Chapter 764: The Price

The difficulty of the twenty-ninth layer of the Shamodadian had clearly risen compared to the previous layer. Not only were the shamans far more numerous, but greater shamans also appeared frequently, creating no small obstacle to the Fifth Division's advance.

However, this time Li Luo did not rush to push forward. Instead, he chose to advance steadily and methodically, minimizing losses as he progressed bit by bit.

"Captain, aren't we going to fight for the first clear of the twenty-ninth layer?" Zhao Zhao Yanzhi was somewhat puzzled. Advancing at this pace meant they would inevitably fall behind the First Division—especially since the First Division had already entered two hours ahead of them. Li Luo shook his head and said, "There's no need to fight for a momentary lead. Our previous first clears have already made the other divisions dare not look down on our Fifth Division. As for the twenty-ninth layer, the First Division has been inside for so long already, and Zhong Ling's mindset has already become somewhat unbalanced."

"He will definitely pour everything into getting the first clear of the twenty-ninth layer. If we rush to compete with him, we will inevitably pay a heavy price in casualties."

"That wouldn't be worth it. After all, this is only the first day."

"Besides, if Zhong Ling wants to fight desperately, let him. We'll conserve our strength and prepare to face the next layer."

Zhao Zhao Yanzhi considered this thoughtfully and said, "If Zhong Ling is truly in such a rush to first-clear the twenty-ninth layer, the First Division's losses will be quite severe. Then over the next two days, they probably won't have the strength to clear any more levels."

Li Luo casually slashed apart over a dozen shamans ahead of him and said, "The key is... the third day." "The third day is the most important. That's when we'll be competing against the other banner divisions. If the First Division suffers heavy losses here, they won't be able to stand against the other banner divisions afterward. At that point, the entire Qingming Banner will have to rely on our Fifth Division." Li Luo said calmly.

Li Shi, Mu Bi, and the others all glanced at Li Luo in surprise. They hadn't expected that while Zhong Ling's side was only thinking about sparing no cost to compete with Li Luo, Li Luo was still looking out for the honor of the entire Qingming Banner.

In terms of vision, Zhong Ling had lost by more than a little. Noticing their gazes, Li Luo merely smiled. After all, no matter what, his father was still the Grand Banner Master of the Qingming Court, and the Qingming Banner was tied to some of the Qingming Court's reputation. So he had to think further ahead. Besides,

the position of Grand Banner Master of the Qingming Banner would eventually be his, so naturally he wouldn't let the Qingming Banner truly sink to a status within the Twenty Banners where anyone could trample on it.

"I wonder which banner division we'll run into this time. Hopefully it won't be one of the top-ten elite divisions." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi pressed her palms together in prayer. "If we run into them, we run into them. Some things can't be avoided no matter how much you dodge them. Besides, stronger opponents can also temper our Fifth Division." Li Luo didn't care much about this. On the contrary, he even looked forward to it. He also wanted to personally test just how strong

"I wonder which banner division we'll run into this time. Hopefully not one of the top ten elite banner divisions." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi pressed her palms together in prayer. "If we run into them, so be it. Some things can't be avoided just by dodging, and stronger opponents can temper our Fifth Division." Li Luo was indifferent about it; on the contrary, he even looked forward to it. He wanted to try it himself, this se

"I'm just a short-sighted woman. I don't have the grand ambitions of our captain, so what I'm thinking about is still the reward the winning division gets." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi said with a charming smile.

"I'm just a short-sighted woman. I don't have the grand ambitions of a banner leader, so what I'm thinking about is still the reward the victor of the banner division battle receives." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi said with a charming laugh.

"Each banner member can obtain several dozen strands of Earth Sha Profound Light, and the captain can obtain a 'Divine Sha Pill.'" Zhao Zhao Yanzhi said. When she mentioned the "Divine Sha Pill," her tone carried undisguised covetousness.

"Divine Sha Pill?" Li Luo was also somewhat puzzled. He clearly hadn't heard of it before.

"The Divine Sha Pill is a purified byproduct produced when refining 'High-Grade Origin Sha Pills.' It's said to be extremely rare, but its effectiveness is more than a dozen times that of a High-Grade Origin Sha Pill. A single Divine Sha Pill can refine out a hundred strands of Earth Sha Profound Light."

"However, the medicinal power of the Divine Sha Pill is too strong. After taking one, it takes several days to fully refine it." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi explained.

Hearing this, Li Luo's eyes trembled slightly once more, giving him another taste of the profound foundation and the heaven-sent advantages of the Outer Shenzhou. Back in Daxia, he had never even heard of this so-called Divine Sha Pill. Still, as beneficial as the Divine Sha Pill might be, there was no need to force the matter; if the opportunity arose, Li Luo would naturally not mind trying one, but if they were truly unlucky enough to encounter those exceptionally powerful elite banner divisions, they could only endure temporarily.

After all, after years of decline, the Qingming Banner already had a gap compared to those higher-ranked banner divisions. That was an undeniable fact.

While they were talking, the shamans in the area ahead had been completely cleared. So Li Luo waved his hand and ordered the Fifth Division to continue advancing at this pace.

But this advance didn't last long before Li Luo's expression shifted, because he sensed the surrounding space suddenly beginning to distort.

"Looks like the First Division cleared the twenty-ninth layer." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi said at this moment as well.

"Zhong Ling does have some real strength." Li Shi also offered his assessment. Calculating the time, it should have been about four hours since the First Division entered the twenty-ninth layer. That pace of advance was quite decent.

"Zhong Ling does have some real strength." Li Shi also offered his assessment. Counting the time, it had been about four hours since the First Division entered the twenty-ninth floor, and that pace of advancement was decent.

Li Luo smiled, then withdrew his phase force and let the distorting space sweep over him. A dozen or so breaths later, when the space stabilized, they had once again appeared outside the gates of Shamodadian.

Everyone looked toward the First Division at once, and their expressions all turned solemn.

They saw that the banner members of the First Division over there had, at a rough glance, lost a large portion of their number. The remaining banner members also looked exhausted, their faces somewhat pale—clearly having just gone through an extremely fierce battle.

At their very front, Zhong Ling's eyes also looked somewhat listless, the phase force fluctuations around his body slightly disordered.

"The First Division lost over four hundred people." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi whispered into Li Luo's ear.

"Zhong Ling was too hasty. With losses this heavy, the First Division's combat power will plummet from here on." Li Shi also said.

Li Luo offered no comment. The First Division drawing a captain like Zhong Ling, who craved grand achievements, was indeed somewhat unlucky.

Under the complicated gazes of the other four divisions of the Qingming Banner, the banner members of the First Division also remained silent, the atmosphere somewhat oppressive.

Zhong Ling's face was also exceptionally grim. Although he had seized the first clear of the twenty-ninth layer this time, the price he paid was far heavier than he had imagined.

He cast a cold glance at Li Luo, then turned and left, saying coldly, "First Division, rest up and tend to the wounded."

The banner members of the First Division followed after him one after another.

Li Luo paid no attention to Zhong Ling's gaze. A man so eager for quick results that he dragged the First Division into heavy losses was clearly not a qualified captain. No wonder he had never managed to become the Grand Banner Master of the Qingming Banner.

He waved his hand, also signaling the Fifth Division to take some rest. The First Division's losses this time were considerable, so presumably they wouldn't be a threat going forward. They had plenty of time to advance while minimizing losses as much as possible.

He waved his hand, signaling the Fifth Division to rest and reorganize. The First Division had suffered considerable losses this time, so they were no longer a threat going forward. They had plenty of time to advance while minimizing casualties as much as possible.

In front of Shamodadian, banner after banner was transmitted out from time to time, and the atmosphere remained lively.

Suddenly, the atmosphere surged sharply, and numerous exclamations rang out.

Li Luo opened his eyes. Zhao Zhao Yanzhi's soft, delicate voice had already come: "Captain, look! The Jin Guang Banner has broken through to the fortieth layer!"

Li Luo's gaze turned to the light screen on the mountain wall to one side of the great hall. Sure enough, he saw the layer number behind the Jin Guang Banner had risen to the fortieth layer, and its ranking had jumped from fifth to fourth.

"This Deng Deng Fengxian really is quite capable. It's said that the fortieth layer's shaman leaders number six, and each one has strength approaching that of a Marquis." Zhao Zhao Yanzhi marveled.

"Six shaman leaders, each with strength approaching the Marquis Realm..."

Li Luo's eyes couldn't help but narrow. A lineup like that was no less difficult than facing a true Marquis-level expert. The fact that the Jin Guang Banner could clear it showed just how strong they were—truly worthy of being the face of the younger generation of the Dragon Fang Vein today.

While Li Luo was inwardly shaken, at the entrance of the great hall, light flickered and several thousand figures appeared at once.

It was the returning Jin Guang Banner. The Jin Guang Banner had eight thousand banner members, and from the look of it, they had lost close to a thousand. Clearly, they too had paid a considerable price to clear the fortieth layer. But for a layer at that level, such losses were still within an acceptable range, so the banner members of the Jin Guang Banner

It was the returning Golden Light Banner. The Golden Light Banner had eight thousand banner members, and by the looks of it, they had lost nearly a thousand. Clearly, they had paid a considerable price to clear the fortieth floor, but such losses were still within an acceptable range for a banner at their level, so the Golden Light Banner's banner

Deng Deng Fengxian led the group toward the Jin Guang Banner's rest area, a figure in white robes, bearing extraordinary, drawing many awed gazes.

Li Luo withdrew his gaze. Deng Deng Fengxian's commanding presence truly lived up to the title of heaven's chosen. Right now, both he and the Qingming Banner undeniably had a gap that couldn't be ignored compared to him.

Li Luo withdrew his gaze. Deng Deng Fengxian's aura was indeed worthy of the term 'heavenly pride.' Right now, both he and the Green Nether Banner undeniably had a gap that could not be ignored when compared to her.

An hour later, the Fifth Division finished resting.

By now it was already deep into the night, but in front of Shamodadian, the lights blazed bright as day.

Li Luo glanced toward the First Division. Zhong Ling showed no sign of movement—clearly their losses earlier had been too heavy, and they still needed more time to recover.

The second day of the Shamodadian was about to end. So next, it was their turn to put on a show.

The second day of the Evil Spirit Cave was about to end, so next, it would be their turn to put on a show.

He said to Zhao Zhao Yanzhi, then led the Fifth Division banner members straight toward the great hall's entrance.

He told Zhao Zhao Yanzhi, then led the Fifth Flag contingent straight toward the palace entrance.

In the rear, in the area of the Golden Light Banner, Deng Deng Fengxian's gaze swept past Li Luo's back.

Beside him, a Banner Head of the Golden Light Banner spoke in a low voice about the movements over at the Qingming Banner.

"Zhong Ling is too impatient. He can't beat Li Luo." Deng Deng Fengxian shook his head and said lightly.

"The Grand Banner Head of the Qingming Banner is most likely going to be Li Luo."

The Banner Head beside him said with some concern: "Li Luo is the Third Elder's son. Once he rises, I'm afraid he'll bring impact to our Golden Light Banner."

"It's fine."

Deng Deng Fengxian said calmly: "Li Luo's talent is indeed extraordinary, but he's fallen behind by too much. Catching up won't be that easy. As long as I'm still here, I can keep him suppressed."

"And once I later become the Grand Banner Head of the Dragon Fang Lineage, I may well need a qualified blade like him."

A hint of dominance surfaced in his words.

The many Banner Heads of the Golden Light Banner around him clearly held Deng Deng Fengxian in great reverence and trust, and upon hearing this they all smiled and nodded.

This Li Luo, though his talent and status are top-tier, it's a pity he didn't come back at a good time. Among the younger generation of the Dragon Fang Lineage, having Deng Deng Fengxian is enough.