King of Ten Thousand Years

After retreating some distance, Luo Tian once again activated the Creation Technique for inference and discovered that the ever-present sense of danger had seemingly disappeared.

’What’s going on? The Ugly Bird ran off, and the danger disappeared. Could it be that the Ugly Bird was the source of the danger?’

Luo Tian speculated.

’Could it have been the Ugly Bird’s song? Does it have some powerful, lethal effect on me? Or maybe it triggers some dire consequences?’

If the Ugly Bird knew what Luo Tian was thinking at this moment, it would surely stomp its feet in a rage.

It had clearly drawn away the assassins pursuing Luo Tian, yet Luo Tian was actually maligning its Celestial Sound.

AWOOO!

Just then, a roar that shook the very forest rang out from the west.

The ethereal sound seemed capable of piercing one’s very soul, yet it also carried a powerful, intimidating pressure.

’This cry... could it be...?’

Luo Tian hurried in the direction of the sound.

A Spirit Deer came into view. It stood not quite as tall as a man, its body a dazzling swirl of five colors. Its antlers were particularly magnificent—large and resplendent, like a glorious, vibrant diadem.

Of course, one shouldn’t assume this Spirit Deer was merely beautiful. Its speed was incredible, and its attacks were formidable.

”A Five-Colored Spirit Deer!”

Luo Tian’s face lit up with delight.

The Five-Colored Spirit Deer’s rarity was second only to the Ghost Crocodile.

It was so fast that almost no one could catch it.

Moreover, the Five-Colored Spirit Deer was a treasure trove of valuable parts, especially its Five-Colored Deer Antlers, which were of immense value!

Luo Tian was so delighted because the Five-Colored Deer Antlers were one of the ingredients for the Clearing Qi Three Elements Pill.

In truth, the Five-Colored Deer Antlers could be substituted with Tri-colored Deer Antlers, which were easier to find and less expensive, though the pill’s efficacy would be reduced.

But now that Luo Tian had encountered a Five-Colored Spirit Deer, he had to get a piece of its antlers, no matter the cost.

”Surround it! Don’t let the Five-Colored Spirit Deer escape!”

A man with large ears shouted.

”Yes, Senior Brother Liu!”

The other four, a mix of men and women, spread out to surround the area, their gazes locked on the prey before them.

Of the five-person team, four wore the uniforms of the Yunxiao Sect’s Lower Sect Disciples. The fifth was a refined young man who held a white folding fan with a faint smile on his face.

This team’s strength was formidable.

The leader, the large-eared man named Liu Yi, had a cultivation at the Peak of the Spirit Sea Realm Sixth Layer. The refined young man’s cultivation was at the Spirit Sea Realm Sixth Layer, and the other four were all around the Spirit Sea Realm Fifth Layer.

From what Luo Tian could observe, the Five-Colored Spirit Deer was a Middle Tier Demon Beast, its cultivation approximately at the Peak of the Spirit Sea Realm Sixth Layer.

With a lineup like this, dealing with a Demon Beast at the Peak of the Spirit Sea Realm Sixth Layer should have been easy.

And yet, the Five-Colored Spirit Deer was proving to be a difficult opponent.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

A blur of multi-colored light darted back and forth between the trees.

The Five-Colored Spirit Deer’s speed outclassed everyone present.

”You beast, die!”

Liu Yi’s body surged with crimson True Qi as he unleashed a Blazing Palm Light. The surrounding trees instantly caught fire, burning to cinders!

The explosive power of his Palm Technique was astonishing, resembling a searing fireball hurtling through the air.

WHOOSH! BOOM!

But the Five-Colored Spirit Deer’s speed and reflexes were too great. It instantly changed direction, easily dodging the attack and leaving a massive, scorched crater behind.

”Xiaofei, it’s heading your way! You can’t let it get away!”

Liu Yi yelled.

The other young man, at the Fifth Layer of Spirit Sea Realm, panicked and sent out three dazzling slashes of his sword, all of which the Five-Colored Spirit Deer dodged.

SWISH! SWISH!

The Five-Colored Spirit Deer’s eyes glinted with a brilliant luster as it suddenly shot two colorful beams of light toward Xiaofei, the youth at the Spirit Sea Fifth Layer.

”No!”

Xiaofei’s face was a mask of panic as he hastily retreated.

With his level of strength, he stood almost no chance of resisting a direct attack from the Five-Colored Spirit Deer.

BAM!

Just then, a folding fan flew in from the right and struck the colorful beams, creating an explosive shockwave.

Even so, a faint ray of light shot out from the explosion, piercing Xiaofei’s thigh and leaving behind a bleeding puncture wound.

”Thank you for your help, Brother Tang! I might have died otherwise!”

Xiaofei thanked the refined young man.

”It was nothing.”

The refined young man replied with a smile.

”This beast is so agile!”

Liu Yi cursed.

HUFF!

The Five-Colored Spirit Deer paused in the center of their encirclement, the corners of its mouth curling into what was unmistakably a cunning smile.

It gave one the feeling that the Five-Colored Spirit Deer had just been toying with them.

”You beast, you dare mock us! Soon, there won’t be a scrap of you left to bury!”

Liu Yi roared in anger.

With their lineup, they truly had no reason to fear the Five-Colored Spirit Deer, but the problem was that the creature was too slippery to catch.

In a direct confrontation, the Five-Colored Spirit Deer wouldn’t last ten exchanges before being killed by their combined attacks.

”Gentlemen, need a hand?”

At that moment, Luo Tian stepped out.

If these people had been no match for the Five-Colored Spirit Deer, he could have stepped in to ”help,” killed the beast, and then claimed a share of the loot.

The key issue was that they weren’t afraid of the Five-Colored Spirit Deer, they just couldn’t catch it.

In fact, if they dragged the fight out long enough, they could probably kill it, though it would cost them.

That was why it was necessary to negotiate terms first.

”Luo Tian?”

Liu Yi and the others called out Luo Tian’s name.

After all, they were all from the Yunxiao Sect, and Luo Tian’s fame was widespread.

”We don’t need your help. We found this Five-Colored Spirit Deer, so scram!”

Liu Yi snapped hostilely.

”Hm?”

Luo Tian couldn’t recall ever offending these people, yet they were clearly hostile toward him.

”Brother Liu, this Five-Colored Spirit Deer is proving difficult to catch. An extra pair of hands would be welcome. Let this young man join us.”

But the refined young man on the team spoke up for Luo Tian in a friendly manner.

He was clearly not a disciple of the Yunxiao Sect, and he didn’t seem to know Luo Tian either.

Before Liu Yi could even respond,

Luo Tian smiled and said, ”Since this good brother has invited me so sincerely, I suppose I’ll lend you a hand.”

”...”

Liu Yi gritted his teeth so hard they audibly ground together. ’I’m the captain of this team, damn it!’

’But on second thought,’ he mused, ’dealing with this Five-Colored Spirit Deer is a real pain. It wouldn’t be so bad to make use of Luo Tian.’

”Luo Tian, you can have a share of the spoils from the Five-Colored Spirit Deer,” Liu Yi said with a smirk. ”If you help us kill it within the time it takes one incense stick to burn, you’ll get thirty percent. Otherwise, you get nothing!”

They had already been fighting the deer for the time it took three incense sticks to burn, and it was still full of life, having sustained only minor injuries.

Killing the Five-Colored Spirit Deer in the time it took one stick of incense to burn was simply impossible.

By then, Luo Tian would have helped them wear down the Five-Colored Spirit Deer for a full incense stick’s worth of time, which would make their job much easier.

In the end, Luo Tian would get absolutely nothing.

”One incense stick’s worth of time? No problem.”

Luo Tian agreed readily.

’Heh, you think the Five-Colored Spirit Deer is that easy to deal with? How absurd!’ Liu Yi snorted inwardly.

The Five-Colored Spirit Deer was quite intelligent and seemed to understand the humans’ conversation.

The Five-Colored Spirit Deer’s eyes filled with intense disdain. How dare a mere cultivator at the Third Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm make such a boast.

WHOOSH! SWISH! SWISH!

The Five-Colored Spirit Deer charged straight for Luo Tian. Its eyes flashed, shooting out two brilliant, multicolored beams of light.

In its eyes, a cultivator at the mere Third Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm was someone it could kill in an instant.

Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Hand!

Luo Tian immediately unleashed a crystalline yellow Palm Force that transformed into a three-meter-tall giant palm, surging forward like a thick, heavy, crystalline wall.

PFFT! PFFT!

The Five-Colored Spirit Deer’s attack struck the Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Hand, punching two holes through it but failing to destroy it.

This was the true strength of the Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Hand. It was focused on defense and was incredibly condensed.

The Five-Colored Spirit Deer looked astonished. ’My attack was actually blocked by someone at the Third Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm? How is that possible?’

As the Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Hand closed in, the Five-Colored Spirit Deer prepared to dodge.

But suddenly,

a bone-chilling cold radiated from the Palm Force. A thin layer of frost instantly coated the Five-Colored Spirit Deer, its body stiffening as its speed dropped by twenty percent.

That twenty percent decrease was all it took to prevent the Five-Colored Spirit Deer from dodging in time.

BOOM!

The massive Palm Light struck home, sending the Five-Colored Spirit Deer flying dozens of feet and crashing through several large trees.

”What?!”

Liu Yi and his companions were all dumbfounded.

They had been fighting the Five-Colored Spirit Deer for quite some time without managing to land a single solid blow, at most inflicting a few minor injuries.

Yet the moment Luo Tian joined in, he sent the Five-Colored Spirit Deer flying with a single palm.

This was deeply embarrassing for Liu Yi and his group.

”What are you all standing around for? Attack!”

Luo Tian yelled.

”Attack!”

Liu Yi echoed.

”I’m talking to you! The one with the huge ears! Are they pig’s ears? The Five-Colored Spirit Deer is closest to you, so why are you just standing there? You idiot!”

Luo Tian’s scolding voice rang out.

”...”

Liu Yi trembled with rage, his large ears turning bright red.

He had, in fact, been completely stunned by what had just happened.

Liu Yi immediately unleashed a Fiery Flame Palm Light that blazed ferociously toward the Five-Colored Spirit Deer.

BAM!

The Five-Colored Spirit Deer managed to dodge just in time, evading Liu Yi’s attack.

’Luo Tian, you want to kill the Five-Colored Spirit Deer in one incense stick’s time? Not a chance!’ Liu Yi sneered in his heart.

He had deliberately held back on that last palm strike, slowing his attack. Otherwise, it would have definitely inflicted significant damage on the deer.

”The rest of you, don’t try too hard. Hold back a bit and just drag this out past one incense stick’s time.”

Liu Yi sent a voice transmission to the other Yunxiao Sect disciples.

”Understood!”

Xiaofei and the other disciples understood Liu Yi’s intentions.

However, what happened next only brought them greater embarrassment.

”What are you doing? Attacking that slowly? You couldn’t even hit a snail!”

”And your attack is so weak and limp! What’s wrong, are you impotent?”

Luo Tian pointed at one Yunxiao Sect disciple after another, relentlessly taunting them.

”You...”

The man who’d been called impotent nearly lost control of his anger, ready to unleash his full power and even use his trump card.

But Liu Yi quickly intervened and calmed him down.

”Liu Yi, no wonder it took you guys so long to not catch this Five-Colored Spirit Deer. Your team is nothing but a bunch of scrubs. And you’re just the head scrub.”

Luo Tian lectured Liu Yi.

”Bastard!”

Liu Yi’s anger surged, but he forced himself to endure it.

None of them could refute him, because their performance truly had been lackluster.

What made the situation even more frustrating was...

that even as they held back, the Five-Colored Spirit Deer was repeatedly blocked, intercepted, or wounded by Luo Tian’s Palm Technique.

It was no exaggeration to say that if they had been fighting at full strength, they would have killed the Five-Colored Spirit Deer long ago with Luo Tian’s help.

’This kid...’ Liu Yi thought grimly. ’It’s not just that his Palm Technique is unusual and excels at blocking and intercepting. His own reflexes and judgment are far beyond ordinary.’

They didn’t know that Luo Tian possessed Spiritual Sense. Within the area his Spiritual Sense covered, the Five-Colored Spirit Deer’s every move was within his grasp, including predicting its actions a second in advance.

Of course, the most shocked one present...

was the Five-Colored Spirit Deer itself.

Its movements were almost completely under Luo Tian’s control.

Even more infuriating was Luo Tian’s Palm Technique, which was practically its nemesis. It felt as if solid, high walls could appear from any direction at any moment.

The Five-Colored Spirit Deer no longer wanted to play; it decided to retreat.

WHOOSH!

It transformed into a streak of light, darting toward a gap in the encirclement.

WHOOSH!

A fierce wind howled as a massive, crystalline yellow Palm Light appeared like a high wall, blocking its path.

AWOOO!

The Five-Colored Spirit Deer let out an enraged roar, its hatred for Luo Tian bone-deep.

”You bunch of morons, attack already! The way you fight, you wouldn’t be able to catch this Five-Colored Spirit Deer in a million years without my help!”

Luo Tian jeered.

He had obviously seen that they were intentionally holding back, trying to run out the clock on the one-incense-stick time limit.

But under Luo Tian’s barrage of insults, Liu Yi and the others were still provoked time and again into unleashing decent attacks.

People are just that impulsive when provoked and angered, easily lashing out.

BOOM! PFFT! PFFT!

Under the group’s assault, the Five-Colored Spirit Deer was covered in wounds and on the brink of death.

Since Luo Tian had joined the fight, the time it took for an incense stick to burn was slowly running out.