Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

Lin Hao couldn’t believe his eyes.

An underground palace!

An underground palace of incomparable scale!

A palace shimmering with a multitude of colors, constructed entirely from Flowing Light Divine Stone!

Staggering!

The scene shook Lin Hao to his very soul!

A single piece of Flowing Light Divine Stone was nearly impossible to find in the world, yet the master of this palace had gathered an immeasurable amount to construct it.

Extravagant!

’So damn extravagant!’

’Haha, I’ve struck it rich! Countless Flowing Light Divine Stones... If I could just take these with me...’

As Lin Hao imagined the scene, his eyes lit up and he practically started to drool.

However, his joy was short-lived.

The sight of the Flowing Light Divine Stone had made Lin Hao forget all reason.

He was completely unaware that he was still on the Demon Ape’s back.

The next moment, the Demon Ape loosened its claws.

THUD!

Lin Hao was dropped to the ground.

"AHHHH!"

An utterly miserable scream tore from Lin Hao’s throat.

His body went taut. He looked down, horrified beyond belief.

Flowing Light Divine Flame!

He saw Flowing Light Divine Flame.

This entire area was filled with the raging Flowing Light Divine Flame!

The Flowing Light Divine Flame was incredibly hot, searing Lin Hao’s muscles until they were bright red. As for his clothes, they had long since turned to ash.

’I’ve been screwed by this Demon Ape!’

Glancing at the Demon Ape, Lin Hao’s heart skipped a beat.

The Blood-Eyed Demon Ape was thriving in the Flowing Light Divine Flame, the nine-colored halo on its forehead shining with unparalleled brilliance.

’The Demon Ape is using the Flowing Light Divine Flame to cultivate!’

’Damn it, this beast is too cunning!’

If he couldn’t figure something out, not only would he be unable to take these countless resources, but he would also lose his life here!

But the Demon Ape gave Lin Hao no time to react, lunging straight for him.

Lin Hao shot back, but was still caught by the force of the Demon Ape’s punch and sent flying.

From that single blow, Lin Hao knew that the Demon Ape had every advantage here. It was like a tiger that had grown wings—many times more powerful than it had been above ground.

Bitterness welled in Lin Hao’s heart as he moved like a flash of lightning, darting toward the palace.

Only by using the palace’s terrain could he hope to maneuver around the Demon Ape.

He was fast, but the Demon Ape was just as quick.

The Demon Ape, right behind him, suddenly extended its front claw, reaching for Lin Hao’s back.

Having been fooled once before, Lin Hao was prepared. His body shifted sideways with incredible speed.

However, the Demon Ape seemed to have anticipated this, its claw shadowing his every move.

Fortunately, Lin Hao had reached the edge of the palace. He hugged the wall, narrowly dodging the attack.

BOOM!

The Demon Ape’s sharp claws scraped against the palace wall, sending sparks and stone fragments flying everywhere.

Several pieces of Flowing Light Divine Stone flew off in all directions.

’Dammit!’

Seeing this, Lin Hao’s heart bled. ’This is Flowing Light Divine Stone! This damned beast is committing a sacrilege!’

Gritting his teeth, Lin Hao shot forward and barely managed to snatch one of the flying pieces.

The moment he held it, he felt something was wrong. On closer inspection, this wasn’t Flowing Light Divine Stone at all! It was merely hard Diamond that had been baked by the Flowing Light Divine Flame for so long it had developed a golden sheen.

Now, Lin Hao was truly enraged.

Not only had his dream of countless Flowing Light Divine Stones vanished like a popped bubble, but this Demon Ape was also relentlessly trying to kill him.

A short dagger suddenly appeared in Lin Hao’s hand!

Under the heat of the Flowing Light Divine Flame, the dagger began to show signs of melting the moment it appeared.

Lin Hao’s hands became a blur, and by some unknown method, he managed to stop the dagger from melting.

Then, holding the dagger, Lin Hao sliced his other hand. Blood flowed, and he began to quickly trace patterns on the blade with his own blood.

All the while, the Demon Ape’s assault continued. Lin Hao dodged and weaved, using the palace’s terrain to his advantage, his focus split between two tasks.

BOOM!

Suddenly, the dagger in Lin Hao’s hand erupted with a dazzling light.

Any Artifact Refiner who witnessed this would have been utterly stunned.

From Mundane to Spirit!

In such a short amount of time, Lin Hao had refined an ordinary weapon into a Tier One Spiritual Artifact!

If word of this got out, it would surely shake the entire continent.

Yet, there wasn’t the slightest hint of pride on Lin Hao’s face.

He channeled his Cultivation Technique, and a terrifying blade glow emanated from the dagger as he slashed at the Demon Ape.

The power of a Tier One Spiritual Artifact was astounding. Only a prodigy like Lin Hao could wield one at the Ninth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm.

With the dagger in hand, Lin Hao’s aura surged, and a flicker of wariness even crossed the Demon Ape’s eyes.

In its haste, it raised its left front claw to block the slash aimed at its forehead.

PFFT!

The Demon Ape’s left claw was severed in one clean slice.

At the same time, blood trickled from its forehead.

The nine-colored halo on its forehead flared, and the blade glow instantly vanished.

After that single strike, the dagger in Lin Hao’s hand reverted to its original form. It then cracked and crumbled into dust under the heat of the Flowing Light Divine Flame.

This human had actually managed to injure it.

The Demon Ape bared its fangs, speechless with rage!

There was no roar—only its right claw, balled into a fist, delivering a strike filled with fury.

Lin Hao had used his Lifebound True Blood to refine a single-use Tier One Spiritual Artifact and then poured his energy into wielding it. He had no strength left to fight back.

The punch landed squarely on his abdomen, sending him flying into the depths of the palace and smashing through countless doors along the way.

In midair, Lin Hao coughed up mouthfuls of blood.

The Demon Ape shadowed his trajectory, appearing before him in an instant to deliver another punch.

The light in Lin Hao’s eyes dimmed, but he refused to simply wait for death. He mustered his remaining strength, preparing to strike back.

However, in the next moment, Lin Hao’s body suddenly vanished into thin air.

The Demon Ape froze, stunned. It circled the spot several times before roaring and beating its chest with its two front paws. THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.

Realizing what had happened, it glanced down at the stump of its left forelimb. Its eyes widened in fury, and it let out a heaven-shaking howl!

However, it soon fell silent. It picked up the claw Lin Hao had severed, returned to the spot where he had vanished, and sat down cross-legged like a human, actually beginning to cultivate.

From its posture, it was clear the beast had sworn an oath to wait for Lin Hao, no matter how long it took.

As for Lin Hao, his situation was even worse.

Although he had narrowly escaped the Demon Ape’s deadly pursuit, he now felt a pain that was worse than death.

After enduring the agony of having his bloodline stolen and tempering his body with the sun and moon, Lin Hao’s will was as firm as a boulder.

For him to feel this way now was a testament to how terrifying his current location was.

The Demon Ape’s last blow had left his entire body on the verge of shattering. He lay on the ground, the pain from his broken bones and torn sinews like being deep-fried in boiling oil.

It was simply too hot here; the temperature was many times higher than that of the palace outside.

Even Lin Hao’s vision was a blur.

’No, I can’t die!’

’I have to go to the Lin family in Imperial City and take back what belongs to me!’

An intense will to live forced Lin Hao to painstakingly circulate his True Essence and begin to operate the Ninth Layer of the Godslaying Celestial Slash Skill.

There was no sunlight or moonlight here for him to absorb, but as soon as he began, a different kind of energy was drawn into his body.

This energy was intensely hot. While not on par with sunlight, it felt as though it could refine one’s very flesh and bone.

’This heat... it’s from the Flowing Light Divine Flame!’

’I refined my body with the sun and moon. I won’t be afraid of you!’

’Today, I, Lin Hao, having already refined my body with the sun and moon, shall now temper it with Divine Flame!’

At some point, Lin Hao’s body had already moved into a cross-legged position. The searing heat was drawn into him, surging toward his Dantian.

The Tai Chi Array Map in his Dantian, with its clearly defined borders, would not allow this foreign energy to run rampant. Instead, the heat surged into the very center of the array map.

That was the seat of Lin Hao’s true self.

Wisps of multicolored energy were absorbed, and with them at its core, the Tai Chi Array Map began to spin, creating a wondrous resonance.

An unknown amount of time passed before Lin Hao opened his eyes, a flash of joy passing through them.

His injuries were mostly healed!

Only then did he get to his feet and begin to survey his surroundings.

It seemed to be a rather large, sealed, and airtight secret chamber.

Lin Hao walked to one of the walls and punched it, then reeled back in shock.

Under his immense force, the seemingly ordinary wall didn’t even shed a speck of dust.

In disbelief, he tried again, but the result was the same.

The other walls were no different.

However, Lin Hao did notice something unusual. The temperature of one wall was significantly higher than the others.

The discovery delighted Lin Hao, and he immediately threw a punch.

BOOM!

After countless punches, the wall suddenly rippled with a strange fluctuation, and Lin Hao stopped.

A golden light appeared on the previously smooth wall, and words began to form.

"For millions of years, countless sages and predecessors have laid their plans. I follow in their footsteps. I have stepped into the Nine Heavens and entered the Netherworld to obtain a heaven-defying pill formula. If I could but refine it, I am confident I would have the strength to join the fight. And yet, I, a peerless Pill God whose Alchemy Mastery is second to none, could not even obtain the Flowing Light Divine Flame. What a tragedy! I can only seal it away with deep regret and await one who is fated."

Then, Lin Hao’s eyes widened, for he saw the signature at the end.

The Final Words of Hongtian!

Emperor Hongtian, the founding ancestor of the Heaven-Stepping Sect!

A storm raged in Lin Hao’s mind; he was shocked beyond measure.

Emperor Venerable—a title representing the apex of martial cultivation.

But from Emperor Hongtian’s words, it seemed even an Emperor Venerable had enemies—enemies so powerful they were seemingly invincible.

To fight this enemy, countless sages and predecessors had schemed for millions of years!

Lin Hao was no fool. He instantly understood—the "sages and predecessors" could only be one kind of people: Emperor Venerables!

Upon encountering this enemy, even a Great Emperor could only lament and leave behind their final words.

What did that even imply?

Lin Hao dared not even imagine it, for it was completely beyond his comprehension.

The information revealed on the wall left Lin Hao unable to calm his heart for a long time.

He only came back to his senses when the golden light faded and the wall returned to normal.

WHUMP!

Lin Hao staggered back several steps and collapsed onto the ground.

Suddenly, Lin Hao’s face turned as pale as paper.

Pain!

Excruciating pain shot through his body!

Lin Hao was horrified.

’This is the lingering might of a Great Emperor!’

A Great Emperor’s presence was world-shaking. Even after ten thousand years, his words still carried a remnant of that imperial might!

Lin Hao meditated for a long time to calm his essence before getting up again. After bowing respectfully to the wall, he sat down cross-legged and placed his hands against it.

The Flowing Light Divine Flame was sealed behind this wall, so he would use it to temper his body.

Sunlight, moonlight, and now this Divine Flame that even an unparalleled Pill God couldn’t subdue—with all three, he believed his physical body would approach perfection!

Reading Emperor Hongtian’s final words had strengthened Lin Hao’s martial resolve. He would forge the strongest possible body!

The Profound Emperor used sunlight for Body Refinement, and after becoming a Great Emperor, he was said to possess an invincible body.

Lin Hao had already improved upon that method, and though he never said it aloud, he felt a hint of pride in his heart.

But now, having read these words, Lin Hao realized he had been nothing more than a frog in a well.

If he didn’t forge the absolute strongest body, he would still have enemies even after becoming an Emperor Venerable.

And Lin Hao vowed to make even heaven and earth submit to his will!