"Brother, I want to cripple him!"
At this moment, Liu Yuanhu was full of confidence as he glared venomously at Luo Tian.
"Don't worry. I'll take him down in one move."
Liu Yuanba smiled arrogantly. The faint red True Qi on his body suddenly flared up like a flame.
BANG!
The ground exploded, leaving a shallow crater. Liu Yuanba shot forward, kicking up a fierce gust of wind.
The next moment, a tall Black Shadow appeared before Luo Tian.
'So fast!'
An ordinary Martial Disciple wouldn't have been able to react at all and would have been sent flying by the first blow.
But Luo Tian cultivated the Celestial Destiny Creation Technique. His five senses and awareness were greatly enhanced. When he released his Spiritual Sense, Liu Yuanba's movements seemed to slow down several times over.
'My brother is a Meridian Opening Realm Martial Artist! The chasm between a Martial Disciple and a Martial Artist is insurmountable. Luo Tian, let's see how you beg for mercy later!'
Liu Yuanhu felt a surge of satisfaction, as if he could already see Luo Tian completely at his mercy.
"Dragon-shaped Hand!"
Liu Yuanba swiped his arm. Wreathed in blazing, faint red True Qi, it chopped down like the shadow of a dragon, emitting an unparalleled, tyrannical might.
Dragon-shaped Hand was an Entry Grade Martial Art of the Liu Clan, far superior to a Basic Martial Skill. Only those in the Meridian Opening Realm were qualified to cultivate it.
"So strong! Brother Ba has already cultivated his Dragon-shaped Hand to the Minor Achievement Realm."
"That one palm strike is enough to crush that piece of trash!"
The few young men from the Liu Clan all shouted in support.
Facing a Meridian Opening Realm Martial Artist, Luo Tian didn't dare to be careless. He circulated all the power in his body to block the blow.
THWACK!
A ferocious force, accompanied by an aggressive, tyrannical True Qi, surged into Luo Tian's body.
'So this is the True Qi of the Meridian Opening Realm? Such domineering Palm Force!'
Luo Tian's arm went numb, and his body drifted backward.
HUM!
Suddenly, the phantom dragon-like Divine Vein in his body emitted a faint blue aura, which wore down and absorbed that surge of True Qi.
"Hm?"
Liu Yuanba's brow furrowed. 'My attack actually failed to crush that kid?'
Meridian Opening Realm Martial Artists could communicate with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, producing True Qi in their bodies that possessed immense destructive power.
And just now, his True Qi attack had been mysteriously drawn in, as if absorbed by a sponge.
"I'll defeat you in three moves!"
Liu Yuanba looked down on him arrogantly. He hadn't used his full strength in that last move.
If he couldn't quickly finish a fight against a mere Body Tempering Martial Disciple, it would be a stain on the dignity of a Martial Artist.
WHOOSH!
The faint red True Qi emanating from Liu Yuanba's hands surged violently, resembling burning, crimson dragon arms. His presence grew even more ferocious.
BOOM! BOOM!
Two consecutive rounds of attacks kicked up a wave of dust.
This time, Luo Tian's body only swayed slightly as he withstood the attacks. His expression was even more relaxed, and the corner of his mouth curved into a smile.
'The Celestial Book God's method really works. My Divine Vein has opened a little more…'
Luo Tian was secretly overjoyed.
Earlier, the Celestial Book God had told him a technique: to use the power of a Meridian Opening Realm expert's True Qi to help open his own Divine Vein!
This was extremely dangerous.
Without a tough physique, one couldn't withstand the invasion of True Qi.
Without powerful Spiritual Power and Perception Power, one couldn't guide the True Qi smoothly.
But as it happened, Luo Tian had both.
In those last three moves, Luo Tian had successfully used his opponent's True Qi to further open his Divine Vein, reaching over sixty percent.
"You… you actually blocked them all?"
Liu Yuanba couldn't hide his surprise. He had a nagging feeling that something was wrong.
"Haha! Three moves have passed. A Meridian Opening Realm Martial Artist is nothing special, it seems."
Luo Tian taunted him, his face a mask of ridicule.
"You're courting death!"
Liu Yuanba flew into a rage. How could a Martial Artist's dignity be challenged by a mere Martial Disciple?
Dragon-shaped Five Claws!
He launched an even fiercer offensive, striking out with his claws in a continuous chain as waves of True Qi swept out in all directions.
However, under Liu Yuanba's storm of attacks, Luo Tian was as steady as a mountain, and he was getting more and more relaxed.
As they clashed, Luo Tian repeatedly guided his opponent's True Qi into his body, using it to assault his Divine Vein.
The Divine Vein continuously opened!
Fifty percent… sixty percent… seventy percent… eighty percent.
After a few more moves, Luo Tian's Divine Vein was ninety percent open!
Only the last sliver of a shackle remained.
'Something's wrong. How is it that my True Qi has no effect when it invades his body?'
The more Liu Yuanba fought, the more he felt something was off. The True Qi he unleashed was like a stone sinking into the ocean, having very little effect.
Luo Tian, on the other hand, was growing stronger with every exchange!
"Liu Yuanba, is this all you've got?"
Luo Tian was elated but maintained an arrogant tone.
"Cloud-piercing Dragon Hand!"
Liu Yuanba roared furiously and executed the finishing move from Dragon-shaped Hand—Cloud-piercing Dragon Hand!
Liu Yuanba's claw, now a deep crimson, descended from the sky.
This strike could pierce through the skull of even a giant bear.
BOOM! CRASH!
Dust flew up from the spot as Luo Tian bent his body slightly, taking the "Cloud-piercing Dragon Hand" head-on.
'Let's see you not lose now!'
Liu Yuanba had a ferocious look on his face as the True Qi in his body erupted wildly.
"Hehe, Liu Yuanba."
"Today, I really must thank you for lending me a hand."
A light chuckle was heard.
RUMBLE!
A strange rumble and vibration emanated from deep within Luo Tian's spine.
The enormous phantom dragon Wheel Vein inside him, its surface covered in shimmering, faint blue scales, radiated the draconic might of the supreme Yin Netherworld.
The Divine Vein was about to open completely, reaching ninety-nine percent!
"Damn it! You're using my True Qi to open your Martial Vein?"
Liu Yuanba finally realized that the True Qi he was unleashing was being guided by Luo Tian toward his Martial Vein.
"You little bastard! You're pissing me off!"
Liu Yuanba was livid, practically about to explode with rage.
He hurriedly pulled back his attack. He absolutely could not help Luo Tian completely open his Martial Vein!
"Too late!"
Luo Tian laughed heartily. He activated his Divine Vein, and a terrifying force erupted from his palm, glowing with a faint blue, cold light.
BAM! STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!
Liu Yuanba stumbled back three steps, his blood roiling. One of his arms was frozen stiff by the Cold Power, almost numb.
'How could this be?'
Liu Yuanba couldn't believe it. Not only had his finishing move failed to defeat Luo Tian, but he had been injured by the strange Cold Power from within his opponent's body.
'It's done!'
Luo Tian was ecstatic, but he suppressed his excitement.
With Liu Yuanba's "help," his Divine Vein had completely awakened, ninety-nine percent open.
If Luo Tian hadn't been suppressing it, the Divine Vein would have opened completely.
He stood rooted to the spot. The light around him dimmed, the air grew icy cold, and the faint sound of a dragon's cry could be heard.
'The Celestial Book God said that when the Divine Vein fully opens, there will be an astonishing phenomenon. I can't complete the Meridian Opening here…'
Luo Tian suppressed his Divine Vein.
It would be a disaster if his Divine Vein were exposed.
Luo Tian looked at Liu Yuanba again, and with a flicker of his body, he closed the distance.
"How is that possible? Your speed!"
Liu Yuanba was flabbergasted.
Luo Tian's speed had actually doubled.
At the same time, an icy chill enveloped Liu Yuanba's entire body, making his muscles go cold and his blood sluggish.
SMACK!
Luo Tian activated his Divine Vein and struck Liu Yuanba in the chest with his palm.
"ARGH!" THUD!
Liu Yuanba let out a miserable cry as his body was sent flying. Several bones in his chest were shattered, and an icy chill invaded his internal organs.
Liu Yuanba had just struggled to his feet when he spat out a mouthful of blood, his face deathly pale.
Behind him, Liu Yuanhu and the others were all dumbfounded.
'Liu Yuanba lost?'
'A Meridian Opening Realm Martial Artist, defeated by someone at the Ninth Layer Body Tempering Realm?'
"Luo Tian, you're ruthless. I admit my defeat today."
Liu Yuanba gritted his teeth, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"But don't get cocky. The great lady of my Liu Clan, Liu Ziyan, broke through to the Meridian Opening Realm two years ago and was taken as a disciple by a famous master in the County City. When she returns, hmph hmph…"
Liu Yuanba's face was grim. He left behind a threatening parting shot and retreated with his men.
'Liu Ziyan?'
Luo Tian snorted coldly.
「Three years ago.」
The head of the Liu Family had brought his naturally beautiful daughter, Liu Ziyan, to Luo Tian's home to propose marriage.
However, the Liu Family's marriage proposal was rejected to their faces by Luo Tian's father!
This incident caused Liu Ziyan to lose all face. She harbored resentment and vowed to get her revenge in the future.
The previous bullying Luo Tian had suffered from the Liu Clan disciples at the Academy was rumored to have been at Liu Ziyan's behest.
'Once my Divine Vein is open, I'll soar to the heavens. I don't care if you're Du Yuncheng or Liu Ziyan—I will surpass you all…'
Luo Tian sneered inwardly as he watched Liu Yuanba and the others flee in disarray.
***
'The most urgent thing is to find a deserted place!'
Suppressing his Divine Vein, Luo Tian ran out of the city.
Luo Tian wasn't sure how big the phenomenon from the complete opening of his Divine Vein would be, so he decided to just leave the city.
Ten miles north of Qingchang City lay the Black Demon Ridge.
It was said that Demon Beasts roamed the Black Demon Ridge, capable of absorbing the essence of the sun, moon, heaven, and earth to cultivate.
The senior class teacher, Lin Xiaofeng, had once warned that no one below the Meridian Opening Realm should enter the Black Demon Ridge.
But Luo Tian paid this no mind. The Black Demon Ridge was sparsely populated, making it the perfect place for his Meridian Opening.
「Two hours later.」
At the outskirts of the Black Demon Ridge, beside a cliff face.
Luo Tian sat cross-legged and released the suppression on his Divine Vein.
ROAR! WHOOSH!
A draconic roar that seemed to come from the Hell Abyss echoed out, accompanied by a dark, desolate, and icy chill that spread in all directions.
Along his spine, the silhouette of a Dragon Vein covered in dark blue, glowing scales appeared, as if it had come to life, exuding an aura that terrified all living things.
WHOOSH!
A layer of dark blue Cold Mist rose around Luo Tian. Within it, the phantom image of a colossal, dark dragon gradually materialized, ferocious and majestic.
Such might was nothing short of world-shaking.
Within a radius of several miles, the numerous Demon Beasts, insects, and ants trembled instinctively and fled.
Had this happened inside Qingchang City, it would have long since attracted attention.
Luo Tian felt a vast and chilling power surging through his meridians, cleansing his entire body from head to toe.
"Divine Vein, open!"
He let out a low shout. Accompanied by a soul-shaking dragon's roar, the Divine Vein inside him shone with a hazy, faint blue brilliance, transforming into a pillar of light that shot into the heavens.