King of Ten Thousand Years

The mermaid phantom dimmed and dissipated.

Silence fell all around. The members of the Golden Lion Thief Gang, the Life and Death Prison Arena, and the Sea Demon Palace had all been annihilated.

Ye Feng, Yan Lihui, and the others seemed petrified, their faces and bodies frozen solid.

Every single one of those enemies had been stronger than them! Yet they were crushed with overwhelming power!

’Who in the world was that mermaid phantom that suddenly appeared? Why did it help us?’

Just before the phantom dissipated, her words—”Master, the dogs have all been killed”—sent a tremor through everyone’s minds.

”Master?”

’Who could such a terrifying entity possibly be calling ”Master”?’

In an instant, everyone’s gaze fell upon Luo Tian.

’He truly is unfathomable!’ Yan Lihui marveled.

After leaving the Purple Scale Race with Luo Tian, he had initially been unconvinced. But after everything they had been through, Yan Lihui now admired Luo Tian to the point of prostration.

It was as if nothing could ever stump Luo Tian.

”Let’s go!”

Luo Tian put away the Sea Blue Holy Pearl.

Though the crisis was averted, they couldn’t let their guard down.

The Sea Demon Palace had issued a bounty on him. Those three from the Sea Demon Palace were just the first batch to come for it; there would surely be a second, and a third.

Luo Tian had asked Qin Aolan for help this time, but he might not be able to next time.

The primary reason Qin Aolan could help him across space was that they weren’t too far apart.

Even so, the cost to Qin Aolan was immense. It would take her several months to recover, during which she would be unable to help him again.

SWOOSH!

The Void Ship raised its Defense Shield and vanished into the cold, dark void.

A short while later, a divine light seemed to descend, a majestic figure faintly visible within it.

This person was none other than the Hall Master of the nearby Martial City Spirit Hall!

Not long ago, he had sensed power at the Celestial Level and rushed over to investigate.

Now, only severed limbs and shattered corpses floated in the void.

”Hm?”

The Hall Master spotted a severed head. It appeared to belong to a high-ranking member of the Spirit Hall!

...

「Inside a cabin.」

The Red Lotus Sword in Luo Tian’s hand trembled slightly, emitting a faint resistance.

’This sword’s approval of me is gradually decreasing.’

Luo Tian murmured to himself.

After all, he had only obtained the Red Lotus Sword after making numerous promises.

As time passed and none of his promises were fulfilled, the Red Lotus Sword gradually began to reject him.

’Perhaps there’s another reason... The sword has found a suitable successor...’

Luo Tian was lost in thought.

「A moment later.」

He made a decision.

’Forget it. This sword and I aren’t a good match. It’s better to fulfill its wish.’

Although the Red Lotus Sword was powerful, it was far less practical and easy to handle than the Ice Nether Sword.

Carrying the Red Lotus Sword, Luo Tian went to Yan Xiaoxia’s room and knocked on the door.

Yan Xiaoxia quickly opened the door, a bright smile on her face. ”Brother Luo, is something wrong?”

”Let’s talk inside.”

Luo Tian walked straight in.

He sat down at the table and placed the Red Lotus Sword upon it.

After closing the door, Yan Xiaoxia came over to pour Luo Tian some tea.

She felt a mysterious pull and a call from the sword Luo Tian had brought, and her gaze was involuntarily drawn to it.

”Brother Luo, this sword is so beautiful.” Yan Xiaoxia’s eyes lit up. She wanted to reach out and touch it, but then pulled her hand back.

”It’s fine. Take a look if you want.” Luo Tian picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Yan Xiaoxia nodded and gently picked up the Red Lotus Sword.

SHIING!

With a gentle pull of her small hand, the Treasure Sword was unsheathed. A crimson radiance flared out, revealing the red lotus patterns within.

Luo Tian was slightly stunned.

He remembered back at the Red Lotus Martial Venerable’s temporary cave residence, how the geniuses of the Qiu Yue Kingdom and Zheng Wei of the Chilong Dynasty had tried everything but could barely draw it. Even he had only gained the Red Lotus Sword’s approval after making all sorts of promises.

And yet, Yan Xiaoxia had unsheathed it with a gentle pull, using hardly any effort at all.

’I’m afraid that if it misses out on such a perfect successor, the Red Lotus Sword will harbor resentment and resist me even more.’

Luo Tian sighed inwardly.

”Xiaoxia, is the sword beautiful?”

”It is.” Yan Xiaoxia nodded repeatedly.

It wasn’t just beautiful. Yan Xiaoxia also remembered Luo Tian wielding this very sword, grievously wounding the captain of the Golden Lion Thief Gang with a single strike. That incomparably domineering scene was still etched in her mind.

”Since you like it, then this sword is yours.”

Luo Tian took another sip of tea and said casually.

”Okay... Huh?”

Yan Xiaoxia agreed with a cheerful laugh, but then she suddenly processed his words. Her expression went blank as she stared at Luo Tian.

”This... Brother Luo, please don’t joke around...”

Yan Xiaoxia refused. The sword was simply too precious for her to just take it like that.

But Luo Tian looked at Yan Xiaoxia seriously, indicating that he wasn’t joking.

”But, Brother Luo, this sword is so powerful. Why would you give it to me?” Yan Xiaoxia asked, a little nervous and uneasy.

”You think it’s beautiful, but I think it’s ugly.”

BUZZ!

The Red Lotus Sword trembled, erupting with a sharp, fiery Sword Qi.

”Er...” Yan Xiaoxia knew that wasn’t the real reason.

”From now on, you are this sword’s master. It is one of the Supreme Divine Soldiers. It will be a great aid on your path of cultivation, but it could also bring disaster and misfortune... Everything will depend on you.”

Luo Tian said solemnly.

The Red Lotus Sword had been with him for so long and had helped him resolve crises many times. Now, he had finally fulfilled his promise to the sword.

”Xiaoxia will remember!”

Yan Xiaoxia nodded heavily.

She also wanted to gain power and take control of her own life, not to be protected by others forever.

”Good.”

Luo Tian nodded slightly and took another sip of tea.

Just then,

THUD!

Yan Xiaoxia knelt before Luo Tian. ”In this world, Life and Martial Arts are the most precious things. Brother Luo, you saved my life and guided me on my path of Martial Arts. You are like a second parent to me!”

”How about... Xiaoxia acknowledges Brother Luo as her father?”

PFFT!

Luo Tian sprayed out the tea he had just sipped.

Yan Xiaoxia was young and had been bedridden for a long time. She was naive and innocent to say such a thing.

Luo Tian wasn’t much older than Yan Xiaoxia. If he became her father, wouldn’t that make her older brother, Yan Lihui, his son too?

Yan Xiaoxia seemed to realize she had misspoken and immediately corrected herself, ”...as my master?”

Luo Tian composed himself and said, ”That won’t be necessary.”

He had no intention of taking on any disciples.

Luo Tian stood up and left.

Watching Luo Tian’s departing back, Yan Xiaoxia thought she had said the wrong thing and made him angry, so she didn’t dare say any more.

Luo Tian returned to his own quarters.

’The ancient Yang Flame Body, plus the Red Lotus Sword... I wonder what her future will be like...’

After this brief reflection, Luo Tian entered a state of cultivation.

Time flowed by like water.

In less than three months, the group entered the Tai Yuan Domain.

This was the territory of the Human Race, so the danger was greatly reduced.

Luo Tian paid no mind to external affairs.

「Inside his room.」

He held a Spiritual Essence Crystal Stone. A stream of faint purple light continuously flowed into his body, coursing through his meridians before finally converging in his Primordial Pool.

At a certain moment, the volume of his Primordial Pool expanded slightly.

His True Essence sank and began to boil, absorbing the Spiritual Essence and gradually filling the Primordial Pool.

Luo Tian stopped his cultivation and said calmly, ”Peak of the Second Layer. It was a natural progression.”

At this point, a little over twenty percent of the energy in the Spiritual Essence Crystal Stone remained.

Placing the stone into his Storage Space, Luo Tian walked out of the room.

A short while later, everyone on the Void Ship gathered in Cheng Wanli’s room.

”Brother Luo, we’ll be arriving at the Jade River Realm soon. My father once told me that my great-grandfather is in a Sect Influence in the Jade River Realm...” Cheng Wanli began.

The Jade River Realm was considered a major realm within the Tai Yuan Domain, with a prosperous cultivation civilization.

This was the destination of Cheng Wanli’s journey into the Outer World.

As for Luo Tian, his goal was to first meet up with his master, Mu Yunshi.

In comparison, it was undoubtedly better for Ye Feng, Yi Jingwen, and the others to follow Cheng Wanli to a Major Sect in the Jade River Realm.

”I’m going to the Jade River Realm too.”

Yan Lihui spoke up.

His agreement with Luo Tian was only to reach the territory of the Human Race. He was no longer obligated to continue following Luo Tian.

”Alright, you should all go to the Jade River Realm.”

Luo Tian didn’t really mind.

In the Jade River Realm, Cheng Wanli had connections. They could enter a Major Sect, enjoy a stable and comfortable life, and pursue their path of Martial Arts.

「Half a month later.」

The Void Ship arrived at the Jade River Realm, and Cheng Wanli and the others departed.

Yan Xiaoxia suddenly burst into Luo Tian’s room.

”Master, Xiaoxia will definitely cultivate hard and won’t bring you shame!”

After saying this with great seriousness, Yan Xiaoxia left with Yan Lihui, heading for the Jade River Realm.

Luo Tian was a bit taken aback, but didn’t think much of it.

On the Void Ship, only Luo Tian and an ugly Crow remained.

”Boy, where are we going?” the Crow asked.

”The Celestial Mountain Realm!” Luo Tian said.

His master, Mu Yunshi, had left early and written in a letter for Luo Tian to find him at the Mu Family in the Celestial Mountain Realm.

”The journey is long and boring. How about this god sings you a song?” the Crow said enthusiastically.

”Get lost!”

Luo Tian’s eye twitched as he roared.

”I could play a tune instead...”

Luo Tian extended his palm, and a mysterious, ancient aura emanated from it, accompanied by a suction force.

This was the power of the Celestial Book.

”CAW CAW CAW, this god isn’t playing with you anymore.” The frightened Crow scrambled away to the stern of the Void Ship and began to wail like a lonely, desolate ghost.

...

「Two months later.」

The Celestial Mountain Realm.

This realm contained seven colossal peaks of incredible height. They were also places where Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gathered, collectively known as the ”Seven Great Celestial Mountains,” each occupied by one of seven super-powers.

On this day, numerous groups could be seen below Mu Hai Celestial Mountain, making their way up the steep, snow-white mountain face.

Some groups were enormous, riding in Void Ships or on large flying mounts, while others consisted of only three or four people.

RUMBLE!

A massive Void Ship, fifty to sixty meters long, shot straight up with terrifying speed and an intimidating presence.

At the ship’s bow, several men and women gazed up at the peak of Mu Hai Celestial Mountain, their faces filled with reverence.

”Every three years, the many subordinate powers pay their tribute. At the same time, they can also send some of their talented disciples to the Mu Family to cultivate and learn...”

A woman in blue robes, her flawless, jade-like face and bright, limpid eyes filled with longing.

Suddenly, she saw what looked like a white figure flickering up ahead.

”Oh no, there’s someone ahead!” the blue-robed woman exclaimed. ”Slow down the Void Ship, quickly!”

The white-clad figure was almost impossible to distinguish against the snow-white cliff face; she had only noticed it when the Void Ship got closer.

”It’s too late! The Void Ship is moving too fast!” the Helmsman shouted.

This Void Ship’s speed was equivalent to the Fifth or Sixth Layer of the Earth Element Realm. Even if the Helmsman managed to slow down in time, the young man ahead would be unlikely to escape. He would probably be smashed to pieces.

The blue-robed woman’s face showed a look of pity.

Just as the Void Ship was about to run him over...

SWOOSH!

A white figure suddenly appeared before the blue-robed woman’s eyes. Like a wisp of smoke, ethereal and free, it soared into the sky.

The Void Ship hadn’t harmed him in the slightest.