Chapter 1331: Zhao Xiuyuan

Li Foluo's stern, cold shout rang out like a thunderclap, causing the expressions of the many faction teams present to shift slightly, followed by a rising chorus of exclamations.

"Zhao Xiuyuan, the commander of the True Dragon Guard?!"

"Tch, Zhao Xiuyuan actually came here too? They say he's the strongest commander of the Ten Thousand Beasts Guard!"

"No wonder even Li Foluo was injured by a single palm strike. He's only an Upper Fourth Rank Marquis, while Zhao Xiuyuan is already a Lower Fifth Rank Marquis!"

"......"

Many strongmen conversed in low voices, while their gazes looked toward the spot where the blood-red mist was gradually dissipating. There, a group of figures could be seen walking over slowly, and all eyes focused on the figure at the very front.

He was a man in a black robe, slender in build, with a handsome face. His hair and eyebrows were both white, which lent him an extraordinary air.

As he walked, it was as if a thin layer of white mist formed beneath his feet, constantly accompanying his body, causing his figure to appear and disappear, giving off an ethereal feeling.

"It really is Zhao Xiuyuan."

Qin Zhenlin also saw this white-haired, white-browed man, his gaze sharpening slightly. At the same time, he was somewhat puzzled. Earlier, Zhao Xiuyuan had struck covertly, and at first it was clearly aimed at Li Luo. Moreover, within the surging phase force was a piercing killing intent, which meant that palm strike had been intended to kill Li Luo.

So what had Li Luo done? To have provoked Zhao Xiuyuan into disregarding his status and resorting to lethal force?

"Li Foluo, long time no see. Your skills don't seem to have improved much. Before I even unleashed my White Dragon Sea-Splitting Palm, you were nearly gravely injured." Under the gaze of many wary eyes, Zhao Xiuyuan stared at Li Foluo and spoke with a faint smile.

Li Foluo's face darkened as he said, "A sneak attack and underhanded strike—so these are the only skills the strongest commander of the Ten Thousand Beasts Guard possesses."

Facing Li Foluo's mockery, Zhao Xiuyuan merely said indifferently, "Compared to you lot, it's indeed nothing worth mentioning. Heh, this Jiang Jiang Qinge killed Zhao Baishun, and Li Luo killed Zhao Jiyun. What impressive feats indeed."

"You've caused my Ten Thousand Beasts Guard to suffer such grievous losses. Now that I've happened to run into you here, naturally those who owe a life must pay with one. Surely there's no need for any courtesy, is there?"

The moment these words left Zhao Xiuyuan's mouth, countless cries of shock instantly swept through the scene.

Even Qin Zhenlin's eyes revealed astonishment as he blurted out, "Zhao Baishun was slain by Jiang Jiang Qinge? The Divine Tiger Envoy Zhao Jiyun also fell to Li Luo? How is that possible!"

Zhao Baishun was a Lower Fourth Rank Marquis. Although among the many commanders his strength was at the bottom, no matter what, Fourth Rank is Fourth Rank. And Jiang Jiang Qinge, right now she's still only a First Rank Marquis, isn't she? Even if she forged a Ten-Pillar Golden Terrace, that shouldn't be enough to leap three ranks and slay Zhao Baishun, right?

And Li Luo's side is even more outrageous. Although Zhao Jiyun wasn't as strong as Zhao Baishun, he was still an Upper Third Rank Marquis. But Li Luo?!!

Da Tian Xiang Jing!

The gulf between their realms could be called heaven and earth. With such a chasm, what could Li Luo possibly rely on to kill Zhao Jiyun?

Qin Yi's red lips parted slightly, a look of astonishment surfacing in her beautiful eyes.

Although Li Luo's battle record had always been astonishing, a Da Tian Xiang Jing slaying an Upper Third Rank Marquis was a bit too outrageous.

Beside her, Shen Yunge glanced at the visibly moved Qin Yi, his eyes narrowing slightly as he smiled and said, "Didn't I hear you mention before that this Li Luo seems to know a Mi Fa that channels the power of spirit beasts for his own use? I imagine he must have used such a method to slay that Zhao Jiyun."

Shen Yunge hailed from the Beast-Subduing Spirit Hall, a rather unique Tian Wang-level faction, because they could form a tacit fusion with spirit beasts. The two combined together would greatly enhance their combat power, so disciples who came out of the Beast-Subduing Spirit Hall were often able to defeat enemies above their level.

And Li Luo's method was quite similar to theirs.

"But what puzzles me is, with his Da Tian Xiang Jing strength, using the power of a Marquis-level spirit beast so recklessly—does he truly not fear that fierce, baleful energy eroding his mind?" Shen Yunge said with a smile.

They were all too familiar with the power of spirit beasts. Even within their Beast-Subduing Spirit Hall, there was no shortage of disciples who had been eroded and subsequently gone mad and lost control.

Qin Yi shook her head gently and said, "Back in the Spirit Phase Cave Heaven, Li Luo had already used this kind of power, but there was no sign of his mind being damaged. Moreover, Li Luo is a person of resilient character, so I'm afraid that baleful energy may not necessarily be able to erode him."

Shen Yunge neither agreed nor disagreed. Qin Yi didn't understand the degree of ferocity in a spirit beast's energy—especially when the spirit beast's power and rank surpassed the user's, the erosion was extremely intense. For Li Luo, with only Da Tian Xiang Jing strength, to wield the power of a Marquis-level great spirit beast was by no means a simple matter.

While they were speaking on their side, Zhao Xiuyuan's piercing gaze had already turned toward Li Foluo and Li Tingyue. He said coldly, "Hand over Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge, otherwise one of your commanders will die here today as well!"

Facing Zhao Xiuyuan's killing intent, both Li Foluo and Li Tingyue had icy expressions. They didn't waste half a word on pleasantries, and the phase force within their bodies erupted explosively at this moment.

Four Marquis Terraces shot up from each of their crowns, churning up surging energy.

Li Foluo and Li Tingyue unleashed all their power without the slightest hesitation. The next instant, those eight Marquis Terraces rumbled and trembled.

The heavy halberd in Li Foluo's hand came crashing down savagely. Crimson phase force swept out, transforming into a lava giant dragon several thousand zhang long, carrying terrifying heat that melted the void, and slammed directly toward Zhao Xiuyuan.

Behind Li Tingyue, a colossal jade dragon phantom appeared in the void. The jade dragon radiated an elegant aura, and as its dragon maw opened, a dragon breath resembling jade spewed forth.

Both of them struck with full force. Facing Zhao Xiuyuan, whose strength had reached Lower Fifth Rank Marquis, they clearly didn't dare to test the waters even half a bit.

Yet facing the attacks of the two commanders, Zhao Xiuyuan showed not the slightest fear. He took a single step forward, and five grayish-white Marquis Terraces shot skyward, exhaling billowing energy.

At the same time, behind him in the void, a massive white dragon materialized. The white dragon moved through the clouds, appearing exceedingly ethereal.

At the same time, behind the white dragon's head, a radiant wheel of light appeared, blooming with endless brilliance.

Li Luo stared at this scene, his gaze sharpening slightly. This was...

A Lower Nine Grade White Dragon Physique!

An Upper Eight Grade Light Physique!

This Zhao Xiuyuan actually possessed a dragon physique too! No wonder he could become a commander of the True Dragon Guard!

Zhao Xiuyuan let out a thunderous howl that rolled and surged. His five fingers clenched into a fist, and at the same time the white dragon extended its dragon claw, covering itself over his Quan Yin.

The next instant, Zhao Xiuyuan threw a punch. Endless white light could be seen pouring forth, and within that white light, radiance flowed, emanating a sacred meaning.

The White Dragon Light Quan Yin, wrapped in a surging, overwhelming momentum, shattered the void and went directly to meet the attacks of Li Foluo and Li Tingyue.

Boom!

An earth-shattering explosion rang out. Wild phase force shockwaves ravaged outward, sending many of the surrounding spectators stumbling back in disarray.

But their gazes were all fixed tightly on the point of collision.

They saw the radiant White Dragon Quan Yin, in an utterly overwhelming posture, completely annihilating the attacks of Li Foluo and Li Tingyue.

That unstoppable, domineering momentum was laid bare for all to see.

Hmph!

Both Li Foluo and Li Tingyue let out muffled groans as their figures were forcibly sent flying back several hundred zhang.

Having gained the upper hand in a single strike, Zhao Xiuyuan's mind moved, and the White Dragon Light Quan Yin, which still had strength to spare, turned its head toward Li Luo's position and slammed down viciously.

This made many people's eyelids twitch. It seemed Zhao Xiuyuan truly intended to kill. If this punch landed, even an ordinary Marquis-level expert couldn't withstand it, let alone Li Luo, who was only at Da Tian Xiang Jing!

However, just as the White Dragon Light Quan Yin was about to fall, a graceful figure suddenly rose into the air, and dazzling, resplendent light poured forth like a great sun.

The White Dragon Light Quan Yin had originally been radiating light, but with the appearance of this graceful figure, the light on the Quan Yin was instantly dimmed by her radiance.

Numerous gazes of admiration shot over, and they saw an incomparably beautiful figure standing in mid-air. Behind her head, three rings of light formed by Light Spirit Envoys slowly revolved.

It was Jiang Jiang Qinge!

"Li Hongyou!"

Jiang Jiang Qinge gripped her heavy sword and gave a soft, sharp cry.

Down below, Li Hongyou heard the call and immediately formed a seal with both hands. In the next instant, a Vermilion Fruit Transformation Divine Mark surfaced, turned into a streak of flowing light, and plunged straight into Jiang Jiang Qinge's body.

At the same moment, the already pure and surging light-attribute phase force within Jiang Jiang Qinge surged upward rank by rank.

Between her jade-like hands, light bloomed, and a resplendent, sacred sword of light swiftly condensed into form, then shot forth in a violent burst, slashing toward the descending White Dragon Light Fist Seal.

Boom!

The two collided. This time, the fist seal—which had already been worn down by the efforts of Li Fuluo and Li Tingyue—shattered on the spot.

Zhao Xiuyuan's face changed at once.

Low murmurs of astonishment rose from all around.

One gaze after another, bright with admiration, turned toward Jiang Jiang Qinge and the ten-pillar golden platform above her head that symbolized perfection.

Amid those many eyes, the blade in Jiang Jiang Qinge's hand slowly rose, pointing from afar at Zhao Xiuyuan. By then Li Fuluo and Li Tingyue had also swept over and taken their places at her two sides.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's bright eyes were cold and sharp, like a blade's edge, and her clear, pleasant voice—like mountain spring water striking stone—rang out across the field, carrying killing intent.

"If the Ten Thousand Beast Guards want to lose another Guard Commander today, I can grant you that."

Zhao Xiuyuan heard this and laughed through his fury: "What arrogance from a First Rank Marquis! You really think that just because you've forged a ten-pillar golden platform, you're invincible? Kill me? With just the three of you?"

"It's more than that."

At that moment, Li Luo spoke with a smile, stepping out slowly. And as his footfalls rang out, what made every gaze in the place change was a surge of tremendously fierce, overwhelming energy that swept out from within him like a storm.

That energy's intensity was on par with that of a top-tier Third Rank Marquis.

Li Luo's gaze settled on Zhao Xiuyuan's face, a faint flicker of killing intent stirring in his eyes, and his voice followed.

"Zhao Xiuyuan—now, would you like to try?"