Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

Lin Hao was only at the Seventh Layer of the Elemental Control Realm, yet a casual stomp of his foot had triggered the restrictive formation. The eyes of all the upper-division disciples narrowed.

Liu Tian was among them. His pupils contracted for a moment before his gaze on Lin Hao became intensely bright.

On the Saint War Platform, Wang Jianglin’s expression shifted slightly.

As a Saint Master of the Saint Institute, he understood the restrictive formation far better than the disciples.

The fact that Lin Hao could trigger the formation with a simple stomp and leap made Wang Jianglin instantly shed his contempt.

"What’s all the racket for? In that much of a hurry to leave the Saint Institute?" Atop the high platform, Lin Hao’s opening words sent a new wave of turmoil through Wang Jianglin’s recently calmed mind.

"I entered the Saint Institute at sixteen, became a lower-division instructor at twenty, joined the middle-division two years later, and moved to the upper-division three years after that. In another three years, I earned the title of Saint Master, and a mere five years have passed since then. I wouldn’t leave the Saint Institute even in a hundred years." As Wang Jianglin spoke, he glanced in a specific direction.

That was where Duan Wushuang and Duan Mushuang were standing.

"You’re wrong. You will leave the Saint Institute today," Lin Hao said, shaking his head.

"Hmph! You insolent brat! Today, I, a Saint Master, will give you your first lesson free of charge! Remember it well. This lesson is called: A Frog in a Well." Wang Jianglin flicked his sleeve, gesturing for Lin Hao to attack, every bit the picture of a Grandmaster.

Lin Hao didn’t waste time on pleasantries. He shot forward and threw a punch.

A glint flashed in Wang Jianglin’s eyes. He stood his ground and threw a punch of his own.

He was a Saint Master; he had no reason to dodge.

BOOM!

The two fists met, releasing a deafening roar.

Around the high platform, several people were blown away. Some even spat up blood.

The power of this blow was terrifying.

Keep in mind, those who dared to watch from so close to the Saint War Platform were undoubtedly among the strongest disciples.

For even they to be sent flying, one could only imagine the sheer power of that punch.

On the Saint War Platform, Wang Jianglin, who had been standing his ground, was blasted backward by the punch. He retreated all the way to the edge of the high platform before managing to stop.

A flush crept up his face.

Lin Hao stood in the middle of the Saint War Platform, looking at him and shaking his head.

Though he said nothing, Lin Hao’s actions screamed three words: "You’re too weak."

Wang Jianglin’s expression was uglier than ever.

If he hadn’t forcefully suppressed the backlash from that last blow, he would have spat blood.

’To think I’m at the Soul Gathering Realm Peak, just a step away from the Spirit Transformation Realm,’ Wang Jianglin thought. ’Even though I suppressed my cultivation level, my True Essence is incredibly deep and dense.’

’To be no match for Lin Hao in a single blow... This is simply unacceptable.’

At the same time, Wang Jianglin found himself secretly relieved. Wanting to end the fight quickly, he had used his full strength in that punch.

Had he held back, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

"You have some brute strength. I suppose you’re worthy of my getting serious." Despite being at a disadvantage, Wang Jianglin instantly composed himself and said this with a perfectly straight face.

Even so, Wang Jianglin knew clearly in his heart that Lin Hao’s physical strength had reached a terrifying level. He was no match for it.

"Whew... you scared me. I really thought Master Wang was no match for Lin Hao. Turns out he was just testing him," a disciple whispered upon hearing Wang Jianglin’s words.

"You’re worrying for nothing. Have you forgotten who Master Wang is? He’s a legend among the young Saint Masters of our Saint Institute, second only to Master Duan!"

"Didn’t you just hear Master Wang say he was going to teach Lin Hao a lesson? He’s just gauging his strength first so he can use the right amount of power to instruct him."

"..."

It was undeniable that Wang Jianglin held great prestige in the Saint Institute. Countless disciples spoke up in his defense.

But as these words reached Wang Jianglin’s ears, his face began to burn with shame.

Only then did a sliver of regret surface in Wang Jianglin’s heart.

Even if he won this battle, Lin Hao would lose nothing. But if he lost, he would lose everything—a fall from grace, straight from heaven to Hell.

In today’s battle, he could only win, not lose!

Wang Jianglin focused his mind, body, and spirit, giving the fight his absolute, undivided attention.

"Are you ready?" Just then, Lin Hao’s voice rang out again.

Those were words Wang Jianglin should have been asking, yet they came from Lin Hao’s mouth. It gave Wang Jianglin the urge to fly into a rage.

But by now, Wang Jianglin knew how formidable his opponent was. He instantly adjusted his mindset, refusing to be provoked.

"’Let him be strong; the gentle breeze brushes the hill. Let him be fierce; the bright moon shines on the great river.’ Unmoved by external forces... you’ve finally managed it. Now you have a bit of a Saint Master’s bearing. A pity it’s too late." Lin Hao’s voice rang out again.

At these words, Duan Mushuang’s beautiful eyes suddenly lit up.

Even Duan Wushuang’s eyes flared with a dazzling light.

Among the upper-division disciples, the eyes of several students flickered, as if they’d had an epiphany.

"This Lin Hao is so arrogant. Why do I feel like he’s lecturing Master Wang?"

"I get that feeling too. He really doesn’t know his place."

"Master Wang just said he was going to teach him on the Saint War Platform, and now he’s trying to give him a taste of his own medicine. But this is so clumsy, isn’t it? All this nonsense about wind and moons."

"..."

As for the less talented disciples, they supported Wang Jianglin and belittled Lin Hao as always.

On the Saint War Platform, Wang Jianglin was about to go mad.

Lin Hao had just slapped him in the face with words once again.

’I’m the Saint Master here, damn it! Those lines Lin Hao just spouted, those are lines *I* should be saying!’

However, after hearing Lin Hao’s words, Wang Jianglin grew even more hesitant to act rashly.

As a Saint Master, he naturally had his own merits. He could tell that Lin Hao’s words contained a profound truth.

"’Let him be strong; the gentle breeze brushes the hill. Let him be fierce; the bright moon shines on the great river.’ You do have some skill. Those words aren’t bad; they show you have a certain depth of understanding regarding True Essence. I have just tested your physical power, and it’s passable. Now, I shall teach you how to use True Essence."

Wang Jianglin spoke, then opened his mouth and exhaled sharply.

BUZZ!

A mouthful of incredibly pure True Essence shot out, expanding in the air and transforming into a great bell.

This was where Wang Jianglin was clever.

Exchanging that first punch had taught him that in a close-quarters brawl, he was no match for Lin Hao. The only way to win was to use his True Essence.

This great bell represented his strongest combat power without using his Bloodline Power.

At this point, Wang Jianglin knew that the longer this dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for him. Lin Hao seemed to have some kind of mysterious power that he couldn’t figure out.

The moment the great bell appeared, Duan Mushuang’s beautiful eyes widened in shock.

She had known Wang Jianglin since she entered the Saint Institute as a disciple at the age of fifteen, and ten years had passed since then.

Essence Condensation Bell, Suppression of the Four Quarters. It was a Secret Skill, a supreme Secret Skill within the Elemental Control Realm.

Once this Secret Skill was used, it could only be broken by another Secret Skill. Otherwise, once suppressed within it, one could never hope to see the light of day again.

To use a Secret Skill in a duel with a disciple—this was against the rules.

Duan Mushuang looked to her side, hoping Duan Wushuang would intervene.

However, Duan Wushuang did not move a muscle.

And in that instant, the great bell shot forward, directly enveloping Lin Hao.

Seeing this, a look of joy flashed across Wang Jianglin’s face. Suppressed by the great bell, Lin Hao had no chance of turning this around.

However, Wang Jianglin did not let his guard down. His figure flashed, and his hands slapped onto the body of the bell.

A continuous stream of True Essence poured out from his hands, and the great bell actually showed signs of solidifying.

"Lin Hao, do you concede?" Wang Jianglin demanded, hearing only silence from within the bell.

Although he desperately wanted to kill Lin Hao right then and there, with Duan Wushuang watching from the side, he couldn’t make a move.

He just had to wait for Lin Hao to admit defeat, and then he would release him.

"Lin Hao has been suppressed! Master Wang is too strong!" a disciple began to exclaim.

"To actually think of fighting a Saint Master, Lin Hao really overestimates himself."

"Lin Hao couldn’t even withstand a single move from Master Wang! How domineering! Master Wang is incredible!"

To form a great bell from exhaled True Essence and use it to suppress a powerful foe—such a technique was unheard of to them.

However, on the Saint War Platform, Wang Jianglin’s expression suddenly changed drastically, even as he was being showered with praise.

He felt the True Essence in his body draining away at an unimaginable speed.

Wang Jianglin wanted to let go, but it was no use.

’No!’

Wang Jianglin screamed in his heart, utterly terrified.

But it was useless.

True Essence is the foundation of a Martial Artist. If it drains away, one’s cultivation realm will fall.

And his cultivation realm was the very basis of his status as a Saint Master.

Without his Soul Gathering Realm cultivation, he would be nothing.

Only now did he understand how terrifying Lin Hao was.

Lin Hao, suppressed inside the great bell, was actually devouring his True Essence.

As a Saint Master, he was knowledgeable and had seen much, but he had never heard of something so bizarre.

SPURT!

The Secret Skill was fueled by True Essence. If this continued, all of his True Essence would be drained. Steeling his heart, he severed the connection between himself and the great bell.

He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, its color a vivid, demonic crimson.

Wang Jianglin retreated rapidly.

The onlooking disciples were all dumbfounded.

Master Wang clearly had the absolute upper hand. Why would he be spitting up blood?

Countless pairs of eyes stared at the great bell.

"Headmaster, I used a Secret Skill, so this would be a dishonorable victory. Let us call this battle a draw." Standing on the Saint War Platform, Wang Jianglin addressed Duan Wushuang. The thought of retreat had taken root in his mind.

Lin Hao’s methods were terrifying. If this continued, he would be left with nothing.

"The sheer thickness of your hide is truly a sight to behold." However, before Duan Wushuang could speak, a voice rang out from behind Wang Jianglin.

Wang Jianglin’s body stiffened. He turned his head and was shocked to see Lin Hao standing there, completely unharmed. As for the great bell, it had vanished without a trace.

Wang Jianglin didn’t have time to process what had happened, because Lin Hao made his move.

Lin Hao’s body shot forward, unimaginably fast.

Wang Jianglin dodged sideways, not daring to meet his charge head-on.

He was fast, but Lin Hao was faster.

BOOM!

Using his body as a weapon, Lin Hao charged forward and instantly sent Wang Jianglin’s body flying.

SPURT!

This time, Wang Jianglin could no longer hold it in and spat out another mouthful of blood.

Wang Jianglin’s body was about to fall off the Saint War Platform, but he was yanked back by Lin Hao, who at the same time sent a palm striking down.

Wang Jianglin raised a palm to meet it...

CRACK!

The sound of splintering bone echoed.

Wang Jianglin didn’t even have time to cry out in pain before his body was sent flying again.

But he was immediately pulled back by Lin Hao again.

The crowd was petrified.

In a battle between peers of the same cultivation level, a Saint Master of the Saint Institute was being completely dominated by Lin Hao, turned into a mere punching bag in his hands!

Before, when Lin Hao had asked if killing was allowed on the Saint War Platform, countless people had treated it as a joke. Now, it seemed that in a battle between peers, he truly possessed the power to kill a Saint Master.

Lin Hao’s combat prowess was dumbfounding.

Sigh!

Someone sighed.

Just when countless people thought the battle was about to end, a sudden change occurred.