The void began to fracture with increasing speed as the dark-red flames surged. Everything it passed by disintegrated, including the Sword Embryo and the goddess of light.

Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e grunted as the energy in their bodies began to churn violently. Blood leaked from the corners of their mouths, and they could sense an overbearing and burning energy enter their bodies. This was the power of karmic flames. The flames blazing around the pagoda swamped towards their Duke Arts and infiltrated their bodies, burning them from within.

The flames were so that tyrannical ordinary resonant power was unable to extinguish them. Ordinary individuals would only be able to watch helplessly as the flames ignited their entire bodies and reduced them to ashes.

However, Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e had methods to protect themselves.

Li Luo immediately roused the Acquired Resonance Flame and used its exceptional refining abilities to resist and to destroy the karmic flames entirely.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qing'e borrowed the aid of her exceptionally pure light resonant power to purify them.

That said, they didn't relax just yet. The karmic flames that invaded their bodies were just a minor issue. The true problem, the humongous pagoda that was pressing down on them, was still descending. The duo solemnly looked at the giant pagoda that was coming from the skies. Qin Lian had far too many advantages over them, and even though they had tried their best, they couldn’t overcome them.

There was no choice. The gap between them was immense. If it were anyone else, even if they were two sixth-grade Dukes, they might also have been left in utter despair.

Bang!

The pagoda moved downwards once more, and dark-red karmic flames surged towards them once again. The void surrounding the pagoda had transformed into a black hole. Above Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e were four majestic Ten-Pillar Duke Bergfrieds that resembled unconquerable walls, blocking the descent of the flames.

Bang!

The two sides clashed, and the ancient runes on the Ten-Pillar Duke Bergfrieds lit up, spewing out incredible amounts of Divine Mist that attempted to stem the reach of the karmic flames.

However, this only slowed them down.

Even Transcendent Divine Mist was incinerated into nothingness by the karmic flames. Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e activated every shred of resonant power they could, attempting to persevere as long as possible.

As they endured, Qin Lian's cold voice rang out. "Li Luo, you can resist, but I'm afraid those beneath you won't be able to."

His gaze turned downwards, and his heart sank.

In the battlefield below, many people had been affected by the bell, and some of the weaker ones already had their minds controlled. They then lumbered towards the bloody maw like zombies. Meanwhile, the fanged maw seemed almost delighted to see that fresh food was walking towards it. It chomped at them, and the sounds of squelching flesh and crunching bones reverberated.

As more and more offered themselves to it, the black lotus within the flower bud began to bloom further and the pillar of red light intensified.

"Li Luo, that pillar of light is capable of ruining the effects of the Four Heavenly Emperors’ Sealing Talisman. The terrifying entity it has lured has already partially descended and is fighting against Lineage Chief Jingzhe. Once the Four Heavenly Emperors’ Sealing Talisman is completely destroyed, the black lotus can let out an even stronger force and allow that existence to descend with even greater strength. At that point in time, Lineage Chief Jingzhe will not be its match," Li Lingjing told Li Luo.

When Li Luo heard those words, his eyes shrunk. He had already sensed world-shaking undulations coming from outside the Treasure Domain, and one of the presences felt familiar, as it belonged to none other than his grandfather.

Clearly, even though he had Quasi-Triple Crown strength, he had been restrained.

"Grandpa..." Li Luo's gaze changed. Someone as powerful as Li Jingzhe could escape the World’s End River Region with ease. The fact that he had not was clearly because he didn't want to abandon the younger members of his family.

After spending so much time together, Li Luo understood how warm and soft the cold old man's heart was. Li Luo clenched his fists tightly. Li Jingzhe wanted to protect them, so how could he just stand by and watch the old man fall? Ever since he arrived at the Dragon's Fang Lineage two years ago, Li Jingzhe had showered him with unadulterated love and care.

"We cannot let Qin Lian nourish the black lotus further!"

He glanced at the layers of the void above him. In a gap in the World's End River, a humongous eye that represented an apocalyptic devil was looking down with killing intent and savagery.

The gigantic eye was comparable to a Heavenly Emperor after all.

If it was able to project more power here, Li Jingzhe would definitely fall into a precarious situation.

A look of determination emerged in Li Luo's eyes.

"Sister Qing'e, could you buy some time for me, please?" Li Luo asked with a heavy voice.

Jiang Qing'e then cautiously asked, "What are you planning to do?"

Li Luo fell silent before calmly replying, "I’m going to utilize my final move, of course. If it doesn't work out, then we'll truly share the same fate."

Jiang Qing'e clenched her teeth. "I can do that too! Let me go first." As she spoke, she began to ignite her Heart of Light. It would drastically increase her strength for a short period of time and would allow her to hold off Qin Lian.

Li Luo shook his head. "Sister Qing'e, you've already ignited your Heart of Light before. If you do it again, no one can guess the consequences."

"Who cares about such a thing when we’re doomed either way?" Jiang Qing'e replied with annoyance.

Li Luo smiled. "If my last-ditch effort fails, then you can go ahead. I won't stop you."

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

When he saw that Jiang Qing'e was about to continue arguing, he gently stretched his hand out and grasped her softly before planting a kiss on her red lips. "Sister Qing'e, listen to me, please," he said with a grin.

Her golden eyes were focused on Li Luo’s, and she could see the determination in them. She knew he had already made up his mind. She didn't have an unreasonable personality and thus fell silent for a while before taking a step forward. Meanwhile, Li Luo stepped back. She then took the initiative to plant a kiss of her own back on Li Luo's lips.

She softly said, "Today, we will either live together, or die together."

With those words, she formed a seal with both hands and lightly patted her chest. Her Heart of Light began to shine with incandescent brilliance. A tidal wave of light resonant power roared out, and her glazed Ten-Pillar Duke Bergfrieds became even more blinding.

Jiang Qing'e had stimulated her Heart of Light further in exchange for greater power. The two Ten-Pillar Duke Bergfrieds began to rise higher, emitting so much sacred light that it resembled a sea, resisting the burning of the karmic flames.

Sweat dripped off her fair and perfectly shaped face as she now had to bear the effects of the karmic flames by herself. It was clearly no easy feat.

When Li Luo saw this, he knew he couldn't tarry any longer either.

He immediately recalled his two Ten-Pillar Duke Bergfrieds back towards him, and they bloomed with brilliant light above him.

He glanced at the second Duke Bergfried.

This particular one was as Jiang Qing'e had said. It was hastily forged, and although it had ten pillars, it had flaws. There weren’t any consequences at the moment, but if Li Luo truly wanted to become a Transcendent Duke, it would undoubtedly become a hidden danger in his path ahead.

Jiang Qing'e had not understood why Li Luo had chosen to act so hastily.

That said, Li Luo had explained to her that he had a plan for it.

Judging by the way things were going, it was now time to put that plan into action.

His gaze was serene as he lifted the Dragon Elephant Blade and resolutely hacked towards the Ten-Pillar Duke Bergfried. The blade energy wasn't exceptionally strong, but it seemed to light a fuse, and countless cracks appeared on the Ten-Pillar Duke Bergfried.

Kacha! Kacha!

A moment later, the sounds of shattering rang out.

Jiang Qing'e hurriedly turned her head to see Li Luo destroying one of his Ten-Pillar Duke Bergfrieds. Turbulent emotions flooded her heart.

She knew what Li Luo was planning to do...

He was going to sever his Bergfried and break through this situation!