Chapter 1677: Paragon Fortune Mountain Range

East Divine Continent, northwestern region

This region was home to the Enlightened Sage Alliance. They had almost a hundred territories under their rule, as well as several clans and sects. There were thirteen Kings in their alliance, and the leader was King Zhao Ming, a peak Dual Crowned King.

His deputy was called Liu Yuan, another veteran King of the East Divine Continent who had been around for hundreds of years and founded a prosperous empire. Although his strength wasn't comparable to King Zhao Ming's, he was still a Dual Crowned King.

Many powers from all over the East Divine Continent were eager to join the Enlightened Sage Alliance. Even so, they were starting to have a difficult time dealing with the endless Other Dominions that plagued them. Things became especially bad after a Triple Crowned Devil King appeared on the East Divine Continent. King Zhao Ming had been heavily injured, pushed to the brink of death. That event had cast a shadow on the hearts of his people.

The Devil King behind the injury, the White Scorpion Devil King, didn't show any mercy. It had become notorious within the East Divine Continent, and it had rallied multiple Other Dominions to launch a vast offensive against the Enlightened Sage Alliance.

The Enlightened Sage Alliance had no path of retreat, so their only choice was to band together to resist. With their backs against the metaphorical river, the Enlightened Sage Alliance sent requests for aid from the Xia Alliance. Thus, Jiang Qing'e led five Kings and an elite army to lend a helping hand.

During this chaotic period, the Xia Alliance and the Enlightened Sage Alliance were like a pair of lips and teeth. One would feel the chill without the other, and if either were defeated by the Shadow World's Devil Kings, the other party would suffer greatly as well. The Xia Alliance's timely assistance was greatly appreciated by the Enlightened Sage Alliance as their morale soared. After all, the reputation of the Twelved Winged Radiant Goddess had spread throughout the East Divine Continent.

However, their excitement was short-lived as a second Triple Crowned Devil King descended onto the East Divine Continent. Everyone within the Enlightened Sage Alliance was filled with panic and despair.

......

Paragon Fortune Mountain Range

This was a landmark location in the northwestern region of the East Divine Continent, and it was many times larger than the Xia Kingdom's Gukun Mountain Range. The mountains towered into the clouds and the troughs were filled with deep recesses, forming a natural barrier. This mountain range ran through more than a dozen smaller countries and empires, and it was regarded as a sacred location for many of them. As of today, it served as the sturdiest barrier that protected the people from the Other Dominions.

The Enlightened Sage Alliance had taken full advantage of the natural barrier and built countless fortresses throughout it, interwoven into a grand formation. This was their most crucial defensive line.

On the western side of the mountain range, many once flourishing countries were now lands of silence. Those places had been turned into playgrounds for Others, where the living lived in terror.

That land of corruption could be seen from a gigantic city near the front line. It resembled a coiled dragon perched on top of a particularly majestic mountain. This place was known as Paragon Fortune City, the nexus of the defensive line.

Experts aplenty manned its walls. As a result, countless mighty energy undulations rippled across the mountains, giving the people living within the fortress cities nearby a sense of security. Half of the top combatants of the East Divine Continent had been congregated here.

"Your Divine Excellency, I would like to thank you on behalf of all of the powers that make up the Enlightened Sage Alliance for coming all the way here to support us. Your kindness will be forever engraved in our hearts," a white-robed elderly man said to the slender woman next to him.

The woman had a sacred appearance and unparalleled grace. Although many experts from the East Divine Continent had gathered here, she was the undisputed heart of them all. She was like an incandescent sun, shining brightly over everyone else. The old man, the leader of the Enlightened Sage Alliance, seemed dim in comparison. Indeed, the old man was the Enlightened Sage Alliance's leader, King Zhao Ming, a peak Dual Crowned King. The young lady beside him was Jiang Qing'e, who had come to aid him.

"You are being far too polite. If the Enlightened Sage Alliance were to fall, the Xia Alliance would have a hard time surviving alone," Jiang Qing'e politely replied.

King Zhao Ming glanced at Pang Qianyuan, who was beside them, and grinned. "Old Pang, the Astral Sage College is truly enviable. I can't believe you've managed to produce an eighth-grade Transcendent. The Radiant Goddess will inevitably break into the ninth-grade and possibly become a Heavenly Emperor in the future. When that happens, you can rename your college to the 'Astral Ancient College.'"

Pang Qianyuan couldn't hold back a self-satisfied smile. He had similarly managed to advance in the past five years, becoming a Dual Crowned King. However, he was still a far cry from Jiang Qing'e and her unimaginable prospects.

When a ninth-grade Transcendent stepped into the Heavenly Emperor Stage, they wouldn't be comparable to an ordinary Heavenly Emperor. This was because this was considered the most perfect breakthrough. Throughout recorded history, the number of Transcendent Dukes who had managed to make that final step could be counted on one's fingers.

"Old Zhao, your old eyes cannot see the complete picture. The Astral Sage College has another Transcendent expert, my vice principal, Li Luo. He managed to become a seventh-grade Transcendent before Qing'e and has been in seclusion for five years. In the future, he will be another unrivaled genius that has the hopes of becoming a ninth-grade or even a Heavenly Emperor! When that day comes, the East Divine Continent will be under the watch of these two, capable of dealing with countless Other Dominions," Pang Qianyuan said with a grin.

King Zhao Ming nodded. "Li Luo? I've heard of him too."

Although the individual in question had been in seclusion for five years, his reputation was equally widespread. After all, whenever Jiang Qing'e's name was brought up, there would be a second sentence that followed, filled with envy: the Radiant Goddess was the wife of House Luolan's House Lord.

In the past five years, Jiang Qing'e's reputation had spread throughout the world, gaining the admiration of countless geniuses and experts. There was a particularly fanatical fan who had been unable to control the feelings in his heart and attempted to woo her. Alas, the usually calm and composed goddess responded with a burst of murderous intent, almost executing him in public.

From that day on, everyone understood that the feelings between Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e were inviolable. Thus, no one dared to express such thoughts before her anymore, in fear of causing offense.

King Zhao Ming was well aware of all this. Li Luo was on Jiang Qing'e's level, being a Transcendent expert himself. However, he had chosen to seclude himself for five out of the ten precious years of abundant Heavenly Fate, which seemed a little unwise. Perhaps this five-year period would only end up widening the gap between the two, a truly unfortunate result.

As the three spoke, a figure stood amongst the crowd not far away, looking at Jiang Qing'e's peerless figure with a complicated look in his eyes. This was a man with a frosty expression, his eyes slightly narrowed. He seemed a little dazed. This was because he could still remember the events of the Holy Grail Meet that had occurred in the East Divine Continent all those years ago. Their squads had clashed then, and she had wrested away the championship from his hands.

This man was Lan Lan, the one who had cultivated the Enlightened Sage Scripture and was once an opponent who had placed immense pressure on Jiang Qing'e. He was now a fifth-grade Duke and had a prestigious position within the Enlightened Sage Alliance.

However, comparing him to Jiang Qing'e was like comparing the clouds to the mud. The girl who he once considered a formidable opponent had far surpassed him. Despite that, he didn't feel discouraged. On the contrary, he felt a hint of pride in his heart. After all, if Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e became some of the most outstanding people in the world, didn't that mean that he himself was quite amazing in the past? When the two eventually became Heavenly Emperors, he could smile and tell his juniors that he had suppressed them many years ago. Wouldn't that be impressive?

As Lan Lan grinned to himself, Jiang Qing'e seemed to have sensed something and turned her head. Her deep, golden eyes rested on his face, and she recognized him.

Lan Lan bowed towards her in respect, not even attempting to speak to her in public. Whatever had happened in the past would remain in the past, a prized memory.

Jiang Qing'e nodded at him slightly. She understood what he was trying to do and thus didn't do anything either. A look of nostalgia flickered through her eyes though. During the Holy Grail Meet, she had joined hands with Li Luo to defeat Lan Lan, their strongest enemy, and won the Dragon Bone Holy Grail for themselves. That memory brought her a trace of warmth.

Bang!

However, at this moment, an encroaching devilish energy suddenly surged into the skies, causing the black clouds to seethe. The experts from both alliances were alarmed.

"White Scorpion Devil King!" King Zhao Ming's expression was gloomy. He was very familiar with these corruption undulations as this was the creature that had grievously wounded him.

Alas, that was not the only energy—another devilish aura unfurled across the horizon, one that was no weaker than the White Scorpion Devil King's, instilling terror into the world without restraint.

The second Triple Crowned Devil King had appeared.