Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

At this point, only Hu Rui remained of those who had besieged Lin Hao.

Hu Rui’s eyes were wide with disbelief as he watched the head fly high into the air.

His cultivation was at the Ninth Layer of the Elemental Realm, so his eyesight was naturally sharp. The giant had never used its hair before; it was clearly a killing move.

The strands of hair had turned from black to red, a clear sign that the giant was pushing the Blood Transformation and Bone Refining Skill to its absolute limit. Every single strand was comparable to a Spiritual Artifact.

Yet when those fine strands got close, not only did they fail to absorb Lin Hao’s vitality and blood, but they became a hindrance. Hu Rui’s mind was a complete muddle; he couldn’t fathom how Lin Hao had done it.

However, reality didn’t give him time to dwell on it, because Lin Hao moved again.

This time, Lin Hao didn’t use the Evil-Slaying Sword. Instead, he took a step forward and said to Hu Rui, "That punch of yours just now had some decent power. Let’s try it again."

PHHT!

Hu Rui nearly coughed up blood in fury.

He had poured his Bloodline Power into that last punch, but all Lin Hao had to say about it was that it was "decent."

’This is completely outrageous!’

"Fine. Very good! Lin Hao, you’ll get your wish!" Hu Rui snarled, spitting out each word through clenched teeth.

The moment he finished speaking, the surrounding Heaven and Earth essence energy began to surge madly toward him.

Lin Hao stood quietly, unperturbed.

Several long minutes passed before the flow of Heaven and Earth essence energy returned to normal.

By this time, Hu Rui’s entire body had become almost transparent, save for his arms.

The sleeves on his arms had long since been torn to shreds. His arms were now incredibly thick, the exposed muscles bulging high. Veins stood out, thick and clear, like ancient vines snaking across his skin.

They were completely out of proportion with the rest of his body.

Lin Hao’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’He’s compressed all that Heaven and Earth essence energy into his arms. His next attack is going to be earth-shattering.’

But Lin Hao felt no fear. A glint in his eyes revealed his eagerness to face the challenge.

HAH!

The next moment, Hu Rui let out a short cry and suddenly threw a punch!

It was still the Thousand Hands Phantom Fist, but its power was on a completely different level than before.

Unlike before, when Hu Rui unleashed the Thousand Hands Phantom Fist, the sky not only filled with phantom fists, but the surging fist-shadows coiled like dragons!

Lin Hao’s eyes widened.

In the Trial Forest, he had once combined the Dragon-Form Tyrant Fist and the Thousand Hands Phantom Fist, producing a similar technique.

The power of Hu Rui’s punch was definitely no weaker than his own had been back then.

’A Ninth Layer Elemental Realm Martial Artist using a Profound-level Top Grade martial technique is truly astonishing.’

Lin Hao didn’t dare to be careless. He activated his Emperor Art, and at the same time, his Avatar Incarnation cultivation technique.

The Emperor Art fortified his physical body, while the Avatar Incarnation technique allowed him to further condense the essence energy throughout his body.

Lin Hao’s expression was incredibly solemn.

Across from him, Hu Rui sneered.

The Thousand Hands Phantom Fist was the strongest attack he could currently muster. Furthermore, the dragon-form evolution was the culmination of generations of the Hu family’s research. Once this technique was displayed, he was nearly invincible within the Elemental Realm!

Moreover, he had even infused this punch with his Bloodline Power.

Hu Rui was confident he could even challenge a Martial Artist who had just entered the Soul Gathering Realm.

Lin Hao was merely at the Seventh Layer of Elemental Control Realm. No matter how heaven-defying he was, there was no way he could survive this punch.

But in the next instant, Hu Rui’s expression changed.

He saw Lin Hao step forward and throw a punch—also the Thousand Hands Phantom Fist.

VMMMM!

As Lin Hao’s fist shot out, the faint sound of a dragon’s roar seemed to echo through the air.

Hu Rui’s eyes shot wide open.

’How is this possible!’

’To produce a dragon’s roar when the fist technique evolves into a dragon form... that’s a sign of having cultivated the technique to its absolute peak!’

Among all the disciples from every branch of the Hu family in the entire empire, only one person had ever reached this level. And that was only because the Hu family had poured all its resources into training him; he had spent at least one or two years mastering this fist technique.

Even so, that person was considered the hope for the Hu family’s resurgence and had been kept hidden from the world.

Just the other day, through the Hu family’s maneuvering, he was sent to participate in the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion’s trial.

He was the genius of geniuses among the Hu family disciples—a fact acknowledged by all. Thus, no one complained when he was sent to the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion.

But compared to Lin Hao, that genius was nothing but trash!

Lin Hao had only encountered this fist technique yesterday, yet today he had already mastered it to its peak. Hu Rui was so shaken he could hardly believe his eyes.

Although Hu Rui’s mind was reeling, the speed of his fist didn’t slow in the slightest.

In the blink of an eye, their fists slammed into each other.

RUMBLE!

A tremendous roar erupted as both fighters were thrown backward.

The difference, however, was that Lin Hao merely stumbled back a few steps, while Hu Rui was sent flying, spraying a trail of blood across the sky.

Chen Qian, Lin Xinran, and Wenren Yuxin were all in shock.

Although Hu Rui was weaker than them, he was still a Ninth Layer Elemental Realm Martial Artist who had even used his Bloodline Power.

Yet after a single exchange of blows, he was the one sent flying. The victor was decided in an instant.

It was too astonishing!

Then, they looked toward Lin Hao.

Phew...

Seeing the trickle of blood at the corner of Lin Hao’s mouth, they finally let out a sigh of relief. Lin Hao was injured. It proved he was a man, not a god.

Lin Hao wiped the blood from his mouth and gave a wry, bitter smile.

He was indeed injured, though not seriously. But Lin Hao wasn’t very satisfied with this result.

’So a Ninth Layer Elemental Realm Martial Artist can pose a threat to me when using their Bloodline Power and a Profound-level Top Grade martial technique.’

If Chen Qian and the others knew what he was thinking, they would have been petrified.

’The guy has a special physique, used his Bloodline Power, and his strongest martial technique, and he still lost! You’re a Seventh Layer of Elemental Control Realm Martial Artist, and you’re not satisfied? Did you expect to just steamroll him?’

THUD!

A loud noise rang out as Hu Rui slammed heavily onto the ground.

Struggling to his feet, Hu Rui let out a beast-like roar from deep in his throat.

Lin Hao’s single blow had not only dislocated his bones but had also dealt a devastating blow to his internal organs.

With injuries like these, he wouldn’t be able to practice martial arts for at least a year.

This meant he would miss the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion disciple selection, which was set to begin in a year at the latest.

His opponent was merely a Seventh Layer of Elemental Control Realm Martial Artist, yet the power of a single punch had injured him to this extent. Amid his shock, a deep sense of unwillingness surged within Hu Rui’s heart!

Just then, Duan Xinyu, who had been watching coldly from where he flickered in and out of sight in the air, suddenly flicked his hand.

"Catch!" A black pill shot straight toward Hu Rui.

"I know you’re not willing to accept this. Swallow it, and take Lin Hao’s life!" Duan Xinyu’s cold voice rang out.

"A Blood-Burning Bursting Pill!" Despite the distance, Wenren Yuxin’s beautiful eyes flashed as she cried out in alarm.

The Blood-Burning Bursting Pill, as its name implied, burned the user’s own essence blood to unleash combat power even greater than what they possessed at their peak.

But once this Blood-Burning Bursting Pill was consumed, after a quarter of an hour, the user would be crippled for life.

"Stop him, quickly!" Wenren Yuxin cried out. Hu Rui, who obviously knew the consequences of taking the Blood-Burning Bursting Pill, was hesitating when he heard her shout.

"Your Highness, what’s in it for me if I kill Lin Hao?" A look of resolve flashed in Hu Rui’s eyes, but at the last moment, he began to bargain with Duan Xinyu.