Soul Emperor Martial God

Poison Emperor's seconding had genuinely surprised Xiao Yi.

Being one of the top three supreme strong among the Eight Emperors, he had seconded right away?

As the voice of Poison Emperor ceased,

More and more leaders and fortress strongs in the spectator seats began to second.

Clearly, Poison Emperor held high prestige in the East Sea Fortress.

"Hmm?" Xiao Yi furrowed his brows.

It would not have been a surprise to him if Ice Emperor was the first to second among the Eight Emperors.

A woman beside him spoke with a cold face, "The Black Wood Kingdom and the Heavenly Gold Kingdom are neighboring countries."

"Their relations are extremely good."

"The amount of poisons and Poison Pills the Heavenly Gold Kingdom buys annually from the poison refiners of the Black Wood Kingdom is astronomical."

"The exchanges between the two countries are much closer than any other kingdom."

"Of course, the relationship between Poison Emperor and Golden Emperor is also quite deep."

In the distance, from the seats of the Eight Great Commanders, Emperor Yee had already risen and slammed the table.

"You two, don't overdo it." Emperor Yee's icy gaze fixed on the two, not concealing his anger at all.

Above the Martial Arts Arena, a Demon Hunting Hall referee was also frowning, leaping forward.

"Two commanders," the referee bowed, "According to the rules of the festival, Xiao Yi has indeed won…"

"Rules?" Golden Emperor interrupted imperiously.

"The rules of the three rounds of the East Sea Festival were set by us, and determined by us Eight Great Commanders and thirty-two commanders."

"If we do not recognize this ranking, it is invalid."

The Demon Hunting Hall referee frowned and hesitated, saying, "Although the rules are set by you commanders and leaders…"

"But to disregard the rules so arbitrarily, isn't that bullying the weak?"

"Hmm?" Golden Emperor's face chilled as he said, "Demon Hunting Hall referee, have you forgotten that in these three rounds of competitions, your Demon Hunting Hall is only acting as a referee?"

"What right do you have to intervene?"

"This…" The Demon Hunting Hall referee was at a loss for words.

The three rounds of competition were a contest between the Heavenly Talents of various kingdoms and Martial Arts Holy Lands.

Strictly speaking, it was a 'family affair' among the kingdoms and Martial Arts Holy Lands.

The Eight Emperors and thirty-two leaders were all Martial Arts Elders.

And he, the Demon Hunting Hall referee, was indeed an 'outsider' and should not intervene too much.

The Demon Hunting Hall referee sighed, waved his hand, and stepped aside.

"As for 'overdoing it'," Golden Emperor looked at Emperor Yee, completely ignoring his icy and angry gaze.

"Emperor Yee, do you really think I would make unfounded accusations and oppress the younger generation arbitrarily?"

"Is it not so?" Emperor Yee scoffed coldly.

"Hmph," Golden Emperor snorted coldly, "Emperor Yee, do not forget what the main purpose of this third round of competition is."

"It relates to the succession of important positions in the fortress of the new generation."

"Especially this top eight battle, it is even more crucial."

"The second round is well known; Xiao Yi has a nature of slaughter, with hundreds of Heavenly Talents dying under his sword from 25 teams."

"If he were to take a command or higher position, ask all the strongmen here in the fortress, who would accept him?"

Golden Emperor's voice resonated throughout the spectator seats.

"No acceptance," voices of dissent continuously came from the spectator seats.

Golden Emperor sneered and said, "Now ask, who would entrust their lives to someone with such cruel methods and capricious killing behavior?"

"Xiao Yi has high talents and strong abilities, true."

"But the East Sea Fortress is not a place for ruthless powers."

"Here, various strongmen from the mainland gather to resist the Abyss Demon Beasts and protect the human continent."

"Such unprincipled and bloodthirsty people, how can they be the Fortress Commander?"

"Do I have the right now to propose the removal of his ranking?"

Golden Emperor's voice resonated with righteousness.

"Golden Emperor has considered carefully; we all second."

Again, a large number of fortress strongs seconded.

Actually, Golden Emperor's voice was influential in the East Sea Fortress, but it wasn't enough to get more than half support from the fortress strongs just by speaking.

It was mainly due to the events of the second round.

With Golden Emperor's special promotion, Xiao Yi had become akin to an Abyss Demon Beast—a cruel character.

This was why, even under the public's eyes and surpassing others in strength, Xiao Yi's first place still met with numerous objections.

At this moment, Golden Emperor's words undoubtedly pushed the dissenting voices in the spectator seats to the extreme.

Emperor Yee's face grew even colder, staring directly at Golden Emperor.

"Golden Emperor," Emperor Yee asked coldly again, "do you indeed propose that Xiao Yi's ranking be invalidated?"

Golden Emperor sneered playfully, "Why ask knowingly, Emperor Yee? You already know the desires of the tens of thousands of strong beings from the fortress present."

"Very well," Emperor Yee nodded.

"I shall, therefore, ask in front of these tens of thousands of active strong ones," he continued.

"What exactly did you do in the second round?"

Golden Emperor's face changed, and he said gravely, "This emperor is not aware of what you are implying."

"Do you really think I can't uncover what's been happening behind the scenes? Do you assume I, Emperor Yee, am merely a man of hollow fame?" Emperor Yee's icy words echoed throughout the audience seats.

The shocking and sharp aura made everyone present take a start.

"Before the second round, Flame Martial King secretly contacted the leaders of other 15 kingdoms and sects, specifying that in the second round their teams should join forces to take Xiao Yi's life."

"Yet, Xiao Yi secured first place in the first round with his incredible strength."

"Few among the nations agreed to it."

"Heavenly Gold Country offered a lavish reward, thousands of pounds of Heavenly Gold for the life of Xiao Yi, with hundreds of pounds for participants."

"Only then did the national teams agree."

Emperor Yee's voice just dropped.

The entire audience seats burst into an uproar.

Those who initially agreed hesitated.

Dugu Kuang and others had their expressions drastically changed.

Crack, crack, crack. Dugu Kuang's fists clenched until they cracked.

Feng Jueqing looked incredulously beside Skywind Emperor.

Lin Qing'er glanced covertly toward the Qianmiao Country Master and asked, "Country Master, is what Emperor Yee said true?"

"Complete nonsense," Golden Emperor snapped back, his voice clearly reaching the ears of all the strong ones.

"Emperor Yee, spare us these useless words."

"All I know is that 25 teams and hundreds of Heavenly Talents tragically died under Xiao Yi's sword. That's the fact."

"I'll ask again, do I have support for abolishing Xiao Yi's ranking?"

Voices of assent on the audience seats weakened initially.

But they gradually regained strength, with more than half agreeing once again.

Though many were hesitant, as Golden Emperor said, the fact was the fact.

Those hundreds of Heavenly Talents, including those from 16 kingdoms.

The active strong ones present were their seniors; they wouldn't give up so easily.

"Heh heh." Golden Emperor started laughing smugly, "More than half of the commanders and active strong ones agree, I think there's no need for further dispute."

"The outcome is determined."

"Damn it." The Senior Swordswoman could no longer suppress her anger.

Dressed in white, she soared into the air.

A cold murderous intent enveloped the seats of the Eight Great Commanders.

Golden Emperor's face changed, and he said somberly, "Sky-splitting Sword Maiden, what are you planning to do?"

"This is the East Sea Fortress; it's not your turn to run wild."

"What, you think you can run wild in front of the Eight Great Commanders, Thirty-Two Commanders, and tens of thousands of strong fortress personnel?"

"Do you think I dare not?" The woman coldly shouted, her sword brimming with deadly intent.

At that moment, a figure leapt into the air, it was Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi stood beside the woman.

"Elder, let the youth handle this," Xiao Yi glanced at the woman then coldly fixed his eyes upon the seats of the Eight Emperors.

"Since all of you think I'm inherently murderous and unworthy of the responsibilities of a commander's successor, then strip my ranking."

"I can forgo the ranking; those so-called positions of command and all related matters, I can forgo them, too."

"But the reward for first place..."

Xiao Yi participated in the East Sea Festival not for any of those so-called positions.

But for the generous cultivation item rewards.

Having taken the rewards, he couldn't be bothered to argue with these petty people, nor was there a need to make the Sky-splitting Sword Sect hostile with the East Sea Fortress.

"Damn it," Golden Emperor interrupted coldly, "The first-place reward is jointly provided by the 16 fortresses."

"Having eradicated an entire generation of prodigies from my Heavenly Gold Kingdom, do you still want the reward?"

"Heavenly Gold Fortress won't give you even one demon beast core."

"Neither will the other fortresses; so what? You want to take all those cultivation items to nurture someone as vicious as you?"

"You..." Xiao Yi's expression turned icy.

...

The second update.