The Strongest Mythical Emperor
Chapter 136: The Sword Immortal Comes to Join

Chapter 136: Chapter 136: The Sword Immortal Comes to Join

"There’s no need for proof; any cultivator who has been given a star rating simply has to wait for the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts Competition to start."

Chu Hegn’s face showed a trace of embarrassment; after all, anyone would feel unnatural having their less attractive side exposed.

Especially now that he was acting as an assessor, should word get out that he coveted the contestant’s magical weapon, he would most certainly not be able to maintain his assessor status.

It should be noted that assessors don’t serve for free; they are not from the God Sword Hall, but they agree to serve because of the irresistible rewards offered to them.

"Oh!"

Qin Jun responded coolly and then turned to leave, with Li Yuanba glaring fiercely at Chu Hegn before following Qin Jun’s steps. When Chu Hegn had been staring at Qin Jun earlier, he inadvertently radiated a hint of killing intent that ordinary cultivators might not notice. Although Li Yuanba might be simple-minded, his perception of killing intent far exceeded that of ordinary people.

If it weren’t for Qin Jun’s previous warning to him—that without Qin Jun’s command, he was not to strike—Chu Hegn would probably be a corpse by now.

"Your Highness, why didn’t you kill him?" Li Yuanba couldn’t help asking as the two were not yet far away, which turned Chu Hegn’s face dark upon hearing this.

Arrogant genius!

A murderous intent surged within Chu Hegn. Li Yuanba’s performance in the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts Competition, no matter how brilliant, was none of his concern. On the contrary, if Li Yuanba bore a grudge against him, it could pose a potential threat to him in the future.

"I must find an opportunity to eliminate them!"

Thinking this, Chu Hegn immediately began to examine the foundations of the cultivators who followed.

"If you had killed him, how could we shine in the upcoming Hidden Dragon Martial Arts Competition?"

Qin Jun rolled his eyes as he spoke, considering the side quest triggered by You Fenghuang, which offered two hundred thousand experience points, one God and Demon summon, and one random draw, none of which he intended to miss.

Moreover, if they killed Chu Hegn now, they would certainly be disqualified from the competition, or even worse, become wanted criminals.

Whoosh—

The crowd automatically parted, allowing Qin Jun and Li Yuanba to pass. All cultivators looked at them with respect; those who managed to get a nine-star rating were monsters in their own right, worthy of their admiration. With two nine-star rated monstrous talents appearing before them, how could they not be excited?

Qin Jun carried himself with an imposing air, his features handsome and refined, while Li Yuanba moved with the power and grace of a dragon, his brow fierce with a murderous aura.

The two walked shoulder to shoulder, drawing the eyes of the multitude.

"Your Highness, Young Master Yuanba, you are too amazing!"

Jia Xun squeezed out from the crowd and said excitedly, his old face flushing red.

He was well aware of what a nine-star rating signified. The Qianyue Kingdom had fallen among the ranks of many kingdoms, but now with Qin Jun displaying a nine-star rating, he would surely join one of the Seven Major Sects if there were no accidents, thereby providing a significant backing for the Qianyue Kingdom.

"Heh, who said I could only receive a four-star rating?"

Qin Jun said with a half-smile, causing Jia Xun to feel embarrassed, silently cursing this brat for bearing a grudge.

A four-star rating was actually quite high; at least, the talents of Qianyue Kingdom had never achieved such a rating in the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts Competition.

Of course, Zhuo Junjie and Emperor Taizu were not included in this statement, as they had never participated.

"Your Highness, it is the old minister’s lack of insight, please forgive me." Jia Xun said with clasped hands and a smile.

Since it’s hard to slap a smiling face, Qin Jun was also just joking and didn’t really take it to heart.

Obtaining a nine-star rating was also a recognition of his own strength. Excluding the Purple Gold Emperor Armor, he had still managed to reach the eight-star rating, and he believed other cultivators would also use magical instruments, albeit not as extraordinary as the Purple Gold Emperor Armor.

"Let’s go back to the inn and feast!"

Qin Jun said spiritedly, and the mention of food immediately brightened Li Yuanba’s eyes, while Jia Xun laughed heartily stroking his beard.

It took less than half an hour for Qin Jun and his companion to complete the assessment and shock the city—a feat so incredible it was hard for others to believe.

As the cultivators watched their retreating figures, they engaged in discussions filled with envy and admiration.

"This Hidden Dragon Martial Arts Competition, Qin Jun and Li Yuanba are destined to become famous all over the world!"

"The most crucial thing is that the two seem to have a good relationship."

"Pfft, the ranking rewards in the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts Competition vary greatly from one position to the next, and no matter how good their relationship, they’ll fight until they’re bloody!"

"The first-place winner of the last Hidden Dragon Martial Arts Competition seems to have already broken through to the eighth layer of the Ascending Mortal Realm!"

"Damn, that strong?"

...

After returning to the inn, Jia Xun quickly ordered guards to send the news of Qin Jun obtaining a nine-star rating back to Qianyue Kingdom.

At the same time, Daji, Fa Hai, Evening Star, Li Yuanba, Roaring Sky Dog, and Li were drinking and eating with Qin Jun, celebrating his achievement.

Beside them, King Blood Knife kept pouring drinks for Qin Jun and the others. He did this tirelessly and without shame, rather taking pride in it, because everyone at the table was stronger than him, and even Qin Jun had far surpassed him.

"Brother Qin Jun is amazing; he’s sure to win first place in the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts Competition." Li, sitting to the left of Qin Jun, said happily as she served him dishes.

"Your Highness is indeed extraordinary among his peers and at his level." Evening Star said with a stroking beard and a smile full of satisfaction. Even though it was because of a stroke of inspiration that he came to assist Qin Jun, if Qin Jun were hopeless, he wouldn’t have stayed.

Luckily, Qin Jun had never disappointed him since they met.

Fa Hai also said with a smile, "Your Highness can not only attract strong followers, but his own strength is also growing rapidly. This humble monk admires that."

His words were not flattery. Initially, he thought his allegiance to Qin Jun might change Qin Jun’s fate, but soon enough he found that each fighter under Qin Jun’s command was more monstrous than the last. Evening Star, Li, and Li Yuanba, who joined later, were all stronger than him. And as time went by, his hostility towards Daji and Roaring Sky Dog had also diminished significantly.

Strength is respected!

"Haha, you flatter me. Without you all, I’d have been dead by the roadside a long time ago." Qin Jun raised his glass and laughed. He was neither arrogant nor hot-tempered, always remembering to value talent and to be modest.

After all, the divine beings called forth by the Mythology System were not absolute loyalists; their loyalty could wane. They were like living beings—if he neglected them, their loyalty would decrease.

Everyone raised their glasses in joy, drawing sideways glances from the other patrons. Soon enough, some recognized Qin Jun and Li Yuanba as the two monstrous geniuses who had obtained nine-star ratings that day, causing the patrons’ conversation to shift onto them.

Just then, a thread of light, imperceptible to the naked eye, flew toward the inn. Even Qin Jun failed to see it, detectable only to those who had reached the Transforming Void Realm and above, like Daji and others.

The light fell into Evening Star’s hand, who crushed it slightly and then closed his eyes.

"What’s the matter?" Qin Jun asked with a smile, noticing Evening Star suddenly closing his eyes.

"My disciple has agreed to pledge allegiance to Your Highness and is now on his way to the Nanzhuo Dynasty." Evening Star said with his eyes open and a smile.

The Green Lotus Sword Immortal, Li Bai?

Qin Jun’s eyes immediately sparkled as he inevitably asked, "How strong is Li Bai?"

Daji and others, upon hearing that Evening Star’s disciple was coming, all looked curiously at Evening Star. Evening Star was a terrifying existence that easily suppressed Fa Hai, so his disciple must undoubtedly be extraordinary!