Martial Conquest of the Nine Desolates
Chapter 360 - 358 Half-step Void Martial

Chapter 360: Chapter 358 Half-step Void Martial

The forest, reeking of somber terror with skeletons strewn everywhere, was where a black-robed youth sat cross-legged atop a large tree, surrounded by a faint breeze, his black hair dancing within it.

Without a doubt, this black-robed youth was Xiao Ye.

Xiao Ye had been in seclusion here, attempting to break through to the Half-step Void Martial Realm for over half a year.

Suddenly, the void began to tremble, like the surface of water, emanating ripples that spread outwards, with Xiao Ye being the epicenter.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Four types of Martial Arts True Intent burst forth from Xiao Ye, shooting straight up into the heavens, their interwoven lights splendid and colorful. At the same time, four Xuandan orbs about the size of a fist appeared around him, encircling him in the middle.

"Carve out the path for me!"

Xiao Ye suddenly opened his eyes, quickly forming complex hand seals, followed by the four Xuandan orbs trembling in unison, splitting in the middle. Beams of radiant light burst forth from the cracks, illuminating the entire forest.

As time passed, the cracks on the four Xuandan orbs grew larger and larger. The vague illusions of four grotto heavens began to emerge. Xiao Ye quickly absorbed the boundless Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi from the high-grade essence stones, seeking to stabilize the four grotto heavens.

At this moment, the entire forest suddenly became a whirl of flying sand and stones, with dense clouds swiftly gathering above Xiao Ye’s head. Arm-thick Thunder Lights pulsed within the clouds, forming a vortex of lightning and emanating tremendous Heavenly Might.

If anyone witnessed this scene, they would be shocked and dumbfounded. A Mystic Martial Realm powerhouse carving out grotto heavens actually attracted Heavenly Tribulation?

However, Xiao Ye had no time to worry about these things, as his expression grew increasingly pained, drawing cold breaths continuously, cold sweat drenching his robes.

Pfft!

Suddenly, Xiao Ye turned pale, unable to hold back a mouthful of fresh blood, his body falling limply from the tree, crashing to the ground.

Simultaneously, the illusions of the four grotto heavens in the void, as well as the lightning vortex above, dissipated rapidly as if nothing had happened.

"Sigh, another failure," Xiao Ye rose from the ground, his face bearing a wry smile.

He had been in seclusion here for over half a year, figuring out how to break through to the Half-step Void Martial Realm on his own, and had found his direction. Two months ago, he managed to crack open all four Xuandan orbs, and could even evolve the vague illusions of four grotto heavens.

Without guidance or references, Xiao Ye wasn’t entirely sure if this signified a breakthrough to the Half-step Void Martial Realm, but the pure power flowing from the cracks in the Xuandan orbs had increased his strength by more than five times. According to his estimate, he was almost approaching the peak of Virtual Martial Level 4.

Afterward, Xiao Ye mustered his energy and used the secret technique of carving out grotto heavens acquired from the ruins of the Puppet Sect, together with his own insights, hoping to truly step into the Void Martial Realm.

But he found it to be too simplistic; using his mind to control four tasks at once was too draining on his mental strength. He repeatedly failed, and this also caused an anomaly in Heaven and Earth, as well as Heavenly Tribulation.

"Damn it, it’s said that only when breaking through to King Martial does one attract Heavenly Tribulation!" Xiao Ye thought to himself, almost in tears.

It wasn’t so simple to walk this unprecedented Fusion Emperor Road.

Afterward, Xiao Ye stopped trying and began to analyze the situation calmly.

"Back in the Genius Camp, I heard Kuang Dao mention that there are many cases of failed grotto heaven carvings. And before carving out grotto heavens, disciples from major powers would consume Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to increase their chances of success."

"First, I need to figure out what those Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures are, then get my hands on them. Maybe then I’ll succeed. As for the Heavenly Tribulation, I can only face it head-on," Xiao Ye muttered to himself.

Unable to carve out grotto heavens for the time being, there was no point in staying in the forest any longer. Xiao Ye flew out of the forest.

"There are eleven months left until the final ranking battle. I wonder where the Heavenly Pride of the Sky Breaking King Realm have reached. Have they discovered any perilous places for comprehending the Slaughter Principle?"

Xiao Ye flew spiritedly, his sharp gaze akin to two cold blades, causing even the void to tremble.

His strength now was incomparable to when he was forced into the forest. Even if he encountered Jinpengzi again and was still no match, he had enough confidence to protect himself.

In terms of power, he had surpassed most of the Young Talents. His deficiency lay only in his special constitution and the profound mysteries of the Law. He was now considered a powerhouse among the many Young Talents, truly standing at the forefront among his peers in East State, with almost certain confidence in breaking into the top fifty.

It’s probably unprecedented for a Martial Artist from the Endless Sea to hold such an honor.

Along the way, Xiao Ye occasionally saw the mutilated corpses of Young Talents, their blood long dried up.

He actually recognized one of them who had once been formidable outside the Sky Breaking King Realm, exhibiting an unparalleled demeanor, having stepped into the Void Martial Realm, and possessing special constitutions – quite formidable, definitely qualified for a top fifty position in the Kingdom Battle.

But now, he had been reduced to a cold corpse, his head severed, his empty eyes looking up at the heavens as if in great unwillingness.

"No matter how glorious you were in life, in death, you sleep with the ants." Standing in front of this corpse, Xiao Ye sighed softly, then leapt into the air and flew towards the center of the Sky Breaking King Realm.

After flying for three full days, Xiao Ye began to feel strange, as the Sky Breaking King Realm seemed deserted, and he couldn’t spot another Young Talent.

He unleashed the fusion of his Martial Arts True Intent, and within a twenty-mile radius, still found no traces.

He dared to fly recklessly on his journey because he still had nine top-grade Primordial Stones and was not afraid of consumption. Could it be that all the young talents were like him?

Xiao Ye did not believe this. He flew at full speed for another day, and still, he didn’t find anyone else.

"Could it be that something major has happened in the Sky Breaking King Realm during this time?" Xiao Ye furrowed his brows slightly.

Not to mention anything else, just considering Jinpengzi, the latter would definitely not let him go easily. But why had there been no movement at all for the better part of a year?

"Hm? Someone is coming!"

All of a sudden, Xiao Ye’s expression changed. The information fed back by the Martial Arts True Intent he had released showed that three young men were flying towards him, less than twenty miles away from his location.

"They are the young men from the Golden Roc Kingdom!" The appearances of those three youths clearly flashed in Xiao Ye’s mind, bringing a cold smirk to his face.

"Through them, I can find out what exactly has happened in the Sky Breaking King Realm," Xiao Ye thought to himself, then stopped moving.

To him, these three people no longer posed any threat.

Among the three youths from the Golden Roc Kingdom, two had already advanced to the Void Martial Realm. They released their consciousness, discovering Xiao Ye before the others.

"It’s Xiao Ye!"

"We’ve finally found the kid!"

The expressions of those two youths changed slightly, followed by a burst of soaring slaughtering intent.

The remaining youth, who was at the Nine-Revolution Profound Martial Realm, quickly asked, "Should we go inform Jinpengzi?"

"Hmph, what’s the rush? I have the cultivation of Virtual Martial Level 2, and Beiming is the Heavenly Son, second only to Jinpengzi in terms of talents in the Golden Roc Kingdom. Together, can we not deal with Xiao Ye?" one muscular youth huffed coldly.

The youth named Beiming, referenced by that muscular one, raised an eyebrow in irritation, "Liu Cheng, you’re too weak to be of any use here, so you go inform Jinpengzi. Zhang Tao and I will capture Xiao Ye."

"Okay!" Although Liu Cheng was displeased, he knew he was not strong enough, so he quickly turned around and flew away.

Boom!

Boom!

That muscular ’Zhang Tao’ and Beiming, one after the other, erupted with powerful might, breaking through the air as they flew toward Xiao Ye.

"Heh, that little Xiao Ye is actually staying in place. It seems he hasn’t advanced to the Void Martial Realm, so he hasn’t detected us," Zhang Tao said with a face full of disdain.

Beiming’s expression remained coldly solemn.

In just a few dozen breaths, Xiao Ye, clad in a black robe, appeared in the sight of the two.

"Huh? This kid isn’t running away?"

Zhang Tao was slightly taken aback, and Xiao Ye’s lips were barely curved in a mocking sneer, as if he was waiting for them to come and kill him.

"Waited so long just to fly over here. It seems your strength isn’t great after all, no wonder you’ve become Jinpengzi’s lapdogs." Before Zhang Tao and Beiming could speak, Xiao Ye spoke indifferently.

"Xiao Ye, you’re courting death!" Enraged by his words, Zhang Tao’s eyes blazed with angry flames, and a Grotto Heaven filled with suppression rose behind him.

Boom!

Almost simultaneously, a terrifying aura rose beside him, like a colossal wave rising in the ocean, sweeping across the entire sky.

"Xiao Ye, cut the crap, hand over the top-grade Primordial Stones and I can leave you a whole corpse!" Beiming’s long hair danced as his eyes shone with intense chill.

As the Heavenly Son, before Jinpengzi had risen, he had been hailed as one of the Golden Roc Kingdom’s two heroes along with Ouyang Yuanfei, which demonstrated how fearsome his power was.

Furthermore, he was much smarter than Ouyang Yuanfei; he didn’t let greed cloud his judgment and covet all the top-grade Primordial Stones, as he still lacked the power to retaliate against Jinpengzi.

"I remember half a year ago, one of your companions was greedy for the top-grade Primordial Stones in my possession. However, he is now dead, and your fate will be the same as his."

Xiao Ye burst into laughter, standing proudly in the heavens.

"What! Are you saying that you killed Ouyang Yuanfei?" Beiming’s pupils contracted, his face showing utter disbelief.

Ouyang Yuanfei’s power was on par with his, and he had also comprehended the Law Profound Mysteries; there was no way Xiao Ye, despite being strong, could kill Ouyang Yuanfei.

"Hmph, Beiming, don’t let this kid deceive you. He must be trying to distract us and then launch a sneak attack," Zhang Tao roared, with a dagger in each hand glowing with a cold light, and then he lunged towards Xiao Ye.

"Right, there’s no way he could kill Ouyang Yuanfei." Beiming looked at Xiao Ye with a bleak gaze, then lifted both palms, stirring up a surging wave of power that almost collapsed the void, and attacked Xiao Ye.

Almost at the same time, Beiming had already made his powerful move; a massive and dazzling beam of power shot out, tearing through the heavens, overtaking Zhang Tao, and thundering towards Xiao Ye.