Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

"Go on and cultivate," Lord Lingdi said gruffly, turning away.

Although Lin Hao was now the master of this Saha World, his understanding of it was nowhere near Lord Lingdi’s.

Lord Lingdi had told him before that the Saha World was beyond his imagination, but never elaborated. Lin Hao, for his part, didn’t bother to ask.

Right now, increasing his cultivation level was his top priority.

It was the same this time. He didn’t know what Lord Lingdi had tossed in, but his curiosity was fleeting.

Lin Hao sat down cross-legged and began to practice his Cultivation Technique.

Last time, he had been just a step away from the Eighth Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm. With the extra practice he’d gotten, Lin Hao felt he could try to push for the Ninth Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm within these nine hours.

If anyone else knew of his plan, they would be utterly horrified.

Going from the peak of the Seventh Layer to the Ninth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm in just nine hours was a feat impossible even for the continent’s most prodigious genius.

It was utterly preposterous. Not even a resurrected Emperor Venerable could accomplish such a feat.

The thought was a fleeting one. He immediately cleared his mind, his Spirit Platform entering a state of serene emptiness.

As he circulated the Godslaying Celestial Slash Skill, a full moon appeared in the Saha World’s sky, bathing him in a pillar of lunar essence.

Before long, the moon vanished, replaced by a crimson sun.

Finally, the moon and sun manifested together.

Lin Hao’s entire body began to glow, his internal organs faintly visible through his skin.

All his muscles and bones hummed in unison, creating a wondrous resonance.

’This kid’s physical body has become even more perfect and terrifying. Once he reaches the Ninth Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm, I fear that even a resurrected Xiaoxuanzi wouldn’t be his opponent at that stage,’ Lord Lingdi murmured from its perch in the towering tree.

A moment later, Lord Lingdi’s cat-like eyes flew wide in shock. ’Absorbing sunlight and moonlight for Body Refinement in the Saha World... His speed is terrifying!’

It saw with perfect clarity that Lin Hao’s cultivation had broken through the Seventh Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm and stepped into the Eighth Layer! 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Lord Lingdi had lived for countless ages and witnessed the rise of innumerable geniuses, but it had never seen anyone cultivate as fast as Lin Hao.

Even the cultivation speed of the most brilliant Emperor Venerable paled in comparison to Lin Hao’s.

’For his cultivation to advance so rapidly without his mental state falling behind... it’s truly inconceivable.’

For other Martial Artists, even talented ones, advancing through the Blood Coagulation Realm was a matter of years. For Lin Hao, it was a matter of hours.

What’s more, this rapid advancement hadn’t caused any instability in Lin Hao’s foundation. Lord Lingdi was completely stunned.

Suddenly, a ripple of energy from nearby caught Lord Lingdi’s attention.

It glanced over and saw a phantom image manifesting behind Wu Taichu.

Using True Essence to stir one’s bloodline and condense a Divine Soul... this was the sign of someone advancing from the Elemental Realm to the Soul Gathering Realm.

’Damn it, I was so focused on the kid I almost forgot what I needed to do.’ Lord Lingdi grumbled. Then, it opened its mouth and inhaled from afar.

The worldly energy gathered around Elder Gu and Wu Taichu flowed in thin wisps toward the towering tree where Lord Lingdi was hidden, before being drawn into its mouth.

Smacking its lips, Lord Lingdi sighed. ’Their energy is too weak.’

It then turned its gaze back to Lin Hao.

Ultimately, however, it didn’t dare to make a move.

The Cultivation Technique Lin Hao practiced was simply too terrifying. Although his cultivation level was far weaker than that of Wu Taichu and Elder Gu, and Lord Lingdi dared to absorb their energy, it didn’t even have the courage to try with Lin Hao.

However, after absorbing energy from Wu Taichu and Elder Gu several times, it finally gave in to temptation.

It opened its mouth slightly, and a wisp of energy generated by Lin Hao as he circulated his technique was drawn toward it.

It was only a tiny wisp, but the moment it entered Lord Lingdi’s body, it triggered a terrifying reaction.

Lord Lingdi was afflicted by an ailment, the main culprit being a dark energy within its body.

Its original intention was to use the energy from Wu Taichu and the others to heal its internal injuries, but the effect was minimal.

Left with no other choice, it had targeted Lin Hao.

It had witnessed Lin Hao cultivating several times and assumed it could control a minuscule amount of his energy. It had, however, miscalculated.

BOOM!

The instant that wisp of energy entered its body, it felt as if it were about to explode.

This left Lord Lingdi horrified.

This was a body that had been personally tempered by the Emperor Venerable; ordinary attacks could barely scratch it.

Yet a single wisp of energy from Lin Hao had caused it indescribable agony.

Up in the towering tree, Lord Lingdi’s body expanded rapidly, looking as if it was about to burst.

Suddenly, a flash of golden light erupted from within its body, shunting the wisp of energy into its Dantian.

PHEW...

As its body returned to normal, Lord Lingdi broke out in a cold sweat.

It couldn’t have imagined that just a single wisp of energy could be so terrifying.

While it could reform its body after exploding, the time that would take was unimaginable.

It let out a long sigh of relief, which was quickly followed by a wave of joy.

The benefits from that single wisp of energy from Lin Hao were more significant than all the energy it had taken from Wu Taichu and Elder Gu combined.

It was still a long way from its peak, but this was undeniably a huge step forward—a glimmer of hope.

’Kid, all my hopes are on you now,’ Lord Lingdi thought, staring at Lin Hao. ’Just don’t level up too quickly.’

The energy Lin Hao released at the Eighth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm had nearly killed it. If he kept advancing at this rate, all it would be able to do was sigh in resignation.

However, events did not unfold as it had hoped.

After breaking into the Eighth Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm, Lin Hao didn’t pause. He immediately pressed on, aiming for the Ninth Layer in one go.

His muscles and bones hummed in unison like bells and drums, and his entire body glowed. Beneath his increasingly translucent skin, Lin Hao’s organs were faintly visible.

Meanwhile, the qi and blood throughout Lin Hao’s body seethed, surging rapidly through his bulging meridians.

Simultaneously, the sound of his heartbeat grew clearer and more distinct.

Lord Lingdi was stunned by the sight. ’Damn it all,’ it cursed inwardly, before opening its mouth once more.

Having succeeded once, it was confident it could control another wisp of energy. ’If not now, when?’

Just as it was absorbing the energy and Lin Hao was pushing for the Ninth Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm, Wu Taichu also arrived at a critical juncture.

An expanse of orange light behind Wu Taichu gradually shrank and solidified.

The phantom image was gradually taking shape.

True Essence surged through his body, stirring his bloodline, and even his Dantian began to glow.

Unfortunately, this wondrous sight was completely overshadowed by the light radiating from Lin Hao.

But this didn’t hinder Wu Taichu’s advancement.

The phantom image took shape, finally manifesting as a small, orange animal behind Wu Taichu.

His Divine Soul had taken its initial form.

It flashed once before disappearing into the crown of Wu Taichu’s head.

A smile touched Wu Taichu’s lips. The Soul Gathering Realm was now within his grasp.

What he needed to do now was to mobilize his Bloodline Power, nourish his Divine Soul, and then forge a tighter bond between his Divine Soul and his bloodline.

This part was not difficult.

A short while later, Wu Taichu’s body jolted, and his eyes opened.

If he hadn’t known he was in the Saha World with two others also cultivating, he would have burst out laughing.

The Soul Gathering Realm... The realm he had dreamed of for so long was finally his.

And he certainly hadn’t forgotten who to thank for reaching the Soul Gathering Realm so quickly.

When he looked over at Lin Hao, the sight left him utterly dumbfounded.

In the sky of the Saha World, the sun and moon hung side by side, and Lin Hao was simultaneously absorbing both sunlight and lunar essence!

Lin Hao’s entire body was glowing, his bones and sinews humming in unison, his heartbeat thundering in his chest. From above, sunlight and lunar essence poured down into him.

Wu Taichu had never seen or even heard of such a spectacle.

Staring at Lin Hao, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

His entire body trembled uncontrollably.

Wu Taichu had never seen a Great Emperor, but as he watched Lin Hao refine his body with the sun and moon, he couldn’t help but think that even the presence of a Great Emperor couldn’t be more magnificent than this.

’No, I doubt even a Great Emperor could do this!’

Lin Hao’s stature in Wu Taichu’s mind soared to new heights.

Then, Wu Taichu unconsciously took a step toward the spot where Lin Hao sat.

His steps were light yet firm, and his gaze upon Lin Hao was like that of a pilgrim.

But he had only taken two steps when Lin Hao’s body suddenly flared with brilliant light, and a terrifying aura erupted from him.

Wu Taichu had just broken his shackles to enter the Soul Gathering Realm, his power now countless times greater than before, yet this terrifying aura still stopped him in his tracks.

Stumbling back in alarm, Wu Taichu’s face was a mask of horror.

Thankfully, the terrifying aura vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

In the next moment, however, after a brief pause, the horror on Wu Taichu’s face only intensified.

Because he realized that Lin Hao’s cultivation had already reached the Ninth Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm!

Wu Taichu didn’t know how much time had passed, but it clearly hadn’t been nine hours.

For Lin Hao to advance Two Layers in such a short amount of time... it made Wu Taichu feel like he was dreaming.

It was too absurd!

Before Lin Hao arrived, Ling Xiao was the undisputed genius disciple of the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

Wu Taichu clearly remembered that it had taken Ling Xiao a full five years to go from the Third Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm to his current Eighth Layer.

That accomplishment ranked him as a top-tier genius even within the Cangnan Empire.

But now, Lin Hao had gone from the Third Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm to the Ninth Layer in a mere twenty days!

If word of this terrifying cultivation speed got out, every so-called genius would be utterly eclipsed.

"Martial Ancestor, I was wrong. You aren’t a creator of miracles; you’re the creator of *divine* miracles. All the so-called geniuses are destined to live in your shadow," Wu Taichu murmured to himself, shaken beyond belief.

Just then, the space around them twisted.

Wu Taichu felt the scenery shift, and when he could see clearly again, they were back in Lin Hao’s room.

At almost the exact same moment, Lin Hao’s eyes opened, shining with vigor.

"Congratulations, Martial Ancestor," Wu Taichu said with a broad smile, his voice full of praise.

The more outrageously talented Lin Hao was, the greater the fortune for their sect, so Wu Taichu was naturally ecstatic.

Lin Hao looked thrilled as well. He could feel his body brimming with unprecedented power.

Accepting Wu Taichu’s congratulations, he smiled back. "It seems your gains were quite substantial as well."

"Reporting to Martial Ancestor, I was slow and have only just entered the Soul Gathering Realm."

Without Lin Hao as a comparison, Wu Taichu might have been overjoyed for some time. But next to Lin Hao’s cultivation speed, he truly felt unbelievably slow.

Just then, Elder Gu also stirred and woke up.