When Li Luo activated the Lesser Dragon Sacred Seed, the Heavenly Dragon above the two Ten-Pillar Golden Duke Bergfrieds erupted with a boundless and vast light. Everyone could clearly see that the Heavenly Dragon's body was expanding at a frightening pace. Its fangs and claws were becoming incomparably sharp. All of the violet-gold scales were becoming more life-like, becoming more like a living, breathing creature.

An indescribable, mysterious draconic pressure washed over the world like an unstoppable tide.

The entire minor world seemed to tremble under the power of this dragon.

What changed was not only the Heavenly Dragon resonance, but Li Luo's body as well. Violet-gold runes appeared on his skin and spread across the surface of his body.

In the end, all of the runes condensed between Li Luo's eyebrows, transforming into a violet-gold halo. Within it was a coiled ancient dragon, roaring towards the heavens.

At the same time, his originally grayish-white hair had turned a dazzling violet-gold. It was his Archaic Runes!

Those with middle ninth-grade resonances were capable of producing these mysterious runes that allowed one to pursue source origin itself, strengthening Li Luo's body's connection with the world around him. The resonant power undulations coming from Li Luo's body began to soar rapidly.

The appearance of the middle ninth-grade Heavenly Dragon resonance caused Fang Xingyun's expression to turn gloomy. He could sense that his two resonances had become sluggish.

He understood that this was a form of suppression the Heavenly Dragon resonance could hold over other dragon resonances!

"Archaic Runes... middle ninth-grade Heavenly Dragon resonance?!" Fang Xingyun's heart was shaken. He couldn't comprehend how Li Luo, who clearly had a quasi ninth-grade Heavenly Dragon resonance, was able to transform it into a middle ninth-grade!

Just what sort of means did he have in his hands?

"This is... the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li's Lesser Dragon Sacred Seed." In the outside world, atop the golden platform, Wang Xuanjin, Elder Bai Yu, and Elder Jin Xi were all closely observing the fight. From a glance, they were instantly able to deduce that Li Luo was suddenly able to evolve his resonance with a special power.

Furthermore, this was not something they were unaware of.

Sacred seeds were something that all the peak powers of the land paid attention to. Only Heavenly Emperors were able to create them, and they were the foundations of their lineages.

The only thing that the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li possessed that allowed one to bolster their dragon resonance to the middle ninth-grade would be the weaker version of the Dragon Sacred Seed, the Lesser Dragon Sacred Seed.

"It turns out he was concealing his hand all along. A middle ninth-grade Heavenly Dragon resonance can easily suppress Fang Xingyun's dual dragon resonances. This will reduce the gap between them," Wang Xuanjin said with a grin.

Elder Jin Xi shook his head. "There is an element of suppression, but bridging the gap between the two won't be so easy."

Elder Bai Yu similarly spoke up in a gentle voice. "Jumping five grades to battle an opponent is rare even amongst Transcendents. Even if Li Luo uses the Lesser Dragon Sacred Seed, it has only changed the situation from being crushed instantly, to one where he is able to withstand the opponent's attacks."

Wang Xuanjin similarly agreed with the other elders’ opinions. Beating an opponent five grades above oneself was terrifying and almost never seen. Just relying on the Lesser Dragon Sacred Seed wouldn't close the gap in sheer power. However, what couldn't be denied was that Li Luo's chances of winning had improved.

Whilst the three Kings discussed, the squads beneath were also looking at Li Luo in shock. After all, not everyone was able to discern what had happened like Wang Xuanjin.

Thus, they were baffled by how Li Luo had achieved this result.

Jiang Qing'e's gaze was focused on Li Luo, and a trace of amusement could be seen in her eyes. "It looks like you've managed to obtain the Lesser Dragon Sacred Seed."

This also signified that he had become the Five Guardian Armies' Grand Guardian General!

This position was something that Jiang Qing'e could have originally fought for, but as she didn't possess a dragon resonance, the Lesser Dragon Sacred Seed wasn't very effective on her. Thus, she didn't hold much interest in it. It would be better if Li Luo obtained it instead. And he did indeed live up to her expectations.

With this, he would have even stronger cards up his sleeve, and his hopes of winning had increased.

……

"So what if you have a middle ninth-grade Heavenly Dragon resonance? Even though my dragon resonances have been suppressed, the gap between us will not change!" ℝÀŊ𝙤𝐛Ëṣ

Fang Xingyun very quickly calmed his heart. Regardless of what Li Luo did, his own advantage in grades was absolute. Fang Xingyun waved his hand, and thunder energy condensed in his palm, taking the shape of a halberd. It was engraved with thunder runes and emitted the boom of thunder from time to time.

Middle-grade Mythic Armament, Thunderlight Halberd! As the strongest vice principal in the six outer divine continents, Fang Xingyun had received much of the Thunder Tribulation Sage College's support and was gifted this middle-grade Mythic Armament by the principal.

"Li Luo, all of your fancy tricks are meaningless before absolute strength!" Fang Xingyun bellowed, his voice thundering across the minor world. His gaze was firmly locked on Li Luo, and he would no longer give his opponent any more chances. Taking a step forward, he dashed forward like a bolt of lightning, travelling at frightening speed and piercing through the skies. The halberd in his hand struck downwards so quickly, it was like a torrent of thunder, directed right at Li Luo.

With the aid of his Worldspace Domain, Fang Xingyun's speed had reached a frightening level.

Even Li Luo could barely track him as he zoomed across the skies.

A moment later, a torrent of thunder energy appeared before Li Luo's eyes, accompanied by wild energy undulations and a thunderclap, deafening him. Li Luo looked into the sky and roared, his Archaic Runes illuminating brightly. The dragon contained in the violet-gold spot between his brows roared as well. All of the resonant power within his body was activated, channeled into the Dragon Elephant Thunder Blade.

He slashed outwards, causing boundless amounts of thunder energy to spill out, severing the firmament into two. He was going to clash head-on against Fang Xingyun without giving in!

Li Luo wanted to see for himself if he was able to block a high-grade Duke's attack at his peak state!

Bang!

The thunder blade clashed with the thunder halberd before everyone's eyes. It was like two fearsome thunderbolts crashing into each other, and the void shattered as a result. All of the mountains in their surroundings were charred black by the blast.

As thunder energy wildly thrashed in the four directions, Li Luo was sent flying several thousand feet away. Silver thunder poured into his blade and travelled into his body, clearly under the control of Fang Xingyun's Thunder Dragon resonant power.

However, before it was capable of rampaging within Li Luo's body, it was firmly locked down by the Absolute Resonance Halo and then devoured, resolving the hidden danger. Pain lanced through the hand, which tightly clutched the Dragon Elephant Thunder Blade. His blood and energy were in turmoil, and it was clear that he had been overpowered in the last confrontation.

That said, Li Luo's eyes shone with excitement.

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

This was a much better result than their first exchange, where he had been bashed into the depths of a mountain with a single blow.

Clearly, when the Heavenly Dragon resonance reached the middle ninth-grade, his power had also soared.

Furthermore, with the aid of the Archaic Runes, his body had been augmented greatly, capable of resisting Fang Xingyun's Thunder Dragon resonant power.

"Again!" Li Luo roared as he struck downwards with his blade, a bolt of golden thunder energy shooting outwards.

Dragon Elephant Thunder Blade, Divine Thunderstrike!

The golden thunder blade energy arced through the void, hacking viciously towards Fang Xingyun.

Fang Xingyun emotionlessly waved his halberd when he saw Li Luo's counterattack. Energy from within the Worldspace Domain surged towards him, transforming into a Thunder Dragon's claw. It slammed downwards and destroyed the golden thunder energy with a slap.

The golden thunder energy began to dissipate, but Fang Xingyun's gaze was gloomy. He was beginning to realize that Li Luo was able to withstand his offensive.

In fact, he even dared to strike back! The middle ninth-grade Heavenly Dragon resonance not only bolstered his resonant power, it also made his body that much stronger. This was the advantage of dragon resonant power, and the resonant power was from the king of dragons! Fang Xingyun, having experienced this himself, was exceptionally cognizant of this.

Fury arose within his heart. He had originally wished to utilize his overwhelming power and crush Li Luo like a dried twig, completely crushing the morale of the East Divine Continent. Alas, he had failed to do so, and it was a form of shame. With a thought, he no longer hesitated, taking yet another step forward. He waved his halberd, condensing thousands of bolts of silver lightning that then blasted towards Li Luo with boundless killing intent, attempting to exterminate him.

When Li Luo saw this, he gripped his blade and the violet-gold runes on his body began to shine even more brightly, giving off a wild and ferocious aura.

"Hahaha! Come! Let me experience for myself how outstanding a high-grade Duke is!" His laughter boomed and the blade swung down, creating countless golden thunder energy blades that flew outwards.

Bang, bang, bang!

Deafening booms rang out as the energies collided again and again. The two fighters smashed into each other in the air like lightning bolts repeatedly. In just a short instant, they clashed more than a thousand times. Each clash left Li Luo reeling backwards, and his skin was gradually being covered in silver thunder marks.

However, these marks would then be forced to dissipate by the violet-gold thunder runes on his body.

His physical strength was exceptionally mighty at this point and his entire body was bathed in golden thunder energy, like a suit of golden dragonscale armor. Although he was at a disadvantage, he was able to weather the endless killing blows launched by Fang Xingyun. Thunder filled the air in the entire minor world.

Regardless of whether it was within or outside of the minor world, horrified gazes were directed towards Li Luo. He had been forced to retreat, but he was never actually defeated by Fang Xingyun! This meant that Li Luo was truly qualified to go toe-to-toe with him!

Countless individuals were flabbergasted by this sight, and they started to feel excited.

Li Luo was overcoming the doubts about him with his actions.

So what if there was a gap of five grades? A seventh-grade? He definitely could fight one!