Chapter 493 - 485: Broken Ring! Eighth-Ring Martial Emperor

Chapter 493: Chapter 485: Broken Ring! Eighth-Ring Martial Emperor

An uproar erupted as everyone’s emotions were stirred to a fever pitch! The Martial Artists who made it to Holy Tomb Mountain were no fools. The weak had always known to keep their heads down to survive. But someone like Mu Chen? They had never seen anything like him before!

Chu Aoqing grabbed Mu Chen’s arm, her eyes wide and vacant. "Mu Chen! Do you have any idea what the consequences of your actions will be?"

Feeling the grip on his arm tighten, Mu Chen froze for a moment but didn’t turn around. His long blue hair hung over his eyes, obscuring his expression.

’Trash...’

’Once your provocation escalates into a formal challenge, even I won’t be able to interfere in your fight.’

’I hear from my little sister that you have a couple of beautiful women by your side, and one is supposedly even prettier than her. From the looks of it, you’ve always just been a spineless wimp hiding behind women. As the saying goes, behind every cowardly man is a bunch of tough women...’

’So, Mu Chen! Endure it!!’

’A guy like you will be a wimp, a coward, and a piece of trash for your whole life. Trash, we have plenty of time...’

The voices of Shan Tianyu and Chu Aoqing echoed in his mind, finally shattering the last of his composure. He whipped his head around, his tightly shut eyes snapping open. Purple-gold lightning flashed within his pupils, which spun like icy flowers, and he glared at Chu Aoqing with uncontrollable rage.

"Are you done?"

His voice was so cold it sent a chill down Chu Aoqing’s spine. When she met his strange, fantastical eyes, her very soul trembled.

"I am not a coward, and I am not trash. Do you think being in the Venerable Realm is so incredible?" A bone-chillingly cold aura seeped from Mu Chen’s body as he tore his arm from Chu Aoqing’s grasp. The Thunder Light in his Ice Extreme Demon Pupils flared, emitting a sharp crackling sound as he fixed his gaze on Shan Tianyu.

"Do you think you, Shan Tianyu, are the supreme ruler of this Inner Mountain?" He took a slow step forward, the crackle of arcing lightning echoing with his every move. His aura intensified with each step, and by the time he stood before Shan Tianyu, his proud, kingly presence had stunned the entire dining hall into silence.

"I’ll show you who the real ant is!"

An ethereal Brahma Sound, as if descending from the heavens, echoed in everyone’s ears. In the next instant, the blue Martial Ring at Mu Chen’s feet began to flash with startling speed. The entire dining hall grew dim. A massive shockwave erupted from Mu Chen, sending tables and chairs flying with a thunderous CRASH.

"Shatter... Ring!"

BANG!

Like a giant Mirror Screen shattering, the blue Martial Ring at Mu Chen’s feet exploded. It dissolved into countless motes of starlight that flew into the air, spinning ceaselessly around him. This bizarre scene left every student present utterly astonished.

Broken Ring was a Secret Technique common across the Extreme Martial Continent, a technique every Martial Artist knew innately. Yet, despite being a Secret Technique, absolutely no Martial Artist was ever willing to use it. The reason was simple: the ring they shattered was the fruit of countless days and nights of arduous cultivation. Moreover, the power boost from Broken Ring was extremely limited! It typically only increased one’s original strength by one to three small realms, and it only lasted for thirty minutes! For such a terrifying cost, it had no practical use whatsoever!

"What an idiot!"

It was unclear who was the first to snap out of their shock, but they let out a derisive laugh. That laugh roused all the other students who had been stunned by Mu Chen’s words, including Shan Tianyu and Chu Aoqing.

Snapping back to his senses, Shan Tianyu’s first reaction was anger, but it was quickly followed by a sneer. In his eyes, Mu Chen’s actions were utterly foolish. ’A First-Ring Martial Sect... how much of a boost can he get from a Broken Ring? Third-Ring Martial Sect? At most, he won’t get past Fourth-Ring Martial Sect! And is there any difference between a Fourth-Ring Martial Sect and a First-Ring Martial Sect to me? Of course not! None at all!’

But Mu Chen, bathed in the light from his shattered ring, seemed deaf to their words. His eyes were locked on Shan Tianyu, as if he was the only other person in existence.

The starlight motes flared, and the dancing points of light suddenly pulsed with intense radiance before shooting into Mu Chen’s body in unison. With a deafening ROAR, Mu Chen felt the bottlenecks of his Martial Artist Realm shatter one after another! Even he had no idea what heights he would reach!

At Mu Chen’s feet, the blue Martial Ring that had vanished reappeared—a clear sign of his realm increasing after using Broken Ring. A second blue Martial Ring quickly appeared, followed by the third, fourth, and fifth, which lit up all at once.

"Fifth-Ring Martial Sect?" Shan Tianyu was a little surprised. "He actually jumped five realms. Heh, his talent isn’t half-bad. But so what? An ant is still an an—"

However, before Shan Tianyu could finish speaking, the Martial Rings at Mu Chen’s feet flashed again. The sixth, seventh, and eighth blue Martial Rings suddenly materialized. In a single instant, Mu Chen’s Martial Artist Realm had skyrocketed from a First-Ring Martial Sect to an Eighth-Ring Martial Sect.

"..."

His mouth hung open, and Shan Tianyu swallowed the final word, "ant." He was utterly floored. ’Are you kidding me?! Shattering a single ring let him break through seven small realms in a row? Is that even possible?!’

Everyone knew that the number of realms gained from using Broken Ring depended on one’s innate Martial Arts Talent. Gaining one ring meant the Martial Artist’s talent was average. Gaining two rings meant their innate talent was uncommon, and they were considered a genius. If someone could gain three rings, they were a prodigy blessed by the heavens! But to gain more than three rings... Such a thing was unheard of!

’Just what level is this kid’s Martial Arts Talent?!’ Shan Tianyu wondered, gritting his teeth.

Yet, amidst his shock, a faint sense of relief washed over him. ’If this kid had just kept his head down and endured the humiliation, he could have cultivated in peace under Black Rose’s full protection. With a blessed environment like the Five Elements Sacred Domain and his unfathomable Martial Arts Talent, he would have surpassed me in less than five years. My own position would have become extremely dangerous!’

’But this kid is arrogant and reckless. He couldn’t handle being goaded and flew into a rage, revealing this terrifying Martial Arts Talent to me. Now that I know his secret, I have to crush this future threat in its cradle! He’s just an Eighth-Ring Martial Sect. Crippling him will be as easy as lifting a finger!’

Licking his dry lips, a hint of killing intent flickered in Shan Tianyu’s eyes. This subtle change did not escape Mu Chen’s notice. A cold smirk played on his lips. "You think this is my limit?! Then I’ll let you see what true power you can never hope to touch is! Break!"

With a low shout, Mu Chen stopped suppressing the surging Primordial Power in his body. Amidst a thunderous roar, his consciousness seemed to ascend to the heavens. The number of Martial Rings at his feet didn’t change at all! But their color... had completely transformed... into a sinister, eerie purple!

HSSSS...

A long, drawn-out chorus of gasps rose and fell throughout the hall. Even Chu Aoqing, who was always so composed that it seemed nothing could surprise her, couldn’t help but part her crimson lips, revealing her pearly white teeth.

"Eighth-Ring... Martial Emperor..."

"Eigh-eigh-eigh... Eighth-Ring Martial Emperor!!"

"Holy fuck! He’s an Eighth-Ring Martial Emperor! Someone help me, I must be going blind!"

"Are you kidding me?! This has to be fake, I’m dreaming! How can Broken Ring turn you into an Emperor?! If that’s the case, I’ll just go shatter a few of my own rings for fun! Maybe I’ll become stronger than a Venerable!"

"But... it’s real..."

Shan Ziyan, who had been coolly observing from a distance, finally covered her mouth in shock. At this very moment, she finally understood how Mu Chen had so easily defeated an Emperor Realm Martial Artist who was countless realms above him during the Empire’s competition.

’It’s because his Martial Arts Talent completely transcends the limits of his realm... but an Eighth-Ring Martial Emperor still can’t defeat my brother! So where is all this confidence in his eyes coming from?!’ Ziyan’s mind was in turmoil. Utter turmoil! ’Dilaka’s disciple...’ The title suddenly flashed in her mind. She understood. She finally, truly understood.

"Is this the miracle Great Elder Dilaka was talking about..." Chu Aoqing murmured subconsciously. Looking at the bone-deep pride etched on Mu Chen’s face, she made a silent resolve. ’Even if it means breaking the Inner Mountain’s rules, I have to protect him!’

"Ha... haha..." Shan Tianyu let out a strange, sudden laugh. He stared at the confident Mu Chen, a blood-red glint hardening in his eyes. "Kid," he said cruelly, "you are truly the most terrifying person I’ve ever met. If you had just tucked your tail between your legs and laid low, in three years, Holy Tomb Mountain would have been yours for the taking. Such a pity... such a shame..."

"A pity about what?" Mu Chen grinned.

"A pity that today, you will become a cripple for the rest of your life!" With a flick of his wrist, a pale green Gentleman’s Sword appeared in Shan Tianyu’s hand. The blade hummed with a sharp Qi Force that seemed capable of tearing space itself. A single glance was enough to know that this sword was of a quality no less than Chu Aoqing’s Qianye!

Before anyone could even react, the sword, wreathed in terrifying Venerable Realm Elemental Power, was already slashing toward Mu Chen’s neck...

"Oh no!"

Chu Aoqing’s heart lurched. She took a step, about to charge forward and block Shan Tianyu’s vicious strike, but froze mid-stride. Her face turned deathly pale. At her speed, she was already too late...

"Haha! Die!"

The sword blade sliced through the air with a sharp HISS. Every student in the dining hall squeezed their eyes shut. In their view, an Eighth-Ring Martial Emperor was still just an ant before a Three-Ring Martial Venerable!