Chapter 1222: A Grand Spectacle

"The Boundary River Falling Star Platform? What place is that?" Li Luo's curious voice followed closely.

"A cultivation ground exclusive to the Five Heavenly Dragon Guards. You can think of it as the equivalent of the Twenty Banners' Evil Demon Cave."

Li Fuluo pointed above his head: "That Boundary River in the Boundary River Domain—you should have seen it, right? Within the Boundary River, an immense amount of energy is condensed. The sheer magnitude of that energy is enough to make even King-level strongmen shrink back in dread."

"Our Heavenly Dragon Ridge uses the 'Golden Scaled Cloud Dragon Formation' to draw in a portion of the Boundary River's waters, while also dispelling the malicious aura and traces of foreign entities hidden within the river, transforming it into a special method of cultivation."

"The waters of the Boundary River are incomparably heavy, and when they fall, they resemble falling stars. Thus, this cultivation ground is also called the 'Boundary River Falling Star Platform.'"

"Every month, the Boundary River's waters only fall for three days. These three days are the grand event of every month for the Five Heavenly Dragon Guards, because this counts as a benefit exclusive to the Five Guards—something outsiders can beg for but never obtain."

"As for the specific method, you'll naturally understand once you enter the 'Boundary River Falling Star Platform' in two days."

Li Luo came to a sudden realization, and at the same time, the image of that nearly sky-obscuring, vast Boundary River surfaced in his mind. That mysterious scene was too magnificent, and so it had imprinted itself in his memory, impossible to dispel.

A gift from something so magnificent—surely it must count as quite a decent opportunity, right?

If he could benefit from it, perhaps when the day of ascending the steps arrived, he really could expand his Celestial Phenomenon Diagram to seven thousand zhang?

Thinking of this, he could not help but feel a measure of anticipation toward the 'Boundary River Falling Star Platform' two days from now.

While they were speaking here, the rest of the crowd gradually dispersed. But from the still-lingering rumbling, one could tell that once news of that wager spread, it would inevitably stir up considerable upheaval within the Five Guards.

After all, a wager of up to eighty thousand Dragon Essence was truly rare.

As for that Grand Commander of the Dragon Scale Vein named Wen Zhu Xuan, she walked over with Lu Lu Qingmei. Her gaze curiously sized up Jiang Jiang Qinge as she laughed and introduced herself: "You must be that Dragon Fang Envoy Jiang Jiang Qinge who forged the 'Ten-Pillar Golden Platform'? I am Wen Zhu Xuan, Grand Commander of the Dragon Scale Guard."

"Pleased to meet you."

Jiang Jiang Qinge gave a slight nod. She had noticed earlier that Wen Zhu Xuan had spoken up to help Li Luo, so her attitude now was friendly.

"Keep at it. I'm looking forward to your performance on the ascending steps. A First Rank fighting a Third Rank—only an unrivaled prodigy like one who forged the 'Ten-Pillar Golden Platform' would dare to take it on." Wen Zhu Xuan sighed.

Lu Lu Qingmei, meanwhile, looked toward Li Luo and said: "Are you really going to fight that Li Qingbai?"

"The stakes are already laid—can I still back out?" Li Luo said with a smile.

Lu Lu Qingmei clicked her tongue. "A Da Tian Xiang Jing fighting a First Rank Marquis—your boldness is unmatched."

Li Luo could not help but laugh. This Lu Lu Qingmei really did phrase it tactfully—what she actually meant was reckless and overconfident, right? But he had no choice either. Li Hongyou had even bet herself down; could he possibly have any reason to retreat?

After exchanging a few words, the two parties each went their separate ways.

Li Fuluo led them to do some handover procedures at the entrance of the treasury, recording the items each of them had chosen.

"Dragon Blood Nightmare Art?" When Li Fuluo saw the marquis-level art Li Luo had chosen, he was slightly surprised, because this art was too obscure. Even within the Dragon Blood Guard, very few people cultivated it.

The reason was simple: this art placed extreme emphasis on bloodline, and it was far too easy to suffer backlash.

Li Luo shrugged. He actually wanted that 'Dragon Blood Ancient Tracing Art,' but he didn't have the Dragon Essence.

Li Fuluo frowned, clearly not entirely satisfied with Li Luo's choice of this marquis-level art. But it was already recorded in the register, so going back on it was useless.

"Suit yourself." So he could only shake his head. Li Luo was no longer a child; if he made his own choice, then he would bear it himself.

As for the 'Great Sun Lotus Platform Art' Jiang Jiang Qinge had chosen, that was normal—and it even had the possibility of further advancement.

Li Fuluo returned the 'Heavenly Dragon Jade' belonging to Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge, reminding them: "You each now owe close to twenty thousand Dragon Essence. Until you've paid it all off, you cannot take anything else from the Heavenly Dragon Treasury."

Li Luo nodded helplessly. He had not expected that, having just joined the Dragon Fang Guard, he was already up to his ears in debt.

Viewed this way, that wager of eighty thousand Dragon Essence was truly a timely rain—of course, provided he could win.

After completing the registration, the group left the Heavenly Dragon Treasury and returned to the Dragon Fang Guard's garrison.

Over the next two days, Li Luo obediently stayed at the garrison. On one hand, he familiarized himself with the various aspects of the Dragon Fang Guard. After all, he now held the position of Commander, leading two thousand-man guards. Although the number of people was far less than when he was in the Green Underworld Banner, due to the quality of the troops, the sheer might of that force was in no way inferior to the latter.

However, drawing on his experience in the Twenty Banners, Li Luo adapted to this kind of force very quickly.

On the other hand, Li Luo began to set about cultivating that 'Dragon Blood Nightmare Art.' This art was obscure and strange—it did not emphasize talent, but rather bloodline. The richer and purer one's Heavenly Dragon bloodline, the smoother the cultivation.

And Li Luo, once again, experienced just how pure his own Heavenly Dragon bloodline was.

From first contact to entry-level, Li Luo almost never encountered a single failure, and smoothly felt out the threshold.

The degree of smoothness was so great that it made Li Luo suspect whether this marquis-level art was really of the Spirit-Transformation grade.

But things had already come to this point. No matter how much he doubted it, he could only keep his head down and cultivate. Otherwise, wouldn't that debt of nearly twenty thousand Dragon Essence be owed for nothing?

While Li Luo was immersed in bitter cultivation, news of their high-stakes wager with the Dragon Blood Guard had completely spread throughout the Five Guards, and as expected, it caused a huge sensation.

A wager of up to eighty thousand Dragon Essence—countless people watched with greedy eyes. It was a truly enormous sum.

And what was even more astonishing were the two parties to this wager.

The newly appointed Dragon Fang Envoy of the Dragon Fang Guard, Jiang Jiang Qinge—a First Rank Marquis.

The newly appointed Fourth Commander of the Dragon Fang Guard, Li Luo—a Da Tian Xiang Jing.

These two had set the record for the lowest ranks held in office within the Five Guards in the past century.

In a hundred years, there had never been a Dragon Fang Envoy who was a First Rank Marquis, nor a Commander who was at the Da Tian Xiang Jing.

And their opponents would be the Dragon Fang Envoy of the Dragon Blood Guard at the Upper Third Rank, and the Fourth Commander at the Upper First Rank.

News that Jiang Jiang Qinge had forged the Ten-Pillar Golden Platform and defeated Li Changfeng had indeed spread, which shocked many people. So regarding her true combat power, no one had too many doubts. Presumably, even if there was some gap compared to the Upper Third Rank, it would not be too far.

But on Li Luo's side, a Da Tian Xiang Jing fighting a First Rank Marquis—that was truly a gap like a yawning chasm. No one knew how he could possibly win.

If it were any ordinary person, everyone would probably think he should just wait to die.

But Li Luo was no nobody. Although he was new to the Dragon Fang Guard, he had won the Dragon Head of the Twenty Banners for his cohort. His own talent and methods were beyond doubt. So, many people were very curious—was he truly confident he could take on an Upper First Rank Marquis, or had he been forced into it with a stiff upper lip?

Under such anticipation, in just two short days, this wager had become the talk of the town. At the same time, it had spawned all sorts of guessing games and bets, and had become quite the spectacle.

And amid the fervor, the 'Boundary River Falling Star Platform,' which the Five Guards looked forward to every month, arrived first.