King of Ten Thousand Years

The dozen or so realms ruled by the Sea Demon Palace were collectively known as the Sea Demon Realm.

Aside from the forces of the Martial City Spirit Hall, nearly every expert across the many realms of the Sea Demon Realm was stirred into action, immediately setting out to capture Luo Tian.

Of course.

The Martial City Spirit Hall was tempted as well.

If they captured Luo Tian, they could claim the bounty and earn a favor from the Demon Wave Martial King!

However, the Martial City Spirit Hall had always maintained neutrality, never participating in the power struggles between the three Overlord Level factions.

Moreover.

When many of the Martial City Spirit Hall’s upper echelons looked into the matter, they discovered that Luo Tian was one of their ”First-class VIPs”!

That made things even more difficult.

Acting against a First-class VIP would damage the Martial City Spirit Hall’s reputation if word got out, and they would also be punished by their superiors!

They couldn’t act openly; at most, they could pull some strings behind the scenes.

At a Martial City Spirit Hall outside the Sea Demon Realm.

The Hua Feng Hall Master was the highest authority here!

He had previously clashed with Luo Tian over Ning Xueyao and a silver-haired old woman.

At a subsequent gathering of Martial City Spirit Hall Masters, the conflict between him and Luo Tian intensified, and he left the banquet without saying a single word.

’The Demon Wave Martial King personally ordered Luo Tian’s capture?’

The Hua Feng Hall Master was quite surprised when he received this news.

But he quickly accepted it.

’Heh, that kid never changes. He loves stirring up trouble everywhere. To think he actually provoked the Demon Wave Martial King this time... he’s truly courting death!’

The Hua Feng Hall Master mused to himself.

You could count the number of Martial Kings in the entire Broken-star Realm on one hand. The power of a single Martial King was immense.

In the entire Broken-star Realm, the Tai Yuan Sect was likely the only place Luo Tian could find refuge.

’But is Luo Tian going to hide in the Tai Yuan Sect for the rest of his life?’

’Without the power of a Martial King, the moment he steps out, he’s a dead man!’

’And even for a peerless genius like Luo Tian, it would likely take several hundred years to cultivate to the True Martial Realm. More likely, he’ll never manage to break through in his entire life!’

’I happen to be a bit short on spending money right now. One million Spiritual Essence Coins would be quite nice.’

A smirk touched the Hua Feng Hall Master’s lips.

”Men! Use the Celestial Net’s intelligence to find any and all information on Luo Tian. I will be heading out personally!”

The Hua Feng Hall Master ordered.

He completely disregarded the Martial City Spirit Hall’s neutral status, ignoring Luo Tian’s VIP identity completely!

After all, he was the Hua Feng Hall Master, the strongest among the Spirit Hall Masters in the surrounding area!

...

News of the Demon Wave Martial King’s order to capture Luo Tian didn’t just spread through the Sea Demon Realm.

The Fish and Water Realm and the surrounding realms also quickly got the news!

The experts in these realms grew even more frenzied.

They had the advantage of location, which made their chances of capturing Luo Tian much higher!

A single command from the Martial King.

Threw the entire Broken-star Realm into turmoil!

But Luo Tian had long since fled the Fish and Water Realm.

’Good thing I bought this Void Ship. Otherwise, my enemies would have probably caught up to me by now.’

Luo Tian thought, relieved.

This Void Ship of his had cost 700,000 Spiritual Essence Coins. At full speed, it could travel as fast as a Celestial Pool Realm Fourth Layer cultivator.

A Void Ship of this caliber was something that even a major family like the Mu Family would possess only one of, at most, and it would almost never be deployed on a normal day.

’I’ve already taken a Healing Elixir, yet my injuries are healing so slowly.’

Luo Tian’s expression grew grave.

The Immortal Treasure Furnace could ward off fatal blows, and after its defensive effect wore off, it could rapidly heal the injured areas.

But injuries inflicted by a Martial King were another matter entirely, and they healed with extreme slowness. The Immortal Treasure Furnace’s ability had only managed to heal forty percent of Luo Tian’s injuries in a short period.

After the Immortal Treasure Furnace’s recovery effect wore off, Luo Tian took a Healing Holy Medicine.

But his injuries continued to heal at a slow pace.

’A Martial King, indeed... If an ordinary Low Tier Celestial Pool Realm cultivator were injured by a Martial King and couldn’t get immediate treatment, they would be doomed to die...’

But Luo Tian had a powerful physique and a top-grade Healing Holy Medicine, so at least his injuries were still healing, albeit slowly.

In truth, his injuries weren’t Luo Tian’s primary concern at the moment.

Right now there were more important matters!

’Danger... danger... There is danger everywhere...’

His Creation Technique was sending frequent warnings of danger. An intense sense of crisis assaulted him from all sides!

It was as if Luo Tian was trapped in a dead end, with no way out!

This was the first time Luo Tian had truly witnessed the power of a Martial King!

For an ordinary Celestial Pool Realm cultivator to oppose a Martial King was truly a death sentence.

’I refuse to believe there’s no hope!’

Luo Tian’s gaze was firm.

’If I can just get back to the Tai Yuan Sect, the crisis will be over.’

’No matter how great the Demon Wave Martial King’s power is, it can’t reach the Tai Yuan Sect.’

HUMMM!

His forehead split open, and the Celestial Eye appeared!

A deep blue luster emanated from the pupil of the azure Celestial Eye, sending out countless translucent, light-blue ripples.

Luo Tian activated his Calculation Technique, using his Celestial Eye to aid him in divining a path to survival!

Time slowly passed.

Luo Tian’s expression gradually became solemn, his brows knitted together.

After a long while, he opened his eyes and sighed, ”It’s too far from here to the Tai Yuan Sect. There are too many variables, too many dangers along the way. The slightest misstep, and I’ll be doomed beyond recovery...”

In fact, people were already lying in ambush along his path back to the Sect!

’Returning to the Tai Yuan Sect... is hopeless!’

This was the conclusion Luo Tian reached after his inference.

Of course, it was also possible that his Destiny Dao Inference Skill wasn’t advanced enough. Perhaps there was a sliver of hope that he had simply failed to see.

’The Pale Ring!’

These two words surfaced in Luo Tian’s mind.

His original plan had been to return to the Tai Yuan Sect for a while. He wanted to gather more information on the Pale Ring and make thorough preparations before leaving the Sect for the depths of the Cosmos.

’But now that I can’t return to the Sect, maybe I can just head directly for the Pale Ring.’

Luo Tian began another inference.

Ten breaths later, he opened his eyes as his Celestial Eye closed.

’There’s a sliver of hope...’

Luo Tian revealed a faint smile.

’My enemies probably haven’t even considered that I would go to the Pale Ring. That’s where my hope lies!’

Having determined his destination.

Luo Tian changed the Void Ship’s course.

’I need to get away as fast as possible. But it will take even longer to get to the Pale Ring from here!’

Even with this brand new Void Ship, flying in a straight line to the Pale Ring would still take two to three years!

That was too long; too many things could go wrong.

The only way to save travel time was to use the Martial City Spirit Hall’s Super Long Distance Teleportation Array.

So.

Luo Tian turned back toward the Martial City Spirit Hall where Hall Master Shang was located.

Hall Master Shang might have gotten the news, and might also be tempted by the bounty and the favor from the Martial King.

After Luo Tian ran an inference and concluded the danger wasn’t too great, he immediately took action.

In less than a month, Luo Tian arrived.

He slightly disguised himself, entered the Martial City Spirit Hall without a hitch, and found Hall Master Shang.

”Hall Master, I need to use the Super Long Distance Teleportation Array. Send me as far as you can,” Luo Tian said, getting straight to the point.

”Follow me!”

Hall Master Shang set aside what he was doing and immediately led Luo Tian to a vast and imposing hall.

Luo Tian could tell from Hall Master Shang’s expression that he had already received the news.

But Hall Master Shang pretended not to know, and he was willing to help Luo Tian.

”Thank you, Hall Master Shang!”

Luo Tian bowed with cupped fists and stepped onto the Transmission Array Platform!

Hall Master Shang’s actions today might even bring trouble upon himself, but he still helped him.

Luo Tian would never forget this kindness.

Just at this moment.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Several whooshes echoed from outside the hall as a number of powerful auras closed in instantly.

”Hall Master, stop!”

”Luo Tian has offended a Martial King! Detain him!”

A series of shouts rang out.

The other higher-ups of the Martial City Spirit Hall had also received the news and had rushed over immediately.

’As I thought...’

Luo Tian thought to himself.

’Even the perpetually neutral Martial City Spirit Hall has been swayed by the Martial King’s immense influence. It’s not safe here either.’

Hall Master Shang’s expression remained unchanged as he immediately activated the Array.

HUMMM!

On the ancient Array platform, a brilliant, crystalline white light shot toward the heavens.

By the time several of the Martial City Spirit Hall’s higher-ups arrived at the hall’s entrance, the light on the platform had dimmed, and Luo Tian had already disappeared.

”Hall Master, how could you help Luo Tian?”

A higher-up demanded angrily.

This Martial City Spirit Hall was in a remote location, ranking among the lowest of all the Spirit Halls.

But if they had just delayed Luo Tian for a moment and earned the Martial King’s favor, Hall Master Shang could have changed his circumstances and even taken charge of a more prosperous Martial City Spirit Hall.

”What’s going on? Luo Tian is a First-class VIP of the Martial City Spirit Hall. It is perfectly reasonable for him to use the Super Long Distance Teleportation Array.”

Hall Master Shang pretended he didn’t know anything.

...

「On the far side of the Broken-star Realm.」

On a vast, ancient Array platform, a silver radiance faded, revealing Luo Tian.

Guards immediately surrounded him, including a Spirit Hall higher-up.

”We need to verify your identity before you can leave!”

The Spirit Hall higher-up said.

This was a routine inspection; anyone who used the Super Long Distance Teleportation Array had to have their identity verified.

But when this Spirit Hall higher-up saw Luo Tian, his expression shifted dramatically for a moment before he quickly concealed it.

Luo Tian handed over the Martial City Spirit Hall’s First-class VIP Order.

After inspecting it, the Spirit Hall higher-up said, ”Please wait a moment. There seems to be an issue with your information. We need to go and verify it.”

Luo Tian shook his head slightly.

’So the neutral Martial City Spirit Hall has changed its stance under the Martial King’s influence, even going so far as to act against one of its own First-class VIPs.’

’The Martial City Spirit Hall’s power is vast, and its intelligence network is extensive.’

’Their involvement is exactly what has magnified the danger I’m in.’

SWISH!

Luo Tian’s figure flashed, leaving behind a crescent moon afterimage as he bypassed all the Guards and left the Ancient Transmission Hall.

”This person’s identity is unknown, stop him!”

That Spirit Hall higher-up shouted.

Luo Tian was, after all, a First-class VIP of the Martial City Spirit Hall. They couldn’t capture him openly, so they could only act covertly or use other excuses to obstruct him.

This Spirit Hall higher-up was perfectly aware of Luo Tian’s identity, yet he feigned ignorance, using ”fulfilling his duty” as a pretext to interfere.

SWOOSH! SWISH!

Luo Tian’s Body Technique was swift, agile, and gracefully formless. He ran circles around the numerous Spirit Hall higher-ups and Guards, none of whom could even touch the hem of his clothes.

’Dammit, this Body Technique is somewhat similar to the one used by the Void Thief King ten thousand years ago!’

The Spirit Hall higher-up pursued him closely, but he could only watch as Luo Tian rapidly disappeared into the distance!

In less than ten breaths, Luo Tian had easily departed from the core area of the Spirit Hall.

This was all thanks to the Moon Shadow Escape Heaven. The former Thief King had relied on this very Body Martial Skill to commit countless thefts and escape from one deadly crisis after another!