Chapter 1417: Departure

Over the next half month, Li Luo remained in Zhao Shenjiang City, leading the Five Heavenly Dragon Guards in repeated sorties against the regions where the Calamity was erupting most fiercely. Under the iron-hoofed suppression of the Five Guards, even high-grade True Demons were all crushed and purified without exception.

After all, with his current status as a Grand Duke, Li Luo could command the combined might of the Five Guards—a force so terrifying that nothing below the King level could stand against it.

Moreover, once the Five Guards formed a true Heavenly Dragon Marvelous Formation, its power could even rival that of the King level.

This was, by far, the strongest power Li Luo had personally experienced.

However, unfortunately, once this formation power reached the regions affected by the "Boundary River Water," it would be influenced by the "Li Li Tianwang's Edict," making it difficult to sustain.

Therefore, Li Luo's desire to use this power to venture deep into the Calamity was somewhat unrealistic.

But even so, Li Luo's command of the Five Guards made this force absolutely the strongest combat power on the Northwestern Border today, second only to Dantai Lan.

This also caused Li Luo's fearsome reputation to thoroughly echo across the entire Northwestern Border in just this short half month.

Even those high-grade Marquis-level strongmen from various factions, upon witnessing the terrifying power unleashed when Li Luo activated the Five Guards, could not help but feel a measure of wariness and respect.

Moreover, Li Luo now walks the Path of the Unparalleled. Though this path is fraught with hardship and peril, once successful, it means ascending to the heavens in a single step.

To use a Marquis to overcome a King—this has been the supreme achievement dreamed of by countless Marquis-level strongmen since ancient times.

Thus, after half a month of conquest and purge, Li Luo's prestige within the Li Li Tianwang lineage truly began to rise.

Even those older-generation strongmen had no choice but to start taking this extremely young junior seriously.

Li Luo's current achievements have already surpassed those of Li Taixuan at the same stage. In a certain sense, looking across a hundred years of the Li Li Tianwang lineage, Li Luo is likely the highest-achieving member of the younger generation at the same stage in all history.

Moreover, this reputation has already spread beyond the Li Li Tianwang lineage and caught the attention of other top factions across the Outer Shenzhou.

Thus, everyone knew.

After many years, another Hidden Dragon had emerged from the abyss within the Li Li Tianwang lineage.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Li Luo knew it was time to leave.

He could not let Jiang Qing fight alone in the Celestial Mirror Pagoda.

"Senior Sister Hongyou, what are your plans next? If you intend to stay in the Dragon Fang Guard, I'll promote you to Dragon Fang Envoy. Given your special abilities, holding this position won't invite criticism." On the eve of his departure, Li Luo found Li Hongyou.

On a stretch of ancient city wall in Zhao Shenjiang City, Li Hongyou leaned against a parapet, her gaze withdrawing from the distant black mountain range, and smiled: "How rare for the Grand Duke to remember me amid his busy schedule."

Facing Li Hongyou's teasing, Li Luo laughed: "I brought you back to the Dragon Fang Guard, so naturally I have to take responsibility for you to the end."

He paused and asked: "I heard Li Yuanzhen came looking for you again recently?"

Li Yuanzhen was Li Hongyou's biological father, a high-ranking member of the Dragon Blood lineage. He had also been dispatched to the Northwestern Border during this period, and Li Hongque naturally told him about Li Hongyou's situation.

Upon hearing the news, Li Yuanzhen was reportedly quite furious and even barged straight into the Dragon Fang Guard, intending to take Li Hongyou away.

Of course, he ultimately failed, because Li Luo blocked him.

Facing the now-rising Li Luo, even Li Yuanzhen, a high-ranking member of the Dragon Blood lineage, had to rein in his temper somewhat and didn't dare act forcefully. After all, if it really came to a fight, on the Dragon Fang Guard's home turf, he might not even be Li Luo's match.

Moreover, what was the point of winning? If it drew Dantai Lan's attention, he'd be the one suffering the loss. On today's Northwestern Border, Dantai Lan is the supreme authority—even Li Li Tianji would have to show her respect here.

So in the end, Li Yuanzhen slunk away in frustration.

"Yes, he felt I'd defied him and was very angry. He tried every approach, soft and hard, to force me back." Li Hongyou nodded, a mocking smile surfacing on her cold, beautiful face.

"He thinks I'm too conspicuous in the Dragon Fang Guard, that I'll make him lose face in the Dragon Blood lineage."

"He put on the dignity of a father in front of me, yet he doesn't even remember my birthday."

"What need is there to acknowledge a father like that?"

"I came to the Dragon Fang Guard precisely to see him in this flustered, defeated state. So the angrier he gets, the less I'll let him have his way."

The smile at Li Hongyou's lips grew more intense as she said: "I later told him that if he wanted me to go to the Dragon Blood Guard, he just needed to kowtow three times before my mother's grave."

"He left in a rage."

"Seeing him like that, I knew following you to the Dragon Fang Guard was a very right decision."

"So not only will I stay in the Dragon Fang Guard, but in the future, I'll become a mainstay of the Dragon Fang lineage. The higher I climb, the more embarrassed Li Yuanzhen will be. This is also a way to vent a little for my mother."

Li Hongyou chuckled softly: "So Li Luo, I'm truly grateful to you for giving me this opportunity."

Li Luo nodded slightly and said: "The Dragon Fang lineage and I will always support you."

"So, you're planning to continue staying in the Dragon Fang Guard for now?"

Li Hongyou pressed her red lips together and said: "Then what do you think I should plan? You didn't come to me just to say goodbye, did you?"

Li Luo hesitated for a moment, then said frankly: "I want you to come with me to the Celestial Mirror Pagoda. There are opportunities there that will give you greater advancement. Of course, most importantly, I might need your help."

Although he was now at the second stage of the Unparalleled Path, and in a real fight he didn't fear even an ordinary sixth-stage Marquis-level strongman, the place he was headed next was known as the gathering place of top Heavenly Chosen across the Ten Divine Continents. There, he would inevitably face powerful rivals who had forged Ten-Pillar Golden Platforms and embarked on the Path of the Unparalleled.

And if Li Hongyou traveled with him, her special supportive abilities would give Li Luo even more confidence.

Upon hearing this, Li Hongyou's beautiful eyes curved slightly, and she seemed to be in a much better mood at once: "So it seems I'm of some help to you?"

"Of course, you're my right and left arm." Li Luo laughed.

"So, what's your answer?"

Li Hongyou chuckled softly, then fixed her gaze on Li Luo's eyes and nodded seriously.

"I couldn't ask for more."

Li Luo also laughed.

The next day.

Inside the City Lord's Manor.

Dantai Lan looked at the young man about to depart, reluctantly reaching out to straighten his clothes, then said to Seeing Niu Niu Biaobiao and Li Li Rouyun nearby: "Old Niu, I'll trouble you two to escort them to the Tianyuan Ancient Academy along the way."

Seeing Niu Niu Biaobiao laughed: "Don't worry, I'll get them there safely."

Dantai Lan nodded. She wasn't the indecisive type either. She touched Li Luo's face and instructed: "Once you're at the Celestial Mirror Pagoda, look after Jiang Qing properly. If anyone bullies her, beat them hard. If you can't beat them, notify your mother, and I'll come beat them."

Li Luo was caught between laughter and tears, then he reached out and shared a brief hug with Dantai Lan.

"Mother, I'll leave the Dragon Fang lineage in your hands."

As his voice fell, he no longer lingered. His figure shot straight up into the sky, and Li Hongyou, Seeing Niu Niu Biaobiao, and Li Li Rouyun immediately followed. The four figures quickly disappeared at the edge of sight.