Chapter 787 - 788: The Three Martial Emperors

Ye Xuan’s "Stellar Burst" strike had failed to seriously injure any of them, only inflicting minor wounds on the three men.

This left Ye Xuan feeling slightly disappointed.

However, the surprise attack that had somewhat disappointed Ye Xuan sent shockwaves through the hearts of Gu Fei and his two companions.

They could tell at a glance that Ye Xuan’s cultivation was merely that of a Tier Eight First Layer Martial Emperor, yet the power of the strike he had just unleashed was something only a Tier Eight Triple Peak Martial Emperor could produce.

’How could a young man like him...’

As core elders of Infinite Mountain, the intelligence they possessed was far greater than that of other disciples.

They were well aware that Ye Xuan hailed from Gale Light Academy in the Dream Realm Plain and was one of the individuals the sect had long wanted to capture.

But what kind of place was the Dream Realm Plain? An uncivilized, barbaric land where Tier Eight Martial Emperors were pitifully scarce, to say nothing of geniuses.

As far as Gu Fei and his companions knew, in a place like the Dream Realm Plain, anyone who managed to break through to Tier Seven Martial King in their lifetime could be considered an expert. To step into the Martial King Realm before the age of forty would make one the most heaven-defying genius imaginable.

But what about this Xuan Ye before them? He looked to be no more than twenty, yet he was already a Tier Eight First Layer Martial Emperor. And that wasn’t even the most shocking part. What was more terrifying was that his combat strength was comparable to a Tier Eight Third Layer Martial Emperor. Gu Fei and his two companions simply couldn’t believe their eyes.

This was a level of talent and strength that not even the chosen prodigies of their own Infinite Mountain necessarily possessed.

’This young man must possess some earth-shattering secret.’

The shock in their hearts vanished in an instant. Gu Fei and his companions exchanged a glance, and a flicker of greed appeared in their eyes.

A Tier Eight First Layer Martial Emperor who could unleash attacks on the level of the Tier Eight Third Layer. They immediately understood that Ye Xuan must possess some extraordinary item. Perhaps the sect’s entire painstaking scheme in the Dream Realm Plain had been for the secret this Xuan Ye held.

At this thought, Gu Fei and his two companions immediately surrounded Ye Xuan.

"I never imagined your strength would be so terrifying. You truly took us by surprise. A pity, but your mistake was staying behind."

Gu Fei suddenly grinned sinisterly. He raised a hand, and with a rattle, an ancient, grayish-black chain appeared in his grasp. It was unclear what material the chain was made of, but the links emitted a hollow, clanging sound as they collided, exuding a heart-stopping aura.

"Heaven-Trapping Lock Array!"

The moment they appeared, the grayish-black chains transformed into a dense net of shadowy links, completely surrounding the space where Ye Xuan stood. Enveloped by the chain-shadows, Ye Xuan instantly felt the space around him solidify completely.

’What terrifying spatial principles,’ Ye Xuan thought, surprised. He hadn’t expected an elder from Infinite Mountain to possess such astounding control over them. Combined with that grayish-black chain, the Domain Realm barrier he created was far stronger than that of an ordinary Third Layer Martial Emperor.

"Your cultivation is impressive, but you’re still no match for us. You only succeeded earlier because you had the element of surprise. If I were you, I would have fled at the first possible moment. Pathetically, you actually thought you could kill us with another sneak attack. You really are deluded. Your stupidity has cost you your only chance to escape."

Gu Fei sneered, continuously channeling his Profound. The binding force of the grayish-black chains grew stronger and stronger, trapping Ye Xuan securely in the center.

"Elder Gu Fei, why waste so much breath on this punk? Let’s just capture him and take him back to the sect," Blade Martial Emperor Li Zhan said sharply. "After killing so many of our Infinite Mountain members, this Xuan Ye doesn’t have much longer to live."

"No rush." Gu Fei’s gaze was frigid. "Capturing him and taking him back directly is letting him off too easy. I want to torture him first, so he understands the grave consequences of killing members of our Infinite Mountain. Besides, it’s best to first interrogate him about the whereabouts of the others from Gale Light Academy. That is what Elder Qi Tuo is most concerned with. Since this boy has appeared nearby, the others from Gale Light Academy can’t be far."

Trapped by the chains, Ye Xuan gave a cold smile. ’Looks like being discovered by Infinite Mountain isn’t entirely a bad thing,’ he thought. ’At least now they’ll believe that Vice Director Ge and the others have come to the Profound Domain with me. That should make Su Xiuyi and Vice Director Ge much safer in Celestial Capital Prefecture.’

"Good idea, but leave the interrogation to me." Fierce Ghost Martial Emperor, Elder Luo Mo, suddenly let out a savage laugh. He clapped his hands together, and a wisp of wailing black mist abruptly appeared. It then transformed into a ferocious ghost, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws. With a cold, malevolent cackle, it pounced toward Ye Xuan...

「Meanwhile.」

「Purple Beauty City.」

In a luxurious courtyard, an expert wreathed in Evil Qi sat cross-legged. Suddenly, he snapped open his eyes. A piercing light shot from his pupils, as brilliant as a flash of lightning in the night sky.

"Whew... After nearly a month of cultivation, I’ve finally eliminated all the Evil Qi from my body. I was so close... so close to having my mind consumed by it and becoming a mere puppet. Fortunately, at the critical moment, I was teleported out of the abyss, which is how I managed to save my own skin."

The man sighed, a look of lingering fear on his face.

If Ye Xuan had been there, he would have recognized him at a glance. This man was none other than the Blood Sword Martial Emperor, who had entered the abyss after they parted ways.

Of all the Martial Emperor experts who entered the abyss of the Ancient Demon Land, the vast majority had perished. The Blood Sword Martial Emperor, however, had been incredibly lucky, getting teleported out just moments before his own demise, barely cheating death.

Upon returning to Purple Beauty City, he had gone directly into seclusion. It took him nearly a full month to completely purge the demonic Evil Qi that had invaded his body and fully heal his wounds.

’I wonder what else has happened in Celestial Yin Valley during this time.’

The Blood Sword Martial Emperor raised his hand, took out a jade slip, and immersed his Profound Sense within it.

This was his communication jade slip. Although he was a Loose Cultivator, he was still a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor with many friends in the Profound Realm Third Heaven. If any major news broke, someone was sure to inform him.

’Hm? The Profound Domain’s Law Enforcement Hall has gotten involved and is fully investigating the truth behind the opening of that mysterious land?’

’And the major powers from the Profound Realm Sixth Heaven have come to Celestial Yin Valley to hold a large-scale auction, hoping to acquire the treasures that flowed out of that mysterious land?’

The Blood Sword Martial Emperor muttered to himself as he continued to read.

’Huh? Infinite Mountain has issued a kill-on-sight order for two young men who appeared in the mysterious land? Who would be so bold as to offend Infinite Mountain in the Profound Domain? Could it be that something happened to Young Master Xuan Ye or Qi Cheng? Let me see...’

Suddenly, the Blood Sword Martial Emperor saw an item about Infinite Mountain that made his heart jump. Thinking something had happened to Ye Xuan and Zhan Shang, he quickly clicked to see the details.

At that one look, the Blood Sword Martial Emperor’s eyes shot wide open.

"Those two little bastards..."

"ARGH!"

He let out a sudden roar. A terrifying wave of energy swept out, and with a BOOM, the decorative rockery and pond in the courtyard were instantly blasted to dust. The Blood Sword Martial Emperor’s face was twisted with absolute fury.

"Damn it! How dare those two deceive me... They deserve to die ten thousand deaths."

Originally, the Blood Sword Martial Emperor had assumed Infinite Mountain was so enraged because some accident had befallen Ye Xuan and Zhan Shang. He never expected that upon reading the details, he would discover that the two people Infinite Mountain wanted were none other than Ye Xuan and Zhan Shang.

How could he not understand now? Back in that mysterious land, he had been played for an absolute fool by Ye Xuan and Zhan Shang.

A great and powerful Nine Heavens Martial Emperor, twisted around the fingers of two young kids. The anger in the Blood Sword Martial Emperor’s heart erupted like a volcano.

"Bastards! You dare to trick me!"

The Blood Sword Martial Emperor panted heavily, his body shooting to a stand. Suddenly, his eyes paused as if he’d remembered something. He abruptly pulled a jade slip from his Storage Ring.

’I remember giving that brat a communication jade slip when I left,’ he thought. ’If he still has it on him, and as long as he’s within a few ten-thousand miles, I’ll be able to find his exact location.’

The Blood Sword Martial Emperor’s terrifying Profound Sense billowed out, instantly penetrating the jade slip. A moment later, his eyes snapped open again, a sinister, delighted expression on his face.

"The jade slip’s aura is currently ten thousand li east of Purple Beauty City. It seems the brat is still alive. Good. I’m going to see where he got the gall to deceive me. If I don’t tear him limb from limb, won’t I bring shame to my title of Blood Sword!"

With an enraged roar, the Blood Sword Martial Emperor’s figure flickered and vanished into the void, streaking toward the location ten thousand li east of Purple Beauty City.

Back in the valley, the Fierce Ghost Martial Emperor’s attack was about to crash down on Ye Xuan.

"Kid, I advise you not to resist. My Fierce Ghost Possession technique attacks the soul directly. The more you fight back, the stronger the pain will be. Trust me, this is a level of agony you absolutely cannot endure. As long as you obediently allow my Fierce Ghost to possess you and tell me what I want to know, your suffering will naturally be greatly reduced."

Fierce Ghost Martial Emperor Luo Mo sneered, his gaze cruel and savage.

Beneath the grayish-black chains, Ye Xuan, who had remained expressionless all this time, finally smiled at the last second before the ghost struck. "Is that so? Even so, I’d still like to experience the true strength of you three core elders of Infinite Mountain."

CLANG!

As his voice fell, the Sword of Judgment on Ye Xuan’s back suddenly flew from its sheath. A flash of blue light blossomed forth, transforming into a brilliant beam of lightning-infused Sword Qi that soared into the air and slashed viciously down upon the ferocious black ghost.

"SCREEE!"

The black ghost, which had been condensed from soul essence and resentful energy, let out a piercing shriek. Enveloped by the blue lightning Sword Qi, its body began to emit black smoke before it collapsed entirely, its soul scattered to the winds.

"Is this your so-called agonizing attack? It’s nothing special."

Ye Xuan chuckled softly. Within the space still enveloped by the grayish-black chains, his figure suddenly shot upward, as nimble as a swift on the wind.

"What?"

The three elders of Infinite Mountain stared in utter astonishment.