Chapter 900: Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Seventy Zhang

When the Tian Zhu appeared behind Li Li Qingfeng, the energy of this realm was instantly stirred, continuously converging toward the Tian Zhu behind him, then transformed by the Tian Zhu and channeled into Li Li Qingfeng's body.

His Xiangli fluctuation surged step by step.

A powerful Xiangli pressure swept outward, causing even Lu Lu Qingmei and Li Luo, who were not far behind, to slow their climbing pace.

Tian Zhu Jing has already entered the Tian Gang Jiang rank; in terms of Xiangli abundance, it far surpasses Ji Sha Jing.

Each Tian Zhu is like an engine of a machine—it not only directly enhances one's own Xiangli but also draws energy from the realm, transforms it, and strengthens the cultivator.

Li Luo stared at Li Li Qingfeng's back, his gaze growing Solemn; the latter's entry into Tian Zhu Jing had multiplied his threat level compared to before.

These top prodigies among the Five Dragon Clans were indeed no pushovers.

If judged by the academy tiers of the Sheng Zhu Xuan Star Academy, Li Li Qingfeng had reached Tian Zhu Jing while still at the Three-Star tier—enough to cause a massive uproar across the Great Xia.

Li Li Qingfeng felt the vast, flowing Xiangli within him; under its support, the Stone Dragon pressure that had previously tormented him weakened considerably. He glanced at the six fire dragons circling around him, his expression unchanged, then tapped his foot—his climbing speed surged abruptly.

He raced across the mottled stone steps, leaping dozens of zhang in an instant.

He left all others far behind.

Shocked exclamations erupted from behind.

At this moment, Li Li Qingfeng was the center of all attention, and undoubtedly had stirred great ripples even among the hundred-thousand-plus flagbearers beyond.

Lu Lu Qingmei glanced at Li Li Qingfeng's speeding back, then turned to look at Li Luo nearby and said, "How about it? Still confident about claiming the Dragon's Head? The crushing pressure of Tian Zhu Jing is far stronger than Ji Sha Jing."

Li Luo sighed, "Truly formidable—he's no doubt the most renowned among the Twenty Flags. But facing such an opponent is the best way to forge oneself."

"You dare use Tian Zhu Jing to forge yourself? Aren't you afraid you'll break your blade?" Lu Lu Qingmei raised a delicate eyebrow.

"It's just Tian Zhu Jing—surely not that extreme?" Li Luo laughed.

"If anyone else said that, I'd call them arrogant and delusional. But given your prior performance, I'll give you some time before passing judgment," Lu Lu Qingmei said coolly.

Li Luo stared at her and smiled, "Lu Lu Qingmei, as a top flag chief, you've surely touched Tian Zhu Jing too—why not show it?"

"Then I won't be polite," Lu Lu Qingmei smiled, the gentle breeze stirring her ear-length hair, enhancing her spirited, commanding aura.

As her words ended, a speck of light suddenly appeared behind her, then blazed forth in brilliant radiance—a dazzling energy Tian Zhu coalesced.

This energy Tian Zhu, like a black hole, violently sucked in the realm's energy, transforming it into Xiangli that flowed through her body.

Indeed, Lu Lu Qingmei had also entered Tian Zhu Jing, though her Tian Zhu's brilliance was slightly weaker than Li Li Qingfeng's.

But regardless, it was genuine Tian Zhu Jing.

"I'm going ahead."

Lu Lu Qingmei spoke, and her vast Xiangli surged skyward; her figure instantly became more agile as she chased after Li Li Qingfeng, who led far ahead.

Li Luo watched the two rapidly climbing figures, his expression calm—not rushed, but maintaining his own rhythm, ascending steadily.

Around him, six fire dragons circled, piercing through his flesh, bringing intense searing pain—as if his entire body would be burned to ash from within at any moment.

Internally, dragon fire scorched his body like a furnace; externally, dragon pressure enveloped him like carrying a mountain.

Under such torment, any wavering of will would make it impossible to take another step.

Li Luo's gaze remained calm; his glazed body radiated three-colored light, while within, the Xiangli flowing through his three Xiang Palaces grew ever purer and more refined under the relentless heat of the dragon flame.

As the Xiangli flowed, deep within, a faint, subtle glow seemed to be gestating, pulsing irregularly, exuding an extreme sharpness.

That was the Sha Gang, symbolizing Ji Sha Jing.

The path to the Dragon's Peak was excruciatingly difficult, yet Li Luo was using the immense external pressure to force himself through this breakthrough.

Li Luo climbed step by step.

Yet the situation on the field had changed.

After revealing their Tian Zhu and unleashing their power, Li Li Qingfeng and Lu Lu Qingmei had completely pulled away from the others, ascending straight upward.

Two thousand seven hundred zhang.

Two thousand eight hundred zhang.

Finally, they neared two thousand nine hundred zhang.

At this point, eight fire dragons surrounded them, like eight chains coiling around their bodies, making every step bring unimaginable agony.

The Stone Dragon pressure had also intensified to a terrifying level; their brilliant Tian Zhu behind them continuously emitted dazzling light to resist the pressure.

When they reached two thousand nine hundred zhang, Li Li Qingfeng halted first, his Face Turns Solemn as he stared ahead—only a final stretch remained before the summit.

But once he took that next step, the fire dragons around him would surge to the ultimate nine.

Nine Dragons scorching the body—that was the most terrifying trial on the Dragon's Path.

Countless prodigies had been stopped here in the past.

Even though Li Li Qingfeng had now entered Tian Zhu Jing, he still lacked confidence to pass this final hundred zhang, for even past Tian Zhu Jing flag chiefs had been blocked here before.

Li Li Qingfeng's eyes flickered, but ultimately he suppressed all hesitation; having come this far, no matter how difficult, he had to try.

Thus, under countless eyes from within and without, he stepped forward, taking the step.

As his foot landed on the mottled stone step, everyone saw gray fire surge from his body, forming the ninth fire dragon.

With the ninth dragon's appearance, the previous eight dragons let out low, resonant dragon roars—as if they had awakened a mutual harmony.

The nine dragons swelled in size, their bodies becoming more lifelike, even their scales clearly visible, etched with flame-like patterns.

The nine dragons opened their mouths and spat dragon flame onto Li Li Qingfeng; the flame ignited his Xiangli, causing it to burn violently—even though Li Li Qingfeng possessed the Void Ninth-Rank Wind Long Xiang, whose Xiangli was exceptionally pure, it still melted at an alarming rate under the dragon flame.

His brilliant Tian Zhu behind him operated at maximum capacity, absorbing and transforming realm energy to replenish his Xiangli.

The external Stone Dragon pressure grew even more terrifying, forcing his Tian Zhu to emit a resonant hum under its weight.

Li Li Qingfeng sweated profusely, gritting his teeth, climbing painfully step by step.

One zhang after another.

At this moment, countless eyes were fixed on him—for such a push toward three thousand zhang was truly rare.

Even Lu Lu Qingmei behind him had not yet taken another step; her bright eyes remained locked on Li Li Qingfeng, watching to see how far he could go.

Under the gaze of ten thousand, Li Li Qingfeng climbed one step after another.

He pushed his own Void Ninth-Rank Wind Dragon Form to its limit; a faint Wind Dragon Spirit manifested behind him, clearly showing that he was now revealing his power without any reservation.

Veins bulged on his forehead, and a low roar erupted from his mouth.

And when Li Li Qingfeng's steps reached two thousand nine hundred and seventy zhang, the Celestial Pearl suspended behind him let out a mournful cry at this moment.

The nine dragons coiling around him underwent a change once more; the nine dragons actually began to merge, and in an instant, transformed into a massive Fire Dragon. The Fire Dragon coiled in the void, its dragon eyes gazing indifferently at Li Li Qingfeng. In the next moment, its dragon body ignited, turning into a wisp of dark-golden flame that rushed toward Li Li Qingfeng.

To outsiders, that wisp of dark-golden flame did not seem to possess great momentum, yet in Li Li Qingfeng's eyes, it was as if the entire world had been set ablaze.

This dark-golden flame had already exceeded the degree he could endure; if he resisted it head-on, it would inflict severe injuries upon himself.

In that brief moment, Li Li Qingfeng's gaze flickered; finally, he helplessly let out a sigh, and his steps retreated half a pace backward.

With this half-step retreat, the sound of wind arose, and Li Li Qingfeng's figure had already withdrawn to the position of two thousand nine hundred zhang.

However, a faint light and shadow remained at the two thousand nine hundred and seventy zhang mark where he had just been.

This represented the result Li Li Qingfeng ultimately achieved.

Two thousand nine hundred and seventy zhang; from the peak of three thousand zhang, there was only thirty zhang remaining.

Yet this short thirty zhang was like a heavenly chasm, making it impossible for Li Li Qingfeng to advance even an inch.

Between heaven and earth, whether on the Stone Dragon or among the hundreds of thousands of Twenty Flags spectators watching from the outside, it seemed that everyone let out a sigh of regret at this moment.

Indeed, this Stone Dragon of three thousand zhang is an insurmountable high mountain.

In fact, many people still hoped Li Li Qingfeng could accomplish this feat; after all, he appeared to be the one most capable of doing so. And once he ascended to the summit, their generation of the Twenty Flags would also benefit, standing out among the Twenty Flags of the recent generations.

But unfortunately...

This feat is far more difficult than imagined.

And now that even Li Li Qingfeng has stopped before the three thousand zhang mark, the hope for their generation of the Twenty Flags to achieve the three thousand zhang feat is likely to be slim.

(End of this chapter)