Chapter 1167: The Contest

Boundless, endless negative emotions surged through Li Luo's heart like raging waves—this degree of erosion was far more terrifying than anything he had ever experienced.

Under such an assault, even Li Luo, with his ordinarily resilient temperament, found his consciousness beginning to blur.

Indeed, attempting to borrow the ferocious, baleful power of a spirit beast in the presence of a Demon King at the Three Crown level was no simple matter.

But Li Luo did not give up; he clung tightly to the last sliver of clarity in his heart.

Like the sole, faint flicker of lamplight in an endless dark world.

Then, relying on that last thread of lucidity, he decisively channeled all the baleful power from the "Five-Tailed Heavenly Wolf" deep into the "Mysterious Golden Wheel" within him.

"Transform—Light Resonance Power!"

Boundless darkness surged in. Li Luo barely managed a whisper in his heart before the darkness completely shrouded his mind.

Everything seemed to fall into deathly stillness.

But that stillness lasted only a few breaths. Suddenly, a wisp of sacred light erupted violently within the darkness, tearing it apart, and more and more radiance spread outward.

Li Luo's consciousness returned once more!

His heart pounded violently, filled with lingering dread, because the sensation of his mind sinking earlier had truly been too terrifying. Had he been any later, rousing his consciousness would not have been so easy.

This gamble, in the end, was a narrow victory by a hair.

This was also one of the cards Li Luo had dared to play when drawing on the Five-Tailed Heavenly Wolf's power.

Channel the Five-Tailed Heavenly Wolf's baleful power through the Golden Wheel, transform it into sacred Light Resonance Power, then use that vast sacred and purifying force to counter the erosion from the "Demon King of All Beings."

Although at first Li Luo wasn't certain whether this method would actually work, at such a critical moment, he could only take the risk and try.

And judging by the way the light now blazed and his consciousness gradually recovered, this bold attempt had indeed achieved considerable effect.

At the very least, it had put some brake on the terrifying erosion, preventing his consciousness from sinking completely into it.

But Li Luo's elation did not last long, for he discovered that although his own mind remained clear, the crimson bracelet on his wrist was now trembling violently.

Fine cracks even began to appear on the bracelet's surface.

Li Luo hurriedly plunged his consciousness within, and saw the Five-Tailed Heavenly Wolf's massive body thrashing wildly at this moment. The chains binding and sealing it showed faint signs of loosening under its struggles.

Its wolf eyes were blood-red, brimming with savage murderous intent.

This was a sign of erosion.

Seeing this, Li Luo's heart sank. That Demon King of All Beings was truly cunning—seeing that Li Luo had withstood the erosion, it had immediately turned to corrode the Five-Tailed Heavenly Wolf instead. And once the Five-Tailed Heavenly Wolf lost control, the first to suffer would inevitably be Li Luo.

The schemes laid by a Demon King were indeed not so easily defused.

And just as Li Luo's thoughts raced, searching for a way to keep the Five-Tailed Heavenly Wolf under control, mysterious points of light suddenly materialized out of thin air in this stretch of heaven and earth.

These points of light emanated an ancient, pure aura, and as they gathered together, they seemed to coalesce into a stream of chaotic mist.

The wondrous mist swept in, directly enveloping Li Luo's body within it.

Li Luo did not resist, for he sensed that this mist carried no malice. Moreover, as it covered his body, he was pleasantly surprised to discover that the countless negative emotions churning within him were being shut out, as if isolated, and began dissipating at a startling speed.

And the mist also covered the crimson bracelet.

The Five-Tailed Heavenly Wolf, which had been thrashing within, gradually calmed.

"What astonishing power!"

Li Luo was shaken. This power was truly terrifying—it had even isolated the erosion from the Demon King of All Beings!

Such a feat, an ordinary King-level powerhouse likely could not accomplish.

Therefore, the one who had intervened already had an answer: it must be that my lord, the Dean of Tianyuan Ancient Academy, who was confronting the Demon King of All Beings beyond the void.

Clearly, the contest between them had already extended from beyond the void and landed squarely on Li Luo.

Everyone knew that Li Luo's power would change the final outcome of the battle.

Since the Demon King of All Beings wanted to eliminate Li Luo, then that Dean would naturally have to spare no effort to keep Li Luo safe.

Of course, Li Luo's earlier use of Light Resonance Power to rouse himself was also especially important. Had he truly sunk first, then the Dean's methods would have been greatly diminished in effect.

Fortunately, with his own stubborn resistance and the reinforcement of the Tianyuan Ancient Academy Dean's methods, the Demon King of All Beings' scheme had completely failed.

Then next, this grand play—he would be the one to end it.

Boom!

The resplendent, dazzling Seven Treasures Glazed Light Sword was swung once more, though this time the Light Resonance Power it released was clearly far dimmer than before.

Even the palace of light condensed within the ten-thousand-zhang Tian Xiang Diagram above Jiang Jiang Qinge's head showed signs of becoming illusory.

But she still stood with sword in hand, her exquisitely delicate features flowing with holy light remaining perfectly calm, even though the hand gripping the heavy sword had begun to tremble slightly.

And the countless gazes cast toward this place were already filled with admiration and shock.

Who could have imagined that Jiang Jiang Qinge could, relying on the strength of Da Tian Xiang Jing, repeatedly block the lethal attacks of a Second-Rank True Demon.

Judging from the power Jiang Jiang Qinge had displayed earlier, if she were facing only an ordinary First-Rank True Demon, she truly could have held her own alone—and even slain one across ranks.

From this alone, it was genuinely a little terrifying.

A Da Tian Xiang Jing slaying a True Demon—such a dazzling achievement was likely extremely rare even across the various powers of the Outer Shenzhou.

After all, Chu Qing of the Qin Li Tianwang faction had merely escaped with his life from a First-Rank Marquis-level powerhouse, and that alone had landed him on the Fenghua Ranking...

This could only show that Jiang Jiang Qinge's foundation and reserves were truly terrifyingly deep.

But Jiang Jiang Qinge paid no heed to those many shocked gazes. Her deep golden pupils flowed with sacred radiance, her gaze locked unblinkingly onto the White-Eyed True Demon ahead.

Clearly, the White-Eyed True Demon had not expected its attacks to be blocked by Jiang Jiang Qinge for so long, and terrifying killing intent surfaced within its pupils.

"You've held out until now, you must be at your last gasp, yes?"

"In that case, I'll kill you first!"

The White-Eyed True Demon opened its maw, and from within that deep, dark throat, ghastly pale fingers actually reached out, the fingertips forming a strange hand seal.

Between the seals, a wisp of ghastly pale candle flame ignited with a puff.

That white candle flame was chillingly cold, as if it could directly ignite the life force within a human body.

Hoo.

Accompanied by a cold, sinister wind sound from the throat of the White-Pupil True Demon, a white streak of fire shot out from its throat, piercing straight through the void and lunging directly at Jiang Jiang Qinge.

Jiang Jiang Qinge faced a formidable foe; that white streak of fire gave off an aura of extreme danger.

If even a trace of it touched her, her own vitality would likely be utterly extinguished.

She gripped her heavy sword tightly, her gaze sharp and resolute, already resolved to fight to the death.

However, just at the moment she was about to exert her full strength, suddenly a hand landed on her shoulder from behind, and in her slight astonishment, it simply exerted force and pulled her body back a step.

At the same time, a figure brushed past Jiang Jiang Qinge, stepped forward in front of her, shielding her behind him, and single-handedly met the onrushing ghastly-white fire.

"Li Luo..." Jiang Jiang Qinge stared at that familiar figure, slightly stunned.

Li Luo held the Dragon-Elephant Blade in hand. He turned his head, looked at Jiang Jiang Qinge, whose eyes revealed a trace of exhaustion yet still stubbornly held on, and a pang of heartache welled up within him. He said softly, "Jiang Qinge-Zhong Jie, you've worked hard."

"Rest for now. Wait until I cut down this demon."

"I'll vent your anger for you."

He raised his blade and stepped forward, facing the white sea of fire that had suddenly surged up and swept across the heavens and earth, then brought his blade down in a single slash.

In that instant, the majestic blade-light was like a bright moon rising from the horizon.

All the students present were pierced by that fierce blade-light, narrowing their eyes to slits.