Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

Lin Hao’s eyes darted about, finally landing on the silly girl, Yingxue. His stare was so intense it looked like he wanted to eat her alive.

’You want to make a move on this silly girl, don’t you? Well, I’ll use her to piss you right off!’

A wicked smile crept across Lin Hao’s lips.

Although Yingxue was young and innocent, she was still a woman. She had never been stared at by a member of the opposite sex like this before. Her pretty face naturally flushed crimson, and she lowered her head.

"PUFF!"

Wu Gui happened to look up just then. Seeing Yingxue’s bashful, fidgety state, he felt a metallic taste rise in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Lin Hao chuckled inwardly, not yet ready to stop. He continued teasing Yingxue, "Well, look at that. You’re actually quite cute when you blush, silly girl."

"You’re horrible!" Yingxue bit her lip, stomped her foot, and ran off.

"Hey, silly girl, don’t run! Your big bro hasn’t had his fill yet," Lin Hao called out, chasing after her.

Before leaving, Lin Hao winked at Wu Kui, as if to say, ’See that? This is how you pick up girls.’

"..." A sweetness filled Wu Gui’s throat, and he almost coughed up another mouthful of blood.

’Lin Hao, you bastard! Just wait until we get to the sect. I’ll make you pay!’

Wu Gui roared in his heart.

Thinking of his sect, Wu Gui’s eyes lit up. He had an idea...

After some more playful chasing, Lin Hao changed his clothes. He felt refreshed and invigorated. The clothes were a perfect fit, and the fabric was excellent—countless times better than his previous set.

He didn’t know that Wu Kui was extremely possessive. Fearing others would try to get close to Yingxue, he had specially bought this set of men’s clothing for her. However, he never got the chance to offer it to her before running into Lin Hao.

When Lin Hao emerged looking brand new, Yingxue’s beautiful eyes curved into crescents as she praised his new look repeatedly.

Wu Kui stood to the side, so frustrated he wanted to vomit blood. He had truly done all the work just for someone else to benefit.

Despite his frustration, Wu Kui forced down his disgust and offered some compliments to Lin Hao. Then, with great animation, he began to introduce his sect.

"Do you know why the Heaven-Stepping Sect is called ’Heaven-Stepping’?"

The name "Heaven-Stepping" was unbelievably audacious. With his opening line, Wu Kui had thrown out a tantalizing topic.

Lin Hao knew very little about the Heaven-Stepping Sect, and Yingxue’s eyes also lit up. Both of them stared at Wu Kui, completely captivated and ready to listen.

Wu Kui saw this, and his vanity was immensely satisfied. After basking in the feeling for a moment, he began to speak with great eloquence.

Through Wu Kui’s explanation, Lin Hao finally gained a basic understanding of the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

The Heaven-Stepping Sect wasn’t originally called that. It had been founded over ten thousand years ago, making it one of the most ancient sects on the Celestial Yang Continent.

Legend had it that the founding patriarch had reached the absolute peak of the martial path. He eventually stepped out from the sect, a lotus blooming with his every stride, and ascended to the heavens step by step as if climbing a ladder in the void.

The news of him stepping into the heavens shocked the entire continent. This divine miracle became an enduring legend. Over time, the sect, which originally had a different name, gradually came to be known as the Heaven-Stepping Sect by the common people.

Hearing this, Lin Hao’s heart leaped. ’The founding patriarch of the Heaven-Stepping Sect was actually an Emperor Venerable!’

’The sect didn’t even choose its own name; the people gave it to them. The divine might of an Emperor Venerable is truly world-shaking.’

Lin Hao was suddenly filled with anticipation for the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

Lin Hao blinked, his eyes shining. When Wu Kui saw this expression, he became even more enthusiastic and began to boast wildly about the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

He went on about how the Heaven-Stepping Sect was one of the five great sects of the Southern Border Prefecture, with a heritage so profound it could contend with the continent’s top-tier sects, and so on.

At first, Lin Hao found it all very exciting, but gradually, something started to feel off.

’Being one of the five great sects of the Southern Border Prefecture sounds impressive,’ he thought, ’but if you think about it, a sect founded by an Emperor Venerable didn’t become a top-tier sect on the continent, but is instead relegated to a corner. That means the sect has declined.’

Yet this guy Wu Kui was still so smug, gesturing wildly with his hands and feet. The thought that he might be joining this sect in the future made Lin Hao’s stomach twist. He felt like slapping the guy silly. If any outsiders heard this boasting, wouldn’t they die of laughter?!

However, in Wu Kui’s eyes, Lin Hao’s conflicted expression was mistaken for one of regret and remorse, which delighted him.

’That’s the look I want to see! Someone with your background could never get into the sect. The more amazing I make the sect sound now, the more miserable you’ll be later. I’ll crush you with this!’

With this thought in mind, Wu Kui became even more long-winded, his spit flying as he bragged.

Lin Hao tried to speak several times, but Wu Kui simply didn’t give him an opening.

By the time the blowhard finished his boasting, the Heaven-Stepping Sect was already close at hand...

The entrance to the Heaven-Stepping Sect was flanked by cliffs that soared into the clouds. The cliff faces were smooth as mirrors, as if carved by blades and hewn by axes. A narrow stone staircase extended inward between them.

This was the only path in and out of the Heaven-Stepping Sect, easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Today happened to be the day the Heaven-Stepping Sect was recruiting disciples, so the path was especially crowded. Many Sect Disciples from the Heaven-Stepping Sect stood on both sides, maintaining order.

Lin Hao was secretly amazed. ’This scene reminds me of the college entrance exams from the Carefree Divine Monarch’s memories.’

The path was so crowded it was hard to move an inch. The Heaven-Stepping Sect disciples maintaining order weren’t arrogant or domineering, but their icy expressions were intimidating enough to inspire awe.

However, the moment they saw Wu Kui, smiles immediately appeared on their cold faces. They quickly dispersed the crowd, forcibly clearing a path for them.

Wu Kui obsequiously let Yingxue walk slightly ahead. Watching her skip along adorably and hearing her bell-like laughter, he felt as blissful as if he had eaten a Ginseng Fruit.

Seeing this, Wu Kui immediately thought of Lin Hao behind him.

Wu Kui was in a great mood. If not for the inappropriate timing, he would have laughed out loud. He desperately wanted to say to Lin Hao: ’See this? I just have to stand here, and countless people will be at my beck and call. What do you have to compete with me?’

’Also, I can make Yingxue laugh with the slightest gesture. Can you do that?’

Imagining Lin Hao’s ugly expression after hearing those words, Wu Gui turned back, wanting to shoot the guy a provocative glare.

But after turning back several times, all he saw was that country bumpkin looking around, completely oblivious to him. The powerless feeling of punching cotton drove him mad.

He was grinding his teeth in hatred, but there was nothing he could do to Lin Hao right now. Fuming, Wu Kui could only stomp forward in silence.

After walking for a while, the crowd thinned out. Further ahead, Sect Disciples armed with weapons stood guard.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Wu." Upon seeing Wu Kui, the two disciples guarding the mountain path hurried over to greet him, their expressions quite respectful.

"Mm," Wu Kui responded coolly. Then, in a commanding tone, he lectured them, "Today is an important day for the sect. You two, keep your eyes peeled. Don’t let anyone slip in and take advantage of the chaos!"

After speaking, he glanced back haughtily at the crowd behind them. Finally, as if by accident, his gaze paused on Lin Hao for a second or two.

Wu Kui wasn’t just speaking baselessly. The fame of the Heaven-Stepping Sect’s founding patriarch had not faded even after ten thousand years.

There were even rumors that the founding patriarch’s martial arts inheritance was hidden within the Heaven-Stepping Sect. Although no one had ever obtained it, this only added to its mystique, causing countless Martial Artists to flock to it.

Therefore, it wasn’t just young people who wanted to join the Heaven-Stepping Sect; every year’s assessment attracted plenty of people with ulterior motives trying to sneak in.

This made the responsibility of the mountain-guarding disciples especially important, as they were the sect’s first line of defense.

Logically, the disciples guarding this post should have been the best of the best. Unfortunately, time seemed to have dulled the edges of these two.

As a result, the two disciples were too busy nodding and bowing obsequiously to notice the look in Wu Kui’s eyes.

’Useless fools! No wonder you’re stuck as gatekeepers!’ Wu Kui was furious. He had hinted so clearly, wanting the two disciples to help him teach Lin Hao a lesson. But at this point, he knew his plan had failed again. With an ashen face, he flicked his sleeves and stormed off.

"Keep up the good work. You two have a bright future," said Lin Hao from behind, patting them on the shoulders with a grin.

The two disciples were still trying to figure out why their senior brother had gotten angry. Lin Hao’s pat made them jump in fright. They were about to lose their tempers when they suddenly realized he had arrived with Senior Brother Wu.

How could they dare be disrespectful? Not only did they hurriedly clear the way, but they also tearfully expressed their loyalty, "Thank you, young master. We will certainly give our all for the sect!"

Up ahead, Wu Kui stumbled and nearly coughed up three liters of blood. His handsome face twisted beyond recognition...

After passing an open area, they came to another narrow stone staircase. After climbing it, the three arrived at a massive plaza halfway up the mountain.

The plaza was flanked by two towering halls. Between them, a wide but steep stone staircase stretched ever upward, its end shrouded in clouds and mist, giving the illusion that it led directly to the Celestial Vault.

At the top of that staircase was the true main gate of the Heaven-Stepping Sect. The first stage of the sect’s entrance examination would be held in this very plaza.

Now that they were here, Wu Kui began to feel conflicted.

His original intention was to take Yingxue directly through a back door, but after his self-righteous speech earlier, that was clearly no longer an option.

Besides, everyone here was waiting for the entrance examination. It wouldn’t be appropriate for him to linger around.

But the thought of leaving Yingxue alone with that wild brat Lin Hao made Wu Kui feel several times worse than if he’d swallowed a fly.

After agonizing for a long time, Wu Kui looked up and was so angry he almost broke his nose. That wild brat Lin Hao and Yingxue both had the same expression, looking this way and that, having completely forgotten his existence.

’I was kind enough to bring you here! Especially you, you wild brat! You just used my name to act all high and mighty back at the gate, and now you’re burning the bridge after crossing it! I’ll definitely make you pay!’

’But in front of all these people, there doesn’t seem to be a good way to do it.’

As he was hesitating, a voice suddenly rang out. "Brother Wu, little sis Yingxue! It’s a small world, isn’t it? We meet again."

A pleased look appeared on Wu Kui’s face, but when he turned to see who it was, his smile froze.

If he were to rank the people he disliked most right now, Lin Hao would only be number two. The newcomer was, without a doubt, number one.

Because this person’s identity was far too threatening to Wu Kui...