Eternal Heavenly Emperor

This War Venerate was Duan Tianying's elder, named Duan Hong.

He hadn't taken Duan Wuque away, which meant he was specifically waiting for Chu Hao to kill him here in revenge for Duan Tianying.

"Hmph, daring to kill our Zhu Family's people, you truly have a death wish!" Another War Venerate stepped forward, a powerhouse from the Zhu Family, Zhu Chengyang. He naturally had heard about Zhu Chunlei's death at Chu Hao's hands.

With two War Venerates making their move, even if Chu Hao was the first among the War Kings, how could he resist?

Seeing this scene, Qin Chou, Duan Wuque, Lin Wunian, and others with grievances against Chu Hao all sneered. You might be invincible in the ancient ruins, but can you overpower a War Venerate or a War Emperor here?

Chu Hao swept his gaze across the faces of the two War Venerates and couldn't help but grow cold as he said, "When there were foreign enemies before, I didn't see you coming out. Now you're quite imposing, really doing Nine States proud!"

At these words, both War Venerates felt their faces heating up, and they became even more furious. This youngster actually dared to mock them?

"Seeking death!" Duan Hong took the lead, striking with a palm. His Star Force formed a large hand, mountain-sized, pressing down towards Chu Hao.

"Presumptuous!" He Luo leaped forward, striking with a palm as well, his Star Force shaping into a gigantic fist. With a thunderous impact, the terrifying force of the Star Force made many stagger where they stood.

"He Luo?" Duan Hong showed a surprised expression. "Why are you protecting this kid?"

Zhu Chengyang flew over, his gaze ice-cold, ready to strike at any moment.

"This is a future Head of the He Family!" He Luo proudly declared, no longer bothering to hide anything.

"Hahahaha, that kid's last name is Chu. How could he possibly be the next Head of the He Family? Even if you need to lie, you should find a better excuse," Zhu Chengyang immediately laughed, his gaze then turning cold. "Step aside, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Bullshit!" He Luo spat, "The death of your family member within the ancient ruins is because they weren't as skilled! Are you trying to bully the young with your greater power, is that honorable? I'm declaring this here: anyone who dares to touch a hair on Chu Hao is declaring enmity with the He Family. This is our Family Head's own grandson; dare to provoke our Family Head, and see what happens!"

These words caused many to change color.

The name He Lingtian was known throughout the Nine States because he was too flirtatious; many even looked down on him, thinking he disgraced martial artists by indulging in romantic affairs.

But no one dared to underestimate He Lingtian's power!

This was a peak War Emperor. If it were not for the ancient clans, there couldn't have been another War God. He Lingtian could very likely take that step. Even so, a peak War Emperor's cultivation plus an Ancestral Artifact still granted He Lingtian the power comparable to a War God.

If someone killed He Lingtian's own grandson, this hot-tempered old flirt might truly cause chaos with his Ancestral Artifact!

With a combat power of a War God, and more importantly, since He Lingtian's life was nearing its end, such a dying man, if desperate, could even make a War God hesitate, right?

Who would want to perish alongside him?

"Just because you say he's He Lingtian's grandson, he is?" A chilling voice spoke, and another War Venerate emerged, wearing a fire-red robe that seemed actually aflame.

"Gao Xuanyun!" He Luo's eyes narrowed. The other was a War Venerate from the Gao Family, and his strength exceeded He Luo's. His sudden involvement clearly aimed to doom Chu Hao, paving the way for He Shilong's rise to power.

"Perhaps this is your illegitimate son, using the name of Lord He Lingtian to scare people!" Gao Xuanyun retorted, "If the He Family Head learns you've been misusing his romantic reputation to bluff, he might just personally come to kill you!"

Zhu Chengyang and Duan Hong also showed faces of doubt, for they had never heard of such a mysterious successor from the He Family.

He Luo sneered, directly summoning the Netherfire Sword, clearly ready for battle.

Gao Xuanyun and others immediately showed apprehension; they hadn't expected He Luo to carry such a powerful Treasure Artifact. In their families, such treasures were only held by the Family Heads.

Such was the foundation of the He Family, which was precisely why the Gao Family schemed to seize control of the He Family for these Treasure Artifacts.

Many ancient clans exist in Nine States, but few have come from ancient times, maybe countable on two hands. The strongest artifact in each family was usually one utilized by ancient War Gods and was naturally kept within the family. Unless a catastrophe that threatened the clan's existence arose, these would never be used.

With the Netherfire Sword, He Luo's combat power was akin to a War Emperor!

"Miscalculated, He Luo actually carries such a Treasure Artifact like the Netherfire Sword. I also brought a Treasure Artifact, but it only grants me the combat power of a War Emperor!" Gao Xuanyun thought internally. Although he knew the He Family had many artifacts, he wasn't truly from the He Family; how could he have anticipated that a War Venerate would carry such significant treasures everywhere and remain here for years.

It could be said, even if the ten greatest War Emperors were here, they wouldn't be able to do anything to He Luo, since they were merely Dharma Bodies after all.

"Hahahaha, Brother He, let me lend you a hand!" An elder also flew over, holding a small tower emitting terrifying pressure, as if it could suppress heaven and earth.

This was a War Venerate from the Gu Family, whom Gu Qingcheng had asked to come.

Gu Family, similarly descended from ancient times, also had profound and unfathomable foundations.

He Luo was taken aback. Why would the Gu Family want to help?

"Hehe, this is the future son-in-law of my Gu Family," the Gu Family War Venerate said, pointing at Chu Hao with a beaming smile.

He was extremely satisfied with this future son-in-law — the champion of the Nine States Heaven Talented Assembly, surpassing many of the strongest War Kings, even defeating Su Wanyue, the Barbaric Girl, and Yuan Tiangang. His future achievements could at least reach those of the strongest War Emperor.

So that's how it is, He Luo also smiled and said, "Then He will not be polite!"

Chu Hao glanced at Gu Qingcheng, but the demoness merely blew him a provocative wink.

Two great War Venerates joined forces, each wielding powerful Treasure Artifacts. Gao Xuanyun and his companions dared not start a battle, for it would mean certain death.

"Hmph!" They each flicked their sleeves and turned to leave with their clansmen.

Chu Hao's gaze swept across the area, spotting several people from the Spirit Spring Sect, but none of Tianshuang and the other four War Emperors were present, which made him sigh in disappointment, wondering about their current situation.

"Let's go back to the family first," He Luo said. Though they had managed to drive off the three great War Venerates, there was still a chance they might deploy a War Emperor for an assassination, which could lead to complications.

"Kid, remember to come to the Gu Family to propose marriage early!" the Gu Family War Venerate said to Chu Hao.

"Haha, definitely! Definitely!" He Luo answered for Chu Hao. Forming a marriage alliance with the Gu Family would definitely take the He Family's strength to the next level.

"You rogue, I'll be waiting!" Gu Qingcheng waved her hand and boarded a small Skyship, quickly disappearing into the distance.

Chu Hao also waved his hand, then turned to Su Wanyue, "If you don't have any other plans, why not come back with me to the He Family?"

Su Wanyue thought for a moment and then nodded. She and Chu Hao were of the Taiyin and Taiyang constitutions. Dual cultivation between them could drastically increase their Cultivation, an allure too potent to resist. Whether there were other reasons, only she knew.

Fu Xue said farewell to Chu Hao. She needed to return to the Spirit Spring Sect and enter seclusion. She would not emerge until she had broken through to the War Venerate Realm.

He Luo summoned the Blood Batman. They had arrived as three and now they were also returning as three.

"About Yun Cai's situation, what do you plan to do?" Su Wanyue asked Chu Hao during the journey.

Chu Hao thought for a moment and said, "Since those people all possess Divine Beast bloodlines, Yun Cai's strength is bound to soar there. But those people are too overbearing and might make Yun Cai take on some responsibilities she's unwilling to carry. Therefore, I plan to find her after I break through to the War Venerate Realm."

Su Wanyue nodded. Once a martial artist broke through to the War Venerate Realm, they acquired the ability for bodily flight. Even if they couldn't win a fight, they could still flee, greatly enhancing their ability to survive. Additionally, Chu Hao had mastered the Intent Realm and possessed the Unique Life Spring, making him an invincible War Venerate the moment he stepped into that realm.

But starting from the War Venerate Realm, Body Cultivation became exceedingly difficult. Otherwise, it would add another layer of survival ability.

The three-headed Blood Bat flew day and night. For the sake of safety, He Luo deliberately took a detour. Half a year later, they finally returned to the He Family.

He Lingtian was overjoyed when he learned that Chu Hao had won first place at the Nine States Heaven Talented Assembly. He promptly set up a grand feast and sent invitations to all the major forces in the Nine States, inviting them to attend the celebration banquet.

But the Nine States were so vast that just going back and forth could take a long time, so the celebration was scheduled for three years later. By then, Chu Hao should have almost broken through to the War Venerate Realm.

In Nine States, one could only be considered a true powerhouse as a War Venerate, so once Chu Hao broke through, the celebration banquet would naturally follow.

An ordinary War King might spend a hundred years without being able to break through to War Venerate, but with Chu Hao's extraordinary talents, three years was enough!

He Lingtian had such confidence, so he wrote in the invitations that he was inviting everyone to attend the grand banquet celebrating Chu Hao's breakthrough to War Venerate and would officially announce Chu Hao's identity and his future as the next He Family Head.

"You rascal, if you don't break through in three years, I will become the laughing stock of the world!" He Lingtian muttered, stroking his beard.

…

Upon returning to the He Family, Chu Hao immediately entered seclusion with Su Wanyue to strive for the War Venerate Realm.

Becoming a War Venerate had many benefits.

Bodily flight was the most basic, but more importantly, a War Venerate could cultivate Divine Sense. Like Chu Hao, who had mastered the Intent Realm, he could enhance the power of the Intent Realm. Moreover, a War Venerate could cultivate Heaven Level Martial Techniques and Heaven Level Cultivation Techniques!

All these factors combined made a War Venerate immensely powerful — even a hundred of Chu Hao as a War King could not possibly compete with a First Tier War Venerate. The gap was just too vast.

Therefore, he was very eager to break through to the War Venerate Realm.

He and Su Wanyue practiced Dual Cultivation. The communication between Yin and Yang not only helped each other, but it also significantly reduced their dependence on Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. The union of Yin and Yang provided enormous energy to break through the barriers of the War Venerate Realm.

Time flew by, and the two remained in deep seclusion. It had been a year with no signs of activity.(To be continued. If you like this novel, you're welcome to give it a recommendation vote at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)