Chapter 1054: A Bountiful Reward

"Li Luo... actually neutralized that attack from the Old Ancestor."

Throughout the five branches of the Tian Long lineage, after a brief silence, cries of shock finally erupted like a volcano, and even many Marquis-level powerhouses revealed moved expressions on their faces.

Because they could all clearly sense just how ferocious the Old Ancestor's move "Heaven Dragon Rain Art" was — within the Fourth Grade Marquis Realm, probably no one could withstand it.

But in the end, Li Luo had blocked it.

The fierce sword light he erupted swept away the sky-filling golden rain in a scouring manner.

Just how sharp was that sword light?

And such sword light had actually been unleashed from the hands of someone at the Tian Zhu Jing — although this was due to the augmentation of "United Qi," it was still enough to show just how stunning Li Luo's talent was.

This was a prodigy no less brilliant than his father, Li Taixuan.

The many Marquis-level powerhouses of the five branches of the Tian Long lineage all gazed with complicated expressions at the young figure in the light mirror; at this moment, they felt a bit dazed, as if they were once again seeing that man who had dominated the five branches of the Tian Long lineage for several generations.

And if even these Marquis-level powerhouses were so shocked, then younger generation figures like Li Li Qingfeng, Li Li Hongli, and Lu Lu Qingmei were even more stunned.

The Old Ancestor Li Jun was a legendary figure in their hearts — they had never even seen him — yet now, Li Luo had withstood the opponent's signature attack in a clash with the Old Ancestor in his younger days.

Such a feat was even more shocking than battling a true demon in the Spiritual Phase Cave Heaven.

"I finally understand the helplessness our elders felt back then when facing Li Taixuan," Li Li Qingfeng said to Li Li Hongli with a bitter smile.

"Such a monster hardly even makes one feel the desire to chase after him."

Li Li Hongli's pretty face shifted uncertainly; she had also been hit hard, but seeing Li Li Qingfeng's dejected look, she still comforted him: "His dazzling brilliance right now doesn't count for much — we still have to see who walks further in the future. After all, it's not uncommon for some prodigies to shine brilliantly before the Marquis Realm, only to exhaust their potential afterward and become mediocre. Meanwhile, those who trudged through the years before the Marquis Realm would, upon entering it, build up momentum slowly and ultimately achieve great heights."

Still, both she and Li Li Qingfeng knew in their hearts that such cases — supposedly mediocre before but building up momentum slowly afterward — were equally extremely rare.

And judging by Li Luo's current vigorous and vigorous appearance, he didn't look like someone with limited potential.

So, in the end, she added: "Li Luo's brilliance right now is also a case of a tree standing out in the forest. After all, our Twenty Banners are only the youngest generation. Once we enter the Tian Long Five Guards later, there will naturally be prodigies from the previous few generations to suppress him."

The Dragon Blood Branch had been on too strong a rise in recent years, completely suppressing the Dragon Fang Branch, so at this moment Li Li Hongli still couldn't quite accept that Li Luo, representing the Dragon Fang Branch, had risen suddenly and surpassed their Dragon Blood Branch.

"Perhaps."

Li Li Qingfeng neither agreed nor disagreed, but said no more.

And while the outside world was in an uproar, inside the seventy-second floor, the Old Ancestor Li Jun looked at the world that had cleared after the rain, and finally a hint of surprise appeared on his face.

"You little kid... not bad at all," Li Jun said, gazing at Li Luo with a slight smile.

Li Luo looked at Li Jun, whose surrounding energy fluctuations were beginning to settle, and asked: "Old Ancestor, are we not fighting anymore?"

Li Jun leaned on his Coiling Dragon Golden Staff and waved his hand: "Since you've taken my previous strike, this trial is basically over."

Li Luo was stunned: "Then does that mean I passed?"

Li Jun smiled and nodded: "Naturally, you pass."

Li Luo was instantly overjoyed, because that previous "Great Void Returning Nirvana Sword Light" infused with the power of the mysterious golden wheel had already been the strongest attack he could erupt. He wasn't even sure he could erupt it a second time, so Li Jun announcing his passing was undoubtedly the best outcome.

After all, facing the unfathomable Old Ancestor before him — even if this was only a thought projection from his past — Li Luo still had no confidence in achieving complete victory.

"Thank you, Old Ancestor!" Li Luo cupped his fists in salute.

"No need to thank me, I didn't go easy on you," Li Jun said with a smile.

At this moment, the "United Qi" power flowing around Li Luo also began to dissipate. On the island below, the eight thousand Qing Ming Banner members all recovered, and the first thing they did upon recovery was to directly kneel on the ground, their voices respectful and trembling as they rang out: "Greetings to the Li Tianwang Old Ancestor!"

At this moment, Zhao Zhao Yanzhi and the others were trembling all over like they had the shivers. Previously, because they were in the United Qi state, the awe and fear in their hearts had been masked, but now that their respective auras had returned, naturally they no longer dared face the Old Ancestor before them with their previous mindset.

After all, this was a Li Tianwang-level powerhouse!

The most transcendent existence in status within the entire Li Li Tianwang lineage.

Normally, Marquis-level powerhouses were already lofty in their eyes, and the heads of the several major branches even had the authority to change their entire clan's fate — let alone the Li Li Tianwang before them.

Li Jun smiled, swept his sleeve, and lifted everyone up.

"No need for such formality. Your generation of the Qing Ming Banner is quite impressive."

"It's all thanks to the Great Banner Leader Li Luo. He brought the originally last-ranked Qing Ming Banner to this point in less than a year," Zhao Zhao Yanzhi said respectfully.

She was also quick-witted and bold, knowing that the Old Ancestor before them wasn't someone one could just meet whenever one wished, so with this opportunity now, she naturally needed to put in a word of merit for Li Luo.

Li Jun nodded upon hearing this: "Among the Twenty Banners, one general can withstand ten thousand troops. An excellent Great Banner Leader indeed has the ability to transform an entire banner."

Then he looked at Li Luo and smiled: "Li Luo, you led the Qing Ming Banner through the seventy-second floor of the Sha Mo Cave, and you also set a new record. What reward do you want?"

Li Luo said solemnly: "What reward or not, I don't care about it at all. What I care about is that this exchange with the Old Ancestor let me experience the Old Ancestor's peerless bearing in his younger days. From now on, I shall take the Old Ancestor as my role model and bravely climb to greater heights!"

His words were not concealed, so they were transmitted through the light mirror to all directions.

And the higher-ups of the five branches of the Tian Long lineage all twitched their faces hearing this — damn, this kid really has thick skin. Does he really think people don't know about his blunt and shallow retreating-to-advance trick?

Does he think the Old Ancestor can't see through this little trick of his? Does he think it will really work?

However, the five branch heads remained expressionless, because they knew that this blunt little trick really did work on the Old Ancestor.

Thus, everyone watched helplessly as Old Ancestor Li Jun beamed with joy, pointed at Li Luo, and laughed: "This little kid is very interesting."

"Don't worry, I said before that you're the first junior to see this thought projection of mine, and you've also passed the trial, so this final reward will surely satisfy you."

Old Ancestor Li Jun extended his palm, and immediately vast energy between heaven and earth surged and gathered, finally transforming into a pool of golden liquid in his palm. Within that liquid seemed to be contained an indescribably pure energy.

Then light spots emerged within the golden liquid, swelling with the wind, and in an instant transformed into a great golden tree growing from within.

The great tree was laden with fruits one after another. The surfaces of these fruits were covered with dragon scales, and upon the dragon scales were inscribed ancient and mysterious light patterns.

Old Ancestor Li Jun tapped his finger, and those dragon-scale fruits fell one after another, dropping toward the eight thousand banner members below.

"These are Golden Dragon Fruits. Refining and absorbing them will advance your own phase force, and at the same time greatly strengthen your physical body."

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi and the others hurriedly caught the Golden Dragon Fruits. Feeling the vast and pure energy contained within, their bodies trembled with excitement. Although the Old Ancestor had spoken concisely, they understood the preciousness of these "Golden Dragon Fruits" — if refined, their strength would also see no small improvement.

Especially the physical body strengthening effect would greatly enhance their combat power.

After distributing the rewards to everyone, Li Jun looked again at Li Luo, who was gazing at him longingly, smiled slightly, and extended his other palm. The flesh of his palm split open, and a pill slowly rose.

The pill was of a dark green color. It looked rather ordinary, without any particularly mysterious qualities, but when this thing appeared, Li Luo felt the bloodline within his body seemingly begin to grow scalding hot at an astonishing speed.

And within the third Dragon Lei Xiang Palace, the dragon shadow representing the Long Xiang let out an extremely longing dragon roar.

Li Luo's gaze fixed intently on that dark green pill. If not for reason suppressing the emotions within, he would probably have been unable to resist snatching it.

And outside, when Li Li Tianji, Li Li Jingzhe, and several other vein heads saw that dark cyan pill, their gazes couldn't help but shift slightly, and soft murmurs rose.

"This is..."

"A Dragon Seed True Pill?"