King of Ten Thousand Years

Chapter 51: Chapter 50: Simultaneous Breakthroughs

A moment later.

Luo Tian’s mind calmed, and he reflected, ’The cultivation difficulty for a Spirit Level Martial Skill is already immense, let alone one of Spirit Level Middle Grade.’

Normally,

Spirit Level Martial Skills corresponded to the Spirit Sea Realm. Only a Martial Artist of that level could cultivate them with relative ease.

For an ordinary Martial Artist at the Fourth or Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening, cultivating a Spirit Level Middle Grade Martial Skill to a certain realm could take a lifetime of effort.

This was precisely why the white-robed old man had thought Luo Tian was overreaching.

Soon, Luo Tian began to practice.

WHOOSH! SWISH SWISH!

Following the description in the *Cloud Traveling Step* manual, he executed the step technique and qi circulation methods, moving swiftly across the floor and walls of the room.

At first, Luo Tian found it difficult and somewhat awkward.

After an hour, his speed increased, and his movements and steps gradually became lighter and smoother.

"This isn’t as hard as I expected!"

Luo Tian was overjoyed.

He quickly understood that the *Cloud Traveling Step* had integrated the essence of the *Wandering Body Step*; the two shared common principles.

Since Luo Tian’s *Wandering Body Step* had long since reached Perfection, the cultivation difficulty was greatly reduced.

Furthermore, his cultivation of the Creation Technique had significantly enhanced his Martial Arts Talent and Comprehension.

Because of these two factors, he was able to cultivate the *Cloud Traveling Step* so smoothly.

Otherwise, even some at the Eighth to Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening would find it extremely difficult to cultivate the *Cloud Traveling Step*.

Half a day later, in a dense, deserted forest on a mountain within the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion.

The area was lush with vegetation and sparsely populated, making it a perfect spot to practice the *Cloud Traveling Step*.

WHOOSH! SWISH SWISH!

Luo Tian leaped up and tapped lightly on a tree trunk. His body shot forward in another swift leap, traversing nearly ten meters in an instant.

The *Cloud Traveling Step* possessed powerful Light Body and leaping abilities, and it excelled at borrowing momentum.

Luo Tian relaxed completely, as if transforming into a light, elegant feather, dancing leisurely back and forth through the forest.

One day later, Luo Tian successfully reached the Initial Achievement stage with his *Cloud Traveling Step*.

At this point, the effects of this Body Technique faintly surpassed his *Wandering Body Step* at the Perfection Level.

After reaching Initial Achievement, the difficulty of the *Cloud Traveling Step* increased significantly, but there was still room for improvement.

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

Luo Tian’s *Cloud Traveling Step* became even more fluid, approaching the Small Success Realm. Its power had already far surpassed his original *Wandering Body Step*.

That day, after finishing his Body Technique practice as usual, Luo Tian returned to Sunrise Peak.

As he passed through the Bronze Area.

"That’s the kid!"

"He only has two days of protection left! Once it’s over, whoever beats him can become a Silver Student!"

A crowd of Bronze Students rubbed their hands together, their gazes filled with fighting spirit as they stared at Luo Tian.

Hmm?

Luo Tian felt as if he had become a delicious prize, stared at by one fiery gaze after another.

It wasn’t just the new students who coveted the status of a Silver Student; even more of them were older students.

Among them, Luo Tian sensed several auras that were by no means inferior to the three great geniuses among the new students, and some were even stronger.

’Some of the older students have been stuck at the Peak of Meridian Opening Sixth Layer for a long time. It’s possible some of them have combat strength even greater than the three geniuses.’

Luo Tian’s heart tightened. He would not underestimate his opponents.

Over the past few days, Luo Tian had personally experienced the benefits of being a Silver Student and had no intention of handing over this status to anyone.

"Luo Tian!"

Just then, two figures with hostile expressions approached.

One of them, a youth in a purple robe with a look of resentment and cold arrogance, was none other than the Young Marquis, Tang Wei.

The other, a young man with short hair, had a fierce expression and exuded a violent aura. He was the Silver Student, Li Hai.

Tang Wei? Li Hai?

Luo Tian thought to himself, ’So they really are working together.’

"You have some nerve! How dare you use a wicked scheme during the test to steal Tang Wei’s first place!"

Li Hai stormed over, his voice laced with aggression.

Through Tang Wei, Li Hai had already figured out Luo Tian’s background.

Luo Tian was just a commoner with no background who had used despicable means to snatch the fruits of Tang Wei’s victory.

A mere commoner at the Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening had actually managed to bluff him!

When he learned the truth, Li Hai had been furious.

"So? Are you trying to stand up for Tang Wei?"

Facing Li Hai’s violent aura from the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening, Luo Tian remained perfectly calm.

They were both Silver Students, equal in status.

At least in public, if Li Hai wanted to deal with him, he couldn’t violate the Holy Mansion’s rules.

"I’ll give you one last chance! Confess to the Holy Mansion Mentors that you cheated and voluntarily return first place to Tang Wei. Otherwise, there will be no place for you in the circle of Silver Students!"

Li Hai was like a Fierce Beast, his murderous aura so thick it sent a chill down one’s spine.

Any other person at the Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening would have been scared out of their wits by his ferocious presence.

Moreover, Li Hai was using the entire circle of Silver Students to threaten Luo Tian.

Nearby Silver Students watched with smirks, some of them sizing up Luo Tian with unkind gazes.

"Cheating? Are you questioning the impartiality of the Mentors? Or do you think Tang Wei will get first place just because I give it up?"

Luo Tian’s face was filled with mockery.

Hearing this, Li Hai and the Young Marquis’s expressions changed slightly.

Regardless of the circumstances, Luo Tian had won first place with the unanimous approval of the Mentors.

To doubt this was tantamount to questioning the authority and fairness of the Mentors.

And even if, by some wild chance, he did give it up...

...even if Luo Tian gave up first place, it wouldn’t go to Tang Wei.

Don’t forget!

Nangong Yu had obtained more marks than Tang Wei, and it was said he was the grandson of a Holy Mansion Elder.

The first-place prize had originally been intended for Nangong Yu.

"Luo Tian! Don’t get ahead of yourself. In two more days, this Marquis will personally seize your Silver Student status."

Tang Wei smiled coldly.

The Young Marquis and Li Hai exchanged a glance, nodded confidently to each other with a hint of conspiracy, and then went their separate ways.

...

Back at his silver residence.

Luo Tian once again began to cultivate the *Star Condensing Sword Point*.

He had never slacked in his practice of this Offensive Martial Skill, though he had always cultivated it indoors.

Luo Tian had long since cultivated the *Star Condensing Sword Point* to the Peak of the Second-Layer, but he had been unable to break through to the Third-Layer.

At the Third-Layer, one could form an extremely sharp Breaking Sky Sword Qi, capable of injuring opponents from a distance with immense power.

If he could master this Third-Layer, Luo Tian would have the power to fight not just someone at the Peak of Meridian Opening Sixth Layer, but even someone at the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening.

"Sever!"

A faint blue sword beam condensed between Luo Tian’s fingers, extending one or two feet.

WHOOSH!

The faint blue sword beam dissipated less than a meter from his fingers.

Another failure!

’This Spirit Level Sword Pointing technique was only perfected up to the first three layers. Why is this Third-Layer so hard to break through?’

Luo Tian’s brows furrowed.

Ever since he started cultivating the Creation Technique, his Comprehension had been exceptionally high. This was the first time he had been stalled in the progress of a Martial Skill.

As a commoner Martial Artist, Luo Tian didn’t have elders from a Noble Family to teach and guide him, which would have helped him avoid many detours.

Fortunately, he had the Creation Celestial Book.

In the last few days, the Celestial Book had recovered another Half Page of its power.

"Boy, if you have a problem, you could just ask this god! Why waste the power of the Celestial Book?"

A Crow, wreathed in black smoke, suddenly appeared.

"You can help?"

Luo Tian was slightly skeptical. This Ugly Bird had some strange abilities, but it always seemed unreliable.

Of course, if the Ugly Bird could help him save some of the Celestial Book’s power, that would be a good thing.

"Then tell me, why can’t I form the Breaking Sky Sword Qi for the Third-Layer of my *Star Condensing Sword Point*?"

"That’s too easy!"

The Crow, emitting wisps of burnt smoke, held its head high and spoke proudly.

"But! Boy, you have to swear to the Celestial Book that after I help you solve this problem, you’ll let me out for a few days."

The Crow grunted. It had learned its lesson this time.

The last two times it had helped Luo Tian, he hadn’t fulfilled his promises.

"Fine! I swear to the Celestial Book that if your method works, I’ll let you out for three days."

Luo Tian agreed.

Hearing this, the Crow cackled with excitement. It was clearly going stir-crazy.

"Listen up, boy!"

"You can’t form the Breaking Sky Sword Qi because your Cultivation isn’t high enough and your True Qi isn’t refined enough. Raising your Cultivation will increase your chances of success."

The Crow said, shaking its head smugly.

Luo Tian pondered this for a moment and came to a realization.

The Third-Layer of the *Star Condensing Sword Point* corresponded to the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening and above. Generally, even those at the Seventh or Eighth Layer of Meridian Opening found it difficult to master.

Although he had advanced with a Divine Vein, making his True Qi quality and intensity far superior to that of ordinary people, it was indeed a bit unrealistic to expect to form the Breaking Sky Sword Qi while at the Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening.

’Fine. My Cultivation and Qi Vein opening have been consolidated to their absolute limit these past few days anyway.’

Luo Tian made a decision.

His "protection period," during which he couldn’t be challenged, had two days left.

Luo Tian planned to use these last two days to go all-out and break through to the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening!

Inside the Practice Room.

Luo Tian sat cross-legged with his eyes tightly shut, focusing entirely on his Cultivation.

RUMBLE...

Inside his body, True Qi surged through his four Qi Veins, producing a faint, thunder-like rumble.

After days of Cultivation and consolidation from practicing Martial Skills, his Qi Veins had expanded to their absolute limit, unable to grow even a fraction more.

PUFF! PUFF!

Luo Tian drove his True Qi to repeatedly assault the fifth Qi Vein.

「One day later.」

The outline of the fifth Qi Vein was clearly visible and seemed to be loosening slightly.

「Another half a day later.」

CRACK!

After thousands of impacts from sharp streams of True Qi, a small incision was finally forced open in the fifth Qi Vein.

"BOOM!"

Luo Tian’s entire body shuddered as True Qi poured into the fifth Qi Vein.

From the depths of his body and his Divine Vein, streams of latent power were unlocked by the opening of the fifth Qi Vein, flowing bit by bit through his limbs and bones before circulating back into the five Qi Veins.

"Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening!"

The quality and quantity of Luo Tian’s True Qi surged, becoming increasingly pure and refined.

「Several hours later.」

Just as the sky began to faintly brighten at dawn.

Sever!

Luo Tian suddenly let out a soft cry and slashed with his finger.

SHIIING!

A faint blue sword beam, over half a meter long, shot through the air and sliced a table several meters away in two.