King of Ten Thousand Years

「Returning to the Silver Area.」

Luo Tian sensed a strange atmosphere.

A few Silver Students passed by, their eyes holding a mix of pity and gloating.

Just as Luo Tian returned to his residence, he saw Chen Haofei hurrying over.

”Brother Chen, what brings you here?”

Luo Tian said with a smile.

Now, both Luo Tian and Chen Haofei were students of Master Lin, so they could even be considered fellow disciples.

”Our Mentor sent me with a message.”

Chen Haofei looked at his surroundings, clearly envious of the residences in the Silver Area.

”Master Lin has issued a mission. In three days, he wants us to go to the front lines to fight the Beast Tide and hone our Martial Arts. It’s said that the annual Beast Tide is the best opportunity for students of the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion to improve, so we can’t miss it.”

Chen Haofei explained.

”Alright.”

Luo Tian had heard about the Beast Tide and was intrigued by the prospect.

Fighting the Beast Tide was a chance to earn Contribution Points by killing Demon Beasts, while also honing his Martial Skills and advancing his Cultivation.

”By the way, Brother Luo, there’s also some bad news.”

Chen Haofei’s expression turned worried.

”Yue Jing, one of the four Golden Lords of the Golden Area, has declared he’s going to ’take care of’ you.”

The students in the Golden Area all possessed Ninth Layer Combat Power.

And Yue Jing was one of the four Golden Lords.

”Yue Jing?”

Luo Tian frowned. He’d never met the man.

”What’s more, Liu Ziyan has arrived at the Holy Mansion. She’s already defeated several Golden Students in a row and even took down one of the Golden Lords, becoming one of the new four herself!”

Chen Haofei took a deep breath, his face filled with alarm.

He couldn’t help but worry for Luo Tian.

This meant that Luo Tian was now being targeted by two Golden Lords from the Golden Area.

”Liu Ziyan? Yue Jing?”

Luo Tian’s expression darkened.

Yue Jing had declared he would deal with Luo Tian right after Liu Ziyan entered the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion. The two of them were most likely working together.

’It seems Liu Ziyan’s connections are more formidable than I imagined.’

After Chen Haofei left,

CREAK!

The door to the neighboring residence suddenly opened.

A slender, beautiful youth with long hair came into view. His exquisite features were enough to make many girls jealous.

’Nangong Yu.’

Luo Tian realized he had a new neighbor.

”Luo Tian, I heard one of the Golden Lords has declared he’s going to rough you up badly. Want me to put in a good word for you?”

A teasing smile played on Nangong Yu’s lips.

During the Holy Mansion’s entrance examination, Luo Tian had snatched first place right from under Nangong Yu, so it was unlikely he didn’t hold any grudge.

”It’s just one Golden Lord. I can handle him. I’m more concerned about the favor you still owe me.”

Luo Tian refused to back down.

”You’re the only opponent in our generation who has ever defeated me. Try not to get yourself killed too quickly.”

After speaking coldly, Nangong Yu returned to his room.

A curious look appeared on Luo Tian’s face. ’Nangong Yu might seem cold, but his words felt like a warning.’

...

「Back in his room.」

Luo Tian was lost in thought.

In three days, he would be heading to the front lines to fight the Beast Tide.

Hunting Demon Beasts was risky. The Beast Tide would be full of One-star High Tier Demon Beasts, and there might even be some Two-star Spirit Level Demon Beasts, whose strength was comparable to the Spirit Sea Realm.

Quite a few students died in the Beast Tide every year.

Moreover, the dangers Luo Tian faced weren’t just limited to Demon Beasts; he also had to deal with the threat from Liu Ziyan and Yue Jing.

Before leaving, Luo Tian naturally had to make some preparations.

In addition to necessary supplies and Elixir Pills, weapons and armor were also essential.

As for weapons, his Quasi-Treasure Artifact would suffice for now.

His Golden Lock Armor, however, had been slightly damaged during the assassin’s attack and needed to be repaired.

’Oh, right.’

Luo Tian suddenly remembered something and took out a palm-sized, crystal-white seashell.

This seashell was one of the two ancient artifacts he had picked out at the Martial City, which he later snatched from Yan Lei.

”Celestial Book, deduce the origin of this shell.”

Holding the shell, Luo Tian sent his consciousness into the Celestial Book.

BUZZ!

The Celestial Book quickly consumed more than a page’s worth of its power.

A line of text quickly appeared on the page:

”An Ancient Refining Artifact. These were used as caskets by certain deep-sea races and also for storing valuable items. They contain their own space within, and the outer shell is nearly impervious to all forms of power, making it incredibly difficult to destroy.”

Reading the Celestial Book’s description made Luo Tian’s head ache.

’This thing might as well be a portable coffin. In the Ancient Era, they probably weren’t that rare, but it’s useless in my hands. I can’t open it, and I can’t destroy it.’

’Compared to this, that hooked leather whip is much more practical. Its ability is bizarre and almost impossible to defend against.’

DING! DING! HISS!

Wielding his Quasi-Treasure Longsword, Luo Tian attacked the shell. He even pushed his Divine Vein to its limit and unleashed the third form of the Celestial Star Sword Technique, but he couldn’t even leave a scratch.

’Even someone in the Spirit Sea Realm would have a hard time damaging this shell.’

Luo Tian muttered to himself, an idea suddenly forming in his mind.

’Since this shell is so tough, I can use it as a Heart-Protecting Mirror. I’ll embed it into the chest of my armor to protect my heart.’

’At a critical moment, it could not only save my life but also catch an opponent by surprise.’

「That afternoon.」

Luo Tian headed straight for the Holy Mansion’s Forging Workshop.

As soon as he drew near, Luo Tian felt the temperature rise and heard a chorus of clanging and banging.

It was a massive black metal building that covered several acres, resembling a crouching steel behemoth.

The Forging Workshop was a facility that specialized in forging and casting equipment.

Here, one could buy high-quality weapons and armor, or even commission or customize a Treasure Artifact, but it required a hefty sum of Spiritual Essence Coins and Contribution Points.

At this moment, a long line had formed in front of the Forging Workshop, consisting mostly of Bronze and Silver Students.

’So many people?’

Luo Tian was a bit surprised.

Due to the Beast Tide outbreak in the Celestial Extreme Mountain Range, most of the Holy Mansion’s students would be participating, so there were many people looking to have weapons forged or equipment repaired.

Luo Tian joined the line and waited patiently.

An hour later.

The person in front of Luo Tian finished their business, and it was about to be his turn.

”You’re Luo Tian?”

A cocky voice sounded from behind him.

Luo Tian glanced over and saw Li Hai walking over with another youth who had noticeably long arms.

The one who spoke was the long-armed youth, a stranger to Luo Tian.

”I’m in a hurry. Get out of the way!”

The long-armed youth wore an arrogant expression and strode past Luo Tian as if no one else was there.

He was clearly planning to cut in line!

”It’s Ji Xingjun!”

”That guy is under the same Mentor as Yue Jing. With that connection, he does whatever he wants in the Silver Area.”

Some of the nearby students looked on with fear and disgust.

They were furious about Ji Xingjun cutting the line but didn’t dare to say anything.

”Cutting in line isn’t a very good habit to have.”

Luo Tian said coldly.

The long-armed youth was with Li Hai; they were clearly here looking for trouble.

”Heh!”

The long-armed youth sneered, his face full of disdain.

SWISH!

His body blurred into an arcing afterimage as he tried to dart in front of Luo Tian, intending to force his way into the line.

”So fast!”

”Ji Xingjun may rely on Yue Jing’s influence, but his own Cultivation has reached the Peak of the Seventh Layer. After cultivating the Flying Arc Step for years, his speed is unmatched among those in the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening.”

The surrounding Silver Students were filled with both hatred and fear.

Just as the long-armed Ji Xingjun’s ghostly figure was about to successfully cut in,

at that very moment, Luo Tian’s figure gracefully shifted, leaving an afterimage in his place.

SWISH!

In that same instant, Ji Xingjun completed his move, landing in the spot where Luo Tian had been standing.

But in the next moment, his expression changed.

A handsome youth was standing directly in front of him.

”There, you can have the spot behind me.”

Luo Tian said with a wave of his hand, looking magnanimous.

’Ji Xingjun wanted to cut in line, and the others didn’t stop him.’

’I don’t care either, as long as he doesn’t cut in front of *me*.’

But would Ji Xingjun be willing to stand behind Luo Tian?

”You... you dare to trick me!”

Ji Xingjun’s face was ashen with rage, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

He was used to riding Yue Jing’s coattails and doing as he pleased.

Now that the great Yue Jing had declared he wanted Luo Tian dealt with, Ji Xingjun saw it as his duty to step up.

Now, to be outsmarted by Luo Tian... how could he tolerate that!

”Luo Tian! Senior Ji is a veteran of the Silver Area and the junior disciple of the Golden Lord, Yue Jing! Don’t you know how to show some respect?”

Li Hai yelled.

”Respect? You’re not worthy of it.”

Luo Tian couldn’t be bothered with them and prepared to enter the Forging Workshop.

”Hmph! Just a punk at the Sixth Layer of Meridian Opening. I gave you a chance, and you spat in my face!”

Ji Xingjun’s expression was sinister, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

SHING!

He drew his sword and slashed, sending a freezing bolt of Sword Qi arcing through the air.

Ji Xingjun had also mastered the Breaking Sky Sword Qi. Combined with his Cultivation at the Peak of the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening, this single strike could slice a half-meter-thick wall in two.