King of Ten Thousand Years

Inside the cave.

Yue Jing and Liu Ziyan’s expressions were dark and uncertain, filled with regret and resentment.

The two of them had painstakingly tracked down this injured Spirit Level Demon Beast, intending to use it to eliminate Luo Tian and make it look like an accident.

Who could have predicted that the Spirit Level Demon Beast would be so grievously injured and on the verge of death, allowing Luo Tian to stumble upon a huge stroke of luck?

Hunting a Spirit Level Demon Beast was worth at least one thousand Contribution Points.

Furthermore, certain parts from a Spirit Level Demon Beast were incredibly valuable and could be used to refine Spirit Pills or serve as materials for crafting Treasure Artifacts.

”Haha, it’s all thanks to Senior Yue Jing! He just randomly pointed me down a path, and I ended up running into a dying Spirit Level Demon Beast!”

Luo Tian said with a playful, mocking smile after carving up the beast’s parts.

”Senior Yue truly is as sharp as a seer.”

The veiled sarcasm in his words made Yue Jing’s face turn livid, his nose nearly crooked with rage.

’As sharp as a seer?’

’If he had known the Spirit Level Demon Beast’s true condition, he absolutely would have taken action himself. How could he have let Luo Tian get such a windfall?’

Luo Tian’s incredible luck left the other Silver Students present green with envy.

To slay a Spirit Level Demon Beast single-handedly was a tremendous honor—something not even a Golden Lord could do.

Not to mention the massive amount of rewards and benefits that came with the kill.

”Senior Yue! Please, point me in the right direction too! I haven’t gotten a single thing this whole time!”

a scruffy-looking youth at the Eighth Layer of Meridian Opening pleaded with earnest expectation.

As he spoke, the scruffy youth shot a look of disgust and jealousy at Luo Tian.

His lack of gains was all because of this ”One-Sword Young Master,” Luo Tian.

’Why is Luo Tian so lucky? He gets to pick off a critically injured Spirit Level Demon Beast, while I haven’t even found a single Demon Core.’

Yue Jing was dumbfounded.

’This scruffy kid has some nerve, actually believing Luo Tian’s nonsense.’

”...Over there!”

Yue Jing suppressed his anger and pointed randomly to the left.

”Thank you, Senior Yue.”

The scruffy youth’s face lit up with joy. He took his two teammates and hurried toward the area Yue Jing had indicated.

It wasn’t that he truly believed Luo Tian’s words, but he figured that Yue Jing, as the Vice Manor Master’s own nephew, might have some classified information.

After sending the scruffy youth on his way, Yue Jing and Liu Ziyan exchanged a glance, both feeling suffocated with frustration and resentment.

Their original plan had failed, but the two hadn’t given up. They began secretly communicating with their True Qi, discussing a new strategy.

As long as they were still in the wilderness, they had opportunities.

However, compared to letting Luo Tian die ”accidentally” at the hands of a Spirit Level Demon Beast, any other method would come with risks and potential flaws.

”We absolutely cannot let Luo Tian make it back alive!”

Liu Ziyan and Yue Jing reached a consensus, their killing intent chilling.

During this Beast Tide, Luo Tian had earned a massive amount of Contribution Points.

With his talent and potential, once he returned to the Holy Mansion, his progress would surely skyrocket. He would gain the attention and cultivation of the higher-ups, and it would become extremely difficult to make a move against him then.

”AHH...”

A bloodcurdling scream came from the area to the left.

”Help—”

The scruffy youth who had just left and another student came scrambling back, their faces filled with terror.

Three had gone, but only two returned.

HISS!

A Golden Python over ten meters long revealed itself behind them, a cold, foul wind washing over the group.

”There really was a Demon Beast?”

The Silver Students present all shot strange looks at Yue Jing.

Yue Jing’s face darkened. He had pointed in a random direction, yet they had actually found a Demon Beast!

”AGH...”

The Golden Python was coiling around a female Silver Student, swallowing her bit by bit.

The cruel and bloody scene struck terror into the hearts of all the students present.

The aura radiating from this Golden Python was above the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening.

Its strength was likely comparable to that of a Golden Student!

”Vile beast! How dare you kill a student of our Holy Mansion!”

Yue Jing bellowed as he leaped forward. His Crimson Treasure Saber slashed out, sending streaks of fiery, golden-red light through the air as he engaged the Golden Python in battle.

In just a few moments, Yue Jing had left several foot-deep, charred wounds on the Golden Python, heavily injuring it.

”Senior Yue is so strong!”

”As expected of a powerhouse from the Golden Area. He completely crushes an ordinary Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening.”

the spectating students exclaimed in awe.

”All of you, stand back! Be careful not to get hurt by this beast. Watch me slaughter it!”

Yue Jing declared with righteous indignation.

He appeared to be avenging the student, but in reality, he had his eyes on the reward for killing this Golden Python and was wary of the ”One-Sword Young Master,” Luo Tian.

’It’s not that simple!’

Luo Tian’s expression was grave. He had no intention of trying to snatch the kill.

His Creation Technique was sending him a strong warning of danger, one several times more perilous than what he had felt before encountering the injured Spirit Level Demon Beast.

HISSSSS!

Suddenly, a foul, malevolent wind swept in as enormous pythons began to swarm from all around the valley.

”Oh no, there are more pythons!”

Everyone’s faces changed drastically.

Looking closely, they saw seven or eight more pythons had arrived, most of their Cultivations between the Seventh and Eighth Meridian Opening.

Among them was a second Golden Python, possessing the battle strength of a Golden Student.

But the most terrifying thing was, these pythons were swarming around an enormous, jade-green python. Its body was a full size thicker than the Golden Pythons and was at least twenty meters long. The moment the jade-green python appeared,

a vast, bone-chillingly foul and malevolent aura swept over them, radiating a terrifying pressure.

The students’ breath hitched, and the pores on their bodies erupted in goosebumps.

”A Spirit Level python!”

Yue Jing’s eyelid twitched, and the color drained from Liu Ziyan’s beautiful face.

The jade-green python before them was a completely unharmed Spirit Level Demon Beast.

Even if the two Golden Lords joined forces, they would have no chance of victory.

What’s more, this Spirit Level python was not fighting alone; it led eight python subordinates and seemed to have come prepared.

SWOOSH!

The Spirit Level python transformed into a jade shadow and shot into the crowd in an instant.

”Ah... Senior Yue... save me!”

The scruffy youth at the Eighth Layer of Meridian Opening was bitten by the jade-green python, his mangled, bloody body disappearing into its belly.

Panic seized the students, and their legs trembled uncontrollably!

In the blink of an eye, a Silver Student at the Eighth Layer of Meridian Opening had been killed instantly, without a chance to resist.

Some students hadn’t even seen the details clearly.

”That’s a Jade Spirit Python! It’s no ordinary Spirit Level Demon Beast!”

Nangong Yu’s expression changed as he recognized the python’s origin.

”The legendary Jade Spirit Python?!”

Hearing this, Yue Jing and Liu Ziyan’s faces contorted, their expressions a mixture of seventy percent terror and thirty percent greed.

If it were an ordinary Weak Spirit Level Demon Beast, they might have stood a chance.

But this Jade Spirit Python was no ordinary Demon Beast.

It was an Exotic Beast with the bloodline of an Ancient Sacred Beast. Even though it had just entered the Spirit Level, its strength far surpassed others of the same rank, and it possessed extraordinary innate talents.

The blood that flowed in a Jade Spirit Python’s veins was known as ”Jade Spirit Blood.”

Jade Spirit Blood was of immense benefit to human Martial Artists. It could not only enhance one’s Cultivation but also improve a Martial Artist’s physical foundation!

The miraculous effect of improving one’s physical foundation, in particular, was something that Low Tier Martial Artists dreamed of.

This was because one’s physical foundation affected the speed at which a Martial Artist could cultivate Martial Skills, which in turn indirectly influenced their Cultivation advancement.

It could be said that the value of hunting a Jade Spirit Python was more than ten times greater than that of an ordinary Spirit Level Demon Beast!

However, Jade Spirit Pythons were exceedingly rare, and its terrifying strength was a catastrophe for everyone present!

’A Jade Spirit Python?’

Luo Tian’s heart grew cold.

’The sense of crisis and unease, of being watched from before, probably came from this python.’

The Jade Spirit Python surpassed ordinary Demon Beasts; it was closer to an Ancient Exotic Beast like the Sleeping Beast, Kun Ga.

”Hiss... Kill...”

After swallowing the scruffy youth, the Jade Spirit Python’s cold, bloodthirsty eyes swept across the area as it hissed a simple syllable.

WHOOSH! SWOOSH!

At the Jade Spirit Python’s command, its eight subordinates, including the two Golden Pythons, attacked simultaneously.

In an instant, the seven remaining students of the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion were plunged into a life-or-death crisis.

FWOOSH!

A layer of eerie green mist appeared around the Jade Spirit Python’s body, and the nearby grass and trees withered and rotted in an instant.

TSS~

The students closest to the mist found their skin beginning to rot and emit a foul stench upon the slightest contact.

”Watch out for the poison in the green mist!”

Yue Jing and Liu Ziyan erupted with the powerful True Qi of the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening, blasting the poisonous mist apart and dispersing it.

This Jade Spirit Python was simply too terrifying.

Just getting close was enough to be harmed by the poisonous mist surrounding its body.

’Hm?’

A bit of the poisonous mist had seeped into Luo Tian as well, but the power of his Nether Dragon Divine Vein eroded and expelled it, leaving him largely unaffected.

Invisibly, Luo Tian had gained a certain survival advantage in this crisis.

WHOOSH! BAM! HISS!

Luo Tian brandished his [Wind and Snow Sword] and engaged two ordinary pythons at the Seventh or Eighth Layer of Meridian Opening.

”Quick, block the Jade Spirit Python! Otherwise, we’re all going to die!”

Yue Jing and Liu Ziyan’s faces were filled with terror.

HISS!

The Jade Spirit Python seemed to sense that the two of them were the strongest and transformed into a jade shadow, lunging to kill.

BANG! BANG!

In a single exchange, Yue Jing and Liu Ziyan were sent flying by one of the Jade Spirit Python’s attacks. They were both wounded, and blood trickled from the corners of their mouths.

”This Jade Spirit Python may have just entered the Spirit Level, but its combat power is far greater than others of the same rank.”

Liu Ziyan said, her face pale with shock.

”Violent Flame Technique!”

A crazed look appeared in Yue Jing’s eyes as he executed a Secret Technique. The True Qi in his body began to boil, erupting like a volcano.

The Crimson Treasure Saber in his hand burst into raging flames.

FWOOSH—

Yue Jing swung his saber fiercely, and a golden-red blade of light, burning with a dazzling, fiery radiance, shot out with double its usual power!

BOOM!

The strike landed on the Jade Spirit Python, leaving a charred wound several feet long.

’Is that a Secret Technique?’

Not far away, Luo Tian, who was holding off two pythons at the Seventh to Eighth Layer of Meridian Opening, revealed a look of surprise.

’Secret Techniques often allow one to display combat power beyond their own limits, or use special abilities, usually at a certain cost.’

’Of course, Secret Techniques are generally treasured by Martial Arts Families or major powers and are never taught to outsiders.’

”Purple Moon Celestial Radiance!”

Liu Ziyan let out a sharp cry and waved her hands, sending out dazzling ribbons of purple energy. The attack was magnificent, leaving a series of bloody marks on the Jade Spirit Python’s body.

BUZZ!

Behind her, the phantom image of a purple, misty radiance appeared.

This was clearly a Martial Vein Phenomenon!

At that moment, both Yue Jing and Liu Ziyan had unleashed combat power comparable to a Weak Spirit Sea Realm expert, managing to injure the Jade Spirit Python.

HISS!

The Jade Spirit Python’s eyes showed a hint of mockery. A jade-green light flowed across its body, and the wounds on its surface began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.

As a powerful Exotic Beast with veins full of Spirit Blood, the Jade Spirit Python possessed formidable regenerative abilities.

Liu Ziyan and Yue Jing, on the other hand, were sent staggering back in a sorry state by a casual strike from the Jade Spirit Python, narrowly avoiding one disaster after another.

’I can’t hold back anymore.’

Luo Tian’s expression was solemn as he took a deep breath.

’Once the two Golden Lords fall, no one else will be able to escape their fate.’

’I have to find an escape route as soon as possible.’

Celestial Star Sword Technique! Star Shifting Shadow!

Luo Tian activated his Divine Vein. His [Wind and Snow Sword] slashed out several ethereal, phantom-like streaks of deep blue Star Trace Sword Light, which swept past the two pythons in front of him.

PFFT! PFFT! SHHICK!

In an instant, deep, frosty sword wounds appeared on the bodies of the two pythons. The Divine Vein Cold Power eroded them from within, extinguishing their life force.

WHOOSH~

Luo Tian retracted his [Wind and Snow Sword].

The next moment, the two pythons at the Seventh to Eighth Layer of Meridian Opening split into seven or eight pieces, their corpses frozen solid.