Chapter 1344: Disaster
This sudden development brought the chaos that was unfolding by the Blood Lake to an instant standstill.
The corrupted began to rush towards the depths of the Other Dominion, some completely shrugging off the fierce attacks and even allowing their bodies to be torn apart by the raging resonant power from the defenders. However that said, they seemed to have felt no pain as they continued to advance, never looking back.
In a short span of time, the killing had stopped.
The numerous powers had ugly expressions as they regrouped. Some of the unluckier squads were almost completely wiped out.
The ground stank of blood and made one feel like retching.
This incident had caused heavy losses to every squad other than Li Luo's and the Golden Dragon Bank's.
As the numerous powers licked their wounds, Li Luo frowned as he stared into the distance. All of the corrupted had left without a care. It was clear they had been summoned by something.
It should have been due to the sounds of the flute.
Looking at the other's expressions, it also seemed like no one else had noticed other than Jiang Qing'e.
"Things are getting stranger and stranger here." Li Luo murmured.
He was already sure that there was a humongous conspiracy afoot.
"I think it's best for us to retreat from here." Lu Shuanglu suggested.
"Young mistress, the exit for the Other Dominion has already vanished." The middle aged fifth-grade Duke then spoke.
These shocking words caused everyone to turn their heads to see for themselves. The void behind them had turned blood red, as though it was a massive wall, preventing anyone from escaping.
This caused a commotion to kick up as some of the squads who had thoughts of retreating were now filled with abject terror.
They all understood that there was something different about this Other Dominion.
It was now too late to leave.
In their fear, they started to pound on the mist with impressive resonant arts but the latter remained unmoving. In fact, dense amounts of corruption started to emanate from it, sweeping towards these experts like a tide.
This forced the attackers to retreat but things were not over there. The retaliating corruption was unstoppable as it engulfed them, the result being that they were liquified into a pool of bloody water.
This caused the expressions of the rest to change as they hurriedly put distance between them and the wall of mist.
"It looks like we can only move forward." Li Luo continued to frown.
The rest glumly nodded their heads.
"Li Foluo! Li Luo!" Just as they were about to move, a cold voice rang out. A gloomy Zhao Xiuyuan was looking in their direction as he icily demanded. "Take out your Foundational Spirit Treasures!"
He looked as though he was about to explode. The previous situation had caused his squad to suffer from immense losses and the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li was untouched. Meanwhile when he was unable to extricate himself from the situation, the high-grade Foundational Spirit Treasures were snatched away without much trouble.
This caused Zhao Xiuyuan to feel particularly aggrieved, as if he was helping Li Luo to reap all the benefits with none for himself.
Qin Zhenlin then coldly snorted, "We were working hard to kill the Others whereas the group of you sneakily squirreled away the treasures. That's a little immoral isn't it?"
With the two Heavenly Emperor power squads speaking up, the rest began to shoot unkind gazes towards the squad. Furthermore whilst the rest of them had been crippled heavily, Li Foluo, Li Luo and the rest were untouched. Instead they had managed to secure the high-grade Foundational Spirit Treasures and this felt unbearable to them.
"Hand over three high-grade Foundational Spirit Treasures and we'll leave." Zhao Xiuyuan declared with a cold smile after inciting the wrath of the mob. He was clearly planning to use the people's emotions to suppress them.
If Li Luo rejected, then they could rally the power of the group and put an end to them all.
"Zhao Xiuyuan, stop spouting bullshit. Obtaining a treasure is dependent on one's ability. If you hadn't acted recklessly and provoked the Other in the middle of the lake, perhaps everyone else might not have been corrupted." Li Foluo retorted with an infuriated expression.
"What sort of ability are you talking about if you're grabbing the treasure whilst we obstruct the Others?" Shen Yunge mocked.
"If you don't hand over the high-grade Foundational Spirit Treasures you've obtained today, don't blame us for grouping up and attacking you!" Zhao Xiuyuan took a step forward as he threatened. Five Duke Bergfrieds shot into the air and strong energy undulations rippled outwards with a domineering pressure.
With Zhao Xiuyuan taking the first step and expressing his attitude, the rest of the other squads similarly prepared to take action.
When faced with this situation, Li Foluo, Li Tingyue, Lu Shuanglu and the rest were a little incensed. However they understood that the other powers were venting the unhappiness in their hearts due to how unfair things were. This anger was then stoked by Zhao Xiuyuan's words and things had been brought to boiling point.
At this point in time, if they really wanted to fight, they would be surrounded and be at a disadvantage due to the sheer numbers.
This was exactly what Zhao Xiuyuan wanted to see.
However could they really bear to give up the Foundational Spirit Treasures? That was a little too frustrating as well.
As Li Foluo and Li Tingyue frowned whilst thinking of a way out of the situation, Li Luo's light laughter sounded out. "Everyone, do you want to know why so many of your squad members were corrupted?"
When these words came out, the originally infuriated mob paused in their tracks. This was something that they had wanted to know from the bottom of their hearts.
Zhao Xiuyuan was also taken aback. This brat Li Luo was indeed very sly and cunning. A single sentence had managed to defuse the situation. That said he didn't speak up at this point either as he too wanted to know... just why did some of his squad members end up corrupted?
When faced with the numerous questioning gazes, Li Luo continued speaking. "This is because all of the Foundational Spirit Treasures that flew out from the Blood Lake all possess a trace of a venomous curse. This curse is something even high-grade Dukes are incapable of detecting. Furthermore, it's not just these Foundational Spirit Treasures from here but every single treasure found within the World End's River Treasure Domain should have been affected. If you think back, weren't all those who were corrupted the ones who had been taking care of the largest amounts of Foundational Spirit Treasures?"
At this point, Li Luo directly revealed the secret. Otherwise if more and more were to fall to corruption, then it would turn into a significant issue.
Weng!
Everyone burst into an uproar as all were in disbelief. The reason their friends had been corrupted was due to the Foundational Spirit Treasures?
This was something completely unimaginable!
"Li Luo, you better not speak without thinking! The World End's River Treasure Domain has remained open for so long and I've never heard of the treasures containing some sort of curse." Zhao Xiuyuan coldly reprimanded.
Li Luo couldn't be bothered to speak further as he pointed his finger and several previously purified low-grade Foundational Spirit Treasures were thrown in his direction.
"Why don't you feel it for yourself."
When Zhao Xiuyuan glanced at the numerous low-grade Foundational Spirit Treasures flying at him, his expression changed as he hurriedly retreated. At the same time he waved his hand and resonant power surged forth, holding the treasures in place.
At the same time he scolded in his heart. Damn it, why couldn't this brat just speak his mind? Why'd he have to throw these things at him? Who would dare to touch it?
What if he really got cursed by it?
The people from the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li couldn't help but to smirk upon seeing Zhao Xiuyuan retreating miserably. He might have strong words but his actions told the truth.
Zhao Xiuyuan then stopped as his expression shifted between varying shades..
"Since you said that high-grade Dukes are unable to discover it, how did you manage to do so then?" Qin Zhenlin piped up.
Li Luo pointed at Jiang Qing'e with a smile, "This is because our Dragon Fang Envoy here has triple ninth-grade Light resonances. Her Heart of Light is particularly sensitive to corrupted items and is better than even a high-grade Duke."
He didn't mention anything about his Auric Halo. It was a secret he didn't plan to reveal and everyone already knew of Jiang Qing'e's abilities in any case. No one would doubt her.
As expected, Li Luo's explanation was accepted by the crowd.
When Zhao Xiuyuan saw the situation changing, he immediately spoke up, "This has nothing to do with you taking advantage of us being taken offguard and stealing away all the treasures!"
He noticed that everyone had been distracted by Li Luo and he immediately turned everyone's attention back.
But before anyone could agree with him, Li Luo's following sentences left their hearts chilled and nervous.
"Although you haven't been corrupted yet, all of you have undoubtedly been afflicted by this curse. The only fact is that the curse is still weak and has yet to mature. Once it erupts, you'll be no different from your fellow companions."
The crowd felt as though a bucket of cold water had been doused upon them as they were struck with waves of dizziness, their hearts filled with horror and fear.
Even Zhao Xiuyuan and Qin Zhenlin's squads had ugly expressions.
Comparatively speaking, the four high-grade Foundational Spirit Treasures were of much lesser importance that they wouldn't even bother about it at this point.
Some seemed to be on the verge of collapse because of their fear.
It was at this point when Li Luo spoke up once again, which pulled them from the cusp of insanity.
"The good news is... I can cleanse this curse."