Chapter 137 - 136: Breakthrough to the Ninth Layer

Sub-match Arena 1, the Death Group.

The sixth round of matches began, and the sub-match tournament was drawing to a close.

Xia Bingyue took the stage again, but her opponent conceded immediately.

Thus, Luo Tian’s opponent for this round was all but confirmed.

"Excellent! I will repay the humiliation you brought upon Ziyan several times over!"

Li Yao’s expression was Yin Cold, his gaze as sharp as a blade, sending a chill through the body.

A moment later.

"Number 17 versus Number 66," Referee Hua Xu announced loudly.

Number 17 was none other than the Seventh Prince, Li Yao.

"The Seventh Prince versus Luo Tian?"

"Heh! Now we’ve got a good show to watch!"

The students in the audience couldn’t help but revel in his misfortune.

In the previous round, Luo Tian had beaten the Seventh Prince’s woman so brutally.

Now that the two were facing each other, the Seventh Prince would surely go all out to avenge his woman.

"Luo Tian! I will make you pay a heavy price for this!"

An icy rage burned in Li Yao’s eyes.

VWOOM!

He thrust out his arms, and a searing golden radiance erupted from his body, as magnificent and dazzling as a scorching sun, brimming with an air of absolute supremacy.

In an instant, Li Yao seemed to transform into a Yangri, radiating an aura that would make even a typical Spirit Sea Realm cultivator’s heart pound with fear.

"That’s the Sun Chasing Skill!"

"The Sun Chasing Holy Mansion’s number one ultimate skill?"

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

Luo Tian’s expression shifted. The Sun Chasing Skill was arguably one of the most powerful Cultivation Techniques in the entire Azure Cloud Kingdom.

Even though they were all in the Spirit Sea Realm, Li Yao’s cultivation was far deeper than that of Xu Mengxin or Xi Shan. Moreover, he practiced the strongest Cultivation Technique of the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion.

"Haha! Luo Tian! Aren’t you practicing the Guiyuan Technique?"

Li Yao grinned, his voice dripping with superiority.

Although the Sun Chasing Skill and the Guiyuan Technique were both among the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion’s Three Great Mansion Techniques...

...the former was ranked first, while the latter was at the very bottom.

"The strength of a Cultivation Technique depends on who wields it," Luo Tian said, unconcerned.

"What shameless boasting!"

Instead of anger, Li Yao just laughed.

Sun-Chasing Fist!

The Seventh Prince threw a punch. A fiery, dazzling golden fist projection, like a miniature sun, shot toward his opponent.

Guiyuan Hand!

Luo Tian didn’t use a weapon either. A thick, crystalline yellow layer condensed over his palm, forming a massive palm shadow that howled with a cold, heavy power as it shot forward to meet the attack.

BOOM!

The two domineering forces collided, kicking up a whirlwind of dust.

When the dust settled, Li Yao stood proudly in place, wearing a confident expression. ’The power of the Sun Chasing Skill will surely overwhelm the Guiyuan Technique.’

But in the next instant, his expression changed completely.

Luo Tian’s body swayed, but he showed no sign of being defeated.

’How can the Guiyuan Technique be this powerful? It must be that brat’s Martial Vein Power, greatly amplifying his attacks.’

Li Yao’s expression flickered as he found an excuse for what he saw.

In reality, Luo Tian had only infused thirty percent of his Divine Vein Cold Power into that palm, which was nowhere near enough to bridge the massive gap in their cultivation.

The true power stemmed from the Guiyuan True Skill itself.

"The Sun Chasing Skill is nothing special. If I had a Spirit Sea Realm cultivation, I’d have already knocked you to the ground," Luo Tian said with a faint smile.

"Don’t get cocky. This Prince only used seventy percent of my power in that strike."

Li Yao couldn’t help but feel annoyed.

VWOOM!

He attacked again. His Fist Force, like a golden Yangri, carried a searing pressure as it blasted toward Luo Tian, now thirty percent stronger than before.

Luo Tian felt the pressure and once again unleashed a heavy, thick, crystalline yellow Palm Force.

BOOM! BANG! BANG!

Their fists and palms collided again. The force of the impact roared, and cold energy spilled out in all directions.

This time, Luo Tian maintained his Divine Vein Cold Power at forty to fifty percent. He barely managed to block the fierce impact of Li Yao’s Sun-Chasing Fist and was forced back a step or two.

"Let’s see how long your Martial Vein Power can last."

Li Yao smirked and launched a storm of attacks.

In an instant, the two figures on the Martial Combat Platform became blurs, flashing about and colliding with terrifying force again and again, the sound of their impacts echoing without end.

Overall, Li Yao held the upper hand with his powerful cultivation and Cultivation Technique, keeping Luo Tian on the defensive.

"Luo Tian is sure to lose!"

"After all, a Martial Vein Power isn’t a conventional tool. It can’t be sustained for long."

"That’s right! And Luo Tian has already fought two Spirit Sea Realm opponents before this."

Many people were watching this fight, including geniuses from the other sub-match arenas.

No one thought Luo Tian could win.

All the geniuses believed that once Luo Tian exhausted his Martial Vein Power, he would be defeated.

In reality, Luo Tian was only using fifty percent of his Divine Vein Power, so the drain was minimal.

If he were to unleash the full power of his Divine Vein, things would be very different.

However, Luo Tian was pleasantly surprised to discover that as he clashed with the Sun Chasing Skill, his Guiyuan True Qi was becoming more refined and flowing more smoothly.

The Sun Chasing Skill was of a sufficiently high level, and Li Yao had a massive advantage in cultivation.

His Sun Chasing True Qi was perfectly suited to temper and hone Luo Tian’s Guiyuan True Qi.

Therefore, Luo Tian refrained from using his sword, choosing instead to clash directly with Li Yao’s fists and palms time and time again.

「Time passed.」

The two had exchanged over a hundred blows, fist against palm.

Li Yao vaguely felt that something was wrong.

At first, he was clearly overwhelming Luo Tian, who had to rely on his Body Technique just to keep up.

But with each successive clash, he discovered that Luo Tian’s Palm Force—already thick and resilient—was somehow growing even stronger.

At this point, Li Yao was struggling to suppress Luo Tian. His arms felt numb, the blood in them seeming to freeze, and it was extremely uncomfortable.

’I can’t let him figure out what’s happening.’

With a thought, Luo Tian reduced his output of Divine Vein Power from fifty percent to thirty percent.

Instantly, the searing, domineering Fist Force of Li Yao’s Sun-Chasing Fist once again had Luo Tian on the defensive.

’Excellent! That brat’s Martial Vein Power is running low!’

Li Yao rejoiced inwardly.

He decided that once Luo Tian’s Martial Vein Power gave out, he would use his Treasure Artifact and "accidentally" maim or cripple him.

And so, Li Yao and Luo Tian clashed hundreds of more times, their exchanges happening in the blink of an eye.

Until, at a certain moment, Luo Tian’s Guiyuan True Qi, under constant tempering and refinement, advanced to a new sub-level.

BOOM!

Luo Tian’s Guiyuan True Skill broke through to Third-Layer Great Success.

Following the breakthrough of his True Qi Heart Method, the barrier to the ninth Qi Vein in his body was naturally broken.

’I’ve broken through to the Ninth Layer!’

Luo Tian’s heart trembled with ecstasy.

His cultivation had reached the Peak of the Eighth Layer some days ago, and he had spent a long time polishing it.

Now, with the breakthrough of his Cultivation Technique, his cultivation naturally advanced along with it.

WHOOSH! BOOM! BOOM!

Without even taking a moment to consolidate his new cultivation, the nine Qi Veins in Luo Tian’s body erupted, unleashing a significantly stronger Guiyuan Palm Force to meet Li Yao’s attack.

"What... What’s happening?!"

Li Yao cried out involuntarily as Luo Tian’s domineering, heavy Palm Force sent him stumbling backward, several layers of frost crystallizing on his own palms.

After his dual breakthrough in both his cultivation level and Cultivation Technique, Luo Tian’s Guiyuan True Qi was at least on par with that of a Spirit Sea Realm First Layer cultivator.

Combined with the fifty to sixty percent of his Divine Vein Power he was now channeling, he was completely overwhelming Li Yao.

"Luo Tian broke through!"

"How fierce! He’s actually suppressing Li Yao, who’s seventh on the Human List."

In Xuanwu Square, the watching geniuses all paled, crying out in astonishment.

"This kid... he defeated Xu Mengxin, and now he’s overpowering Li Yao in a direct confrontation."

Jin Fan, Nangong Yu, Xie Lin, and the others were all shaken to the core.

It seemed that every time they saw him, Luo Tian had grown stronger, creating one miracle after another.

"No! How can the Seventh Prince be losing?!"

Liu Ziyan clutched her red, swollen face, her delicate body trembling in terror.

Suddenly, she recalled what Luo Tian had said to her: "Even the man backing you will be defeated by me. You will live forever in my shadow, forced to look up."

Could it be that the words Luo Tian had spoken so recently were about to come true?

"Damn it! That brat actually used my Sun Chasing Skill to achieve a breakthrough!"

Li Yao was filled with resentment upon realizing the truth.

At the start of the fight, he had used his Sun Chasing Skill to flaunt his superiority.

He never imagined it would play right into Luo Tian’s hands and allow him to achieve a breakthrough.

What he couldn’t comprehend was how Luo Tian’s Guiyuan Technique—the weakest of the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion’s Three Great Mansion Techniques—could possess such might.

Even setting aside the Martial Vein Power, it was absurdly strong.

"Strange! How can the bottom-ranked Guiyuan Technique be so powerful in Luo Tian’s hands?"

On the viewing platform, Vice Manor Master Yue’s face was filled with doubt.

He guessed that either Luo Tian’s talent was simply extraordinary, or some expert had improved the Guiyuan Technique for him.

But in either case, Luo Tian had not violated any of the Holy Mansion’s rules, so there was no reason to question him.

"Haha! Like I said, the strength of a Cultivation Technique depends on who wields it."

Luo Tian laughed heartily, his spirits soaring.

SWISH! CRACK! BOOM! BOOM!

His Guiyuan Palm Force, combined with fifty to sixty percent of his Divine Vein Cold Power, erupted with the force of a winter glacier.

PTHOO!

The Seventh Prince’s arms were stiff with cold. He was so enraged he spat out a mouthful of blood, and at the same time felt a domineering, icy Cold Power invading his internal organs.

Unbeknownst to him, the insidious corrosion of Luo Tian’s Divine Vein Cold Power had already begun to weaken him.

Fiery Sun Saber Technique!

The Seventh Prince roared, drawing a dark red Treasure Saber. He unleashed a massive Blazing Sun Blade Aura, pushing the power of his Sun Chasing Skill to its absolute limit.

’A contest of Martial Skills?’

Luo Tian smiled, brimming with confidence.

"Celestial Star Six Techniques—Starfire, Spreading Like Wildfire!"

Luo Tian’s Guiyuan True Qi erupted with full force as he channeled sixty to seventy percent of his Divine Vein Power into his attack.

WHOOSH-BOOM!

A vast Starfire Sword Radiance spread out, rolling up a wintery mist of cold energy, like a frost dragon burning with starlight.

It was the same technique, but the power of this sword strike far surpassed the one he had used against Liu Ziyan.

Some of the Spirit Sea Realm geniuses watching the fight felt a chill run down their spines.

HISS! WHOOSH-BOOM!

The Seventh Prince’s Blazing Sun Blade Aura was instantly swallowed, and the vast Starfire Sword Radiance and its misty, cold aura swept over him.

"Block it!"

Li Yao roared in shock. A Treasure Robe beneath his outer garments glowed, releasing a layer of golden qi patterns that blocked the lingering power of "Starfire, Spreading Like Wildfire."

Even so, his entire body was covered in a layer of frost, making him resemble a snowman.

"Referee! Aren’t you going to call the match?"

Luo Tian prompted, twirling his Wind and Snow Sword in a flourish before sheathing it with a CLANG.

Lose?

Referee Hua Xu froze for a moment, then looked at the Seventh Prince and said cautiously, "He is still on the Martial Combat Platform and still has the strength to fight."

"I haven’t lost! I haven’t even used my real trump card!"

The Seventh Prince was furious.

FWOOSH!

The True Qi in his Qi Sea erupted from within, rapidly melting the frost on his body.

"Senior! Since you say he still has the strength to fight, don’t blame me for what I do next."

Luo Tian showed a sly grin.

Referee Hua Xu froze, overcome by a bad feeling.

SWOOSH!

A flash of an afterimage, and Luo Tian was already right beside the Seventh Prince.

"You’re courting death!"

The Seventh Prince had already dispelled the frost from his body. Seeing Luo Tian charge toward him, a murderous glint flashed in Li Yao’s eyes as he activated his Treasure Saber, preparing to slash at Luo Tian’s arm.

ARGH!

The moment he tried to circulate his True Qi, his face went deathly pale. An burst of cold energy erupted within his organs, and he staggered, unable to keep his balance.

SLAP!

Luo Tian stood before him and slapped him across the face.

"You... you dare to slap This Prince."

Li Yao roared, his face a mask of humiliation. But with the cold energy rampaging through his body, he was completely unable to resist.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

Luo Tian slapped him several more times. "The referee allowed this," he said with a grin.

Ah!

The referee was dumbfounded. "..."</p