Chapter 0654: Escalation

The sight of Pei Hao's body crumpling to the ground left everyone in utter shock. Everyone within House Luolan's Headquarters seemed to be frozen in time as they watched the scene in a trance.

This result was something no one had ever expected in their wildest imaginations. Except for Jiang Qing'e, of course.

The Heavenly Pearl Stage Pei Hao had been thoroughly trounced by the Fiend Palace Tier Li Luo.

What was most mind boggling was that Li Luo had merely a blank palace a year ago, yet to begin on the path of cultivating resonant power!

Had the chasm between the two been bridged and even surpassed in the short span of a year?

Was this a true genius?

At this point, regardless of whether it was those who supported Li Luo or Pei Hao, all were paralyzed silent by this revelation.

"The Young Lord has won!" However the silence was short lived as the ones who supported Li Luo began to cheer in excitement. Thunderous cheers resounded throughout the headquarters.

Yuan Qing, Cai Wei, Yan Lingqing, and the rest also revealed radiant and relieved smiles.

Pei Hao's faction was desolately silent in comparison.

The cheers startled Xu Tianling, Mo Cheng, and the rest out of their stupor, a gloominess spreading over their expressions.

Pei Hao had failed!

Xu Tianling and Mo Cheng quickly glanced at each other before a glint of viciousness could be seen in their eyes.

Pei Hao's failure indicated that their struggle for the position of House Lord had ended in defeat. If things proceeded this way, wouldn't that mean that they would have to blankly stare at Li Luo ascending to his rightful position?

Impossible!

Today's situation was the product of countless schemes. Although Pei Hao's part was a significant aspect of it, his failure did not herald the end of the plan. Conversely, it only meant that things would truly begin now!

Xu Tianling icily glared at Li Luo. Now that he had demonstrated his ability to wield a Duke Art, the fluctuations of resonant power coming off him were sluggish and his complexion was ashen. Clearly, it had taken a toll on him, leading to intense exhaustion.

So long as the winner of the battle died too, House Luolan would fall into chaos!

Thus, Li Luo had to die now!

Li Luo had already shown the world his limitless talent and potential, which caused him to feel a chill in his heart. He was no different from the second coming of Li Taixuan. With sufficient time, Li Luo would inevitably reach the Duke Stage, and at that point in time, he would be cleanly disposed of.

Thinking of the grim future that lay ahead, Xu Tianling and Mo Cheng exchanged looks. Their eyes turned ruthless as they knew what had to be done.

Bang!

Massive undulations of resonant power exploded forth from the duo and their figures flickered, striking out. The berserk resonant power that shrouded them shattered the space all around as they shot towards Li Luo like rays of light, intent to claim his life.

Xu Tianling and Mo Cheng's sudden outburst was completely out of everyone's expectations. No one was able to predict the actions of these maddened, cornered beasts. They were openly flouting the rules!

"Xu Tianling, Mo Cheng! You dare?!" Yuan Qing howled in anger. Similarly, he burst out with all his strength, intent to block the duo.

However, Xu Tianling and Mo Cheng were no weaker than him. As he reacted just a moment later, the duo had already arrived before Li Luo.

"Young Lord! You've killed Pei Hao, so now we'll send you on your way with him!" Xu Tianling's face was malevolent and he spoke coldly.

Li Luo stood in his original spot, unfazed. On the other hand, he merely stared icily at the two murderous ancestors. These no-good elders had decided to strike when he was weakened.

Despite being out of resonant power, Li Luo did not seem to show any fear or lack of composure.

As the two vicious fists fuelled with surging resonant power smashed through space and were about to approach him, a dazzling ray of light descended from the sky. A mirror made of light resonant energy positioned itself right before Li Luo.

Bang!

The two fists heavily struck the reflective surface, and the light mirror began to fragment, eventually shattering into glimmers of light.

The two strikes had been completely negated.

Staring at the flickering and divine light resonant energy, Xu Tianling and Mo Cheng's pupils shrunk. They naturally knew who had chosen to intervene, but they didn't understand how she had managed to block both of their full-force attacks with a single art.

Was she not at the Quasi Pearl Stage?

The two hurriedly turned to glance at Jiang Qing'e.

Their eyes shrunk at the sight that befell them.

Jiang Qing'e was now on her feet, her heavy sword in hand. Boundless light resonant energy poured out from her body like a waterfall. At the same time, the originally illusory Heavenly Pearl was quickly solidifying before their very eyes.

Worldly natural energy gushed into the single Heavenly Pearl that devoured it ravenously, constantly being converted into resonant power within Jiang Qing'e.

The quasi-pearl had now transformed into a bonafide Heavenly Pearl!

Jiang Qing'e had finally taken that last step into the Heavenly Pearl Stage.

If it were merely just a normal Heavenly Pearl Stage cultivator, Xu Tianling and Mo Cheng would not find such an opponent troubling. However, the explosive diffusion of light resonant energy coming from Jiang Qing'e far surpassed any average Heavenly Pearl Stage cultivator.

Jiang Qing'e's absolute beauty bloomed with jade-like luster, contrasting gorgeously with her crystal-clear skin. A mystical rune that seemed to be gradually fading had appeared between her brows.

At the same time, what gave everyone a shock was that Heavenly Pearls were condensing right behind her, one after another!

"How does she possess such ridiculous resonant power?" Mo Cheng had an ugly expression on his face.

"She has been suppressing herself for countless years. I suspect she cultivated some sort of incredible secret art, all in anticipation for today!" Xu Tianling replied despondently.

"Hmph! I don't believe that there is a secret art that would allow one to ascend to the skies with a single step in the Heavenly Pearl Stage!" Mo Cheng gritted his teeth as he consoled himself.

In that brief moment that the two conversed, Qing'e was callously glaring at the duo. Now that they had bared their fangs towards Li Luo, she felt an incomparable intent to slaughter them.

"Li Luo's show is over. If you want to fight, it's my turn!" Jiang Qing'e declared with a bone-chilling voice. She took a step forward, and her heavy sword ignited with sacred flames. Casually waving her sword once, a several-hundred-meter-long manifestation of sword energy was produced, sweeping towards the two ancestors.

The sword energy emitted sacred flames that radiated into the skies, purifying anything they passed through.

Thus, as the sword energy swept across the square, it was as though the entire area was being sanctified!

Staring at the space-rending sacred sword light, Xu Tianling and Mo Cheng's expressions turned grim. They could distinctly feel that this resonance art was dangerous even to them. Her strength had far surpassed that of anyone at a similar cultivation stage.

Xu Tianling no longer dared to tarry—he hurriedly raised his hand. Immediately, frosty ice resonant energy emitted from his body like a white blizzard as he formed a hand sign and uttered in a low voice, "High-grade dragon-general resonance art, Cold Tortoise's Mysterious Shield!"

Freezing ice resonance energy coalesced before him into a turtle shield that was sparkling and translucent, and numerous mysterious runes appeared on its surface.

Mo Cheng similarly channeled his resonant power, forming a massive resonant power barrier.

Pssh!

The blazing sword light swept past, directly penetrating the Cold Tortoise's Mysterious Shield and the resonant power barrier.

At the moment of contact, Xu Tianling and Mo Cheng had horrified expressions as they realized that the light resonant energy was more tyrannical than they had ever imagined. Its majesty would not be restrained by their pitiful resonance arts.

Xu Tianling's Cold Tortoise's Mysterious Shield held on for a brief moment before it went up in flames.

Being quick-witted, he took pains to retreat as far as possible with the time bought by the shield.

Unfortunately, Mo Cheng was not as lucky, and he was significantly weaker than Xu Tianling. His resonant power barrier was devastated in mere moments, and before he could retreat, the sword light manifestation slashed across his shoulders vertically.

“EEEK!”

A shrill scream erupted from Mo Cheng's mouth.

One of his arms was chopped off at the shoulder, blood spewing in every direction.

The entire square looked on in horror at this grisly scene.

No one had expected that a single merciless move from Jiang Qing'e would have resulted in one ancestor retreating and another grievously injured.

The pair of House Lords possessed a grandeur that was unmatched, shining brilliantly like a resplendent rainbow.