Chapter 0906: Dragon's Infernal Baptism

The first individual to reach the fifteen thousand foot point was, to no one’s surprise, Li Qingfeng.

However, right at that moment, everyone saw a sudden change take place around his body. Gray wisps of flame materialized around him and quickly condensed into a long, gray-flame dragon.

The dragon circled around Li Qingfeng before passing directly through him.

It did not incinerate his clothes, but as soon as it made contact, Li Qingfeng immediately halted in his steps and a trace of pain could be seen on his handsome face.

This was known as the Dragon's Infernal Baptism.

When one first crossed the fifteen thousand foot mark, they would experience a trial that served to exemplify how difficult the Dragon's Ascent truly was.

The gray-flame dragon would ignite one's flesh, blood, bones, and even their resonant power. This effect would renew every time the dragon circled around the individual, which was a tremendous test of one's will.

However, this smelting would also destroy the impurities in one's body and refine their physical state. Of course, the more impurities there were in one's body, the greater the burn, and thus the greater the pain.

Thus, if one did not have a strong will, they would reach their limit at the midway point and be unable to proceed any further.

However, Li Qingfeng merely paused for a few seconds before he staunchly stepped forward yet again. Just a single gray-flame dragon was not enough to stop him.

This was just the beginning though—the number of dragons would increase the higher he went. There would be a total of eight dragons at the twenty-nine thousand foot mark.

When one reached the final one hundred feet, they would encounter the most difficult part of the trial: the Nine Dragons Infernal Baptism.

This was the greatest impediment of the Dragon's Ascent. Countless geniuses of the Heavenly Dragon's Five Lineages were stopped right at that step, unable to achieve the highest glory.

Meanwhile, the group behind Li Qingfeng was closely observing the gray-flame dragon that circled around him. Their gazes were solemn as they knew that this was a trial they would soon face.

As Li Luo observed this, he couldn't help but to think of Li Jingzhe's Nine Dragon Fire Veil. He had spent countless days being tormented by it, so it could be said that he was prepared for what lay ahead. Although the affinities of the flames were not the same, it should have improved his tolerance.

Just as Li Luo was thinking of all this, Lu Qingmei vaulted ahead and also reached the fifteen thousand foot mark, undergoing the smelting of flame.

A moment later, the group that was just behind had made their way up as well.

Li Luo similarly maintained his rhythm and stepped onto the same step as the rest.

Gray-flame dragons then appeared, coiling around each of the participants, occasionally tunneling through them.

Huge amounts of piercing heat could be felt coming from their bodies. Even Li Luo couldn't stop himself from frowning in pain. This flame was indeed different from Li Jingzhe's Nine Dragon's Flame Veil. More accurately, Li Jingzhe's flame was grand and domineering, possessing destructive properties. On the other hand, this gray flame was much more subtle, looking to permeate through every inch of his being.

When the flame dragon passed through him, the impurities lying in the depths of his flesh were ignited one after another.

With a deep breath, he composed himself and simultaneously released his Glass Fiend Body with three glazed colors.

Tri-Radiance Glass Body.

His body seemed to have turned into a glazed piece of glass, allowing the dragon flames to burn him. It even seemed as though his body was turning even clearer and more refined as a result.

With the appearance of the three-colored light, Li Luo could feel that the pressure and pain brought about by the gray dragon flame had diminished. Perhaps one of the benefits of reaching the Tri-Radiance Glass Fiend Tier was that his body possessed less impurities and thus he felt less pain in this particular trial.

Although reaching the Glass Fiend Tier was not rare amongst the Banner Leaders, he was the only who had reached this realm.

Thus, Li Luo's climbing speed increased.

With less impurities in his body, the degree of pain inflicted by the dragon was lessened, resulting in a noticeable advantage for him.

In a short span of time, he overtook Li Hongli, Deng Fengxian, and the rest.

His sudden increase in speed was the subject of numerous surprised gazes. The others were all suffering from grievous pain due to the incinerating flames and could barely move. Meanwhile, Li Luo was increasing in speed?

Even the two at the front, Li Qingfeng and Lu Qingmei, could sense a disturbance coming from behind them, so they turned to take a closer look.

However, when they spotted the tri-colored radiance coming from Li Luo's body, their expressions changed as they immediately recognized it.

"Tri-Radiance Glass!" Li Hongli sputtered, and her beautiful face turned gloomy. All those who had reached the Glass Fiend Tier were well aware of the highest realm one could reach. However, doing so came with corresponding difficulty.

One's body had to build a strong foundation, and they would have to find external lucky opportunities.

In their generation, even Li Qingfeng was unable to do so!

On the other hand, it seemed like Li Luo had accomplished the impossible.

“What is that brat up to? How has someone who spent so many years languishing in the outer divine continent managed to build such a sturdy foundation?” Li Hongli clenched her teeth. Her father was in the same generation as Li Taixuan and she had been raised on a diet of envious and disgusted words towards him. She didn't understand why the loathing was so intense back then, but her viewpoint had changed. She could even empathize slightly with her father now.

"Hmph. He's merely outstanding in the Fiend Body Tier. Li Luo is worthless compared to Brother Qingfeng. Does he think he can rely on the Tri-Radiance Glass Body to obtain the Dragon's Head? An idle fantasy. How can the huge gap be bridged so easily?" Li Hongli cursed with a deep sigh in her mind as she attempted to console herself. After which, she quashed these thoughts in her heart and continued to focus upon the gray-flame dragons, no longer bothering with Li Luo. Li Qingfeng's gaze also rested upon Li Luo momentarily before he turned away, continuing to forge his way up the steps.

He was not affected significantly. The Tri-Radiance Glass Fiend Tier was rare, but Li Luo was still at the Fiend Body Tier. He, on the other hand, was at the Heavenly Pearl Tier. Thus, this wouldn't change things.

Although the Tri-Radiance Glass Body allowed the pressure of the dragons to be lessened, it was not possible for it to change the inevitable result.

Lu Qingmei, on the other hand, had a look of increased interest. Li Luo was constantly surprising her.

"The Tri-Radiance Glass Fiend tier is truly rare. Hopefully, I'll get to encounter him during the Scales Seizure and I will finally see for myself whether it's enough to stop me," she thought to herself with great anticipation.

Li Luo remained unfazed by all the gazes. He was not going to waste this opportunity, and he increased his speed yet again.

He left Li Hongli and Deng Fengxian far behind as he attempted to close the gap between him and the frontrunners.

It seemed that he would soon catch up with the first group.

Just as Li Luo was hot on the heels of the leaders, the other Banner Leaders finally reached the fifteen thousand foot mark. It was at this point that the gap between individuals could be seen as the distance between them opened up.

Everyone was sweating profusely, their gazes full of pain, their bodies literally burning from the gray-flame dragons. Each and every step increased their agony by a tiny notch.

As everyone slowly suffered, their speed plummeted, but they could suddenly feel a figure advancing relentlessly from the back.

Was that Li Jingtao?

Li Jingtao was not considered quick. Each step was measured and deliberate, steadily advancing. In the beginning, his speed was incomparable to the likes of Li Fengyi and the rest. However, while everyone began to slow down at the halfway mark, he remained unaffected.

As a result, the gap shrunk. Li Jingtao huffed and puffed up the steps, overtaking most of them.

Numerous Banner Leaders turned towards him.

Li Jingtao was fully focused upon climbing as the gray-flame dragon constantly passed through him. For some strange reason, his expression seemed relatively unchanged, as though it wasn't very painful. Even with the dragonfear surrounding him, he remained unperturbed.

Everyone felt like his unchanging stance and determination were inconceivable.

Li Fengyi similarly looked at him with astonishment as they were now almost neck and neck.

Perhaps the number of people watching him was a little too much, and Li Jingtao finally seemed to have realized something. Turning his head, he swept his gaze past the numerous curious looks before something seemed to have gone off in his head. He hurriedly let out a foolish smile and began to slow his steps.

But before he was able to relax, Li Fengyi's chilly voice rang out. "I'll break your legs if you dare to stop!"

She had a great understanding of this lazy bum and thus gave him a stern warning. Otherwise, he might very well just end up slacking off completely.

This threat caused Li Jingtao to freeze momentarily before he flashed his most endearing smile at Li Fengyi. Reluctantly, he could only maintain his existing pace as he trudged upwards, leaving the entire group behind and catching up with Li Hongli and Deng Fengxian's group.

Li Hongli felt a hint of movement behind her. Turning around, she saw that it was Li Jingtao, and her expression turned ugly.

All of her feelings could be expressed in a single sentence.

Don't come near me!