Chapter 748: The Seventy-Two Layer Sha Demon Cave

Regarding Li Luo's confident appearance, Zhao Zhao Yanzhi scoffed at it, merely treating it as a stubborn boy's bravado. Setting aside whether he truly had a fiancée in the Outer Shenzhou, even if he did, a woman from some remote, impoverished place—

—how outstanding could she possibly be? As for her own looks and conditions, Zhao Zhao Yanzhi was still quite confident; otherwise, over the years there wouldn't have been so many men of decent status and background who admired her. And yet Li Luo still dared to brazenly claim that compared to his fiancée, she was but firefly to bright moon—that was excessively arrogant.

Regarding Zhao Zhao Yanzhi's attitude, Li Luo was also a bit helpless. This woman was truly strange—when you coveted her body, she found you disgusting; when you didn't covet her, she herself felt unconvinced and unwilling. What a twisted personality.

So Li Luo shook his head, not wanting to bother with her any longer.

However, Zhao Zhao Yanzhi didn't continue saying more either. After all, the current Li Luo was her superior and her backing. A man's face still had to be given full respect—she understood this point well.

"Flag Leader, our Qingming Flag, apart from daily drills, occasionally receives missions dispatched from within the academy. Completing these tasks yields substantial rewards, regarded as one of our usual sources of extra income."

"Of course, there's another most important place, which is truly the core of all twenty flags of the Five Veins of Tianlong." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi said.

Li Luo immediately looked over upon hearing this and asked curiously, "What place?"

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi smiled charmingly and said, "The Seventy-Two Layer Sha Demon Cave."

"What is this?" Li Luo asked in confusion, pressing further. "Simply put, this is the main training and cultivation ground for the twenty flags. The Seventy-Two Layer Sha Demon Cave was derived by the Old Ancestor using the unparalleled treasure 'Sha Demon Divine Pearl.' This place can condense the Earth's Sha energy between heaven and earth, transforming it into a—

—special existence called a 'Sha Demon.'" "'Sha Demons' are a kind of special energy body, without intelligence, but possessing powerful energy. If you slay one, the 'Earth Sha Energy' contained within it will be released. This 'Earth Sha Energy' has already—

—been refined by the 'Sha Demon Divine Pearl,' so once absorbed, it requires almost no further refinement and can be directly converted into 'Earth Sha Mysterious Light.'"

Li Luo's body jolted upon hearing this, and he said with some disbelief, "Isn't this just a walking 'Yuan Sha Pill'?"

The so-called 'Sha Demon's' effects were nearly identical to those of the Yuan Sha Pill. "Pretty much so. That's why the Seventy-Two Layer Sha Demon Cave is the favorite place for members of the twenty flags. Every flag's dream is to advance into a deeper layer, because with each breakthrough to a new layer, the Earth Sha Energy contained within the 'Sha Demons' becomes—

—even stronger. Moreover, the number of layers each flag breaks through is also inscribed in real time on the stone stele before the Sha Demon Cave, used to motivate the other flags. From a certain perspective, this is also a form of competition among the twenty flags." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi said with a smile.

"Is it very difficult to push into deeper layers?" Li Luo asked. "Of course it's very difficult. In the Sha Demon Cave, the number of Sha Demons on each layer is quite astonishing. Advancing requires relying on collective strength to push forward. Completely clearing one layer consumes a considerable amount of time, so there are many points to test along the way. A moment of carelessness leads to a team wipe. Of course, team wipe here means being forced out due to severe injuries."

"And most importantly, at the end of each layer, there exists an extremely powerful Sha Demon Leader. It possesses tremendously powerful strength, and most of the time, it must be overwhelmed through sheer numbers." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi explained very patiently. "However, if you truly defeat this Sha Demon Leader, the rewards are also extremely generous. Moreover, these rewards follow a merit-based system—the greater the contribution, the richer the reward. So sometimes you might obtain over a hundred streams of Earth Sha—

—Mysterious Light, which could save you a month's salary."

"Over a hundred streams of Earth Sha Mysterious Light?" Li Luo's gaze shifted slightly. He had always assumed the Yuan Sha Pill was the greatest benefit of joining a flag, but now it seemed his perspective had been too narrow. This Seventy-Two Layer Sha Demon Cave was clearly the core site where Li Li Tianwang's Vein once—

—cultivate and temper the younger generation.

Such a place could truly be called a cultivation treasure ground for those at the Earth Sha General rank!

This was the foundation of a Li Tianwang-level power.

"A cultivation holy land built from an unparalleled treasure—truly generous." Li Luo sighed inwardly. The last unparalleled treasure he had seen was the Dragon Bone Holy Grail, but that was something countless holy academies across the entire Eastern Region's Shenzhou fought over. In the end, even Dean Pang had to borrow its power to seal two Alien Kings, yet—

—here, it was used as a special place to temper the younger generation.

One could only say, rich beyond friends. Of course, Li Luo also understood in his heart that this didn't mean Li Tianwang-level powers didn't value unparalleled treasures; it was just that in their hearts, cultivating the younger generation and contributing a continuous stream of fresh blood to the clan was more important than unparalleled—

Here, however, it has been repurposed as a special place for tempering the younger generation.

One can only say, rich to the point of having no friends. Of course, Li Luo understood in his heart that this did not mean the Li Tianwang-level powers did not value Unparalleled Treasures; it was simply that in their hearts, cultivating the younger generation to contribute a constant stream of fresh blood to the clan was more important than Unparalleled Treasures.

"Each of the Five Veins of Tianlong has set up a 'Sha Demon Peak,' which is where the entrance is located. The next opening should be seven days from now."

Li Luo heard this and asked curiously, "Which flag is currently ranked first?"

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi brushed aside the purple hair falling beside her pretty face and said, "Currently ranked first is the Golden Blood Flag of the Dragon Blood Vein. They've already pushed to the forty-third layer."

Hearing this, Li Luo asked curiously, "Which banner is currently ranked first?"

"What about our Qingming Flag? How many layers?"

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi blinked her peach-blossom eyes, her long thick lashes like brushes, enchanting and captivating: "Us?... We're currently at the twenty-seventh layer, ranked fourteenth."

Li Luo couldn't help but shake his head upon hearing this. This ranking was truly mediocre, far behind that Golden Blood Flag. Zhao Zhao Yanzhi also looked somewhat helpless and said, "What can we do? Our Qingming Academy has been in decline all these years, let alone the Qingming Flag? Back when the Grand Academy Master was still here, our Qingming Academy stood foremost among all academies, and the Qingming Flag also claimed the title of the strongest—"

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi blinked her peach-blossom eyes, her long thick lashes like brushes, alluring and enchanting: "Ours... we've currently pushed to the twenty-seventh floor, ranked fourteenth."

"Back when the Grand Academy Master served as Flag Leader of the Qingming Flag, he led everyone to clear all seventy-two layers. This is one of the rare achievements in the history of the Five Veins of Tianlong. At that time, the other nineteen flags all had to look up to our Qingming Flag."

When speaking of the Grand Academy Master's illustrious achievements, even Zhao Zhao Yanzhi's eyes could not conceal her admiration.

Upon learning of the glorious brilliance the Qingming Academy once possessed, no one could fail to feel deep respect for Li Taixuan.

"Is clearing all seventy-two layers very difficult?" Li Luo asked.

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi nodded and said with some pride, "In the past hundred years, the only flag to clear all seventy-two layers was the Qingming Flag under the Grand Academy Master's leadership. Do you think that was difficult or not?"

Li Luo was amazed inwardly. The old man was truly quite impressive. No wonder he wielded such great influence in the Qingming Academy—turns out he had been this fierce since his youth. "The Grand Academy Master being able to achieve this feat should largely be because he cultivated the 'Nine-Turn Dragon Breath Sha Refining Art,' the highest level of the Dragon Breath Sha Refining Art. Once mastered, it is said to better command the flag members and unleash their collective strength—"

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi nodded, a hint of pride in her voice: "In the past hundred years, the only banner to clear all seventy-two floors was the Qingming Banner during the Grand Courtyard Master's tenure. Tell me, is that difficult or not?"

As she spoke, Zhao Zhao Yanzhi looked at Li Luo again and asked, "Flag Leader, you should have also cultivated the Dragon Breath Sha Refining Art, right?"

Li Luo nodded and said, "What I cultivated is the Three-Turn Dragon Breath Sha Refining Art."

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi fell silent, looking at Li Luo with a gaze that said 'you're so weak.'

"Flag Leader, the Three-Turn Dragon Breath Sha Refining Art is for the most ordinary flag members. Almost all Flag Leaders have cultivated the Six-Turn Dragon Breath Sha Refining Art... including me, Li Shi, Mu Bi—we've all cultivated the Six-Turn."

Li Luo said irritably, "In the past in the Outer Shenzhou, I only had the conditions to cultivate the Three-Turn Dragon Breath Sha Refining Art."

"Also, I recall that this Dragon Breath Sha Refining Art can only be cultivated by those who possess a Dragon Physique, right?" Zhao Zhao Yanzhi said. "Indeed. The reason we can cultivate it is that on the first day entering the Qingming Flag, we come into contact with the Dragon Stele. The Dragon Stele plants a strand of Dragon Qi within our bodies, and using this as a medium, we can cultivate the Dragon Breath Sha Refining—

Li Luo said irritably, "In the past, in Outer Shenzhou, I only had the conditions to cultivate the Three-Rotation Dragon Breath Evil-Refining Art."

Li Luo suddenly understood. "So, Flag Leader, my suggestion to you is to go to the Dragon Stele as soon as possible to comprehend the Dragon Breath Sha Refining Art, and ideally obtain the cultivation method for the Six-Turn Dragon Breath Sha Refining Art. This is not only beneficial for your cultivation, but also prevents you from being mocked by others. Otherwise, once your Three-Turn Dragon Breath Sha Refining Art is revealed, it's truly unbearable to look at." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi offered her advice.

Although Zhao Zhao Yanzhi's words weren't pleasant to hear, Li Luo still nodded seriously, because this was indeed what he needed.

Li Luo suddenly understood. "So, Banner Head, my suggestion to you is to go to the Dragon Stele as soon as possible to comprehend the Dragon Breath Evil-Refining Art, and ideally obtain the cultivation method for the Six-Rotation Dragon Breath Evil-Refining Art. This will not only benefit your cultivation, but also prevent others from..."

However, Old Man cultivated the Nine-Turn Dragon Breath Sha Refining Art. If he only comprehended the Six-Turn, wouldn't that be too embarrassing?

When Old Man Li Taixuan returned in the future, he would surely mock him, saying something like, "Boy, if you want to catch up to your father's footsteps, you're still too green."

Just thinking of Li Taixuan's smug smile at that time, Li Luo couldn't help but slap his palm on the table, which startled the nearby Zhao Zhao Yanzhi.

"No need to wait until tomorrow. Going now!"

When his old man returned in the future, he would surely tease him, saying something like, "Boy, if you want to catch up to your father's footsteps, you're still too green."

The moment he thought of Li Taixuan's smug smile back then, Li Luo couldn't help but slap his hand on the table, which startled Zhao Zhao Yanzhi beside him.

"Not waiting until tomorrow, we're going now!"

Li Luo stood up.

This time, the comprehension must start from the ninth revolution! The public account is giving out red envelope covers — it's the cute Yaoyao, and later we'll release Jiang Jiang Qinge's too. Come grab them now, send a different kind of red envelope for the New Year~