Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

Heaven-Stepping Sect, Celestial Dui Peak.

"Damn it! I’m going to tear that little bastard to pieces!" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Qin Tianlong returned to his residence, his anger still unabated. With one palm strike, he smashed a table to smithereens.

Nearby, a disciple, busy pouring tea, saw the Peak Master return. His hand trembled with fear, and the tea set fell to the floor, shattering into countless pieces.

"Trash! Get out!" Qin Tianlong roared furiously.

The disciple, trembling with fear, scrambled away, wishing he had more than two legs.

"Stop! Have Du Ping come see me at once!" Qin Tianlong shouted, halting the disciple’s retreat with a tone that brooked no argument.

The disciple wiped his sweat and hastily agreed.

Before long, a disciple rushed in. He had just stepped through the door when he dropped to his knees, calling out, "Disciple Du Ping pays his respects to the Peak Master."

A cold glint flickered in Qin Tianlong’s eyes. "Du Ping, I have a task for you. Once it’s done, take my token to the Scripture Pavilion. You may choose any Yellow-level Martial Skill you wish!"

"May I ask what task the Peak Master has for me...?" Du Ping asked tentatively.

His cultivation was currently at the Blood Coagulation Realm Fourth Layer, but his sect Contribution Points were very low. It would take him quite some time to earn enough through his own efforts to exchange for a martial skill at the Scripture Pavilion.

However, such a high reward implied high risk, and he didn’t dare to agree so casually.

Qin Tianlong’s gaze turned icy. "A piece of trash at the Third Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm actually dares to dream of becoming the Chief Disciple. Go and sever his tendons for me! I’d like to see how he intends to keep his position as Chief Disciple after he becomes a true cripple!"

A smile appeared on Du Ping’s face, and he agreed readily.

News of the sect suddenly gaining a Chief Disciple had just spread. Before coming here, he had been discussing it with his fellow disciples. Du Ping knew the new Chief Disciple was named Lin Hao, and he also knew about the Lu family breaking off their engagement with him.

Du Ping accepted the order and left. Qin Tianlong sneered repeatedly. ’Lin Hao, oh, Lin Hao, of all the people you could have offended, you chose me! With a single word, I can make you wish for death!’

Meanwhile, Lin Hao was completely unaware of the approaching danger.

On Heaven-Stepping Peak, Lin Hao pulled Wu Taichu aside to discuss something with him. "Master, Junior Brother Wu just showed me around Pill Cloud Hall and taught me a few things. I’d like to go back in alone to study them some more."

Upon hearing this, Wu Taichu immediately recalled what Ancestor Cang Yan had said in his letter: Lin Hao was very talented in Alchemy.

At this thought, he agreed without a second word.

"Xiaokui, take your Senior... Senior Brother to Pill Cloud Hall and let him stay there alone for a while. You can come back and take care of Lord Lingdi." For such a small matter, Wu Taichu naturally wouldn’t bother verifying it with Wu Kui, so he immediately gave the order.

"Yes, Master."

Pill Cloud Hall was located halfway up Heaven-Stepping Peak. This time, Wu Kui dragged his feet, walking as slowly as he possibly could.

"Senior Brother, you’ve got some impressive skills. What kind of potion did you use to bewitch Master?" Wu Kui asked from behind, his voice dripping with sarcasm and envy.

Two Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Pills were worth 20,000 Contribution Points. Never mind them, even his master would be reluctant to use them if he needed them, yet he had generously offered them to Lin Hao.

Wu Kui couldn’t figure out the reason for the life of him.

Ever since Lin Hao entered the sect, everything about him had seemed strange.

Lin Hao didn’t answer.

After waiting a long time without a response, Wu Kui was so angry he wanted to slap Lin Hao to death.

In truth, Lin Hao hadn’t heard Wu Kui’s words at all.

He wasn’t going to Pill Cloud Hall to study, but to practice Alchemy.

He had the Nine Dragon Flower with him, and he had just glanced around Pill Cloud Hall and seen many Spirit Grasses. He just needed to find a few more ingredients in the Spirit Field, and he would have everything he needed for refining that pill.

However, even though he had inherited the memories of the Carefree Divine Monarch, Lin Hao still didn’t dare to be careless in refining this pill.

Because in those memories, even the Carefree Divine Monarch had only refined this pill once.

Lin Hao was currently deep in thought, mentally running through the refining process. How could he possibly hear Wu Kui’s words?

Wu Kui was about to lose his temper when his eyes lit up, for he saw a Heaven-Stepping Sect disciple heading their way.

’Du Ping from Celestial Dui Peak...’ Wu Kui recognized him. Then, with a calculating look, he said to Lin Hao up ahead, "Senior Brother, I have something to take care of, so I’ll be leaving first. You know the way anyway."

After saying that, he turned and fled, disappearing in an instant.

Lin Hao still didn’t hear, his face lost in thought as he continued walking forward.

BAM!

Until he ran into a wall.

Snapping out of his deep thoughts, Lin Hao looked up and saw that he had run into someone.

"Sorry." Lin Hao smiled apologetically, then shifted his feet to bypass the person.

However, the person moved and blocked his path again.

"You think a simple ’sorry’ is enough after bumping into someone?! How about I slap you and then apologize, huh?" the person said angrily.

Lin Hao’s brow furrowed and his expression turned cold. "What do you want?"

He understood now. This person was deliberately looking for trouble.

"You’re Lin Hao?" the person asked again.

The corner of Lin Hao’s mouth lifted. Instead of answering, he asked, "Did Qin Tianlong send you?"

"Peak Master Qin? No, no, no. The name’s Du Ping. I heard that a piece of trash at the Third Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm wants to be our sect’s Chief Disciple, so I came to see for myself," Du Ping said, startled, quickly denying it.

Lin Hao smiled faintly, understanding now. He said lightly, "Well, now you’ve seen me. A good dog doesn’t block the path. Move!"

"How arrogant! Fine, very good! If I don’t teach you a lesson today and make you remember it, then my name isn’t Du Ping!" Du Ping laughed in extreme anger.

Lin Hao shook his head and tried to walk around Du Ping again.

He was busy and needed to perform Alchemy. Who had time to argue with a dog?

"I heard you shamelessly declared on the Divinity-Bestowal Platform that you would challenge all the disciples of Celestial Dui Peak. Now, I, Du Ping, challenge you: on the Divinity-Bestowal Platform, I will suppress my realm, and we’ll fight to the death!"

A flash of impatience crossed Lin Hao’s face.

"Heh, you’re scared, aren’t you, trash? Fine, I’ll be merciful. If you lose, I’ll just sever your tendons and leave you with your pathetic life."

Having one’s tendons severed was no different from being a cripple.

For a Martial Artist, this was a fate worse than death.

Yet in Du Ping’s mouth, this was called mercy.

Although Lin Hao was in a hurry to perform Alchemy, he now changed his mind.

"Du-something-or-other, since you want to fight, let’s get on with it. I’m busy," Lin Hao said impatiently, standing casually.

Du Ping was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Here? Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

His cultivation was at the Blood Coagulation Realm Fourth Layer. In his eyes, for Lin Hao to not go to the Divinity-Bestowal Platform was no different from seeking death.

"Stop blabbering. It’s only the Blood Coagulation Realm Fourth Layer. Fight or get lost!" Lin Hao’s gaze was glacial.

It wasn’t as if he’d never killed someone at the Blood Coagulation Realm Fourth Layer before.

If he didn’t draw blood today, did they really think he, Lin Hao, was a pushover that anyone could bully?

"Since you’re courting death, I’ll grant your wish!" To be so disdained by a piece of trash at the Third Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm was an insult to Du Ping—a naked, blatant insult!

Before the words had even faded, his fist arrived!

An attack filled with the fury of a Blood Coagulation Realm Fourth Layer expert! Even without using a martial skill, the force of the blow kicked up a violent wind!

Lin Hao neither dodged nor evaded, meeting it with an equally unadorned punch.

Du Ping sneered. A piece of trash at the Third Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm, one who hadn’t even converted his True Qi into True Essence, actually dared to meet his fist head-on!

He could already imagine the sound of Lin Hao’s bones breaking.

CRACK!

As the two fists met, a crisp cracking sound rang out.

The smile on Du Ping’s face was about to widen when, in the next moment...

"AAAAH!"

A wretched scream escaped his lips.

"My hand!"

Du Ping’s face was a mask of terror. The hand that broke was his.

Lin Hao moved again, giving Du Ping no time to react.

CRACK!

Executing the Ghostly Divine Step, his body moved like a phantom. Lin Hao threw another punch, directly tearing Du Ping’s other arm from his body as blood sprayed wildly.

"You wanted to sever my tendons. I should have returned the favor, but I’m more merciful than you—I only crippled your hands! Go back and tell Qin Tianlong that my words on the Divinity-Bestowal Platform still stand!"

Without a backward glance at the ashen-faced Du Ping, Lin Hao walked straight past him and left.

Not far behind, concealed by a large boulder, Wu Kui wore a look of utter shock.

He had seen the fight clearly. Although Du Ping had underestimated his opponent, the fact that Lin Hao, with his Third Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm cultivation, had met Du Ping’s punch and come out unscathed had deeply shaken him.

Lin Hao’s strength and physical body were far too terrifying.

At that moment, Wu Kui recalled the scene of Lin Hao brutalizing the Celestial Demon Pig. He also remembered hearing about Lin Hao’s performance in the strength test before the exam. A thought suddenly surged in his mind: ’Shattering a five-foot-five-inch Crystal Stone pillar... maybe he really could do it.’

Finally, Wu Kui came to a conclusion: never, ever clash head-on with Lin Hao.

After one last look at the still-wailing Du Ping, Wu Kui headed back the way he came.

He had to report what he had seen to Wu Taichu.

Although he couldn’t stand Lin Hao, he disapproved of Celestial Dui Peak’s actions even more.

Between personal grievances and the greater good of the sect, he would choose the latter without hesitation.

Meanwhile, Lin Hao, who had crippled Du Ping with two punches, acted as if nothing had happened and was now heading toward the Spirit Field.

With Wu Kui no longer following him, there would be fewer hassles. He needed to go to the Spirit Field now to pick a few Spirit Grasses.

Executing the Ghostly Divine Step, Lin Hao’s figure transformed into a streak of light and shot toward the Spirit Field.

Before long, Lin Hao arrived at his destination.

Just as he was about to enter the Spirit Field, he was stopped.

"Stop! This is an important area of the sect. Trespassing is forbidden!"

Not long ago, Lin Hao had come here with the Sect Leader and elders, and the place had been deserted. But now, as the voice faded, two disciples appeared before him.

"I am Lin Hao, the sect’s Chief Disciple. I’ve come to the Spirit Field to request a few Spirit Grasses. I would appreciate it if you could make things convenient for me," Lin Hao said, cupping his fist.

The two disciples gave Lin Hao a cold look. One of them said in a hostile tone, "I don’t care who you are. Without a written order from the Sect Leader or the approval of Senior Brother Wu, you’re not getting through this gate!"

These two disciples were in a very bad mood.

Back when the sect had Alchemy Masters, they could get many benefits from guarding the Spirit Field. But ever since the Alchemy Masters left, this place had become completely neglected.

Today, like any other day, they had slept in until late morning. But before they had even gotten out of bed, a sect elder arrived and gave them a harsh scolding.

And that wasn’t all. A not-so-small amount of their sect Contribution Points had also been deducted.

They couldn’t figure it out. Ever since the sect’s Alchemy Masters left, why would the Sect Leader and elders come here, a place that only Senior Brother Wu Kui occasionally visited?

Later, they heard the reason from others.

The Sect Leader had taken a new disciple who had also become the sect’s Chief Disciple. The Sect Leader had been giving that disciple, named Lin Hao, a tour of the sect.

In an instant, all their resentment found a target: Lin Hao.

Now, with Lin Hao announcing his own identity, the same thought flashed through both disciples’ minds: ’You refused the open gates of heaven and instead broke your way into a hell with no door.’