The sky roared with energy in the presence of the majestic Heavenly Resonance Diagram. After a while, it started fading.

Li Luo then appeared in front of Jiang Qing'e and Li Hongyou.

"Looks like you've become quite a bit stronger," Jiang Qing'e said to Li Luo with a smile.

"An 84,000 feet Heavenly Resonance Diagram. You've nearly caught up to me." Li Hongyou sighed. When they first met at the Heavenly Origin Ancient College, Li Luo was still at the Heavenly Pearl Tier. Now they were almost on par. This was truly shocking progress.

"That’s ridiculous! Your Heavenly Resonance Diagram expanded by over 20,000 feet, right? Are those Star Pearls really that effective!?" Li Fengyi couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. Although Li Luo had gotten a large number of Star Pearls, a portion of their energy had been absorbed by the Heavenly Dragon Golden Star. As such, his strength shouldn't have increased by such a big leap. Getting 20,000 feet of progress was akin to a whole year of cultivation for a normal individual with an eighth-grade resonance without the help of any other special opportunities.

Li Luo pondered quietly for a moment. "It might be due to my good looks."

As soon as he said that, the girls present rolled their eyes.

Li Luo grinned. In his heart, he knew that the Star Pearls had probably been abnormally effective due to the mysterious Auric Halo. On top of that, he had made full use of the Acquired Resonance Flame to purify the energy further.

"The members of the Dragon's Blood Guardians have gone to report news of this," Li Fengyi commented as she glanced over to the side. Some of the Dragon's Blood Guardians that had remained behind had taken off as soon as Li Luo finished cultivating.

"Are you really going to challenge Li Qingbai from the Dragon's Blood Guardians in the Ceremony of Ascent? He's an upper first-grade Duke. What are we going to do about Sister Hongyou if you lose?" Li Fengyi asked worriedly.

Li Hongyou said, "This is a gamble that I've agreed to, so there is no need to blame Li Luo if we lose. After all, the reason I came to the Dragon's Fang Guardians is to take revenge on Li Hongque for how she treated my mother and I in the past. This gamble is a good chance to do precisely that."

A faint smile appeared on her cold face as she continued, "Besides, they've put so much at stake."

It was rare for her to make jokes. The others didn't know if they should laugh or cry.

"By the way, this is going to be my first time fighting a Duke with my strength alone," Li Luo said with a smile.

There was no fear in his eyes. Instead, they were burning with excitement and antic.i.p.ation.

Back in the Xia Kingdom, a Duke was so far above him that he could only dream about fighting one. But he had fought countless Dukes and True Devils after coming to the Dragon’s Fang Lineage. However, those were all done with the aid of Harmony or the Five-tailed Heavenly Wolf. He had never really challenged one with just his own strength.

He would only be able to rely on himself during the Ceremony of Ascent.

Li Luo couldn't help but sigh. Time had flown by, but he had made it far. All the hard work he had put in over the years was worth it. Jiang Qing'e looked at Li Luo with her abstruse, golden eyes. Indeed, the youth from the City of Southwind who was once cursed with a blank palace was now a renowned figure in the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li.

Their gamble during the Ceremony of Ascent could very well be an opportunity for Li Luo to show the rest of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li that his potential didn’t lose out to anyone else’s. He was not inferior to his father, mother, or even herself.

"Senior Hongyou, don't worry. Since I've brought you into the Dragon's Fang Guardians, there’s no way I’ll let you leave before you have fulfilled your wish," Li Luo told Li Hongyou with an attentive smile.

Li Hongyou laughed lightly. "I look forward to your battle in three days. That fight will elevate your renown amongst the Five Guardian Armies."

Despite already having many spectacular achievements under his belt, they were all achieved within the Twenty Banners. Therefore, they were not significant enough for the upper echelons of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li to pay any serious attention to him. If Li Luo really managed to win against Li Qingbai, an upper first-grade Duke, others would truly take note of his capabilities.

Only those who had reached the Duke Stage in terms power were worthy of being called elites in this world.

Li Luo nodded and grinned. Then he turned around and left.

"Let's go. There's still three days until the battle. There are many more preparations to be made."

......

Just as Li Luo concluded his cultivation, a gigantic dragon flying s.h.i.+p with the flag of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li was flying through the sky in the outer region of the World's End River Region.

Many people were standing at the vast front section of the flying s.h.i.+p with their hands behind their backs. They were all observing the awe-inspiring World's End River.

The leader of the group was a magnificent middle-aged man with an upright posture and an impressive presence. He was Li Jiluo, the Hall Master of the Dragon's Blood Lineage’s Gold Blood Hall.

By his side were Li Jinpan, Li Qingpeng, and the other Hall Masters.

Li Jiluo retracted his gaze from the World's End River and turned towards Li Qingpeng with a smile. "The Dragon's Fang Lineage’s Lineage Chief Jingzhe is in charge of guarding the Heavenly Dragon Peak. Why haven't I seen him around?"

Li Qingpeng chuckled in response. "How would I know? The Respected Elder is a mysterious individual. You might only spot a trace of his tail if you're lucky. I seldom get to see him as well, and this is the first time he has told us to go ahead of him."

Li Jiluo pondered for a moment. "What did Lineage Chief Jingzhe go off to do?"

Li Qingpeng shook his head, not knowing the answer.

On their side, Li Jinpan gave a dry cough. "The Respected Elder is extremely angry over the ambush on Li Luo in the World's End River Region. He's sent us over to Heavenly Dragon Peak ahead of him because of that. Someone does not follow the rules here; they can't blame us if things go awry for them."

Hearing this, Li Jiluo's face changed a little. "Could it be that Lineage Chief Jingzhe is taking a trip to Abyssal City?"

Abyssal City was the headquarters of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin in the World's End River Region.

Li Jinpan shot a look at him and commented, "Oh? Do you also think that Qin Lian is the one behind the ambush?"

Li Jiluo replied in a deep voice, "Ultimately, it's just our suspicion. If Lineage Chief Jingzhe goes after Qin Lian because of it, the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin will surely retaliate. We already have a strained relations.h.i.+p with the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Zhao, so it would not be wise to make an enemy out of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin as well."

"Li Jiluo, aren't you supposed to be the next Lineage Chief of the Dragon's Blood Lineage? Why are you such a scaredy cat? If the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin and the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Zhao work together, are we, the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li, just going to let them bully us?" Li Jinpan reb.u.t.ted.

Li Jiluo replied indifferently, "I am not scared. I am just considering the bigger picture here."

"So you'll let my family members suffer because of the bigger picture?!! If you ask me, that b.i.t.c.h Qin Lian deserves to be slapped to death by our Respected Elder!" Li Jinpan shouted angrily.

As the two of them engaged in a heated conversation, Li Qingpeng hurriedly interrupted them. "Alright, alright, let's stop arguing."

He turned and looked at Li Jiluo. "We honestly don't know where the Respected Elder went. Even if we did, do you think we could change his mind?"

Li Jiluo frowned in response and sighed helplessly. He knew that what Li Qingpeng had said was right. The Lineage Chief was their superior and one of the main decision makers in the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li. Only the other Lineage Chiefs could even hope to change Li Jingzhe's mind.

Right now, he could only hope that the usually rule-abiding Lineage Chief of the Dragon's Fang Lineage would continue to consider the bigger picture. If not, there would be a lot of troubles to deal with at the World's End River Region.

As Li Jiluo was thinking about all this, an elderly man wearing linen clothes and holding a bamboo stick stepped out of the void and onto a faraway hilltop. He shot an indifferent look at the majestic city in the distance that was shrouded with dense and boundless formations.

This man was none other than Li Jingzhe.

Even ninth-grade Dukes would hesitate to attempt to break through the energy formations surrounding the city. However, that was not a worry for Li Jingzhe.

"I said that the grudges from the previous generation will stay with the previous generation. If you cross this line, do not blame me for retaliating. If you think I can't do anything just because you've hidden your true self, you are too naive. Because... I'll act based on what I feel in my heart, not on the evidence," he whispered softly to himself.

When he finished speaking, he took a step forward. The void around him twisted and he appeared in the sky above Abyssal City.

He did not hide his presence at all. A terrifying pressure fell from the sky, and the whole city succ.u.mbed to his suppression.

Thunderous booms resounded in the sky instantly and the whole city began to shake violently.

In the blink of an eye, all the elites in Abyssal City raised their heads and looked up at the sky.

Bang!

All of the worldly natural energy within tens of thousands of meters of Abyssal City was stirred into action. It then converged towards the city as if it was driven by something.