Chapter 369: The Fifth Pattern

When Li Luo opened his eyes once more, a familiar scene came into view — it was the rear courtyard plaza of the Great Xia Golden Dragon Treasure House.

He sensed himself at the first instant, and then saw two resonant palaces within his body blooming with radiance. Inside the resonant palaces, two resonant power seeds floated and sank unsteadily, ring upon ring of resonant power halos encircling them, and at this moment, on the surface of the resonant power seeds, five resonant power light patterns were clearly visible.

Abundant resonant power surged forth continuously, like a solar corona.

And upon seeing these five resonant power light patterns, Li Luo was stunned.

This is... the Birth Pattern stage, the Fifth Pattern?!

His resonant power rank had actually leapt straight from the Third Pattern of the Birth Pattern stage to the Fifth Pattern?!

Originally he had thought that this Dao Golden Baptism would, at most, raise his resonant power rank by one level, but he hadn't expected it would be a full two levels.

This Dao Golden Baptism — its effects could actually be this powerful?

Li Luo was overjoyed. These two levels of advancement could save him two or three months of cultivation, and for him, who already lacked time, this was simply a heaven-sent sweet rain.

Moreover, not only had his own resonant power risen, he discovered that the originally severe injuries on his palm had also been completely healed at this moment. This made him click his tongue in admiration — this Golden Dragon Dao Arena was truly thoughtful, healing all your wounds while performing the baptism. Worthy of a faction that believes in harmony bringing wealth.

The injuries were healed?

Li Luo suddenly paused, then his expression changed sharply.

Boom!

And at that very instant, a fierce surge of resonant power erupted behind him. That resonant power reeked of blood — who else could it be but Lin Suo?!

Li Luo's peripheral vision swept over and he saw Lin Suo's face twisted savagely. At this moment, his figure shot like lightning straight toward Lv Qing'er. Clearly, he intended to take Lv Qing'er hostage before anyone could come to their senses!

"You bastard!"

Li Luo couldn't help cursing out loud. How careless of him — he truly hadn't expected that the Golden Dragon Dao Arena had not only healed the injuries of the three of them, but had even rescued Lin Suo, who had been on the brink of death, back to perfect condition!

In such a brief span of time, even he couldn't do anything.

Lv Qing'er likewise noticed Lin Suo's movement at this moment, but compared with Li Luo's change of expression, her own demeanor appeared exceptionally calm. She didn't assume any defensive posture either, simply fixing her icy gaze on Lin Suo as he rushed toward her.

Bang!

And just at the instant Lin Suo was about to reach out and grab Lv Qing'er, a terrifying pressure suddenly descended from the sky. Driven by this pressure, the surrounding natural energy of heaven and earth condensed in a flash, like a mountain, and directly enveloped Lin Suo's body.

Lin Suo's body was slammed flat to the ground at that very moment, his frame crashing heavily onto the surface, smashing out a deep crater. A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed from his lips, mixed within it were fragments of shattered internal organs.

His face was hideously contorted, and the skin on his body was continuously splitting open at this moment.

Fresh blood flowed out, looking utterly horrifying.

Only then did Li Luo raise his head and see that outside the teleportation array, Yu Yu Hongxi stood with several high-ranking members of the Golden Dragon Treasure House. At this moment, Yu Yu Hongxi's gorgeous cheeks held a cold indifference as she stared at Lin Suo, writhing on the ground like a worm. That terrifying pressure was emanating from within her body.

A Marquis-rank powerhouse.

Li Luo's gaze turned solemn. This was the first time he had seen Yu Yu Hongxi strike in anger, and that pressure... was clearly the real deal of a Marquis-rank powerhouse — with every gesture and movement, she could stir the natural energy of heaven and earth to form terrifying might.

No wonder Lv Qing'er paid no heed to Lin Suo's desperate assault — she had absolute trust in Yu Yu Hongxi.

"Lin Suo? What are you doing?!"

At this moment, beside Yu Yu Hongxi, Vice President Ning Kuo and the other high-ranking members also cried out in shock, then demanded sharply.

They had all failed to react just now — after all, Lin Suo was also a member of the Golden Dragon Treasure House. But Yu Yu Hongxi had been far more decisive. Although she too didn't understand what Lin Suo was trying to do, seeing the target of his strike, it was clearly aimed at Lv Qing'er. And as a mother, she had naturally struck without hesitation to suppress Lin Suo first.

Regardless of whether Lin Suo harbored ill intentions, daring to strike at Lv Qing'er like that was an outrage — even if he were killed for it, he'd deserve it.

Li Luo, Lv Qing'er, Qin Qin Zhulu, along with Ning Zhao and Senior Zhu Zhu Xuan, whose expressions were complicated, walked out of the teleportation array at this moment.

"Mother."

Lv Qing'er stepped forward toward Yu Yu Hongxi first and said, "This Lin Suo must have someone behind him. He came for me."

Then, she recounted everything that had happened inside the Golden Dragon Dao Arena in full.

"Golden Dragon Qi?"

Upon hearing that Lv Qing'er had obtained the Golden Dragon Qi, Yu Yu Hongxi, Ning Kuo, and the other high-ranking members all revealed looks of astonishment. And when they learned that Lin Suo had actually destroyed Lv Qing'er's Golden Dragon Qi, a chilling killing intent instantly rose within Yu Yu Hongxi's eyes.

"Ning Zhao, is what Qing'er said true?" Vice President Ning Kuo hurriedly asked.

Ning Zhao hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded and said, "Father, things are indeed as such... This Lin Suo harbored ill intentions, and even we were deceived by him. Originally we intended to go protect Qing'er, but we never expected this beast to secretly strike at her."

Vice President Ning Kuo and the other high-ranking members of the Golden Dragon Treasure House instantly turned solemn-faced, clearly realizing the severity of the matter.

Lin Suo had concealed himself so well — this method of concealment was absolutely not something a mere little Resonant Master realm cultivator could achieve. And having lurked for so many years, he must have had some scheme in mind. What was entangled behind this was worth deep consideration.

Perhaps, he had been waiting for this very opportunity all along?

But why destroy Lv Qing'er's Golden Dragon Qi?

Yu Yu Hongxi's face was expressionless. She cast a cold glance at Lin Suo, whose entire body had been shattered under the energy pressure, and said flatly, "Men, send him to the 'Dragon Prison.' Spare no method — make him spit out everything he knows. I want to know exactly who is directing him from behind."

In the plaza, over a dozen shadow-like figures appeared in response. Black chains shot violently from their sleeves, piercing directly into Lin Suo's flesh and blood, binding even his bones. Finally, these shadows dragged him into the air and vanished swiftly from sight.

From beginning to end, Lin Suo couldn't even let out a single scream.

Li Luo gazed in the direction he had disappeared, sighed with a touch of pity, and thought: Goodbye, friend. Looks like you won't be making it to the farewell dinner.

But every debt has its debtor — I only brought you back to Great Xia, the rest has nothing to do with me. If you've got grievances, go take it up with Yu Yu Hongxi.

And while Li Luo was thinking this in his heart, he suddenly saw Yu Yu Hongxi's gaze turn toward him, and his heart immediately chilled. After all, he had seen Yu Yu Hongxi's cold-blooded side clearly enough earlier — once this ruler of the Great Xia Golden Dragon Treasure House got angry, she could truly leave a person unable to live or die.

But while Li Luo was feeling uneasy, a gentle smile — one never seen before — appeared on Yu Yu Hongxi's gorgeous cheeks, and within that smile was a hint of satisfaction.

"Li Luo, you did very well. You didn't disappoint me," she said slowly.

Faced with Yu Yu Hongxi's rare gentle voice and affable smile, Li Luo was for a moment a bit overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, then carefully asked, "The massive amount of gold for the resonant power soak — can I not have to pay it now?"