Chapter 910: The Dragon Head Is Secured

An awkward silence hung over the arena and beyond.

Li Li Qingfeng stood motionless, the blood staining the ground glaringly bright.

Everyone was silent, for no matter who they were, none knew what to say at this moment.

Who could have imagined that Li Li Qingfeng, originally holding an absolute advantage in strength and brimming with confidence, would pull out the "Dragon Blood Balance Art" that made everyone pale, only to perform a massive hemorrhage in front of everyone?

And apart from a probing punch at the very beginning, Li Luo had stood there motionless from start to finish.

Yet while Li Luo had not moved, Li Li Qingfeng was already severely injured.

Losing half one's blood is far more severe than any broken bone or torn muscle for those of the Dragon Bloodline who draw power from their bloodline.

This is also the drawback of the "Dragon Blood Balance Art"; once it fails, the user suffers a devastating backlash.

Li Luo felt helpless too, looking at Li Li Qingfeng and asking, "Li Li Qingfeng Great Flag Leader, how about we just call it a day?"

If Li Li Qingfeng were at full strength, with the second Sky Pearl formed from that blood bead, Li Luo would surely have faced a battle where he poured out all his power.

But now, Li Li Qingfeng was severely injured and had no chance left.

One could say the originally brilliant situation was completely ruined by Li Li Qingfeng's impulsive choice of the "Dragon Blood Balance Art."

Everyone knew Li Li Qingfeng originally wanted to show off, but who knew he would show himself right out of the picture.

Li Li Qingfeng's face was pale and expressionless; perhaps he knew that if he showed even a hint of emotion now, he might not be able to stop himself from slapping himself twice.

"I will not admit defeat." Li Li Qingfeng's voice had become hoarse, yet he still maintained his pride.

He had no choice; he knew that if he admitted defeat now, his reputation within the Dragon Bloodline would completely collapse.

Li Luo nodded and made a gesture inviting him to proceed.

Li Li Qingfeng struggled to suppress the surging injuries within his body; the crimson Sky Pearl that had existed behind him had long since dissipated with the massive blood loss, and even the brilliant Sky Pearl he had cultivated himself had grown dimmer at this moment.

Nevertheless, he still forced himself to activate it.

A mighty power surged forth.

In the next instant, Li Li Qingfeng's figure shot out like a gale, all his power within his body exploding at this very moment; like a meteor about to extinguish, he launched his final assault against Li Luo.

The momentum was not weak, yet it appeared somewhat tragic.

Li Luo held no contempt; he gripped the sword hilt tightly with five fingers and took a step forward.

Thunder roared within his body.

"Thunder Body, Third Layer of Thunder Sound!"

"Elephant Spirit Power, Third Layer!"

"Dual Power, Third Realm!"

Surging power rushed forth from Li Luo's body like a torrent; he formed a seal with his fingertips, afterimages fluttering, then slashed with his blade: "Sealing Marquis Art, Black Dragon Netherwater Flag!"

The void was cleaved by the blade light, instantly forming a crack, followed by the sound of surging water; the next moment, the Black Dragon rode forth on the chilling Netherwater, whistling out, causing the very air to freeze with frost.

Roar!

Under the gaze of many, the Black Dragon riding the Netherwater crashed directly into the whistling Li Li Qingfeng.

Boom!

A violent energy shockwave erupted, a sonic boom screeched, and the ground cracked continuously.

The Sky Pearl behind Li Li Qingfeng trembled wildly, swallowing and spitting out the energy of heaven and earth to bolster his power; he struggled to resist the roaring Black Dragon, feeling a stinging pain in his palm.

If this were his previous full-strength moment, Li Luo's move, though formidable, would certainly not have posed a fatal threat to Li Li Qingfeng, but at this moment, Li Li Qingfeng could clearly feel that as the Black Dragon advanced step by step, his own power was rapidly depleting.

Moreover, his power was already running low.

Within his body, which had previously suffered massive blood loss, intense pain kept erupting.

Yet Li Li Qingfeng still struggled on; after about a dozen breaths, when the power within his body was completely exhausted, the Black Dragon Netherwater finally ran out of energy and dissipated into countless points of light.

But before Li Li Qingfeng could even sigh in relief, he saw a blade light whistling toward him like lightning from behind those countless points of light.

Finally, the blade light rapidly enlarged in his pupils.

Hum!

The blade edge, shimmering with light, halted suspended before Li Li Qingfeng; the sharp blade energy sheared off the hair on his forehead.

Given Li Li Qingfeng's own severe injuries, there was never any doubt about the outcome of this battle.

Li Luo looked at the expressionless Li Li Qingfeng, sighed helplessly once more, and said seriously, "Li Li Qingfeng Great Flag Leader, there was truly no need to use that so-called 'Dragon Blood Balance Art'."

Everyone was expecting this peak battle for the Dragon Head, yet this Li Li Qingfeng, with a series of peak maneuvers, inexplicably turned himself into a severely injured person, and then couldn't even withstand a single slash from Li Luo.

This result even made Li Luo unable to stop himself from asking Li Li Qingfeng, just what exactly are you playing at?

Couldn't you just fight properly? You had to go show off!

Now the advantageous situation turned into a collapsed one.

Li Li Qingfeng did not answer, because as the power around him ran dry, his entire body slowly fell backward, performing a fainting spell right there on the spot.

Looking at the fallen Li Li Qingfeng, Li Luo smiled and did not bother to care whether he had truly fainted or chosen to hide because he could not bear the current situation; after all, his choice indicated he had completely abandoned the struggle for the Dragon Head.

So Li Luo raised his head, gazing at the Dragon Scale floating above this stone platform; that Dragon Scale was more brilliant than any previous one, and the Heavenly Dragon Qi contained within was extremely abundant.

Obviously, there was a huge gap between these Dragon Scales.

And at this moment, with Li Li Qingfeng's fall, that Dragon Scale slowly descended, hovering above Li Luo's palm.

Li Luo calmly stored the Dragon Scale away.

Now that the eighth Dragon Scale was in hand, he had become the person with the most Dragon Scales obtained; and with Li Li Qingfeng's defeat this time, it meant no one could catch up to him anymore.

So in the strict sense, Li Luo had now become the Dragon Head of this year's Twenty Flags.

Silence reigned outside the arena; everyone was somewhat bewildered, for the expected peak battle had not appeared, yet the Dragon Head had already been decided.

Such a result was indeed somewhat ridiculous.

Perhaps, looking back over so many years, the struggle for the Dragon Head had never been so bizarre before.

But then again, who could be blamed for this?

Even Li Li Fengyi and Li Li Jingtao wore slightly strange expressions; the scene before them felt unreal—had Li Luo really become this year's Dragon Chief without even breaking a sweat?

There was no imagined peak battle—only Li Li Qingfeng bled out spectacularly.

They exchanged glances, sensing that this generation's struggle for the Dragon Chief title might endure through the ages; perhaps Li Luo would earn the most unchallenged Dragon Chief title in history?

"Is Li Li Qingfeng deliberately doing this? Does he know he can't win, so he's tarnishing his younger brother's Dragon Chief title this way?" Li Li Fengyi muttered.

Though quiet, several other Flag Chiefs nearby heard him, and their expressions immediately stiffened.

Li Li Hongli's face flushed and paled in turns as she glared fiercely at Li Li Fengyi.

Li Li Fengyi sneered, "What are you going to say now? Still going to stubbornly claim Li Luo's Dragon Chief title is illegitimate? But who's to blame? You refused a proper duel and chose this 'Dragon Blood Balance Technique' instead."

Hearing Li Li Fengyi's words, Li Li Hongli felt so stifled her qi surged violently, yet she could not utter a single rebuttal—everyone had witnessed how Li Li Qingfeng had utterly ruined himself.

To say he brought it upon himself was no exaggeration.

"Has this year's Dragon Chief contest truly ended like this?" Other Flag Chiefs sighed wearily, feeling hollow.

Lu Lu Qingmei stared at Li Luo in the arena, then shook her head slightly. "It's not over yet. Though Li Luo has claimed eight Dragon Scales, have you forgotten? The Scale Seizure still has a ninth round."

At these words, all were stunned. The Scale Seizure indeed had nine rounds, but the ninth rarely occurred, for its difficulty was said to be beyond imagination.

Moreover, since the eighth round always decided the Dragon Chief, many who secured the title chose not to pursue the ninth.

Then, from the silent void above, a voice slowly descended.

"Round Eight of the Scale Seizure: Li Luo has won. He now holds eight Dragon Scales—the most in the arena. By rule, he is hereby declared this year's Twenty-Flag Dragon Chief."

These words caused little stir, for everyone had already absorbed the news during the preceding moments.

But the next words spoken from above immediately drew their attention once more.

"Though Li Luo has secured the Dragon Chief title, the Scale Seizure has nine rounds. Thus, according to custom, we must ask you: Do you now wish to open Round Nine?"

The grand voice drifted down slowly, and even Li Luo in the arena narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Scale Seizure… Round Nine."

(End of Chapter)