Chapter 1037: Interrogation

That sudden strike from Zhao Jinwu also caused Li Luo's expression to shift slightly; he hadn't expected this Marquis-ranked expert of the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage to so shamelessly attack him directly.

It seemed Zhao Yan's death had truly rattled this expert.

However, Li Luo showed no sign of panic or fear. Instead, he calmly watched the descending giant golden claw with steady eyes. Such a vast, overwhelming attack had locked down the void around him from the moment it appeared, leaving him nowhere to dodge.

Dodging was pointless.

Besides, even though this Zhao Jinwu was a Marquis-ranked expert of the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage, Li Luo himself was no rootless cultivator with no backing. If Zhao Jinwu wanted to publicly seize and kill him, he likely couldn't pull it off.

Sure enough, just as Li Luo had anticipated, the instant that golden giant claw came crashing down, an angry roar suddenly exploded like thunder: "Zhao Jinwu, a dignified Eighth-Rank Marquis actually attacking a junior — have you no shame left?"

It was Li Li Jinpan's furious roar. As his shout fell, he threw a punch straight out. One saw vast fist-light pierce through the horizon, and within that fist-light radiated an overwhelming sharpness that directly tore apart the heavens for ten thousand miles.

Boom!

The fist-light collided with the golden giant claw, but clearly Zhao Jinwu's Eighth-Rank Marquis strength was a notch superior. Amid the thunderous roar, the golden giant claw directly and violently shredded the vast fist-light apart.

Still, the golden giant claw's assault was halted.

A figure materialized out of thin air in front of Li Luo — it was Li Li Qingpeng.

With a sweep of his sleeve, a skyful of azure light surged forth, as if gathering boundless gale winds. The gale buffeted the dimmed golden giant claw until it swayed on the brink of collapse, then completely dismembered it, shattering it into fragments of golden light.

Li Li Qingpeng shielded Li Luo behind him. On his face, which usually bore a kindly smile, cold intent now surfaced as he said icily, "Zhao Jinwu, do you truly think my Dragon Fang Lineage has no one left?"

At this moment, the numerous experts on the Li Li Tianwang lineage's side also revealed anger. Wave after wave of incomparably powerful energy fluctuations erupted, causing the world's energy across this great Star Plains to grow restless.

Li Li Jiluo also spoke up at this moment, saying, "Zhao Jinwu, is your Zhao Li Tianwang lineage so unable to accept a loss? It's fine for you to kill our Li Li Tianwang lineage's prodigies, but not fine for us to kill yours?"

"Since when has your Zhao Li Tianwang lineage become an untouchable hegemon of this Outer Shenzhou?"

Seeing the two sides once again squaring off at sword's point, the experts from various factions all kept to coldly watching from the sidelines. After all, the two great Li Tianwang lineages' grievances ran deep, and no one could persuade either side.

Zhao Jinwu's expression darkened. He cast a chilling glance at Li Luo, who was shielded by Li Li Qingpeng, then gradually composed himself and said coldly, "I struck not because of Zhao Yan, but to interrogate this Li Luo on what connection he has with the True Demon aberration that appeared in the Spiritual Phase Grotto-Heaven!"

"Zhao Jinwu, stop slinging blood. I could just as well say that True Demon aberration was brought in by someone from your Zhao Li Tianwang lineage! Should I then drag all your juniors off for interrogation?" Li Li Jinpan immediately roared back.

"Preposterous nonsense!" Zhao Jinwu snorted coldly.

"Zhao Bird-Man, I think you got beaten too badly by my third brother back in the day, and now that you see his son, you've gone mad and want to bully the weak with your strength!"

"Right, and it wasn't just my third brother — my sister-in-law back then, who knows how many times she beat you into serious injury." Li Li Jinpan, hot-tempered as ever, mocked without mercy.

As Li Li Jinpan peeled back each of these old shameful incidents before so many juniors, the veins on Zhao Jinwu's forehead pulsed with rage, and his eyes fixed on the former burned with killing intent.

"Li Li Jinpan, don't try to change the subject. These juniors encountered a True Demon aberration, so it would be best to conduct a screening now and see whether any aberration is still hiding on them." At this moment, Qin Qin Lian of the Qin Li Tianwang lineage spoke up blandly.

These words drew nods from everyone. Aberrations excelled at concealment, and if the juniors present had come into contact with a True Demon-class aberration, the priority was indeed to conduct a screening first.

Qin Qin Lian flicked a finger, and a wisp of firelight rose, gradually transforming in midair into a mirror wreathed in flames, upon which nine lotus divine patterns were inscribed.

"My 'Nine Lotus Departing Fire True Mirror' is supremely yang and rigid, effective against aberrations, and quite suitable for detecting them. What do you all think?"

The experts present from various factions had no objections upon hearing this, for they too had heard of the fame of Qin Qin Lian's "Nine Lotus Departing Fire True Mirror."

Seeing this, Qin Qin Lian did not hesitate and directly activated the "Nine Lotus Departing Fire True Mirror." The mirror's surface blazed with fierce flames, then shone toward the numerous prodigies who had emerged from the Spiritual Phase Grotto-Heaven.

The many prodigies present immediately felt an extremely scorching ray of light fall upon them. The domineering firelight caused their bodies to radiate a stinging pain, but fortunately the firelight quickly moved on, swiftly sweeping across the crowd.

Li Luo likewise felt the firelight fall on him, the searing heat sending waves of stabbing pain across his skin. However, he said nothing and forcibly endured it.

But he soon sensed something was off — the firelight lingering on him lasted noticeably longer than on the others.

The firelight was extremely domineering, making him feel as if he were about to burn.

But just then, a broad palm landed on Li Luo's shoulder. Azure light swept through, directly scattering all the firelight on his body.

It was Li Li Qingpeng who had acted.

He frowned at Qin Qin Lian and said, "Palace Master Qin Qin Lian, what do you mean by keeping the scan fixed on Li Luo?"

Qin Qin Lian's expression didn't change as she said blandly, "Since he is under some suspicion, naturally I must intensify the screening. Academy Master Li Li Qingpeng need not be so anxious."

Li Li Qingpeng said, "Then what did you detect?"

Clearly somewhat disappointed by the result, Qin Qin Lian shook her head, then expressionlessly beckoned with her hand. The flame mirror fell back into her grasp as she told the other experts, "No traces of aberration were found on any of these people."

The many experts present all breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Qin Qin Lian then asked, "Qin Yi, recount in detail everything that happened inside the Spiritual Phase Grotto-Heaven, without omission."

Qin Yi nodded slightly, then in a calm tone carefully recounted her experiences inside the Spiritual Phase Grotto-Heaven, including the first encounter with the aberration in the Golden Hall.

When the experts of the various factions heard that Li Luo had ultimately slain that True Demon aberration, thick astonishment surfaced on their faces.

Some sharp gazes turned to the blood-red bracelet on Li Luo's wrist. From it, everyone faintly sensed a violent, ferocious energy — within that bracelet was sealed a Marquis-rank great spirit beast.

But... Marquis-rank power, and a mere Tian Zhu Jing cultivator — truly unafraid of being eroded?

Regardless, Li Luo's feat of slaying a True Demon at the Tian Zhu Jing realm left many of the well-versed top experts present feeling a touch of admiration.

"Haha, good lad, well done! You've got your old man's flair!" Li Li Jinpan was very pleased, clapping Li Luo on the shoulder in praise.

Li Luo smiled bitterly and said, "It was just relying on external power, nothing worth mentioning."

Li Li Jinpan scoffed, "You think just anyone can use this external power? If you gave this force to any other Tian Zhu Jing cultivator, they'd probably be crippled one by one!"

Li Li Qingpeng beside them also said with a chuckle, "This time, little Luo is going to make quite a name for himself. A Tian Zhu Jing cultivator slaying a True Demon — even with some exaggeration, that's enough to leave a mark on the Fenghua Ranking."

At this point, Qin Yi finally came to the appearance of that mysterious King-rank expert.

The expressions of the many top experts all turned solemn as they asked, "Do we know what that King-rank expert's purpose actually was?"

Qin Yi shook her head and said calmly, "The last thing I saw was Li Luo swinging his blade at that King-rank expert. When I came back to my senses again, the King-rank expert was already gone."

The many top experts present couldn't help but be somewhat moved. Li Luo swung his blade at a King-rank expert?

Is this kid really that fearless of death?

How is that any different from an ant charging at a dragon?

Facing a King-rank expert, even they felt genuine awe from the heart, yet Li Luo still had the courage to face one head-on. This kid — is he really that reckless?

Qin Qin Lian frowned at Qin Yi, thinking to herself that this girl was usually quite clever, so why was she now recounting events and only picking out Li Luo's shining moments? Is she picking a fight or building his reputation?

The crowd fell into a silence.

At this moment, Zhao Jinwu's eerily cold voice rang out.

"Everyone, didn't you notice anything amiss about this place?"

"Wherever those aberrations appeared, Li Luo and that Li Li Lingjing were there. Even when that mysterious king-level expert finally showed up, it was those two who faced him. If these aberrations weren't drawn here by those two, isn't that a bit too much of a coincidence?"

"Therefore, I suspect these aberrations were drawn here by those two!"

"They are the true culprits behind the massive losses of the various factions' prodigies in this Lingxiang Grotto-heaven!"

"And what makes me even more curious is—what exactly do they carry on them that could lure a king-level expert to sneak into the Lingxiang Grotto-heaven in person?"

When Zhao Jinwu's final words fell, the gazes of the many experts present all sharpened abruptly.