Immortal Martial Emperor

Before Hong Yu was no longer a pitch-black cave.

Here stood a massive hall, crafted entirely from brilliant, transparent crystal.

A brief inspection revealed to Hong Yu that it was carved from a single, complete piece of crystal, not pieced together from separate fragments.

This was a staggering realization.

A piece of crystal this massive had to weigh well over ten million pounds. Even an expert at the Primordial Spirit Realm would find it difficult to move.

Perhaps an expert at the Yin Yang Realm could only just manage to budge it.

But to carve it into such a magnificent palace? That would be incredibly difficult—an impossible task, even.

"What the hell is this place?" Hong Yu muttered to himself.

His eyes scanned the area, but he found nothing out of the ordinary. He then used his Spiritual Power to probe his surroundings, yet still detected nothing amiss.

Only then did he begin to cautiously approach the massive palace.

As he drew closer to the Crystal Palace, an ancient, time-worn aura washed over him. It was accompanied by a faint, oppressive might that seemed to originate from the very depths of his soul and bloodline.

"Ancient Hall of the Great Wilderness!"

Above the towering entrance, a massive golden plaque was mounted.

On it were five large words, seemingly etched by someone using immense finger strength. The power and exquisite control this must have required were terrifying to contemplate.

Crystal is hard, yet brittle.

Any lapse in control, even the slightest wisp of stray energy, could have shattered the entire crystal. To write those large words with such exquisite mastery meant that not only was the power astonishing, but the control over it had been honed to absolute perfection.

"Just who could have built such a massive ancient hall here?" Hong Yu was filled with questions.

Gazing at those five words, he had a vague feeling that the Ancient Hall of the Great Wilderness was anything but simple.

Each character seemed to contain infinite, profound mysteries.

The first character, "Tài," was forceful and domineering, like a Swordman focused on the path of pure offense.

The second, "Huāng," was flowing and vast, like a Martial Arts Grandmaster who emphasized profound foundations, requiring a unique state of mind to comprehend.

The third, "Gǔ," was solid and flamboyant, like a powerful Swordsman, arrogant enough to defy the world, wielding a sharp and deadly blade.

The fourth, "Diàn," was profound and chaotic, like a supremely powerful Overlord, an omnipotent being capable of blotting out the heavens with a single hand and dominating the world!

What a complex and powerful existence this must have been!

Though they represented different concepts and mysteries, and followed what seemed to be disparate paths, they all converged toward the same destination: supreme strength.

CREAK!

A piercing creak echoed out. The great doors had apparently been sealed for many years and had not been opened.

The sound was heavy and momentous, a sign that a long-dormant seal was being broken.

"Hm?"

Hong Yu's eyes snapped wide, his body tensing as if facing a great enemy. 'There's someone inside?'

"Don't be alarmed, little one."

A calm voice drifted from within the doors.

Hong Yu stared intently, not relaxing in the slightest. When the great doors opened fully and he saw who was at the entrance, his eyes widened in disbelief.

It was a small dog.

It wasn't particularly large, nor was it scrawny; it was about the size of a human infant.

Its fur was black and white, and every hair stood on end. Its eyes were like black gemstones, twinkling with a starlike luster.

Despite its canine form, its every movement exuded an air of graceful nobility.

"This junior, Hong Yu, pays his respects to you, Senior. I was forced to intrude upon this place. Please forgive me for any disturbance," Hong Yu said respectfully, taking a deep breath.

Although the dog's aura wasn't strong, everything about it felt uncanny.

Hong Yu didn't dare to underestimate it.

The small dog nodded. "Have no fear, I won't harm you. My master left this Ancient Hall of the Great Wilderness here, built to await a fated visitor. The fact that you were able to enter proves your connection to this place. Why would I blame you?"

"Thank you, Senior!"

Hong Yu breathed a sigh of relief and then asked, "Senior, what exactly is this place, the Ancient Hall of the Great Wilderness? And what great personage built it?"

"My master's name is simply Huang. Years ago, while traveling, he discovered a vein of Pure Profound Crystal here. On a whim, he forged it into the Ancient Hall of the Great Wilderness and buried it deep within the earth. Over the many years, quite a few people have made their way inside. I recall one who came several decades ago."

The little dog adopted a thoughtful expression, like a wise sage. "I believe he was called Xiahuang the First. He obtained a major treasure and has now apparently established a great Divine City in the True Dragon Battlefield, where he dominates the north."

'Xiahuang the First? An expert from the Xiahuang Family?'

Hong Yu's heart skipped a beat. 'He must be the previous generation's True Dragon,' he surmised, 'one who remained in the True Dragon Battlefield and was unable to leave in time.'

'But I never would have thought... not only did he obtain a major treasure, he even established a Divine City?'

Hong Yu asked curiously, "If I may ask, Senior, what is a Divine City?"

The little dog explained, "Within the True Dragon Battlefield, besides the native War Race, there are experts from years past who entered but failed to leave in time. They are ostracized and hunted by the War Race, so they form alliances. Under the leadership of each new generation of experts, they build Divine Cities to provide Shelter for themselves. With no hope of escape, they can only put down roots here to survive and multiply."

"After several hundred years and the accumulation of dozens of generations, a considerable number of experts have gathered. The strongest among them have established the Four-direction Divine City."

The little dog continued, "They are the Eastern Divine City, the West Gate Divine City, the North and South Divine City, and the strongest of all, the Xiakang Divine City. That Xiahuang the First is the strongest expert in the Xiakang Divine City. He's also the strongest human expert in the entire True Dragon Battlefield."

"I see!"

Hong Yu nodded, now having a better understanding of the factions within the True Dragon Battlefield.

Thinking of the War Race, a people he had yet to encounter, he asked curiously, "Senior, what exactly is the War Race?"

"Oh, they're just a group of clans from Ancient Times who survived and multiplied in this shattered fragment of the Primordial Realm," the little dog said with a laugh.

"However, the War Race of today is a shadow of its former self. Only the Eight Great Battle Clans are worth mentioning. As for the other Low Level and Middle-Level Tribes, they're pathetically weak. Enough of that. You'll learn about these things naturally once you're out. We should get back on topic!"

Hong Yu listened intently.

The little dog nodded in satisfaction and said, "This Ancient Hall of the Great Wilderness is a hall of treasures my master left for the fated. It's divided into an Outer Hall and an Inner Hall, containing a total of 7,800 different legacies. The weaker ones might be a Celestial Level Technique, while the stronger ones are a Supreme Treasure or a supreme legacy. Take Xiahuang the First, for example. His talent was about the same as yours. It was only after obtaining that major treasure that his power multiplied severalfold, allowing him to become the strongest human Martial Artist in the True Dragon Battlefield in a single leap!"

'About the same as mine?'

Hong Yu's eyes widened.

He was well aware of his own talent; he was a Demon Fiend who surpassed even ordinary geniuses of the Sixth Heaven Realm.

'According to the little dog, Xiahuang the First was also a genius at the Sixth Heaven Realm. That's an existence even stronger than Venerable Xiahuang and Xiahuang Shang. And after obtaining that major treasure, his power still increased severalfold?'

'What kind of power was that?'

"May I ask, Senior, what was the major treasure that Xiahuang the First obtained?" Hong Yu asked.

The little dog shook its head and smiled but didn't answer. "What the treasure was isn't important. You only need to know that what he obtained was merely one of the Middle Level treasures in the Ancient Hall of the Great Wilderness! Now then, little one, you can come with me and accept the trial of the Outer Hall."

"Only by passing the trial of the Outer Hall can you enter the Inner Hall. And let me tell you, compared to what's in the Inner Hall, the legacies and treasures of the Outer Hall are nothing but a pile of garbage!"

The little dog said with a wide grin.

Hong Yu took a deep breath and followed it inside.

The great doors shut automatically behind them.

The little dog pointed to a long, narrow passage ahead.

The passage was about ten thousand meters long and wide enough for a Chariot to pass through. At the far end, a black throne was faintly visible.

The little dog said, "In a moment, you will enter this Path of Trial. Trial Puppets will appear along the way. The strength of each puppet ranges from the Primordial Embryo Realm to the Peak of the Primordial Spirit Realm. You need to fight your way straight through. As long as you can reach the throne on the other side, you'll have passed the Outer Hall's trial. Of course, should you unfortunately fail and die along the way, I'll be sure to collect your corpse!"

Dark lines formed on Hong Yu's forehead. "..."

But the little dog paid him no mind, simply turning and leaving with a wag of its tail.

It was right there in front of him, yet when Hong Yu tried to give chase, he discovered that an impossible distance, as if thousands of miles, separated him from the little dog.

He was inwardly stunned.

At the same time, he looked at the long, narrow Path of Trial before him and took a deep breath. 'According to that dog senior, the treasure Xiahuang the First obtained must be in the Inner Hall. I don't know if Xiahuang the First is on the same side as Venerable Xiahuang or Xiahuang Shang. If he sides with Venerable Xiahuang, we'll inevitably become enemies. Regardless, I must get into the Inner Hall!'

With this thought, Hong Yu took out his Godslaying Spear.

A cyan light enveloped him as he unleashed the Cyan Celestial Transformation Dragon Technique. Dragon Scales instantly covered his body as his Dragon Spirit Sacred Body manifested.

WHOOSH! The Divine Demon Wings unfurled.

As the six ink-black divine wings beat, they stirred up a howling gale. 'It only said I have to get through the Path of Trial, not that I have to kill the Trial Puppets. In that case, I'll just rush through at my fastest speed!'

With his momentum surging, Hong Yu shot into the Path of Trial.

BOOM!

The moment he entered, Hong Yu's sprinting speed suddenly plummeted. His body shuddered and his eyes filled with shock. 'What's happening? Did the gravity just increase tenfold in an instant?'

He felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him.

His Divine Demon Wings felt incredibly heavy; even a basic flap required immense effort.

The little dog's ethereal voice echoed out, "I forgot to tell you, on the Path of Trial, all Body Techniques and flight are restricted. For someone like you with a flight-type Body Technique, the restriction is even greater. I'd advise you to retract your wings!"

"Son of a bitch!"

Hong Yu spat in frustration.

He reluctantly retracted his Divine Demon Wings, and just as the dog had said, the crushing weight lessened significantly.

Taking a deep breath, his steps now a little lighter, he continued forward.

He had only taken a few steps when suddenly... a loud whistling came from both sides.

Four Trial Puppets rushed out, each wielding a Primordial Weapon that pulsed with a powerful aura as they charged at him.

"Get lost!"

He kept his Godslaying Spear held firm in one hand, not even needing to use it against Trial Puppets at the Primordial Embryo Realm Level.

He lashed out with a fist.

BOOM! BOOM!

The four Primordial Embryo Realm Trial Puppets exploded on impact.

Hong Yu continued forward.

Ten meters later, more Trial Puppets appeared, eight of them this time.

Hong Yu still cleared them with ease. After another thousand meters, one hundred Trial Puppets appeared, attacking all at once. Hong Yu used his Godslaying Spear for the first time, but he still seemed relaxed.

Another thousand meters passed.

This time, he had to slay a full five hundred Trial Puppets.

Fortunately, Hong Yu possessed the Infinite Primordial Embryo, and his Primordial Gang's Power far surpassed that of an ordinary person, allowing him to rely on his immense strength to pass once more.

He stepped forward again. This time, the number of opponents dropped sharply to just four.

But the aura radiating from them made Hong Yu feel a hint of pressure.

Hong Yu couldn't help but give a bitter smile. He glanced at the more than seven thousand meters of the Path of Trial still ahead of him and felt utterly dejected...

'Damn it... at this rate, can I really make it through?'