Chapter 248: North Emperor Wang Teng, Another Breakthrough!
"Greetings, Palace Master."
"Greetings, Senior."
Upon seeing the arrival of the Crimson Dawn Palace Master, everyone displayed expressions of respect. Even those filled with boundless fury had no choice but to suppress it.
Though the Palace Master stood alone, his mere presence was enough to make everyone feel as though a mountain pressed down on them, leaving them unable to breathe.
A Martial Emperor was akin to the heavens!
"What are you doing? Do you intend to harm my disciple?"
The Crimson Dawn Palace Master questioned them sternly.
"Senior, this person has killed countless geniuses within the trial space. Many brilliant young talents have met their untimely deaths at his hands. This blood debt must be repaid!"
The grand elder, dressed in ornate robes, gritted his teeth as he spoke.
He resembled a wild wolf driven to ferocity, baring his teeth and exuding an uncontrollable killing intent.
His grandson, who had the potential to become an Emperor, was dead. His spiritual pillar had collapsed—this was a hatred that could never be reconciled.
"Indeed. Our East Emperor Moon family's young lord also died at this man's hands. We demand justice!"
"Our South Emperor Hong family has suffered the same fate."
"The West Emperor Zhou family demands answers as well!"
"And the North Emperor Wang family will not let this go."
The elders of the Four Imperial Clans chimed in, their voices filled with righteous anger. With the backing of their prestigious clans, their tones grew assertive.
Even the Crimson Dawn Palace Master couldn't easily suppress the Four Imperial Clans on such a matter. After all, their own Martial Emperors were no pushovers.
"Oh? Are you trying to pressure me?"
The Crimson Dawn Palace Master's brows furrowed, and a wave of imperial pressure swept out. Instantly, it felt as though the sky had fallen upon everyone.
Their chests tightened.
Even breathing became difficult!
Their faces turned pale, and the courage they had only moments ago was crushed by the overwhelming might of the Martial Emperor.
Standing high in the heavens with his hands behind his back, the Crimson Dawn Palace Master swept his gaze across the crowd and said calmly:
"Since he has ascended the Legacy Stairway, he is now my chosen disciple. As for the others who perished in the trial space, they simply weren't strong enough. Who can they blame?"
"As martial artists, we grow through trials of blood and death. Countless bones pave the way to success. Do you not understand such a simple truth?"
"Wherever there is competition, people will die. If others can die, what makes your juniors exempt?"
The crowd lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
At that moment, a deep and imposing voice echoed from the horizon.
"The Palace Master is right—anyone can die, but there are distinctions."
"When ordinary people die, so be it. But if a descendant of the Wang family is killed, this Emperor must seek justice!"
Everyone turned to see where the voice had come from.
A majestic figure, shrouded in purple energy and radiating nobility, slowly approached from the horizon.
Around him, incredible visions manifested—nine azure dragons, nine white tigers, nine vermilion birds, and nine black tortoises. These massive illusions filled the sky, exuding an immense, oppressive aura.
"It's the North Emperor!"
"North Emperor Wang Teng!!"
Upon seeing this god-like figure, the crowd was filled with awe, while those who wanted Qin Zi dead were invigorated.
The North Emperor had made his move.
With this, even the Crimson Dawn Palace Master would find it difficult to protect Qin Zi.
After all, the North Emperor's reputation was even greater than the Crimson Dawn Palace Master's.
Long ago, the North Emperor was hailed as having the bearing of a great Emperor. Unlike the exaggerated praises heaped upon other geniuses, he genuinely possessed such talent, and he didn't disappoint—he ascended to Martial Emperor status in a remarkably short time!
He had been expected to continue his meteoric rise and become one of the titans among Martial Emperors, if not for an unexpected setback…
Nonetheless, he remained a living legend.
Though the Crimson Dawn Region was said to be ruled by five Emperors, North Emperor Wang Teng clearly held a special place, with the highest level of prestige.
Seeing the figure cloaked in purple energy, the Crimson Dawn Palace Master's expression turned serious.
"Does the North Emperor also intend to make an enemy of a mere junior?"
The Crimson Dawn Palace Master asked gravely.
The North Emperor glanced at him and replied indifferently, "It is not that I seek to trouble him. Rather, this insignificant ant dared to act without reverence."
"He dared to kill a descendant of mine, showing no respect for this Emperor. Since he holds no regard for me, why should I show mercy? The so-called grace of a strong man is not the same as meekly swallowing one's pride like the weak."
As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Qin Zi.
"Buzz!"
A look filled with mental pressure shot toward Qin Zi, and in an instant, it was as if lightning struck his mind, leaving it completely blank.
Only one word echoed in his mind:
"Die."
But at that critical moment, the Nine Phoenix Furnace, dormant within his dantian, suddenly trembled. An invisible wave spread out, dissipating the mental pressure.
"Huff… huff…"
Qin Zi escaped death by a hair's breadth. His face turned pale, and he stood gasping for air.
"Ding! Four-Origin Martial Emperor Wang Teng has developed killing intent toward your son. In line with the system's principle of a father's love being as vast as a mountain, and that a father must always win, your cultivation will now be elevated to the Four-Origin Martial Emperor level, making you invincible in this realm!"
Qin Chuan, hidden nearby, heard the system notification.
He now had 6,500 Father Points. With a wave of his hand, he spent 300 points to exchange for an even more advanced invisibility cloak—one that even Martial Emperors couldn't detect!
"Buzz!!"
Once again, his inner world expanded, and his body underwent another transformation. The energy within each of his cells surged exponentially!
His blood flowed like a mighty river, his heart thundered like a drum, and with every move, he could rend mountains and rivers asunder.
To a Martial Emperor, this world was far too fragile.
"North Emperor, how dare you use such despicable methods!"
The Crimson Dawn Palace Master, seeing Qin Zi's state, immediately understood what had happened and glared at Wang Teng in anger.
"Haha, I failed, it seems. It looks like this little ant has some hidden secrets within him."
The North Emperor Wang Teng chuckled dismissively. "In that case, I'll simply capture him first and uncover his secrets later!"
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, his body turned into a series of afterimages, rushing toward Qin Zi. His speed was so fast that it seemed to surpass time itself, leaving cracks in space as he tore through it, carving a dark trench behind him.
"You will not succeed!"
The Crimson Dawn Palace Master roared, spreading his hands wide, as if holding open the heavens. Brilliant colors exploded forth, creating a vibrant, protective realm.
"You're not strong enough to stop me!"
The North Emperor's eyes gleamed with dominance. The azure dragons, white tigers, vermilion birds, and black tortoises surrounding him all roared in unison, crashing into the colorful world the Palace Master had conjured.
"Boom!"
Crystalline fragments flew in all directions as Wang Teng's body cut past the Crimson Dawn Palace Master, breaking through his defenses.
"This boy… I must have him!"
A cold smile played across his face, his expression utterly domineering.
His right hand reached toward Qin Zi like a giant hand stretching across the heavens, capable of grasping an entire land…
"Clang!!"
But in the next moment, his hand struck an invisible barrier, sending sparks flying. His fingers bent painfully from the impact!
Before him stood a figure in white, tall and resolute, eyes cold as he stared at Wang Teng.
"What do you think you're doing?"