Chapter 396 - 394: Going Back on One’s Word

The Third Elder offered an olive branch, but Luo Tian refused. The disciples and higher-ups present all took note.

Some disciples were filled with admiration. ’As expected of the King of the Celestial Pride! His courage is astounding, refusing to make peace with the Third Elder!’

The higher-ups, however, felt a bit exasperated, but they said nothing.

After all, the Third Elder had been in the wrong first. It was only natural for a young, proud, and confident man like Luo Tian to react this way.

The celebratory banquet ended at midnight, and everyone departed.

"Sect Leader, may I ask where Xueyao... where Senior Sister Yu Yao’s residence is?"

Luo Tian asked the Yunxiao Sect Master.

He was a little disappointed that Ning Xueyao hadn’t attended the banquet in his honor.

"You don’t know?"

The Sect Leader was slightly puzzled.

Back when Luo Tian had been out on a mission and encountered the Blood Hand Poison Master, the silver-haired old woman accompanying Ning Xueyao had been the one to task him with handling the culprit.

And in the Four Grotto Heavens, when the Third Elder had accused Luo Tian of cheating, the same old woman had instructed him to deal with the matter.

The Sect Leader had assumed Luo Tian was acquainted with them.

Luo Tian’s brow furrowed slightly. He gleaned some information from the Sect Leader’s expression.

The Sect Leader didn’t conceal the information. He told Luo Tian where Ning Xueyao lived and then departed.

Not far away.

The Third Elder shot Luo Tian a glance before leaving with his disciple, Qiao Hai.

"Qiao Hai, have someone spread a rumor that Luo Tian obtained a Martial King’s inheritance in that unknown Secret Realm. Make sure it’s done discreetly!" the Third Elder sent via voice transmission.

Qiao Hai nodded slightly.

’Just spreading a rumor is simple enough. All it takes is a bit of money.’

’As long as this rumor spreads, even if he is the King of the Celestial Pride of the Dongchen Continent, someone will be willing to take the risk, assassinate Luo Tian, and seize the Martial King’s inheritance!’

...

「The next morning.」

After freshening up, Luo Tian headed for the summit to visit Ning Xueyao.

’What exactly is Xueyao’s background...?’

Only those with extraordinary status could live on the Yunxiao Sect’s summit—people like the Three Great Elders, the Yunxiao Sect Master, and the reclusive Supreme Elder.

And yet, Ning Xueyao lived here.

The air was misty and filled with the fragrance of flowers.

Luo Tian saw a quiet, secluded courtyard that was like a paradise unto itself.

He had just stepped through the courtyard gate, not yet having spoken a word, when a silver-haired old woman suddenly appeared, blocking his path.

The old woman’s eyes were cloudy and cold, exuding an intangible, oppressive aura.

"May I ask who you are, Senior?"

Luo Tian felt his qi and blood stir as he sized her up with curiosity.

He had never seen this person before. Her power was immense, giving him the sense that he was completely outmatched.

"You don’t need to know who I am. All you need to do is leave this place."

The silver-haired old woman’s expression was apathetic as she tried to shoo Luo Tian away.

"Senior, does Xueyao live here?"

Luo Tian stated his purpose directly.

"She is not. You can go now," the silver-haired old woman said impatiently.

Luo Tian’s expression darkened. He was certain Ning Xueyao was here, but he didn’t understand why the old woman was trying to stop him.

"Senior, please let me see Xueyao."

Luo Tian said earnestly.

"You and she are from different worlds! You are fated to never be together!"

"But we’re in the same world right now!"

"..."

The corner of the silver-haired old woman’s eye twitched slightly.

BOOM!

She attacked without warning, a turbulent torrent of gray-white energy erupting from her.

Luo Tian felt like a lone skiff on the vast ocean, utterly insignificant before a raging tsunami!

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

He was pushed back step after step, forced out of the courtyard as the qi and blood in his body churned violently!

’Such incredible power!’

Luo Tian was shocked.

HUMMM!

The gray-white energy swirled around the courtyard, forming a screen of light that shut Luo Tian out.

"Xueyao will soon be leaving this world. You are fated to never be together, and you are not worthy of her!"

’Leaving this world?’

Luo Tian froze for a moment.

’Could it be that Ning Xueyao isn’t from the Dongchen Continent at all?’

Luo Tian thought back to Ning Xueyao’s origins and the part about her "seeking refuge."

The current Cosmos contained the Heavens and the Ten Thousand Realms.

In the vast, boundless worlds, human civilization was but a drop in the ocean.

The planes inhabited by humanity were frequently invaded by Alien Races, sometimes to the point of facing extinction.

In order to seek refuge.

Some factions or individuals from the greater planes would migrate to smaller planes to hide.

Ning Xueyao’s background was related to this practice of seeking refuge.

Combined with the silver-haired old woman’s words, Luo Tian was now almost certain: Ning Xueyao had come from the Outer World to seek refuge.

And now, the silver-haired old woman said Ning Xueyao was about to leave!

Luo Tian had no right to stop Ning Xueyao from returning to where she came from.

"Let me see her one last time! At the very least, let me say goodbye!"

Luo Tian’s gaze pierced through the gray-white screen of light, fixing on an elegant, antique-style wooden house. ’Ning Xueyao must be in there!’

THUD!

Luo Tian approached the gray-white screen and slammed his fist into it. The entire barrier rippled, but was otherwise unaffected.

"Boy, don’t be so obstinate. If not for Xueyao, you would already be dead!"

The silver-haired old woman’s gaze was frigid.

She suddenly struck out, pointing a single finger.

BOOM!

The gray-white mist in the air swirled, coalescing into a colossal white finger. Like a stone pillar, it pierced through the light screen and shot toward Luo Tian!

Luo Tian felt a mountain-like pressure descend upon him. The air roiled, and Spiritual Qi howled around him.

The old woman’s casual point of a finger seemed unstoppable. Her power was simply unfathomable.

"If you can block this, I will grant your wish," the silver-haired old woman said, her voice cold and merciless.

A sharp glint appeared in Luo Tian’s eyes as he activated his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body.

HUMMM!

His body swelled, and his skin took on a crystalline, silvery sheen. It looked hard and cold, as if it were indestructible!

Cold Wind Palm!

Luo Tian thrust out a palm, employing the True Intent of Palm Technique. A blast of piercingly cold Storm Palm Force howled forth, carrying with it an overwhelming momentum that seemed capable of blotting out the sky and destroying everything!

KABOOM!

Luo Tian’s powerful, icy palm strike collided with the gray-white finger. A terrifying shockwave erupted in all directions, slamming into Luo Tian’s body.

He relied on the powerful defense of his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body to withstand the impact.

But the gray-white finger’s power was terrifying, and it gradually pierced through and shattered his palm strike.

BOOM! THUD!

The terrifying gray-white shockwave washed over him. Even with his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body at the Fourth-Layer Minor Achievement and wearing Upper Grade Treasure Armor, he could only ensure that his torso remained unharmed.

Under this immense force, Luo Tian was driven back continuously, his feet gouging two trenches in the ground.

He was pushed back a dozen meters. The surface of his translucent, silvery body was covered in gashes, his qi and blood boiled violently, and he tasted sweetness at the back of his throat.

"I blocked it!"

Luo Tian’s gaze was resolute.

A flicker of surprise crossed the silver-haired old woman’s eyes.

She hadn’t used her full strength, afraid she might kill him by accident. She’d been certain he wouldn’t be able to block that attack, but the outcome was unexpected.

"But in my opinion, you didn’t block it."

The silver-haired old woman tossed out this remark and turned to leave.

The gray-white screen of light around the courtyard grew even denser. It became impossible to see through, and even one’s Spiritual Sense was heavily suppressed, as if the courtyard had been completely cut off from the rest of the world.

"Boy, forget Xueyao completely. It’s for your own good."

Her final words drifted out from behind the isolating, gray-white screen of light.

Luo Tian hadn’t expected the silver-haired old woman to go back on her word. His expression turned cold, his gaze resolute. ’I will not forget. I will find her again!’

Inside the screen of light.

The silver-haired old woman scoffed.

’Leaving this world isn’t so easy. At the very least, Luo Tian is not qualified to do so.’

’Even if he’s become the King of the Celestial Pride, he’s ultimately just a native of this world!’

The silver-haired old woman pushed open the door to the house.

"You broke your promise! He blocked your attack."

Tears streamed down Ning Xueyao’s beautiful face, her eyes filled with resentment.

"You didn’t keep your promise, either. You’ve already acknowledged him."

The silver-haired old woman snorted coldly.

"In two days, we’re leaving. You’ll never see each other again, so there’s no need to say goodbye."

...

Luo Tian returned to his residence.

’I must become stronger!’

His eyes were cold and determined, burning with an intense desire!

With his status as the King of the Celestial Pride, his standing in the Yunxiao Sect was equal to that of an ordinary Elder. Even the Third Elder wouldn’t dare attack him casually!

But the silver-haired old woman had shown no regard whatsoever for his title as King of the Celestial Pride.

Her position in the Sect was clearly on another level.

’Even the Three Great Elders, perhaps even the Sect Leader himself, have to be respectful to her.’

Luo Tian didn’t have a powerful background, but this was a world where strength reigned supreme. Power was status; power was the right to be heard!

’Xueyao, one day, I will find you again!’

’And you, old hag! I’ll make you regret breaking your promise!’

Luo Tian swore to himself.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

A knock came at the door, followed by a slightly nervous voice. "Is that Senior Brother Luo?"

Luo Tian opened the door to see a young man dressed in the robes of an Alchemy Apprentice.

"Master Mu asked me to deliver this to you!"

The young man handed over an antique wooden box.

Luo Tian took the wooden box, returned to his room, and opened it.

Inside the box lay two crystal-white Elixir Pills, each the size of an eyeball. A shimmering light flowed within them, and a faint, sweet fragrance drifted out.

"Earth Spirit Pills!"

A sharp glint flashed in Luo Tian’s eyes.

The quality of these two Earth Spirit Pills was decent; they should increase his probability of breaking through to the Earth Element Realm by forty percent!

Luo Tian immediately decided to enter seclusion.

He was going to break through to the Earth Element Realm!