Two hours later, Luo Tian and the Crow approached the Ancient Ruins. From up close, they could feel the blue pillar of light that shot straight into the sky.
"Ugly Bird, what in the world is this?"
"It seems to be a phenomenon created by a special Array. All the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in the area is being gathered here..."
the Crow said after careful observation.
There was indeed something fishy about the ruins.
After just a few steps, Luo Tian saw the bodies of two Spirit List geniuses at the entrance of the ruins. They had been practically dismembered, a gruesome sight.
’There’s danger!’
The Creation Technique suddenly sent out a warning, and Luo Tian immediately grew cautious.
At the same time, his Yunxiao Sect Identity Token began to glow faintly.
"Save us! We’re surrounded by the Sea Hunter Race! Go find Qi Yuntian!"
The distress message was from Yi Jingwen.
Yi Jingwen must have sensed a Yunxiao Sect disciple was nearby, but since she didn’t know who it was, she sent out a general message.
"How many of you are there?"
Luo Tian sent back a query.
Soon, a message came back from Yi Jingwen. "Luo Tian, is that you?"
Her voice was filled with excitement.
"There are thirteen of us here, surrounded by three members of the Sea Hunter Race. The strongest of them is on par with Tu Kai!"
’Thirteen people surrounded by three...’
Luo Tian was a little speechless.
However, it also indirectly showed just how terrifyingly powerful those three Sea Hunters were.
But Luo Tian had no intention of acting rashly and putting himself in danger.
’The Sea Hunter Race’s intentions are obvious. They won’t let a single human here escape.’
’If I let the Spirit List geniuses of the Dongchen Continent be captured and slaughtered, our numbers will just keep dwindling. Eventually, it’ll be my turn.’
’We have to fight back!’
’Otherwise, we humans will forever be the prey.’
Luo Tian temporarily moved away from the Ancient Ruins, found a hidden spot, and sat cross-legged to cultivate and consolidate his Cultivation.
At the same time, he also studied the *Celestial Sword Technique*, occasionally getting up to practice its one hundred and eight strange Sword Techniques.
「After nightfall.」
The Shadow Cloak on Luo Tian’s back rippled strangely, and his figure vanished, completely hidden from sight.
At night, the Shadow Cloak’s "Invisibility" effect could be activated, making it perfect for infiltration and surprise attacks.
Just then, his Identity Token pulsed again. Luo Tian murmured, "Has something new happened inside?"
After taking out the Token and reading the message, he melted back into the night and moved toward the Ancient Ruins.
...
「Inside a certain dilapidated old fortress.」
Only ten geniuses remained, hiding within.
"Yi Jingwen, didn’t you say Luo Tian was coming to help us? So much time has passed. Why isn’t he here yet?"
A man in yellow robes shouted, his face etched with anxiety.
He was the genius from the Hidden Family who had taken first place in the elimination tournament, ranked eighth on the new Spirit List—far stronger than the sallow-faced man who had previously held that rank.
But now, the man in yellow robes was injured, and in the face of the powerful Sea Hunter experts, he could only hide.
"I don’t know either."
Yi Jingwen replied coolly.
"He probably heard about the situation and took off right away."
Jiang Daoyun sneered.
The Sea Hunter Race was simply too terrifying. Of the three who had them surrounded, even the one at the Earth Element Realm First Layer possessed the strength of a typical expert at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm First Layer.
Furthermore, among those three Sea Hunters, there was one at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm First Layer and a terrifying genius at the Earth Element Realm Second Layer!
The strongest in their group was Shangguan Su, one of the Celestial Prides.
Yet even he had been injured by the Sea Hunter at the Earth Element Realm Second Layer!
It wouldn’t be surprising if Luo Tian had fled after learning the details.
"Be careful!"
Shangguan Su, who had been healing in a corner, suddenly shot to his feet, a ghostly light flickering in his eyes!
SHHHIIING!
Through the darkness of the night, a soul-shaking, ear-piercing whistle suddenly tore through the air, exuding an aura of cold death as it closed in.
"AH!"
A genius cried out in pain, an arrow lodged in his chest as he collapsed, unmoving.
"They’re attacking!"
the man in yellow robes said.
At night, everyone’s vision was limited.
Higher-level races like the Sea Hunters, however, fared slightly better. Among the three outside was a master Archer, perfect for launching sneak attacks.
"Everyone, be on your guard!"
Everyone was on high alert, standing ready and vigilantly scanning their surroundings as if facing a formidable army.
「Outside.」
"I’ll charge in. You two, keep your eyes on that human with the Pupil Technique!"
a green-robed Sea Hunter conveyed via voice transmission.
Aside from Shangguan Su, the group inside the old fortress was nothing to fear.
"That damn Tu Kai, he’s still not here!"
The green-robed Sea Hunter, Jing Yuan, cursed under his breath.
If Tu Kai and Yu Sanshui joined them, they could have easily crushed everyone inside the fortress.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Jing Yuan’s figure flickered about like a phantom, closing in on the old fortress, ready to begin the slaughter!
In a tall tower not far away, a male Sea Hunter held a bow, aiming it at the old fortress, ready to fire at any moment!
’That human with the Pupil Technique must be the strongest one in this group!’
The Archer muttered to himself.
If not for Shangguan Su, this group would have been dealt with long ago.
’In a moment, when Shangguan Su uses his Pupil Technique on Jing Yuan, my Archery can either kill him or disrupt his technique, helping Senior Brother Jing.’
BANG! BANG!
Two loud bangs suddenly echoed from within the old fortress. Jing Yuan and the other Sea Hunter had charged in!
The Archer vaguely saw two geniuses at the Half-step Earth Element Realm instantly killed by Jing Yuan, their bodies sliced in two—a gruesome death!
As if facing a great enemy, Shangguan Su immediately unleashed his Pupil Technique on Jing Yuan.
"Heh heh, my chance has come!"
The Archer drew his bowstring!
A pitch-black arrow, covered in sharp barbs and coated with deadly poison, was nocked and ready to fly.
A direct hit from this arrow meant almost certain death.
"Die!"
A sharp glint flashed in the Archer’s eyes as the corners of his mouth curved into a smirk.
But suddenly, just as he was about to release the bowstring, he felt a biting killing intent closing in.
SHHHIIING!
Without a second thought, the Archer spun around and fired an arrow. The pitch-black, sinister projectile shot through the air, completely invisible in the darkness.
"Quick on the uptake, aren’t you!"
To the Archer’s left, a blurry black shadow rapidly approached, revealing a handsome and resolute-looking young man.
"Heh heh, a mere Ninth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm dares to come save these people? You’re quite the loyal friend, aren’t you!"
The Archer sneered after discovering Luo Tian’s Cultivation.
But the moment Luo Tian drew his sword, the sneer froze on his face.
The crystalline, ice-cold Treasure Sword pulsed with a terrifying chill and an astonishing Sword Momentum. It resonated with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, unleashing a sharp, powerful presence that seemed capable of piercing the very heavens!
"How can someone at the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm unleash such a terrifying Swordsmanship?"
The Archer leaped off the tall tower, firing another arrow at Luo Tian as he fell.
SHHHIIING!
Luo Tian slashed down with the full force of his sword, and the entire top of the tower instantly disintegrated into dust.
The next moment, the chilling, sharp Sword Light collided with the sinister black arrow.
Archers excelled at ambushes and creating distractions; how could their direct killing power possibly compare to Swordsmanship!
CLANG! The arrow was split in two, and Luo Tian’s sword continued, slashing down toward the Archer!
BUZZ!
The Archer managed to deploy a True Essence Shield in time, but Luo Tian’s strike was simply too powerful. It shattered the shield and left a bloody gash on his body.
The Archer plummeted dozens of meters from the tower, crashing to the ground.
"Dammit, how can a human at the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm be this strong?"
The Archer immediately scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding with panic.
"Where do you think you’re going?"
A light, indifferent voice suddenly came from behind him.
’So fast!’
The Archer’s expression tightened. He instantly pushed his Body Technique to its limit and fled for his life.
"Come back!"
Luo Tian shouted lightly. A leather whip in his hand glowed with dark patterns, instantly extending dozens of meters and snaking toward the Archer like a phantom.
It was too late for the Archer to dodge. He erupted with blue True Essence, but it had no effect on the Leather Whip Hook.
It was like a Soul-Locking Hook from the Netherworld!
It was difficult to interfere with on a physical level.
In the next instant, the hook snagged the Archer and yanked him back in front of Luo Tian.
"Ngh... How is this possible!"
The Archer’s blood and qi froze solid. His consciousness felt sealed, rendering him unable to move or even speak.
"Finally caught one alive!"
Luo Tian chuckled softly.
THUMP!
He struck the Archer’s abdomen with his palm, crippling his source of Energy, the "Primordial Pool."
Luo Tian retracted the Leather Whip Hook and asked coldly, "Speak. Where are you from?"
...
「Meanwhile.」
Jing Yuan and a Sea Hunter at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm First Layer burst into the old fortress.
The two were incomparably powerful, overwhelming everyone present.
Jing Yuan had led the charge, immediately killing two geniuses at the Half-step Earth Element Realm!
But just then, Shangguan Su’s eyes, brimming with an eerie Ghost Qi, fixed upon him.
After the Celestial Pride Conference, and especially after his two clashes with Luo Tian, Shangguan Su’s Pupil Technique had improved tremendously. A vast, cold spiritual aura, like a ghostly mist from the Nine Netherworld, permeated the void.
Jing Yuan was the main target, but the other Sea Hunter at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm First Layer was also slightly affected.
Jing Yuan’s body stiffened, his face contorting as he struggled, frozen to the spot.
The other Sea Hunter, merely distracted, was still able to move and immediately charged toward Shangguan Su!
"Go!"
The man in yellow robes and Yi Jingwen led the charge, attacking the Sea Hunter.
Jing Yuan’s power was too terrifying; they were relying entirely on Shangguan Su’s Pupil Technique to hold him in check. If Shangguan Su were to die or be defeated, they would all be killed!
Although this Sea Hunter at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm First Layer was powerful, facing six or seven human geniuses at once proved to be troublesome.
’Damn it, didn’t I tell that bastard to keep his eyes on this human? Why hasn’t he fired to disrupt him yet?’
Jing Yuan snarled through gritted teeth, his face contorted in a struggle.
Their supposedly foolproof plan had hit a snag.
BOOM! BOOM!
Everyone heard the sounds of battle coming from a distant tower.
’Is there another human?’
Jing Yuan finally understood why the Archer hadn’t provided support.
At the same time, he was amazed. The human who had disrupted his plan had timed their move with absolute perfection. This proved they had discovered the Archer’s position long ago, even though the Archer himself had remained oblivious.
’There was actually someone like that among the humans?’
"Senior Brother Jing, what should we do?"
the Sea Hunter at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm First Layer asked.
The situation seemed to be turning against them!
"Kill!"
Jing Yuan roared, his killing intent surging to the heavens!
His skin gradually darkened to an deep blue, and strange, ancient-looking scale patterns emerged on its surface. A savage, cold, and violent aura erupted from him!
The ghostly mist surrounding Jing Yuan began to dissipate.
"Not good, he’s about to break free!"
Shangguan Su’s expression changed, becoming incredibly grave. His Mist Ghost Eyes locked onto Jing Yuan, veins bulging around his own eyes from the strain!
But the aura emanating from Jing Yuan only grew more terrifying.
Suddenly, all the ghostly mist around him shattered and vanished.
ROAR!
Jing Yuan tilted his head back and roared. A cold, violent, baleful energy rushed out in all directions as a terrifyingly cold glint flickered in his dark green pupils.
"What?"
The man in yellow robes paled in horror.
Yi Jingwen, Jiang Daoyun, and the others were also stunned. Jing Yuan had actually broken free from the Spiritual Illusion Realm of the Mist Ghost Eyes!
Without Shangguan Su holding him back, who could possibly stop this fiend?
At that moment, everyone’s hearts sank. Despair spread through the air.
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