Chapter 1219: The Wager

The lingering afterwaves of radiant light-phase power still filled the corridor, yet both Li Hongque and Wen Zhu Xuan, the two Grand Commanders, were staring somewhat dazed at the young woman walking slowly toward them.

The latter's peerless bearing, her exquisitely beautiful features that even radiated a faint sense of holiness, and her deep, mysterious golden eyes.

Even though Li Hongque, Wen Zhu Xuan, and Lu Lu Qingmei were all women quite confident in their own looks and bearing, before the woman who seemed to walk upon light itself, they couldn't help but fall into a momentary daze.

As if all flowers paled and lost their color in her presence.

"What do you think you're doing?"

And while they were lost in their stupor, Jiang Jiang Qinge had already walked over, stopped, and fixed the three women with a sharp glint gathered in her golden eyes.

Earlier when she had arrived, she had seen Li Qingbai blocking Li Luo with a vicious expression, so she had simply struck.

She had no interest in learning the full story; as long as someone showed hostility toward Li Luo, for her it was simply a matter of cutting them down with one sword.

Back in the day, when she was only at Tian Zhu Jing, she had dared to slash at a Marquis-ranked expert to protect Li Luo; now that she herself was a Marquis, what did a First Rank Marquis like Li Qingbai amount to in her eyes?

When Jiang Jiang Qinge's voice, cold as mountain spring water, reached them, Li Hongque, Wen Zhu Xuan, and Lu Lu Qingmei finally came back to themselves. Li Hongque's face instantly darkened, while the latter two fixed curious gazes on Jiang Jiang Qinge.

"And who are you?! How dare you strike a commander of our Dragon Blood Guard here?!" Li Hongque's brows shot upward as she snapped sharply.

Jiang Jiang Qinge watched Li Hongque with cool eyes, not bothering to answer her. Instead, the blade in her hand turned slightly as radiant light-phase power flowed once more, her aura locking directly onto her.

She actually meant to strike again.

Because she had seen it clearly: the Li Qingbai who had blocked Li Luo earlier was clearly in league with Li Hongque.

Seeing how decisive and direct she was, Wen Zhu Xuan couldn't help but raise a brow, then took two deliberate steps back and whispered to Lu Lu Qingmei beside her: "This Miss is awfully straightforward. Li Hongque is probably going to be driven mad by her."

Lu Lu Qingmei's eyes flickered slightly as she said, "Earlier I heard Li Luo mention his fiancée had arrived..."

Wen Zhu Xuan's expression shifted. "If I'm not mistaken, this Miss is probably the legendary peerless prodigy Li Luo brought to Dragon Fang Guard, the one who forged the 'Ten-Pillar Golden Terrace.' I heard that yesterday, with the strength of a First Rank Marquis, she defeated Dragon Fang Commander Li Changfeng and took his position."

Lu Lu Qingmei's heart stirred, and she couldn't help exclaiming, "Ten-Pillar Golden Terrace, First Rank defeating Third Rank—what kind of monster is she? Is this fiancée of Li Luo's the first-generation bloodline of some Li Tianwang?!"

And the key thing was, she was also so divinely beautiful that even Lu Lu Qingmei couldn't help secretly marveling.

"Who knows." Wen Zhu Xuan sighed. With this woman joining Dragon Fang Guard, it was bound to rise in the future. If she could go even further on the Path of Peerless in the days to come, Dragon Fang Guard might well return to its peak under her hand.

After all, the "Ten-Pillar Golden Terrace" was truly just too overwhelmingly powerful.

While they were talking here, Li Hongque, just as Wen Zhu Xuan had guessed, was indeed so enraged by Jiang Jiang Qinge's unceremoniously domineering treatment that her chest heaved and her face turned iron-blue.

Within Li Hongque's body, surging phase power gradually rose, but in the end she suppressed it again, gritting her teeth: "So you're that Jiang Jiang Qinge?"

She had naturally already learned of Jiang Jiang Qinge's defeat of Li Changfeng. If even Li Changfeng had lost, then her own Upper Second Rank strength probably wouldn't be a match for Jiang Jiang Qinge either.

So if it really came to a fight, she would likely be the one to suffer.

Jiang Jiang Qinge met Li Hongque's icy, furious gaze and said in a light voice: "If you want to cause trouble in the future, come straight to me. Whatever move you have, I'll take it."

Wen Zhu Xuan's eyes lit up, and she praised to Lu Lu Qingmei: "So dashing, so domineering."

Lu Lu Qingmei also nodded inwardly. From the sound of it, the relationship between Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge seemed deeper and more intimate than anyone had imagined. This so-called betrothed couple probably wasn't just for show—they were truly in love.

Li Hongque said irritably: "Li Luo, you've certainly found yourself a fiancée who knows how to protect her husband! Aren't you afraid of disgracing your father Li Taixuan?"

Li Luo said solemnly: "We are husband and wife, united in heart, no distinction between us."

"And I should tell you here, my mother is even better at protecting her husband!"

Although Dantai Lan was rather fierce at home, if outsiders dared show any disrespect to Li Taixuan, she was the one who hit the hardest.

Li Hongque faltered, her chest heaving even more violently. This Li Luo's skin was thicker than she could have imagined.

But the commotion they were making was considerable, and people began to gather curiously around them. After all, the women before them were all famous figures within the Five Heavenly Dragon Guards, naturally very eye-catching.

Many gazes secretly sized up Jiang Jiang Qinge with a hint of amazement. After all, she was still an unfamiliar face, but her looks, bearing, and that utterly sacred radiant light-phase power all compelled involuntary gasps of admiration.

A hubbub of whispered discussions rose.

Li Hongque's expression grew uglier. Being humiliated in front of so many onlookers—it had been a long time since she had suffered such frustration.

But right now she couldn't beat Jiang Jiang Qinge in a fight, and Li Luo was completely unfazed by her taunts, leaving her in an impossible position.

Fortunately, however, a calm voice carrying an undercurrent of authority finally drifted over at this moment: "Fighting is forbidden within the treasury, and wounding our Dragon Blood Guard's people without cause—do you really think our Dragon Blood Guard is easy to bully?"

The crowd was pushed aside by an invisible force, and everyone saw a man in a crimson robe, his bearing quite imposing, walking in slowly. A pressure spread out gradually, causing everyone to hastily retreat, their eyes showing reverence.

Because the newcomer was none other than the Commander of Dragon Blood Guard, Li Zhihuo.

Li Zhihuo's expression was calm. His gaze turned to Jiang Jiang Qinge, and deep within his eyes a ripple stirred—such pure, surging radiant light-phase power that even he could faintly sense that intense sacred purifying aura.

Merely a First Rank Marquis, yet already so outstanding. Truly worthy of the legendary Ten-Pillar Golden Terrace.

Li Luo, seeing this man, also narrowed his eyes slightly. Although he had never met Li Zhihuo, from that aura even stronger than Li Fuluo's, he could guess his identity.

Although the commander of a guard, in terms of strength, was at most a Mid Marquis, which among the upper echelons of the various branches and halls wasn't considered top-tier, unlike those old-brand experts whose potential was nearly exhausted, Li Zhihuo was still in the prime of his years—a time of bold advancement and surging potential—so his future was actually far brighter than many hall masters.

But before Li Luo could speak, another voice followed: "Li Zhihuo, making a fuss over a small scuffle—your vision really is getting lower and lower."

Another figure parted the crowd, came to Li Luo's side, and cast a flat gaze toward Li Zhihuo.

It was their Dragon Fang Guard's commander, Li Fuluo.

The sudden appearance of two guard commanders caused a stir among the onlookers.

Li Zhihuo glanced at Li Fuluo and said with a faint smile: "A Dragon Fang Commander striking and wounding a commander—that's hardly something to be proud of."

"An Upper Second Rank Marquis and an Upper First Rank Marquis blocking a Da Tian Xiang Jing—that's hardly something to be proud of either, is it?" Li Fuluo shot back tit-for-tat.

"They're all commanders, aren't they?" Li Zhihuo said with a smile.

The implication being, since your Dragon Fang Guard has elevated Li Luo to commander, then naturally he's on the same level as Li Hongque and Li Qingbai.

"And Jiang Jiang Qinge is only a First Rank Marquis like Li Qingbai. First Rank against First Rank, nothing to say." Li Fuluo said flatly.

Li Zhihuo smiled and shook his head. "You certainly know how to twist words."

"Enough, arguing with words is meaningless. In half a month at the 'Ascending Steps,' our Dragon Blood Guard would like to help your Dragon Fang Guard test the mettle of these new officers."

He stared at Li Fuluo with a smile: "I trust Dragon Fang Guard won't simply choose to give up then?"

Li Fuluo's eyes were cold as he said flatly: "Dragon Fang Guard has never had those who retreat. Come if you want. We'll cripple one for every one that comes."

At these domineering words, even Li Luo drew a soft breath. Li Fuluo, how could you just skip right past me and draw this much hatred onto me?

I'm only at Da Tian Xiang Jing—I'm supposed to cripple First Rank Marquises? Even I don't think that highly of myself.

Li Zhihuo squinted slightly and said, "Li Fuluo, since your confidence is so strong, how about we make a wager?"

"What wager?" Li Fuluo neither agreed nor refused.

Li Zhihuo's gaze swept around as he smiled and said, "When the time comes for the two martial discussions, if my Dragon Blood Guard wins them all, you only need to agree to one condition from me."

"Li Hongyou is not to be allowed to join the Dragon Fang Guard."

"If we fail to win both matches, I'll compensate each of them with twenty thousand Dragon Essences."

"How about it?"