King of Ten Thousand Years

”Luo Tian, where do you think you’re going?!”

Han Yuan’s eyes turned cold, and he locked his gaze on Luo Tian.

He had been searching for Luo Tian the whole time without success and had finally been forced to give up.

He never expected to run into him here in this Ancient Garden!

”Brother Han, keep those two here!”

shouted Qiao Hai from a distance.

”A piece of cake!”

Han Yuan replied.

If it were a matter of defeating Luo Tian, Han Yuan wasn’t very confident; he was wary of the power of the Spirit Pond Mark in Luo Tian’s possession.

But just keeping Luo Tian here would be incredibly easy.

”I suggest you hand over all your treasures obediently. Don’t make things hard for yourselves...”

Han Yuan threatened.

He, the blue-haired woman, and Qiao Hai were on relatively good terms.

Once Qiao Hai and the blue-haired woman dealt with the Earth Level Puppet, the three Core Disciples could join forces and run rampant. They wouldn’t even have to back down if they ran into Ye Feng of the Earth Element Realm.

”Get lost! There’s no way this young master is spitting out what he’s already gotten his hands on!”

Cheng Wanli roared.

”Take him down!”

Luo Tian shouted as well.

Without the slightest hesitation, the two of them attacked instantly!

Luo Tian’s Sword Intent erupted as he unleashed the third form of the Nine Heavens Sword Technique.

Cheng Wanli took out a Brass Hammer. It didn’t look large, but as he swung it, it stirred up a terrifying storm. With heavy and surging momentum, it rushed toward Han Yuan.

”How arrogant! What do you take a Core Disciple for?”

Feeling slighted and displeased, Han Yuan immediately drew his sword.

Dozens of streams of jade-green Sword Qi pierced the void and shot forward.

SHIIII-BOOM!

The three attacks collided in an instant, causing a stunning explosion on the spot and sending shockwaves blasting outward.

Han Yuan’s expression froze, and his heart trembled slightly.

The combined attack from Luo Tian and Cheng Wanli was actually his equal!

’How can this be?’

Han Yuan was dealt a heavy blow.

He was at the Peak of the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm, one of the ten great Core Disciples.

But Luo Tian was only at the Spirit Sea Realm Seventh Layer, and Cheng Wanli was at the Peak of the Eighth Layer of Spirit Sea Realm!

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Luo Tian and Cheng Wanli shot past Han Yuan on both sides, preparing to flee.

”Stay right where you are!”

Han Yuan roared, his Sword Technique growing even more turbulent. The Sword Qi was relentless, wave after wave surging forward with incredible force!

”Brother Cheng, it’s up to you now!”

Luo Tian yelled.

”Huh? Up to me for what?”

Cheng Wanli froze, a bad feeling creeping over him.

”If we fought together, Han Yuan wouldn’t be able to stop us. But I’m carrying this gravestone, so my combat power is diminished. I can only rely on you!”

”Hurry up and use the power of your Spirit Pond Mark!”

Luo Tian said urgently.

”...”

Cheng Wanli was rather speechless. ’So after all that, he was just after my Spirit Pond Mark.’

”You have so many Spirit Pond Marks yourself...”

Cheng Wanli was indignant, but Luo Tian cut him off before he could finish.

”Brother Cheng, don’t forget the favor you owe me. If it weren’t for me, would you have been able to get so many treasures this time?” Luo Tian asked.

Cheng Wanli was at a loss for words. If it hadn’t been for Luo Tian, his trial might have already ended, or he might have even died here.

”Fine!”

Cheng Wanli’s expression turned resolute. He swung the small Brass Hammer, and the light blue, water-drop-shaped mark on the back of his hand suddenly flared to life!

WHOOSH!

A ferocious storm swirled above his head.

The next instant, an endless torrent of water gushed out and merged with the storm, doubling in size and exuding an even heavier, more torrential might!

Luo Tian immediately attacked with his sword as well, joining forces with Cheng Wanli.

BOOM-SHIIII!

This time, Luo Tian and Cheng Wanli’s attack crushed Han Yuan’s Sword Technique with the ease of smashing dry leaves.

The watery whirlwind swept forward furiously, sending Han Yuan flying a hundred feet back into a coffin.

BANG!

The coffin lid was knocked open, leaving a thin crack.

”Damn it, that brat has a Spirit Pond Mark too!”

Han Yuan was filled with bitter resentment.

Why was it that Luo Tian and Cheng Wanli both got Spiritual Pools, while he, one of the ten great Core Disciples, never had such an opportunity?

’Huh? Is there any treasure inside this coffin?’

But Han Yuan’s attention was immediately drawn to the coffin. He couldn’t help but move closer to the crack to see what was inside.

Suddenly.

RUMBLE-WHOOSH!

From within the crack, a gust of dark, chilling black wind shot out. It seemed to come from the Nine Netherworld Hell, carrying the stench of death as it wrapped around Han Yuan.

”Ah!”

The black wind transformed into sinister, pitch-black claws that gripped Han Yuan tightly, causing him to let out a bloodcurdling scream!

In less than five breaths, Han Yuan was reduced to a white skeleton.

HISS!

Cheng Wanli’s hair stood on end, a chill running down his spine as terror seized his heart.

Just a moment ago, he had been about to open the coffin lid to see what was inside.

If Luo Tian hadn’t stopped him, he was afraid that skeleton would have been him.

After reducing Han Yuan to a pile of white bones, the coffin lid closed on its own. Immediately after, the entire Core Mausoleum trembled slightly and sank into the ground.

”The person in the coffin doesn’t wish to be disturbed!”

Luo Tian murmured.

Without paying it any more mind, he and Cheng Wanli left immediately.

With the Core Mausoleum sunk into the earth, the two of them were the only ones who had managed to get anything out of it.

Luo Tian, in particular, was carrying an extraordinary gravestone on his shoulder that would surely attract everyone’s attention.

Fortunately,

the disciples near the garden were all preoccupied with Demon Beasts or the Earth Level Puppets.

Luo Tian and Cheng Wanli were both very fast, their Body Techniques allowing them to successfully escape the garden and leave the massive chasm.

”Luo Tian, leave the treasure behind!”

”That gravestone is not for you to possess! Hand it over!”

Shouts echoed from below as several disciples gave chase.

Suddenly, a figure burst forward with unimaginable speed. It was the Core Disciple, Qiao Hai!

”Flowing Light Meteor Kill!”

Qiao Hai didn’t waste any words and attacked directly.

WHOOSH!

A ball of dazzling starlight condensed at his fingertip, transforming into a streaking meteor that crossed two to three hundred meters to strike at Luo Tian!

As a Half-step Earth Element Realm cultivator, his full-powered attack carried an obvious killing intent!

Even if Luo Tian really died, Qiao Hai could just claim that Luo Tian was too weak and had been killed by accident.

With his status and the backing of the Third Elder, he wouldn’t face any serious punishment.

”It’s over! Luo Tian is finished!”

”Now that Qiao Hai has his eyes on him, he can’t escape even if he grew wings. He’s a dead man for sure!”

The other disciples lamented.

If Luo Tian had handed over the gravestone earlier, he might have been able to save his own life.

”Qiao Hai, you dare try to murder a fellow disciple. If that’s how it is, then you can forget about getting this gravestone!”

Luo Tian’s face turned vicious. He lifted the gravestone off his shoulder and held it in front of him as a shield.

”What?”

This scene stunned Qiao Hai.

The others were also in disbelief.

Luo Tian was actually using that treasure to block Qiao Hai’s attack!

The mausoleum had already sunk into the ground, and the gravestone in Luo Tian’s hands was widely considered the most valuable treasure it had left behind.

”Stop!”

Someone shouted.

But others thought that the gravestone looked extraordinary and should be quite sturdy.

SHII-THUD!

A cold, brilliant meteor descended, striking the gravestone and smashing a hole through it!

Cracks spread out from the hole, covering the entire gravestone.

With a BANG-CRACK, the pitch-black gravestone shattered into countless pieces and fell into the chasm.

”No!”

This scene made everyone lose their composure!

The gravestone... actually broke!

”Brother Luo, you...”

Cheng Wanli was utterly astonished.

Luo Tian was actually so ruthless as to use that precious treasure to block Qiao Hai’s attack, and the gravestone had even broken in the end.

In that case, hadn’t Luo Tian suffered a huge loss?

”Let’s go!”

Luo Tian said calmly, turning to leave.

Cheng Wanli immediately followed. With the gravestone shattered, the Incense Burner he had obtained would definitely become the next target. He had to escape quickly.

...

「Inside the chasm.」

Qiao Hai, the blue-haired woman, and the others hurried to the spot where the shattered gravestone had fallen, collecting the fragments in an attempt to restore it!

But not far away, a fissure suddenly opened in the ground, and many of the fragments fell into it!

”Bastard!”

Qiao Hai was furious. He let out a roar, and a whirlwind erupted around him, shattering the rock walls and toppling the trees.

He had schemed and schemed, but in the end, he hadn’t obtained a single treasure from the Core Mausoleum.

’No, that’s not right. I didn’t come away with nothing!’

Qiao Hai turned to look behind him and asked, ”How is that puppet doing?!”

He and the blue-haired woman had joined forces to heavily damage the Earth Level Puppet, which was how he had been able to break away and attack Luo Tian.

The blue-haired woman could be seen suppressing the battered Earth Level Puppet by herself.

”The damage is severe, but it should still be repairable. Its strength might be compromised, though!”

the blue-haired woman said.

But just then, the Earth Level Puppet stopped its attack. An infinite, dazzling light shot out from its torso, and an incomparably terrifying fluctuation of power spread out!

”Not good! This is... self-destruction!”

Qiao Hai was horrified.

The blue-haired woman also sensed that something was wrong and immediately abandoned the puppet to flee.

BOOM!

The Earth Level Puppet’s explosion turned into an all-destroying wave of light that expanded wildly, sweeping through an area a thousand feet in every direction!

As it happened, the second Earth Level Puppet was within the blast radius and was instantly severely damaged.

And so, it exploded too!

The deafening sound echoed for dozens of miles around, and a thick black cloud rose into the sky.

After the explosions, a massive crater was left in their place!

”Damn it, these puppets actually have a self-destruct program...”

Qiao Hai’s face was grim as he escaped, covered in dust and grime!

In that explosion, an unknown number of disciples could only crush their Tokens and leave Xuankong Mountain.

The Core Disciple, the blue-haired woman, was among them.

There were even some who were killed by the blast before they could crush their Tokens!

Qiao Hai had just breathed a sigh of relief when the thousand-foot-high cliff walls on both sides suddenly collapsed. It was unclear if it was due to the puppets’ self-destruction or a test in the form of a natural disaster.

In any case, the Core Disciple Qiao Hai also had his body tensed, fleeing in a sorry state.

...

Luo Tian and Cheng Wanli hadn’t gone far before they also heard the explosions from within the chasm.

”What happened?”

Cheng Wanli’s heart leaped into his throat again.

He had been startled too many times on this expedition.

”An explosion of this magnitude... it must be the puppets. It seems they have a self-destruct program that triggers once a certain condition is met!”

Luo Tian analyzed.

”Good thing we left when we did!”

Cheng Wanli wiped away a cold sweat.

”Brother Luo, why didn’t you use the power of your Spirit Pond Mark to block Qiao Hai’s attack just now?” Cheng Wanli asked.

Luo Tian had so many Spirit Pond Marks but didn’t use them, losing the gravestone instead. It was truly a pity.

”There was no need!”

Luo Tian gave a faint smile and said no more.

As far as he was concerned, the gravestone was indeed gone.

But while he was in the mausoleum, Luo Tian had already recorded its contents into the Celestial Book.

’Infer and translate!’

Luo Tian consumed the power of the Celestial Book to perform the Inference.

He had used many of the precious materials he had harvested on Xuankong Mountain to replenish the Celestial Book Energy, which now amounted to forty or fifty pages’ worth.

However, after consuming all forty to fifty pages of energy, only one-fifth of the mysterious ancient text from the gravestone had been inferred and translated!

Luo Tian froze for a moment, then his heart filled with elation.

To have consumed so much of the Celestial Book’s power only to decipher so little, it was clear that the content recorded on it was by no means simple!

Luo Tian began to browse the one-fifth that had been inferred and translated.

”Celestial Sword Technique... a Celestial Level Secret Skill...”

Luo Tian’s eyes suddenly widened, and he held his breath.