Chapter 486 - 484: Fifth Layer of the Earth Element Realm

In a short while, several more of the Tai Yuan Sect’s ten great elders arrived, including the Sect Leader himself!

The Sect Leader of the Tai Yuan Sect was a stern, dark-haired, middle-aged man. His expression darkened the moment he saw the scene before him.

"Greetings, Sect Leader!"

The many high-ranking members and disciples present called out in unison.

"What happened here?" the Sect Leader asked, his face grim.

"Reporting to the Sect Leader..."

An elder loyal to the Sect Leader recounted the entire sequence of events.

"It was that boy who exposed Tu Gu and Steward Lü?"

The Sect Leader’s deep eyes turned toward Luo Tian, who was meditating on the grass not far away, a hint of surprise in his gaze.

Steward Lü had held his post in the Tai Yuan Sect for nearly eighty years, and no one had ever discovered anything was wrong with him. Yet, in the end, his identity was exposed by a mere Auditor Disciple, leading him to self-detonate on the spot!

"Luo, you’ve done something truly great this time!"

Elder Lu approached with a smile.

"Greetings, Elder Lu. Thank you for what you did just now."

Luo Tian bowed with his fists clasped.

’If Elder Lu hadn’t testified, there’s no telling what that old fox Yan Yufeng would have done.’

"Luo, where exactly did you study under?"

Elder Lu was puzzled by this.

Back in the lecture hall, Luo Tian had pointed out his mistake.

Today, Luo Tian had used a rare method to break the Sea Race spy’s special transformation technique.

For an Auditor Disciple to know so many unusual things, he must have been taught by someone.

"My master is Mu Yunshi of the Mu Family, from the Celestial Mountain Realm."

Luo Tian didn’t catch Elder Lu’s underlying meaning and answered truthfully.

"Mu Yunshi..."

Elder Lu mumbled the name, which suddenly felt somewhat familiar.

’Mu Yunshi... It seems he was once a disciple of the Tai Yuan Sect.’

"Luo Tian, I remember now. Does your master have some history with Elder Yan Yufeng?" Elder Lu asked in a low voice.

A strange look crossed Luo Tian’s face.

’It seems this Elder Lu knows something about Mu Yunshi and Yan Yufeng’s past.’

"May I ask Elder Lu, do you know what exactly the grudge between my master and Elder Yan is?"

Luo Tian was a bit curious about this.

"Your master was once Yan Yufeng’s senior brother... They studied under the same master... Oh, and they also had a junior sister..."

Elder Lu began to explain in fits and starts.

When Mu Yunshi was young, he and Yan Yufeng studied under the same elder in the Tai Yuan Sect, making them martial brothers.

At the time, Mu Yunshi and Yan Yufeng’s relationship was quite good.

Both of them were secretly in love with the same junior sister.

In the end, for some unknown reason, the junior sister got together with Yan Yufeng, and Mu Yunshi suddenly left the Tai Yuan Sect.

’Looks like Master was quite the romantic in his youth...’ Luo Tian sighed inwardly.

This was a matter from Mu Yunshi’s past; he was simply curious to know more.

Luo Tian offered no judgment on the events of the past.

Right now, he only wanted to help his master fulfill the five-year agreement and defeat Yan Yufeng’s disciple.

After finishing the story, Elder Lu departed.

’That was a thrilling experience, but getting rid of Steward Lü was worth it!’ Luo Tian thought to himself.

Being targeted by a Celestial Level Martial Artist, facing a life-or-death crisis at any moment, was not a good thing.

Luo Tian had always wanted to get to the bottom of the situation and resolve it but had no leads.

All in all, this incident was resolved thanks to Tu Gu, the incompetent spy, who ended up screwing over Steward Lü, the experienced old spy.

Next, Luo Tian underwent a series of interrogations.

After all, he was a key figure in the incident.

SWOOSH!

He Yunkong and Yue Linfei rushed over from the Main Peak.

"Master, what happened? Did that kid get into some kind of trouble?"

He Yunkong couldn’t help but speculate when he saw Luo Tian being questioned by an elder.

"The Sea Race spy was exposed. With no way out, he self-detonated."

Yan Yufeng said simply.

"A Sea Race spy?"

He Yunkong and Yue Linfei exchanged a look, both somewhat startled.

He Yunkong glanced at Luo Tian again and said, "What does a Sea Race spy have to do with Luo Tian? Don’t tell me he was colluding with the Sea Race and got found out by the Sect?"

He felt this was highly likely and his mood instantly improved.

But just then, the Tai Yuan Sect’s Third Elder announced loudly, "Luo Tian, for discovering two Sea Race spies, you have performed a great service!"

"The Sect rewards you with two hundred thousand Spiritual Essence Coins and five thousand Contribution Points!"

Envious gazes shot over from all around!

Two hundred thousand Spiritual Essence Coins! Five thousand Contribution Points! The reward was simply too generous!

"Performed a great service?"

He Yunkong was dumbfounded!

Luo Tian hadn’t colluded with the spy; he had exposed the spy!

"He’s amazing!"

Beside them, Yue Linfei’s eyes sparkled as she smiled in admiration.

Seeing his junior sister’s fondness for Luo Tian skyrocket, He Yunkong grew irritable.

"Thank you, Elder."

Luo Tian gladly accepted the reward.

He had resolved a potential crisis and received such a handsome reward.

"Elder Yan, I heard that when Steward Lü self-detonated, he deliberately targeted Luo Tian, intending to take him down with him. It was you who protected Luo Tian, as well as the other disciples, minimizing the Tai Yuan Sect’s losses!"

The Third Elder flew over slowly.

Yan Yufeng’s face stiffened slightly, but he forced a smile. "Not at all, it was my duty."

"Master..."

He Yunkong felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

Luo Tian should have been killed by Steward Lü’s self-detonation, yet it was his own master who saved him.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

After collecting his reward, Luo Tian immediately returned to the Main Peak.

Yan Yufeng left with his two disciples.

"Yunkong, your cultivation progress has slowed recently."

Yan Yufeng said flatly.

"This disciple has encountered a bottleneck. It may take some time to overcome it."

He Yunkong said respectfully. He could clearly tell that his master was in a bad mood.

"Do you remember the bet I told you about before?"

Yan Yufeng changed the subject.

"This disciple remembers. Please rest assured, Master. Forget five years—even in ten years, or a hundred, your enemy’s apprentice will never be able to catch up to me!"

He Yunkong was full of confidence.

’He’s just a country bumpkin from a minor realm. I, on the other hand, am a True Disciple of the Tai Yuan Sect. The gap between us will only grow wider!’

"The one who will fight you is Luo Tian."

Yan Yufeng said calmly.

"Luo... Luo Tian?"

He Yunkong’s expression shifted. He looked astonished, utterly shocked!

Luo Tian?

It’s actually Luo Tian!

He Yunkong immediately realized that the opponent he was meant to face had already entered the Tai Yuan Sect and become a Main Peak Disciple!

And just today, Luo Tian had performed a great service and earned the appreciation of many of the Tai Yuan Sect’s higher-ups!

In such a short time, Luo Tian had made such a huge leap! To call it a meteoric rise might be a slight exaggeration, but it wasn’t far off.

"Master, if that’s the case, why did you protect Luo Tian just now?"

Agitated and angry, He Yunkong couldn’t help but ask.

’Wouldn’t it have been better to let Luo Tian die?’

Yan Yufeng’s face turned cold. "What is that tone?"

"This disciple was wrong!"

Realizing he had lost his composure, He Yunkong immediately apologized.

"Now get back to your cultivation! This boy has comprehended true Sword Intent. His future potential is no less than yours!"

Yan Yufeng snorted coldly and vanished into the sky.

’True Sword Intent!’

He Yunkong’s mind reeled!

It was actually true!

Moments ago, even after learning that he was to fight Luo Tian in five years, He Yunkong still hadn’t taken him seriously. But now, after hearing his master’s words, He Yunkong could no longer ignore Luo Tian’s existence!

To comprehend true Sword Intent while at the Middle Tier of the Earth Element Realm... his talent in the Sword Dao was truly terrifying!

"Luo Tian! You will definitely lose to me!"

He Yunkong gritted his teeth, a cold, sharp light glinting in his eyes.

At his side, Yue Linfei was also somewhat dazed. "So Luo Tian is the one who’s supposed to fight Senior Brother He..."

...

Luo Tian quickly returned to his residence.

’The Sea Demon Palace’s bounty is still active, so the danger isn’t over... And then there’s He Yunkong!’

The bounty from the Sea Demon Palace was enormous. Luo Tian was relatively safe on the Tai Yuan Sect’s Main Peak, but the moment he left, he could be faced with danger at any time!

Unless the Sea Demon Palace rescinded the bounty, the only way to ensure his survival was to increase his strength!

As for He Yunkong, he was a True Disciple. While his talent and potential might not be as good as Yan Xiaoxia’s, he was not to be underestimated.

According to what Luo Tian knew, He Yunkong’s Martial Vein was Celestial Tier Middle Grade!

Luo Tian entered a state of seclusion for his cultivation.

Having just received two hundred thousand Spiritual Essence Coins, he immediately took them out to use for his cultivation.

He activated the Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique and his Nether Dragon Divine Vein, and vast amounts of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi quickly converged on him.

Inside his Qi Sea Primordial Pool.

His True Essence seethed and roiled, spinning rapidly and crashing against the surrounding Primordial Pool Wall.

Perhaps due to the sparring match or the crisis of Steward Lü’s self-detonation, Luo Tian’s potential had been stimulated, and his cultivation progressed very smoothly.

「One month later.」

Luo Tian’s cultivation was extremely close to the Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer.

Without the slightest hesitation, he swallowed the one remaining Violent Spirit Pill!

A vast and violent surge of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi exploded within his body, like a crazed Demon Beast Group rampaging through his meridians, making it extremely difficult to control.

Luo Tian quickly took a dose of Spirit Calming Powder, and a clear, pure current spread through his body.

The violent medicinal power of the Violent Spirit Pill was partially neutralized.

Moreover, with the two Spirit Medicines working together, their effects were greatly enhanced, and Luo Tian’s cultivation speed skyrocketed.

「Three days later!」

Within Luo Tian’s Qi Sea Primordial Pool, his True Essence boiled as the Primordial Pool Wall expanded outward.

He had successfully broken through to the Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer!

"A breakthrough!"

Luo Tian took a deep breath and continued his cultivation.

There was still residual medicinal power from the Violent Spirit Pill and Spirit Calming Powder. Not wanting to let it go to waste, Luo Tian continued to absorb and refine it to advance his cultivation.

「Another ten days passed.」

Luo Tian only stopped when the effects of the Violent Spirit Pill and Spirit Calming Powder had been more or less completely absorbed.

’Compared to last time, the effects of the Violent Spirit Pill and Spirit Calming Powder were a bit weaker.’

The effects of most medicines diminish with repeated use.

Besides, a pill like the Violent Spirit Pill, which had extremely strong side effects, was not meant to be taken often in the first place.

His cultivation session ended.

Luo Tian walked out of the Practice Room to relax.

Just then, a maidservant handed him a letter. "Master, this letter is for you."

"A letter?"

Luo Tian took the envelope.

’Who could it be from? Master?’

Opening the envelope, Luo Tian read its contents: "Luo Tian, I lost the bet. I have another matter to discuss with you now. Come out and meet me, or you’ll definitely regret it..."

’The Undead Thieves, that female captain!’ Luo Tian deduced.

’Trying to trick me into going out? Not a chance.’

He had never fully trusted the Undead Thieves. A woman like Hongyi, who could become their captain, was definitely no saint. It was best to be cautious.

Luo Tian casually tossed the letter, and it instantly turned to dust and scattered away.