King of Ten Thousand Years

Silence fell all around.

THUD!

Mu Ze, frozen into a block of ice, fell onto the Martial Arts Arena with a crisp crack.

Mu Ze was defeated!

The fight hadn’t been complex, nor had it been long.

The crowd stared, their mouths hanging open one by one, completely dumbfounded.

Shouldn’t Mu Ze have beaten Luo Tian?

Many disciples had accepted Luo Tian’s guidance, but none of them had ever thought he could defeat Mu Ze.

Yet, the result was a simple victory for Luo Tian.

”How is this possible?”

Ji Yuanqing was in disbelief.

Mu Ze was the very person he had been trying to curry favor with.

But now, Mu Ze had actually lost to Luo Tian!

Some of the Mu Family disciples with higher cultivations wore grave expressions. Even Mu Ze had lost. Luo Tian’s strength was actually this formidable.

”It seems the Cloud Pool gave him a huge boost!”

Mu Jinyuan’s expression was grim.

’Without the opportunity from the Cloud Pool, Luo Tian would have definitely lost!’

On the Martial Arts Arena.

After his defeat, Mu Ze’s face was pale and crestfallen.

”How could I lose to him?”

Mu Ze couldn’t understand it; he couldn’t accept it.

’Why would a Fifth-Layer Earth Element Realm expert lose to someone at the Third Layer? There must be a reason!’

’Could it be... that there’s a problem with my Martial Arts?’

Doubt crept into Mu Ze’s mind, and he couldn’t help but look at Luo Tian.

So far, everyone who had fought had received Luo Tian’s guidance.

’What about me?’

Mu Ze wanted to know what was wrong with his Martial Arts.

But Luo Tian simply turned and walked off the stage, offering Mu Ze no guidance whatsoever.

Anger flared in Mu Ze’s heart.

’This isn’t fair!’

’Why did Luo Tian guide everyone else, but not me?’

”Luo Tian, I lost! You’ve earned the right to point out the flaws in my Martial Arts!”

Mu Ze said.

His tone was compromising, with a hint of a plea.

But he still hadn’t shed his arrogance and was unwilling to ask for advice humbly.

”I told you, I have no interest in guiding you!”

Luo Tian walked off the stage without a backward glance.

...

In a distant pavilion.

The moment Mu Ze was defeated, the Grand Elder clenched his fists. An invisible, terrifying aura emanated from him, oppressing the very air.

This was clearly a perfect opportunity for Mu Ze to shine, to use Luo Tian as a stepping stone for his own glory.

But Mu Ze had lost, instead serving to highlight Luo Tian’s brilliance and push his performance at this gathering to an even greater height.

The Grand Elder was furious.

Just then, the Grand Elder heard that after being defeated, Mu Ze actually wanted Luo Tian’s guidance.

”Useless brat!”

The Grand Elder forced the words from between his teeth!

Not only did he lose to Luo Tian, but he even begged for his guidance! The Grand Elder felt that Mu Ze had completely disgraced him.

The other high-ranking members didn’t dare to speak, afraid of incurring the Grand Elder’s wrath.

The Patriarch, however, gazed at Luo Tian from afar and nodded slightly.

’I never thought a genius from a minor realm could be so outstanding. No wonder Mu Yunshi thinks so highly of him.’

The Patriarch looked at Mu Yunshi, only to find that he, too, wore a look of astonishment.

’So after all this time, you, his master, don’t even know the extent of your own disciple’s abilities?’

...

Back at the Martial Arts Arena, the gathering continued.

The disciples who had been lining up before got back in line, eagerly awaiting Luo Tian’s guidance.

Soon, it was Ji Yuanqing’s turn.

”Brother Luo, may I ask what problems there are with my Martial Arts?”

Ji Yuanqing was quite embarrassed as he humbly asked for guidance.

”You have three major problems...”

Luo Tian said calmly.

Ji Yuanqing nodded repeatedly as he listened, feeling deeply ashamed.

’I’ve been judging a gentleman by my own petty standards, yet Luo Tian is guiding me without holding any grudges.’

”Thank you!”

Ji Yuanqing gave a deep bow and walked off the stage.

On one side of the Martial Arts Arena.

Several Mu Family disciples sat with displeased expressions on their faces, staring ahead.

These were the strongest among the Mu Family disciples at the gathering, and Mu Ze was among them.

Originally, they were supposed to be the main stars of this gathering.

But now, everyone was crowded around Luo Tian, humbly seeking his guidance.

”Hmph. All posturing and nonsense. If you ask me, he’s more like a charlatan!”

a man with a beard snorted indignantly.

”Mu Ze, do you want me to avenge you?”

Mu Jinyuan suddenly spoke.

”Oh?”

Mu Ze looked up, his eyes cold.

His hatred for Luo Tian was growing stronger by the second. If Mu Jinyuan were to make a move, he would naturally be delighted.

Mu Ze himself had only just broken through to the Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer, and his cultivation had yet to stabilize.

But Mu Jinyuan had broken through to the Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer nearly a year ago. After his cultivation in the Cloud Pool, he was now at the Peak of Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer.

”How about we go up first?”

another Mu Family disciple suggested. ”Even if I lose, I can still wear Luo Tian down. This is the Mu Family! We will absolutely not allow an outsider to steal the glory that belongs to us!”

’We have to make Luo Tian lose, even if we have to use wave tactics!’

”That won’t be necessary!”

Mu Jinyuan waved his hand dismissively.

’Me, needing to use wave tactics? What a joke!’

Mu Jinyuan stood up.

”Luo Tian, after watching your fight with Mu Ze just now, I feel there are some problems with your Martial Arts. I intend to offer you some guidance!”

Mu Jinyuan announced, his voice echoing across the entire arena!

’Guide Luo Tian?’

Doubt surfaced in many people’s minds.

Before the gathering, they would have found this perfectly natural. Now, they just felt that Mu Jinyuan was being a bit too arrogant.

”Oh? Please, do tell.”

Luo Tian said calmly.

’No one is perfect. He never thought he was infallible or without his own problems.’

”However, you are not yet worthy of my guidance—unless you can last twenty moves against me!”

Mu Jinyuan continued.

His attitude was haughty, his words arrogant!

But not many people questioned Mu Jinyuan.

Mu Jinyuan was older and had been practicing Martial Arts for a long time, giving him the qualifications to guide others.

Besides, his cultivation was truly high.

Among the geniuses from outside the family, the highest cultivation was only at the Peak of Earth Element Realm Fourth Layer. Mu Jinyuan, however, was at the Peak of Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer.

’So he’s just looking for trouble, and dressing it up in such high-sounding words.’

Luo Tian’s expression turned slightly cold.

’It seems that defeating one Mu Ze didn’t intimidate the Mu Family disciples. On the contrary, it only made them more resentful.’

”Perfect. That warm-up just now wasn’t enough!”

Luo Tian stepped forward.

Hearing this, the corner of Mu Ze’s mouth twitched.

Luo Tian’s evaluation of their battle was that it wasn’t even enough for a warm-up!

”Brother Jinyuan, defeat him, and I’ll give you forty thousand Spiritual Essence Coins!” Mu Ze sent via voice transmission.

”Done!”

Mu Jinyuan was a little surprised.

’Forty thousand Spiritual Essence Coins wasn’t a huge amount, but why turn down free money?’

The crowd parted once more.

”Do you think Luo Tian can last twenty moves?”

”I don’t think it’ll be a problem!”

Now, most people were on Luo Tian’s side—the complete opposite of the beginning of the gathering, when he had been isolated and condemned by all!

”Celestial Moon Cold Light!”

A greyish-white Treasure Saber appeared in Mu Jinyuan’s hand, its edge glinting with a piercing cold light.

With a flash of the saber, a crescent-shaped cold moon descended, carrying the essence of a dark, cold night, as if intending to plunge everything into a deathly silence.

The disciples watching from the sidelines had the illusion of being trapped in the dead of night as a cold moon disc fell to destroy them!

”So strong!”

Only now did the crowd truly realize Mu Jinyuan’s terrifying strength.

The vast majority of them wouldn’t even be able to block a single move!

SCHWING!

As the saber slashed down, a sharp glint flashed in Luo Tian’s eyes. He flew backward, and the strike left a clean gash on the Martial Arts Arena.

In all the previous battles, the Martial Arts Arena had never been damaged.

’His Martial Skill is powerful, and his Treasure Artifact is of high quality. This person is very strong.’

Luo Tian thought to himself.

The Fourth-Layer of the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body corresponded to the First to Third Layers of the Earth Element Realm. Even though he had cultivated it to the Perfect Realm, he still couldn’t take an attack from someone at the Peak of the Fifth Layer head-on.

’If I used the Ice Nether Sword, I could probably win more easily...’

Luo Tian glanced at the high-ranking members in the pavilion and gave up on the idea.

”Nineteen moves to go. You still have a chance.”

Mu Jinyuan said nonchalantly from the air, his Treasure Saber slashing down once more!

The saber’s light was brilliant white and cold, like moonlight shooting down—peerlessly sharp and bone-chillingly frigid!

SWOOSH! SWISH SWISH!

Luo Tian’s figure soared into the air, like an ethereal, formless green wind, rushing straight up.

The Water Cold Sword left its sheath. Layers of cold, flowing light surged in all directions. The temperature within a hundred-meter radius plummeted, and ice crystals filled the air.

CLANG! BOOM!

Luo Tian struck the incoming saber light. Activating his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body, his entire body flashed with a silver luster, his strength surging as he split the saber light in two.

Luo Tian rapidly closed in on Mu Jinyuan.

”Unleash!”

His Divine Vein erupted! A layer of nether-cold current swept out, forming a vortex that pulled at everything around it.

Luo Tian infused a portion of his Cold Power into the Water Cold Sword, and the Treasure Sword immediately began to radiate ripples of cold light.

The ripples of cold light and the Cold Current Vortex overlapped, forming an icy domain around Luo Tian!

Even someone as strong as Mu Jinyuan felt his body stiffen from the cold the moment he entered this domain, a look of surprise on his face.

”A powerful Ice Cold Martial Vein and a special Ice Treasure Artifact?”

Mu Jinyuan murmured to himself.

Unhurried, he retreated some distance and launched a counterattack.

Luo Tian pressed his advantage, relentlessly closing the distance. This was his strong suit, and when used properly, it could greatly affect his opponent.

”Cold Moon Streaming Light!”

Mu Jinyuan unleashed a powerful Sword Skill. A swathe of icy saber light, like a meteor shower, attacked with unstoppable momentum!

”Sword Sea Waves!”

Showing no weakness, Luo Tian sent layers upon layers of Sword Qi surging forth. It transformed into a tidal wave of Sword Qi, exuding a violent, icy momentum as it crashed forward!

BOOM! DING! POW POW POW!

In the sky above, their battle erupted with bursts of light and waves of frigid wind.

”Luo Tian has stabilized the situation!”

Ji Yuanqing took a deep breath!

”His strength is even greater than before!”

Mu Ze’s face darkened.

’When Luo Tian fought me, he wasn’t even using his full strength.’

Twenty moves passed in a flash!

”Cold Moon Annihilation!”

Mu Jinyuan suddenly launched a ferocious attack. The strike unleashed from his Treasure Saber pulverized everything in its path.

The dual Cold Power released by the Nether Dragon Divine Vein and the Treasure Sword was crushed and pierced through.

”Celestial Furnace Treasure Shield!”

Luo Tian executed a Defensive Martial Skill.

This was originally part of the Fifth-Layer of the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body. Since Luo Tian had achieved Perfection in the Fourth-Layer, he could barely manage to execute it.

A silver light flickered on the surface of his body and rippled outward, forming a transparent, silver greatshield!

SCHLICK! BOOM!

Mu Jinyuan’s killing blow descended, cleaving a large gash into the silver greatshield.

The hastily formed Celestial Furnace Treasure Shield was broken, but the power of Mu Jinyuan’s attack was also greatly diminished, allowing Luo Tian to block the rest of it with ease.

”Twenty moves are up!”

”Amazing! Luo Tian still hasn’t lost!”

The crowd exclaimed in astonishment.

Those who already admired Luo Tian were now even more impressed. Even those who were previously indifferent couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration.

Luo Tian was in no hurry.

The fight with Mu Ze had been too short. An opponent as strong as Mu Jinyuan was better for helping him familiarize himself with his power and stabilize his cultivation.

Luo Tian felt himself growing more and more proficient. The pressure from Mu Jinyuan had completely vanished.

”Your attacks are getting weaker!”

Luo Tian suddenly said with a smile.

”Hm?”

Mu Jinyuan’s brow furrowed slightly.

Now that Luo Tian had pointed it out, he immediately noticed it too.

The answer was obvious: it was the erosion from the pervasive cold.

”Such strong Cold Power! It can actually erode me, a Peak of Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer expert!”

Mu Jinyuan’s focus sharpened.

In the distant pavilion, the high-ranking members were also watching this battle.

The Grand Elder, the red-faced old man, and the other high-ranking members were hoping Mu Jinyuan could suppress Luo Tian.

However...

”Sigh!”

The Grand Elder let out a sigh.

The Celestial Level Martial Artists present all had sharp eyes; they could already see the outcome.