Chapter 255 - 253: Invisible Pressure, Astonishing Rewards

Luo Tian’s point total from the Slaughter Grotto Heaven was on full display, impossible to miss.

Over seventeen thousand Points proved that Luo Tian had been killing Blood Corpses the entire time!

Many Upper Sect Disciples were convinced. Perhaps Luo Tian had truly relied on his own strength to last so long inside the Slaughter Grotto Heaven.

"How are his Points so high?"

Li Zhiyun staggered slightly, shocked.

For a disciple who had just entered the Upper Sect, this point total was already incredibly high. It would have been astonishing even if Wang Fu had achieved it.

Let alone for Luo Tian, who was only at the Fifth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm.

"A genius! A true genius!"

"Wang Fu, the number one disciple from the Lower Sect, only scored just over eleven thousand Points, while Luo Tian reached over seventeen thousand. What a massive difference!"

The voices of doubt died down as many of the veteran disciples exclaimed in amazement.

With the potential Luo Tian was now showing, he was bound to become a prominent figure among the Upper Sect disciples. His future was limitless.

At this moment, Luo Tian became the center of attention.

This was the first time Luo Tian had felt this way in the Upper Sect.

In the distance, Wang Fu’s face was grim. He looked constipated.

Not only had his plan failed, but he had also been utterly crushed by Luo Tian in the Slaughter Grotto Heaven’s point ranking.

Wang Fu felt an unprecedented sense of failure and humiliation.

"Senior Brother Ying, is there any other way? I want that brat dead!" Wang Fu asked via voice transmission, his voice dripping with hatred.

"There are very few opportunities. This will require careful planning!"

Ying Feihang gave Wang Fu a cold glance, then turned and left.

Wang Fu followed him away.

"Senior Sister Ning, who was that with Wang Fu?"

Luo Tian’s gaze landed on Ying Feihang’s retreating figure.

He vaguely remembered this Upper Sect Disciple. Back in the Celestial Extreme Mountain Range, he was the one who had severed one of Black Fox’s arms with a single palm strike.

"Him? That’s Ying Feihang! An elite disciple of the Upper Sect. His strength is far above mine!"

A hint of awe filled Ning Xin’s eyes.

She and Ying Feihang had been disciples of the same year, but he had entered the Upper Sect in less than twelve months. Now, she had no idea how much stronger he was than her.

Luo Tian fell into deep thought.

He had long suspected that someone was pulling Wang Fu’s strings.

Seeing Ying Feihang now made him pay special attention. ’But I don’t think I’ve done anything to offend him.’

In fact, last time in the Celestial Extreme Mountain Range, Ying Feihang had even saved Luo Tian’s life.

"What about Ying Feihang’s master?"

Luo Tian remembered something and asked again.

"Why are you asking so many questions?"

Ning Xin was confused but still answered gravely, "His master is the Third Elder, second in authority only to the Yunxiao Sect Master!"

"What’s his name?"

"Zhou Yuquan!"

Hearing that name, Luo Tian’s pupils instantly constricted.

When Lin Dongfeng gave Luo Tian the recommendation letter, he had specifically emphasized his old enemy from the Yunxiao Sect. That person’s name was Zhou Yuquan!

’The Third Elder of the Yunxiao Sect?’

Luo Tian instantly felt a pressure as heavy and immense as a mountain.

After thirty years, Lin Dongfeng’s enemy from his youth had become the immensely powerful Third Elder of the Yunxiao Sect.

’Faced with such a personage, how can I, a mere Upper Sect Disciple, possibly stand against him?’

’The trouble in the Slaughter Grotto Heaven today was likely just the beginning!’

Luo Tian grew worried.

"Luo Tian, what’s wrong?"

Ning Xin noticed that something was off with Luo Tian.

"It’s nothing."

Luo Tian shook his head, lost in thought.

’Although Lin Dongfeng’s enemy is the Third Elder, it seems the Third Elder himself can’t be bothered to deal with me personally. He sent his disciple to handle it instead.’

’Compared to dealing with the Third Elder, one of the giants of the Yunxiao Sect, facing just Ying Feihang is much less pressure.’

’But I can’t let my guard down because of that.’

’What if Ying Feihang fails to handle this? The Third Elder will eventually get involved anyway.’

’If only I could find a patron in the Yunxiao Sect!’

The thought of taking a master began to form in Luo Tian’s mind.

’Finding a master with a status comparable to the Third Elder would resolve this hidden threat.’

’But I’m currently at the bottom of the ladder in the Upper Sect. How could I possibly get someone of that stature to accept me as a disciple?’

’I have to prove myself!’

’And the Four Grotto Heavens are the perfect stage for it!’

’Looks like I can’t just coast through the Four Grotto Heavens. I have to give it my all, attract the attention of the Yunxiao Sect’s higher-ups, and become the disciple of a powerful master!’

Everything clicked into place for Luo Tian.

"Senior Sister Ning, the second Grotto Heaven opening in half a month is the Survival Grotto Heaven, right? What are the specifics of that Grotto Heaven?"

Luo Tian began to plan for what was to come.

He hadn’t been clear on the rules for the Slaughter Grotto Heaven.

Over seventeen thousand Points was a bit low, relatively speaking. If he had gone all out, he could have gotten more.

"In terms of danger, the Survival Grotto Heaven is the most dangerous. Inside, you will face all sorts of unimaginable disasters!"

"And all you have to do is survive!"

Ning Xin said gravely.

In the past, the Survival Grotto Heaven had the highest death rate.

Often, disciples died inside before they even had a chance to teleport out.

"As for the point calculation on the survival leaderboard, it’s based on how long you survive inside."

Ning Xin added.

"Oh, right! There are rewards for these leaderboards, but they’re very difficult for ordinary Upper Sect Disciples to obtain. Only the elites can manage it."

The corners of Ning Xin’s mouth curled up, as if she was very confident about getting the leaderboard rewards.

"What are the rewards?"

Luo Tian asked.

"For any one of the Four Great Grotto Heavens’ leaderboards, if you reach one hundred thousand Points, the reward is three thousand Spiritual Essence Coins, three thousand Contribution Points, and ten Upper Grade Essence Cultivation Pills!"

After hearing Ning Xin’s explanation, Luo Tian looked astonished. He hadn’t expected the rewards to be so generous.

If he managed to score over one hundred thousand Points on all four of the Grotto Heaven leaderboards, he would earn over ten thousand Spiritual Essence Coins and Contribution Points, as well as forty Upper Grade Essence Cultivation Pills.

’Such an astonishing reward would tempt any Upper Sect Disciple.’

Luo Tian was currently short on Spiritual Essence Coins.

After exchanging for the Wind Manipulation Technique, his Contribution Points were also used up.

’If I could get all those rewards, I’d be rich in an instant, and my path in Martial Arts would become much smoother.’

"The rewards are generous, but they aren’t easy to claim. For a typical elite disciple, reaching one hundred thousand Points on two of the leaderboards is already considered excellent. Even the ten Core Disciples would have a hard time claiming all the rewards."

Seeing the greedy look on Luo Tian’s face, Ning Xin couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him.

She herself was only confident in getting one reward; getting a second one would depend on luck.

’Luo Tian’s performance has been impressive, but he probably won’t be able to get even one of the rewards.’

’Among the Four Great Grotto Heavens, the Slaughter Grotto Heaven is considered the easiest one to get the reward from.’

’But Luo Tian only got seventeen thousand Points on his first attempt. He can only enter twice more, so there’s no hope of him reaching one hundred thousand Points.’

Ning Xin didn’t say it out loud, afraid of dampening Luo Tian’s enthusiasm.

Besides what she had mentioned, the top three on each of the four leaderboards also received a mysterious grand prize.

These were completely out of Luo Tian’s reach, so she didn’t mention them.

"Thank you for telling me so much, Senior Sister Ning. I’ll take my leave now."

Luo Tian turned and left.

Next, he had to prepare for the opening of the Survival Grotto Heaven.

’Whether it’s for finding a master or for that one-hundred-thousand-Point reward, I have to give it my all and do my absolute best!’

’In the Survival Grotto Heaven, the Nine Heavens Sword Technique will be less useful. The Celestial Furnace Treasure Body and the Wind Manipulation Technique will be the keys to success!’

Luo Tian returned to his residence and entered the Cultivation Secret Room.

He swallowed the last stalk of Dragon Scale Grass.

FWOOM!

A fiery, scorching aura erupted like a volcano, and the familiar sharp pain and heatwave spread throughout his body.

Luo Tian immediately activated his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body, and sparks of interweaving green and red burst forth from the surface of his skin.

His body seemed to be on fire as his physique was tempered by the scorching flames.

「Half a day later.」

The medicinal effects of the Dragon Scale Grass completely faded, and the efficiency of his physical tempering plummeted.

But Luo Tian was already on the verge of a breakthrough.

「Another day passed!」

Luo Tian’s Celestial Furnace Treasure Body broke through to the Second-Layer!

BZZZT!

His skin took on a jade-like green sheen. It was smoother and more translucent, with intricate patterns, and it radiated an oppressive wave of powerful vital energy.

Luo Tian further activated his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body, focusing entirely on defense.

Then, he took out the [Ice Trace Sword] and slashed at his jade-green arm.

CLANG!

A crisp sound like metal striking jade rang out. A gash was left on his arm, and a cold chill spread from it.

The [Ice Trace Sword] was an Upper Grade Treasure Artifact, incredibly sharp, and its Cold Power was terrifying.

’An attack from an Upper Grade Treasure Artifact only left a mark like this.’

Luo Tian was very satisfied.

Although he hadn’t used any True Qi in that sword strike, Luo Tian also hadn’t used True Qi Body Protection.

Furthermore, Luo Tian discovered that his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body was highly resistant to the cold. Only twenty to thirty percent of the icy power managed to penetrate his body, and it had no effect on him whatsoever.

’But my Celestial Furnace Treasure Body still has room for improvement!’

Luo Tian’s eyes shone brightly.

Because he had been so focused on breaking through to become an Upper Sect Disciple, Luo Tian had put all his energy into raising his Cultivation, neglecting his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body.

In fact, possessing a Divine Vein, Luo Tian had a very high talent for Body Refinement.

’On top of that, I also need a new suit of Defensive Treasure Armor!’

Luo Tian took off his robes and tore away the tattered Mid Grade Defense Treasure Armor he was wearing.

This suit of Treasure Armor had been completely ruined when he was besieged by countless Blood Corpses in the Slaughter Grotto Heaven.

The infuriating part was that Luo Tian now had neither Spiritual Essence Coins nor Contribution Points.

’That’s right, I’ll go find Cheng Wanli!’

Luo Tian thought of someone and couldn’t help but smile.

The [Ice Trace Sword] had been forged by Cheng Wanli, and he had promised Luo Tian a significant discount on any future Artifact Refining needs.

...

Artifact Refining Peak.

Inside a standalone pavilion, Cheng Wanli was frowning at a messy pile of blueprints and documents before him.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

The loud knocking came from the door.

"I’m off today! No Artifact Refining!"

Cheng Wanli shouted impatiently.

He hadn’t been in the Upper Sect for long and could now access deeper knowledge of Artifact Refining.

Furthermore, when his father saw that he had forged an Upper Grade Treasure Artifact in such a short time, he acknowledged his talent for Artifact Refining. He pulled a few strings and got Cheng Wanli many rare and precious tomes on the subject.

Right now, he was engrossed in his research and had encountered a difficult problem.

"Cheng Wanli, the last time I came looking for you, you weren’t doing business. You’re doing it again this time? Aren’t you afraid your shop will go bankrupt?"

A familiar voice came from outside.

’Who? Who dares talk to me like that!’

Cheng Wanli showed his displeasure, but then he had a sudden realization and exclaimed in surprise, "Luo Tian!"

’Impossible, right? A few months ago, that kid was only at the Peak of the Spirit Sea Realm Second Layer!’

Cheng Wanli was filled with doubt.

SWISH!

He turned into a faint red afterimage, instantly arrived on the first floor, and opened the door.

"Luo Tian, is it really you?"

Even though Cheng Wanli had already guessed it, he was still utterly shocked.