Chapter 749: The Dragon Stele

Under Zhao Zhao Yanzhi's guidance, Li Luo passed through the vast Qingming training ground and arrived at the rear mountain area, where defenses were extremely strict, protected by numerous strange arrays; even Li Luo had to summon his own silver stone seal as flag chief to pass through smoothly.

The training ground was filled with watchful eyes, and now Li Luo was the most unusual person, so as soon as he headed toward the rear mountain, rumors spread rapidly throughout the Qingming training ground.

"Li Luo went to the rear mountain?"

Zhong Ling, flag chief of the First Division, raised an eyebrow at the news and smiled faintly: "He's going to the Dragon Stele to sense the Dragon Breath and refine the Demon-Subduing Art, isn't he? He returned from Outer Shenzhou; even if the Grand Dean left him the Dragon Breath Demon-Subduing Art, it should only be three turns—higher levels require the Dragon Stele."

"Do you think he can achieve six turns?" a loyal flag member asked with a laugh.

"He's the Grand Dean's son, after all. Back then, the Grand Dean himself achieved nine turns of the Dragon Breath Demon-Subduing Art. Li Luo possesses the Three Phases—he's not to be underestimated. I believe six turns won't be difficult." Zhong Ling didn't belittle Li Luo just because he posed a threat; he had secretly witnessed Li Luo's single strike that injured Mu Bi on the training ground.

With the power of a Minor Demon Palace, he injured Mu Bi's Silver Demon Body.

Though Li Luo used trickery—catching Mu Bi off-guard with the Marquis Art—and judging by his appearance, he couldn't unleash a second strike anytime soon, and in a life-or-death battle, Li Luo might not come out ahead, yet this still demonstrated his capability.

After all, the difficulty of mastering the Marquis Art was something they all knew best.

Li Luo possesses the Three Phases and has mastered the Marquis Art; even if his phase power level is currently weak, that's only because he was born in Outer Shenzhou. Now that Li Luo has arrived at the Dragon Fang Vein, with access to its resources, his cultivation will surely flourish—he cannot be ignored.

"What about nine turns?" someone hesitated and asked.

No one spoke. Nine-turn Dragon Breath Demon-Subduing Art… that was the level every one of them, including Zhong Ling, yearned for—a ten-demon-grade demon-subduing art capable of granting massive advantage at the Earth Demon General stage.

And most importantly, if one truly achieved nine-turn Dragon Breath Demon-Subduing Art, it would significantly enhance the Qingming Flag's "Harmonizing Qi."

If Li Luo truly accomplished this, his reputation would rise instantly within the Dragon Fang Vein.

After all, across this generation's twenty flags and 160,000 people, fewer than ten had achieved nine-turn Dragon Breath Demon-Subduing Art—the difficulty was immense.

"Obtaining nine-turn Dragon Breath Demon-Subduing Art isn't easy. Though Li Luo possesses the Three Phases, his own strength is still weak. Those who previously achieved nine-turn Dragon Breath Demon-Subduing Art were at least Great Demon Palace level." Zhong Ling spoke calmly.

He didn't belittle Li Luo, but neither did he overestimate him.

He himself had undergone the Dragon Stele trial and knew how ferocious the Dragon Breath forging was—mental fortitude, phase power, and physical body were all indispensable.

【To be honest, I've been using HuanYuanApp to read novels and follow updates lately—it switches sources easily, offers multiple voice options, and works on both Android and iOS.】

"Let's go see. Such a spectacle is worth witnessing."

Zhong Ling thought for a moment and decided to go in person. In three months, the Qingming Flag's Grand Flag Chief selection would begin; originally, he was certain of victory, but Li Luo's arrival had disrupted his plans. Though he still didn't believe Li Luo would seriously hinder him, he couldn't afford to be careless.

Thus, Zhong Ling, accompanied by a group of loyal followers from the First Division, headed straight for the rear mountain.

At the same time, the other four divisions also received the news and moved swiftly.

Suddenly, the usually quiet rear mountain grew noisy.

Meanwhile, Li Luo had followed Zhao Zhao Yanzhi to the rear mountain, where a terrace stood atop which rose a hundred-zhang stone stele, its surface pale gold, inscribed with no characters, only mysterious light patterns slowly flowing—faintly, as if the silhouette of a majestic, awe-inspiring dragon.

"That's the Dragon Stele. You only need to press your palm against it—the stele will draw you inside. The trial within is 'Dragon Breath Refining.' Dragon Breath has three levels: three turns, six turns, nine turns—the higher the turns, the greater the power."

"You will gradually experience all three levels of Dragon Breath Refining. Once you endure it, you naturally gain the corresponding level of demon-subduing art."

"With your ability, I think passing the six-turn trial won't be hard. But if you attempt the nine-turn trial, the difficulty will skyrocket. I once tried to challenge the nine-turn trial—the nine-turn Dragon Breath nearly burned me to ash. If not for the Dragon Stele's protection, I'd be dead." As Zhao Zhao Yanzhi spoke, her eyes still held traces of fear.

Li Luo nodded, acknowledging.

"By the way, if you truly create a miracle and pass the nine-turn Dragon Breath trial, gaining the nine-turn Dragon Breath Demon-Subduing Art, I've heard there's a special reward." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi reminded him.

"A special reward?" Li Luo was puzzled.

"It's a 'Nine-Turn Art.' With this art, when you activate the 'Return to Dragon Scripture' and harmonize with your flag members, it forms a powerful special technique of extraordinary power." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi said.

"It's not a phase art—you can think of it as a special Mi Fa that synergizes with your flag members' power."

Li Luo nodded. There were many tricks here—no wonder it was a Li Tianwang-level force.

He said no more, stepped forward, climbed the stone steps, and headed toward the golden Dragon Stele on the terrace.

"Flag Chief, good luck! All the flags' Dragon Steles are connected. If someone truly achieves nine-turn Dragon Breath Demon-Subduing Art, every Dragon Stele will respond. Your name will drift across all the steles—then, your name will truly echo through all twenty flags!" Behind him, Zhao Zhao Yanzhi waved, her beautiful face tinged with anticipation.

Li Luo waved back without turning—he could sense many new figures appearing in the rear mountain, their gazes fixed upon him; clearly, the other four divisions of the Qingming Flag had arrived.

Every move he made was drawing intense attention within the Qingming training ground.

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi waited below the stone steps when suddenly, a rush of wind came from behind—Li Shi and Mu Bi arrived.

"Zhao Zhao Yanzhi, why are you bringing the Flag Chief to the Dragon Stele?" Li Shi asked.

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi spread her hands. "The Flag Chief only has three-turn Dragon Breath Demon-Subduing Art. After joining the Qingming Flag, of course he wants a higher-level demon-subduing art."

Mu Bi frowned. "He should wait a while longer. The Flag Chief is only Minor Demon Palace level—his phase power is still insufficient. Attempting the Dragon Breath trial now is too difficult."

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi looked innocent. "The Flag Chief insisted on coming now. What could I do?"

Mu Bi fell silent.

Li Shi paused, then said: "The Flag Chief has exceptional talent. Though his strength is slightly weak, passing the six-turn Dragon Breath trial should be no problem."

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi blinked her thick lashes. "But I think the Flag Chief's intention is aimed at nine turns."

Li Shi and Mu Bi were visibly startled, then wore expressions of concern. Their Flag Chief was young, yet his ambition surpassed everyone else's.

To challenge nine-turn Dragon Breath at Minor Demon Palace level? That was extremely rare in the history of the twenty flags.

"Don't worry too much. If the Flag Chief succeeds, it will cause a sensation and greatly elevate his prestige within the Qingming Flag—I think it's a good thing." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi soothed them.

Li Shi and Mu Bi could only nod. It was too late to stop Li Luo now—they could only watch.

As they spoke, Li Luo climbed the steps step by step. Minutes later, he reached the Dragon Stele. He looked up at the hundred-zhang stone monument, whose mysterious pressure made one feel as if watched by a colossal dragon—those with weak wills might instinctively retreat.

But Li Luo remained unmoved. Under the varied gazes of the rear mountain, his face calm, he extended his palm and touched the Dragon Stele.

The next instant, intense golden light surged from the stele like a golden torrent, completely engulfing Li Luo's figure. When the golden light faded, Li Luo's form had vanished from the spot.

The Dragon Stele trial had begun.