Chapter 730: The Might of the Martial Emperor

Chapter 730: Chapter 731: The Might of the Martial Emperor

‘Could it be that Xuan Ye and Zhan Shang sensed the Blood Sword Emperor’s aura, and that’s why they rushed into that opening?’

‘Impossible!’

Jiang Chonghuang and the others immediately shook their heads. Just a moment ago, Ye Xuan and Zhan Shang had been trapped within an Eighth-Level Array, so how could they have possibly sensed the Blood Sword Emperor’s arrival in advance? After all, even they hadn’t detected a thing. It must have been a coincidence.

Whatever he might have been thinking, Jiang Chonghuang still said respectfully, “It was a Tier Seven Martial King named Xuan Ye, and a Tier Eight Martial Emperor named Zhan Shang. The cavern suddenly opened up, and they both rushed inside. We were just about to enter when you arrived, Lord Blood Sword Emperor…”

Jiang Chonghuang spoke with extreme caution.

The Blood Sword Emperor shot him a cold glance, his sharp gaze seemingly piercing right through Jiang Chonghuang’s thoughts. He sneered, “You were ‘just about to enter’? If that were true, why set up such a large Array? And why let a Tier Seven Martial King and a Second Layer Martial Emperor go in before you? Jiang Chonghuang, do you dare lie to me?”

The Blood Sword Emperor raised his hand and instantly snatched Jiang Chonghuang up by the neck. The dignified Jiang Chonghuang was held aloft like a helpless chick, his face a mask of terror, utterly powerless to resist.

“Lord Blood Sword Emperor, it’s a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!”

Jiang Chonghuang cried out in horror.

“A misunderstanding?” The Blood Sword Emperor scoffed. “Jiang Chonghuang,” he said coldly, “if you hide so much as half a word more, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

He squeezed slightly, and Jiang Chonghuang felt a terrifying pressure emanate from the hand around his neck, nearly suffocating him.

“I’ll talk! I’ll talk…”

Jiang Chonghuang hurriedly recounted everything that had happened, including the treasures within the ten Restrictions.

Nearby, the hearts of Diao Minghuang, Xu Guanglin, and the others sank. ‘This is bad,’ they thought, desperately wanting to leave but not daring to make the slightest move.

“You’re saying that kid actually obtained the Earth Fire?”

As expected, the Blood Sword Emperor’s attention was primarily focused on the Earth Fire that Ye Xuan had obtained.

After all, compared to items like Spirit Medicines, a treasure like Earth Fire that could improve one’s cultivation and was coveted by Alchemists was undoubtedly far more precious.

A greedy light flashed in the Blood Sword Emperor’s eyes.

Diao Minghuang and the others at his side grew extremely anxious. ‘He’s heard the news, so why isn’t the Blood Sword Emperor going in to find that Xuan Ye fellow?’

They were inwardly wishing for the Blood Sword Emperor to leave as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, the Blood Sword Emperor seemed to know what they were thinking. He shot them a mocking glance and said coldly, “Since that kid got the Earth Fire, the Spirit Medicines and other things you all obtained must not be ordinary treasures either. Hand them over.”

The hearts of Diao Minghuang and the others sank. Their worst fear had come to pass.

“Lord Blood Sword Emperor, we…”

Jiang Chonghuang hastily tried to speak.

BANG!

Before the words were even out of his mouth, the body held aloft by the Blood Sword Emperor was sent flying, crashing violently into the ground nearby. He coughed, spraying a mouthful of blood.

“Cut the crap. I don’t like listening to useless chatter. Hand over your treasures and live. Otherwise, die.”

The Blood Sword Emperor spoke indifferently. His voice wasn’t loud, nor was his tone particularly sharp, but it made everyone’s heart tremble.

This was the power of a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor. The Blood Sword Emperor was just an ordinary Martial Emperor in the Profound Domain; his former title had been Blood Sword Emperor, and he had only just broken through a few years prior. Even so, he was far beyond what Third Layer Martial Emperors like them could ever hope to match.

Ultimately, faced with the Blood Sword Emperor’s intimidation, Diao Minghuang and the others handed over all the treasures they had obtained here.

They didn’t dare hide anything, since everyone present knew what they had acquired.

“And you?”

The only one who hadn’t handed over their treasures was Xu Guanglin of the Xu family.

“Senior, we obtained a low-grade King Grade martial technique. We are willing to surrender it, but we beg you, Senior, to allow us the chance to make a copy.”

Xu Guanglin said cautiously.

They didn’t care much for Spirit Medicines, but a King Grade martial technique was exceedingly rare. With it, the Xu family’s power within the Celestial Capital Prefecture could advance by leaps and bounds. Even if it wouldn’t allow them to reach the level of the Xiao and Yuchi families, it would be enough to surpass the other three major clans.

That was why Xu Guanglin still clung to the fantasy of being able to copy it.

The Blood Sword Emperor’s gaze darkened. “Hand over the martial technique. Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance.”

“Senior, I…”

“You don’t know what’s good for you!”

A cold glint flashed in the Blood Sword Emperor’s eyes. Without another word, his withered, claw-like hand shot out, moving so fast that the naked eyes of Diao Minghuang and the other Tier Eight Third Layer Martial Emperors couldn’t even track it.

‘This is bad!’

Xu Guanglin was terrified. Goosebumps instantly erupted across his skin as the hair on his body stood on end, a profound sense of danger flooding his heart.

With no time to hesitate, he unleashed his Tier Eight Third Layer Profound Yuan, forming a protective shield around himself. Simultaneously, his Domain Realm as a Tier Eight Third Layer Martial Emperor flared out, enveloping the space around him.

“Senior, please calm your anger! I meant no offense…”

He cried out in panic, throwing a punch in an attempt to block the Blood Sword Emperor’s attack.

“Hmph. You still dare to resist.”

The Blood Sword Emperor scoffed. His hand descended, passing through Xu Guanglin’s Domain Realm as if it weren’t even there.

CRACK! The blood-colored palm shattered Xu Guanglin’s protective Profound Yuan and collided with his fist. With a sickening CRUNCH, the sound of breaking bone filled the air as Xu Guanglin’s right arm twisted and burst apart. Then, like an eagle’s talon, the Blood Sword Emperor’s withered hand clamped down on his head.

“Senior, spare me!” Xu Guanglin screamed in terror.

“Since I’m in a good mood today, I’ll spare your miserable life.” The Blood Sword Emperor licked his lips, his gaze savage and cold. “However, while you may escape death, you won’t escape punishment!”

THWACK!

The Blood Sword Emperor kicked out, and the sound of countless bones shattering echoed from Xu Guanglin’s chest. He coughed up a mouthful of black blood, his internal organs ruptured.

“My Profound Veins.”

Xu Guanglin’s face turned ashen. His Profound Veins… they had been shattered. From this day forward, even if he fully recovered from his injuries, he would be forever stuck at the Tier Eight Third Layer. Not only would he be unable to advance, but he would never even regain his former peak strength.

Diao Minghuang and the others watched Xu Guanglin with pity. ‘To think he actually tried to bargain with the Blood Sword Emperor,’ they thought. The man made no distinction between good and evil, was utterly capricious, and killed as easily as breathing. Not killing Xu Guanglin was, for him, an act of great mercy.

However, for a Martial Emperor, crippling his Profound Veins was no more merciful than simply killing him.

SHING!

He snatched Xu Guanglin’s Storage Ring, and after seeing the King Grade martial technique inside, a flicker of excitement passed through the Blood Sword Emperor’s eyes.

‘Looks like this was a good haul.’

Then, with a flicker of his body, he vanished into the opening and disappeared from sight.

“Ancestor!”

Only then did Xu Zhen and the others rush forward, their faces etched with anxiety.

“I’m fine.” Xu Guanglin’s face was pale. He quickly swallowed a few Healing Pills and said in a low voice, “We’re leaving.”

But before the words had left his mouth, the sound of tearing air echoed as Diao Minghuang and his men instantly surrounded them.

“Diao Minghuang, Jiang Chonghuang, what is the meaning of this?” Xu Guanglin said in a grave voice.

“What is the meaning of this?” Diao Minghuang sneered. “Hand over your Storage Rings, and each of you sever an arm. Do that, and we might spare your lives.”

The faces of Xu Zhen and his companions turned livid with fear and anger. They never thought Diao Minghuang’s group would actually kick them while they were down. Turns out, what their ancestor had said was true.

Seeing this, Xu Guanglin’s face twisted with rage. A flush of red crossed his pale face as a terrifying aura of Profound Yuan erupted from his body.

This aura circulated, finally coalescing into a terrifying vortex of Profound Yuan before Xu Guanglin, brewing with a world-destroying power.

“Jiang Chonghuang, Diao Minghuang, if you want something, then come and take it.” Xu Guanglin gave a cold smile. His expression was calm, but his body was trembling uncontrollably.

“Xu Guanglin, what are you doing? We only want the Storage Rings of the three men under you. There’s no need to self-destruct your Profound Sea, is there?”

Sensing the aura radiating from Xu Guanglin, the expressions of Jiang Chonghuang and Diao Minghuang changed. Their eyes narrowed as they spoke in a cold voice.

“Heh heh, I’m pretty much a cripple now anyway. I’d be proud to drag you two down with me before I die. If you’re going to make a move, then do it. Stop wasting time with words.”

Xu Guanglin sneered, coughing up two mouthfuls of blood. The aura around him was incredibly unstable.

‘How could I not know what they’re planning?’ he thought. ‘Whether we hand over the Storage Rings or not, we’re unlikely to escape with our lives. Rather than let that happen, I might as well detonate my Profound Sea. Even if Jiang Chonghuang and Diao Minghuang manage to kill me, they won’t get away unscathed. If they don’t die, they’ll be severely injured at the very least.’

At this thought, the Profound Yuan aura in front of Xu Guanglin grew even more violent, threatening to explode at any moment.

Jiang Chonghuang’s expression shifted. He retreated a few steps and forced a smile. “Brother Guanglin, we were just joking. No need to get so agitated. We’ll be taking our leave now.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he exchanged a look with Diao Minghuang, Mu Jin, and the others, and they all flew into the opening ahead, disappearing from sight.

Seeing this, some of the other greedy Martial Emperors also rushed into the opening. However, some, disheartened by the previous events, simply left the way they came.

Only then did Xu Guanglin let out a long sigh of relief. The violently fluctuating Profound Yuan aura around him quickly stabilized. However, gathering his power like that had aggravated his internal injuries, and he coughed up more black blood.

“We’re leaving this place immediately.”

Xu Guanglin had no desire to continue treasure hunting here. All he wanted was to return to the Celestial Capital Prefecture.

“Ancestor, there were so many treasures in this hall alone. There must be even more inside that opening. Isn’t it a huge loss for us to leave now?” Xu Ping and Xu Zheng asked, their eyes filled with reluctance.

“You two…” Xu Guanglin was exasperated. “Even a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor has shown up now,” he raged. “More experts from the Profound Domain are bound to have come to this mysterious place. With your strength, what treasures do you think you can get? You’ll get yourselves killed before you find a single thing!”