Eternal Heavenly Emperor

In the Sky Martial Star, Ninth-Grade Treasure Artifacts were the lowest level, and they were the easiest to make. One simply needed to polish the bones of ferocious beasts to form special textures, activating the power within to enhance the Martial Artist's physical strength.

But starting from Eighth-Grade Treasure Artifacts, things weren't so easy.

First, an Artifact Embryo needed to be forged, and then the inner core had to be embedded. The quality of a Treasure Artifact depended on the material grade of the Artifact Embryo and the forging skills, as well as the quality and quantity of inner cores. Each aspect was crucial.

Simply put, the more inner cores embedded, the greater the power.

The limit for Eighth-Grade Treasure Artifacts was three holes, but this required high standards for both materials and forging techniques. Generally, one hole was the norm, two holes were rare, and three-hole artifacts were extremely rare.

Two three-hole Treasure Artifacts.

It wasn't surprising for Jin Wuxiang to bring out one; the Jin Family was a Sixth Rank Noble Family with deep foundations. But Chu Hao? He came from the Lower World—could the Ling Family have granted him a three-hole Treasure Artifact?

Everyone's eyes inevitably turned to Ling Tianhe. If Chu Hao defeated Jin Wuxiang thanks to the Ling Family, the Ling Family would be gravely blamed.

Ling Tianhe hurriedly shook his head. Joking aside, the Ling Family almost hated Chu Hao to death—how could they have given him a Treasure Artifact, let alone a three-hole one? When he fought Chu Hao, the three-hole Treasure Artifact he used was only temporarily borrowed, not genuinely bestowed.

He couldn't compare with Jin Wuxiang. The Jin Family could afford to bring a three-hole Treasure Artifact, and it definitely belonged to them.

Although both were core successors of their families, their treatment was worlds apart. At least, he hadn't been taught any Earth Level Martial Techniques.

"Chu Hao, you truly surprise me," Jin Wuxiang said with a slight frown, immediately breaking into a smile. "But owning a Treasure Artifact doesn't necessarily mean your combat power will increase; it depends on what Swordsmanship you have mastered."

Indeed, if Chu Hao had the Grey Rock Sword but no advanced Swordsmanship to support it, then the Grey Rock Sword would remain just a Grey Rock Sword, unable to enhance his combat power.

Chu Hao twirled his sword and said, "Then come and see for yourself."

Jin Wuxiang grinned, exuding a chilling aura. He lightly tapped his treasured sword and said, "Then let me show you another of our Jin Family's absolute techniques, the Huanlang Sword Technique."

The Huanlang Sword Technique, it really was the Huanlang Sword Technique.

The surrounding onlookers gasped. Possessing two Earth Level Martial Techniques, what a concept! Clearly, the Jin Family was determined to cultivate Jin Wuxiang as the next Family Head.

Nearby, Ling Tianhe, Zhao Jian, Gu Zi, and others displayed envious expressions. Although they were also core successors of their families, they were not the sole candidates. In the Ling Family, there were Ling Tianyun and Ling Yueying, ensuring Ling Tianhe would not stand alone.

Chu Hao lightly flicked his treasured sword, saying, "Indeed, I'd like to see it."

"Take this." Jin Wuxiang let out a long howl, lightly tapped his foot, and charged towards Chu Hao. The long sword in his hand vibrated continuously, forming ripples in the air like waves.

Huanlang Sword Technique, true to its name.

Chu Hao nodded secretly. Regardless of whether it was Swordsmanship or Fist Techniques, they could crudely be divided into several realms. The lowest was to grasp the shape, simply imitating it.

Most people could achieve this level.

But clearly, Jin Wuxiang had surpassed the level of shape. With one sword stroke, waves surged, making one feel as if they were in real water, showing Jin Wuxiang's profound mastery of the Huanlang Sword Technique.

It was unclear how much power Jin Wuxiang could exert with the Huanlang Sword Technique.

Chu Hao's gaze was as sharp as a sword. He lightly tapped his foot and parried with his sword. Ding ding ding ding, the two Treasure Artifacts clashed continuously. Coincidentally, both swords were embedded with Fire Attribute inner cores, sparking flames with each clash.

Hmm?

Chu Hao suddenly felt his movement technique slow down. Under the influence of Jin Wuxiang's Swordsmanship, he seemed to be at the bottom of a turbulent lake, with water streaming in from all directions irregularly, greatly hindering his movements.

So, this was the Huanlang Sword Technique.

"Hahaha! How much of your movement technique can you still use?" Jin Wuxiang laughed loudly, swinging his long sword, making the dark waves more violent, faster, and fiercer.

In terms of destructiveness, the Huanlang Sword Technique wasn't top-tier among Lower Grade Earth Martial Techniques, but evaluating a Martial Technique wasn't solely about its destructiveness. Under the Huanlang Sword Technique, the opponent could barely stand, let alone exert combat power.

To defeat an opponent, one didn't necessarily need to enhance their own strength—weakening the opponent could achieve the same effect.

Such was the Huanlang Sword Technique.

Chu Hao's footwork became unsteady, like a drunken man.

"It's hopeless."

"Of course, the opponent is Senior Brother Jin, and this is a Lower Grade Earth Martial Technique."

"Being able to force Senior Brother Jin to use two Earth Level Martial Techniques, this guy has earned his honor even in defeat."

"But that's the end of the road."

Everyone voiced their opinions, believing that Chu Hao had reached his limit and defeat was imminent.

Jin Wuxiang, however, frowned slightly. As the wielder of the Huanlang Sword Technique, he knew best that Chu Hao's staggering movements allowed him to dissolve most of the hidden forces, not significantly reducing his combat power.

How did he manage that?

Jin Wuxiang was astonished. The dark waves were irregular, even he couldn't deal with them effectively, yet Chu Hao could adapt and minimize the Sword Technique's force—he wasn't human.

This wasn't about realm or power level, but understanding martial arts.

Was this guy a natural-born combat genius?

Jin Wuxiang's heart tightened. Although ranked below Cao Jingwen, who was one of the Four Talented of Tianhe, he had never feared him, as Cao Jingwen hadn't broken through to Martial Sect either.

The martial arts path wasn't guaranteed by initial talent. Many started immensely talented, famous in their regions, but gradually exhausted their potential and became ordinary. However, some bloomed later, suddenly excelling after reaching a certain realm, becoming astonishingly brilliant.

For example, Zhuge Fang of Haiheng County. No one heard his name before he was fifty, but after struggling to break into Martial Sect, he suddenly seemed enlightened. Five years later, he became a Warrior, ten years later a War General, and twenty years later a War King, earning great renown.

Thus, early excellence didn't mean much.

But now, Jin Wuxiang felt a sense of dread—Chu Hao's combat intuition was truly terrifying, showing no sign of exhausting potential.

This guy mastered Shocking Force as a Martial Disciple, with a frighteningly high success rate. Now, even more monstrously, he quickly found a countermeasure against the Huanlang Sword Technique's influence.

This talent could be his greatest enemy, even crushing him and becoming someone he could only look up to his whole life.

For a moment, Jin Wuxiang wasn't sure what he felt—fear and envy, wanting to eliminate this opponent immediately. Or excitement and joy, having such a formidable opponent ensured a never-ending drive and pressure.

Nonetheless, he had to defeat Chu Hao now.

"Triple Wave Technique," he whispered, unleashing the strongest move of the Huanlang Sword Technique.

With a roar, amidst countless waves, a sharp sword thrust out, filled with dreadful killing intent.

Chu Hao's eyes brightened. He had adapted to the Huanlang Sword Technique somewhat, but Jin Wuxiang wouldn't give him more time. Sure enough, the most lethal strike had arrived.

He slightly raised his right hand, finally launching the Mad Thunder Sword Technique.

Just one move.

Thunderclap Miles, go.

Chu Hao swung his sword, and sparks of lightning flickered at the sword's tip.

Boom.

The two clashed again. Onlookers seemed to see a giant wave crashing into endless lightning—a grand spectacle. Some with weaker spirits even broke into a cold sweat, hearts pounding as if about to explode.

Too terrifying.

Were these two really martial masters?

Who won? Who lost?

This must be their strongest clash, the result evident.

Chu Hao supported himself with his sword, with a wound from his left shoulder to his right rib, blood spurting out. He swayed, seemingly on the verge of collapse. Jin Wuxiang fared no better, sporting a cross-shaped chest wound, his face pale.

Both were severely injured.

Just as everyone thought it was a draw, Jin Wuxiang suddenly collapsed, immobile, clearly unconscious.

Though Chu Hao barely had any strength left, one was standing, the other unconscious. The victor was obvious.

"Chu Hao wins and replaces Jin Wuxiang as the third. Jin Wuxiang ranks fourth," Zhao Hongtu announced, looking at Chu Hao with astonishment.

Jin Wuxiang wasn't weak—a genius using two Earth Level Martial Techniques—yet still futile against Chu Hao. More frightening, Chu Hao was only at Six Meridians.

An over-the-top challenge was one thing, but the foe was also a genius.

He won, again.

River Down Courtyard disciples were ecstatic. Despite all being core disciples, third place and fourth were worlds apart.

"Junior Brother Chu, do you still wish to challenge me?" Luo Ping smiled, downing wine.

Chu Hao barely managed a smile. "Next time. Now, I just want to sleep." Though he beat Jin Wuxiang, it was his limit, barely standing, supported only by the Grey Rock Sword.

Hearing this, Zhao Huan and others rushed to help Chu Hao off the stage.

River Down Courtyard disciples cheered, their eyes blazing, welcoming a hero.

—To those from the Lower World, Chu Hao was indeed a hero.

First clinching first in the Outer Sect disciple contest, entering the Inner Sect within half a year, making it into the top ten, even toppling core disciples one after another.

Compared to him, the former Outer Sect's top talent, Mo Guxin, seemed utterly worthless.