Eternal Heavenly Emperor

Boom!

A loud crash resounded as two figures were simultaneously knocked back. The difference being, one figure flipped in midair and landed steadily, while the other figure flew straight and crashed heavily onto the ground.

The one standing was Chu Hao, and the one who fell was Gao Fei.

Chu Hao looked down, noticing a tear in his clothing at his lower abdomen and a bloody scratch on his skin. However, the wound was not deep, and such a minor injury was negligible. Still, he felt a chill internally, knowing that without the Jade Wall Technique protecting him, the previous strike would have caused him severe damage.

The Four Talented were indeed formidable and not to be underestimated.

Gao Fei struggled to get up, covered in dust and looking extremely disheveled. A trail of blood hung at the corner of his mouth, and his face was filled with intense surprise. During their fiercest exchange, he was confident that they would at least both be severely injured.

Yet, here he was, heavily wounded, while Chu Hao remained almost unscathed. This outcome was unbearable for him.

Both in terms of offensive and defensive power, he had been completely outmatched. Furthermore, he was two years older than Chu Hao. In this stage of life, being two years older was significant; two years later, Chu Hao would easily defeat the current him.

He had lost without any excuses.

Gao Fei's face was bleak, but soon a raging fighting spirit reignited within him. The path of martial arts was long, and being ahead momentarily did not mean eternal lead. On the contrary, if he lost his fighting spirit, that would truly be the end.

Being one of the Four Talented was both an honor and a pressure. Losing to Chu Hao now meant he lost his title, but he also felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

From now on, he was the one chasing behind, and the pressure had shifted onto Chu Hao.

"You won!" Gao Fei nodded, turned around, and walked back to his place.

The third of the Four Talented had fallen.

The surroundings became silent, with everyone's gaze turning to Jin Yunlin. If this guy hadn't broken through to Martial Sect, perhaps all Four Talented would have been defeated today. Originally, the Four Talented were evenly matched, and Jin Yunlin also had a significant chance of losing.

Jin Yunlin noticed the crowd's gaze and felt a surge of anger. Was he to be compared with Cao Jingwen and the others? Couldn't they see he was the only one who had broken through to Martial Sect?

These three fools all lost, regardless of what gave them the right to be on par with him originally.

He glanced at Jiang Qixuan, then at Qin Yulian, and finally stopped at Chu Hao, with a disdainful look on his face. If he made a move, even if these three joined forces, they wouldn't last ten rounds against him.

But he was now in Martial Sect. How could he challenge a martial master without losing face?

Old acquaintances like Shen Chao, Lv Han, and Hu Yan were even more stunned, finding it completely unacceptable. This boy, whose cultivation was once below theirs, had now risen to become one of the strongest in Tianhe County!

They all thought to themselves that they must forge a good relationship with Chu Hao. This young man's future was limitless!

Chu Hao also returned to Yunliu Sect, greeted by Elder Luo and Elder Cao, along with Cao Jingwen and Luo Ping, all looking at him as if he were a monster. Cao Jingwen's expression, in particular, was indescribably peculiar.

Naturally, Cao Jingwen had always been the senior brother of Yunliu Sect and one of the Four Talented of Tianhe, sitting in a highly prestigious position. But now, he had just been dethroned from that position, and Chu Hao had risen strongly to take one of the spots among the Four Talented.

The disparity was immense, leaving him unable to hold his head up before Chu Hao.

He clenched his fist secretly, an uncontrollable impulse welling up inside him; he could not return home with this shame! He was Cao Jingwen, the senior brother of Yunliu Sect, one of the Four Talented of Tianhe!

No, he still had a chance to turn the tables, and that was to enter the Ancient Trial Ground and break through to Martial Sect. No matter how gifted Chu Hao was, he would only face despair against a Martial Sect.

He must succeed!

Cao Jingwen lowered his head to hide the killing intent in his eyes.

Naturally, there were still challenges and responses, but unless it involved the Four Talented or Seven Stars, the battles were not as captivating. This year indeed saw the rise of many new talents, but Chu Hao, Jiang Qixuan, and Qin Yulian were too dazzling, overshadowing the others.

The defeated Gao Fei, Cao Jingwen, and Yao Di issued challenges. Though they had no hope of reclaiming their positions among the Four Talented, they aimed to at least secure a spot among the Seven Stars, as that was the ticket to the Ancient Trial Arena.

The abundance of talents led to fierce competition.

Among the Seven Stars, Zhu Qi was the first to be eliminated in a double defeat, missing out on both the Four Talented and Seven Stars. Soon after, Hua Sheng and Ao Ping were also eliminated. The new Seven Stars were composed of Wu Shitong, Feng Buping, Qin Gang, Cang Taiyun, and the original Three Talented, Cao Jingwen, Yao Di, and Gao Fei.

However, Wu Shitong, Feng Buping, and Cang Taiyun each challenged Chu Hao, Jiang Qixuan, and Qin Yulian, respectively, all ending in failure.

Chu Hao did not dare to relax even for a moment. Whether it was the Four Talented or the Seven Stars, the difference in power was minimal. If he stagnated, he would be quickly surpassed.

Two days later, this martial arts competition finally concluded, leaving some overjoyed and others in despair.

The Yunliu Sect was originally the biggest winner, securing two of the eleven spots to enter the Ancient Trial Arena! However, the Yunliu Sect was unique, with the sect divided into the Native Faction and the Outsider Faction.

If Cao Jingwen had remained one of the Four Talented and Chu Hao had just made it into the Seven Stars, it would have been a win-win, the best outcome. But now, the opposite had happened, leaving neither Cao Jingwen nor Elders Cao and Luo pleased.

The first Heaven Talented of the Native Faction had been overshadowed by someone from the Lower World!

If this news reached the sect, it would cause a tremendous uproar.

Chu Hao couldn't care less. Now that Yunliu Sect knew he had the backing of Feng Yezi, they wouldn't dare to act recklessly against him.

In the evening, Shen Chao, Lv Han, and Hu Yan came to visit, inviting Chu Hao to drink. Luo Ping joined uninvited, and soon they were all getting along. However, with outsiders present, Shen Chao and the others were cautious in their conversation, avoiding topics related to Eternal Spirit Sect and Minor Formless Mysterious Skill.

The following day, the new Four Talented and Seven Stars set off for the Ancient Trial Ground under the guidance of their sect elders.

It wasn't just Tianhe County, either. The Ancient Trial Ground belonged to the entire Middle Nine Counties, with each trial accommodating four hundred young participants. In theory, the Middle Nine Counties could have Fourth Grade sects, but Tianhe County only had three Fifth Grade sects, placing its power at the bottom of the counties.

This explained why Tianhe County only received eleven spots, while the top-ranked White Water County received seventy-five spots for each trial!

The comparison was stark.

What could be done? White Water County boasted five Fourth Grade sects and twenty-one Fifth Grade sects, overshadowing Tianhe County by a long margin. Securing eleven spots was actually quite an achievement.

"When we arrive, try not to speak. Be smart!" Elders from the sects warned.

Though they were formidable within their sects, in the Ancient Trial Ground, representatives from Fourth Grade sects were present. Even among Warriors and War Generals, their status was higher.

So, the less said, the better.

The Ancient Trial Ground was not within Tianhe County but at the junction of Tianhe, Matou, and Xingfeng Counties. Initially managed by these three counties, the trial ground fell under pressure from the other nine counties as their martial prowess declined, leading to a redistribution of entry spots based on county strength.

- After opening, only four hundred participants could enter the Ancient Trial Ground each time, showing how weak Tianhe County was.

Due to the long distance, Sky Heart Sect deployed a skyship, smaller than the one Yunliu Sect used to receive people from the Lower World but faster, equipped with cannons called Star Yuan Cannons. Using Star Stones as fuel, the cannons could deliver Warrior-level attacks, and with enough Star Stones, they could even reach War General-level power.

After just two days and nights, they arrived at their destination, a vast, desolate desert.

The skyship landed. While the young ones entered the Ancient Trial Arena, the ship served as a "guesthouse" for those outside. Naturally, Luo Ping stayed with the group, planning to return together later.

Many in similar situations meant Tianhe County's young participants were more than eleven.

The sect elders hoped these young talents could stimulate each other, fostering a competitive atmosphere to elevate Tianhe County's martial arts standards. Being at the bottom of Middle Nine Counties was a blow to everyone's pride.

However, to Chu Hao, it seemed more like a meeting ground for young men to pursue their chosen partners.

For instance, Qin Yulian. Not only was she extremely powerful and talented, but she was also exceptionally beautiful with a pure and elegant aura. Who wouldn't be enamored? A long line of admirers constantly surrounded her.

Jin Yunlin, too, seemed interested, frequently using teaching as an excuse to get closer to her, seemingly forgetting about Water Moon Fairy.

An Feifei also garnered admiration; after all, not everyone had the confidence to pursue someone like Qin Yulian.

In the martial world, there were more men than women, and even fewer strong, beautiful women, making them highly sought after. Once reaching the level of a martial master, one's lifespan increased by fifty years. These geniuses would almost certainly reach Warrior level, giving them a lifespan of 200 years, and with life-extending herbs, 300 or even 400 years weren't unusual.

In such a long life, having a partner to share it with was ideal, providing mutual support and advancement.

This explained the popularity of talented women like Qin Yulian and An Feifei.

"Xingfeng County has arrived!" Chu Hao's group was the first to arrive. Shortly after, another skyship appeared in the sky, bearing the mark of a massive Shuiling Flower.