Chapter 639: Going All Out From the Start

House Luolan Mansion Headquarters, the plaza.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, Li Luo's figure darted out like a nimble monkey, landing in the center of the field, facing Manager Pei Hao.

The urgent sound of war drums rang out once again.

Yuan Qing, Cai Wei, Lei Zhang, Yan Yan Lingqing, and others from Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge's faction all grew solemn, a hint of worry in their eyes. After all, the apparent gap in strength between the two in the field seemed rather large.

Although Li Luo's strength had advanced rapidly over the past year, the original gap between him and Manager Pei Hao was simply too vast. Even though Li Luo had now advanced into the Sha Palace Realm, one had to remember that Manager Pei Hao had entered the Extreme Sha Realm several years ago.

The disparity in their levels was nearly an abyss.

This duel was inherently unfair to begin with.

But they also understood that this was no fair duel—it was a fight to the death between both sides for the position of Mansion Lord. To talk about fairness in such a situation, everyone could only call it naive.

Fortunately, however, they still had Jiang Jiang Qinge as their fallback.

Even if Li Luo were to lose to Manager Pei Hao, Jiang Jiang Qinge could still turn the tide. So if they treated Li Luo's fight as merely an exhibition match, Cai Wei, Yuan Qing, and the others felt a little more at ease.

If Li Luo lost, it might cost some face, but it was still better than ultimately letting Manager Pei Hao have his way.

"Young Mansion Lord, the fact that you had the courage to step up this time actually still surprises me," Manager Pei Hao said, staring at Li Luo with a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"You think you've got me?" Li Luo said.

"Young Mansion Lord stepping into the Sha Palace Realm in just one year—that cultivation speed is indeed beyond my reach. If you were given another two years, I think I might truly be surpassed by you. But unfortunately, not now." Manager Pei Hao shook his head and said lightly.

Li Luo smiled.

"What? Don't believe it?"

Manager Pei Hao stared at Li Luo, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "Li Luo, do you really think my strength hasn't improved at all over these past few years? You all know how to hide things—do you think I don't?"

The instant his voice fell, Manager Pei Hao formed a seal with one hand. Immediately, a powerful storm-like surge of Xiang force pressure erupted skyward. That Xiang force took on a golden hue, incomparably sharp, as if it had transformed into a skyful of blade and sword shadows, wantonly slicing through the heavens and earth.

Moreover, what shocked the onlookers most was seeing the vast Xiang force gather behind Manager Pei Hao, ultimately forming two resplendent Tian Zhu, like vortexes inhaling and exhaling the energy of heaven and earth.

The overwhelming Xiang force pressure swept outward.

"Two-Star Tian Zhu?!"

Yuan Qing shot to his feet, his face ashen. "Manager Pei Hao entered Tian Zhu Jing long ago?!"

Cai Wei and Yan Yan Lingqing exchanged a glance, their pretty faces also turning somewhat unsightly.

There was already a massive gap in level between Li Luo and Manager Pei Hao, and now that disparity had been stretched to an unreachable distance.

The atmosphere on Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge's side instantly grew heavy.

On Manager Pei Hao's side, by contrast, smiles surfaced on the faces of Xu Xu Tianling, Elder Mo Chen, and others.

Jiang Jiang Qinge, seated at the head, also saw this scene. Her clear, pure golden eyes shifted slightly, but no ripple crossed her breathtakingly beautiful cheeks. Manager Pei Hao's concealment was actually no surprise...

Besides, whether Manager Pei Hao was at the Extreme Sha Realm or Tian Zhu Jing meant little to Li Luo.

In the Holy Grail War, Li Luo had ultimately been able to grievously wound that Great Calamity-level Other—this proved that the trump cards he possessed had already surpassed the level of Tian Zhu Jing.

Li Luo in the field was equally a little surprised by the strength Manager Pei Hao revealed. He nodded and said appreciatively, "Not bad. I really thought your strength hadn't improved much over all these years. That would've been too embarrassing for our House Luolan Mansion. Otherwise, people would think that someone with such poor talent and potential could still be qualified to compete for the Mansion Lord of House Luolan Mansion. What future would this House Luolan Mansion have then?"

Manager Pei Hao's face was expressionless. He said no more idle words to Li Luo. With a clench of his palm, the small golden sword hanging from his earring dropped down, swelling violently in the wind into a golden longsword, which he gripped in his hand.

"Li Luo, make your move. Don't waste my time," he said flatly.

"Since that's the case..."

Li Luo's palm brushed across the crimson bracelet on his wrist, and a murmur rose in his heart: "Little Three, activate 'Xiao Tian Xiang Mode'."

Tomato Free Reading

From deep within the bracelet came a low growl thick with displeasure—clearly, it was not satisfied with that name.

Though displeased, in that instant a violent, savagely ferocious energy still poured out like a flood. After being transformed by the "Tian Ji Zhou," it surged directly into Li Luo's body.

Red light patterns spread across the surface of Li Luo's body, and even his pupils gradually turned crimson at this moment.

Now that Li Luo had broken through to the Sha Palace Realm, when he borrowed the power of the Three-Tailed Heavenly Wolf, his body's endurance was clearly stronger as well. Although the savage, baleful aura within the Three-Tailed Heavenly Wolf's power still eroded his mind, it was far better than during the Holy Grail War.

"Then I won't hold back."

Those final words, too, slowly spilled from Li Luo's lips.

He lifted his foot and stomped down.

Boom!

The earth trembled. Li Luo's figure shot out from the field like a streak of crimson light, the air exploding along the way. That astonishing force of pressure finally ceased to be concealed, erupting directly from within his body, surging skyward, churning heaven and earth.

Countless people's faces changed.

Including Manager Pei Hao!

Because the power Li Luo had unleashed at this moment had already surpassed Tian Zhu Jing!

"So this is Li Luo's trump card!" This thought flashed through Manager Pei Hao's mind.

Boom!

The void ahead seemed to explode apart. Li Luo's figure had already streaked in like a phantom. His five fingers clenched into a fist, and he threw a punch. Vast blood-red energy poured forth, seemingly transforming into a snarling, clawing primordial giant wolf that came howling down.

Manager Pei Hao did not hesitate in the slightest. The golden sword in his hand trembled, and blade and sword shadows gathered like a flood, finally condensing into a dazzling, blinding sword light that slashed down in fury.

The bluestone of the plaza was instantly sliced open with a deep crack.

Boom!

Yet although the sword light was domineering, the blood-red energy was even more violent. The instant the two collided, the blood-red energy eroded the sword light. After all, the balance of power between them had now reversed. Borrowing the power of the Three-Tailed Heavenly Wolf, Li Luo now possessed strength comparable to Xiao Tian Xiang Jing.

And Manager Pei Hao's Two-Star Tian Zhu Jing was utterly insufficient here.

Bang!

So in the span of merely two breaths, the golden sword light directly shattered, transforming into ten thousand streaks of golden light that flew backward, peppering the ground with countless holes.

Manager Pei Hao's face changed drastically, and his figure tried to retreat.

But the blood-red fist shadow formed by the blood-red energy ahead had already come rushing in, ruthlessly slamming into his body.

Boom!

A deep, thunderous roar echoed as countless horrified gazes around the square saw Manager Pei Hao's figure suddenly blasted away by a single punch from Li Luo; his body, battered and ragged, tore a long furrow across the square before crashing into a massive stone pillar, which shattered, sending boulders rolling down to bury him.

Silence reigned around the square.

Cai Wei, Yan Yan Lingqing, Yuan Qing, and others stood with mouths agape, staring dumbfounded at Li Luo in the arena.

Was the struggle for the Temple Sacrifice over like this?!

Meanwhile, the great battle had already begun at the Luo Lan Mansion headquarters.

Inside the Golden Dragon Treasure Hall's council chamber.

Yu Yu Hongxi sat in the primary seat, with Lu Qing'er standing behind her.

At this moment, Yu Yu Hongxi gazed calmly into the council hall; her eyes swept past Ning Que on the right, then moved across each figure present, and after a moment, her long, jade-like fingers tapped lightly on the table, followed by a cold, sharp voice.

"Where is Elder Han Long?"