When the domineering newcomers emanating mighty undulations of resonant power appeared in the sky above them, Qin Beiming, Li Zhihuo, Lu Shuanglu, and the rest were moved to the brink of tears. They could finally sense the tension in their minds loosening.
After which, they miserably slumped on the ground as their chests heaved heavily, like drowning men struggling to climb to shore, greedily slurping up the air.
The sight of the high-grade Dukes had made them emotional.
Their deeply longed for expectations were finally fulfilled. Their reinforcements had finally arrived.
With these Dukes here, they would no longer have to bear the brunt of the pressure of resolving the situation. After all, if the sky were to fall, these greater beings would be the ones to keep the sky lifted up. If they couldn't, everyone would die together and it wouldn't matter anyways.
All of the Dukes from the different powers had rushed over. Shock and anger filled them when they witnessed the tragic scene, quickly splitting up into different directions to search for their descendents. Unfortunately, some were fatally injured and some pained roars rang out. It seemed that individuals close to those Dukes had died in this disaster.
They had come too late and they were only in time to witness their deaths. At the same time, the entire situation was explained to the newcomers.
"What? Qin Lian was killed by Li Luo after he destroyed one of his Ten-Pillar Duke Bergfrieds?" When they found out that Qin Lian had fallen, some of the more well-known high-grade Dukes in the Heavenly Origin Divine Continent were completely flabbergasted. After which, they shot gazes full of disbelief towards the pale and seated figure. It was important to note that Qin Lian was an eighth-grade Duke! And she wasn't your average rogue cultivator—she was from the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin. She possessed exceptional talent and had built a robust foundation in order to climb to the peak. In fact, the number of Dukes present that were capable of challenging Qin Lian could be counted on one hand. Yet that mighty woman had been struck down by the hands of a junior who had just broken into the Duke Stage. That said, Li Luo had paid an incredible price, sacrificing a Ten-Pillar Duke Bergfried, something so valuable that even a high-grade Duke would treat it as an incredible treasure. Who could’ve imagined that he would be willing to bear the backlash and take this risk, all to fight for his life?
That was an eighth-grade Duke he had challenged! Thinking back, wasn't it a little too monstrous to have achieved this feat? Even considering the price he had paid?
Over at the group from the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin, a silver-haired middle-aged man with an extraordinary temperament quietly listened to Qin Beiming's explanation with a serious expression.
It was Qin Baiyan. He was the strongest amongst the group sent by the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin, superior to even Qin Lian. He had been an upper eighth-grade Duke for many years and some had even suspected that he had reached the threshold of the ninth-grade.
At that point, he would only be one step away from becoming a true King. His position would ascend to the skies and he could even form his own Palace, becoming a titan within the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin.
"Qin Lian..." Qin Baiyan's eyes were filled with hurt. She was his cousin and was considered to be quite talented. The fact that she had died here was a crippling blow to the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin.
Kings rarely took action and thus, high-grade Dukes were considered to be the pillars and peak fighting force of a Heavenly Emperor power.
Nurturing another high-grade Duke would require an immense amount of resources that was difficult to even estimate.
Li Luo helplessly shook his head. Qin Lian might have hated him to her bones, but now that she was slain, the grudges between the generations had been resolved. Thus, he no longer wished to talk further about it.
"I think you big guys should quickly resolve the problem here. The flower bud contains an object that is capable of summoning a frightening existence. Even Grandpa has been restrained by it," Li Luo explained.
Li Qingpeng and Li Jiluo both nodded and then ascended into the sky. Qin Baiyan and the other eighth-grade Dukes from the Bloodlines of Heavenly Emperor Zhu and Zhao, Zhu Gang and Zhao Jinwu, did so as well. Zhao Jinwu glanced at Qin Baiyan with an ugly expression. It was clear he had heard about how Zhao Xiuyuan had been killed by Qin Lian. Now that Qin Lian had perished, he could only squash his frustration and anger. Furthermore, now wasn't the time to argue. The Dukes’ serious eyes were directed towards the flower bud. At the same time, they could see a face that resembled Qin Lian's on the petals.
"We'll all take action and annihilate that vile creature!" The high-grade Dukes quickly came to an agreement as their Worldspace Domains all activated. Overwhelming amounts of resonant power was condensed into terrifying energies.
Alas, just as they were about to take action, the gigantic flower bud let out a wail and began to wither at an alarming speed. At the same time, the face on the petals began to turn dark bit by bit.
In a short span of time, the blood-red flower bud turned into a desiccated husk before crumbling into ashes.
This sight elicited joy from the crowd.
However, before the look of ecstasy spread on their faces, they could see a black lotus appear in the center of where the flower bud once was. At this moment, it began to bloom even more vigorously. Layers of black lotus petals began to spread out in all directions, forming an intricate design that was difficult to understand. It exuded a gloomy and mysterious feeling.
It felt like all of the blood-red flower bud's energy had been transferred into this black lotus.
Qin Baiyan, Li Jiluo, Li Qingpeng, and the rest of the eighth-grade Duke's eyes flickered upon seeing this. The destructive force they had condensed was immediately redirected towards the black lotus.
They had brought the full brunt of their power down on this foreign object.
Bang!
When their terrifying attacks landed on the black lotus, the void shattered and rifts opened up.
Their gazes were fully focused on the point of impact.
A few moments later, the black lotus emerged before their horrified eyes, rotating ever so slowly. It was completely untouched by the previous assault. When Li Luo saw this, his heart sank once again. It seemed as though... they were too late.