King of Ten Thousand Years

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Mist Shadow Warrior

Ten breaths later, within the valley.

The power of the Four-direction Illusionary Mist Array was suddenly withdrawn.

Ah!

The youths struggling in the Illusion Realm woke up one after another, letting out muffled groans.

"That... was all an illusion?"

"This must be a ’hidden test’ from the Holy Mansion. Thank goodness I made it through!"

Many broke out in a cold sweat, their hearts still pounding with lingering fear.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Masses of clouds and mist swirled, sweeping away the youths who had broken down in the Illusion Realm and collapsed to the ground.

A rough count revealed that at least one or two hundred people had been eliminated!

"The test just started, and so many people are already gone!"

The youths were shocked. The Holy Mansion’s test was as harsh as expected. This surprise hidden test was a total trap!

"That’s right! Princess Yunxiu, and Tang Wei too, they seemed to have woken up early."

A youth at the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening said.

When he woke up, he noticed the two of them were already far away.

"And Nangong Yu! He woke up early too!"

Amid their shock, the youths felt an overwhelming sense of shame.

Compared to the three great geniuses, the gap was just too wide!

They had merely endured until the Illusion Array ended without being eliminated.

But the three great geniuses had forcefully awakened while still under the Illusion Array’s influence.

In fact, out of the several hundred youths in the valley, those who woke up early could be counted on one hand. All of them were top contenders in this test.

’Oh no! Brother Luo... could he have been eliminated?’

After waking up and not seeing Luo Tian, Chen Haofei sighed in disappointment.

’This year’s test is harsher than previous years. Luo Tian only broke through to the Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening recently, so his foundation is probably unstable...’

Just then, another change occurred within the Four-direction Illusionary Mist Array.

SWISH! SWISH!

All over the valley, human-shaped Martial Artists made of mist began to appear.

These misty Martial Artists varied in appearance—some old, some young, some holding sabers, swords, and shields, others wielding bows and arrows.

From high above, a pattern could be seen: the more people there were in one area, the greater the number of misty Martial Artists.

...

’So these are the Mist Shadow Warriors?’

Luo Tian sized up the figure before him.

WHOOSH!

The churning mist coalesced into a tall man clad in armor, holding a long saber.

The moment the Mist Shadow Warrior appeared, it locked onto Luo Tian and lunged to kill.

Within the mist, its speed was astounding. The long saber, like a phantom shadow, chopped down with the speed of lightning.

PFFT!

Luo Tian shifted one step to the left, causing the strike to miss and carve a shallow pit in the ground.

At the same time, he gracefully and swiftly closed the distance, striking out with a pale blue Palm Shadow wreathed in a Cold Current.

BANG! CRACK!

The domineering Palm Force pierced through the Mist Shadow Warrior’s chest. Its body exploded and dissipated into smoke.

’Slightly stronger than an average Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening.’

Luo Tian assessed.

’Huh? What’s this?’

After the Mist Shadow Warrior dissipated, a Starlight Mark flew to the space above Luo Tian’s head.

’Is this proof of killing a Mist Shadow Warrior?’

Luo Tian mused thoughtfully.

Not dwelling on it, he continued walking through the mist.

Afterward, Luo Tian successively killed four more Mist Shadow Warriors. Their strengths varied; the strongest was close to the Peak of the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening.

Killing a Mist Shadow Warrior at the Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening earned one mark.

Killing one at the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening earned three marks.

Having figured out the rules, Luo Tian easily reaped one Mist Shadow Warrior after another.

Interestingly, a few of the Mist Shadow Warriors would actually launch sneak attacks, even using Hidden Weapons.

However, under Luo Tian’s powerful senses and Spiritual Sense, these tricks had nowhere to hide. He felt no pressure at all.

Luo Tian felt no pressure, but along the way, cries and pleas for help never ceased.

THUMP! THUMP!

A few dozen meters to his right, two young women were brutally defeated by three Mist Shadow Warriors. They fell to the ground, faces filled with terror, screaming for help.

The mist gathered and swept the two away.

But sometimes, the mist wasn’t fast enough to drag them away.

SHINK! SHINK!

A Mist Shadow Warrior at the Peak of the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening pierced a youth’s chest with its Great Sword.

"No..."

The youth struggled before collapsing.

At every moment, contestants were being eliminated, and the unlucky ones were even losing their lives.

However, in this test, there were a few who rampaged unchallenged.

These were the three strongest geniuses!

Within the valley’s mist, a handsome, slender youth moved like a phantom, his figure ethereal, coming and going without a trace.

’It’s appeared!’

Nangong Yu’s star-like eyes locked onto a low slope.

The mist there was churning and gathering, a Mist Shadow Warrior in the process of forming.

SWISH!

The instant the Mist Shadow Warrior finished forming, an elegant figure descended, landing on the tips of his toes atop its head.

POW!

With a light tap of his toes, Nangong Yu sent a cyan-colored Qi wave rippling out. The Mist Shadow Warrior, which was close to the Sixth Layer of Meridian Opening, instantly exploded and disintegrated.

When the wind and mist scattered, Nangong Yu was already long gone.

It seemed the rate at which the Mist Shadow Warriors formed could barely keep up with Nangong Yu’s kill speed.

Meanwhile, a beautiful and noble young woman in a palace gown was facing an assault from three Mist Shadow Warriors.

"Flying Flower Hand!"

Princess Yunxiu’s delicate body danced like a butterfly as her jade-like fingers sent out petal-shaped finger-images, striking each of the three Mist Shadow Warriors.

PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!

The three Mist Shadow Warriors were pierced with several small holes before shattering and dissipating.

Several Starlight Marks floated up above her head.

At this moment, twenty to thirty Starlight Marks had gathered above Princess Yunxiu’s head, forming a starry crown that made her appear noble and mysterious.

Princess Yunxiu and Nangong Yu both fought alone.

The Young Marquis, Tang Wei, was the exact opposite, causing a huge commotion.

Tang Wei led seven or eight of his underlings in a line formation, pushing forward and crushing all Mist Shadow Warriors in their path.

Suddenly, a Mist Shadow Warrior with a powerful aura, holding a Sword and Shield, drifted over.

"Not good, a Mist Shadow Warrior at the Sixth Layer of Meridian Opening!"

One of his underlings at the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening exclaimed and hastily retreated.

"A mere Sixth Layer of Meridian Opening. What’s there to be afraid of?"

Tang Wei snorted coldly and leaped out to block the Mist Shadow Warrior.

WHOOSH! BUZZ!

The six Qi Veins in his body pulsed as he unleashed a surging, violent True Qi. Waves of fiery wind erupted around him, creating a terrifying aura.

"Angry Cloud Palm!"

Tang Wei’s palm stirred up a crimson gale, containing explosive power and letting out a roar like a giant beast.

CRACK! BOOM!

The shield in the Mist Shadow Warrior’s hands immediately cracked.

Then, the ferocious palm strike, its power undiminished, devoured the Mist Shadow Warrior.

WHOOSH!

This Mist Shadow Warrior from the Sixth Layer Realm, skilled in both offense and defense, was obliterated by Tang Wei’s single palm strike.

His underlings couldn’t help but gasp in shock.

"A Spirit Level Martial Skill is truly powerful! The Young Marquis is mighty!"

Wu Chuan said with a fawning expression, flattering him.

"Mere Mist Shadow Warriors at the Sixth Layer of Meridian Opening. Even if their numbers were several times greater, I, this Marquis, would not be afraid!"

Tang Wei smiled arrogantly, as if he hadn’t had enough.

"Young Marquis, we haven’t run into Luo Tian at all. That brat isn’t deliberately hiding from us, is he?"

Qi Hong was still fixated on Luo Tian, wanting to get his revenge.

"No one I, this Marquis, want to teach a lesson to can run away!"

"You and Wu Chuan, take a few more men and drag that brat out for me!"

Tang Wei’s expression was domineering and cold.

...

Above the valley, the Holy Mansion’s Mentors had been watching the situation below.

With every Holy Mansion recruitment, the Mentors always paid attention to promising young geniuses.

"Nangong Yu, Princess Yunxiu, and Tang Wei have the highest Cultivation levels, and all have practiced Spirit Level Martial Skills. It looks like first place will be decided among the three of them!"

Several Mentors discussed amongst themselves.

Below, the Starlight Marks above the youths’ heads were a direct indicator of their results.

The Starlight Marks above the three great geniuses’ heads were the most numerous and the most dazzling!

Among them, Nangong Yu had the most marks, temporarily holding first place!

"Hm? There’s someone else who has a chance of catching up to the three great geniuses!"

The stout Mentor said in surprise.

"Who?"

"Look! It’s the youth who passed the Illusion Realm test first!"

The Mentors’ gazes fell upon a handsome youth in green robes—it was Luo Tian.

At this moment, a large number of Starlight Marks had gathered above Luo Tian’s head, shining brilliantly.

His nimble and elusive figure weaved through the clouds and mist, effortlessly reaping one Mist Shadow Warrior after another.

"The number of marks that kid has collected is right behind the three great geniuses!"

The Mentors found it incredible.

Although Luo Tian had taken first in the hidden test, his Cultivation was only at the Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening.

The real test still depended on strength!

The Mentors originally thought he wouldn’t be able to accomplish much in the official test.

"We misjudged him! This child’s combat prowess is impressive. His speed, power, and reflexes all far exceed those of Martial Artists at the same level!"

The white-robed elder praised.

"Looking at it this way, he’s the only one with a chance to catch up to the three great geniuses."

"No! I’m afraid his chance is gone. Look—"

A female Mentor in a long dress smiled.

Hearing this, the other Mentors all looked over and saw that a new situation had indeed developed.