Chapter 1432: The Main-Force Slot

Amid the crowd's shock, a chill flowed across Lü Qing'er's clear, cold, beautiful face, and her pupils seemed to grow even icier as she formed a seal with one hand.

"Extreme Ice Seal!"

Between her crimson lips, a clear voice imbued with bone-piercing coldness rang out.

Boom!

The next instant, a bone-piercing cold current pierced through the heavens like a white silk ribbon; wherever the ribbon passed, even the world's energy showed signs of freezing, and frost covered the surrounding buildings.

Many titled-marquis-tier powerhouses turned pale with fright, because for some reason, Lü Qing'er's ice-attribute phase force carried an unimaginable domineering quality.

The ice ribbon shot toward several mentors of the Sacred Spring Academy, including the titled-marquis-tier powerhouse who had reached Reach Fifth Rank.

Seeing this, those mentors hurriedly defended themselves. Titled-marquis platforms rumbled, surging phase forces interweaving as they swiftly counterattacked.

Boom!

But the instant the two sides collided, horror welled up in their eyes, because they felt that wherever the ice-attribute phase force passed, their own phase force was being frozen outright.

The ice spread at an astonishing speed. In just a few breaths, before they could react, even their titled-marquis platforms were sealed in ice.

Moreover, the ice seemed to contain a special sealing force; they immediately felt their connection to their titled-marquis platforms weakening.

Only the titled-marquis-tier powerhouse who had reached Reach Fifth Rank managed to forcibly block the ice-attribute phase force with his abundant phase force. But even so, the domineering, terrifying cold still caused a look of wariness to flash in that Fifth Rank titled-marquis powerhouse's eyes.

The clash between the two sides happened in the blink of an eye.

The surrounding teams from the various Holy Academies of the Outer Shenzhou all watched in shock, because they realized that the attacks of just Li Luo, Lü Qing'er, and Li Hongyou alone had managed to hold back the Sacred Spring Academy team led by Wang Xu.

Although neither side had yet deployed titled-marquis arts, the astonishing combat strength displayed by Li Luo's trio was already terrifying.

In the arena where cold winds swirled, silence fell; only the rumbling of clashing energies echoed.

"Everyone, please stop at the point of contact. We wouldn't want outsiders to think the Outer Shenzhou is a scattered bunch."

Just then, a voice suddenly drifted from afar, and six titled-marquis platforms manifested in the air—two of them with nine pillars, four with eight!

Surging, astonishing phase force swept down, completely dissipating the aftershocks of the clash.

At the same time, a figure flashed into view—a man in a white robe. His hair was white, yet his face was delicate and smooth, like a baby's.

A powerful phase-force pressure radiated from his body.

The Holy Academy teams present cupped their fists at the newcomer: "Vice-Principal Guo Guo Jiufeng."

The newcomer was none other than the Vice-Principal of the Sacred Bright King Academy, Guo Guo Jiufeng.

This man was also reputed to be the strongest Vice-Principal among the many Holy Academies of the Outer Shenzhou.

When Guo Guo Jiufeng appeared, Li Luo and Wang Xu each reined in their phase force, and their titled-marquis platforms transformed into spiritual light that fell back into their respective crowns.

"Greetings, Vice-Principal Guo Guo Jiufeng," Li Luo said with a smile.

Guo Guo Jiufeng looked at Li Luo, his gaze somewhat admiring. After all, he remembered the latter vividly—back in that year's Holy Cup battle, it was Li Luo and Jiang Qing who had won the Dragon Bone Holy Cup from the Sacred Bright King Academy.

"Young friend Li Luo possesses astonishing talent. In just a few short years, you've already mastered your craft and embarked on the Path of the Unparalleled. Truly admirable," Guo Guo Jiufeng sighed. That little one-star academy student from back then had now reached a level that even he couldn't afford to slight.

Li Luo smiled. "It's nothing worth mentioning. In some people's eyes, I probably still lack a bit of polish."

Those words were aimed squarely at Wang Xu from earlier.

Wang Xu understood perfectly. His soft, feminine face darkened a little, and he was also somewhat shaken, because although the clash had been brief, he had felt an immense threat.

His gaze swept past Li Luo to Li Hongyou behind him. It was this young woman who had applied a special amplification to Li Luo, causing his phase force to surge dramatically.

Then he looked at Lü Qing'er. This girl had actually forged a ten-pillar golden platform, and her ice-attribute phase force was unexpectedly domineering—there had to be something strange about it.

"This Sacred Mystic Star Academy has produced two people who've cultivated ten-pillar golden platforms? Since when did ten-pillar golden platforms become so common? What a damned joke!" Wang Xu cursed inwardly. He had originally thought the Sacred Mystic Star Academy was in decline and would have no right to compete for a main-force slot this time, but who could have expected these three youngsters to be so troublesome?

"Still, the clash just now doesn't prove much. I have plenty of trump cards I haven't played. If we really fought, it's still unclear who'd win!" Wang Xu consoled himself.

But even so, he understood that with Li Luo's group displaying their strength, the Sacred Spring Academy could forget about that main-force slot belonging to the Sacred Mystic Star Academy.

It seemed he could only snatch one from the other main-force slots.

Guo Guo Jiufeng spoke up at this moment as well: "With Instructor Li Luo leading the Sacred Mystic Star Academy, our Outer Shenzhou should achieve a decent result this time."

"If the other Holy Academies have no objections, then among the five main-force slots, the Sacred Mystic Star Academy should have one."

The teams from the other Holy Academies present exchanged glances and all nodded in acknowledgment. After all, the strength Li Luo's group had just displayed had already proven their qualification.

Then Guo Guo Jiufeng looked at Wang Xu and said warmly: "Vice-Principal Wang Xu, the strength of your Sacred Spring Academy is indeed sufficient for a main-force slot. I will help coordinate with the other academies to secure a main-force slot quota for you. How does that sound?"

Guo Guo Jiufeng carried considerable prestige among the many Holy Academies of the Outer Shenzhou; even Wang Xu had to give him face. So hearing him speak this way now, he immediately agreed.

"Then thank you very much, Vice-Principal Guo Guo Jiufeng."

"Our Sacred Spring Academy has no intention of offending anyone. We simply wish to contribute to the Outer Shenzhou, to seize more Heavenly Domains and obtain more Heavenly Mirror Sand," Wang Xu said, his expression easing.

"Instructor Li Luo, our Sacred Spring Academy was reckless earlier. For any offense, please accept our apologies."

Since there was no longer a conflict of interest, Wang Xu naturally didn't want to antagonize Li Luo. After all, the latter was an Unparalleled Second Rank, and his potential was truly terrifying. Right now, Wang Xu could only rely on his level advantage, but if one day Li Luo advanced further and stepped into the Third Rank titled-marquis tier—even if that Third Rank hadn't forged a ten-pillar golden platform—his advantage would vanish entirely.

Li Luo nodded blandly, without harboring any resentment over it, because the Sacred Spring Academy's covetousness didn't surprise him. After all, the Sacred Mystic Star Academy was in decline now, and its strength had indeed been severely weakened. If not for the addition of himself, Lü Qing'er, and Li Hongyou, relying solely on Instructor Xi Chan and the other two, this main-force slot would certainly have been impossible to hold.

Even without this Sacred Spring Academy stepping forward, some other Holy Academy would have stood up to oppose them.

So if they hadn't displayed their strength here, this main-force slot would only bring endless trouble.

But Li Luo couldn't truly give it up either, because that "Perfect Po Jing" had already whetted his appetite. If he wanted to charge toward that level, the main-force slot was something he absolutely had to hold in his hands.

Fortunately, the final outcome wasn't bad. Not only had he displayed deterrence, but Lü Qing'er's strength was also very unexpected.

Her ice-attribute phase force, capable of freezing everything, seemed excessively domineering.

Fourth Rank titled-marquis powerhouses crumbled before her; only the Fifth Rank titled-marquis powerhouse could resist the erosion of the ice seal.

Lü Qing'er's ability to fight across ranks was almost no weaker than his own.

This was clearly good news—their side's strength had been enhanced once again.

Guo Guo Jiufeng was highly capable. After brief coordination, he publicly confirmed the Sacred Spring Academy's main-force slot quota. With that, the five main-force slots of the Outer Shenzhou were completely set.

Sacred Bright King Academy.

Sacred Mystic Star Academy.

Sacred Mountain Academy.

The Skyfire Sacred Academy.

The Sacred Spring Academy.

The strength of the teams sent by these five Sacred Academies this time could be called the strongest among the many Sacred Academies of the Eastern Region's Outer Shenzhou, so they secured the main force seats without anyone questioning it.

Guo Guo Jiufeng wore a beaming smile and said, "I recall that last time, in the 'Contention Crossing Zone' of the Sky Mirror Pagoda, our Eastern Region's Outer Shenzhou only managed to seize one layer of the Heavenly Domain. I hope this time we can improve upon that result."

"Only managed to seize one layer of the Heavenly Domain? Wouldn't that mean a single Sacred Academy wouldn't even get a single grain of Sky Mirror Sand to divide?" Li Luo heard these words and could not help but speak up.

Every Sacred Academy brought so many mentors, so what was it all for?

Vice Dean Chenchi said with a chuckle, "Mentor Li Luo, you don't know this, but the energy contained within Sky Mirror Sand is immense. If one uses 'Sky Mirror Spirit Liquid' to dilute the Sky Mirror Sand, the energy released can benefit many of us quite considerably."

As he spoke to the end, he seemed a bit Tao Zui — by the looks of it, he had once savored that flavor.

Li Luo's expression turned complicated. Dilute Sky Mirror Sand?

I came here aiming for a perfect Po Jing, yet your goal is ashes soaked in water?