King of Ten Thousand Years

”The Four Grotto Heavens are finally open!”

An Upper Sect Disciple rushed to be the first to step into the distorted Light Cave, his figure vanishing.

Immediately after, two more disciples entered.

’Opening in sequence? Each Grotto Heaven has three entry slots!’

Luo Tian committed these key points to memory.

”Senior Sister Ning? There don’t seem to be many disciples here, and not a single Core Disciple has shown up.”

Luo Tian was puzzled.

He had originally wanted to see the prowess of the Yunxiao Sect’s Core Disciples for himself!

”See those three balls of light above the entrance?”

Ning Xin didn’t answer his question, asking one of her own instead.

Just after those three disciples entered the Slaughter Grotto Heaven, three white balls of light had appeared above the Light Cave.

Luo Tian nodded. Of course he had seen something so obvious.

”The Four Grotto Heavens only allow three people to enter at a time. Also, they remain open for a long time, so many disciples aren’t in a hurry. If they came now, they’d just be waiting around.”

Ning Xin explained.

Luo Tian knew very little and was curious, so he had rushed over to see it on the day the Grotto Heavens opened.

As for Ning Xin, she had never participated in the Four Grotto Heavens either. Although she knew a lot about them, she was also curious.

「One hour later.」

One of the balls of light above the Light Cave dimmed, and an Upper Sect Disciple was teleported out. His clothes were tattered, and his body was covered in several shocking wounds.

”It’s said that the Four Grotto Heavens are linked together by a Celestial Level Array and fixed within the Yunxiao Sect. This Celestial Level Array has an Array Spirit. When you can no longer hold on inside a Grotto Heaven, it will teleport you out.”

Ning Xin continued.

’A Celestial Level Array? And it has an Array Spirit?’

Luo Tian’s heart trembled slightly.

On the Dongchen Continent, anything related to the Celestial Level was the stuff of legends.

The Sun Chasing Holy Mansion where Luo Tian had come from had nothing at all related to the Celestial Level. Even things involving the Earth Level were quite rare.

’As expected of the Yunxiao Sect, to actually have a Celestial Level Array.’

”I’m going in to take a look.”

Luo Tian strode forward, approaching the entrance to the Slaughter Grotto Heaven.

Ning Xin was about to stop him, but on second thought, she decided against it.

”Huh? Is that kid an Upper Sect Disciple?”

”Are the assessments for the Upper Sect so watered down now? Even a Spirit Sea Realm Fifth Layer can pass?”

Luo Tian’s actions drew the attention and strong suspicion of some Upper Sect Disciples.

Many suspected that Luo Tian had gotten into the Upper Sect through connections.

”Kid, I’d advise you to scram. Although all Upper Sect Disciples can participate in the Four Grotto Heavens, you’ll just be making a fool of yourself if you go in.”

A man with thick lips said with a playful smile.

’Make a fool of myself?’

Luo Tian possessed a Divine Vein and had his own pride. The thick-lipped man’s condescending attitude annoyed him.

”My business is no concern of yours, Senior Brother.”

Luo Tian replied coolly.

”Hmph, ungrateful whelp. If you won’t listen to advice, then go on in and embarrass yourself.”

”The Array will teleport you out if you face a life-or-death crisis, but you’re so weak, I’m afraid you’ll be dead before the Array even has time to act.”

The thick-lipped youth’s expression darkened as he sneered.

”Li Zhiyun!”

Ning Xin suddenly called out, her gaze cold.

”Junior Sister Ning, you know this kid?”

The thick-lipped youth, Li Zhiyun, changed his attitude slightly.

He and Ning Xin had entered the Upper Sect at the same time, but now she had completely surpassed him.

”But Junior Sister Ning, I’m just telling it like it is. You should try to talk some sense into this kid too,” Li Zhiyun said.

”If Luo Tian was able to enter the Upper Sect, he can’t be weak!”

Ning Xin looked at Luo Tian with a faint smile.

Luo Tian felt a sense of warmth. He had only met Ning Xin twice, yet she was willing to speak up for him.

Li Zhiyun’s brow furrowed slightly, a bitter feeling in his heart.

He had long admired Ning Xin and had even expressed his feelings for her, but she had heartlessly rejected him.

And now, Ning Xin was refuting him for another man.

Li Zhiyun’s eyes darted about. He suddenly thought of something and broke into a wicked grin.

”Since Junior Sister Ning has so much confidence in him, why don’t we make a bet? Let’s bet on whether this kid can last for the time it takes an incense stick to burn inside the Four Grotto Heavens!”

”...Fine. What’s the wager?”

After pausing for a few breaths, Ning Xin agreed.

Her intuition told her that since Luo Tian had managed to enter the Upper Sect, he must have some ability. Lasting for the time it takes an incense stick to burn in the Slaughter Grotto Heaven shouldn’t be a problem.

”If I win, Junior Sister Ning will go on a date with me for three days. How about it?”

Li Zhiyun’s lips curled into a smirk.

Ning Xin’s face stiffened. She hadn’t expected Li Zhiyun to make such a shameless demand.

After all, she didn’t really know Luo Tian. What if he lost?

Ning Xin was very reluctant to go on a date with Li Zhiyun, even if it was only for three days.

”Weren’t you full of confidence in him just a moment ago, Junior Sister Ning?”

Li Zhiyun asked with a smile.

”Senior Sister Ning, agree to it...”

Just as Ning Xin was hesitating, Luo Tian suddenly sent her a voice transmission.

Ning Xin was taken aback, and a little annoyed.

No woman would want to be used as a bargaining chip in a bet, yet Luo Tian was actually telling her to agree.

But backing down wasn’t Ning Xin’s style, and besides, Luo Tian seemed very confident.

”Fine. If I win, you’ll give me six thousand Spiritual Essence Coins!”

Ning Xin stated her demand, just as Luo Tian had told her.

”Six thousand Spiritual Essence Coins?”

Li Zhiyun’s brows knitted together. He felt Ning Xin’s stake was too high.

Six thousand Spiritual Essence Coins was in no way equivalent to a three-day date. The stakes were completely unbalanced.

But if Li Zhiyun tried to haggle, Ning Xin could use it as an excuse to refuse the bet about the date.

”It’s a deal!”

Li Zhiyun agreed in one go.

’A mere Spirit Sea Realm Fifth Layer lasting for the time of an incense stick in the Slaughter Grotto Heaven? What a joke.’

The Four Grotto Heavens were open to all Upper Sect Disciples, and the difficulty was the same whether it was Luo Tian or a Core Disciple who entered.

The bet was made, drawing the attention of other senior disciples nearby.

But everyone lamented what a pity it was that Ning Xin would have to go on a date with Li Zhiyun for three days.

”Brother Luo, wait up! Let’s go in and take a look together!”

Just as Luo Tian was about to enter, Liu Yi arrived.

”Alright!” Luo Tian replied.

At that exact moment, a disciple was teleported out, freeing up a spot.

”Once we’re inside, let’s compete and see who can last longer.”

Liu Yi chuckled and stepped into the Slaughter Grotto Heaven.

Luo Tian followed close behind.

Before entering the Light Cave, Luo Tian heard Ning Xin’s voice transmission: ”Luo Tian, if you lose, I won’t let you off easy!”

BUZZ!

Luo Tian stepped into the Light Cave and felt a disorienting sense of spatial distortion.

The next instant, his feet touched solid ground. A wave of dense Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, mixed with a strong bloody stench, washed over him.

’So this is the Slaughter Grotto Heaven?’

Luo Tian sized up the small trial space.

The ground was purplish-red, and the sky was dark, with a blood-red moon hanging in it.

In the distance, the sounds of fighting and slaughter could be heard.

Luo Tian peered into the distance. Two thousand meters away, Liu Yi was fighting a group of enemies dressed in red.

’It seems this Slaughter Grotto Heaven isn’t that large. The random teleportation put us so close together.’

CRACK!

Just then, the ground in front of Luo Tian split open, and a ferocious arm shot out.

The arm was completely rotten and blood-red. One could even see maggots crawling on it.

ROAR!

The next moment, a man whose entire body was in the same state shot out from underground.

He was incomparably hideous, baring his fangs and brandishing his claws as he stared at Luo Tian with surging killing intent.

’What the hell?’

Luo Tian was startled by the man who had suddenly jumped out.

The Blood Corpse roared and lunged, its claws tearing out streaks of crimson, frenzied light.

”Get lost!”

Luo Tian immediately drew his Ice Trace Sword and unleashed a condensed, sharp strand of Icy Cold Sword Qi, striking it in the abdomen.

He didn’t hold back at all with this strike.

THUD!

The Blood Corpse’s strength was roughly at the Peak of Spirit Sea Realm Sixth Layer, but its Defense didn’t seem very strong. Luo Tian killed it in a single strike.

But as soon as the Blood Corpse died, the ground all around began to crack open again, and more Blood Corpses crawled out.

At this moment, Luo Tian finally understood.

The group of enemies fighting Liu Yi weren’t wearing red clothes; they were these disgusting Blood Corpses. He had been too far away to see clearly before.

”Kill!”

Without a second thought, Luo Tian immediately drew his sword and slayed a Blood Corpse that had just crawled out.

The Slaughter Grotto Heaven. As its name implied, it was all about slaughter.

To temper one’s Martial Skills, improve one’s combat techniques and awareness through slaughter! This was the main purpose of the Slaughter Grotto Heaven.

SHING! SHING! SHING!

The Ice Trace Sword danced rapidly, and biting Sword Qi enveloped Luo Tian, striking the Blood Corpses.

’The number and strength of the Blood Corpses are gradually increasing according to some fixed pattern. The slower I kill them, the harder it will become later on!’

As he fought, Luo Tian observed and analyzed the situation.

Thus, he stopped holding back, his attacks becoming even more ferocious!

THUD! THUD!

Blood Corpses continuously fell around him, and Luo Tian felt a thrill from the unrestrained slaughter.

At a certain moment, a Spirit Sea Realm Seventh Layer Blood Corpse rushed out. Its movements were more agile, and it radiated a terrifying, bloody and malevolent aura!

”One Sword Piercing Clouds!”

Without hesitation, Luo Tian executed the Earth Level Killing Technique.

SWISH!

A snow-white Sword Light, condensed to the extreme, radiated a biting chill and a sharp aura that seemed as if it would pierce the heavens.

Luo Tian had already cultivated this technique to the Perfect Realm, further enhancing its Attack power and speed.

SHLICK!

The Sword Qi pierced the head of the Spirit Sea Realm Seventh Layer Blood Corpse, and with a POP, its head exploded.

’The Blood Corpses here are much weaker than human Martial Artists of the same Cultivation.’

Not only were their intelligence and strength weaker, but their Defense was also low, making them relatively easy to kill.

But their advantage was... numbers!

Luo Tian was now surrounded by more than a dozen Blood Corpses.

Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Hand!

Luo Tian sent out a huge, heavy Palm Light that instantly enveloped six Blood Corpses, pushing them away and clearing a path.

’With my abilities, lasting for the time of an incense stick shouldn’t be a problem.’

Luo Tian deduced based on the available information.

He and Ning Xin had already agreed to split Li Zhiyun’s six thousand Spiritual Essence Coins fifty-fifty.

But just then...

Luo Tian saw a pillar of white light descend not far ahead.

The light dissipated, revealing a sturdy figure!

”Wang Fu!”

Luo Tian recognized him at a glance.

When Wang Fu first arrived in the Slaughter Grotto Heaven, he also looked around with a blank and curious expression.

Then, he instantly spotted Luo Tian being chased by Blood Corpses.

”Hahaha, Luo Tian, you’re finished!”

Wang Fu laughed heartily.

’What a coincidence. To think I’d be teleported right next to Luo Tian.’

”You’re like a persistent ghost!”

Luo Tian’s expression darkened.

It was obvious that Wang Fu was here to deal with him.

His strength as the former number one of the Lower Sect was no joke. If Wang Fu was dead set on opposing him...

...lasting for the time of an incense stick might be difficult.