Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

On the Divine Stele Platform, due to Lin Hao’s heaven-defying performance, half an hour had passed by the time the next candidate’s assessment began.

It seemed Lin Hao’s actions had spurred on the other candidates. The subsequent assessments proceeded very quickly, and a considerable number of Martial Artists passed.

An hour later, all the candidates had completed their assessment. In total, just over fifty people had qualified.

By now, the sky had already grown dark.

"Everyone, the last trial must have taken a great toll on you. You will now rest before we proceed to the third trial," Bai Ming announced. As he spoke, however, his eyes kept darting toward Lin Hao, as if afraid he might run off.

The Martial Artists who had passed relaxed and sat cross-legged on the Divine Stele Platform to rest, but Lin Hao did not.

A faint smile on his lips, he walked straight toward Chu Sheng.

Lin Hao hadn’t forgotten the words Chu Sheng had said to him before the assessment.

Chu Sheng had pestered him repeatedly before, and Lin Hao hadn’t bothered with him. This time, however, Chu Sheng had crossed his line.

Lin Hao had always been one to clearly distinguish between kindness and enmity. When dealing with someone like Chu Sheng, he wasn’t magnanimous enough to just smile and let bygones be bygones.

Chu Sheng was sitting cross-legged on the ground. Lin Hao walked over and looked down at him with the same condescending gaze, taunting,

"You animal. Your aptitude is so-so, but your comprehension is just terrible. I just made ten Divine Steles manifest. I can’t say for sure about becoming the Heaven-Stepping Sect’s next Sect Leader, but at least I’ve met the conditions to compete for it. If you call me ’Grandpa’ right now, I might be charitable enough to let you guard the gates at the Supreme Profound Sect in the future. Your name certainly seems to have an affinity with gates."

An animal, a watchdog—indeed, quite an affinity with gates.

These were the very words Chu Sheng had used to mock Lin Hao earlier, now thrown right back at him.

When Lin Hao struck, he struck to kill!

Chu Sheng’s face turned deathly pale. Despite the cold on the Divine Stele Platform, beads of sweat actually formed on his forehead.

"Lin... Lin Hao, don’t get cocky! There’s still one more trial. It’s not over ’til it’s over!" Chu Sheng stammered in response, but he had completely lost his nerve.

"Is that so? We’ll just have to wait and see."

With no pity in his eyes, Lin Hao gave him one last cold glare, then turned and walked away.

The contents of the third trial were unknown, so Lin Hao also needed to rest. Finding a spot, he too sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.

"Esteemed candidates, you have all worked hard. Please, rest well. The third trial will be arranged once you have recovered."

The examiner’s voice suddenly rang out. Lin Hao opened his eyes to find that, at some point, thumb-sized candles had been lit all around them.

The dozens of candles cast a warm glow, and Lin Hao soon found himself feeling sleepy.

Startled, he was about to resist when the examiner’s voice seemed to whisper right in his ear, "Sleep. Sleep now. I will wake you."

Lin Hao’s mind relaxed, and he drifted into a deep sleep...

In the pavilion, the Sect Leader and the three Grand Elders stood up, gazing at the crowd of sleeping candidates on the Divine Stele Platform.

Bai Ming had also retreated to the pavilion.

"Sect Leader, in the past, there was always a warning before the third trial. Why not this time..." Bai Ming asked, confused.

The Heaven-Stepping Sect’s Sect Leader sighed and replied, "If they were warned beforehand, they would be prepared, and the results of the trial would be skewed. You all know the state of our sect right now. I would rather recruit fewer Sect Disciples and focus on quality over quantity."

Bai Ming nodded, his gaze fixed on Lin Hao.

"How long do you think this Yellow Millet Dream will hold him?" one of the elders asked, staring at Lin Hao.

The Yellow Millet Dream—the third trial of the Heaven-Stepping Sect’s entrance examination!

Even if a Martial Artist possessed an outstanding bloodline, aptitude, and comprehension, if they could not resist temptation, they would never become a peerless expert.

Sensual indulgence, wine, women, wealth, and status—all are temptations, and they are the greatest taboos of the martial path.

This trial tested one’s martial resolve!

"In the last sixty years of the Heaven-Stepping Sect, the Sect Leader from two generations ago was a man of stunning talent. When he woke up during this trial, the candle had burned seven inches. The young genius Ling Xiao woke when the candle had burned nine inches. As for that little guy... I’m guessing eight inches!" another elder said with a laugh.

The elder who had asked the question earlier frowned. "His previous performance was nothing short of heaven-defying. Why do you think he’ll do worse than Ling Xiao in this trial?"

"Didn’t you see? He has far too much luck with women. Ling Xiao and the Sect Leader from two generations ago were similar—obsessed with martial arts, unswayed by beautiful women. It will be very difficult for that little guy to surpass their results."

Another elder nodded in deep agreement. "Indeed. At his age, he’s full of vigor. This trial will be a great test for him."

And at that moment, Lin Hao was indeed being tested.

Lin Hao was having a dream.

In the dream, he had passed the Heaven-Stepping Sect’s entrance examination and was even found to possess a one-in-ten-thousand bloodline. The Sect Leader of the Heaven-Stepping Sect immediately fell to his knees, begging him with tears and snot to become his successor.

Lin Hao naturally refused, but the Heaven-Stepping Sect Leader told him that the Lin family was facing a great disaster. If he didn’t agree, the Lin family’s entire foundation would be destroyed, and not a single soul would be spared.

As Lin Hao was struggling with the decision, the Heaven-Stepping Sect Leader took out the sect’s token and prepared to perform the coronation ceremony.

Just as he was about to accept it, Lin Hao suddenly felt something was wrong and quickly pulled his hand back.

The scene changed again. Instantly, Lin Hao was back at the Lin family estate.

Bodies littered the ground, rivers of blood flowed, and severed limbs were everywhere.

He saw the bodies of two of the Lin family elders, and his third uncle’s...

Then, a large group of ferocious-looking Martial Artists spotted him and all charged in his direction.

Their numbers were not great, but their momentum was earth-shattering, their presence like that of a mighty army!

Among them was the Elemental Realm expert Wu Tianli. His terrifying pressure arrived before he did, his palm striking out ahead of him. A palm strike shot toward Lin Hao.

There was also the one-armed Wu Zhen, wielding a silver spear, who roared as he charged, screaming, "Surrender your life!"

Countless Zhengyang Sect Disciples also charged forward, among them the three who had died on Sky-Breaking Mountain.

These were all Martial Artists far stronger than him. Lin Hao was completely unprepared and on the verge of death...

"Something’s wrong. I, Lin Hao, have never believed in ghosts or gods! You are already dead!" Lin Hao said calmly as the figures rushed up to him.

Then, Wu Zhen and the other three turned to ash and vanished.

"And what about me?" Wu Tianli sneered.

Lin Hao stood proudly and replied calmly, "In my world, all is illusion!"

With those words, everything dissipated.

The scene changed once more.

In an antique-style room, a large group of women danced gracefully to soft music. Their beautiful movements were mesmerizing.

Lin Hao had never seen such a spectacle and was stunned. Then, he saw Yan’Er.

Yan’Er was tall and slender, her hair styled in an elegant chignon that gave her a mature air.

The usually graceful and noble Yan’Er let out a soft giggle, and the look rippling across her features made Lin Hao’s heart tremble...

"Yan’Er, you..." Lin Hao backed away, his face bright red.

But this Yan’Er simply giggled again and pressed her body against his. "What Yan’Er?" she purred. "I’m your Aunt Yun."

As she spoke, her eyes seemed to flow with charm, making Lin Hao feel utterly overwhelmed.

"No! Aunt Yun is already dead!" Lin Hao was horrified.

Then, the woman faded away, but another voice called out. Lin Hao turned his head and saw Lu Dieyi, and then Wenren Yuxin...

An unusual light danced in their eyes, and a bewitching fragrance filled the air.

Lin Hao was shaken. ’My goal is the pinnacle of the martial path; I will not let beautiful women hinder my steps!’

Suddenly, Lin Hao strode away, turning a deaf ear to the sorrowful pleas behind him.

He pushed open a door, and a brilliant light illuminated the world.

Lin Hao abruptly awoke.

He looked around and found he was still on the Divine Stele Platform.

Remembering the ordeal in his dream, his face flushed, and he gasped for breath, only then realizing his clothes were soaked through.

At this moment, the candle had burned just five inches!

Although the temptation of beautiful women did give him pause, he had passed through the earlier tests of power and peril so quickly that they had no real effect on him.

The record held by the Heaven-Stepping Sect’s Sect Leader from two generations ago was broken!

In the pavilion, seeing Lin Hao awaken, the Sect Leader and the three Grand Elders stared wide-eyed, their faces full of disbelief.

They had never in their lives witnessed such martial resolve in a young man!

"There’s hope for the sect’s revival!" the Heaven-Stepping Sect Leader said fervently, speaking six words.

Three trials, and Lin Hao had emerged the undisputed victor in all of them, breaking sect records every time! This was an absolute world-shocking prodigy!

"Sect Leader, that girl has woken up too. She’s quite good. I really think you should take her as your disciple," one of the elders said, his eyes twinkling as he saw Yingxue awaken.

"That’s right! You have a male disciple, so taking a female one too would be perfect!" another elder immediately chimed in.

The last elder instantly understood their intentions and joined in, "Yes, Sect Leader, that little girl is very endearing. You’ll definitely like her."

These three old coots hadn’t thought much of Lin Hao and had been fighting over Yingxue. Now, seeing Lin Hao’s heaven-defying performance, they immediately regretted it.

"Just now, you wanted the little girl, and I agreed. Now you’re coming back for more? I won’t allow it!" The Sect Leader was having none of it.

’Good thing I didn’t try to grab Yingxue,’ he secretly congratulated himself. ’Otherwise, I’d have to be shameless just like them right now.’

"Sect Leader, I’ve served the sect diligently for decades. I’m at this age now, and I don’t even have a single disciple. I... I..." one of the elders started playing the pity card.

"Sect Leader, I’ve noticed my health declining recently. I fear my time is nigh. I’m all alone in this world. If I were to pass, there wouldn’t even be anyone to collect my corpse... SOB SOB SOB..." This elder was an even better actor. As he finished, he actually started to cry.

He was really going all out for Lin Hao.

The Heaven-Stepping Sect Leader’s mouth twitched violently. ’Holy hell, who are you trying to fool? With your cultivation levels, you could live another fifty years and still be jumping all over the place.’

"How about this? I’ll send Ling Xiao over to you for a while. He can take care of his junior martial sister at the same time," the Heaven-Stepping Sect Leader said, unmoved. His eyes were full of mirth, cunning as a fox.

If Yingxue and Ling Xiao knew what they were talking about right now, who knows if they’d march over and kick Lin Hao right off the Divine Stele Platform.

The moment Lin Hao arrived, they were instantly reduced to chump change.

It was just too unfair!