King of Ten Thousand Years

Li Mu didn’t test the temperature of the magma.

He could see that Luo Tian had cultivated a powerful Body Refining Technique, which was why he could withstand the magma, sustaining only minor burns.

But then, something even more astonishing happened.

Magma erupted from a spot on the ground some distance away from Luo Tian, yet he deliberately moved closer, allowing some of it to splash onto his body.

’Does this kid have a masochistic streak?’

Li Mu was stunned.

Otherwise, why would Luo Tian intentionally get himself hurt?

Over the next while, Li Mu witnessed this scene repeatedly. It was as if Luo Tian had gone mad, actively seeking out danger to injure himself.

In reality, Luo Tian wanted to use the Flame Power within the magma to temper his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body.

’This isn’t very convenient!’

Luo Tian muttered to himself.

Too little contact with the magma had only a slight effect. Too much could cause severe injuries.

Luo Tian could only take the safe route, touching a small amount of magma each time. Although the effect was minor, every little bit counted.

’Once my Celestial Furnace Treasure Body breaks through to the Second-Layer Minor Achievement, my Defense and survivability will increase significantly!’

Luo Tian’s Celestial Furnace Treasure Body was very close to the Second-Layer Minor Achievement, which was why he wanted to temper it and strive for a breakthrough.

Luo Tian wasn’t sure if he would succeed.

He could only do his best to try.

After each contact with the magma, he would activate the Refining Technique of the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body, using the power of the magma’s earthen fire to temper his physique.

’Something’s not right!’

Li Mu said suddenly, observing Luo Tian closely.

He had originally thought that Luo Tian’s death-defying antics would only shorten his time here, securing Li Mu’s own victory.

But he suddenly noticed that the aura emanating from Luo Tian’s physique was growing stronger and stronger.

’He’s tempering his physique?’

The realization hit Li Mu, and he was utterly shocked!

Facing the harsh trials of the Survival Grotto Heaven, Luo Tian actually dared to temper his physique.

One careless mistake, and he could die here.

Moreover, tempering his physique would increase his energy consumption. If Luo Tian didn’t achieve significant results, he would ultimately be at a net loss.

’I’ve already won!’

Convinced of his victory, Li Mu began to pay less attention to Luo Tian.

The trials of the Survival Grotto Heaven were becoming increasingly severe, and he needed to focus all his attention on dealing with them.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed.

The wind grew fiercer, and the rain turned to hail.

The hailstones were the size of a baby’s fist and astonishingly powerful. An ordinary cultivator at the Spirit Sea Realm Sixth Layer could be severely injured or even killed if hit repeatedly.

However, Li Mu could block them by using his True Qi Body Protection, though it increased his energy consumption.

The chasms splitting the earth, the erupting magma, and the lightning striking from the sky were the truly fatal threats.

So far, he had sustained several minor injuries.

As for Luo Tian, with his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body, the hail couldn’t harm him.

However, tempering his physique while simultaneously dodging and evading was quite difficult, leading to more frequent injuries. But his injuries were comparable to Li Mu’s, if not even lighter.

’The difficulty is increasing, but my Celestial Furnace Treasure Body is still a bit short of breaking through to the Second-Layer Minor Achievement!’

Luo Tian sighed with emotion.

Should he continue on this path, or give up on tempering his physique and focus entirely on the trial?

Luo Tian took out a Qi Replenishing Pill and consumed it, restoring his expended True Qi.

After some thought, he prepared to give up. He would first try to last longer here and earn more Points.

But suddenly, Luo Tian saw a world of ice and snow in the distance.

An idea instantly came to him.

SWOOSH!

Luo Tian’s figure transformed into a gust of wind, a blurry afterimage that sped away.

He either evaded all the dangers along the way or withstood them with his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body.

’What is he doing over there?’

Li Mu exclaimed in surprise.

The trials of the Survival Grotto Heaven primarily consisted of threats from natural disasters.

After generations of disciples had explored this place, it was determined that the volcanic zone and the ice and snow zone were the most dangerous, considered forbidden lands within the Survival Grotto Heaven!

This was especially true for the ice and snow zone. In the freezing cold, the body’s functions would decline, and even the circulation of True Qi would be slowed by the chill.

Furthermore, this region had an extremely terrifying disaster: avalanches.

The avalanches here weren’t ordinary; they were avalanches imbued with destructive power, modified by the Trial Space.

Nevertheless, Li Mu decided to follow and take a look.

If things went south, he could just retreat immediately.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The wind was bone-chillingly cold, and the hail in this area became even harder, its lethality greatly increased.

With a CRACK, the True Qi Body Protection on Li Mu’s back was instantly shattered.

He immediately released a large amount of True Qi to form a thicker True Qi Body Protection.

’Damn it, is Luo Tian really trying to get himself killed? Running into this area!’

Li Mu curled up, shivering from the cold.

Luo Tian, however, was perfectly fine. The Celestial Furnace Treasure Body was tempered with the power of ice and fire, giving it the strongest resistance to both.

After roaming around the area for a while,

’Found it!’

Luo Tian’s gaze fell upon the halfway point of an icy mountain. A thin fissure had cracked open in the mountainside, from which a biting, bone-chilling wind blew.

SWISH! SWISH!

Luo Tian immediately climbed the icy mountain and entered the fissure.

’So cold!’

The cold wind blowing from within the mountain made even Luo Tian shiver involuntarily.

He immediately sat down cross-legged, fully activating his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body and its Refining Technique to absorb the Cold Power and temper his physique.

From the ground, Li Mu watched Luo Tian from afar.

’Is this kid a fool? Does he think he’ll be fine just by hiding in there?’

Li Mu sneered.

Luo Tian’s position could indeed shield him from threats like hail and lightning.

But in this area, the Cold Power contained within the icy mountains was immensely terrifying and would continuously erode Luo Tian.

And if an avalanche were to occur on the mountain, where could Luo Tian possibly escape?

’I’d like to see how long you can last!’

Li Mu sneered coldly.

He took out two Elixir Pills and swallowed them.

Then, he formed a hand seal and activated a Secret Technique!

’The Survival Grotto Heaven is a contest of endurance. Recovery ability is extremely important here. The faster you recover, the longer you survive!’

Ordinary Elixir Pills took time for their effects to kick in.

But Li Mu had mastered a Secret Technique that could activate the effects of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Materials or Elixirs of Life in an extremely short amount of time.

At this moment, the True Qi in his body was recovering at a rapid pace.

The other Pill he had swallowed could invigorate his blood and qi, replenish his life force, and heal his injuries.

Li Mu’s injuries healed quickly, and his complexion rapidly improved.

’Heh heh, as long as I don’t suffer any life-threatening attacks, lasting until 20,000 Points is absolutely no problem. I might even reach 25,000 or higher!’

A confident smile appeared on Li Mu’s face.

He glanced up at Luo Tian, his smile widening.

He saw that Luo Tian’s entire body was covered in frost, frozen within a large block of ice.

’With the Cold Power here, a Spirit Sea Realm Seventh Layer cultivator in that state wouldn’t last half an incense stick’s time before their life was in danger. Even someone at the Eighth Layer of Spirit Sea Realm couldn’t last for a full incense stick.’

Li Mu felt that Luo Tian might even die here.

But he didn’t know.

The ice around Luo Tian had been formed by him deliberately attracting the Cold Power.

While the Cold Power was eroding Luo Tian, it also became his barrier, protecting him from other harm.

Under these circumstances, Luo Tian could actually cultivate peacefully in seclusion.

BZZZT! BZZZT!

The patterns on the surface of Luo Tian’s body flickered with light, absorbing the Ice Power to temper every inch of his body.

The Cold Power was ferocious. Luo Tian felt an icy, stabbing pain all over his body, but the tempering effect was outstanding.

’Cultivating here is even more effective than in the Ice Cultivation Chamber in the Cultivation Tower, and it doesn’t even cost Contribution Points!’

Luo Tian laughed inwardly.

Half an incense stick later.

The Celestial Furnace Treasure Body had absorbed an enormous amount of Cold Power. The Second-Layer Small Success Realm was now just a step away!

By now, the block of ice enveloping Luo Tian had expanded to three or four meters wide, merging with the entire mountain and sealing the fissure.

The Cold Power Luo Tian was enduring had reached an astonishing level, one that even his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body had difficulty withstanding.

His Upper Grade Defense Treasure Armor could only protect his torso, leaving his limbs and head exposed.

VMMMM!

Luo Tian immediately activated his Nether Dragon Divine Vein. A faint, dark radiance of scales shimmered on his back, outlining an azure Dragon Vein.

A wave of Yin Cold, dark power spread out.

Forty to fifty percent of the surrounding Cold Power was blocked by the power of the Nether Dragon Divine Vein, and the threat instantly vanished.

Furthermore, Luo Tian discovered that his Nether Dragon Divine Vein was faintly absorbing the surrounding Cold Power, albeit subtly.

At a certain moment!

Luo Tian’s frozen body suddenly shone with a jade-green luster, and a terrifyingly oppressive power of blood and qi erupted outwards!

’I’ve broken through to Minor Achievement!’

A smile appeared on Luo Tian’s face.

If he had been cultivating in seclusion at his residence, breaking through the Second-Layer to Minor Achievement would have taken at least ten days, or possibly even longer.

But here in the Survival Grotto Heaven, Luo Tian used the geographical advantages and the trials to achieve the breakthrough directly!