Chapter 1282: Splitting Up

Chapter 1282: Splitting Up

Bang!

A terrifying energy storm swept across the sky. Immense light resonant power blanketed the horizon, lighting up the sky as if the sun had risen.

“Argh!”

Light resonant power surged, and pathetic cries could be heard. Two people fell from the sky and attempted to make their escape. Above them, four Duke Bergfrieds appeared to be melting away, as if the light resonant power was purifying them into nothingness.

"Dragon Fang Envoy Jiang is incredible!"

The Dragon's Fang Guardians cheered excitedly. They looked at the beautiful and dazzling goddess in front of them with eyes full of respect and admiration.

It had been half a day since they had made their hasty retreat out of the Golden Stone Valley.

During this period, more than ten groups had appeared before them, all attempting to steal the Sovereign Pearls. However, even fourth-grade Dukes were unable to slow their advance. They were nothing worth mentioning in front of Jiang Qing'e.

With four thousand Guardians assisting her, Jiang Qing'e had reached the strength of a lower fifth-grade Duke.

Her invincible track record in battle had left a lasting impression on everyone.

"It should take us a little more than a day to reach Heavenly Dragon Peak. As we get closer, fewer people will be willing to risk it and stand in our way. When we get to the districts near the Heavenly Dragon Peak, the powers affiliated with our Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li will render assistance. As such, we should be safe if we can hold on for another day!" Grand Commander Xia Yu said.

"If we can successfully fight our way back to Heavenly Dragon Peak, we'll have one more epic story to tell amongst the Heavenly Dragon Five Guardian Armies," one of the Thousand Guardians said with a laugh.

The others agreed with him. Fighting off so many powerful foes across thousands of miles was indeed a heroic feat.

Jiang Qing'e's golden pupils glanced briefly behind her. She could tell that an impressive opponent, with resonant power comparable to hers, was catching up to them very quickly.

It was none other than the Divine Tiger Guardians from the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Zhao, along with their leader, the Divine Tiger Envoy Zhao Jiyun.

This fellow was a shrewd one. All this while he had opted to keep pace, lagging one step behind them and monitoring the situation from behind. Undoubtedly, he must have planned to make use of the other pursuers to wear them down.

However, judging by his rapidly increasing speed, he must have run out of patience.

Jiang Qing'e thought about it for a moment. She then turned towards Li Luo and told him, "Li Luo, I think it's about time we split up. I will take three thousand Guardians and stop the pursuers here. Xia Yu and you will each take a thousand Guardians and continue sprinting back to the Heavenly Dragon Peak. I will buy enough time for you." T/his chapter is updated by nov(ê(l)biin.co/m

Li Luo frowned when he heard this. "You want to stay behind to cut off our pursuers?"

Jiang Qing'e explained to him calmly, "The most important thing right now is to bring the Sovereign Pearls back. We cannot get caught up with them. Once we're entangled, those watching us from the sidelines will begin to make their move too. This is extremely disadvantageous for us. If we split up here, we can separate those who covet our treasures. This will give us a better chance of success. You don't have to worry about me. In fact, it's more dangerous for you if we separate. There will still be people chasing after you and I will not be around to protect you. You'll be on your own for the remaining leg of the journey back."

She held firmly onto her heavy sword and turned around. Her golden gaze stared coldly to her front. After they had split up, there was a commotion coming from their pursuers. Shortly after, an immense beam of energy shot towards her, which, upon closer look, was a manifestation of a ferocious tiger overflowing with endless amounts of vigor.

Zhao Jiyun stood at the head of the tiger as the leader. He looked back at Jiang Qing'e and said, enunciating his words slowly, "Dragon Fang Envoy Jiang, surely you aren't thinking of stopping all of us alone, are you?"

Jiang Qing'e did not plan to waste her breath talking to him. Her Ten-Pillar Duke Bergfried rose up into the air and brilliant bright light burst out. Then three light Spirit Avatars appeared behind her, and an endless amount of pure and concentrated light resonant power channeled into her body.

Zhao Jiyun's face gradually turned serious as he looked at her. Jiang Qing'e was just a first-grade Duke, but her resonant power was comparable to that of a third-grade Duke thanks to her triple ninth-grade light resonances and Ten-Pillar Duke Bergfried.

Although her power had weakened a little after Li Luo left with two groups of a thousand Guardians, she had merely fallen from the peak of the lower Fifth Duke Stage to an ordinary lower fifth-grade Duke. Zhao Jiyun's eyes flickered as he turned his head in another direction. He said with a smile, "Since you're all here, there is no need to hide. If we don't defeat Jiang Qing'e now, I don't think we'll be able to get past her." As soon as he finished speaking, three people flew towards them and landed a few hundred feet away from Zhao Jiyun.

Five towering Duke Bergfrieds appeared above each of their heads. Each sucked in copious amounts of worldly natural energy from the surroundings with a loud roar.

Clearly, all three of them were fifth-grade Dukes!

The faces of those watching from the shadows changed a little when they saw this trio. They recognized that the three fifth-grade Dukes were renowned rogue cultivators in the World's End River Region.

Each of them was no weaker than Jiang Qing'e with the aid of the Guardians. All three of them, coupled with Zhao Jiyun, had put Jiang Qing'e in a very disadvantageous situation.

"Zhao Zhuoyan, Zhao Zhu, each of you will take a thousand Guardians and chase after Li Luo. Do not let him get past Black Soul Peak," Zhao Jiyun ordered confidently. Jiang Qing'e might have had unrivaled talent, but she was ultimately a first-grade Duke. Even with the additional help, surely she wouldn't be able to fight against all four of them alone, right? Nonetheless, he understood that Jiang Qing'e was just trying to buy time over here. If they let Li Luo escape back to Heavenly Dragon Peak, it would be a huge disgrace for them.

"Yes, Sir!"

The two of them followed the order immediately. Zhao Zhuoyan was the First Grand Commander of the Divine Tiger Guardians and a lower second-grade Duke, one notch above Xia Yu. Zhao Zhu was the Second Grand Commander, an upper first-grade Duke. The two of them were stronger than Xia Yu and Li Luo and hence, Zhao Jiyun had great confidence in them. Zhao Zhuoyan and Zhao Zhu each took a thousand Guardians and made their way around Jiang Qing'e. Then they burst forward and flew across the sky.

Jiang Qing'e took a glance at them before looking back. She did not try to stop them. After all, there were Zhao Jiyun and three fifth-grade Dukes in front of her. If she had taken a single step, they would have taken the opportunity to attack her immediately.

Besides, the strength of the forces going past her was within her estimations.

They must have felt that such a force would be sufficient to bring down Li Luo. However, she had great confidence in her fiance. Everyone was too focused on her strength and had neglected him, the one who they should have looked more closely at.

Jiang Qing'e knew that although she had managed to tie down a group of strong opponents, Li Luo's side wouldn't have it easy either. However, she would have to trust in him.

The only thing she could do right now was make sure Zhao Jiyun and these fifth-grade Dukes remained here, regardless of the cost. Jiang Qing'e lowered her eyes and formed hand seals quickly.

A moment later, divine light shone out from the Sacred Crown of Thorns, taking on a blood-red hue.

In just a few moments, the Sacred Crown of Thorns became... the Bloody Crown of Thorns!

At the same time, the energy waves coming from Jiang Qing'e had grown wildly stronger. The faces of Zhao Jiyun and the rest changed immediately.