King of Ten Thousand Years

「Four days later.」

Luo Tian’s group of nine arrived at the Tianye Plain.

The intelligence report indicated that the Black Death Bandits were very likely hiding somewhere in this area.

”The three of us will search separately!”

Luo Tian gestured to Ke Yuexuan and another male disciple at the Spirit Sea Fourth Layer.

They were the three strongest in the squad. If they acted alone, their chances of survival were higher even if they encountered danger.

”The six of you, disguise yourselves as a merchant caravan. You might be able to attract the Black Death Bandits. If anything happens, leave a marker or fire a signal flare immediately.”

Luo Tian said to Yuwen Xuan and the others.

However,

not even a quarter of an hour after the squad split up, a signal flare shot into the sky.

The squad quickly regrouped.

”What did you find?”

Luo Tian was the last to arrive.

”Captain, look!”

A female disciple pointed to a series of horseshoe prints ahead.

There were many prints, which fit the description of the Black Death Bandits.

Furthermore, along the trail of prints, there were faint, occasional bloodstains, proving that this group had been in a fight and had wounded members.

”Follow the tracks!”

Luo Tian’s gaze darkened.

’Weren’t the Black Death Bandits supposed to be cunning and treacherous, making them hard to find? Several small, nearby kingdoms sent extermination squads after them, but they were either defeated or given the slip. Every attempt ended in failure.’

’And yet, we just got here and barely even started looking, and we’ve already found a clue to their whereabouts.’

’Isn’t this a little too easy?’

”It must be because Senior Brother Luo is leading the team. Senior Brother Luo’s luck is heaven-sent! We found the bandits’ trail as soon as we arrived.”

”That’s right! With Senior Brother Luo here, this mission is no problem at all.”

The squad members seized the opportunity to flatter him.

’You guys were the ones who found the clue first,’ Luo Tian thought.

”Don’t celebrate too early. It might not be that simple. According to the intel, these Black Death Bandits are extremely treacherous!”

Luo Tian said calmly.

Half a year ago, the Black Death Bandits were just an obscure little gang. Now, their strength had doubled. This had caused many squads to underestimate the bandits’ power and suffer a cruel fate.

’This Black Death Bandit group is definitely not simple.’

The squad followed the horseshoe prints.

Two hours later, the tracks suddenly disappeared.

”Just as I thought, it’s not that simple. The Black Death Bandits might have left these tracks intentionally to mislead anyone tracking them!”

Ke Yuexuan confirmed Luo Tian’s earlier suspicion.

If that was the case, they might be getting farther and farther away from the bandits.

But before the squad had gone much further, they suddenly discovered signs of human activity ahead.

Luo Tian leaped to the top of a tree and gazed into the distance, where he immediately spotted a camp.

If he wasn’t mistaken, that was the Black Death Bandits’ stronghold.

’It’s actually nearby... We found it just like that...’

The mission’s progress was surprisingly smooth.

”The captain’s luck truly is amazing! He found the Black Death Bandits’ stronghold so quickly!”

”Senior Brother Luo’s insight is like a torch! The Black Death Bandits have nowhere to hide from you!”

The squad members were all beaming with joy as they laid on the flattery.

It was everyone’s first time carrying out a Yunxiao Sect mission, so it was natural to be a bit nervous and worried, but everything had been exceptionally smooth so far.

”Hm? Something seems off!”

Luo Tian suddenly muttered.

”What’s off?”

Ke Yuexuan asked.

”There’s no one in the squad who dislikes me.”

Luo Tian stated bluntly.

This was the first time he had ever experienced such a situation. There were no enemies among his squad members, and they were all flattering him nonstop.

In the past, whenever Luo Tian teamed up for anything, there was always someone in the group who disliked him or an enemy who wanted to kill him.

”...”

Ke Yuexuan was rather speechless. ’Why is it strange that there’s no one who dislikes you?’

’Just how hated are you that there’s always an enemy in your team whenever you form one?’

However, Ke Yuexuan quickly realized what he meant.

”There’s no one from the Chilong Dynasty in the squad? Is that what you mean?”

”Oh? There’s no one from the Chilong Dynasty in the squad?”

Luo Tian asked. His previous statement had been meant literally.

”...You didn’t notice.”

Ke Yuexuan’s eye twitched before she nodded. ”Normally, people from the Chilong Dynasty faction make up a larger proportion of the new disciples, but there’s no one from their side in this squad.”

Ke Yuexuan glanced at Luo Tian again.

’This man is the person the geniuses of the Chilong Dynasty currently hate the most. Anything related to Luo Tian is probably not simple.’

’If certain people from the Chilong Dynasty are trying to deal with Luo Tian this time, then we’ve probably just been dragged along for the ride.’

”Captain, what should we do next?”

a disciple asked.

Luo Tian was on high alert now and didn’t act rashly.

It was too coincidental that there was no one from the Chilong Dynasty in the squad and that they found the Black Death Bandits so easily.

There was definitely something fishy going on.

Before Luo Tian could make a decision,

a sudden shout came from the distant camp: ”Who’s there?”

”We’ve been discovered! Go!”

Luo Tian ordered immediately.

If the Black Death Bandits escaped, finding them again would be difficult.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

Luo Tian led the nine members as they charged toward the camp.

Inside the camp, the Black Death Bandits, all mounted on Black-Maned Horses, charged toward them.

The two sides collided head-on.

”Which country sent this extermination squad? They’re all so young!”

A member of the Black Death Bandits sized up Luo Tian’s group, a look of surprise on his face.

Luo Tian’s group had expected it would take some effort to find the Black Death Bandits, so they had all disguised themselves and weren’t wearing Yunxiao Sect attire.

”Don’t underestimate these youngsters. Their Cultivation isn’t low. In any given kingdom, they’d all be renowned geniuses!”

”Oh? If all these geniuses die, it’s like cutting off an entire kingdom’s future. What a foolish move!”

The other Black Death Bandits began to mock them wantonly, not taking Luo Tian’s group seriously at all.

Luo Tian’s group was also observing the Black Death Bandits.

There were fifteen of them in total, outnumbering the squad.

And among them was a ferocious-looking scarred man with a Cultivation at the Spirit Sea Realm Fifth Layer!

However, the Yunxiao Sect Disciples were all relatively calm.

Those who could enter the Yunxiao Sect were one-in-ten-thousand geniuses, possessing the strength to crush others at the same level.

Only the scarred man at the Spirit Sea Realm Fifth Layer inspired fear, but with Luo Tian present, there was surely no problem.

”Kill them all!”

Luo Tian ordered.

When the Black Death Bandits heard that someone at the Spirit Sea Realm Second Layer from this group of youngsters wanted to kill them all, they couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

”Hahaha, you’re killing me! Are these idiots here to be comedians?”

”You noobs, don’t get it twisted. We’re the ones who are going to kill you all!”

The Black Death Bandits all had vivid expressions, some laughing heartily, others sneering.

...

「One hundred meters to the west.」

Two figures in black were hidden there.

”Brother Qi, Luo Tian has successfully found the Black Death Bandits. The fight is about to start!”

one of them, a woman in black, said.

She was none other than Yu Muling, and the man in black beside her was Qi Nan.

”Good. Next, we just need to sit back and reap the rewards!”

A cruel smile appeared on Qi Nan’s face.

He was the one who had discovered the Black Death Bandits’ location first. He had intentionally left behind the numerous horseshoe tracks so that Luo Tian’s group would find them easily.

Now, there were no more than three possible outcomes.

First: The Black Death Bandits completely annihilate the Luo Tian Squad.

That would be for the best, as Qi Nan wouldn’t have to lift a finger.

But this was a low-probability outcome. The Yunxiao Sect Disciples were one-in-ten-thousand elites whose strength crushed their peers from the outside world.

Second: The Luo Tian Squad exterminates the Black Death Bandits but suffers heavy losses and is in a weakened state.

The two great experts, Qi Nan and Yu Muling, would then seize the opportunity to launch a sneak attack, kill Luo Tian, and leave.

Third: Both sides fight until they are mutually and grievously wounded.

Qi Nan and Yu Muling would still charge in, take Luo Tian’s head, and leave.

...

”Attack!”

Among the Black Death Bandits, the scarred man’s expression turned cold.

Instantly, the other fourteen bandits charged forward together, their momentum overwhelming.

Mounted on their Black-Maned Horses, all the Black Death Bandits were extremely fierce. Their charging assault was like that of Demon Beasts, making one dare not face them head-on.

But even so, the Sect Disciples remained fearless.

”Die!”

Like a fluttering butterfly, Ke Yuexuan flickered, her toes landing on the head of a Black-Maned Horse.

”What?”

The bandit on the Black-Maned Horse stared at the beauty right in front of him, his eyes glued to her fair, straight legs.

But in an instant, a Sword Light as cold and brilliant as moonlight rapidly enlarged in his pupils.

The bandit’s forehead was pierced straight through. His body fell to the ground, and the Black-Maned Horse bolted out of control.

SWISH!

Ke Yuexuan leaped up again, landing with both feet on the back of another Black-Maned Horse.

Ke Yuexuan’s strength was extremely formidable.

On the Chilong Dynasty’s Human List, she was a talent who ranked near the top three.

Moreover, Luo Tian remembered that when they were killing the Giant Wolf Spider, Ke Yuexuan seemed to have used an Earth Level Sword Technique.

”Kill!”

The other Yunxiao Sect Disciples also performed very well.

At the very least, despite being outnumbered, they showed no signs of losing.

”Who in the world are you people?”

The leading scarred man immediately realized something was wrong, and his expression changed.

”When you’re dead, you can ask Yama.”

Luo Tian, holding the [Ice Trace Sword], walked slowly toward the scarred man.

”Arrogant! A mere Peak of Spirit Sea Realm Second Layer. Can you even survive a single move from me?”

the scarred man roared, his face filled with disdain.

’Even if Luo Tian has the ability to fight above his level, he’s absolutely no match for me.’

In the scarred man’s eyes, only Ke Yuexuan, at the Fourth Layer of Spirit Sea Realm, could barely contend with him.

”Hah!”

The scarred man spurred his horse forward. The Black-Maned Horse beneath him had a purple mane, a rare mutated breed.

RUMBLE!

The Black-Maned Horse galloped over, its momentum like a thunderclap.

”Die!”

The Ring-Headed Saber in the scarred man’s hand stirred up a piercing whistle as it cut through the air, transforming into a surging, violent golden wave that seemed ready to wash over and pulverize everything in its path.

”The chief is making his move! Kill that kid!”

”Chop off his head!”

The other Black Death Bandits cried out in alarm.

The scarred man was at the Spirit Sea Realm Fifth Layer, the highest Cultivation on the battlefield!

Once he attacked, he would be able to crush and slaughter this group of young geniuses.

Luo Tian remained perfectly calm. Only at the instant the scarred man closed in did the sword in his hand move!

A sharp, swift trace of ice, like a flash of lightning, streaked through the void, kicking up a bone-chilling wind.

CLANG-TSSSH!

The [Ice Trace Sword] struck the Ring-Headed Saber, and a bone-deep coldness invaded it.

The Ring-Headed Saber was coated in ice. The scarred man holding the saber stiffened, and even the Black-Maned Horse beneath him was affected, its speed faltering slightly.

TING! CLANG!

Unimpeded, the [Ice Trace Sword] continued its arc. The Ring-Headed Saber was actually sliced in two and fell to the ground.

”What kind of Divine Weapon and Tools is this?”

The scarred man was pale with shock.

’My Ring-Headed Saber had five Inscriptions on it, for crying out loud, yet it was sliced in two!’

However, he was given no time to think.

The [Ice Trace Sword] in Luo Tian’s hand became even sharper and swifter. The Sword Light shone with a pure white brilliance, radiating a bone-chilling cold as it suddenly pierced the void!

This strike contained the essence of the Nine Heavens Sword Technique’s First Technique.

SWISH-TSSSH!

The sword thrust out and was retracted.

A hole appeared in the scarred man’s throat.