King of Ten Thousand Years

The front-line Battle Castle.

Luo Tian stayed for a few more days. With the remaining Spirit Blood power in his body, he could have tried to break through to the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening.

But because of Master Lin’s reminder, he had to return to the Holy Mansion to challenge the Spirit Fighting Tower.

The Fighting Spirit Qi in the Spirit Fighting Tower could cleanse impurities and further condense his Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

’It’s time to go back.’

Luo Tian was looking forward to it. This journey into the Beast Tide, with its repeated life-and-death battles, had comprehensively improved his strength, and his gains were quite substantial.

Now, the scale of the Beast Tide was gradually subsiding, and the Azure Cloud Kingdom had also sent more troops as reinforcements.

The students from the various Wu Mansions were all returning one after another.

Before leaving, Luo Tian went to Princess Yunxiu’s chambers again to give her one more treatment.

”You’re going back to the Holy Mansion?”

Princess Yunxiu’s beautiful eyes showed her reluctance to see him go.

Luo Tian’s farewell even alerted the Eldest Princess, Li Manqing.

The two women insisted on seeing Luo Tian off.

”Master Luo, you are Yunxiu’s benefactor. You must come and be our guest in the Royal Capital in the future.”

The Eldest Princess was dressed in yellow and carried a medicine basket on her back.

Luo Tian greatly admired this Eldest Princess.

After the Beast Tide arrived, this aloof and noble Eldest Princess had been acting as a physician on the front lines, healing the wounded and saving the dying. She was constantly busy, and when they were short-staffed, she even asked Li Yunxiu to help.

In the entire Battle Castle, very few people knew her true identity.

’This is the true heart of a benevolent physician.’

...

「Outside the gates of the Battle Castle」

A middle-aged man in golden armor sat atop a reddish-black, high-tier warhorse, exuding a murderous aura forged in countless battles.

”My Lord!”

”Luo Tian is about to leave the city, seemingly with Princess Yunxiu.”

A Black Armored Guard at the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening knelt on one knee.

”The Commandery Princess? That’s not a major issue! Wait until Luo Tian leaves the city alone, then make your move.”

The Middle-aged Man in Golden Armor’s face was filled with a murderous aura. He was decisive and ruthless.

”Marquis Tang, Luo Tian is a Silver Student of the Holy Mansion, after all. You should be careful how you handle this.”

Yue Jing smiled.

Next to him stood Liu Ziyan, her eyes filled with vicious coldness.

The Middle-aged Man in Golden Armor was none other than Duke Dingyuan, Tang Wei’s father.

”Based on the clues you’ve provided, Luo Tian is almost certainly the one who murdered my son.”

Duke Dingyuan’s voice was Yin Cold, brimming with sharp killing intent.

”In a moment, I’ll send my men to capture him. Before the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion can intervene, I’ll torture a confession out of him and execute him without approval.”

”What brilliant methods, Marquis!”

Yue Jing beamed, as this Duke Dingyuan was notoriously domineering in the Azure Cloud Kingdom.

”He’s coming out!”

a Black Armored Guard whispered.

A handsome youth in a Silver-White Robe walked out of the Battle Castle.

Behind him, two women could be faintly seen waving goodbye.

”Attack!”

Duke Dingyuan’s eyes grew bloodshot, his killing intent laid bare!

SWISH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Near the city gate, five or six figures shot out. The lowest among them had a Cultivation at the Peak of the Eighth Layer, and they all charged toward Luo Tian to kill him.

Among them, two Black Armored Guards had a Cultivation at the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening or higher.

’Danger!’

Luo Tian had just stepped out of the city gate when he sensed a chilling premonition of crisis.

”Die!”

A Black Armored Guard at the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening slashed out with a long, narrow saber, creating a desolate, cold arc of blade light.

This person’s strength was no less than that of a Golden Student.

However, the real danger came from another Black Armored Guard.

”Die—”

This Black Armored Guard exuded a pressure that was infinitely close to the Spirit Sea Realm.

WHOOSH!

He threw a javelin that flew like a shadow of death, stabbing toward Luo Tian.

”A Half-step Spirit Sea Realm expert!”

Near the city gate, some Martial Artists cried out in shock.

The instant the two masters attacked, Yue Jing jumped in fright.

”Duke Dingyuan! This is different from what we agreed on. You actually plan to kill Luo Tian directly.”

’Duke Dingyuan is even more ruthless and tyrannical than I imagined.’

”Haha...”

A cruel smile spread across Duke Dingyuan’s face. Since he had already confirmed Luo Tian was the murderer, it was simplest to just kill him directly.

”Senior Luo—”

Princess Yunxiu’s face turned pale as she cried out in alarm.

’This is bad!’

The Eldest Princess’s beautiful face fell; she was too late to rescue him.

With a Half-step Spirit Sea and a Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening expert attacking simultaneously, there was no way Luo Tian could survive.

At this moment, however, Luo Tian’s mind was incredibly calm.

He had sensed the danger a step ahead and was on guard. He just hadn’t expected one of the attackers to be at the Half-step Spirit Sea Realm.

SHIIINK—

The javelin thrown by the Half-step Spirit Sea Realm expert arrived first.

A sharp glint flashed in Luo Tian’s eyes, but he neither dodged nor evaded.

’Even if I somehow dodge this, I won’t escape the other expert’s saber strike.’

CLANG!

The Half-step Spirit Sea expert’s javelin struck Luo Tian in the chest, producing the sound of metal striking metal as sparks flew.

”Th-this... How is this possible!”

The Half-step Spirit Sea attacker was dumbfounded.

Luo Tian’s robe was torn, and a crack appeared on his Golden Lock Armor, but a crystal-white seashell embedded on it was completely unharmed.

BANG!

A trickle of blood escaped the corner of Luo Tian’s mouth, but he used the force of the blow to drift back ten or twenty meters.

With this retreat, he also dodged the other Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening expert’s killing strike.

’They failed?’

Far away, Duke Dingyuan’s expression froze.

”How could this be!”

The triumphant smiles on Yue Jing and Liu Ziyan’s faces also froze.

’What on earth is that seashell on Luo Tian’s armor? A strike from a Half-step Spirit Sea expert didn’t even scratch it.’

”Quick! Kill him!”

The Half-step Spirit Sea expert came to his senses, grit his teeth, and charged at Luo Tian once more.

They were all part of Duke Dingyuan’s Suicide Squad and were prepared to sacrifice themselves for this mission.

But just then, the pressure of the Spirit Sea Realm descended, causing Duke Dingyuan’s men to tremble.

”How audacious! You dare to harm Master Luo!”

A beautiful woman in yellow with a medicine basket on her back appeared in front of Luo Tian.

WHOOM!

The Eldest Princess waved her jade-like hand, unleashing a vast, azure wave of light that swept over the men.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The Black Armored Guards exploded and died, one by one. The Half-step Spirit Sea Realm expert only managed to last a breath longer before he, too, died on the spot.

”Senior Luo, are you all right?”

Li Yunxiu asked worriedly.

”It’s nothing serious.”

Luo Tian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Although the seashell had blocked the attack, the powerful shockwave from the Half-step Spirit Sea expert’s strike had given him a slight internal injury.

Meanwhile, when Duke Dingyuan saw the Eldest Princess take action, he shuddered. ”Oh no! It’s actually her...”

”Hmph!”

The Eldest Princess’s clear, cold eyes swept over to Duke Dingyuan.

A hint of struggle appeared on Duke Dingyuan’s face, but it was quickly replaced by a look of dejection as he sighed heavily.

”This subordinate pays his respects to the Eldest Princess.”

Duke Dingyuan floated over and knelt on one knee before Li Manqing.

’The Eldest Princess?’

Yue Jing and Liu Ziyan looked as if they had been struck by lightning, their faces turning pale.

The Eldest Princess, Li Manqing, was known in the Azure Cloud Kingdom as the ”Ice Immortal Doctor” and was the Monarch’s own sister.

According to rumor, the current Monarch owed this Eldest Princess a great debt and had once been scolded by her without daring to retaliate.

Her status was so transcendent that it could not be measured by that of an ordinary princess.

”Duke Dingyuan! What audacity! You dare to attack Master Luo,” the Eldest Princess rebuked, her face like frost.

”Ma-Master Luo?”

Cold sweat beaded on Duke Dingyuan’s forehead as he looked in disbelief at the handsome fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth.

’Master Luo?’

Yue Jing and Liu Ziyan were simply stunned.

’Luo Tian? He’s the Master Luo the Eldest Princess was talking about?’

’What in the world is happening?’

The two of them tiptoed, preparing to take the opportunity to leave.

”Stop.”

Luo Tian’s gaze drifted over to the two of them.

Yue Jing and Liu Ziyan’s hearts trembled and their bodies froze. Then, under the Eldest Princess’s icy gaze, they walked over stiffly.

”Master Luo, I apologize for the fright you’ve received.”

The Eldest Princess revealed a rare, gentle smile as she looked at Luo Tian.

She had always held a heartfelt respect for masters with profound knowledge and medical skills.

”Eldest Princess, have you been deceived by Luo Tian? How could he possibly be a master?” Liu Ziyan said in a delicate and aggrieved tone.

Before she could finish her sentence—

SLAP!

Li Yunxiu slapped her across the face, leaving a fiery red Palm Seal.

”Hmph! I heard that you, you bitch, have been very disrespectful to Brother Luo.”

Li Yunxiu’s face was filled with hatred.

Luo Tian was stunned. The always poised and elegant Princess Yunxiu actually had such a side to her.

He did not know that through their repeated, intimate treatments, Princess Yunxiu had developed not only gratitude toward him but also feelings of adoration and reverence.

”You...”

Liu Ziyan clutched her red, swollen face, her delicate body trembling. She suppressed her fury, not daring to lash out.

In front of a great figure like the Eldest Princess, she was no more than a grasshopper, barely bigger than an ant.

Liu Ziyan shot Yue Jing a pleading look, but he pretended not to see it.