King of Ten Thousand Years

Luo Tian followed Qiao Hai and the blue-haired woman, leaving the Free Trade Zone.

’My strength has improved quite a bit,’ Luo Tian thought to himself.

In his clash with Hua Xiang’Er, she hadn’t held back, yet Luo Tian had held an overwhelming advantage.

For one, his attainments in the Sword Dao were far superior to those of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s disciples.

As for his True Qi, his Eighth-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex was now thirty percent formed, making him stronger than an ordinary cultivator at the Peak of the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm.

Luo Tian’s strength was improving daily.

Now, he wouldn’t even fear an enemy at the Half-step Earth Element Realm.

However, compared to top-tier Half-step Earth Element Realm experts like Ji Qingrong and Jiang Daoyun, there might still be a small gap.

Luo Tian glanced at Qiao Hai, who was walking ahead.

’He’s broken through to the Earth Element Realm!’

This was also within Luo Tian’s expectations.

A Spirit List prodigy at the Earth Element Realm possessed far-reaching fame and terrifying deterrent power.

Jiang Daoyun and the Spirit Flower Dual Swords had been so intimidated that they didn’t say another word and let Luo Tian leave.

’To achieve my master’s goal, I need to at least reach Qiao Hai’s level of strength!’

Luo Tian felt the pressure, but his fighting spirit grew even stronger.

He wanted to surpass Qiao Hai, the Third Elder’s disciple!

The blue-haired woman next to Qiao Hai was none other than Lu Lin, the Core Disciple Luo Tian had defeated before leaving the Yunxiao Sect.

Now, her Cultivation was at the Half-step Earth Element Realm.

”Gathering Immortals Tower!”

Luo Tian followed the pair to an immense and luxurious inn. A single night’s stay here started at three hundred Spiritual Essence Coins.

After bringing Luo Tian back, Qiao Hai and the blue-haired woman left without a word.

”Senior Brother Qiao, please pass a message to the Elder for me. Just say I’ve returned to the group!”

Luo Tian called out.

The corner of Qiao Hai’s eye twitched, and he felt a hint of displeasure.

’We’re enemies, so why is Luo Tian acting so nonchalant and asking me for help?’

”Luo Tian, I will have my revenge at the Celestial Pride Conference!”

The blue-haired woman shot Luo Tian a harsh glare before disappearing down the corridor.

She had seen Luo Tian’s fight with Hua Xiang’Er just now and was inwardly disdainful.

’With my current Cultivation at the Half-step Earth Element Realm, I can definitely crush Luo Tian with ease.’

”Brother Luo, you’re here?”

Just then, a slender man with crimson eyes walked out of a private room ahead. It was Cheng Wanli.

”You’ve broken through to the Half-step Earth Element Realm?”

Luo Tian showed a hint of surprise.

’As expected of someone with Earth Tier Top Grade Martial Veins. With a powerful background and abundant resources, his Cultivation speed is just incredible.’

But Cheng Wanli felt that when it came to Cultivation speed, Luo Tian was even faster.

Before leaving the Yunxiao Sect, Luo Tian’s Cultivation had only been approaching the Peak of the Seventh Layer, but now he had already broken through to the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm.

Normally, someone at the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm wouldn’t even qualify to participate in the Celestial Pride Conference.

But Cheng Wanli no longer underestimated Luo Tian. Instead, he saw him as a formidable rival!

”Come on, let’s go have a look around. It’s not every day we get to visit the Celestial Ring Alliance. Staying in our rooms would be too much of a waste!”

Cheng Wanli strode over.

The Celestial Ring Alliance was the most prosperous place in the entire Dongchen Continent, bright day and night.

Here, strength was no longer the sole measure of status.

After all, the creed of the Celestial Ring Alliance was ”profit above all.”

Thus, a saying was popular here: with enough money, you can do whatever you want.

”Alright!”

Luo Tian was also very interested in the Celestial Ring Alliance and hadn’t had his fill of exploring yet.

A single Qi Pushing and Root Strengthening Pill was not enough to satisfy him.

Luo Tian also needed a large Storage Space.

If he came across other suitable Cultivation Materials, he would buy them as well.

Furthermore, back in that Gobi Canyon on Xuankong Mountain, Luo Tian had obtained the Spirit Wind Gourd and a Martial Skill.

That Martial Skill’s Tier had reached Earth Level Upper Grade, but unfortunately, it was a Spear Technique, so Luo Tian planned to sell it.

Meanwhile, Cheng Wanli wanted to acquire rare materials.

He had an unfinished Treasure Artifact, and if he could finish refining it before the Celestial Pride Conference, it would significantly boost his strength.

’My weapon and Treasure Armor can still be improved, but the potential is limited, and the cost would be considerable...’

After some thought, Luo Tian gave up on the idea. It was better to focus on raising his Cultivation and enhancing his Cultivation and Martial Skills.

He first accompanied Cheng Wanli to buy ores.

”The Celestial Ring Alliance is truly amazing! I found it!”

Before long, inside a luxurious materials shop, Cheng Wanli found the ore he needed.

It was a dark silver, ice-cold jade stone that Luo Tian didn’t recognize.

”Honored customer, this is ’Celestial Yin Jade’. The piece in your hand is worth five thousand Spiritual Essence Coins,” the steward said.

Legitimate shops, especially grand and opulent establishments like this one, generally had higher prices.

If the Celestial Yin Jade were available in the Free Trade Zone, the price would be much lower.

”I’ll take two.”

Cheng Wanli said readily.

”Honored customer, please wait a moment!”

The steward’s eyes lit up.

Immediately, two maids placed two pieces of Celestial Yin Jade into brocade boxes and presented them to Cheng Wanli.

”Hold on. I’m also a bit interested in this Celestial Yin Jade. If you’re willing to give me a twenty-percent discount, I’ll buy two pieces as well.”

Luo Tian suddenly spoke up.

The steward looked troubled. Big establishments like theirs usually didn’t haggle.

However, Cheng Wanli had already bought two pieces, and these two seemed to be big spenders. They were clearly not short on money.

After a moment of thought, the steward agreed. ”Alright, a twenty-percent discount it is!”

And so, Luo Tian spent eight thousand Spiritual Essence Coins to purchase two pieces of Celestial Yin Jade.

Cheng Wanli, who was standing to the side, watched, stunned.

As the son of the Yunxiao Sect Master, he had never worried about money since childhood and always spent lavishly. He truly had no experience with haggling.

Cheng Wanli also realized that Luo Tian had only succeeded in getting a discount by piggybacking on his own purchase.

”Honored customer, your Celestial Yin Jade,” the steward said, handing over a brocade box.

”Great!”

Luo Tian placed the Celestial Yin Jade into his Storage Space.

While Cheng Wanli was buying the Celestial Yin Jade, the Nether Dragon Divine Vein inside Luo Tian’s body had trembled inexplicably, stirring with anticipation.

He thus deduced that this rare ore was beneficial to his Divine Vein.

The Divine Vein was one of Luo Tian’s greatest trump cards. If he could improve it, he would absolutely not be stingy.

Still, spending eight thousand Spiritual Essence Coins truly made him wince.

’I only have one thousand Spiritual Essence Coins left...’

Luo Tian felt a faint sense of melancholy.

Next, as if they were of one mind, the two of them arrived at an auction house.

It turned out that Cheng Wanli didn’t have many Spiritual Essence Coins left either and was planning to sell some Treasure Artifacts.

Luo Tian, on the other hand, was there to auction off the Earth Level Upper Grade Martial Skill.

After consigning their items for auction, the two decided to watch the auction.

During the event, several treasures caught their eye and tempted them greatly, but alas, they had no money.

In the later part of the auction, the Martial Skill Luo Tian had put up for sale became one of the final, featured items.

After the auction ended and the commission was deducted, Luo Tian received twenty-five thousand Spiritual Essence Coins.

An Earth Level Upper Grade Martial Skill, a top-tier technique just below the Celestial Level, was extremely valuable. In some smaller nations, it could even be considered a national treasure.

Next, Luo Tian bought a Storage Ring, spending five thousand Spiritual Essence Coins.

The new Storage Ring had a larger internal space—a perfect cube four meters in length, width, and height.

”In these last ten days, I’m going to finish that Treasure Artifact.”

Cheng Wanli bid farewell to Luo Tian. He rented an Artifact Refining Room and shut himself inside.

Luo Tian returned to the Gathering Immortals Tower.

Inside his room.

He organized his belongings, moving all his possessions into the new Storage Ring.

He had spent four thousand Spiritual Essence Coins on the Qi Pushing and Root Strengthening Pill, eight thousand on the two pieces of Celestial Yin Jade, and five thousand on the Storage Ring.

But by auctioning the Earth Level Upper Grade Martial Skill, he had gained twenty-five thousand Spiritual Essence Coins.

Now, Luo Tian had twenty thousand Spiritual Essence Coins on hand, a colossal sum that was practically unattainable for most Half-step Earth Element Realm martial artists.

After organizing his gains.

Luo Tian held the Celestial Yin Jade in his hand and began to cultivate.

WHOOSH!

A suction force emerged from the Nether Dragon Divine Vein within his body.

Wisps of dark silver light flowed from the surface of the Celestial Yin Jade, merging into the location of the Divine Vein on Luo Tian’s back.

HUMMM!

On Luo Tian’s back, deep blue scales flickered with a cold light. A phantom mist swirled around them, forming the shape of a fierce and domineering Dragon Vein.

Celestial Yin Jade came from deep underground where Yin Qi was heavy. For Martial Artists who practiced Yin Cold Techniques, it could greatly boost their Cultivation Method.

It could also be used to refine Treasure Artifacts, imbuing them with a Yin Cold Attribute.

The Yin Cold aura within this piece of Celestial Yin Jade was extremely dense, enough for an ordinary High Tier Spirit Sea Realm martial artist to cultivate with for one or two months.

The main reason for this was that absorbing too much at once would be unbearable and result in a backlash.

But Luo Tian’s Martial Vein Tier had reached the level of a Divine Vein, and his endurance was extremely high.

In just half a day, he had absorbed one-tenth of the power within the Celestial Yin Jade, and he felt no obvious discomfort.

He paused briefly to let his Divine Vein completely refine the power, then continued to absorb it.

「Six days later.」

Luo Tian had completely absorbed all the power within the first piece of Celestial Yin Jade.

The Nether Dragon Divine Vein inside his body was now brighter, its coldness bone-chilling, and many of its incomplete parts had been repaired.

”Activate!”

Luo Tian let out a low shout, and his Nether Dragon Divine Vein erupted.

FWOOSH!

A vortex of dark Cold Mist instantly burst forth, enveloping the entire room. The surroundings were immediately covered in frost, as if plunged into the dead of winter.

”Such powerful Cold Power!”

Luo Tian immediately retracted his Divine Vein Power.

He had heard that the rooms in the Gathering Immortals Tower were reinforced with Arrays, giving them outstanding defensive capabilities. They could not only completely block out sound but also had a strong insulating effect against other forces.

But Luo Tian’s Spiritual Sense detected that the instant he activated his Nether Dragon Divine Vein, a layer of frost had formed in the next room and even in the corridor.

If a weaker Martial Artist had happened to be passing by, Luo Tian might have accidentally killed them.

’This Divine Vein Cold Power alone could reduce the speed of a Peak of Ninth Layer Spirit Sea Realm expert by at least forty percent.’

Luo Tian nodded in satisfaction.

He still had one more piece of Celestial Yin Jade.

However, Luo Tian wasn’t in a hurry to continue absorbing it.

”Celestial Book, how many pages will it take to deduce the rest of the ’Demon Thought Technique’?”

Luo Tian’s consciousness entered the Celestial Book World.

Previously, when he faced the Earth Element Ghost General, his opponent was able to quickly recover from the Demon Thought Technique.

This was proof enough that the level of his Demon Thought Technique was somewhat weak against Earth Level Martial Artists.

This was only natural.

When he first obtained the Demon Thought Technique, Luo Tian had only deduced a quarter of its content, which was equivalent to just scratching the surface.

”Four hundred pages!”

A line of text appeared on the Celestial Book.

The Demon Thought Technique was an Evil Technique belonging to the Ancient Heavenly Demon Clan. Luo Tian had no similar Secret Techniques to draw from to reduce the cost.

Four hundred pages was equivalent to consuming eight thousand Spiritual Essence Coins.

In Luo Tian’s opinion, however, it was completely worth it.

The Demon Thought Technique was also one of his trump cards. If it could effectively affect an opponent and reveal a flaw, he could seize victory in a single move and turn the tide of battle.

Luo Tian immediately spent the Spiritual Essence Coins to charge the Celestial Book with four hundred pages.

”Complete the inference!”

The power that had filled the Celestial Book dimmed at an astonishing speed and was quickly depleted.

The complete version of the ”Demon Thought Technique” flooded into Luo Tian’s mind!