King of Ten Thousand Years

WHOOSH!

Tu Gu moved silently forward, like a black shadow.

He would stop to observe his surroundings every so often before continuing on his way.

Before long,

Tu Gu arrived behind a pavilion, hiding himself amidst the dense foliage.

Three hundred meters behind him,

Luo Tian looked up at the distant pavilion, a thoughtful expression on his face. 'This pavilion seems to be...'

WHOOSH!

A figure in white suddenly appeared!

Luo Tian vaguely sensed danger and didn't dare to probe rashly with his Spiritual Sense.

Once a Martial Artist's Cultivation reached the Top Tier Earth Element Realm, they could basically develop Spiritual Sense. The Tai Yuan Sect had a great many experts who possessed Spiritual Sense. If Luo Tian were to probe recklessly, he would only expose himself.

So, he silently retreated another hundred meters.

...

SWISH!

Upon seeing the white-robed figure, Tu Gu darted out from the dense leaves.

He got a clear look at the other person's face. He was gaunt and thin, with sallow skin and a somewhat aged appearance.

"You shouldn't have been so conspicuous today!"

Steward Lü said in a low voice.

"When I saw the Tai Yuan Sect's geniuses, my hands started to itch. I couldn't resist teaching them a lesson and making the Tai Yuan Sect lose face."

"Besides, showing off at the right time makes it easier to gain Jueying Island's trust."

Tu Gu didn't seem to care much.

Steward Lü's expression darkened. A terrifying, oppressive aura spread out, and the air around them seemed to freeze. Tu Gu was instantly subjected to a pressure as heavy as a mountain!

"Don't underestimate the Human Race. There were quite a few Celestial Level Martial Artists present. Once you're exposed, your death is certain!"

Steward Lü's tone was grim.

"Yes. This junior will do his best to keep a low profile in the future!"

Tu Gu bowed his head in feigned reverence and fear.

But in his heart, he still didn't take Steward Lü's words seriously.

He had been undercover on Jueying Island for eight years without any mishaps. He believed that sometimes, you had to do the opposite of what was expected to avoid suspicion.

'What kind of spy is so brazen? That's what most people would think.'

Across from him, a sinister gleam flashed in Steward Lü's eyes!

"Who's there?"

Steward Lü suddenly shouted.

WHOOSH!

He shot into the air as a powerful aura spread out for a thousand meters. His Spiritual Sense swept in all directions!

'Crap, I've been discovered!'

From the bushes, a ghostly shadow darted out.

This Steward Lü was just too vigilant. Luo Tian was using his Invisibility from so far away, yet Steward Lü had still detected him!

Of course, this was inextricably linked to Steward Lü's powerful Cultivation!

He was a Celestial Level Martial Artist!

'Why would Tu Gu be meeting secretly with Steward Lü in the middle of the night...'

Luo Tian retreated rapidly, astonished.

Because they were too far away and speaking in low voices, Luo Tian couldn't make out the specifics of their conversation.

But Steward Lü had always wanted to get rid of Luo Tian.

'Now that I've discovered Steward Lü's little secret, will he try to kill me on the spot?'

"Luo Tian!"

Steward Lü's Spiritual Sense pierced through the Ghost Shadow Cloak's Invisibility effect and saw Luo Tian's face clearly!

His expression changed instantly!

"What? What is Luo Tian doing here?"

Tu Gu was instantly panic-stricken!

He knew he had been followed!

Tu Gu's heart pounded with panic. This was the Tai Yuan Sect. If his identity was exposed, he would surely die!

Only now did Tu Gu realize how careless he had been!

He looked to Steward Lü, seeking help from this experienced and powerful "colleague"!

"Don't panic. I have my ways!"

Steward Lü's face was grim, but he was completely composed.

Tu Gu also breathed a sigh of relief.

But in the next instant, killing intent washed over him!

BANG!

Steward Lü suddenly threw a palm strike. The world seemed to roil as Spiritual Qi gathered and churned, forming a colossal, sky-covering dark palm that shot toward Tu Gu!

"Senior, why are you..."

Tu Gu's face was a mask of horror and disbelief!

'Why would Steward Lü want to kill me?'

'Has he betrayed the Sea Demon Palace? Did he defect to the Tai Yuan Sect?'

BOOM!

The colossal dark palm struck Tu Gu. A terrifying power exploded, sending him flying a hundred meters. His mangled remains scattered across the ground.

"Huh?"

Luo Tian, who was in the middle of escaping, froze in shock.

'Steward Lü didn't attack me. He killed Tu Gu first?'

Unhurriedly, Steward Lü waved his hand, absorbing the powerful aura lingering on Tu Gu's corpse.

"What happened?"

"Who was that?"

Cries of alarm rang out from all directions!

The many Sect Influences that had come for the exchange event had not yet left and were all staying on the Side Peak!

Such a huge commotion, along with a Celestial Level aura, instantly alerted the nearby experts.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The deep, quiet night was instantly filled with flashes of multicolored light as figures sped over!

The first to arrive were the upper echelons of the various Major Sects, along with a Steward and an Elder from the Tai Yuan Sect.

Soon after, numerous disciples were also alerted and rushed over to see what was happening.

In less than ten breaths,

nearly a hundred people had gathered in the vicinity!

Luo Tian also breathed a sigh of relief. Under these circumstances, Steward Lü wouldn't dare to kill him.

"What happened?"

Elder Hu stared at Steward Lü and asked in a cold voice.

"Tu Gu!"

A black-bearded elder from Jueying Island suddenly saw Tu Gu's shattered corpse and instantly flew over!

"Who? Who killed Tu Gu?"

The black-bearded old man roared in fury!

Tu Gu's performance in today's martial arts exchange had been stunning. He had nearly outshone all of the Tai Yuan Sect's new Main Peak Disciples!

Jueying Island held Tu Gu in extremely high regard and was preparing to pour all its resources into cultivating him!

But who would have thought that he would be brutally killed that very night!

"Elder Feng, please calm down. The murderer will be found,"

a Steward from the Tai Yuan Sect said placatingly.

"For what happened today, the Tai Yuan Sect must give Jueying Island an explanation!" the black-bearded old man shouted.

Jueying Island alone could not stand against the Tai Yuan Sect.

However, an Outer Sect Disciple dying a violent death in the Tai Yuan Sect would definitely draw the attention of the other Sect Influences.

If the Tai Yuan Sect didn't handle this properly, all the Sect Influences present would harbor resentment, and the repercussions would be significant.

The Tai Yuan Sect's Steward and Elder on the scene looked somewhat troubled.

They couldn't help but look at Steward Lü.

Steward Lü managed the Side Peak and held a very high position. Since he was here, did he know something?

The black-bearded old man also looked at Steward Lü!

"Elder Feng, don't be anxious. The real culprit is right here!" Steward Lü said calmly.

Luo Tian immediately looked at Steward Lü. 'Is he going to turn himself in?'

'That's obviously impossible!'

In the next instant, Luo Tian had a bad feeling!

"The murderer is none other than Luo Tian!"

"This old man had just heard a commotion outside and came to take a look. Unfortunately, I discovered Luo Tian fighting Tu Gu. By the time I wanted to intervene, it was already too late..."

Steward Lü wore an expression of regret.

Then, his expression turned severe as he glared at Luo Tian and berated him, "Audacious Luo Tian! How dare you murder a genius disciple of Jueying Island? Do you plead guilty?!"

Along with his roar, Steward Lü's Celestial Level pressure emanated outward!

It was as if a hundred thousand mountains were pressing down on him. The space around Luo Tian solidified, rendering him immobile. He even found it difficult to speak!

This was the might of a Celestial Level Martial Artist—like the might of the heavens, it suppressed all!

"Luo Tian, it was you!"

The black-bearded old man glared at him furiously.

"It was actually Luo Tian!"

"Why would he kill Tu Gu?"

"Maybe they developed some grudge during their spar earlier today!"

The crowd broke into discussion, pointing at Luo Tian as if they had already confirmed his identity as the "murderer"!

After all, a high-ranking member of the Tai Yuan Sect had personally testified.

And Luo Tian and Tu Gu did indeed have a history and a grudge.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Three streaks of light approached rapidly from the distance. Three Main Peak Elders appeared, and Yan Yufeng was among them.

"What happened?"

Yan Yufeng saw Tu Gu's corpse and asked in a grave voice!

"Elder Yan, a disciple of your esteemed Sect is so vicious and cruel as to murder my Sect's genius disciple! The Tai Yuan Sect must give us an explanation for this!"

The black-bearded old man said with grief and indignation.

After learning the murderer was Luo Tian, he was a little worried the Tai Yuan Sect's upper echelons would favor Luo Tian.

"The murderer is... Luo Tian?"

But Yan Yufeng, staring at Luo Tian, nearly laughed out loud!

'Murdering a genius disciple from Jueying Island... even if they handed Luo Tian over to Jueying Island to be dealt with as they pleased, it wouldn't be too much!'

"The murderer wasn't me!"

Luo Tian's expression was cold and grim.

He now finally understood why Steward Lü had killed Tu Gu.

'Kill Tu Gu, frame me for the crime, and indirectly get rid of me!'

'This is so much better than directly trying to kill me and then being hunted by the Tai Yuan Sect!'

'What a cunning old fox!'

"If not you, then who could it be?"

Yan Yufeng shouted.

'Today's events are enough to completely ruin Luo Tian's path of Martial Arts. That five-year agreement... I've definitely won!'

"Steward Lü!"

Luo Tian pointed at Steward Lü.

The surrounding crowd looked at each other in confusion.

'Why would Steward Lü kill Tu Gu? That makes no sense at all.'

"Heh heh, I am a Celestial Level Martial Artist. I've never met Tu Gu from Jueying Island, nor do I have any grievance with him. Why would I kill him?"

Steward Lü chuckled.

"Elder Yan, I personally saw Luo Tian fighting with Tu Gu and killing him!"

Steward Lü then said to Yan Yufeng.

He could tell that Yan Yufeng disliked Luo Tian.

Yan Yufeng would surely seize this opportunity to punish Luo Tian severely!

Right now,

the "witness," Steward Lü, and the most influential elder, "Yan Yufeng," had joined forces, both identifying Luo Tian as the culprit!

Even though Luo Tian was innocent, he was being forcibly branded a murderer!

"Take him to the Celestial Prison and await judgment!"

Yan Yufeng ordered!

"Wait! I have evidence!"

Luo Tian shouted loudly.

'Evidence?'

Steward Lü didn't believe it. 'Luo Tian must be trying to stall for time!'

"Tu Gu was a spy for the Sea Race!"

Luo Tian's words shocked everyone present.

Steward Lü's face changed drastically, and his breathing quickened!