Chapter 1477: A Great Harvest

Vast and boundless radiance poured down through the mountain range like a flood, and wherever it passed, the cold between heaven and earth was swept away, even the blizzard raging through the peaks cutting off in an instant.

Across the thousands of miles of mountain range, only sacred light-energy filled the air, giving rise to a strange, crystalline clarity.

The purifying effect of light resonance was, after all, the strongest in the world.

Outside the mountains, countless gazes looked solemnly at the gradually fading light resonance, and were the first to catch sight of Jiang Qing's slender figure gripping her heavy sword.

She stood atop a peak whose flank had caved in; the biting mountain wind stirred her clothes, outlining a breathtaking curve of silhouette.

That exquisitely beautiful face radiated a heart-stirring, holy purity; her brows were like willow leaves, and a spirited air surged forth that could not be concealed. Such bearing—let alone men—even some women could not help but feel their hearts skip a beat, a flush rising to their cheeks.

Not far from Jiang Jiang Qinge was Xi Li's figure.

Only now the latter's body was rigid, his eyes dim and grey as he stared ahead, where on the ground a starlight stone seal had fallen, its surface now traced with fine cracks.

This treasure, which ranked at the very top among mid-grade marquis artifacts, had clearly suffered grievous damage in the earlier all-out clash between the two.

Puchi.

A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed from Xi Li's mouth; when it struck the ground, thin wisps of white vapor rose from it, then vanished along with the blood itself.

The killing move Jiang Jiang Qinge had unleashed with everything she had had pierced straight through Xi Li's full defense in a single sword, the remaining force even invading his body and inflicting severe injuries.

At this moment, sacred and domineering light resonance occupied every part of Xi Li's body, causing even the circulation of his own resonance within to grow sluggish.

Xi Li's one consolation was that this was not a fight to the death—otherwise, one more finishing strike from Jiang Jiang Qinge and he would have perished here.

Clinging to that consolation, Xi Li said in a hoarse voice, "You win. I concede."

Though he was utterly unwilling, there was nothing he could do.

This outcome was not what he had anticipated from the start. Originally, according to their plan, it was to be Lv Ruyan who dealt with Jiang Jiang Qinge. Lv Ruyan's foundation and methods were both several degrees superior to his, and although Jiang Jiang Qinge's combat strength was extraordinary, Lv Ruyan should have been able to hold her off.

As for Li Luo, he would be left to Xi Li, who felt that facing Li Luo, he should still have a considerable chance of victory.

But no one had expected that Li Luo would, the moment he entered the field, brew up a killing move and then take Lv Ruyan away in a single swing.

Granted, Li Luo had thereby temporarily lost his fighting ability, but he had taken out their top piece.

Leaving behind Xi Li, the comparatively weaker piece, to face Jiang Jiang Qinge.

One could only say that the moment Lv Ruyan was eliminated, the ending was already sealed.

Xi Li's expression darkened. This time, they had not lost at Jiang Jiang Qinge's hands; rather, they had capsized because of Li Luo. No one had foreseen that Li Luo's killing move would be so terrifying.

This kid had clearly only just broken through to the Unparalleled Upper Second Rank, yet his trickiness was no less than Jiang Jiang Qinge's by much. And, having failed to defeat him this time, there likely wouldn't be many chances left afterward.

His plan to bring Xi Chan back would also fall through as a result.

Dong!

At that moment, a melodious bell-chime rang out across heaven and earth, and an enforcer from the Academy Alliance announced in a loud voice.

"The first bout of the Sand-Fighting Match is won by Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge!"

The moment this cry rang out, it immediately stirred a tidal wave of clamor across the many viewing platforms outside the mountains; countless gazes of shock, envy, and wariness were cast toward those two figures.

This super-sized wager involving one hundred and forty grains of Heaven Mirror Sand had ultimately been claimed by Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge.

Faced with such stakes, even Sheng Que'er, Zhou Jun, Song Jing, Lin Ju, and these other Eighth-Rank Marquis-level powerhouses could not help but show a covetous gleam in their eyes.

But the most ecstatic of all was the viewing platform of Outer Shenzhou.

Guo Guo Jiufeng, Wang Xu, Chen Chi, and the other vice-principals were all flushed with excitement; the other mentors could not help but cheer aloud, their faces reddening with agitation.

At this moment, no one could remain composed.

And no one mocked their loss of composure. Fang Xingyun, Shui Baoping, and the others were still full of envy, because they knew that the holy academies of Outer Shenzhou had truly struck it rich following Li Luo this time.

"Sigh, who would have thought that this Holy Profound Star Academy, whose very name it can barely keep, could produce two such dazzlingly brilliant Unparalleled Heavenly Prodigies. Once we return, we must give those worthless brats in our academies a good scolding—Li Luo's age isn't much greater than theirs, yet his strength has already surpassed even mine." Fang Xingyun sighed.

The other vice-principals also clicked their tongues and nodded.

Although they envied Outer Shenzhou's gains this time, they were also glad to see Li Luo win. After all, no matter what, Li Luo represented Outer Shenzhou, and Outer Shenzhou was part of their Outer Shenzhou as well—at the very least, this could take some of the wind out of the Inner Shenzhou holy academies' usual arrogant sails.

As the various parties boiled with excitement, amid the ravaged mountains, Jiang Jiang Qinge sheathed her sword and stood, then, paying no heed to Xi Li, swiftly made her way to the peak where Li Luo was.

Li Luo was sitting cross-legged on the ground, recovering his resonance. He looked up at the graceful figure stepping through the light—she seemed cloaked in radiance at all times, like a goddess, inspiring an unwillingness to profane.

Yet when her gaze fell upon him, Li Luo could clearly sense that within those deep, mysterious golden eyes, there seemed to be an added touch of gentle mirth.

"Cool." Li Luo gave her a thumbs-up. Jiang Jiang Qinge's sword strike just now had been like the majestic might of heaven itself, inspiring awe.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's crimson lips curved slightly. "Still a shade inferior to your sword."

Li Luo said modestly, "Mine was just a single swing—once it's spent and has no effect, it's my turn to wait for death."

Jiang Jiang Qinge smiled, then extended her slender, fair hand toward him.

Li Luo gazed at that perfect, fair hand before him, sculpted as if from jade, with light flowing across its surface, stirring an urge to toy with it. But in the end he restrained himself, reaching out to grasp Jiang Jiang Qinge's hand.

The soft, cool touch made Li Luo unconsciously tighten his grip a little.

Then he was pulled up by Jiang Jiang Qinge.

Their fingers interlocked tightly.

On the viewing platforms among the mountains, many gazes watched this scene, all somewhat envious.

In the distance, Lv Qing'er's ice-lake-blue pupils reflected this scene as well; ripples stirred within, then gradually stilled again.

Yet Li Hongyou beside her distinctly felt that the cold emanating from her body seemed to have grown a fraction heavier.

And as the Sand-Fighting Match concluded, a beam of light suddenly descended from the sky, finally hovering before Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge. Within the light, grain after grain of Heaven Mirror Sand twinkled like stars, and a surge of vast, pure energy rippled forth, directly causing energy mist to appear throughout the mountains.

"Li Luo, Jiang Jiang Qinge, here are one hundred and forty grains of Heaven Mirror Sand—congratulations to you both." From the sky, Wang Xuanjin's hearty laughter rang out from his lotus seat.

A burning light surged into Li Luo's eyes. Finally in hand.

Having won these Heaven Mirror Sand grains, with the aid of the "Ancient Bronze Lamp's" power, perhaps this time he truly could attempt to charge toward the Unparalleled Third Rank.

He reached out and stored the Heaven Mirror Sand into his spatial orb, then, together with Jiang Jiang Qinge, cupped his hands in salute toward the three King-level powerhouses in midair.

Then, under the gaze of all, the two withdrew from the ravaged mountains.

And as they withdrew, Wang Xuanjin gave a sweep of his sleeve; the world's energy churned violently, and the onlookers watched in shock as the collapsed mountain range began to restore itself.

In the span of a brief moment, everything within the mountains returned to its original state.

Everyone was filled with awe. Was this the method of a King-level powerhouse? To reshape mountains and rivers was but a casual gesture.

Such a magnificent power was already beyond what they, these Marquis Realm cultivators, could fathom.

Wang Xuanjin restored the battlefield, and his unhurried voice slowly drifted out.

"The next match, continue."

However, Li Luo had no interest in watching the subsequent sand-grinding matches. His only thought now was to quickly distribute the Heaven Mirror Sand, then enter closed-door cultivation to break through to Unparalleled Third Rank!