Chapter 474: It Was You
Translator: Panda_Penn Editor: Chrissy
"How come?"
Lu Li squinted. Then he shook his head and answered, "How could it relate to me? If I had something to do with it, I should be the one getting the divine energy, not you."
"Lu Li, you are lying."
Jiang Qiling stared at him and said, "You are not a good liar. When you lie, your pupils contract. I know you so well. Also, don't forget the fact that I am a woman. I am really good at sensing this stuff. You cannot fool me. Lu Li… tell me, okay? I promise you I will not tell anybody."
Lu Li rolled his eyes. He was a bad liar. He did trust her, but he couldn't put a pin on the real reason yet so what could he tell her?
He thought about it and said, "Maybe, it has something to do with me. Jiang Qiling, quit it. I don't know and I don't… want to say."
"So it is true!"
Jiang Qiling's eyes glowed. She continued, "Last time I was in front of the statue of Emperor of Heaven Reverse, nothing happened. When we were both there, I could feel that your blood was boiling. I could tell than that you were the cause. Also, the ray of light shone on you first and then moved to me. Lu Li, the divine energy should be yours!"
Lu Li forced a smile and said, "Yours or mine, what's the difference?"
Jiang Qiling was startled. Then she put on the most beautiful and sweetest smile and said, "Yes, what's mine is yours. I am yours. There is no difference, indeed."
Lu Li pouted but didn't give a response. He thought about it and changed the topic, "Jiang Qiling, where is the Demon-slaying Grounds? Where is the small battlefield?"
"I don't know!"
Jiang Qiling shook her head and said, "But it is not inside this small world. The Demon-slaying Grounds and the small battlefield are essentially two large-scale small worlds. There are corridors connecting the small world we are in and the two battlefields. We can teleport there."
"There is one thing I don't understand!"
Lu Li frowned and continued, "The Asmordians, the Barbarian Race, the Voodoo Race and the Feather Race, why don't they just go past the ocean and launch a direct attack on the Great Land? Why do they have to fight in the Demon-slaying Grounds?"
"It's too far away…"
Jiang Qiling explained, "I don't know how far away the four lands are from us. They will have to spend like eight or 10 years to get their armies here. There are powerful beasts in the sea. Half of their armies will die before they can arrive."
"The Demon-slaying Grounds is basically a small world, a miraculous one with many corridors that connect the five lands. Who can control the small world will have the power to launch an attack. For so many years, we have been sending so many warriors to fight in the Demon-slaying Grounds to protect the corridor connecting to the Great Land in case the alien races reach the Great Land through Demon-slaying Grounds."
"It is the same with the small battlefield. It is connected to the five lands as well. The small battlefield is not big. One of the past chosen warriors put down a layer of enchantment using some spell. For both humans and the four alien races, only warriors less than 30 years old can go in."
This point Lu Li understood. It was similar to the Tomb of Dragon Emperor that he once entered. But the Tomb of Dragon Emperor was only a tomb with limited space. To put down a layer of enchantment in a small world, one that could sustain for so many years was a testimony of the impressive power of that warrior.
After chit chatting for a bit, Jiang Qiling went back to her room. She had some more remaining divine energy waiting to be absorbed. Seven or eight days had passed. She must make every minute count because the small battlefield was going to open soon.
Lu Li didn't waste more time on figuring out his messy thoughts. They were about to enter the small world soon. He could finally find some answers.
…
The Demon-slaying City was getting livelier each day. In just about eight or nine days, thousands had come. They were all young masters and young ladies from different families along with those who tagged along.
Only major families' disciples were allowed to enter the Demon-slaying Grounds. But people always had ways to go around a policy. Many disciples from fourth or fifth rank families would pretend to join a major family so as to tag along to have a taste of this experience.
Major families didn't mind this. After all, those fourth and fifth rank families were the major families' affiliates. Growth of warriors from the former could benefit the latter.
As a matter of fact, those tag-alongs spent more time in buttering up to the young masters and young ladies. Usually, they wouldn't have the chance to share life and death or the opportunity to please those from major families. The young masters and young ladies would feel better about themselves with so many people surrounding them so they gave their consent.
Therefore, the number of people coming to the Demon-slaying City was large. But…not many were actually from wealthy and influential families. Apart from Jiang Qiling, only six of the 12 Royal Families sent warriors in.
The six were the Samsara Palace, Lu Family, the Tumulus of Universe, Palace of Heaven's Roars, Hades Society and Pavilion of Blossoms.
Up till now, only the six of the 12 Royal Families sent in their most talented disciples. Seventh rank families and forces sent quite a large number of disciples in, though.
Du Family, the Palace of Peaceful Heaven, Qin Family and several others of the Pavilion of Delicacy and the Jiang Family itself sent their gifted young masters and young ladies.
Needless to say, they were here to protect Jiang Qiling. In dire situations, theywould be there to cover Jiang Qiling's retreat and sacrifice their lives for her.
The future chosen warrior could not be allowed to die in the small world. Before those young masters and young ladies came, their Family Patriarchs told them that if Jiang Qiling died in the small battlefield, they didn't have to go back to their families.
Jiang Qiling was not only the hope for the pavilion of Delicacy, but for other families as well. Neither the Pavilion of Delicacy nor the other families would allow her to be harmed in any way.
Another five or six days passed. Finally, Jiang Qiling absorbed every piece of the divine energy and integrated it with her Xuan Energy. She came out from cultivation. The entrance to the small battlefield was about to open now.
She went to wake Lu Li up and they walked out the castle. Jiang Tianshun was waiting for them already. He brought them to a hall at once.
In the hall stood 11 people. They were not particularly young. They must be at least 26 or 27, some of them close to 30 years old.
Eight of them were male and three were female. But all of them were in armors, mighty in spirit. Lu Li threw a glance to them and was shocked to find that they were all at the Noble Lord Realm. One of the 11 had reached the later stage of the Noble Lord Realm.
"Greetings, Lady Qi!"
They all bowed to Jiang Qiling and had chosen to ignore Lu Li at the back.
"Ling-er!"
Jiang Tianshun pointed to the 11 and said, "Those are the best from the Pavilion of Delicacy and the affiliated forces. You know some of them. They are here to protect you. If you die, they die with you. So…don't act rashly in the small battlefield this time."
"Jiang Hu!"
Jiang Tianshun shouted. One of the older ones stood out, bowed and said, "Master!"
Jiang Tianshun nodded and said, "You will lead them this time. If… Ling-er does something not advised, knock her out, bring her back to the base camp, and take her back here at once after half a year."
"Yes!"
Jiang Hu cupped his fists and accepted the order. Lu Li knew that Jiang Tianshun must have a plan for Jiang Qiling. Lu Li was not against this arrangement as he wanted her to be safe as well.
Lu Li was getting more and more excited. The small battlefield was about to open now. Talents of the four alien races would be gathered here as well.
Everything from saving Bai Qiuxue, finding Lu Ling to rescuing Lu Renhuang would depend on this trip.