Chapter 898: Dragon Flame Scorching the Body

The first to reach the fifteen-hundred-zhang mark, as expected, was Li Li Qingfeng.

However, the moment he set foot at fifteen hundred zhang, everyone witnessed a sudden change: gray flames erupted from the void around Li Li Qingfeng, rapidly coalescing into a gray fire dragon roughly a zhang in length.

The gray fire dragon circled Li Li Qingfeng's body, then pierced straight through his flesh.

The fire dragon did not scorch his clothes, but as it passed through his body, Li Li Qingfeng's steps instantly froze, and a look of pain immediately appeared on his handsome face.

That was "Dragon Flame Scorching the Body."

This was the additional trial that only appeared after reaching fifteen hundred zhang, and also the most difficult part of ascending the Dragon.

This gray dragon flame would act directly upon the flesh and blood, burning deep within the bones; even one's own Xiang force would be ignited, and every circulation would bring impact to the body and the Xiang Palace, posing a tremendous trial to one's will.

This dragon flame could also ignite impurities within the flesh during the scorching, helping to temper the body; however, the more impurities one had, the more intense the ignition would be, and naturally, the suffering would increase accordingly.

Thus, anyone with even slightly unsteady willpower would likely reach their limit after only a few steps, unable to proceed further.

However, Li Li Qingfeng's pause lasted only a few brief seconds, then he resumed climbing the stairs; at this point, it was merely a single gray fire dragon, hardly enough to make him hesitate.

As the climb continued upward, the number of these gray fire dragons would increase accordingly; it was said that upon reaching two thousand nine hundred zhang, eight fire dragons would descend upon one's body.

And if one attempted to assault the final hundred zhang, one would face the most difficult trial: "Nine Dragons Scorching the Body."

This was the most terrifying obstacle on the Dragon Ascent; over the years, countless young geniuses of the Five Dragon Bloodlines had been blocked at this step, unable to touch that highest achievement.

Behind Li Li Qingfeng, everyone watched the gray fire dragon writhing outside his body, their expressions Solemn, for they too would soon face this trial.

Li Luo was also watching, but he recalled Li Li Jingzhe's "Nine Dragon Fire Cover"; having endured its daily scorching within it before, he had effectively done some preparation in advance; although the two flames differed in nature, he supposed his tolerance would be slightly improved.

While Li Luo was thinking these thoughts, behind Li Li Qingfeng, Lu Lu Qingmei also stepped onto the fifteen-hundred-zhang mark, immediately summoning a fire dragon upon her body.

A moment later, the second echelon also entered this area.

Li Luo likewise maintained his own rhythm, subsequently entering the fifteen-hundred-zhang mark.

The gray fire dragon appeared out of thin air, circling his body, occasionally drilling into his flesh.

Intense scorching pain surged within his body; Li Luo's brows could not help but furrow. This scorching was indeed different from Li Li Jingzhe's Nine Dragon Fire Cover; to be precise, Li Li Jingzhe's fire cover was more domineering, leaning toward a destructive nature, whereas the gray dragon flame here scoured and refined at more subtle levels, thus testing one's will even more severely.

As the dragon flame passed through his flesh, the impurities hidden deep within his body were ignited one by one.

Li Luo took a deep breath, steadying his mind, while his body gradually radiated a glazed luster, and within that luster, three lights circulated.

Three-Light Glazed Body.

His body seemed to transform into flawless glazed crystal at this moment; allowing the dragon flame to scorch it, his flesh appeared to become even more pure and translucent.

With the appearance of the Three-Light Glazed Body, Li Luo suddenly felt the pressure from the gray dragon flame weaken significantly; this stirred his heart, for because he had cultivated the Three-Light Glazed Body, his flesh was far purer and more resilient than anyone else's.

After all, although the Glazed Fiend Body was not rare among the twenty Flag Leaders present, only he had successfully cultivated the Three-Light Glazed Body.

Thus, Li Luo's climbing speed suddenly increased.

Since the impurities in his flesh were reduced, the intensity of the dragon flame would not escalate, which was undoubtedly more advantageous for him.

Thus, in a short moment, he surpassed Li Li Hongli, Deng Deng Fengxian, and others.

And this acceleration immediately drew many shocked gazes; after all, everyone else was being tortured by the gray dragon flame to the point of agony, so why was Li Luo actually speeding up?

Even Li Li Qingfeng and Lu Lu Qingmei ahead sensed it and turned to glance back.

And when they saw the three-colored luster radiating from Li Luo's body, their expressions changed slightly as they recognized it.

"Three-Light Glazed Body!"

Li Li Hongli could not help but cry out, then her pretty face shifted with an unsettled expression.

They were all cultivators of the Glazed Fiend Body, so naturally they understood how extremely demanding the "Three-Light Glazed Body," the highest grade among Glazed Fiend Bodies, truly was.

It required not only one's own profound foundation but also external opportunities.

In their generation, even Li Li Qingfeng back then had failed to cultivate the Three-Light Glazed Body!

Yet now, Li Luo had achieved it.

What right does this fellow have? He clearly wasted many years in Outer Shenzhou; in such a remote place as Outer Shenzhou, how did he manage to forge such a foundation and base?

Li Li Hongli ground her teeth inwardly; her father was of the same generation as Li Taixuan, so the news she heard most often since childhood was her father's tone, filled with much jealousy and disgust, when speaking of Li Taixuan at home; previously she did not quite understand this emotion, but now, she seemed to understand it a little.

"It's just that he shines a bit in the Fiend Body realm; compared to Brother Li Qingfeng, this Li Luo amounts to nothing. He thinks he can seize the Dragon Head merely by relying on the so-called 'Three-Light Glazed Body'; that is nothing but a fool's dream. The years wasted in Outer Shenzhou are not so easily made up for." Li Li Hongli took a deep breath, fabricating arguments to convince herself, then suppressed the emotions in her heart; after all, she was currently suffering the dragon flame's invasion and had no time to watch Li Luo.

Li Li Qingfeng's gaze also lingered on Li Luo for several breaths, then slowly withdrew, continuing his climb.

He was not greatly affected; the "Three-Light Glazed Body" was indeed extraordinary, but no matter how extraordinary, it was merely a Fiend Body realm technique, and he had already stepped into the Tian Zhu Jing, so he did not believe this so-called "Three-Light Glazed Body" could change anything.

Although the "Three-Light Glazed Body" would reduce the "Dragon Flame" pressure Li Luo encountered during the Dragon Ascent somewhat, changing the final outcome was hardly possible.

Lu Lu Qingmei's gaze toward Li Luo also carried some interest, for she found that this Li Luo always brought her some surprises.

"The Three-Light Glazed Body, hmm? It is somewhat rare. I hope to meet him during the subsequent 'Scale Seizing'; let me test whether this Three-Light Glazed Body can withstand a beating."

Thinking thus, she felt somewhat expectant.

However, Li Luo himself paid no attention to these various gazes; after sensing that the dragon flame's suppression on him had weakened somewhat due to the purity of the Three-Light Glazed Body, he did not waste this opportunity and began to increase his climbing speed.

Very quickly, he left Li Li Hongli, Deng Deng Fengxian, and others behind, even starting to trail not far behind Li Li Qingfeng and Lu Lu Qingmei.

It seemed he showed signs of joining the first echelon.

And as Li Luo began to catch up with Li Li Qingfeng and Lu Lu Qingmei in the first echelon, the other Flag Leaders behind also gradually entered the fifteen-hundred-zhang mark; at this time, the gaps between individuals began to manifest, and their figures gradually spread apart.

Everyone was covered in cold sweat, their faces twisted in pain; the gray fire dragons circling their bodies brought them immense suffering; every step they took would bring intense scorching pain to their flesh.

However, just as everyone was struggling to hold on, their speeds growing slower and slower, they suddenly noticed a figure catching up from behind.

Was that Li Jingtang?

Li Jingtang's speed was not fast; he was merely climbing step by step, but he seemed to move with extreme stability; at the beginning, his speed was even slower than those in the middle ranks like Li Li Fengyi, but after stepping into the fifteen-hundred-zhang mark, everyone's speed began to slow down, yet Li Jingtang maintained his previous pace.

Thus, the distance gradually closed, and Li Jingtang, panting heavily, overtook one by one those who had been ahead of him.

Many Flag Leaders widened their eyes, staring at Li Jingtang.

Li Jingtang kept his head down, climbing while panting, with fire dragons circling his body, constantly piercing his flesh, yet for some reason, his expression did not appear overly pained.

Even with the Dragon's majesty enveloping him, he remained unhurried and steady.

And it was precisely this consistent pace of his that made others find it utterly incredible.

Li Li Fengyi likewise stared in some bewilderment at Li Jingtang, who had caught up and was now walking alongside her.

Perhaps because too many eyes were fixed upon him, Li Jingtang finally sensed something with a dull feeling; he turned his head, looked at those gazes staring at him, immediately shrank back, showed a goofy smile, and then began to slow his pace.

But just as he intended to do so, Li Li Fengyi spoke in a cold voice: "Dare to stop, and I'll break your legs!"

She knew Li Jingtang's laziness and salted-fish nature far too well; without issuing a warning, this fellow would likely just drift through the entire journey.

Li Jingtang froze, flashed an awkward smile at Li Li Fengyi, then could only maintain his speed, climbing step by step, leaving Li Li Fengyi and the others behind, while at the same time catching up to the echelon where Li Li Hongli, Deng Deng Fengxian, and others were located.

Thus, when Li Li Hongli saw Li Jingtang suddenly appear behind her, her beautiful face became extremely expressive.

That expression vividly illustrated one sentence.

Don't come over here!!!

(End of this chapter)