Chapter 525 523: Inflated

A single sentence from Luo Tian made the smug faces of the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall members darken with fury.

Luo Tian had called the disciples of the two sects beggars, and they were powerless to refute it.

When it came to wealth, they could only look up to Luo Tian in awe.

The expressions of the higher-ups from the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall also turned ugly.

'This Luo Tian not only refused but also used the opportunity to insult our disciples!'

"Luo Tian, if you accept a spar with my sect's disciples, I guarantee the stakes will be no less valuable than what you offer! Or you can simply name your price."

The Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace responded calmly with a faint smile.

"The same goes for the Barbarian King Hall."

The tall elder from the Barbarian King Hall said coldly.

He wasn't about to swallow his anger and tolerate Luo Tian's blatant arrogance!

"Luo Tian, are you all talk? Are you actually so timid and cowardly that you don't dare get on the stage?"

A disciple from the Sea Demon Palace goaded him.

Luo Tian stepped out from the crowd and smiled. "Since the disciples of the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall wish to witness my skills, then I'll be happy to oblige you all!"

Luo Tian wasn't opposed to participating in a gambling match. In fact, he was somewhat eager to get on stage.

After all, he had been in seclusion for some time. He had improved in every aspect but hadn't had a chance to test his skills in a real fight.

Besides.

He was also more than happy to teach the Sea Demon Palace disciples a lesson.

"You damn brat, you talk big! Let's see if you're still smiling in a bit!"

"This kid is just asking for a beating!"

The disciples from the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall were furious, itching to teach Luo Tian a lesson.

"Luo Tian, my sect didn't bring any disciples at the Earth Element Realm Seventh Layer."

"Furthermore, the minimum cultivation for participants in these gambling matches is the Earth Element Realm Eighth Layer. If you compete, your opponent will be at that level!"

The Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace said with a faint smile.

'Lure Luo Tian onto the stage first, then discuss the rules. He'll surely be too embarrassed to back down then.'

"No matter. It would be boring if my opponent was too weak anyway."

Luo Tian replied, calm and composed.

His words once again triggered a wave of curses from the disciples of the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall.

"Let me be the one to face you!"

A Sea Demon Palace disciple at the Earth Element Realm Eighth Layer leaped onto the Martial Arts Arena.

"I am Sun Yuan. Please..."

The Sea Demon Palace disciple began his introduction with a proud look.

But suddenly, a figure rushed forward. Before the Sea Demon Palace disciple could even get a clear look, he was sent flying off the Martial Arts Arena and crashed into the ranks of his own sect.

Right back where he came from.

"You're too weak. This is boring."

Luo Tian said nonchalantly.

He wanted to hone his rapidly advancing strength, but an opponent at the Earth Element Realm Eighth Layer was simply too uninteresting.

Luo Tian couldn't be bothered to waste another word and sent him packing!

"You! We haven't even placed our bets... That was a sneak attack!"

The Sea Demon Palace disciple who had been knocked off the Martial Arts Arena was red-faced with shame.

He hadn't even finished speaking or made a single move before Luo Tian sent him flying off the stage. It was the height of humiliation!

Technically, Luo Tian's actions were indeed against the rules.

But the Sea Demon Palace didn't pursue the matter.

From that brief exchange, it was clear that Luo Tian was incredibly strong. The Sea Demon Palace decided to bring out their "ace."

"Li Mu, you're up!"

the Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace commanded.

"Yes, Grand Elder!"

A man with a sturdy build stepped forward. His eyes narrowed to slits, emitting a sinister, cold green light.

His cultivation was at the Peak of Earth Element Realm Eighth Layer!

Li Mu had fought earlier, defeating disciples from both the Tai Yuan Sect and the Barbarian King Hall who were at the Peak of Earth Element Realm Eighth Layer. He was arguably the number one expert at that level here today!

"Luo Tian, this time you can't violate the rules and launch a sneak attack!" the Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace said.

Luo Tian glanced at the burly man, a little disappointed.

Since the Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace insisted, he decided to accept.

Luo Tian and the burly man each put up their stakes.

Luo Tian's opening bet was one hundred thousand Spiritual Essence Coins, a stake worthy of a Half-step Celestial Pool Realm Level match!

"You damn brat, you won't be talking so big in a moment, because I'm going to smash your mouth in!"

The burly man's face twisted into a cruel sneer.

"You can try."

The corner of Luo Tian's mouth twitched into a mocking smile.

A pitch-black longspear appeared in the burly man's hand, and he immediately launched his attack.

A flash of dark lightning sparked in the air. The spear strike, as fast as thunder and viciously sharp, appeared before Luo Tian in an instant, poised to pierce his chest!

SWOOSH!

At the very instant the spear thrust forward, Luo Tian's figure flickered, leaving an afterimage as he dodged.

"Nowhere to run!"

Lightning seemed to flash in the burly man's eyes as he locked onto Luo Tian. His longspear thrust out again and again, instantly unleashing dozens of streaks of black lightning.

But every single one missed!

Luo Tian seemed to have become the wind itself—ethereal, formless, and agile. His movements were impossible to track.

Luo Tian remained perfectly calm and composed. While effortlessly dodging the burly man's attacks, he closed the distance between them.

The burly man's expression grew solemn.

The Body Technique Luo Tian was displaying was staggering.

"Evil Thunder Heaven Strike!"

He roared, brandishing his longspear. A massive, ferocious web of black lightning unfurled, radiating an aura of utter annihilation!

'This attack has a massive range. Let's see how you escape this!'

To the burly man's disbelief, however...

Luo Tian actually slipped through a gap in the net of lightning!

'What incredible powers of observation, reflexes, and Body Technique speed!'

Luo Tian was closing in!

The burly man poured his surging True Essence into his longspear and thrust with all his might!

But before he could fully extend his thrust, a figure appeared before him and kicked the Treasure Artifact in his hand.

CLANG!

A sharp pain shot through the burly man's hands and his arms went numb. The Treasure Artifact longspear flew from his grasp!

'He sent my Treasure Artifact flying with a kick? Am I fighting a Fierce Beast?'

The burly man didn't have time to think any further.

SMACK!

A cold, hard palm smacked him across the face, and his head spun!

The burly man was from the Sea Hunter Race and possessed a powerful physique. He recovered instantly and shot backward like a coiled spring.

SMACK!

But Luo Tian was faster. Another slap sent the burly man flying to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Who was it you said you were going to smash in the mouth?"

Luo Tian's cold, mocking voice rang out.

"I..."

The burly man began to answer.

SMACK! He was sent flying again, a few teeth flying from his mouth.

The burly man didn't even get a chance to speak as Luo Tian slapped him again and again until his face was swollen like a pig's head.

Later, he had a chance to speak, but his mouth was too mangled for him to form any words.

What was supposed to be a fierce battle had turned into a one-sided humiliation!

"Stop! You've won this match!"

the Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace called out.

The burly man was carried off the Martial Arts Arena.

Luo Tian turned his gaze to the Barbarian King Hall.

Many of the Barbarian King Hall disciples stiffened, their gazes shifting away evasively.

Luo Tian's performance in that battle had been terrifying!

Li Mu, who had been in the spotlight just moments ago, had been beaten so badly he couldn't even fight back. His mouth had been slapped to a pulp!

"Everyone from the Barbarian King Hall, you were all laughing so happily a moment ago. Why has no one come up?"

Luo Tian asked with a smile.

Goaded by Luo Tian's mockery, many disciples from the Barbarian King Hall burned with anger, but none dared to step onto the stage.

"Hahaha! Gentlemen, do you wish to continue?"

The Sect Master of the Tai Yuan Sect boomed with laughter.

Luo Tian's stunning performance had intimidated the disciples of the Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall, letting the Tai Yuan Sect finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Of course, we'll continue. My sect still has many disciples who wish to spar with Luo Tian."

the Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace said slowly.

"However, your sect's Luo Tian obtained the Treasure of the Thief King and has many trump cards at his disposal. The last match wasn't fair."

the Grand Elder continued.

Many of the Tai Yuan Sect's higher-ups were left speechless.

Luo Tian's cultivation was far lower than the burly man's. They hadn't said anything about it being unfair, yet the Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace was the first one to cry foul.

"I believe Luo Tian's next opponent should be at the Earth Element Realm Ninth Layer."

The moment the Grand Elder said this, the Tai Yuan Sect's side erupted in fierce opposition.

The Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace was utterly shameless, using any excuse to send a disciple at the Earth Element Realm Ninth Layer onto the stage.

"The Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace is right. It will only be fair if a disciple at the Earth Element Realm Ninth Layer goes up."

The tall elder from the Barbarian King Hall chimed in.

The Sect Master of the Tai Yuan Sect sneered, preparing to retort.

But Luo Tian suddenly spoke up. "Fine by me. I was just hoping to witness the strength of the Earth Element Realm Ninth Layer!"

Everyone in the Tai Yuan Sect, from top to bottom, froze and stared at Luo Tian.

The Sea Demon Palace and Barbarian King Hall were clearly trying to set a trap for Luo Tian, yet he had willingly jumped right into it.

Even though Luo Tian's performance had been impressive...

...if his opponent was at the Earth Element Realm Ninth Layer, Luo Tian would definitely suffer. His chances of victory were extremely low!

The Sect Master of the Tai Yuan Sect couldn't help but sigh.

'Geniuses are all prideful. After obtaining the Treasure of the Thief King, Luo Tian has also become arrogant and overconfident.'

Since Luo Tian had already agreed, they couldn't say much more. They could only hope he wouldn't be too careless.

"Such boldness!"

The Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace clapped his hands and laughed.

'I only had to provoke him a little and he agreed. This fish took the bait far too easily.'

"Then for the second match, let a disciple from my Barbarian King Hall take the stage!"

the tall elder suddenly interjected.

The Grand Elder of the Sea Demon Palace was stunned. It had been his proposal, yet the Barbarian King Hall had snatched the fruits of his labor.

THUD!

A colossal figure flew out from the ranks of the Barbarian King Hall, landing in the center of the Martial Arts Arena and kicking up a wave of dust!

Luo Tian looked and saw his opponent was a woman who stood twenty to thirty feet tall, with a powerfully built figure and yellowish skin.

"Little guy, how many of my punches can you take?"

The yellow-skinned woman looked down on Luo Tian, a terrifying, mountain-like pressure spreading out in all directions.

An invisible weight enveloped the entire Martial Arts Arena.

Luo Tian's body sank, and it felt as if he were carrying a massive mountain on his shoulders. The strain was immense.

"Haha!"

The yellow-skinned woman laughed heartily and took a single stride forward. Her giant fist came crashing down from above, creating a heavy, astonishing gale!

The Barbarian Race was known for their strong and sturdy bodies; all of them possessed Innate Divine Strength.

This yellow-skinned woman's constitution was even more outstanding. Furthermore, she was a pure Body Cultivator, allowing her to perfectly leverage her natural advantages.

BOOM!

The yellow-skinned woman's fist crashed down. The entire Martial Arts Arena trembled slightly, and dust billowed out in endless waves!

"Was Luo Tian smashed to death?"

a disciple from the Sea Demon Palace wondered aloud.

"No!"

"Luo Tian blocked it with a single palm!"

As the waves of dust rolled away, the scene was revealed.

Facing the yellow-skinned woman's terrifyingly powerful punch, Luo Tian stood his ground. He had extended a silver, crystal-like palm and actually managed to block it!

The sight was like an ant stopping an elephant's stomp—utterly shocking and visually stunning!