Chapter 1040: Divine Tiger King, Zhao Zong

The Heavenly Star Great Plains, which had originally been brimming with countless surging waves of energy, suddenly became a pool of dead water at this moment; the restless energy of heaven and earth was as though smoothed away by an invisible giant hand, no longer stirring up the slightest ripple.

The many Marquis-rank experts present, who all possessed illustrious reputations on the Outer Shenzhou, all became as quiet and obedient as quails at this moment.

There was nothing for it; no one had expected that this clash would directly draw out the appearance of Li Li Jingzhe.

That was a King-rank expert!

And among the various top powers of the Outer Shenzhou, there existed an unwritten rule: Kings do not act lightly, because experts at this level involved too much; once a conflict was triggered, it would truly be world-shattering.

Therefore, when Li Li Jingzhe made his move, everyone's scalp went numb.

This old man doesn't play by the rules.

Zhao Jinwu's face was deathly pale as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth; the energy fluctuations around his body were sharply diminished at this moment. Li Li Jingzhe's seemingly casual attack had in truth inflicted extremely severe injuries on him, yet he did not dare show any dissatisfaction, because he understood that if Li Li Jingzhe truly wanted to kill him, he probably wouldn't even have a chance to escape.

Zhao Jinwu had deeply experienced the terror of a King-rank expert.

In this silent world, the void before Li Luo suddenly rippled, and then an aged figure was standing there.

Although he had appeared extremely abruptly, no one felt any sense of incongruity, as if he had originally been standing there.

Reverent gazes shot toward the cold, stern-faced old man.

"Father!" Li Li Qingpeng and Li Li Jinpan, upon seeing the old man, hurried to pay their respects.

"Greetings, Dragon Fang Lineage Head!" Li Li Jiluo and the Marquis-rank experts of the other lineages also hurriedly bowed in salute.

The Marquis-rank experts of the other various powers also slightly inclined their bodies, expressing their own reverence toward a King-rank expert.

Li Li Jingzhe's aged face remained its usual cold, stern, and severe expression. He swept a casual glance at Li Li Qingpeng and Li Li Jinpan and said, "Useless things, can't even protect a junior."

Li Li Qingpeng and Li Li Jinpan both revealed awkward smiles and said, "Whatever are you saying, Father? Even if the two of us risked our lives, we wouldn't let them bully Xiao Luo."

Li Luo beside them also hurriedly said, "Grandfather, please don't blame First Uncle and Second Uncle; they have already been doing their utmost to protect me."

Li Li Jingzhe gave him a slight nod, his expression softening a little, and said, "Don't worry, with this old man here, no matter how big a trouble you stir up, the heavens won't fall."

His words were plain, yet they carried an inherent domineering air.

A feeling of gratitude welled up in Li Luo's heart, because he understood Li Li Jingzhe's character very well—Li Li Jingzhe always acted according to his own rules. Yet this time, Li Li Jingzhe had been able to break the so-called iron law of "Kings do not act lightly" and appear in person to protect him. Although he didn't know whether this contained some sense of debt toward Li Taixuan from back then, Li Luo had to accept this kindness.

Li Li Jingzhe's gaze swept toward the Marquis-rank experts of the various factions. Behind them, Marquis Platforms stood tall, but the rampant divine smoke that had pierced the clouds had all quietly subsided.

"Pack up your Marquis Platforms for me; they're an eyesore," he said flatly.

And as his words fell, all the Marquis-rank experts present felt their Marquis Platforms emit a humming sound, as if carrying a fearful emotion, while simultaneously beginning to shrink continuously, finally transforming into streaks of flowing light that vanished into the bodies of the many Marquis-rank experts.

This scene left countless gazes across the Heavenly Star Great Plains utterly shocked.

Everyone could tell that the Marquis Platforms had not been actively recalled by the Marquis-rank experts, but had been cowed into retreating by a single rebuke from Li Li Jingzhe.

Truly, his words carried the weight of heavenly decree; law followed his utterance, and none dared disobey.

Like an emperor of the mortal world, dismissing marquises and removing generals all with a single word.

Zhao Jinwu, Qin Qin Lian, and the others faced Li Li Jingzhe's overbearing manner; although resentment churned in their hearts, they did not dare show it, because the two sides were simply not on the same level, and so there was absolutely no way to negotiate.

Facing Li Li Qingpeng and Li Li Jinpan, they could still forcefully demand that Li Li Qingpeng and the others hand over Li Luo for their interrogation, but facing Li Li Jingzhe, they didn't dare utter even half a word of such a thing.

Li Li Jingzhe's appearance had already declared a stance.

He would protect Li Luo without any bottom line.

So if they dared say another word, Li Li Jingzhe would likely show them next what the wrath of a King meant.

And while they were silent, suddenly a vast voice rang out, as if coming from a distant place, rumbling and reverberating throughout heaven and earth.

"Dragon Fang King, you've crossed the line."

Hearing this vast voice, delight immediately surged into Zhao Jinwu's eyes.

The sudden voice did not surprise Li Li Jingzhe, because he knew that within the various Li Li Tianwang lineages, King-rank experts had all cast their gazes here.

And the voice at hand belonged to the King-rank expert of the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage.

The Zhao Li Tianwang lineage had five palaces, and the voice at hand belonged to the master of the Divine Tiger Palace.

Divine Tiger King, Zhao Zong.

Roar!

In the world, an ancient tiger's roar resounded, and then countless gazes saw an enormous tiger with no visible end, as if it had crossed through the void, appearing in this sky. The giant tiger continuously shrank, finally becoming about a zhang in size, and on the tiger's back, a man in a bright golden robe sat cross-legged.

The man's face was dignified, and when his gaze swept across, it inspired boundless fear in all who saw it.

"Greetings, Palace Master!" Zhao Jinwu and the other experts of the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage, upon seeing this man, immediately hurried to kneel.

The man riding the tiger waved his hand, but his gaze was fixed directly on Li Li Jingzhe as he said with a faint smile, "Li Li Jingzhe, I didn't expect that you, who have always abided by the rules, would actually break them today."

"You shouldn't have appeared. These matters should be left to those below to handle; that would be more appropriate."

Li Li Jingzhe said indifferently, "Save the nonsense. Your people can't accept losing and want to bully the weak with your numbers, so I can only let them taste the same flavor."

Zhao Zong shook his head and said, "They only wanted to ask a few questions; they wouldn't have taken Li Luo's life. After all, this matter concerns the Return-to-One Association."

"You really take this old man for a muddled fool?"

A trace of cold intent surfaced in Li Li Jingzhe's eyes as he said, "These trash were all pressed by my son Li Taixuan back in the day until they couldn't even breathe. They could do nothing against Li Taixuan, and now that they see a chance, naturally they want to take back some face from Li Luo."

Such blunt words made Zhao Jinwu and Qin Qin Lian's faces turn extremely ugly.

"As for the Return-to-One Association and the appearance of the 'Nether King of the Spirit Eyes,' they must be heading toward the depths of the Spirit Phase Cave Heaven; what does that have to do with Li Luo?"

Li Li Jingzhe's gaze grew colder and fiercer; he stared at Zhao Zong, and his tone also became low and icy.

"Back then, I swallowed it once for the sake of the bigger picture, but there absolutely will not be a second time."

"Since you're all watching here, I'll make this perfectly clear: matters between peers are settled between peers. Whoever dares use underhanded tricks against Li Luo—no matter who they are—my Dragon Fang Lineage will fight them to the death!"

Hearing Li Li Jingzhe's words, Zhao Zong's face also sank somewhat.

"Li Li Jingzhe, aren't you being overly domineering? Can your Dragon Fang Lineage represent the entire Li Li Tianwang lineage?" Zhao Zong was, after all, a giant of the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage, his authority deep and heavy; in the past, no one dared defy his wishes. Now Li Li Jingzhe's such unyielding attitude had cost him some face.

Li Li Jingzhe stared at Zhao Zong, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"Zhao Zong, if you refuse to accept it?"

"Then let's fight!"

As Li Li Jingzhe's words fell, the boundless, endless energies of heaven and earth roared to life, forming a boundless, endless tidal surge of energy that swept across a sky spanning hundreds of thousands of li.

Countless people were horrified to the extreme—Li Li Jingzhe, is he about to begin a King-level battle?!