King of Ten Thousand Years

The translated *Celestial Sword Technique* was still incomplete.

Luo Tian estimated that it would cost at least ten thousand Spiritual Essence Coins to deduce and perfect the *Celestial Sword Technique*.

After all, this Secret Skill was vast in content, its insights unique and novel, and it differed greatly from the current Sword Dao knowledge of the Martial Arts Realm.

Furthermore, Luo Tian had never seen a similar Secret Skill before. Without any references to draw from, the difficulty of perfecting it increased dramatically.

Luo Tian only had seven to eight thousand Spiritual Essence Coins left. Not to mention whether that was enough, if he used them all for the deduction, he would be penniless again.

”I’ll deduce and perfect the *Celestial Sword Technique* later!”

This Secret Skill was far more profound than the *Nine Heavens Sword Technique* and the *Wind Manipulation Technique*, so there was no rush to deduce it at this stage.

Next, Luo Tian began to cultivate the *Celestial Sword Technique*.

The *Celestial Sword Technique* was divided into three levels: the Sword Realm, the Ruyi Realm, and the Sui Xin Realm.

When cultivating this Secret Skill, if one couldn’t comprehend Sword Intent, they would be stuck at the first level forever, unable to enter the second!

Fortunately, Luo Tian had already comprehended Sword Intent, so this wasn’t a barrier for him.

SWISH! WHOOSH!

Luo Tian raised his Ice Trace Sword and swung it through the air, the entire process extremely slow.

The *Celestial Sword Technique* contained a total of 108 sword techniques. Cultivating this Secret Skill required coordinating the sword techniques with the Heart Method.

These sword techniques were all very strange, some even appearing slightly comical and ridiculous.

Luo Tian was initially resistant. After cultivating for an hour, he still felt very uncomfortable with it.

But once he abandoned his distracting thoughts, stopped resisting, and wholeheartedly practiced these sword techniques, Luo Tian gradually began to grasp something.

An hour later, he successfully reached the entry level.

Inside his mind, a Star Shining Sword Shadow appeared, surrounded by wisps of small, magnificent sword phantoms.

Luo Tian gained some new insights into his understanding of Sword Intent.

”I don’t need to observe the True Sword Dao Intent. Just by cultivating this Secret Skill, I can gain new insights and deepen my understanding of the True Intent of the Sword Dao!”

Luo Tian’s expression was one of pleasant surprise.

He had previously been thinking about going to the True Intent Ancient Hall to comprehend True Sword Dao Intent. Even if many disciples were there and he had to queue, he was willing to wait.

But now, it seemed that wasn’t necessary anymore.

’This is truly amazing! It can actually deepen my comprehension of True Intent!’

One must understand that the True Intent Fur was only a starting point; the road ahead was long and arduous.

Without opportunities, many supreme geniuses would find it difficult to take the second step.

Luo Tian became completely immersed in cultivating the *Celestial Sword Technique*.

Three days passed, and he had stepped into the first level, the Sword Realm.

This Realm was mainly for honing one’s comprehension of True Sword Dao Intent.

”Besides that, the *Celestial Sword Technique* can also increase the speed at which I cultivate Sword Skills, as well as their power!”

To confirm this, Luo Tian switched to cultivating the *Nine Heavens Sword Technique*.

SWISH! SWISH! SHIING!

Sharp Sword Light, as elegant and swift as the wind, was difficult to track as it flashed in all directions.

’So smooth!’

Luo Tian was having a completely new experience.

His swordsmanship was fluid and smooth, and the power of his Sword Skills had indeed increased.

After practicing for just two hours, his third technique, ”Sharp Sword and Wind,” broke through to the Great Achievement Realm!

「Three days later.」

Luo Tian successfully comprehended the Fourth Technique of the *Nine Heavens Sword Technique*—Sword Rolling Residual Clouds!

FZZZZT!

Wielding the Ice Trace Sword in a rapid flurry, he stirred up a field of Cold Wind Sword Qi that transformed into a frigid, razor-sharp Vortex Sword Qi and shot toward the sky!

The massive, spinning Sword Qi expanded rapidly as it churned, eventually covering an area dozens of meters in radius and annihilating all the clouds and mist within it!

The Fourth Technique, Sword Rolling Residual Clouds, surpassed the third technique in both power and attack range. It was also a sustained attack, making its overall damage absolutely astonishing!

But what truly surprised Luo Tian was that he had comprehended the Fourth Technique so quickly.

While cultivating his swordsmanship, he didn’t neglect his body technique either.

Since the tier of his *Wind Manipulation Technique* had been elevated, it had been modified from top to bottom and was now quite different from before.

In effect, Luo Tian needed to cultivate it again from scratch.

However, he had only cultivated this Body Martial Skill to the Small Success Realm, so it wasn’t as complicated as re-cultivating a Cultivation Technique.

Because he had cultivated a lower-level version of the *Wind Manipulation Technique*, the process wasn’t difficult.

In less than ten days, Luo Tian reached the same level he had with the original *Wind Manipulation Technique*, but the difference in power between the two versions was immense.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Luo Tian’s figure vanished like smoke, merging into the surrounding wind and clouds, coming and going without a trace, ethereal and formless.

It was as if Luo Tian’s afterimages were everywhere in the courtyard, yet all of them seemed to be illusory.

”My speed has increased by fifty percent, and my agility has also seen a major improvement!”

Luo Tian compared his old and new abilities.

Such an astonishing improvement meant the Spiritual Essence Coins hadn’t been wasted.

When he grew tired of cultivating, he stopped to rest.

’The results of the past half-month are decent, but there are only two and a half months left until the Celestial Pride Conference!’

Time was tight, and Luo Tian’s improvements were far from enough, especially his Cultivation.

The Celestial Pride Conference would gather the geniuses of the entire Dongchen Continent, and nearly all the prodigies on the Spirit List would be there.

As far as Luo Tian knew, of the two hundred spots on the Spirit List, the top fifty were almost all at the Half-step Earth Element Realm!

The competition at the Celestial Pride Conference would be more than ten times fiercer than the Xuankong Mountain trial!

Although Luo Tian had taken first place in the Xuankong Mountain trial, it didn’t mean he was the number one genius of the Yunxiao Sect, or that he was stronger than Yi Jingwen and Ye Feng.

After all, the Xuankong Mountain trial was a survival test where strength wasn’t the most important factor, and the final results could be influenced by many things.

But at the Celestial Pride Conference, individual strength would be paramount!

Luo Tian had no desire to go to the Celestial Pride Conference just to be a foil for other geniuses.

’I have to at least make it into the top twenty!’

This was Luo Tian’s goal.

He was still young. The Celestial Pride Conference was held once every five years; the next one would be his true stage!

’There are still two and a half months left. Staying in the Yunxiao Sect won’t do much for me. I might as well go out and temper myself!’

In all his time at the Yunxiao Sect, Luo Tian had rarely gone out. Even when he went on missions, he never traveled very far.

Having made his decision, Luo Tian went to Alchemy Peak.

”Master, this disciple wishes to leave the Yunxiao Sect to train alone. I will head to the Central Domain and then rendezvous with the Sect in two and a half months to participate in the Celestial Pride Conference.”

Luo Tian explained the situation to his master, Mu Yunshi.

”Mm. A Martial Artist shouldn’t be confined to one place. You need to experience more and see more of the world.”

Mu Yunshi agreed with Luo Tian’s idea.

True experts weren’t forged in secluded cultivation; they were forged by braving hardships and trials!

”Take this.”

Mu Yunshi took out a light blue pearl that also resembled an Elixir Pill.

”Is this... an Elixir Pill?”

Luo Tian didn’t dare to compliment Mu Yunshi’s alchemy skills.

”It is indeed an Elixir Pill, but it’s not for eating. My power is sealed within it. If you activate it during a life-or-death crisis, it will help you escape!”

Mu Yunshi explained.

”Thank you, Master!”

Luo Tian said gratefully.

Although he had the Red Lotus Sword as a trump card, no one would complain about having too many life-saving measures.

”This disciple takes his leave!”

Watching Luo Tian depart, Mu Yunshi couldn’t help but sigh.

’It’s impossible for Luo Tian to make it into the top twenty of the Celestial Pride Conference. By the next time I see him, he will no longer be my disciple.’

Next, Luo Tian went to Artifact Refining Peak to find Cheng Wanli.

”You want to further refine your Ice Trace Sword and Defensive Inner Armor?”

Cheng Wanli frowned in thought.

Once Luo Tian left, he wouldn’t be coming back; in two and a half months, he would head directly to the Celestial Pride Conference.

Therefore, he wanted to enhance his equipment as much as possible.

By comparison, having artifacts refined within the Sect was much more cost-effective, and he could even get a further discount from Cheng Wanli.

”It would be difficult to add Inscriptions to these two Treasure Artifacts. I can only fuse other materials into them to improve their quality!”

”Give me half a month!”

Cheng Wanli gave his answer.

”Alright!”

Luo Tian replied.

In half a month, he would retrieve his weapon and Treasure Armor, leave the Yunxiao Sect, and go out to train!

As he walked out of Cheng Wanli’s pavilion, Luo Tian ran into two acquaintances: Qiao Hai and that blue-haired woman.

”Luo Tian!”

When the two Core Disciples saw Luo Tian, their faces darkened.

Back in the Ancient Garden on Xuankong Mountain, their plan had been perfect, only for Luo Tian to show up out of nowhere and steal the fruits of their labor!

”Junior Luo, I hear you want to participate in the Celestial Pride Conference?”

the blue-haired woman said with a look of disdain.

”That’s right!”

Luo Tian admitted frankly.

”Hehe, it seems that getting first place in the Xuankong Mountain trial has made you think you’re invincible!”

the blue-haired woman mocked without reservation.

”In the Xuankong Mountain trial, you ultimately won through cunning and trickery. The Celestial Pride Conference is a contest of real strength. If you go, you’ll just be cannon fodder, a green leaf meant to set off the other geniuses!”

The blue-haired woman wore a proud expression and glanced at Qiao Hai.

They were both Core Disciples, and Qiao Hai was even a top genius at the Half-step Earth Element Realm, ranked high on the Spirit List.

The Celestial Pride Conference was their stage!

”My business has nothing to do with you, does it?”

Luo Tian’s expression turned slightly cold.

”Hehe, your Senior Sister is just concerned about you. You’re really repaying kindness with ill will!”

the blue-haired woman sneered.

Her failure on Xuankong Mountain had made her deeply resentful of Luo Tian, which was why she was provoking and taunting him now.

”The Celestial Pride Conference is a stage for Core Disciples. A weakling like you should just be an obedient spectator!”

The blue-haired woman felt a sense of satisfaction as she continued to berate Luo Tian!

Qiao Hai, who stood to the side, hadn’t said a word from start to finish. His deep, cold eyes sized up Luo Tian, concealing a faint killing intent.

”Is that so?”

Luo Tian retorted, then said coldly, ”In half a month, you will be removed from the ranks of the ten Core Disciples!”

A powerful, sharp aura shot from his eyes. His intangible spirit and presence slightly startled the blue-haired woman and Qiao Hai.

After saying this, Luo Tian turned and left.

”Removed from the ranks?”

The blue-haired woman was momentarily stunned.

It was true that after the Xuankong Mountain trial, the surviving disciples would all improve by leaps and bounds, and the probability of a shake-up among the Core Disciples was high.

But the blue-haired woman was confident she could keep her status.

”That’s not what he meant!”

Qiao Hai spoke up.

”Then what did he—”

The blue-haired woman looked thoughtful for a moment, then suddenly understood, and her anger flared!

Luo Tian’s words were actually a challenge directed at her!

In half a month, he was challenging a Core Disciple!

”Fine! Luo Tian, I’ll accept your challenge!”

The blue-haired woman’s slender eyebrows knitted together, her phoenix eyes widened, and the corners of her mouth curled into a cold, fierce smile!

She bore a grudge against Luo Tian and had been frustrated by the lack of opportunity to teach him a lesson!

And now, Luo Tian had actually delivered himself to her doorstep!

The blue-haired woman could hardly wait to stomp Luo Tian under her heel and humiliate him thoroughly!