King of Ten Thousand Years

”The *Rapid Lightning Sword Technique* is a Spirit Level Martial Skill renowned for its speed. It’s considered top-tier among Low Grade Spirit Level skills.”

Li Hai’s eyes lit up.

SWOOSH-CHH!

The lightning-fast Sword Qi struck from behind, aimed at Luo Tian’s arm. It was incredibly difficult to dodge.

”Even if I cripple one of your arms, I won’t be punished too severely. After all, Yue Jing is the Vice Manor Master’s nephew.”

Ji Xingjun wore a ruthless expression.

Suddenly, Luo Tian, whose back was still to him, drew his sword in an instant. He unleashed a sweeping, icy Sword Qi that bloomed like starlight.

CLANG-PFFT!

The tips of the two swords met, and their Sword Qi collided and dissipated.

Not only that, but a powerful force erupted from the tip of Luo Tian’s sword, knocking Ji Xingjun back.

Luo Tian’s *Celestial Star Sword Technique* had immense single-target burst power at the Starlight stage.

Moreover, he had already cultivated the Starlight stage to its peak.

’What kind of swordsmanship is that...?’

Ji Xingjun was greatly startled.

He had held back with that last strike, not daring to go for the kill in public.

”Hmph!”

Luo Tian’s expression darkened. After blocking the attack, he swiftly counterattacked.

SHINK! SHINK! SHINK!

The longsword in his hand conjured several sword shadows that bloomed like cold stars, thrusting unpredictably toward Ji Xingjun’s shoulders, arms, and other vital points.

Ji Xingjun’s expression changed. In his haste, he couldn’t tell which of the sword lights were real and which were illusions.

This was the second form of the *Celestial Star Sword Technique*: Star Shifting Shadow!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Ji Xingjun could only swing his sword, desperately trying to parry.

Some of the sword lights seemed to be illusions, yet they would suddenly erupt with the terrifying power of an exploding star.

Others appeared real, but his parries met only empty air.

After a few exchanges,

SCHLICK!

A sword gleam that seemed to be a fading illusion suddenly solidified into a glow like a dark star, leaving a half-inch-deep gash on Ji Xingjun’s arm.

Ji Xingjun let out a muffled grunt and retreated in a panic.

”Ji Xingjun was actually injured by Luo Tian?”

Some of the Silver Students present were stunned, completely taken by surprise.

”Luo Tian, you’re courting death!”

Ji Xingjun’s face twisted in fury as he roared.

He hadn’t used his full strength, and coupled with underestimating his opponent, he had been suppressed by Luo Tian’s bizarre swordsmanship and put at a disadvantage.

”Quiet! Is the Forging Workshop a place for you to be causing a scene?”

A rough, booming shout echoed out like a clap of thunder, making everyone’s eardrums ache and their qi and blood roil.

The area fell deathly silent.

None of the students dared to breathe as they looked with awe toward the giant, black iron building.

Inside the Holy Mansion’s Forging Workshop was an Artifact Refining Master with profound cultivation and a foul temper.

Even the higher-ups of the Holy Mansion were quite respectful to this Artifact Refining Master.

Hmph!

Ji Xingjun shot Luo Tian a resentful glare, suppressed his anger, and departed with a flick of his sleeve.

’As expected of the Holy Mansion. Even the Forging Workshop has hidden experts.’

Luo Tian marveled internally.

Not daring to dally, he walked into the black iron tower and took out his Golden Lock Armor.

There were several cracks on the back of the armor.

The Golden Lock Armor was of relatively poor quality for a Low Grade Treasure Artifact, and it had been damaged during the last assassination attempt.

”I’d like to have this armor repaired and have this seashell embedded in the chest area...”

Luo Tian explained his request.

”We’ll provide the materials. It’ll cost you three hundred Contribution Points. Come back in three days to get it.”

A burly artifact refiner said impatiently.

”Alright.”

Luo Tian decisively paid the three hundred Contribution Points and finalized the request.

...

「Three days later.」

Over twenty students had gathered on a low peak within the Holy Mansion. Most were Bronze Students, with a few Silver Students mixed in.

Every day, the Holy Mansion dispatched a group of students from here to the front lines to fend off the Beast Tide.

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, a handsome youth with the status of a Silver Student arrived, landing gracefully.

”Brother Luo.”

Chen Haofei called out from within the crowd.

”I was picking something up from the Forging Workshop and ran a little late.”

Luo Tian said with a smile.

The Golden Lock Armor beneath his robes now had a palm-sized seashell embedded over the area covering his vital organs.

”Everyone’s here.”

A steward with thick eyebrows finished his headcount.

Including Luo Tian, there were five Silver Students present.

”Luo Tian?”

Li Hai, who was one of the five Silver Students, had a venomous smile touch his lips.

”Move out!”

The thick-browed steward led the group away.

The Sun Chasing Holy Mansion was built near the Celestial Extreme Mountain Range.

Two hours later, a gap appeared in the mountain range ahead. It was blocked by a tall, majestic Battle Castle, which was under constant assault by waves of Demon Beasts.

The walls of the Battle Castle, which stood over a hundred feet high, were covered in ghastly scars and bloodstains.

Around the walls, the corpses of Demon Beasts were piled like mountains, and rivers of blood flowed forth.

”This is one of the most important strongholds on the front line against the Demon Beasts. The fighting here is the most brutal, and we often face attacks from Two-star Demon Beasts,” the thick-browed steward explained.

”Steward Fan, are we going to be fighting here?” a Silver Student asked.

The regular Stewards of the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion were mostly at the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening or higher. Some were former Golden Students who, upon turning twenty, shed their student status to remain in the Holy Mansion as Stewards.

”No! You’re all new here. You’ll go to the nearby villages first to deal with the scattered Demon Beasts.”

Steward Fan replied.

The Battle Castle was situated near the mountain gap, making it one of the focal points of the Beast Tide’s assault.

However, the areas surrounding the mountain range also faced the Beast Tide, albeit with less pressure.

Next, Steward Fan divided the students into five squads, each with five or six members, captained by one of the Silver Students.

Luo Tian was also made a captain. Chen Haofei was assigned to his squad, which had five members in total.

Li Hai led a six-person squad and skillfully assigned tasks to the Bronze Students under his command.

’This kid has zero experience. Let’s see how he screws this up.’

Li Hai sneered.

Even though Luo Tian was the captain, he hadn’t assigned any tasks to his squad members, adopting a completely hands-off approach.

「That afternoon.」

The five squads led by the Silver Students arrived at a large nearby village with a population of several thousand.

The village had its own guards composed of Martial Artists, as well as students from other Wu Mansions who were helping with the defense.

”Alright, this area is in your hands now. You can exchange the Demon Cores you collect for Contribution Points.”

After giving his instructions, the thick-browed steward departed gracefully.

...

ROAR! ROAR!

Near the village, a few Demon Beasts would occasionally charge forward, mad with bloodlust.

These Demon Beasts were mostly One-star Low Tier, equivalent to a cultivator below the Third Layer of Meridian Opening. They didn’t pose much of a threat.

There were a few One-star Middle Tier beasts as well, but they weren’t difficult to handle.

SHLICK! SHLICK!

These Demon Beasts were exterminated by the students from the various Wu Mansions while still several hundred meters from the village.

”Senior Luo, they’re taking all the Contribution Points! Shouldn’t we move a little closer to the front?” one of the Bronze Members couldn’t hold back any longer.

Since arriving with his squad, Luo Tian had remained in the village, making no move to actively hunt Demon Beasts.

”Brother Luo, aren’t we being a bit too conservative?”

Chen Haofei asked.

”No rush. All of you should rest and conserve your energy. There are too many people fighting over so few Low Tier Demon Beasts. It’s pointless.”

Luo Tian said with a calm expression.

He possessed the Qi Observation Skill, and he could sense a plume of demonic qi approaching from the distant horizon.

Furthermore, his Creation Technique was picking up on a faint sense of crisis.

Luo Tian deduced that a large number of Demon Beasts were sure to arrive later.

Meanwhile, Li Hai and his group were already in conflict with students from another Wu Mansion, nearly coming to blows over the rights to two Demon Beasts.

Luo Tian couldn’t help but shake his head, simply telling his squad members to rest and conserve their strength.

「As night fell.」

Some of the students from the various Wu Mansions were exhausted after a long day of fighting.

”Prepare for battle!”

Luo Tian ordered in a low voice, prompting Chen Haofei and his other squad members to get to their feet.

’That idiot Luo Tian! He didn’t go kill Demon Beasts during the day when the visibility was good. Now that it’s night and we should be on the defensive, he insists on trying to show off.’

Li Hai sneered, his face full of contempt.

He got up and went to a corner to take a piss.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!

The ground suddenly began to tremble. In the distance, a cloud of dust billowed as a massive horde of Demon Beasts charged toward them.

At the same time, flying beasts attacked from the sky.

Among the horde of Demon Beasts, there were even a dozen One-star High Tier ones, putting the entire village under immense pressure.

”This is bad! Quick, to arms...!”

The students from the various Wu Mansions scrambled for their weapons.

Many reacted too slowly or were exhausted from the day’s battles, and were either injured or killed by the attacking Demon Birds.

”Captain, your foresight is incredible!”

In Luo Tian’s squad, the members looked at him with a newfound sense of awe and gratitude.

SHINK! SLICE! SLICE!

Thanks to Luo Tian’s earlier warning, his squad was fully prepared for battle and easily reaped the lives of a wave of Demon Beasts.

”Agh! How can this be?!”

Elsewhere, Li Hai was halfway through taking his piss when a flying beast swooped down from the sky. The shock made him jump, and he ended up pissing all over his own pant leg.