Chapter 1237: The King's Battle

The mighty staff shadow, carrying destruction and killing intent, descended; under that strike, even a powerhouse at the One-Crown King level would likely feel shock and retreat.

But Qin Jiujie did not retreat, for he himself was also a Two-Crown King.

His expression grew heavy; he extended his palm and gently clenched it. Only then did the void before him crack, revealing within a dazzling pool of lightning, and above that pool, crimson flames surged upward.

The lightning pool and blazing flames lasted merely a few breaths before all condensed into a streak of flowing light, landing in Qin Jiujie's hand and transforming into a heavy double-colored mace of crimson and silver.

Upon the heavy mace were engraved runes resembling primal origins, those runes seemingly formed from lightning and fire.

Below, Qin Yi gazed at the crimson-silver heavy mace in Qin Jiujie's hand with a slight startle; beside her, Chu Qing's eyes burned with heat as he said, "That is the Great Palace Master's King-level treasure, the legendary 'Extreme Thunder Incinerating Heaven Mace'! It is said that in the past, several King-level powerhouses were defeated beneath this mace."

"He brought out a King-level treasure stored for many years right from the start; the Great Palace Master is indeed wary of this Longya King." Qin Yi spoke softly.

"After all, that is also a Two-Crown King with a famous reputation," Chu Qing said.

His gaze never blinked as he stared at the clash between the two terrifying existences in the sky; such a collision of King-level powerhouses, and moreover Two-Crown Kings, was absolutely a rare grand event for everyone present.

After all, once reaching the King level, one becomes a pillar-like existence stabilizing heaven and earth; every move and gesture carries immense weight, which is why it is said that kings do not act lightly.

Precisely because of this reason, Li Li Jingzhe's sudden arrival at their doorstep caused such shock among the powerful figures throughout the city.

Amid countless reverent gazes, the 'Extreme Thunder Incinerating Heaven Mace' in Qin Jiujie's hand swung out; in an instant, billions of lightning bolts raged across heaven and earth, and within those lightning bolts were countless fire dragons; each lightning bolt and fire dragon here was condensed from the primal power of lightning and fire.

Boom!

The Extreme Thunder Incinerating Heaven Mace and the Slay-King Staff collided in the next instant; at the point of collision, the entire sky seemed split in two: on one side was a world of lightning and fire, while on the other side, golden light filled the air, within which a majestic and ferocious golden dragon shadow roared, and simultaneously, as if a golden thunder-bamboo stood tall between heaven and earth, spewing violent thunder rays.

"The Great Palace Master possesses the Thunder and Fire Phases, while that Longya King seems to have the Golden Dragon Phase and the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo Phase; these are all Phases adept at attack," Qin Yi said, gazing at the sky.

"Moreover, their Phases are so pure and perfect, even surpassing my own Lower-Nine Grade; it seems the rumors are true: once stepping into the King level, one's own Phases undergo sublimation, directly advancing to the Nine Grades."

"Since both the Great Palace Master and the Longya King are Two-Crown Kings, their Phases have probably nearly sublimated to the Middle-Nine Grade."

"Then Three-Crown Kings should all be Upper-Nine Grade."

Chu Qing nodded, sighing, "The King level is indeed an unfathomable realm; once entered, one truly transcends the mundane and becomes a sage."

As the two spoke, the 'Black Water Spirit-Transformation Array' above Abyss City had fully activated; black waves surged, dissipating the aftereffects of the clash between the two Two-Crown Kings.

Yet even so, this magnificent giant city continued to tremble constantly; many Marquis-level powerhouses within were terrified, for although they were considered figures of some standing in ordinary times, they were now filled with panic from the aftereffects of the Two-Crown Kings' battle.

After all, those aftereffects, if they spread downward, would be enough to annihilate them.

Countless gazes, filled with reverence, watched the collision in the sky; lightning, fire, golden dragons, and thunder-bamboo raged wildly, sucking in the heavenly and earthly energy from tens of thousands of li around.

"Li Li Jingzhe, you should leave; continuing to cause trouble will bring you no benefit!" Qin Jiujie's cold voice echoed across heaven and earth.

"Is that so?" Li Li Jingzhe said.

"We are both Two-Crown Kings, and this place is the stronghold of my Qin Li Tianwang lineage, with the 'Black Water Spirit-Transformation Array' and the Black Water Guards stationed here; if you do not know better, then do not blame me for harming your primal origin." Qin Jiujie's voice was full of threat.

"Moreover, your purpose should be sufficient by now."

Li Li Jingzhe's purpose in coming this time was simply to kill the chicken to scare the monkey; he not only wanted to intimidate the Qin Li Tianwang lineage but also to use this to intimidate other forces with ill intentions.

However, which of those other forces would go out of their way to target Li Luo?

Thinking of this, Qin Jiujie's heart suddenly jolted; could it be that Li Li Jingzhe had already guessed the connection between Li Luo and the Primal Seed? His grandiose arrival this time, even at the cost of fighting him, was perhaps not only to avenge the assassination attempt Li Luo suffered earlier but also to warn other forces not to covet Li Luo in the future?

Qin Jiujie's eyes grew dark and deep.

Li Li Jingzhe's aged face remained as calm as an ancient well; he shook his head and said lightly, "Not enough."

Within those plain words lay an overwhelming dominance.

This caused many powerhouses within the city to swallow hard in silence, feeling that this Longya King was being excessively domineering.

To protect one's own so fiercely was truly rare.

Anger rose in Qin Jiujie's eyes; did this Li Li Jingzhe really think he was a soft persimmon? He had already left some face for him to establish his authority, yet Li Li Jingzhe still wanted to push further.

Qin Jiujie knew that with such a huge commotion here, other forces' King-level powerhouses must already be secretly watching; if he continued to endure, he would lose the face of the Qin Li Tianwang lineage.

"Li Li Jingzhe, do you truly think this Seat fears you?!"

Qin Jiujie's heavy voice shook the sky; behind him, divine light splashed, and within that lightning-fire world, a deafening wolf howl suddenly echoed.

The wolf howl spread across a region of tens of thousands of li.

Then, everyone saw a giant golden wolf emerge from the lightning and fire; that giant wolf was ferocious and vicious, and at its tail, nine wolf tails had clearly grown; as the wolf tails waved, they stirred up tornadoes and storms.

This was the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Wolf!

If Li Luo were here, he would likely sigh, realizing that this was the ultimate goal of the Five-Tailed Heavenly Wolf in the future: the legendary Nine-Tailed Heavenly Wolf, standing at the very peak of the Spirit Beast race.

Holding the Extreme Thunder Incinerating Heaven Mace, Qin Jiujie gave it a slight shake; only then did the two layers of supreme crowns above his head transform into endless pure qi that cascaded down, while the lightning-fire world and the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Wolf behind him began to contract and condense, finally forming three ancient runes that floated lightly onto the heavy mace.

Immediately, a three-colored halo appeared, circling the heavy mace.

That was... the power of Three Phases.

"Li Li Jingzhe, I ask you one last time: will you retreat?" Qin Jiujie's cold voice rang out.

"We are both Two-Crowns; what can you achieve by causing trouble until the end today?"

Amid Qin Jiujie's cold voice, within the vast sharp golden light behind Li Li Jingzhe, a golden dragon coiled, and a giant Heavenly Thunder Bamboo spat forth heavenly thunder; in the next moment, endless green wind sprang forth from the golden light, sweeping across and even splitting the sky.

That was Li Li Jingzhe's Third Phase: the Wind Phase.

Holding the bamboo staff, he fixed his gaze on Qin Jiujie and slowly spoke.

"Two-Crowns? That is unfortunate; perhaps this old man happens to be one step higher than you."

Hearing these words, Qin Jiujie's pupils shrank violently, and disbelief rose in his heart; he hurriedly looked up toward the sky above Li Li Jingzhe.

There, the supreme crowns stood solemnly, radiating boundless majesty; and at this moment, above those two layers of crowns, pure qi was flowing, and faintly, it seemed a layer of extremely illusory supreme crowns was being outlined and appearing.

Boom!

When that layer of illusory crowns appeared, the entire River of Realms Domain seemed to tremble violently for an instant; heavenly and earthly energy suddenly boiled, as if performing an act of worship.

Those powerful gazes secretly spying on this place also rose with shock at this moment.

That was... Three Crowns?!

Li Li Jingzhe has already become a Three-Crown King?!!