Chapter 1285: Battle Against Zhao Zhuoyan

Li Luo was in his dragonoid form with his long, grayish-white hair streaming behind his back. He hovered in the sky with the two thousand Guardians standing behind him. Enormous amounts of energy surged up, causing the surrounding void to tremble. There was a look of satisfaction in his eyes when he felt the overflowing power in his body. This was the first time he had wielded the strength of two thousand Guardians in a real battle.

Back at the World's End River Falling Star Terrace, he was only helping Jiang Qing'e purify corruption. That wasn't a real battle, so the energy flowing into him was a lot more calm. Right now, the energy was turbulent and raging.

Li Luo could tell that the power from the Dragon's Fang Guardians was of a higher grade and complexity compared to what he wielded with Harmony back in the Twenty Banners. It was much harder to gain control of. Every movement felt like he was moving with the weight of a thousand pounds stacked on his back. If he did not have the assistance of the Auric Halo, it would be virtually impossible to wield it.

As the strength of a fourth-grade Duke burst out from Li Luo's body, the eyes of those watching changed immediately.

Li Luo had truly exceeded their expectations. Zhao Zhuoyan's face gradually turned dark. He had thought that the greatest obstacle would be Xia Yu. This was why he had spent so much effort planning an ambush to injure her. Who would have expected that Li Luo was capable of this feat as well?

"Zhao Zhu, let's get into formation," Zhao Zhuoyan said in a deep voice. If they wanted to fight him, they would also need to combine their strength.

Zhao Zhu nodded as soon as he heard the order. At the next moment, enormous amounts of energy surged up from their army and poured into Zhao Zhuoyan directly.

The two Duke Bergfrieds above Zhao Zhuoyan's head shone brightly. Extremely hot air burst out from them, causing the temperature to skyrocket.

The pressure that had come from Li Luo was offset in an instant.

"Li Luo, it's indeed shocking that you can wield the strength of two thousand Guardians. However, the general is the most important key in a battle between two armies. You're merely at the Greater Heavenly Resonance Tier, yet you are thinking of fighting against me, a second-grade Duke? The gap between us won't disappear just because of external aid!"

A flame ignited within Zhao Zhuoyan's eyes. He clenched his fist, and a crimson blade appeared in his hand. Fiery runes circulated around his blade, weaving into the shape of a volcano that erupted with lava that enveloped his blade.

He shouted loudly, attempting to intimidate Li Luo, "Hand over your Sovereign Pearl, or I will not go easy on you!"

However, Li Luo simply smiled back in response. The Dragon Elephant Blade in his hand trembled, and the cries of the Dragon Elephant could be heard in the background. He answered casually, "Well, I'll be honest—this won't be the first time I've slain a Duke. If you really think I am no match for you, why don't you come at me?"

Back in the Spiritual Resonance Cave and the Fifth Minor Earthly Branch Realm, he had slain True Devils before he reached the Greater Heavenly Resonance Tier. In his eyes, Dukes weren't really a threat anymore.

Zhao Zhuoyan's eyes turned cold when he heard this, and he seethed with murderous intent. At the next moment, his two Duke Bergfrieds roared to life and flames pumped out of them, covering the whole sky.

A gigantic, crimson rhinoceros slowly emerged from the sea of flames.

These were Zhao Zhuoyan's resonances, the Flame Rhino resonance and a fire resonance, which were both extremely fierce and domineering. "Since you wish to act stubbornly, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Zhao Zhuoyan took a step forward, and turbulent waves kicked up in the sea of flames. He hacked downwards with his blade while he formed hand seals with his free hand. The blade split the sky apart, and an endless inferno spewed out from the rift. All of a sudden, it seemed like a titanic waterfall of flames that was thousands of feet tall was descending down from the sky.

Bang!

The violent crash of the waterfall echoed in the air and a terrifying heat wave blew across the battlefield. It was like a dragon that heralded the dawn of doomsday, roaring and charging towards Li Luo directly.

The surroundings had turned so hot that it felt like he was locked in a furnace.

Duke Art: Extreme Flame Skyfall Art!

Surprisingly, Li Luo chuckled when he saw the majestic curtain of flames. "A fire resonance? It's fortunate that I have a water resonance... It seems like I am the bane of your existence."

With that, Li Luo slashed downwards and sliced the void open. The sound of rushing water could be heard from the crack.

Bang!

An intimidating, black dragon surfing on the waves of a black river broke out of the crack and roared defiantly.

Underworld River's Black Dragon Banner!

The black dragon collided directly with the waterfall of flames. Huge explosions erupted in the sky as the water and fire interweaved and challenged each other. The resulting mist blanketed the sky momentarily.

"The bane of my existence? Are you trying to extinguish a volcano with a trickling stream?" Zhao Zhuoyan answered with a cold snort. As he watched the two attacks struggle in the mist, he raised his blade high up into the air.

Divine Mist rose out from the two Duke Bergfrieds above his head. It wrapped around his crimson blade, which then trembled violently. In the blink of an eye, countless crimson energy swords manifested in the sky above.

Each sword was burning hot and extraordinarily sharp.

Without a doubt, the crimson blade was a Duke Mythic Armament!

Zhao Zhuoyan was not holding back against Li Luo. He was planning to finish him off in a single decisive blow.

On the top of the mountain, Lu Shuanglu had noticed this as well. She clicked her tongue and commented nonchalantly, "It's really too much of a disadvantage for a Greater Heavenly Resonance Tier cultivator to fight against a Duke. Without the Divine Mist or a Mythic Armament, how's Li Luo going to deal with this?"

Although both sides were as strong as fourth-grade Dukes thanks to the help of two thousand Guardians, Zhao Zhuoyan's clearly had stronger undulations of energy. Li Luo's was around the peak of a lower fourth-grade Duke at best.

This wasn't because the Dragon's Fang Guardians were weaker than the Divine Tiger Guardians. It was simply due to the difference in their respective general's cultivation level.

Li Luo sensed the countless energy swords pointing and locked onto him, with a burning hot sharpness that appeared to pierce through his heart. Fortunately, he was in his dragonoid form, so his physical self had been enhanced. Otherwise, his body might have melted just from the flaming poison that now permeated the air.

Li Luo remained calm and composed despite Zhao Zhuoyan's impressive display. Zhao Zhuoyan might have had some advantages but he had some of his own that his opponent did not possess.

For example...

The True Dragon Pill: Dragonification!

A resounding draconic roar could be heard coming from Li Luo's body. The dragon resonance in his body evolved rapidly. A few moments later, it reached the lower ninth-grade!

This increase in grade powered Li Luo up significantly. Even more energy surged up in his body like a rising tide, slowly approaching Zhao Zhuoyan's level.

This was not the end.

Li Luo slashed down with his blade and hacked the void open once again. His energy levels plummeted in an instant. At the same time, three ferocious draconic roars echoed in the surroundings and then three monstrous dragons emerged from the void.

Underworld River's Black Dragon Banner!

Heavenly Judgment's Silver Dragon Banner!

Purgatory's Crimson Dragon Banner!

It was the Three Dragons’ Heavenly Banner Canon!

All three dragons possessed different affinities. As everyone watched in surprise, the dragons came together and fused into an ancient banner that stood thousands of feet tall.

The dragons swam within the banner itself, emitting an indescribable pressure that pushed down on everyone present.

The pressure was so domineering that even the flames from Zhao Zhuoyan were suppressed.

The faces of the Dukes watching from the shadows changed as soon as they saw this. They muttered softly, "Is that... Is that a Destiny-grade Duke Art?!"

It was such an incredible Duke Art that its appearance could lead to changes in the world around it.

Lu Shuanglu's eyes flickered a little. Even in Golden Dragon Mountain, a Destiny-grade Duke Art was a top-class treasure of its own. Any Duke who could master a Destiny-grade Duke Art would easily stand out amongst their peers.

Not only was it valuable and rare, it was incredibly challenging to cultivate such a Duke Art. Many Dukes had hoped to do so but ultimately failed. How had Li Luo managed to cultivate one despite only being at the Greater Heavenly Resonance Tier? His talent for learning resonance arts was truly shocking.

Under everyone's gazes of surprise, Li Luo stretched out his hand and grabbed the heavy ancient banner. The scales on his skin trembled as he summoned up all the strength in his body.

He had to do so if he wanted to even so much as move the dragon banner.

Fortunately, he was able to do so in his dragonoid form.

Zhao Zhuoyan watched with an extremely ugly expression. Even he hadn’t mastered a Destiny-grade Duke Art yet! The sight of the Duke Art made him fear for his life. At this moment, Zhao Zhuoyan knew that if he did not give it his all, it would really spell his end.

He would lose to a Greater Heavenly Resonance Tier junior with his second-grade Duke strength. This would be a complete disgrace for the Divine Tiger Guardians.

As such, he formed hand seals with both hands and slowly extended them out. A ringing sound could be heard coming from the endless crimson energy swords. Then the thousands of energy swords flew up like a phoenix and combined into one.

A blade of fire that was absolutely titanic took shape.

Its temperature was terrifyingly high and the world space was literally warping due to the heat..

"Soul Ascension-grade Duke Art: Divine Blade of Flames!"

As Zhao Zhuoyan shouted, the colossal sword swung downwards. A giant line split the sky apart, and the terrifying strike fell down onto Li Luo.

Li Luo hovered in the air, calmly looking at the falling blade of flames. Then he slowly waved the ancient dragon banner, and immense amounts of resonant power surged into it.

Three Dragons’ Heavenly Banner Canon.

Triple Dragon Demon Crushing Divine Light!

There was no need for Li Luo to hold back. His aim was to scare off all the others hiding in the shadows, so he used his killer move straight away.

As he waved the dragon banner, brilliant divine light burst out. Resembling a Five-colored Divine Dragon, it flew across the sky and clashed directly with the Blade of Flames.