Immortal Martial Emperor Chapter 169 - 165: Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear

"I object!"

The cold, indifferent voice cut through the clamor of tens of thousands, silencing the crowd.

Surprised, everyone turned to look at the source of the voice. They saw the Second Elder slowly rising to his feet, a solemn expression on his face as he stared at Hong Yu.

Hong Yu raised an eyebrow. "Who's this?"

Third Elder Hong Tianduan gave a wry smile. "That's the Second Elder... Sigh, I knew he wouldn't just stand by and watch you beco an Honorary Elder."

"Oh."

Hong Yu nodded.

The entire Hong Family was divided into two factions: one led by the Grand Elder, the other by the Second Elder.

The Second Elder's faction was incredibly powerful, so much so that even the Patriarch, Hong Yuanfeng, leaned in their favor. Consequently, Hong Yuanfeng's son, Hong Renjie, was a key pillar of the Second Elder's side.

In recent years, the Grand Elder's faction had been thoroughly suppressed by the Four Kings, unable to make a coback. This left the Grand Elder and Third Elder in an extrely awkward position. Much of their authority had been curtailed and usurped, leading to constant conflicts and a relationship that had deteriorated beyond repair.

The reason Hong Yu had agreed to accept the position of Honorary Elder was to repay the Third Elder's favor and prevent his faction from being swallowed up and destroyed by the Second Elder.

Thus, he wasn't particularly surprised by the Second Elder's objection.

SWISH!

The Second Elder leaped down from the high platform, landing on the martial arts arena.

His cold gaze swept over Hong Yu as he said flatly, "So you're Hong Yu? To have such strength at your age, you must have good potential. However, your birth is unacceptable—far too disgraceful. My Hong Family is a great and noble house; we will absolutely not allow a lowly mber of a branch family to beco a supre Honorary Elder. I'll give you one chance: give up on your own, or I will have my n cripple you and throw you out."

"Second Elder, Hong Yu is a True Disciple of the Sword Sect..." the Third Elder said angrily.

The Second Elder snorted in disdain. "So what if he's a True Disciple? He's still a mber of my Hong Family. I'm rely enforcing clan rules. Not even the Sword Sect has the right to interfere."

"You..."

The Third Elder's expression changed drastically. He never expected the Second Elder to be so aggressive.

In reality, the Second Elder had his own calculations.

First, according to the news brought back by the Fourth and Fifth Elders, the person the Sword Sect truly valued was Hong Renjie.

As for Hong Yu, the Sword Sect was rely accommodating him out of respect for his master, Elder Bai.

Second, based on information the Fifth Elder got from Hong Renjie, Hong Yu's victory over him in the promotion tournant was suspected to be a fluke. If they were to fight again, Hong Renjie was confident he could defeat Hong Yu and crush him completely.

Third, Hong Renjie held a special status in the Sword Sect. In the future, he could even be a contender for the position of Sect Leader.

With him pulling the strings, the Sword Sect wouldn't pursue the matter too seriously even if they actually killed Hong Yu.

Of course, the most important point was that the Second Elder had obtained a special Treasure on his trip overseas. With this Treasure, he was confident he could take complete control of the Hong Family.

Never mind a re True Disciple; even a distinguished Sword Sect Elder wouldn't be able to make waves.

It was for these reasons that the Second Elder could act so unscrupulously.

"I'll count to three. If you still insist on becoming the Honorary Elder, don't bla for being rciless!" The Second Elder crossed his arms, his eyes flashing with contempt.

"One!"

"Two!"

The Third Elder's face fell. He looked toward the Grand Elder on the high platform, only to see him with his eyes slightly closed, as if dozing off. He gritted his teeth and said under his breath, "Hong Yu, this Second Elder is decisive and full of tricks. He wouldn't have stepped forward without absolute confidence. Maybe you should..."

His aning was clear: he was worried the Second Elder had so thod that Hong Yu couldn't handle.

On the high platform, many of the powerful figures were also baffled by this scene...

"What's going on? Is this internal strife?"

"Heh heh, the Hong Family's Second Elder has always been at odds with the Grand Elder. Hong Yu is a powerhouse from the Grand Elder's faction, so of course the Second Elder won't let him succeed."

"How strange. The Second Elder is only at the Late-stage Earth Soul Realm, while Hong Yu is an expert who can easily defeat even Hong Yuanfeng. Isn't he just asking for death by jumping out now?"

"Not necessarily. I've heard the Second Elder has strange thods and has been trading overseas. He might really have a way to deal with Hong Yu!"

Ignoring the bustling discussions, Hong Yu stood silently to the side.

The Third Elder was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth, unable to make a decision.

The Second Elder's expression gradually darkened.

He had expected Hong Yu to yield under his pressure, but he never imagined Hong Yu would remain so nonchalant. It felt as if he had wound up for a powerful punch, only to hit a ball of cotton—the feeling of emptiness and powerlessness was extrely frustrating.

"Fine, fine, fine! Since you dare to ignore , don't even think about letting you go unless you get on your knees and beg!"

With an angry snort, the Second Elder shot backward, returning directly to the high platform. He imdiately waved his hand. "Fourth Elder, bring the thing up."

The Fourth and Fifth Elders leaped off the Martial Arts Arena. About half a minute later, a massive iron cage covered by a black cloth was pushed into the arena. The cage was a full ten ters tall and seven or eight ters in length and width, forged entirely from refined steel bars as thick as a grown man's arm.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

A series of muffled impacts ca from within the cage, making the massive structure tremble.

"Wh-what is that thing?"

"My heavens, do you feel the ground shaking?"

"Is this the Second Elder's hidden ace? What on earth could be inside that cage?"

A cruel smile on his face, the Second Elder spoke in a sarcastic tone, "Hong Yu, if you kneel and kowtow to now, I can still let you off. But if I open this cage and release the 'treasure' inside, it will be too late for you to beg for rcy."

Hong Yu cleaned out his ear. "..."

"Y-you dare to ignore like this? Fine, fine, fine! If I don't make you pay the price today, then my surna isn't Hong...!"

The Second Elder waved his hand. The Fourth and Fifth Elders imdiately ripped the black cloth off the cage and flew to either side, retreating to the high platform. At the sa ti, the mysterious being trapped within the massive cage was revealed to everyone.

It was a colossal black bear covered in a hard, armored shell.

ROAR!

The mont the black cloth was gone, the piercing sunlight hit the giant bear's eyes, and its black pupils instantly turned blood-red.

Tusks like blades lined its gaping maw. A roar, thick with a foul stench, filled the air, brimming with endless resentnt and fury. The giant bear repeatedly slamd against its massive cage, causing the entire Martial Arts Arena to tremble violently. Everyone held their breath.

"My heavens, that's a rare Desolate Beast from the Southern Ocean, the Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear! Judging by its size, it must be a Tier Three Early Stage Desolate Beast."

"Damn, a Tier Three Early Stage Desolate Beast? Isn't that comparable to a human at the Early-stage Celestial Soul Realm?"

"No wonder the Second Elder was so confident. So he had an ace like this up his sleeve. Hong Yu is a dead man."

On the high platform, everyone was stunned by the Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear.

A trace of ecstasy and anticipation flashed deep in Hong Yuanfeng's eyes. 'An Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear? I can't believe the Second Elder had such a Fierce Beast. It seems the position of Honorary Elder will go to my son after all!'

He had previously been forced by pressure to hand the Honorary Elder position over to Hong Yu.

Now, seeing the Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear appear, Hong Yuanfeng's true colors were revealed.

The Third Elder's face was grim. "Grand Elder, what should we do?"

The Grand Elder also seed dejected. "Let's take it one step at a ti. I never thought the Second Elder would build up such resources after so many years overseas. No wonder he's so confident and acting even more recklessly than before since his return. Sigh, if Hong Yu can't secure the Honorary Elder position, I'm afraid our days in the family will be numbered."

"Grand Elder, is this Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear really that powerful? You have to rember, Hong Yu is the First True Disciple of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect!"

the Third Elder asked hesitantly.

The Grand Elder shook his head. "The reason the Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear is so feared, aside from its imnse strength and terrifying physical defense, is its innate ability. Even a Peak Tier Two Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear can kill an ordinary Early-stage Celestial Soul Realm expert with this talent. What's more, this one is at the Tier Three Early Stage..."

"Dammit, then I'll tell Hong Yu to give up," the Third Elder said anxiously.

The Grand Elder shook his head slightly. "It's too late."

"What?"

「At the sa ti...」

BOOM!

With a deafening crash, the Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear shattered the iron cage with its own body.

Under the bear's giant claws, the thick steel bars beca as fragile as toothpicks.

AWOOOO!

The Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear's massive body charged out of the cage. Its four hooves slamd into the ground—THUMP! THUMP!—making the entire Martial Arts Arena shake.

On the high platform, a cruel light glinted in the Second Elder's eyes. A small yellow flag had appeared in his hand.

"Destroy him for !"

This small yellow flag was called a 'Beast Control Banner'. A single Beast Control Banner was worth one billion Gold Coins and could only control one specific Desolate Beast. This was a Treasure the Second Elder had gone to great lengths to obtain. As he directed it with a wave, the blood-red light in the giant Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear's eyes intensified as it locked its gaze on Hong Yu.

AWOOOO!

The Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear roared and charged toward Hong Yu on all fours.

Wherever its massive body passed, the Martial Arts Arena quaked with a series of loud THUMPS, as if in an earthquake.

When it was four or five ters away from Hong Yu, the Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear suddenly raised its right paw. Sharp claws shot out like gleaming Steel Sabers as it swiped viciously at him.

With a WHOOSHING sound of displaced air, five brilliant blades of light tore through the void.

"Sigh."

Hong Yu let out a soft sigh.

His downcast eyes suddenly snapped up. As his dark pupils constricted, a profound luster, like that of distant stars, swirled within them.

His arms, which had been at his sides, now bent as he clenched his five fingers into a fist.

A faint golden glow gathered around his fist. He executed the Wandering Dragon Body Technique, instantly dodging the Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear's giant claw and appearing right in front of it. The bear froze, its blood-red eyes staring at the tiny figure before it with a flash of confusion. But soon, that confusion turned into terror.

BOOM!

Hong Yu threw a vicious punch.

Swift and decisive, the punch landed like a falling cot, smashing squarely into the bridge of the Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear's nose.

AOW!

The Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear shrieked in pain. Its body, weighing thousands of pounds, was launched high into the air and sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the arena floor. Its face was covered in a thick layer of blood. The Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear shook its head, the punch having left it completely dazed.

On the high platform, the Second Elder's face contorted, turning pale then green. He roared, "You beast, use your ultimate move!"

ROAR!

A ferocious, pained expression appeared on the Evil-Devouring Ghost Bear's face.

But under the continuous waves of the Beast Control Banner, its eyes turned blood-red once more. With a furious roar, it suddenly spat an incredibly black Giant Sword from its mouth. The sword shot toward Hong Yu. At first, he didn't think much of it and raised a hand to block, but the Giant Sword passed straight through his arm without causing any harm.

With a SWISH, it disappeared directly into Hong Yu's body.

Hong Yu instantly felt his mind go dizzy and blank, as if a mountain had crashed into his consciousness. A low BUZZING sound echoed in his head, and his expression changed drastically.

The aura of death instantly filled his heart...