Chapter 1284: Reward

After the two King Pearls were distributed, the other high-ranking members of the various branches lost interest in staying, exchanged a few brief words, and then dispersed directly.

Li Li Jingzhe, however, kept Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge behind.

"Keep the King Pearl with me for now. As for your share, I'll refine it into a secret spiritual liquid for cultivating the 'Pill-Simmering Blood-Transformation Phase Art.' That should take a several days. During this time, don't leave Dragon City again," Li Li Jingzhe said to Li Luo first.

Li Luo hurriedly nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Grandpa."

"As for Jiang Qinge's pearl, I'll hold onto it for now. When materials are sufficient in the future, I'll see if I can refine a top-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual treasure for you," Li Li Jingzhe said, turning to Jiang Jiang Qinge.

"Thank you, Grandpa." Jiang Jiang Qinge also expressed her thanks. She could feel the elder's affection. Although the King Pearl was precious, it was only one of the main materials for refining a Foundation Establishment spiritual treasure—it wasn't as if obtaining it meant she already had one. Li Li Jingzhe taking the King Pearl meant that what he would return to her in the future would be a top-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual treasure, which was undoubtedly a great bargain for her.

Although Jiang Jiang Qinge had always disliked taking advantage of others, there was no need to be too particular about a gift from an elder.

"You two performed very well this time, but I imagine you've also sensed that the Jiehe Domain is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers?" Li Li Jingzhe said with a faint smile.

Both Jiang Jiang Qinge and Li Luo nodded. This ten-thousand-mile flight had been an intense series of battles for them. Whether it was those scattered Marquis Realm cultivators or the covetous gazes of various factions, all had posed tremendous threats to them.

If they hadn't been able to draw on the augmentation of the Dragon Fang Guard, relying on themselves alone—even Jiang Jiang Qinge would have had to remain cautious at all times.

"The enemies you encountered along the way were still considered evenly matched. In places you couldn't see, some top-grade Marquis Realm strongmen who could have posed a great threat to you were partly deterred by our Li Li Tianwang branch and didn't dare act rashly, and partly intercepted by our Li Li Tianwang branch's experts on missions outside. So your safe return this time also had an element of luck," Li Li Jingzhe said.

Jiang Jiang Qinge nodded slightly and said, "I'll try to break through to the Second-Grade Marquis Realm as soon as possible. If my second Marquis Platform can also forge a Ten-Pillar Golden Platform, my self-preservation will be considerably stronger."

Li Li Jingzhe was rendered speechless. This granddaughter-in-law truly had extraordinary vision—aiming for a Ten-Pillar Golden Platform on her second Marquis Platform as well. It seemed she truly intended to walk further down the path of the Unparalleled.

However, this was the hardest path since ancient times. Back then, among Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan's first three Marquis Platforms, only one was a Ten-Pillar Golden Platform.

To truly become an Unparalleled Marquis—how easy was that?

"Don't rush. Wait until you're confident before attempting a breakthrough. The Marquis Realm values opportunity above all. Many people stagnate for decades, but once the opportunity arrives, everything falls into place naturally," Li Li Jingzhe said comfortingly.

Then he soothed the two of them a few more times and said, "It's getting late. You must be extremely exhausted during this period. Go back and rest well for a while."

The two nodded, then turned and left side by side.

After leaving the Dragon Pavilion, Li Luo saw that no one was around and suddenly reached out to grab Jiang Jiang Qinge's hand. That delicate, cool touch, like fine jade, made his heart flutter slightly.

"What are you doing?" Jiang Jiang Qinge let him hold her hand, her bright eyes blinking as she asked.

Li Luo coughed lightly and said casually, "Sister Jiang Qinge, did you forget something?"

A hint of bewilderment seemed to surface in Jiang Jiang Qinge's mysterious, deep golden eyes.

Seeing this, Li Luo immediately said in annoyance, "Jiang Jiang Qinge, no backing out! You promised me a reward if I brought the King Pearl back!"

A faint blush rose on Jiang Jiang Qinge's exquisitely beautiful porcelain-like cheeks. This rascal—good things he forgets, but things like these are carved into his memory like a knife. How could he possibly forget?

"Sigh, you have no idea how brutally I fought that Zhao Zhuoyan. If not for luck, it would have been more ill-fated than fortunate this time. But in the end, I held on stubbornly, because I remembered my promise with Sister Jiang Qinge. So no matter what, I had to win," Li Luo said with a somewhat tragic sigh.

"If Sister Jiang Qinge wants to break her promise, I can understand that too."

Jiang Jiang Qinge said irritably, "Enough, stop playing the victim. The reward..."

She paused. "... will be given."

Li Luo's eyes immediately lit up, and he then said, "It can't just be some casual perfunctory thing, right? The reward should escalate step by step, each step deeper than the last, right?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge stared at him and said, "What do you want to do?"

Li Luo hurriedly shook his head and said, "I'm not thinking of anything. It's all up to Sister Jiang Qinge. After all, over the years, Sister Jiang Qinge's rewards have never disappointed me."

How clever was Jiang Jiang Qinge? She could hear the hidden meaning in his words. So even with her calm and composed temperament, she couldn't help but feel a touch of embarrassed annoyance.

This guy truly takes advantage of every inch!

In the end, she shook off Li Luo's hand, her figure transforming into a streak of light that shot toward the Dragon Fang Guard garrison. As for Li Luo, he chuckled, filled with inexplicable anticipation, and followed energetically.

After returning to the Dragon Fang Guard garrison, the place was still bustling. Although many Dragon Fang Guard members were exhausted, their spirits were extremely high. After all, this ten-thousand-mile gauntlet, though perilous, was also something worth talking about.

The members of the other five Thousand Guards, meanwhile, expressed envy—they had only participated at the very end.

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge were also enthusiastically welcomed. The two had to deal with it for quite a while before finally managing to slip away.

After returning to the small building where the two lived together, Jiang Jiang Qinge vanished. Li Luo had no choice but to tidy up alone, and finally collapsed onto the bed in the room, completely drained, too lazy to move a muscle.

Just as Li Luo was drowsily about to fall asleep, he suddenly heard a knock at the door. He immediately opened his eyes to look, and then his pupils began to tremble violently as if from an earthquake.

There, at the opened door, a slender, graceful figure leaned against the doorframe—it was Jiang Jiang Qinge.

However, she had now changed out of her standard-issue battle attire and put on a set of pajamas that Li Luo was familiar with. On the pajamas was an embroidered adorably clumsy big white goose. Li Luo remembered—this was the pajama set Dantai Lan had made for Jiang Jiang Qinge. She liked it the most; back at House Luolan Mansion, she often wore it at night.

The pajamas were somewhat loose, but they still couldn't conceal Jiang Jiang Qinge's striking figure and breathtaking curves.

The legs beneath the pajamas were slender and snow-white, like ivory.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's long hair still carried moisture, suggesting she had bathed earlier. She crossed her arms over her chest, and under the pressure of her arms, the pajamas accentuated her slender waist and the curves of her chest—the arcs were astonishing.

Li Luo watched and felt his nose getting a bit hot.

But his mouth was stubborn: "Sister Jiang Qinge, you're testing me with this??"

Jiang Jiang Qinge took a deep breath, her full chest rising and falling gently. She reached back and closed the door.

The sound of the door closing made Li Luo's heart tremble wildly. He was ecstatic inside—could it be?

Jiang Jiang Qinge's exquisitely beautiful face was very calm, but the rising blush proved her heart was also in turmoil.

She walked to the bedside and looked down at Li Luo, but her voice, rarely, carried a slight tremor.

"I'm sleeping here tonight. Are you satisfied with this reward?"