Immortal Martial Emperor

"Well now, where did he go?"

Hong Yu's voice was loud, and everyone heard him.

Instantly, tens of thousands of gazes swiveled in Chengyun Long's direction.

Chengyun Long had already snuck to the edge of the crowd. He was just about to leave the banquet hall when he froze, his hand on the door. He felt thousands of eyes burning into his back.

Even without turning around, he could feel the weight of tens of thousands of gazes fixed upon him.

'Damn it. Tang Zhan and Cheng Zhen really screwed me over this time.'

Chengyun Long wanted to cry but had no tears.

He knew that if he tried to leave now, his days in the Ice Kingdom would be numbered.

He could only brace himself and slowly turn around.

Facing the stares of tens of thousands, even someone like him who was used to grand occasions couldn't help but feel his scalp tingle. A bitter, unending smile plastered on his face, he waved stiffly. "H-Hello, everyone!"

"Whoa there, Elder Cheng, don't you go saying hello to us!"

"That's right! We don't know you that well!"

Several powerhouses who had once been on friendly terms with him all waved their hands dismissively, eager to distance themselves from Chengyun Long.

Hong Yu was the one truly worth currying favor with now!

On one hand, you had a young genius: promising, powerful, with heaven-defying potential. He was a Tier Five Spiritual Craftsman in both the Alchemy Dao and Artifact Dao, and even the honorary Vice Chairman of the Ice Kingdom's Spiritual Craftsman Guild.

On the other, an over-eighty-year-old has-been Elder who was only a Tier Four Spiritual Craftsman, known for his terrible temper, arrogance, and insatiable greed from days past.

The crowd knew exactly whose side to be on!

Watching the very people who used to flatter him now meet him with uncharacteristic scorn and schadenfreude, Chengyun Long's face shifted through shades of white and green. In that moment, he seemed to age by decades.

A bitter taste filled his mouth as he looked at Hong Yu. "Vice Chairman Hong, must you really drive me to my death?"

'There are thousands of tables in this hall, all made of incredibly hard Hua Gang Cyan Rock. Even if I could use my power to crush them, there's no way I could eat them all!'

'Even if I managed to eat them, I'd probably burst to death, wouldn't I?'

Hong Yu broke into a deceptively innocent smile. "What are you talking about, Elder Cheng? When have I ever tried to drive you to your death?"

"You're making me swallow all these tables. That's a death sentence, isn't it?" Chengyun Long said through clenched teeth.

Hong Yu burst out laughing. "Elder Cheng, you're the one who proposed this bet. How am I the one forcing you?"

"That's right, Elder Cheng! Don't you pride yourself on your unparalleled integrity? What, planning to go back on your word now?"

"I think you'd better start eating, Elder Cheng. Otherwise, the Cheng Family's reputation will be ruined because of you!"

"What a fucking disgrace. He made the bet himself but doesn't have the guts to honor it."

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. When a wall starts to crumble, everyone gives it a push.

At this moment, Chengyun Long felt utterly lost. After a long pause, he let out a desolate sigh. "Fine... so be it. Since none of you are willing to let me go, what does it matter if I eat them?"

As he spoke, Chengyun Long walked over to a table and took a savage bite out of it.

The Hua Gang Cyan Rock made a loud CRUNCHING sound in his mouth. Relying on his Primordial Core Realm cultivation, he managed to chew it to pieces and swallow.

After that first bite, his face turned a deathly pale, but he went in for another.

Hong Yu watched Chengyun Long's retreating back, his gaze as calm as ever.

'I never offended this man, yet he repeatedly tried to kill me, and even wanted to cripple me. Such a vicious and unreasonable person deserves no sympathy!'

After swallowing the third Hua Gang Cyan Rock table, Chengyun Long could not take another bite. His eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he collapsed on the floor.

His eyes were filled with bewilderment and resentment...

Cheng Zhen and Tang Zhan could only order their men to carry Chengyun Long away, and the members of the Tang and Cheng Families fled in disgrace.

The entire banquet hall returned to a state of calm.

However, the annual conference had transformed into a celebration for Hong Yu's promotion to honorary Vice Chairman.

Following the banquet was an auction.

During the auction, the great masters of the Spiritual Craftsman Guild presented their finest works from the past year. All proceeds from the auction would serve as the Guild's operating funds for the coming year.

Hong Yu took out the Three-Colored Fetus Spirit Pill and entered it into the auction.

The final sale price was a staggering 98.8 billion Gold Coins, and it was purchased by the Royal Family of the Ice Kingdom.

Many more people were eagerly waiting for Hong Yu to put the Fifth-Grade Primordial Weapon long whip up for auction, but the event ended without him ever bringing it out, much to their disappointment.

Instead, in front of everyone, Hong Yu gifted the Fifth-Grade Primordial Weapon long whip to Xu Wudi.

Xu Wudi's weapon of choice was a long whip Primordial Weapon, and his previous one was a Third Grade Advanced.

Now, with a Fifth-Grade Primordial Weapon, he could master its use after a short period of attunement. His combat prowess would increase again, further solidifying his seat as the First True Dragon.

This act of immense generosity made the eyes of the various faction leaders gleam, cementing their belief that Hong Yu was a figure worth befriending.

So much so that when Hong Yu requested a spot to adventure in the Ice Tower, not a single person in the vast banquet hall raised an objection. Instead, a chorus of approval surged like a tide.

After a clamorous night, Hong Yu finalized his plans to head to the Ice Tower in two days.

The banquet also came to a close.

But the legend of Hong Yu, this Tier Five Spiritual Craftsman who was a dual master of the Alchemy and Artifact Daos, was destined to be only just beginning. As these powerhouses dispersed, stories and tales of his feats would only intensify and spread.

Before long, Hong Yu's name would surely be known in every street and alley of the Ice Kingdom!

Of course...

But all of that was a story for another time.

Hong Yu accompanied Xu Wudi and his daughter, driving a chariot back to the Xu Family estate.

They agreed to meet again in two days when the Ice Tower opened, and then Hong Yu went into a state of seclusion.

While he certainly intended to increase his strength before the Ice Tower trip, the more important reason for this seclusion was the Storage Ring full of Artifact Refining Materials that Lantian Dou had given him. Hong Yu planned to use these two days to enhance the Godslaying Spear with the materials inside.

If he could unlock its second Seal, the Godslaying Spear would be no weaker than any Fifth-Grade Primordial Weapon, and his own combat prowess would rise to another level.

"Nine Dragon Celestial Cauldron!"

With a flip of his palm, red light radiated outwards, and the Nine Dragon Celestial Cauldron, able to change its size at will, landed before Hong Yu.

This Nine Dragon Celestial Cauldron was an extraordinary object!

Not only could it automatically refine Primordial Cores and Primordial Weapons matching Hong Yu's cultivation level, but it could also upgrade itself by absorbing essence during the refining process. As of now, five of the nine dragon inscriptions were filled with a bright crimson color.

This meant that the Nine Dragon Celestial Cauldron was capable of refining any Primordial Weapon and Spirit Pill up to the Fifth Grade.

'If all nine dragon inscriptions were filled with that red light, then refining Nine-Grade Divine Pills and Divine Weapons in the future would be a piece of cake.' Hong Yu's eyes shone, and he was practically drooling!

Nine-Grade Divine Pills and Divine Weapons!

These were Supreme Treasures that could tempt even Venerable Powerhouses, and they were all priceless items with no market to be found.

Forget the Southern Border Profound Domain; even across the five great domains of the entire Cyan Cloud Continent, there were probably very few Tier Nine Spiritual Craftsmen!

'Chairman Lan's private collection is really something else. He casually gave me over thirty thousand types of Artifact Refining Materials. I'll start by picking out the ones that can upgrade the Godslaying Spear. Two days should be enough time to complete its attunement, right?'

Hong Yu stroked his chin and began sorting through the materials in the Storage Ring.

Attunement was not the same as Refining.

Refining was equivalent to starting from scratch, from extracting the essence of the materials to hammering the Artifact Embryo—all of it could be done according to one's own will.

Even the most difficult step—carving the Spirit Array Runes—could be handled freely.

But re-attuning a Primordial Weapon was completely different.

The difficulty was far greater!

Take attuning the Godslaying Spear, for instance. He had to unlock the second Seal and strengthen the weapon, all without affecting its original structure.

It was like trying to carve a sculpture on a single strand of hair.

One careless move could snap the fragile strand, causing the entire hair to break.

Hong Yu was extremely careful. Fortunately, his Spiritual Power was incredibly strong. He was Insightful, able to Peer into the Essence of things.

Combined with the strong theoretical foundation from the Initial Understanding of the Dao of Artifacts and the assistance of the Nine Dragon Celestial Cauldron, unlocking the second Seal of the Godslaying Spear through attunement was difficult, but by no means an impossible task for Hong Yu!

Once all his preparations were complete, Hong Yu tossed the Godslaying Spear into the Nine Dragon Celestial Cauldron.

Five blood-red dragon inscriptions began to slither across the cauldron's surface.

Five blood dragons spat out streams of flame, which wrapped around the Godslaying Spear and burned it until it glowed bright red.

'I can also try to integrate the corpse of that powerful Desolate Beast with Dragon Race bloodline that I got from the valley floor into the Godslaying Spear!'

That black Desolate Beast had been incredibly powerful.

It had taken a hero of a past generation, fighting with his very life on the line, to finally slay it, which allowed the Godslaying Spear to devour the essence of the Dragon Race bloodline in its body.

Its very bones, without any attunement, were comparable to a Fourth-Grade Primordial Weapon.

If he could successfully smelt them into the Godslaying Spear, the spear's potential would undoubtedly rise to a new level.

Of course...

This was a risky gambit on Hong Yu's part!

Success would be wonderful, but if he failed, no one could say for sure what kind of change the Godslaying Spear might undergo.

But Hong Yu was determined to go through with it.

Fortune favors the bold, as the saying goes.

...

While Hong Yu was wholly engrossed in attuning the Godslaying Spear...

「In a secluded courtyard in a remote corner of the Ice Kingdom」

Tang Zhan and Cheng Zhen, now in disguise, sat stiffly.

This was the place the two used for their secret meetings.

However...

Today, the two weren't speaking. A hint of anxiety was etched on their faces, as if they were awaiting someone's arrival.

Before long, the sound of a chariot's rolling axles echoed from beyond the gate. Tang Zhan opened the door himself. Only he and Cheng Zhen were present in the vast courtyard.

As the door opened, a figure that seemed to have been bathed in the Asura Purgatory slowly walked in.

The man had long, blood-red hair, and his blood-red robes only served to accentuate his vicious and cruel aura.

It was Liang Hunran, the Grand Elder of the Blood Demon Palace and one of the top ten experts in the Ice Kingdom!

"Grand Elder Liang!"

Tang Zhan said.

Liang Hunran nodded, walked straight into the house, and sat at the table. Exuding an intimidating aura without any show of anger, he scanned the two of them. "You two have summoned me. Is there something you need?"

Cheng Zhen smiled faintly. "Does Grand Elder Liang truly not know?"

"Heh, Patriarch Cheng jests. I don't know any Mind Reading Technique. How could I possibly understand what you two are thinking?" Liang Hunran said coolly, giving no ground.

Cheng Zhen frowned, slightly displeased.

Tang Zhan, ever the more tactful one, smiled. "Gentlemen, we all share a common enemy. Why must we make the atmosphere so tense?"

"A common enemy?"

Liang Hunran glanced at Tang Zhan and stated calmly, "In that case, you must be here to deal with Hong Yu and the Xu Family, correct?"

"The Grand Elder is as perceptive as ever."

Tang Zhan nodded, his expression turning grave. "The Grand Elder must be aware of how terrifying Hong Yu's potential is. With his participation in the upcoming trip to the Ice Tower, I'm afraid both he and Xu Wudi will obtain powerful Treasures. If their strength increases yet again, it won't just impact our two families. It won't be good news for your Blood Demon Palace, either!"

"That's right! Hong Yu killed two of your disciples!" Cheng Zhen added.

A murderous glint flashed through Liang Hunran's eyes. He swept a cold gaze over the two of them, then slowly exhaled. "Tell me your plan."

Tang Zhan and Cheng Zhen were both delighted, and the three of them began their secret plotting.

Meanwhile...

Back with Hong Yu, something unexpected was happening to the Godslaying Spear inside the Nine Dragon Celestial Cauldron...