King of Ten Thousand Years

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Breakthrough to the Fourth Layer, Fair Figure Without a Trace

After neutralizing the potent poison, Luo Tian began to guide the Medicinal Power of the Qi Refining Pill, cleansing his Qi Veins and refining his True Qi.

「A few days later.」

Luo Tian had completely absorbed the Medicinal Power. The True Qi within his body became purer and more condensed, reaching a whole new level!

Luo Tian’s True Qi quality had already far surpassed others at his level.

Now, thanks to the Middle Grade Qi Refining Pill, his True Qi was even purer and more powerful, surpassing that of some cultivators at the Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening Realm.

’The fourth Qi Vein... open!’

With such condensed and pure True Qi, Luo Tian charged the Qi Vein with unstoppable momentum.

BOOM!

The fourth Qi Vein was forcefully broken open, and a surging tide of True Qi rushed in.

"Success! The Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening Realm really is different. The intensity of my True Qi has risen again."

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

If it were an ordinary Martial Artist, they would find it difficult to expand a newly opened Qi Vein any further.

But Luo Tian’s True Qi was incredibly condensed and had ample reserve power, allowing him to open up another section within his fourth Qi Vein.

「Two more days passed.」

On the tenth day after the Wu Mansion assessment.

Luo Tian had opened a full quarter of his fourth Qi Vein.

This rapid progress was partly due to Luo Tian’s solid foundation and partly thanks to Liu Ziyan’s Middle Grade Qi Refining Pill.

’I’ll give Xueyao a surprise.’

With a happy expression, Luo Tian walked toward Ning Xueyao’s room.

KNOCK KNOCK!

"Xueyao?"

Luo Tian knocked, but there was no response.

After waiting a moment, Luo Tian felt something was wrong and extended his Spiritual Sense inside.

’She’s not here!’

Luo Tian’s expression changed. With a BANG, he burst through the door.

The room was empty. On the table lay a piece of letter paper.

"Hmm? This is Xueyao’s handwriting..."

Luo Tian picked up the letter and read its contents.

"Xiaotian, for five years we have been together, through thick and thin. Though our life was lonely and poor, it was also full and warm..."

The elegant and beautiful handwriting flowed across the page.

"Now you have grown up. You are confident and independent enough not to need my care. Xueyao originally came here seeking refuge, and it is time for me to return to my own destiny. If I stay any longer, I fear I will only implicate you."

"In this lifetime, I hope fate allows us to meet again."

Signed: Ning Xueyao.

A faint, sweet fragrance still lingered on the paper, where a single tearstain had smudged the ink.

"Xueyao..."

Luo Tian’s hands trembled slightly, wrinkling the letter.

Ning Xueyao’s departure was too sudden for him.

They had been together for more than five years; their relationship was no different from that of childhood sweethearts.

"In this lifetime, I hope fate allows us to meet again."

Luo Tian murmured, repeating the last line of the letter.

’Does she really think the chances of our paths crossing again are that slim?’

That morning, Luo Tian searched and asked all over the County City, but found no trace of Ning Xueyao.

Just then, the time was approaching noon.

’This is bad!’

’Today at noon is when the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion is supposed to receive the candidates...’

Luo Tian suddenly remembered something.

The reception point for the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion was at Lingyun Peak, outside the County City.

If he missed the noon deadline, he would lose his chance to take the Holy Mansion’s entrance examination.

’I have to go now!’

Luo Tian quickly left the inn and headed for Lingyun Peak outside the city.

As for Ning Xueyao’s departure?

Luo Tian resolved that as long as he obtained truly formidable power—advancing to the Spirit Sea Realm, or even the Earth Element Realm, and gaining the strength to reshape the Continent—how could he possibly fail to find one person?

...

Luo Tian left the County City, heading straight for Lingyun Peak.

He was less than a li from the city walls.

Luo Tian suddenly felt a chilling killing intent.

"Who’s there? Show yourself!"

Luo Tian’s gaze sharpened as he stared at a nearby patch of tall grass.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Three men in black clothes shot out from the grass.

The leader was a dark-skinned giant built like an iron tower. His gaze was as sharp as a blade, and his body radiated a murderous aura, a clear sign he had taken many lives.

The dark-skinned giant carried a massive axe that likely weighed over a thousand jin.

’Sixth Layer of Meridian Opening!’

Luo Tian sensed the six surging Qi Veins within the dark-skinned giant’s body.

"Tsk tsk, to think you saw through our ambush."

The dark-skinned giant seemed slightly surprised.

"Kid, I’d advise you to surrender obediently. It’s your only way out alive. Capturing you alive will get us a hundred thousand Gold."

The dark-skinned giant revealed a cruel smile.

Behind him, two underlings in Black Robes at the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening closed in.

These three were all Black Market Martial Artists, here to capture or kill Luo Tian for the bounty placed by the Du Family.

"Just the three of you lapdogs?"

Luo Tian sneered disdainfully.

In the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening, there’s a leap in power every Third Layer.

After advancing to the Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening, Luo Tian’s strength had soared. His True Qi, Spiritual Sense, and even his Divine Vein had all grown stronger across the board.

"Get him!"

The dark-skinned giant’s eyes turned vicious and cold. He swung his massive axe and charged forward with his two men.

WHOOSH!

The giant axe whistled through the air as it chopped down, kicking up a whirlwind of black air and displaying terrifying power.

A single strike from this axe could cleave a giant elephant in two.

’All brawn and no brain. Full of openings.’

Luo Tian activated his Divine Vein and True Qi. With an ethereal leap, his figure blurred past the dark-skinned giant.

BOOM!

A deep trench was left in his place, sending dirt flying and shockwaves rolling.

"So fast!"

The dark-skinned giant’s expression changed. His axe had missed completely, not even touching the corner of his opponent’s clothes.

In terms of speed alone, Luo Tian was on par with an average cultivator at the Fifth or Sixth Layer of Meridian Opening.

His Wandering Body Step was near Perfection, granting him unparalleled agility. Under the control of his Spiritual Sense, it was like giving a tiger wings.

SWOOSH!

A blur of motion, and Luo Tian appeared beside one of the Black Robe men at the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening.

"Watch out!"

The dark-skinned giant shouted urgently, but it was too late.

PFFT!

A flash of pale blue sword light shot from Luo Tian’s fingertip, piercing the Black Robe man’s throat.

"Urgh..."

With a look of despair, the Black Robe man collapsed to the ground, his eyes wide open in death.

He had sensed Luo Tian approaching.

But his opponent was too fast, his Body Technique ethereal and unpredictable.

That Sword Pointing technique was fast, ruthless, and precise.

"Die, you little thief!"

The dark-skinned giant roared in anger, leaped into the air, and swung his axe at Luo Tian’s back.

RUMBLE!

The descending axe tore through the air with a whirlwind of black Qi, its tyrannical power enough to kill anyone below the Sixth Layer of Meridian Opening head-on.

However, the young man in his sights seemed to have eyes on the back of his head. His figure suddenly flickered and spun away.

Not only did he dodge the Attack, but he also appeared next to the other Black Robe henchman.

"Boss, save me!"

The remaining Black Robe man tried desperately to dodge.

PFFT!

Luo Tian’s Sword Pointing struck like a bolt of lightning, a sharp glint of sword light plunging into the man’s heart.

"Aargh!"

With a pained scream, the last Black Robe henchman also fell to the ground, dead.

"Bastard! You killed my two brothers!"

The dark-skinned giant roared in fury.

"Wrong. It will be three. And you’re next."

Luo Tian said indifferently.

He would never show mercy to those who came to take his life.

Without the interference of the two at the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening, Luo Tian was completely confident in dealing with a single opponent at the Sixth Layer of Meridian Opening.

Mountain-Opening Axe!

The dark-skinned giant put his terrifying strength into a single chop, creating a massive, pitch-black axe shadow that seemed powerful enough for Mountain-Splitting Earth-Rupturing.

"Your movements are too slow."

Luo Tian shook his head with a small smile. His body moved like a fish flicking its tail, and he darted to the giant’s other side.

The dark-skinned giant excelled in strength and used a heavy weapon, which meant his speed and agility were lacking.

PSSHT!

A Sword Pointing strike, like a flash of cold lightning, left a bloody gash on the giant’s waist.

After a few more exchanges.

Luo Tian left several more wounds on the dark-skinned giant’s body.

"You little thief! Stop dodging if you have any guts!"

The dark-skinned giant roared in fury. He was a dignified Sixth Layer of Meridian Opening Realm cultivator, a decent fighter even in the Black Market, yet he was being suppressed by a student at the Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening.

In reality, it wouldn’t be this easy for Luo Tian to suppress an ordinary cultivator at the Sixth Layer of Meridian Opening.

The main reason was that Luo Tian was the perfect counter for the dark-skinned giant.

Just then, Luo Tian felt a premonition of danger, but the crisis wasn’t coming from the dark-skinned giant.

’There are other assassins!’

Luo Tian’s heart grew cold.

These three, including the dark-skinned giant, were just Scattered Stream Martial Artists participating in the Black Market bounty.

’Considering Liu Ziyan’s cunning, plus the Du Family and the County City Qi Family, there are probably more traps waiting for me.’

’Time to end this!’

Not daring to delay, Luo Tian fully activated his Nether Dragon Divine Vein.

WHOOM!

A layer of dark Cold Mist spread out from his body, within which the faint shadow of a ferocious dragon seemed to coil.

The Cold Mist spread out several meters, causing the dark-skinned giant’s blood and True Qi to stagnate. His whole body stiffened.

"This cold energy... what is this?"

The dark-skinned giant’s face filled with terror as he found his speed had been reduced by twenty to thirty percent.

After absorbing the potent poison from Liu Ziyan, his Divine Vein had grown. When fully unleashed, it now possessed a faint "Domain Deceleration" effect.

Star Condensation Unity!

Luo Tian took a deep breath, fully merging the True Qi from his Qi Veins with his Divine Vein Power.

PSHHHH!

A sharp, icy-blue sword light, as fast as a streaking meteor, pierced the dark-skinned giant’s throat.