Martial Conquest of the Nine Desolates
Chapter 182 - 180 Heavenly Pride Battle Begins

Chapter 182: Chapter 180 Heavenly Pride Battle Begins

Over the Imperial City, the Imperial Edict burst forth like the sun with ten thousand feet of golden light, and vaguely, a grand figure could be seen standing amidst this golden brilliance, the terrifying suppression spreading like a tide throughout the city.

"This session of the Heavenly Pride Battle is open to all young martial artists of Black Dragon Country."

"From today until the end of the Heavenly Pride Battle, no Xuanwu Realm experts may target young martial artists over personal grievances. This is the Forbidden Xuan Order, violating this decree will be met with death!"

The majestic voice thundered like ten thousand bolts of lightning, resounding through the entire Imperial City and breaking through the Nine Heavens. The word "death" made everyone’s blood run cold in fear.

"It’s our King of Black Dragon Country!"

"The King personally issued the Forbidden Xuan Order, is he aiming to protect the young generation of our Black Dragon Country?"

Many martial artists in the Imperial City trembled under the terrifying suppression, their faces deathly pale, and breathing became difficult.

Xuanwu Realm experts scattered throughout the Imperial City felt as though they were carrying a mountain on their backs as they looked towards the edict above the skies, their hearts filled with shock.

The King is the undisputed number one person in Black Dragon Country; otherwise, he could not make all the powerful factions bow before him.

The sudden issuance of the Forbidden Xuan Order caused an uproar in the entire city, with everyone guessing the King’s intentions.

Black Dragon Country’s Imperial Palace was extremely strict, shining like a bright pearl in the middle of the Imperial City, with the sound of dragons roaring above it, resonating incessantly.

In a vast palace, a burly man dressed in a dragon robe stood with his hands behind his back, his deep gaze looking up at the sky, his eyes full of radiance, and without any aura leaking out, yet he radiated an unapproachable aura.

He is the current King of Black Dragon Country.

At this moment, Third Prince Long Yu walked up the white jade stairs into this palace.

"Father, why would you issue that Imperial Edict?" Long Yu asked in confusion.

In previous sessions of Black Dragon Country’s Heavenly Pride Battle, the King had never interfered in any disputes among the different powers. Why this time? So, after hearing about the Forbidden Xuan Order, Long Yu hurried to the Imperial Palace to seek clarification.

Looking over the whole Imperial City, only a few princes dared to inquire about the King’s thoughts.

Upon hearing this, the King turned around, a glint flashing across his dark pupils, and said lightly, "Because of Xiao Ye."

"Xiao Ye?" Learning the truth, Long Yu was stunned, "The expelled disciple of Chongyang Sect?"

As a prince, Long Yu was well aware of the strong young talents in Black Dragon Country, so he was naturally familiar with Xiao Ye.

The King valued Xiao Ye so much that he issued a Forbidden Xuan Order just for one person, a treatment not even afforded to the top three monsters of the Hidden Dragon List.

If this were to spread, it would certainly cause a huge sensation.

Long Yu pondered for a moment and then had a sudden realization, "Father, are you worried that Xiao Ye won’t participate in the Heavenly Pride Battle because of the Sun and Moon Sect?"

The King’s eyes flashed with approval, and he nodded, "Exactly, I issued the Forbidden Xuan Order to restrict those people from the Sun and Moon Sect."

"But is it worth it for just one Xiao Ye?" Long Yu shook his head.

The Sun and Moon Sect is one of the four most powerful forces in Black Dragon Country, aside from the Royal Family.

In his view, an order that offends the Sun and Moon Sect is very unwise. After all, to control and govern the ten counties, the Royal Family still needs the Sun and Moon Sect’s cooperation.

"And I think it’s impossible for Xiao Ye to have cultivated the Four Tripod Heavenly Technique to the Four Cauldron Level so quickly," Long Yu said.

He knew very well that the King’s high regard for Xiao Ye must be due to the Four Tripod Heavenly Technique.

Four Cauldrons Emerge, it could create a cause and effect with the Empress, gaining a chance at and inheritance from the Empress. This has been a long-standing legend in Black Dragon Country, and countless young geniuses have tried to cultivate the Four Cauldron Heavenly Technique due to this lore, but all have retreated in defeat.

The difficulty of cultivating this Innate Technique is too great, without the Emperor’s Stature it’s highly challenging to succeed, not to mention achieving the emergence of all Four Cauldrons. Xiao Ye is only nineteen years old, how could he have possibly reached such a level.

"Third son, you are smarter than your elder brother, can’t you see the true purpose of the Forbidden Xuan Order?" The King glanced at Long Yu and said lightly.

"The true purpose of the Forbidden Xuan Order?" Long Yu frowned in thought, then suddenly his eyes brightened, "I see."

"As long as Xiao Ye can cultivate the Four Tripod Heavenly Technique to the level where all Four Cauldrons emerge, then only a Xuanwu Realm expert could kill him, so the Forbidden Xuan Order acts like his amulet."

"For a peerless genius who might obtain the Empress’ inheritance, offending the Sun and Moon Sect is indeed worth it."

"But if Xiao Ye hasn’t cultivated to the Four Cauldron Level, the Innate Limit experts from the Sun and Moon Sect could capture him, then there wouldn’t be any talk of offending the Sun and Moon Sect."

The King burst into laughter, clearly pleased with Long Yu’s analysis.

"Father, now we just have to see whether Xiao Ye will participate in the Heavenly Pride Battle," Long Yu said with a smile.

The King, with his hands behind his back, stood in the palace looking out over the majestic Imperial City, and spoke, "From his actions, he is not the type to relish obscurity, so he will definitely return to participate in the Heavenly Pride Battle."

"Third son, Emperor’s Cultivation Land is not as simple as you imagine. Our Black Dragon Country needs a peerless genius to enhance our national prestige!" There was a hint of sadness in the King’s voice.

Next to him, Long Yu’s breath hitched, confusion flashing across his face.

As the Third Prince, he had also never heard what exactly was going on inside the Emperor’s Cultivation Land. Every time he asked, the King would avoid answering.

"Emperor’s Cultivation Land, I will definitely enter it!" Long Yu clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with immense war intent.

...

Time quietly passed, and the last two days went by.

Numerous young martial artists flooded into the Imperial City, causing the city to be overcrowded almost to the point of bursting, and the rankings on the Hidden Dragon List became even more fiercely contested.

One after another, young martial artists who had undergone hard cultivation appeared in the Imperial City, displaying their formidable strength that astonished all around.

As the eastern sun rose, golden sunlight sprinkled down like shattered gold, and the entire Imperial City buzzed with noise.

Because today marked the beginning of the Heavenly Pride Battle!

Countless young martial artists would ascend to the supreme fighting stage of the Black Dragon Country, vying for one of the five Young Supreme positions and then entering into the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land.

Whoever could become a Young Supreme would certainly have their name revered across the Black Dragon Country, becoming a legend spoken of by all. For fame and for benefit, they were willing to give their all in battle, even if it meant defeat with no regrets!

At this moment, countless surging war intents emerged above the Imperial City, scattering the clouds in the sky.

"I, Wang Jin, want to become renowned across the Black Dragon Country in the Heavenly Pride Battle!"

"Among the Young Supremes, there must be a place for me!"

Countless young martial artists shouted, their eyes fiercely blazing.

Inside the mansion of the Third Prince, Long Yu, Xiao Ye finished his cultivation, his face bearing a bitter smile.

"Having exhausted the last three hundred Primordial Stones, my Innate True Qi is still not perfect."

Speaking of which, he only has one acupoint; if it weren’t for the Time Tower, how could he cultivate so quickly? He should only be considered a genius with the guise of an Emperor’s Stature, naturally unable to break the curse that prevents ordinary martial artists from entering the Great Emperor Domain.

Every time he attempted to complete his Innate True Qi, he faced inexplicable suppression, which filled his heart with anger.

"Perhaps in the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land, there might be treasures that could perfect my Innate True Qi." Xiao Ye stopped pondering on these thoughts.

Because even if his Innate True Qi was not perfect, unleashing all his strength, he could definitely match a First-class Innate Limit martial artist and secure a Young Supreme position without a doubt.

"The King actually issued a Forbidden Xuan Order, so I no longer worry about my identity being exposed and being hunted by Mystic Martial Realm experts." Xiao Ye’s face filled with excitement.

Whatever the reason, the Forbidden Xuan Order was extremely useful to him.

"Vice Sect Leader of the Chongyang Sect, when you drove me away that day, I’d like to see how you maintain your composure when you see my strength!" Xiao Ye’s eyes shone intensely, with powerful war intent shooting straight to the Nine-layered Heaven, his blood boiling.

He had endured hard cultivation for so long, waiting just for this day!

He wanted to prove on the foremost fighting stage of the Black Dragon Country just how terrifying his potential was!

A nineteen-year-old First-class Innate Limit strong warrior, isn’t that enough to shake people’s hearts?

"The number one on the Hidden Dragon List, that young talent, I hope you can be my opponent!" Xiao Ye murmured softly.

Among the young generation of Black Dragon Country, only that top-ranked young talent had piqued his interest.

"All young martial artists participating in this Heavenly Pride Battle, enter the Imperial Palace!" A commanding voice boomed from the Imperial Palace, like a fierce wind, instantly spreading throughout the entire Imperial City.

Instantly, everyone in the Imperial City looked towards the Imperial Palace. They knew that this session of the Heavenly Pride Battle had begun!

Boom!

Strong auras burst forth from every corner of the Imperial City, as numerous young martial artists with intense fighting spirits strode towards the Imperial Palace.

This was the battle that would make their names known!

"Brother Wang, let us head to the Imperial Palace and participate in the Heavenly Pride Battle," said Long Yu, who appeared before Xiao Ye like a scholar.

Though he was the Third Prince, the King treated everyone equally.

"Alright!" Xiao Ye smiled slightly and walked out of the mansion with Long Yu, heading towards the direction of the Imperial Palace.

The closer they got to the Imperial Palace, the more strong young talents there were, their radiance so dazzling that many people could not look directly at them, faces serious with the gravity of the moment.

The Heavenly Pride Battle wasn’t like any other; nearly all the powerful young martial artists from the Black Dragon Country had come; no one dared to be careless.

However, Xiao Ye’s face remained calm as he walked.

Boom!

At that moment, a young man suddenly descended from the sky, enveloped in overwhelming power fluctuations that threatened to break through the Nine-layered Heaven. Many martial artists along the main road were blown away.

Xiao Ye was startled, his gaze frozen.

He wasn’t shocked by the youth’s formidable strength, but by the emblem embroidered on the youth’s robe, featuring a proud sun and a full moon.

"It’s someone from the Sun and Moon Sect!" Xiao Ye thought alarmingly.

Combining the information previously shared by Long Yu, the identity of this youth was clear—it must be the Sun and Moon Sect Leader’s other child, ranking second on the Hidden Dragon List!

"Hmph, a bunch of ignorant ants, you think you can even touch the position of a Young Supreme?" The youth coldly glanced at the martial artists who were blown away, then continued towards the Imperial Palace.