Chapter 0688: Experiencing the King Stage

Weng!

Li Luo executed a clean, unadorned slash. The worldly natural energy around him was still, as though nothing had happened. But at the same time, the skies were torn apart and even the thick cloud layer was split down the middle.

A single blade light descended from the heavens, directly heading towards the Regent.

The blade light looked simple and pristine. However, the Regent's expression warped upon seeing it.

And a look of horror appeared within his eyes.

Why? At this very moment, he could feel a horrifying sense of death emanating from the unadorned and plain strike. It contained a terrifying and complex energy that was beyond his comprehension, something that surpassed the Duke Stage.

He had no time to consider how a Fiend Palace Tier brat could possess such might, but he knew that if he were to let the blade light strike him, he would undoubtedly be as dead as a doornail.

Dying in the hands of a Fiend Palace Tier youngling would indeed be laughable.

"Imperial Mountains and River Palm!"

The Regent burst forth with unrestrained resonant power. He blazed like a miniature sun in the sky, and the boundless amounts of resonant power incited looks of shock and awe, causing the entire space to tremble in his very presence.

His five fingers formed a palm that he smashed out with, utilizing his strongest resonance art from the get-go.

Countless manifestations of mountains and rivers instantly took form, and those who were familiar with the topography of the Xia Kingdom could recognize that these were some of the most ancient mountains and rivers in the kingdom. The Imperial Mountains and River Palm was created when the ancestor of the Gong family had been inspired by the landscape itself.

As the Xia Kingdom's rulers, all members of the Gong family could cultivate this Duke Art. And it would increase in strength significantly when it was utilized within the territory of the Xia Kingdom.

Thus, the Regent's single palm strike was even more tyrannical and domineering than the one he had launched against Qin Zhenjiang.

The substantial manifestations of the mountains and rivers appeared within the void, almost forming a tapestry tens of thousands of meters long that was adorned with the most majestic and impressive scenery. Its sheer presence emanated an indomitable sense of oppression that everyone within the square could feel keenly.

Compared to the imperious tapestry, the single blade light that was flying towards him was comparatively unimpressive.

Bzzst!

Ear-grating sounds of tearing rang out the moment they collided.

The audience's eyes were like saucers as they saw the manifested mountains and rivers sliced apart like a hot knife through butter. The Regent's strongest move was unable to even halt that dusky blade light.

It tore apart everything in sight.

Just a breath later, it arrived before the Regent.

The Regent trembled and swatted out yet another palm. At the same time, a golden crown seemed to have appeared above him. It was like a miniature tower with five levels to it. A violet eye mark on its surface seemed to flash with mystical light. Unsurprisingly, he had taken out his violet-eye treasured artifact.

The moment it appeared, a scintillating, golden light barrier shrouded the Regent. Weng!

The blade light continued to travel towards him, directly landing upon the golden light barrier.

This time, the blade light was unable to penetrate the barrier immediately, so a stalemate occurred. The void shuddered, and after ten breaths of time, the blade light finally dimmed and dissipated. However, the treasure did not remain unblemished—a massive crack opened up on the golden crown itself.

The square had been jolted into deathly silence.

Everyone stared flabbergasted at this scene, as though they had seen a ghost!

No one had expected that Li Luo's casual swing would force a fifth-grade Duke into such a miserable position, surpassing his strongest Duke Art and even permanently damaging a protective violet-eye treasured artifact.

What was going on?

Stunned glances shifted towards Li Luo. The previous calm First Princess had been completely taken aback by this series of events, and her phoenix-like eyes dazedly focused upon the blade-wielding youth with an unsettled mind. Who would have known that at the very moment she wished to give up, Li Luo would stand up for her?

This brat continued to churn out miracles and joyful surprises again and again.

Vice Principal Su Xin, Yu Hongxi, Zhu Qinghuo, and the other peak experts shot bewildering gazes at Li Luo. The strength he had just displayed was simply abnormal, and it could not have come from Li Luo himself.

"So, do you think that I have the right to disagree with your decision?"

Under the watchful gazes of the entire square, Li Luo hefted his blade as he stared at the Regent unblinkingly. "I was simply struck by sudden inspiration just a moment ago! My strength took a titanic leap forward and seemed to have entered the eighth-grade of the Duke Stage."

Everyone's lips began to twitch. Couldn't he have come up with a better excuse? The Regent gloomily glared at Li Luo. What sudden inspiration? That was clearly bullshit. That single blade strike contained strength that far surpassed even that of a peak Duke. How else could it have disassembled his Imperial Mountains and River Palm so easily?

His gaze then turned onto the Golden-Jade Onyx-Elephant Blade that was in Li Luo's hand.

It was then when the thought struck him, and a dark cloud formed over his heart. There was only one individual in the Xia Kingdom who could exert power beyond the Duke Stage! Pang Qianyuan!

Although Pang Qianyuan was stuck in the Umbra Cave and was unable to appear in person, it was possible that he had utilized other means to project his strength onto someone or something else.

For example, Li Luo's Onyx-Elephant Blade.

It was once Pang Qianyuan's partner weapon, and leaving behind a backup plan was normal. This was one of the reasons why the Regent had often exhorted Gong Shenjun to find a way to obtain this weapon by hook or by crook!

Clearly, the Regent's worst nightmare had manifested in reality.

"Principal Pang, this is a matter of the Gong family. Do you really want to interfere?" the Regent glumly said out loud.

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Principal Pang?" The numerous experts were shocked. Li Luo's sudden, explosive rise in strength had come from the Principal?

On the side of the Astral Sage College, the numerous Violet Vibrance mentors were similarly taken aback. At the same time, Vice Principal Su Xin's calm words rang out. "No wonder that seemed familiar. It was the Principal taking action. Although he can't appear in person, he was able to transmit his strength to Li Luo with the Onyx-Elephant Blade as a medium. His intentions were clear: to borrow Li Luo's hand to support the First Princess."

"Isn't the Principal inside the Umbra Cave? How can he actually project his resonant power so far?" Cao Sheng thought that this was unimaginable. He, like the other mentors, had traveled into the depths of the Umbra Cave more than once, so he was clear of the danger within. Although the Principal was a King and had the aid of the Onyx-Elephant Blade as a medium, this was not a simple act.

"The Principal must have made special arrangements. It's very possible that he already predicted what would happen," Vice Principal Su Xin explained. "With the Principal's presence, it looks like Gong Yuan's plans for today might no longer succeed as easily."

Cao Sheng sighed.

The rest of the mentors nodded. Although the Principal had not appeared in person, lending Li Luo a hand already demonstrated his attitude. The support of a King was a significant deterrence after all.

"I was wondering why that brat suddenly stood up. It turns out he has some sort of arrangement with Principal Pang," Yu Hongxi murmured with slightly raised lips.

Lu Qing'er similarly let out a relieved sigh as she patted her chest. On the other hand, Vice President Ning Que had a rigid expression on his face. "Principal Pang actually took action! It doesn't seem to be in line with the Astral Sage College's stance of neutrality."

"Why don't you say that to him yourself?" Yu Hongxi smirked.

Ning Que dryly laughed. Talking sense into a King? A single raised fist would turn him into a meaty pulp.

Li Luo let out a confident smile in response to everyone's surprised looks. He was not embarrassed of being exposed as he continued to grasp his blade in hand. "The Regent has such discerning eyes. I am actually just the bearer of a message from Principal Pang! That old man says that the Little Emperor is the true heir to the throne and that if you usurp him, it would undoubtedly be an illegitimate ascension to the throne. As for the Kingdom Protecting Formation, Principal Pang has said that there is no need to worry. The previous Emperor beseeched him to research its properties so it could be altered to allow a female member of the family to have the right to take control of it. He's made some progress, and even if the future Emperor is a woman, she will be able to take control of the Kingdom Protecting Formation. Thus, Regent, you should let today's situation go."

The square was left in utter silence. Li Luo's indifferent words had echoed throughout the square, and that unperturbed tone of his was like a bolt from the blue to everyone who heard it. Their hearts palpitated in light of this revelation.

His words represented the will of a King Stage expert.

It was clear, unadulterated support for the Little Emperor.

The Regent stared at Li Luo with a cryptic and dismal gaze. Perhaps it was more correct to say that he was glaring at the person that stood behind him. Now that the situation had escalated to this point, did he really expect to resolve this situation with a simple sentence?

“That King truly is bristling with arrogance.

“Does he really think that he is master of the entire Xia Kingdom?”

"Principal Pang, your words have disappointed me greatly," the Regent said with a low voice, an inexplicable emotion rising within him.

This reply shocked the people present. The Regent planned to talk back to a King? Was he planning to ruin all pretense of civility? Was he not afraid of Principal Pang returning from the Umbra Cave?

Li Luo's brows knitted together as he frowned. “Has this guy turned mad?”

"In the end, you're unable to be here in person. Even though you're able to transmit power to Li Luo, how long can this go on for?" The Regent focused upon Li Luo with a deathly chill in his expression.

"Also, do you really think I'm unable to deal with you?"

A tiny, black bell had appeared on the Regent's finger. The bell chimed out, and a formless sound wave was transmitted through the void.