Chapter 457 - 455: Qigong Deviation

Luo Tian paid no mind to Ying Long’s condition.

He was confident he could defeat Ying Long.

He focused wholeheartedly on refining his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body as silver and red flames danced across the surface of his skin.

The Earth Spirit Fire within the Spirit Fire Cellar had already been refined to a certain degree. With its impurities removed and side effects lessened, it was exceptionally effective for cultivation.

Luo Tian estimated that at this Spirit Fire’s intensity, Ying Long should be able to last about ten days.

’In my case, lasting half a month shouldn’t be a problem...’

Luo Tian mused to himself.

After that, he thought no more of it and focused on refining his Treasure Body.

One day... Two days... Five days passed!

「Outside the Cultivation Secret Room.」

The thick-lipped man and the other Official Disciples were getting anxious.

"It’s already been five days. Why isn’t Luo Tian out yet?"

The thick-lipped man was extremely puzzled.

The cultivation effects in the Spirit Fire Cellar’s secret rooms were excellent, but if one’s cultivation was too low, they couldn’t stay for long.

With Luo Tian’s cultivation at the Peak of Earth Element Realm Third Layer, no matter how amazing he was, he could last two days at most.

But now, five days had already passed!

"Luo Tian couldn’t have died in there, could he?"

A disciple from the Su Family speculated.

"Impossible. If Luo Tian were dead, Senior Brother Ying Long would have come out."

’If Luo Tian isn’t dead, then he’s still inside. How could he possibly last this long?’

The disciples were filled with shock and doubt.

It was all just speculation. They would only know the true situation when the door to the secret room opened!

And so, everyone continued to wait.

Their wait stretched on, and another five days quickly passed!

Neither Luo Tian nor Ying Long had emerged!

"Ten days!"

"I have no doubt that Senior Brother Ying Long can last ten days, but Luo Tian... I’m afraid he’s been burned to a crisp by now!"

The disciples discussed amongst themselves in astonishment.

One of the disciples even said to a guard, "Um, you’d better open this secret room and have a look. Someone might have died in there."

"Don’t cause trouble. The Cultivation Secret Rooms of the Spirit Fire Cellar cannot be opened carelessly, as it would disturb the person cultivating inside... unless half a month has passed!"

The guard’s expression was cold and indifferent.

...

「Inside the Cultivation Secret Room.」

Luo Tian and Ying Long were no more than ten meters apart.

At this moment, the entire secret room was filled with crimson Spirit Fire.

Luo Tian had been tempering his physique the entire time.

Nearby, Ying Long’s robes were soaked with sweat, his lips pale.

’It’s been ten days! How is this brat still holding on?’

Ying Long was shocked to his core, and his expression was incredibly grim.

’Even if Luo Tian is a Body Cultivator, constantly tempering one’s physique is tantamount to actively drawing the Spirit Fire to burn oneself. On top of that, Luo Tian’s cultivation is only at the Earth Element Realm Third Layer. How could he possibly have lasted this long?’

HUMMM!

Ying Long activated a ring on his hand.

It was a special treasure capable of continuously absorbing flames. Once it reached a certain capacity, it could condense those flames to attack an enemy.

Fifty percent of the Earth Spirit Fire burning around him was absorbed by the ring, alleviating his situation.

’Even with this treasure, I can only last until the twelfth day at most...’

Beads of sweat rolled down Ying Long’s forehead and across his cheeks, only to be instantly evaporated.

He looked over at Luo Tian. A flicker of pain occasionally crossed Luo Tian’s face, but it was clearly just the pain from tempering his physique.

Ying Long could tell that Luo Tian’s resistance to the scorching environment was extremely high; he could still hold on for several more days!

’No! How can I possibly lose to him!’

Ying Long roared internally, a vicious, Yin Cold glint flashing in his eyes!

VWOOM!

His hands formed the seals for a spell, and faint black True Essence erupted forth, stirring up a violent whirlwind.

The flames throughout the secret room were churned into a frenzy.

Not far away, Luo Tian, who was tempering his physique, sensed the disturbance in the room and frowned.

Ying Long’s actions were clearly meant to interfere with his cultivation.

If one’s focus was broken during cultivation, its effectiveness would be greatly diminished.

Luo Tian had been on the verge of touching the threshold of the Fifth-Layer of the Minor Achievement Realm, but he was disturbed by Ying Long’s actions.

"If you’re going to make a bet, then be fair and square! Don’t resort to petty tricks!"

Luo Tian snapped.

"What petty tricks? I’m cultivating too. Perhaps I’m making a bit of a commotion, but that can’t be helped. If you can’t handle it, you can leave."

Ying Long was playing dumb, feigning ignorance.

Luo Tian’s expression darkened, but he ignored him.

But after a moment, Ying Long doubled down.

He deliberately made an even bigger commotion to attract Luo Tian’s attention, even actively interfering with Luo Tian’s process of tempering his physique.

’This guy...’

Luo Tian’s eyes grew grim, his disgust for Ying Long intensifying.

He figured that even if he won this bet, Ying Long wouldn’t let the matter drop. He would probably resort to even more extreme measures to deal with him!

’In that case, don’t blame me for what happens next!’

Luo Tian’s expression and aura shifted dramatically. His hair and robes billowed as he lowered his head slightly, a strange, spectral glow emanating from his eyes.

HUMMM HUMMM!

Hollow, indistinct notes floated from Luo Tian’s mouth.

The surrounding light suddenly dimmed. An inexplicable chill ran through Ying Long’s mind, but he didn’t understand why.

"You brat, you’re like a bee, buzzing nonstop. It’s driving me crazy."

Ying Long snapped.

"This is my special cultivation technique. If you can’t handle it, you can leave."

Luo Tian shot back.

Ying Long was speechless. He had just used that same excuse to blatantly interfere with Luo Tian.

He paid it no more mind and let Luo Tian continue his buzzing.

But for some reason, Ying Long felt his mind grow uneasy. He became irritable and agitated, even feeling an impulse to murder Luo Tian.

’I can’t do that. Murdering someone here is a capital offense.’

Ying Long warned himself.

Two hours passed.

Ying Long grew even more agitated, his ears filled with that strange, chilling hum.

He finally activated his True Essence to block his hearing.

’Huh? Am I hearing things? Why does it feel like I can still hear that brat buzzing?’

Ying Long was incredibly frustrated.

Nearby, a cold smile touched the corners of Luo Tian’s mouth.

’Since Ying Long was being relentless and unscrupulous, there was no need for him to show any mercy.’

He had just been using the Demon Thought Technique to influence Ying Long.

However, Luo Tian had only used it subtly, exerting just forty to fifty percent of its power to influence Ying Long imperceptibly. It was extremely covert.

After resting for an hour,

Luo Tian began to use it again!

Another day passed.

Suddenly, Ying Long roared without any warning, "Ah! Yu’Er, don’t go! Don’t leave me..."

"I won’t accept this! I’ll kill you, you heartless woman!"

Ying Long shrieked again and again, as if he had gone mad.

...

「Outside the Cultivation Secret Room.」

"It’s been eleven days!"

"By all rights, Ying Long should have come out by now. Could he have broken through to the Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer?"

"I just want to know if Luo Tian is dead or not."

The thick-lipped man, a few other Official Disciples, and the disciples from the Su Family were still standing watch.

Lasting eleven days inside was no ordinary feat; Ying Long had already surpassed his own limits.

But Luo Tian... he must have been burned to ashes by now.

The guards also noticed the situation with that particular secret room, wondering if someone had really died inside and whether they should report it to the Elder who guarded this place.

Just then, the door to the secret room slid open!

"The door’s open! What in the world happened in there?"

Everyone looked over curiously and saw a figure in white robes burst out.

"Brother Ying!"

The thick-lipped man’s face lit up with joy, and he immediately stepped forward to congratulate him. "Congratulations on emerging from seclusion, Brother Ying! Your power must have greatly increased..."

"Yu’Er, I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!"

Ying Long suddenly roared, cutting him off.

"Uh, Senior Brother Ying Long... what’s wrong with him?"

The few Official Disciples, as well as the guards, looked on with stunned expressions.

"Yu’Er, I’ll kill you!"

Ying Long suddenly fixed his gaze on a female disciple. Murderous intent filled his face as he charged!

"AH!"

The female disciple’s face went white with terror.

"Stop him!"

A guard shouted.

A group of guards rushed forward and subdued Ying Long.

The thick-lipped man, the disciples from the Su Family, and the others all looked toward the secret room from which Ying Long had emerged.

The great door was slowly closing.

Inside, amidst the surging flames, they saw a figure seated cross-legged, his eyes profound and eerily demonic!

It was Luo Tian, still safe and sound!

With a THUD, the door to the secret room shut.

"Look! Ying Long just went crazy and tried to kill a female disciple!"

"How terrifying! How could he be so brazen? To actually dare to commit violence here!"

"Maybe he overdid his cultivation, started hallucinating, and suffered a Qigong Deviation..."

A crowd was drawn over by the commotion, and a flurry of discussion erupted.

"What is going on here?!"

An old, dignified voice rang out. A white-robed old man suddenly appeared before them—it was the Elder who presided over this place!

A terrifying aura, as heavy as a mountain, descended upon the scene, instantly silencing the crowd.

The disciples and guards all bowed or knelt in salute.

"Elder, an Official Disciple suddenly went mad. We have subdued him,"

the Guard Captain reported.

"Take him away."

The Elder’s expression was calm.

Such incidents were not common, but they weren’t unheard of, either.

Some disciples, eager for quick success, would over-cultivate in the secret rooms of the Fire Spirit Cellar. Some would suffer a Qigong Deviation, while others would burn themselves to the point of being crippled.

"Elder... there was another disciple cultivating in the room with him,"

the guard added.

"Oh?"

The Elder raised an eyebrow.

If that was the case, it was highly likely the other party was responsible for some foul play.

"Who is this other person?" the Elder asked.

"He seems to be an Auditor Disciple, with a cultivation at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Third Layer..." The guard didn’t know Luo Tian’s name.

"Hmm?"

The Elder’s eyes widened in surprise.

How could an Auditor Disciple at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Third Layer possibly harm an Official Disciple at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer?

...

「Inside the Cultivation Secret Room.」

"This is a lesson for you!"

Luo Tian snorted softly.

What had just happened was the result of Ying Long’s Heart Demon being amplified.

If Ying Long’s will was strong, he might recover, but the influence of his Heart Demon would be exacerbated.

If his will was weak, he might just stay mad forever.

Luo Tian paid it no more mind and continued to refine his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body.

His crystalline silver body now shone with a crimson-red hue, its surface gleaming brilliantly. An invisible, oppressive pressure radiated out into the surroundings.

「Two days later.」

The silver patterns on Luo Tian’s body suddenly trembled, bursting forth with dazzling silver flames.

The Fifth-Layer of the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body, Minor Achievement!

Luo Tian’s silver-red body scattered a blinding silver light. His muscles bulged and hardened, radiating an incredibly heavy and oppressive sense of power!

Gradually, the red luster on Luo Tian’s body receded.

After his Treasure Body’s breakthrough, his Defense increased dramatically, and his resistance to fire was also enhanced.

WHOOSH-BOOM!

Luo Tian struck out with his palm. A silver radiance exploded, kicking up waves of flame and causing the air to crackle with explosive sounds.

The Spirit Fire within the entire secret room roiled madly, pushed away to the sides. The spot where Luo Tian’s palm had struck became a vacuum!

The power of that single palm strike was enough to shake a cultivator at the Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer.