Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

"There is a place, though. Lin Hao, I’ll take you to see the sect’s Pill Cloud Hall."

At the mention of the Pill Cloud Hall, Wu Kui’s spirits lifted, and a wicked smirk appeared on his face.

"You think you can just call me Lin Hao? Don’t forget my status!" Wu Kui’s expression didn’t escape Lin Hao’s Eyes of Golden Flame. It was obvious this guy was up to no good, and Lin Hao wasn’t about to be polite.

Wu Kui’s face fell.

Lin Hao was now the Chief Disciple of the Heaven-Stepping Sect. According to the rules, all third-generation disciples, no matter how long they had been in the sect, had to address him as "Senior Brother."

’This guy had mediocre talent, the constitution of a mere mortal, and most importantly, he had made Lord Lingdi cough up blood just yesterday.’

Yet today, not only had he gone unpunished, but he had also miraculously become the Chief Disciple. For a moment, Wu Kui felt more disgusted than if he had swallowed a thousand flies.

’He really wanted to go ask Wu Taichu if he’d lost his mind. There were so many third-generation disciples; how could the position possibly go to a new recruit with a mortal constitution!’

"I know what you’re thinking, but that can’t change the facts. I’m your Senior Brother now!" Lin Hao shot Wu Kui a look, his expression perfectly composed.

Lin Hao wasn’t one to throw his weight around, but this guy Wu Kui was just asking for it. Lin Hao was in a foul mood after losing a precious Nine Dragon Flower, and Wu Kui was about to bear the brunt of it.

"Hmph!" Wu Kui snorted, his eyes suddenly lighting up. "I’ve figured it out. You’re a spy from the Suo Demon Sect! I’ve heard they have demonic arts—you must have used one to bewitch Master!"

Wu Kui certainly had a wild imagination. The accusation was so absurd Lin Hao couldn’t help but laugh.

"It’s not up to you to decide if I’m a spy or not. However, I’m guessing our master just gave you strict orders not to offend me. Am I right? Because if you anger me, the consequences will be very serious!"

Wu Kui froze. Master had, in fact, said exactly that.

’It would have been fine if Lin Hao hadn’t brought it up. Now that he had, Wu Kui felt even more miserable. We’re both Master’s disciples, so why is this guy with a mortal constitution treated so much better than me?’

’Forget it. A wise man knows when to yield. I’ll let him be arrogant for now. Once I find the right opportunity, I have to warn Master.’

"Senior Brother," Wu Kui forced out, his voice dripping with reluctance.

Lin Hao looked thoroughly pleased with himself. "That’s a good Junior Brother," he replied. "Behave, and I’ll buy you some candy later."

Wu Kui’s face turned livid.

This little spat with Wu Kui had actually improved Lin Hao’s mood.

Then, Lin Hao remembered the secret realms.

Although he had inherited the memories of the Carefree Divine Monarch, the Divine Monarch had never joined a sect during his time in the Divine Demon Destruction Domain. As a result, Lin Hao had no memories whatsoever about sect-related secret realms.

"Junior Brother, why don’t you tell me what these ’secret realms’ are all about," Lin Hao asked.

Wu Kui stared blankly for a moment, then burst out laughing. "HAHAHA, you’re kidding me! You don’t even know what a secret realm is?"

"I’m from the countryside. It’s perfectly normal," Lin Hao replied, completely unfazed, not a hint of a blush on his face.

"Right, right, right! But Senior Brother, you’re the Chief Disciple of our sect! If word gets out about this, how will our sect ever show its face in public?!" Wu Kui’s expression was pure schadenfreude.

"A sect founded by an Emperor Venerable has fallen this far after a mere ten thousand years," Lin Hao retorted coolly. "Does the Heaven-Stepping Sect even have any face left to lose? It’s laughable that some people still brag about it being one of the five great sects of the Southern Border Prefecture."

The smile on Wu Kui’s face instantly froze.

"Junior Brother, you need to remember something: I am not your enemy," Lin Hao said. "Our enemies are outside the sect, not within it."

Wu Kui opened his mouth, but he had no rebuttal.

"Now, can you tell me about them?"

Wu Kui looked utterly frustrated, but what choice did he have?

"Emperor Venerables... the righteous are gods, and the wicked are demons. With gods and demons in opposition, great wars were inevitable..." Wu Kui began, his voice flowing smoothly.

It had to be said, Wu Kui was a good storyteller. It didn’t take long for Lin Hao to get a clear picture of what secret realms were all about.

Emperor Venerables represent the pinnacle of the Martial Dao. Their power is boundless. They can pluck the stars from the sky, slice the moon in two, and shake the very heavens and earth with a wave of their hand.

When these gods and demons clashed in great wars, they destroyed heaven and earth. A single wave of their hand could turn the entire Celestial Yang Continent to ash.

The clashes between them were even more terrifying, shattering stars and annihilating space itself.

World after world was reduced to nothing.

The spatial fragments left behind by these wars now drift through the boundless cosmos. The larger fragments formed new continents, while the smaller ones became secret realms.

A secret realm is a self-contained space. Imbued with the will of the gods and demons, they lie dormant for tens or even hundreds of thousands of years. Eventually, all kinds of rare treasures, Spirit Medicines, and Spirit Grasses begin to grow inside.

Within these realms, it’s common to find never-before-seen exotic beasts, miraculous Crystal Stones, and rare metals.

In short, anything and everything of value can be found within a secret realm.

A sect’s power is directly proportional to the number and quality of the secret realms it controls.

The Heaven-Stepping Sect used to possess two such realms. One opens every three years, and when it does, the sect arranges for disciples to enter and train.

The other, however, withered away twenty years ago for unknown reasons. If not for a peculiar spectacle that occurs there on the third day of the third month each year, it would have been long forgotten.

At this point, Wu Kui paused and looked at Lin Hao. "You’re in luck. The third day of the third month is in three months. You’ll get to see the spectacle for yourself."

Lin Hao ignored him, his gaze fixed on the path ahead.

Following Lin Hao’s line of sight, Wu Kui couldn’t help but grin. They had arrived at the Pill Cloud Hall.

Wu Kui had a reason for bringing Lin Hao to the Pill Cloud Hall.

The Pill Cloud Hall was where the sect’s Alchemy took place.

Wu Taichu had two disciples, Ling Xiao and Wu Kui, both of whom possessed Yuan Bodies. Wu Kui also had another status: he was Wu Taichu’s adopted son.

However, Wu Kui’s talent for the Martial Dao was far inferior to Ling Xiao’s.

However, as the saying goes, when the heavens close one door, they open another.

While Wu Kui’s martial talent was lacking, he had a great gift for the Alchemy Dao.

Previously, the sect had an Alchemy Master, and Wu Kui would only occasionally stop by to help. In doing so, he managed to thoroughly learn that Master’s Alchemy Dao. If the man hadn’t selfishly held back his secrets, Wu Kui would be at least an Earth-rank Pill Master by now.

Now that the sect’s Alchemy Master was gone, he was the only Mortal-rank Pill Master left. While he couldn’t refine high-level pills for the sect, he had no trouble making common ones.

Because of this, his status in the Heaven-Stepping Sect—especially in the Pill Cloud Hall—was exceptional.

Here in the Pill Cloud Hall, Wu Kui was confident he had a hundred different ways to humiliate Lin Hao. That was why he’d brought him here.

From a distance, the disciples in the Pill Cloud Hall spotted Wu Kui and immediately scurried over, their attitudes incredibly deferential. Lin Hao, on the other hand, was completely ignored.

Wu Kui smiled in satisfaction. He made no move to introduce Lin Hao, simply basking in the disciples’ reverence as he strode triumphantly into the Pill Cloud Hall.

Once inside, Lin Hao noticed that in the enormous Pill Cloud Hall, only a single old man was busying himself.

A casual glance was all it took for Lin Hao to frown. He could see that many of the Spirit Grasses were being stored completely incorrectly.

"Excuse me, sir," Lin Hao asked the old man, "are you the Alchemy Master here?"

The old man started, then shot a glance at Wu Kui, his face a picture of embarrassment.

Wu Kui burst out laughing. "Haha! Him? An Alchemy Master? Let me tell you something. Alchemy is just like martial cultivation—it requires talent. Some people can spend their entire lives trying and only ever become a Pill Apprentice. Like him."

Wu Kui pointed a finger at the old man.

’If he’s only a Pill Apprentice,’ Lin Hao thought, ’it makes perfect sense that he wouldn’t know how to store Spirit Grass correctly.’

"Senior Brother, you have such a marvelous aptitude for the Martial Dao. Why don’t you try your hand at Alchemy today?" Wu Kui said with a malicious grin.

Lin Hao replied flatly, "I can’t. I don’t have a renowned master to teach me."

That was exactly what Wu Kui had been waiting to hear.

He pointed to himself and said proudly, "Aren’t I right here?"

Lin Hao was stunned.

At that moment, the old man standing nearby spoke up. "Master Wu only had to watch the previous Alchemy Master at work to become a Mortal-rank Pill Master himself. When it comes to Alchemy, he can certainly be called a master."

The old man knew Wu Kui was using him as a stepping stone to look better, but he wasn’t angry. What Wu Kui said was the truth, after all.

Furthermore, while the old man had no talent for Alchemy, he hadn’t lived this long without learning a thing or two about people. It was obvious that Wu Kui was trying to use this opportunity to humiliate Lin Hao.

He was still hoping Wu Kui would give him pointers, so of course he wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to suck up.

Hearing the old man’s words, Lin Hao turned and walked away without a second thought.

’A sect founded by an Emperor Venerable doesn’t even have a single decent Alchemy Master left. And a mere Mortal-rank Pill Master has the gall to call himself renowned? The secondhand embarrassment is making my face burn.’

Sigh!

’I thought joining the Heaven-Stepping Sect would be a turning point for my family. Who knew the sect had fallen this low.’

But despite his deep disappointment, Lin Hao never considered leaving the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

For one thing, it had been his own choice to join.

Besides, Wu Taichu and the three Grand Elders had treated him well, and he wasn’t an ungrateful person.

Touching the Nine Dragon Flower he kept tucked in his robes, Lin Hao made a decision.

’The most urgent task is to forge my bloodline. If I don’t become powerful myself, everything else is just empty talk.’

Lin Hao’s sudden departure left Wu Kui dumbfounded.

’I still have so many tricks up my sleeve! I can’t just let him leave like this.’

"Senior Brother, why not give it a try? Don’t tell me you have no confidence in yourself?" Wu Kui called out, hurrying to block Lin Hao’s path, a smug grin plastered on his face. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Lin Hao’s expression turned cold. "I’d like to try Refining a Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Pill," he asked indifferently. "Are you up for it?"

’Refining a Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Pill requires an Earth-rank Pill Master at minimum! I just told him I’m only a Mortal-rank Pill Master. Is he doing this just to mess with me?’

Wu Kui snapped, "I’m self-taught! The Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Pill is a Tier Two pill! If I could refine it, we wouldn’t have to buy it from the Danling Sect! Do you realize the pills for the second and third place rewards in the last assessment had to be purchased from the Danling Sect by the elders?"

"What?!"

’I can’t believe it. A sect this large has to buy something as simple as Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Pills from another sect?’

Then, a thought struck him. "How many bottles did they buy in total?" he asked.

"Bottles? Are you kidding? Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Pills are priceless! The sect only managed to buy five individual pills. In the sect, you need Contribution Points to exchange for Cultivation Techniques, martial skills, and pills. Do you have any idea how many Contribution Points a single one of these pills costs?"

Wu Kui stared at Lin Hao as if he were an idiot. ’Does this guy really not know how valuable Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Pills are?’

In fact, Lin Hao couldn’t be blamed for this.

For one, he had inherited the memories of the Carefree Divine Monarch. From that perspective, these pills were utterly insignificant.

For another, when Lu Dieyi visited the Lin family, she had casually handed over a dozen or so Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Pills. Since a sect should be far wealthier than a family, Lin Hao had simply assumed the pills weren’t worth very much.

What he didn’t know was that Lu Dieyi had acquired those pills specifically for him, having pleaded for them from her Proud Moon Sect.

In the Southern Border Prefecture, the rarity of these pills was far beyond anything Lin Hao had imagined.