Chapter 267 - 265: The Most Difficult Grotto Heaven Opens

The second Light Cave was the Survival Grotto Heaven.

Luo Tian was quite confident he could reach a total of 100,000 Points and claim the extra reward.

Furthermore, his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body was extremely close to reaching Second-Layer Great Success.

The Survival Grotto Heaven was an excellent place to refine his Treasure Body. Luo Tian planned to use his old trick and leverage the Grotto Heaven’s trial to achieve a breakthrough.

As for the Slaughter Grotto Heaven, he was saving it for last. Getting the 100,000 Points reward from that Grotto Heaven was the most uncertain.

BUZZ!

Luo Tian’s figure vanished into the Light Cave, and the gazes of all the nearby Upper Sect Disciples followed him.

The Luo Tian of today was no longer the newcomer who had just entered the Upper Sect, to be ignored and looked down upon.

He was now a figure in the spotlight!

Many disciples were curious about how many Points Luo Tian would get in his second trial in the Survival Grotto Heaven.

"Luo Tian’s first score was thirty-two thousand Points. Maybe luck played a part. But his second time shouldn’t be any lower than that."

"In that case, doesn’t that mean Luo Tian might actually get the 100,000 Points reward?"

Many disciples revealed looks of intense envy.

Among the Upper Sect Disciples, only about fifty percent managed to claim the 100,000 Points reward from the Survival Grotto Heaven.

And yet Luo Tian, a new disciple, might just be able to do it!

What made them even more envious was that Luo Tian had the 100,000 Points reward from the Heart Demon Grotto Heaven practically in the bag!

To this day, Luo Tian’s single-run score in the Heart Demon Grotto Heaven was still number one. He had even surpassed several Core Disciples!

"Without a doubt, Luo Tian is the biggest dark horse of the Four Grotto Heavens this time!"

A female disciple said with certainty.

...

「Inside the Survival Grotto Heaven.」

The moment Luo Tian teleported in, he found himself directly in a region of ice and snow.

’Did the Array Spirit know what I was thinking and send me straight here?’

A smile appeared on Luo Tian’s face; he was in a good mood.

Without a second thought, he mimicked what he did last time: found an iceberg, dug an ice cave, and burrowed inside.

The Four Grotto Heavens were supposed to be trials, but Luo Tian treated them as a cultivation paradise.

Sitting cross-legged, he activated his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body and the Refining Technique.

WHOOSH!

The surrounding Cold Power was instantly drawn over, clinging to the surface of Luo Tian’s body before seeping into his skin and flesh to temper his physique.

Soon, the ice covering Luo Tian grew thicker and thicker.

In less than half an incense stick’s time, the ice cave he had just dug was completely frozen solid.

Luo Tian was once again hidden inside the iceberg, enduring only the erosion of the cold while avoiding the other dangerous trials.

At first, the Cold Power here was relatively ordinary, and its refining effect was weak.

After all, with his current physical Defense, even a cultivator at the Spirit Sea Realm Seventh Layer would find it difficult to harm him. If he added his Defensive Treasure Armor and True Qi Body Protection, he could even withstand an Attack from an ordinary cultivator at the Eighth Layer of Spirit Sea Realm.

Luo Tian wasn’t in a hurry. He waited patiently.

An incense stick’s time passed quickly. The surrounding cold became bone-chilling, and the refining effect on his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body noticeably improved.

BZZZT! CRACKLE!

A pale, icy-blue light shimmered on the surface of Luo Tian’s skin. His body seemed to have transformed into a piece of Ice Cold Jade, being meticulously carved and polished.

After two incense sticks’ time, the surrounding cold intensified further, and Luo Tian was finding it hard to bear.

He immediately activated his Nether Dragon Divine Vein. Dark scales flickered across his back, outlining a dark blue, shadowy Dragon Vein.

Luo Tian’s physique and his resistance to the cold instantly increased.

An hour passed.

Luo Tian pushed his Nether Dragon Divine Vein to its limit and, with the addition of his Defensive Treasure Armor, barely managed to resist the frigid, violent erosion of the cold.

Just then, a jade-green luster flashed across Luo Tian’s body, and a terrifying pressure of qi and blood erupted outward!

As he sat within the ice, dozens of cracks instantly appeared in the frozen shell around him.

’I broke through.’

A joyful expression appeared on Luo Tian’s face, but he wasn’t surprised.

With his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body at Second-Layer Great Success, Luo Tian’s Defense and resistance to the cold had improved again, and he suddenly felt much more comfortable.

Luo Tian had no intention of leaving. He continued to temper his physique here.

The Four Grotto Heavens only opened for three months at a time, and each Grotto Heaven could only be entered three times. The opportunity was rare.

Moreover, with the experience from his first time, Luo Tian could already estimate his approximate Points based on the time he spent inside.

After some time, RUMBLE!

The iceberg trembled. Its peak fractured, and an endless storm of ice and snow came crashing down.

Facing the avalanche this time, Luo Tian appeared quite calm.

The only effect the avalanche had on him was making the surrounding cold even more intense, so there was no need to worry too much.

’My Points are approaching forty thousand,’ Luo Tian thought to himself.

After a while longer, even his Treasure Body, now at Second-Layer Great Success, was beginning to struggle.

But at that very moment, the entire iceberg suddenly began to shake.

’What new trick is this?’

Luo Tian muttered to himself as his Spiritual Sense spread out.

According to his knowledge, the most terrifying natural disaster in the ice region was an avalanche.

And an avalanche had just occurred.

BOOM!

The iceberg shuddered violently, shattered into several pieces, and then began to sink.

"Damn, it’s sinking into the deep sea!"

Buried in the ice, Luo Tian had no time to escape. His only choice was to teleport out.

...

Outside, the Upper Sect Disciples paying attention to Luo Tian were all wearing looks of shock.

The longer one stayed in the Survival Grotto Heaven, the higher their Points.

And Luo Tian had already been inside for a very long time.

Many Upper Sect Disciples already had a rough estimate in their minds of Luo Tian’s score for his second trial.

"Impossible! How is he still not out?"

"This is terrifying. Logically, it would have been impressive if Luo Tian had just matched his first score, but he’s completely surpassed it!"

Many disciples exclaimed in surprise.

Xiao Feng happened to arrive just after Luo Tian entered the Survival Grotto Heaven.

His face was a little dazed. He glanced at the Survival Grotto Heaven’s points list and said with certainty, "His score from this second trial will rank in the top five!"

One had to remember that over eighty percent of the Yunxiao Sect disciples had already entered the Survival Grotto Heaven at least once.

This included four Core Disciples, the lowest of whom had a score of forty-five thousand Points!

BUZZ!

Just then, Luo Tian teleported out.

"He’s finally out!"

Many people breathed a sigh of relief.

Luo Tian’s second performance was just that astonishing. If he had stayed in any longer, they might have been scared to death.

Everyone’s eyes turned to the Survival Grotto Heaven’s points list.

"Luo Tian, third place, total Points: seventy-four thousand!"

"Heavens, seventy-four thousand Points minus thirty-two thousand... Luo Tian’s score this time is forty-two thousand Points!"

"Unbelievable! That’s terrifying!"

The surroundings were filled with shock, and gasps could be heard continuously.

Luo Tian’s score in the Heart Demon Grotto Heaven was already incredible. That could be explained away as him having an exceptional innate talent in that area, a naturally strong Spiritual Will, or something similar.

But the Survival Grotto Heaven... that involved one’s actual strength.

Forty-two thousand Points. So far, that was the highest score below the four Core Disciples.

In terms of single-run ranking, Luo Tian placed fifth.

In total score, Luo Tian ranked third.

Previously, many people had questioned his first run in the Survival Grotto Heaven, saying he was just lucky and wouldn’t be so fortunate the second time, and that getting the 100,000 Points reward would be difficult.

Now, those people had long since slunk away in shame.

"Not bad!"

Luo Tian gave a faint smile and departed with a carefree air.

He returned to his residence, healed his injuries, and began to consolidate his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body.

「Two days later!」

In the canyon where the Four Grotto Heavens were located, a distorted black dot suddenly appeared. It expanded rapidly, forming an oval-shaped Light Cave.

Outside the canyon, a massive crowd of Upper Sect Disciples had gathered, far more than before, all of them staring intently.

"The Fourth Grotto Heaven has finally opened!"

"The Creation Grotto Heaven, known as the most difficult trial! Even Core Disciples find it troublesome and tricky to reach 100,000 Points!"

The opening of the Fourth Grotto Heaven attracted a large crowd of spectators.

But no one went in for the trial.

Until, at a certain moment, a handsome man flew over, exuding a powerful aura that startled everyone.

Where he landed, the crowd immediately cleared a large open space.

"Han Yuan!"

"It’s one of the ten Core Disciples!"

The scene erupted in an uproar.

"The Creation Grotto Heaven. Allow me to be the first to experience it."

The handsome man, Han Yuan, wore an indifferent expression as he stepped into the Light Cave.

Everyone outside stared at the entrance to the Creation Grotto Heaven, anticipating Han Yuan’s score.

It was somewhat quiet. Not many people were discussing it, since the difficulty and content of the trial were adjusted each time.

And Han Yuan was the very first to enter the Creation Grotto Heaven.

After a long wait, BUZZ!

The Light Cave above the entrance to the Creation Grotto Heaven suddenly dimmed.

Han Yuan was teleported out. His brow was furrowed, as if he were deep in thought.

At the same time, everyone looked up at the "Creation Points List" behind them.

"First Place, Han Yuan, twenty-eight thousand Points!"

"Damn, Han Yuan, one of the ten Core Disciples, only got twenty-eight thousand Points!"

"That’s way too hard!"

"Tsk tsk, the 100,000 Points from the Creation Grotto Heaven really is a pipe dream. We don’t stand a chance. We’ll just go in for our three sightseeing trips!"

Many people started to discuss it.

Everyone was already mentally prepared for the difficulty of the Creation Grotto Heaven.

In every session of the Four Grotto Heavens, only a handful of people ever managed to get the 100,000 Points reward from the Creation Grotto Heaven.

In the crowd, Luo Tian stared at the Creation Points List.

’The score is that low?’

He was very surprised. Looking at Ning Xin beside him, he asked, "Senior Sister Ning, what exactly is the trial inside the Creation Grotto Heaven?"

The score of a top-ten Core Disciple had truly startled him, making him feel a sense of awe toward this Grotto Heaven. He didn’t rush in recklessly.

But before Ning Xin could speak, not far away, Han Yuan heard what Luo Tian had just said. He raised an eyebrow, a disdainful smirk playing on his lips.

His gaze, sharp as a sword, stabbed toward Luo Tian.

"So you’re that Luo Tian? You’ve got some nerve, actually saying my score is low!"

The crowd parted to form a path as he slowly approached. The immense pressure of a Core Disciple washed over them, layer by layer, like monstrous waves crashing onto a shore.

SHUFFLE! SHUFFLE!

Under this terrifying pressure, Luo Tian, Ning Xin, and a few nearby disciples were almost powerless to resist, shuffling back several steps.

Even with his powerful physique, Luo Tian was caught off guard and took a step back.

’What terrifying strength!’ Luo Tian was inwardly alarmed.

The ten Core Disciples represented the most powerful geniuses of the Yunxiao Sect!

Their aura alone was this dreadful; their true strength was even harder to fathom.

"Senior Brother, you’ve misunderstood. That’s not what I meant," Luo Tian explained.

"Oh? So you mean I’m slandering you?" Han Yuan retorted.

Luo Tian’s pupils constricted slightly.

It was obvious Han Yuan was deliberately targeting him.

But Luo Tian couldn’t remember ever offending a Core Disciple!

Ning Xin stood frozen to the side, her face slightly pale, as she sent a secret voice transmission.

"Luo Tian, this Han Yuan... he’s good friends with Ying Feihang’s senior brother..."

"Also, your score in the Heart Demon Grotto Heaven was too astonishing. You surpassed several Core Disciples, and Han Yuan is one of them..."