Chapter 1702: Doesn't Taste Bad

When Zhen Linshuang's overbearing words resonated through the palace, the numerous experts of the Dragon Race erupted with roars. Li Hongyou, who had taken her seat, looked at Li Luo with a trace of worry. Although she had a high status in the Dragon Race, it was not high enough to shake the decision of the Chieftain.

"Chieftain Zhen, when the Divine Continent Federation gave us the slots, they never mentioned that we would only be allowed to enter the first layer of the blood rites. How will you explain yourself to the Divine Continent Federation?" Lin Miao gloomily asked.

Zhen Linshuang completely ignored Lin Miao's question. Instead, she stared fiercely at Li Luo, awaiting his response. From the start till the finish, her attention had been fully focused on him. She knew that Li Luo was a seedling who Ancestor Zhen Fu thought of fondly. They had exchanged messages, and Zhen Fu hoped that Li Luo could enter the third layer of the blood rites and attempt to obtain the Dragon Ancestor's Physique. Zhen Fu was the reason the Divine Continent Federation had been allocated three slots.

That decision left Zhen Linshuang dissatisfied and furious in her heart. The way she saw it, Li Luo was just an outsider. Even though he possessed the Heavenly Dragon bloodline, he was just an impure vagrant. How could someone like him deign to enter the third layer of the blood rites and compete against her for the Dragon Ancestor's Physique? She didn't understand why Zhen Fu would look down on her, the Chieftain, in favor of some outsider!

The Dragon Ancestor's Physique was the greatest opportunity one could possibly come across. Obtaining it would guarantee that Zhen Linshuang would become a Heavenly Emperor, so she would not relent. Thus, she wanted to block Li Luo before the blood rites even started, as that was the safest way to go about this. The Dragons Pour Wine ceremony was the best method to accomplish that goal.

As the Chieftain, it was only natural that she would prepare the highest form of greeting the Dragon Race could offer, right? If Li Luo was unable to handle the Dragons Pour Wine ceremony, then all that could be said was that he was simply impotent. An individual with the contaminated bloodline of the Heavenly Dragon would never receive the approval of the Dragon Race. Whether this would incur the dissatisfaction of Zhen Fu didn't matter to Zhen Linshuang. After all, they weren't that closely connected by blood, and the one who supported her was the other Heavenly Emperor of the Heavenly Dragon Tribe, one that was even more senior than Zhen Fu.

As Zhen Linshuang pondered over all this, Li Luo calmly stepped forward, making his way towards the stone platform in the middle of the palace. He was planning to accept the challenge of the most revered ceremony of the Dragon Race.

When Lin Miao saw this, he was inwardly surprised. Although he didn't doubt that Li Luo was strong, passing the Dragons Pour Wine ceremony required more than just strength. After all, even a Triple Crowned King like Li Tianji was now cowering in a corner after being suppressed by the draconic might, unable to move at all. If Li Luo suffered a backlash as well, then they would fully lose their opportunities to participate in the Ten Thousand Dragons' Ancestral Blood Rites despite the agreement.

Although Lin Miao was worried, he also knew that Li Luo was firm with his choice as he watched him stride forward. The numerous experts of the Dragon Race were closely scrutinizing Li Luo as well. For thousands of years, no one had been able to elicit the phenomena of the dragon pouring wine.

Zhen Linshuang stood on the side with her arms crossed, coldly watching Li Luo.

Bang!

Every step Li Luo took caused the glorious palace to shake. No, it wasn't the palace shaking—the entire Heavenly Dragon Sacred Mountain was reacting. Roar after roar of ancient Heavenly Dragons were heard, booming like thunder and reverberating through the halls. With each roar, Li Luo's steps became heavier. At the same time, layer after layer of draconic might pressed down on him.

There was a tradition that the Dragon Race had followed since ancient times. Whenever a Heavenly Dragon matured, they would leave a strand of their power in the Sacred Mountain. The strands of power had accumulated over a long period of time, causing the draconic might to reach unimaginable levels of density. Resisting the terrifying draconic might, walking to the cup, and then gaining the acknowledgment of the Sacred Mountain was no easy feat. Even if the Radiant King were present, he wouldn't be able to do so.

As everyone expected, Li Luo's footsteps got heavier and heavier, and they could see that he was about to stop. At this point, Zhen Linshuang's fiery red lips curled up slightly into a smirk. It was then that the Absolute Resonance Halo appeared behind Li Luo, his five resonant palaces shining with resplendent light as his ten resonances fused, turning into a Empyrean Resonance Tree of Authority between his eyebrows. Atop the crown of the tree was a coiled primordial Heavenly Dragon.

The supreme ninth-grade Heavenly Dragon resonance!

When this resonance appeared, the expressions of the experts of the Dragon Race changed. The Supreme ninth-grade Heavenly Dragon resonance gave off an aura that was infinitely close to that of a Heavenly Emperor Heavenly Dragon. This was something that even the likes of Zhen Linshuang, at the pinnacle of the Triple Crowned King Stage, was unable to achieve.

Zhen Linshuang's beautiful face stiffened at this moment, then a trace of jealousy arose in her eyes. Li Luo was indeed blessed by the heavens, capable of using the Absolute Resonance Seed's abilities to fuse his resonances and reach this state. It was no wonder Zhen Fu approved of him. That said, he was still an outsider to her.

Li Luo's eyes slowly transformed into those of a dragon as his Heavenly Dragon bloodline was awakened, causing violet-gold dragonscales to appear on his skin. Most importantly, the Heavenly Dragon pressure originating from the Sacred Mountain no longer seemed to suppress him, instead turning into illusory dragons that hovered around him, letting out surprised roars.

The Heavenly Dragon bloodline within him began to boil, as though it had turned into scorching lava. A roar shook his mind, and he could sense that the pressure and rejection from the Heavenly Dragon Sacred Mountain had completely vanished, replaced by an indescribable sense of closeness. It was treating him as one of its own.

Li Luo grinned and continued to walk forward. This time, his steps were light and he was no longer bearing any pressure. On the contrary, there was actually a weak force pulling him forward. Amidst the silence, he arrived at the stone platform in the middle of the palace a few moments later.

Bang!

When he arrived, the gigantic golden pillars within the palace began to shine. Countless Heavenly Dragon silhouettes formed as well, swooping down towards him and transforming into amber liquid that fell into the adorned cup. Shortly after, the cup was filled to the brim with the amber liquid.

Li Luo inspected the amber substance within the cup. Merely looking at it made him tremble, as if his body yearned for the liquid. Without hesitation, he lifted the cup and gulped it all down.

Weng!

The entire mountain shook violently and streams of golden light shot up into the sky. The entire Dragon Domain sensed this change, and they raised their heads and looked in the direction of the golden palace.

"Dragons Pour Wine?!" Countless experts of the Dragon Race were taken aback by this sight. It had been thousands of years since anyone had seen this phenomenon, and someone had accomplished it today? For a moment, a series of roars erupted throughout the domain, as though welcoming the arrival of a new revered guest.

Within the palace, Li Luo could sense his flesh and blood heating up, as though a terrifying force was taking shape within him. Even though the power was overwhelming, there was no foundation to it and it was clear it would not last long.

"This is a blessing that originates from the countless dragon souls that occupy the Sacred Mountain," said Li Luo.

With a thought, Li Luo activated the Absolute Resonance Halo and stored the newfound power within the cauldron. Perhaps it would be helpful to him later on. After which, he raised his head and looked directly at the gorgeous but stiff expression of Zhen Linshuang. He beamed widely as he raised the cup towards her.

"Thank you, Chieftain Zhen. This wine doesn't taste half bad," he said.