King of Ten Thousand Years

The long-legged woman had only meant to scare Luo Tian, not get him killed.

She believed that with Luo Tian’s alertness and the Body Technique he’d previously displayed, his life wouldn’t be in any real danger.

”Huh? Why’d you run off? Scared?”

Luo Tian’s sudden question left the long-legged woman feeling slightly exasperated.

”If you don’t run now, you’ll be electrocuted!” the long-legged woman yelled.

Luo Tian acted as if he hadn’t heard her.

Celestial Furnace Treasure Body!

Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Hand!

Luo Tian fully activated his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body. His entire frame seemed to expand as he unleashed a massive, crystalline-yellow palm strike that resembled an indestructible wall!

BOOM!

The Wind-Thunder Dog’s attack descended. After holding for two breaths, the Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Hand was shattered.

The aftershock of wind and lightning blasted toward him. Luo Tian drifted back, deploying his True Qi Body Protection and blocking some of the damage.

The Protective True Qi shattered, leaving a few scorch marks on his body, but he was largely unharmed.

”What are you staring at? This is the perfect chance! Attack!”

Luo Tian yelled at the long-legged woman.

The dazed look on her face finally vanished, and her expression returned to normal.

’But she was still shaken. Luo Tian faced the Wind-Thunder Dog’s full-power onslaught and only got some minor scratches?’

The long-legged woman immediately closed in on the Wind-Thunder Dog from the other side.

SWISH!

A dazzling, brilliant silver blade of light shot out, carving a trench in the ground and splitting everything in its path as it slashed toward the Wind-Thunder Dog.

The palm strike sliced off one of the Wind-Thunder Dog’s legs.

Having lost its advantage in speed, the Wind-Thunder Dog’s combat strength was drastically reduced.

After a brief struggle, the long-legged woman decapitated the Wind-Thunder Dog with another palm strike.

She then collected the spoils and gave Luo Tian a thirty-percent share.

Luo Tian didn’t mind.

His main goal was to temper himself, and besides, the long-legged woman had been the primary fighter against the Wind-Thunder Dog.

This was Luo Tian’s third time facing a Half-step Earth Element Realm opponent.

The first was on Xuankong Mountain, where he had relied on the powerful boost from his Spirit Pond Mark to repel Han Yuan.

The second was against Ao Chuan, the Mansion Master of the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion. He’d held a slight advantage in their one-move exchange, but Ao Chuan hadn’t been fighting at full strength.

This was the third time. Relying on his own strength against the Wind-Thunder Dog, Luo Tian felt he could hold his own if he were alone. Defeating it would be difficult, and killing it was out of the question.

’My current strength is approaching the Half-step Earth Element Realm, but there’s still a gap between me and those powerful geniuses at that level.’

The long-legged woman was one of them.

Luo Tian wasn’t discouraged, however.

’Knowing his shortcomings and the gap between them, he just had to work hard to catch up. He still has a lot of room for improvement.’

First was his Wind Manipulation Technique. Luo Tian felt he had improved significantly in the past few days. If he could cultivate it to the Great Achievement Realm, it would be a qualitative leap in power.

After all, it was a Celestial Level Body Technique Martial Skill!

In addition, his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body, Nine Heavens Sword Technique, Guiyuan True Skill, and Celestial Sword Technique all had room for improvement.

Among them, aside from the Guiyuan True Skill which was only Earth Tier Middle Grade, the rest were all Earth Tier Upper Grade or even Celestial Level!

”Let’s continue!”

Luo Tian said after a short rest.

The long-legged woman nodded, his fighting spirit infectious.

’If someone at the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm is this dedicated, I have no excuse to fall behind him.’

”The next time we run into a Half-step Earth Element Realm Demon Beast, can you let me handle more of the fight?”

Luo Tian asked.

”No!”

The long-legged woman refused without hesitation.

’Letting Luo Tian take on more would reduce the pressure on me. How am I supposed to temper myself like that?’

”Then why don’t we go find an Earth Element Realm Demon Beast? You can be the main attacker, and I’ll just cheer you on from the sidelines!” Luo Tian said.

”...”

The corner of the long-legged woman’s eye twitched.

’This kid is as audacious as ever!’

An Earth Element Realm Demon Beast was too powerful. The most she could do was hold her ground and stall for time.

And Luo Tian’s Cultivation was too low. A casual strike from an Earth Element Realm Demon Beast could kill him instantly.

「Two hours later.」

The two found another Half-step Earth Element Realm Demon Beast.

This time, Luo Tian was extremely proactive, even rushing in front of the Half-step Earth Element Realm Demon Beast to take on more of its attacks.

”Get back!”

The long-legged woman, somewhat displeased, competed with Luo Tian for the role of ”main attacker.”

The two had zero coordination. They even got in each other’s way, making the fight more difficult for them both.

Neither she nor Luo Tian cared. The greater the difficulty, the better. As long as it didn’t exceed their limits, it would only serve to draw out more of their potential.

The Half-step Earth Element Realm Demon Beast thought the two humans were fools for fighting amongst themselves.

But in the end, it died filled with indignation.

It died at the hands of two completely uncooperative humans who were practically sabotaging each other.

Despite getting in each other’s way, they didn’t grow to resent one another. Instead, a sense of rivalry began to form between them.

As the two were resting, a powerful aura approached, and they immediately shot to their feet.

”The aura of a Half-step Earth Element Realm!”

the long-legged woman said. Both were already prepared for battle.

”Miss Ji, it’s me!”

A man in golden robes with an extraordinary bearing descended before them, a faint smile on his face.

”And you are?”

The long-legged woman, Ji Qingrong, looked thoughtful.

”I am Jiang Daoyun of the Zi Shan Dynasty’s Jiang Family. Five years ago, I accompanied my father on a visit to the Ji Family and had the honor of sparring with you, Miss Ji.”

The man introduced himself politely.

Ji Qingrong nodded. She remembered now.

”I heard you had come to the Manglong Mountain Range to train, Miss Ji, so I rushed here at once. It has been several years, and you’ve grown even more beautiful!”

Jiang Daoyun was beaming, his eyes fixed solely on Ji Qingrong, almost completely ignoring Luo Tian.

Luo Tian could tell at a glance that Jiang Daoyun was interested in Ji Qingrong, but it was clear she felt nothing for him.

Jiang Daoyun finally glanced at Luo Tian, his brow furrowed. ”And who is this?”

’Why is there a man with Ji Qingrong? Is he from the Ji Family, too?’

”Um... what’s your name?”

Ji Qingrong had only just realized she didn’t know Luo Tian’s name.

”Luo Tian.”

Jiang Daoyun, standing to the side, was perplexed. ’What’s going on here?’

He soon learned that Ji Qingrong had met Luo Tian while training here and the two had formed a team.

Jiang Daoyun was instantly irritated. ’Luo Tian stole my spot.’

”Miss Ji, with your level of strength, you’re teaming up with some kid at the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm? Surely he’s not holding you back?”

Once Jiang Daoyun learned that Luo Tian wasn’t from the Ji Family and didn’t know Ji Qingrong well, he became brazen, showing no regard for Luo Tian whatsoever.

He wanted to drive Luo Tian away so he could be alone with Ji Qingrong.

”He hasn’t.”

Ji Qingrong didn’t appreciate Jiang Daoyun’s tone.

She could also see that he was interested in her, which only made her dislike him more.

”If there’s nothing else, we’ll be leaving.”

Ji Qingrong’s tone was cold.

Jiang Daoyun’s expression stiffened. He hadn’t expected her to defend Luo Tian.

”Hehe, don’t be in such a rush, Miss Ji. I just learned that there’s a rare Earth Spirit Fruit Tree somewhere in the Manglong Mountain Range.”

A smirk played on Jiang Daoyun’s lips.

’Of course I came prepared to win her over.’

”An Earth Spirit Fruit Tree?”

Ji Qingrong stopped in her tracks, her expression changing.

The Earth Spirit Fruit Tree bears a single Earth Spirit Fruit every five hundred years. The fruit can increase one’s chances of breaking through to the Earth Element Realm by twenty percent.

If the Earth Spirit Fruit is used to refine an Earth Spirit Pill, it can increase the chances of breaking through to the Earth Element Realm by up to fifty percent, depending on the pill’s quality.

Of course, even if one failed to break through after taking the Earth Spirit Fruit or Earth Spirit Pill, it would still greatly refine their True Qi, allowing them to try for a breakthrough again in the future.

’This is a real treasure.’

Luo Tian was extremely tempted.

”You’re a long way from the Earth Element Realm.”

Jiang Daoyun shot Luo Tian a cold glare before turning back to Ji Qingrong with a smile. ”However, I hear a powerful Demon Beast is guarding the tree. If you’ll join me, Miss Ji, I’m confident we can secure it.”

”Alright, let’s go take a look.”

Ji Qingrong agreed.

It was a chance to both train and obtain an Earth Spirit Fruit. She had no reason to refuse.

”Count me in!”

Luo Tian was also interested in the Earth Spirit Fruit.

”You?”

Jiang Daoyun’s expression turned cold.

’A mere Eighth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm has no business getting involved.’

He was about to tell Luo Tian off, but Ji Qingrong spoke first. ”There’s safety in numbers.”

Jiang Daoyun didn’t object, saying with a hint of arrogance, ”For Miss Ji’s sake, I’ll allow you to join us.”

Then he led the way.

Before long, the three of them arrived at their destination.

Ahead, shrouded in mist, was a lake with a small island at its center.

On the island stood a large tree that exuded a strange fragrance and dense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

”Is that the Earth Spirit Fruit Tree?”

Luo Tian gazed intently.

”That’s right. The Earth Spirit Fruit Tree is on that island! But first, we have to deal with this Demon Beast Group before we can cross the lake and claim the tree.”

Jiang Daoyun said gravely.

It wasn’t just one or two powerful Demon Beasts camped around the lake, but an entire Demon Beast Group.

There were over thirty Red-Horned Demon Bulls in total, all emitting a thick aura of Demon Evil!

The Red-Horned Demon Bulls were enormous, each the size of a small house. The pair of red horns on their heads glowed with an eerie red light.

Most of the Red-Horned Demon Bulls had a Cultivation around the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm. Five were at the Peak of the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm, and two were at the Half-step Earth Element Realm.

The eyes of these Red-Horned Demon Bulls glinted with blood-red light as they, too, stared at the Earth Spirit Fruit Tree on the island.

”It looks like these Red-Horned Demon Bulls are also after the Earth Spirit Fruit Tree. We need to make our move, and fast!”

Ji Qingrong said.

”Let’s attack together! With your strength, Miss Ji, and me—ranked thirty-second on the Spirit List—there won’t be any mishaps.”

Jiang Daoyun said nonchalantly.

’Thirty-second on the Spirit List?’

Luo Tian was slightly taken aback.

’As expected. Anyone qualified to pursue Ji Qingrong wouldn’t be weak.’

”Luo Tian, don’t you dare slack off. If you don’t pull your weight, you won’t get a share of the spoils.”

Jiang Daoyun said to Luo Tian.

He was trying to rile Luo Tian up, hoping he would take more risks and get himself killed by the Red-Horned Demon Bulls. That would be perfect.

”How about we each keep what we get? To each their own.”

Luo Tian suggested.

Jiang Daoyun couldn’t help but sneer.

If they were splitting the loot as a team, as long as Luo Tian wasn’t completely useless, he would have had to give him a share.

But now Luo Tian had proposed they all fend for themselves.

’With his measly Eighth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm Cultivation, he’ll probably end up with nothing.’

”Then it’s settled.”

Jiang Daoyun agreed at once.

Ji Qingrong frowned. She could see that Jiang Daoyun had been targeting Luo Tian, and she suspected Luo Tian had only proposed this arrangement out of spite.

That was part of it, but Luo Tian also had a nagging feeling that seizing the Earth Spirit Fruit wouldn’t be so easy.

”Go!”

With a shout from Jiang Daoyun, the three of them charged forward.

Their appearance immediately drew the attention of the Red-Horned Demon Bull herd.

The herd of Red-Horned Demon Bulls roared in unison, their blood-red, furious eyes fixed on the three humans!

One of the Red-Horned Demon Bulls at the Peak of the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm was the first to attack.

It charged, kicking up a violent gale. It was like a crimson, flaming boulder, hurtling toward them with unstoppable force!

”Get lost!”

Jiang Daoyun leaped into the air and kicked out. A torrent of True Qi formed into the likeness of a Flood Dragon’s shadow, which shot forward to meet the charge head-on.

BAM!

The head of the ferocious Red-Horned Demon Bull exploded from the kick.

Its massive body flew back several meters and slammed hard onto the ground, its tough horns cracking from the impact!