Chapter 956: Li Luo's Discovery

Within the mountain range, clouds and mist swirled, not only obstructing vision but even somewhat dulling one's perception.

Li Luo, Qin Yi, and a large group of people surged in, maintaining some distance from one another while all keeping a wary watch on their surroundings.

When they first entered, they could still encounter quite a few scattered cultivators, some of whom were even bearing injuries; judging by their appearance, they had likely been driven back in the mountains by those "disciples" of the "Faceless Holy Sect."

Li Luo and the others paid them no heed, maintaining their speed as they pressed forward, the surging clouds and mist swiftly swallowing their figures.

This advance continued for roughly ten-odd minutes.

Then Qin Yi, who was at the front, was the first to halt her steps. Her exquisitely beautiful face wore a solemn expression as she gazed ahead. The others followed her gaze and saw several blurry figures emerging from the clouds and mist.

Li Luo focused his eyes and saw that those figures looked just like them, but what they wore were the robes of the "Faceless Holy Sect."

Their faces held no expression whatsoever, and no trace of intellect flickered in their eyes—clearly they were not truly living people.

As these "Faceless Holy Sect" disciples appeared, they spoke no superfluous words. The next instant, formidable Affinity Power erupted violently, and one after another, Affinity Arts of no small might and imposing momentum were unleashed, like a rushing flood pouring down upon the crowd.

Everyone drew out their respective treasures at this moment, erupting with Affinity Power to defend themselves.

Qin Ying, Li Li Lingjing, and these high-star Tian Zhu Jing powerhouses stepped to the very front at this moment, and with a single move they blocked the majority of the attacks.

Meanwhile, Li Luo, Qin Yi, and those relatively weaker people were positioned at the flanks, blocking and neutralizing the enemy's offensive.

Normally speaking, with their lineup, blocking the attacks of these "Faceless Holy Sect" disciples should not have been difficult. But as the two sides clashed, Qin Ying's expression shifted subtly, and he said in shock, "Strange, their Affinity Art attacks seem to contain a special power—this power is actually dissolving the Affinity Power within my body!"

Some high-star Tian Zhu Jing experts from other forces immediately echoed, "Yes, what power is this? It's actually so overbearing!"

Even Qin Yi gave a slight nod and said, "My Affinity Power is also being dissolved, though that feeling is relatively faint."

But once her words left her lips, they instead stirred greater shock in everyone's hearts, because they all knew that Qin Yi possessed a Lower Nine Affinity Power Rank water affinity, and her own Affinity Rank was extremely high—so dissolving her Affinity Power was by no means an easy feat.

This "Faceless Holy Sect" truly lived up to its reputation as an ancient sect that had once dominated the world; even mere ordinary disciples could inspire such astonishment.

However, while they were marveling over here, Li Luo's heart could not help but churn like rivers and seas.

But he did not show his emotions. Instead, he suddenly clenched his five fingers tightly, and two streams of Affinity Power within his body surged forth, swiftly merging into a single "Dual Affinity Power."

Within this Affinity Power flowed Spirit Marks, endowing the Affinity Power with a more abundant spirituality. At this moment, the quality of his Affinity Power was in no way inferior to Qin Yi's Lower Nine Affinity Power Rank water affinity power.

At this precise moment, an attack from a "Faceless Holy Sect" disciple came howling over with violent force. Li Luo directly threw a punch, colliding with it.

As the two forces collided, Li Luo clearly felt that his "Dual Affinity Power" was also showing faint signs of dissolution.

The Affinity Power of the "Faceless Holy Sect" disciples indeed contained a power capable of dissolving an opponent's Affinity Power.

And this wondrous power was something Li Luo was quite familiar with.

It was the "Minor Faceless Fire."

That's right, the Affinity Power of these "Faceless Holy Sect" disciples contained fluctuations of the "Minor Faceless Fire."

The Minor Faceless Fire could actually burn the power of all affinities?

Yet this shocked Li Luo even more, because he had never discovered that the "Minor Faceless Fire" actually had this kind of effect. At the very least, the "Minor Faceless Fire" he had cultivated did not possess this special property.

Then why could these "Faceless Holy Sect" disciples do it?

Li Luo's heart could not help but stir restlessly. This was an extremely practical discovery, because he too had cultivated the "Minor Faceless Fire." If he could integrate this Affinity-Power-dissolving special effect into his own Affinity Power, then his offensive capability would immediately rise to a whole new level.

But how was this achieved?

Integrating the "Minor Faceless Fire" into Affinity Power? Li Luo had long ago tested such a simple method, and the result was utterly ineffective.

"Could it require some other kind of ritual to bring it about? Or perhaps a more complete cultivation method?" Li Luo pondered within his heart.

This was indeed possible. An ancient and powerful sect like the Faceless Holy Sect, in terms of its foundation of strength, was probably even more formidable than today's Li Li Tianwang-level forces. Some of their special methods certainly could not be easily learned.

However, while Li Luo was pondering, the defensive line of these "Faceless Holy Sect" disciples had already been gradually torn open by the crowd. After all, in terms of strength level, their side still held the advantage.

As long as they didn't encounter those so-called elite disciples, they should be able to pass through here unimpeded.

Hearing the commotion ahead, Li Luo also reined in his emotions, suppressing his covetousness toward that miraculous effect of "burning the power of all affinities."

Perhaps, that Golden Great Hall here could allow him to obtain more information. At the very least, he needed to learn more about this ancient and mysterious "Faceless Holy Sect."

Thus, the group continued to push deeper into Shenshan.

During the remainder of their journey, they encountered several more waves of "Faceless Holy Sect" disciples blocking their way, and the intensity of these blockades grew stronger and stronger. Eventually, people on their side also began to sustain injuries.

The "burning" power possessed by the "Faceless Holy Sect" disciples made everyone suffer greatly.

Because when fighting opponents like these, even if one held the advantage, there was one thing that could not be changed: one's own Affinity Power consumption would always be much greater than normal.

Unless one's strength absolutely overwhelmed the opponent, anyone facing "Faceless Holy Sect" disciples would feel that this tough nut was truly hard to crack.

Watching everyone's agonized expressions, the light in Li Luo's eyes grew hotter and hotter. He gazed into the depths of Dashan, and now, his interest in this "Faceless Holy Sect" was growing greater and greater.

Therefore, that "Golden Great Hall"—no matter what, he had to get in and take a look today.

As the group pushed forward wave after wave, they finally began to enter the range of Shenshan. At this moment, within the thick clouds and mist, a faint glimmer of Jin Guang seemed to be vaguely visible.

A look of elation appeared on everyone's face.

But just as this look of elation appeared, the clouds and mist ahead began to ripple at this moment. As the mist receded somewhat, eight stone platforms emerged.

Upon the stone platforms sat cross-legged eight youthful figures. They were like sculptures, their hollow, calm eyes fixed upon the intruders who had reached this place.

Their robes were undoubtedly more exquisite than those ordinary disciples from before, and the aura emanating from their entire bodies was also more formidable.

Li Luo and the others' expressions hardened, and they understood in their hearts: these eight were the so-called elite disciples guarding the outside of the Golden Great Hall.

They were equivalent to eight eight-star Tian Zhu Jing powerhouses.

To break through such a defensive line—how difficult it would be.

Li Luo glanced around. Amidst the utter devastation on the ground lay many lifeless corpses, and the still-fresh blood proved that quite a few people had already intruded here before, only to ultimately be slain.

"Be careful yourself. When the fighting starts later, I might not be able to look after you," Li Li Lingjing said to Li Luo.

Faced with such a lineup, even she could not remain relaxed.

Li Luo nodded. The dragon-shaped mark on his brow slowly bloomed with radiance, and the nine dragon scales within it were all lit up.

At this moment, those eight elite disciples still uttered not a single word. They gazed indifferently at the intruders who had reached this place, and the next instant, they formed hand seals.

Hum!

One after another, astonishing surges of Affinity Power shot skyward.

Flames flickered, and the next instant, they transformed mid-air into countless birds in flight, each wreathed in strange, flickering fire. The birds shrieked, coalescing into a sky-obscuring torrent that came roaring down indiscriminately upon the crowd.

The spectacle was terrifying.