King of Ten Thousand Years

’If only someone could stop his breakthrough...’

The blue-robed youth’s expression was grim. He worried that if Luo Tian broke through, he would completely lose any hope of securing the fourth spot.

”Number 18 versus Number 66!” the referee shouted.

’My turn?’

The blue-robed youth immediately stood up and stepped onto the Martial Arts Arena.

”So you’re my opponent? The amount of Celestial Fate Qi you have is decent enough!”

A haughty voice rang out.

The dark-skinned man from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect took the stage.

”Yin Xiaofeng!”

The blue-robed youth’s face instantly turned pale!

The dark-skinned man, Yin Xiaofeng, was one of the three Earth Element Realm experts on the South Martial Arts Arena, a fearsome opponent ranked eighteenth on the Spirit List!

”It’s not too late to surrender!”

A wild, unrestrained smile played on Yin Xiaofeng’s lips.

”I await your instruction!”

the blue-robed youth said in a solemn tone.

His goal was to enter the top twenty, and he possessed the ability to hold his own against an Earth Element Realm expert. If he didn’t even have the courage to fight Yin Xiaofeng, it would be far too shameful.

”Begin!”

The moment the referee finished speaking, Yin Xiaofeng attacked. Wielding a pitch-black, serrated Treasure Sword, he slashed out, unleashing a violent, dark vortex of Sword Light.

The blue-robed youth executed his Fist Technique, but he reined in his offense, focusing instead on defense.

That way, he could last a bit longer, and his loss wouldn’t be quite so humiliating.

WHOOSH!

As the sword descended, a vortex swirled around the pitch-black Sword Light, its destructive power terrifying.

The blue-robed youth’s Fist Technique was instantly shredded to pieces.

He flew backward as the sword struck the Martial Arts Arena, unleashing a wave of dark Vortex Sword Qi that shot out in every direction like a field of thorns!

SLICE!

Shallow cuts appeared on the blue-robed youth’s arms and legs.

”Underestimating me will cost you dearly!”

Yin Xiaofeng licked his lips.

He had a nickname, ”Sword Madman.”

In terms of his swordsmanship’s lethality, Yin Xiaofeng could rank in the top ten of the Spirit List and even pose a slight threat to Celestial Evil Sword.

However, because his fighting style was too frenzied and reckless, he wasn’t consistent, so his overall ranking was lower.

”Storm Splitting Killing Sword!”

Yin Xiaofeng’s smile was ferocious and chilling as he launched a frenzied assault with the black, serrated sword in his hand!

At the same time, he released a faint trace of the True Intent of the Sword Dao!

In an instant, the entire Martial Arts Arena was shrouded in a pitch-black storm. A dark and violent Sword Light raged, exuding a terrifying aura like a Demon from Hell.

”Hm?”

Luo Tian, who was in the middle of his cultivation, sensed the fluctuations of Sword Intent. He released his Spiritual Sense to perceive the battle on the Martial Arts Arena.

After reaching the Earth Element Realm, the chances of comprehending True Intent Fur increase.

The geniuses present at the Earth Element Realm had been painstakingly nurtured by the major powers. With their excellent talent and potential, their chances of comprehending True Intent were even greater.

He began to use the Celestial Book to inscribe Yin Xiaofeng’s True Sword Dao Intent.

”Hahaha, is that all you’ve got?”

Yin Xiaofeng’s unbridled laughter rang out.

The blue-robed youth was completely suppressed. Even adopting a purely defensive strategy, he was battered into a daze by Yin Xiaofeng, and his injuries continued to mount.

’What a terrifying offense!’ The blue-robed youth gritted his teeth and persevered.

The tenth move!

SHHIIK!

A hideous wound appeared on the blue-robed youth’s abdomen, as if a fierce beast had taken a bite out of him.

”I surrender!”

the blue-robed youth cried out immediately.

If he persisted any longer, he feared his life would be in danger!

”Defeated in just ten moves. He seems far inferior to Jiang Daoyun!”

”That’s not it. Yin Xiaofeng’s assault is just too terrifying. If he were facing other Earth Element Realm experts like Qiao Hai or Yi Jingwen, the youth might have lasted a few more moves!”

The surrounding crowd murmured.

He wasn’t called the Sword Madman for nothing.

「A moment later, at the West Martial Arts Arena.」

Xia Bingyue took the stage and began a fierce battle with a genius ranked in the top thirty of the Spirit List.

Xia Bingyue’s beauty was exquisite and tranquil. As her snow-white robes fluttered, the silhouette of an ethereal sword shadow surfaced in her star-like eyes.

SHIING!

A magnificent, crystalline Sword Light slashed out, causing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to resonate as a terrifying Sword Momentum, like a winter glacier, surged forward.

Her opponent was also at the Half-step Earth Element Realm, ranked slightly higher than her. Xia Bingyue didn’t hold back, unleashing her Sword Intent from the very first move.

”This girl’s Sword Intent is extraordinary!”

In the spectator area, the black-robed woman from Purple Luo Hall noted this sharply.

”Xia Bingyue comprehended Sword Intent the moment she broke through to the Spirit Sea Realm!”

Elder Bai Mei from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect stroked his beard and said with a smile.

What?

The upper echelons of the other Three Major Sects, as well as members of the Ten Hidden Families, all looked on in shock.

Most supremely talented geniuses only comprehended True Intent Fur just after breaking through to the Earth Element Realm.

Yet Xia Bingyue had comprehended it just after breaking through to the Spirit Sea Realm.

The gap between the two was simply incomparable.

The fact that the Ten Thousand Swords Sect possessed such a genius put pressure on the other powers.

At the next Celestial Pride Conference, Xia Bingyue was destined to become a strong contender for the title of King of the Celestial Pride, and it would be difficult for the other powers to find anyone who could compare.

Back on the West Martial Arts Arena.

SHHIIK!

A crystalline, chilling sword-light, like a bolt of aurora splitting the heavens, severely wounded her opponent and ended the fight.

”Xia Bingyue wins!”

Gasps of astonishment rose from the crowd. In less than thirty moves, Xia Bingyue had defeated an opponent ranked higher than herself on the Spirit List.

’Still as strong as ever.’

Luo Tian opened his eyes slightly and looked at Xia Bingyue.

”Bingyue, beautifully done!”

Yin Xiaofeng shouted.

He was obsessed with the sword, and he had been smitten with Xia Bingyue at first sight—she was equally dedicated to the Sword Dao, with unparalleled talent and breathtaking beauty.

Xia Bingyue glanced back, giving Yin Xiaofeng an indifferent look before her gaze met and locked with Luo Tian’s.

From Xia Bingyue’s gaze, Luo Tian felt a surge of battle intent.

They had fought before at the Wu Mansion’s grand tournament in the Azure Cloud Kingdom. Now, meeting again at the Celestial Pride Conference, it seemed Xia Bingyue wanted another match with Luo Tian. It had nothing to do with anything else—it was to be a pure duel between Sword Cultivators.

Luo Tian withdrew his gaze and resumed his cultivation.

His cultivation was rapidly improving. The Eighth-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex in his Qi Sea was continuously perfecting itself and was already over eighty percent complete.

’Bingyue...’

Yin Xiaofeng’s face suddenly darkened, a harsh look appearing as he turned his head to glare at Luo Tian.

’He was certain of it! There was some unusual relationship between Xia Bingyue and Luo Tian!’

”Referee, I want to challenge Luo Tian!”

Yin Xiaofeng declared.

At his words, every genius on the South Martial Arts Arena looked on in shock.

Yin Xiaofeng, ranked eighteenth on the Spirit List and known as the Sword Madman, was taking the initiative to challenge Luo Tian!

As for Luo Tian, he seemed to be at a critical moment in his cultivation, very close to the Peak of the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm and on the verge of a breakthrough!

The timing of Yin Xiaofeng’s challenge was rather insidious.

To destroy someone’s opportunity for a breakthrough was equivalent to forming a deep and bitter grudge.

Why was Yin Xiaofeng targeting Luo Tian like this?

Some deduced that the reason was not only Luo Tian’s vast Celestial Fate Qi but also likely had something to do with Xia Bingyue.

”Excellent! That madman is challenging Luo Tian!”

The blue-robed youth who had previously been defeated by Yin Xiaofeng was overjoyed.

Not only would Yin Xiaofeng’s challenge ruin Luo Tian’s chance for a breakthrough, but his swordsmanship was also terrifyingly lethal. A single careless mistake against him could lead to severe injury.

’This way, I still have a chance to get the fourth spot.’

’Challenging me?’

Luo Tian’s consciousness stirred.

”Luo Tian, you can refuse the challenge, but you will lose half of your Celestial Fate Qi,”

the referee said.

Losing a fight only cost a third of one’s Celestial Fate Qi. Refusing a challenge, however, cost half.

”Luo Tian, don’t you even have the courage to fight me?”

Yin Xiaofeng stepped onto the Martial Arts Arena, looking down on Luo Tian with a sneer.

”I accept the challenge!”

Luo Tian opened his eyes, suppressed the remaining bit of medicinal effect from the Qi Pushing and Root Strengthening Pill, ended his cultivation, and stepped onto the Martial Arts Arena.

”So impulsive. Yin Xiaofeng barely had to taunt him, and Luo Tian actually agreed.”

”How foolish. Not only did he throw away his chance at a breakthrough, but he’s also going to suffer a crushing defeat!”

Many people murmured, thinking Luo Tian was far too irrational.

Some even believed this was a duel between Luo Tian and Yin Xiaofeng for the affection of the beauty.

The upper echelons of the Yunxiao Sect were also frustrated by Luo Tian’s decision.

Luo Tian could have easily refused the fight. Even if he lost half of his Celestial Fate Qi, the remaining half was still a huge amount. Once he successfully broke through, he could have earned it all back.

”Hahaha, I’ll give you this, you’ve got some guts!”

Yin Xiaofeng laughed wildly, his eyes alight with excitement and disdain.

Just then, he felt a chilling gaze and couldn’t help but glance toward the North Martial Arts Arena, where he saw the mysterious woman in white.

’This broad... cares that much about this kid?’ Yin Xiaofeng thought to himself but didn’t pay it much mind.

’The Ten Thousand Swords Sect is the strongest of the Four Major Sects. Is there any need to fear a disciple from the Yunxiao Sect?’

”Battle, begin!”

The referee announced solemnly, not thinking highly of Luo Tian’s chances.

”Storm Splitting Killing Sword!”

Yin Xiaofeng attacked instantly. His pitch-black, serrated Treasure Sword slashed out a surging, violent wave of Sword Light. A storm swirled around its surface, making it look like a thorny vine whipping toward Luo Tian.

Before the sword even arrived, a terrifying pressure from the Sword Dao bore down, immense as a landslide.

Facing a Sword Dao genius of the Earth Element Realm, Luo Tian did not let his guard down in the slightest.

He activated his *Celestial Sword Technique* and pushed his Nether Dragon Divine Vein to sixty percent capacity. The [Ice Trace Sword] thrust out fiercely, unleashing a chilling, lightning-fast beam of Sword Light!

CLANG! BOOM!

The two powerful beams of Sword Light collided instantly. Black and white Sword Qi intertwined, surging out in all directions.

A large aftershock of thorn-like Sword Qi rushed toward Luo Tian.

Luo Tian immediately activated the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body and deployed his Protective True Qi.

In an instant, his Protective True Qi was torn to shreds by the Sword Qi, leaving several shallow white marks on his skin.

The first exchange was over.

Luo Tian was at a disadvantage, but thanks to his powerful defense, he was largely unharmed.

But still, no one thought Luo Tian had a chance of winning.

Yin Xiaofeng clearly hadn’t used his full strength. He was the Sword Madman, and he hadn’t even ”gone mad” yet.

No matter how strong Luo Tian’s defense was, he was just passively taking hits, and his injuries would only get worse.

”Ranked eighteenth on the Spirit List, is this all you’ve got?”

Luo Tian suddenly spoke.

Yin Xiaofeng and the geniuses watching from the sidelines were all stunned.

Luo Tian was clearly at a disadvantage, yet he was provoking Yin Xiaofeng. He was practically begging for a beating, courting death!

”Heh, what a fool. Once Yin Xiaofeng gets serious, he’ll learn just how terrifying his swordsmanship is!”

The blue-robed youth sneered disdainfully.

”Fine! I’ll let you witness the true strength of the eighteenth on the Spirit List. I hope you don’t regret it!”

Yin Xiaofeng’s face was ferocious and crazed. A black, illusory sword light flashed in his eyes, and the sharp sword in his hand flickered with a surging, dark glow, resonating with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi!

”Die!”

He roared, like a snarl from Hell.

A boundless torrent of dark, violent Sword Qi slashed down from the sky. Like the fangs of a Demon from Hell, it descended with ferocious, malevolent, and ruthless force!

This single sword strike startled all five Martial Arts Arenas.

When the Sword Madman went berserk, the lethality of his swordsmanship was enough to rank in the top ten of the Spirit List—it was terrifyingly powerful!

”It’s over, Luo Tian might actually be killed!”

someone worried aloud.

But the Sword Madman had already gone berserk, and no one could stop him now.