Chapter 0661: Duke Art

In the skies above House Luolan.

The two Dukes were waging a catastrophic battle, attracting the attention of all the peak experts within Xia City.

Zhu Qinghuo and Ox Biaobiao had already revealed their Duke world spaces, absorbing the impact of their blows. Otherwise, Xia City's sky would have already been turned into a fragmented and desolate void, the space torn to shreds.

One could see a massive, flaming palm constantly swatting down within the fiery-red clouds, radiating terrifying amounts of heat that caused even the space itself to burn and leaving an acrid smell. Every pattern engraved upon the palm itself was mystifying, condensing the essence of flame itself.

This was the Duke Art that a fourth-grade Duke could bring forth. If such a move were to land unobstructed in the midst of Xia City, half of it would inevitably go up in flames.

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Faced with Zhu Qinghuo's Duke Art, Ox Biaobiao immediately returned the favor. Clenching his fist tightly, lines of light began to appear on his sturdily built arm. Flesh and blood shuddered as the moo of an ancient bull resounded.

Duke Art, Demon Bull's Godly Fist!

He struck out with a single fist, and all of the world space before him shattered like fragile glass, with spatial fragments raining onto the ground. A massive fist silhouette roared through the air as it flew towards Zhu Qinghuo, containing a scene of thousands of divine bulls stampeding.

This was pure, unadulterated strength capable of smashing mountains and splitting the ground apart.

Bang!

The two parties' all-out attacks caused the world to rumble intensely despite the attacks occurring in the world space. The worldly natural energy around them was agitated, bubbling intensely in the aftermath.

Everyone could see that things were at a stalemate as neither attack held an edge over the other.

"House Luolan's little girl might have increased her power tremendously, but she had to shatter her Heavenly Pearls as the price. How long can she hold on with such a heavy cost? Expecting her to defend House Luolan is a little idealistic, no?" Zhu Qinghou continued to sow doubt, attempting to erode Ox Biaobiao's willpower to fight.

"Noisy pest." Ox Biaobiao glared ferociously at Zhu Qinghuo before brusquely replying, "A fourth-grade Duke from a godforsaken desolate hellhole dares to wag his tongue at me? Do you think I won't hack you to pieces?"

With that, he swiftly brandished his pig-butchering knife. It suddenly extended, turning into a three-meter-long ghost-beheading blade. On it were dark-red marks that seemed to have been the result of it being soaked in countless amounts of fresh blood. At the same time, a horrifying, fiendish air emanated from the sanguine blade.

Ox Biaobiao grasped the blade, and a terrifying, dark, crimson blade energy blasted out from him. A boundless, dark-red ocean seemed to have taken form behind him, all formed from this demonic blade energy.

Rumble! Roar!

The sea of blade energy rumbled, and everyone could see a massive demonic god take illusory form, casually standing up from within it. It hefted a massive blade whose very presence seemed to be able to penetrate the skies and the earth.

All of the worldly natural energy around the duo was aroused as it wildly surged towards the illusory demonic god.

Not only Zhu Qinghuo, all the other Dukes in Xia City who were secretly observing had expressions of great shock and were at a loss for words.

"Is that a Soul Ascension-grade Duke Art?" Most of the Dukes of the Xia Kingdom cultivated Communion-grade Duke Arts. Soul Ascension-grade ones were rare, and the Golden Dragon Bank, the royal court, and the Astral Sage College all treated such Duke Arts as highly prized heirlooms. As a result, the vast majority of Dukes were unable to cultivate them.

At the very least, Zhu Qinghuo did not have one to call his own!

Thus, when he saw Ox Biaobiao brandish the Duke Art, his eyelids couldn't stop twitching in anxiety. At the same time, he held unrestrained envy in his heart. Ox Biaobiao, Li Taixuan, and Tan Tailan were from the inner divine continent, a holy land for cultivation. Even a Soul Ascension-grade Duke Art was something he had never even managed to set his eyes on... until today.

"Soul Ascension-grade Duke Arts might be almighty, but your Duke Bergfrieds still have yet to appear. I suppose this means they were shattered at some point? Without the support and foundation of the Duke Bergfrieds, the might of that Duke Art is wasted upon fool like you!" Although he was feeling fear, he wouldn't show it, so he continued to spew harsh words in an attempt to project confidence. Duke Bergfrieds were the foundation that defined a Duke. Ox Biaobiao having not revealed any thus far had to be due to the fact that he couldn't, not that he didn't want to. In this case, he might stand a chance in a direct clash...

“Phew.”

Zhu Qinghuo heavily exhaled as he formed a seal with his hands, his expression turning solemn.

Bang!

Copious amounts of crimson resonant power burst out from Zhu Qinghuo, directly ascending into the air whilst the color of the energy continued to transform. By the time it reached the clouds, it had become like colored glass, a tint reddish but relatively transparent. The energy then transformed into a gargantuan, glass-like palm.

All of the flames had turned a similar, transparent-reddish tint.

The gigantic flaming hand remained in the air. It seemed indomitable, able to crush any enemies who attempted to block it.

The Dukes within Xia City nodded slightly. Zhu Qinghuo may not have cultivated a Soul Ascension-grade Duke Art, but his personal Communion-grade Heavenly God of Flame's Palm had reached the state of Perfection.

In terms of sheer might, it should be able to compare with an average Soul Ascension-grade Duke Art.

Ox Biaobiao’s gaze was like that of a ferocious beast. Glancing at the giant, transparent palm, he didn't comment much, merely hacking down with the ghost-beheading blade. As his blade fell, so too did the illusory demonic god's blade in tandem.

In that instant, the world seemed to have been cleaved in half with a single blow.

"Soul Ascension-grade Duke Art... Mad God's Blade!"

......

As the Dukes' battle intensified, the battle between Pei Hao and Jiang Qing'e within the headquarters had also increased in both savagery and peril.

However, Pei Hao remained on the defensive, looking to drag things out. Another Heavenly Pearl had shattered, unable to withstand the consumption of the Duke Art.

What was once five had turned into two.

Clearly, remaining on even footing with Pei Hao required Jiang Qing'e to pay a hefty price.

"Jiang Qing'e... you're running out of time. The price you've paid has been significant... three Heavenly Pearls... Oh boy, can you imagine how long it will take to cultivate them back?" Pei Hao mocked with a huge grin as he looked at the remaining two Heavenly Pearls behind her.

Jiang Qing'e's beautiful expression remained undaunted as she icily replied, "Although I don't know what you really are, whether it's Pei Hao or some other abomination... I have to duly inform you, you pitiful creature. What you think is hard to accomplish is merely a bed of roses for me."

Pei Hao's smile seemed to shrink a little upon hearing those piercing words.

Jiang Qing'e continued to glare at him dispassionately. "What I really want to know is whether you can still pull off a Duke Art in your strange state."

"Pei Hao" squinted upon hearing those words. It was true that this body wasn't his real body, it was Pei Hao's. He might be able to lend it strength, but it was impossible for him to utilize a Duke Art.

Frankly speaking, cultivating a Duke Art was out of the picture with Pei Hao's talent and resources.

"It looks like that's a no." Jiang Qing'e answered herself with a light nod upon seeing the lack of response.

"What do you mean?" Pei Hao indifferently asked.

"I can't use a Duke Art? You mean to say..." His voice came to an abrupt end as he saw Jiang Qing'e slender, jade hands execute a hand seal. With that, a small cluster of sacred flames condensed on her palm.

The flames did not seem very powerful. However, they radiated holy light in every direction. Wherever the rays of light landed, they would convert the worldly natural energy into light resonant energy.

Thus, Pei Hao could feel a sense of danger coming from the unassuming cluster of flames.

His expression turned gloomy at last.

"You shattered three Heavenly Pearls to build up your resonant power... all as a diversion for this." He forlornly realized what was going on.

Jiang Qing'e did not bother to answer, only lifting up her hand along with the cluster of flames into the air. In a flash, a tempest kicked up, and the flame transformed into a humongous phoenix, one that burned with sacred flames.

The divine phoenix attracted everyone's attention.

Everyone could feel the terrifying destructive capability of this resonance art... Only a Duke Art possessed this much power!

No one had expected to learn that not only had Li Luo cultivated one, but Jiang Qing'e too!

Jiang Qing'e’s chest heaved slightly at this point, and her graceful features turned pale for the first time.

She then pointed directly at Pei Hao. The divine phoenix emitted a crystal-clear cry as it spread its massive wings, swooping down whilst leaving a gorgeous trail of flames in its wake.

This was her strongest art.

She had hidden her strength for far too long all for the sake of this day.

Duke Art: Radiant Phoenix Flame.