Chapter 1600: Hearts of Old Friends

And while the people on the city walls sighed that the future of Daxia was about to change, the Eldest Princess led Qin Zhenjiang, Qin Qin Zhulu, and others forward to meet Li Luo. That once sharp and alluringly beautiful face had, under years of occupying a high position, been tinged with an even heavier air of authority.

"Li Luo, Jiang Jiang Qinge, it's been many years. Your bearing is even finer than before." The Eldest Princess Gong Gong Luanyu revealed a smile as refreshing as a spring breeze, her eyes carrying a complicated glint as she looked at this young man and woman who had returned.

Li Luo cupped his fists toward Gong Gong Luanyu and laughed, "Greetings to Her Highness the Eldest Princess. No, that's wrong—perhaps now I should be calling you the King."

The Eldest Princess said helplessly, "Lord Li Luo, please don't put this small nation's ruler to shame. With your current status and position, I cannot bear the title of King. If you still remember some of the friendship between us, a simple 'Gong Luanyu' will do."

Having presided over Wang Ting for many years, the Eldest Princess's depth of mind went without saying. From the moment Li Luo returned, she understood that the Li Luo of today was no longer the once destitute young master of House Luolan Mansion. Not to mention her, the so-called ruler of the Daxia Southern Domain's Wang Ting—even the emperors of any Wang Chao or empire across all of Daxia, or even this Eastern Domain's Outer Shenzhou, would dare not put on airs before Li Luo.

After all, setting aside the background behind him, the terrifying army of over ten thousand he led alone would be enough to easily destroy Daxia.

Li Luo smiled. He could hear the probing intent hidden in the Eldest Princess's words, and immediately said, "During the House Luolan Mansion's Mansion Sacrifice back then, Your Highness also gave us support. Moreover, over these years, House Luolan Mansion has benefited greatly from some of Your Highness's care. I will keep this kindness in my heart. When Daxia returns to peace in the future, it will still rely on Your Highness to preside over Wang Ting and restore tranquility."

He had no interest in letting House Luolan Mansion replace Wang Ting and become the supreme ruler over Daxia. Doing so would also tarnish the House Luolan Mansion cherished deep in his memories. As for the old members of House Luolan Mansion, if they wanted longer-term development, Li Luo could bring them to the Li Li Tianwang lineage. He believed that for them, this would be far more attractive than staying in House Luolan Mansion.

Jiang Qing beside him also showed a gentle smile toward the Eldest Princess. She did not speak, instead leaving all decision-making to Li Luo. After all, the Li Luo of today was no longer the young master of the Empty Phase who once needed her protection. He was now the sixth Mai Shou of the Li Li Tianwang lineage, and also, after the Mansion Sacrifice, the rightful Mansion Master of House Luolan Mansion in name and in truth.

After understanding Li Luo's intentions, the Eldest Princess secretly breathed a sigh of relief deep within. At the same time, she felt immensely fortunate that she had maintained good relations with Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge back then. This long-term investment had now clearly yielded returns beyond imagination. With Li Luo's attitude and support, Daxia's return to a golden age was within sight.

Moreover, she understood that this relationship with Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge might become the opportunity for Daxia's future prosperity. She did not mind Li Luo becoming Daxia's true heaven, because in that way, Daxia could also leverage the support of Li Luo and the colossal entity behind him.

The Daxia of that time might well become one of the foremost hegemons of the Eastern Domain's Outer Shenzhou.

Li Luo then took the opportunity to laugh at the burly young man standing beside Qin Zhenjiang, "Qin Qin Zhulu, didn't you used to love challenging me to fights back then? Why have you gone silent now?"

Qin Qin Zhulu rumbled, "I love fighting, but I'm not a fool. Now even my father is an ant in your eyes, let alone me. There's no fighting that."

Qin Zhenjiang's old face darkened at the side. This foolish son—although everything he said was the truth, why drag your old man into it for no reason?

Li Luo laughed and patted Qin Qin Zhulu's shoulder, exchanged a few words, and then went on to greet Yu Yu Hongxi, Du Ze Yan, and others.

Yu Yu Hongxi's mature, charming face was rather indifferent toward Li Luo. Her past favor toward Li Luo had been purely because of her daughter. Now that Lv Qing'er had accepted the Ice Sacred Seed and sealed away her emotions, she likely wouldn't have much entanglement with Li Luo in the future, so naturally Yu Yu Hongxi couldn't be bothered to pay Li Luo any more attention.

Moreover, the Eldest Princess might feel awe toward Li Luo because of his status and background, but to Yu Yu Hongxi, this clearly wasn't an issue.

However, Du Ze Yan was not as composed as she was. After all, just moments ago, they had personally witnessed Li Luo's terrifying feat of slaying a king. The Fox Charm King, who had once brought them endless fear, had been struck down by him, his true body destroyed, and even his origin core captured and suppressed. Such ferocious might was simply terrifying.

So facing Li Luo now, Du Ze Yan's usually cold, stern face appeared somewhat unnatural. The heroic aura of days past had been completely stripped away.

Du Ze Duze Honglian behind him felt her father's change most clearly. A trace of complicated emotion welled up deep in her beautiful eyes, and at the same time, a strange glint appeared in her gaze toward Li Luo.

She was cold and proud by nature, but deep down she harbored a certain admiration for the strong. Her past attitude toward Jiang Jiang Qinge had also arisen from this. In Du Ze Duze Honglian's heart, Du Ze Yan was a hero. Yet now, the all-powerful father in her heart was revealing an ordinary side she had never seen before in front of Li Luo, whom she had once somewhat looked down upon.

This left Du Ze Duze Honglian's heart a tangle of emotions. An inexplicable shock made the tip of her heart tremble ceaselessly.

As for Du Ze Duze Beixuan, he had long been staring at the ground looking for ants, not daring to lift his head, let alone meet Li Luo's eyes.

He now greatly admired his past courage—how he had dared to go trouble Li Luo time and again. So he held a sense of amazement that he was still alive.

"Mansion Master Du Ze, Senior Sister Duze Honglian."

However, while the people of the Du Ze Mansion were inwardly uneasy, Li Luo's mild and polite address made them secretly breathe a sigh of relief. They were now immensely fortunate that during that Mansion Sacrifice back then, just as they were rubbing their fists together, ready to deliver the final blow to House Luolan Mansion, Du Ze Yan had suddenly stopped everything and stepped forward to stand on House Luolan Mansion's side.

"Mansion Master Li Luo." Du Ze Yan's face revealed a stiff smile as he cupped his fists.

"For the Mansion Sacrifice back then, I thank Mansion Master Du Ze for the aid. My mother stayed behind in the Li Li Tianwang lineage this time and couldn't return. When she comes in the future, she will personally thank Mansion Master Du Ze." Li Luo cupped his fists.

"Dantai Lan?"

Du Ze Yan was stunned. The image of that woman whose brilliance had astonished all of Daxia flashed through his mind, but at the same time he inwardly shuddered, because that woman struck harder than Li Taixuan. Back when he challenged House Luolan Mansion, he had been beaten by the couple in a two-on-one fight, leaving him with lasting psychological trauma. When the House Luolan Mansion Sacrifice happened, the fact that he chose to help House Luolan Mansion at the last moment was largely due to this trauma.

However, had Dantai Lan already safely come out of the Wang Hou battlefield? Then what about Li Taixuan?

Sure enough, those fellows in Daxia back then, thinking that the couple would die in the Wang Hou battlefield, were truly too naive.

Now even their son had reached such a level. It was hard to imagine how terrifying those two must be. Si Qing, oh Si Qing—when you learn of what happened today, will you regret the choice you made back then?

After expressing his gratitude to the Du Ze Mansion, Li Luo said no more and walked directly toward the last group of people on the city wall.

That was Pang Pang Qianyuan, Vice President Suxin, Instructor Xi Chan, and many other faces from the academies, as well as support teams from the Academy Alliance like Sheng Que'er, Ning Meng, and Yin Yue Zhiyu.

Pang Pang Qianyuan looked at the two of them and felt a slight daze. Vaguely, it was as if he saw the shadows of Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan. When the two first arrived in Daxia back then, although he didn't know their exact identities at first, he could sense their extraordinariness, so he took the initiative to lower himself and, with his King-realm strength, made their acquaintance.

The reason he had looked after Li Luo back then and given him much trust was largely because of his familiarity with Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan. However, even so, he had never imagined that the one who would resolve the crisis of Shengxuanxing Academy would be this lad who, just a few years ago, was nothing but a greenhorn in his eyes...

In just a few short years, from a boy who had just entered Shengxuanxing Academy, he had grown to the point of being able to slay a king. Such talent made even the well-traveled Pang Pang Qianyuan inwardly tremble. Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan were already monstrous enough, yet unexpectedly, the son they produced was even more terrifying than them.

"President Pang, it's been years. Is this meeting gift of mine satisfactory?"

Meeting the complicated gazes of Pang Pang Qianyuan, Vice President Suxin, and others, the tall, handsome young man with an imposing presence before them also revealed a smile. In his clear, ringing voice was boundless high spirits.