Chapter 814: Beginning and End

Li Luo's sudden demand left everyone dumbfounded. In the eyes of many men, being able to act for Qin Yi was already an immense blessing, something they would beg for and never obtain. Yet this Li Luo not only made excuse after excuse, in the end he even proposed charging a fee.

Moreover, it was no small sum.

Ten million Heaven Measure Gold coins — this was absolutely a colossal amount.

Even within the Inner Shenzhou, this sum would be enough to hire a Marquis-level powerhouse to act, so how could a mere Great Fiend Palace realm Li Luo possibly be worth that price?!

This was simply an outrageous demand!

This Li Luo was deliberately making things difficult!

Yet in the face of those strange gazes from all around, Li Luo's expression remained quite calm. His making such an unreasonable demand was actually a kind of test — he wanted to see whether this Qin Yi had truly come for him.

Generally speaking, faced with such a demand from him, a normal person should have been furious, then stopped paying him any attention, and the matter of acting to obtain the lotus seeds would never be mentioned again.

But if, under such circumstances, Qin Yi still insisted on having him act, then there must surely be something fishy about it.

Li Luo's gaze went straight to Qin Yi. After a momentary freeze, her devastatingly beautiful face also recovered its calm. She seemed somewhat vexed as she said: "Why must Banner Leader Li Luo make a fool of me?"

Li Li Qingfeng, seeing that she was a little angry, spoke up to soothe her: "Miss Qin Yi, please don't be angry. Li Luo has only just returned from the Outer Shenzhou, so it's inevitable he carries some rough edges."

He could also tell that Li Luo clearly knew Qin Yi's identity, so his many refusals and obstructions now were also because of the previous generation's grudges, and he held no goodwill toward Qin Yi.

This was actually something he was happy to see.

Qin Yi's jade-like countenance carried a faint chill. She paid no heed to Li Li Qingfeng's words, but stared at Li Luo. It seemed she was truly somewhat angered, her chest rising and falling slightly.

This scene pained the many men who admired Qin Yi, and at the same time made them even more displeased with Li Luo.

"Since Banner Leader Li Luo enjoys making a fool of people, then today I shall keep you company. Although ten million is no small sum, I do have some savings. So be it — tonight, I shall use this ten million to request Banner Leader Li Luo's services." Just then, Qin Yi's voice, tinged with coldness, had already rung out.

This immediately caused a great stir among the crowd. No one had expected Qin Yi to actually agree to Li Luo's obstruction.

Ten million to hire a Great Fiend Palace realm cultivator to act? If the speaker were not the Qin Fairy that everyone admired, someone would surely have cursed her a spendthrift.

"Qin Fairy, there's no need to quarrel with this Li Luo."

"Yes, if Qin Fairy has any need, just say the word, and we can all do it for you!"

"......"

Many people spoke up to advise. In their view, Qin Yi had clearly already been provoked by Li Luo, and her agreeing to the ten-million service fee was entirely a momentary fit of pique.

After all, this bastard called Li Luo was really giving no face to anyone.

Anyone would be angry.

Facing the many attempts at persuasion, Qin Yi merely shook her head slightly. Her jade countenance was covered in frost. With a flick of her finger, a purple crystal card shot straight toward Li Luo. He caught it casually, and at a glance saw the emblem of the Gold Dragon Bank on the crystal card.

".... This is a Gold Dragon Card from the Gold Dragon Bank, redeemable for ten million Heaven Measure Gold." Qin Yi's originally gentle and soft voice had already turned somewhat icy at this point.

Seeing this, everyone was speechless, then smiled wryly. They hadn't expected the Qin Fairy to also have her willful moments.

Li Luo's fingers rubbed the Gold Dragon Card, his expression still calm, but his eyes shifted almost imperceptibly. This Qin Yi was more persistent than he had anticipated.

At this point, he was already certain that this Qin Yi had definitely come for him.

Spending a colossal ten million just to watch him act and help her obtain a single Jade Heart Lotus seed that only had some beauty-nourishing effects — to this he could only say that this Qin Yi was extremely generous.

Thoughts turning in Li Luo's mind, he then slowly stepped out amid the many complicated gazes.

"Take a person's money, dispel their disaster."

Li Luo smiled brightly and said: "Since Miss Qin Yi is so willing to spend, then I can only try my hand."

Qin Yi's jade countenance was covered with a faint frost, but she no longer engaged Li Luo in conversation — she seemed to still be in a fit of anger.

Li Luo paid no heed to her attitude, and strolled over to the edge of the lake, then looked toward Li Li Qingfeng and Li Li Hongli's side and said: "Shall we begin?"

Li Li Qingfeng's mouth twitched slightly. This whole evening, Li Luo's series of outrageous maneuvers had truly left him unsure of what to say.

On Li Li Hongli's side, however, she gave a cold snort and said: "It seems you haven't been doing so well in the Outer Shenzhou, resorting to every means to extort money."

"Earning a living by one's own ability — nothing to be ashamed of." Li Luo said righteously.

As for Li Luo's thick skin, Li Li Hongli could only grit her pearly teeth in secret, then looked toward Zhao Zhao Fengyang and said: "Zhao Fengyang, you must not lose face for our Purple Blood Banner."

Her words clearly hinted that Zhao Zhao Fengyang should not hold back.

Zhao Zhao Fengyang nodded confidently, stepped forward, and stood side by side with Li Luo, smiling lightly: "Banner Leader Li Luo, although you defeated Zhong Ling, that doesn't mean you can win against me."

Li Luo glanced at the other party and kindly reminded him: "Being a simp gets you nowhere good."

Zhao Zhao Fengyang instantly flared up. Damn it, how could this person be so infuriating! No wonder even the Qin Fairy, with such good breeding, had been somewhat rattled by him.

"Enough with the lip-flapping. Let's see the real deal with our hands." Zhao Zhao Fengyang said through gritted teeth.

Li Luo shook his head — his good intentions truly taken for a donkey's liver and lungs.

At this moment, Li Li Qingfeng also stepped forward and said: "According to the rules, from the moment you two step onto the water's surface, both sides may employ any means to obstruct the other from reaching the lotus leaf. Before reaching the lotus leaf, whoever falls into the water is considered defeated."

"If both of you reach the lotus leaf at the same time, you must fight on the lotus leaf. The final victor may take the lotus seed."

He took out a stone, then tossed it directly toward the lake surface.

"When the stone hits the water, the Lotus Duel begins."

Under the gaze of many eyes, after a few seconds, the stone fell directly into the water, producing a plop.

The instant the water sounded, powerful phase force almost simultaneously erupted from within Li Luo and Zhao Zhao Fengyang.

Lightning seemed to flash beneath Li Luo's feet, and then his figure appeared dozens of meters away as if by teleportation — that was "Flash Thunder Art."

.... As for Zhao Zhao Fengyang, his body seemed to transform into a wisp of wind, while his body radiated a glazed-glass-like brilliance — that was the Glazed Fiend Body.

Both sides pushed their speed to the extreme, and the lake surface was torn open with two long trails of water.

Judging from the momentum, Zhao Zhao Fengyang was clearly the more astonishing one. The activation of the Glazed Fiend Body caused the world's energy to continuously pour into his body, and the phase force fluctuations erupting from him were even more powerful than Zhong Ling's during the Banner Leader Contest.

This was the advantage of cultivating the Glazed Fiend Body.

Its foundation was deep and far beyond what the Gold Fiend Body could compare to.

However, what was somewhat surprising was that the phase force fluctuations emanating from Li Luo's body were also extremely powerful, no weaker than Zhao Zhao Fengyang's.

The two raced under the moonlight across the broad, vast lake surface, heading straight for the enormous Jade Heart Lotus at the center of the lake.

Numerous gazes from the lakeside came tensely over.

Li Li Qingfeng watched the two figures, then turned his head and said to Qin Yi: "Although Li Luo is only at the Great Sha Palace realm, he possesses the Three Phases. With the augmentation of three phase palaces, and the existence of the Dual Phase Power, the thickness of his phase force is actually not weaker than an ordinary Glazed Sha Body. No wonder he was able to defeat Zhong Ling in the previous Great Banner Leader contest of the Qingming Banner."

"Actually, Li Luo's talent can be considered top-tier. It's a pity he wasted so many years in Outer Shenzhou, which delayed him quite a bit. If he wants to catch up now, I'm afraid it'll cost him considerable effort." He shook his head, seeming to feel very regretful for Li Luo.

Qin Yi's beautiful eyes gazed at Li Luo, a faint glimmer flashing in her gaze. Three Phases, huh—its rarity is no less than her own Ninth Grade Water Phase.

This Li Luo—even with this talent in Inner Shenzhou, he could be considered a prodigy.

"Although Li Luo can temporarily match Zhao Zhao Fengyang by relying on the eruption of his three phase palaces, his foundation is ultimately lacking. If they truly fought, Zhao Zhao Fengyang would have a great advantage."

Li Li Hongli at the side let out a delicate laugh, then said to Qin Yi: "Miss Qin Yi, your ten million was very poorly spent. But don't worry—if that Li Luo slips up, I'll definitely make him return every coin. This isn't Dragon Fang Vein; we won't indulge his rotten temper."

Qin Yi merely smiled faintly and said nothing.

While they were speaking, on the lake surface, Zhao Zhao Fengyang glanced at Li Luo, who was not falling behind even half a step, and a fierce glint surfaced in his eyes.

The next instant, his figure moved, and he actually pounced toward Li Luo directly like an eagle.

Majestic phase force gathered between his palms, as though a hurricane was forming in his palms. Then with a single palm strike, the ear-piercing sound of air being blasted apart rang out.

The palm wind howled furiously, sweeping up a massive volume of lake water. Wind and water merged, transforming into a giant Zhang Yin that slammed down viciously.

"Great Fury Wind Palm!"

Many exclamations rose from the lakeside. This Zhao Zhao Fengyang had actually launched an attack against Li Luo before even reaching the lotus leaf. Clearly, he intended to wound Li Luo and send him falling into the water before that, then win the victory in fine style.

The terrifying sound of the sonic boom reached Li Luo's ears.

He tilted his head slightly, watching the attacking Zhao Zhao Fengyang with a calm expression.

Facing Zhao Zhao Fengyang's attack, Li Luo did not dodge either; instead, he let the opponent's terrifying palm strike come bearing down on him.

…"Seeking death!" Zhao Zhao Fengyang sneered.

A playful smile curved at the corner of Li Luo's lips. He extended his palm and, toward the howling descending Fury Wind Zhang Yin, gently struck down.

At the same moment, on the crimson bracelet on his wrist, a wisp of scarlet light flowed and stirred.

Yet facing this palm strike from Li Luo, Zhao Zhao Fengyang felt some puzzlement, because he had not sensed much fluctuation of phase force.

But just as doubt and shock rose in his heart, he seemed to faintly hear the sound of an extremely vicious wolf's howl. The next instant, along with Li Luo's palm coming down lightly, a thick stench of blood rushed toward his face.

In that instant, the scene before Zhao Zhao Fengyang's eyes actually changed. His pupils abruptly contracted, because he saw a massive beast charging at him wrapped in indescribable baleful qi.

The terror of that baleful qi directly made Zhao Zhao Fengyang's very spirit tremble.

That was absolutely not something he could withstand!

Zhao Zhao Fengyang's eyes were filled with absolute terror; boundless fear rose in his heart. Under the impact of this terrifying baleful qi, his own phase force nearly collapsed in an instant.

What on earth was this?!

Was this Li Luo's attack?!

Yet no one answered him, because with the collapse of his phase force, Li Luo's palm had already descended lightly, directly and unceremoniously slapping him across the face.

*Slap! *

A crisp sound rang out. A clear red mark appeared on Zhao Zhao Fengyang's cheek, and his figure—As If Struck Heavily—like a bird with broken wings, fell straight down from midair and plunged headfirst into the lake water.

This sudden turn of events left the lakeside in absolute silence.

Everyone stared at this scene dumbfounded.

In their eyes, what had happened a moment ago was truly bizarre. The Great Fury Wind Palm unleashed by Zhao Zhao Fengyang was clearly about to strike Li Luo, yet his own phase force suddenly collapsed, and just like that he was slapped into the water by Li Luo with effortless ease.

Li Li Hongli was stunned for a moment, then her pretty face turned iron-blue.

This Lotus Duel ended faster and more decisively than anyone had anticipated.

It had clearly seemed to have only just begun, yet it already had a result.

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