Chapter 649: The Great Marquis War

The moment Seeing Niu Niu Biaobiao appeared, Yuan Qing and the others all felt the terrifying pressure that had enveloped them completely vanish. They stared at the figure radiating overwhelming murderous intent with shock and wild joy, their hearts surging with emotion.

When a Marquis-level expert appeared on the opposing side, only a powerhouse of equal rank appearing on their own side could pull everyone back from despair.

"The two Palace Masters truly left a contingency."

Yuan Qing said emotionally. Although he had harbored some guesses before, those guesses were never as reassuring as the reality.

Above House Luolan Mansion, Zhu Zhu Qinghuo, standing in midair, also cast his gaze toward Niu Niu Biaobiao at the first instant. Sensing the murderous aura emanating from the latter, his expression gradually grew Solemn. This murderous aura of the other's was not conjured from nothing—it was forged through genuine mountains of corpses and seas of blood. One could surmise that this person must have once been a peerless villain who had weathered countless battles of slaughter.

"I never imagined that a person bearing such murderous aura would be willing to spend so many years in humble obscurity as a mere cook within House Luolan Mansion," Zhu Zhu Qinghuo said slowly.

Niu Niu Biaobiao held a gleaming butcher's knife, cold light flowing along its blade. At this moment, he was somewhat different from his usual smiling, gentle demeanor—his pupils were slightly bloodshot, and as the extreme murderous aura flowed around him, even a great ferocious beast standing here would likely be cowed by it.

And among those present, even Yuan Qing and the others who were loyal to Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge felt a twinge of fear for a moment, because compared to Zhu Zhu Qinghuo, it was actually Niu Niu Biaobiao, with his towering murderous aura, who looked more like a great villain.

"Since you dare to enter House Luolan Mansion Headquarters with your true body, you should be prepared to pay some price," Niu Niu Biaobiao said, his voice very calm, but as he spoke, even the air seemed to begin reeking of blood.

Zhu Zhu Qinghuo's expression remained unchanged as he said, "You must certainly have been a renowned figure in your time. Although I don't know why you would be willing to humble yourself in House Luolan Mansion, now Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan are both deeply trapped in the Wang Hou battlefield, and may not even have the chance to return. If you are willing to switch allegiance to us, afterward I am willing to share House Luolan Mansion's greatest treasures with you."

This Zhu Zhu Qinghuo was truly sinister and ruthless—he actually intended to try to persuade Niu Niu Biaobiao to surrender at this critical juncture.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Qing and the others immediately began cursing furiously in their hearts, while also growing worried. After all, they had not had much contact with Niu Niu Biaobiao, and they did not know whether this Marquis-level expert who had hidden for so many years would be swayed.

However, Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge showed no ripples of emotion. After all, Niu Niu Biaobiao was no stranger—he was practically an elder who had watched them grow up from childhood. Although they were unclear about Niu Niu Biaobiao's past with Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan, through their contact over these years they had come to understand his temperament extremely well, so they both knew Zhu Zhu Qinghuo's ploy was meaningless.

"If you turn around and leave now, today's events can still be treated as if they never happened. Otherwise... this knife of mine has already tasted the blood of more than one Fourth-Rank Marquis," Niu Niu Biaobiao said indifferently.

Zhu Zhu Qinghuo's eyelid twitched slightly, then he said with a faint smile, "Perhaps what you say is true, but you also know, that was in the past... Now, you are not at your strongest. You've hidden within House Luolan Mansion Headquarters for so many years, never stepping outside, because if you leave this place, your strength will decline extremely severely, won't it?"

"It seems you suffered some serious injury in the past?"

Niu Niu Biaobiao also laughed, revealing his gleaming white teeth: "Come and try, and you'll find out."

The two men's gazes locked, and instantly the energy between heaven and earth began churning violently like stirred seawater. The thunderous booms from the colliding energy, like thunder, echoed throughout the entire Great Xia City.

Zhu Zhu Qinghuo took a step forward, and behind him, a special space seemed to emerge. Within that space, four massive, towering Marquis Platforms stood silently, overlooking the heavens. Each Marquis Platform was inscribed with countless wondrous runes, every single one carved from Zhu Zhu Qinghuo's own accumulated foundation.

The moment the four Marquis Platforms appeared, the entire world trembled violently.

If dual-phase power was the hallmark of a Marquis-level expert's strength, then the Marquis Platforms represented the foundation of each Marquis-level expert.

Legend had it that to step into the Marquis Realm, one needed to condense and compress one's own phase power to the extreme, then from nothing, forge Marquis Platforms within the body. When the Marquis Platforms took shape, one would undergo an unimaginable transformation.

The Marquis Platforms not only embodied the foundation of a Marquis-level expert, but were also one of their most powerful means.

With this single move, Zhu Zhu Qinghuo revealed all four of his Marquis Platforms, clearly treating Niu Niu Biaobiao as an extremely dangerous foe.

As soon as the Marquis Platforms appeared, Zhu Zhu Qinghuo raised his finger and pointed it toward Niu Niu Biaobiao from afar.

Boom boom!

Heaven and earth trembled. From atop those four Marquis Platforms, vast, continuous black fire erupted, and upon closer inspection, countless fragments of rock flowed within it. These rock fragments rapidly melted under the black fire's scorching, and as the two fused together, they transformed into even more domineering black fire lava.

Because Zhu Zhu Qinghuo possessed both the Fire Phase and the Shi Xiang, the two combined, elevating their might another level.

The black fire lava transformed into a ten-thousand-zhang flood, blotting out the sky. The terrifying heat caused the void to twist constantly, before sweeping directly toward Niu Niu Biaobiao.

Such a terrifying offensive made countless onlookers' scalps go numb. Compared to the clashes of these Marquis-level experts, the previous battles truly seemed somewhat inadequate.

As the flood of black fire lava crushed through the void and surged toward him, Niu Niu Biaobiao let out a cold laugh, but did not wield the butcher's knife in his hand. Instead, he slowly clenched his other palm, and at this moment, two enormous phantoms materialized behind him.

One was a giant green ox with four horns on its head, the other a giant bear with emerald eyes and golden fur.

Four-Horned Divine Ox Phase!

Emerald-Eye Golden Bear Phase!

Seeing this scene, Li Luo couldn't help but grin. Uncle Biao actually possessed two Ten Thousand Beast Phases, and both specialized in raw power and ferocity!

Niu Niu Biaobiao threw a punch. This punch seemed to carry no ripple whatsoever, but the moment it was thrown, everyone saw the void ahead seemingly torn apart by an incomparably terrifying force. A fist shadow pierced through the air, colliding directly with the black fire lava flood.

Boom!

At the instant of impact, it was as if heavenly thunder struck earthly fire. Black fire lava exploded outward in all directions, before finally being neutralized by the protective grand formation of House Luolan Mansion Headquarters.

The might of this single punch was terrifying beyond compare.

Zhu Zhu Qinghuo's expression was cold. The aftershock of the fist wind rushing toward him made his skin sting slightly, causing the corner of his eye to twitch. The physical strength of this fierce-looking bald man before him had reached a terrifying level.

Was this the augmentation of two Ten Thousand Beast Phases that specialized in raw power?

However, although surprised in his heart, relying solely on this to force him, Zhu Zhu Qinghuo, back was still not enough.

At this thought, Zhu Zhu Qinghuo's mind shifted. The four Marquis Platforms within the space behind him began to tremble violently at this moment. This trembling rapidly spread outward, affecting the world outside. The next instant, the four Marquis Platforms pierced through the void, descending directly above House Luolan Mansion Headquarters.

Each of these Marquis Platforms was like a mountain range, and with four suspended in the air, they brought terrifying oppressive force.

The energy between heaven and earth churned violently, ceaselessly devoured by these four Marquis Platforms.

Zhu Zhu Qinghuo's expression was cold, then he flicked a finger. The four Marquis Platforms descended directly toward Niu Niu Biaobiao's position to suppress him.

While attacking Niu Niu Biaobiao with the four Marquis Platforms, Zhu Zhu Qinghuo's gaze swept toward the mangled body of Manager Pei Hao on the ground below. His eyes flickered, and he whispered inwardly: "Shen Shen Jinxiao, I've managed to entangle this Niu Niu Biaobiao. From here on, it's your turn."

Meanwhile, in that dim secret chamber.

Shen Shen Jinxiao's eyes narrowed slightly. Everything happening at House Luolan Mansion Headquarters was reflected into his mind.

"House Luolan Mansion Headquarters truly hides another Marquis-level expert. What a ferocious aura..."

He smiled faintly. However, now that this Marquis-level expert was entangled by Zhu Zhu Qinghuo, this was his chance to act. As long as he killed Li Luo and captured Jiang Jiang Qinge, then the scheming of all these years could be considered perfectly complete.

Shen Shen Jinxiao's gaze shifted to the heart on the altar before him, which was beating extremely faintly—about a quarter of it. This was because Manager Pei Hao had been gravely wounded, his vitality on the verge of annihilation.

The corner of his mouth curved into an arc, then he spoke, his voice like a demon's, full of temptation.

"Manager Pei Hao... you have no chance left. Hand over your other half of the heart to me completely, and let me fulfill your wish for you."