Chapter 1662: Li Luo's Seclusion

On the eve of Li Luo's planned seclusion, the Eldest Princess, who had just led her army back to the capital, paid a visit in person, accompanied by Pang Pang Qianyuan and Vice Principal Suxin.

They had all received the news that Li Luo was about to enter closed-door cultivation.

"Li Luo, Qing'e, both Gong Yuan and Gong Gong Shenjun have been captured. If you have any thoughts on how they should be dealt with, you may let me know." The Eldest Princess's radiant cheeks resembled blooming peach blossoms. Though her expression carried a hint of fatigue from the long campaign, her eyes were brighter than ever, and her spirit was at its absolute peak.

The previous split of Daxia under her watch had always been a thorn in the Eldest Princess's heart, and now that thorn had been ended by her own hand.

However, despite returning with the glory of unification, the Eldest Princess did not grow arrogant because of such a monumental achievement, for she was well aware of where the source of that unification truly lay.

Therefore, even when it came to dealing with Gong Yuan and Gong Gong Shenjun—two of her own family—she chose to first seek the opinions of Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e.

Li Luo himself had no interest in the matter. The name Gong Gong Shenjun only made him pause for a moment, vaguely recalling that legendary figure from his days at the Saintly Xuanxing Academy.

But now, that once illustrious figure was nothing more than a captive.

"Eldest Princess, you may decide on your own. Our House Luolan Mansion has no intention of involving itself in Wang Ting affairs. Once Li Luo begins his seclusion, we will close the mansion and refuse visitors." The one who spoke was Jiang Qing'e. She too had no interest in Gong Gong Shenjun's fate, and she understood the Eldest Princess's current reverence toward them, so she made her stance clear.

House Luolan Mansion had no interest in the scheming and infighting among the various factions of Daxia. After all, given Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e's current strength and background, Daxia was simply a dragon in shallow waters for them—not worth their time.

Hearing this, the Eldest Princess hurriedly said, "You are now the pillars of our Daxia. The great chaos is about to descend upon the world, and the Calamities could return at any moment. Daxia needs you."

Jiang Qing'e replied, "If any Calamity appears, I will naturally take action."

Only then did the Eldest Princess breathe a sigh of relief and said, "I will have people constantly monitor the Outer Shenzhou. The moment any trace of Calamity is found, I will personally come to House Luolan Mansion to report to you, Qing'e."

Li Luo then turned to Pang Pang Qianyuan and Vice Principal Suxin and asked, "Dean Pang, the War of Unification has begun in earnest. What are the arrangements from the Academy Alliance?"

Li Luo needed to undergo his seclusion in Daxia because the Pill Saint was here. To refine that strand of Divine Fruit Wind Aspect, he required the Pill Saint's power.

Therefore, he also had to ensure Daxia's stability as much as possible. Otherwise, if at a critical moment during his seclusion, Daxia City were breached by Calamities again, it would undoubtedly have a tremendous impact on him.

But once he began his seclusion in Daxia, the only King-realm experts who could hold down the fort here would be Jiang Qing'e, Pang Pang Qianyuan, and Lan Lan Lingzi. Oh, and the three Beast Kings left behind by the Pill Saint. Such a lineup would have been more than enough to handle Calamities in the past, but the Calamities of the future would be overrun with Ghost Nests and rampaging Heterogeneous Kings—not to be underestimated.

"The Academy Alliance may choose to consolidate the Saint Academies across the Outer Shenzhou in the future, then integrate other powers such as the various Imperial Wang Chao, forming large-scale alliances to counter the Ghost Nests and Demon Kings that will descend upon the various Shenzhou," Pang Pang Qianyuan said.

Li Luo nodded. Facing the great chaos of the world, the Inner Shenzhou at least had numerous Li Tianwang veins anchoring it, but the Outer Shenzhou had no such foundation and could only huddle together for warmth.

Fortunately, the decree of "No Li Tianwang in the Shenzhou" would ensure that for the next ten years, no Li Tianwang would appear in the world. Otherwise, if a great Demon King were to descend upon the Outer Shenzhou, no matter how they huddled together, the result would only be total annihilation.

In the coming years, Daxia should reach an unprecedented golden age, because the world's energy here was denser than elsewhere in the Outer Shenzhou. This change was entirely due to Li Jingzhuo's breakthrough to the Li Tianwang realm.

When a Li Tianwang ascends, heaven and earth celebrate together, and the congratulatory gift is an elevation of this land's status. The world's energy would continuously converge upon this region, and in the future, Daxia would become one of the top cultivation treasure grounds in the Outer Shenzhou.

At the same time, with the arrival of the great chaos, Li Li Tianwang had intercepted the world's fortune of the future to supplement the present. So within these ten years, countless prodigies and experts would surely emerge across the lands of Daxia.

This was the impact brought by the ascension of a single Li Tianwang.

In addition, those with bloodlines close to the Li Tianwang would also benefit greatly. Li Luo himself had experienced this firsthand. After Li Jingzhuo broke through to the Li Tianwang realm, he noticed that his own phase force was constantly in a state of slow enhancement.

This was also because he had already stepped into the Unparalleled Marquis realm, so this enhancement was not too obvious. The most obvious cases were Li Li Jingtao and Li Li Fengyi. In just half a month, their phase force levels had skyrocketed, and they were not far from stepping into the Marquis Realm.

"During the days of my seclusion ahead, I'll have to trouble you all, Dean Pang." Li Luo smiled and cupped his fists in a salute.

Come to think of it, Pang Pang Qianyuan and the others seemed to be acting as his Dharma Protectors.

"You'd better come out of seclusion soon. If you drag it out too long, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold on." Pang Pang Qianyuan's words were half-joking, half-reminder. He too harbored concerns about the future. Even he had never experienced such a chaotic era.

Li Luo smiled and nodded, then chatted with the Eldest Princess and Pang Pang Qianyuan for a while longer before finally rising to see them off.

After seeing the two off, Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e turned around and saw Li Jingzhuo had appeared behind them at some unknown time.

"About to begin your seclusion?" Li Jingzhuo looked at Li Luo and asked.

Li Luo nodded, then he and Jiang Qing'e stepped forward, took Li Jingzhuo's arms, and accompanied him for a walk.

"After you enter seclusion, I will also return to the Li Li Tianwang vein. I'll bring the Five Heavenly Dragon Guards back with me. However, I've spoken with Li Li Qingying, and she will be left behind to serve as your Dharma Protector. After all, she is at least some assistance." Li Jingzhuo patted Li Luo's hand and said in a gentle voice.

"I will inform your mother of everything happening on your end. After I have completely eradicated the hidden danger of that 'Three-Eyed Profound Fetus Great Demon King,' I will enter the Wang Hou battlefield and then help you search for traces of Tai Zhu Xuan."

"Thank you, Grandfather. But please be careful on the Wang Hou battlefield as well," Li Luo said softly.

Li Jingzhuo nodded, then took out two silver beads from his sleeve. Within the beads, violent thunder seemed to rage. He handed the two thunder beads to Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e and said, "The great chaos of the world is coming. Ghost Nests and Demon Kings from the Dark World will descend upon the world. If you truly encounter a life-threatening crisis, crush these thunder beads, and I will descend at any moment."

"Grandfather, for the next ten years, no Li Tianwang may appear in the world. You cannot descend at will either, or it will trigger a backlash," Li Luo said, not taking them, and reminded him instead.

"Could any backlash be more important than the lives of you two little rascals?" Li Jingzhuo frowned slightly and said.

Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e exchanged a glance, both feeling a bit helpless. But they knew the old man's temperament, so they could only accept the thunder beads. However, they also knew that these thunder beads absolutely could not be used. Li Jingzhuo would risk his life to protect them, so how could they bear to endanger his life for the sake of their own safety?

Seeing them pocket the thunder beads, Li Jingzhuo nodded. Then a faint smile appeared on his stern, aged face as he said, "Work hard. I hope that when I return from the Wang Hou battlefield in ten years, I'll be able to meet my great-grandchild."

Li Luo was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh out loud. He glanced at Jiang Qing'e, only to see a flush of red rising on her delicate cheeks.

"Your grandson will work hard," Li Luo vowed solemnly.

Jiang Qing'e couldn't help but cast him a shy, annoyed look.

The three of them strolled through House Luolan Mansion, eventually arriving at a stone gate by the lake. Beneath the stone gate lay the underground palace of House Luolan Mansion.

This place had once been the most important forbidden ground of House Luolan Mansion.

And now, Li Luo had chosen to undergo his seclusion here.

Before the stone gate, Bai Bai Mengmeng stood prettily, with Bai Bai Doudou and Yu Lang beside her. However, the two were rather reserved, their gazes occasionally drifting toward Bai Bai Mengmeng. After all, the latter was still being controlled by the Pill Saint, and the faint, oppressive aura she exuded often made it hard for them to breathe.

"Senior Pill Saint, my grandson is in your care." Li Jingzhuo cupped his fists toward Bai Bai Mengmeng and said.

"It's nothing."

The Pill Saint shook her head, then said to Yu Lang, "From now on, come here once every six months. You cultivate the 'Primordial Aspect Transformation Art,' which makes you perfectly suited to siphon off some of the 'Divine Fruit Wind Aspect' that Li Luo cannot absorb and refine. It will help relieve his pressure, and it will also be a great opportunity for you."

"Yes, thank you, Senior!" Yu Lang quickly agreed. He hadn't expected that his mere Third Rank Marquis cultivation would qualify him to share a piece of the legendary "Divine Fruit Wind Aspect."

"If you want to thank someone, thank Bai Mengmeng."

The Pill Saint waved her hand, then said no more and walked straight toward the opened stone gate.

Li Luo gazed at the deep, dark underground palace and stopped hesitating. He first turned and embraced Jiang Qing'e, then smiled at Li Jingzhuo, Yu Lang, Bai Bai Doudou, and the others.

"I'm going in."

As his voice fell, he also stepped forward, walking into the depths of the underground palace.

The stone gate slowly descended, blocking out all sight.