King of Ten Thousand Years

”The... the Seventh-Layer!”

Outside the Spirit Fighting Tower, the crowd of students stared, dumbfounded and utterly shocked.

”Luo Tian actually passed the Sixth-Layer?”

”It’s a miracle! How did he do it?”

The scene erupted in an uproar. Amid their shock, the crowd was filled with intense envy.

According to the rules of the Holy Mansion,

passing the Sixth-Layer of the Spirit Fighting Tower was enough to become a Golden Student.

”This... this is impossible!”

Yang Xi’s pupils constricted. His face was a mask of doubt and jealousy as he ground his teeth.

He didn’t believe it! He couldn’t accept it!

With his Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening cultivation, even he hadn’t managed to defeat that Fighting Spirit Woman.

How could Luo Tian, a new silver student, possibly have done it?!

’He must have cheated somehow!’

Yang Xi’s current state was one of self-deception, born from his own obsession.

”The Spirit Fighting Tower doesn’t make mistakes.”

Xie Lin suppressed the shock in his heart and gazed up at the Seventh-Layer.

Recalling his earlier judgment that Luo Tian would only last ten breaths, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Inside the Spirit Fighting Tower.

Luo Tian stepped onto the Seventh-Layer, calming the elation in his heart.

Passing the Sixth-Layer and becoming a Golden Student was within his expectations.

As for the Seventh-Layer?

His climb up the tower hadn’t consumed too much energy. Since he was already here, he might as well see what it was like.

BUZZ!

Within the Array Light Ring, a young, one-armed Martial Artist materialized, exuding a pressure that was nearly at the Spirit Sea Realm.

On the Seventh-Layer, he faced a Fighting Spirit at the Half-step Spirit Sea Realm.

”Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening?”

The one-armed youth showed a hint of surprise. In the array’s memory, this was the first time it had encountered someone at the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening.

’How strong is a Half-step Spirit Sea?’

Luo Tian felt an invisible pressure as the seven Qi Veins inside him stirred.

”It’s over!”

The one-armed youth’s voice was hoarse as he vanished from the spot.

WHOOSH—

A broken blade slashed toward Luo Tian’s back with ghostly unpredictability.

Its speed and power were enough to make a cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening despair.

Celestial Star Sword Technique—Star Shifting Shadow!

Luo Tian’s Spiritual Sense detected it a step ahead, and he unleashed several flickering Star Sword Lights that shifted between illusion and reality.

CLANG! CLANG! HISS!

The broken blade clashed with the [Wind and Snow Sword], sending sparks flying.

BANG!

A chilling, domineering force sent Luo Tian flying seven or eight meters back, nearly making him cough up blood.

This outcome was only possible because he had the advantage of the Creation Technique, which allowed him to predict his opponent’s attack trajectory.

Had it been an ordinary cultivator at the Eighth to Ninth Layer, like Yang Xi, that single slash would have at least resulted in severe injury and defeat.

”A little interesting.”

The broken blade in the one-armed youth’s hand drew an arc of even sharper, colder, dark light, instantly sealing off Luo Tian’s escape routes.

A lethal chill washed over him!

”Activate!”

Luo Tian let out a sharp cry as he unleashed the full power of his Nether Dragon Divine Vein.

BZZZMM!

Azure-blue scales spread across Luo Tian’s back as a layer of dark Cold Mist enveloped a seven-to-eight-meter radius, a ferocious dragon’s shadow faintly visible, coiling and growling within it.

In an instant, frost condensed on the ground, plunging the surroundings into a world of harsh winter.

”Martial Vein Power?”

When the one-armed youth touched the Cold Mist, he was eroded by the invisible, dark Cold Power, causing his speed and agility to decrease.

Celestial Star Sword Technique—Seven-stars in a Row!

Luo Tian instantly unleashed streams of bone-chilling, azure-blue Star Sword Light, forming a magnificent and icy Seven-star Sword Net.

CLANG CLANG! BOOM BOOM! HISS!

After fully activating his Divine Vein, Luo Tian’s combat power surged, and he began to fight the one-armed youth head-on.

However, the combat power of a Half-step Spirit Sea was too tyrannical. With each clash, Luo Tian’s blood and qi roiled, and his True Qi and Divine Vein Power were rapidly consumed.

A dozen or so moves passed.

The one-armed youth still suppressed Luo Tian, but he couldn’t secure a victory in the short term.

WHOOSH~

Frost would occasionally form on the one-armed youth. His body of spiritual light was being eroded by the dark Cold Power, and his condition was faintly declining.

”What terrifying Martial Vein Power!”

The one-armed youth’s expression grew solemn.

’If this were a body of flesh and blood, I would have suffered a much greater loss.’

Luo Tian’s Nether Dragon Divine Vein not only possessed Cold Power but also a strong corrosive force that could extinguish an enemy’s life force.

Once a battle dragged on, his opponent’s condition and strength would continuously decline.

WHOOSH! BOOM!

Every few breaths, the one-armed youth had to erupt with True Qi to expel the encroaching Cold Power, but the results were less than ideal.

’The Fighting Spirit isn’t made of flesh and blood, so it has a slight advantage,’ Luo Tian thought. ’I can’t maintain the full power of my Divine Vein for too long.’

’If I treat Li Yunxiu a few more times, my Divine Vein Power might become comparable to the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening or higher. Perhaps things would be different then.’

After several dozen more moves,

WHOOSH!

Luo Tian gracefully retreated from the Array Light Ring, having consumed most of his True Qi and Divine Vein Power.

”This kid!”

The one-armed youth’s expression was grave. Lingering frost remained on his body; his movements and overall combat power had declined somewhat.

’If I were made of flesh and blood, or if Luo Tian’s cultivation and Divine Vein were a bit stronger, the outcome would have been uncertain.’

”This trip was not in vain.”

Luo Tian nodded slightly. By fighting a Half-step Spirit Sea, he could identify his own shortcomings.

He had just broken through to the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening and still had plenty of room for improvement.

BUZZ! SWOOSH!

A lustrous light from the array swept Luo Tian out of the Spirit Fighting Tower.

”Congratulations, Senior Luo, on becoming a Golden Student!”

”Senior Luo is truly valiant! Your climb through the tower this time was nothing short of a miracle!”

Outside the tower, a crowd of silver and Bronze Students scrambled to offer their congratulations, showering him with an endless stream of flattery and praise.

Luo Tian could sense that these students’ reverence came from the bottom of their hearts.

A Golden Student was a Core Student of the Holy Mansion, a status and position so extraordinary that ordinary students could only look up to them.

Before this, although these students had been polite to him on the surface, they hadn’t been convinced in their hearts and were even quite jealous.

But when Luo Tian became a Golden Student, opening up a huge gap between them, all that remained in their hearts was reverence and awe.

”Luo Tian, congratulations! The Sun Chasing Holy Mansion has another Golden Student.”

Xie Lin walked forward with a smile.

Hmm?

The nearby students were a little stunned.

Xie Lin, a Golden Lord from the Golden Area, was actually taking the initiative to congratulate Luo Tian. His words were polite, showing a clear intention to befriend him.

”Senior Xie, this kid must have cheated! He must have used some special trick to pass...”

Yang Xi’s expression changed.

Xie Lin had always been his backer; he couldn’t let Luo Tian get close to him.

”Shut up!”

Xie Lin’s gaze turned cold as he barked.

”Brother Luo passed the Spirit Fighting Tower’s Sixth-Layer with a Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening cultivation. This could be called breaking the historical record of the Spirit Fighting Tower.”

”How dare you try to slander such a glorious achievement!”

This tirade made Yang Xi’s face turn ashen, all his dignity lost.

”Xie Lin! I’m going to keep doubting him!”

Yang Xi’s anger flared.

He had advanced to the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening and would sooner or later become a Golden Student. How could he be publicly scolded like this?

’Does Xie Lin really think he can treat me like a subordinate?’

”Stubborn fool!”

Xie Lin’s face darkened, and he released a pressure comparable to that of a Half-step Spirit Sea.

BOOM!

Yang Xi’s body trembled, and his face paled.

The students nearby all felt an irresistible aura.

SLAP!

Yang Xi’s head snapped to the side as he was dealt a stinging slap across the face.

With a blur of an afterimage, Xie Lin was back beside Luo Tian. He said apologetically, ”My apologies, Brother Luo. I’ve made a fool of myself.”

This scene left the nearby students stunned into dead silence.

On one hand, it was because of the terrifying combat power of this Golden Lord, which was on par with a Half-step Spirit Sea.

On the other hand, Xie Lin had attacked his own subordinate for Luo Tian’s sake.

Yang Xi’s face was ashen. He didn’t dare make a sound.

Only at this moment did he truly understand how vast the gap was between someone who had just entered the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening and a Golden Lord.

Xie Lin gave him a disappointed look.

’When Luo Tian reached first place on the Battle Merit Stele and broke the record, it was understandable to suspect he cheated. But then he passed the Sixth-Layer of the Battle Spirit Tower, breaking another record, and you still suspect him of trickery? Once is a coincidence. Twice in a row is definitely not an accident.’

’Besides, I noticed that Luo Tian held on for a while on the Seventh-Layer before coming out, and he didn’t seem obviously injured. I know full well how difficult the Seventh-Layer is. From this, I can deduce that Luo Tian’s true strength is at least close to the Half-step Spirit Sea Realm!’

’A genius with such immense potential, who repeatedly breaks records, can be called a prodigy of his generation. I can’t even befriend him fast enough. And this fool, Yang Xi! Blinded by jealousy and complacent after reaching the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening, he’s truly a frog in a well.’

”Brother Luo, now that you’ve passed the Sixth-Layer and become a Golden Student, there are still some procedures to follow. Why don’t you let me show you the way?” Xie Lin added with a smile.

”Alright. Thank you for your trouble, Senior Xie.”

Luo Tian nodded.

In this world, strength reigned supreme.

When Luo Tian displayed his formidable strength and potential, he would naturally be integrated into the circle of the strong.

The crowd of students watched the two of them leave with complex expressions.

In the strictly hierarchical Holy Mansion, the level and status occupied by Luo Tian and Xie Lin was not something they could easily surmount.