Chapter 1143: Discovered

In the chaotic battlefield, Li Luo's side had turned into a piece of scorched earth. Violent lightning energy sparkled and the ground was incinerated into a desolate plain.

He stood there with his blade drawn, his eyes glowing with a brilliant dazzle.

Nine radiant Heavenly Pearls rotated behind his back, devouring worldly natural energy from the surroundings like a whale. Extremely strong waves of resonant power were coming from Li Luo's body.

Everyone watched in awe.

"Nine Heavenly Pearls!"

Although they were in the middle of the battle, many of them couldn't help but exclaim out loud.

The waves of resonant power coming from him were so strong that they even attracted the attention of Feng Lingyuan, Yue Zhiyu, and Wei Chonglou. Although they were fighting against Greater Evil Spirits, they couldn't help but turn their attention to the nine pearls rotating behind Li Luo.

Everyone's eyes changed immediately.

For the elite students in the Upper Hall, reaching the nine-pearl stage was challenging but not impossible. They were all talented individuals, and many possessed ninth-grade resonances. As such, it wasn't unheard of for them to reach this tier as welll. However, most of them attained it when they entered the Four Star Hall. Li Luo, on the other hand, managed to do it while he was still in the Three Star Hall.

It was merely a year's difference, but they understood how much more challenging such a feat was.

Even the proud Yue Zhiyu had to admit that she wouldn't have been able to do it when she was in his position. Her background, talent, and resources weren't an issue, yet she lacked something in the end. However, Li Luo had managed to do it.

Everyone watched with perplexed looks. It was no wonder Jiang Qing'e admired him so much. His talent, background, and looks were unparalleled. Any girl would easily fall in love with him.

Wei Chonglou gritted his teeth furiously. Damn it! His competitor was too strong. Not only was he already engaged to Jiang Qing'e, he was well liked by her too. It was such a strong bond that even outsiders could feel it.

It was a perfect scenario with barely any flaws. He could feel tremendous pressure from this love rival.

It was really an immense mountain to overcome. Li Luo smiled brightly as he looked back at the curious gazes from the surroundings. The day had finally arrived.

Nine Heavenly Pearls!

He had worked so hard and prepared so much for this. Thankfully, his hard work had paid off. He had finally attained it.

The pinnacle of the Heavenly Pearl Tier, Nine Heavenly Pearls. An extremely solid foundation was required in order to achieve it. As such, many referred to those who reached this tier as Duke Seedlings. Even if something went wrong down the road, a Duke Seedling would have no issues reaching the Duke Stage.

Immense amounts of resonant power flowed in Li Luo's body. It was many times more intense than what he felt when he was back at the seven-pearl tier.

"Ah, the nine-pearl tier! With this, I probably wouldn't lose even against True Seal-grade opponents at the Lesser Heavenly Resonance Tier. I'm probably invincible against anyone below the Greater Heavenly Resonance Tier too. If I have to face a Greater Heavenly Resonance opponent, I will probably be evenly matched without using the wolf or the Great Sanguine Poison Art."

Of course, he was referring to ordinary Greater Heavenly Resonance cultivators with a Heavenly Resonance Diagrams spanning a few thousand feet. It would be a different story for those in the later stages. People like Feng Lingyuan and Yue Zhiyu had Heavenly Resonance Diagrams that spanned more than eighty thousand feet.

At this moment, Li Luo's body was in peak condition. His senses were extremely acute as he had just finished his breakthrough.

He could clearly sense the energy flowing through every corner of the battlefield.

Feng Lingyuan recovered from the surprise and shouted, "Li Luo, since you're at the nine-pearl tier, help us finish off all the Evil Spirits in the surroundings!"

Li Luo nodded. His face changed instantly and he dashed out.

"Eh?"

A look of surprise appeared on Li Luo's face. He could sense some strange and uneasy movements coming from the shadows not too far away.

"Are there Others spying on us?!"

His face turned serious. He closed his palm, and the Heavenly Dragon's Sunchaser Bow materialized in his hand.

In the next instant, he drew the bow and released. An arrow brimming with majestic energy cut through the air at the speed of lightning. Before anyone could react, it flew directly into an area full of shadows.

Everyone was startled by his sudden attack.

"What the hell is he thinking?" Wei Chonglou complained with a frown.

However, their surprise soon changed into horror.

The space in the shadowy area began to warp. Shortly afterwards, ten figures came into their sight in an abrupt manner.

These ten were extremely peculiar. They each carried a coffin on their back, with the leader carrying one that was red like blood. The rest were carrying black coffins. This sudden development left them with feelings of unease.

They seemed to be basking in dense amounts of corruption, giving off a condensed and chilly energy.

"Who are they?!" Yue Zhiyu, Feng Lingyuan, and Wang Kong were terrified. They had clearly lost their cool with the sudden appearance of these newcomers.

They could tell from a glance that these people weren't Others. However, their bodies seemed to give off an aura of corruption all the same.

These were clearly not benevolent souls either. Neither were they on their side.

Had squads from other major powers snuck into the Fifth Minor Earthly Branch Realm too?

The crowd could not believe their eyes.

While Feng Lingyuan and the rest remained in shock, the Murderous Ghost Horde were a little startled as well. They had wanted to let the Evil Spirits and ancient college teams fight among themselves first. Then they would spring a surprise attack and take advantage of the situation. However, who could've imagined that Li Luo would be able to spot them in the shadows?

The Blood Coffin Carrier was stunned for a moment. Then he stared at Li Luo with a vicious grin. "Nine Heavenly Pearls... not bad. A truly delicious meal. Since you've noticed us, I'll give you a reward. Go, take care of him. But don't kill him." He turned his head slightly to two Black Coffin Carriers by his side.

Hearing this, the two Black Coffin Carriers grinned viciously too. "Don't worry, big boss. We will cut off his limbs and bring him back to you."

These Black Coffin Carriers were at the Greater Heavenly Resonance Tier. Even though Li Luo had attained the nine-pearl tier, there was no way he could face two of them at once.

In the next instant, the two figures dashed forward. Enormous amounts of black energy rolled out of their bodies. It gave off a gloomy and ominous feeling, filled with hints of corruption.

Meanwhile, the Blood Coffin Carrier glanced towards Feng Lingyuan, Wang Kong, and the rest. They were the strongest fighters on the battlefield. His eyes lit up wildly. Immense amounts of cold energy surged up into the sky, turning into a gray mist that covered up the sun completely.

At the same time, he walked towards the battlefield.

Many of the students were forced to retreat because of the tremendous pressure he was radiating. They could tell that the man with the red coffin was even more deadly than the Greater Evil Spirits.

A cruel smile appeared on the Blood Coffin Carrier's face. He waved his sleeves, and an energy storm swept up in the surroundings, blasting towards the students.

"Hey!"

Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook violently. Jade-green resonant power surged upwards and trees began to grow out of thin air. The trees formed a protective barrier to keep the cold energy away.

The frigid energy was extremely merciless. When the two came into contact, the trees withered immediately.

A figure appeared on the top of the tree. It was none other than Duan Mu, ranked third in the Heavenly Origin Ancient College.

He was the first to free up his hands, so he had stepped in to stop the Blood Coffin Carrier's attack.

"Where did this creepy thing come from? Go away!"

Duan Mu stared back at him coldly. A majestic Heavenly Resonance Diagram expanded above his head. It was jade-green in color, looking like an ancient forest full of vitality.

He did not say anymore words as he watched the Blood Coffin Carrier walk forward. He formed hand seals with both hands so rapidly that afterimages followed behind, and immense resonant power poured out of him.

Worldly natural energy descended from the Heavenly Resonance Diagram above and fused with his own resonant power.

At the next moment, a giant green hand appeared in the sky above. The giant hand was covered in countless ancient runes, and it formed hand seals. At the same time, an extremely domineering pressure descended from above.

When some of the students from the Heavenly Origin Ancient College saw this, they couldn't help but exclaim, "That is the Emerald Wood Buddha's Hand from Senior Duan Mu! It's a Soul Ascension-grade Duke Art!"

Clearly, Duan Mu did not dare to hold back against the mysterious man. He had used his strongest art right from the start.

The Emerald Buddha's Hand pressed down with overwhelming power and weight, almost akin to Mount Tai. However, there was no fear on the face of the Blood Coffin Carrier. He gently patted the coffin on his back, causing it to open slightly, and a blood-red tentacle slithered out of it. Then it directly stabbed into the back of the Blood Coffin Carrier.

A line of cracks appeared on the chest of the Blood Coffin Carrier, and a strange, red eyeball emerged from one of the cracks.

Roar!

The blood-red eye blinked a few times, then blood-red flames surged forth and confronted the domineering Emerald Buddha's Hand.

Bang!

When the two came into contact, an astonishing energy explosion erupted. However, the crowd's faces quickly changed when the Emerald Buddha's Hand withered rapidly, incinerated by the flames.

In just a few seconds, Duan Mu's strongest art was turned to ashes.

The Blood Coffin Carrier slowly walked past the ashes towards Duan Mu with a chilly grin.

"Is this all you can do, geniuses of the ancient colleges?"