Chapter 394 - 392: The Might of the Half-Profound Artifact

At this moment, the two Earth Element Realm masters from Prince Zheng’s Mansion surrendered to Luo Tian.

Luo Tian was simply too strong. They saw no hope of victory, only the certainty of danger, and even death.

"You bastards! To think you’d betray me!"

Prince Zheng’s face twisted in fury, rage burning in his eyes.

The tables had turned against him in an instant.

"Prince Zheng, this is called being pragmatic."

The purple-robed woman remarked with a sigh.

She hadn’t wanted to betray him either, but the circumstances left her no choice.

"I’ll accept your surrender. Capture Prince Zheng, and I will spare your lives,"

Luo Tian said with a faint smile.

"Very well!"

The purple-robed woman and the other expert at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm First Layer exchanged a glance and nodded.

To save their own lives, this was a small price to pay.

Besides, Prince Zheng was a dead man walking anyway.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

The purple-robed woman and the other Earth Element Realm expert turned and charged Prince Zheng, launching an incredibly fierce attack.

The Bone Long Whip in the purple-robed woman’s hand swept out, creating a ghastly, chilling whirlwind. Her attacks were incredibly fluid, enveloping Prince Zheng and cutting off his retreat.

The other expert, a middle-aged man in yellow robes at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm First Layer, slashed with his great saber, unleashing dazzling, fiery arcs of light. His assault was incomparably fierce!

One provided ranged harassment and control while the other pressed a close-quarters assault.

The two Earth Element Realm First Layer experts engaged in a fierce battle with Prince Zheng, and even held a slight advantage.

After all, Prince Zheng had lost his will to fight and only wanted to escape.

In the shadows, Elder Zheng and Elder Zhong watched the events unfold, shocked into silence.

They had been certain Luo Tian would die.

Their plan had been to rush out, kill Prince Zheng, and seize the treasure Luo Tian had supposedly brought back from some unknown Secret Realm.

But in the end, not only had Prince Zheng and his five Earth Element Realm experts failed to defeat Luo Tian, but two of the First Layer experts had been killed in a flash!

And now, the remaining two at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm First Layer had actually surrendered!

They were merely in Prince Zheng’s employ, so their lack of loyalty was understandable.

But this development had thrown the two elders’ plans into disarray.

"Elder Zheng, why don’t we just kill Luo Tian directly?"

Elder Zhong suggested.

"Foolish!"

Elder Zheng barked coldly.

"Luo Tian came here openly; many people must have seen him. Plus, the commotion at Prince Zheng’s Mansion has undoubtedly attracted the attention of other nearby powers."

"If they rush out and kill Luo Tian, it would be tantamount to betraying the Yunxiao Sect."

And that’s not even mentioning his special status as the King of the Celestial Pride.

Not only would they be hunted by the Yunxiao Sect, but possibly even by the powers of the entire Dongchen Continent!

Besides, they weren’t even sure if Luo Tian really had any valuable treasures on him. What if he had nothing?

"It seems we have no choice but to let this matter go..."

Elder Zheng sighed.

Luo Tian’s strength was beyond their expectations, and his future achievements would be unimaginable. They needed to find a chance to mend their relationship with him.

"It’s not over yet! Elder Zheng, look!"

Elder Zhong exclaimed.

High above the Prince’s Mansion, Prince Zheng was entangled by the very Earth Element Realm masters who once served him, while Luo Tian had yet to make a move.

It seemed that the life of a Prince of the Chilong Dynasty was about to come to an end.

Just then, Prince Zheng took out a blood-red Crystal Jade Pill and swallowed it.

The next moment, a terrifying aura erupted from him. Golden-red energy blasted in all directions, radiating a heaven-shaking aura of bloodlust and resentment!

Prince Zheng let out a hoarse, crazy roar, and shouted coldly, "You forced my hand!"

Golden Dragon Claw!

Twisted, blood-red veins spread across Prince Zheng’s golden arms as he viciously struck out with his claw.

PFFT!

The fiery blade-light from the yellow-robed man’s saber was instantly torn apart by a brutal, golden-red claw mark.

His True Essence Shield shattered, and the yellow-robed man was sent flying back dozens of meters.

He looked down at his abdomen to see a gaping hole where his organs had been pulverized.

"No!"

With a final, wretched scream, the yellow-robed man’s body plummeted to the ground!

’What? That pill just now... Don’t tell me it was the Blood Infant Pill?’

The purple-robed woman’s face was a mask of horror as she immediately fell back.

She was slightly stronger than the man in yellow, but if Prince Zheng could kill him in a single blow, she knew she wouldn’t last much longer herself.

"That’s right. It is the Blood Infant Pill!"

Prince Zheng cackled, his face twisting into a demonic sneer.

A dark red mist floated above his head, and from within it, the faint sounds of wailing and shrieking could be heard.

’The Blood Infant Pill?’

Luo Tian had heard of this pill.

It was a type of Evil Pill. Legend said it required the blood of a thousand newborn infants, which was then combined with a perverse technique that used a pregnant woman as a living cauldron, refining the pill within her womb.

The pill’s effects were terrifyingly potent, granting a massive, long-lasting boost to the user’s strength.

But the side effects were just as severe. The user would be plagued by an aura of resentment, lose their sanity, and turn into a bloodthirsty fiend. Once the effects wore off, they would be left in a weakened state for a full month.

Right now, Prince Zheng looked to be in extreme agony, his mind overrun with evil thoughts. He had fallen completely to the Evil Dao!

"You betrayed me! I’ll kill you!"

Prince Zheng fixed his gaze on the purple-robed woman, his eyes filled with mad killing intent!

"No, kill Luo Tian first!"

he roared again, as if two minds were warring within him, his sanity slipping.

SWOOSH!

Prince Zheng suddenly transformed into a streak of golden-red light and shot toward Luo Tian, his twisted, terrifying face radiating an astonishing killing intent!

"Kill!"

Prince Zheng roared, thrusting his claw forward. A dragon of golden-red light shot out, wild and demonic, its baleful aura surging to the heavens!

’So terrifying... Prince Zheng’s power is approaching the Third Layer...’

The purple-robed woman trembled.

’Thank goodness that attack wasn’t aimed at me!’

’Faced with such a terrifying Prince Zheng, Luo Tian is probably done for!’

In the shadows, looks of pleasant surprise appeared on the faces of Elder Zheng and Elder Zhong.

’To think Prince Zheng had an Evil Pill like this.’

’This way, he can turn the tables and kill Luo Tian.’

’And then, when we kill Prince Zheng, we can claim we were avenging Luo Tian while also eliminating this demonic filth!’

BOOM!

The giant dragon of golden-red light let out a furious roar as it charged at Luo Tian.

Its surging, terrifying power seemed poised to tear Luo Tian to shreds!

Luo Tian hovered in midair, his gaze hardening.

Suddenly, a silver-gray Treasure Sword appeared in his hand.

’I’ll use you to test this sword.’

SHING!

The Ice Nether Sword, a Half-Profound Artifact he had obtained from the Heritage Treasure Land, was unsheathed for the first time!

A dreadful, bone-chilling coldness instantly spread in all directions, freezing the very air and solidifying even the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.

The moment the golden-red dragon of light drew near, it was eroded by a chill that seemed to emanate from the Nine Netherworld itself, its bloody light dimming instantly.

’That sword!’

The purple-robed woman’s gaze was instantly drawn to it!

"Sword Wind Howl!"

Luo Tian activated his Sword Intent and executed the Sixth Technique of the Nine Heavens Sword Technique, slashing fiercely with the Ice Nether Sword.

The True Qi in his body was rapidly drained and poured into the Treasure Sword!

A cold, desolate, and piercing Sword Momentum erupted, soaring to the heavens and resonating with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

VWOOSH!

A ferociously powerful beam of dim gray Sword Light, seemingly from the Nine Nether Abyss itself, kicked up an icy, dark storm and let out a terrifying shriek.

The surrounding space seemed to freeze as everything slowed to a crawl.

Only the Sword Light remained impossibly fast, striking the rampaging golden-red dragon and cleaving it in two!

The bone-chillingly cold Sword Light continued onward without pause.

Prince Zheng, frozen stiff with cold, had a look of terror on his demonic face as he struck out desperately with both claws!

BOOM!

The two immense forces collided. Golden-red light and desolate coldness exploded outward!

A layer of frost instantly coated Prince Zheng, turning him into a virtual ice sculpture.

The next moment, a crack appeared from the top of his head, spreading downwards.

POP! THUD!

Prince Zheng’s body shattered into countless chunks of frozen flesh, which rained down below.

’He’s... dead?’

The purple-robed woman shuddered, a storm raging in her heart.

Prince Zheng’s power had surged after taking the Blood Infant Pill, yet Luo Tian had still killed him with a single sword strike!

’How terrifying!’

Elder Zheng and Elder Zhong, who were observing from the shadows, were already prepared to strike at any moment and take down Prince Zheng.

But in the end, Prince Zheng had died at Luo Tian’s hand.

Their faces were frozen in stunned disbelief!

’That took a bit more out of me than I expected.’

Luo Tian quickly sheathed the Ice Nether Sword.

It was a Half-Profound Artifact, after all, meant for a higher tier of power.

With his revenge complete, Luo Tian flew up into the sky, preparing to depart.

Just then, Elder Zheng and Elder Zhong flew out from a courtyard within the Prince’s Mansion.

"Nephew Luo, that sword strike just now was truly beautiful, eliminating the demonic scum Zheng Lin!"

Elder Zhong said with a broad smile, full of praise.

"You two. Didn’t you already leave?"

Luo Tian knew these two had been hiding in the shadows the whole time.

"You are a Yunxiao Sect disciple, after all. As elders, we have a duty to protect your safety. How could we truly leave?"

Elder Zheng’s attitude had also changed. He no longer had the imposing air of an Elder, and wore a faint smile.

Luo Tian sneered. He knew exactly what these two elders were really after.

"Nephew Luo, return to the Yunxiao Sect with us!"

Elder Zheng waved his hand, and a crimson blood bird descended from the sky, exuding the aura of the Earth Element Realm.

As expected of an influential elder of the Yunxiao Sect, even Elder Zheng’s Flying Bird Mount was extraordinary.

Luo Tian nodded and climbed onto the crimson blood bird’s back.

"Nephew Luo, that sword from before, could it be a legendary Profound Artifact?"

Elder Zheng asked suddenly.

The moment Luo Tian used the Ice Nether Sword naturally hadn’t escaped his notice.

A Profound Artifact... That was a Divine Weapon that only top-tier Earth Element Realm, or even Celestial Pool Realm, Martial Artists could hope to control!

Such a weapon was extremely rare on the entire Dongchen Continent!

If Elder Zheng could have one, his strength would increase greatly, making him invincible among his peers!

"A Half-Profound Artifact."

Luo Tian answered honestly.

"A Half-Profound Artifact is still incredible!"

Elder Zheng exclaimed.

’A true Profound Artifact would carry certain risks; a Half-Profound Artifact is actually more suitable for me.’

"Nephew Luo, a weapon of the Half-Profound Artifact rank isn’t suitable for someone at your current Realm. How about this? I’ll trade you a Top Grade Treasure Artifact, plus fifty thousand Spiritual Essence Coins, for your Half-Profound Artifact!"

Elder Zheng proposed a trade.

"No deal."

Luo Tian immediately refused.

Unwilling to give up, Elder Zheng increased his offer from fifty thousand Spiritual Essence Coins to eighty thousand!

Luo Tian was tempted for a moment, but he still refused.

Firstly, the Ice Nether Sword was a good fit for him. Secondly, he just didn’t like Elder Zheng.

「One day later.」

Luo Tian was back at the Yunxiao Sect; Elder Zheng’s flying mount was incredibly fast.

"Greetings, Elders!"

A few Sect Disciples saw the elders and immediately bowed in greeting.

Then, they spotted Luo Tian standing beside the two elders. Their faces froze, their expressions a mixture of shock and disbelief.

"Is that... Luo Tian?"

"Luo Tian! The Yunxiao Sect’s King of the Celestial Pride, Luo Tian! He’s back!"

Two Upper Sect Disciples of the Yunxiao Sect cried out in excitement.

Elder Zheng and Elder Zhong looked rather awkward.

In the eyes of these disciples, it seemed Luo Tian’s status was even higher than their own.