Chapter 393 - 391: Betrayal

Within Prince Zheng’s Mansion, experts had gathered, and the atmosphere was tense, ready to explode at any moment.

Meanwhile, Elder Zheng and Elder Zhong were hidden in the shadows.

"Elder Zheng, are we really not going to help that kid? Prince Zheng might resort to lethal force to save his own life!"

Elder Zhong was slightly worried.

Luo Tian was a Yunxiao Sect disciple, after all. Sect Elders had a duty to protect even an ordinary Upper Sect Disciple, to say nothing of the King of the Celestial Pride!

"That kid was the one who ’forced’ us to leave. Even if he dies, he can’t blame us, right?"

Elder Zheng said with a laugh.

"That may be so, but..."

Elder Zhong remained uneasy. "If Luo Tian really dies, we’ll definitely be punished!" he added.

"Heh heh, but if we kill the murderer and avenge Luo Tian, even if there’s a punishment, it won’t be severe."

Elder Zheng wore the cunning smile of an old fox.

Elder Zhong understood instantly.

Once Prince Zheng killed Luo Tian, Elder Zheng planned to kill the prince and "avenge" Luo Tian!

As for why Elder Zheng would go to such lengths, he understood with a moment’s thought. Elder Zheng had certainly set his sights on the treasures Luo Tian had obtained from the ruins!

Luo Tian had entered the Heritage Treasure Land and might have even received the inheritance of a Great Power!

What was sacrificing a mere Prince Zheng in exchange for precious treasures and a mysterious inheritance?

"A brilliant plan!"

Elder Zhong said flatteringly.

Now that he knew Elder Zheng’s scheme, he had to play along. Otherwise, what was to stop Elder Zheng from silencing him permanently?

"Elder Zheng, do you think Luo Tian is so fearless because he has some powerful trump card?"

"Heh heh, then you’re underestimating Prince Zheng!"

Elder Zheng laughed without a hint of worry.

Prince Zheng had been on campaigns for decades, destroying seven or eight nations in the process.

Prince Zheng’s own cultivation had been at the Second Layer of the Earth Element Realm for over ten years; his strength was profound.

Furthermore, the experts in his mansion were far from ordinary.

Luo Tian had trump cards, but with Prince Zheng’s vast power, he surely had them as well!

...

「Inside the Prince’s Mansion.」

Luo Tian was surrounded.

Including Prince Zheng, there were a total of five Earth Element Realm experts!

Luo Tian spotted a familiar man in black. It was the Ghost General who had pursued him in the Manglong Mountain Range!

Just as Luo Tian had suspected, the Ghost General was one of Prince Zheng’s men!

Despite being surrounded, Luo Tian wasn’t the least bit panicked. Instead, he chuckled lightly. "The great Prince Zheng of the Chilong Dynasty, and these are all the men you have?"

"Arrogant! Even if you are the King of the Celestial Pride, you have no right to look down on us!"

Prince Zheng sneered.

He alone was more than enough to kill Luo Tian!

Surrounded as he was, Luo Tian couldn’t escape even if he grew wings!

Golden Dragon Claw!

Prince Zheng’s arm swelled, its surface becoming coated in a layer of golden scales, resembling the golden claw of a Flood Dragon. It emanated a domineering and fierce aura.

His figure flashed as he closed in, swiping with his claw like a thunderbolt. Five massive, violent streaks of golden light tore through the air.

"Good timing!"

Luo Tian was fearless. ’I’ll take this chance to test the Fourth-Layer of my Celestial Furnace Treasure Body.’

Just as the five massive, violent streaks of golden light descended upon him, Luo Tian finally made his move, activating his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body!

BZZZT!

A crystal-like silver sheen emerged over his entire body, giving off a cold, hard sensation and emitting a powerful, heavy aura.

’My defense has increased, and my strength has been enhanced as well!’

Channeling his True Palm Skill Intent, Luo Tian struck out with a seemingly ordinary palm, yet it carried an immense, heaven-blotting momentum.

BOOM!

Luo Tian’s crystal-silver palm met the massive, domineering golden light streaks head-on.

A blast of gold and silver light erupted. Luo Tian’s Palm Force surged forward, piercing and shattering the several golden light streaks.

"What? He broke my attack with just his physical strength!"

Prince Zheng’s expression was one of shock.

Moreover, Luo Tian hadn’t even used True Qi in that palm strike!

Staring intently, he could see only a few shallow white marks on Luo Tian’s shimmering silver palm, as if it were forged from steel-like crystal—indestructible.

"However, you seem to have forgotten that we are not fighting one-on-one!"

A cold smile tugged at the corner of Prince Zheng’s mouth.

As Luo Tian was clashing with him, the other Earth Element Realm Martial Artists launched a fierce assault on Luo Tian.

Among these four Earth Element Realm experts, two were at the First Layer, and the other two were at the Peak of the First Layer.

A long saber appeared in the Ghost General’s hand. He slashed out, sending a sharp, ten-meter-long blade of light carrying a dense, baleful aura toward his target.

The other three also launched their attacks one after another.

The strongest among them was a Purple-robed Lady, who wielded a Bone Long Whip. She swung it out, creating a desolate, pale white whirlwind of terrifying power.

"Luo Tian, even with your superior Body Technique, you’ll be constrained and unable to dodge when facing a siege!"

Prince Zheng sneered.

But to his surprise, Luo Tian didn’t use a Body Technique to flee. He stood calmly in place, not even activating his True Qi Body Protection.

BOOM! BOOM! RUMBLE!

All of the attacks from the four Earth Element Realm experts struck Luo Tian, setting off a stunning explosion that blasted a massive crater into the ground.

"What? The kid didn’t even dodge?"

"He must have been scared stupid! He didn’t even use Protective True Qi. I’m afraid he’s been blasted to bits!"

The four Earth Element Realm experts sneered.

It seemed Luo Tian had been dealt with so easily.

But Prince Zheng’s pupils shrank. Peering through the billowing dust, he saw a figure floating in mid-air within it.

"He’s not dead!"

Prince Zheng cried out in alarm.

"Heh heh, you think you can kill me with attacks that feel like a tickle?"

Luo Tian’s light and breezy laughter echoed out.

The dust completely settled, revealing Luo Tian’s figure. His crystal-like silver body was covered by a layer of hard, silver Light Armor!

There were many damaged spots on the silver Light Armor, all caused by the enemy’s attacks.

But Luo Tian himself was, it could be said, completely unharmed!

"What?!"

The Ghost General was flabbergasted.

The Purple-robed Lady also showed her astonishment, staring at Luo Tian in disbelief.

"Kill him!"

Prince Zheng’s face darkened.

’That was probably a fluke, or maybe Luo Tian used some powerful Defense Secret Technique to remain unscathed. A technique like that can’t possibly be used repeatedly!’

SWOOSH!

Prince Zheng took the lead, his Flood Dragon-like claw unleashing a sharp, violent golden radiance that whipped up a whirlwind of golden blades!

The Ghost General, the Purple-robed Lady, and the others also launched their attacks instantly.

Five Earth Element Realm experts besieged Luo Tian at once.

Attacks came from all directions, leaving no room to dodge!

’After using that Defense Secret Technique, Luo Tian will surely find it hard to resist!’

But Prince Zheng was clearly mistaken.

Unhurried, Luo Tian executed his Cold Wind Palm, which collided with the whirlwind of golden blades. A chilling intent eroded and weakened the attack.

His crystal-like silver palm met it head-on, using its powerful defensive capability to withstand the damage and tear the attack to shreds!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Next, the attacks of the other four Earth Element Realm experts rained down.

Among their attacks, only those from the two at the Peak of Earth Element Realm First Layer posed a slight threat; the others could be ignored.

Luo Tian used his Cold Jade Armor to block the attacks from these two experts at the Peak of Earth Element Realm First Layer.

With the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body at the Fourth-Layer, the Treasure Body’s defense could integrate with a Defensive Treasure Artifact to further boost its defensive power!

Under these circumstances, the attacks of two experts at the Peak of Earth Element Realm First Layer were not enough to break through his defense.

After a round of attacks, Luo Tian had clashed with Prince Zheng and withstood the attacks of the other four Earth Element Realm experts, emerging completely unscathed.

"Impossible! How could this be?!"

Prince Zheng’s expression changed drastically.

They had a total of five Earth Element Realm experts! Logically, killing Luo Tian should have been easy, but now, even injuring him seemed like an impossible challenge!

"Heh heh!"

Luo Tian chuckled. Thanks to this group of enemies, he now had a clear understanding of how strong his defense was.

"Prince Zheng, how about this: whichever one of you manages to break my defense and injure me, I’ll spare your life."

The corner of Luo Tian’s mouth curled up.

Prince Zheng felt Luo Tian’s intense scorn and was furious, but he had no choice but to accept Luo Tian’s proposal.

’As long as I can break his defense and injure him, I can live!’

A sharp glint shot from Prince Zheng’s eyes. The True Essence in his body boiled, and the golden light on his claws flared brightly!

"Two Dragons Emerging from the Sea!"

Prince Zheng suddenly attacked, his claws striking out to create two golden, dragon-like phantoms that shot toward Luo Tian with a savage and domineering aura!

SWISH! SWISH!

Luo Tian executed the Wind Manipulation Technique. His body became like the wind, ethereal and graceful, as he dodged Prince Zheng’s attack.

Just now, he had been testing the Fourth-Layer of his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body. Now, it was time to deal with this group!

"Sword Rolling Residual Clouds!"

Luo Tian turned and drew his Ice Trace Sword, channeling his True Sword Dao Intent.

A wave of dark, cold Sword Qi rushed out, forming a vast and biting Sword Qi Tornado that charged forward to meet the attacks of the other four Earth Element Realm experts.

RUMBLE-HISSSSSS!

The storm, composed of countless incomparably sharp Sword Lights, seemed capable of devouring everything.

The attacks from the Purple-robed Lady, the Ghost General, and the others were all shredded to pieces by the Sword Qi storm!

"What?!"

Everyone was shocked.

Not only was Luo Tian’s defense terrifying, but his swordsmanship was also this frightening!

SHIIING!

A cold, crystalline Gale Sword Light streaked through the void like lightning, shooting toward the Ghost General!

"Not good!"

The Ghost General hurriedly swung his large saber, hacking out a black blade of light surging with baleful energy.

However, he was too slow.

The moment before he attacked, Luo Tian’s sword strike hit him between the eyebrows, and blood trickled out.

The Ghost General’s face was filled with horror as he fell to the ground, dead!

"You’re next!"

Luo Tian’s figure flickered, seeming to merge with the surrounding wind, appearing and disappearing like a phantom!

SHINK!

An ice-cold, razor-sharp Sword Light suddenly blossomed.

In the next instant, blood splattered, and the corpse of a large man fell!

Besides the Ghost General, another expert at the Earth Element Realm First Layer had been slain by Luo Tian with a single sword strike!

Now that Luo Tian’s cultivation was at the Peak of the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm, both his Nine Heavens Sword Technique and Celestial Sword Technique had improved significantly.

Combined with the speed advantage from the Wind Manipulation Technique, an ordinary expert at the Earth Element Realm First Layer was no longer a match for him.

All that remained were the two experts at the Peak of Earth Element Realm First Layer and Prince Zheng.

There were also many High Tier Spirit Sea Realm cultivators, their faces all pale. They didn’t dare get close to Luo Tian!

Luo Tian’s performance was simply too frightening. He had withstood the attacks of Earth Element Realm experts and easily one-shotted someone at the First Layer. If they rushed up, they would just be throwing their lives away!

A chilling fear spread through the area!

"He’s too strong!"

The Purple-robed Lady’s eyelids twitched, a chill running down her spine!

Luo Tian’s defense, attack, and speed were all superior to theirs. He had no weaknesses.

"Luo Tian, your grudge with Prince Zheng has nothing to do with me. From now on, I will not interfere."

Realizing she had no chance of victory and was in extreme danger, the Purple-robed Lady chose to surrender.

"Me too! Please, spare me!"

The other Earth Element Realm expert also surrendered.

"You..."

Prince Zheng was dumbfounded. He never imagined that the Earth Element Realm Great Powers in his service would all betray him!