Chapter 830: The Most Valuable Golden Dragon Pillar

When Li Luo stepped out of Shuidian, the guests outside the Dragon Pool fell into a silence.

This outcome was truly unexpected.

Li Luo had barely bested Qin Yi and become the first person to exit Shuidian!

"This Li Luo seems quite extraordinary—he won against a stronger opponent, and that opponent is a prodigy who often defeats stronger foes. That's no small feat."

"Li Luo had no logical reason to win—Qin Yi held overwhelming advantage in every aspect. Though Li Luo's final Nine-Turn technique delivered heavy assault, it shouldn't have been enough to shatter her 'Ten Thousand Threads of Water Kill' and then break through her 'Jade-Water Perfection Body'."

"Logically, Li Luo achieving a draw would have been the absolute limit."

"That's true—Li Luo's victory is truly inexplicable."

"Your perspectives are still too shallow—you didn't sense the key. Li Luo's 'Wind-Thunder Banana Fan' was merely external; the true force that shattered Qin Yi's 'Jade-Water Perfection Body' was a peculiar power hidden within the fan—this force was extraordinarily sharp and unstoppable. I suspect it was a power of extremely high caliber."

"Oh? Then this Li Luo truly has no shortage of tricks—he certainly lives up to being Li Taixuan's son. Today's battle carries a hint of his father's former glory."

"......"

The guests whispered among themselves; even though they were all Marquis-level experts, this battle had left even them astonished, for after the Harmonization, both Li Luo and Qin Yi were now "Marquis-level experts."

Such a spectacular battle was worthy of notice.

Yet amid their chatter, their glances occasionally drifted toward the main seat where Qin Qin Lian sat.

And as expected, after seeing the result on the light screen, Qin Qin Lian's face instantly darkened; a terrifying energy surge erupted from her body, causing the nearby void to warp and crack.

Qin Yi's failure had clearly stunned even Qin Qin Lian.

Qin Qin Lian's face was grim. "Impossible. Li Luo's attack was suspicious—he couldn't have shattered Qin Yi's 'Jade-Water Perfection Body.' The sword qi hidden within his strike was too fierce and domineering—it's not something he could possibly control."

She turned her gaze to Li Li Jingzhe. "Could it be that Li Li Jingzhe, the Clan Head, pitied his grandson and secretly aided him?"

Li Li Jingzhe cast her a cool glance but gave no reply to her accusation.

Li Li Jinpan of the Dragon Tooth Clan, seeing Qin Qin Lian dare question his father, flew into a rage. "They say Qin Li Tianwang's line, Qin Qin Lian, is always arrogant and unreasonable—today's tantrum has truly given all present a demonstration."

"Thankfully, my third brother was quick-witted—if that incident years ago had succeeded, our Dragon Tooth Clan would've been thrown into chaos."

This remark struck hard—Qin Qin Lian's eyes instantly flared with fury. She locked her killing intent on Li Li Jinpan and hissed, "What did you say?!"

"I said this isn't your Fire Lotus Hall—you must choose your moment before throwing a tantrum!" Li Li Jinpan refused to yield, shouting back.

Qin Qin Lian trembled with rage; her terrifying Xiangli erupted like a volcano, turning the sky crimson.

But at that moment, Qin Qin Zhiming swept his sleeve—a silent, immense pressure descended from the heavens, shaking the very fabric of heaven and earth, and instantly crushed Qin Qin Lian's outburst back into her body.

Qin Qin Zhiming smiled gently at the five Clan Heads. "Qin Qin Lian's temper is hasty—forgive us for the spectacle."

Li Li Tianji, Clan Head of the Dragon Blood Clan, smiled faintly. "Qin Qin Lian, the Hall Mistress, is famously fiery—everyone knows it. Seeing her daughter lose, her emotions naturally slipped."

Qin Qin Zhiming nodded with a smile, then suddenly shifted tone. "Yet the attack Li Luo unleashed did indeed contain a force beyond his realm—it doesn't seem fitting for his level."

Li Li Jingzhe lifted his eyelids. "Qin Qin Zhiming, don't push your luck. Qin Yi's Shuidian wasn't something she could've created at her level either—didn't you help her quite a bit?"

Qin Qin Zhiming replied gently, "That's a misunderstanding, Li Li Jingzhe. Though I designed this Shuidian for Qin Yi, its current power comes entirely from her own ability."

But Li Li Jingzhe sneered. "Her earring—the Nine-Striped Mirror Stone—isn't cheap. Doesn't every deployment of this Shuidian consume vast quantities of Heavenly Gold?"

Qin Qin Zhiming's smile faltered slightly; his momentum dimmed. He hadn't expected Li Li Jingzhe's sharp eyes—he'd known Qin Yi relied on the hidden Nine-Striped Mirror Stone in her earring to elevate the 'Spirit Mirror Shuidian' to this level. "Li Li Jingzhe, your insight is remarkable," Qin Qin Zhiming muttered dryly.

As for Li Luo's inexplicable power, he no longer pressed the matter.

Li Li Jingzhe had no patience for such empty words—he turned his gaze to the light screen, fixing it on the young boy who had emerged first from Shuidian. On his usually stern, expressionless face, a faint smile of satisfaction appeared.

Li Luo's performance today was truly astonishing.

No one expected him to break through Qin Yi's blockade and become the first to exit Shuidian.

Everyone had assumed the final clash would be between Li Li Qingfeng and Qin Yi—but Li Luo had appeared instead.

Now, who dares question Li Luo's ability? Though Qin Yi was weakened by having to distribute power to suppress others trapped in Shuidian, Li Luo was still only a Lower-Grade Marquis.

Such a result was truly impressive.

After today, Li Luo's reputation will soar through the Five Dragon Clans.

Meanwhile, the senior figures of each clan watched the light screen, their expressions complex, staring at the boy with gray-white hair and refined features. For some reason, they recalled the man who had shaken the Five Dragon Clans many years ago.

Back then, Li Taixuan's achievements were legendary—he was the brightest young prodigy of the Li Li Tianwang line in a hundred years. Not only did he overshadow his peers in the Five Dragon Clans, but even across the Outer Shenzhou, Li Taixuan stood among the absolute pinnacle of his generation.

Now, this son of Li Taixuan, returned from the Outer Shenzhou, seemed to carry a hint of his father's spirit.

The commotion outside meant nothing to Li Luo now—he fixed his gaze on the six colossal coiled dragon pillars barely visible through the mist ahead.

As he'd predicted, no one else had yet exited Shuidian.

Though Li Li Qingfeng was strong, this Shuidian grew stronger against stronger opponents—he'd been delayed by his own 'False Shadow,' and perhaps he'd deliberately avoided expending too much Xiangli on it, knowing a fierce battle for the dragon pillars awaited outside.

But this gave Li Luo the advantage.

His gaze swept over the six coiled dragon pillars, burning with desire.

Originally, his plan had been to secure bronze and aim for silver; the Golden Dragon Pillar had been tempting, but he'd never dared hope for it—claiming it would make him the target of all, and while Li Li Fengyi and Li Jintao from his Dragon Tooth Clan would help him, Deng Deng Fengxian might not. He had no need to fight for the most fiercely contested pillar.

But... the situation had changed.

All other Flag Captains were trapped in Qin Yi's Shuidian—only he had escaped.

This created a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

If he seized this window of time and claimed the Golden Dragon Pillar first, legend said that once its dragon patterns activated, the pillar would become his entirely, and no one else could contest it.

Yet this carried risk—if Li Li Qingfeng and others broke free from Shuidian before the dragon patterns fully activated, he'd face overwhelming pressure.

In that case, he might lose even the chance to settle for second best.

So, what should he choose?

Li Luo's eyes flickered, then hardened into resolve.

Only the Golden Dragon Pillar could grant him more 'Zhu Xuan Huang Dragon Qi'—and 'Zhu Xuan Huang Dragon Qi' was something he must obtain; it would drastically narrow the gap between his true power and that of the other Flag Captains.

So if he lacked the courage to seize this chance to claim the Golden Dragon Pillar, he'd deserve to be looked down upon.

With this thought, Li Luo no longer hesitated—he moved, piercing the air.

If the Golden Dragon Pillar is within reach, the Bronze Dragon Pillar... is no longer worth a second glance.