King of Ten Thousand Years

Steward Dong stared at the frozen Prisoner Arena, his expression ugly as his heart churned with frustration. ’Damn it, how did it come to this!’

The Prisoner Arena would occasionally manipulate the outcome of matches in secret to earn greater profits.

They would hide a ”Violent Essence Pill” inside a slave’s body. By using a special Secret Technique, they could break the seal on the pill, causing the slave’s strength to surge and changing the outcome of the fight!

That was exactly what had just happened with the zombie.

But unexpectedly, even with the Violent Essence Pill, the zombie had still lost.

”Steward Dong, you can release my two friends now, can’t you?”

Luo Tian’s voice drifted over.

The moment Steward Dong saw Luo Tian, rage flared in his heart.

Because of Luo Tian, he had now thoroughly offended Li Shan.

Furthermore, not only did he have to release two slaves, but he also had to pay Luo Tian an appearance fee of sixty thousand Spiritual Essence Coins. This was a massive loss!

”What? Surely Steward Dong isn’t planning to go back on his word?”

Luo Tian questioned.

In truth, Steward Dong really did want to renege on the deal.

Unfortunately for him, Luo Tian had stated their agreement in front of the entire audience.

As a businessman, if word got out that he welched on his debts, he would surely be out of business.

Left with no choice,

Steward Dong released the men.

When the chains and iron masks were removed from Ye Feng and Cheng Wanli, they were overcome with emotion.

”Junior Luo, I can never repay you for saving my life!”

Ye Feng said with a serious expression.

”Brother Luo, I owe you one!”

Cheng Wanli added gratefully.

”Steward Dong, aren’t you forgetting something?” Luo Tian asked, looking at the steward.

”Just sixty thousand Spiritual Essence Coins. How could I forget?”

Steward Dong very reluctantly took out the Spiritual Essence Coins and handed them to Luo Tian.

Ye Feng and Cheng Wanli were quite curious.

This was the Outer Void, and the Life and Death Prison Arena was a powerful force. It had been incredibly difficult for Luo Tian to rescue them, so why was Steward Dong giving money to Luo Tian instead?

”Let’s go. We’ll talk later.”

Luo Tian and the others quickly left the Life and Death Prison Arena.

”Have someone keep an eye on them for me!”

Steward Dong’s expression darkened as he watched Luo Tian’s group depart.

”Have men watch them. Notify me as soon as they leave the Martial City Spirit Hall!”

Steward Dong ordered with a grim face.

Some of the slaves at the Life and Death Prison Arena were bought through other channels, but the arena also captured people themselves.

There had been several lucky guests in the past who kept winning their bets.

Later, those same guests died in the Prisoner Arena.

...

Luo Tian’s group found an inn and settled in for the time being.

Freed from slavery, Cheng Wanli and Ye Feng went out that very day to eat, drink, and celebrate.

”How did you two end up in such a state?”

Yi Jingwen asked.

”Before I left Dongchen, my father gave me a token and told me that if I ever ran into trouble, I should go to the Martial City Spirit Hall and seek help from their personnel...”

Cheng Wanli began his tale.

After they were separated that day, they headed to the nearest Martial City Spirit Hall.

After they presented the token there, they were personally received by the Vice Hall Master.

Subsequently, when Cheng Wanli asked to use the Teleportation Array, the Vice Hall Master agreed.

It was then that Cheng Wanli learned his ancestors were high-ranking members of a Major Sect in the Tai Yuan Domain, giving him an extraordinary background.

But when the teleportation brought them to this vicinity, they were ambushed by bandits, captured, and subsequently sold to the Life and Death Prison Arena.

”It’s a good thing Brother Luo arrived in time. Otherwise, Ye Feng and I would have likely died in the Prisoner Arena!”

Cheng Wanli lamented.

The Outer World was truly a dangerous place.

Back in the Yunxiao Sect, one was the Sect Leader’s son and the other was the number one Core Disciple. Never had either of them suffered such a humiliating experience.

However, perhaps this was a good thing.

A sharp sword is forged through grinding. Only by experiencing setbacks could one truly grow.

”We’ll rest for a few days, then we set off for the Tai Yuan Domain!” Luo Tian said.

The Tai Yuan Domain was a region of human influence and relatively stable.

「The next day.」

Ye Feng and Cheng Wanli borrowed some Spiritual Essence Coins from Luo Tian and Yi Jingwen and went to the Martial City Spirit Hall to buy some daily necessities.

Luo Tian, meanwhile, remained in his quarters to focus on his Cultivation.

He took out the Spiritual Essence Crystal Stone.

This was something he had obtained in the Chaotic Wind Flow. Luo Tian had used it to break through to the Earth Element Realm Second Layer, and now, more than sixty percent of its Energy remained.

Luo Tian activated the Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique, channeling his Nether Dragon Divine Vein to draw out the powerful, solidified True Essence within the Spiritual Essence Crystal Stone.

In an instant, a dense and pure True Essence Spiritual Qi surged through the meridians in Luo Tian’s body like a flood.

Only because of his powerful physique and his Cultivation of the Martial Venerate Level Technique, the Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique, could he control and direct it.

Inside his Primordial Pool.

The pale green True Essence churned and spun as the Primordial Pool Wall expanded bit by bit.

「On the third day.」

Luo Tian consumed a Water Element Pill.

It was the first-place prize from the Martial Pavilion event, an item that could strengthen one’s foundation and accelerate Cultivation in the Earth Element Realm.

「Six days later.」

Luo Tian stopped his Cultivation.

’The Spiritual Essence Crystal Stone still has forty percent of its Energy left!’

’My Cultivation has also progressed significantly. Within two or three months, I should be able to attempt a breakthrough to the Earth Element Realm Second Peak.’

Luo Tian put away the Spiritual Essence Crystal Stone.

Although the item was good for accelerating his Cultivation, he couldn’t become overly reliant on it.

Luo Tian then took out the Sea Blue Holy Pearl, which sealed a part of the Mermaid Lady Qin Aolan’s Residual Soul.

BUZZ! BUZZ!

The Sea Blue Holy Pearl pulsed gently, emitting a faint blue glow.

’I wonder how Qin Aolan is doing now. How can I contact her?’

Luo Tian frowned in thought.

His consciousness entered the Celestial Book World. After asking, he learned that he could use a messaging method to transmit information into the Sea Blue Holy Pearl.

Since the Sea Blue Holy Pearl contained a part of Qin Aolan’s Residual Soul, she would be able to sense it. By performing a Secret Technique, she could then receive the message Luo Tian left.

’So that’s how it works!’

Luo Tian nodded slightly.

He immediately gave it a try, sending a single message: ”Hi!”

...

Meanwhile, in an unknown Secret Realm, inside the Martial Venerable Hall.

A Mermaid Lady floated in mid-air, a silvery-gray Cold Current swirling around her as the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi from all directions gathered toward her.

Suddenly,

BOOM!

The surrounding void trembled. An incomparably powerful Spiritual Will erupted from within the Mermaid Lady, radiating a cold, boundless Martial Arts intent.

The heavens changed color, clouds roiled, and vision distorted!

All the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi within the entire hall gathered toward her.

Silver ripples spread through the void around the Mermaid Lady, as if transforming it into an ocean with her as its sovereign!

Before long, the surrounding phenomena gradually dissipated.

The Mermaid Lady opened her eyes, her gaze deep and brilliant.

’I’ve recovered my power to the Celestial Pool Realm...’

Her noble and elegant figure swam slowly through the void, as naturally as a fish floating in the great sea, without even using any True Essence.

”Hm?”

The Mermaid Lady sensed something.

’Him?’

An image of a figure appeared in the Mermaid Lady’s mind, and she recalled that unpleasant affair.

’He wants to contact me?’

The Mermaid Lady’s expression was complicated.

Back when she had sent Luo Tian away, she had assumed she would never meet him again in this lifetime and could forget that unpleasant business.

She never expected that Luo Tian would leave that backwater world and arrive in the vast Cosmos.

She expected even less that Luo Tian’s current distance from her was not so far anymore.

’Alas! Perhaps he has something important to tell me.’

The Mermaid Lady sighed.

Having signed the contract, Luo Tian was, after all, her master.

The Mermaid Lady could try to avoid it, but once a connection with her master was established, she couldn’t just ignore it. Perhaps it was the power of the contract that was shifting her attitude toward Luo Tian in her mind.

HUM!

The Mermaid Lady formed a Spell with her hands.

The fact that she and Luo Tian were ”not far apart” was only relative. In reality, the distance between them was still vast, and they were separated by different realms.

Receiving the information was still rather troublesome.

A powerful spiritual aura surged from the Mermaid Lady’s body, seeming to merge with the void and extend toward a distant, dark end.

”Done!”

The Mermaid Lady’s face paled slightly, but a faint smile touched her lips.

The next moment.

”Hi!”

Luo Tian’s message echoed in her mind.

The Mermaid Lady’s face instantly stiffened, and she felt the urge to curse.

Luo Tian had to pay no price for the communication, but she was different. After expending a great deal of Spiritual Power, this was the message she received.

...

”Why is there no response?”

Luo Tian shook the Sea Blue Holy Pearl in his hand. Probing it with his Spiritual Sense was also useless.

’Looks like she doesn’t want to bother with me.’

After all, the Mermaid Lady had been ”tricked” into signing the Master-Servant Contract and was completely unwilling at heart.

’Forget it.’

Luo Tian packed his things and left the room.

An incense stick’s time later, Luo Tian’s group of six left the inn, preparing to head for the Tai Yuan Domain.

”Luo Tian, I think someone is following us,”

Yan Lihui sent via voice transmission.

”Yes, people from the Life and Death Prison Arena.”

Luo Tian replied calmly.

Yan Lihui was stunned. ’Luo Tian already knew?’

”The Life and Death Prison Arena won’t let this go. I suggest we hire a few powerful bodyguards!”

Yan Lihui proposed.

”No need. It’ll be fine.”

Luo Tian had a relaxed air, showing not a hint of worry.

Yan Lihui still felt uneasy, but he didn’t argue with Luo Tian’s decision.

The group left the Martial City Spirit Hall and boarded a Void Ship.

At the entrance of the Martial City Spirit Hall.

Two shifty-eyed men immediately sent a message to Steward Dong.

”Huh? Why isn’t Steward Dong responding?”

”Maybe Steward Dong is busy and got held up.”

In the underground Black Market.

The Life and Death Prison Arena.

Steward Dong was leisurely watching a fight in the Prisoner Arena.

Just then, he received a message: ”Steward Dong, those people have left the Martial City Spirit Hall!”

”Good!”

Steward Dong immediately stood up, ready to arrange for his men.

As it happened, a life and death prison fight had just ended when someone suddenly shouted, ”You people at the Life and Death Prison Arena are cheating! You hide ’Violent Essence Pills’ inside the slaves!”

A single stone stirred a thousand waves!

The statement caught the attention of the entire audience, instantly erupting into a furious outcry.

”Nonsense! Everyone, don’t listen to these rumors!”

Steward Dong immediately tried to pacify the crowd!

”Nonsense? Let us inspect them ourselves!”

A High Tier Earth Element Realm expert who had lost a significant amount of money declared, his face darkening as a powerful Cultivation aura emanated from him!

Steward Dong’s heart trembled.

’How could this be happening?’

’The matter of hiding Violent Essence Pills in the slaves was handled very secretively. Once a slave died, the body would be incinerated. How could this have been exposed?’

Just then.

A squad of Law Enforcement officers arrived. The leader’s face was stern. ”Someone has reported that the Life and Death Prison Arena is manipulating its gambling. Bring out your person in charge!”

Steward Dong’s eyes went vacant, and he collapsed to the ground.

He knew the owner of the Life and Death Prison Arena would definitely make him the scapegoat.