King of Ten Thousand Years

On a low peak, two miles outside the assessment forest.

Liu Ziyan stood shoulder to shoulder with a handsome male teacher.

The male teacher held a strangely shaped flute, producing low, subtle, and bizarre sound waves.

He was using the Beast Taming Tool to control the Battle Beast with special sound waves.

”Ziyan, rest assured. Even without Qi Hong, my control over the Mire Beast King is enough to kill that kid!”

The handsome male teacher said with a smile.

”Once this is done, I’ll owe Teacher Li a favor.”

Liu Ziyan replied with a smile.

”You’re too kind.”

The handsome male teacher’s heart leaped with joy. He, too, was quite taken with a beautiful, talented genius like Liu Ziyan.

”Hm?”

The handsome male teacher and Liu Ziyan frowned simultaneously.

Faintly, a maddening shriek drifted from the distance, making them feel inexplicably irritable and restless.

”Huh?”

The hand with which the handsome male teacher held the flute suddenly stiffened.

His expression changed. He could no longer sense the Mire Beast King.

’How is that possible?’

The handsome male teacher channeled his Spiritual Power and blew into the flute with all his might, attempting to regain control of the Mire Beast King, but to no avail.

”Teacher Li, what’s wrong?”

Liu Ziyan had a bad feeling.

”This is bad! The Mire Beast King is out of control...”

The handsome male teacher’s face drained of color, unable to imagine the consequences.

If the Mire Beast King lost control, it would destroy the order of the entire assessment.

...

”KAW KAW KAW KAW KAW!”

The Crow, perched on a treetop, continuously let out a demonic, ear-piercing cry.

ROAR! SPLAT! SPLAT!

Influenced by the strange cry, the Mire Beast King went into a frenzy, indiscriminately spewing mud at friend and foe alike.

”AH! AHH!”

The scene descended into chaos. Disciples from the Liu Clan and the Qi Race were in a sorry state, scattering in all directions.

The Mire Beast King was equivalent to a Martial Artist at the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening Realm. Now that it had gone berserk, it was even more of a threat than someone at the Sixth Layer of Meridian Opening.

Even Qi Hong didn’t dare to face it head-on.

Luo Tian wore a strange expression as he looked at the scorched, smoking Crow.

”Young man! How is this god’s singing? Having heard the greatest celestial melody of ancient times, you can now die without any regrets.”

The Crow held its head high with an arrogant look.

’You call that singing? Celestial?’

Luo Tian forced himself to endure the bizarre sound, feeling utterly exasperated.

If this Ugly Bird hadn’t just performed a great service, he would have slapped it away long ago.

’An opportunity!’

Seeing the geniuses from the various clans in total chaos, the corners of Luo Tian’s lips couldn’t help but curl into a smirk.

As the saying goes, a gentleman always takes his revenge.

WHOOSH!

He targeted an acquaintance, Gao Xuan, executed his Step Technique, and rapidly closed in.

’Damn it! How could I run into something like this!’

Gao Xuan swung his Treasure Sword, barely managing to slice through the mud spewed by the Mire Beast King. Several large holes were corroded into his clothes.

’I have to retreat!’

’I just need to pass the Wu Mansion’s assessment.’

Gao Xuan resolved to retreat.

”We’re old friends, aren’t we? Leaving without even saying hello?”

Just as Gao Xuan was about to retreat, a light chuckle came from behind him.

”Luo Tian!”

Gao Xuan’s heart seized.

Against the Luo Tian of today, Gao Xuan was completely powerless to resist.

THUD!

Luo Tian sent Gao Xuan flying with a kick, and he landed in a pit corroded by the mud.

”Ahhh...”

Inside the pit, Gao Xuan cried out. Patches of his skin were burned, his clothes had been completely corroded away, and he was left stark naked.

”This time, I didn’t make you strip, did I?”

Luo Tian said with a derisive laugh before leaving.

FLAP! FLAP!

A scorched and smoking Crow flew above Gao Xuan’s head and squawked, ”Someone streaking in broad daylight! Society’s morals have truly degenerated.”

”Whoa, that thing is so tiny!”

This cry immediately drew everyone’s attention, and they all looked down at Gao Xuan’s crotch.

”You—shut up! Shut up!”

Gao Xuan was on the verge of tears from the humiliation.

Gao Xuan’s fate was merely one among many of Luo Tian’s enemies.

The next moment.

Luo Tian appeared beside a disciple of the Liu Family and slammed a palm into his chest.

CRACK! THUD!

The Liu Family disciple, at the Peak of Third Heaven, had several ribs broken. He spat out blood as he was sent flying several meters.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Luo Tian then moved quickly through the chaos, sending one enemy after another flying.

Some fled with their injuries, while others were less fortunate, getting hit by the Mire Beast King’s mud and ending up either dead or crippled.

Among them, Lin Yun was also fleeing in a panic.

’This is bad!’

Lin Yun’s eyes met Luo Tian’s. Seeing the malicious intent on Luo Tian’s face, his heart sank.

’Run!’

Lin Yun immediately turned to leave, executing the Body Technique, Seven Charge Steps, and dashing more than ten meters away.

”Where do you think you’re going?”

Luo Tian’s voice came clearly from behind, making all the hairs on Lin Yun’s body stand on end.

”Get the hell away from me!”

In a panic, Lin Yun swept his sword out horizontally, but Luo Tian dodged it with ease.

”Go back!”

Luo Tian kicked him squarely in the buttocks.

”Ahhh...”

He had been kicked in this very spot by Luo Tian a few days ago. The injury hadn’t even healed yet, and now it had been struck again.

THUMP!

Lin Yun tumbled more than ten meters, landing right next to the Mire Beast King.

SPLAT!

A glob of mud shot out like an arrow and hit Lin Yun right in the crotch.

”...What?”

Lin Yun was stunned.

Immediately, a corrosive, burning sensation from his crotch made him let out a bloodcurdling scream, ”No... please, no... Somebody save me!”

”No, my family jewels... AHHH!”

Tears streamed down Lin Yun’s face. He was filled with endless regret before finally passing out from the pain.

That thing... it was probably a lost cause.

This scene sent an inexplicable chill through the crotches of the other young men present, and they couldn’t help but clamp their legs together.

”This one’s even more pitiful. It’s gone, all gone.”

The scorched and smoking Crow squawked as it flew past.

”Luo Tian... I’ll slice you into a thousand pieces!”

A chilling and furious voice rang out.

Qi Hong’s hideously corroded face came into view, looking utterly savage.

Obviously.

He had mistaken the Crow for Luo Tian’s Battle Beast and directed his hatred accordingly.

SWOOSH!

Qi Hong blurred into an afterimage and leaped forward. His [Golden Patterned Saber] drew a crimson, fiery arc as it slashed down.

At this moment, Qi Hong’s killing intent was palpable. The power of the Peak of Meridian Opening Fifth Layer erupted from him, ferocious and wild!

”Bring it on!”

Luo Tian didn’t back down in the slightest.

In a one-on-one fight, he did not fear Qi Hong!

SWISH!

Spreading his Spiritual Sense, Luo Tian executed Wandering Body Step to evade Qi Hong’s Treasure Artifact, the [Golden Patterned Saber].

As long as he avoided the Treasure Artifact, Qi Hong’s threat would be reduced by at least thirty percent.

WHAP!

He secretly channeled his Divine Vein. His palm, now glowing with an eerie blue, cold light, churned with a Cold Current of True Qi as he struck at Qi Hong.

”You’re courting death! Even without my Treasure Artifact, I can still crush you!”

Qi Hong snorted. He channeled the True Qi of the Peak of Meridian Opening Fifth Layer and unleashed a roaring, whistling Palm Shadow.

BANG!

The two palms collided, tearing the air with a violent gust as an icy wind spread in all directions.

STOMP! WHOOSH!

After the exchange, Luo Tian used the momentum to float backward, his blood and qi roiling.

’As expected of someone at the Peak of Meridian Opening Fifth Layer, the strongest candidate from Lingyun County this year...’

Luo Tian nodded to himself.

Meanwhile.

Qi Hong staggered, a layer of frost condensing on the surface of his palm, making his entire arm feel slightly stiff.

In terms of True Qi Cultivation, Qi Hong had opened five Qi Veins, giving him the upper hand.

But in terms of physical power, Luo Tian, with his Divine Vein, was stronger.

And then there was the innate Cold Power of the Divine Vein.

’What is this Cold Power? At the very least, an Earth Tier Martial Vein is required to bestow a Martial Vein with special innate combat power!’

’Isn’t his Martial Vein only Yellow Tier Middle Grade?’

Qi Hong was both shocked and enraged. He couldn’t believe that this commoner, whom he had regarded as an ant, could clash with him head-on and not be defeated.

’A perfect opportunity!’

Luo Tian’s Spiritual Sense detected that Qi Hong’s mind was in turmoil, revealing an opening.

WHOOSH!

He channeled his Divine Vein and used Sword Pointing, pushing his Body Technique to its limit to cut into the opening in Qi Hong’s stance.

SHINK!

A sharp, ice-blue ray of Finger Force stabbed toward the side of Qi Hong’s back.

”Block it!”

Qi Hong slashed out with a scorching Crimson Gold Blade Aura, powerful enough to crush an ordinary practitioner at the Fourth or Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening. The nearby dead grass was instantly scorched black.

Star Condensation and Chasing the Sun!

Luo Tian moved like a fish in water. Instead of retreating, he advanced. His Sword Pointing, like a cold star in the night sky, traced an arc, cleverly evading the saber slash to continue its strike toward Qi Hong.

PFFT!

The Soft Armor on Qi Hong’s lower abdomen was pierced, and blood seeped from the small hole.

”No! How could I fail to block it!”

Qi Hong’s body stiffened as he let out a choked roar.

’He’s merely at the Peak of Meridian Opening Third Stage, so how is his mastery of the Martial Arts Realm so profound? And the Penetration Power of his Sword Pointing is comparable to a Treasure Artifact!’

”In your heart, you’ve already lost.”

Luo Tian couldn’t help but shake his head.

In terms of raw combat power, Qi Hong with his Treasure Artifact should have been invincible.

However, Qi Hong had been affected by the Crow’s demonic cries and then disfigured in the Mire Beast King’s attack. He was a mess of frustration and anxiety, his composure completely shattered.

A flaw in one’s mental state will manifest itself in battle.

Against a much weaker opponent, it might not have mattered.

But for Luo Tian, who possessed Spiritual Sense and a higher Martial Arts Realm, the slightest opening would become a fatal weakness!