Chapter 1180: The Path

The magnificent and spectacular Celestial Phenomenon Record of the Many Phases unfurled across the heavens, truly resembling a mysterious scroll painting, leaving the onlookers somewhat entranced.

Even Lan Lan Lingzi and Zhen Mingyu, the two king-rank vice-deans, revealed a hint of admiration in their eyes.

What they admired was naturally not how tremendous the energy radiating from Li Luo's Celestial Phenomenon was, for after all, this level of power was truly insignificant in their eyes.

What truly caught their attention was the dazzling array of energy attributes within that Celestial Phenomenon.

A full six types of phase-force attributes.

Strictly speaking, this represented the Six Phases.

But phase-force of six attributes... even for king-rank powerhouses like them, this was somewhat excessive.

Many king-rank powerhouses only possessed three phases themselves.

Of course, the three-phase power of a king-rank powerhouse was one of the strongest forces under heaven, far beyond comparison with the kind of makeshift measure Li Luo sometimes employed when forcibly mixing three types of phase-force.

"Three Palaces and Six Phases — judging by their grade, two of them seem to have reached the eighth grade. This Li Luo truly counts as top-tier talent," Zhen Mingyu said, gazing at the many-phase energy flowing within the Celestial Phenomenon.

Although Jiang Jiang Qinge's three ninth-grade Light Phases had set a dazzling precedent, Li Luo's Three Palaces and Six Phases could not be ignored either. And most important, the current Li Luo was only at the Da Tian Xiang Jing; once he advanced into the Marquis Realm and opened another phase attribute, that would be Four Palaces!

Such a number of phase palaces was quite rare even when surveying the long river of time.

Therefore, Li Luo's potential was equally terrifying.

Lan Lan Lingzi also nodded slightly. She sighed with emotion and said, "Can you believe these two monstrous little ones actually both came from a single Holy Academy in the Outer Shenzhou? Old Pang's fortune is truly beyond words."

Zhen Mingyu also found this somewhat unbelievable. Although the Outer Shenzhou was relatively barren, the occasional birth of monstrous prodigies was not impossible. Yet two monsters emerging from the same Holy Academy was truly far too rare.

While the two big shots were speaking here, the others were likewise falling into a daze because of Li Luo's Celestial Phenomenon, which was a full five thousand zhang in size.

Although a five-thousand-zhang Celestial Phenomenon was not really that great an achievement for those still present here, the key point was... before his breakthrough, Li Luo was only at the nine-star Tian Zhu Jing!

Although the foundation of a nine-star Tian Zhu was solid, in everyone's estimation, at most his breakthrough would allow him to leap across realms to the Xiao Tian Xiang Jing True Seal Stage — this was the common limit a nine-star Tian Zhu could cross.

But Li Luo here not only crossed the True Seal Stage, stepping directly into the Da Tian Xiang Jing, his Celestial Phenomenon wasn't barely condensed either — it was a full five thousand zhang, brimming with foundation!

A five-thousand-zhang Celestial Phenomenon, even within the Da Tian Xiang Jing, counted as mid-stage.

This leap across realms was truly astonishing.

"Tsk, Xiao E's fiancé really has some skill. This level of strength would earn him a fairly high seat in the Celestial Star Court, but by court rank, he'd at most be a three-star court rank," Ning Meng said in amazement.

Wei Chonglou, standing to the side, had a dark expression. He had not broken through to the Marquis Realm this time, because the reward had come too suddenly, leaving him without enough "Foundation Establishment Spiritual Treasures" prepared, so he could only suppress the opportunity to break through and wait for next time.

His Celestial Phenomenon had indeed grown more magnificent, likewise stepping into the nine-thousand-zhang realm.

However, Wei Chonglou was not happy about it, because Li Luo had already reached five thousand zhang. If given a bit more time, he might very well catch right up.

Such a pace of improvement was simply terrifying.

At this moment, Wei Chonglou recalled the phrase Jiang Jiang Qinge had once used to fend off the swarm of suitors... all of them were mere weeds.

Originally he had scoffed at this, refusing to believe anyone of the same generation could belittle him to a weed. Yet during this conscription mission, the brilliance Li Luo displayed had thoroughly outshone him.

At this moment, Wei Chonglou somewhat regretted staying behind.

As for Feng Lingyuan, Li Hongyou, and the others, they were delighted by Li Luo's advancement in strength — especially the latter, because if she were to enter the Dragon Fang Guard later, Li Luo's own strength would be crucial. That was where generations of prodigies from the entire Dragon Fang Branch gathered. Although Li Luo had a powerful background, without sufficient strength as backing, those arrogant and fierce warriors might not give him much face.

Within those ranks, those who had stepped into the Marquis Realm were not few in number, including some prodigies of relatively high seniority whose fathers were also clan elders of very high standing within the Dragon Fang Branch — sometimes even Branch Head Li Li Jingzhe would show them some courtesy.

If the Twenty Banners were merely each branch's "youth training camp," then the Celestial Dragon Five Guards were the armies belonging to each branch.

This was a violent military force truly capable of campaigning across the lands, toppling kingdoms and conquering sects.

And within each branch, one could not count how many high-level figures holding real power had risen from the Celestial Dragon Five Guards. So it could be said that the Celestial Dragon Five Guards were the most vital bloodline source of Li Li Tianwang's branch.

Even that old ancestor, Li Li Tianwang, had left behind an immutable admonition.

Strength commands respect!

Therefore, Li Luo's breakthrough to the Da Tian Xiang Jing at this moment would undoubtedly reduce considerable resistance to his entry into the Dragon Fang Guard and his rise to power.

Amid the exclamations of the crowd, the magnificent Celestial Phenomenon suspended in the sky gradually turned illusory, finally transforming into streams of light that all poured into the crown of Li Luo's head.

He opened his eyes at this moment, and a trace of joy surfaced within them.

Clearly, the swiftness of this breakthrough had also exceeded his own expectations.

Li Luo understood that this was mainly because of that mysterious starlight descending from the heavens — it was the ancient power within it that had granted him such progress.

"The dean of the Tianyuan Ancient Academy is quite generous," Li Luo was extremely satisfied. Such a generous reward did not make his life-risking this time in vain.

Li Luo rose and saw Jiang Jiang Qinge sweep over toward him.

Sensing the powerful oppressive aura emanating from her body, he immediately clicked his tongue. "Qing'e-Zhong Jie, you — you broke through to the Marquis Realm?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge gave a slight nod.

Li Luo let out a "grievous" sigh, because he recalled the bet he had made with Jiang Jiang Qinge when they parted — to see who would step into the Marquis Realm first.

But clearly, he had lost in the end.

Even though he had desperately chased, he still failed to overtake Jiang Jiang Qinge.

It wasn't that he wasn't giving it his all — it was that his opponent was simply too heaven-defying.

Seeing Li Luo's utterly defeated look, Jiang Jiang Qinge rolled her eyes helplessly and comforted him. "You're already very impressive. You're only one step away from the Marquis Realm now."

Li Luo said eagerly, "Then, considering how hard I've worked, are there any other benefits?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge's exquisite porcelain-like cheeks flushed slightly. She knew this guy had been obsessing over the big benefit attached to that bet when they had parted.

But before she could answer, two figures had already appeared before them — precisely the two vice-deans, Lan Lan Lingzi and Zhen Mingyu.

"Li Luo, this is my mentor, Third Dean Zhen Mingyu. When I first arrived at the Holy Light Ancient Academy, it was she who overruled all objections and allowed me to enter the 'Light Pool,' resolving the issue of my Light Heart Sacrificial Burn," Jiang Jiang Qinge introduced.

Hearing this, Li Luo also set aside his playful mood and, with a solemn expression, bowed respectfully to Zhen Mingyu. "Thank you, Third Dean. This kindness, Li Luo will keep firmly in my heart."

Zhen Mingyu waved her hand. Her personality was also straightforward, so she now stared at Jiang Jiang Qinge and directly asked the question that made Li Luo's heart skip a beat.

"Qing'e, what are your plans going forward?"

"Although you've entered the Marquis Realm and effectively graduated directly, I would like to recommend you to enter the academy alliance's Celestial Mirror Tower and become a 'Celestial Mirror Knight.'"

"There, you will obtain sufficient resources, and the academy alliance will spare no effort in supporting you to achieve the 'Path of the Unrivaled.'"

As Zhen Mingyu's words fell, many gazes present suddenly shot toward Jiang Jiang Qinge.