Chapter 1556: The Sixth Branch Head

Staring at the smile that surfaced on Li Luo's face, both Qin Zhongyuan and Li Li Tianji fell silent for a moment, utterly dumbfounded.

No one had expected that a junior they had once looked down upon would suddenly become someone of the very same standing as themselves.

"This appointment by Li Li Tianwang is truly unexpected." After a good while, Qin Zhongyuan finally calmed his shock, then said in a tone that was hard to read.

This appointment was too outrageous. If it spread back to the Li Li Tianwang lineage, it would surely cause an uproar among the various branches. Many of the older generation's strong practitioners, though they wouldn't dare question Li Li Tianwang, would inevitably feel somewhat uncomfortable in their hearts.

After all, the position and authority of a branch head within the Li Li Tianwang lineage were far too high. Li Luo was far too young—how could he possibly have the ability to command respect? In terms of strength, in terms of achievements, compared to those older generation strong practitioners who were several ranks his senior, what advantage did Li Luo have?

Dantai Lan was able to take over Li Li Jingzhe's position because she herself was a Grand Marquis, a strength sufficient to suppress any discontent.

But Li Luo? He was far too young.

Anyone who heard of this appointment would likely feel that the position far exceeded his merits.

Insufficient strength and a sudden climb to a high position was not necessarily a good thing.

So, as the current ruling Palace Master of the Qin Li Tianwang lineage, Qin Zhongyuan understood that Li Li Tianji at this moment was probably suffering a headache precisely because of this sudden, momentous appointment.

How could one dare not accept an appointment from the Old Ancestor? But once accepted, the criticism and rumors from the various branches would be hard to quell.

Under Qin Zhongyuan's somewhat gloating gaze, Li Li Tianji forced out a rather complicated smile and said, "Since the Old Ancestor personally decreed it and appointed you as the sixth branch head, you are naturally qualified to participate in this meeting."

Meanwhile, Li Li Qingying at the side couldn't help but ask, "Li Luo... Branch Head Li Luo, what exactly is going on?"

Li Luo also understood that this appointment from his Old Ancestor would bring tremendous shock. Immediately, his mind stirred, and six streams of radiance slowly rose from the crown of his head, transforming into six Marquis Platforms.

The very instant these six Marquis Platforms appeared, the several King Realm experts present sensed something amiss.

This was not the resonance strength a normal Sixth Rank Marquis Realm practitioner should possess!

The next moment, their pupils abruptly contracted.

"Six Ten-Pillar Golden Platforms?! Unparalleled Sixth Rank?!" Shouts of astonishment suddenly rang out one after another.

The faces of Qin Zhongyuan, Qin Qin Zhiming, and Qin Qu all stiffened. Hadn't this Li Luo only just reached Unparalleled Second Rank two years ago? How had he suddenly skyrocketed to Unparalleled Sixth Rank?!

At this level, if he advanced one more step, wouldn't that make him another Unparalleled Marquis?!

Li Li Tianji and Li Li Qingying exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment and... delight in each other's eyes.

This was absolutely an enormous pleasant surprise!

Unparalleled Sixth Rank, extraordinary combat power—even among Ninth Rank Top Marquises, it counted as top-tier. And most critically, being able to cultivate oneself to such a level was enough to demonstrate one's talent and potential. To step back, with such a foundation, even if the final step of the Unparalleled path failed, one could switch to the path of becoming a King. The future possibility of Enter the King Realm was countless times higher than those other Top Marquises whose potential had dried up.

Therefore, a practitioner who had reached Unparalleled Sixth Rank was almost already considered half a step into the King Realm.

"Xiao Luo, you've reached Unparalleled Sixth Rank!" Dantai Lan was especially delighted by this, holding Li Luo's hand, her eyes full of gratification. However, compared to the others' disbelief, she was only mildly surprised. After all, she had always been very confident in her own son—Unparalleled Sixth Rank was only a matter of time.

Li Luo, however, smiled and said, "Mother, I'm only at the lower Unparalleled Sixth Rank. Jiang Jiang Qinge is still a bit higher than me."

Dantai Lan's beautiful eyes immediately lit up.

"Mother, I've also reached Sixth Rank."

Jiang Jiang Qinge smiled faintly. Six streams of holy light rose above her head, transforming into six sacred and dazzling Ten-Pillar Golden Platforms. The surging resonance flowing upon them was actually a fraction stronger than Li Luo's.

"Good, good, good." Dantai Lan beamed with joy, her eyes brimming with pride and gratification. That expression was simply happier than when she herself had achieved Unparalleled Marquis back then.

While their side was brimming with joy, the expressions of Qin Zhongyuan, Qin Qin Zhiming, and Qin Qu became extremely Solemn and ugly, because they all understood what Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge's Unparalleled Sixth Rank represented.

It represented that in the future, this Dragon Fang Branch might very well produce two more Unparalleled Marquises.

When the time came, three Unparalleled Marquises from a single family?!

What an earth-shattering achievement was this?

Originally, they had assumed that after Li Li Jingzhe's fall, the Dragon Fang Branch would inevitably plummet into a trough, unable to even preserve the name of Dragon Fang Branch. But who could have expected that Dantai Lan, who had achieved Grand Marquis, would suddenly return, and now... these two juniors had also reached Unparalleled Sixth Rank, only one step away from a true Unparalleled Marquis.

How strong would the Dragon Fang Branch become in the future?

And the Dragon Fang Branch growing stronger also meant the foundation and strength of the Li Li Tianwang lineage would become even more formidable. When the time came, how should their Qin Li Tianwang lineage compete with them?

At this moment, the mood of Qin Zhongyuan and the others became exceptionally heavy.

In a corner of the great hall, Qin Yi's beautiful eyes were also watching this scene, surprise surfacing within them. She had originally thought that after inheriting the Qin Li Tianwang lineage's "Water Sacred Seed," she should have been able to catch up to Li Luo, but who could have expected that the gap was only growing wider.

Although she was now at the Third Rank Marquis Realm, she had only forged two Ten-Pillar Golden Platforms. From this point alone, she was clearly lagging far behind Li Luo and the other.

"He's amazing." Qin Yi sighed inwardly. Although her temperament was like water, seemingly gentle, her heart was actually extremely proud. And until now, among her peers, only Li Luo could evoke such a feeling in her.

Li Li Tianji and Li Li Qingying likewise stood stunned for a good while before recovering from the shocking news that the Li Li Tianwang lineage had suddenly gained two Unparalleled Sixth Rank practitioners.

"No wonder the Old Ancestor appointed you as the sixth branch head. With your strength at Unparalleled Sixth Rank, it makes sense." Li Li Tianji secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although Unparalleled Sixth Rank couldn't yet be considered a true Unparalleled Marquis, it was still enough to intimidate many people. After all, Li Luo as branch head was still just a lone commander, without having established a branch or gathered a household.

Then Li Li Tianji's gaze shifted to Qin Zhongyuan, Qin Qin Zhiming, and Qin Qu, whose expressions had suddenly become much uglier. A sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart. How could he not know that earlier Qin Zhongyuan had wanted to see him make a fool of himself, but in the blink of an eye, their Qin Li Tianwang lineage had become the joke instead.

"Palace Master Qin Qu, it seems this really is your problem. Li Luo is the newly appointed branch head of our Li Li Tianwang lineage—how could he be the ignorant, ill-mannered brat you described?"

Li Li Tianji sighed, then shook his head.

"To humiliate a branch head of our Li Li Tianwang lineage like this is improper by any standard. This old man thinks you should apologize to Branch Head Li Luo, and then this matter will be considered settled. How about it?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Qu's face immediately contorted, appearing extremely terrifying, as if fire were about to spew out of his eyes.

"What?! You!!"