Chapter 550: Clash at the Peak

Outside the broken city gates, thick with malevolent energy, Lan Lan's squad descended, and their gazes likewise turned at once toward the not-far-off trio of the Eldest Princess, Jiang Jiang Qinge, and Li Luo.

Then the expressions of the three also shifted slightly.

Even Lan Lan, usually so composed, couldn't help narrowing his eyes a fraction, making the slits between his lids even smaller.

The two squads stood across the broken avenue, gazes meeting.

The two squads with the highest cumulative scores in the Mixed-Level Tournament had finally collided.

The atmosphere instantly grew Solemn.

"It seems we arrived at this city a step ahead of you, the three of you." In the taut atmosphere, the Eldest Princess smiled bewitchingly and spoke first.

A helpless smile crossed Lan Lan's face. "Classmate Gong, in the Mixed-Level Tournament, first-come-first-served doesn't apply."

"How barbaric," the Eldest Princess sighed, putting on a somewhat frail tone.

She was already alluring and captivating; now, putting on this rare, delicate air, she instantly radiated a quality that stirred pity, and anyone with an unsteady heart would have fallen for it on the spot.

But clearly, Lan Lan, who had cultivated the "Ming Wang Sutra," was absolutely not such a person, so he replied with a calm smile: "Classmate Gong, your team is still ahead of us in points. How about you let us have this city?"

The frail look vanished instantly from the Eldest Princess's cheeks. She smiled lightly. "That's quite the nerve. Do you really think that just because you have the 'Ming Wang Sutra,' you can do whatever you want?"

Lan Lan shook his head. "It's only for the honor of the academy—no step back. Otherwise, if it were anywhere else, if Classmate Gong wanted it, I would certainly yield."

"Pretty words, indeed. Fine, since neither of us is willing to back down, let's do it by the rules." The Eldest Princess spoke flatly.

The so-called rules, naturally, meant fighting first and talking later.

"Here, perhaps more than just our two squads have arrived. Those cunning fellows are all waiting." Lan Lan glanced at the mountains outside the city. He could faintly sense powerful energy ripples flickering in and out of sight—clearly, squads from other academies had also arrived, though they showed no intention of revealing themselves, evidently waiting on purpose for these two highest-scoring squads to clash first.

"That's perfect. We need a battle to intimidate their covetous eyes," the Eldest Princess said.

Lan Lan smiled. "Classmate Gong, are you that confident? We did cross hands in the House-Level Tournament."

The Eldest Princess smiled faintly as well. "You know, things are different now."

"Your 'Ming Wang Sutra' is indeed very strong, but I can still hold you off for some time. During that time, my two teammates should be able to take care of yours. When that happens, I think you'll know what choice to make."

Lan Lan said, "Your hold is only for the time before the 'Ming Wang Sutra' is fully charged, right... In such a short time, although Junior Jiang is invincible among the Three-Star Houses, if Lu Lu Jinci is determined to stall, he should still be able to drag it out for a while. As for Junior Li Luo, he fought Jing Jing Taixu to mutual injury last time and only narrowly won, so the chance of him winning quickly and using that as leverage is even smaller."

"I have a feeling that in the end, it will be my 'Ming Wang Sutra' that descends first, and when that happens, Classmate Gong, you'll have to pay some price."

A hint of threat had already crept into his calm words.

Yet the Eldest Princess merely smiled faintly. Her jade hand tightened around the green jade scepter, and the next instant, tremendous, ferocious phase power surged skyward. Behind her, seven resplendent Heavenly Pearls breathed in and out the energies of heaven and earth, lending her an awe-inspiring pressure.

The moment she struck, she did not hesitate in the slightest. The next instant, the green jade scepter tapped down, and the void violently shattered.

Vast green phase power directly transformed into a colossal blue phoenix light-shadow, then shot forth, shattering layer upon layer of void, and with the speed of a star-chasing moon, locked straight onto Lan Lan.

Lan Lan sighed softly. He raised his palm, and pale blue water-phase power seemed to seep out from the void, like a vast ocean. Within that ocean, an enormous water-phase giant hand rose and reached directly for the blue phoenix light-shadow.

Boom!

The two collided, and violent energy shockwaves ravaged outward, scattering much of the malevolent energy in this stretch of heaven and earth.

At the same time, Jiang Jiang Qinge's graceful figure transformed into a streak of flowing light and shot out, brilliant radiance blazing, aimed straight at Lu Lu Jinci.

Seeing this, Lu Lu Jinci's face changed, and without the slightest hesitation, he drove all his phase power to the limit—then turned tail and ran.

Li Luo gripped the Profound Elephant Blade, tapped his toe, and his figure leaped up, landing in front of Jing Jing Taixu.

"We're crossing swords again," Li Luo said, smiling at Jing Jing Taixu.

Jing Jing Taixu glanced at Li Luo with a complicated expression. The defeat in the House-Level Tournament had left a knot of frustration in him ever since—because if only he had held out a little longer in that fight, the loser would have been Li Luo.

And the title of the strongest in the One-Star House would have fallen to him, Jing Jing Taixu.

"Li Luo, don't waste your strength. This fight won't last long. The main thing to watch now is whether Senior Jiang can catch Senior Lu Lu Jinci before Senior Lan Lan successfully activates the 'Three Bows of Ming Wang.' As for us here, let's just behave and watch." Jing Jing Taixu said flatly.

Li Luo paused slightly upon hearing this, then said, "Do you think there's a possibility—say, that I make the first move, grab you, and then threaten Lan Lan into surrendering?"

The corner of Jing Jing Taixu's eye twitched. He sneered, "It seems the victory in the House-Level Tournament has made you a bit drunk on success?"

Li Luo smiled. In his hand, the Profound Elephant Blade slowly rose, pointing at Jing Jing Taixu.

Seeing this, a flash of anger crossed Jing Jing Taixu's eyes. He said coldly, "Fine! Then I'd really like to see what gives you the right to speak to me like that!"

He clenched his palm, and a green banana-leaf fan flashed into being. Instantly, raging winds rose across heaven and earth.

And as the two squads ranked first and second in points began a great battle before the city, gazes from the surrounding mountains were also watching from afar.

The Gong Gong Shenjun squad happened to be among them.

"Senior Gong, shouldn't we go help? If you and Senior Gong joined forces, you could definitely beat Lan Lan!" Duze Duze Honglian gazed at the distant clash and couldn't help saying.

"Lan Lan's squad is our academy's great enemy. We absolutely cannot let the points from this Level-Three City fall into their hands, or they'll overtake Senior Gong's squad."

Although they belonged to different squads, in Duze Duze Honglian's view, they ultimately came from the same Holy Void Star Academy, and at a time like this, they still needed to join hands against outsiders.

Hearing this, Gong Gong Shenjun shook his head slightly. "We can't move. I can sense other squads have locked onto our position. The moment I act, I'll draw the others, because they're happy to see these two squads fight here. If I intervene, it'll only make things messier."

Duze Duze Honglian froze, then drooped her head in dejection.

"You don't need to worry too much. Luan Yu and the others may not necessarily lose. As long as she can stall for some time, once Senior Jiang catches Lu Lu Jinci, the other side will naturally be wary of putting their own people at risk." Gong Gong Shenjun smiled and offered comfort.

Duze Duze Honglian gazed toward the chaotic battlefield, and in the end could only heave a sigh.

"Let's hope so."