Chapter 1274

Boom!

An incredibly terrifying energy storm raged across the sky, and vast light poured down, turning everything within thousands of li into daylight.

Ah!

The light energy raged, and cries of misery rang out; on the horizon, two figures fled in disarray, and above their heads, even the four towering marquess platforms showed signs of melting, caused by purification from the light energy.

"Jiang Longya, display your might!"

Thousands of Longya Guard members shouted in excitement, their eyes fixed on the beautiful figure holding a heavy sword, radiating light like a goddess of light, filled with awe and reverence.

It had already been half a day since they escaped from Jin Shi Waterspring.

During this half-day, they had endured no fewer than ten waves of interceptors, and even fourth-rank marquess experts had appeared before; yet despite that, before Jiang Qinge, they were all crushed like dry weeds.

With the support of the four Thousand Guards, Jiang Qinge's aura had now reached the peak level among lower fifth-rank marquesses.

Jiang Qinge's unstoppable demeanor left a deep impression on everyone.

"We should still have more than a day's journey to Tianlong Ridge; the closer we get to Tianlong Ridge, the fewer people dare to attack us, and near Tianlong Ridge, there are also subordinate forces of our Li Tianwang lineage, who will surely offer some aid."

"So as long as we hold out for one more day, we'll be safe!" President Xia Yu encouraged everyone.

"If we can fight our way back to Tianlong Ridge, we'll have something to brag about in the Tianlong Five Guards later." One of the "Thousand Guards" said with a laugh.

Others nodded in agreement; such a record of breaking through tens of thousands of li of enemy obstruction was absolutely formidable.

Jiang Qinge's golden eyes glanced backward at this moment; within her pupils swirling with light, she could sense a powerful fluctuation no weaker than theirs rapidly approaching.

It was the Shenhu Guard of the Zhao Tianwang lineage, and the leader should be Zhao Jiyun, the Shenhu Envoy.

Zhao Jiyun was quite scheming; during this half-day, he did not rush to close in but instead lingered far behind, clearly intending to use other obstructors to wear them down.

Now, seeing his speed of pursuit, he probably could no longer endure.

Jiang Qinge pondered slightly, looked at Li Luo, and said: "Li Luo, we are about to split forces; I will lead three Thousand Guards here to intercept, while you and Xia Yu each take one Thousand Guard to continue toward Tianlong Ridge; I will buy you enough time."

Upon hearing this, Li Luo's brows immediately furrowed, and he said: "You want to stay behind to cover the retreat?"

Jiang Qinge calmly replied: "What matters now is taking the Wangzhu away, not getting entangled with people; once we are tied down, those covetous ones will stir, which is most disadvantageous for us."

"Only by splitting forces can we scatter these covetous ones, and thus gain more opportunities."

"You need not worry about me; this splitting actually puts you in greater danger, for others will still pursue you, while I cannot follow to protect you; the road ahead must rely on you yourselves."

Li Luo frowned tightly and directly shook his head: "Impossible; I think it would be better to stay here and fight together; if we lose, we accept it."

Jiang Qinge said: "Li Luo, don't act rashly; now the situation is like a spiderweb, layer upon layer wrapping around us; we must move to break through the web; if we truly stay here to fight them, we will only make the web denser, completely trapping us, at which point, besides surrendering the Wangzhu, we will have no other way."

Li Luo shrugged indifferently: "If we hand it over, we hand it over; this thing is not as important to me as you are."

A hint of gentle brightness flashed in Jiang Qinge's eyes; she stepped closer to Li Luo two steps, took his hand, and whispered: "You can regard that Wangzhu as nothing to me; how could I bear to let you easily abandon it?"

Jiang Qinge brought her red lips near Li Luo's ear, whispering with a hint of allure: "Bring the Wangzhu back to Tianlong Ridge, and I will reward you."

Li Luo laughed through tears: "Are you coaxing a child?"

But he still sighed; Jiang Qinge's manner was nothing but her insistence on splitting forces, expressing her firm attitude.

Because this is indeed the necessary choice now.

Xia Yu also spoke up at this moment to advise: "Li Luo, rest assured; with the strength of the Jiang Longya Envoy, if we leave, even if she encounters strong enemies and falls into a disadvantage, at the very least, she can still choose to leave."

"If we stay here, she will still have to divide her attention to protect us."

Li Luo remained silent for several breaths, then finally said: "Leave one Thousand Guard with you."

Jiang Qinge shook her head: "Adding one Thousand Guard to me won't make much difference, but if you are intercepted, then we will completely fail."

Her bright eyes fixed on Li Luo, her voice also softened considerably: "Li Luo, if the situation truly becomes dire, you can surrender one Wangzhu, let them fight over it, and you can seize the chance to escape."

Li Luo pressed his lips; that second Wangzhu he had kept for Jiang Qinge—how could he easily give it up?

A gloomy sigh rose in his heart; in the end, it was still his insufficient strength; if he had already entered the marquess rank now, the situation would be much easier.

And precisely because of this, he must rely on this Wangzhu to evolve into the Tianlong Xiang, strengthen himself; after all, the difficulties awaiting in the so-called "Jiehe Baoyu" will likely be even more perilous than today.

"Senior Hongyou, please accompany Sister Qinge." Li Luo looked at Li Hongyou and pleaded.

With Li Hongyou's enhancement, Jiang Qinge's power could also increase somewhat.

Jiang Qinge wanted to say more, but seeing Li Luo's persistent gaze, she understood this was his bottom line; if she still refused, Li Luo likely would not agree to split forces.

"Alright." Thus, finally, she nodded slightly with a faint smile at the corner of her lips.

Li Hongyou also smiled: "Don't worry, I will advance and retreat with Qinge."

"Thank you, Sister Qinge; delay a moment, then retreat quickly, don't linger." Li Luo reminded.

Jiang Qinge lightly nodded, and in the next instant, the vast army of thousands swiftly began to split; Xia Yu led one Thousand Guard, together with Li Luo, breaking through the void toward Tianlong Ridge.

The remaining three Thousand Guards then formed a great array, standing behind Jiang Qinge.

Jiang Qinge gripped her heavy sword, turned around, her golden eyes calmly and coldly gazing backward; as they split forces, some commotion came from behind, and the next moment, only to see magnificent flowing light howling forth, endless energy circulating, faintly seeming to transform into a shadow of a ferocious tiger filled with boundless killing aura.

And Zhao Jiyun stood at the head of that ferocious tiger shadow, staring at Jiang Qinge, and said slowly: "Jiang Longya Envoy, do you really think you can block so many pursuers by yourself?"

Jiang Qinge said no more nonsense; ten golden pillars roared in midair, bursting with dazzling holy light; behind her, three light spirit envoys appeared, causing the light energy emanating from her body to become even more pure and clear.

Zhao Jiyun stared at the ten golden pillars symbolizing the peerless path, his expression gradually becoming solemn; although Jiang Qinge was clearly only a first-rank marquess, with the enhancement of the ten golden pillars and three ninth-rank light spirits, in terms of the magnitude of her energy, she was already fully comparable to a third-rank marquess.

Although Li Luo's side had taken away two Dragon Tooth Thousand Guards, reducing Jiang Qinge's strength somewhat, it was only a drop from the peak of lower fifth-rank marquess to an ordinary lower fifth-rank marquess.

Zhao Jiyun's eyes flickered, then he turned his head to look elsewhere, smiling: "Gentlemen, since you've all come, there's no need to hide anymore; if we don't repel this Jiang Qinge, I think we cannot pass."

As his voice faded, three streaks of light stepped through the void and landed hundreds of zhang away from Zhao Jiyun.

When these three streaks of light appeared, each had five towering marquess platforms hovering above their heads like giant mountains, swallowing and exhaling heavenly and earthly energy, causing thunderous rumbles.

They were indeed three fifth-rank marquess experts!

In this heaven and earth, some probing gazes here slightly changed color; they recognized these three fifth-rank marquess experts, all of whom were not insignificant scattered marquess experts in the Jiehe region.

Each of these three was no weaker than Jiang Qinge, who controls three Thousand Guards; now adding the equally formidable Zhao Jiyun, Jiang Qinge's side was undoubtedly in extreme disadvantage.

"Zhao Zhuoyan, Zhao Zhu, you each take one Thousand Guard to pursue Li Luo; absolutely do not let him pass through Hun Soul Ridge." Zhao Jiyun now wore the air of one with victory in hand; although Jiang Qinge had unparalleled talent and foundation, after all she was only a first-rank marquess; even with the enhancement of three Thousand Guards raising her strength to fifth-rank marquess level, could she still possibly fight four against one?

But he also understood that Jiang Qinge was merely delaying here; if they truly let Li Luo escape back to Tianlong Ridge, then this time they would truly lose face.

"Yes!"

Two figures immediately received the order; Zhao Zhuoyan was the commander-in-chief of the Divine Tiger Guard, with the strength of a second-rank marquis, but slightly stronger than Xia Yu, while Zhao Zhu was the deputy commander, with the strength of a first-rank marquis; both were stronger than Xia Yu and Li Luo, so Zhao Jiyun had great confidence in them.

Zhao Zhuoyan and Zhao Zhu each led a thousand guards, bypassing Jiang Qinge's position, and swiftly tore through the air.

Jiang Qinge merely glanced at them, then withdrew her gaze; she did not obstruct them, for at this moment Zhao Jiyun and the three fifth-rank marquises had her firmly locked down—any movement on her part would trigger an immediate coordinated attack.

The force they exerted was within her calculations.

Perhaps they thought this strength sufficient to capture Li Luo, but she likewise had great confidence in Li Luo; everyone focused their attention on her, yet overlooked Li Luo, the very person who should not be overlooked.

Jiang Qinge knew that although she had drawn part of the strong enemy here, Li Luo's side was no easy matter either, and it would have to rely on Li Luo's own abilities.

The only thing she could do now was to firmly pin Zhao Jiyun and these fifth-rank marquises in place.

Jiang Qinge lowered her eyes slightly, her jade hand forming seals.

In the next moment, the holy thorn crown, with holy light flowing between her hair strands, suddenly at this moment took on a blood-red hue, slowly spreading outward.

In just a few breaths, the holy thorn crown became...

Blood Thorn Crown!

At the same time, the power undulations emanating from Jiang Qinge's body surged wildly amid the suddenly changed expressions of Zhao Jiyun and the others.