"What? Just a first-grade Martial Emperor, and you've got such a big mouth? Today, I'll show you the gap between a Martial Emperor and a Half-Emperor."
Seeing Chu Feng's arrogance, all the remaining Martial Emperors aside from the two restrained by Hong Qiang surged toward Chu Feng.
"Oh? You think being a first-grade Martial Emperor is something impressive?"
"Then come and try to kill me." With a thought from Chu Feng, the Water Immortal Secret Technique and the Fire Immortal Secret Technique, wreathed in both water and flame, materialized like guardian deities on either side of him.
And their auras—both were that of first-grade Martial Emperors.
"Look! What are those things? They can actually fight Martial Emperors?"
"That's a Secret Technique—the Water Immortal Secret Technique."
"If that water is the Water Immortal Secret Technique, then that fire must be the Fire Immortal Secret Technique!"
"How is this possible? Chu Feng only obtained the Water Immortal Secret Technique—why does he have the Fire Immortal Secret Technique as well? Isn't that a long-lost Secret Technique?"
Seeing the Water Immortal Secret Technique and the Fire Immortal Secret Technique block a first-grade Martial Emperor's attack head-on in Chu Feng's defense, the crowd was utterly astonished.
At this moment, even the elders from the Three Mansions narrowed their eyes. Both the Water Immortal Secret Technique and the Fire Immortal Secret Technique were on Chu Feng's person—that was no small matter.
Others might not understand, but they knew full well that Secret Techniques were rarely mastered by a single person. One Secret Technique was already difficult enough; if two Secret Techniques were to dwell within the same body, the resulting pressure would be immense—so great that an ordinary person simply couldn't endure it.
Yet as things stood, Chu Feng had clearly withstood the combined force of two Secret Techniques—the Water Immortal Secret Technique and the Fire Immortal Secret Technique—otherwise he wouldn't have been able to wield them so freely.
BOOM— CRASH— However, before long, the Water Immortal Secret Technique and the Fire Immortal Secret Technique exploded apart. Although their physical forms quickly recongealed, they were immediately blasted apart again.
"It's no good! Secret Techniques, no matter how powerful, are still just Secret Techniques—they can't withstand a real Martial Emperor!" people cried out in alarm.
Despite the Water Immortal Secret Technique and the Fire Immortal Secret Technique both emanating Martial Emperor auras, they were utterly unable to hold back the onslaught.
"Chu Feng, did you really think Secret Techniques could save your life? Now do you understand our strength? Martial Emperors are not something you can look down upon."
At that moment, three of the first-grade Martial Emperators had already broken through the defensive line of the Water Immortal Secret Technique and the Fire Immortal Secret Technique and were charging straight at Chu Feng.
All three of these first-grade Martial Emperors wielded Half-Imperial Armaments, and their combined might was formidable.
CLANG— In the face of this, Chu Feng dared not grow careless. He retreated while drawing the Heavenly Immortal Sword to meet his enemies.
"The Heavenly Immortal Sword?"
"That's the Heavenly Immortal Sword that was taken from Ximen Feixue? It's already acknowledged Chu Feng as its master?" The sight of the Heavenly Immortal Sword sent a wave of uproar through the crowd.
"Hand over the Heavenly Immortal Sword!" One of the three pursuing Martial Emperators flew into a towering rage upon seeing the sword—a member of the Ximen Imperial Clan, it turned out.
"Hmph." Chu Feng let out a cold snort and activated the Heavenly Immortal Sword Art, reversing his retreat to counterattack.
BOOM BOOM BOOM— Golden light erupted in all directions as martial power clashed and the battle erupted into a furious melee.
Yet despite Chu Feng's ability to fight four grades above his level—meaning that at the ninth-grade Half-Emperor realm he could already contend with a first-grade Martial Emperor—taking on three first-grade Martial Emperors simultaneously was still enormously taxing.
"Martial Emperors are Martial Emperors, after all. It seems I underestimated their strength."
Chu Feng's brow furrowed slightly. After his battle with Leng Yue, he had believed he was already capable of slaying a first-grade Martial Emperor. Now it seemed he had been too optimistic.
Leng Yue, no matter how powerful, was still a Half-Emperor. But the ones before him were true Martial Emperors.
Even if Chu Feng's combat strength in his battle against Leng Yue could match a first-grade Martial Emperor's, it was still very difficult to actually defeat one.
As for what exactly was different, he couldn't quite pinpoint it. In short… the power of a true Martial Emperor was simply greater than his own, as though there existed an uncrossable line separating Half-Emperors from Martial Emperors.