King of Ten Thousand Years

Breaking through to the Earth Element Realm is no easy feat.

Throughout history, countless geniuses have been stopped at this very step.

The time Luo Tian had spent consolidating his power at the Peak of the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm wasn’t long, but it was sufficient.

With his Divine Vein’s aptitude, plus an Earth Spirit Pill, there shouldn’t be any mishaps.

Luo Tian was cautious, proceeding one step at a time.

First, he took out a bottle of ”Spirit Essence Liquid.”

This was one of the rewards from the Celestial Pride Conference, which Luo Tian had yet to use.

The liquid had many uses. It could strengthen one’s Qi Sea and increase their Cultivation Foundation. Consuming it during a breakthrough to the Earth Element Realm also provided some assistance.

After he drank it, a pure, clear stream flowed throughout his entire body.

Luo Tian felt his body fill with power. He was brimming with energy, and the rotation speed of his Nine-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex increased, a hazy, dreamlike glimmer flickering within it.

One could see the Nine-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex expand ever so slightly.

’To break through to the Earth Element Realm, I need to open a Primordial Pool!’

The Primordial Pool is the source of energy for an Earth Level Martial Artist!

There are different Magic Techniques for opening a Primordial Pool.

A powerful Magic Technique would create a more stable and larger Primordial Pool, resulting in a deeper Cultivation Foundation.

The Guiyuan True Skill contained a Magic Technique for opening a Primordial Pool.

However, at this stage, Luo Tian looked down on it a bit. After all, the Guiyuan True Skill was only an Earth Level Middle Grade Technique.

Luo Tian could even exchange for a better Primordial Pool Opening Method at the Yunxiao Sect’s Xuanwu Pavilion!

But Luo Tian had something even better!

His consciousness sank into the turquoise vortex storm in his mind—the inheritance of Venerable Biqing.

Luo Tian had used the Celestial Book to make a copy for Ning Xueyao, but he still had the original.

’The core of the Martial Venerable’s inheritance is the Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique, and it contains a Magic Technique for opening a Primordial Pool!’

At this moment, Luo Tian had already decided to abandon the Guiyuan True Skill and switch to cultivating the Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique.

The former was an Earth Level Middle Grade Technique, while the latter was Martial Venerable Level. In terms of both power and potential, the two were not on the same level!

’First, I’ll switch to the Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique!’

Luo Tian began to comprehend its contents.

The first layer of this Martial Venerable Level Technique corresponded to the Initial Tier Earth Element Realm.

Luo Tian could cultivate it at his current stage, but the difficulty was considerable.

But this level of difficulty was not enough to stop him!

Luo Tian’s aptitude and Comprehension were both astonishing, and his desire for strength at this moment was incredibly intense.

「Three days later.」

He successfully reached the entry-level of the first layer of the Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique!

The Nine-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex inside Luo Tian’s body now resembled an ocean gyre, shimmering with a turquoise luster.

He raised his palm slightly.

HUM!

A mass of condensed True Qi was released, resembling a combination of water and mist, and it shimmered with a faint cyan fluorescence.

’After switching to the Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique, my True Qi is much stronger than before!’

A look of joy appeared on Luo Tian’s face.

’It’s a Martial Venerable Level Technique, after all.’

Just because Luo Tian had given up the Martial Venerable’s inheritance didn’t mean he couldn’t use any part of it. He could still cultivate this technique.

The Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique wasn’t a perfect fit for Luo Tian, but it was powerful. Incredibly powerful!

’Alright, next up is opening the Primordial Pool!’

Luo Tian activated the opening Magic Technique from the Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique!

At the same time, he consumed an Earth Spirit Pill.

The medicinal effects of the Earth Spirit Pill were instantly released, flowing through his limbs and bones before finally converging in his Qi Sea.

「Qi Sea Space.」

The Nine-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex floating in mid-air began to shrink the distance between its layers!

「Two days later.」

The Nine-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex had almost completely compressed into a single entity.

The Nine-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex became a single Spirit Sea Vortex!

「Another day passed.」

The single Spirit Sea Vortex, now condensed to its absolute limit, changed form. It transformed into a pale cyan ”Primordial Pool,” containing only a small amount of pale cyan True Essence.

The instant the Primordial Pool was opened!

WHOOSH-BOOM!

Above Luo Tian’s residence, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi swirled, forming a massive, pale cyan Spiritual Qi vortex. It seemed to merge with heaven and nature, absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi from all directions.

The Celestial Spiritual Qi from a radius of three to four hundred meters was all pulled in, and a layer of turquoise light illuminated the surroundings.

Such an astonishing phenomenon naturally attracted the nearby disciples!

”Look, that’s Luo Tian’s residence! He’s breaking through to the Earth Element Realm!”

”Is this the phenomenon that occurs when one breaks through to the Earth Element Realm?”

”I witnessed Senior Brother Qiao Hai’s breakthrough to the Earth Element Realm before, and I don’t recall the phenomenon being this astonishing.”

The disciples discussed this endlessly.

Qiao Hai had just walked out of his door, his expression somewhat unsightly.

He stared intently at the phenomenon above Luo Tian’s roof, inwardly shocked. ’For the phenomenon to be this incredible, it must be either a powerful Cultivation Technique or a powerful Primordial Pool Opening Method!’

In Qiao Hai’s opinion, it had to be the latter.

But in reality, it was both!

The news of Luo Tian breaking through to the Earth Element Realm quickly spread, attracting some of the higher-ups.

The Earth Element Realm Elders were even more astonished than the ordinary disciples!

They could faintly sense that the enormous cyan Spiritual Qi vortex was ”breathing” like a heart, pulsing in and out, blending with the glowing light in the sky.

Across the sky, a turquoise glow undulated, spreading out over a four to five hundred-meter radius and emitting a faint heavenly might!

”How is this possible? Communicating with heaven and nature, absorbing Heaven and Earth Essence Qi... isn’t this a phenomenon that only occurs when breaking through to the Celestial Pool Realm?”

Elder Zheng’s heart trembled when he saw this scene.

Of course, in terms of scale, the phenomenon couldn’t compare to a Celestial Pool Realm breakthrough, but there were certain similarities between the two.

Just then, the phenomenon gradually weakened and dissipated.

「Inside the room.」

Luo Tian’s newly opened Primordial Pool flickered with a pale blue halo, using his Divine Vein as a medium to crazily absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

The True Essence within the Primordial Pool gradually filled up, like a spring of spiritual water. Every single drop of True Essence contained an unimaginable amount of energy.

Luo Tian opened his eyes, ending his secluded cultivation.

”I succeeded!”

A joyful look appeared on Luo Tian’s face.

The process of breaking through to the Earth Element Realm had been relatively smooth.

After the breakthrough, his True Qi was refined and liquefied, transforming into True Essence.

Furthermore, Luo Tian was cultivating the Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique and had used its powerful Magic Technique to open his Primordial Pool. This made his Primordial Pool’s capacity and the quality of his True Essence far superior to that of a typical cultivator at the First Layer of the Earth Element Realm.

’The quality and quantity of my True Essence should be about the same as a typical cultivator at the Second Layer of the Earth Element Realm!’

As things stood, Luo Tian could defeat a typical cultivator at the Second Layer of the Earth Element Realm with his True Essence alone!

If he also used his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body, powerful Martial Skills, and True Intent, his combat power would even surpass a typical cultivator at the Peak of the Second Layer of the Earth Element Realm, making him comparable to someone at the Third Layer!

Just as Luo Tian walked out of his courtyard,

He saw many disciples swarming around.

”Congratulations, Senior Brother Luo, on breaking through to the Earth Element Realm!”

”With Senior Brother Luo’s talent and potential, you might even have a chance to break through to the Celestial Pool Realm in the coming decades!”

The Upper Sect Disciples all flattered him.

Luo Tian expertly handled their pleasantries and left the residential area for Upper Sect Disciples, heading once again for the mountain peak!

When he arrived outside Ning Xueyao’s residence, he found that the gray-white Barrier was gone, and the person in the courtyard was gone as well.

’Has she already left?’

Luo Tian felt a sense of loss.

He went to the nearby Yunxiao Hall.

”Disciple Luo Tian requests an audience with the Sect Leader!”

”Come in!”

After receiving permission, Luo Tian walked into Yunxiao Hall and saw the Yunxiao Sect Master handling some matters.

”You have... hmm? You broke through to the Earth Element Realm?”

The Sect Leader put down the documents in his hand and looked at Luo Tian in surprise.

He had originally estimated that it would take Luo Tian at least two or three months to break through to the Earth Element Realm.

He hadn’t expected Luo Tian to break through so soon after the celebration banquet.

Such a cultivation speed was truly astonishing!

”Sect Leader, may I ask how one can leave the Dongchen Continent?”

Luo Tian got straight to the point.

”You want to leave Dongchen?”

The Yunxiao Sect Master’s eyes narrowed slightly.

”The Cosmos is vast, with countless planes. The Dongchen Continent is but an insignificant speck of dust. The dangers of the Outer World Space are beyond your imagination. Even though you’ve broken through to the Earth Element Realm, the world outside is still fraught with peril!”

The Yunxiao Sect Master didn’t tell Luo Tian the method or requirements for leaving; he had tactfully refused.

”What if I insist on leaving the Dongchen Continent?”

Luo Tian asked again.

He now had only two goals: Ning Xueyao and his missing father.

Luo Tian had already made a name for himself across the continent, but his father, Luo Xiao, had yet to appear. There were only three possibilities.

First: His father was dead.

Second: His father didn’t want to see him.

Third: His father had left the Dongchen Continent!

Luo Tian had tried to divine the first possibility and could rule it out.

Luo Tian felt the second possibility was very low. Only the third was the most likely.

With his father, Luo Xiao, and Ning Xueyao both outside the Dongchen Continent, Luo Tian couldn’t help but yearn to go there.

”Break through to the Celestial Pool Realm, and you can leave!”

The Yunxiao Sect Master said solemnly.

”Then why could Ning Xueyao and that old hag leave so easily?”

Luo Tian retorted.

’Old hag?’

The Yunxiao Sect Master’s mouth twitched slightly. If the silver-haired old woman heard those words, she would definitely strike Luo Tian down.

”The Dongchen Continent is a sanctuary for the Human Race. And they... they came from the Outer Realm!”

The Yunxiao Sect Master was very patient with Luo Tian, even directly revealing secrets that couldn’t be told to ordinary people.

’A sanctuary!’

Luo Tian’s heart trembled!

’This means the Dongchen Continent is under the jurisdiction of a more powerful faction of the Human Race from the Outer World!’

’The purpose of the Dongchen Continent is to be a ”sanctuary”! A sanctuary for certain people!’

’The Indigenous People of the Dongchen Continent have no say! Compared to those seeking refuge, there’s a clear difference in status.’

’That’s also why the silver-haired old woman and Ning Xueyao’s status in the Yunxiao Sect was so transcendent. The old woman didn’t care at all about Luo Tian’s title as the King of the Celestial Pride!’

”Actually, it’s not so bad here. You stand at the pinnacle of your generation’s geniuses. Now that you’ve broken through to the Earth Element Realm, you can be considered a formidable expert who commands respect in one corner of the Dongchen Continent, admired by thousands. You may leave now!”

The Sect Leader waved his hand dismissively.

”But I don’t want to be a frog in a well!”

Luo Tian said, then turned and left Yunxiao Hall.

The Sect Leader felt a strange tremor in his heart. ’A frog in a well? Am I also a frog in a well now?’

’No! When you learn just how cruel the Outer World is, you’ll be more than willing to remain a frog in a well...’

...

Luo Tian left Yunxiao Hall, but he didn’t give up.

He believed there had to be other ways to leave the Dongchen Continent. Perhaps he could try to gather information from the Celestial Net!

The Celestial Net was one of the three strongest commerce associations in the Celestial Ring Alliance and the largest intelligence organization on the entire continent!

The establishment of the Celestial Net Commerce Association dates back so far it’s hard to trace!

No one knew just how much information the Celestial Net possessed.

But there was a rumor that the Celestial Net Commerce Association held the answers to anything you wanted to know.

There was an element of exaggeration, but it also showed just how formidable the Celestial Net’s intelligence network was!

「On his way down the mountain.」

Luo Tian suddenly sensed something and looked into the distance!

He saw a large, cyan ship actually flying through the clouds!

A ship sailing through the sky! What an incredible display of power!

”The symbol of the Celestial Ring Alliance!”

Luo Tian saw the symbol on the ship’s sail!

The sudden visit from the Celestial Ring Alliance shook the entire Yunxiao Sect, and the higher-ups went out to greet them.

’I wonder if there’s anyone from the Celestial Net among the Celestial Ring Alliance members this time...’

A trace of interest sparked in Luo Tian.