Eternal Heavenly Emperor

"Master Feng wanted to help a customer forge a Third Rank Treasure Artifact, and the requirements for hammering the base material were very high. I was brought over to use Thousand-layer Iron to make the base material, which fortunately succeeded," Chu Hao continued after a pause.

"Previously, because my strength was too weak, Master Feng requested a few Huayuan Pills from the Sky Heart Sect for me, which caused my cultivation to advance rapidly. After the work was completed, Master Feng was so delighted that he rewarded me with a cultivation technique named Nine Turns Fire Dragon Jue. It's an Earth Level Lower Grade technique that is completely compatible with my physique. After practicing it, I found that not only did my cultivation speed increase several times, but my Star Force also became extremely solid."

After Chu Hao finished speaking, Wu You and the ten others all showed expressions of disappointment.

Earth Level Lower Grade? The Yunliu Sect has several of those.

But, is this kid telling the truth?

Chu Hao, however, was not at all worried. There was nine parts truth and one part falsehood in his words. Except for the lie about Master Feng giving him the Nine Turns Fire Dragon Jue, everything else was true. After all, he had caused quite the uproar at the Sky Heart Sect, and Su Wanyue had even intervened forcefully for him. This was no secret in Guangyuan City, and anyone could find out with a little investigation.

He knew that Wu You and the others were unlikely to fully trust him, but once they learned the "truth," they would be even more hesitant to act against Chu Hao.

How could they act?

Let's talk about Master Feng; he's the number one Tool-Forging Master in Tianhe County, and even the Sect Master of the Sky Heart Sect has to be respectful to him. And Su Wanyue? Although no one knew her true identity, she was able to severely injure Jin Yunlin at the Sky Heart Sect and then leave unscathed. How powerful must she be?

These two people, who in the Yunliu Sect could provoke them?

As for the existence of the Nine Turns Fire Dragon Jue... Does the Yunliu Sect have the qualification to ask Master Feng about it?

Chu Hao was not someone who clung to old conventions. Currently, his strength was still too weak, and he needed to borrow influence when the opportunity arose.

Wu You and the others exchanged glances among themselves, as they were intimidated by the mention of Master Feng.

What to do?

Wu You lightly coughed and then said, "Chu Hao, according to the sect's rules, all the gains disciples acquire during their external training belong to them personally. Of course, if you wish to offer the obtained cultivation techniques or martial techniques to the sect, the sect will purchase them at an appropriate price."

"I understand," Chu Hao nodded, then deliberately furrowed his brows. "However, the cultivation techniques and martial techniques I obtained were all taught to me by Master Feng. Without Master Feng's permission, I dare not pass them on."

"That's the way it should be," Wu You smiled. The Yunliu Sect could not afford to offend Master Feng. Changing the subject, he said, "In a few days, it's time for the young generation's martial arts competition in Tianhe County, held every three years. This time, it will be hosted by the Sky Heart Sect—"

He paused deliberately, focusing his gaze on Chu Hao's face.

If there were any falsehoods in Chu Hao's previous words, he would show signs of nervousness now.

But Chu Hao remained completely unbothered. Not only had his ability to maintain composure long surpassed that of ordinary 19-year-olds, but most of his previous words were true, so he wasn't worried about being exposed.

"Our sect intends to send Jingwen, Luo Ping, and yourself as representatives, led by Elder Cao and Elder Luo, to visit the Sky Heart Sect," Wu You said. "We hope all three of you can bring honor to our sect and achieve good rankings."

"Yes," Chu Hao stood solemnly once again.

Back then, Cao Jingwen, Jin Yunlin, Yao Di, and Gao Fei were acclaimed as the Four Talented of Tianhe because they made a name for themselves in the previous martial arts competition. They left all other Heaven Talented underfoot and stood out as a group.

Chu Hao was eagerly anticipating finally meeting all the Heaven Talented of Tianhe County, including the next generation like Wu Shitong and Zhu Qi, who were part of the Seven Stars. Although they were slightly weaker than the Four Talented, that was three years ago, and it's possible that some might have surpassed Cao Jingwen, Yao Di, and Gao Fei by now.

—Of course, no one could surpass Jin Yunlin, who had already broken through to become a Martial Sect, solidifying his status as the foremost individual among the young generation in Tianhe County.

"Chu Hao, this is your first time becoming a Core Disciple. According to the sect's rules, you should be rewarded by being allowed to choose a cultivation technique or martial technique from the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion. However, the techniques and martial arts you master have already exceeded the limits of the third floor," Wu You paused, "for a talent as exceptional as you, I have decided to make an exception and allow you to study in the sect's Holy Land for three days."

Hearing this, Zhao Hongtu and the other nine elders all showed peculiar expressions—not shock, but more like... amusement.

"Go back and rest well for one day, and tomorrow morning, enter the Holy Land. After you come out, you will immediately depart for the Sky Heart Sect," Wu You waved his hand, signaling Chu Hao to leave.

Chu Hao bowed and exited.

Returning to the River Down Courtyard, Chu Hao explained the situation, causing Zhao Huan and the others to show angry expressions. "What's wrong?" Chu Hao asked.

"It's too unfair," Zhao Huan slammed the table.

Zhang Yunshen said, "It's said that many years ago, a meteorite fell in the Yunliu Sect, with inscriptions like a Heavenly Book on it. It's speculated that it might contain a supreme cultivation technique or martial technique, though no one has been able to master it. However, cultivating near the meteorite significantly enhances one's cultivation."

"But only three days. How could there be any significant progress?" Zhao Huan immediately fumed, "At that time, the Heavenly Book even attracted several War Kings, but they couldn't decipher anything. Therefore, the meteorite was merely a place for a few elders to meditate."

"If Chu Hao were allowed to cultivate there for a long time, it might be worthwhile, but it doesn't compare to the value of a cultivation technique or martial technique."

Hearing this, Chu Hao understood. The Yunliu Sect was "punishing" him.

—If you hoard your skills, you shouldn't expect to receive any secret techniques from the Yunliu Sect.

Chu Hao sneered inwardly. Now that he knew the sect's true face, he naturally wouldn't expect to gain any benefits from them. He would treat the three days as extra cultivation time, possibly reaching the late or even peak stage of the Six Meridians.

The next day, Chu Hao entrusted Flying Fire to Fu Xue and returned to the Broken Blade Peak.

The so-called Holy Land was located on the mountainside, its area unmistakably identifiable due to a large missing chunk, as if a giant had broken off a piece. It was the impact site of the meteorite, showing the robust structure of Sky Martial Star even though the entire peak wasn't destroyed.

If not, with so many experts fighting constantly, Sky Martial Star would have shattered long ago.

Chu Hao displayed his Identity Token all the way, entering the "Holy Land" without obstruction.

The area was a hollow, in the center of which lay a water-tank-sized stone, forming a deep pit with an indescribable aura permeating through, clearing and enlightening the mind.

The surroundings were deserted.

Chu Hao walked to the meteorite. Though he knew it held the "Heavenly Book," he wanted to see it with his own eyes.

One side of the stone indeed had many ancient inscriptions.

Chu Hao glanced at it and immediately displayed a peculiar expression.

He recognized the script.

It was bronze script.

From the Yin and Zhou Dynasties, inscribed on bronze artifacts.

Could this meteorite be from Earth?

No, impossible. This meteorite supposedly landed thousands of years ago, long before Earth's written languages formed.

But why was there bronze script here?

Chu Hao struggled to read the meteorite's inscriptions. On Earth, he had been an adventurer with a good knowledge of various ancient cultures' histories, greatly increasing his survival chances while exploring ancient ruins.

Indeed, this had saved his life many times.

"Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, Three begets all things..." Chu Hao finally read the words, his face full of astonishment. These were from the *Tao Te Ching*, written by Lao Tzu.

Now, it was impossible not to link this to Earth.

Chu Hao suddenly thought: Could his soul have floated through the universe for countless years, only to be reborn in this body? Otherwise, how could one explain the thousands of years' time gap?

Even if the meteorite had come from Earth... a few thousand years was insufficient for it to travel from one civilization-rich planet to another.

Chu Hao became exceedingly puzzled, thinking of Chinese ancient mythology where immortals could fly in the clouds. If these weren't mere myths, could there have been a real era of immortal cultivation?

On Sky Martial Star, Martial Artists at the Warrior level could control the artifact to fly. How different was that from the immortal sword flying in myths?

Mighty as War Gods, could they traverse the Star Universe and engage in interstellar travel?

For a moment, Chu Hao's mind wandered far and wide.

The *Tao Te Ching* had profoundly shocked him.

As he continued reading, he unconsciously extended his hand to touch the inscriptions.

Boom.

An indescribable sensation flooded Chu Hao's mind, leaving him blank before transforming into a Star Universe, with countless stars perishing and fragments traversing the cosmos.

"Dao begets One… One begets Two… Two begets Three… Three begets all things." An ancient voice resonated in Chu Hao's mind. This voice wasn't in Chinese, nor the language of Sky Martial Star, completely unfamiliar.

Yet Chu Hao understood it, transcending language and even species, a purely ideological and spiritual exchange.

Buzzing.

His body trembled, and a colossal Divine Palace appeared before his eyes, resplendent in gold, towering into the clouds. Outside the palace stood a giant statue of an old man, lifelike in a Taoist robe with long beard reaching his chest. Countless inscriptions covered his back, possibly the complete *Tao Te Ching* or perhaps more.

Though just a statue, it emitted an indescribable aura, evoking intense reverence at first sight. Compared to this presence, the Yunliu Sect elders were mere ants.

At that moment, a sword light flashed, and boom, the palace crumbled, the statue shattered into fragments, shooting into the depths of the universe, with a piece landing on Sky Martial Star.

The overwhelming aura left Chu Hao powerless, making him lose consciousness instantly.