Chapter 1059: Ancestor Li Jun
Shocked and amazed voices resounded in all corners of the Heavenly Dragon's Five Lineages at this moment as they all stared incredulously at the handsome young man holding the Golden Coiled Dragon Staff in the mirror of light.
Was this person actually their ancestor?
It was just that his appearance did not seem to match most of the portraits they had seen.
However, no one dared to doubt the truthfulness of the handsome young man's words, because there was no one who would dare to impersonate the Ancestor of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li! Especially with the chiefs of the five lineages watching the battle, anyone who dared to impersonate the Ancestor would be obliterated in an instant.
After all, even the Lineage Chiefs would have to bow and pay their respects as juniors towards him.
Heavenly Emperor Li, Li Jun.
This was the bedrock of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li! Also the originator of the bloodline!
As the ancestor resided in the World Border to repel the Others, many people within the clan had not seen him for many years. For the younger generation, the only way to catch a glimpse of the legendary progenitor was to see him on the portrait in the ancestral hall. This explained why they were so astonished when they saw that the challenge on layer seventy-two of the Fiendish Devil Cave was actually the Ancestor.
Excitement exploded in every corner of the Heavenly Dragon's Five Lineages.
Not just them, even the five Lineage Chiefs were likewise looking at this scene with some bewilderment in their eyes.
Li Jingzhe stared at the handsome young man in the mirror and muttered to himself, "I didn't expect that challenging layer seventy-two this early would result in meeting the Ancestor..."
"Father, why does the Ancestor in front of us look different from the portraits?" Li Qingpeng asked, full of curiosity.
Everyone else also nodded frantically. The Ancestor was a true legend to everyone in the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li, so they were naturally very interested in him.
"Because this is not the Ancestor's true body," Li Jingzhe replied.
"Could it be a doppelganger?" Li Jinpan remarked.
"It's not really a doppelganger... It should just be a figment of intent left behind by the Ancestor when he created the Fiendish Devil Cave," Li Jingzhe slowly responded.
“A figment of intent?” The onlookers gasped in amazement. How could a mere figment of intent exist for so long?
"This is not an ordinary figment of intent. The Ancestor dug into his own past and transformed into it. You could consider the Ancestor in front of you as the Ancestor when he was at the Duke Stage. He is completely tangible, yet almost indestructible; it seems that no one can fathom the intent of a Heavenly Emperor."
A mere intention could be called indestructible? The crowd listened in bewilderment and horror. Was this the divine technique of a mighty existence that stood at the pinnacle of heaven and earth? It was truly unimaginable.
"But if the Ancestor's intent is guarding in layer seventy-two, that makes it completely impossible for anyone to pass, right?" Li Qingpeng laughed bitterly.
The others were also dumbfounded. Although the Ancestor before them seemed to be only at the Duke Stage, what kind of strength would a future Heavenly Emperor exhibit? The difficulty of defeating such an existence was simply ridiculously high.
Li Jingzhe was somewhat lost for words as well as he said, "The difficulty is indeed beyond imagination. The cheeky Ancestor went and left a hidden technique to torment his juniors. But the fact that Li Luo was able to meet the figment of intent of the Ancestor could actually be considered a success, in a manner of speaking."
The others deeply agreed with him. Being able to unlock the secret boss of layer seventy-two of the Fiendish Devil Cave could not be considered a failure in the first place. After all, ever since the Fiendish Devil Cave was created, no one had been able to discover this figment of intent left behind by the Ancestor.
Being able to exchange blows with the Ancestor, even though it was just a figment of intent from the past, was considered a great honor for anyone at the Duke Stage.
However, while the crowd outside the cave was freaking out over the appearance of the Ancestor, Li Luo's own mood was somber.
He stared blankly at the handsome young man holding the Golden Coiled Dragon Staff. The moment the latter said the name "Li Jun," he knew that he was in trouble.
He could never have imagined that challenging layer seventy-two this early would be so terrifying.
His dad had only fought a fourth-grade Duke Stage dragon.
And here he was, about to face off against the Ancestor?
Li Luo's mind was in a whirl.
“Little junor, what are you thinking about?" asked the handsome young man as he smiled warmly while Li Luo was still reeling from shock.
Li Luo's voice was rigid. "I'm thinking if it's too late for me to give up now."
"It is indeed too late!"
The handsome young man's expression suddenly changed as he said "It's not every day that someone comes here, so won't you let me have some fun before you leave? Whose offspring are you?"
Li Luo held back regretful tears as he responded, "I am from the Dragon's Fang Lineage, and Lineage Chief Li Jingzhe is my grandfather. My name is Li Luo."
Li Jun laughed and said, "So it's that little fellow Li Jingzhe."
Outside the cave, Li Jingzhe's dignified and solemn face betrayed a momentary hint of embarrassment. In the entire Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li, only one man was qualified to refer to him as a little fellow.
"The Dragon's Fang Lineage also produced a rather capable lad before called Li Taixuan, right?" Li Jun asked again.
"He's my father," Li Luo replied truthfully.
Li Jun was taken aback and laughed. "It seems that your lineage has produced quite a lot of talents."
"Compared to you, Ancestor, it's all but the light of a glowing flame." Li Luo felt like he was acting like a small, bootlicking dog.
Unfortunately, a Heavenly Emperor was not an existence that just anyone could lick the boots of.
"You're an interesting young lad, but since you've come all the way here, we have to spar. You're the first to meet me since the establishment of the Fiendish Devil Cave, so if you can really get past me, the benefits will not be few." Li Jun smiled.
Judging from Li Jun's character, it seemed that he was also somewhat battle-hungry in his youth.
Upon hearing this, Li Luo's heart jumped, obviously being tempted by Li Jun's so-called benefits. The rewards spoken of by a Heavenly Emperor would never be ordinary, would they? Moreover, Li Luo never had the intention to retreat from the beginning.
"Then, I beseech you for guidance, Ancestor!"
Li Luo cupped his fist before his face changed into a mask of concentrated determination. A majestic and vast energy swept through heavens and earth, then a long blade that radiated an emerald glow appeared in his hand. The viridescent blade was a single violet-eyed treasure. Since the Golden-Jade Onyx-Elephant Blade was broken and had not yet been reforged, Li Luo had borrowed this blade from the Green Nether Hall's treasure trove for this situation.
As Li Luo readied himself for battle, Li Jun made his move. In an instant, the void seemed to have holes punched into it as he took a single step. In the next instant, his figure appeared right in front of Li Luo.
Weng!
The Golden Coiled Dragon Staff in his hand swung lightly towards Li Luo.
Li Luo hurriedly summoned his energy to bolster the viridescent blade, wrapping it in a heavenly blade light as it collided directly with the golden staff.
Peng!
However, the moment the blade and the staff collided, Li Luo's pupils shrank as he felt the viridescent blade in his hand vibrate and emit a shrill wail. In the next instant, cracks multiplied on the surface of a blade before it finally shattered with a bang.
Li Luo was horrified. A violet-eyed treasure got destroyed in a single hit?
He hurriedly retreated.
But the golden staff stuck to him like a shadow, incessantly striking at him.
Li Luo frantically pulled out some treasured artifacts that he had prepared beforehand to defend against the onslaught.
Sadly, these defensive measures were like paper against the might of the golden staff, shattering as soon as the staff swept past. Li Luo finally realized that the Golden Coiled Dragon Staff in the hands of Li Jun was extraordinary, and it seemed to have the miraculous power to destroy treasured artifacts.
Regular treasured artifacts or even single violet-eye treasured artifacts could not endure its attacks.
It was too tyrannical!
Li Luo lamented. How could the Ancestor even bring his own divine weapon?
Did he have to use the Heavenly Dragon's Sunchaser Bow? Still, that was a long-range treasured artifact that could not be used in melee combat. While losing a single violet-eye treasured artifact was regrettable, it was still acceptable. Li Luo would definitely cry a river of tears if the Heavenly Dragon's Sunchaser Bow was destroyed as well.
After the initial clash, Ancestor Li Jun did not follow up with any other moves since the Golden Coiled Dragon Staff was powerful enough to force Li Luo into a corner.
......
In the stone pavilion of Dragon's Fang Mountain.
Witnessing this scene, Li Jingzhe sighed haplessly. "The Golden Coiled Dragon Staff of the Ancestor broke many opponents' hearts back in the day. Li Luo still lacks a treasured artifact suited for close quarters."
Just as he said this, Li Jingzhe's expression changed abd he revealed a smile. "Just in time."
Immediately after, he stretched out his finger and slashed down at the void in front of him.
A gash appeared in the air as it was clearly split. In the distance, a faint ringing of metallic blades grew louder and louder. Within the metallic ringing were the roars of dragons and elephants.
As Li Jingzhe's robed sleeves fluttered in the wind, a flash of sword light appeared and passed through the gash in the void.
It was headed straight into layer seventy-two.
While Li Luo was desperately retreating, his ears suddenly picked up on a somewhat familiar sound, the sound of a blade. Suddenly, the space beside him was cut open, and a flash of sword light shot out.
Li Luo instinctively stretched out his palm and grabbed the beam of light with his hand.
Right then, the golden staff came swinging down.
Li Luo's majestic energy roared out, bolstering the sword light in his hand and colliding with the staff.
Clang!
Clear sounds of iron and gold rang out and exploded across the lagoon, creating huge waves from the sonic booms.
To Li Luo's delight, the sword in his hand did not shatter.
The Ancestor's Golden Coiled Dragon Staff, which specialized in destroying treasured artifacts, seemed to have lost its effect.
As Li Luo drew back, his delighted gaze wandered towards the sword in his hand.
"Is this... the reforged Golden-Jade Onyx-Elephant Blade?"