Chapter 1494: Thunder Finger Peak

All of the experts across the vast land received the same message in their minds simultaneously. Immediately after, heated gazes could be seen in everyone's eyes as they looked at the nine gigantic mountains that stretched into the skies.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Li Luo similarly stared at the peaks in the distance. Each of them was of a different color and only contained a single type of majestic and pure energy. One was covered in flames and was crimson in color. Magma flowed down from the top and terrifying flames raged across its surface, taking all sorts of shapes and forms. The void around it was distorted due to the high temperature. This was the Flame Finger Peak

Another was covered with silver, crackling lightning, containing incredible amounts of thunder energy. The lightning was like a gigantic python, rampaging wantonly across the area. The higher up the mountain, the more violent the thunder energy was. This was Thunder Finger Peak.

Other than that, there were other peaks that contained just a single type of worldly natural energy, such as Wind Finger Peak, Ice Finger Peak, Light Finger Peak, Beast Finger Peak, and so on. It was an incredible sight to behold.

Li Luo's gaze was focused on the very top. Even though it was a long distance away, the energy fluctuations emanating from it were fear-inducing and it was clear that the road to the top would be arduous and filled with danger. Everyone's expressions had also turned serious as they began to make preparations for the upcoming battle. Some reached out to close friends to form a small squad because they could cooperate up till the point before the peak.

Jiang Qing'e led her small squad to Li Luo's side.

"Have you chosen a mountain?" Jiang Qing'e asked.

Li Luo sighed slightly before giving an unexpected answer. "I've chosen Thunder Finger Peak."

Jiang Qing'e was a little taken aback. "Shouldn't you have chosen Water Finger Peak or Beast Finger Peak?"

"No worries, I have my own plans." He smiled. "You must have chosen Light Finger Peak, right?"

Jiang Qing'e had exceptional light resonant power affinity and thus, she was most suited for it. That was why she had to go there to find the most appropriate opportunities.

She nodded.

"Diwu Mingxuan will also pick Light Finger Peak. You'll have to be careful," Li Luo reminded her.

"That's fine by me. I'll be able to see just how amazing he is. However, I don't think that he will use everything he has against me on the thirty-first layer."

Li Luo nodded his head.

As the two spoke, the rest of the elites began to move. Just a few moments later, several figures shot through the sky, leaving behind beams of light in their wake as they rushed to their chosen mountains.

Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e's squads didn't tarry; they set off as well, warily observing the desolate land around them. The Celestial Mirror Martial Exchange was the last and hardest part of the trials, and if one was careless, they would be eliminated.

The large army of individuals gradually approached the Nine Finger Peaks

However, it was just as Li Luo had expected—things wouldn't go so smoothly.

Bang!

When the majority of the group approached the peaks, an innumerable number of fierce resonant power attacks shot out from the surrounding hills, forests, and mountains, blanketing the sky.

The sudden ambush had taken quite a few by surprise. That said, everyone capable of participating in the Celestial Mirror Martial Exchange were considered the pillars supporting their colleges and thus, they were not flustered. Instead, they swiftly retaliated with their own Duke Arts and equipped their Mythic Armaments, creating a defensive line that blocked the resonant power attacks.

Bang!

A cacophony of energy blasts collided and scattered in the air, a sight almost akin to a lively firework show that dazzled the eyes.

However, this beauty hid a threat that could possibly end their attempts at the trial prematurely.

After a few short moments, countless individuals were injured and let out pitiful cries. Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e were fine though. They had already dealt with the attacks sent towards them and their gazes were directed far ahead. They could see that there were numerous figures rushing out to meet them.

He noticed that many of these figures were wearing uniforms from the different colleges.

Some gave off mighty energy undulations as well.

"Li Luo, these are the experts that have participated in previous Celestial Mirror Pagoda trials. They have been replicated by the power of the Celestial Mirror Pagoda and will be our first obstacle," Chi Chan explained. "Although they might not be as strong as their originals, you cannot underestimate them."

It dawned upon him that the Celestial Mirror Pagoda truly possessed unfathomable secrets that he could not currently comprehend. Such an artifact was capable of creating a copy of anyone who had once entered it—didn't that mean that in subsequent trials, someone might encounter his or Jiang Qing'e's doppelgangers?

While his gaze was focused on the trial ahead, the entire area had turned completely chaotic, transforming into a merciless battlefield.

Imposing Duke Arts were being thrown out left and right.

Numerous squads had their progress forcibly halted.

However, Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e glanced at each briefly and then informed their squadmates, "Follow closely, we will break through the encirclement and rush towards the Nine Finger Peaks!"

Based on the rules, only half of the participants could reach the next layer, while the rest would be culled. Thus, anyone who was trapped here would not be allowed to proceed.

The next instant, four Ten-Pillar Golden Duke Bergfrieds appeared above Jiang Qing'e, releasing brilliant light that illuminated the area.

Similarly, three Ten-Pillar Golden Duke Bergfrieds appeared above Li Luo, causing worldly natural energy to roil.

Lu Qing'er, Li Hongyou, Ning Meng, and the rest similarly activated their abilities, doing their best to support them. The two squads immediately burst forth with frightening strength. Their squads were like a sharp arrow with Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e at the tip. They smashed through the encirclement created by the clones in an unstoppable fashion.

Li Luo pulled out the Heavenly Dragon's Sunchaser Bow and activated his Dragon Rearing Art, shooting out imbued draconic arrows that whizzed through the air with ear-rending booms.

Every arrow pierced a cloned expert, completely shattering them into motes of light that instantly dissipated.

Jiang Qing'e wielded her sacred Transcendent Divine Mist, transforming it into sword energy rays capable of purifying anything, and they cut a path forward.

Their domineering onslaught allowed the two squads to progress rapidly.

At the same time, the other top powerhouses revealed their might. The likes of Sheng Qiao'er, Diwu Mingxuan, Lu Ruyan, and the rest used their overbearing powers to rip a path through the ambush. They were putting all their efforts into rushing towards their chosen Finger Peaks.

This sort of fighting persisted for half a day.

The long and arduous journey towards the Finger Peaks was filled with endless slaughter and confusion.

They even encountered some stronger clones whose surprise attacks left Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e reeling temporarily, having to slow down to deal with them. The bright side was that the closer they got to the Finger Peaks, the calmer things became.

Just before them were the nine titanic mountains, close enough that they were only thing that filled everyone's eyes. As they approached, they could sense the terrifying and violent fluctuations of energy emanating from them more clearly.

Even Sheng Qiao'er and the other upper eighth-grade Dukes had solemn expressions upon seeing this.

However, none of them hesitated—they directly chose their targets and immediately made their way onto the mountains, beginning their ascent.

The first wave of squads that were able to approach the Nine Finger Peaks only contained the pinnacle of experts. Their only goal was to obtain the promised opportunities at the peak.

"Take care, Li Luo," Jiang Qing'e said. "The Mythical Spirit Ancient College's Zhou Jun has also chosen Thunder Finger Peak."

Li Luo nodded. He could see a trail of thunder energy arcing through the sky and the astonishing thunder resonant power wrapped around Zhou Jun's body, with his teammates right behind him.

This was no surprise. Zhou Jun possessed relatively pure thunder resonant power, so this particular mountain was the obvious choice for him.

"You should make a move too. Diwu Mingxuan has already started ascending Light Finger Peak," Li Luo responded.

She nodded, then her light resonant power wrapped around her body and transformed into a pair of wings. The wings flapped and she shot forward like a beam of light. Ning Meng, Yue Zhiyu, and Xiao Feng followed suit.

Li Luo turned his gaze back towards Zhou Jun, and his eyes narrowed, his gaze flashing with cold light. That was the fellow who had ambushed Jiang Qing'e during the Domain Traversal Battles, ruining the Sacred Crown of Thorns in the process. There was a chance they would clash on Thunder Finger Peak, and if the opportunity arose, he wouldn't mind giving him a taste of retribution.

"Let's go!" With that, he shot forward, leading Lu Qing'er, Li Hongyou, and the rest, rushing into the mountain that crackled with thunder and lightning.