Chapter 1686: Light Pierces Through the Dark Night

The sky was blanketed by darkness, and the night as thick as ink; even the Dukes had their vision and senses hampered to a short range around them. The vast battlefield had turned chaotic, and the darkness had left those beneath the Duke Stage basically blind. This was the power of the Torch Dragon Underworld King's night resonance.

Kings could use source origin to sense what was going on around them, circumventing the effects. However, under the cover of night, the Torch Dragon Underworld King could sense anything and everything within the range of his influence. He could easily seize control of worldly natural energy wherever the night reigned. Thus, even though Kings could see, they couldn't compete against him in his realm of darkness.

Li Luo stood tall in the void, his expression turning serious as he looked at the Torch Dragon Underworld King's faraway figure. The three crowns that had formed behind him were the most profound and magnificent crowns he had ever seen, each one overflowing with the densest source origin energy he had come across thus far.

It had to be said that the Torch Dragon Underworld King was the strongest King that Li Luo had ever met. The former was once an eighth-grade Transcendent Duke, but he had deviated from the Path of Ascension and entered the peak of the Triple Crowned King Stage. In addition, he possessed the Absolute Resonance Seed. With three palaces and five resonances, his foundation was absolutely monstrous.

From another point of view, this man was living proof of how arduous and challenging it was to become a ninth-grade Transcendent. If even the Torch Dragon Underworld King had failed, then it was definitely a monumental task.

The Torch Dragon Underworld King was actually feeling quite bitter. If the Ten Years of Heavenly Fate were in effect when he was breaking through to the Ninth Transcendent Duke Stage, he could have made use of the Fortune of Heaven and Earth. In that case, he would likely have turned out like Tantai Lan, smoothly entering the ninth-grade.

The endless darkness which blanketed the heavens and the earth seemed to contain some sort of strange vitality. It continuously wore Jiang Qing'e and Li Luo down, forcing their Transcendent Heavenly Thrones to release mysterious light to resist its effects. However, the darkness continued to close in, gradually encroaching on them.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed. The human-faced snake behind the Torch Dragon Underworld King had unhinged its abyss-like mouth, spewing out a blast of thunder energy. The thunder merged with the darkness, transforming into a bolt of black lightning that bombarded Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e.

As the black lightning struck repeatedly, the duo's towering Transcendent Heavenly Thrones rumbled, causing their protective light to gradually dim.

Li Luo focused, and the Ten Divines Absolute Resonance Halo behind him began to spin. The Empyrean Resonance Tree of Authority between his brows brightened and supreme Authority condensed. The Heavenly Dragon that was coiled atop the Empyrean Resonance Tree of Authority's canopy unhinged its maw and spewed out a torrent of dragonbreath.

This was no ordinary dragonbreath—it was created from Authority! The dragonbreath streaked through the dark, drowning out the black lightning and attempting to rip apart the darkness. However, the power of Authority it carried was nullified and the brilliant stream of dragonbreath dissipated after travelling a thousand miles.

Li Luo's gaze became incredibly serious as he said in a low voice, "The darkness contains the power of Authority!"

As the Torch Dragon Underworld King also had an Absolute Resonance Seed, he could naturally fuse his resonances together. Even though he had fewer resonant palaces and resonances than Li Luo, he was a peak Triple Crowned King. Thus, the Torch Dragon Underworld King could also create a supreme ninth-grade resonance!

Li Luo turned towards the Torch Dragon Underworld King, who was standing in the sky, his long hair fluttering in the wind. At this moment, an ebony Empyrean Resonance Tree of Authority rune that emitted black light appeared between his brows. It was a supreme ninth-grade night resonance.

Seeing that Li Luo was staring at the rune, the Torch Dragon Underworld King smirked. "Li Luo, you're not the only one who possesses Authority beneath the Heavenly Emperor Stage."

Clearly, he had a great understanding of Li Luo's abilities. He was well aware that it was the Authority that allowed Li Luo to suppress King-level experts. Without the superiority of Authority, Li Luo was at a disadvantage in all aspects.

"Li Luo, this darkness is troubling. It's gradually shrinking," Jiang Qing'e suddenly said.

Li Luo nodded. He had already sensed the changes around him. The darkness had covered their surroundings, had a vitality of its own, and was constantly decreasing in size. This resulted in the darkness becoming more intense and condensed, reaching an almost sticky sort of consistency. In the end, it would undoubtedly transform into an impenetrable prison. Perhaps this was the Torch Dragon Underworld King's goal—to seal them all in a dark prison of his making.

That said, the Torch Dragon Underworld King was truly powerful. Normally speaking, few people beneath the Heavenly Emperor Stage were powerful enough to pressure Li Luo, and this was one of those rare individuals.

"So you've noticed. It doesn't matter though. You can't break the deadlock with your inferior power of Authority," the Torch Dragon Underworld King said, smirking confidently.

Li Luo's expression remained impassive. With a thought, the remaining Divine Fruit fragment floated up from the cauldron in the middle of the Absolute Resonance Halo. The fragment was slightly illusory; it was clear that a large amount of its power had been spent. It would only work one more time before it was completely consumed, though it was the only tool he had to resolve the situation.

However, Jiang Qing'e suddenly grabbed his hand and said, "No matter how heavy the darkness is, it will always fear the light."

Li Luo's gaze flickered thoughtfully. "Your Authority of Light isn't enough."

Jiang Qing'e smiled, and her peerless beauty seemed to illuminate the surrounding darkness. "Don't I have you as well?"

Upon realizing what she meant, Li Luo's Absolute Resonance Halo began to rumble and the resonances started to fuse yet again. This time, the Empyrean Resonance Tree of Authority had turned into one overflowing with glorious light. The Heavenly Dragon vanished and the tree turned into one born of the light, each and every part of it glowing with sacred light.

It had become a supreme ninth-grade light resonance! Li Luo then waved his hand, and the Authority of Light condensed in his grasp to form a gleaming longsword.

Jiang Qing'e raised her Holy Phoenix Parasol like a sword, waving it lightly and forming countless images in different sword postures. At the same time, she activated the state of Divine Knowledge of her Genesis Seed, allowing the duo to become one in both body and mind. Their Light Authorities began to fuse into one, and a pillar of blinding light blasted into the sky.

A heaven-toppling figure of light with twelve divine wings emerged behind them, resembling a holy goddess. The Twelve Winged Seraphim's Sword Dance!

Endless amounts of light transformed into sword energy in the air. The sticky darkness seemed to have met its nemesis and started to recede with shocking speed. The Authority of Darkness contained within it started to dissipate as it was purified by the combined Authorities of Light. In just a short span of time, light filled the world yet again and the black curtain was torn apart. Everyone's vision began to return to normal, and the familiar sky was above their heads once more.

The Torch Dragon Underworld King's Darkness Domain had been dismantled. This scene undoubtedly caused a storm to arise in all of the Kings' hearts. Even Qin Jiujie and the Spirit Eye Underworld King's expressions fell. They could scarcely believe that Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e had managed to break through Torch Dragon Underworld King's signature move. This was the Torch Dragon Underworld King they were talking about; in a world without Heavenly Emperors, he was considered the absolute strongest being.

They then directed their gazes towards the Torch Dragon Underworld King, whose smile had vanished, his expression now gloomy. Clearly, he had not expected that their combined efforts would overcome his Authority. They had fused the Genesis Seed and the Absolute Resonance Seed. Even with his experience, he had never encountered something like this before.

"Torch Dragon Underworld King, we can't capture them quietly, so let's work together and take them by force," Qin Jiujie suggested.

The Torch Dragon Underworld King's dreadful expression gradually became calm once more. He looked up into the depths of the void and shook his head. "There's no time. He's already here."

After he spoke, a rain of light suddenly appeared over the sky of the East Divine Continent, pouring down endlessly. A bright path made of light penetrated through layers of space, connecting a location far away with this battlefield.

A well-built and tall individual strode across the path, giving off an imposing aura. His hair was the color of molten platinum, glowing with an incandescent luster. His eyes were like burning suns, his aura smothering the world. It was... the Radiant King, Qi Huang!