King of Ten Thousand Years

”A ghost!”

Ke Yuexuan’s sudden scream gave Luo Tian a start.

”Where’s the ghost?”

Luo Tian turned to look behind him, but there was nothing unusual. ’Why is Ke Yuexuan so scared?’

At that moment, a delicate hand reached out before him. Slender fingers gently pinched his cheek.

”You’re not a ghost? You’re not dead?”

Ke Yuexuan looked utterly astonished, her expression growing excited.

”Who said I was dead?”

Luo Tian was even more baffled.

It wasn’t a good feeling to be alive and well, only to find out a friend thought you were dead.

Next, Luo Tian learned from Ke Yuexuan what had happened over the past few days.

Qi Nan had returned to the Yunxiao Sect, reported the mission, and claimed Luo Tian had died at the hands of the Blood Hand Poison Master.

Afterward, Qi Nan and Steward Lu were arrested and even sentenced to death personally by the Law Enforcement Elder!

Just one day ago, Qi Nan and Steward Lu were executed!

”They’re already... dead?”

Luo Tian was utterly shocked.

’I’m just an ordinary Lower Sect Disciple. Even with the other disciples who fell, it shouldn’t have been enough to alarm the Law Enforcement Elder. Let alone sentencing Qi Nan, who had excellent talent and potential, and a Steward to death. Something was clearly fishy here.’

”Could it be that one of the disciples who died on that mission was related to the Law Enforcement Elder?”

Luo Tian couldn’t help but wonder.

”That must be it.”

Ke Yuexuan agreed.

She had previously suspected that all of this might be because of Luo Tian.

But now, Luo Tian’s words dispelled her suspicions.

”Get some rest. Farewell.”

Luo Tian turned to leave.

”Oh, right, Luo Tian, the Black Death Bandits were all wiped out, so our mission is considered complete. Remember to go collect the Contribution Points.”

Ke Yuexuan reminded him.

...

「The next morning.」

Luo Tian went to the Sect Affairs Hall to collect his mission reward.

The steward in charge took Luo Tian’s token. After checking the information, his gaze turned sharp. ”Isn’t Luo Tian already dead? Who are you? How dare you impersonate him to collect the reward.”

”...”

It took Luo Tian a while to explain the situation clearly to the steward.

The steward immediately sent someone to update Luo Tian’s information.

After all, Luo Tian’s file in the Sect currently marked him as deceased. This meant his Identity Token was unusable, and even the Contribution Points within it were frozen.

”Nephew Luo? How did you escape from the Blood Hand Poison Master?”

The steward asked curiously.

The incident with this mission had caused quite a stir, and many people knew about it.

Qi Nan had claimed to have personally witnessed Luo Tian die at the hands of the Blood Hand Poison Master.

’Looks like there really was something fishy going on. Qi Nan got what he deserved.’

”The Blood Hand Poison Master said my talent was extraordinary, and I was destined to become a top expert of this era. He couldn’t bear to kill a genius like me, so he let me go.”

”...”

The steward was dumbfounded.

’He certainly didn’t believe a word of it. But then he recalled that Luo Tian’s ”death” had alarmed even the Law Enforcement Elder.’

This steward neither blamed Luo Tian for joking nor continued to press the issue.

But in fact, Luo Tian wasn’t joking. The Blood Hand Poison Master really had said that. If Luo Tian had chosen to leave back then, he could have.

It was just that in the end, Luo Tian had told the Blood Hand Poison Master to get lost.

”Alright, one thousand eight hundred Contribution Points in total!”

The steward returned the Token to Luo Tian.

”Eighteen hundred?”

Luo Tian remembered that this mission was worth one thousand Contribution Points at most.

”Due to unexpected circumstances during this mission, which far exceeded the scope of what you were expected to handle, the Sect is compensating you with eight hundred Contribution Points.”

the steward explained.

”I see.”

Luo Tian nodded and turned to leave.

Now, with these eighteen hundred Contribution Points, his total reached seven thousand five hundred.

After leaving the Sect Affairs Hall,

Luo Tian arrived at the Cultivation Tower.

As it happened, the Cultivation Room he had used last time was empty, so Luo Tian went straight there.

”It’s that kid.”

The steward here recognized Luo Tian.

He clearly remembered that the last time Luo Tian used the Cultivation Room, the entire room had turned into an icebox, and the repair costs had been nearly one thousand Spiritual Essence Coins.

”No practicing Martial Skills in the Cultivation Rooms!”

The steward immediately walked up and solemnly warned Luo Tian.

Luo Tian nodded in confusion before walking toward the Cultivation Secret Room.

After he placed the token into the slot, dense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi began to pour out endlessly into the room.

With his Divine Vein fully open, Luo Tian ravenously absorbed the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

It was in the Cultivation Room that the advantage of his Divine Vein was truly showcased.

Centered on Luo Tian, a huge Spiritual Qi vortex covered the entire Cultivation Room.

Within his Qi Sea Space,

the faintly glowing Spirit Sea Vortex continuously absorbed the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

Within a day’s time,

his cultivation at the Third Layer of Spirit Sea Realm was completely stabilized, with no hidden issues remaining.

Next, Luo Tian pushed forward, beginning to perfect his Third-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex.

「Three days later.」

The completion level of his Third-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex reached twenty percent, and at this point, his cultivation speed slowed down.

This was partly due to his own limits, and partly due to his cultivation technique.

He had finally reached the Perfection stage of the Guiyuan True Skill’s Fourth Layer, but he had no content for what came next. His only option was to rely on the Celestial Book for inference.

But Luo Tian currently had no Spiritual Essence Coins to charge the Celestial Book.

He finished his cultivation, but did not leave the Cultivation Tower.

’I’ve heard the Cultivation Tower actually has seven floors, plus another one underground!’

Luo Tian found the passage leading underground.

This underground level was extremely spacious, at least three to four times the size of the ground floor.

Each floor above ground had fifty Cultivation Rooms.

But this underground level only had twelve Cultivation Rooms, and each room had its own name.

”Ice Cultivation Room, Blazing Fire Cultivation Room, Tempest Cultivation Room, Downpour Cultivation Room...”

’So that’s how it is. The underground Cultivation Rooms have special environments. For disciples cultivating cultivation techniques of a corresponding element, the effects are far better than the rooms above ground!’

Luo Tian realized.

’If I cultivate the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body here, I’ll get twice the results with half the effort.’

Luo Tian smiled.

The Ice and Blazing Fire cultivation rooms were both suitable for the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body.

The Blazing Fire Cultivation Room was occupied, but the Ice Cultivation Room had just become available.

Luo Tian approached the Ice Cultivation Room and felt as if he had arrived in a land of glaciers. Ice was everywhere, and a bone-chilling cold filled every inch of space.

On the ice wall to the right, there was also a slot.

Only after Luo Tian placed his Token inside did the Ice Cultivation Room truly activate.

WHOOSH!

The air immediately turned white and misty, and extreme cold assaulted him from all directions.

If it were an ordinary cultivator at the Third Layer of Spirit Sea Realm, they would probably freeze to death after staying here for about fifteen minutes.

Luo Tian was uncomfortable at first, but after activating the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body, he was instantly fine.

Immediately after, he circulated his True Qi and, following the Refining Technique of the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body, absorbed the surrounding Cold Power to temper every inch of his muscles and tendons.

This was the first time Luo Tian had used Ice Cold Power to temper his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body, and the effect was unexpectedly good.

BZZZZ!

Jade-like cyan patterns appeared on the surface of Luo Tian’s body, and a thin layer of ice covered him.

As time passed, the ice on his body gradually thickened.

The Ice Power tempering his physique also grew more and more terrifying, causing Luo Tian’s face to turn a little pale.

The longer one stayed in the Ice Cultivation Room, the lower the temperature inside dropped.

「One day later.」

The temperature here had already dropped to a terrifyingly low level. If an ordinary cultivator at the Third Layer of Spirit Sea Realm were to enter, they would be frozen solid in moments, unable to move.

As for Luo Tian, he was completely frozen, the ice around him a full half-meter thick.

From a distance, one wouldn’t see his figure at all, only a giant block of ice.

Suddenly,

CRACK!

From within the giant block of ice, the sound of cracking could be heard.

The cracks began to spread from the inside, reaching the surface, and their numbers rapidly increased.

BANG!

The giant block of ice exploded, revealing Luo Tian’s jade-like, flawless, and powerful physique.

Luo Tian opened his brilliant, star-like eyes and revealed a faint smile. ”The first layer of the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body is at Perfection!”

The success of his cultivation in the Ice Cultivation Room had exceeded Luo Tian’s expectations.

VWOMM!

Luo Tian activated the Magic Technique with all his might. The cyan membrane of light on his body became even more condensed. His muscles bulged to a more terrifying degree, and he exuded an extremely powerful aura.

CRUMBLE!

Luo Tian lightly pressed his palm against the ice wall, leaving a clear handprint.

He casually curled his fingers and clawed, digging out a large chunk of ice.

BOOM!

Luo Tian suddenly threw a palm strike. A cold, jade-cyan light blossomed, the cold wind howled, and the air crackled.

BANG! CRACK!

The ice wall in front of him was left with a foot-deep palm print, and spiderweb-like cracks spread out from it.

With a RUMBLE, all the ice on the entire wall peeled off.

”The power of this palm strike is enough to make a Spirit Sea Realm Fifth Layer cultivator retreat!”

Luo Tian smiled.

’To think the first layer of the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body at Perfection is this powerful.’

His cultivation successful, Luo Tian left the Ice Cultivation Room.

When he took back his Identity Token, he was surprised to find that three hundred Contribution Points had been deducted, one hundred more than the fee for the rooms above ground.

’Looks like I can’t afford to come here and cultivate often.’

Even though Luo Tian had a lot of Contribution Points, he still felt it was a bit expensive.

However, with the first layer of the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body at Perfection, there wouldn’t be much improvement in the short term, so there was no need to come here anyway.

”Luo Tian?”

Just as he walked out of the Ice Cultivation Room, a cold, surprised voice came from his right.

”Xiao Feng?”

Luo Tian looked at the person who had spoken.

He had rarely seen Xiao Feng after entering the Yunxiao Sect.

’This guy is definitely dodging his debt.’

He hadn’t expected to run into Xiao Feng here. It looked like he had also just come out of a Cultivation Room.

Luo Tian glanced at the name of the Cultivation Room: Blood Evil Cultivation Room.

”You’re not dead?”

Xiao Feng asked.

”You must be hoping I was dead, so you wouldn’t have to pay me back.”

”Nonsense! When I, Xiao Feng, give my word, it’s a bond that cannot be broken! I will definitely repay the money I owe you!”

Xiao Feng scowled, his expression turning awkward.

’He was Xiao Feng! In a powerful dynasty like the Chilong Dynasty, he was ranked first on the Human List, a role model for countless students of the Martial Arts!’

And yet... he owed Luo Tian money.

This was a hurdle in Xiao Feng’s heart that he could never overcome.

But today, this matter would finally come to an end.

”The two thousand four hundred Spiritual Essence Coins I still owe you—I have them ready!”

Xiao Feng’s expression was slightly grim.

”Then hurry up and give them to me.”

Luo Tian happened to be short on money recently.

”However, I have always had one regret. You took first place in the entrance examination, yet I have never crossed swords with you.”

A cold, baleful aura rose in Xiao Feng’s deep eyes; he was clearly not resigned to what had happened that day.

”You want to spar with me?”

During the entrance examination, Luo Tian had also wanted to spar with Xiao Feng and experience the strength of the number one on the Chilong Dynasty’s Human List.

But after being in the Yunxiao Sect for so long, Luo Tian’s strength had advanced by leaps and bounds, and he had seen even more powerful young geniuses, so he had gradually lost interest.

And today, the first layer of his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body had reached Perfection, and his power and defense had increased dramatically.

”You’re no match for me.”

Luo Tian said very bluntly.