Chapter 0989: Battle for the Thrones
When the lotus seats, jade mats, and stone mats appeared beneath the Golden Dew Platform, the crowd turned rowdy and everyone stared at them with eyes full of desire.
There was a limited number of seats beneath the Golden Dew Platform. Only those who managed to secure one could experience the baptism they desired.
Everyone could tell from a quick glance that there were roughly a hundred seats, with better rewards for the more exquisite ones.
Among them, the golden lotus thrones were the fewest. Naturally, the competition for them would be the fiercest. Only those at the seven or eight-pearl tiers would dare to aim for them. Perhaps with the help of a strong backing, some of them could acquire more golden lotus thrones for their respective groups.
However, most of the people had accepted the fact that the golden lotus thrones were not meant for them. They would be more than happy if they could get their hands on the jade praying mats. If worse came to worst, they would be fine with just the greenstone mats as well.
At this moment, Li Luo's gaze turned from the numerous seats towards Li Fuling, Li Guan, and the rest. He said, "Everyone, let's work together to get as many seats as we can, regardless of whether it's the lotus thrones, jade praying mats, or greenstone mats. Once we've gathered all of them, we will guard them with all our might until the situation clears up. We'll allocate them based on our contributions later. How does that sound?"
It would definitely be a chaotic mess later on as everyone, including the rogue cultivators, fought like hungry tigers and wolves for the opportunities available. As such, they would easily draw the attention of enemies in a group if they were simply fighting and guarding the seats individually. It would be best for them to work in teams now.
With their advantage in numbers, they could form a line of defense and guard the seats they secured. In that case, the rogue cultivators would not dare to fight with them no matter how hungry they were.
Everyone nodded in agreement after hearing Li Luo's suggestion. This was indeed the most natural choice for a domineering power like them to make full use of their advantages.
"I excel in defense. You can send me to the seats and I'll guard them for everyone," Li Jingtao said with a grin, securing the best position for himself before anything even started.
"We'll depend on Lingjing, Cousin Fuling, and Li Guan to compete for the golden lotus thrones, then," Li Luo added. Those three were the strongest present. Li Lingjing had stunned the crowd with her eight-pearl strength, and there weren't many that would dare to stand up to her. While Li Fuling and Li Guan were slightly weaker, they were still seven-pearls and the top tier in terms of battle strength. As such, the three of them were most suited to fight for the golden lotus thrones.
Hearing this, Li Fuling and Li Guan nodded as well. Li Lingjing said, "If I get a golden lotus throne, the priority will go to Li Luo."
"What about you?" Li Fuling asked.
"I can do without it," Li Lingjing replied nonchalantly.
"Aren't you generous?" Li Fuling said with a few coughs.
At this point, Li Lingjing waved the Aquamarine Bamboo Python Staff in her hands and continued, "Li Luo gave me this earlier. It's only right that I return something valuable to him as well."
In fact, Li Fuling had been paying attention to this staff in her hands since earlier. It was exuding potent and pressurizing energy undulations. Now that Li Lingjing showed it off in front of them, the crowd could clearly see the triple violet-eye marks on the staff. This elicited cries of surprise. "Triple violet-eye treasured artifact?"
Such a high-grade treasure was so rare that not even Li Fuling had owned a single one in her life. Even though such treasures did exist in the Dragon's Fang Guardians, the price was so ridiculously high that she could only ever watch in envy.
Li Luo had handed such a treasure to Li Lingjing? What was going on between these two? "Cousin Li Luo is very generous," Li Fuling sourly complained with a bit of jealousy.
Li Luo simply gave a dry cough as he explained, "We happened to enter a place full of treasured artifacts earlier, which came with immense danger. Since Cousin Lingjing's treasured artifact was destroyed, I gave her that one to help us fight off our powerful enemies. If I hadn’t, we might have lost our lives."
At this point, he turned towards Li Lingjing and continued. "It's alright, Cousin Lingjing. If we only get one golden lotus throne in the end, you can have it. There's no need to give it to me."
Li Lingjing smiled a little, but she did not say more. It seemed like she would have to get at least two golden lotus thrones in the end. Otherwise, Li Luo might not be willing to accept it after he made his stance clear. As they continued to discuss their plans, the Golden Dew Platform on the mountain peak began to glow brightly and the faint sound of beating drums started echoing in the air.
At the next moment, everyone noticed the resonant talismans in their hands glowing as well, as if they were attracted by some otherworldly force.
"The battle for the seats beneath the Golden Dew Platform is about to begin. Prepare yourselves!"
Some of the guys shouted out excitedly.
Bang!
Countless beams of resonant power surged up into the sky. The colorful resonant energy enveloped their surroundings and the rustling of wind filled the air. Everyone soared high up into the sky towards the peak.
Li Luo and the rest also took this opportunity to gather up, and they flew high into the sky as a group.
It took them just a short moment to arrive at the vicinity around the Golden Dew Platform.
Everyone's eyes were locked onto the seats hovering in the air immediately.
Without any hesitation, Li Lingjing, Li Fuling, and Li Guan rushed up to the golden lotus thrones all the way at the front. Radiant Heavenly Pearls materialized behind them and began to ravenously devour all the worldly natural energy in the environment. Violent energy undulations that emitted an immense sense of pressure crackled in the air.
However, no one was willing to give up on the golden lotus thrones so easily. The elites from the other powerful forces, as well as some of the stronger rogue cultivators, charged towards it as well.
Waves of wild attacks flew across the air. Everyone who tried to get any closer to the golden lotus thrones were faced with layers of obstruction almost immediately.
Li Lingjing was no exception—three people flew towards her as soon as she tried to move towards one of the golden lotus thrones. They were all six-pearls, and they launched a coordinated attack to try to take her down.
Her cute face turned cold instantly, and she waved her staff in response. Fierce, poisonous rays shot out directly towards the trio.
Bang!
The three of them attempted to resist it with all their might. However, their faces changed drastically when their resonant power barriers came into contact with the poison rays. Their resonant power was eroded immediately and the one with weaker defenses was struck. The poisonous rays pierced through him, and one of his arms had all of its flesh melted completely. All that was left was the white bone beneath.
“Argh!”
He screamed out in pain. After seeing Li Lingjing's true strength, he no longer dared to fight her and retreated immediately.
With one member down, the other two were thrashed by Li Lingjing soundly. She struck fiercely with her staff once again, and the two of them spat out blood as a force that could even split mountains came crashing down upon them.
After just a few moments, the two of them lost their nerve and attempted to escape.
However, Li Lingjing wanted to make an example out of them. Her eyes turned icy with murderous intent as the eight Heavenly Pearls behind her back shone brightly. Two gigantic manifestations of the python staff smacked down.
Bang! Bang!
When the manifestations descended upon them, the two six-pearl fellows were squished. Their bodies were smashed into the ground, resulting in two pulpy messes that were horrifying for all to see.
At this instant, everyone who was watching the battle fell silent as they observed Li Lingjing with fear in their eyes. Despite her delicate and beautiful appearance, the girl was brutal and vicious when she struck, like a Rakshasa from the abyss.
While everyone was stunned by how quickly she had dealt with the two six-pearl opponents, she moved swiftly and appeared beside a golden lotus throne.
However, more people appeared around her as soon as she got her hands on one of the thrones. Their eyes were unable to hide the greed that filled them.
"Let's work together. She may be an eight-pearl, but she's dead meat if we all work together!" one of them shouted.
Everyone jumped in to give it a try.
However, a black serpent manifested behind Li Lingjing before they could even strike. Her gaze turned frigid and resonant power surged within her body. With a preemptive strike, all the fools who dared to infringe upon her majesty were decimated.
As a result, the battlefield descended further into chaos.
Battles were happening in every corner of the mountain.
It was not just the highest grade golden lotus thrones that were contested for—the battles for the greenstone mats were really fierce as well.
This treasured opportunity would affect how their cultivation journey would proceed in the future. No one was willing to give in without giving their all.
The battles in the golden lotus throne area were the most dangerous. Only four-pearls and above dared to involve themselves with those. As such, Li Luo did not charge recklessly. His targets were the jade praying mats where the opponents were weaker and more suitable for him. Nonetheless, there was still quite a bit of obstruction.
When Li Luo firmly stepped on one of the jade praying mats, the Golden-Jade Onyx-Elephant Blade materialized in his hand and he slashed downwards. The void cracked open, and a black dragon surfing a river roared to life.
Duke Art: Underworld River's Black Dragon Banner!
The Greater Completion Underworld River's Black Dragon Banner exuded an impressive presence. The face of one of the two-pearl rogue cultivators changed into fear as his resonant power was eroded in an instant. His body was pierced by the gushing, black water, and blood flowed out of every orifice. Then his body landed on the ground pathetically.
Li Luo had eliminated a two-pearl rogue cultivator in a single strike. In the next moment, he released the blade from his hand. He then clenched his fist again, and a tyrannical greatbow appeared in his grip.
Heavenly Dragon's Sunchaser Bow.
Without any hesitation, he pulled the string back, causing the bow to tremble as three unstoppable arrows pierced through the air and forced three of the figures who were trying to get closer to retreat immediately.
"A triple violet-eye treasured artifact?!" one of them exclaimed in shock. The bow in Li Luo's hands was a clear sign of the threat he posed.
Some of the others hesitated for a moment and decided to give up on this praying mat in the end.
Nonetheless, Li Luo did not let his guard down. He hefted his bow with a cold expression, ready to strike again at any moment. At the same time, he dragged the jade praying mat with his feet towards a region not too far from here.
Li Jingtao, Li Fengyi, and the rest had formed a defensive formation at that location. Their treasured artifacts were all out as they stood guard.
Li Luo kicked the jade praying mats into the group. Li Jingtao and the rest summoned up their resonant power and a shield made of light appeared, securing the object.
It was only at this moment that Li Luo looked over at the deepest district. Li Lingjing had been getting the most attention as she stood firmly on one of the golden lotus thrones. This attracted many foes towards her, but she had not retreated. Everyone who came after her was faced with her brutal retaliation.
Fresh blood continued to flow down her staff without pause
At the same time, Li Fuling and Li Guan tried their best to make their way towards Li Lingjing as well.
When Li Lingjing noticed the two of them, she slammed her staff onto the golden lotus throne under her feet. It transformed into a stream of golden light that flew towards them.
"Take this over to Li Luo and the rest," Li Lingjing told them with a light cough. At the same instant, the Aquamarine Bamboo Python Staff transformed into a giant python and soared into the sky above. Once again, poisonous rays swept across the field, forcing the people that were also eyeing the golden lotus throne to retreat.
Li Guan and Li Fuling caught the golden lotus throne and rushed over to Li Luo's side immediately. "This is the property of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li now. Who dares to steal it!?" they shouted at the same time.
These words were relatively effective. The mightiest individuals were all caught up in battle over at the main area where the golden lotus thrones could be found. The others dared not approach Li Fuling and Li Guan, who were both seven-pearls.
Making full use of this chance, the two of them attempted to make their way across the chaotic battlefield once again.
However, a sharp, golden light suddenly shot towards the two of them. Like a falling blade, it hacked down from the sky above.
The faces of Li Fuling and Li Guan changed immediately as the Heavenly Pearls behind them spun crazily and their resonant power surged up.
Bang!
The two sides clashed directly. Unfortunately, the two of them were forced back as the golden resonant power continued to push towards them.
Horror filled their faces as they looked over to see where the gold light resonant power had come from. There was a figure floating in the air over there.
It was Zhao Yan!
Behind him were eight Heavenly Pearls constantly rotating as he smirked with cold eyes.
"The others might not dare to steal it, but I do."
The faces of Li Fuling and Li Guan darkened. Zhao Yan had come prepared, but they were not afraid. They smacked the back of the golden lotus throne. At the same time, the two of them charged towards Zhao Yan directly.
"Catch it, Li Luo!"
Their voices followed after them. The golden lotus throne flew towards Li Luo, who had noticed the commotion and was running towards them.
Energy wings unfurled behind Li Luo and then he flew across the air like a bolt of lightning. Reaching his destination, he stood firmly on the golden lotus throne.
Zhao Yan gave Li Luo a cold stare as he waved his hand.
"Shenjiang, I'll leave him to you."
Immediately after, a vicious-looking figure dashed across the air. With a heavy, black spear in his hand, Zhao Shenjiang charged towards him with an icy stare. A vicious smile appeared on his face as he looked at Li Luo.
"Li Luo, who do you expect to save you this time?"
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