King of Ten Thousand Years

Under the leadership of an Elder and several Stewards, nearly a hundred of the Sect’s most talented disciples passed through the Assessment Hall and emerged out back, where they saw the three magnificent Main Peaks looming before them.

"See that short peak in front of the Third Peak? That’s Yu Yue Peak. Only by passing its trial can you ’leap the dragon’s gate’ and enter a Main Peak!"

The Steward pointed toward it.

From a distance, the shorter mountain looked like part of the Third Peak, but it was actually separated by two or three hundred meters.

On either side of Yu Yue Peak were three massive chains, connecting it to the Third and Fourth Peaks.

"Activate the Array!"

The white-robed Elder in midair suddenly spoke.

Instantly, a vast Array not far from their feet began to activate.

An Array on the opposing Third Peak activated in tandem.

The two Arrays, facing each other across the distance, seemed to resonate with one another.

WHOOSH! RUMBLE!

The next moment, a gale filled with blade-sharp winds erupted from the void, coalescing into several massive tornadoes. The world before them blurred, and the Third Peak slowly faded from view.

The raging tornadoes, like snarling Demons, barred their path.

"For the third trial, you must go to Yu Yue Peak, find three Jade Crystal Flowers of different colors, and then reach the Third Peak!"

"The first twenty to arrive will become Main Peak Disciples!"

"Furthermore, you may interfere with one another, but you are forbidden from killing!"

The Steward announced the rules.

’Trying to fly directly to Yu Yue Peak is probably impossible. This storm is too terrifying; even a High Tier Earth Element Realm cultivator would be swept away.’

’That means we’ll have to use these three chains...’

There were only three chains, and over a hundred people here.

Everyone instantly understood that a fierce struggle was about to begin.

"Oh, and Auditor Disciples must find four differently colored Jade Crystal Flowers."

The Steward added.

"What? Four of them!"

Many of the Auditor Disciples present looked either indignant or resigned.

Finding an extra Jade Crystal Flower would take more time, possibly costing them a spot in the top twenty.

"Are the rules clear?"

The Steward asked coolly.

No one spoke.

Three breaths later, he suddenly bellowed, "Begin!"

WHOOSH...

In an instant, a hundred figures shot off the Fourth Peak and plunged into the storm!

’What a terrifying storm.’

Gongsun Long felt immense resistance, along with a powerful force trying to push him away.

JANGLE!

He neared a chain and landed on it, his feet stamping down hard as he used the momentum to leap forward.

"AHH..."

Cries of alarm echoed from behind, coming from the talented disciples who were being tossed about by the storm.

They struggled just to stay upright, let alone advance toward Yu Yue Peak.

"Get to the chains!"

Only the three chains offered leverage, a way to keep from being blown away and press forward.

All the disciples desperately tried to get closer to the chains.

With so many people and only three chains, conflict was inevitable.

"Get out of my way!"

A disciple at the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer saw someone rushing him from the side and bellowed with a ferocious look.

He executed a Fist Technique that crackled with white lightning, sending a crushing blow forward.

"No!"

The target’s Cultivation was only at the Peak of Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer. He barely managed to block the punch before being sent flying a dozen meters back.

Luo Tian, Xia Bingyue, and Qi Yuntian also charged forward at the first possible moment.

"A spot as a Main Peak Disciple is mine!"

Qi Yuntian’s fighting spirit soared, a golden light glinting in his eyes.

He instantly broke away from the crowd and landed on one of the chains.

SWISH! SWISH SWISH!

Luo Tian’s figure was ethereal and indistinct. Having cultivated the Wind Manipulation Technique, he was better suited to these conditions than most.

However, even he couldn’t ignore the terrifying storm and fly directly to Yu Yue Peak. He still had to use the chains.

A gray afterimage of wind flashed past.

Luo Tian’s figure zipped forward along one of the chains, nimbly dodging the other disciples.

He surpassed one disciple after another!

Luo Tian quickly shot to the front, joining the leading pack.

The third trial had just begun, yet Luo Tian’s stunning performance was already drawing a great deal of attention.

"So fast! How can he be moving that quickly?"

Sun Ye watched Luo Tian up ahead, a bitter feeling welling up inside him.

His Cultivation was at the Peak of Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer, yet the gap between him and Luo Tian was immense.

’This boy’s Body Technique is truly impressive.’

The Steward’s gaze lingered on Luo Tian for a moment.

Luo Tian’s performance in the second trial had left a deep impression on him.

’A superb Body Technique is certainly an advantage in this third trial, but it has its limits.’

’After all, fighting is permitted in the third trial!’

’Would the other disciples really just stand by and watch as Luo Tian overtook them one by one?’

"Get lost! A mere Auditor Disciple like you thinks you can pass me?"

A disciple at the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer sneered and attacked at once!

Blood Cloud Saber!

He slashed out, and an explosive cloud of bloody light surged violently toward Luo Tian.

POOF!

Luo Tian’s expression remained calm. He raised a palm glittering with silver light and struck out, batting the bloody cloud of light into nothingness.

He looked so casual, as if he had merely popped a soap bubble.

"How is that possible?"

The disciple at the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer looked utterly shocked.

’How can a mere Auditor Disciple at the Earth Element Realm Fourth Layer be this strong?’

On the Fourth Peak, everyone knew of Luo Tian’s victory over Hu Yingbo.

But the disciples from the other peaks were unaware.

"Scram!"

Luo Tian’s figure drifted closer like a wisp of smoke. He struck out with his palm, and a blast of frigid wind erupted, merging with the surrounding storm.

The disciple from the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer was sent flying forty or fifty meters by Luo Tian’s palm strike.

After that, several more disciples tried to attack Luo Tian, but he dispatched them all with casual ease, sending them flying one after another.

His sheer power and dominance instantly made him the center of attention!

He drew even more attention than the top disciples at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer and those at the Earth Element Realm Seventh Layer!

After all, Luo Tian was only an Auditor Disciple at the Earth Element Realm Fourth Layer!

He was a dark horse who had come out of nowhere!

However, he wasn’t the only dark horse.

So was Qi Yuntian!

He had only just entered the Tai Yuan Sect, so few people knew him. Qi Yuntian’s incomparably powerful Palm Technique was equally stunning and drew its own share of attention.

But when it came to speed, Luo Tian surpassed Qi Yuntian.

Qi Yuntian frowned slightly.

It had been over two years since he left the Dongchen Continent, and he had thought he’d left Luo Tian far behind.

’I awakened a special constitution and had countless opportunities in the Outer World. My progress has been astonishing!’

But now he was discovering that Luo Tian had also been improving at a rapid pace.

"Hm?"

As Gongsun Long sped forward, he glanced back and immediately saw an infuriating face.

It was Luo Tian!

Gongsun Long was also shocked. ’How is Luo Tian this fast?’

"You brat! Get any closer if you’ve got a death wish."

Gongsun Long barked.

’If Luo Tian gets any closer, I’ll definitely send him flying!’

Luo Tian completely ignored Gongsun Long’s threat.

Seeing this, some of the other disciples couldn’t be bothered to block Luo Tian and moved out of his way.

’Just let Luo Tian go provoke Gongsun Long,’ they thought. ’He’ll get what’s coming to him.’

And so, Luo Tian’s path was completely unimpeded.

He was receiving the same treatment as the four disciples at the Earth Element Realm Seventh Layer!

Luo Tian rapidly closed in on Gongsun Long.

"You’re courting death!"

Gongsun Long’s expression was frigid.

’Luo Tian actually ignored my warning! He’s not taking me seriously at all!’

"Celestial Wave Sword!"

Gongsun Long slashed out, unleashing a Sword Light that surged like a tidal wave, crushing and flattening even the violent winds of the storm in its path.

"What a powerful strike!"

"That’s Gongsun Long for you. That one strike is enough to seriously injure Luo Tian. He won’t even make it into the top fifty!"

"And Luo Tian is still recklessly charging forward!"

The disciples watching from behind gasped in amazement at Gongsun Long’s attack.

But Luo Tian’s expression remained perfectly serene.

He brought two fingers together, condensed his True Essence, and thrust them forward!

This scene left many of the onlookers dumbfounded.

’Is Luo Tian really using his fingers to take Gongsun Long’s Swordsmanship head-on? Does he love showing off that much? Isn’t he afraid of dying?’

A Gale Sword Light burst from Luo Tian’s fingertips and shot through the air!

TING! PSHHH!

This beam of Sword Light seemed ordinary, but when it struck Gongsun Long’s Sword Technique, it suddenly erupted with terrifying power.

As if borrowing strength from the surrounding storm, the Sword Light swiftly pierced through and shattered Gongsun Long’s powerful attack!

For that Sword Pointing, Luo Tian had used a mere thirty to forty percent of his Wind Sword Intent.

Gongsun Long froze, his eyes wide with disbelief.

’How is that possible?’

The crowd of disciples behind him was utterly dumbstruck!

Luo Tian had shattered Gongsun Long’s Sword Technique with just two fingers!

SHING!

Gongsun Long’s eyes narrowed and he retreated hastily, but he was a step too late. A faint wisp of Sword Qi grazed his cheek, severing a few strands of his hair!

"When... did that happen?"

Gongsun Long’s eyes filled with horror!

WHOOSH!

While Gongsun Long was frozen in place, Luo Tian swiftly closed the distance and caught up.

The two were on different chains.

Luo Tian shot right past Gongsun Long.

"Damn it!"

Gongsun Long snapped out of it and immediately gave chase.

He pushed his Body Technique to its absolute limit, transforming into a straight bolt of white lightning as he sprinted furiously!

But even so, he still struggled to catch up to Luo Tian; a gap always remained between them.

The crowd of disciples in the rear was completely dumbfounded!

Luo Tian had wounded Gongsun Long with just two fingers!

And in terms of speed, even Gongsun Long couldn’t catch him!

"Who on earth is that? He’s incredible!"

"I’m not sure. I just heard he’s from the Eighth Peak!"

After a brief murmur of discussion, the disciples all resumed their sprint, trying to reach Yu Yue Peak as quickly as possible.

On the Fourth Peak.

The Elder and the Stewards watched the disciples’ performance.

"That boy... where is he from?"

The Elder suddenly spoke.

"Based on his performance right now, Luo Tian is more than qualified to be an Official Disciple. How did he end up as an Auditor Disciple?"

"The Celestial Mountain Realm, the Mu Family. It’s said he isn’t actually part of the Mu Family, but came from another, smaller world."

A Steward answered.

"Oh? An interesting little fellow."

The Elder gave a faint smile.

The hundred Sect Disciples surged along the three chains toward Yu Yue Peak.

Luo Tian was at the very front of the pack, keeping pace with several top disciples at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer and the four at the Earth Element Realm Seventh Layer as they rapidly approached Yu Yue Peak.

At one point!

Luo Tian overtook a disciple at the Earth Element Realm Seventh Layer, putting him in third place overall.

The disciple he had passed, a woman with delicate eyebrows, was at the Earth Element Realm Seventh Layer.

Her cold eyes swept over Luo Tian as she said with displeasure, "Know your place and get behind me!"

’To be overtaken by an Auditor Disciple at the Earth Element Realm Fourth Layer... What a disgrace!’

Suddenly, Luo Tian stopped.

The woman with delicate eyebrows was stunned. ’I just snapped at him, and he actually listened?’