King of Ten Thousand Years

”Are you sure you want these two pills? Once you choose, you can’t go back on your word!”

Mu Yunshi suppressed the doubt in his heart and asked.

An ordinary person in this situation might have become suspicious and chosen again.

”I’m sure!”

But Luo Tian was resolute.

”Your judgment isn’t bad...”

Mu Yunshi said casually, though he was quite surprised inside.

The Elixir Pills on this shelf were all refined in his early days, and most of them were flawed.

By his estimate, only five or six bottles were actually of perfect quality.

The two bottles Luo Tian picked just so happened to be among them.

’Is this just luck?’

’No!’

Luo Tian had selected the Elixir Pills quickly and with extreme certainty, without a hint of hesitation.

Mu Yunshi reflected that even he would have found it difficult to do the same in such a short time.

’This means...’

’Not only does Luo Tian truly understand Alchemy, but his knowledge in certain aspects might even surpass my own?’

Mu Yunshi had wanted to verify if Luo Tian was lying, but now that he had his answer, he was left with a strange feeling.

’What a monster. His Martial Arts Talent is astonishing, and he even has a gift for Alchemy.’

Mu Yunshi didn’t deny Luo Tian’s talent; he just hadn’t wanted to take a disciple.

But since he had already accepted him, he was unwilling to see a genius like Luo Tian go to waste under his tutelage.

”If you have no other instructions, Master, may this disciple take his leave?”

Luo Tian inquired.

Mu Yunshi was just standing there lost in thought without saying anything, which was rather awkward.

”Wait a moment.”

Mu Yunshi called out, his expression turning serious. ”Luo Tian! Being my disciple isn’t that easy!”

”I will overcome any difficulty.”

Luo Tian’s gaze was firm.

”Good! Then listen closely. In six months, there will be a ’Celestial Pride Conference’ across the entire Dongchen Continent. You must participate in this grand event and place... in the top twenty, at the very least!”

”Otherwise, you are not worthy of being my disciple.”

Mu Yunshi’s eyes were cold.

’The Celestial Pride Conference, for the entire Dongchen Continent?’

This was the first Luo Tian had heard of it, so he knew nothing about the details.

Even so, that didn’t stop him from judging the difficulty of this goal.

Without the strength to rank in the top twenty of the Spirit List, it would be utterly impossible to achieve.

The Spirit List was nothing like the Human List!

The Spirit List recorded Spirit Level Martial Artist geniuses under the age of thirty from the entire Dongchen Continent!

The list contained a total of two hundred geniuses, evenly distributed among the Five Great Domains. They all came from the Four Major Sects, the Ten Hidden Families, or other massive organizations, and the competition was incredibly fierce.

As far as Luo Tian knew, Han Yuan, one of the ten Core Disciples, had a relatively low ranking on the Spirit List.

In other words, Luo Tian would need to reach the level of the ten Core Disciples within six months to have even a sliver of hope of achieving this goal.

’Becoming a Core Disciple in six months!’

Forget six months; even a stunning genius like Xiao Feng would find it difficult to accomplish that in a year.

”That’s too difficult...”

Luo Tian showed a moment of hesitation. The goal was simply too high.

Any ordinary elite disciple from an Upper Sect would be aghast and filled with despair upon hearing such a trial.

It was simply impossible to complete.

”If you can’t even do this, a disciple like you will only tarnish my reputation.”

Mu Yunshi snorted coldly.

”...”

Luo Tian wondered, ’Does Mu Yunshi even have a reputation?’

’He’s an Elder, but I doubt more than a few people in the entire Yunxiao Sect even know who he is.’

”Don’t mind my usual low-key demeanor; I simply disdain the pursuit of fame and fortune. Since you’ve become my disciple, I will teach you diligently. But if you cannot meet my requirements, then you can just leave!”

The requirement was ridiculously high, impossible to achieve. He was clearly trying to make Luo Tian leave.

And that was exactly his intention.

Mu Yunshi could see that Luo Tian had offended the Third Elder and was looking for a patron.

He could teach and protect Luo Tian for six months. When the time came, once Luo Tian had grown stronger, he could find another backer.

”I will do my utmost to complete it.”

Luo Tian’s gaze was resolute.

He also felt that Mu Yunshi was saying this intentionally to drive him away in six months.

But his Qi Observation Technique had indeed shown him that Mu Yunshi was no simple character. Perhaps this master was truly powerful and confident he could help Luo Tian advance by leaps and bounds, enough to charge into the top twenty of that so-called Celestial Pride Conference.

”Demonstrate a few of the Martial Skills you’re proficient in for me!”

Mu Yunshi leaned back in his chair.

”Alright!”

A smile appeared on Luo Tian’s face. It seemed Mu Yunshi had genuinely accepted him as a disciple for now and intended to teach him seriously.

He walked out the main door and began practicing the *Nine Heavens Sword Technique* in the courtyard.

At first, Mu Yunshi wore a lazy expression.

’He’s just at the Peak of Spirit Sea Realm Fifth Layer. His talent and potential might be good, but without a major background or a patron, he probably hasn’t been exposed to any high-level Martial Skills.’

But soon, his brow furrowed, his gaze hardened, and he began to watch Luo Tian’s Swordsmanship intently.

Immediately after, Luo Tian executed the *Wind Manipulation Technique*, followed by the Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Hand.

When he finished his demonstration,

the lazy look on Mu Yunshi’s face had completely vanished. He sized up Luo Tian with a strange expression.

”The Swordsmanship and Body Technique you just demonstrated were the Yunxiao Sect’s *Nine Heavens Sword Technique* and *Wind Manipulation Technique*, weren’t they?”

Mu Yunshi asked.

Generally speaking, it was very difficult for someone at Luo Tian’s Cultivation level to practice an Earth Level Martial Skill. What’s more, the ones Luo Tian was practicing were Earth Level Middle Grade and Upper Grade.

”Yes!”

Luo Tian nodded.

’Mu Yunshi could tell at a glance. He certainly has some skill; he doesn’t seem like a simple Alchemist.’

However, after hearing the answer, Mu Yunshi couldn’t help but close his eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching.

”You brat, what’s the meaning of choosing two incomplete Martial Skills to cultivate?”

Mu Yunshi glared at Luo Tian.

Luo Tian’s two Martial Skills were both commendable. For someone at the Peak of Spirit Sea Realm Fifth Layer, they could be considered exceptionally outstanding.

But these were damn incomplete Martial Skills! The early stages might be powerful enough, but what about later on?

Ordinary incomplete Martial Skills would be one thing.

But these were incomplete *Earth Level* Martial Skills! The difficulty of completing them was immense; otherwise, they wouldn’t have been left as fragmented texts in the Xuanwu Pavilion.

”Uh... I didn’t have enough Contribution Points at the time, and the incomplete Martial Skills were cheaper, so I exchanged for them...”

Luo Tian told him the truth.

But there was another part of the truth he didn’t mention: with the Celestial Book, he could complete any flawed Martial Skill!

”Besides, I feel my Martial Arts Talent is pretty good. I thought perhaps I could try to complete them while I cultivate...”

Luo Tian added.

With his feat of the Creation Grotto Heaven, he could say such words without any guilt.

”...”

Mu Yunshi was left speechless.

He didn’t know whether to call Luo Tian ignorant or arrogant. Completing an Earth Level Martial Skill? That boast was bigger than anything he’d ever made!

”Don’t tell me that Palm Technique of yours is incomplete too...”

Mu Yunshi asked.

The Palm Technique Luo Tian had just demonstrated was somewhat lacking in power, but it focused more on defense. Moreover, Luo Tian had comprehended it to the Great Achievement Realm, making it his most polished and proficient skill, relatively speaking.

”This Palm Technique is a Martial Skill contained within a Cultivation Technique, and that Cultivation Technique... is also incomplete!”

When Mu Yunshi heard the first half of the sentence, he felt relieved, but when he heard the second half, his face stiffened, and he put a hand to his forehead with a sigh.

”For now, just cultivate these Cultivation and Martial Skills as far as they’ll go, then switch to something else. Remember, don’t pick incomplete ones next time!”

”With an incomplete Martial Skill, you are destined to never cultivate it fully or comprehend it to the Perfect Realm. This will have an impact on your path of Martial Arts.”

Mu Yunshi warned Luo Tian.

”I understand!”

Luo Tian nodded.

’If the Celestial Book couldn’t perfect them, I wouldn’t have specifically chosen incomplete ones either.’

”You may go for now!” Mu Yunshi waved his hand dismissively.

Luo Tian nodded and left.

”Sigh. I finally accepted this disciple and was planning to teach him seriously, and he hands me such a huge problem...”

Mu Yunshi sighed.

He didn’t know that,

just as he left the residence, Luo Tian was also sighing about his new master. ’This master seems a bit unreliable. I hope I haven’t made the wrong choice...’

After returning to his residence, Luo Tian took out the two bottles of Elixir Pills he had received from Mu Yunshi.

When he was choosing the pills, he had used the Celestial Book to learn the names and effects of these two Elixir Pills.

The first Elixir Pill was called the ”Fire Essence Pill.”

This pill contained a vast amount of Earth Vein Pure Fire Qi, which had a tremendous boosting effect on Fire Element Cultivation Methods.

Furthermore, this Fire Essence Pill was of high quality, suitable for a High Tier Spirit Sea Realm cultivator. If someone with too low a Cultivation took it rashly, it could even pose a threat and cause them harm.

Luo Tian wasn’t practicing a Fire Element Cultivation Method; he planned to use this pill to temper his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body.

The second Elixir Pill was called the ”Qi Pushing and Root Strengthening Pill.”

This pill could advance one’s Cultivation in the Spirit Sea Realm and also solidify their foundation without any side effects. It was one of the most beloved Elixir Pills among Spirit Level Martial Artists and was extremely valuable.

All in all, these two Elixir Pills were among the highest in both quality and value on that shelf.

”Trading one Red Lotus Fruit for my master’s goodwill, plus a Fire Essence Pill and a Qi Pushing and Root Strengthening Pill, was completely worth it.”

A smile appeared on Luo Tian’s face as he put the Fire Essence Pill away for the time being.

The Second-Layer of his *Celestial Furnace Treasure Body* had just broken through to the Great Achievement Realm. It would be difficult to make significant progress in a short time, so consuming the Fire Essence Pill now would be a waste.

”The Four Grotto Heavens will close in a month and a half!”

Luo Tian went to his Cultivation Secret Room and entered closed-door cultivation.

His Qi Sea began to revolve, his Divine Vein activated, and Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was pulled in from all directions.

Inside his Qi Sea,

the Fifth-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex was fully consolidated, but condensing the Sixth-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex proved to be quite difficult.

After half a day of trying, Luo Tian found the process arduous.

According to his estimations, he probably needed at least ten more days of accumulation before he could smoothly break through to the Spirit Sea Realm Sixth Layer.

So, Luo Tian simply consumed the Qi Pushing and Root Strengthening Pill.

Instantly, a dense and vast mist, containing pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, surged through his meridians, boosting Luo Tian’s Luck Technique and doubling its effectiveness.

After a few Circulations, the medicinal effects of the Qi Pushing and Root Strengthening Pill had all gathered in his Qi Sea.

Luo Tian’s Qi Sea glowed with a faint, misty white halo. The True Qi within was filled to the absolute brim, emitting a biting chill.

「Half a day later.」

BOOM! BUZZ!

The True Qi in his Qi Sea surged through the five layers of the Spirit Sea Vortex and rushed upward, forming a new, hazy, multicolored vortex.

The vortex slowly began to turn, actively absorbing True Qi and synchronizing its rhythm with the five layers below it, falling into a proper pattern.

”I did it! Spirit Sea Realm Sixth Layer!”

A smile spread across Luo Tian’s face as he felt the increase in the quality and quantity of his True Qi.

Furthermore, the last remaining trace of the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood-devouring Pill’s medicinal effect in his body was also completely absorbed.

Looking back, two months ago, Luo Tian had only been at the Third Layer of Spirit Sea Realm.

Now, he had broken through to the Spirit Sea Realm Sixth Layer. The magnitude of his improvement was astounding!