King of Ten Thousand Years

Night fell.

The two elite squads from the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion were now dozens of miles away from the Battle Castle.

A smile touched Luo Tian’s lips. At night, he wouldn’t have to be as cautious when simulating the Demon Emperor’s Qi.

At this moment, the students from both squads were keeping their distance from Luo Tian, treating him like the plague.

”Luo Tian, you’ve offended everyone in both squads. Aren’t you afraid?”

Nangong Yu asked coolly.

She had experienced Luo Tian’s ”One-Sword Young Master” specialty once during the day, and it had infuriated her.

”If I dared to do it, then I’m not afraid.”

Luo Tian replied with a faint smile.

”You’ve got guts.”

Nangong Yu turned and walked away, and it was unclear whether her words were sincere or sarcastic.

Liu Ziyan had pulled Nangong Yu into the squad after learning that Luo Tian had stolen first place from her during the Holy Mansion’s test, creating a grudge between the two.

Being on the same team would only intensify their conflict.

If Luo Tian were also to fatally offend an Elder’s grandson, his life in the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion would become even more difficult.

WOOF WOOF!

Just then, the purple-haired youth’s Black Dog Battle Beast ran back, its tongue lolling out in excitement.

”Found it!”

The purple-haired youth whispered to Yue Jing.

”Excellent! Luo Tian’s time has come!”

A look of delight crossed Yue Jing’s face. He exchanged a glance with Liu Ziyan, and a cold, murderous intent flickered in both their eyes.

”Everyone! Head for the southwest region. There are traces of many Demon Beasts over there.”

Yue Jing commanded.

’The southwest region?’

Luo Tian grew thoughtful. ’It seems the Demon Beast we’re tracking has completely entered human territory.’

For the next hour, the two squads traveled continuously. Strangely, they didn’t encounter a single Demon Beast along the way.

Luo Tian frowned.

His powerful Spiritual Sense suddenly gave him the unsettling feeling of being watched.

’Hmm?’

Luo Tian was very confident in his intuition.

For some ordinary Martial Artists, talk of intuition and a sixth sense would be nonsense.

But Luo Tian, who practiced the Celestial Destiny Creation Technique, could be said to truly possess a sixth sense—and an even stronger one at that.

’Let’s see.’

Luo Tian closed his eyes, circulated the Creation Technique, and his fingers formed several strange Spells.

As his proficiency with the Creation Technique grew, he had naturally come to comprehend some peculiar skills.

A few breaths later, Luo Tian’s expression changed drastically. His face paled slightly; the consumption had been significant.

Just now, he had formed the Spells to enhance his Spiritual Sense and perceived a dangerous omen.

It was the kind of omen that signaled mortal danger at the slightest misstep.

As for the feeling of being watched, it was undeniably real.

Luo Tian deduced that their two squads had been targeted by a terrifying existence.

One had to understand that the Demon Beasts that infiltrated the Human Realm all possessed a degree of intelligence. None of them were weak, and the best among them were of immeasurable strength.

Meanwhile, two or three miles away from the two squads.

HISS!

The air temperature plummeted as a massive, jade-green body suddenly emerged from the tall grass.

It was a gigantic jade-green python, as thick as a water bucket and a full twenty meters long. Its verdant scales shimmered with a cold, sinister light.

Its pair of cold, profound eyes glinted with bloodthirsty excitement as it stared in the direction the two squads had gone.

WHOOSH~

A cloud of eerie green, poisonous mist billowed from the giant python’s body. The surrounding vegetation withered instantly, and a patch of ground was corroded into a rotting mire, turning into a land of death.

Suddenly, it caught a faint, special scent and grew incredibly excited, a greedy expression appearing on its face.

”Hiss... Demon... Bone... Hiss!”

The giant jade-green python faintly hissed out a few indistinct words.

If any human Martial Artists were present, they would likely be shocked.

This giant python of unknown origin was on the verge of evolving the ability to speak human words.

HISS! HISSSSSS!

With the giant jade-green python at the center, hair-raising sounds echoed from all directions as one cold, bloodthirsty figure after another appeared—all of them pythons.

The weakest of these pythons had a Cultivation at the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening, while two giant golden pythons possessed auras above the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening.

All the giant pythons prostrated themselves before the jade-green one, as if worshiping their King.

The giant jade-green python hissed a few times, seemingly issuing commands.

Soon, all the giant pythons hid themselves, vanishing into the jungle.

...

「Half an hour later.」

The purple-haired youth’s Black Dog Battle Beast led everyone into a valley.

”Why is this valley so quiet?” a Silver Student muttered.

There were no birds or beasts to be seen in the valley; the dead silence was oppressive!

”My War Dog’s sense of smell is never wrong. There are definitely traces of a Demon Beast here.”

The purple-haired youth said confidently.

Then, he pointed to a nearby area. ”Look, there are bloodstains here. It must be an injured Demon Beast.”

”Everyone, the Demon Beast we’ve tracked this time should be very strong, possibly with half a foot in the Spirit Sea Realm. If we can kill it, the battle merits will be extraordinary.”

Yue Jing announced righteously.

”Even if it’s an injured Spirit Level Demon Beast, there’s no need to be afraid. Senior Sister Liu has a record of slaying a severely injured Spirit Sea Realm expert, and besides, there are so many of us.”

The charming young woman said reassuringly with a smile.

Hearing this, everyone present grew excited and eager to try.

If they could work together to kill a Half-step Spirit Sea Realm being, or even a severely injured Spirit Level Demon Beast, not only would the battle merits be glorious, but they would also have bragging rights when they returned.

”Now, we’ll split into teams.”

Yue Jing gave the order.

There were a dozen or so people present, including two Golden Students.

The two Golden Students would move alone to search for traces of the injured Demon Beast.

The remaining nine Silver Students were split into teams of three.

”Everyone remember, if you notice any unusual activity, call for help immediately.”

Liu Ziyan’s beautiful eyes were smiling, her voice gentle. She projected the image of a kind and considerate person.

”Luo Tian, you three, go check the cave in the southeast corner.”

Yue Jing ordered.

The valley was neither large nor small, with some bushes, ravines, and caves where a Demon Beast could be hiding.

”Fine.”

Luo Tian replied without expression, forming a small team with another male and female student.

”Hmph!”

Seeing that they were grouped with Luo Tian, these two students were furious, their gazes filled with hostility.

Without waiting for Luo Tian to speak, the male and female students walked hand-in-hand towards the cave in the southeast corner.

They were clearly a couple.

Seeing them ignore him, Luo Tian didn’t mind.

His Spiritual Sense had already detected a hint of crisis.

’It seems Liu Ziyan and Yue Jing’s venomous plan is about to be set in motion.’

A sharp glint flashed in Luo Tian’s eyes.

”You two.”

Luo Tian caught up to the student couple and called out.

”What is it?”

The male student’s face was cold, a hint of wariness and hostility in his expression.

”Are you close with Yue Jing?”

Luo Tian asked.

”Not really.”

The female student replied reluctantly, a trace of disgust in her eyes.

After speaking, the man and woman entered the cave first, apparently intending to ditch Luo Tian and proceed alone.

”I advise you both to be careful.”

Luo Tian entered the cave, his Spiritual Sense fully extended, covering a sixty-meter radius.

However, the student couple despised Luo Tian and quickened their pace into the cave.

Inside, the cave grew increasingly spacious.

”Look, there seem to be some bloodstains here. The injured Demon Beast might be inside.”

The female student beamed.

The man was at the Eighth Layer of Meridian Opening and the woman was at the Seventh Layer. Together, they were quite formidable.

Just then, a cold, foul wind wafted out from the cave.

”You two, get back now!”

Luo Tian’s expression changed.

”Hmph! Luo Tian, that ’Despicable Lord,’ must be trying to steal our Demon Beast.”

The male student snorted.

No sooner had he spoken than,

WHOOSH!

A violent, foul wind, carrying an icy pressure, swept towards them.

The next moment, a huge, pitch-black Demon Beast shot out from the depths of the cave. It radiated an immense Demon Evil Qi, and its pressure far surpassed the Meridian Opening Realm.

”Oh no! Run—”

The male student’s face went deathly pale. Based on his knowledge, that was definitely a Spirit Level Demon Beast!

”Brother Dong, save me—”

Under that immense pressure, the female student at the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening felt her blood and qi practically freeze, and her body trembled.

Extreme fear caused her mind and body to break down. She reached out, hoping her boyfriend would pull her to safety.

But the male student completely ignored her, using her as a shield as he ran for the cave entrance at top speed.

”AHH—”

A woman’s scream rang out.

The female student at the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening was torn apart by a black claw. Her body was ripped to pieces, scattering on the ground like a pile of blood-red flower petals.

Immediately, the cold, foul wind, as fast as a phantom, attacked the male student.

’How is it so fast!’

The male student cursed inwardly. The female student hadn’t even delayed it for half a breath.

At this moment, Luo Tian’s Spiritual Sense had already clearly seen the giant, pitch-black Demon Beast. It was a jackal with a sharp horn on its head, a size larger than a typical mountain bear.

The Jackal Wolf Demon Beast was extremely fast. In the blink of an eye, it killed the female student and then closed in on the male student.

Luo Tian noticed something.

This Spirit Level Demon Beast had a huge, bloody gash on its abdomen, as well as many other wounds on its body.

’It’s actually a severely injured Spirit Level Demon Beast.’

Luo Tian was shocked.

Even though it was gravely injured, this Jackal Wolf Demon Beast displayed a combat strength several times greater than the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening. Even a Golden Student would fall on the spot.

”Get away from me!”

The male student roared in terror, swinging his long saber and unleashing a thick blade of light.

CLANG! CRACK!

The Jackal Wolf Demon Beast swiped its claw, tearing the male student and his saber in half.

It was a complete slaughter.

A Silver Student at the Eighth Layer of Meridian Opening was like an ant before it.

After killing the student couple,

ROAR!

the Jackal Wolf Demon Beast charged at Luo Tian with a bloodthirsty and hateful expression, moving with ghostly speed.

Luo Tian’s heart trembled.

This was Spirit Sea Realm Level combat power. Even at half strength, it could crush an ordinary Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening cultivator.

Originally, he had also prepared to turn and flee, but practicing the Creation Technique made his mind incredibly clear and calm.

’This Demon Beast’s speed is two or three times my own. It’s impossible to escape.’

Luo Tian took a deep breath and stopped in his tracks.

If he ran and left his back exposed to a Spirit Level Demon Beast, he would surely die!

SWISH!

The Jackal Wolf Demon Beast flashed past like a ghostly Black Shadow, catching up to Luo Tian in less than two breaths.

It looked astonished. This weak little human wasn’t showing any fear.

”How dare you!”

The young man’s face turned severe as his aura changed drastically. He transformed into a majestic and powerful Ancient Demon Emperor that suppressed heaven and earth, and a furious, overwhelming wave of Demon Emperor’s Qi swept forth.