King of Ten Thousand Years

Outside the Creation Grotto Heaven, a larger and larger crowd was gathering.

Those who didn’t know what was happening even thought a powerful enemy was attacking the Sect, given the massive commotion.

”Does he really take us for fools? This is the most difficult Grotto Heaven. In all of history, no one has ever scored fifty thousand points in a single attempt!”

”I’ll bet you anything, either there’s something wrong with the Grotto Heaven, or he cheated. If I’m wrong, I’ll call him my dad and grandpa!”

The newcomers, unaware of the specific circumstances, were utterly disdainful of Luo Tian. Not only was he spouting nonsense and bragging, but he was also brazenly cheating and faking his results.

”A disciple like him should be expelled from the Yunxiao Sect. It would save the Sect from having its reputation ruined by him later on.”

Ying Feihang and Han Yuan had their underlings stir up the crowd, and they quickly gained the support of many.

”This kid really knows how to cause trouble! Not only does he have a grudge with the Third Elder, but his fellow disciples also ostracize him. He’s about to run out of places to stand in the Yunxiao Sect,”

the Big Fat Elder commented.

”Indeed! Having offended the Third Elder, even if he wants to find a master in the future, no one will dare to accept him,”

another stately-looking woman said.

These two were both elders who had previously presided over the entrance examinations.

Besides them, many other Elders and Stewards had also arrived. They watched from a distance, awaiting the outcome.

WHOOSH!

Just then, a figure drifted over from the distance. He walked on air, arriving like a celestial being descending to the mortal world.

”Hmm? He broke through to the Earth Element Realm?”

The Big Fat Elder said in surprise.

”The number one of the Ten Core Disciples, Ye Feng!”

”Ye Feng is actually Crossing the Void! He’s broken through to the Earth Element Realm!”

Cries of shock immediately erupted from the crowd.

The man with the sword-like brows stood at the very pinnacle of all the Yunxiao Sect’s disciples, the head of the Ten Core Disciples!

His arrival instantly made Core Disciples like Han Yuan and Qiao Hai seem dull and insignificant, reducing them to mere background characters.

’The head of the Ten Core Disciples, an Earth Element Realm expert!’

Luo Tian glanced at the man with sword-like brows, his heart pounding with shock.

It was the first time Luo Tian had ever seen, or even heard of, someone reaching the Earth Element Realm at such a young age.

The Yunxiao Sect was truly full of hidden masters and burgeoning geniuses.

However, even with Ye Feng’s arrival, the focus of the crowd’s discussion quickly returned to Luo Tian.

Even Ye Feng sized Luo Tian up for a moment before turning his gaze to the Creation Points List, saying nothing.

’Luo Tian, just you wait and see. You’ve caused such a huge scene this time, alarming so many Core Disciples and high-ranking Sect members,’ Ying Feihang thought, glancing at Luo Tian with a venomous look.

Suddenly, he looked toward the canyon.

The Third Elder, the Law Enforcement Elder, and the others slowly emerged.

The surroundings immediately fell silent.

The elders had already carefully reviewed the video recording; they must have found evidence of Luo Tian’s cheating. It was all about to end.

”Luo Tian, this Elder will ask you a question,” the Third Elder said, his expression grim.

This scene surprised and confused Luo Tian and everyone else present.

Why wasn’t he directly announcing that Luo Tian had cheated?

”I have an incomplete Palm Martial Skill here. It’s a Spirit Level Upper Grade technique, but it’s missing the third technique. If you can complete it, this Elder will believe that you did not cheat!”

After speaking, the Third Elder tossed out a damaged ancient book, a section in the middle of which had been burned away.

”What? The Third Elder is going to test Luo Tian personally?”

”Doesn’t that mean the video recording showed no suspicion of Luo Tian cheating?”

The crowd was shocked, and Ying Feihang was stunned.

His master had personally reviewed the recording; it was impossible that he hadn’t found any evidence of cheating.

Unless... Luo Tian hadn’t cheated!

The Ten Core Disciples present all had strange expressions. Qiao Hai and Han Yuan’s faces darkened slightly.

Ripples seemed to float in the serene eyes of Yi Jingwen, the number one beauty of the Upper Sect, revealing a peculiar glimmer as she sized up Luo Tian.

The Third Elder narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Luo Tian.

He had reviewed the recording from the Celestial Level Array twice, front to back, and still hadn’t found any evidence of cheating.

The only anomaly was that Luo Tian seemed rather relaxed throughout the entire process, and his problem-solving speed was very fast. But in reality, Luo Tian had deliberately slowed himself down.

The Third Elder, unwilling to accept his failure to find evidence, decided to test him personally.

He had obtained this ancient book not long ago. It wasn’t in the Yunxiao Sect’s collection, so Luo Tian had definitely never seen it before.

”...I’ll try!” Luo Tian said after a long silence.

A sharp glint flashed in the Third Elder’s eyes, and the corner of his mouth curved into a barely perceptible smile.

’This boy hesitated. It looks like he’s not very confident!’ The Third Elder thought to himself.

Luo Tian picked up the ancient book and began to read it carefully.

He had hesitated because the Celestial Book had very little power left, and he had used up almost all the Spiritual Essence Coins he had during the assessment.

’Good thing it’s a palm technique...’ Luo Tian’s eyes lit up slightly.

The Third Elder probably knew that Luo Tian’s greatest strength was Swordsmanship, and that he had even comprehended the True Intent of the Sword Dao.

But what the Third Elder didn’t know was that Luo Tian had also comprehended the True Intent of Palm Technique.

This was something Luo Tian had never revealed to anyone before.

Having comprehended the True Intent of Palm Technique, Luo Tian’s understanding, cultivation, and power of any Palm Martial Skill were all amplified.

Luo Tian quickly scanned the first two techniques, glanced at the later sections, and then fell into deep thought.

This was a Spirit Level Upper Grade martial art, and the difficulty of completing it was immense.

Even among the Ten Core Disciples, anyone who didn’t specialize in palm techniques would not necessarily be able to complete it.

For someone at the Peak of Spirit Sea Realm Fifth Layer, it was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

”Luo Tian, you got fifty thousand points in the Creation Grotto Heaven. Completing this martial skill shouldn’t be too hard for you, right?” Han Yuan shouted.

”Are you deliberately trying to distract me? If I fail to complete this, it’ll be all your fault,” Luo Tian responded coldly.

Han Yuan was instantly choked speechless. The anger he had been suppressing couldn’t help but flare up.

”As if you could actually do it!” Han Yuan sneered.

”You’re not wrong to think that. I’ve already finished,” Luo Tian said with a faint smile.

What? Finished?

Everyone was astounded. Han Yuan, in particular, looked utterly shocked and incredulous.

It had only been a moment! How could Luo Tian be finished? Who was he trying to fool?!

”Luo Tian, stop spouting nonsense!” the Third Elder barked, his eyes cold.

”Whether this disciple is spouting nonsense or not, the Elder will know with a single look!”

Luo Tian was completely confident.

The next moment, he began to perform the Spirit Level Upper Grade Palm Technique right where he stood.

Luo Tian performed the first technique, followed immediately by the second.

Then, Luo Tian executed the third technique of the palm technique. Although the transition was average and had quite a few flaws,

the third technique he created still reached the Spirit Level Upper Grade and was thematically connected to the preceding techniques.

In theory, Luo Tian had completed it.

If this were the Creation Grotto Heaven, he would have received a passing evaluation, albeit not a high score.

The Third Elder and the others were instantly stunned!

HISS!

The surroundings fell silent, the only sound being the sharp, collective intake of breaths.

”Impossible!”

Before everyone’s eyes, Luo Tian had completed a public test and passed successfully!

But it had been too short a time! In just a moment, Luo Tian had completed a Spirit Level Upper Grade martial art.

If the person who set the test hadn’t been the Third Elder, who clearly despised Luo Tian, they would have even suspected the two of them were in collusion.

”He actually... finished it!”

The Third Elder’s gaze froze, his expression one of utter astonishment.

This was absolutely impossible. Luo Tian must have cheated.

But Luo Tian had been under his complete surveillance. Every single move was imprinted in his mind, yet he couldn’t find a single shred of evidence that he had cheated.

”Third Elder, this should prove that I earned those fifty thousand points with my own ability, right?” Luo Tian revealed a faint smile.

In truth, having comprehended the True Palm Skill Intent, he had only managed to complete about fifty to sixty percent of the third technique on his own.

For the rest, Luo Tian had the Celestial Book perform an Inference based on his foundation. The cost was very low, just barely enough.

”...It does!” The Third Elder took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm.

With that, Luo Tian’s achievement was completely verified!

Fifty thousand points. Real, valid, and number one on the list!

Furthermore, these fifty thousand points had broken the all-time single-attempt record for the Creation Grotto Heaven. It was a record that would likely never be surpassed, an unprecedented and likely unrepeatable feat!

”Holy crap! Fifty thousand points, and he actually didn’t cheat!”

”Could he be a Martial Arts prodigy seen only once in a thousand years?”

The crowd erupted again, but the voices of doubt quickly diminished.

The elders had reviewed the recording and conducted a live test, yet they found no suspicion of cheating!

If anyone still questioned it now, it would be tantamount to questioning the investigative abilities of the Yunxiao Sect’s upper echelons, questioning the Law Enforcement Elder and the Third Elder!

A cold light surged in the Third Elder’s eyes before being instantly concealed.

At this moment, even he was starting to believe that Luo Tian really hadn’t cheated.

If that was truly the case...!

Then just how terrifying was Luo Tian’s Martial Arts Talent?

Given time, Luo Tian’s achievements would be unimaginable. He might even surpass him!

”Luo Tian, your result has been confirmed. This old man has never before seen such astonishing talent.”

”You are now famous throughout the Upper Sect, and your talent is extraordinary. Do you have any plans to take a master?” Elder Fang Qi suddenly spoke up.

Through the series of events, he had already discerned the Third Elder’s attitude toward Luo Tian.

Finding a backer as soon as possible would be the best way to mitigate the danger coming from the Third Elder.

That was why Elder Fang Qi was offering him this piece of advice.

Right now, Luo Tian’s fame was at its peak. He was known throughout the Upper Sect and had accomplished an unprecedented, unrepeatable feat!

This was the perfect time to find a master!

”Hm?”

The Third Elder’s brow furrowed slightly.

Elder Fang Qi’s action displeased him.

If this were before, the Third Elder was certain that most of the high-ranking members would have rejected Luo Tian’s apprenticeship out of respect for him.

But now, the Third Elder wasn’t so sure.

The talent Luo Tian had displayed was simply too terrifying!

”Thank you for the advice, Elder Fang. I was just thinking about that!” Luo Tian said with a smile.

Since entering the Upper Sect, two of his goals were finally within reach.

First: Make a name for himself in the Four Grotto Heavens.

Second: Find a master.

As for who to choose as his master, Luo Tian’s gaze couldn’t help but sweep over the crowd.

This incident had attracted many high-ranking elders, but the most powerful one present was still the Third Elder.

Luo Tian wasn’t in a hurry to make a decision.

But suddenly, a middle-aged elder stepped forward and said with a smile, ”Luo Tian, this old man is the elder in charge of the storerooms. Are you interested in becoming my disciple?”

The storerooms controlled nearly half of the Sect’s resource lifeline. It was an extremely lucrative position with vast connections.

Luo Tian’s eyes lit up, but just then, a warning came from his Creation Technique.

”Thank you for your kind offer, Elder. As for taking a master, this disciple wishes to consider it carefully before making a decision!” Luo Tian said, neither servile nor overbearing.

The middle-aged elder’s expression turned slightly cold. He took a few steps back and exchanged a glance with the Third Elder.

Luo Tian understood in an instant. This middle-aged elder was part of the Third Elder’s faction.

’That was close...’ Luo Tian thought, his heart still fluttering with fear.

The Third Elder’s power was too great; danger was everywhere.

That was precisely why Luo Tian needed to find a powerful master to act as his backer!