Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

What Lin Hao hated most were threats!

And now, Shan Dan was threatening the entire sect just to get to him. Lin Hao’s expression turned cold.

"Master Shan Dan, why don’t you explain exactly how the Heaven-Stepping Sect is facing imminent disaster?" Lin Hao demanded, his voice devoid of emotion.

Facing Shan Dan, Lin Hao was utterly fearless. An imposing aura emanated from him.

At that moment, Lin Hao’s sharp intent was on full display, like a primeval beast that had lain dormant for ten thousand years finally baring its fangs.

Even Master Shan Dan was inexplicably stunned by this feeling.

Here, Wu Taichu, the Sect Leader of the Heaven-Stepping Sect, was still deliberating on how to respond, yet this young man had dared to question Shan Dan directly. Such audacity alone surpassed that of countless Martial Artists.

Nearby, Wu Taichu snapped back to his senses, feeling a pang of shame. ’I’ve been so timid and hesitant, not even measuring up to Lin Hao.’

"Elder Shan, the Heaven-Stepping Sect has a legacy of ten thousand years, and it will absolutely not be ruined under my watch! If you insist on a confrontation, the Heaven-Stepping Sect will see it through to the very end!"

Wu Taichu’s spine suddenly snapped straight, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath.

The corner of Master Shan Dan’s mouth twitched. He hadn’t expected a single sentence to provoke such a strong backlash.

Only then did he recall the origins of the Heaven-Stepping Sect. It was a sect founded by an Emperor Venerable. Though it had declined, its hidden depths were perhaps beyond anyone’s imagination.

A single sentence from that young man had made Wu Taichu take such a firm stance. Shan Dan was forced to see Lin Hao in a new light once again.

He gave a bitter smile and said, "Sect Leader Wu, you’ve completely misunderstood. My Danling Sect is only in the business of trade, and we value harmony above all. I merely want to propose a deal."

"Your elder who came to my sect to purchase pills... if I hadn’t personally saved him, he would likely be dead by now. Someone dared to openly ambush one of your Sect Elders. Wouldn’t you call that an imminent disaster for your sect?"

Shan Dan didn’t want to sour relations with the Heaven-Stepping Sect, so he quickly explained the whole situation.

"What?!" Wu Taichu exclaimed in shock. This was undoubtedly a major crisis for the sect. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"How is Elder Gu?"

Shan Dan smiled, brimming with confidence. "As long as I’m here, he won’t die!"

"Then your reason for coming today is...?" Wu Taichu, feeling a little relieved, asked tentatively.

Shan Dan glanced at Lin Hao before speaking. "The Danling Sect only does business. Naturally, I’ve come to do business with your esteemed sect."

"Please speak freely, Master." Aside from selling pills at the annual sect conference, the Danling Sect rarely conducted business with other sects.

Now that he was here, Wu Taichu knew he had to seize this opportunity.

Shan Dan regained the upper hand. With a soft chuckle, he began speaking at a leisurely pace, "I’ve brought the five Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Pills your sect requested. However, Elder Gu recklessly activated his Bloodline Power, making his situation quite difficult. To save him, I had to use three whole Nine-Nine Life-extending Pills."

Wu Taichu’s expression instantly turned grim.

For Elder Gu to have been forced to activate his Bloodline Power, it was clear his opponent had been determined to kill him.

This was a blatant provocation against the Heaven-Stepping Sect, and Wu Taichu was filled with rage.

"Sect Leader Wu, I can give you these five Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Pills as a gift. But the matter of those three Nine-Nine Life-extending Pills is a bit tricky," Shan Dan said, his eyes flicking to Lin Hao once more.

Wu Taichu knew exactly what he was after. In a deep voice, he said, "On behalf of Elder Gu, I thank you for saving his life, Master. As for your conditions, name anything you want—except him!"

"Perhaps you don’t fully appreciate how precious the Nine-Nine Life-extending Pill is, Sect Leader. Let me elaborate. Because Elder Gu activated his Bloodline Power, he is fated to suffer a drop in his cultivation realm, even though his life was saved. However, these three Nine-Nine Life-extending Pills can allow him to maintain his peak cultivation for eighty-one days.

If I’m not mistaken, Elder Gu’s cultivation level ranks among the top three in your sect. The benefits of allowing him to maintain his peak state for a total of two hundred and forty-three days... I shouldn’t need to spell them out.

A Nine-Nine Life-extending Pill is of immeasurable value. We rarely even put them up for auction at the annual sect conference. Other than him, I don’t believe your esteemed sect has the means to repay this debt."

Wu Taichu’s expression was unsightly. Shan Dan was speaking the truth; the current Heaven-Stepping Sect truly couldn’t offer anything that would move the Danling Sect. But Lin Hao’s importance to the sect was immense. He absolutely would not compromise.

After his expression shifted several times, Wu Taichu gritted his teeth. "Master, you underestimate the Heaven-Stepping Sect! With our ten-thousand-year legacy, we possess many things beyond your imagination. I will trade you a Pill Furnace. I’m sure you will be interested in it."

As expected, Shan Dan’s eyes widened for a moment, but he quickly shook his head. "It seems you still underestimate the value of a Nine-Nine Life-extending Pill. However, if you can produce a Pill Furnace that’s on the Registry of Famed Furnaces, I might consider it."

Furious, Wu Taichu retorted, "Does the Li Fire Divine Furnace count?!"

The Li Fire Divine Furnace was ranked tenth on the Registry of Famed Furnaces, a treasure that every Alchemy Master dreamed of possessing.

Shan Dan was shocked to hear the name Li Fire Divine Furnace, but he still shook his head.

’For a single Lin Hao, Wu Taichu is actually willing to trade the Li Fire Divine Furnace,’ Shan Dan thought. ’This proves Lin Hao’s value is far greater than what I’ve seen so far.’

"You...!" Wu Taichu’s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked.

Just then, a slow, deliberate voice sounded out:

"A mere three Nine-Nine Life-extending Pills? In my eyes, they’re nothing more than shit! Forget the Li Fire Divine Furnace; any random Pill Furnace in this Pill Cloud Hall is more valuable than those pills! Master Shan Dan, you really think too highly of yourself!"

Shan Dan was using three of these pills to blackmail Wu Taichu. Lin Hao had been holding back for a while, but he couldn’t take it any longer.

’Compared to a Life Reviving Pill, the Nine-Nine Life-extending Pill is practically worthless. It’s laughable that this old fool is treating it like a treasure.’

"What arrogant words! Since you put it that way, I don’t want any Pill Furnace, no matter how good. I want those ’shit’ Nine-Nine Life-extending Pills you mentioned! If you can produce them, I will personally carry Elder Gu back to the Heaven-Stepping Sect!" Shan Dan was furious now.

He was the only one in the entire Southern Border Prefecture who could perform the alchemy for the Nine-Nine Life-extending Pill, yet Lin Hao had just compared it to a trashy Pill Furnace worth only a few thousand silver banknotes. It was an utter insult.

"The Heaven-Stepping Sect has a ten-thousand-year legacy. We possess many things that are beyond your imagination. Master Shan Dan, I suggest you start getting ready to carry Elder Gu back now," Lin Hao said, looking perfectly composed and nonchalant.

After saying this, he even shot a mischievous glance at Wu Taichu.

Shan Dan was startled for a moment but then dismissed the idea. ’If the Heaven-Stepping Sect really possessed Nine-Nine Life-extending Pills, they wouldn’t have offered to trade the Li Fire Divine Furnace for them.’

"If you can produce those pills within three days, then from this day forward, whenever I see a disciple of the Heaven-Stepping Sect, regardless of who they are, I will greet them as a junior greets a senior! But if you can’t, you will obediently return with me to the Danling Sect!" Utterly confident in his own alchemy, Shan Dan gritted his teeth and placed a massive bet.

A smile touched the corner of Lin Hao’s lips as he shook his head. "Three days won’t be necessary. Come back for the pills this time tomorrow. But I have one condition: you must immediately escort Elder Gu safely back to the Heaven-Stepping Sect."

Seeing Lin Hao’s expression, Shan Dan’s heart lurched, and a sense of foreboding washed over him.

He had only offered a three-day window because he was worried the Heaven-Stepping Sect might have some way to acquire the pills from another sect. After all, the Danling Sect had sold a total of three of them.

But now that Lin Hao claimed to need only one day, he felt a flicker of apprehension.

However, his confidence quickly returned. ’Even if the Heaven-Stepping Sect had some hidden expert, it would be impossible to complete the alchemy for these pills in a single day.’

"It’s a deal! I’ll personally go retrieve Elder Gu and bring him back. I’ll even prepare a little welcome gift for you. After all, by this time tomorrow, you’ll be one of us in the Danling Sect."

After speaking, Shan Dan shot a triumphant smile at Wu Taichu, then his figure flickered and vanished completely.

"Three Nine-Nine Life-extending Pills in one day? Lin Hao, you’ve really shot your mouth off this time! I know you’re just trying to trick Master Shan Dan into bringing Elder Gu back safely, but aren’t you afraid of his fury? Did you really think you could just agree to go to the Danling Sect afterward and this would all be over?"

Wu Kui stared at Lin Hao as if he were an idiot. ’This guy clearly doesn’t understand how formidable Master Shan Dan is, trying to pull a fast one right in front of him.’

"Shut your mouth! Get the hell back to looking after Lord Lingdi!" Before Lin Hao could even speak, Wu Taichu had already erupted in fury.

Wu Kui dared to act arrogantly in front of Lin Hao, but the moment he faced Wu Taichu, he became as meek as a lamb. After a quick word of assent, he scurried away.

Before leaving, he didn’t forget to cast a pitying glance at Lin Hao.

’Does this guy really think he’s the head disciple? Making decisions on his own in front of Master like that... Master is definitely going to kick him out.’

"Martial Grand-Uncle, you... you know Alchemy?" With Wu Kui gone and no one else around, Wu Taichu’s attitude toward Lin Hao became utterly reverent. He stared at him, his face full of hope.

Lin Hao didn’t hide it, simply nodding. "I might not know how to make other pills, but the Nine-Nine Life-extending Pill is quite simple."

Wu Taichu’s eyes shot open as wide as saucers!

’The alchemy for the Nine-Nine Life-extending Pill is simple?!’

’Did I hear him correctly?!’

’If it were really so simple, the Danling Sect wouldn’t have only managed to auction off three of them to this day!’

"Taichu, what’s with that expression? Don’t you have any faith in me?" Lin Hao asked in a lighthearted tone, seeing the dumbfounded look on Wu Taichu’s face.

Wu Taichu quickly snapped out of it. "Martial Grand-Uncle, this disciple wouldn’t dare think that. What do you require? I will go and prepare it for you immediately. One day is an extremely tight schedule!"

In contrast to Wu Taichu’s frantic state, Lin Hao was as calm as a meditating monk.

He shook his head, perfectly poised. "No rush, no rush. We’ll deal with it tomorrow. For today, I need a good rest. I’m going to the Regeneration Pool tonight."

It was just three Nine-Nine Life-extending Pills; Lin Hao paid them no mind at all. His thoughts were entirely preoccupied with the matter of creating his bloodline.

Deal with it tomorrow...

Wu Taichu felt like he was going to lose his mind.

’Master Shan Dan said it would take three days, which meant even he needed that much time for the alchemy. Martial Grand-Uncle here claims one day, and I thought he would start right away, but now he’s calmly saying to wait until tomorrow.’

Wu Taichu was at a complete loss for words to describe how he felt.

Just at that moment, Wu Kui came running back.

From a good distance away, he was already shouting, "Master! Master! This is bad!"

"Such a flustered mess! Where is your composure!" Wu Taichu scolded, then asked, "What is it?"

"Master, the Ten Vajras of Celestial Dui Peak are looking everywhere for... Senior Brother Lin! They say they want to challenge him," Wu Kui said in a panic.

Wu Taichu’s eyelid twitched. "All of them are here?"

The Ten Vajras of Celestial Dui Peak were all at the Fifth Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm. Their physical conditioning techniques were nearing perfection, and any one of them was capable of challenging those in higher realms. They were incredibly powerful.

"That damn Qin Tianlong, trying to wear him down with a gauntlet!" A murderous glint flashed in Wu Taichu’s eyes.

Lin Hao, however, remained perfectly composed, a smile spreading across his face.

PS: To the readers who have stuck with me this far, thank you for being so understanding. I admit this book hasn’t been written well, but all of you have continued to support it, and for that, I am deeply grateful. To repay you all, I’ve written a new book under the pen name "Devil Yu" called "Demon God Martial Emperor." I’ve corrected my attitude with this book and hope you will all check it out, add it to your library, and recommend it. If you don’t like it, feel free to join the group chat and tell me off. Thank you.