King of Ten Thousand Years

Cloud-Swaying Technique!

In an instant, Jiang Daoyun unleashed nine techniques. The afterimages of his legs, like nine flood dragons, transformed into a vast, surging expanse of white, cloud-like energy that charged forward.

He attacked with his full strength. His Leg Technique was ferocious and seemingly unstoppable.

Luo Tian fully activated his True Sword Dao Intent, amplifying the power of his Sword Skills. His Swordsmanship resonated with the heavens and the earth as he executed the Nine Heavens Sword Technique.

One Sword Piercing Clouds!

Flowing Wind and Clouds!

Sharp Sword and Wind!

Luo Tian continuously switched techniques. His Swordsmanship was elegant and agile, yet also ferocious and swift, and a cold, sharp Sword Dao aura radiated from him without cease.

However, by using only his Sword Intent, Luo Tian remained at a disadvantage, suppressed by Jiang Daoyun’s Leg Technique.

This was the immense barrier between their Cultivation Realms.

Jiang Daoyun was a standout expert among those at the Half-step Earth Element Realm. The Cloud Dragon Leg he cultivated was a technique his family had spent a fortune in Spiritual Essence Coins to acquire from the Celestial Ring Alliance.

Furthermore, Jiang Daoyun’s mastery of his Leg Technique was extremely profound. He was just one step away from touching upon its True Intent.

”Luo Tian’s about to lose!”

”That’s not right! Have you all forgotten? Luo Tian hasn’t even used his Martial Vein Power yet!”

As the nearby geniuses discussed the fight, Young Master Hai nodded slightly. The strength of Luo Tian’s Martial Vein Power seemed to surpass that of a typical Earth Level Martial Vein.

”Hm?”

Jiang Daoyun’s brow furrowed slightly.

They had exchanged ten moves, yet he still hadn’t managed to truly injure Luo Tian.

Aside from his Swordsmanship, Luo Tian’s Defense was also extraordinary.

Jiang Daoyun mumbled, ”I remember now. You’re also a Body Cultivator.”

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Jiang Daoyun pushed off the air, leaping back and forth. Combined with the special nature of his Leg Technique, it looked as if he were Crossing the Void.

In an instant, the sky filled with flood dragon-like afterimages of his legs, which dove down like a dense meteor shower, smashing toward Luo Tian.

At this rate, even a Body Cultivator would be battered and bruised by his assault.

BOOM! WHOOSH!

The Martial Arts Arena shook. Luo Tian’s figure was swallowed up, disappearing without a trace.

A moment later, an extremely cold Sword Light slashed toward Jiang Daoyun like a bolt of lightning.

”What? He’s completely unharmed?”

Jiang Daoyun couldn’t hide his shock when he saw Luo Tian. He kicked out fiercely, shattering the incoming sword attack.

SWISH!

Luo Tian’s figure dissipated like a cool breeze, dodging the attack.

The two clashed fiercely once again.

Although Luo Tian was at a disadvantage, his reflexes, Body Technique, and defensive power were all top-notch, allowing him to minimize the damage he took.

”It’s been thirty moves, and Luo Tian still hasn’t lost!”

”This kid’s reflexes, Body Technique speed, and defensive power are all far superior to Jiang Daoyun’s!”

Luo Tian’s Body Technique speed, in particular, made several of the Earth Element Realm experts present take notice.

”However, his defeat is inevitable. No matter how strong his survivability is, without powerful offensive techniques, he’ll never be able to turn the tide of battle!”

the dark-skinned man from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect said. He was also on the South Martial Arts Arena, a genius expected to secure one of the advancement spots.

But no sooner had he spoken than Luo Tian’s Ice Trace Sword began to glow faintly. The power of his Sword Skills suddenly increased, and his Sword Intent grew even stronger!

’The counterattack begins!’

Luo Tian had only been using Sword Intent so far because he wanted to practice and gain a deeper understanding of his new insights into it.

That was enough. He immediately activated the Celestial Sword Technique, boosting the power of his Sword Skills.

In addition, Luo Tian channeled fifty percent of the Cold Power from his Nether Dragon Divine Vein into the Ice Trace Sword.

”Sword Rolling Residual Clouds!”

He unleashed the Fourth Technique of the Nine Heavens Sword Technique. A wave of dark, cold Sword Qi burst forth, forming a massive Sword Qi Tornado that surged toward the heavens with icy, violent fury!

RUMBLE! HSSSS!

The Sword Qi was sharp and bitingly cold, its edge unmatched. The storm, composed of countless beams of Sword Light, seemed capable of devouring everything as it shredded the afterimages of the kicks that filled the sky.

Luo Tian’s sudden burst of power shook the entire arena and stunned Jiang Daoyun!

’His power...?’

Jiang Daoyun found himself surrounded by hundreds of streams of bone-chilling Sword Qi. He immediately retreated, but not before a dozen gashes were torn in his trousers. The invading chill stiffened his entire body!

SWISH!

Luo Tian soared into the air like a whirlwind, instantly closing in on Jiang Daoyun. He slashed out with an incredibly sharp Icy Cold Sword Qi, its momentum immense.

Once at close range, a vortex of faint blue cold mist erupted and enveloped Jiang Daoyun, reducing his agility and speed.

Luo Tian instantly seized the advantage. His Swordsmanship became even denser and swifter, a relentless barrage that gave Jiang Daoyun no chance to catch his breath!

”He’s actually suppressing Jiang Daoyun?”

Ji Qingrong exclaimed in amazement.

Even more of the geniuses were left dumbfounded.

The dark-skinned man who had just predicted Luo Tian’s defeat narrowed his eyes. ”Using Sword Intent, Martial Vein Power, and a Secret Technique to amplify his Sword Skills all at once...” he said in a low voice. ”His consumption will be immense. He’s bound to burn out soon. His defeat is still certain!”

This analysis was perfectly logical.

But Luo Tian’s Spiritual Power was ten times greater than an ordinary person’s, and his Sword Intent was far more enduring.

When it came to Martial Vein Power, his Divine Vein also gave him a superior advantage.

As for the Celestial Sword Technique, Luo Tian had tested it before. It lasted for a long time and had no noticeable side effects.

’Stay calm! I can definitely win!’

Jiang Daoyun had also heard the dark-skinned man’s analysis and agreed wholeheartedly.

There was no way he would lose.

However...

Forty moves... fifty moves... sixty moves!

Not only did Luo Tian’s assault not slow, it grew even more ferocious. His Swordsmanship became faster and sharper.

The Celestial Sword Technique could deepen one’s comprehension of Sword Intent and increase the cultivation speed of Sword Skills. Under this baptism of battle, Luo Tian’s Sword Intent, Sword Skills, and even his mastery of the Celestial Sword Technique were all advancing.

Meanwhile, the persistent corrosive effect of the Nether Dragon Divine Vein’s power was gradually becoming apparent.

’How can this be?’

Jiang Daoyun was shaken to his core.

WHOOSH!

He immediately executed his Body Technique, flying backward to put some distance between himself and Luo Tian.

Jiang Daoyun’s Body Technique was at the Earth Level Middle Grade, but the Leg Technique he cultivated also amplified it to a certain extent.

His figure resembled a white, coiling dragon as he retreated at high speed!

”Trying to run?”

Luo Tian chuckled. His figure flickered, kicking up a gust of wind as he pressed in on Jiang Daoyun!

Jiang Daoyun’s expression grew grim. He pushed his Body Technique to its absolute limit, darting about with unpredictable movements.

But he discovered that even so, Luo Tian could keep up, sticking to him like a shadow, impossible to shake off!

Luo Tian’s Body Technique speed completely overwhelmed his own.

”Cloud Dragon Collapsing Mountain!”

Jiang Daoyun roared, unleashing his strongest killing blow!

BOOM! WHOOOOSH!

A magnificent torrent of light from his Leg Technique, seemingly containing dozens of white flood dragons, bore down on Luo Tian with overwhelming power.

The power of this single technique was enough to threaten an Earth Element Realm expert!

If it landed, even the defense of the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body would be useless.

The glint in Luo Tian’s eyes intensified as his battle intent soared. He thrust the Ice Trace Sword forward fiercely.

”Nine Heavens Sword Technique, Fifth Technique—Furious Sword Torrential Rain!”

In that instant, dozens, then hundreds, then thousands of straight, cold beams of Sword Light appeared in the void—a horrifyingly dense display!

The Fifth Technique, Furious Sword Torrential Rain, was an all-out, desperate style of Swordsmanship!

This Sword Technique resonated with the heavens and the earth. The wind surged, clouds roiled, and the sky darkened, exuding the immense power of a furious blizzard washing over the world.

Above the Martial Arts Arena.

BOOM! HSSSS! RUMBLE!

The sky-filling white light and cloud-mist collided with the vast storm of ice swords, the resulting roar shaking the very heavens!

To the naked eye, the dense storm of ice swords could be seen crushing forward, pulverizing the afterimages of the white cloud-like kicks one by one.

”Impossible!”

Jiang Daoyun cried out in terror.

His strongest Martial Skill had been shattered in a head-on clash with Luo Tian’s Swordsmanship!

HSSST!

In an instant, countless slender, cold beams of Sword Light swept over Jiang Daoyun, tearing more than a dozen gashes across his body.

As long as the enemy stood, the swords would not stop; the torrential rain would not cease.

Jiang Daoyun quickly found himself unable to hold on. Heavily injured, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed onto the Martial Arts Arena.

”Luo Tian is victorious!” the referee announced.

An uproar broke out around the Martial Arts Arena.

Jiang Daoyun, who had been considered the most promising contender for the third advancement spot, had been defeated by Luo Tian in the third round!

Everyone realized once again that this dark horse was far more formidable than anyone had imagined.

The dark-skinned man’s expression sank. He felt as though he had lost face.

HUMMM!

One-third of Jiang Daoyun’s Celestial Fate Qi instantly surged out and merged into Luo Tian’s Genius Order.

The light from the Genius Order flared brilliantly!

In the first round, Luo Tian had placed third, while Jiang Daoyun had been in the top ten.

At this moment, the brightness of Luo Tian’s Genius Order surpassed that of every other genius across all five Martial Arts Arenas. Its dazzling brilliance drew every eye.

On the South Martial Arts Arena, several Earth Element Realm Martial Artists fixed their gazes on Luo Tian, seemingly planning to challenge him!

After all, the rewards for defeating Luo Tian would be far greater than for defeating any other opponent!

Luo Tian walked off the stage and began to recover the energy he had expended in the battle.

The battle with Jiang Daoyun had been greatly beneficial. It had stabilized his Sword Intent, brought him closer to forming a True Intent Prototype, and he had even taken the opportunity to fully comprehend the Fifth Technique of the Nine Heavens Sword Technique, Furious Sword Torrential Rain.

Of course, the assistance of the Celestial Sword Technique had been crucial to all of this.

This made Luo Tian even more curious about the three great ”Sword Dao Strange Books” from which the Celestial Sword Technique was derived. What kind of things were they, and why had he never heard of them?

Luo Tian turned his attention to the other Martial Arts Arenas.

’In comparison, there are indeed fewer experts on the South Martial Arts Arena,’ Luo Tian thought. ’As long as I defeat the few other top contenders at the Half-step Earth Element Realm, I can make it into the top twenty!’

Luo Tian’s eyes lit up. He felt his chances were very high.

Jiang Daoyun had been considered the most likely to advance to the next round, and he had already fallen to Luo Tian.

Next, as long as Luo Tian wasn’t careless and didn’t run into an opponent who perfectly countered his style, he was practically guaranteed a spot in the top twenty!

It wasn’t just Luo Tian who thought so.

The Four Major Sects had realized this as well.

The faces of the Yunxiao Sect’s upper echelons were all filled with pleasant surprise.

Before the Celestial Pride Conference, they would have been happy if Luo Tian made it into the top one hundred; they thought the top fifty was his absolute limit!

But now, Luo Tian had a real chance of entering the top twenty and bringing glory to the Yunxiao Sect!

’It’s time to take the Qi Pushing and Root Strengthening Pill!’

Luo Tian immediately began his Cultivation, activating the Guiyuan True Skill to absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi from all directions.

He had just finished a battle, and there was still a long time before he would be called for the next round.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

His internal Qi Sea began to churn, and his Divine Vein activated, forming a massive vortex of Spiritual Qi around his body.

Luo Tian took out the Qi Pushing and Root Strengthening Pill and swallowed it whole.

Instantly, it felt as if a dense, vast stream of pure liquid, containing pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, surged through his body. It boosted Luo Tian’s qi circulation technique, making his Cultivation twice as effective for half the effort.

After undergoing a full Circulation, the medicinal effects of the Qi Pushing and Root Strengthening Pill gradually gathered in his Qi Sea.

Inside his Qi Sea.

Eight layers of Spirit Sea Vortexes spun rapidly, shimmering with a white halo. The True Qi within them was quickly replenished and continuously refined.

The completion level of the Eighth-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex rapidly approached sixty percent.

As time passed, thanks to the powerful Cultivation speed of his Divine Vein and the medicinal effects of the Qi Pushing and Root Strengthening Pill, the completion level of the Eighth-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex gradually reached seventy percent... seventy-five percent...

Everyone could see Luo Tian’s intention to use his Cultivation to break through, and no one found it strange.

Across the five Martial Arts Arenas, plenty of people were making last-minute efforts, either trying to improve their Cultivation or practice their Martial Skills.

「On the South Martial Arts Arena.」

Several of the Half-step Earth Element Realm geniuses, who were on par with Jiang Daoyun, felt their hearts grow heavy with unease.

”If he successfully breaks through, I’m afraid I won’t stand a chance!”

a young man in blue robes said. He was a genius ranked in the top fifty of the Spirit List, his strength comparable to Jiang Daoyun’s.

”If only I could disrupt his progress...”

The blue-robed youth glanced at Luo Tian, his expression turning sinister.