Chapter 0902: Li Luo Ascends
After the blades fragmented, Li Luo stood tall amidst the silent field. He gave off a heroic aura and his body was steaming. It was like he was a furnace full of energy, each and every motion capable of huge amounts of force.
The strength of his body alone was something that the average Fiend Finisher would not dare to clash against.
The emotions of the people on the field were complicated, especially those from the Gold Light Banner. Their mouths were agape at the sight before them. They had followed Deng Fengxian through countless battles and were clear of how ferocious and lethal his Gilded Armor Spirit Blade was, especially once the triple blades transformation was utilized. Even amongst the Twenty Banners, the number of people who could counteract this art could be counted on the fingers of one hand.
Today, another person joined that small list: Li Luo.
Li Luo had not demonstrated a true Duke Art in this fight. He had used the combination of Pseudo Duke Arts to resolve the assault of the Gilded Armor Spirit Blade.
One had to know that Li Luo had not even stepped into the Fiend Finisher Tier yet either.
Although he had triple resonances, which gave him a reserve of resonant power that far surpassed anyone on his level, it shouldn't have been comparable to the peak Fiend Finisher Deng Fengxian, right?
Thus, the scene before them was, frankly, frightening.
The Gold Light Banner members had complicated gazes. Everyone assumed that Li Luo's rise through the rankings of the Twenty Banners was only possible because of Harmony… It was all external strength, and thus no one really cared about it. The Green Nether Banner had gradually risen under his leadership. Yet without the banner, Li Luo would be unqualified to challenge the other Banner Leaders as he was considerably weaker individually. This was the prominent viewpoint amongst those in the Twenty Banners.
Additionally, there were even people from the Dragon's Blood Lineage that were spreading rumors about the Battle of the Dragon's Head, that it would finally allow everyone to truly see Li Luo's true and worthless self!
Li Luo had snatched the Golden Dragon Pillar from Li Qingfeng in the Dragonbreath Pool. Thus, the members of the Dragon's Blood Lineage were incredibly dissatisfied. They felt that Li Luo was simply cunning, taking advantage of the other Banner Leaders who had expended all their effort to drag down Qin Yi. As a result, he struck while the iron was hot and snatched the vacant Golden Dragon Pillar before anyone could react.
However, the battle between Li Luo and Deng Fengxian had let the audience truly experience his real power. It was not to be belittled.
Although he had not stepped into the Fiend Finisher Tier, his battle strength allowed him to compete against the most elite of Banner Leaders.
The Green Nether Banner exploded into thunderous, elated cries. Everyone was chanting Li Luo's name.
Li Luo, on the other hand, continued to watch Deng Fengxian closely with a smile. "Banner Leader Deng Fengxian, I suppose you still have a trick up your sleeve?"
Deng Fengxian had not released his Fiend Dipper Energy in the previous clash, and it would have served to strengthen his previous attack.
He had a complicated look on his face. "Well, you haven't used your Duke Art either."
Both had held back in the initial clash, but regardless of the situation, the Gilded Armor Spirit Blade was Deng Fengxian's strongest move. Now that it had been shattered, it would not be a simple task to recondense a new one, and Li Luo would not watch him idly.
Thus, Deng Fengxian was clear that he had lost the initiative.
Hearing Deng Fengxian's almost depressed tone, which seemed to imply that he was giving up, Li Luo asked with surprise, "We aren't fighting anymore?"
Deng Fengxian retracted his golden resonant power and shook his head before he calmly said, "Banner Leader Li Luo, you have improved with godly speed. I have to respect that, and since I'm at a disadvantage, there is no need to pointlessly struggle any further. I have a trump card up my sleeve, but I believe you have many more as well."
At this point, numerous complex feelings welled up in his heart. Just half a year ago, Li Luo was barely in the Fiend Palace Tier. Even though he had noticed him, it was merely cursory and he did not pay too much attention.
Li Luo then displayed a startling performance in the Dragonbreath Pool, but everyone had merely attributed that to the assistance of Harmony. It had hidden the gap that existed between him and the other Banner Leaders.
No one could have expected that in half a year's time, Li Luo would be nipping at their heels.
"Tri-Radiance Glass Body." Deng Fengxian quietly focused upon the triple glazed light radiating from Li Luo's body. He knew that this was the best possible foundation one could have in the Glass Fiend Tier, as he had tried to achieve it himself in the past. It was a pity he had failed in the end.
Cultivating it to the peak had strenuous requirements on both one's foundation and opportunity.
In the current generation of the Heavenly Dragon's Five Lineages, even Li Qingfeng had failed to achieve it.
Relying on it in combination with his triple resonances, Li Luo could completely suppress the average Fiend Finisher with his huge reserves of resonant power. Thus, Deng Fengxian understood that his advantage in cultivation level was nullified, so the chances of him winning today were minute.
Since he knew the result, there was naturally no need to struggle to the end.
Deng Fengxian was not one that liked to waste time on impossible things.
Li Luo had never expected him to give up like this. However, since his objective had been attained, he would naturally not force things. Thus, he also retracted his resonant power. Then he clasped his hands with an amicable look on his face.
"In this case, I have to thank you for letting me win, Banner Leader Deng."
"If neither Li Jingtao nor Li Fengyi wish to challenge you, then the position of the leader amongst the four banners belongs to you," Deng Fengxian coolly answered.
The surrounding audience had turned quiet and turned their attention to the two in question.
Li Jingtao had a face like a benevolent elder as he slowly enunciated his words. "We are one family. There's no need to fight amongst ourselves."
As always, the unambitious and relaxed Li Jingtao had indicated that he was uninterested in the position.
Li Fengyi, on the other hand, waved a clenched fist at Li Luo whilst coldly snorting. "You want me to give up? How could things be so simple? Perhaps if you bring us all to the Ascending Cloud Pavilion for dinner tonight..." At this point, she could no longer keep up the pretense and a smile leaked out.
Li Luo's performance today was exceptionally satisfying to her.
Naturally, he could only grin and nod in response.
With the two expressing their stance, the entire field began to erupt into cheers, of which the Green Nether Banner was the most expressive. Zhao Yanzhi, Mu Bi, and Li Shi were the earliest followers of Li Luo, and they couldn't help but be excited about having the opportunity to follow a boss with such great potential. It seemed that their own futures in the Dragon's Fang Lineage would be smooth as well.
At this point, they were rejoicing immensely that Li Luo had chosen to enter the Green Nether Banner half a year ago.
The Gold Light Banner's morale, on the other hand, seemed to have fallen. In the beginning, they had always assumed that Deng Fengxian would become the leader of the four banners. However, the position had been seized firmly by Li Luo, which was a blow to their confidence.
Additionally, there was one individual in the Gold Light Banner with an incredibly ugly expression. It was Zhong Ling, who had chosen to leave the Green Nether Banner.
As he stared at his previous banner, which was now ascending into the skies, his face turned gloomy. He had similarly never expected that Li Luo could force Deng Fengxian back.
It was just a short half year. When Li Luo had first joined, Zhong Ling didn't even consider him a threat!
Alas, Zhong Ling had lost to Li Luo in a duel to become the Banner Leader and reluctantly chose to leave. At that point in time, he thought that Li Luo was nothing special and would barely be able to eke out any results. Thus, he had chosen to join the Gold Light Banner in the hopes of watching the Green Nether Banner decline into obscurity.
Oh, how wrong he had been. His expectations were merely castles in the skies.
Under Li Luo's guidance, the Green Nether Banner stood out with excellent results in the Dragonbreath Pool. Now, half a year later, Li Luo was standing shoulder to shoulder with the strongest Banner Leaders as well.
And he had become the leader of the four banners for the Dragon's Fang Lineage.
Zhong Ling felt even more awkward as a result. He could feel his fellow banner members looking at him with strange gazes.
"How could he have achieved so much?" Zhong Ling said with gritted teeth. A hint of regret could be felt within his heart. If he knew how amazing Li Luo would have been, he would not have chosen to cause so much trouble.
Unfortunately, it was simply too late.
"Well, even though you're the leader, you're still no match for Li Qingfeng," Zhong Ling furiously thought in his heart in an attempt to console himself.
The excitement lasted for quite some time. When the sky started darkening, the four banners made their way back. Li Luo, on the other hand, brought the other Banner Leaders to the Ascending Cloud Pavilion for a celebration.
Li Jingtao, Li Fengyi, and Deng Fengxian were sitting happily at the top of the building.
The atmosphere wasn't bad. Perhaps it was because Deng Fengxian had voluntarily chosen to retreat that Li Fengyi didn't take the opportunity to torment him.
Deng Fengxian took the initiative to kindly remind Li Luo, "I heard that Li Qingfeng is determined to win the Battle of the Dragon's Head. He's spent the last month cultivating bitterly, and the Dragon's Blood Lineage has supported him with untold amounts of resources. From what I know, he and Lu Qingmei are planning to break into the Heavenly Pearl Stage."
Li Luo nodded. This was something that Li Jingzhe had already informed him of. If Li Qingfeng and Lu Qingmei truly entered the Heavenly Pearl Stage, then the Battle of the Dragon's Head would be extremely tough.
"Will they really succeed?" Li Fengyi frowned. If they succeeded, the gap between them and the other Banner Leaders would widen and the rest might not have a chance.
"Their Fiend Dipper Energy is already at nine hundred and fifty feet and their foundations are sturdy. Entering the Heavenly Pearl Stage would be no surprise," Deng Fengxian explained.
Li Luo sighed. This was expected from the geniuses that were nurtured from a Heavenly Emperor power. They possessed both talent and resources and should not be underestimated.
Li Luo suddenly changed the topic and asked, "I'm just wondering, what other benefits are there to the Battle of the Dragon's Head?"
Li Jingtao cackled. "Third Brother, you truly waste no time.
"Being the Dragon's Head is just the first benefit. There are two more. The second one is to learn Heavenly Emperor Li's famous Sanctified Dragon's Body."