Chapter 1272: Snatching the Pearl and Fleeing

The moment Li Luo's foot stepped onto the hard flesh of the Golden Stone Spirit Clam, waves of malevolent Qi surged over, carrying countless eerie whispers that stirred up thick negative emotions in the heart.

By the time Jiang Jiang Qinge's pillar of holy light reached this place, her luminous phase force had already grown thin, so the malevolent Qi was beginning to affect Li Luo as well.

Li Luo took a deep breath and immediately activated the "Formless Lesser Fire" coiled within the golden wheel deep inside his body.

Instantly, a kind of transparent, mysterious flame rose from his body. When the malevolent Qi surged over and made contact, the flame burned and, at an astonishing speed, refined the malevolent Qi into nothingness.

The efficiency of that refinement was in no way inferior to Jiang Jiang Qinge's three streams of ninth-grade luminous phase force.

Seeing this, Li Luo could not help marveling in his heart. This Formless Lesser Fire, originating from the Formless Saint Sect, seemed as if it had been born specifically to counter malevolent Qi.

But time was pressing, and there was no room for further thought. Li Luo's gaze locked directly onto the spot within the dense malevolent Qi that still radiated bright light. He drew out the Dragon Elephant Blade, channeled phase force along its edge, and brought it down in a vicious slash.

Clang!

At the point of impact rang a sound like metal striking metal, accompanied by flying sparks.

That blade-light, carrying the full force of Li Luo's strike, only managed to carve a half-finger-deep mark into the Golden Stone Clam's flesh, and the flesh was already rapidly contracting, its black flesh-buds writhing as they tried to self-repair.

Seeing this, Li Luo furrowed his brow. The flesh of this Spirit Clam King was already tough to begin with, and now, further tainted by the malevolent Qi, it was even more troublesome.

With a thought, Li Luo summoned the transparent Formless Lesser Fire to rise up and coat the Dragon Elephant Blade. When he slashed down again, those black flesh-buds visibly melted away, and the tough clam flesh turned as soft as tofu.

Blade-light flickered, and in the span of a few breaths, Li Luo had dug out a pit.

The next instant, a dazzling, brilliant radiance burst forth suddenly, stabbing at Li Luo's eyes until they narrowed to slits.

Though his eyes stung, Li Luo's hand did not slow. With a sweep of his sleeve, phase force surged out, condensing into a giant phase-force hand that grabbed the resplendent radiance in one snatch.

Then he extended his palm and drew it back into his grip.

A scorching heat came from his palm. Li Luo focused his gaze and saw a perfectly round spirit pearl appear in his hand. The pearl, as if cast from gold, flowed with dazzling radiance. On its surface were inscribed ancient patterns that seemed almost sentient, slowly unfurling while absorbing the energy of heaven and earth.

This golden spirit pearl was like a living thing.

Li Luo's eyes blazed with intense heat at this moment. This was a King Pearl—the treasure that the top Marquis-grade powerhouses outside were fighting each other to the death for. With this thing, one could even refine a top-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual treasure.

This Boundary River Domain was truly a fine place. Though extremely perilous, it was equally full of opportunity.

With this thing in hand, his evolution of the Heavenly Dragon phase this time was already ninety percent assured.

Li Luo immediately stowed the "King Pearl" away and was about to flee, but at that moment he caught sight of some flickering bright light within the pit in the clam flesh before him.

His heart suddenly gave a violent leap, and disbelief rose in his eyes.

There was more than one King Pearl?!

Li Luo's heart pounding like a war drum, he unhesitatingly brought his blade down again, slicing the clam flesh open, and once more saw a golden spirit pearl brimming with sentience burrow out from within.

Li Luo grabbed it, and wild joy surged in his heart. Indeed, another King Pearl!

This Spirit Clam King had actually produced more than one King Pearl?!

Li Luo swiftly stowed it away. Gazing into the depths of the pit, a sudden flash of greed rose in his heart—if he kept digging, could he find even more King Pearls?

However, just as this thought flashed through his mind, a thunderous roar seemed to sound within his body.

That sound reverberated inside him, instantly sweeping his greed clean away.

Li Luo broke out in a cold sweat, his mind clearing in an instant. The roar had come from the mysterious golden wheel within him, and it seemed to be a warning.

"Greed brings death."

Li Luo glanced at the surging malevolent Qi around him. He understood that the reason he had kept giving in to greed was that the malevolent Qi had been stirring up the negative emotions within him. He did not know what would happen if he kept digging—perhaps he really could find more King Pearls, but there was also a great chance he would bury himself here forever.

So he took a deep breath and decisively raised his blade to retreat.

Then, following the pillar of holy light Jiang Jiang Qinge had projected, he shot upward at full speed.

Just as Li Luo was about to leave, the Spirit Clam King below, like a thing of death, suddenly began to shake violently. Faintly, a piercing shriek seemed to emanate from it, and at the same time, extremely violent energy was unleashed from within the Golden Stone Clam flesh.

Boom!

The next instant, the Spirit Clam King actually self-detonated.

Terrifying energy ravaged the area at this moment. Even though Li Luo had already been running fast, he was still caught in the blast. His qi and blood churned on the spot, and a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed from his lips. However, he himself used the force of the blast as a push to rocket toward Jiang Jiang Qinge and the others' position.

At the same time, he felt relieved in his heart. Thank goodness he hadn't kept digging, or else the Spirit Clam King's explosion would surely have engulfed him, and then it truly would have been more likely death than survival.

However, the explosion here also dispersed the malevolent Qi and drew many gazes over.

Then they spotted Li Luo, who had fled out from the Spirit Clam King.

"He took the King Pearl!" a sharp voice rang out. Although Li Luo had used the cover of the malevolent Qi earlier, too many people here were watching the Spirit Clam King, so someone had still noticed.

"What?!"

Zhao Jiyun's icy, shocked, and furious gaze shot over. He could hardly believe it—after all, he had personally tested just how terrifying the malevolent Qi was earlier. Even with the augmentation of three thousand-strong guards, he had been unable to approach. So how could Li Luo have managed it?

Li Luo flashed to Jiang Jiang Qinge's side and said without hesitation: "Run!"

Now that the King Pearl was in hand, staying any longer would surely lead to being surrounded and attacked.

Jiang Jiang Qinge directly reached out and grabbed Li Luo's wrist. Blazing luminous phase force erupted, transforming into a pair of wings of light. The next instant, light swept forth, and their figures had already torn through the heavy abyss waters and rocketed out.

Li Hongyou and the others immediately followed.

"Where do you think you're going!"

The moment Li Luo and the others moved, they immediately drew everyone's attention. Even Zhao Jiao, who was currently besieging the eighth-grade True Demon, had a furious look in his eyes. Others might not have noticed, but he had seen clearly—the King Pearl had already been taken by Li Luo.

He was about to break off from the fight and go after Li Luo.

But at that moment, a blade-light brimming with murderous intent came slashing down viciously, blocking him.

Zhao Jiao turned his head and saw Seeing Niu Niu Biaobiao charging at him with a butcher's cleaver, his face full of vicious savagery. The blade-light radiated a tremendous, ferocious aura.

"You dog of a thing, we're playing our game here—what are you going after the youngsters for? Come on, come on, try my blade and see if it's sharp enough!"

Zhao Jiao had no choice but to engage, but his furious roar echoed throughout the entire water abyss.

"Zhao Jiyun, chase after them! The King Pearl has been taken by Li Luo. Hold him off—our reinforcements will arrive soon!"

As his furious roar rang out, the water abyss erupted into complete chaos.

"Chase!"

Zhao Jiyun's face turned ashen. With a long howl, he shot out at full speed, leading the Divine Tiger Guards.

At the same time, the other forces and rogue cultivators also surged out of the Water Abyss one after another.

In an instant, the entire Water Abyss grew even more chaotic.

And on a certain mountain peak within the Water Abyss, the woman named Lü Shuanglu raised both hands to shade her eyes, gazing at the streak of light that tore across the horizon, fleeing toward the distance, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The Wangzhu is a supreme treasure, coveted by all. This place is still two days' journey from Li Li Tianwang's faction's territory, so for Li Luo and the others to fight their way back along this route is probably not so simple.

Moreover, as the news spreads, it's likely that even the Qin Li Tianwang faction, the Zhu Li Tianwang faction, and strong practitioners from other forces will come to have a hand in it.

Therefore, whether Li Luo, Jiang Jiang Qinge and the others can keep the Wangzhu safe through this flight and pursuit is truly anyone's guess.

"This Li Luo really knows how to play. Now let's see how you wrap this up."

She let out a schadenfreude laugh.