Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

Of course, Lin Hao had no way of knowing what had happened in Wu Taichu’s room.

At this moment, Lin Hao had already entered the secret realm.

The moment he entered, Lin Hao was stunned.

The once-withered forest was actually showing signs of recovery.

This made him marvel at the wonders of the secret realm.

Without lingering, Lin Hao began to follow the path he had taken before.

He remained cautious, maintaining a high level of vigilance.

However, he encountered no danger.

Before long, he was standing before the words left by Cang Yan.

The forest ahead was lush and green, and the distant, crumbling ruins were faintly visible.

Lin Hao determined his direction and strode forward.

This time, he felt no suppressing force.

After walking just over ten meters, before Lin Hao could even feel happy about it, his eyelids twitched.

A scorching, foul-smelling wind shot toward him from the front, moving with incredible speed!

With a quick shift of his feet, Lin Hao leaped into the air.

BOOM!

With a tremendous crash, the trunk of a massive tree behind Lin Hao shattered into pieces, sending leaves fluttering everywhere.

Lin Hao had no time to look back, as the sound of something tearing through the air came at him again.

His figure moved like lightning as he dodged diagonally.

While in mid-air, Lin Hao’s eyes narrowed. A long tail was wrapped around the main trunk of a tree, easily uprooting it as leaves danced in the air.

Taking advantage of this moment, Lin Hao finally got a clear look at the Devil Beast that had attacked him.

It was nearly ten meters long, blood-red from head to tail, and covered in Scale Armor. It was a Tier One Devil Beast, the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python!

Judging by its size, it was clearly an adult.

An adult Cloud-Piercing Blood Python possessed incredible speed, astonishing defense, and strength comparable to a Martial Artist at the seventh to Ninth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm.

But this was a secret realm, and it couldn’t be judged by ordinary standards.

Therefore, this Cloud-Piercing Blood Python’s strength was likely even greater than estimated, perhaps already comparable to a Martial Artist in the Elemental Realm.

Lin Hao’s heart clenched, and he couldn’t help but feel a surge of relief.

’Thank goodness for that suppressing force the first time I came. Otherwise, this one Cloud-Piercing Blood Python would have been enough to kill me.’

Although there was only one realm of difference between the Ninth Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm and the first layer of the Elemental Realm, the gap in strength was as wide as the earth and sky.

A Martial Artist in the Elemental Realm could channel the world’s elemental energy through their bloodline and convert it into True Essence. With an inexhaustible supply of True Essence, they wouldn’t even need to fight—they could simply wear down a Ninth Layer Blood Coagulation Realm cultivator to death.

And if this Cloud-Piercing Blood Python’s strength was truly on par with an Elemental Realm Martial Artist, it would be even more terrifying than one.

Although the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python was a Devil Beast, it possessed a low-level Spiritual Sense and knew how to cultivate. It could use the world’s elemental energy for its training, filling its Scale Armor with energy and giving rise to the saying that it was unbreakable by those in the Blood Coagulation Realm.

Outside, even Martial Artists in the Blood Coagulation Realm would have to retreat from a Cloud-Piercing Blood Python, let alone one from this secret realm.

After all, on his first visit, Lin Hao had witnessed the terrifying power of the Celestial Demon Pig here.

However, Lin Hao felt no fear in the face of the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python.

’This is a dense forest. Compared to this enormous Blood Python, I have the advantage.’

Seeing the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python attack again, Lin Hao twisted his body, barely dodging the brunt of the assault. He then channeled the Godslaying Celestial Slash Skill to its full potential and threw a punch.

Relying solely on his Body Technique would do nothing to improve his cultivation.

Therefore, Lin Hao chose not to dodge with his Body Technique but to face it head-on.

BOOM!

The Cloud-Piercing Blood Python’s head was sent flying sideways, crashing violently into a massive tree. With a loud CRACK, the tree snapped in two.

’That’s gotta hurt!’

Now that Lin Hao’s cultivation was at the Ninth Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm, even a casual strike from him carried the force of ten thousand catties.

A flicker of joy went through Lin Hao’s heart as his attack landed.

However, after being sent flying by the punch, the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python merely shook its head.

Not only was it uninjured, but its ferocity had been provoked.

Its tail swept out, and everywhere it passed, a constant series of BOOMS echoed as entire swathes of trees were knocked down.

Without relying on his Body Technique to dodge, Lin Hao was in a sorry state.

Lin Hao was inwardly shocked that the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python hadn’t even been wounded by a blow carrying the force of ten thousand catties.

’Its defense is terrifying!’

Before long, a large clearing had formed around Lin Hao.

Then, the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python actually stopped its attack. Flicking its long tongue, it stared at him like a tiger watching its prey.

Lin Hao’s heart skipped a beat. ’This Blood Python is so cunning.’

’Just now, when the trees were dense, my smaller size gave me an advantage over the Blood Python, as I could use them for cover and evasion. Now that my advantage is gone and its has grown, this is not good for me.’

However, Lin Hao had already made up his mind: he absolutely would not use his Body Technique.

The Cloud-Piercing Blood Python lunged forward with surprising speed.

Its cavernous mouth gaped open, and the stench from within was so foul that Lin Hao nearly vomited.

Narrowly avoiding being swallowed whole, Lin Hao threw another punch, striking the Blood Python right on its vital spot, seven inches down its neck.

The Cloud-Piercing Blood Python cried out in pain and recoiled its head. Its tail then chopped down from the sky, the sheer force of the blow making the air HISS.

Lin Hao dodged, his eyes brightened, and instead of retreating, he advanced and launched his own attack.

However, though Lin Hao tried to attack the Blood Python’s seven-inch weak spot, the creature was quite intelligent and thwarted his attempts several times.

After landing another punch on the python’s head, Lin Hao retreated.

’This Blood Python is too cunning.’

"Dammit! If I don’t kill you today, my name isn’t Lin Hao!" ’I can’t believe I haven’t been able to take down this beast after all this time.’ Lin Hao swore, panting heavily.

At that exact moment, his body was tightly ensnared by it.

The Cloud-Piercing Blood Python’s speed was incredible and its defense was formidable, but both paled in comparison to its constricting power.

Once coiled by a Cloud-Piercing Blood Python, never mind a mere Blood Coagulation Realm Martial Artist—even a Martial Artist below the Third Layer of the Elemental Realm would have no chance of escape.

And that was just for an ordinary Cloud-Piercing Blood Python.

Although he had never encountered this Devil Beast in the outside world, from their brief clash, Lin Hao knew this beast was far more powerful than any on the outside.

He had seen the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python’s vibrant belly; its color was much deeper than that of the Celestial Demon Pig he had previously encountered in the secret realm.

The Flowing Light Divine Flame had caused this Blood Python to mutate.

’And if there are other Devil Beasts further in, they’ll only be more terrifying.’

The closer he got to the ruins, the closer he would be to the Flowing Light Divine Flame.

After coiling around Lin Hao, the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python flicked its tongue in and out, looking extremely excited.

It was about to have another delicious meal of human flesh.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t human. Otherwise, if it had seen the expression on Lin Hao’s face, it would have surely been alarmed.

Because Lin Hao, caught in the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python’s coils, had a slight smile on his lips and showed no fear whatsoever.

The Blood Python turned its head back and opened its cavernous mouth to devour Lin Hao.

Facing the python’s devouring head, Lin Hao remained calm and met it with one hand.

He blocked the python’s head with his left hand, formed a fist with his right, and punched, striking its seven-inch weak spot squarely.

At this point, a casual blow from Lin Hao carried the force of ten thousand catties. If it had been a Martial Artist, they would have been turned into a bloody mist by his punch long ago. But when he landed this punch, the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python responded by tightening its coils even more.

As the pained Blood Python squeezed harder, the veins on Lin Hao’s forehead bulged, and his young face instantly flushed bright red.

But Lin Hao was still smiling, and it was a very happy smile.

Suddenly, an aura that could make all living things tremble erupted from Lin Hao’s body...

The next moment, Lin Hao slumped to the ground, gasping for air.

Beside him, the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python lay motionless, its head hanging low. Its seven-inch weak spot had been torn open, and it was as dead as could be.

Gazing at the Blood Python’s corpse, Lin Hao grinned, overjoyed.

He was neither arrogant nor reckless. He knew full well the danger of being coiled by the Blood Python; in fact, getting caught was part of his plan.

The Cloud-Piercing Blood Python was protected by Scale Armor all over its body, making it difficult to harm with blades, but its Achilles’ heel was its seven-inch weak spot.

Lin Hao had deliberately allowed the Blood Python to coil around him and then punched its weak spot, all to completely enrage it.

When the Blood Python tightened its body, its Scale Armor would fill with elemental energy, but this was precisely when its seven-inch weak spot was most vulnerable.

And at that moment, Lin Hao delivered the killing blow!

Lin Hao’s strategic mind and combat awareness were nothing short of terrifying!

After a short rest, Lin Hao began to disembowel the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python.

An ordinary object wouldn’t do, so Lin Hao took out the Silent Annihilation Demon Saber from his storage ring.

He couldn’t wield the Tier Four Spiritual Artifact properly, but it was perfect for cutting open the Blood Python’s belly.

If the Alchemy Master who forged this Demon Saber were to see this scene, they would probably cough up blood in anger.

A magnificent Tier Four Spiritual Artifact, in Lin Hao’s hands, had been reduced to a tool for carving up a Devil Beast.

It had to be said, a Spiritual Artifact was a Spiritual Artifact. It was incomparably sharp.

Before long, Lin Hao pulled a lustrous, multicolored Demon Pill from the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python’s body.

This Demon Pill was clearly purer than the one from the Celestial Demon Pig.

The sight of it instantly washed away all his fatigue.

Ahead, the Flowing Light Divine Stone was beckoning to him.

After stowing it away safely, Lin Hao continued on his way.

Normally, a Cloud-Piercing Blood Python’s body is a treasure trove, and anyone else would have certainly taken the entire corpse. But in Lin Hao’s heart, the thing hidden in the depths was the true purpose of his journey.

Not long after Lin Hao left, a large pack of Devil Beasts appeared beside the Cloud-Piercing Blood Python’s corpse, all of them with greedy looks in their eyes.

Clearly, this Cloud-Piercing Blood Python had been the king of this area. Wherever it was, other Devil Beasts would keep a wide berth.

Of course, Lin Hao would never know about this scene.

Advancing with extreme caution, Lin Hao surprisingly didn’t encounter any more Devil Beasts.

However, Lin Hao didn’t dare let his guard down, and he kept the Godslaying Celestial Slash Skill active for protection.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Hao felt the area ahead suddenly open up.

He looked up and froze.

Before him lay a stretch of crumbling ruins, terrifyingly silent.

’Did I reach the destination just like that?’

It seemed too easy. Lin Hao could hardly believe it.

Looking back, he saw endless mountains stretching into the distance. At the very edge, the land was desolate—that was where he had obtained the Nine Dragon Flower.

Realizing that this was indeed his destination, Lin Hao took a deep breath and looked toward the ruins.

As he looked, his brow furrowed.

This place must have once been a massive complex of palace-like buildings. Although only crumbling ruins remained, its former magnificence was still faintly discernible.

Of course, that wasn’t the most important thing.

What made Lin Hao frown was the danger hidden beneath these seemingly quiet and unremarkable ruins.

With just a single glance, Lin Hao had discovered countless Devil Beasts within the ruins!

An ordinary person would never have been able to spot these Devil Beasts.

Because this vast expanse of ruins was reinforced by an Array!

To others, it would just look like ordinary ruins.

But in Lin Hao’s eyes, he saw countless "gates," each one representing a different type of Array.

Seeing this, Lin Hao couldn’t help but thank the Carefree Divine Monarch once again.

These Arrays were tricky, but not unbreakable.

Because the Carefree Divine Monarch, a master of Artifact Refining and Array Runes, was himself an Array Master.

Arrays are the foundation of Artifact Refining and the Array Pattern Skill.

For example, the God-Transforming Hand he used in the Divine Weapon Hall—the one that could turn the rotten into the miraculous—was actually a type of quick-forming Array.

And as for the countless Devil Beasts hidden beneath the Arrays, Lin Hao felt no fear. Instead, he was eager to give it a try.

Staring at the very center of the ruins, Lin Hao’s eyes gleamed. That was the core of all the Arrays; the thing he needed had to be somewhere near there!

’What I need to do now is break through the Arrays and fight my way in!’