Chapter 0910: Li Luo's Sprint
“Ah!”
When the strand of dark-gold flame enveloped Li Jingtao, he immediately screamed out in utter agony.
"This is too painful! I'm not climbing anymore!"
Li Jingtao hopped on the spot as the layers of strange carapace covering his body melted at an alarming speed. Even his Tortoise Dragon manifestation had been incinerated to the point that it started to turn illusory again.
At this point in time, he understood why Li Jingtao had chosen not to advance any further and to not face the fusion of the flame dragons.
This seemingly harmless flame was actually utterly terrifying.
Even though Li Jingtao specialized in defense, it was difficult to endure the flames.
As he felt his defenses gradually crumble, Li Jingtao clenched his teeth and forcefully endured the pressure as he took another step ahead.
Twenty-nine thousand, seven hundred and ten feet!
It was ten feet higher than Li Qingfeng's record!
After which, he no longer had any motivation to continue going, so he hurriedly retreated.
Stepping backwards signified that he had given up on the Dragon's Ascent. His figure flickered, then he reappeared beside Li Qingfeng and Lu Qingmei.
A glowing spot was left behind at his previous location, signifying his achievement.
The heavens seemed to have gone silent at this moment.
Gazes full of complicated emotions fell upon Li Jingtao. This result was simply out of everyone's expectations.
No one had expected that the one with the best result in the Dragon's Ascent would be not Li Qingfeng, but the relatively unreputable Li Jingtao!
"Beautiful work!" Li Fengyi beamed unrestrainedly. A look of unhindered joy and happiness could be seen on her face as Li Jingtao's final step was like the final stroke of a masterpiece.
Although he had surpassed Li Qingfeng by merely ten feet, this would be a sore point for the Dragon's Blood Lineage.
Especially for Li Hongli!
At this point, Li Fengyi turned towards the girl in question. Li Hongli’s expression was steely green upon seeing the latest development, and Li Fengyi felt her spirits rising as a result. The other Banner Leaders were similarly befuddled as this result was far too strange to comprehend.
At the twenty-nine thousand foot mark, Li Qingfeng's expression had turned slightly frosty as he looked at Li Jingtao. "Beating me by a single step... Banner Leader Jingtao, are you looking to humiliate me?"
Li Jingtao hurriedly waved his hands in response. "How would I dare to have such a thought? The truth is that the Nine Dragon's Flame Baptism is simply too terrifying. I was only able to resist for a moment, which coincidentally allowed me to take just another step."
Li Qingfeng's eyes drooped slightly upon hearing his response, and he indifferently replied, "It looks like the Dragon's Ascent is simply more suitable for your techniques. We'll wait for the Scales Seizure stage... I look forward to seeing how tough your tortoise can be."
With that, he turned his gaze away, no longer bothering Li Jingtao. There was not much point in this as any enmities would be resolved during the next stage.
Just as the Banner Leaders sighed at the updated results, up in the void, the five Lineage Chiefs were also a little taken aback by this development.
"It seems Li Jingtao has cultivated the Eight Carapaces Art. If I remember correctly, this is the Dragon's Fang Lineage's only Soul Ascension-grade body-tempering Duke Art." Li Xuanwu smiled.
Li Jingzhe subtly nodded in confirmation. The Dragon's Fang Lineage did not possess many body-tempering Duke Arts. Their lineage was renowned for their offensive prowess, but the Eight Carapaces Art was not very effective at attacking. It only had one special point: its ridiculous defensive properties. The average body-tempering art would enhance one's physical strength, but this one channeled all improvements towards one's defensive capabilities.
Thus, if a member of the Dragon's Fang Lineage wanted to cultivate a body-tempering art, they would not pick this one.
It was simply too unpopular.
However, its defensive properties were truly frightening. It was said that if someone could reach the so-called Eighth Carapace Realm, they would possess a defense that was comparable to a similar Duke Art at the Destiny-grade! In the past, an elder of the Heavenly Dragon's Five Lineages had cultivated this art to an extremely high realm, and as an eighth-grade Duke, he received a direct attack from a King and actually survived! The news had shocked the Heavenly Origin Continent.
Additionally, the Eight Carapaces Art was exceptionally difficult to learn. No one had any idea how this brat had managed to successfully cultivate it. In fact, he even seemed to have reached the Fourth Carapace Realm quite some time ago!
"This brat is the first individual I've ever seen who's reached this step by purely relying on his defensive prowess," Li Qingying of the Dragon's Scale Lineage commented.
"It looks like he has the potential to become the hardiest individual in the entire Heavenly Dragon's Five Lineages." Li Jinjiao of the Dragon's Horn Lineage smiled bitterly. "Getting as far as he did is pure coincidence. It only happened because he is well suited to tackling the Dragon's Ascent. Otherwise, he would never have surpassed Li Qingfeng and Lu Qingmei."
His words were met with agreement from the rest. This trial was simply too suitable for him. Still, luck was also a form of strength.
"It looks like this test has pretty much ended," Li Tianji suddenly said with a smile.
"That might not be true." Li Jingzhe's eyes dropped slightly. "Li Luo has yet to finish his climb."
Everyone's gazes then turned towards the stone dragon, where they could see Li Luo continuing to forge ahead step by step. Although he was moving slowly, he was gradually approaching Li Qingfeng and the rest.
"He is using the pressure of the dragonfear to temper his resonant power," Li Qingying observed.
Li Xuanwu nodded. "He must be planning to use the pressure to condense Fiend Dipper Energy."
"How courageous, using the Dragon's Ascent as a whetstone to sharpen himself. The average individual would not dare to do so. If one were to be careless, they might dull their edge instead, directly shattering it," Li Jinjiao commented.
"Brave and thoughtful. He is weaker than Li Qingfeng and the rest, and if he wants to catch up, he has to take an unorthodox path to the peak. If he's able to refine Fiend Dipper Energy, then he can explode forth with frightening strength." All of the Lineage Chiefs possessed exceptional experience and insight, so they were able to discern his intentions quite easily.
"Well, let's wait and see if he can reach the peak."
As the five Lineage Chiefs focused upon Li Luo, the remaining Banner Leaders were also doing the same. After all, the only one who was still capable of going any further was Li Luo at this moment.
The rest had already reached their limits.
Under the eyes of numerous individuals, Li Luo's body radiated with three-colored light, his resonant power unceasingly activated and his resonant palaces buzzing.
Eventually, he reached the twenty-nine thousand foot mark.
Li Luo's slightly sagging eyes finally raised at this moment as he stared at the mottled, stone staircase before him.
"Do your best, Third Brother!" Li Jingtao's voice rang from the side.
Li Qingfeng and Lu Qingmei did not say anything, only quietly observing him.
Li Luo flashed Li Jingtao a smile. "Eldest Brother, you have truly hidden yourself deeply! You've actually obtained the best result so far!"
Although he had been deeply engrossed in tempering his own body, he still split a strand of his attention to observe Jingtao during his ascent.
Li Jingtao shook his head. "What Banner Leader Qingfeng said was not wrong. The Dragon's Ascent is a trial that is suitable for me. All I needed to do was rely on my thick skin and push ahead relentlessly."
"Well, your thick skin is something you cultivated bitterly. It's not something you were born with... or was it?" Li Luo joked.
Li Jingtao scratched his head. "Well, that's reasonable too..."
Li Luo grinned and no longer said anything else, only taking a deep breath before continuing to trudge onwards, crossing past the twenty-nine thousand foot mark.
Nine flame dragons began to float around his body and intense dragonfear pressed down upon him. Li Luo felt his shoulders sag uncontrollably.
"Tri-radiance Light!" Li Luo's body then emitted a burst of glazed light. A three-colored light flowed ceaselessly from within his body, forming a barrier that protected him.
"Tri-Radiance Spiritual Marks!" The tri-colored spiritual marks on his body were also activated, and his body turned clearer and sturdier, emitting a mysterious luster.
"Dual resonances, third realm." His dual resonance power was also activated. Countless Vestiges of Spirituality could be seen within, which allowed his resonant power to reach a higher grade. This enabled him to resist the incinerating dragons with greater effect, allowing him to last longer. In terms of absolute quality of resonant power, he had fused eighth-grade water resonant power with seventh-grade wood resonant power, which would definitely be more effective when compared to Li Qingfeng's quasi ninth-grade resonant power.
"Thunderpeal Avatar." Li Luo had truly activated all he had. A thunderclap could be heard, immediately bolstering his physical defense by yet another level.
Every single card he had was on full display right now.
With all these augments, he continued to force his way upwards step by step.
A while later, he arrived at Lu Qingmei's previous position, the twenty-nine thousand, seven hundred and eighty foot mark. At this point, he paused temporarily as ferocious dragonfear surged towards him from every direction. The crushing pressure caused his body to be suppressed so hard that a light crack could be heard. Burning pain spread throughout his body, making him feel like his entire body would be set aflame.
However, Li Luo did not stop here. Two breaths later, he composed himself and continued to push forward.
He directly reached the twenty-nine thousand and seven hundred foot mark during this brief period.
The nine flame dragons around him began to fuse, forming a single dark-gold strand of dragon flame. It eyed Li Luo like a tiger eyeing its prey, exuding a frightening aura from its unimpressive appearance.
Nine Dragons Becoming One.
There were countless gazes focused upon Li Luo at this point in time.
They had already seen how scary this unassuming strand of flame was. Even Li Qingfeng had decided to retreat after a moment of hesitation, all in order to protect his own body from being destroyed.
Only Li Jingtao had dared to advance, borrowing the prowess of his invincible body to take a step. Alas, he had been burned to the point of misery, then he had hurriedly retreated a moment later.
Li Luo might have triple resonances and the Tri-Radiance Glass Body... but he was only at the Fiend Body Tier.
Being able to climb this high was already an achievement in and of itself. However, trying to reach the peak of thirty thousand feet might be a pipe dream.
The dark-gold strand of dragon flame was all he could see. He could sense a hint of spirituality as it stared at him. So long as Li Luo showed that he was about to take another step, it would immediately bring to bear its frightening strength.
“Phew.”
Feeling the pressure, Li Luo sucked in a deep breath of air that was scorching hot in the presence of the flame dragon. Resolution could be seen in his eyes.
Although he might suffer a grievous injury if he tried, possibly affecting his performance in the Scales Seizure stage, Li Luo did not plan to give up.
Since he had decided to act, he would do his very best until the end. Being timid now would only be an embarrassment.
With this in mind, Li Luo took a step forward, directly receiving the strand of dark-gold dragon flame with his body amidst the numerous shocked gasps of the audience.