King of Ten Thousand Years

Inside the Spirit Pool.

The True Qi in Luo Tian’s fourth Qi Vein pulsed and rumbled, having been developed to its absolute limit.

After breaking through to the Peak of the Fourth Layer, Luo Tian cultivated for another hour or two, using up all his allotted time in the Spirit Pool.

’Next, besides consolidating my Cultivation, I should choose one or two High Grade Martial Skills from the Holy Mansion. Practicing them can, in turn, reinforce my Cultivation and increase the strength of my True Qi.’

Luo Tian was in no hurry to break through to the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening.

If he rushed to break through to the Fifth Layer with an insufficient foundation, he might get lucky and succeed, but it would result in instability.

Stepping out of the Spirit Pool Array, Luo Tian asked a Guard and learned a few things about the Spirit Pool.

Bronze Students weren’t qualified to enter the Spirit Pool for Cultivation.

Silver Students could cultivate in the Spirit Pool for free one day a month.

Golden Students could cultivate in the Spirit Pool for free three days a month.

In other words, Luo Tian’s three free days of Cultivation in the Spirit Pool was a privilege equivalent to that of a Golden Student!

After using up these three days, Luo Tian would only get one free day per month. Unless he became a Golden Student, the number of days would not increase.

As for becoming a Golden Student?

That meant becoming a Core Student of the Holy Mansion, which required Ninth Layer Combat Power of Meridian Opening and passing the Sixth-Layer of the Spirit Fighting Tower.

’Becoming a Golden Student is still a long way off. The most urgent task right now is to hold on to my Silver Student status!’

He had obtained his Silver Student status through unconventional means. If he were challenged and defeated, he would lose it.

...

After leaving the Spirit Pool.

Luo Tian headed for another important location in the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion—the Hidden Martial Pavilion!

From a distance, the Hidden Martial Pavilion looked simple and old, not particularly tall, yet it exuded an aura steeped in the passage of time.

The Hidden Martial Pavilion had even more Guards, and their Cultivation was generally at the Seventh or Eighth Layer of Meridian Opening or higher, far surpassing those stationed at the Spirit Pool.

And that was just the security on the surface.

Inside the Hidden Martial Pavilion, day or night, there was always a Mentor on duty.

When Luo Tian entered the Hidden Martial Pavilion, he realized he knew the Mentor on duty. It was the same white-robed elder who had received them in Lingyun County.

The white-robed elder also noticed Luo Tian and stated flatly, ”Silver Students may choose two Upper Grade Martial Skills for free. You are also eligible to exchange for Spirit Level Martial Skills, but that requires a sufficient amount of Contribution Points.”

”Two Mortal Level Upper Grade Martial Skills? And I can even exchange for Spirit Level Martial Skills?”

Luo Tian was a little stunned.

To be able to choose two Mortal Level Upper Grade Martial Skills for free—an ordinary Wu Mansion would never be so generous.

What surprised Luo Tian even more was that he could exchange for Spirit Level Martial Skills here!

In Qingchang City, Spirit Level Martial Skills were basically the Clan Martial Skills of the major families.

The Star Condensing Sword Point that Luo Tian practiced was a Spirit Level Martial Skill, and he had personally experienced its power.

If not for this powerful Martial Skill, the dangers he had encountered along the way would not have been so easily resolved.

Of course, only students at the Silver Level or above could exchange for Spirit Level Martial Skills.

This was another difference in the treatment based on a student’s status.

”How many Contribution Points do I need to exchange for a Spirit Level Martial Skill?”

Luo Tian asked directly.

The white-robed elder’s brow furrowed slightly, as if he felt Luo Tian was being overly ambitious.

At Luo Tian’s current level, Upper Grade Martial Skills were the most suitable. Spirit Level Martial Skills were too profound, extremely difficult to practice, and would waste too much of his Cultivation time.

”If you give up your two free Mortal Level Upper Grade Martial Skills, plus one thousand Contribution Points, you can exchange them for one Spirit Level Low Grade Martial Skill.”

The white-robed elder said slowly, his expression cold.

”But I still advise you...”

He continued, but upon seeing Luo Tian’s firm and sharp gaze, he immediately gave up on trying to persuade him.

”Go to the second floor and choose for yourself.”

The white-robed elder said, then closed his eyes.

Luo Tian walked up to the second floor of the Hidden Martial Pavilion.

The collection of books here was drastically smaller, and there were only a few Silver Students and the occasional Golden Student.

Ignoring them, he began to seriously browse the Spirit Level Low Grade Martial Skills.

Cloud-Flipping Palm: A Palm Technique comprehended from observing the changing winds and clouds. Its Palm Force is immense. When cultivated to Perfection, it holds the vast power to overturn the very clouds.

Flowing Water Sword Technique: The sword moves like flowing water—soft, continuous, and ever-changing.

...

Every Martial Skill here was on the same level as his Star Condensing Sword Point, and the sight of them all dazzled Luo Tian.

But he quickly calmed himself.

’For offense, I already have the Star Condensing Sword Point. But my Body Martial Skill, the Wandering Body Step, is only Mortal Level Upper Grade, and I’ve already cultivated it to Great Perfection.’

Luo Tian’s gaze swept across the room and finally landed on a Body Martial Skill.

Flying Cloud Step: Makes the body as light as a feather, allowing one to leap through the air and tread on clouds. In terms of speed, it is considered superior among Spirit Level Low Grade skills.

After making his choice, Luo Tian went to the white-robed Mentor to register it.

”Flying Cloud Step?”

The white-robed elder’s brow sank. Not only had Luo Tian chosen a difficult Spirit Level Martial Skill, but it was the extremely hard to comprehend Flying Cloud Step.

Originally, the white-robed elder had a somewhat favorable impression of Luo Tian, thinking he might be able to use his rewards and privileges to advance rapidly in the short term and secure his Silver Student status.

But at this moment, he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

”Mentor, are there any incomplete Spirit Level Low Grade Martial Skills here?”

Luo Tian suddenly asked.

Although he had exchanged for the Flying Cloud Step, he still felt the price was too high.

He possessed the Celestial Book. Even an incomplete Spirit Level Martial Skill could be perfected through Inference, just like the Star Condensing Sword Point back then.

Hearing this, the white-robed elder had a strange expression on his face.

In his several decades as a Mentor at the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion, this was the first time he had encountered a student asking for an incomplete Martial Skill.

”Nonsense! How could the Holy Mansion’s Martial Pavilion deliberately collect incomplete Martial Skills? If a student’s Cultivation goes awry, who would be responsible?”

The white-robed elder snapped sternly.

”You’re right, Mentor.”

Luo Tian had only asked on a whim and didn’t take it to heart.

...

Sunrise Peak, in his Silver Pavilion residence.

Luo Tian’s consciousness eagerly entered the Celestial Book.

At this moment.

The first page of the Creation Celestial Book was filled with a gray-green light; the second page was also about thirty to forty percent full.

’Celestial Book, can this Body Martial Skill, the Flying Cloud Step, be perfected and improved?’

Luo Tian asked.

Normally, all Martial Skills have flaws or defects, and the Celestial Book could perfect them and enhance their power.

The original version of the Star Condensing Sword Point was only close to the Spirit Level in Tier, but after the Celestial Book perfected it, it fully reached the Spirit Level.

Of course, Luo Tian’s Star Condensing Sword Point had only been inferred up to the third level; it wasn’t the complete version.

A line of text appeared on the Celestial Book.

”Expending all available power can increase its might by twenty percent, but it cannot raise the Martial Skill’s Tier.”

”Only a twenty percent increase?”

Luo Tian wasn’t satisfied. The cost was so great for such an insignificant improvement.

Perhaps once a Martial Skill reached the Spirit Level, the difficulty of improving it further increased dramatically, and the cost would multiply.

Just then.

A second line of text appeared on the Celestial Book.

”The Flying Cloud Step and the Wandering Body Step share many common similarities. These two Body Martial Skills can be fused and perfected!”

Luo Tian’s eyes widened in a daze.

’It can do that?’

”Fuse them!”

Without a second thought, Luo Tian exclaimed excitedly.

WHOOSH!

The second page of the Celestial Book rapidly dimmed, and the glow on the first page also quickly vanished before the book closed.

The power Luo Tian had accumulated in the Celestial Book over the past few days was almost completely drained, and the loss pained him.

Soon.

A perfected Body Martial Skill flooded into his mind.

Cloud Traveling Step: A Spirit Level Middle Grade Martial Skill. Makes the body as light as a feather, able to chase clouds through the sky, as ethereal as an immortal. It excels at using multiple footholds in complex environments...

Cultivating to the Small Success Realm allows a Martial Artist’s body to become as light as a feather, greatly increasing speed and agility while reducing stamina consumption during long-distance travel.

At the Great Achievement Realm, one is as swift as a startled swan, possessing a powerful leaping ability and able to take a step in the void.

At the Perfect Realm, one can take three consecutive steps in the void. In windy conditions, one can descend from a hundred-meter cliff completely unharmed. In an ideal environment with footholds, one can even achieve a brief ”sky-flying” effect.

”Spirit Level Middle Grade? The ability to fly?”

Luo Tian’s eyes went wide, and he sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.

He never expected that after fusing two Martial Skills, they would become a brand new Body Martial Skill with an even higher Tier.

The Perfect Realm, in particular, was terrifying. To be able to jump from a hundred-meter cliff in windy conditions and land completely unharmed?

And in an ideal environment with footholds, one could even maintain a brief sky-flying effect.

’Truly worthy of a Spirit Level Middle Grade skill! I’m afraid only Golden Students would be qualified to exchange for something like this, and even then, they might not be able to afford it.’

Luo Tian was a little overwhelmed by the pleasant surprise.

(For those of you who haven’t added this to your library yet, please do so! ~~~)