turned and left.

"I’m very curious to see what you’ll do," Lin Hao murmured, watching Yang Peng’s retreating figure.

’If Yang Peng chose to act just for the sake of his own cultivation, Lin Hao would certainly give up on him.’

’To be willing to do anything to achieve one’s goals—that was the way of a ruthless opportunist.’

’Lin Hao was no such man, and he had no desire to associate with them.’

’The thought of such people reminded him of the scene at the blood-swapping pool three years ago. They had lost all humanity. People like that couldn’t even be called human, so what right did they have to walk the path of martial arts!’

’However, if Yang Peng did nothing at all, or if he conspired with Bai Ming to put on a show for Lin Hao’s benefit, he would be abandoned all the same.’

This was a difficult test for Yang Peng.

But that was clearly not Lin Hao’s problem to worry about.

So he sat back in his chair and leisurely sipped his tea.

He had only just settled in when there was a knock at the door.

The person who entered took Lin Hao by surprise. It was Elder Gu.

Elder Gu’s full name was Gu Yong. He had once gone to Danling to procure pills for Lin Hao’s sake and had nearly been ambushed and killed for his troubles.

He was also the most senior elder in the Heaven-Stepping Sect. Beyond his status as an elder, he was also the Sect Leader’s Martial Uncle.

The moment he entered, before Lin Hao could even speak, Elder Gu rushed over to him and said eagerly, "Martial Uncle, I wish to cultivate the Golden Roc Soaring and the Great Roc King Fist!"

These two martial techniques used to be on the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion, and even Outer Sect disciples rarely chose them. But Wu Taichu had previously made the same request as Elder Gu.

After being analyzed and improved by Lin Hao, these two once-unremarkable techniques, though still incomplete, had become an irresistible temptation for the Sect Leader and the elders.

"I’ve heard they are techniques of the Celestial Roc Race and aren’t well-suited for cultivation by the Human Race. Are you certain, Elder?" Lin Hao asked.

Elder Gu nodded eagerly. "I’m certain. I’m absolutely certain. The origins of these two techniques are too astonishing. If I don’t get to cultivate them, I won’t be able to rest in peace."

Since he put it that way, Lin Hao could only oblige him.

"Thank you, Martial Uncle! Thank you!" Despite his advanced age, Elder Gu was as excited as a child when Lin Hao nodded, and he bowed repeatedly.

Lin Hao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Elder, you are my senior. Please, don’t humble me like this."

"No. You are not only our sect’s Martial Uncle, but you have also given us hope for the revival of the Heaven-Stepping Sect. Whatever we do for you is only right and proper." To Lin Hao’s surprise, Elder Gu retorted with a completely serious expression.

At this, Lin Hao scratched his head, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks.

’He had only done what he felt he had to do.’

"Martial Uncle, the Sect Leader mentioned... you’re allowing me to cultivate in the Sophora World?" Seeing Lin Hao’s reaction, Elder Gu’s heart warmed, and he quickly changed the subject.

Lin Hao nodded.

Elder Gu’s lips trembled, and for a moment, he was speechless.

The Sophora World was the sacred training ground for successive Sect Leaders of the Heaven-Stepping Sect; no one else had ever been permitted to set foot inside.

As one of the Sect Elders, he had also dreamed of cultivating within, but it was an inviolable rule of the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

In the past, aware of the sect’s decline, Wu Taichu had tried to break this rule, but no matter how hard he tried, no one besides himself was ever able to enter the Sophora World.

Just a moment ago, Elder Gu had learned from Wu Taichu that the Sophora World had already acknowledged Lin Hao as its master. The shock he felt was no less than Wu Taichu’s.

Then, when Wu Taichu told him that Lin Hao intended to bring him inside to cultivate, Elder Gu, who had lived for so many years, burst into tears.

Now, with Lin Hao’s confirmation, despite having been mentally prepared, Elder Gu still couldn’t contain his excitement.

The Sophora World—the training ground of Sect Leaders. He would be the first to enter it with the status of an elder. This was not just an honor; it was a symbol of Lin Hao’s personal approval.

"Alright, Elder Gu, you should go back and prepare for now."

Lin Hao, seeing that the elder was getting overwhelmed, quickly interjected.

Elder Gu was getting on in years. It would be troublesome if he had a heart attack or something.

’In the memories of the Carefree Divine Monarch, on a continent called Earth, it seemed many elderly people suffered from this ailment.’

"Yes, Martial Uncle." Although Lin Hao was young enough to be his grandson, in his heart, Lin Hao’s words now carried more weight than even the Sect Leader’s.

After Elder Gu departed, Lin Hao closed his eyes and began to meditate.

Within his sea of consciousness, he began to practice the Mantra for the Seventh Layer of the Godslaying Celestial Slash Skill.

This was a habit he had formed back at Tianduan Mountain. By familiarizing himself with the Cultivation Technique’s Mantra beforehand, his actual cultivation would be twice as effective.

He meditated for several hours.

When he opened his eyes again, Wu Taichu and Elder Gu were already standing respectfully before him.

"Is it time? I’m sorry for making you wait," Lin Hao said apologetically.

The two of them quickly shook their heads and said in unison, "Not at all, not at all."

In the corner, Xiaoliuzi, who was trimming the lamp’s wick, heard their exchange and his mouth twitched violently.

’He knew for a fact that the Sect Leader and the Elder had been here for three or four hours.’

Seeing their attitude toward Lin Hao, Xiaoliuzi had first been aghast, then shocked... and had finally become numb to it all.

But now, hearing their words, even his numb heart couldn’t help but stir once more.

’This Eldest Senior Brother is less like an Eldest Senior Brother and more like the Sect Leader himself. Why else would the Sect Leader and an Elder be so deferential?’

As his mind raced with wild speculation, Xiaoliuzi heard Lin Hao’s voice. "Xiaoliuzi, you may go and rest. We have matters to discuss tonight."

The very instant Xiaoliuzi respectfully backed out of the room, a curtain of light materialized from thin air, and the three figures within vanished.

At the same time, a streak of golden light, moving at a speed invisible to the naked eye, shot into the curtain of light...

Sophora World.

Entering for the first time, Elder Gu surveyed the wondrous realm, his eyes wide with amazement.

The moment he entered, he knew. The speed of cultivation here was several times faster than in the outside world.

"We only have nine hours. Take the Harmonization Pills now," Lin Hao said. Inside the Sophora World, he always raced against the clock.

"Right!"

Both men understood how precious this opportunity was. They immediately swallowed their Harmonization Pills and began to cultivate.

Before long, they had both entered a state of profound focus.

Just then, a golden-furred cat leaped down from the towering ancient tree.

Lin Hao, however, was not the least bit surprised.

He had already spotted Lord Lingdi the moment it shot into the curtain of light.

Then, Lin Hao watched as Lord Lingdi once again knocked upon the tree.

It was muttering an incantation. "The first knock paves the spirit road. The second delivers the grand missive. The third knock opens the Celestial Gate."

Just like before, as the final word ’Gate’ was spoken, a door appeared in the tree and swung open.

Then, Lin Hao saw Lord Lingdi flick its paw, tossing an object inside.

Its speed was incredible.

Lin Hao couldn’t even see clearly what the object was.