Chapter 1039: A King Does Not Move Lightly; When He Moves, It Is Like a God

Li Li Qingpeng's sudden strike drew the astonished gazes of the many top-tier experts present. In the void behind him, eight towering Marquis Platforms stood quietly, emanating vast and mighty fluctuations.

Eight Marquis Platforms!

Eighth-Rank Marquis!

Many gazes, tinged with shock, looked at Li Li Qingpeng's face. That face, usually brimming with warmth and smiles, now appeared somewhat cold and solemn, an inexplicable pressure radiating from within his body.

The experts of the various forces present were no strangers to Li Li Qingpeng, but their impression of him was basically limited to being Li Taixuan's elder brother or the like, because the personality Li Li Qingpeng revealed to the outside world was truly far too mild and lacking in aggression.

Compared to Li Li Qingpeng, Li Li Jinpan was probably even more famous.

Yet no one had expected that this unassuming Li Li Qingpeng had, at some unknown point, long since stepped into the realm of an Eighth-Rank Marquis.

Do not underestimate the gap between Seventh-Rank and Eighth-Rank. This seemingly single-rank difference is a reflection of one's potential and foundation. Many Marquis-level experts were dazzling prodigies in their youth; before reaching the Marquis Realm, their strength advanced with great vigor, but once they stepped into the Marquis Realm, the growth of their strength began to slow, because in this realm, every slight step forward requires the expenditure of an immense amount of one's own potential.

And once one's potential is completely exhausted, attempting any further advancement is truly as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

Therefore, when everyone saw that Li Li Qingpeng had broken through to Eighth-Rank without any fanfare, they were all extremely shocked.

Even Li Li Jiluo cast a startled gaze toward Li Li Qingpeng.

Zhao Jinwu's expression shifted several times at this moment. His gaze was sharp as it fixed on Li Li Qingpeng, and he said slowly, "They all say that among the Long Ya branch's main line, only Li Taixuan has the bearing of a pillar, but now it seems you, Li Li Qingpeng, are no less impressive. This ability to keep a low profile is truly beyond imagination."

Li Li Qingpeng smiled lightly and said, "You're too kind. Compared to my third brother, what is this of mine?"

"I do not wish to clash with you, but if you truly think my Long Ya branch is weak and easy to bully, then today I can only have the honor of learning from you."

Zhao Jinwu's face was icy as he said, "Li Li Qingpeng, my move against Li Luo is not because he killed Zhao Yan. The struggles within the Spirit Phase Cave Heaven are matters of life and death ordained by fate; Zhao Yan's death is simply because he, Zhao Yan, was incompetent."

"However, the matter of the Guiyi Hui's 'Spirit Eye Underworld King' is no trivial thing. Its sudden appearance within the Spirit Phase Cave Heaven must mean it has some scheme, so we need more intelligence. Our interrogation of Li Luo is only to ensure the truth of this intelligence. If he truly has not lied or concealed anything, then naturally we will release him."

"If you insist on obstructing us, isn't that the suspicion of harboring Li Luo and indulging the Guiyi Hui?"

The moment Zhao Jinwu opened his mouth, he hurled all kinds of accusations. The Guiyi Hui is the existence that all forces fear the most; if any force truly has ties to it, it will surely be attacked by everyone. Therefore, even the Li Li Tianwang lineage cannot bear such a thing.

"Hand over Li Luo for us to interrogate. Li Li Qingpeng, even if you have stepped into Eighth-Rank Marquis, you cannot protect him today!" Qin Qin Lian also spoke coldly at this moment. As her words fell, she took a step forward, and eight Marquis Platforms were revealed, causing the void to tremble.

Qin Qin Lian harbored deep resentment toward the Long Ya branch, and moreover, Li Luo was the bloodline of Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan. With such an opportunity today, she naturally did not want Li Luo to have an easy time.

Therefore, she not only revealed her stance, but with a thought, atop the eight Marquis Platforms, wondrous thick smoke actually surged skyward, rolling and blotting out the heavens.

This was the Marquis Divine Smoke, a unique method of the Marquis Platforms. This divine smoke was exceedingly wondrous, possessing the ability to evolve into all things, and was considered the favorite offensive method employed by Marquis-level experts.

And at this moment, as the divine smoke rose, it directly condensed into a thousand-zhang crimson lotus, with crimson flames flowing across its surface. Then, with a terrifying momentum of burning the heavens, it pressed down directly toward Li Li Qingpeng.

"Palace Master Qin Qin Lian, do you truly think my Li Li Tianwang lineage has no one left?"

However, just as the crimson lotus pressed down, a low voice rang out—it was Li Li Jiluo.

Although the Dragon Blood branch and the Long Ya branch had many competitions and frictions, regardless, both branches belonged to the Li Li Tianwang lineage. Now that Zhao Jinwu, Qin Qin Lian, and the others were joining hands to capture Li Luo, that was a provocation against their Li Li Tianwang lineage, so Li Li Jiluo could not stand by idly.

When Li Li Jiluo's voice rang out, the void suddenly shattered, and a golden dragon claw thousands of zhang in size extended out from within the void. Upon that dragon claw, golden dragon scales shimmered with dazzling brilliance.

The golden dragon claw collided with the thousand-zhang crimson lotus. The dragon claw spread open and directly crushed the latter, shattering it into a skyful of crimson fire.

"Li Li Jiluo!"

Qin Qin Lian's face was somewhat gloomy as she looked at the middle-aged man who had stepped forward. Compared to Li Li Qingpeng and Li Li Jinpan, this Li Li Jiluo possessed illustrious fame. After Li Taixuan left Tianyuan Outer Shenzhou, Li Li Jiluo had already become the strongest with the most say and deterrent power below the King level within the Li Li Tianwang lineage!

It was said that he had the potential to charge into the Ninth-Rank Marquis. If one day he truly stepped into it, then he would truly be only one step away from the King level.

If by any chance he found some fortuitous encounter, perhaps the Dragon Blood branch would have another King-level expert.

Facing such a figure, even Qin Qin Lian harbored some wariness.

Originally, she had still harbored a glimmer of hope, thinking that because the Dragon Blood branch and the Long Ya branch were at odds, and because the Dragon Blood branch had previously sought to ease tensions with their Qin Li Tianwang lineage, perhaps Li Li Jiluo would not take action. But looking at it now, Li Li Jiluo had not acted as she had hoped.

"You think I'm afraid of you?!"

However, Qin Qin Lian was no pushover. Even upon seeing Li Li Jiluo act, she still did not stop. The eight Marquis Platforms behind her roared in unison, spewing forth boundless divine smoke, and the entire world trembled at this moment.

A terrifying energy pressure swept across heaven and earth.

And at this moment, Zhao Jinwu shouted, "Tian Zhao, this Li Luo is involved with the Guiyi Hui, causing your Yanmodian's prodigies to suffer heavy losses. Your nephew Tian Miao also died inside. Does your Yanmodian not plan to do something about it?"

Hearing these words, the red-haired elder from Yanmodian's eyes flickered for several breaths, then he decisively took a step forward, erupting with shocking energy fluctuations, his shout like thunder.

"Li Li Jiluo, Li Li Qingpeng, we are merely interrogating Li Luo about intelligence regarding the Guiyi Hui, we won't harm his life. You block even this, isn't that going too far? The various forces' prodigies suffered heavy losses in this Spirit Phase Cave Heaven, there must be some accountability, right!"

"Zhao Li Tianwang lineage, hear my command—capture Li Luo!" Zhao Jinwu, his face full of murderous aura, directly issued the order.

The experts of the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage, upon hearing this, unleashed their powerful resonance force without hesitation, and one by one, Marquis Platforms emerged. After all, they had long-standing grudges with the Li Li Tianwang lineage, and now that they had this pretext, naturally there was no need for restraint.

Seeing this, the many Marquis-level experts on the Li Li Tianwang lineage's side immediately activated their resonance force. As the void trembled, towering Marquis Platforms stood across the horizon, emanating dense divine smoke, like ancient cities guarding the wild frontiers.

The experts of the other forces, seeing this display, were immediately startled. They knew this was Zhao Jinwu finding a pretext, attempting to have a full-blown clash with the Li Li Tianwang lineage. Such situations had not been unheard of in the past.

However, since these two sides were as incompatible as fire and water, there was no need for them to get involved, lest they be dragged in.

Thus, the experts of the various forces began to retreat, letting the two sides be at daggers drawn.

In the end, Zhao Jinwu was the first to break the stalemate. His gaze was sinister as he took a step forward. The eight Marquis Platforms roared and trembled, and the divine smoke upon them spewed forth, transforming into an incomparably massive golden seal. Upon the golden seal, it seemed a Three-Legged Golden Crow was inscribed.

"Li Luo, your parents didn't teach you to be an honest person, so today I'll teach you on their behalf!" Zhao Jinwu's icy shout rang out, and the Golden Crow Seal directly pressed down toward the direction where Li Luo was.

Li Li Qingpeng snorted coldly, about to act.

However, just at the instant he was about to act, Li Li Qingpeng suddenly felt the energy between heaven and earth seem to stop flowing at this moment. Even at this instant, he felt his own Marquis Platforms seem to stop roaring.

Li Li Qingpeng's heart stirred slightly.

Then, he heard a faint voice that pierced through space, echoing across this Sky Star Great Plains.

"My grandson Li Li Jingzhe—it's for a thing like you to discipline?"

The instant that aged, plain voice rang out, that Golden Crow Seal actually began to self-destruct at this moment. The vast energy flowing upon it dissipated into the world like a flood bursting its banks.

"Li Li Jingzhe!"

Zhao Jinwu's face turned pale with horror. He had never expected that the Long Ya branch's branch leader would actually act personally!

Isn't this too much of a big shot bullying a small fry?!

A King must not be lightly moved—this is a well-known rule. Why doesn't this Li Li Jingzhe have any sense of his own status?!

Zhao Jinwu's scalp went numb, and he hurriedly shouted, "Senior Li, please don't be angry, we..."

However, before his plea for mercy had finished falling, this stretch of sky suddenly split open. A dragon fang with no visible end seemed to extend from within, then lightly drew across toward Zhao Jinwu beneath the void.

Boom!

As the dragon fang swept down, Zhao Jinwu saw his soul scatter in terror—on his eight Marquis Platforms, a deep crack had directly appeared.

The crack nearly tore straight through all eight Marquis Platforms.

Puchi!

Zhao Jinwu spat out fresh blood in great gulps, his face deathly pale, his eyes filled with absolute horror. The Marquis Platforms formed from the accumulated foundation of his entire life were, beneath that dragon fang, as fragile as paper!

But he had no time to mind his injuries now, his figure retreating frantically, because from Li Jingzhué's strike this time he sensed a thread of killing intent—this King-level powerhouse might truly be harboring the thought of slaying him.

And Zhao Jinwu's state was also seen by the many present powerhouses, and at once every one of them felt their scalp go numb; even Qin Qin Lian and Tian Zhao of Yanmodian changed expression drastically.

No one had expected that a mere ordinary clash would actually draw out a King-level powerhouse!

Doesn't that Li Jingzhué fear the situation escalating?!

The expressions of the many present faction powerhouses shifted, and then their gazes turned to Li Luo—it seemed this Dragon Fang Branch Branch Head's regard for this boy was stronger than anyone had imagined.

A King does not move lightly, for ordinary matters cannot draw a King's attention.

But once the King's reverse scale is touched, the King's wrath will surely descend like divine thunder from the heavens.