Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

Lin Hao’s actions sent Chen Xing into a rage.

Fortunately, his cultivation was at the Fourth Layer of the Elemental Realm. Otherwise, not only would he have been unable to disperse the force, but he would have been humiliated along with his two junior brothers.

"This is the Sanqing Sect! How dare you be so insolent? You’re courting death!" Chen Xing had already been stewing with frustration over some gift-giving affair for the past two days. Now, Lin Hao’s throw had completely ignited the powder keg hidden in his heart.

As Chen Xing spoke, his expression turned vicious, his face contorted with savagery, and a murderous aura erupted from him.

Lin Hao laughed, his anger reaching its peak.

’I was just minding my own business, not bothering them at all. Not only did they block my path, but they also tried to humiliate me with a few copper coins, and then they even wanted to attack. Who’s the insolent one here?’

However, Lin Hao didn’t answer Chen Xing.

He knew that with people like this, reasoning wasn’t done with words, but with fists.

"As you wish. I’ll show you just how insolent I can be," Lin Hao said, stepping forward and attacking directly.

He threw a punch—simple and direct.

Lin Hao didn’t even use any True Essence for this punch.

A cold sneer appeared on Chen Xing’s face, a glint of cruelty flashing in his eyes.

’I’m a Martial Artist at the Fourth Layer of the Elemental Realm, yet he dares to attack me without using True Essence? He’s practically begging to die!’

Taking a step forward as well, Chen Xing also threw a punch, likewise without using any True Essence.

However, a brilliant orange light flared within Chen Xing’s Dantian before quickly subsiding.

He had activated his Bloodline Power.

Chen Xing possessed an Element Physique, and his bloodline was orange.

A higher-grade bloodline had an Innate ability to suppress lower-grade ones, and Chen Xing was very adept at using this advantage.

Within the sect, whenever he used it, no one with a physique below the Element Physique could withstand a single blow from him!

He had mastered this application completely.

Nearby, seeing Chen Xing make his move, even the Sanqing Sect disciple whose arm and leg had been crippled revealed a smile.

He could already foresee that the person who had just crippled him was about to suffer an even more miserable fate.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Hao’s fist collided with Chen Xing’s.

The result, however, left the two Sanqing Sect disciples utterly astonished.

Lin Hao stood rooted to the spot, not moving an inch. Their Senior Brother Chen, however, stumbled back several steps, crushing the bluestone pavers beneath his feet into rubble.

"Senior Brother, don’t hold back!" the two disciples exclaimed in unison after a moment of shock.

In their minds, there was no way Chen Xing could possibly lose to Lin Hao. The only explanation was that he had underestimated his opponent and hadn’t used his full strength.

Chen Xing’s face was flushed. His eyes narrowed, and he stared at Lin Hao as if looking at a dead man.

’I used almost all my strength in that last punch, but not only did I gain no advantage, I was actually forced back. This kid’s physical body is incredibly tough.’

’But in the face of my Bloodline Power, everything will crumble to dust.’

"I’m in a very bad mood today, so you can just die!" Chen Xing spat out, word by word, before lunging forward and throwing another punch.

As he threw this punch, Chen Xing’s fist not only seemed to swell in size, but its surface was also enveloped in a faint layer of orange light.

Chen Xing was mobilizing his Bloodline Power.

Lin Hao, bearing the brunt of the attack, immediately felt an immense power.

This punch from the Sanqing Sect disciple was countless times stronger than the previous one.

Yet, Lin Hao showed no fear.

’I haven’t had a chance to test my own cultivation since I advanced to the Fourth Layer of the Elemental Realm. This disciple will make a perfect test subject.’

Instead of retreating, Lin Hao advanced, raising his fist to meet the blow.

BOOM!

Where the two fists met, the bluestone pavers on the ground were blasted into the air before disintegrating into dust.

Lin Hao still hadn’t taken a single step back.

Chen Xing, on the other hand, was not only thrown backward, but he could no longer lift one of his arms.

His arm had been broken in the exchange.

It was just that the sound of their fists colliding had been so loud that no one heard the CRACK of his bone breaking.

"Good! You’re very good!" Chen Xing’s eyes suddenly turned bloodshot, like those of a savage beast.

His eyes remained locked on Lin Hao, but he didn’t move. Then, an orange stream of energy began to flow over the surface of his broken arm.

A moment later, Chen Xing’s arm, which should have been broken, actually launched another attack at Lin Hao.

Lin Hao immediately noticed the anomaly, and his eyes couldn’t help but light up.

’To mend bone and sinew in such a short time... this Cultivation Technique Chen Xing practices isn’t bad.’

’This clearly shows his control over True Essence has reached a certain level.’

And speaking of Cultivation Techniques, Lin Hao’s mind naturally went to the Art of One becoming The Three Pristine Ones.

However, the thought was fleeting.

Chen Xing’s attack came again, leaving Lin Hao no time for idle thoughts.

POW!

Lin Hao clashed fists with Chen Xing again, but this time, it was Lin Hao who was sent flying backward.

Lin Hao had been hit.

Stabilizing himself, Lin Hao was not angry but delighted.

Just now, as Chen Xing’s fist flew toward him, his right arm had suddenly extended.

The instant Lin Hao’s fist met his, Chen Xing’s elongated right arm had bizarrely split in two.

It wasn’t an illusion created by speed, but a genuine split.

The second arm had shot out with extreme speed, starting later but arriving first to strike Lin Hao in the chest, just as their fists connected.

’One becomes the Three Pristine Ones!’

Although Chen Xing hadn’t managed to manifest another entire Chen Xing, Lin Hao knew this technique was definitely derived from the Art of One becoming The Three Pristine Ones.

This was the very reason Lin Hao had come. How could he not be delighted?

"The Element Transformation Skill is truly amazing," one of the disciples behind Chen Xing said with an envious look.

The Element Transformation Skill was said to have been derived from a Secret Skill of the sect. Even Inner Sect Disciples had to pass strict tests to be qualified to practice it; outer sect disciples weren’t even eligible.

"The Element Transformation Skill is amazing, but Senior Brother Chen is even more so. He sent that bastard flying back with a single punch," the other disciple said hatefully.

"Right, right! Otherwise, Senior Brother Chen wouldn’t have been accepted as a disciple by the Fifth Elder of the Inner Sect," the first disciple chimed in, shamelessly flattering him.

Normally, Chen Xing would have enjoyed such praise, but right now, his expression was unusually grave.

’Something’s off about this kid.’

’Anyone else would be dead or close to it after taking that punch. But this kid took it and was only pushed back a few steps.’

Instantly, Chen Xing’s vigilance skyrocketed.

Across from Chen Xing, however, Lin Hao’s eyes were exceptionally bright, and he looked eager for more.

"Watch out!" Lin Hao said with a smile, taking the initiative to attack.

After witnessing Chen Xing’s Cultivation Technique, Lin Hao instantly forgot all his earlier displeasure.

Lin Hao wanted to observe Chen Xing’s Cultivation Technique, so he threw this punch with only half his usual speed and power.

"Hmph!"

Although he knew something was off about Lin Hao, upon seeing him approach like this, Chen Xing still snorted coldly and attacked decisively.

BOOM!

Lin Hao’s body shot backward even faster than he had come.

Chen Xing, refusing to yield his advantage, lunged forward, raining down punches.

"Senior Brother Chen, that’s it! Help me break his arms and legs!" At this, the other two disciples grew excited.

But while Chen Xing appeared to have the upper hand, he was growing increasingly uneasy.

’It’s like this kid is intentionally letting me hit him.’

Chen Xing punched mechanically, his mind a complete muddle.

"Senior Brother, beat him! Beat him to death!"

"Go, Senior Brother! Beat him until he—"

Seeing that Lin Hao was completely powerless to fight back, the two of them were so excited they were practically dancing.

But before they could finish their sentence, they suddenly saw Chen Xing’s body flying backward.

Their voices stopped abruptly.

Then, they witnessed a shocking scene.

From the wrist of the kid’s right arm, a hazy, indistinct second fist had emerged.

"Is that...?"

"He knows the Element Transformation Skill?"

The two disciples’ eyes went wide. They were completely dumbfounded.

Although it was only a hazy fist, it was clearly the sign of someone who had not yet fully mastered the Element Transformation Skill.

Not knowing what was going on, both of them instinctively looked toward Chen Xing.

But they found that Chen Xing’s expression was even more exaggerated than theirs. He was staring blankly at Lin Hao, looking as if he’d seen a ghost in broad daylight.

Before the two could react, Chen Xing’s figure flickered and shot off in the direction of the Sanqing Sect, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

After a moment’s hesitation, the uninjured disciple abandoned his wounded companion and bolted.

The last disciple opened his mouth to shout, then clamped it shut, his face as pale as paper.

He looked at Lin Hao in terror but saw that Lin Hao’s brow was furrowed, seemingly not paying him any attention.

At that, he scrambled away, fleeing in a panic.

With the three of them gone, tranquility returned. Gui Dan quietly poked its head out from Lin Hao’s robes, hopped to the ground, and vanished in a flash.

Meanwhile, Lin Hao continued to swing his fist mechanically, his brow sometimes furrowed in concentration, sometimes smooth with understanding...

An unknown amount of time passed. The door to the inn, which had been shut at some point, cracked open slightly, and a chubby head poked out.

Seeing Lin Hao standing by the entrance, the man hesitated several times before finally mustering his courage and calling out, "Young man, I must trouble you to leave quickly."

Lin Hao was at a critical point in his deduction of the Element Transformation Skill, and the sudden voice instantly shattered his concentration.

Lin Hao swayed and came back to his senses.

Seeing the face before him, Lin Hao broke out in a cold sweat.

’If he had been a Martial Artist and had attacked, I’m afraid I would have been...’

’I must never let my guard down just because I’m deducing a Cultivation Technique!’ Lin Hao silently warned himself.

"Shopkeeper, I’d like a room, please." Far from being angry at the sudden interruption, Lin Hao spoke with a smile.

"We have none!" the man replied curtly. Then, perhaps feeling his tone was too harsh, he added gently, "Young man, you should leave. That young man from before is a disciple of the Fifth Elder of the Sanqing Sect’s Inner Sect. If you don’t go, I’ll be in trouble when the Fifth Elder arrives."

"Thank you." Lin Hao immediately understood the Shopkeeper’s concerns. He expressed his thanks and turned to leave.

"That young man isn’t so bad, but he shouldn’t have offended the Fifth Elder. So young, yet doomed to an early death. Sigh, what a pity." Seeing Lin Hao’s figure disappear, the inn’s Shopkeeper shook his head.

With that said, the inn’s Shopkeeper closed the door.

However, not much time passed before four figures rushed straight toward the inn.

They were moving extremely fast—four young men. And among them was Chen Xing.

"Chen Xing, is this the place?" The four of them came to a stop right where Lin Hao had been standing, and one of them asked.

Chen Xing nodded.

Without another word, that young man threw a punch.

There was no sound, yet the inn’s main door shattered into pieces.

A second later, a loud CRASH erupted from within the inn.

From the sound of it, countless dishes, wine jugs, tables, and chairs had been destroyed.