Chapter 609: The Day of the Duel

When Luo Tian arrived at the classroom, his five students were already there.

“Good. No one ran off.”

Luo Tian smiled.

Any normal student would’ve backed down after encountering such a crazy tutor. They wouldn’t want to be humiliated, and some might even choose a new mentor.

“Heh. Master Luo definitely won’t pick me for the duel.”

Chen Yuan smiled awkwardly.

His Cultivation was only at the Peak of Earth Element Realm Fifth Layer. He was afraid he’d be sliced to ribbons by Lu Ruofan the moment he stepped onto the stage.

“Luo Xiaoting, for the next month, you will train rigorously with me,” Luo Tian announced.

“Yes!”

Luo Xiaoting’s eyes were resolute, brimming with fighting spirit.

“Master Luo, why not me?”

Guan Hongfei stood up.

‘The whole reason I chose a tutor the way I did was to get stronger, fast,’ he thought. ‘I want to surpass the students who placed first and second in the entrance exam!’

Guan Hongfei believed he was no worse than Luo Xiaoting. ‘If she can do it, then I definitely can too!’

“You cultivate the Sword Dao, and so does Lu Ruofan,” Luo Tian said coolly.

“Do you think my Sword Dao is inferior to his, Master Luo?”

Guan Hongfei asked.

‘After all, I’ve cultivated a special Sword Dao Secret Technique from the *Nameless Sword Manual*, one of the three great legendary tomes!’

“Lu Ruofan’s Cultivation is at the Half-step Celestial Pool Realm. He has already comprehended true Sword Intent and is expected to break through to the Celestial Pool Realm within six months.”

“The pressure from his Sword Intent alone is enough to render your Sword Dao insignificant before him.”

Luo Tian calmly explained.

Guan Hongfei fell silent after hearing this.

“Never lose your composure or your ability to judge clearly. Don’t act on impulse or fight just for a moment’s glory.”

Luo Tian admonished.

“I’ll remember that,” Guan Hongfei said, nodding seriously.

After giving guidance to the other four students, Luo Tian and Luo Xiaoting departed alone, finding a quiet spot in the woods.

“How is your training with the new Cultivation Technique coming along?”

Luo Tian inquired.

“I chose the Celestial Level Upper Grade Supreme Technique, the *Water and Fire Heaven-Swallowing Technique*. I’ve already reached the Third-Layer!”

“If I push myself, I’m hopeful I can reach the Earth Element Realm Ninth Layer within the month. By then, my illness should also be completely cured.”

Luo Xiaoting’s rate of cultivation amazed Luo Tian.

‘It seems the Luo Water Body is truly powerful, and her own Martial Vein is quite good as well.’

‘Furthermore, a Cultivation Technique that cultivates both water and fire has allowed her to fully leverage her advantages and unlock her potential.’

“It’s just…”

But Luo Xiaoting was still hesitant.

‘But is this really enough to defeat Lu Ruofan?’

“Don’t worry. For now, just focus on diligently practicing the *Water and Fire Heaven-Swallowing Technique* and its related Martial Skills. When the time comes, it won’t be a problem.”

Luo Tian said calmly.

Luo Xiaoting was deeply confused. ‘Why isn’t Master Luo nervous at all? He seems so sure of himself.’

She, on the other hand, felt the problem was enormous!

When she and Lu Ruofan took the entrance exam together, his results were far better than hers.

Two years had passed.

Lu Ruofan had become a student of Zhengyang Palace, while she, due to her illness, had neglected her Martial Arts. Her Cultivation progressed slowly, and she was still stuck in Chuyang Tower.

‘Could one month really bridge a two-year gap?’

Unable to make sense of it, Luo Xiaoting could only follow Luo Tian’s instructions.

As she practiced the *Water and Fire Heaven-Swallowing Technique*, Luo Tian would offer pointers from time to time.

Often, a single sentence from him would feel like an Enlightenment, making her practice smoother, greatly increasing her speed, and leading to remarkable progress!

“By practicing the *Water and Fire Heaven-Swallowing Technique* with my guidance, the awakening speed of your Luo Water Body is accelerating. Therefore, your cultivation speed will continuously increase.”

Luo Tian analyzed, explaining to Luo Xiaoting.

The Luo Water Body of the Five Ancient Clans was no ordinary constitution. It was even slightly superior to Yan Xiaoxia’s Yang Flame Body.

Luo Xiaoting was stunned.

‘Does Master Luo intend for me to awaken my Luo Water Body as quickly as possible to increase my odds of winning?’

‘But one month is too short a time.’

After he finished with the Cultivation Technique, Luo Tian began to instruct Luo Xiaoting on her Martial Skills and Body Technique.

“Your Fist Technique and Body Technique both need to be modified…”

Luo Tian instructed her on each point.

Luo Xiaoting followed Luo Tian’s instructions, but she found her practice wasn’t as smooth as before.

She felt as if Luo Tian had modified her Martial Skills and Body Technique into something entirely new.

‘Luo Xiaoting felt that her original techniques were better.’

“You don’t need to ask questions. Just do as I say.”

Luo Tian’s tone was firm.

Although Luo Xiaoting had her doubts, she did everything he said.

After all, she couldn’t imagine how she could possibly defeat Lu Ruofan on her own.

Time passed slowly.

「Half a month later.」

Luo Xiaoting had become proficient in the Martial Arts Body Technique that Luo Tian had drastically altered, but she still felt it was inferior to her original skills.

“For the remaining half of the month, we’ll focus on breaking through your Cultivation!”

Luo Tian announced seriously.

“Half a month?”

Luo Xiaoting was taken aback. ‘Is that enough time?’

Luo Tian didn’t answer. Instead, he took out a Jade Bottle from the Moon Disc Jade Pendant he wore.

This Jade Pendant had once belonged to the Void Thief King and was an extremely discreet storage item.

Inside the Jade Bottle was a single, milky-white pill.

This was the very same Ultimate Three-star Spirit Pill—a Metamorphosis Pill—that Luo Tian had seized in the Thief King’s Palace!

The Metamorphosis Pill was specifically for Earth Element Realm Martial Artists and could drastically increase their Cultivation!

Furthermore, this was a reward left by the Void Thief King, and its quality was superb. Even a High Tier Earth Element Realm Martial Artist could advance by a First Layer Realm by taking it.

When Luo Tian had first taken one, his own Cultivation had surged, increasing by a First Layer Realm.

This was the last one. Now that Luo Tian had broken through to the Celestial Pool Realm, the Metamorphosis Pill was no longer effective for him.

“A Metamorphosis Pill?”

Luo Xiaoting stared at the Spirit Pill. She could tell from its appearance that the quality of this Metamorphosis Pill was extraordinary.

‘This must be it!’ she thought. ‘This is the source of Master Luo’s confidence!’

‘If I’m lucky, this Metamorphosis Pill could help me advance a First Layer Realm.’

“How much of a breakthrough you achieve after taking this will depend on your own destiny.”

Luo Tian handed the Metamorphosis Pill to Luo Xiaoting.

“Master Luo, this Spirit Pill is too precious…”

“If you win the duel, your prize of five hundred thousand Spiritual Essence Coins will cover the cost of this pill.”

Luo Tian stated bluntly.

‘Based on this Metamorphosis Pill’s quality, five hundred thousand is about right.’

If she won this duel, then adding the five hundred thousand “wall repair fees” Lu Ruofan had promised, Luo Tian would get one million Spiritual Essence Coins.

Luo Xiaoting said no more. She immediately took the Metamorphosis Pill and entered seclusion to focus on her breakthrough.

But then, a thought occurred to Luo Xiaoting.

‘How could Luo Tian be so sure she had never taken a Metamorphosis Pill before?’

The Metamorphosis Pill had astounding effects, but it also had one significant drawback: taking it more than once would drastically reduce its effectiveness.

If Luo Xiaoting had taken a Metamorphosis Pill in the past, then this one would have a diminished effect, and her Cultivation wouldn’t advance much.

And in the end, she would still lose the duel.

‘It feels like Master Luo knows everything…’

Luo Xiaoting muttered to herself. Shaking off the thought, she focused on circulating her Cultivation Technique, activating her Martial Vein, and pushing for a breakthrough in her Realm.

Luo Tian used his Qi Observation Technique again and saw that the Clear Qi Pillar above Luo Xiaoting’s head had changed.

The blue mist and red flames that had once corroded each other were now intermingling, merging with the Clear Qi Pillar to create an even more brilliant spectacle!

Luo Tian felt a sense of accomplishment, as if he were witnessing the rise of a peerless genius.

…

「One day remained.」

Lu Ruofan, a student of Zhengyang Palace, and the student of Junior Tutor Luo Tian would face off on the Wuji Battle Platform.

“Senior Brother, I’ve already made inquiries. Luo Tian hasn’t been to Chuyang Tower at all lately. It seems he’s been secretly training Luo Xiaoting.”

A student from Chuyang Tower of the Celestial Blade Institute stood respectfully before Lu Ruofan.

“Hahaha, Luo Xiaoting?”

Lu Ruofan knew this girl well. He sneered, “A fool who’s been stuck in the same place for two years. She won’t last a single move against me!”

“Of course. How could Luo Xiaoting possibly compare to you, Senior Brother?”

the Chuyang Tower student said with a fawning smile.

“Still, Luo Xiaoting is a better choice than Guan Hongfei. She’ll give me the chance to experience the feeling of humiliating a genius from the Five Ancient Clans.”

A smirk played on Lu Ruofan’s lips.

The Five Ancient Clans held a transcendent status within the Pale Ring.

A lazy, ill-tempered student like Luo Xiaoting was only able to get by so well in the Saint Institute because of her status as a member of an Ancient Race.

If she were from some second-rate faction, she would have been beaten into submission long ago.

“What a pity, though. Teacher Ye is still in seclusion. She won’t be able to witness what I’m about to do for her.”

Lu Ruofan sighed with regret.

“When Teacher Ye finds out afterwards, she will be incredibly moved.”

The junior student seized the opportunity to kiss up to him.

「War Martial Institute, Chuyang Tower.」

Liu Lu had been released from the Law Enforcement Institute for some time now.

As soon as he got out, he heard the news about the duel between Luo Tian’s student and a student from Zhengyang Palace.

Moreover, the opponent was none other than Lu Ruofan, Ye Shuiyun’s student!

‘It’s a guaranteed loss, and he’ll offend Ye Shuiyun in the process!’

Liu Lu was grinning from ear to ear.

‘The rumor I started hadn’t been for nothing!’

“Luo Tian, if I can’t have it, I’ll make damn sure you can’t either!”

A dark sneer spread across Liu Lu’s face as he eagerly awaited the next day.

…

「One day later, the appointed time for the duel arrived.」

Each of the Wuji Saint Institute’s ten branch institutes had a special Martial Arts Arena known as a Wuji Battle Platform.

More formal duels, or spars with wagers that required an impartial witness, were always held on the Wuji Battle Platform.

The Wuji Battle Platform was a thousand meters long and wide, constructed entirely of what looked like White Jade, and was incredibly durable.

Seats surrounded the platform.

By now, the seats were already full, and the open spaces were packed with crowds of students and mentors from all ten branch institutes.

“Teacher Ye’s students are here!”

From the east, a dozen or so talented students strode forward, each with an extraordinary bearing and a heroic aura.

Ye Shuiyun had quite a reputation in the Saint Institute. Not only was she beautiful, powerful, and knowledgeable, but her grandfather was also an Elder in the Law Enforcement Institute!

Nearly all of her students were elite geniuses.

SWOOSH!

One figure among them leaped into the air, landing in the center of the Wuji Battle Platform in a flash!

“Hahaha! Neither Master Luo nor his student has shown up. I hope they haven’t decided to tuck their tails and run, losing without even fighting!”

Lu Ruofan let out a booming laugh and then waited in silence.