King of Ten Thousand Years

Before the True Martial Wall, an astonishing Great Trend of the Sword Way shot toward the sky, kicking up a gale of Sword Qi.

The residual True Sword Dao Intent within the stone statues on the True Martial Wall seemed to be stirred as well, resonating in response.

All manner of strange phenomena manifested across the True Martial Wall’s cultivation grounds: wild gales raged, firelight flickered, and lightning streaked across the sky.

”Th-this...”

These phenomena left the elegant man and the delicate woman stunned speechless.

’What in the world is happening?’

’Could that kid have actually suffered a Qigong Deviation?’

Soon, the phenomena near the True Martial Wall faded, and the terrifying Sword Momentum emanating from Luo Tian dispersed along with them.

Everything returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

Luo Tian’s eyes were slightly closed.

Within his mind, the brilliant, silver-white miniature sword was wreathed in a faint silver wind, swirling around it without cease.

This was the change that had occurred now that his True Intent Prototype had advanced.

Luo Tian wasn’t yet sure of the specifics.

HUMMM!

He opened his eyes, and a sharp, crystalline light shot out from them, as if they were two sharp Treasure Swords.

Luo Tian gave the elegant man and the delicate woman a passing glance before turning to leave.

The pair felt their minds sting from his gaze. Their Sword Intents, in particular, trembled violently!

”I understand now!”

the elegant man suddenly exclaimed.

”What is it, Senior Brother?”

”That person’s True Intent has reached the Initial Realm!”

the elegant man said, his voice filled with excitement.

Generally speaking, only some exceptionally talented cultivators at the High Tier Earth Element Realm can comprehend a True Intent Prototype.

And achieving the Initial Realm with a True Intent is a hallmark of the Celestial Pool Realm!

...

As Luo Tian was leaving the True Martial Wall, an extraordinarily handsome man in white robes walked toward him.

’Hm? An Auditor Disciple at the Fourth Layer of the Earth Element Realm. What’s he doing here?’

The handsome man was puzzled when he saw Luo Tian.

”What’s your name, and how did you get in here?”

the handsome man asked indifferently.

Luo Tian sensed an incredibly powerful cultivation from the man, along with a faint sense of danger, as if this person might one day be his enemy.

Luo Tian then remembered Steward Lü’s warning.

Steward Lü had told him to keep a low profile after entering the True Martial Wall and not to reveal how he really got in.

After all, he had gained access through a bribe. If he were found out, both of them would suffer the consequences.

”I came in because I could. You don’t need to know my name.”

Luo Tian spoke nonchalantly with his hands clasped behind his back, projecting an air of absolute confidence.

The handsome man’s brow furrowed slightly.

Luo Tian’s arrogant and enigmatic posture, as if he held nothing and no one in high regard, made him seem like someone with a powerful backer.

’Could Luo Tian be the descendant of some Great Power within the Sect?’

’Within the Tai Yuan Sect, some high-level figures often use their authority to secure benefits for their descendants, such as secretly sending them to the True Martial Wall to cultivate.’

’That must be it. Otherwise, how could someone at the mere Fourth Layer of the Earth Element Realm possibly come to the True Martial Wall to cultivate...’

The handsome man watched Luo Tian leave, then turned and walked towards the True Martial Wall.

Just then, a man and a woman hurried over.

”Senior Brother Yunkong!” the elegant man said respectfully.

”What’s wrong with you two?”

The handsome man, He Yunkong, noticed that the expressions on the elegant man and the delicate woman were somewhat off.

”Senior Brother Yunkong, just now, someone in front of the Patriarch’s stone statue comprehended their True Intent, bringing it to the Initial Realm!”

the elegant man said excitedly.

”Senior Brother Yunkong, did you see him?” the delicate woman added.

The two of them had been rushing to catch up with Luo Tian, hoping to get to know him.

”True Intent... at the Initial Realm?”

Even He Yunkong’s calm expression stiffened, a look of astonishment flashing in his eyes.

Even he had only just comprehended a True Intent Prototype.

”Who was it?”

He Yunkong’s gaze sharpened.

He hadn’t seen any exceptional geniuses just now!

”I’ve never seen him before. He’s very young and was wearing the robes of an Auditor Disciple,” the elegant man said.

”It was him!”

He Yunkong’s expression faltered.

’To think it was that Auditor Disciple at the Fourth Layer of the Earth Element Realm who had brought his True Intent to the Initial Realm!’

’He’s an unparalleled genius!’

’He must be the descendant of some major figure in the Sect!’

He Yunkong now also wanted to go and get acquainted with Luo Tian, but he had already entered the True Martial Wall. If he were to leave now, it would be the same as forfeiting his opportunity to cultivate here.

’Oh well. Since we’re both in the Tai Yuan Sect, we’re bound to meet again.’

...

After leaving the True Martial Wall, Luo Tian passed by the small courtyard.

”Leave the Token!”

an aged voice called from within.

”Yes!”

Luo Tian took out the square Token and hung it on the courtyard gate.

Afterward, he followed the same path back and successfully departed from the three Main Peaks.

His trip to the Main Peaks and his meditation at the True Martial Wall were over.

Luo Tian felt like a thief, sneaking about.

’Before long, I’ll be able to set foot on the three Main Peaks openly and justifiably!’

Luo Tian glanced at the three Main Peaks, then returned to the Eighth Peak.

In the courtyard.

Luo Tian planned to test out his transformed True Sword Dao Intent.

Gripping his Water Cold Sword, he channeled his Sword Intent!

In an instant, a vast yet condensed Sword Momentum erupted from the Treasure Sword in his hand, kicking up whirlwinds around him.

Luo Tian gently swung the Water Cold Sword. Wherever it passed, currents of wind raged. This omnipresent wind constantly swirled around Luo Tian and his Treasure Sword, as if it were a part of his own power!

’Could this be communication with heaven and earth... borrowing the power of nature itself?’

Luo Tian slashed out with his sword, using only about sixty percent of his strength.

SWOOSH!

An icy Cold Wind Sword Light instantly tore through the air. The formless Great Trend of the worldly wind crushed down, and a fierce gale raged.

The single strike shattered the courtyard wall and carved a jagged trench in the ground.

The trench extended for a hundred meters, even splitting open Xia Bingyue’s courtyard wall.

Luo Tian’s heart skipped a beat.

A sword strike using only about sixty percent of his strength actually surpassed a strike at his previous peak.

’The power boost to my swordsmanship from the Sword Intent reaching the Initial Realm is this terrifying!’

’This strike borrowed the Great Trend of the worldly wind... I’ll call it Wind Sword Intent!’

Luo Tian smiled faintly and nodded.

”Luo Tian, what are you doing?”

Xia Bingyue walked out and stared at her courtyard wall, her expression darkening slightly.

”Ah, this is a misunderstanding. It was an accident while I was practicing my swordsmanship.”

Luo Tian immediately apologized and went to find a handyman to make repairs.

Xia Bingyue stared at the destruction caused by Luo Tian’s strike, her beautiful, ice-clear eyes narrowing. She seemed to have perceived something, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

She stood rooted to the spot, gradually becoming lost in thought.

When Luo Tian returned, Xia Bingyue was surprisingly still staring at the damage his strike had caused.

’With her talent for the Sword Dao, she should be able to comprehend something from this...’ Luo Tian thought.

After all, when he had first tried to comprehend Sword Intent, he had used Xia Bingyue’s as a reference; the two had something in common.

There were still two and a half months until the Main Peak Disciples’ assessment.

Luo Tian returned to his room, preparing to enter seclusion until the assessment.

’If I take the Violent Spirit Pill and the Spirit Calming Powder, I can break through to the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Fourth Layer before the Main Peak assessment...’

However, Luo Tian had taken both of these Spirit Medicines just recently.

The short time interval would diminish the effects of taking them a second time.

So Luo Tian abandoned that plan, using other precious materials and Spiritual Essence Coins for his cultivation instead.

Time passed quickly.

「Two and a half months later.」

Luo Tian walked out of his room.

After this period of seclusion, his cultivation was now very close to the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Fourth Layer; he was only a short step away from his breakthrough.

In addition, he had made progress in both his *Celestial Furnace Treasure Body* and *Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique*.

His foundation had deepened, and his overall strength had improved.

”Today’s the Main Peak Disciples’ assessment. Senior Brother Li, are you going?”

”I’m not going to participate. I’ll wait another two years and see.”

The area was bustling with activity as many disciples headed to the assessment.

”Junior Sister Bingyue has only been in the Tai Yuan Sect for a few months, and she’s already participating in the Main Peak assessment?”

A surprised voice came from not far away.

Several Official Disciples were gathered around Xia Bingyue.

”Junior Sister Bingyue’s talent is extraordinary, and her cultivation has advanced. Perhaps she has a chance, but...” one of the Official Disciples trailed off, looking hesitant.

Perhaps in preparation for the Main Peak assessment, Xia Bingyue had broken through a minor realm in just two and a half months, reaching the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer!

”It’s just that the requirements for Auditor Disciples in the Main Peak assessment are much higher, and the difficulty is greater...” the disciple sighed.

Even though these male Official Disciples wanted to curry favor with Xia Bingyue, none of them were optimistic about her chances.

”Let’s go together.”

Luo Tian walked up to Xia Bingyue’s side and said calmly.

”Mm.”

Xia Bingyue acknowledged him with an impassive expression, and the two walked away side by side.

In the unfamiliar Tai Yuan Sect, only when she was with Luo Tian did she feel a little at ease.

「The Fourth Peak.」

This was the assessment location. Opposite it stood the three sacred Main Peaks.

When Luo Tian and Xia Bingyue arrived, disciples were continuously streaming in from all directions.

Soon after, Qi Yuntian arrived as well.

”You two got here fast,” he said as a greeting.

Just as Luo Tian was about to reply, a furious shout came from behind.

”Luo Tian!”

He turned to see that the newcomer was none other than Gongsun Long, who was striding toward them with a menacing aura, his face twisted in a snarl.

”It’s Gongsun Long!”

”He’s one of the most prominent geniuses on the Fourth Peak. He’s guaranteed to place in the top ten in this assessment!”

The many disciples nearby backed away.

”Senior Brother Gongsun, is there a problem?”

Luo Tian asked, confused.

”You’re the one who got Ying Long killed?”

Gongsun Long demanded.

”Ying Long was killed by a defecting disciple. What does that have to do with me?” Luo Tian replied impassively.

”Luo Tian, cut the excuses! Senior Brother Ying Long’s cultivation had broken through to the Sixth Layer of the Earth Element Realm. You survived, so how could he possibly have died? You must have set him up.”

The thick-lipped man, Sun Ye, had also arrived.

It turned out Ying Long had been one of Gongsun Long’s followers.

Not long after Gongsun Long returned to the Sect, he learned of Ying Long’s death.

After investigating, he concluded that Luo Tian was the most likely suspect.

”You damn brat! You deliberately humiliated us at the Martial City Spirit Hall, and now you’ve gotten my man killed. I’ll make you regret it!”

Gongsun Long’s face was dark and sinister.

The many disciples nearby heard the entire exchange clearly.

Luo Tian had actually offended Gongsun Long!

”Kid, I’d advise you to go back.”

”If you back out of the assessment now, you might save your own skin.”

A few Official Disciples watching the spectacle advised him with mocking smiles.

A trace of worry appeared in Xia Bingyue’s icy eyes.

”Silence!”

A white-robed Elder walked out from the solemn and dignified Assessment Hall. His terrifying aura, deep as an abyss and vast as the sea, silenced the entire crowd.

The surroundings instantly fell silent as all the disciples turned to look, their faces a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

”The assessment begins.”