King of Ten Thousand Years

Luo Tian’s Martial Arts cultivation was built one step at a time, his foundation solid.

During his earlier fight with the Dragon Leader, he had completely stabilized his cultivation, reaching a point where he could break through at any moment.

With the talent of his Divine Vein, breaking through under these circumstances wasn’t difficult.

At this moment, the Third-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex in his Qi Sea condensed smoothly.

Luo Tian’s cultivation had also reached the Third Layer of Spirit Sea Realm.

”...You can’t be serious! You’re breaking through just like that?! AAAAAGH!”

The Blood Hand Poison Master roared madly.

He felt he couldn’t keep this up.

This kid was simply a freak of nature, a monster who defied all common sense.

After all, under normal circumstances, he could have annihilated dozens of cultivators at the Peak of Spirit Sea Realm Second Layer, yet he couldn’t finish off Luo Tian.

’This isn’t good...’

The Blood Hand Poison Master’s gaze darkened, his expression grim.

Right now, he was grievously wounded and frozen solid. Even after taking a Healing Holy Medicine, the ice suppressed the pill’s effects, making it far less potent.

The Blood Hand Poison Master wouldn’t be able to recover much of his strength in a short amount of time.

Meanwhile, after Luo Tian’s breakthrough, a portion of the True Qi in his Qi Sea had been restored, and it was now even more powerful.

In terms of injuries, Luo Tian was in far better shape than the Blood Hand Poison Master.

Therefore, Luo Tian would definitely recover his combat strength before the Blood Hand Poison Master.

’Am I, the great Blood Hand Poison Master, really going to fall at the hands of this little brat?’

In truth, the Blood Hand Poison Master still had trump cards, but they all came with severe side effects, and could even cause his cultivation to drop further.

He didn’t think Luo Tian could kill him.

At worst, he was confident he could drag Luo Tian down with him if he died.

But for the great Blood Hand Poison Master to die together with a boy at the Peak of Spirit Sea Realm Second Layer... if word of that got out, he didn’t know how many people would die laughing.

”Junior! Your talent is extraordinary. You are destined to become a top-tier expert of this era. This old man can’t bear to snuff out a genius like you, so I’ve decided to let you go.”

The Blood Hand Poison Master put on a benevolent and soft-hearted facade, sighing, ”You may leave!”

He had made a concession, allowing Luo Tian to leave.

He figured he’d just wait until his cultivation returned to its peak and then come find Luo Tian for revenge.

He refused to believe that his own recovery speed would be slower than Luo Tian’s cultivation speed.

”Heh, I also dislike bullying the old, weak, sick, and disabled. I was planning to let you off too. Scram!”

Luo Tian sneered.

He wasn’t eager to fight the Blood Hand Poison Master to the death either. After all, the man was a Peak Tier Spirit Sea Realm expert in his prime and might still have some hidden trump cards.

’Old, weak, sick, and disabled...’

The Blood Hand Poison Master’s mouth twitched, veins bulging on his forehead.

It was the first time anyone had ever described him that way, and his anger flared instantly.

’Wait, why isn’t this kid leaving himself? Why is he telling *me* to go? Could he have seen...’

The Blood Hand Poison Master’s pupils constricted. He shot a sidelong glance toward a dark corner of the cave.

A Concealing Array had been set up there, hiding his most precious treasure.

The Blood Hand Poison Master would rather give Luo Tian all the precious Elixir Pills in his Storage Ring than hand over that item.

”Junior, die!”

The Blood Hand Poison Master’s face was savage, his embarrassment turning to rage.

His entire body began to burn with a faint, blood-red glow, which contained his True Qi and Essence Blood.

PWISH!

The Blood Hand Poison Master suddenly opened his mouth and shot out a Blood Needle as thick as a little finger. It burned with a dark red Blood Flame and emanated an extremely dangerous aura.

After spitting out the Blood Needle, the Blood Hand Poison Master’s body became even more withered and pale, as if he could die at any moment.

SWISH!

The Blood Needle was like a streak of crimson aurora, piercing through the void and arriving in the blink of an eye.

This was the Blood Hand Poison Master’s Secret Skill, the ”Blood-Burning Needle.” It was the most unexpected of his trump cards, but it required a massive amount of True Qi and Essence Blood.

In his current severely injured and weakened state, even launching this one attack was a huge strain and would have major side effects.

But if the sneak attack succeeded, he could protect his treasure, kill Luo Tian, and take everything on him.

And it was clear his surprise attack was a great success!

The Blood Hand Poison Master’s earlier attitude gave the impression that he was yielding and admitting defeat, making it easy for his opponent to let their guard down.

What’s more, this trump card of his was simply too fast.

By the time you saw the Blood-Burning Needle, it might have already pierced you.

’So fast!’

Luo Tian was indeed startled for a moment, but with his Spiritual Sense covering the area, he quickly locked onto the Blood Needle’s attack trajectory and formulated a countermeasure.

He immediately retrieved a palm-sized, crystal-white shell from his Storage Space.

DING! TSSS!

The Blood Needle struck the shell, letting out a sharp, crisp sound.

The crystal-white shell was pierced with a tiny hole, and several thread-like cracks spread out from it.

’It actually pierced a hole!’

Luo Tian was greatly astonished.

Until now, every time he had used this shell to block a fatal blow, it had remained completely unscathed.

This just went to show how strong the Blood Needle’s Penetration Power was.

Even his Mid Grade Defense Treasure Armor combined with his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body definitely wouldn’t have been able to block it.

”He... He actually blocked it!”

The Blood Hand Poison Master stared so hard his eyeballs nearly popped out.

Just how many trump cards did this kid have?!

The attack he had launched at great personal cost was neutralized just like that.

He was so angry he wanted to spit blood, but of course, he had already lost too much and was so withered and pale that there was no blood left to spit.

”You got another one? Bring it on!”

Luo Tian said with a hint of excitement.

He was actually hoping to break the shell and see what was inside.

”Another one, my ass!”

The Blood Hand Poison Master was on the verge of a breakdown.

That was his trump card! Activating it once in his grievously wounded state had come at a great price.

If he used it again, he couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t just drop dead on the spot.

”You win! This old man is willing to give you half of the Spirit Pills I’ve spent years refining. Now get out of here!”

The Blood Hand Poison Master was deeply wounded and didn’t want to see Luo Tian’s face ever again.

”Then... can you give me the Elixir Pill over there?”

Luo Tian pointed to the dark corner.

At a glance, there was nothing there.

But under the observation of Luo Tian’s Spiritual Sense, there was a Pill Furnace hidden there, with a single Elixir Pill inside.

”No!”

The Blood Hand Poison Master shrieked immediately.

Just as he’d suspected, Luo Tian had indeed discovered his secret.

”Well, then I have no choice. I’ll just have to bully the old, weak, sick, and disabled, and slowly wear you down to death...”

Luo Tian shrugged.

In the current situation, if this dragged on, the Blood Hand Poison Master would undoubtedly die. It would even be difficult for him to drag Luo Tian down with him.

”AGH... You damn thief! This old man will have my revenge!”

The Blood Hand Poison Master roared like a madman.

SWOOSH!

He immediately shot up, shattering the bloody ice on his body, and transformed into an afterimage that instantly vanished out of the cave entrance.

The Blood Hand Poison Master had been driven mad by Luo Tian and chose to abandon his treasure.

He swore that he would recover his peak cultivation no matter what and then return for revenge!

’He’s gone?’

Luo Tian walked to the cave entrance, watching until the Blood Hand Poison Master had completely disappeared before he finally relaxed.

He walked back to the dark corner of the cave.

BUZZ! BUZZ!

Transparent ripples suddenly undulated in the empty space. After Luo Tian passed through the Concealing Array, he instantly saw a Pill Furnace that was half a man’s height.

Inside the Pill Furnace, a faint, blood-colored flame still burned.

There was only a single, deep red Elixir Pill inside, its surface carved with strange patterns.

’Celestial Book, what kind of Elixir Pill is this?’

Luo Tian’s consciousness quickly entered the Celestial Book.

He could only sense that this Elixir Pill was very precious, but he didn’t know its specific effects and didn’t dare to consume it rashly.

However, the Celestial Book Power was insufficient for the Inference.

Helpless, Luo Tian took out some Spiritual Essence Coins and charged up a few pages.

”Ten Thousand Spirits Blood-devouring Pill! A Marvelous Pill developed by a Great Power of the Evil Dao in Ancient Times. It is refined by slaughtering ten thousand people, taking their Essence Blood, and condensing it into a Pill using a special smelting method. After consumption, it can instantly heal all injuries and cause one’s cultivation to soar. If consumed by someone at the Peak of Ninth Layer of Spirit Sea Realm, there is a high chance of breaking through directly to the Earth Element Realm...”

’Slaughtering ten thousand people to refine a pill?’

Luo Tian was utterly horrified.

Could it be that the Blood Hand Poison Master had discovered this Pill Formula, which was why he began his massacres, eventually leading to him being hunted by several nations?

And in the end, the Elixir Pill that the Blood Hand Poison Master had gone through so much trouble to refine had fallen into Luo Tian’s hands.

The effects of the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood-devouring Pill left Luo Tian speechless.

However, the process used to refine this pill disgusted him.

”Note: This Pill is only ninety percent complete. Consuming it will result in significant side effects!”

This was the last line of text from the Celestial Book.

’No wonder he didn’t hide such a precious pill in his Storage Ring, but left it out here. It wasn’t even fully refined yet!’

The Blood Hand Poison Master might have even been in the middle of Alchemy when everyone arrived.

Without even having to think about it, Luo Tian knew just how much the Blood Hand Poison Master must hate him.

After all, the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood-devouring Pill was just one step away from completion.

After consuming it, the Blood Hand Poison Master’s grievous injuries would have been healed instantly. He would have quickly recovered his peak cultivation and then broken through to the Earth Element Realm, soaring to the heavens in a single leap.

But upon meeting Luo Tian, he had fallen into an unfathomably deep pit that was nearly impossible to climb out of.

Taking the Elixir Pill, Luo Tian quickly left the area.

He didn’t rush back to the Yunxiao Sect. After all, his True Qi was depleted and he was still injured. It would be bad if he ran into other dangers on the road.

So, he found another place to rest and recuperate.

...

「Three days later.」

Qi Nan, Ke Yuexuan, and the others returned to the Yunxiao Sect and reported the details of the mission.

The notoriety of the Blood Hand Poison Master attracted the attention of the higher-ups, even alarming several Elders.

In contrast, few people paid any attention to Luo Tian’s death.

He was, after all, just a Lower Sect Disciple.

”Qi Nan, how did you let things get so out of hand?”

The Steward Lu who had helped Qi Nan post the mission had a grim expression.

He had, after all, participated in the murder of a Sect Disciple. The matter was supposed to be kept as quiet as possible, but instead, it had caused a huge commotion that could even threaten him.

”Steward Lu, rest assured. Luo Tian was killed by the Blood Hand Poison Master. Besides, I saved the lives of several Yunxiao Sect disciples. My contribution is significant, so nothing will happen...”

Qi Nan could only try to placate Steward Lu.

”In a few days, my father and Prince Zheng will come to pay their respects with gifts.”

Qi Nan said with a smile, knowing he would also reap some benefits himself.

Luo Tian’s death brought Qi Nan great satisfaction. He wished he could throw a banquet to celebrate.

But just then, BOOM!

The door was suddenly smashed open, and a majestic old man wearing the white robes of an Elder entered.

Steward Lu and Qi Nan were both terrified. Under the pressure of the Earth Element Realm aura, they immediately bent over and bowed.

”Law Enforcement Elder, what brings you here?”

Steward Lu immediately rushed to greet him, his face fawning.

”You were the one who posted the mission concerning the Blood Hand Poison Master?”

The Law Enforcement Elder’s face was cold.

”This lowly one posted it, but I never expected the mission would get involved with the Blood Hand Poison Master, leading to the tragic deaths of several disciples...”

Steward Lu hurriedly explained, but his heart was already in turmoil.

’Even if this mission got tangled up with the Blood Hand Poison Master, it shouldn’t have been enough to alarm the Law Enforcement Elder!’

’What in the world is going on?’

”Among the disciples who died, was there one named Luo Tian?”

The Law Enforcement Elder seemed completely indifferent to Steward Lu’s explanation, appearing to care more about this point.

”Th-... Yes!”

Steward Lu was a bit baffled.

’Isn’t this Luo Tian the disciple Qi Nan wanted to deal with?’

Qi Nan, who was trembling under the pressure of the Earth Element Realm aura, suddenly had a bad feeling.

”In that case, this old man declares that you two plotted to murder a fellow disciple. The sentence is death!”

The Law Enforcement Elder’s voice was like a clap of thunder, exploding in the minds of Steward Lu and Qi Nan.

Steward Lu was stunned.

”Law Enforcement Elder, isn’t there some misunderstanding? I had nothing to do with Luo Tian’s death! I beg you to investigate clearly before passing judgment!”

Steward Lu dropped directly to his knees, begging for mercy in a panicked and terrified state.

The Law Enforcement Elder had come in person! He hadn’t even investigated the truth and had already pronounced a death sentence!

How was this possible?

Luo Tian was just a genius from an ordinary, small kingdom. Where could he have gotten such a powerful background and influence?

What in the world was going on?