Chapter 460 - 458: Cunning and Treacherous

A single oversight, and an Auditor Disciple of the Tai Yuan Sect was beheaded.

His Cultivation was at the Earth Element Realm Fourth Layer, but Yu Ding was at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer. He was utterly powerless to resist the surprise attack.

"The Peak of the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer!"

The other female Auditor Disciple turned pale with fright and took a few steps back.

Xie Lei’s expression was also grave.

’The enemy is stronger than we expected!’

After all, Yu Ding had once been a disciple of the Tai Yuan Sect, a man of extraordinary talent and strength.

He had defected a year ago when he was only at the Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer. Now, he had reached the Peak of the Sixth Layer. His progress was astounding!

In any case.

Yu Ding, at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer, was no match for their group. If they retreated now and fled back to the Martial City Spirit Hall, they could still save their lives.

"Heh heh, offer up all your heads to me. That way, I can pass this trial with flying colors!"

Yu Ding’s lips twisted into a wicked grin.

"A trial?"

Luo Tian and Ying Long exchanged puzzled glances, not understanding what Yu Ding meant by a "trial."

"Senior Brother Ying, we should retreat."

The female Auditor Disciple said, her voice trembling.

"I doubt Yu Ding will let us go that easily. Besides, how can I simply abandon a mission I’ve accepted? It would be a stain on my record!"

Ying Long declared with an imposing air, shooting a subtle glance at Luo Tian.

’The more dangerous the mission, the greater the chance I’ll have to get rid of Luo Tian. Then I can fulfill my master’s orders!’

"But..."

The female Auditor Disciple’s face was a mask of panic and indecision.

Suddenly, a cold, tyrannical aura erupted from Ying Long. His Cultivation’s aura surged, reaching the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer!

"The Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer!"

Xie Lei was completely stunned.

"So Senior Brother Ying has broken through to the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer!"

The female Auditor Disciple’s face lit up. No wonder Ying Long was so confident and unwilling to retreat.

’With Ying Long’s Cultivation at the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer, plus the three of them, perhaps they could actually defeat Yu Ding.’

"It seems I’m not the only one who knows how to hide their true strength!"

Yu Ding stared at Ying Long, the smile vanishing from his face. Yet, there wasn’t the slightest hint of panic in his eyes.

SWOOSH!

He floated into the air and retreated several dozen meters. Brandishing the Curved Saber in his hand, he slashed out several eerie, unpredictable rays of silver moonlight that coalesced into a great silver net and descended upon them.

Ying Long suddenly thrust out both palms, sending a pair of massive, shadowy-black palm imprints surging forward, accompanied by a violent, pitch-black cyclone.

PSSSH-BOOM!

As Yu Ding and Ying Long’s attacks clashed, the pair of black palm imprints was instantly riddled with dozens of slashes before it gradually disintegrated.

"What are you waiting for? Attack!"

Ying Long roared at Luo Tian and the others behind him.

Luo Tian, Xie Lei, and the female Auditor Disciple immediately launched their Attacks.

Xie Lei, at the Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer, threw a punch that unleashed an astonishingly large beam of blue fist-light, its momentum ferocious and unmatched.

The female Auditor Disciple’s Cultivation was at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Fourth Layer.

Even after being weakened by Ying Long, the silver net still held the upper hand, shredding and pulverizing the Attacks from Xie Lei and the female Auditor Disciple.

Just then.

Luo Tian’s body flashed with silver light as he struck out with the Cold Wind Palm.

The frigid, heavy Palm Force kicked up a biting gale, carrying the terrifying momentum of a tempest as it surged forth.

BAM!

This palm strike was ferocious, its chilling intent so intense that it froze the silver net before punching right through it!

"What a powerful Palm Technique."

The female Auditor Disciple was taken aback.

’Luo Tian’s Cultivation is lower than mine, but his Attack is stronger than both mine and Xie Lei’s!’

"Hm? Don’t tell me you’re one of the geniuses among the Official Disciples?"

Yu Ding looked at Luo Tian.

’Luo Tian’s strength is unexpectedly high.’

No one answered Yu Ding’s question.

"Kill!"

Ying Long let out a low roar and launched a ferocious offensive.

Thanks to the Violent Spirit Pill from Steward Lü, he had successfully broken through to the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer.

’This time, I must complete the mission and follow my master’s orders to get rid of Luo Tian!’

The four disciples of the Tai Yuan Sect surrounded and attacked Yu Ding.

Even though his Cultivation was at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer, he found the situation somewhat tricky.

Ying Long was very powerful, and his offensive was relentless.

Luo Tian’s Palm Technique was precise yet domineering, with a wide attack range that made it difficult for Yu Ding to evade. If he was so much as grazed by its power, his entire body would grow stiff and cold, hampering his ability to fight at full strength.

"Damn it! I should’ve taken out this kid during my first ambush!"

Yu Ding shot Luo Tian a sinister, cold glare.

During his initial sneak attack, he had seen that Luo Tian’s Cultivation was too weak and hadn’t wanted to waste the opportunity on him. That was why he had killed the other male Auditor Disciple instead.

"Yu Ding, for defecting from the Tai Yuan Sect, your death is certain. Surrender now, and we can grant you a quick end."

Ying Long yelled.

The situation had stabilized and was now in their favor.

If they continued to wear him down, Yu Ding’s defeat was certain.

"Fine. I regret betraying the Tai Yuan Sect. I’m tired of being hunted, living in fear day and night. Just give me a quick death."

Yu Ding’s ready agreement stunned Ying Long and the others for a moment.

But in the very next instant.

His expression twisted. The Curved Saber shot from his hand, transforming into a streak of desolate, cold silver moonlight that flew toward Luo Tian with lightning speed.

"Junior Luo, watch out!"

Ying Long shouted.

But a barely perceptible smile touched the corner of his lips.

’I could actually react in time to help him.’

’But if I can use Yu Ding to kill Luo Tian, that would be perfect.’

"Hmph. I’m not an idiot. Why would I fall for a trick I’ve already seen once?"

Luo Tian snorted, his pale cyan True Essence erupting from his body!

Ying Long’s expression darkened.

’I pretended not to react in time, which is the same as falling for the trick. Isn’t Luo Tian calling me an idiot with those words?’

"Still, can you block Yu Ding’s sneak attack?" Ying Long sneered.

’Yu Ding is at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer!’

’He was once an Official Disciple of the Tai Yuan Sect, with exceptional talent and immense power!’

PSSSH!

The instant the silver Curved Saber reached him, a silver radiance surged from Luo Tian’s body, forming a transparent silver shield that was a full finger’s breadth thick!

This was the Celestial Furnace Treasure Shield, the Fifth-Layer Defensive Martial Skill of the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body.

Luo Tian could now fully deploy it. The Treasure Shield’s Defense was extremely strong; under normal circumstances, it could block a frontal Attack from a master at the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer!

CLANG-SHHHHK!

The silver Curved Saber had powerful armor-piercing capabilities. It quickly sliced into the Treasure Shield, looking as if it would cut right through it!

"You’ve come this far, don’t even think about leaving!"

Luo Tian roared, leaving the others confused.

In the next instant.

Two powerful, shadowy, and ice-cold currents shot from the palms of Luo Tian’s hands, converging on the Celestial Furnace Treasure Shield!

This was the powerful Cold Power from his Divine Vein!

The silver Curved Saber, poised to break through the Celestial Furnace Treasure Shield, was frozen by the chilling power. Its momentum dissipated, and its force was sealed in ice!

"This..."

Yu Ding was dumbfounded.

That Curved Saber was an incredibly powerful weapon that could return to his hand after being thrown!

But now, the Treasure Artifact was stuck inside the Treasure Shield, frozen solid by Luo Tian.

’Is this even f*cking possible?’

"What are you gaping at? Attack now!"

Luo Tian swept his gaze over Xie Lei, Ying Long, and the female disciple.

Xie Lei and the female Auditor Disciple had looks of amazed delight on their faces.

Ying Long’s expression, on the other hand, was grim.

’Luo Tian actually survived Yu Ding’s sneak attack completely unscathed, and even used some unique technique to trap his weapon!’

BOOM! RUMBLE!

The battle raged, explosions ringing out continuously as shockwaves swept out in all directions.

Having lost his silver Curved Saber, Yu Ding’s combat power dropped by thirty to forty percent. Facing the combined assault of Ying Long, Luo Tian, and the others, he was now at a clear disadvantage!

"Damn it! To think I’d actually fall to a bunch of you!"

Yu Ding’s face was dark, his eyes fixed on Luo Tian with resentment.

Luo Tian was a major reason for his impending defeat!

"You want my head? It won’t be that easy!"

Yu Ding roared, his face contorted with fury!

He swallowed an Elixir Pill, and a terrifying aura pulsed from his body. Even Ying Long grew instantly vigilant and retreated a dozen steps!

SWOOSH!

Yu Ding charged madly toward Luo Tian and the others, looking as if he intended to take them all down with him.

Facing such a maddened master at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer, everyone could only fall back, not daring to meet him head-on.

Suddenly!

Yu Ding abruptly changed direction, lunging toward Luo Tian’s Void Ship.

"Oh no, his real goal is..."

Luo Tian’s expression flickered.

BOOM!

Yu Ding thrust out both palms, sending a violently fluctuating silver wave of light, as large as a house and imbued with terrifying power, crashing into Luo Tian’s Void Ship.

After unleashing this strike, Yu Ding’s face grew pale, and his aura weakened considerably.

He turned and fled!

A large gash was torn in Luo Tian’s Void Ship, and green smoke billowed out.

Yu Ding’s true goal had been to damage Luo Tian’s Void Ship to create an opportunity for his own escape.

"After him! Don’t let him get away!"

Ying Long yelled.

Luo Tian nodded. ’He damaged my Void Ship. It’ll be a total loss if I don’t get something out of this.’

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

They all gave chase.

In terms of speed, Yu Ding, with his Cultivation at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer, was undoubtedly the fastest. However, having just used a powerful Secret Technique to destroy the Void Ship, he was now in a weakened state, his speed reduced by forty percent.

This allowed Ying Long and Luo Tian to gradually close the distance, giving them a chance to catch up.

Xie Lei was slightly slower, and his figure gradually shrank and disappeared into the distance.

As for the female Auditor Disciple, she had been left in the dust from the very beginning.

"Hmph. If you two keep chasing me, the side effects will wear off soon. That will be the moment of your death!"

Yu Ding threatened, his face sinister as he snorted coldly.

Ying Long’s face showed a hint of fear.

’Just the two of us against a cunning, full-powered Yu Ding... we’d definitely have no chance of winning.’

But when Luo Tian heard this, he laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" Yu Ding demanded, his face sullen.

"You just took a Cloud-Breaking Pill. It grants a short burst of power that surpasses your limits, but it’s followed by a one-hour period of weakness. Do you really think you can keep running for an entire hour?"

Luo Tian asked with a smile.

"You..."

Yu Ding was speechless.

’This kid... he knows everything so clearly!’

The Cloud-Breaking Pill was an extremely rare Elixir Pill; most people didn’t know its name, let alone its effects.

’I managed to bluff Ying Long, who’s at the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer, but I was seen through by Luo Tian, who’s only at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Third Layer!’

’This kid really is something else... he’s completely unfathomable!’