King of Ten Thousand Years

”Match two: Luo Tian versus Chai Yuxing.”

Hearing the referee’s announcement, the many who disliked Luo Tian all looked disappointed.

’Such good luck!’

The Extreme Ice Fairy, Bing Che, shot Luo Tian a cold glance.

Qiao Hai also sighed inwardly and shook his head slightly.

Chai Yuxing was ranked sixteenth on the Spirit List.

But the Spirit List rankings weren’t updated frequently and weren’t entirely accurate.

For example, Luo Tian, Cheng Wanli, Xia Bingyue, and others were all underestimated; their actual performance in the Celestial Pride Conference far exceeded their rankings.

Chai Yuxing, on the other hand, was one of the overestimated ones. His true strength was likely the weakest among the twenty people present.

Chai Yuxing walked onto the Martial Arts Arena in a good mood.

In his eyes, Luo Tian was at the very bottom of this group.

’The geniuses who lost to him before were just too careless,’ Chai Yuxing thought to himself. ’I won’t make the same mistake!’

WHOOSH!

Gripping his White Jade Long Staff, Chai Yuxing swept it out, creating a brilliant, meteor-like streak of light that descended from the sky, smashing down on Luo Tian with immense force.

Luo Tian didn’t dodge. He activated the Celestial Sword Technique and met the attack head-on with his Ice Trace Sword.

SHHHT-BOOM!

The frigid, brilliant Gale Sword Light tore through the void and split the meteor-like staff shadow in two.

Now, by employing some of his techniques, Luo Tian could unleash power equivalent to the Earth Element Realm.

On the Martial Arts Arena.

Two figures darted back and forth, their clashes creating an endless series of explosions and sending shockwaves blasting in all directions.

In this battle, Luo Tian was primarily using Chai Yuxing to gain insights into his cultivation of the Celestial Sword Technique and deepen his understanding of Sword Intent.

He was in no rush to win and was even deliberately dragging out the fight to exchange more blows with Chai Yuxing.

’Hahaha, so what if Luo Tian fought the Extreme Ice Fairy to a draw? He’s not that strong. I can win this!’ Chai Yuxing laughed inwardly.

”Moon Shadow Eighteen Techniques!”

The staff technique in Chai Yuxing’s hands suddenly became incredibly swift. Layers upon layers of staff shadows, like brilliant, gorgeous moonlight, enveloped Luo Tian, concealing a deadly killing intent.

The power of his offensive instantly increased by more than forty percent.

However, Luo Tian didn’t fall into a disadvantageous position. He released his Sword Intent, and his strength instantly rose to match Chai Yuxing’s increase.

The two remained evenly matched, fighting on equal footing.

Luo Tian was immersed in his swordsmanship. His techniques grew more and more proficient, and he would occasionally gain new insights.

”Victory will be mine!”

With a resentful and indignant look on his face, Chai Yuxing roared. True Qi surged from his body, and his offensive power increased once more!

Moon Shattering Strike!

A brilliant, violent burst of light fell with incomparable ferocity.

Luo Tian didn’t evade. He pushed his Sword Intent further, amplifying the power of his Sword Skill, and used the third stance of the Nine Heavens Sword Technique, Sharp Sword and Wind, to shatter it head-on!

Gradually, Chai Yuxing began to feel a bit of despair.

No matter what technique he used, Luo Tian always had a way to counter it.

Chai Yuxing didn’t want to admit defeat, and Luo Tian wasn’t in a hurry to win.

This battle lasted for quite a while. In the end, Chai Yuxing’s condition deteriorated, and he was easily defeated by Luo Tian.

In the eyes of many, this fight was ordinary, even boring.

But Jiang Daoyun, Yin Xiaofeng, and the others could see that Luo Tian no longer found it difficult to face an Earth Element Realm expert. He could handle it with ease and secure a very stable victory!

The more one understood Luo Tian, the more clearly they could appreciate his astounding progress.

”Luo Tian wins!”

After stepping down from the stage, Luo Tian’s consciousness entered the Celestial Book World to comprehend the surface-level True Sword Dao Intent of various geniuses.

”Match ten: Shangguan Su versus Song Luyao!”

Hearing the referee’s announcement, Luo Tian opened his eyes.

Shangguan Su. Among the five great Celestial Prides, he was the one with the most bizarre and terrifying methods. His opponents had the highest rate of surrender.

Song Luyao, the stall owner who had sold Luo Tian the Qi Pushing and Root Strengthening Pill, had placed second in the first elimination round. Her strength was comparable to Yi Jingwen’s.

’It’s actually him...’

Song Luyao’s expression darkened. She was clearly unwilling to face Shangguan Su.

”Begin!”

The referee’s voice had barely faded.

BOOM!

Song Luyao struck first. A terrifying pale blue flame erupted from her body, surging toward Shangguan Su like a vast sea of fire.

This flame made even Ye Feng and the Extreme Ice Fairy focus their gazes.

Song Luyao was a genius from one of the Ten Hidden Families. This blue flame seemed to be a strange Spirit Fire cultivated through a special method, possessing extremely strong destructive power.

Shangguan Su stood his ground, a faint, cold smile on his face. His long, demonic purple hair drifted up, but he showed no sign of attacking or dodging.

But Luo Tian could clearly feel a massive, formless spiritual aura being released from Shangguan Su’s body. It permeated the void and enveloped Song Luyao.

BUZZ! BUZZ!

The terrifying flames about to engulf Shangguan Su suddenly halted, burning in place without advancing any further.

Song Luyao’s whole body trembled slightly. Her face turned pale, and a mixture of confusion, panic, and fear filled her eyes.

Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and her face showed intense struggle.

’What a profound spiritual technique! An Earth Element Realm expert of the same level was actually caught just like that,’ Luo Tian thought, shocked.

All of Shangguan Su’s previous opponents had either surrendered or been instantly defeated.

’Could it be that Song Luyao will suffer the same fate?’

WHUM!

Suddenly, a trace of firm clarity appeared in Song Luyao’s eyes. Her gaze found its focus, and she stared deathly at Shangguan Su!

”Oh? You actually broke free?”

Shangguan Su showed a hint of surprise.

”Don’t underestimate me!”

Song Luyao shouted, once again controlling the pale blue Spirit Fire to lunge at Shangguan Su!

She was an Alchemist, so her spiritual fortitude was much stronger than that of an ordinary person.

”Is that so? Finally, someone who can make me get a little serious!”

Shangguan Su gave a sinister, evil smile.

The next instant, a dark light surged within his eyes, which seemed to become a misty, terrifying Ghost Realm!

A formless, Yin Cold spiritual aura permeated the void and shrouded Song Luyao. The space around her plunged into a grayish gloom!

Instantly, Song Luyao’s delicate body trembled as if under an indescribable pressure. Her eyes went vacant again, and the pale blue flame froze in mid-air, even beginning to slowly recede.

”It’s appeared! The Mist Ghost Eyes!”

A wave of gasps came from the spectator area.

The disciples of Purple Luo Hall were especially excited, and the hall’s upper echelons were all smiling.

The Mist Ghost Eyes, one of Purple Luo Hall’s most mysterious and ancient Secret Techniques, required a special Martial Vein to be cultivated.

The moment Shangguan Su unleashed the Mist Ghost Eyes, the entire Martial Arts Arena seemed to transform into a grim and gloomy Ghost Realm, its dense Ghost Qi sending chills down one’s spine.

The other geniuses watching nearby felt an inexplicable cold and discomfort, their gazes drawn involuntarily to Shangguan Su’s eyes.

When Qiao Hai’s gaze met the Mist Ghost Eyes, he suddenly saw a ferocious, ugly, and terrifying Fierce Ghost. He shuddered and didn’t dare to look at Shangguan Su’s eyes again.

”The Mist Ghost Eyes... so this is Shangguan Su’s strongest technique!”

Ye Feng’s expression was grave.

If he wanted to break into the top three, he had to either overcome the terrifying swordsmanship of the Celestial Evil Sword’s wielder or withstand Shangguan Su’s fearsome Pupil Technique.

But he wasn’t very confident about either.

On the stage.

Song Luyao’s dark brows were tightly knitted. Her elegant and beautiful face was slightly twisted, showing all sorts of emotional fluctuations.

After just two breaths.

Song Luyao collapsed limply to the ground, drenched in cold sweat, her face deathly pale, as if she had just experienced the most terrifying nightmare.

She was utterly exhausted, mentally and physically drained, with no strength left to fight.

”I surrender!”

Song Luyao’s voice was weak and feeble.

Despite also being at the Earth Element Realm and being one of the stronger competitors, Song Luyao had been defeated without even touching the hem of Shangguan Su’s clothes!

Shangguan Su’s third-place rank on the Spirit List was no empty reputation. Some even believed his Mist Ghost Eyes could potentially defeat Qi Yuntian and claim the crown of the King of the Celestial Pride!

’I wonder if I can withstand his spiritual attacks,’ Luo Tian thought, feeling unsure.

”If you don’t look into his eyes, the Mist Ghost Eyes’ attack might be weaker...”

Ye Feng, who was standing nearby, muttered to himself, thinking of a countermeasure.

”Yu Yao versus Yin Xiaofeng!”

The next battle began. The mysterious woman in white and Yin Xiaofeng took the stage.

’Yu Yao, is that her name?’

Luo Tian glanced at the woman in white.

The fight began in an instant. The mysterious woman in white immediately suppressed Yin Xiaofeng with an incredibly fierce offense, sending him scrambling all over the place.

Even when Yin Xiaofeng put his all into his sword strikes, they were broken head-on by the woman in white. Wounds continuously appeared all over his body, and his face, in particular, became quite swollen.

Many could see that the mysterious woman in white was still holding back, deliberately avoiding vital points, as if she wanted to humiliate Yin Xiaofeng further.

Luo Tian couldn’t help but wonder what had happened between the woman in white and Yin Xiaofeng.

”This bitch...”

Yin Xiaofeng was furious and wanted to counterattack.

But he was no match for the woman in white at all.

”I surrender, I surrender.”

When his head had swollen by a full size, he finally gave in and begged for mercy.

After stepping down from the stage, Yin Xiaofeng glanced at Luo Tian. ”Is she your lover?”

”What do you mean?”

Luo Tian was confused.

「Half a day passed.」

The final tournament entered its second round of battles.

Luo Tian spent most of his time comprehending Sword Intent, only watching the matches that interested him.

Before long, it was his turn again.

”Luo Tian versus Shangguan Su!”

’Shangguan Su?’

Luo Tian’s eyes widened slightly.

After the Extreme Ice Fairy, he was finally facing his second great Celestial Pride: Shangguan Su!

The Extreme Ice Fairy, Qiao Hai, and the others instantly broke into smiles.

In the last match, Luo Tian had gotten lucky and faced a weak opponent like Chai Yuxing.

But who would have thought that in his second battle, Luo Tian would run into a terrifying Celestial Pride like Shangguan Su!

”Heh heh, Luo Tian, you’d better pray for yourself!”

The Extreme Ice Fairy sneered.

Even she didn’t have much chance of winning against Shangguan Su and was extremely wary of him.

Besides, Shangguan Su’s methods of torture were absolutely first-rate. He could make Luo Tian taste a pain worse than death!

Below the Earth Element Realm, no one could withstand a single move from Shangguan Su. The fate of most was to go stark raving mad.

”Luo Tian, surrender,” Ye Feng said.

Shangguan Su was so terrifying that even he found him difficult to deal with.

”Mm, I know what I’m doing.”

Luo Tian nodded and walked onto the Martial Arts Arena, feeling a little apprehensive.

Shangguan Su, with his fair, demonic features and dark, chilling eyes, sized up Luo Tian with a faint smile playing on his lips.

The battle began. Luo Tian stood on high alert and didn’t surrender immediately.

”Do you really think you can use the same method you used against the Extreme Ice Fairy to force a draw with me?”

Shangguan Su chuckled, finding the idea laughable.

Luo Tian wasted no time on words. He secretly activated the Creation Technique, fortifying his mind and will.

His Sword Intent erupted. He instantly slashed with the Ice Trace Sword, sending a bone-chilling Sword Qi piercing through the void, descending from the sky to strike at Shangguan Su’s head.

It was the same strategy as Song Luyao’s: strike first and seize the initiative!

”Heh heh!”

Shangguan Su let out an evil laugh, releasing a formless, cold spiritual aura like that of a Demon Path Evil Monarch.

From all directions, invisible Spiritual Power surged in like a dark, icy tide, threatening to submerge everything!

In an instant.

The sharp, cold Sword Light chopping down from the sky suddenly stalled.

”Sigh, he just wouldn’t listen to advice!”

Ye Feng shook his head and sighed.

So far, everyone who fought Shangguan Su had been instantly defeated in one move. Even someone as strong as Song Luyao had only lasted until the second move.

And all who were defeated had suffered nightmarish torment, leaving them mentally exhausted and weak.

Qiao Hai also began to sneer, thinking that Luo Tian had grossly overestimated his own abilities.

But suddenly...

SHHHT-BOOM!

On the Martial Arts Arena, the brilliant, icy Sword Light slashed down past Shangguan Su’s side and struck the platform, kicking up a wave of frigid Sword Qi.

A few strands of purple hair drifted through the air and fell to the ground.