Chapter 0765: Fiendish Devil Peak
The atmosphere was tense at the Green Nether drill grounds today. Everyone was geared up and were chattering rowdily in anticipation of the great battle ahead.
Today was the day the Fiendish Devil Cave reopened once again.
The Fiendish Devil Cave was a place that all members of the Twenty Banners of the Heavenly Dragon's Five Lineages possessed a love-hate relationship with. They loved it because they could acquire more abstruse fiend lights here to speed up their cultivation. At the same time, they hated it because this cave was not a location where they could wander around as they pleased. They had to tread carefully along every floor whilst remaining on alert for any dangers ahead, notwithstanding the large number of Fiendish Devils hanging around. Many were nearly tortured to death here.
No matter what, the Fiendish Devil Cave remained an exclusive training ground for the Twenty Banners, and it lived on as a special part of their cultivation journey.
Additionally, everyone knew in their hearts that this cave was also a location to attain fame, in spite of the hardships endured.
Anyone who conquered the Seventy-Two Layers of the Fiendish Devil Cave would have their name engraved onto the golden pillar before the Fiendish Devil Cave, attaining an honor future generations would look up to.
Of course, the benefits did not end there.
This was why the members of the Twenty Banners remained extremely enthusiastic about the Fiendish Devil Cave.
"Scrubbing this place clean is the best thing in the world!" Was a common saying amongst the members tackling the cave.
In their day to day conversations, individuals enjoyed bragging about their progress in the Fiendish Devil Cave, and those who were lacking would often shy away to avoid embarrassment.
As such, the Fiendish Devil Cave had an indisputable presence amongst the Twenty Banners.
Li Luo, who would be participating for the first time, similarly possessed great curiosity and expectations for it.
The eight thousand members of the banner had gathered at the Green Nether drill grounds, exuding a magnificent aura of vitality and youth.
"Sub Leader, the twenty-seventh floor is the Green Nether's current record in the Fiendish Devil Cave. We have been stuck there for over half a month. If we fail again, it will undoubtedly be a huge blow to the members' morale."
Zhao Yanzhi's soft and seductive voice spoke out beside Li Luo's ear.
She was wearing an amazing outfit today. Dressed in a tight-fitting gown that complemented her drop-dead gorgeous figure, her slender neck was fair and brilliant white, her voluptuous curves were outlined seductively, and her long and lean legs stood delicately. With her cute, charming face, she was undoubtedly the center of attention in the whole drill ground.
Even the guys from the other divisions could not help but steal a glance of her mesmerizing beauty from time to time.
However, Zhao Yanzhi was not concerned with any of those gazes. Instead, she closed in on Li Luo as she spoke. With a faint, lingering fragrance, her breath lightly tickled Li Luo.
This drew the envy of the crowd.
Nevertheless, Li Luo stayed indifferent to Zhao Yanzhi's seductive behavior. "Is it because of the lack of a Banner Leader to command everyone?" he asked.
Zhao Yanzhi smiled sweetly and replied, "Not really. In fact, it does not matter whether there is a Banner Leader before the fortieth floor, as the banner splits into five upon entry to challenge five different areas. As long as one division manages to clear their trial, the other four will be deemed to have successfully cleared that level too. Such is the common practice for the Fiendish Devil Cave up to the fortieth floor."
Hearing this, Li Luo was a little surprised. Originally, he had thought that he would need to rely on the strength of the entire banner.
"As such, there is usually a vanguard team of elites led by the Banner Leader before the fortieth floor. This is the most efficient way to clear," Zhao Yanzhi continued.
"However, the Green Nether currently lacks a Banner Leader that can unite everyone, so we can't pull off such a feat. As such, we can only rely on each division to face it head-on."
Li Luo nodded, expressing his understanding.
At this moment, Zhong Ling from the first division called out to the eight thousand banner members present, "Guys, today is the day that the Seventy-Two Layers of the Fiendish Devil Cave reopens. Let's work together to conquer it."
A voice echoed from the crowd with laughter. "Sub Leader Zhong Ling, we'll need to depend on the first division and your leadership to clear it. If we pull it off, you guys will be the Green Nether's heroes."
This sparked chatter among the crowd, but the remark was approved by most in general. While some hated to admit, it remained a fact that more than half of the twenty-seven floors cleared to date were accomplished by the first division.
Undeniably, Zhong Ling played a significant role in it.
With a warm smile, Zhong Ling waved his hand gently and replied, "That is my responsibility as part of the Green Nether. Ultimately, clearing the Fiendish Devil Cave is something that all of us will benefit from. "
Beautifully said, the reply drew cheers from the crowd.
Zhao Yanzhi pursed her red lips lightly as she whispered to Li Luo, "He is already starting to win people's hearts over. He must be dreaming of climbing to the very top as Banner Leader."
Hearing this, Li Luo just smiled and said nothing. After all, Zhong Ling was indeed the top candidate for the position of Banner Leader, far ahead of other sub leaders, including Li Luo himself.
"If everyone is ready, let's set off for Fiendish Devil Peak," Zhong Ling commanded with a wave of his hand.
There were no objections from the crowd. With that, the eight thousand banner members set off from the Green Nether drill grounds like waves of torrents.
Fiendish Devil Peak was located in the center of the Dragon's Fang Mountain Range, not too far off from the various banner schools. However, the Dragon's Fang Mountain Range was enormous, so it took the Green Nether Banner an hour before they finally reached the peak.
There was a black hall situated on the top of Fiendish Devil Peak. In front of the hall was a vast square that could easily accommodate tens of thousands of people.
And the square was bustling with noise. All four banners had gathered here.
When the Green Nether Banner arrived, countless curious gazes fell on Li Luo.
It was well known that Li Luo had passed the Nine Revolutions Draconic Breath trial a few days ago.
"That is Li Luo from the Green Nether Banner?"
"That is the Third Young Master?"
"Looks decent. He must be pretty good to have cleared the Nine Revolutions Draconic Breath trial when he’s only at the Lesser Fiend Palace Tier."
"Looks like there will be a new and upcoming leader in the Green Nether Banner."
"Hah, not really. Even though the Third Young Master is talented, he is still far behind Zhong Ling right now. After all, there is less than three months left until the selection of the Green Nether Banner Leader."
Many discussions and chatter surrounding Li Luo went on in the square.
Notwithstanding the commotion he caused the other day, he was naturally a hot topic of discussion as the son of Li Taixuan.
"Little Brother!"
Li Jingtao from the Violet Spirit Banner and Li Fengyi from the Crimson Cloud Banner emerged from the crowd to welcome Li Luo.
Both of them looked at Li Luo in awe. "Not bad, Little Brother. You have already become a celebrity in the Twenty Banners in just a few days," Li Fengyi praised.
With a smile, Li Jingtao followed up, "Even Fengyi and I failed the Nine Revolutions Draconic Breath trial a few times. How did you manage to do it?"
"Perhaps my resonant power is weaker, and so the Nine Revolutions Draconic Breath is correspondingly weaker too. Eldest Brother and Second Sister, you guys are stronger, so it'll naturally be harder," Li Luo answered.
"What a sweet little guy." Li Fengyi smiled coquettishly in response.
Glancing at Zhao Yanzhi and the crowd behind him, she continued, "Wow, Little Brother, you have managed to tame the Green Nether’s fifth division?"
She was aware of the rebellious nature of the fifth division. By the looks of things now, Li Luo undoubtedly stood on top as their leader.
"If you face any difficulties in the future, feel free to come to us. We'll definitely support you." Li Fengyi ended off with a quick glance towards Zhong Ling, as if to drop a hint.
Caught by Li Fengyi's gaze, Zhong Ling was left a bit awkward. As the leaders of their respective banners, coupled with their prestigious family backgrounds, Li Jingtao and Li Fengyi were the rising stars amongst the younger generation in the Dragon's Fang Lineage, far ahead of him in status and strength.
They had made it clear that they were supporting Li Luo now. Even though they were unable to interfere directly with the selection of the Green Nether Banner's leader, it still placed a considerable amount of pressure on him.
As Zhong Ling was brooding over these issues, he noticed the crowd splitting apart and giving ways as a skinny, white figure emerged.
"Brother Deng!" Zhong Ling immediately shouted as if a savior had come for him.
The crowd's attention was guided towards the white silhouette, and everyone instantly became solemn with respect and admiration.
Except for Li Fengyi, who frowned upon the sight.
The white figure was none other than Deng Fengxian, Banner Leader of the Gold Light Banner.
He was the true leader among the young generation in the Dragon's Fang Lineage, the sole reason why the Dragon's Fang Lineage had not been left far behind by the other lineages.
As such, his reputation and standing among the crowd was unmatched.
Not even Li Jingtao and Li Fengyi could hold a candle to him.
Under the gazes of the crowd, Deng Fengxian walked into the square with extraordinary flair, smiling warmly at Zhong Ling before he waved courteously at Li Jingtao and Li Fengyi.
Faced with his politeness, Li Jingtao smiled in response, while Li Fengyi snorted coldly and ignored it.
Deng Fengxian didn't care about this though. Instead, he turned his gaze towards Li Luo on the Green Nether's side, and he analyzed him with a slight grin.
"You must be Sub Leader Li Luo, the young son of the Third Master who just returned from an outer divine continent and cleared the Nine Revolutions Draconic Breath trial."