Chapter 524 522: Pardon My Frankness

The Main Peak Disciples of the Tai Yuan Sect were all incredibly excited.

"This is great! We have a chance to teach the disciples from Barbarian King Hall and Sea Demon Palace a lesson!"

"Since they dared to come, we'll let them see just how powerful the disciples of the Tai Yuan Sect are."

The disciples of the Tai Yuan Sect were all looking forward to this competition.

Both the Barbarian King Hall and the Sea Demon Palace were enemies of the Human Race. What a thrill it would be to crush the enemy's geniuses underfoot!

Besides, this was also a golden opportunity to make a name for themselves.

A smile appeared on He Yunkong's face as well.

He had already broken through to the Half-step Earth Element Realm and had obtained a new Profound Artifact. This competition between the Three Sects would be the perfect stage for him to show off his skills!

'The Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall are actually coming...'

Luo Tian was a little surprised.

He had publicly claimed to have obtained only thirty percent of the treasure. Logically, that shouldn't have been enough to make the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall team up and come here.

Wouldn't it be better for them to go after Lü Hongyi of the Necromancer Thief Gang?

'The Barbarian King Hall didn't participate in the fight for the Treasure of the Thief King and suffered greater losses. Perhaps they want to take this opportunity to make a profit off the Sea Demon Palace and the Tai Yuan Sect...'

'But the Sea Demon Palace's motives probably aren't that simple...'

Luo Tian felt a vague sense of crisis.

There was no point in overthinking it.

Luo Tian returned to his residence, preparing to break through to the Earth Element Realm Seventh Layer!

He Yunkong watched Luo Tian's departing figure and muttered, "I'll let you run wild for a little while. Once the gambling matches between the Three Sects are over, I'll settle the score with you!"

This was a decision Yan Yufeng had just made.

With the gambling matches of the Three Sects imminent, it would likely be unwise for He Yunkong to provoke Luo Tian and move up their five-year agreement.

After returning to his residence, Luo Tian went into seclusion.

He took out his Cultivation Spiritual Materials, circulated the Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique, and activated his Nether Dragon Divine Vein.

WHOOSH!

A massive vortex of Spiritual Qi quickly formed around him.

The essence within the few Spiritual Materials before him was also absorbed.

Inside his Qi Sea Primordial Pool.

His light-azure True Essence churned and swirled into a vortex, crashing against the surrounding Primordial Pool Walls.

As time passed, the True Essence within his Primordial Pool gradually filled to its absolute limit. The vortex of True Essence grew fierce, repeatedly slamming against the Primordial Pool Wall.

Under these conditions, the True Essence became more and more refined, the Primordial Pool Wall gradually expanded, and the aura of Luo Tian's Cultivation slowly rose!

「Twenty days later.」

The aura around Luo Tian climbed to its peak!

His Qi Sea Primordial Pool suddenly trembled, emitting a faint, brilliant azure glow.

The level of True Essence inside the Primordial Pool instantly dropped by more than half.

The speed of the True Essence vortex rapidly slowed down.

His Cultivation broke through to the Earth Element Realm Seventh Layer with incredible smoothness!

Luo Tian stopped circulating the Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique and opened his eyes, a sharp, bright light shooting out from within.

"A successful breakthrough!"

A smile appeared on Luo Tian's face.

The time Luo Tian spent going from the Peak of Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer to the Earth Element Realm Seventh Layer wasn't long, but it wasn't short either.

His foundation was incredibly stable, and the strength of his True Essence was comparable to that of an ordinary cultivator at the Earth Element Realm Ninth Layer!

Recalling the impending arrival of the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall, Luo Tian then switched to cultivating the Sky Wind Divine Sword.

...

「One month later.」

The contingents from the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall arrived as scheduled!

The upper echelons of the three major powers met on the Ninth Peak!

"For a disciple of the Tai Yuan Sect to seize thirty percent of the treasure's profits is truly remarkable. This old man has brought my Sect's geniuses this time to ask for some pointers and have a friendly spar!"

A green-haired old man from the Sea Demon Palace's group spoke.

He was the Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace.

The leader of the Barbarian King Hall was an old man thirty to forty feet tall. He resembled a thick, ancient tree, yet he emanated a mountainous pressure!

"This old man won't beat around the bush. The Barbarian King Hall wants to take some of the treasures you brought back from the Thief King's Treasure Land!"

The towering old man's expression was indifferent.

The upper echelons of the Three Sects quickly agreed on the rules for the gambling matches.

Starting with disciples at the Half-step Celestial Pool Realm of Cultivation, each sect would send out three participants for the spars.

After the Half-step Celestial Pool Realm spars were complete, next would be the battles at the Earth Element Realm Ninth Layer, followed by the Earth Element Realm Eighth Layer!

「That same day.」

The Three Sects began their gambling matches.

The Tai Yuan Sect summoned all of its disciples at the Half-step Celestial Pool Realm.

When He Yunkong heard the rules of the gambling matches, his brow furrowed.

If he were to participate, he could only compete against other Half-step Celestial Pool Realm cultivators.

But He Yunkong had just broken through not long ago, so these rules were somewhat disadvantageous for him!

However, this was a rare opportunity he absolutely could not miss.

He Yunkong nominated himself, requesting to fight!

「In the second match.」

He Yunkong was pitted against a genius disciple from the Barbarian King Hall!

His opponent was at the Half-step Celestial Pool Realm, but he had been consolidating his strength in this Realm for half a year.

The moment the battle began, the genius from Barbarian King Hall immediately displayed the advantages of his Barbarian Race physique.

His strength and Defense were formidable, and he had also cultivated a Body Refining Technique, making He Yunkong afraid to get close.

By the thirtieth exchange of blows, He Yunkong was constantly at a disadvantage; it seemed his defeat was only a matter of time.

The expressions of the Tai Yuan Sect's upper echelon darkened slightly.

'He Yunkong volunteered himself, and this is the result? What a disgrace!'

But suddenly, He Yunkong executed a Secret Technique. The intensity of his True Essence surged, and an incomparably sharp, sinister aura emanated from him.

A whirlwind of dark-gray energy raged around his body.

"What kind of Secret Technique is that?"

A high-ranking member of the Barbarian King Hall stared with narrowed eyes.

"Drifting Rain!"

He Yunkong roared and slashed down with his sword. Drifting Illusory Feathers transformed into a sky full of cold, fine rain that shot out, enveloping the genius from Barbarian King Hall!

The unknown Secret Technique, combined with the Celestial Level Sword Technique, the Phantom Feather Sword Technique, greatly increased its power!

The genius from Barbarian King Hall was instantly knocked back, with more than a dozen bloody cuts left on his body.

He Yunkong pressed his advantage.

Ten moves later, the Barbarian King Hall genius was defeated!

"Amazing!"

"He actually turned the tables! What kind of Secret Technique did Senior Brother He just use?"

The disciples of the Tai Yuan Sect exclaimed in shock.

The upper echelons of the Three Sects also took note of this.

"Hehe, this disciple of mine was quite lucky. He obtained a fragmented Secret Technique of the Thief King."

Yan Yufeng spoke up, dispelling the crowd's doubts.

The gambling matches continued.

Next were the spars between the disciples of the Sea Demon Palace and the Barbarian King Hall.

Although the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall had arrived together, they were still competitors and rivals.

Soon, the contests at the Half-step Celestial Pool Realm Level were about to conclude.

The final battle was between He Yunkong and a Half-step Celestial Pool Realm cultivator from the Sea Demon Palace.

"He Yunkong, if I win, your Secret Technique is mine!"

"Then you can try and take it!"

He Yunkong said with a smile.

The battle began in an instant.

Having just broken through to the Half-step Celestial Pool Realm, He Yunkong's foundation was insufficient, and he was suppressed by the genius from the Sea Demon Palace.

When He Yunkong used his Secret Technique, the situation developed just like in the previous battle.

In the end, the Sea Demon Palace disciple was defeated.

"Damn it! I was so close! The duration of his Secret Technique was about to run out..."

This Sea Demon Palace disciple was filled with indignant grief, but there was nothing he could do but hand over the stakes.

He Yunkong's face was pale. Using the Secret Technique twice in a row had severe side effects, even making him look much older.

But a faint smile hung on He Yunkong's face.

He had won two matches in the Three-Sect competition. Not only had he made a name for himself, but he had also won valuable stakes.

The Sect Leader had already declared that any stakes won by defeating disciples from the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall would belong to the victor.

'This He Yunkong has had some good opportunities, and he's a ruthless character himself...'

Luo Tian thought to himself.

He didn't meet the requirements to participate in the Three-Sect gambling matches, but he had been watching the entire time.

On the first day, the gambling matches came to a temporary close.

Overall, the Tai Yuan Sect had won more than it had lost, and its upper echelons were beaming with joy.

「On the second day.」

The gambling matches were for those at the Earth Element Realm Ninth Layer.

The third day was for the Earth Element Realm Eighth Layer.

The Tai Yuan Sect had been triumphant on the first day, but in the following two days, they never smiled again.

In the gambling matches for the Earth Element Realm Eighth and Ninth Layers, the disciples from Barbarian King Hall and Sea Demon Palace seemed to suddenly become ferocious. The Tai Yuan Sect disciples suffered consecutive defeats, losing far more than they won.

Especially on the third day.

In the battles for the Earth Element Realm Eighth Layer, the Tai Yuan Sect won only a single match, which was extremely humiliating.

Overall, in this Three-Sect competition, the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall had won, while the Tai Yuan Sect alone had lost.

"Hahaha, it seems the Tai Yuan Sect is lacking in stamina."

The Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

"Many thanks to the Tai Yuan Sect. My Sect's disciples have gained a great deal from this competition, especially in terms of wealth."

Another Sea Demon Palace Elder said sarcastically.

Faced with the Sea Demon Palace's taunts and sarcasm, the Tai Yuan Sect's upper echelon had no rebuttal.

After all, they had indeed lost this competition in a rather shameful way.

"Why is everyone from the Tai Yuan Sect so quiet? Are you not convinced of your defeat?"

Unexpectedly, the Sea Demon Palace wasn't finished and continued to mock them.

This caused the faces of the Tai Yuan Sect Leader and the various Elders to turn grim.

"Hehe, your sect's Luo Tian seized thirty percent of the Treasure of the Thief King. My sect's disciples all want to see what he's made of. Why don't you send him out to give it a try!"

The Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace sneered, his gaze instantly locking onto Luo Tian in the crowd!

"My Sect's disciples are very interested in this Luo Tian."

The towering old man from the Barbarian King Hall said.

The gazes of two High Tier Celestial Pool Realm experts landed on Luo Tian at the same time.

An invisible, terrifying pressure instantly made Luo Tian's breath catch in his throat!

"Sea Demon Palace!"

Luo Tian's eyes grew cold and grim, a frosty glint appearing within them.

The crisis on the Dongchen Continent began because of the Sea Demon Palace!

Moreover, the astronomical bounty the Sea Demon Palace had placed on Luo Tian had brought him immense trouble, forcing him to hide within the Tai Yuan Sect.

But even in the Tai Yuan Sect, he had still faced an assassination attempt from the mole, Elder Lü!

And now, the Sea Demon Palace was coming after him again!

"Luo Tian, are you confident?"

The Tai Yuan Sect Leader asked via voice transmission.

The Tai Yuan Sect had lost too miserably in the last two days of the competition.

If Luo Tian could win a few matches, they could regain some face.

But the upper echelon of the Tai Yuan Sect could all see that the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall wanted to squeeze the resources and wealth from Luo Tian. They had certainly come prepared, and winning would likely not be easy.

"This is boring..."

Luo Tian said nonchalantly.

The Tai Yuan Sect's upper echelon was slightly disappointed; it seemed Luo Tian had no confidence.

The members of the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall were not at all surprised by this outcome.

"Pardon my bluntness, but in my eyes, the net worth of your two sects' disciples is no different from that of beggars. What kind of stakes could they possibly offer that would interest me?"

But Luo Tian's next words stunned every member of the Three Sects present!

The members of the Tai Yuan Sect couldn't help but chuckle.

As for the disciples of the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall, their faces instantly darkened.

This was a complete insult!

Yet, Luo Tian was telling the truth, and they couldn't refute it!

When it came to wealth, every disciple present had to look up to Luo Tian!