Chapter 757: Shamodong Peak

Today's Qingming Training Grounds had an unusually restless atmosphere; everyone was rubbing their fists and eager for action, bristling with momentum, as if welcoming a long-awaited great battle.

Because today was the day the Shamodong opened.

Among the Tianlong Five Veins' Twenty Banners, the Shamodong was something that all banner members both loved and feared. They loved it because here they could obtain more Earth Sha Mysterious Light to boost their cultivation speed; they feared it purely because this place was no simple matter—every layer was fraught with danger at every step, and the enormous number of Sha Mo gave people endless headaches, with countless banner members being tormented to death and back here.

But regardless, the Shamodong was unique to the Twenty Banners, an exclusive cultivation ground for the Twenty Banners, and it would run through the entire career of the 160,000 banner members within the Twenty Banners.

Although generation after generation of Twenty Banners members had suffered plenty here, everyone also understood that the Shamodong had long become the Twenty Banners' honor roll.

If a certain banner of a certain generation could blast through all seventy-two layers of the Shamodong during their term, they would be inscribed upon the golden pillars of the Shamodadian, becoming an honor for later generations to look up to and revere.

Of course, the actual benefits, from top to bottom, were also considerable.

So regarding the Shamodong, the Twenty Banners' members were all extremely enthusiastic, and the most common phrase on everyone's lips in normal times was: "Running the cave feels amazing."

When members of various banners exchanged notes, they also treated their Shamodong progress as a bragging right. Banner members whose progress lagged would, upon hearing those higher-level members holding forth grandly, only slink away in self-abasement, unwilling to become someone else's foil.

From this one could also see just what kind of weight the Shamodong carried within the Twenty Banners.

And Li Luo, who would be participating in running the cave for the first time, also held great curiosity and anticipation for it.

At the Qingming Training Grounds, the eight thousand banner members of the five divisions gathered, their momentum like a rainbow.

"Banner Leader, our Qingming Banner's current Shamodong progress is at the twenty-seventh layer; we've been stuck here for over half a month now. If we can't break through again this time, it'll be quite a blow to the morale of the banner members." On the Fifth Division's side, Zhao Zhao Yanzhi's soft, alluring voice rang out beside Li Luo's ear.

Today she was dressed in a tight combat outfit; the exceptionally form-fitting clothes outlined her already fiery figure to perfection. Below her slender, fair neck rose towering peaks with breathtaking curves, and her long, straight legs were slim and long. Combined with her charming, gorgeous face, this undoubtedly made her the focal point of the field.

Even some male banner members from other divisions cast covetous glances her way from time to time.

But Zhao Zhao Yanzhi ignored all those gazes entirely; instead, as she spoke, she leaned even closer to Li Luo, her faint fragrance constantly drifting into his nostrils.

This in turn caused many gazes to turn toward Li Luo with envy and jealousy.

Li Luo, however, was unmoved by Zhao Zhao Yanzhi's teasing behavior and instead asked, "Is it because there's no Great Banner Leader to command the overall situation?"

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi smiled charmingly and said, "Not really. Actually, before the Shamodong's fortieth layer, whether or not there's a Great Banner Leader doesn't make much difference, because according to the rules, before the fortieth layer, when each banner enters the Shamodong, the five divisions will be separated. These five divisions will encounter different scenarios, and as long as any one of the five divisions passes the test, it can pull the other four divisions through that layer."

Li Luo was somewhat surprised; he had originally thought it required the strength of an entire banner, but unexpectedly it was each division fighting freely on its own.

"So in the past, before the fortieth layer, each banner would form a Sharp Knife Division, gathering many elites, led by the Great Banner Leader, so they could clear the level with maximum efficiency," Zhao Zhao Yanzhi continued.

"However, our Qingming Banner hasn't even selected a Great Banner Leader yet, and the divisions don't submit to each other, so naturally we can't achieve that level of coordination. We can only rely on each division to grind through the hard way."

Li Luo nodded, indicating he understood.

At this moment, Zhong Ling of the First Division suddenly looked at the eight thousand banner members in the field and said loudly, "Fellow colleagues, today is the day the Shamodong opens. I hope everyone will work together with one heart."

Someone laughed and chimed in, "Banner Leader Zhong Ling, whether we can clear this layer mainly depends on the First Division you lead. If you really can break through, your First Division will be the heroes of our Qingming Banner."

This remark did draw some agreement. Although the divisions weren't submissive to one another, there was a fact that had to be acknowledged: among the twenty-seven layers of the Shamodong that the Qingming Banner had cleared, nearly half were first broken through by the First Division.

Zhong Ling's contributions were naturally considerable.

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Zhong Ling smiled gently and waved his hand, saying, "As a member of the Qingming Banner, this is also my responsibility. After all, breaking through the Shamodong benefits all of us."

These well-chosen words drew cheers and applause from many.

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi, however, curled her red lips slightly and said to Li Luo, "This guy has already started winning people over. He's probably dreaming of becoming the Great Banner Leader."

Li Luo smiled and said nothing more, since Zhong Ling was indeed currently the most popular candidate for Qingming Banner's Great Banner Leader; the other banner leaders found it hard to compete with him, Li Luo himself included.

"Everyone, if you're ready, let's set off for Shamodong Peak," Zhong Ling waved his hand at last and issued the order in high spirits.

No one objected. The next moment, the eight thousand poured out of the Qingming Training Grounds like a torrent.

Shamodong Peak was also located at the center of the Longya Mountain Range, not too far from the various banners' training grounds, but this was only relative, because this mountain range was unimaginably vast. So by the time the Qingming Banner arrived at Shamodong Peak, half an hour had already passed.

At the summit of Shamodong Peak, a dark-black great hall crouched like a giant beast. In front of the hall was an extremely vast plaza, large enough to easily accommodate tens of thousands of people.

And now, the plaza was buzzing with noise, with the members of four banners all gathered here.

When the Qingming Banner arrived, countless curious gazes shot over from the plaza, then all converged on Li Luo.

The matter of Li Luo passing the Nine-Turn Dragon Breath trial a few days prior had long been known to everyone.

"That's the Qingming Banner's Li Luo? The Third Master's bloodline?"

"Not bad looking. Being able to pass the Nine-Turn Dragon Breath trial with the strength of a Lesser Sha Palace realm—that's quite impressive."

"Looks like the Qingming Banner will have a backbone from now on."

"Ha, not necessarily. Although this Third Young Master's talent isn't bad, he's still far behind Zhong Ling, and the Qingming Banner's Great Banner Leader selection is less than three months away."

"..."

Numerous whispers spread through the field, and the center of every topic was Li Luo.

After all, as Li Taixuan's son, he himself was an inescapable focal point of conversation, let alone the huge commotion he'd caused a few days prior.

"Little brother!"

Amid the many gazes, two groups led by Li Li Jingtao and Li Li Fengyi from the Purple Qi Banner and the Crimson Cloud Banner respectively stepped forward to greet him.

Both stared at Li Luo with surprise. Li Li Fengyi examined Li Luo with her bright eyes and said approvingly, "Not bad, little brother. In just a few days, you've already become famous among the Twenty Banners."

Li Li Jingtao also laughed and said, "That Nine-Turn Dragon Breath—even Li Fengyi and I failed it many times. How did you do it?"

Li Luo said, "Maybe it's because my phase force level is a bit lower, so the Nine-Turn Dragon Breath was relatively weaker for me. Big Brother and Second Sister are strong, so it was harder for you."

"Sweet talker," Li Li Fengyi said with a charming laugh, her willow-leaf brows arching slightly.

Then she glanced at Zhao Zhao Yanzhi and the others behind Li Luo and said, "You're quite capable, little brother. You've already won over the Qingming Banner's Fifth Division?"

She knew the unruly style of the Qingming Banner's Fifth Division, but judging by the current situation, these people clearly already took Li Luo as their leader.

"If you run into any trouble in the future, you can come find us. We'll back you up," Li Li Fengyi said, her eyes shifting as she suddenly glanced toward Zhong Ling's side with a meaningful look.

Caught by Li Li Fengyi's gaze, Zhong Ling's expression turned somewhat uneasy. Li Li Jingtao and Li Li Fengyi each led a banner, and with the support of the First Master and Second Master behind them, they could be considered the elites among the younger generation of the Longya Vein. In both strength and status, they were far beyond his reach.

Li Li Jingtao and Li Li Fengyi had made it clear they would support Li Luo. Although they couldn't interfere in the Qingming Banner's internal competition, it still brought him some pressure.

Just as Zhong Ling was feeling irritated, he noticed the crowd at another part of the plaza parting, and a slender figure in white emerged amid the adulation.

Seeing this, Zhong Ling immediately looked as if he'd found a savior and hurriedly called out, "Brother Deng!"

Many gazes in the field followed, and when they saw that radiant figure in white, their expressions all grew much more solemn and reverent.

Only Li Li Fengyi frowned.

Because that figure in white was none other than the Banner Chief of the Jin Guang Banner, Deng Deng Fengxian.

At the same time, he was also the true outstanding talent among the younger generation of the Dragon Fang Lineage today. It was precisely because of his existence that the four banners of this generation's Dragon Fang Lineage had not been left too far behind by the other lineages.

Therefore, among the younger generation of the Dragon Fang Lineage today, no one could match Deng Deng Fengxian's prestige.

Even Li Li Jingtao and Li Li Fengyi, who possessed top-tier status, were both overshadowed by him.

Under the many gazes, the exceptionally dignified Deng Deng Fengxian walked into the arena. He first gave Zhong Ling a gentle smile, then cupped his hands in salute to Li Li Jingtao and Li Li Fengyi, his attitude polite.

Regarding his politeness, Li Li Jingtao smiled, while Li Li Fengyi merely snorted coldly and paid him no heed.

Deng Deng Fengxian did not mind this in the slightest. Instead, his gaze shifted and landed on Li Luo of the Qingming Banner. He sized up the latter, a faint smile appearing on his face.

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"This one here must be the Third Elder's son who has just returned from the Outer Shenzhou and then passed the Nine-Turn Dragon Breath trial — Banner Chief Li Luo, I presume?"