The True Blood Acknowledges Its Master; the Tyrant Emperor Refuses on the Surface but Is Laughing His Head Off in Secret

The moment the Martial God's True Blood moved, it was as if the entire underground cavity had been put on pause.

Countless gazes shifted in unison, tracking that drop of blood.

Eventually, they all landed on Wang Hao.

The scene was absurdly quiet.

So quiet that even those who had just caught their breath from the corruption and slaughter momentarily forgot to breathe.

No one expected this to happen.

The great fortune that everyone had just regarded as their destiny was now floating away on its own.

And the person it was floating toward was Wang Hao, the one who seemed the steadiest from beginning to end, but was actually the most cunning, having neither rushed up first to snatch it nor ever truly intended to risk his life for it.

It felt very strange.

So strange that it seemed like the heavens were publicly opening a backdoor for someone.

Why him? a young cultivator in the crowd muttered, his tone so sour it could almost curdle into vinegar.

This question was also the inner voice of the vast majority of people at this moment.

On what grounds?

Clearly, everyone was here to fight for the fortuitous encounter.

Why were those who rushed forward immediately corrupted into monsters, while this Emperor of the Great Zhou, who stood in the back directing and watching the show, simultaneously winning over people's hearts, had the fortune deliver itself to his doorstep without him doing a single thing?

Was this reasonable?

It was not reasonable.

Unfortunately, the secret realm would not reason with you.

Nor would it care about your feelings.

At this moment, that drop of the Martial God's True Blood acted as if it had chosen its master. It slowly circled Wang Hao, the bright red blood light reflecting on his face, adding an indescribable sense of oppression to his already sharp contours.

Shen Xue watched this scene, her gaze slightly condensing.

The first thing that arose in her heart was not jealousy, but vigilance.

Because the fate of those three monsters from earlier was right in front of them.

A fortune approaching on its own was not necessarily a good thing.

Yun Meng's expression was incredibly complex.

She was first shocked, then subconsciously glanced at the altar before looking back at Wang Hao, emotions surging rapidly in her eyes.

There was disbelief.

There was a hint of "sure enough, it's him again" that even she didn't want to admit.

And there was an indescribable sense of frustration.

It was as if this person could always, just when you thought he was absurd enough, use an even more absurd way to tell you: No, he can be even more absurd.

Ren Mingyue was the first to react.

The corners of her lips twitched slightly.

Because based on her understanding of Wang Hao, this guy was probably going crazy with joy in his heart right now.

But on the surface...

On the surface, he would definitely put on an act.

And he would act incredibly convincingly.

Sure enough.

Wang Hao first frowned, as if he were also surprised. Then, he very naturally took a half step back, his tone as steady as that of a true wise ruler who cared for the world and did not fight for personal fortune.

Everyone, do not overthink this.

He said.

The crowd was speechless.

You hadn't even said anything yet, who was overthinking?

Although this object moved, it doesn't necessarily mean it is acknowledging a master. It might just be an anomaly of the secret realm.

He spoke with utter seriousness.

However, that drop of the Martial God's True Blood gave him absolutely no face.

It circled him twice, spinning even more affectionately than before, and even gently nudged against his shoulder like a puppy recognizing its owner.

The crowd was speechless again.

Fine.

Keep making things up.

Wang Hao's expression did not change, but in his heart, he was laughing so hard he wanted to slam the table.

Comfortable.

Too comfortable.

It was like you originally just wanted to make a small profit at the card table, but the dealer opposite you suddenly stood up, personally stuffed the banknotes into your arms, and conveniently straightened your chair for you.

Who could resist this?

But as a person, the happier he was inside, the steadier his face became.

As the Emperor of the Great Zhou, how could I compete with my subjects for a fortune?

As soon as these words came out, the corners of many people's eyes twitched.

Subjects?

Who is your subject?

There were independent cultivators, old monsters from sects, and experts from foreign factions here. Strictly speaking, they might not even hold citizenship in the Great Zhou.

Wasn't it a bit too convenient to lump everyone together with the word subjects?

But what was even more outrageous was that when Wang Hao said this, his expression was very serious.

So serious that it looked like he was genuinely troubled.

The fortune here should be discussed and handled by those of virtue and ability. He stood with his hands behind his back and sighed slightly. If, because of me, everyone harbors resentment, it would not be a beautiful thing.

This time, the crowd almost didn't even have the strength to twitch their eyes.

You speak so righteously, but that drop of true blood is still circling around you!

It's almost stuck to your face!

You call this not competing?

You call this standing there reaping all the benefits while conveniently erecting a monument to your own virtue.

Shameless.

Too shameless.

Yet, no one dared to actually curse out loud.

Because cursing aside, looking at the actual situation, the person most qualified to touch this drop of true blood right now was indeed Wang Hao.

First of all, he didn't act recklessly just now, showing that he was steady.

Secondly, he controlled the situation and saved many people, showing that he had prestige. Moreover, didn't everyone see the large army and the royal ancestor glaring fiercely behind him?

Coupled with the fact that the drop of blood sought him out on its own, this further claimed the title of "the will of heaven."

No matter how sour you felt, you could only be sour in your heart.

The ten temporary workers of the Great Zhou were even more heartbroken. Why did it have to be the dog emperor?

Xiao Chen's face was already as ugly as if he had been slapped in the face over a dozen times in public.

He had traveled all the way from Longxi to the capital, his mentality almost shattering and being stitched back together the entire way.

At first, it was the registration for the Martial Arts Tournament.

Then he was scammed by Wang Hao and forced to work for the Great Zhou for twenty years.

After that, it was the Yanshan anomaly, the suppression of the demonic shadows, the war of public opinion, and the Great Zhou looking more and more like the protagonist as they fought.

Now that they had reached the core of the secret realm, a drop of the Martial God's True Blood capable of changing one's destiny had finally appeared. Before he even had time to get his hands on it, the thing actually flew toward Wang Hao on its own.

On what grounds!

He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white.

That familiar intense unwillingness and resentment started churning in his chest again.

If he previously only felt that he was being suppressed by this dog emperor.

Then now, he truly felt a suffocating sense of living in the other party's shadow.

No matter where he went, no matter what happened, as long as Wang Hao was there, the limelight would always be stolen by him.

It was as if the heavens stood on his side, as if he was the true Child of Destiny.

It was maddeningly disgusting.

And just when Xiao Chen was almost dying of sourness, another anomaly occurred in the arena.

That drop of the Martial God's True Blood seemed to have finally lost its patience.

It circled Wang Hao three times, and seeing that this person was still solemnly putting on an act, it suddenly shrank, turned into a slender ray of blood light, and crashed directly toward Wang Hao's chest!

Your Majesty, be careful! Wei Zhongxian's expression changed.

Shen Xue and Yun Meng stepped half a pace forward almost simultaneously.

Ren Mingyue's gaze suddenly tightened.

But the next instant, everyone's movements stopped.

Because that ray of blood light was not an attack.

The moment it touched Wang Hao's body, it was like a drop of water merging into the sea, silently sinking into his body.

Without the slightest hindrance.

Not even pretending.

The entire audience was completely silenced.

Even Wang Hao himself went quiet for a moment.

Then, fireworks exploded in his heart.

It worked!

It really worked!

But he couldn't smile on his face.

Not only could he not smile, but he also had to remain steady and look as if "I am also very helpless."

So he just looked down at his chest, remained silent for two breaths, then looked up and let out a long sigh.

Sigh.

This sigh almost sent the group of people in the arena to their graves.

If not dead from anger, then dead from sourness.

What are you sighing for?

This is the Martial God's True Blood!

It is a heaven-defying fortune enough to make countless people fight until their heads are broken and bleeding!

Now that it drilled into your body on its own, you're still sighing?

Are you even human?

Even if you're going to act, could you not be so infuriating about it!

"It seems..." Wang Hao raised a hand to rub the center of his brows. His tone carried three parts helplessness, three parts restraint, and four parts resignation to fate. "This is indeed the will of Heaven."

Hearing this, Xiao Chen's vision nearly went black.

Ren Mingyue finally couldn't hold back anymore; she turned her face away, the corners of her mouth twitching violently.

She understood him too well.

This dog was probably laughing his head off on the inside right now.

Still claiming "It is the will of Heaven, and We are also very helpless"?

Helpless my foot.

If you weren't still mindful of the occasion, you'd probably throw a celebration banquet right here and now.

Meanwhile, the reaction of the Martial God's true blood entering his body began to manifest.

First, a torrent of extreme heat exploded from his chest, instantly rushing to his limbs and bones.

The sensation was not like a simple infusion of spiritual energy.

It was more like someone had forcefully stuffed a glowing, red-hot sun into the deepest parts of his flesh and blood.

Scorching.

Domineering.

Heavy.

Wang Hao felt every inch of his bones emitting faint popping sounds. His muscles, veins, and internal organs felt as if they were being struck simultaneously by countless heavy hammers, only to be reshaped by some higher-tier power amidst the pounding.

[Martial God True Blood fusion in progress.]

[High-speed enhancement of Host's physical body strength detected.]

[Total vitality surging exponentially.]

[Martial Dao Will condensing.]

[Dharma Idol prototype under construction.]

The system notifications scrolled rapidly.

Wang Hao stood rooted to the spot, his robes fluttering without wind. The vitality surrounding him had almost condensed into a physical substance, billowing outward layer by layer like pale gold flames tinged with crimson.

Just looking at it made the onlookers feel a stinging pain in their skin and a stifling sensation in their breath.

"This vitality..." Tie Zhan had arrived at the rear at some unknown point, his eyes staring blankly. "Is he even human?"

No one answered him.

Because everyone was watching.

Watching Wang Hao—who had clearly just swallowed a heaven-defying fortune yet still wore a "We did not wish for this" expression on his face—as his aura climbed steadily upward.

Astral Qi Realm, Eighth Level.

Astral Qi Realm, Ninth Level.

Martial Dao Seventh Realm, Consummate.

Then, he didn't immediately break through to the next realm, but at a certain absolute limit, it was as if he forcefully squeezed open a crack forward.

He hadn't completely crossed over.

But he had already touched that line.

It was a terrifying sensation.

As if something far more massive was slowly rising behind him.

The next moment, the void above Wang Hao's head suddenly distorted.

An extremely faint and blurred, yet oppressively towering phantom slowly emerged.

The phantom's features could not be seen clearly.

Only a vague humanoid outline could be discerned.

Yet the instant this outline appeared, the remaining ancient martial dao carvings around the altar all lit up simultaneously, as if resonating, or perhaps paying homage.

"A Dharma Idol prototype!" someone screamed, losing their voice.

"How is that possible? He's only in the Seventh Realm!"

"It's not a complete Dharma Idol, it's a phantom prototype of a half-step Martial God's intent..."

"But this is still way too exaggerated!"

The venue completely boiled over.

The value of the Martial God's true blood had originally only existed in the crowd's imagination.

And now, Wang Hao used the most direct method to tell them exactly how absurd this thing was.

Merely the initial fusion allowed him to condense a wisp of a Dharma Idol prototype ahead of time, while still in the Seventh Realm!

What did this mean?

It meant that once he broke into a higher realm in the future, his martial dao path would be far smoother than anyone else's, and combined with the system, he would be completely invincible.

It also meant—

This new emperor of the Great Zhou, who was already absurdly difficult to deal with, would become even more difficult to deal with.

More terrifying.

More unreasonable.

Yun Meng gazed at that blurred phantom, unable to describe the taste in her heart for a moment.

Should she be jealous?

A little.

Should she be shocked?

Even more so.

But what annoyed her the most was that she found a trace of a highly disappointing thought rising in her heart—

When this man stood there, he truly was... a bit too overwhelmingly strong.

So overwhelming that it was hard to look away.

She instantly became even more annoyed with herself.

Shen Xue saw things more clearly.

What she saw was not the glory, but the risk.

The stronger the fortunate encounter, the more impossible it was to come without a price.

Not to mention, this drop of true blood was inherently connected to the seal beneath the altar.

Its active recognition of a master now was certainly astonishing, but it also meant that some deeper karma had already fallen upon Wang Hao.

As for Ren Mingyue, her thoughts were much more realistic.

This is bad.

This guy was already good enough at manipulating people.

Now that his strength and aura had surged once again, who could possibly keep him in check in the future?

Thinking of this, for the first time, she actually started to genuinely worry for others.

Like the Inner Cabinet.

Like the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

Like those enemies who hadn't fully realized what they would be facing in the future.

To be stuck with this guy, their ancestors' graves must have been situated in terrible feng shui.

But just as everyone was still immersed in shock, jealousy, fear, and complex emotions, another anomaly descended.

And it was far fiercer than when those three old monsters mutated earlier.

More evil.

More scalp-numbing.

Beneath the altar, those dark red patterns that had previously been suppressed by the true blood suddenly dimmed in unison for a moment after the true blood left.

Just for a moment.

The next moment—

Crack.

An extremely light, extremely crisp cracking sound came from the bottom of the altar.

It sounded like something that had been sealed for too long was cracking open.

The smile on Wang Hao's face finally faded completely.

Because the system was already sounding frantic alarms in his mind.

[Warning! Suppression node imbalanced!]

[Warning! Night Fiend remnant body activity rapidly recovering!]

[High-risk target awakening imminent!]

Immediately after, a cold, sinister aura more than ten times stronger than what had corrupted the three old monsters earlier burst out from beneath the altar.

It was as if a layer of black frost instantly formed in the air.

Many of those with weaker cultivation levels even went weak in the knees on the spot, feeling as if their souls had been viciously pressed down by something.

Then, a shriek rang out.

It was not a sound that any normal living creature could make.

It felt like countless fine needles piercing the eardrums simultaneously, like resentment, malice, hunger, and madness compressed into a single thread before suddenly exploding into everyone's brains.

Hiss—!!!

The altar trembled violently.

The stone surface cracked apart.

A massive, pitch-black, and twisted remnant body—looking like bone yet also like armor, like a dead object yet also like living flesh—slowly lifted a corner from the fissure in the altar.

Just from this corner appearing in the world, the light in the entire underground cavity seemed to dim by three degrees.

Someone instantly turned deathly pale and cried out those two words—

"Night Fiend!"

Everyone's heart instantly sank.

The true big trouble had awakened.

And Wang Hao, standing before the altar, having just merged the Martial God's true blood into his body, felt the surging power in his chest and looked at this ancient remnant body that he had indirectly released. Only one thought remained in his mind.

Great.

Just great.

The fortunate encounter was secured.

And so was the blame.

This secret realm was really fucking particular.