Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

"Heaven-Stepping Sect, Lin Hao."

Lin Hao’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried across the entire venue.

BOOM!

A man’s reputation precedes him. Lin Hao’s name had already shaken the Southern Border Prefecture, so when he suddenly revealed his identity, everyone was stunned.

Countless gazes fixed on Lin Hao, their owners dumbstruck.

Jin Bufan, however, was unfazed. "You’re Lin Hao?" he asked. "The Lin Hao from War Dragon City?"

Lin Hao nodded.

Jin Bufan was startled for a moment, and then he roared with laughter.

He was not from the Southern Border Prefecture, so naturally he wouldn’t know what Lin Hao had done there.

But it wasn’t the first time he had heard the name Lin Hao.

The reason was simple: he was from the Proud Moon Divine Sect.

Lu Dieyi cultivated at the Proud Moon Divine Sect.

Lu Dieyi was peerlessly beautiful and exceptionally talented. The moment she joined the Proud Moon Divine Sect, she became the object of every disciple’s affection.

But she was impossibly arrogant, giving no one the time of day, as proud as a phoenix and as cold as ice.

Then, no one knew who spread the news that she had broken off her engagement with Lin Hao of War Dragon City.

After that, people dug deep into Lin Hao’s background.

From his breathtaking talent three years ago to his foolish stupor in the intervening years, right down to the moment he was found covered in mud—someone recounted it all in vivid detail, as if they had been there themselves.

This matter spread throughout the Proud Moon Divine Sect, and Lin Hao naturally became a laughingstock.

And because of this, Lu Dieyi entered one of the Proud Moon Divine Sect’s perilous grounds—a place from which no one had ever returned alive.

No one knew why she did it.

Now, suddenly hearing the name Lin Hao, Jin Bufan instantly recalled everything he had heard about him at the Proud Moon Divine Sect.

Looking again at Lin Hao’s current attire, Jin Bufan felt it would be hard not to laugh.

"Hahaha, Lin Hao, the Lin Hao who was dumped by Lu Dieyi! Looking at you now, I finally understand why she broke off the engagement." Jin Bufan was laughing so hard he was almost in tears.

"You’re Lin Hao? Have you been to Celestial Jade City?" Beside them, Zhu Hongcai stood up, his voice filled with coldness.

"I just passed through a few days ago."

Zhu Hongcai said grimly, "To think I’d find you here after searching high and low. What a pleasant surprise!"

He then roared, "Men, seize him!"

As his voice fell, four figures swooped down from around the Wind and Cloud Platform.

They were Zhu Hongcai’s servants, and they had just been searching the entire venue for Lin Hao.

Lin Hao remained perfectly still, but Sect Leader Mo moved in a flash, appearing before him as a powerful, majestic aura erupted from his body.

The four who were swooping in had no choice but to stop and stand before Zhu Hongcai.

"What do you think you’re doing?" he demanded.

Zhu Hongcai snorted coldly and said, "He killed the Marquis Red Blood of Chijing County and his son in Celestial Jade City! That Marquis Red Blood was the son of the Golden Eagle Saint King of the Eastern Dharma Continent. I just received a direct order from the Saint King to capture him and bring him back!"

BOOM!

The news was earth-shattering!

The events of Celestial Jade City were probably only known to the Lu father and daughter and Meng Qing here. Now, hearing Zhu Hongcai suddenly say it, no one could remain calm.

Even Palace Master Su Molixi of the Misty Palace was no exception, her gaze turning toward Lin Hao.

If even she was like this, one could imagine the others.

To dare attack a marquis, the venerable head of a county—Lin Hao was utterly lawless.

Sect Leader Mo of the Danling Sect’s expression also changed drastically, becoming incredibly grave.

Just a marquis would have been one thing, but with a Saint King standing behind him, things were getting tricky.

Moreover, this Golden Eagle Saint King had a formidable background.

The Ancient Empire had six major continents, and the lord of a continent could be called a King.

These Kings were almost all from the imperial royal family, true members of the nobility.

But there was one exception: the Golden Eagle Saint King, Xu Jiaying.

Xu Jiaying was the only one among the six great kings who was not of the royal bloodline.

A king not of royal blood who ruled an entire continent—that alone spoke volumes about his methods.

And legend said that Xu Jiaying’s cultivation was profound, having already reached the Soul Gathering Realm Peak.

Lin Hao had killed his son and grandson, which was no different from poking a hornet’s nest.

"Sect Leader Mo, step aside. Don’t tell me you intend to oppose the Saint King!" Zhu Hongcai said coldly.

Though the Danling Sect was one of the four great sects in the Southern Border Prefecture, it was nothing before a King.

Sect Leader Mo’s eyes flickered, a look of decision flashing through them. He began, "Young Master Lin is a distinguished guest of my Danling Sect, he..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted.

"Sect Leader Mo, this is a grudge between them and me. It has nothing to do with you or your sect."

Lin Hao spoke, then stepped forward.

As he passed by Sect Leader Mo, Lin Hao turned back and gave him a slight smile.

Sect Leader Mo had an apologetic look on his face and returned a wry smile.

At this moment, he still didn’t understand the meaning behind Lin Hao’s smile.

"The Golden Eagle Saint King? How imposing. If he wants to capture me, tell him to come himself. You aren’t qualified." Facing Zhu Hongcai, Lin Hao shook his head, his expression calm.

Zhu Hongcai flew into a rage. "Lin Hao, you’re beyond lawless! Even the Danling Sect doesn’t dare defy the Saint King, so what right do you have? For killing Marquis Red Blood, not only will you die, but your family and your sect will all be buried with him!"

Lin Hao’s eyes narrowed as he took out a Token.

"Do you know what this is?" Lin Hao asked Zhu Hongcai, holding up the Token.

Zhu Hongcai fixed his gaze on it. It was a mystic iron plate, only half the size of a palm. One side was engraved with the character for "Order," while the other depicted two small, crossed scimitars with two lifelike skulls on their hilts.

"The Soul... the Soul-Chasing Order! The Soul-Chasing Order from Netherworld Hall!" Upon seeing the Token, Zhu Hongcai’s eyes flew wide open. He scrambled backward, his face a mask of terror.

Netherworld Hall had been silent for decades, yet at the reappearance of the Soul-Chasing Order, Zhu Hongcai felt a cold dread wash over him.

Once Zhu Hongcai said this, even the Palace Master of the Misty Palace stood up.

Jin Bufan, Sect Leader Mo, and the representatives from the other three great sects also had their expressions change drastically.

"I received the Soul-Chasing Order days ago, and I’m still alive and kicking. So who do you think you are? And who is that bullshit Saint King?"

Lin Hao spoke indifferently, completely disregarding the so-called Golden Eagle Saint King.

GASP!

Hearing Lin Hao’s words, everyone gasped in shock.

Netherworld Hall was the continent’s number one assassin organization. Anyone who received a Soul-Chasing Order was lucky to survive a single day. For Lin Hao to have had it for several days and still be standing here... that was nothing short of a miracle.

"Hahaha! And here I thought you were from Netherworld Hall, but you’re just their target! Once a Soul-Chasing Order is issued, no one survives. You’re a dead man walking!" Zhu Hongcai roared with laughter, clearly delighted, because in his eyes, Lin Hao was already dead.

After his fit of laughter, Zhu Hongcai turned to Sect Leader Mo. "Sect Leader Mo, please, continue."

Lin Hao just smiled and sat back down, completely unbothered.

The Soul-Chasing Order was the very source of his confidence, the reason he had dared to kill Marquis Red Blood.

Because back in Celestial Jade City, after he received the Soul-Chasing Order, everyone who had tried to kill him had died.

When Netherworld Hall marked someone for death, anyone else who tried to interfere, regardless of who they were, would meet the same end: death!

The number one assassin organization was domineering to the extreme.

Zhu Hongcai clearly knew the stakes. It wasn’t worth provoking Netherworld Hall over Lin Hao. That would be suicide.

"It is now noon. Our sect has prepared a humble meal, which we hope you will enjoy. The pill auction will resume in one hour. A small reminder: you may want to use this time to bolster your funds. The pills this afternoon will be beyond anything you can imagine."

On the Wind and Cloud Platform, Shan Dan’s voice rang out.

The Danling Sect’s assembly was a three-day event, with the first day dedicated to the pill auction.

And with any auction, the main event was always saved for last.

Having witnessed the Harmonization Pill, they couldn’t help but look forward to the final pill even more.

The crowd began to disperse, buzzing with discussion.

Over at the VIP seats, there was naturally a dedicated exit channel. Sect Leader Mo stood up and let Su Molixi and Lin Hao go first.

"Brother-in-law... Mmph..." Just then, a delicate cry rang out.

Everyone followed the sound and saw a girl in the third row, her mouth covered by an adult, but her big eyes were fixed on Lin Hao.

Lin Hao turned back, his brow furrowing, his expression turning icy.

Jin Bufan’s words just now had reminded him of Lu Dieyi again.

He couldn’t believe Lu Dieyi was so vicious as to spread his business all over her sect.

Under these circumstances, how could Lin Hao have any favorable impression of the Lu family?

"Meng Qing, come over here." As he turned, Lin Hao also saw Meng Qing. Noticing her standing motionless at the back, he quickly called out to her.

He could use the noon break to have Meng Qing meet her sister.

Lin Hao was a harbinger of doom now; carrying the Soul-Chasing Order, no one dared cross him. As he spoke, everyone followed his gaze, and even the disciples of the Misty Palace made way for Meng Qing.

Under Sect Leader Mo’s guidance, the people in the VIP seats filed out, leaving the Wind and Cloud Platform.

After Lin Hao’s figure disappeared, Lu Zhanchen sighed and pulled back the hand covering Lu Diewu’s mouth, only to freeze. His palm was warm and wet.

It was Lu Diewu’s tears.

"Father, why is he treating me like this?" Lu Diewu’s voice was full of sorrow.

"That man surnamed Jin’s words hurt him. Diewu, there must be a misunderstanding. You must investigate this thoroughly."

"Me?"

"That’s right. We’ll leave the Danling Sect right now, and I will arrange for you to go to the Proud Moon Divine Sect. Remember, you must find your sister. After you find her, have her come down the mountain for a trip. Also, have her ask a master from the divine sect to protect Hao’er. His father once saved my life. Now that he has received a Soul-Chasing Order and is fighting alone, our Lu family cannot sit by and do nothing."

"Okay!"

The father and daughter pair came to an agreement, and then, without even eating, they left the Danling Sect at top speed.

Meanwhile, Lin Hao was completely unaware. He had been invited into a private room by Sect Leader Mo.

In the private room, a lavish lunch had already been laid out. The members of the Misty Palace and Meng Qing entered with him.

"Palace Master Su, do you think you could help Young Master Lin?" As soon as they entered, Sect Leader Mo eagerly asked Su Molixi.

This was also the reason he had arranged for them to be here alone.

"I’m afraid even if I wanted to help, he wouldn’t let me." Su Molixi sat down directly, her voice indifferent.

Sect Leader Mo was taken aback and looked at Lin Hao.

"She’s right. Only by facing life and death can one stimulate their potential. I survived it three years ago, and I can do it again." Lin Hao smiled faintly, not worried in the slightest.

"Very well, then. Please, enjoy your meal."

Since Lin Hao had said so, what else could Sect Leader Mo say?

"Meng Qing, you can take off your cloak," Lin Hao said.

At this, the three disciples from the Misty Palace, including the young junior sister, all turned to look at Meng Qing in unison.