Chapter 488 - 486: I’ll Gladly Accept It

"Anyone who wishes to enter the Void Thief King’s Treasure Hideout must first register with Elder Yan."

the Sect Leader announced.

Yan Yufeng stepped forward.

"I want to go!"

"Elder Yan, my name is Zhao Ritian! I want to register!"

The crowd of disciples immediately swarmed forward, completely surrounding Yan Yufeng.

Who would want to miss out on the Void Thief King’s treasure?

Luo Tian also went to register without hesitation, determined to seize this once-in-ten-thousand-year opportunity!

Surrounded by several layers of disciples, Yan Yufeng’s face revealed a faint disdain. "Registering doesn’t mean you get to enter the Thief King’s Treasure Hideout. There are only thirty slots. In seven days, you will all be tested!"

The three Main Peaks had over one hundred disciples in total.

There were only thirty slots!

Needless to say, the competition would be fierce.

Luo Tian could also sense how difficult it would be.

But he wouldn’t let any opportunity pass him by, especially since he desperately needed to increase his strength right now.

Soon, it was Luo Tian’s turn.

"And one more thing. It’s much harder for Auditor Disciples to get a slot. The weaker ones among you shouldn’t even bother registering!"

Yan Yufeng’s words were clearly directed at Luo Tian.

’Just as I thought!’

"Sigh... I should have done whatever it took to get into the Tai Yuan Sect back then. How did I end up as an Auditor Disciple?"

Several Auditor Disciples lamented.

"Elder Yan, I wish to participate."

Luo Tian was not shaken in the slightest by Elder Yan’s words.

After registering, Luo Tian squeezed his way out of the crowd and returned to his residence.

Along the way, nearly everyone was discussing the Void Thief King. More and more people were learning of his many legendary deeds.

’I absolutely cannot miss an opportunity like the one presented by the Void Thief King!’

Luo Tian returned to his residence and entered secluded cultivation.

In seven days, there would be a test, and there were only thirty slots!

Now, Luo Tian had to prepare for the test. First, he needed to secure a slot.

Besides, for a common thief to reach the level of the Void Thief King, he must have been anything but simple. His treasure hideout only surfaced after ten thousand years.

’There are bound to be unknown dangers inside the Thief King’s Treasure Hideout. Going in without enough strength would be suicide.’

「Inside the Practice Room.」

Luo Tian circulated the Celestial Essence Water Condensation Technique and cultivated for four days, slightly consolidating his cultivation base.

His cultivation had improved significantly during his last seclusion, thanks to the effects of the Violent Spirit Pill and Spirit Calming Powder.

’I might be able to break through to the Peak of Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer within four months. If I had some Heavenly and Earthly Treasures to help, I could shorten that time...’

It would be difficult to make a significant leap in his cultivation in such a short time.

So, Luo Tian switched to practicing the Sky Wind Divine Sword, the Void Yin Sword Technique, and the Celestial Sword Technique.

The Sky Wind Divine Sword would be his primary, public method of attack, while the Void Yin Sword Technique was a trump card he wouldn’t use lightly.

The Celestial Sword Technique improved one’s comprehension of the Sword Dao and amplified the power of sword skills.

The Celestial Sword Technique was also largely responsible for Luo Tian comprehending true Sword Intent so quickly.

He had already cultivated the Second-Layer of the Celestial Sword Technique to Ruyi Realm Perfection and was on the verge of breaking through to the Third-Layer: the Sui Xin Realm.

When that happened, his understanding of swordsmanship would reach a whole new level!

Seven days was not a long time, and they passed in a flash.

「Early in the morning.」

Luo Tian headed for the First Peak of the Tai Yuan Sect.

Many Main Peak Disciples were gathered here.

But Luo Tian noticed that there seemed to be far fewer True Disciples than expected, and Bai Ying hadn’t arrived either.

’Did they give up? Unlikely!’

"Is everyone here?"

Three of the Tai Yuan Sect’s ten Core Elders had arrived, and one of them, the Third Elder, asked Yan Yufeng.

"They’re all here," Yan Yufeng said.

"Explain the rules to them, then begin the test."

the Third Elder instructed.

SWOOSH!

Yan Yufeng flew out and hovered in midair, his voice booming. "Let me tell you something first. The eleven True Disciples in the Sect do not need to participate in this test. They will automatically receive a slot!"

As soon as he said this, many disciples in the crowd looked indignant.

Thirty slots, and just like that, only nineteen were left!

This was so unfair!

But another disciple said, "This is actually for the best. The pressure of competing against the True Disciples for a slot would have been too great."

"Before you lies a dangerous, forbidden area of the Tai Yuan Sect: the Ghost Mist Forest!"

"Hidden within the forest are nineteen Void Chain Pearls. To pass the test, you must find a Void Chain Pearl, travel to the far end of the Ghost Mist Forest, and endure the Ghost’s Tears Waterfall for the time it takes one incense stick to burn!"

"Auditor Disciples must endure for an additional half-incense-stick’s time."

Thus, Yan Yufeng laid out the details of the test.

"Endure under the Ghost’s Tears Waterfall for the time it takes an incense stick to burn?"

Many disciples shivered when they heard this.

The Ghost’s Tears Waterfall was one of the most dangerous areas in the Ghost Mist Forest.

"And Auditor Disciples have to endure for an extra half-incense-stick’s time!" one of the Auditor Disciples said, his face turning pale.

Not far away, He Yunkong was smiling at Yue Linfei. "Junior Sister Linfei, don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll be able to find a Void Chain Pearl and pass the test."

"Mm-hmm!"

Yue Linfei nodded.

She had recently broken through to the Peak of Earth Element Realm Eighth Layer, so she was quite confident she could pass the test.

"Junior Sister, here, take this... It shows the hidden location of a Void Chain Pearl."

He Yunkong grasped Yue Linfei’s hand and stuffed a slip of paper into it.

"Senior Brother, this... this is cheating. I can’t."

Yue Linfei looked flustered and stuffed the slip of paper back into his hand, refusing to accept it.

Anyone caught cheating in any of the Tai Yuan Sect’s activities or tests would be severely punished!

"Senior Brother, I will earn a slot on my own merit."

Yue Linfei gave He Yunkong a look tinged with disappointment before quickly walking away.

"Junior Sister, why didn’t you take it?"

He Yunkong clenched his fists, unable to understand.

"Senior Brother He, is there some misunderstanding between you and Junior Sister Linfei?"

A man with a wide forehead walked over.

"Since when is what happens between my junior sister and me any of your business?"

He Yunkong barked coldly.

The man with the wide forehead immediately lowered his head apologetically.

"Just do what you’re supposed to. In this test in the Ghost Mist Forest, I want to see Luo Tian carried out!"

A fierce glint flashed in He Yunkong’s eyes!

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother He! Consider this little matter handled!"

The corners of the wide-foreheaded man’s lips curled up as he rejoined the large group of disciples.

"Open!"

Yan Yufeng waved his hand. The barrier enveloping the Ghost Mist Forest dissipated, and a swirl of dark, sinister mist drifted out, sending a chill down everyone’s spine.

SWISH SWISH SWISH!

All the Main Peak Disciples vying for a slot instantly rushed in to search for the Void Chain Pearls.

The moment Luo Tian entered the Ghost Mist Forest, he found his vision severely obstructed. Even the range of his Spiritual Sense was drastically reduced.

During the Main Peak Disciple assessment, Luo Tian had used what was practically a cheat to quickly find four different-colored Jade Crystal Flowers.

But it seemed that method wouldn’t work this time.

A mysterious power in this place greatly interfered with his calculations.

Moreover, there were only nineteen Void Chain Pearls, whereas there had been at least five or six hundred Jade Crystal Flowers on Yu Yue Peak. The two tasks were on completely different levels of difficulty.

’Hm? Is someone following me?’

Luo Tian swept the area with his Spiritual Sense and discovered a man with a wide forehead.

Luo Tian deliberately changed direction, only to find the man still following him. Clearly, he was up to no good!

’The mole has been dealt with. The person who hates me the most right now can only be He Yunkong...’

The man was likely sent by He Yunkong to stop Luo Tian from getting a chance at the Void Thief King’s treasure.

’If you want to ruin my opportunity, then don’t blame me for being ruthless!’

Luo Tian snorted coldly to himself.

...

’This guy is fast!’

The man with the wide forehead narrowed his eyes, chasing closely after Luo Tian.

In fact, he planned to directly attack Luo Tian, but the visibility in the Ghost Mist Forest was too poor.

The gray mist in the air also eroded one’s consciousness, interfering with sight, sound, and thought.

It was already an achievement that the man hadn’t lost track of Luo Tian.

’Huh? Where’d he go?’

He lost focus for just a moment, and Luo Tian was completely gone.

This was an awkward situation.

He had already promised He Yunkong; if he failed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

’Forget it. I’ll find a Void Chain Pearl first and wait for him at the Ghost’s Tears Waterfall. If Luo Tian shows up, it won’t be too late to deal with him then. And if he doesn’t make it, He Yunkong can’t really blame me...’

The man had no choice but to change his plan.

He closed his eyes slightly. A map of the Ghost Mist Forest appeared in his mind, marking the approximate locations of the nineteen Void Chain Pearls.

’Tsk, tsk. This map probably came from Elder Yan himself...’

A look of glee spread across the man’s face. He identified the closest Void Chain Pearl and immediately rushed toward it.

SWOOSH!

He failed to notice a faint, gray figure in the mist not far behind, silently tailing him like a shadow.

The man with the wide forehead had found it difficult to keep up with Luo Tian and had been shaken off.

But it was easy for Luo Tian to track him in return.

’This man has a clear target. It seems he knows where the Void Chain Pearls are!’

Luo Tian’s gaze grew cold.

’This man was probably sent by He Yunkong, maybe even at the behest of Yan Yufeng.’

’Could Yan Yufeng have broken the rules and leaked information to help this man cheat?’

’That would explain why he agreed to get rid of me in the Ghost Mist Forest. Afterward, he’d be able to find a Void Chain Pearl with ease.’

A few moments later.

The man with the wide forehead arrived at the location marked on his map.

BOOM!

He unleashed a palm strike. A seven or eight-meter-long, dark cyan Palm Force slammed into a towering ancient tree.

The ancient tree instantly exploded, turning to ash!

A dark-silver Crystal Pearl appeared, floating in midair. Faint silver ripples emanated from its surface.

This was the Void Chain Pearl—proof that one had earned a slot and a necessary item to enter the Thief King’s Treasure Hideout.

"I found it!"

The man’s face was alight with joy.

But just as he was about to take the Void Chain Pearl.

SWOOSH!

A cold wind swept up from behind him as a grayish-white figure shot past.

"Who’s there?"

the man with the wide forehead shouted.

’There are other disciples nearby? Could it be one of those experts in the Sect, someone close to the level of a True Disciple? Otherwise, how could I have not noticed them at all?’

SWOOSH!

The man wasn’t fast enough. The grayish-white figure grabbed the Void Chain Pearl first.

"A good disciple doesn’t cheat to pass a test. I’ll be taking this Void Chain Pearl, thank you very much!"

Luo Tian tossed the silver pearl in his hand, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

"It’s you?"

The man with the wide forehead saw Luo Tian’s face clearly and became instantly enraged.

At the same time, he realized what had happened: Luo Tian had detected his pursuit, shaken him off, and then turned the tables by tracking him instead!