Chapter 451 - 449: Tai Yuan Sect

The Grand Elder sighed, a hint of disappointment on his face.

In this battle, Luo Tian had a seventy percent chance of winning, while Mu Jinyuan only had thirty percent, and his odds were steadily dropping.

’This kid... his Body Technique, Attack, Defense, Weapon... he’s flawless!’

Mu Yunshi was also astonished.

Normally, these should have been Mu Jinyuan’s strengths. After all, he was from the Mu Family, while Luo Tian came from the isolated Dongchen Continent.

Then, Mu Yunshi remembered something.

Luo Tian’s swordsmanship seemed to be the Nine Heavens Sword Technique. It was a Sword Martial Skill from the Yunxiao Sect, an incomplete Earth Level Upper Grade technique.

He had helped Luo Tian perfect some parts of it back then and recalled it being a huge headache.

He had thought Luo Tian would have given up on it long ago.

Who would have thought Luo Tian had been cultivating it all this time.

What was shocking was that the Nine Heavens Sword Technique at this moment was definitely not Earth Level Upper Grade. It had to be Celestial Level, and Luo Tian’s mastery of Swordsmanship was also very high!

Recalling Luo Tian’s performance when he was just guiding the other Mu Family disciples, Mu Yunshi couldn’t help but exclaim, "He truly is a heaven-defying genius!"

The battle above the Martial Arts Arena was incredibly fierce.

At some point, Mu Jinyuan had fallen into a disadvantageous position and was being suppressed by Luo Tian.

’It’s about time to end this!’

A Sword Mark glinted in Luo Tian’s eyes.

The eighth form of the Nine Heavens Sword Technique—Heaven-Breaking Sword Cloud Strike!

Through the practice this battle provided, Luo Tian had comprehended the eighth form.

WHOOSH! BOOM!

Several dazzling beams of Sword Light crisscrossed, erupting into a brilliant cloud of frosty Sword Qi. It was like an exploding nebula of sword luminescence, and it struck Mu Jinyuan!

Mu Jinyuan’s Saber Technique attack was obliterated by the blast.

He was blown back several dozen meters, several bloody wounds now decorating his body.

"Do you want to continue?"

Luo Tian calmly gazed at Mu Jinyuan.

The surroundings fell silent.

There was naturally no need to continue this battle.

Luo Tian’s performance today had completely stunned the entire audience. Even if Mu Jinyuan had some trump card to turn the tables, it would be meaningless.

Besides, Mu Jinyuan wasn’t confident he could win.

If he insisted on fighting only to lose in the end, it would only be more disgraceful.

Mu Jinyuan retreated in disgrace, even leaving the Martial Arts Arena directly. He had no face to remain here.

The person with the highest Cultivation among the Mu Family disciples at the gathering had left the stage.

The remaining Mu Family disciples felt a heavy blow to their morale.

Such a large group of them, disciples of the Mu Family, were actually unable to do anything against a single outsider!

This had never happened since the founding of the Mu Family!

The gathering became Luo Tian’s personal stage. Even when it ended, the crowd was reluctant to disperse.

Many who hadn’t yet had a chance to ask Luo Tian for guidance were unwilling to leave.

On the pavilion.

"Everyone, after Luo Tian’s performance tonight, there’s nothing more to be said, is there?"

The Patriarch spoke calmly.

At first, he too was unwilling to give a spot to an outsider.

But now, his mind had changed.

For the Mu Family to give up an auditor spot in exchange for a favor from Luo Tian was absolutely worth it.

"This..."

The red-faced elder disagreed and wanted to object.

But he couldn’t find a single reason.

Luo Tian’s performance tonight was impeccable.

If there was something wrong with Luo Tian, then there was something wrong with everyone else.

The Grand Elder was also too embarrassed to speak.

After all, his son’s performance had been too disgraceful. What face did he have to find fault with Luo Tian?

The upper echelons were speechless!

WHOOSH!

The Patriarch’s figure flickered and vanished.

"Hahaha!"

Mu Yunshi also let out a loud laugh and departed with a flourish.

...

After the gathering ended.

Jiya’Er escorted Luo Tian almost all the way back before leaving.

"You brat, your skill with the ladies isn’t half bad either."

Mu Yunshi’s voice drifted over.

"Master, was my performance today acceptable?" Luo Tian asked with a smile.

If Mu Yunshi hadn’t specifically instructed him, he would have been prepared to leave early.

"*Ahem*, it was acceptable, I suppose."

Mu Yunshi coughed and said reluctantly.

With peerless geniuses like Luo Tian, the biggest fear was that they would become arrogant. He had seen many geniuses who grew proud and complacent, only to suffer a major blow and never be able to get back up.

"However, my performance today made the Mu Family disciples lose face. What’s the benefit in doing that?"

Luo Tian knew that the Mu Family’s upper echelons had been watching in secret the whole time.

’Could it be that they were happy to see me crush the morale of the Mu Family disciples?’

"That is precisely what I wanted to talk to you about!"

Mu Yunshi’s expression grew slightly excited.

"The Tai Yuan Sect’s next disciple recruitment is in four years. Making you wait that long would be a waste of time, and I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to defeat my enemy’s disciple!"

Their agreement was for five years.

Luo Tian was cultivating in the Mu Family, while his enemy’s disciple was cultivating in the Tai Yuan Sect. The difference in their environments was like heaven and earth.

"Besides passing the normal entrance examination, there is another way to enter the Tai Yuan Sect: become an ’Auditor Disciple’ and study there!"

Auditor Disciples are very different from Official Disciples.

For Auditor Disciples, the Sect generally takes a hands-off approach and doesn’t offer much care.

There is a considerable gap in all aspects, such as privileges, status, and Cultivation Resources, compared to Official Disciples.

But even so, the major powers all fight tooth and nail for the spots available to Auditor Disciples.

"Don’t tell me..."

Luo Tian had a guess.

"That’s right. Your performance today will help you obtain an auditor spot!"

Mu Yunshi said with a smile.

In truth, he hadn’t held out much hope at the beginning.

Luo Tian’s performance had been a huge surprise to him.

"That’s great!"

Luo Tian was also a little excited.

He could enter the Tai Yuan Sect without waiting four years—he could enter the Cultivation Sacred Land for human forces in the Broken-star Realm!

"It’s not confirmed yet, but your chances are very high."

Mu Yunshi didn’t dare to make any guarantees.

"Thank you, Master!"

Luo Tian clasped his hands and bowed.

He could imagine how difficult it must have been for his Master, given his status in the Mu Family, to fight for a spot for him.

"Fulfilling that matter will be the best way to repay me."

Mu Yunshi waved his hand and left.

"I will not let you down, Master!"

Luo Tian’s words were resolute.

After returning to his residence, Luo Tian rested and relaxed for a bit.

「Ten days later.」

Mu Yunshi sent a message. Luo Tian had obtained one of the three auditor spots!

An auditor spot from the Mu Family had never before fallen into the hands of an outsider. Luo Tian had set a precedent!

"Brother Luo, congratulations!"

Jiya’Er suddenly appeared to congratulate Luo Tian.

News of the three auditor spots had already spread throughout the Mu Family.

While Jiya’Er was happy for Luo Tian, she also felt a little sad.

She had originally planned to invite Luo Tian to be a guest at the Ji Family, hoping to get to know him better.

But Luo Tian was leaving in three days.

The Tai Yuan Sect was on a level that ordinary people could never hope to reach in their entire lives. She and Luo Tian were destined to be people from two different worlds.

「Three days later.」

The three who had obtained the auditor spots would depart together for the Tai Yuan Sect.

Luo Tian arrived at a square and saw another man and woman. They had also obtained auditor spots for the Tai Yuan Sect.

The man was none other than Mu Ze.

Although Mu Ze’s performance at the gathering had been poor, it was only one of the criteria. Plus, his father was the Grand Elder, so it wasn’t surprising that he received a spot.

Luo Tian had a vague impression of the other woman, who was dressed in green. She was also a genius of the Mu Family with good innate potential.

The primary criterion for an auditor spot was potential.

For example, someone like Mu Jinyuan, who was too old, was excluded.

After all, the Tai Yuan Sect was filled with young, peerless geniuses. Sending over older people with unimpressive Cultivation would be somewhat embarrassing.

"Depart!"

The red-faced elder shouted.

He was responsible for escorting the three of them safely to the Tai Yuan Sect.

Boarding the Void Ship, Luo Tian and the others set off on their journey.

「That very night.」

In the Mu Family’s servant quarters.

An ordinary-looking man muttered, "I was one step too late. Luo Tian has already left the Mu Family for the Tai Yuan Sect. The assassination mission is a failure!"

He had accepted a bounty from the Sea Demon Palace to assassinate Luo Tian.

There was no perfectly safe place in the world. Even the Mu Family of the Celestial Mountain Realm wasn’t safe.

The same was true for the Tai Yuan Sect, but compared to the Mu Family, its safety index was several times higher.

...

The journey was long.

Luo Tian spent the entire time cultivating in his room.

The Water Element Pills he had received for placing first in the Martial Pavilion were quickly used up.

The Blood Corpse Flowers he had obtained while fighting for Bone Fragments in the Chaotic Wind Flow were also used up.

He smoothly cultivated the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body to the Fifth-Layer.

Furthermore, Luo Tian didn’t neglect the advancement of his Nether Dragon Divine Vein. By continuously absorbing power from the Ice Dragon Celestial Cold Stone, his Nether Dragon Divine Vein had grown rapidly and remained his most advanced attribute.

Luo Tian also dedicated time to comprehending the Nine Heavens Sword Technique, the Void Yin Sword Technique, the Demon Thought Technique, and others.

「Three months later.」

The Void Ship successfully arrived in the Tai Yuan Realm, where the Tai Yuan Sect was located!

"This journey was a bit slow."

The green-clothed woman muttered.

Normally, two months should have been enough.

"We ran into a lot of trouble along the way..."

The red-faced elder sighed, his gaze flickering toward Luo Tian.

He suspected that all the trouble they had encountered on the journey was related to Luo Tian.

On one occasion, he even had to send out a call for help to friends in other realms to successfully evade a crisis.

He had no idea how Luo Tian had offended the Sea Demon Palace to the point that they would issue such a massive bounty.

「Ten days later.」

They had arrived at the Tai Yuan Sect!

Luo Tian, Mu Ze, and the green-clothed woman stood at the prow of the ship, gazing into the distance.

"Is that the Tai Yuan Sect?"

Luo Tian took a sharp breath.

Before them was a boundless ocean. In the sky above it, colorful clouds and mist floated, supporting nine mystical and majestic giant peaks. They looked like nine Immortal Mountains, shimmering with all sorts of brilliant lights.

Gradually, they found themselves surrounded by the colorful clouds and mist.

The Void Ship arrived at the smallest of the outer peaks.

In front of the mountain gate stood several people dressed in white robes with gold trim, bearing the emblem of the Tai Yuan Sect.

"The Mu Family of the Celestial Mountain Realm has arrived to deliver three Auditor Disciples!"

The red-faced elder called out.

After the Void Ship docked, the red-faced elder eagerly went over to chat with a few of the Tai Yuan Sect’s Stewards.

These Tai Yuan Sect Stewards were at the peak of the Earth Element Realm, a lower Cultivation than the red-faced elder, yet they were accepting compliments from a Celestial Level Martial Artist.

It was a discordant sight, but at the Tai Yuan Sect, it was perfectly normal.

"The Su Family of the Celestial Mountain Realm has arrived to deliver two Auditor Disciples."

Just then, another group arrived, also from the Celestial Mountain Realm.

"Oh? Isn’t this Elder Mu Tie?"

An old man spoke with a malicious tone.

As two of the seven strongest powers in the Celestial Mountain Realm, the Su Family and the Mu Family had a long history of animosity.

However, the Su Family only had two auditor spots.

"Eh? Earth Element Realm Third Layer? Has the Mu Family run out of people?"

The old man burst out laughing, and the two young people he brought with him also sized up Luo Tian with disdain.