Chapter 429 - 427: What Do You Think You Are?

The Martial Pavilion’s Sixth-Layer, the Ice Pavilion.

It was a world of ice and snow. A bone-chilling cold permeated the air, and fist-sized hailstones mixed in with the blizzard, smashing down like meteors with terrifying power.

Currently, only five people were on the Sixth-Layer.

Those who had made it this far were almost all top-tier cultivators at the Earth Element Realm Third Layer.

Not far off was a massive crater, where the cold was several times more intense than outside. Many hailstones were crashing down into it.

The objective for clearing the level was inside this crater.

Luo Tian saw that the five people currently attempting the trial had either prepared special tools or cultivated special Secret Techniques to effectively resist the encroaching cold.

They had all come prepared.

Lu Yue was not among them; she had reached this point relying solely on her own strength.

’The Sixth-Layer’s Ice Pavilion is actually the easiest for me.’

Luo Tian activated his Nether Dragon Divine Vein. A dark Cold Current surged out, forming a protective layer to ward off the chill of this place.

In a normal environment, the Cold Power from his Nether Dragon Divine Vein was even more frigid and domineering!

Luo Tian slowly approached the crater, attracting the attention of the other five people.

"Luo Tian?"

Lu Yue couldn’t hide the surprise in her expression.

’Weren’t the Hu Dou Three Brothers supposed to be taking care of Luo Tian for her?’

It hadn’t been long, yet Luo Tian had already reached the Sixth-Layer, while the Hu Dou Three Brothers were nowhere to be found.

Wu He was equally shocked. Luo Tian had reached the Sixth-Layer far too quickly. ’How did he break through the Hu Dou Three Brothers’ blockade?’

"Ah!"

A pained cry suddenly came from nearby.

A man, eroded by the cold, had grown stiff and icy. His movements slowed, and he was struck by a hailstone from the sky. Blood immediately splattered from his chest before he was teleported away.

Seeing this, Wu He mobilized more True Essence to resist the cold and quickly approached the objective.

’Even I could be eliminated if I stay here for too long.’

’Besides, expending too much energy on the Sixth-Layer will make the next few levels even more difficult.’

SWISH! SWISH!

Wu He and Lu Yue gradually neared the objective.

Both saw each other as a rival.

’As expected of a genius from the Sea Demon Palace, but I won’t lose!’

Wu He grunted. His tall, sturdy body seemed to house a giant furnace, emitting a powerful and fiercely masculine aura!

The True Essence Shield around him was like a layer of metal, isolating him from everything outside. His Defense was outstanding.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Wu He leaped up, quickening his pace.

On the other side, Lu Yue showed no weakness. Her Body Technique was more agile, and her Swordsmanship was powerful and unmatched, directly pulverizing the hailstones around her.

The two of them approached the objective at almost the same time!

Just then, a figure appeared beside Wu He—it was Luo Tian!

HUMMM!

The three of them reached the objective at nearly the same time and obtained the mark of passage.

Lu Yue and Wu He immediately stared at Luo Tian, somewhat startled.

Luo Tian had arrived later, yet he had managed to clear the trial at the same time as them! The comparison made the difference in their abilities obvious.

Outside the Martial Pavilion, an uproar erupted.

No one had expected that Luo Tian, a mere Earth Element Realm Second Layer cultivator who had been lagging at the start, would so quickly catch up to Wu He and Lu Yue, two stunningly brilliant prodigies!

"Interesting!"

The Hall Master of the Martial City Spirit Hall stroked his beard.

"This Luo Tian... why haven’t I heard of him before? Which faction’s genius is he?" the Hall Master asked.

"This person should just be a Wanderer, temporarily representing the Flying Cloud Sect to participate in the Martial Pavilion event," an attendant beside him replied respectfully.

...

Luo Tian, Lu Yue, and Wu He were simultaneously teleported to the Martial Pavilion’s Seventh-Layer, the "Cloud Pavilion."

At the moment, there was only one other person on this level, someone who had entered the trial earlier.

This prodigy had been in the Cloud Pavilion for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, yet he still hadn’t succeeded.

All around them was a vast expanse of white. Clouds and mist roiled, obscuring everything else from view.

’Hm? The objective?’

Suddenly, a white ball of light flickered faintly before Luo Tian’s eyes and quickly sped away into the distance.

He was about to instinctively give chase but sensed that something was wrong.

’How could the objective appear so easily before my eyes?’

’An illusion?’

Luo Tian activated about forty percent of his Celestial Eye’s power. A faint, cyan, ethereal vertical pupil appeared between his brows.

The Celestial Eye could see through all sorts of illusions and perceive their true essence.

Illusions couldn’t fool the Celestial Eye!

HUMMM!

The clouds and mist before him gradually thinned. Where he could once only see a dozen or so meters ahead, he could now see clearly for over a hundred meters.

Most of the scene within the Cloud Pavilion became crystal clear.

Luo Tian saw the other three people walking in circles and attacking the empty air with ferocity.

’The Cloud Pavilion... is it a trial of illusions?’

Breaking free from the Illusion Realm was rather difficult, and the objective for the Seventh-Layer was also extremely well-hidden and hard to find.

Luo Tian faintly detected an ethereal white form darting about rapidly, blending in with the clouds and mist, making it almost invisible to the naked eye!

"Where do you think you’re going!"

Luo Tian gave chase.

Cold Wind Palm!

An icy gale swept out. The objective was caught in its wake, and its speed slowed slightly.

With another Cold Wind Palm, the objective’s speed decreased again.

A smile appeared on Luo Tian’s face as he flew over!

Just then, Wu He, who had been walking in circles, broke out in a cold sweat as clarity returned to his eyes.

’Good thing I spent fifty thousand Spiritual Essence Coins on this Peaceful Heart Pearl!’

Wu He touched a transparent silver pearl at his waist. It was emitting a faint glow that calmed the mind and spirit.

’I must have escaped the Illusion Realm faster than them,’ Wu He thought.

’Lu Yue was just passing through and wasn’t familiar with the Martial Pavilion event, so she didn’t prepare beforehand.’

’Luo Tian’s Cultivation is low, and he doesn’t seem to have prepared in advance either.’

Just as he thought of this, Wu He’s gaze froze. Not far away, Luo Tian was approaching the objective with a smile on his face!

’Luo Tian actually broke free faster than me! He’s already found the objective and is about to clear the level and enter the Eighth-Layer!’

Wu He finally felt an incredibly strong sense of threat from Luo Tian!

"Stop! Back off and let me enter the Eighth-Layer first, or don’t blame me for getting rough!"

Wu He bellowed, his voice deafening!

Luo Tian glanced at Wu He beside him and sneered, "And who do you think you are?"

Without the slightest pause, he flew toward the objective.

Wu He didn’t hesitate for a second either, instantly launching an Attack on Luo Tian.

This was a clash for rankings, not a malicious attempt to injure!

POW!

Wu He’s enormous fist shone with a brilliant golden light. He threw a punch, and the golden light exploded, transforming into a golden lion that pounced toward Luo Tian with savage ferocity!

In the Low Tier Earth Element Realm section of the arena, Wu He had maintained a terrifying sixty-fight winning streak. Among his peers, he was undefeated!

Luo Tian’s expression was calm. A silver light flickered across the surface of his body as he activated his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body.

POW! BOOM!

A layer of dark Cold Current enveloped his silver fist as he also threw a punch, meeting Wu He’s Fist Technique Attack head-on!

Darkness and gold intertwined as a shockwave swept out in all directions!

Outside the Martial Pavilion, the crowd held their breath!

"What’s going on with Luo Tian? Is he not affected by the Illusion Realm?"

"Wu He is attacking Luo Tian! That’s the *Golden Lion Fist*! Wu He has tempered it through battles in the arena, cultivating this Fist Technique to the tenth-layer Great Achievement Realm. It’s terrifying!"

"Luo Tian is actually clashing with Wu He’s Fist Technique head-on? He’s bound to lose!"

The next moment, the result of Luo Tian and Wu He’s clash was revealed: they were evenly matched!

"Impossible! Luo Tian’s strength is actually on par with Wu He’s? Isn’t he only at the Earth Element Realm Second Layer?"

Someone was shocked, questioning it intensely. Wu He was a genius capable of fighting opponents at a higher Realm!

"Excellent! I knew I wasn’t mistaken about him!"

Mu Li clapped his hands in applause.

Luo Tian’s performance had exceeded his expectations.

At this rate, as long as he wasn’t seriously injured by Wu He, Luo Tian would be able to enter the Eighth-Layer!

In every past Martial Pavilion event, very few had ever reached the Eighth-Layer. Those who did were all ranked in the top twenty, or even the top ten!

But suddenly, all the spectators gasped, their eyes widening as they stared intently at the Seventh-Layer of the Martial Pavilion.

"Oh no! It’s Lu Yue!"

Mu Li’s expression changed!

On the Seventh-Layer, just as Luo Tian was fighting Wu He, a deep, ink-green Sword Light suddenly slashed from behind. It was cold and furious, parting the clouds and mist with a killing power that surpassed Wu He’s Fist Technique!

"Luo Tian, back down obediently and let me pass first. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to force you back!"

Lu Yue’s voice drifted over from behind.

"And who do you think you are?"

Luo Tian looked at Lu Yue and said bluntly!

Wu He couldn’t help but shake his head.

’Faced with a pincer Attack from two top-tier prodigies, Luo Tian is still acting so arrogantly. He’s truly conceited and ignorant!’

But Luo Tian’s next words sent a jolt through Wu He’s body and mind.

"A defeated opponent, and you still dare to shout at me!"

Luo Tian yelled coldly!

In the next instant, a frigid, dark Cold Current spread out, sweeping across a hundred-meter radius and encroaching upon Lu Yue and Wu He!

His Ice Trace Sword left its sheath, his Sword Intent Prototype erupted, and the *Celestial Sword Technique* was activated!

’So what if I’m fighting one against two?’

A heaven-shaking, sharp Sword Momentum burst forth!

The Treasure Sword in Lu Yue’s hand couldn’t help but hum and tremble!

SHIING! SHIING!

Luo Tian executed his Swordsmanship. Brilliant, crystalline Sword Light shot out to both sides like lightning, exuding an incomparably biting chill!

Wu He had just been about to mock Luo Tian for daring to fight one against two.

But when that sharp, icy Sword Light came slashing toward him, his expression instantly grew grave!

POW!

He smashed out a beam of golden fist-light shaped like a lion, shattering a dozen or so streams of Icy Cold Sword Qi, but another dozen streams slipped past, coming at him from an extremely tricky angle!

Wu He used his True Essence Protection, condensing a golden shield of light around his body.

TING! TING! TING!

The Sword Qi slashed down, producing a series of crisp, metallic sounds.

Suddenly, his True Essence Protection was cut open, and then it shattered!

"What? It actually broke my Golden Lion Shield?"

Wu He was in disbelief.

The Golden Lion Shield was an enhanced version of a normal True Essence Shield. Its Defense was a level higher, capable of blocking an Attack from someone at the Peak of Earth Element Realm Third Layer!

But Luo Tian, while fighting one against two, had still broken his Golden Lion Shield. How could this not shock him?

On the other side, Luo Tian was holding his own against Lu Yue. This in itself was extremely shocking, as Lu Yue was a genius from one of the three Overlord Level factions!

"Nine Heavens Seventh Technique, Sword Sea Waves!"

The Ice Trace Sword in Luo Tian’s hand danced wildly.

Back in the legacy trial, Luo Tian had indeed surpassed Wu Ye and Lu Yue, passing first.

But if he had fought Lu Yue one-on-one back then, Luo Tian might not have been her match.

But now, he was no longer the same person he once was!

SHIING! SHIING! SHIING!

A dark and icy tidal wave, formed from stacks of Sword Qi, surged toward the sky.

Layer upon layer of Icy Cold Sword Qi transformed into an ocean of Sword Qi, its turbulent waves sweeping out in a fan shape!

"What a powerful Sword Technique!"

Lu Yue’s expression changed abruptly. She attacked with all her strength, unleashing a vast, ink-green Sword Light that carried a majestic torrent of Sword Qi!

Wu He also felt immense pressure and smashed out with both fists, carrying infinite might!

BOOM!

A heaven-shaking explosion echoed in mid-air. The aftershocks blasted out in all directions, and the clouds and mist within the Cloud Pavilion roiled violently.

Wu He and Lu Yue were both forced back several steps, the True Essence and blood in their bodies churning.

When the smoke cleared, the two of them saw Luo Tian holding a Golden Token, placing it before the objective!

In the next instant, Luo Tian obtained the mark of passage and, in a layer of golden light, was teleported to the Eighth-Layer!