Chapter 848: Xi Ling Jing

Li Luo, Li Li Fengyi, Li Jintao, and Deng Deng Fengxian discussed and decided that after three days, all four banners would depart for Xi Ling Jing.

During these three days, Li Luo did not idle; he devoted himself entirely to cultivating the "Multiform Dragon Fang Sword Array," comprehending the vast, boundless Star River Sword Intent, and collecting the Sword Intent.

After all, this "Sword Intent" was currently one of his hidden trump cards.

He had personally experienced the power of this Sword Intent during his clash with Qin Yi; it was peculiar—both fragile and tyrannical.

By fragile, it meant this Sword Intent had no physical form, so it possessed little inherent destructive power; if deployed alone, its effect would likely be negligible.

But if this Sword Intent was infused into a Marquis Art he himself wielded, the attack power of that Marquis Art would rise a notch.

Previously, Li Luo had infused this Sword Intent into the thunderous light sphere summoned by the "Thunder and Wind Banana Fan," which was how he shattered Qin Yi's "Water Jade Perfection Body" and inflicted heavy damage.

Although this "Sword Intent" had certain limitations, Li Luo was already extremely satisfied with it, given that it was merely a byproduct of cultivating the "Multiform Dragon Fang Sword Array."

What Li Luo truly coveted, however, was the "Dragon Fang Sword" forged from this Marquis Art.

But unfortunately, the Dragon Fang Sword of the "Multiform Dragon Fang Sword Array" was exceedingly difficult to cultivate; Li Luo had only just begun to enter its basics, and he would need to continuously collect "Star River Sword Intent" to use "Dragon Fang Spirit Marrow" as a medium and condense the true "Dragon Fang Sword."

And "Dragon Fang Spirit Marrow" cost thirty million per drop—Li Luo could only choose to endure for now.

The three days passed swiftly as Li Luo, lost in his collection of Sword Intent, gathered nothing in the end; clearly, collecting Sword Intent was a matter of chance, and Li Luo could only console himself by saying it was no surprise—this was, after all, a "Peerless Proto-Art."

Fortunately, the journey ahead to Xi Ling Jing would also take several days, so he could continue cultivating en route.

Longya Mountain Range, Front Mountain Zone.

The peak of a towering Shanfeng had been flattened into a vast square, upon which stood numerous colossal tower-ships, silent and still.

The surface of each tower-ship was covered in golden dragon patterns; as the patterns dimmed and brightened, they seemed to inhale and exhale the energy of heaven and earth.

At the front of each tower-ship, a dragon head, several zhang in size, was carved—majestic and ferocious, its jaws slowly opening and closing, faintly emitting astonishing energy fluctuations within.

These were Dragon Tower-Ships, the military transport vessels of the Five Dragon Bloodlines; since Li Luo's party would lead tens of thousands of banner troops on this mission, they naturally chose to travel by tower-ship to avoid drawing attention along the way.

Moreover, tower-ships were swift and stable, the preferred mode of travel among the top powers of Outer Shenzhou.

Li Luo, Li Li Fengyi, Li Jintao, and Deng Deng Fengxian each led eight thousand banner troops, gathering on the square, creating an overwhelmingly grand spectacle.

After all, four banners totaling over thirty thousand men were deploying at once—such force could easily obliterate a small nation.

Li Luo glanced at the sky and smiled: "The time is right. Shall we depart?"

The other three had no objections; they each turned to their eight thousand banner troops and waved their hands.

In the next instant, qi surged from the bodies of the four banner forces, and countless figures leapt into the air like locusts, darkening the heavens as they descended onto the four already activated Dragon Tower-Ships.

Within moments, over thirty thousand men were fully accommodated by the four Dragon Tower-Ships.

Li Luo and the other four banner leaders also leapt from the ground, landing upon the tower-ships.

Loud, deep horn blasts rang out; the dragon patterns engraved on the four tower-ships erupted in brilliant light, and vast energy rippled outward.

Then, the four tower-ships slowly rose into the sky, transforming into four streaks of light as energy roared behind them, piercing through the clouds and vanishing swiftly into the distance.

The Longya Domain governed Shi Er Jing; each Jing's territory was broader than the Great Xia Nation Li Luo had once called home, and crucially, Longya Domain was merely one of the Five Domains of Li Li Tianwang's lineage.

This revealed the staggering depth of Li Li Tianwang's lineage—something Li Luo could never have imagined during his time in Great Xia.

The power of a Li Tianwang—deservedly famed.

Xi Ling Jing lay at the far western edge of the Longya Range, marking the border of Li Li Tianwang's lineage; beyond lay the territory of another Li Tianwang-level power: Zhao Li Tianwang's lineage.

However, their territories did not fully touch; to avoid direct conflict and escalating tensions, the two Li Tianwang-level powers maintained a neutral buffer zone between them, and the "Xi Ling Jing Dark Zone" Li Luo's party was heading to lay precisely within this zone.

At the speed of the tower-ships, Li Luo's party required roughly six to seven days to travel from the Longya Mountain Range to Xi Ling Jing.

Yet during these days of travel, Li Luo never left his cabin, continuing to devote all his energy to collecting Star River Sword Intent.

After all, this mission was perilous; Li Luo felt he must prepare thoroughly to ensure safety.

Under this relentless, sleepless cultivation, when the tower-ships finally reached Xi Ling Jing, Li Luo achieved his goal—successfully collecting another strand of "Star River Sword Intent."

The main city of Xi Ling Jing was named Xi Ling City; it was not situated inland but on the border, precisely positioned to form the first line of defense against Zhao Li Tianwang's lineage.

When the four Dragon Tower-Ships arrived at Xi Ling City, Li Luo stood atop his vessel, gazing down from above, and saw a massive fortress standing on the plain like a crouching ancient beast, radiating malevolent energy, guarding the border.

Above the fortress, vast, boundless energy fluctuations flickered faintly; upon closer inspection, one would discern a colossal protective array.

As the Dragon Tower-Ships neared, the dragon heads on the ships projected four beams of light; within each beam, a winding dragon pattern shone upon the array, causing ripples of energy to spread through the air, forming a passage.

The tower-ships advanced slowly inward.

As the tower-ships entered the airspace above the fortress, several figures shot upward from below, each exuding immensely powerful energy—clearly, all were Marquis-level experts.

"Hehe, this old man is Li Feng, governor of Xi Ling City. Welcome, the prodigies of the Four Banners of Longya, to my Xi Ling City."

The foremost figure was a white-haired elder; he regarded the four tower-ships with great courtesy. Though he himself was a Marquis and the governor of Xi Ling City, the four banner leaders before him included three direct heirs of the Longya Domain's patriarch—of exalted status—he dared not underestimate them.

Li Luo and the other three now leapt from their tower-ships and bowed respectfully to the white-haired elder.

"Greetings, Governor Li Feng. On our way here, Aunt Yun specifically instructed me to pay you a visit," Li Luo smiled.

This Li Feng was not only the governor of Xi Ling City but also the clan head of the Li Shi branch to which Li Li Rouyun belonged.

The white-haired elder named Li Feng turned his gaze to Li Luo, his expression shifting slightly as he smiled warmly: "Could this gentleman be the Li Luo, the banner leader whose name has recently stirred the Five Dragon Bloodlines?"

Although Xi Ling City was far from the Longya Mountain Range, its leaders closely monitored all developments there—this was natural; for governors like Li Feng, the Longya Mountain Range was the very heart of the Longya Domain, just as local officials in a regular Wang Chao constantly watched for any shifts within the Wang Ting.

After all, even the slightest ripple there could shake their own positions.

Li Luo nodded with a smile.

Seeing this, Li Feng's demeanor grew even more solemn; though Li Luo had only recently returned, intelligence regarding him was likely known to nearly every governor in the Longya Domain.

His father, Li Tai Zhu Xuan, remained a legend within the Longya Lineage.

And as his only son, deeply favored by the patriarch, Li Luo's future status within the Longya Lineage would undoubtedly be extraordinary—perhaps even assuming control of the Qingming Academy was not out of the question.

This man's status within the Longya Lineage had reached its utmost height.

Thus, Li Feng's smile grew even warmer: "You four have traveled far—please enter the city first and rest awhile, shall we?"

Li Luo recalled Li Li Rouyun's instructions, glanced at the other three, saw they had no objections, and nodded with a smile.

"Then we are indebted to you, Governor."

(End of Chapter)