King of Ten Thousand Years

Luo Tian took out the Mysterious Blue Treasure Pearl. It was this little thing that had led the Sect’s higher-ups to this unknown Secret Realm when they were trying to connect to the Frosty Winter Secret Realm.

Previously, the Treasure Pearl had guided him.

But right now, it wasn’t reacting at all.

”So it only works some of the time!”

Luo Tian felt a little helpless as he put the Mysterious Blue Treasure Pearl away.

Just then, his Yunxiao Sect Identity Token vibrated faintly, glowing with a white light.

Luo Tian took it out and heard a message from within: ”Luo Tian, we’ve discovered a mysterious canyon with quite a few Ancient Treasures inside...”

He had just messaged two Yunxiao Sect disciples, and now one of them was replying.

’It’s Yi Jingwen.’

Luo Tian recognized her voice and immediately headed over.

In the Sea Hunter Race’s territory, it was a little safer to stick together.

Before long, Luo Tian arrived at his destination.

He saw quite a few people gathered outside the canyon. Yi Jingwen was there, along with another Yunxiao Sect disciple, the blue-haired woman Lu Lin.

In addition, there were six others, all geniuses from various powers.

One person who left a strong impression on Luo Tian was an elegant woman in green, Song Luyao, who had once sold him a Qi Pushing and Root Strengthening Pill.

There was also a man with a sallow complexion; Luo Tian recalled that he had once been ranked seventh on the Spirit List.

”Luo Tian!”

”King of the Celestial Pride!”

Luo Tian’s arrival drew everyone’s attention.

Some faces lit up with joy, while others felt a surge of pressure.

After all, Luo Tian was strong enough to dominate everyone present. He would be the one calling the shots.

”At the entrance to the canyon, there’s a snake nest teeming with Jade Arrow Snakes. We’ve tried to break through a few times, but we couldn’t make it. It’s also too difficult to kill them all.”

Yi Jingwen approached and began to explain the situation.

”Jade Arrow Snakes? Those are rare Ancient Demon Beasts, aren’t they?”

Luo Tian remarked with a sigh.

Jade Arrow Snakes were very small, skilled at camouflage, and incredibly fast. They killed like a loosed arrow and contained a lethal poison that could kill in a single strike.

”Come on, let’s take a look.”

Luo Tian went ahead with Yi Jingwen and Lu Lin. The rest, worried Luo Tian would monopolize the rewards, immediately followed suit.

Subtly, the other six geniuses from different factions banded together.

This was all due to the pressure emanating from the King of the Celestial Pride!

Soon, the group arrived at the canyon entrance. The area was dark and damp, dotted with several small caves.

As Luo Tian’s group approached, sinister green shadows flickered out from the small caves.

The area was also overgrown with weeds, providing perfect cover for the Jade Arrow Snakes. An attack from them would be extremely difficult to handle.

Luo Tian could also smell blood; it seemed someone had recently died here.

He peered into the canyon and did indeed spot many Heavenly and Earthly Treasures.

The concentration of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi inside was several times higher than outside. It must have produced some exceptionally precious treasures!

”So, King of the Celestial Pride? Do you have a way to deal with them?”

”There are three Earth Element Realm Level snakes in that swarm, and they pose the greatest threat!” the sallow-faced man said.

The Earth Level Jade Arrow Snakes were hidden among the swarm, making them difficult to spot. One would only realize they were there when they attacked, but by then, it would likely be too late.

The sallow-faced man himself had suffered at the hands of one such Earth Level Jade Arrow Snake. If he hadn’t brought a special Antitoxic Pill, he likely would have died from the poison.

Luo Tian stood still, his eyes unfocused, and didn’t answer.

His consciousness entered the Celestial Book World to inquire about the detailed characteristics of an Ancient Demon Beast like the Jade Arrow Snake.

’Normally, you’d aim for a snake’s vital spot, but Jade Arrow Snakes are so small and fast that it’s difficult to land a precise hit.’

’But most snakes share a common weakness: a fear and aversion to cold.’

”If Qi Yuntian were here, he’d sweep these Jade Arrow Snakes aside with ease. They wouldn’t be a threat at all,” the sallow-faced man said sarcastically.

He was an expert from the Celestial Ring Alliance and was deeply resentful that Luo Tian had become the King of the Celestial Pride.

”What did you say?”

Luo Tian shot him an indifferent glance.

”I was asking... if the King of the Celestial Pride has a way to deal with this swarm of Jade Arrow Snakes?”

In the end, the sallow-faced man didn’t have the nerve to repeat his earlier words.

”Hmph. This swarm of Jade Arrow Snakes was enough to stop all of you?”

Luo Tian scoffed.

His words left the sallow-faced man feeling annoyed and indignant, stoking his resentment.

’Easy for you to say. If you’re so capable, why don’t you go?’

But in the very next moment, Luo Tian strode forward.

”Luo Tian, be careful,”

Yi Jingwen warned.

She and the sallow-faced man were both Earth Element Realm Martial Artists, yet they had been helpless against the Earth Level Jade Arrow Snakes and had nearly died from the poison.

Yi Jingwen worried that becoming the King of the Celestial Pride had made Luo Tian overconfident, and that he would get himself killed here.

Luo Tian ignored her, drawing closer to the canyon entrance.

HISS! HISS!

From the surrounding vegetation, the hissing of the Jade Arrow Snakes rose and fell in a ceaseless cacophony—a sound of death that made one’s skin crawl!

Suddenly, WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

From Luo Tian’s left and right, two meter-long, emerald streaks of light shot out. They were impossibly fast and inescapable!

”Activate!”

Luo Tian let out a low cry as he activated his Nether Dragon Divine Vein!

A vortex of dark, icy mist instantly expanded, enveloping a forty to fifty-meter radius.

From within the vortex came an abyssal, chilling suction and a low dragon’s roar, unleashing a bone-piercing cold aura at the Earth Element Realm Level.

Instantly, the two Jade Arrow Snakes lunging at Luo Tian slowed. Their straight bodies began to curve, and a layer of frost formed on their scales.

WHOOSH!

With a wave of his hand, Luo Tian swatted the two Jade Arrow Snakes against the wall, splattering blood everywhere.

The deaths of the two snakes enraged the others. The sound of their flicking tongues grew more intense, and a faint green, poisonous mist began to drift through the air.

Luo Tian was surrounded by the Jade Arrow Snakes, the three Earth Level ones hidden in their midst.

”Freeze solid, all of you!”

Luo Tian’s expression hardened as he pushed his Martial Vein Power even further.

The vortex of Cold Mist around him grew deeper and denser, its chill becoming astonishing!

Frost coated the ground, and the plants froze solid. Many of the Jade Arrow Snakes, shivering from the cold, became easy to spot.

Jade Arrow Snakes feared the cold, a weakness his Martial Vein could exploit perfectly.

’I have the Extreme Ice Fairy to thank for this. If she hadn’t helped my Martial Vein Cold Power reach this level, the effect wouldn’t be nearly this good...’

A faint smile touched Luo Tian’s lips.

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, a blindingly brilliant green arrow of light shot toward Luo Tian, carrying a lethal, cold glint that promised death.

”An Earth Level Jade Arrow Snake is attacking!” the sallow-faced man exclaimed in shock.

Normally, the Earth Level Jade Arrow Snakes wouldn’t deign to attack. The last time, they had to kill over a dozen regular snakes before an Earth Level one finally appeared to repel them.

But Luo Tian had barely been there a moment before an Earth Level one attacked. It was hard to say if he was just that much of a threat, or simply unlucky.

”A pathetic little snake. Get lost!”

Luo Tian’s Spiritual Sense had already locked onto all three Earth Level Jade Arrow Snakes.

The Cold Mist around him contracted instantly, causing the chill to intensify.

When the Earth Level Jade Arrow Snake came within five meters of Luo Tian, even it couldn’t withstand the cold. Its body, once straight as an arrow, began to twist and stiffen.

Cold Wind Palm!

Luo Tian channeled his True Palm Skill Intent, unleashing a swift, icy palm strike. It stirred up a biting cold wind, its movements both graceful and sinister.

The palm technique had a massive area of effect. The piercing palm-wind it generated struck the Earth Level Jade Arrow Snake, sending it flying more than ten meters before it crashed to the ground, its body writhing violently.

”He dealt with it... that easily?”

The sallow-faced man was stunned into silence.

The other geniuses present also wore looks of astonishment.

The swarm of Jade Arrow Snakes that had held their entire group at bay was completely unable to harm Luo Tian. Even the attack from an Earth Level snake had been unsuccessful!

”Snakes are afraid of the cold...” a genius from Bishui Palace remarked. His own Cultivation Technique also countered the Jade Arrow Snakes, but unfortunately, his Cultivation was too weak for it to be effective.

”One Jade Arrow Snake is nothing! What’s truly terrifying is when the whole swarm attacks at once!”

The sallow-faced man said defensively, his expression turning ugly.

The moment the Earth Level Jade Arrow Snake was sent flying, the entire swarm grew agitated and launched an all-out assault!

From all directions, emerald streaks of light, each laced with deadly poison, shot toward Luo Tian, threatening to riddle him with countless holes in the next instant!

But Luo Tian’s expression remained calm as he fully activated his Nether Dragon Divine Vein and executed Cold Wind Palm!

He was shrouded in a dense, dark vortex of icy cold. Gusts of piercing palm-wind howled forth, instantly sending seven or eight Jade Arrow Snakes flying!

WHOOSH WHOOSH! SWOOSH SWOOSH!

The swarm’s coordinated attack was still useless against Luo Tian; he effortlessly swatted them away, one after another.

The group watching from behind was utterly dumbfounded.

”What are you all standing around for? Get over here and help wipe out this snake swarm! Or do you not want any of the treasure?”

Luo Tian barked.

Jolted as if from a dream, everyone quickly rushed forward.

Luo Tian’s performance had completely awed them. The wariness and hostility they had felt were replaced by admiration and fear.

Now, they only wanted to contribute more so they could get a bigger share of the spoils later.

The geniuses joined the fray, striking out to kill the Jade Arrow Snakes.

With Luo Tian’s help, the Jade Arrow Snakes were easy to spot. Slowed and stiff from the cold, they were simple to kill.

The entire process was a one-sided slaughter, so effortless that it made them question reality.

Luo Tian simply maintained his Nether Dragon Divine Vein, taking the opportunity to practice his Cold Wind Palm and further his comprehension of its True Palm Skill Intent.

Soon, all the Jade Arrow Snakes had been slain. Two of the Earth Level ones were killed, and the third escaped.

”Thanks to the King of the Celestial Pride, we dealt with that snake swarm smoothly. I’ll follow your lead from now on,” a disciple from one of the Ten Hidden Families offered.

This made the sallow-faced man’s expression even uglier.

Before Luo Tian’s arrival, he, the former seventh-ranked expert on the Spirit List, had been the one with the most authority here.

”Once inside, everyone fends for themselves to find treasure!”

Luo Tian stated plainly, then was the first to enter.

The others all nodded in agreement. If they were lucky enough to find a rare treasure, it would be theirs to keep.

...

「At the same time.」

Tu Kai and Yu Sanshui, two members of the Sea Hunter Race, were also searching for treasures and humans.

Trailing behind them were two human captives, one man and one woman.

The woman was none other than the Extreme Ice Fairy. Both she and the man wore thick, silver bracelets on their wrists.

These were Forbidden Element Rings, treasures bestowed by their Sect’s upper echelons when they were sent in to investigate. Once worn, a Forbidden Element Ring could suppress the True Essence of even a High Tier Earth Element Realm expert.

”Senior Brother Tu, that canyon over there seems... unusual,” Yu Sanshui said, his gaze fixed on the distance.

Tu Kai nodded slightly. The two drew closer and soon arrived at the entrance to the canyon.

Yu Sanshui broke into a wicked grin. ”Heh heh, Senior Brother Tu, there are signs of a fight here... and the scent of humans...”

”We’ll catch them all in one fell swoop!”

A cruel look appeared on Tu Kai’s cold face.

A flicker of joy appeared in the eyes of the Extreme Ice Fairy and the other man. If they met other humans, perhaps they could be saved.

But the joy on their faces instantly turned to worry and despair.

Even someone like Qi Yuntian might not be a match for Tu Kai, and the chances of running into Qi Yuntian were slim to none.

The most likely outcome was that there would simply be a few more human captives.