Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

This turn of events was beyond anyone’s imagination.

After all, Lin Hao’s major acupoints were all sealed, and he was further restrained by a Soul Gathering Realm expert.

But even under these circumstances, he had actually managed to send Sect Leader Ning flying. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

It was simply unbelievable.

While they were still stunned, the old Daoist Ning retreated explosively once more.

And this time, they finally saw clearly what was happening.

Lin Hao was manifesting his Primordial Body!

The Primordial Body’s movements just now had been too fast—so fast that they hadn’t seen what happened.

Now that they understood, everyone stared at Lin Hao with burning-hot gazes.

’A Secret Skill that can be used even when one’s body is restrained and under another’s control... it’s simply heaven-defying!’

Meanwhile, the old Daoist Ning, having steadied himself, burst into loud laughter.

He had waited for over a century, and now he was about to obtain the Secret Skill. How could he not be ecstatic?

"Kill that Suanni! Lin Hao, tell me the Secret Skill, or your family will suffer the same fate!" The old Daoist Ning wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth, a sinister smile spreading across his face.

Lin Hao’s expression was utterly frigid, yet he also roared with laughter, his voice shaking the heavens.

"You want to suppress the news of my appearance at the Sanqing Sect. If I don’t reveal the Secret Skill, you’ll threaten me with my family. You think that even if they and I die, no one will suspect your Sanqing Sect because I have far too many enemies. What a brilliant scheme. A pity you overlooked one thing!"

Lin Hao said with a cold laugh, causing the men who were about to kill the Suanni to freeze.

"That turtle!" The old man Ning’s expression changed, and he cried out involuntarily.

"That’s right. Why do you think I can command a Suanni?" A smile appeared on Lin Hao’s face.

Everyone was shocked.

’To make a Suanni willingly obey him... doesn’t that mean the turtle’s background is even more formidable?’

Some even began to look around, as if the turtle were hiding nearby.

"Let me go, or I’ll destroy your entire lineage!" Killing intent flared in Lin Hao’s eyes.

The old Daoist Ning was finally no longer calm. This time, he had provoked someone he shouldn’t have.

However, a resolute look immediately flashed in his eyes. He said in a low voice, "Hand over the Secret Skill, or I will wipe out your family!"

For the sake of the Secret Skill, the old Daoist Ning was ready to risk mutual destruction.

"So you’d even abandon your sect for the Secret Skill. It’s pathetic that you all still serve a man like this." Lin Hao’s expression didn’t change, but his words made their hearts pound.

"Why don’t you kill this old bastard? I’ll tell you the Secret Skill instead." Lin Hao’s voice was full of temptation.

However, no one reacted.

Lin Hao was taken aback for a moment, then he understood. ’This old Daoist has an ace up his sleeve. Otherwise, how could he have held the position of Sect Leader for over a hundred years with his level of cultivation? Perhaps, besides the Sanqing Sect, he has another power backing him.’

"You, take him back to the sect with me. The rest of you, finish this Suanni. If that turtle appears, kill it at all costs!" As the old Daoist Ning spoke, he surprisingly took out two more Spiritual Artifacts.

With Lin Hao’s sharp eyes, he could tell at a glance that these were Tier Four Spiritual Artifacts!

’This old Daoist has too many secrets. Perhaps my guess is getting very close to the truth.’

Lin Hao’s heart sank, a sense of powerlessness washing over him.

Just then, the Suanni in the deep pit suddenly shot up, fast as lightning, and flung Lin Hao away.

With that throw, Lin Hao’s body shot like a meteor deep into the Celestial Break Mountain Range.

"No!"

The violent astral wind was so strong Lin Hao couldn’t open his eyes. The moment he opened his mouth, the wind just poured in.

Behind him, Soul Gathering Realm experts were in hot pursuit.

The True Essence within a Soul Gathering Realm expert’s body was immense. With a single step, they could ascend to the heavens and travel through the air.

Lin Hao frantically circulated his True Essence, trying to stop his momentum.

He couldn’t leave.

If he left, not only would the elder Suanni die, but even the young Suanni, Ni Ziyun, would likely not be spared.

Lin Hao felt a sharp, agonizing pain in his heart.

At that exact moment, a cry echoed from deep within the Celestial Break Mountains.

The sound was sharp and clear, enough to pierce gold and shatter stone.

The next moment, Lin Hao heard a bloodcurdling scream.

Then, his body was seized by a sharp talon.

Lin Hao tried to open his eyes, but an even stronger astral wind howled around him.

Fortunately, it didn’t last long.

Then the talon released him, and Lin Hao’s body plummeted downwards.

Only then was Lin Hao able to open his eyes.

When he looked, he saw a great bird, over ten meters long.

It resembled a peacock, but its feathers were cyan.

It was a Cyan Simurgh!

And just then, Lin Hao heard the Suanni’s mournful cry.

He turned his head to look and saw the Suanni below, collapsed in a pool of blood, surrounded by the experts of the Sanqing Sect clutching their weapons.

At that moment, those experts were staring at the sky, their expressions filled with utter terror.

BOOM!

Lin Hao’s body smashed into the ground, creating a large crater and sending dust and sand flying.

Lin Hao tried to move but was powerless. His acupoints were still sealed.

At the same time, an extremely sinister and cold aura washed over him, making Lin Hao feel as if his skin would split open.

It wasn’t just Lin Hao who felt it. Lying on his side, he could see that the bodies of the Soul Gathering Realm experts were also trembling.

An utterly terrifying aura enveloped the sky, and an overwhelming might spread out, raging like a flood.

The entire world fell deathly silent.

Just then, a cold voice resounded through the heavens: "You... all deserve to die!"

Then, Lin Hao’s eyes widened abruptly.

He saw a Soul Gathering Realm expert’s body suddenly explode, and even the Spiritual Artifact in his hand was not spared!

A chill ran down Lin Hao’s spine.

’Soul Gathering Realm experts holding Spiritual Artifacts are like lambs to the slaughter. This is too terrifying! The Cyan Simurgh! That Cyan Simurgh is speaking human words! Its sound waves are the most terrifying weapon!’

After one person, another exploded!

This Cyan Simurgh was too powerful. It completely intimidated the numerous Soul Gathering Realm experts. Even with Spiritual Artifacts in hand, they didn’t dare to even think of resisting.

As another person exploded, the powerful shockwave sent Lin Hao’s body flying. Unable to move, Lin Hao could only stare wide-eyed at the sky.

At that moment, a Soul Gathering Realm expert roared, and the Spiritual Artifact in his hand suddenly lit up, but it was all in vain.

Lin Hao saw two terrifying beams of light shoot from the Cyan Simurgh’s eyes. The next moment, the Soul Gathering Realm expert and the Spiritual Artifact in his hand were turned to dust!

Boundless terror!

’Her Ladyship... could she be the "Ladyship" the Suanni mentioned?’ A flash of insight suddenly crossed Lin Hao’s mind.

And in that short time, all the Soul Gathering Realm experts who had followed the old Daoist Ning, except for Ning himself, were completely annihilated!

That wasn’t all. Lin Hao saw the Cyan Simurgh in the sky look in a certain direction, followed by a loud BANG as a mist of blood erupted into the air.

’There were other Martial Artists hiding, but the Cyan Simurgh killed them too!’

Lin Hao remembered how, after obtaining the Secret Skill on Woniushan, the old Daoist Ning had spoken to the empty air.

Now, Lin Hao was certain that the old Daoist Ning had another power behind him.

"You are the Sect Leader of the Sanqing Sect. Today, this queen shall slaughter all your disciples and grand-disciples!" the Cyan Simurgh in the sky declared, spreading its wings as if to swoop down on the Sanqing Sect.

Meanwhile, the old Daoist Ning’s body seemed to be restrained by an invisible force, and he floated off the ground.

"Your Ladyship, please save Aunt Ni!" Lin Hao couldn’t worry about anything else and quickly shouted.

"She won’t live. Boy, this queen will settle accounts with you later!" A cold voice responded to Lin Hao.

"Do you have any humanity?! You’d just watch her die!" Lin Hao roared in fury.

The next moment, Lin Hao felt his body stiffen. The Cyan Simurgh in the sky was about to lose its temper.

"Ancestor, don’t blame the Devil Queen. My life force is gone. There’s no coming back for me." The Suanni’s voice, faint as a gossamer thread, echoed in Lin Hao’s mind.

"No! I promised Ziyan I would bring you back to see her!" Lin Hao roared, his face contorting with rage.

Then, his Primordial Body appeared and tapped several points on Lin Hao’s body, unsealing his acupoints.

Lin Hao’s figure flashed, and he charged into the deep pit, frantically channeling an imperial art.

"Hm?"

In the sky, the Cyan Simurgh let out a soft sound of surprise, then landed on the ground and transformed into a human.

Dressed in a floor-length, cyan palace gown and wearing a five-colored phoenix coronet, her beauty was breathtaking. She was a woman whose face could make the heavens and the earth lose their color.

Unfortunately, Lin Hao’s mind was entirely focused on the Suanni.

It was because of him that the Suanni had ended up in this state. Lin Hao furiously channeled the imperial art, his body thrumming as his vital energy surged.

A torrent of True Essence poured out of him and into the Suanni’s body.

However, the Suanni’s body was like a bottomless pit that could never be filled.

"Ancestor, it’s no use. My internal organs are destroyed. What about Ziyan? Where is she?"

Lin Hao’s hands paused, and then he flew off deep into the Celestial Break Mountain Range.

Not long after, Lin Hao returned with a small Suanni in his arms.

WHIMPER... WHIMPER...

Lin Hao couldn’t understand what Ziyan was saying, only hearing her mournful whimpers.

Lin Hao’s fists clenched violently, and the next moment, he threw a punch.

The force of the blow sent the old Daoist Ning’s body flying a great distance.

Right now, the old Daoist Ning’s aura was locked down by the Cyan Simurgh, leaving him completely unable to retaliate.

Lin Hao appeared in a flash, his fist about to smash down on the old Daoist Ning on the ground.

"I refuse to accept this! If you have the guts, fight me one-on-one. If I lose, I’ll accept any punishment you see fit." The old Daoist Ning’s face was filled with indignation.

"You’re shameless!" Lin Hao sneered.

This old Daoist Ning had been at the Peak of the Elemental Realm for over a hundred years, yet he was challenging Lin Hao to a fight. His skin was thick to the extreme.

However, Lin Hao’s tone suddenly shifted as he said in a low voice, "I accept!"

The old Daoist Ning’s eyes lit up, a strange light flashing within them.

’For the sake of the Secret Skill, he had suppressed his cultivation time and time again, even re-cultivating the Elemental Realm several times. Having spent over a hundred years in the Elemental Realm, it could be said that no one understood its mysteries better than he did. Never mind that Lin Hao has only manifested one Primordial Body; even if he manifested another, he would be no match for me.’

Now that Lin Hao had actually agreed to his demand, the old Daoist Ning was ecstatic.

How could Lin Hao not know how terrifying the old Daoist Ning was? Of course, he knew that a duel with his current level of cultivation was a battle he was certain to lose.

But this was an excellent opportunity for training. Besides, Lin Hao’s desire to kill him was incredibly intense, and he had his own plans.

"Your Ladyship, could I trouble you to..." Lin Hao began to ask the Devil Queen to release the restrictions on the old Daoist Ning, but when he looked at her, he froze.

Powerful Devil Beasts that understood cultivation methods could transform into human form.

The Cyan Simurgh was a divine bird from ancient times, so it wasn’t surprising that it could take human form. But when Lin Hao saw the Devil Queen’s face clearly, he was still stunned.

Because that stunningly beautiful face was very familiar to him!