King of Ten Thousand Years

”What’s going on? Is there anything in it for me?”

Luo Tian suddenly burst in, asking curiously.

Zi Shan turned stiffly, his gloomy face tinged with a faint, menacing aura.

’This kid has perfect timing!’

Any man would be furious if interrupted in a situation like this!

”You, get out. I have business to discuss with your senior sister! Once we’ve settled things, you’ll get your reward!”

Zi Shan ordered coldly, his tone like he was speaking to a servant.

”Good things should be shared! What’s this great deal you’re discussing? Why can’t I know about it?”

Luo Tian spoke loudly, attracting the attention of many others on the Void Ship.

”Something good is happening?”

Hearing the commotion, many people started to gather.

People have endless curiosity, especially when there’s a chance to gain something.

Although the Void Ship belonged to the Purple Scale Race, many of the Martial Artists on board were from various small worlds.

In an instant, the area outside the door was crowded with people.

”…”

Zi Shan’s face was rigid.

’How can I possibly continue under these circumstances?’

’If word gets out, several nearby realms will hear about my conduct, and I’ll be punished by my father.’

”Young Master, what are you doing?”

Yan Lihui, the man in the black robe, had also arrived. His brow furrowed slightly upon seeing the scene in the room.

”What I do is none of your business!”

Zi Shan snorted coldly and walked out of Yi Jingwen’s room.

His cold gaze glanced at Luo Tian, then swept over Yan Lihui.

’He’s just an Honored Guest of the Purple Scale Race, yet instead of helping me, he speaks up for outsiders!’

But Zi Shan didn’t dare say much more; after all, Yan Lihui was in the Middle Tier Earth Element Realm.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

”Thank you.”

Yi Jingwen said gratefully, straightening her clothes.

She had now experienced the cruelty of the Outer Void firsthand. Without sufficient strength, one was simply a target for bullies.

To change her fate, her only choice was to struggle and grow stronger in this brutal environment.

Luo Tian also left quickly. As he was about to return to his room, he ran into Yan Lihui.

”It’s a cruel place out here. Oppression and plunder are everywhere. For people like you, it’s best to find a faction to join as soon as possible.”

Yan Lihui said calmly.

”Thank you for the advice. I have my own plans.”

Luo Tian nodded slightly.

At this stage, his goal was to head to the territory of the Human Race, meet up with his master Mu Yunshi, and then decide on which faction to join.

「Five days later.」

Luo Tian, who was in seclusion for his Cultivation, suddenly felt a distinct fluctuation of Spiritual Qi through his Nether Dragon Divine Vein.

He walked out of his room and gazed into the distance.

Luo Tian saw the magnificent outline of a mountain range shrouded in an azure glow. It floated silently in the black void, a nexus where all the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi converged.

”Is this the Earth and Water Realm?”

From a distance, it didn’t look large, appearing like a small island.

The surface of the Earth and Water Realm was wrapped in a layer of azure brilliance. This was the realm barrier, which was normally difficult to break through by force.

In the four cardinal directions of the Earth and Water Realm, there was a realm passage, each resembling a dim black hole.

The Void Ship entered one of the realm passages and could only pass through smoothly to reach the Earth and Water Realm after undergoing a strict inspection.

The Earth and Water Realm, which looked like an island from the outside, underwent a dramatic change in perspective once they were inside.

It was as if everything around them had been magnified and expanded.

”There’s a fundamental difference in the spatial fabric between the Outer World and the inside of a realm…”

Luo Tian remarked.

「Half a day later.」

The Void Ship arrived at a magnificent and majestic giant city, where the concentration of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was several times that of other areas.

At a glance, Luo Tian saw many different races, some with extremely exaggerated and bizarre appearances.

”This place is called Hailan City. The Purple Scale Race is one of the three major families in this city.”

Yan Lihui explained from beside him.

Unlike the Dongchen Continent, in the Earth and Water Realm, the peripheral areas were more developed and prosperous—the territory of the strong!

The interior of the Earth and Water Realm, in contrast, was relatively impoverished.

The Martial Artists living there were like residents of small towns, knowing very little about the real world outside.

After arriving at Hailan City, Zi Shan extended an invitation to Yi Jingwen.

”You two are new to the Outer World and don’t know your way around. Why not come be guests of the Purple Scale Race?”

”The Purple Scale Race is one of the three major families of Hailan City. With our family’s name to protect you, no one in Hailan City will dare to bully you!”

As Zi Shan said, if Luo Tian and Yi Jingwen could rely on a major power, things would be much more comfortable.

But neither of them had a good impression of Zi Shan and decisively refused.

”If you run into any trouble in Hailan City, you can look for me.”

Yan Lihui said to Luo Tian, then followed Zi Shan and the others back to the Purple Scale Race’s estate.

”We’ll buy a map and a Void Ship, then leave the Earth and Water Realm!”

Luo Tian said to Yi Jingwen.

For him, the Earth and Water Realm was just a supply stop. He would buy some necessary items here and then leave.

The two went to the trade market and randomly found a shop.

”A map of fewer than ten nearby realms costs thirty thousand Spiritual Essence Coins!”

The shopkeeper’s price left Luo Tian and Yi Jingwen stunned.

’The map isn’t even complete, and it’s that expensive?’

The two asked a few more shops in succession, and the situation was more or less the same!

”The Broken-star Realm is too chaotic and dangerous, with bandits rampant. The difficulty of exploring and drawing maps is extremely high. Larger and more accurate maps are extremely valuable and are held by the three major families and even more powerful forces. They are almost never seen on the market…”

Prices vary from place to place.

Some maps on the Dongchen Continent were very cheap, but the prices of Outer World Maps were ridiculously high.

After that, the two of them asked about the prices of Void Ships.

Those crude, small Void Ships cost at least fifty thousand Spiritual Essence Coins, while medium-sized ones were one hundred to two hundred thousand Spiritual Essence Coins.

The Spiritual Essence Coins Luo Tian and Yi Jingwen had on them combined were only enough to buy one small Void Ship.

However, piloting a Void Ship also consumed Spiritual Essence Coins.

The Spiritual Qi in the Outer World was thin, and Cultivation also required Spiritual Essence Coins!

Luo Tian and Yi Jingwen truly felt as if they had gone from a poor, rustic village to a bustling city. They didn’t have enough money!

After discussing, the two decided to take some of their belongings to an auction house.

They could also earn some more Spiritual Essence Coins through other channels before leaving the Earth and Water Realm.

”We should also ask around for news about Cheng Wanli and Ye Feng!”

Luo Tian had performed a divination, and the result was that the two of them were not dead!

And so, Luo Tian and Yi Jingwen temporarily took up residence in Hailan City.

Luo Tian took this opportunity to sell all the loot from the golden-robed Cyan Armor Race youth through the Black Market. The price was a little low, but it was a safer method.

That Top Grade Treasure Artifact sold for fifty-seven thousand Spiritual Essence Coins!

”That Top Grade Treasure Artifact was of good quality. If sold at a normal auction, it could have even fetched eighty or ninety thousand…”

Luo Tian sighed.

「Four days later.」

The two had raised a total of one hundred and fifty thousand Spiritual Essence Coins and were preparing to buy a Void Ship.

”You two, please wait a moment!”

Suddenly, the shout of a Purple Scale Race elder came from behind them.

Luo Tian remembered this person. He had been on the Void Ship and had even advised Zi Shan not to rescue Luo Tian and Yi Jingwen.

”What is it?” Luo Tian asked.

”It’s like this, the Purple Scale Race has a matter that requires your assistance!”

The Purple Scale Race elder said with a smile.

Luo Tian and Yi Jingwen were puzzled.

’The Purple Scale Race is one of the three great families of Hailan City. What could they possibly need our help with?’

”After all, Young Master Zi Shan did rescue you. You two aren’t the type to be ungrateful, are you?”

Seeing that Luo Tian and Yi Jingwen weren’t very willing, the Purple Scale Race elder continued to persuade them: ”Young Master Zi Shan also said that since you two are new to the Outer World and unfamiliar with things, if you are willing to help, he is even willing to give you the family’s Outer World Map!”

Luo Tian and Yi Jingwen exchanged a look, a little tempted.

They were repulsed by Zi Shan’s character and suspected this was a trap, but the prospect of getting an Outer World Map from one of the three great families was worth considering.

Luo Tian even did a quick divination on the spot.

’Going to the Purple Scale Race estate will be dangerous, but the potential rewards are great!’

”Alright. What’s the favor?”

Luo Tian agreed.

”I’m not clear on the specifics myself. Please come with me, and Young Master Zi Shan will explain the situation to you.”

Led by the Purple Scale Race elder, Luo Tian and Yi Jingwen arrived at the Purple Scale Race’s estate!

”Haha, we just parted ways, and now we meet again. It seems we are bound by fate.”

Zi Shan laughed heartily and strode over. His gaze, thick with amusement, roamed over Yi Jingwen before landing on Luo Tian, where it turned cold.

”I wonder how we can be of help to Young Master Zi Shan?”

Luo Tian asked bluntly.

”Come, please come inside!”

Zi Shan didn’t answer, instead inviting Luo Tian and Yi Jingwen into a room. Only after tea and refreshments were served did he begin to discuss business.

”It’s like this, my clan has recently had some conflict with the Autumn Fox Race…”

The Autumn Fox Race was also one of the three great families of Hailan City.

The Purple Scale Race and the Autumn Fox Race had a large-scale brawl over some conflicting interests, resulting in many casualties, and it looked like the situation was about to escalate.

Finally, the City Lord’s Mansion intervened and stopped everything. After negotiations, the Purple Scale Race and the Autumn Fox Race decided to resolve the matter through a martial competition.

Each side will send five Low Tier Earth Element Realm contestants to compete. The winning side will receive an apology and enormous compensation from the loser!

”Doesn’t the Purple Scale Race have any Initial Tier Earth Element Realm experts?”

Luo Tian asked in return.

’Looks like there’s more to this than meets the eye.’

”The competition has an age requirement: participants must not be over thirty. Seeing as you two are so young and dare to travel the Outer World, you must be geniuses capable of fighting above your level.”

”Luo Tian, are you interested?”

Zi Shan stared at Luo Tian.

Luo Tian understood instantly. Zi Shan held a grudge against him because of the incident on the Void Ship.

’Zi Shan is laying the praise on thick, but his real goal is probably to use this competition to eliminate me and then take Yi Jingwen for himself!’

Luo Tian pretended to be in thought.

’It’s just a contest between Initial Tier Earth Element Realm cultivators. It shouldn’t be too much of a problem.’

”Young Master Zi Shan, about that Outer World Map…”

Luo Tian put on a very hesitant look.

A smile curled on Zi Shan’s lips. ”As long as Brother Luo can win a single match, I can request the Outer World Map from my father and gift it to you!”

”Brother Luo, rest assured. There aren’t many Initial Tier Earth Element Realm experts under thirty, even among the three great families…”

Zi Shan continued to persuade him, trying to lower Luo Tian’s guard.

”Alright!”

Luo Tian looked extremely conflicted before finally agreeing.

Zi Shan was inwardly ecstatic. He felt a sense of accomplishment, as if Luo Tian, under his step-by-step temptation, had finally fallen into his trap.

”Good, then it’s settled! The competition is in five days. Brother Luo, you should prepare well!”

Once he had his answer, the courtesy vanished from Zi Shan’s face. He got up and left.