《Absolute Resonance》 Chapter 1: I Have Three Blank Palaces Chapter 1: I Have Three nk Pces 3Chapter 1: I Have Three nk Pces The Xia Kingdom. Tianshu Province. The June sun was zing, scorching the city of Southwind with its heat. Many youthful faces could be seen within a bright, spacious training area of the Southwind Academy. The young boys and girls were all dressed in training gear and were seated in the lotus position. They were arranged in a circle, and their gazes were directed towards the center, where two figures were engaged in a rapid-fire duel. Clear ringing sounds could be heard echoing throughout the training area each time their wooden swords shed. Both of the duelists were young, roughly fifteen or sixteen years of age. The youth to the right was quite slender and handsome, with a pair of lively eyes and an elegant demeanor. His spectacr leather clothes alone drew the rapt, bashful gazes of quite a few of the maidens present. ¡°Go, Li Luo!¡± A particrly brave maiden let out a cheer of support. Li Luo¡¯s opponent was another youth, but a much more muscr one. His face looked significantly more brutish, and his skin was swarthy and dark. The duel between him and Li Luo almost looked like a battle between a man and a ck bear. When he heard the maiden cheer for Li Luo, he grimaced in a rather jealous manner, then roared out, ¡°Li Luo, I¡¯m not going to hold back any longer!¡± He took a step forward, causing the floorboard to tremble, then chopped out with his wooden sword towards Li Luo. The sword seemed to screech as it sliced through the air. Li Luo¡¯s gaze flickered as he saw the shadow of the sword reaching towards him. He suddenly leapt forwards, moving as agilely as a swallow as he sidestepped this fierce, ponderous strike. ¡°The Windsparrow Step!¡± someone cried out with a hint of praise. The Windsparrow Step was just a basic resonance art which quite a few of the people present knew, but not many were able to execute it with Li Luo¡¯s level of skill. Li Luo shot towards the muscr youth like a flying sparrow, then suddenly struck out in a move akin to drawing the sword. A ray of light seemed to sh with incredible speed as his sword pierced towards his opponent¡¯s chest. ¡°The Lesser Nimblelight Sword!¡± another called out in surprise. Li Luo¡¯s strike had shed forward like the curved horns of an antelope, an attack that was both fast and vicious. The onlookers couldn¡¯t help but sigh in praise. The most talented student of the Southwind Academy truly lives up to his reputation! The look on the muscr youth¡¯s face changed when he saw Li Luo strike at him. However, he was no pushover himself. At this critical moment, he forcefully stabilized himself and then rapidly leapt several steps backwards. Right at this moment, a faint silvery glow exuded from his hand, seeming to take the form of a blurry silver bear¡¯s palm as he grasped the wooden sword. Apanying the glow was a faint, deep, bearlike growl that seemed to emanate from somewhere within the muscr youth¡¯s body. One of the many watching students let out a surprised cry. ¡°That¡¯s Zhao Kuo¡¯s fifth-grade Silver Bear Resonance. It seems he¡¯s really taking this seriously!¡± Apanied by many amazed cries, Zhao Kuo took a step forwards, causing cracks to appear in the floorboards beneath him as he delivered a chopping blow towards Li Luo. His heavy wooden sword was filled with an aura of dominating power and apanied by an ear-piercing gust of wind, and a rapid silver glow was quickly coalescing atop the sword as well. ¡°Brutal Chop!¡± the muscr youth roared out, delivering a brilliant blow directly against the iing piercing sword-shadow. Boom! The two swords mmed into each other with such tremendous force that Li Luo¡¯s wooden sword started to crumble into pieces. In the end, the entire wooden sword was blown apart by the forceful, dominating, grizzly-like strike. Faced with this tremendous power, Li Luo was knocked dozens of steps backwards. After stabilizing himself, Li Luo lowered his head to nce at the remnants of his wooden sword, then let out a helpless chuckle. ¡°Fine, Zhao Kuo. You win.¡± ¡°Aww.¡± This regretful sound simultaneously came from the mouths of multiple maidens as they heard his pronouncement. However, many of the young men watching let out little sniggers of joy. As lusty young men in the prime of their health, they naturally felt quite a bit of jealousy towards Li Luo, due to the amount of affection the young maidens present bore him. ¡°What a pity! Li Luo¡¯s attack was clearly deadlier. He¡¯s considerably superior to Zhao Kuo when ites to applying resonance arts. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that he has yet to awaken a resonance, he definitely would¡¯ve won this duel,¡± an onlooker evaluated. ¡°Agreed. Zhao Kuo has a fifth-grade Silver Bear Resonance that grants him astonishing power. In addition, I suspect his resonant power has reached the fifth seal as well. He lives up to his reputation as the strongest member of the Second School.¡± ¡°Li Luo is definitely incredibly talented in learning and using resonance arts, but he was born without a resonance of his own. This is an incurable weakness. No matter how skilled you are in applying and using a resonance art, your attacks won¡¯t be of much use if you don¡¯t have sufficiently powerful base of resonant power supporting it.¡± ¡°Hah! No need for you to pity him. Think about who Li Luo is! He¡¯s the young lord of House Lun, one of the four great houses of the Xia Kingdom. His parents, in turn, were the youngest Dukes in the kingdom. In ten short years, their newly established House Lun quickly ascended to be one of the four great houses. Not only are they famous in the Xia Kingdom, they¡¯ve even earned a reputation beyond our borders!¡± ¡°Ugh, all that is ancient history. Three years ago, his parents went missing during the Noble¡¯s War, and ever since then House Lun has grown much weaker. And, from what I¡¯ve heard, there¡¯s currently a lot of dissent within House Lun itself. In the future, it might even break apart. I doubt he¡¯ll be the young lord for much longer.¡± ¡°Oh? Is that really true? The current leader of House Lun is Jiang Qing¡¯e, right? One of our senior ssmates.¡± When this name came out, ardent looks appeared in the eyes of all the young men present. This was because the name Jiang Qing¡¯e had reached mythical status in the annals of the Southwind Academy. Still ¨C when they remembered the special rtionship she had with Li Luo, the ardent looks transformed into gazes aimed at Li Luo that were rather odd. As the young men and women present all whispered and gossiped with each other, Zhao Kuo walked towards Li Luo, then patted him on the shoulder. Smiling, he said, ¡°You alright? Don¡¯t me me for seizing an unfair advantage.¡± Li Luo chuckled. Zhao Kuo was the straightforward sort, and the two of them were usually on quite good terms. The man hadn¡¯t broken any rules either. The fact that he was born with a nk resonance was his greatest weakness; he couldn¡¯t me Zhao Kuo for that. A middle-aged man had been watching the two of them from the sidelines for quite some time. Finally, he turned his gaze away. This man¡¯s name was Xu Shanyue, and he was the teacher of the Second School. Xu Shanyue¡¯s eyes were also filled with a lot of regret. Li Luo truly was an incredibly talented figure, and he was able to learn any resonance art faster than an average person. In this, he had clearly taken after his two incredible parents, and in fact he actually surpassed them. Unfortunately, the fact that he was born with a nk resonance would prove quite problematic for him when it came to improving his resonant power. When humans trained, they had to rely upon their own resonance and use it as their foundations. They would use their resonances to draw upon the natural energy of the world, then convert it into the force known as power. There were countless different types of resonances, but most could be roughly divided into one of two camps; elemental resonances and beast resonances. Elemental resonances referred to the various elements that filled heaven and earth, such as water, fire, wind, or thunder. As for the beast resonances? ording to the legends, during the earliest dawn of human civilization, there was an almighty figure that attempted to strengthen humanity by extracting the spirits of countless beasts, then infusing these spirits into the various human bloodlines, giving birth to what was now called ¡®beast resonances¡¯. In general, both elemental resonances and beast resonances could be roughly divided into nine different grades. Normally, when a human child reached his teens, a cavity known as the ¡®resonant pce¡¯ would appear within that child¡¯s body. Once it manifested, it would naturally give birth to that child¡¯s resonance. Zhao Kuo, for example, had awakened a fifth-grade Silver Bear Resonance within his resonant pce. This obviously was one of the many beast resonances. This resonance specialized in granting tremendous strength, and whenbined with his own formidable resonant power, it was capable of unleashing truly destructive levels of power. And this was where Li Luo¡¯s problemy. Even though his resonant pce had appeared, no resonance had manifested within the pce. It waspletely empty. Cases like this were incredibly rare, and were generally referred to as having a ¡®nk resonance¡¯. Since he had no resonance to serve as a foundation for drawing and refining energy from the natural world, it was very difficult for him to gain a high level of resonant power. This was the fundamental reason why he had just been defeated by Zhao Kuo. He had no resonance within his pce! The Academy had already performed many different tests to understand why this was the case. His parents were both outstanding figures, after all, and the high-level members of the Academy had very high hopes for him. The had initially believed that in the future, he would definitely be able to gain entrance into the best high-level academy of the Xia Kingdom, the Astral Sage College. When Li Luo had first entered the Southwind Academy, he had lived up to their expectations, demonstrating an absolutely astonishing aptitude for training in resonance arts. He had been immediately granted entrance into its First School, where all the most talented students of the entire Tianshu Province were gathered. s, as time advanced and as all the students began to manifest their resonances, his current problem had reared its ugly head. By now, he was the only one with a resonant pce but nothing inside it. As a result, although he was always faster to learn new arts than the other students, his resonant power grew at a much slower rate. By now, his resonant power had actually fallen to be below the average for the First Academy. The whole point of learning resonance arts was to be able to apply your resonant power to greater effect, but if your resonant power was weak to begin with? Well, there was a limit to what even the most profound of resonant arts could achieve. After subjecting Li Luo to a battery of tests, the administrators hade to the conclusion that Li Luo¡¯s body simply, innately,cked any resonance at all. In the future, it would be incredibly difficult for him to advance in his cultivation. After they reached this conclusion, the resonance instructure of the First School immediately requested that Li Luo be removed from the First School and sent to the Second School. To be fair, this made sense. The First School was the ce where all the most talented students were gathered, and the teacher simply didn¡¯t want Li Luo to hold the others back. But of course, the other, more important reason was that right at that time, both of Li Luo¡¯s parents had vanished. With them gone, House Lun had quickly be the weakest of the four great Houses. Their position was now quite awkward. And so, in the end, Li Luo had been sent to the Second School. Xu Shanyue sighed to himself. When Li Luo had first arrived at the Second School, Zhao Kuo wasn¡¯t even a match for him. Now, a mere semesterter, Zhao Kuo was able to overwhelm him. If this continued, his ranking within the Second School would most likely continue to drop over the course of the next semester. Unless he was able to dramatically improve his performance, it was likely that he would stand no chance at all of being granted entry into the Astral Sage College. The more Xu Shanyue looked at Li Luo¡¯s calm, handsome features and his suave demeanor, the more pity he felt. He knew that the youth was incredibly hard-working, but his parents were simply so spectacr that everyone had incredible expectations for him. As a result, their prestige had be a source of tremendous pressure. Everyone knew the saying that talented parents often had useless children, but few would delve deeper into the reasons behind this. Li Luo cast a nce at the many pitying gazes aimed at him, swept the splinters off his clothes, then sat down cross-legged. He knew exactly what all of them were thinking, of course. A nk resonance, eh? This pretty much guaranteed that his future prospects were dim. But¡­ Li Luo smirked slightly. He couldn¡¯t help but unconsciously reach down to touch his lower abdomen. He had a secret which no one else knew. In his resonant pce, there was more than just a so-called ¡®nk resonance¡¯. For cultivators of this world, at first their bodies would give birth to a single resonant pce; onlyter, when they reached the Duke stage, would they gain a second resonant pce. Finally, upon reaching the King stage, they would gain a third. However, the number of Dukes in the Xia Kingdom could be counted on one hand, while Kings were virtually unheard of despite how powerful the Xia Kingdom was. But of course, there were no absolutes. Supposedly, there were some especially blessed individuals who had a chance of gaining a second resonant pce even before they reached the Duke stage. This happened naturally as their resonant power advanced, but the chances were incredibly low. And this was what made Li Luo special. Although he was still at the earliest Ten Seals stage, he didn¡¯t have just one resonant pce in his body ¨C he had three, which waspletely unheard of! Normally, only supreme experts who had reached the King stage would have three resonant pces, but somehow this had manifested within his body. But what was even more shocking¡­ was that all three pces were nk! Having a nk resonance meant your future prospects were dim. But three nk resonances ¨C did that mean you had a future, or not? Li Luo let out a sigh, a rather depressed look on his face. Just as Li Luo was feeling all these mixed emotions, Zhao Kuo came over and sat down next to him. Zhao Kuo whispered, ¡°You still haven¡¯t resolved your resonance problem, eh?¡± Li Luo silently shook his head. Upon seeing this, Zhao Kuo let out a helpless sigh as well. Actually, he knew that this was a dumb question. A person was born with a resonance; it was innate, and no one had ever heard of someer filling in a nk pce with something else. Clearly, Li Luo was facing a serious problem. As the two chatted, Xu Shanyue walked into the dueling grounds. After giving Li Luo a few words of encouragement, he turned and said to the many students present, ¡°Everyone, important exams will be starting next month. Your chances at entering a college will be dependent on your performance in the exams. I urge you all to train hard.¡± The students were all silent, and they all had solemn looks on their faces. All their years of hard work were focused towards the examsing up next month. If they were able to get into a college, then their future prospects would improve dramatically. After this, Xu Shanyue announced that ss was over. Li Luo and Zhao Kuo walked side-by-side as they left alongside the other students. ¡°I¡¯m going to spend some more time training my resonance arts. Honestly, you gave me a good scare today. I suspect that if your resonant power was just slightly higher, you¡¯d beat the pants off of me,¡± Zhao Kuo said with a sigh after exiting the training grounds. He then waved goodbye towards Li Luo. Li Luo smiled as he watched Zhao Kuo depart. He knew the truth; Zhao Kuo was afraid that Li Luo was in poor spirits after this defeat, and so wanted to give him some alone time. What Zhao Kuo didn¡¯t understand was that by now, Li Luo had grown ustomed to it all. Li Luo withdrew his gaze, then turned and followed a tree-lined road that led outside the Academy. He ran into quite a few students as he walked, and all of them, both male and female, would nce at him as they passed. It wasn¡¯t just because of his good looks; rather, it was because he was now a rather notorious figure at the Academy. In the face of their gazes, Li Luo maintained a look of practiced indifference. He continued to follow the pathway until he reached the Academy gates, at which point he paused. In front of him was arge number of students who were all speaking in a lively manner. These students were all surrounding a very special bluestone wall ¨C the Southwind Academy¡¯s Wall of Honor. It contained the descriptions of all the mighty figures who had once graduated from the Southwind Academy. By now, all the students had seen the Wall of Honor countless times. Logically speaking, they should¡¯ve grown weary of examining it long ago, but for some reason they were quite focused on it today. Li Luo pursed his lips. He knew what was going on. The vast majority of the students here were because of ¡®her¡¯. Li Luo turned his gaze to a very specific point on the Wall of Honor. There was a gleaming crystal at that point, emanating rays of light that slowly coalesced into a tall, willow, and almost lifelike figure. The figure was that of a girl. She was dressed in the school uniform of Southwind Academy ¨C a light blue cape, a simple white tunic, and a short ck dress. She had a pair of long, dainty legs that were perfectly white and pleasing to the eye. Her facial features were simr exquisite. She had an elegant, raised nose, long and thickshes, and snow-white skin. All of these were quite mesmerizing to behold, but it was her eyes that truly engraved her in everyone¡¯s mind. Her pupils were golden, and they emanated an ineffable feeling of purity. If you stared into them long enough, you would begin to feel a sense of pressure. Her gaze was rather cool, and she stared straight ahead, with one hand on her slender hips and the other resting on the hilt of a heavy sword. Any who saw her would instantly feel a sensation of heroic, fierce majesty emanating from her. She truly was a soul-stirring girl, in terms of both appearance and demeanor. The wall behind her projection held her name ¨C Jiang Qing¡¯e. She was one of the dazzling star graduates of the Southwind Academy, born with a ninth-grade Light Resonance and enough talent to cause the countless people of the Xia Kingdom to sigh in amazement. After spending just two years in the Academy, she had been immediately recruited by the Astral Sage College even though she had yet to take her graduation exams. In the past hundred years, she was the only person in Tianshu Province to receive such an honor. By now, she was a legend of the Southwind Academy, and the many students who had enrolled after her practically worshipped the ground she walked on. In fact, she was now incredibly famous throughout the entirety of the Xia Kingdom. Li Luo stared at the projection of Jiang Qing¡¯e in a daze for a few moments, before noticing that quite a few gazes had turned towards him. Those gazes were filled with a look of resentment, envy, and puzzlement. Li Luo maintained his look of practiced indifference. He knew exactly why they were staring at him like that. It was because Jiang Qing¡¯e, venerated almost like a goddess by both the male and female students of the Southwind Academy, had two other statuses. She had been trained by his parents since she was young¡­ and she was his betrothed. Or, to put it another way, she was his fianc¨¦e. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 2: A Fiancee Who Doesnt Want An Annulment Chapter 2: A Fiancee Who Doesn''t Want An Annulment 2Chapter 2: A Fiancee Who Doesn¡¯t Want An Annulment As far as Li Luo could recall, the first time he met Jiang Qing¡¯e was when he was three. His parents had just returned from a long journey, and on their return they had brought back the five-year-old Jiang Qing¡¯e. Later on, they had epted her as their disciple. From a certain perspective, it could be said that the two of them truly were inseparable childhood friends, and his parents had truly doted on her as well. Unfortunately, ever since they were young the rtionship between the two was ratherplicated. Jiang Qing¡¯e was simply too outstanding, even as a child, and she was also two years older than Li Luo. Whenever they fought as children, the end result was invariably Jiang Qing¡¯e beating the snot out of him in a calm manner until he submitted. Honestly, it was a friggin¡¯ nightmare. As for the reason why she became his fianc¨¦e? Supposedly, when she was roughly ten or so years old, Li Luo¡¯s father hadmented in a drunken stupor that it would be wonderful if she one day became his daughter-inw. The very next day, the ten-year-old Jiang Qing¡¯e had personally written up a marriage contract and handed it over to Li Luo¡¯s speechless father. That night, Li Luo¡¯s old man had almost been beaten senseless by Li Luo¡¯s enraged mother. Worse ¨C Li Luo had been watching andughing at all of this, and as a result his mother had spanked the crap out of him as well. Li Luo¡¯s mother had asked Jiang Qing¡¯e to annul the marriage contract. Unexpectedly, she put on a rare show of absolute stubbornness. Without saying a word, she simply knelt down before Li Luo¡¯s mother and father and refused to rise. In the end, Li Luo¡¯s mother and father had no choice but to ede to her request. However, after doing so, they secreted away the marriage contract and never raised the topic again, pretending as though it had never existed. As time had passed, nothing further was said on the matter. Everyone, even Li Luo himself, had long since forgotten about it. However, one day when Jiang Qing¡¯e was at the Southwind Academy, she told a particrly determined suitor that she and Li Luo had long ago betrothed to each other. This news had stunned the entire Academy; no, it had shocked the entire Tianshu Province! Thankfully, at that time Li Luo had yet to enter the Southwind Academy; otherwise, if he had, he would¡¯ve instantly be an absolute pariah. Even now, after the passage of so many years, Li Luo was still somewhat affected by the aftershocks of that announcement. From this, he keenly understood just how charismatic a figure Jiang Qing¡¯e was. ¡°Pops, you really screwed me over,¡± Li Luo silently mumbled to himself. ¡°Yo, Li Luo! Why do you pause here every day? Are you enjoying the envious gazes of the crowds?¡± Just as Li Luo was sighing to himself, a girl¡¯s voice suddenly rang out from behind him. Li Luo turned, only to see an attractive young maiden standing behind him. Her hair was waist-long, and although she wasn¡¯t quite up to par with Jiang Qing¡¯e, she was definitely a natural beauty. The skin-tight school uniform she wore entuated her lovely curves quite nicely. At this moment, the young maiden was standing with arms folded across her chest, a rather mocking look on her face. Despite that, a calm look was on Li Luo¡¯s face when he saw her. This was Difa Qing, one of his ssmates. She was considered a beautiful golden flower of the Southwind Academy, and came from the Difa n, one of the three great ns of the Tianshu Province. She didn¡¯t have anything against Li Luo. However, she was a diehard fan of Jiang Qing¡¯e ¨C the extremely over-zealous, almost obsessive type of diehard fan. In her eyes, Jiang Qing¡¯e was as beautiful, wless, and perfect as an Immortal fairy. There was no man in this world who was worthy of her ¨C and of course, that included Li Luo as well. Even though Difa Qing agreed that Li Luo was an exceedingly handsome fellow, she also felt that looks were superficial. Someone worthy of Jiang Qing¡¯e had to be a dragon amongst men, both internally and externally. Li Luo, however, had only won a marriage contract with her thanks to his parents. In Difa Qing¡¯s eyes, this was an absolute blemish on her goddess¡¯ honor. And so, ever since Li Luo had joined the Southwind Academy, whenever Difa Qing saw him she would firstmence with a barrage of mocking words. After that? A series of endless questions. ¡°Li Luo, when are you going to annul the marriage contract between yourself and elder sister Jiang?¡± Right on cue. She had repeated this question countless times by now. Even Li Luo couldn¡¯t help but rub the bridge of his nose before responding irritably, ¡°None of your damn business.¡± He then turned and left. A look of anger instantly appeared on Difa Qing¡¯s face. She stubbornly followed behind him. ¡°Li Luo, do you really want to be the proverbial toad that lusts after a swan?¡± Li Luo, however, simply continued to ignore herpletely. This just further enraged her to the point where her veins started to pop out. She sped up her footsteps to chase him down, then continued, ¡°Li Luo, if you refuse to annul the wedding contract, the only one who¡¯s gonna be in trouble is you. The more talented elder sister Jiang is, the more trouble you¡¯ll be in. Your parents have been missing for years now, and even House Lun itself is at the verge of copse. Your status as the young lord of the House isn¡¯t going to be able to shield you for much longer.¡± ¡°You have no idea how many incredibly talented young men of Xia, all of whom have powerful backgrounds, are all smitten by her. ¡°Just because your parents treated her well, doesn¡¯t mean you can force her to repay you like this! ¡°Li Luo, if you refuse to annul the marriage contract with her, even here in the Academy there will be people who will cause you trouble!¡± Finally, Li Luo came to a halt. ¡°Oh? And who might that be?¡± Difa Qing let out a light snort. ¡°I imagine you know who Bei Kun of the Bei n is, yes? He¡¯s already made it known that he hopes you will not rely on your status to force yourself on elder sister Jiang. He¡¯s also requested that you have a small meeting with him at the Clearwind in two days.¡± Li Luo chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m familiar with him, yes. In the past, he always liked to fawn over me.¡± When his parents were still around, House Lun¡¯s words held almost as much weight as that of the governor of Tianshu Province. Bei Kun had often paid visits to Li Luo and professed his undying friendship. Who would¡¯ve thought that a few scant yearster, House Lun¡¯s situation would¡¯vepletely changed and this former friend of his would nowe and cause him trouble? In the past, Bei Kun¡¯s favorite pastime was to put on banquets at the Clearwind hotel, and he often would issue warm invitations to Li Luo. Now, he was proposing a hostile rendezvous? The man was straightforward enough. Difa Qing said, ¡°Li Luo, there¡¯s no need for you to mock him. This is how the world is. When your n is powerful, many will toady up to you. Now that House Lun has weakened, why should others give you any face? Even in the past, the ones they were giving face to were your parents, not you.¡± Li Luo nodded in agreement. ¡°I quite agree with what you said.¡± During the course of the past two years, Li Luo had quicklye to learn just how fickle fortune and friendship could be. Thus, he said nothing else and instead sped up as he departed the Academy. However, Difa Qing followed after him. She was seemingly unwilling to just let this rest, and continued yammering nonstop. Every single thing she said was aimed at one thing ¨C that Li Luo should be willing to give Jiang Qing¡¯e her freedom. By now, Li Luo knew that the best way to deal with this type of person was topletely ignore her, and so he didn¡¯t pay attention to a single word she said. Finally, after passing through a series of hallways, he exited the Academy. As he did so, he suddenly noticed that the ambient noise level seemed to have dropped dramatically. Even the mosquito-like buzzing of Difa Qing seemed to havee to a halt, as though she had a frog in her throat. Li Luo turned to nce at her, only to see that her face was bright red. A look of excitement was in her eyes as she stared at the stone stairway outside the Academy. Suspecting what was going on, Li Luo followed her gaze, only to see that a carriage was parked before the stairway. The carriage had an antique, noble design and was quite spacious. It had four pure red wheels, and was pulled by a muscr lionhorse. At the front of the carriage was a very familiar insignia ¨C the House Lun insignia. As for the reason why Difa Qing¡¯s face was crimson, and all the nearby students had looks of excitement on their faces? It naturally wasn¡¯t just because of the House Lun carriage itself ¨C rather, it was the young woman standing in front of the carriage. The young woman had her hair in a casual ponytail, and her features were both exquisite while graceful. Her skin shone beneath the rays of the setting sun. She was dressed in a short blue cape, held a thin whip, and wore a short war-skirt. Beneath the war-skirt was a pair of mouth-watering slim white legs¡­ but most eye-catching of all was her pure, lustrous golden-pupiled eyes that shone like the sun. It was Jiang Qing¡¯e! A series of murmurs began to arise from outside the Academy. Countless students were staring at her slender figure. They never would¡¯ve imagined that on this day, they would have the chance to see in person this legendary graduate of the Southwind Academy. Li Luo passed through the murmuring, excited crowd as he walked down the steps, then moved next to Jiang Qing¡¯e. Rather surprised, he said, ¡°Sister Qing¡¯e, when did you return to Southwind City?¡± Although House Lun had arisen in Southwind, after bing one of the four great Houses of the Xia Kingdom, it had already shifted its headquarters to the capital of the Xia Kingdom, the city of Xia. After Jiang Qing¡¯e had been admitted into the Astral Sage College, the most supreme college of the Xia Kingdom, she too had moved to Xia City. Over the past two years, she had also been consumed with affairs regarding the management of House Lun, and so it was quite rare for her to return to Southwind. It had been quite some time since even Li Luo had seen her. Jiang Qing¡¯e nced at him, then said in a calm voice, ¡°Tomorrow is your seventeenth birthday. In addition, House Lun has some important business to be discussed here. I just arrived at Southwind today, so I thought I¡¯de pick you up and take you home.¡± Her voice was extremely pleasing to hear ¨C it was both crisp and calm, like water from a deep mountain spring that was falling upon jade. Li Luo nodded. The attitude that Jiang Qing¡¯e was disying didn¡¯t surprise him in the slightest. He had known her for ages now; this was just how her personality was. ¡°Let¡¯s go, then,¡± he said. Jiang Qing¡¯e was simply too popr here at Southwind Academy. Just by standing here, she had be the focal attention of the entire area. He himself felt as though everyone was staring daggers at him. Jiang Qing¡¯e nodded slightly, but she didn¡¯t immediately turn back. Instead, she looked at the excited Difa Qing, who was standing right behind Li Luo. ¡°Your name is Difa Qing, yes?¡± Difa Qing nodded repeatedly, her face ruddy from excitement. ¡°You actually still remember me, elder sister Jiang?¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e said quietly, ¡°I hope you won¡¯t bother Li Luo any more. Otherwise¡­ I will probably have to take extremely good care of your elder brother at the Astral Sage College.¡± The look of excitement on Difa Qing¡¯s face instantly froze. A long momentter, transfixed by Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s golden gaze, she nervously nodded. She no longer disyed any of the earlier confidence and arrogance that she had shown before Li Luo. After speaking, Jiang Qing¡¯e turned and entered the carriage alongside Li Luo, her blue cape pping slightly. Momentster, the lionhorse let out a long bellow before it carried them away through the mist. As for Difa Qing, she just stood there and watched the carriage depart. A long whileter, she finally rubbed her eyes, an intoxicated look on her face. ¡°Elder sister Jiang¡­ she¡¯s SO COOL! I absolutely ADOOOORE her!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 3: Li Luo Wants An Annulment Chapter 3: Li Luo Wants An Annulment 1Chapter 3: Li Luo Wants An Annulment The lionhorse rapidly galloped through the wide streets of Southwind City. It pulled the carriage behind it in a stable yet fast manner, causing the forest of buildings to rapidly disappear. The inside of the carriage was quite spacious, and the temperature was quitefortable. Li Luo and Jiang Qing¡¯e were seated facing each other, with a small tea table between them. The two didn¡¯t exchange many words ¨C Li Luo just sat there calmly with his eyes closed, while Jiang Qing¡¯e had opened up a book and was intently reading it. A ray of sunlight shone into the carriage from a crack in the curtains, falling upon Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s exquisite jade features and giving her an almost crystalline, translucentplexion. After a long period of silence, Jiang Qing¡¯e blinked her longshes, lifted up her slender face, then stared intently at Li Luo with her golden eyes. ¡°It seems the words I spoke at Southwind Academy all those years ago have caused you some trouble. I¡¯m very sorry about that.¡± Li Luo remained silent, but he opened his eyes. He looked back at her, noting her exquisite features as well as her aura of strength and fierceness, then chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t see any sincerity in this apology. If you are sincere, then let me cancel our engagement.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e flipped through a few more pages. ¡°Is this the legendary ¡®annulment request¡¯? But ording to the way the script is supposed to y out, I should be the one making this request. Have you perhaps gotten things backwards?¡± Li Luo was caught off-guard by her sudden disy of deadpan humor. For a moment, he didn¡¯t know whether tough or to cry. Jiang Qing¡¯e raised her head and cast him a nce, then said calmly, ¡°What¡¯s the problem? Are you afraid that our engagement will cause you even more problems in the future?¡± Li Luo was silent for a moment, then shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m worried that I would be holding you back. There¡¯s no reason for a girl like you to be burdened by an unnecessary engagement. And while we are on this topic ¨C do you know how many times my old man got his ass kicked by my mom because of this engagement? Now, I personally supported her kicking his ass for himing up with such a stupid idea, but the real problem was ¨C each time, after she finished kicking his ass, I would get my ass kicked as well!¡± A resentful look appeared in Li Luo¡¯s eyes as he discussed this. As for Jiang Qing¡¯e, when she thought back to how that normally gentle and refined woman had repeatedly giving drubbings to both Li Luo and his father for her sake, her small red lips couldn¡¯t help but quiver in amusement. Afterwards, she calmed back down and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not worried.¡±: Li Luo felt a headacheing. ¡°Then what if you fall for someone else in the future? This is absolutely ridiculous, you know.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e smiled calmly. ¡°I might not meet such a person. I¡¯m quite picky, you know¡­ and now that the two of us are engaged, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d give my heart to another.¡± Li Luo stared hard at Jiang Qing¡¯e. Suddenly, a hint of anger entered his voice. ¡°Jiang Qing¡¯e, what the hell are you thinking? I know my parents treated you well, and you are very grateful towards them, but there¡¯s no need for you to express your gratitude this way. What the hell do you take me for? A tool for you to show gratitude? You might have agreed to this engagement, but I never did!¡± Li Luo¡¯s sudden show of anger startled her. She stared pensively at him with her pure golden eyes for a long, silent moment, then lowered her head slightly. ¡°I apologize. I admit that I didn¡¯t take your feelings into consideration.¡± Seeing this, Li Luo pressed the advantage. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then we should-¡± ¡°However!¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e raised her head again, then stared at Li Luo intently. ¡°You know what the rules of our House are. If two House members are unable toe to an agreement, then the only way to resolve it is through a duel. The winner gets to make the final decision.¡± This was a rule which Li Luo¡¯s mother hadid down, and it was applicable to any household disagreements whatsoever. Thus ¨C every time she and Li Luo¡¯s father had gotten into an argument, she would roll up her sleeves and then drag the old man into the training grounds to fight it out. ¡°If you truly arepletely unwilling to be engaged to me, then we can go to the family training grounds and then resolve it in ordance with our House rules,¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e said. Li Luo¡¯s face turnedically stiff for a moment, before a variety of expressions shed through it. Finally, he gritted his teeth, pointed at her, and said furiously, ¡°Jiang Qing¡¯e, you go too far! I¡¯m still in the early stages of the Ten Seals. How the hell am I supposed to fight against you, an Earth Fiend?¡± Human cultivators, after establishing their resonant pce, were considered to have entered the most rudimentary stage, the Ten Seals stage. After this came the Resonant Master stage, at which point they could be considered to have truly embarked into the path of cultivation. There were three primary levels to the Resonant Master stage ¨C General, Duke, and King. Putting aside thetter two stages for now, the ¡®General¡¯ level itself also consisted of two sub-levels; the upper level was known as the Heavenly Dipper General, while the lower sub-level was known as the Earth Fiend General. As for Jiang Qing¡¯e? She was already at the Earth Fiend General level. [1] For someone so young to be able to be an Earth Fiend General was simply stunning. Everyone was truly shocked by Jiang Qing¡¯e and her talent. Some even suspected that she would soon be the one to break the record for being the youngest Duke of the Xia Kingdom. For an Earth Fiend General like her to battle against Li Luo, who was still in the Ten Seals stage¡­ honestly, Li Luo was rather worried that if she might whack him to death with a palm, just by ident. Jiang Qing¡¯e put away the book, then said in a regretful manner, ¡°It seems you don¡¯t want to ept my proposal. There¡¯s nothing else I can do.¡± Li Luo was so furious, he was shaking. What the hell is wrong with the world? Why is it so hard for me to annul my engagement? He then turned to stare lifelessly out the carriage window. From the corner of his eyes, he could still catch a glimpse of Jiang Qing¡¯e ¨C specifically, her dazzlingly exquisite features and her intoxicatingly pure golden eyes. Li Luo let out a sigh, then said in a much more subdued voice, ¡°Big sister Qing, we¡¯ve known each other for years. I know very well that the feelings you have for me are not romantic in nature. What¡¯s the point of being engaged when love isn¡¯t part of the picture?¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e was silent for a moment. ¡°Honestly, my first reaction is to say ¨C a seventeen-year-old kid like you shouldn¡¯t put on such worldly airs. But, I have to admit that you do speak some sense. However, I have no interest in any other men at all. As for you ¨C at least I don¡¯t find you repulsive.¡± Li Luo let out a bitter chuckle. ¡°Big sister Qing, the main reason you set up this engagement was to show your gratitude to my parents. I¡¯m sure that your feelings towards them are much stronger than any feelings you might have towards me. But¡­ I really have no need for this form of ¡®gratitude¡¯.¡± Li Luo lowered his head. He said in a slow voice, ¡°I know that it isn¡¯t going to be easy to get you to annul this engagement, but¡­¡± He raised his head to stare directly into her eyes. ¡°I hope that you will give me, and yourself, a chance.¡± Li Luo paused a moment, then continued. ¡°Let¡¯s do a trade. I¡¯m not strong enough to manage our House, and so in the interim you have taken over on my behalf. One day, however, I will take back control. If on that day, you are able to return to me a House that is more-or-less as strong and prosperous as the one you took over, then as my way of showing gratitude, I will ¡®grant¡¯ you freedom from this engagement. Deal?¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e did not immediately respond. For a long, silent moment, she tapped her long, slender white fingers on the table in a rhythmic manner. Finally, she said in a soft voice, ¡°Li Luo. Do you really dislike me that much?¡± Li Luo was startled. He took a deep breath, then said, ¡°Jiang Qing¡¯e, I think you may have underestimated your attractiveness and your appeal. Your beauty and your charisma is enough to cause anyone of our age to be instantly smitten with you. If I imed to have no interest in you at all, then I would be lying to both myself as well as to you.¡± ¡°But. This is not the type of engagement I want, or need.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e raised an eyebrow, then suddenly smacked the table with one dainty hand. Crack! The sudden sound jolted Li Luo, causing him to quickly sidle backwards. ¡°Hey, let¡¯s keep it civilized! No need to resort to violence.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e rolled her eyes at him, then said calmly, ¡°Li Luo, it¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve met. Clearly, you¡¯ve be a bit more eloquent since then. I agree that your words have some merit. Fine. We can treat this as a trade. Once you are ready to assume control over House Lun, I¡¯ll be sure to hand it over in a healthy, intact state. At that time, you can annul our engagement.¡± Li Luo was speechless, then let out a long sigh. He instantly felt as though he had been relieved of a heavy burden. However ¨C in the deepest part of his heart, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of inexplicable loss. He cursed at himself for feeling this. The hell is wrong with you? ¡°Your little speech today has caused me to look upon you in a new light. It seems you are no longer a little boy.¡± Li Luo was irritated. ¡°Little boy? There¡¯s nothing little about me.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e ignored his words. She gaze at him with an enigmatic half-smile, then continued, ¡°But, Li Luo¡­ I do have to give you a little reminder. Are you absolutely sure you want to enter this deal with me? Once our engagement is off ¨C I suspect that you will never, ever have a chance to get it back.¡± Li Luo narrowed his eyes, then leaned forward with both hands pressed to the desk and stared directly at Jiang Qing¡¯e. Their faces were less than a foot apart. ¡°Jiang Qing¡¯e, I really have no interest in this type of ¡®engagement¡¯ ¨C because in the future, I intend for you to personally hand me an engagement agreement, rather than hand my parents one.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e stared right back into Li Luo¡¯s handsome face with her golden eyes, the amusement on her face growing stronger. She knew exactly what Li Luo meant. The reason why he wanted to annul this marriage agreement was because as of right now, she had no interest in him as a man. If in the future, she once more proposed to be engaged to him, it would only be because she had fallen for him. ¡°Sit your butt down.¡± Her red lips quivered. Suddenly, an invisible force appeared out of nowhere and pressed Li Luo back into seat with enough force to cause him to let out an involuntary squawk. Just like that, all of his posturing had been wiped away. Jiang Qing¡¯e rested a hand on her fragrant cheeks, then cast Li Luo a ratherzy look. ¡°You don¡¯t have a lot of skills, but you sure have a lot of guts. I¡¯ve encountered many geniuses in recent years, but none of them ever dared to speak to me like this. Li Luo ¨C don¡¯t let your reach exceed your grasp by too much. Your goal ispletely unrealistic. But ¨C if you really want to give it a shot, I¡¯ll give you a chance.¡± Her golden pupils suddenly glowed with a mysterious, inscrutable light. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you at the Astral Sage College. This is your first step. If you can¡¯t even aplish this, then let¡¯s both just forget about what you said today. We¡¯ll chalk it up as being the words of a rebellious youth.¡± This time, Li Luo didn¡¯t interrupt. He leaned back against the carriage window as he slowly closed his eyes. He said in a calm voice, ¡°Then just wait for me there.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e turned her gaze out the window. As she watched their carriage move past the various buildings, a stray ray of sunlight sparkled across her golden eyes. The tiniest of smiles appeared on her face, filled with a rare look of softness. After they had traveled for a long period of time, Li Luo suddenly opened his eyes. Rather puzzled, he said, ¡°This isn¡¯t the way home.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e gently nodded, then said quietly, ¡°We¡¯re going to pay a visit to the Golden Dragon Bank. There¡¯s something we need to pick up there.¡± She turned her golden gaze towards Li Luo. ¡°Before Master and Mistress left, they prepared something for you. They said that you were only to open it up after you reached the age of seventeen.¡± Li Luo was speechless. His heart shook. Mom, Dad¡­ you left something behind for me? 1. These stagese from the Tales of the Water Margin/Suikoden; there were 108 legendary heroes, who were divided into the 36 ¡®heavenly dippers¡¯ and the 72 ¡®earthly fiends¡¯. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 4: Golden Dragon Bank Chapter 4: Golden Dragon Bank 2Chapter 4: Golden Dragon Bank Many mighty and influential factions were hidden within the Xia Kingdom. Of which, two were behemoths that held stances of absolute neutrality. These were titans that even officials and the royal family would never dare to aggravate. The first was the renowned Astral Sage College. The second, the Golden Dragon Bank. Attending the Astral Sage College was the aspiration of numerous Xia Kingdom youths. The elites that graduated from there were often courted by the numerous powers of thend. The Golden Dragon Bank, on the other hand, was involved in the trading, safekeeping, and auctioning of all sorts of goods and treasures. Their financial might was so immense that any power would stare at their wealth with reddened eyes. Yet no one dared to even dream of infringing on their interests! The true might of the Golden Dragon Bank far superseded any power in the Xia Kingdom. The branch that existed in the Xia Kingdom was just that, a mere branch! The main branch of the Golden Dragon Bank was located in a ce far more vast than the Xia Kingdom, and they had a resounding reputation across thend. This was because the golden dragon notes issued by the bank could be redeemed for an equivalent amount of skygold at any branch. ¡­¡­¡­ The City of Southwind was the county town of the Tianshu Province. It naturally housed its own branch of the Golden Dragon Bank, which was unsurprisingly located in the most luxurious area: the center of the city. As Li Luo got off the carriage, he gazed at the glorious and dazzling building before him. This was not the first time he hadid eyes on a building so grand, yet he couldn¡¯t help but exhale in wonder. Even a branch building in a simple county town exhibited grandeur beyond its humble surroundings. The financial resources of the Golden Dragon Bank were truly unfathomable. Even House Lun¡¯s estate seemedcking whenpared to this behemoth. Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s expression was calm and unperturbed. Upon exiting the carriage, she immediately made his way towards the bank with Li Luo in tow. After entering this magnificent bank, Jiang Qing¡¯e withdrew a golden note from her belongings, which she then passed to an attendant. The note was carefully inspected before the attendant hastily and respectfully ushered the two into a VIP room. Momentster, a beaming, plump, middle-aged man waddled in. He was bedecked with all sorts of glittering jewels, each and every one of his fingers d with numerous rings! ¡°Haha! I am honored to be in the presence of House Lun¡¯s Young Lord and Miss Jiang. You have truly brought great honor to my humble dwelling.¡± It is important to keep in mind that anyone who could act on behalf of the Golden Dragon Bank would definitely be socially adept. Since the plump man could recognise Li Luo at a nce, he also understood his current status. Yet he did not slight Li Luo in the least, and he provided him all due respect, even addressing him first. ¡°This is the supervisor of the Tianshu Province¡¯s Golden Dragon Bank, President Lu.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e casually introduced the other party to Li Luo. ¡°President Lu, do lead us to retrieve the goods.¡± With the brief introductionsplete, Jiang Qing¡¯e reverted to her usual swift and decisive demeanour. President Lu nodded and smiled, turning to lead the way. The three of them weaved throughyers uponyers of restrictions before making their way deep under the building. Following President Lu¡¯s lead, the three arrived in front of apletely sealed room with no entrances. Instead, there were smooth, glossy, ck stone walls on all sides, making it seem like a room surrounded by ck mirrors. President Lu then lightly patted the wall. His actions made the wall split apart, allowing the group to enter the room. A box made of an unknown metal gradually emerged from the ground within the room. President Lu smiled as he exined, ¡°My respected guests, this is the object that the Lord of House Lun left behind. In his words, the Young Lord has to retrieve this personally, and his blood will act as the key.¡± With his jobplete, he naturally slunk away, leaving the other two in the room. Li Luo stared at this safety deposit box of sorts, almost in a trance. Just what were his parents up to, leaving him with all this secrecy and mystery? What had they left behind? Yet his intuition was screaming at him, telling him that the object in front of him was of utmost importance. Perhaps it could change his ill fate? He took a deep breath and stepped forward, cing his palm on the strongbox. At this moment, he felt a piercing pain in his finger, as if a drop of blood was forcefully seized from him and absorbed by this strongbox! Click! Mechanical clicks could be hearding from within the strongbox. A faint luster gradually emerged from the center as the strongbox cracked apart. At this point, Li Luo could finally see what was within. It was a pitch-ck crystal ball. It was extremely smooth, so much so that Li Luo could even see his own reflection. There were clearly some unspoken mysteries surrounding this object. ¡°Just what¡­¡± Li Luo mumbled as he blinked while inspecting the crystal ball. ¡°Let¡¯s store it carefully for now. Master said that you had to wait for your 17th birthday before you could retrieve this.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e passed a suitcase over. Li Luo nodded as he carefully ced the ck crystal ball inside the suitcase, tightly holding onto it for dear life as his eyes moistened. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e asked with a puzzled expression. ¡°I have a hunch that my lucky break is finally here. I¡¯m so emotional, I could cry!¡± Li Luo eximed as he waved the suitcase towards her. ¡°Just you wait¡­ I¡¯m definitely going to seed in annulling this marriage!¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond. She immediately turned around and left the secret room. She could clearly tell that Li Luo was surging with excitement and was definitely itching to irritate her. The two left the depths of the building and were once again greeted by President Lu. This time, he was apanied by a youngdy. She was garbed in green and was exceptionally beautiful, with an elegant and exquisite charm to her. Her fine, ck hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, reaching her willowy waist. This was coupled with a set of captivating eyes that shone brightly. Her snow-white skin gave off a crystal-like sheen. She was eye-catching, the very embodiment of perfection. Even though her hands were d in thin, silk gloves, one could faintly make out her slender, jade-like fingers. If she ever removed those gloves, there would be people drooling at the sight of her ephemeral beauty. Possessing both beauty and temperament, this youngdy was clearly a level above Difa Qing. Upon seeing her, an unnatural expression shed across Li Luo¡¯s face before he regained hisposure. ¡°Haha, this is my little niece, Lu Qing¡¯er. She has just been epted into Southwind Academy as a cultivator, and she absolutely idolizes Miss Jiang. When she heard you were here, she was adamant ining along. I do hope that Miss Jiang will not take offense to this,¡± President Lu exined as he sped his hands respectfully with a smile on his face. ¡°Greetings, Senior Sister Jiang,¡± Lu Qing¡¯er said with deference as she graciously curtsied. Jiang Qing¡¯e began to size up this new arrival with perfectly symmetrical features. ¡°Since you¡¯re a student of Southwind Academy, I suppose you¡¯re acquaintances with Li Luo?¡± Lu Qing¡¯er shifted her gaze momentarily to nce at Li Luo, who was standing by Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s side. She beamed as she gently nodded, her deep gaze captivating all. ¡°Li Luo used to provide me with some pointers, and I¡¯ve always been thankful to him. However, it seems like in these past two years, he hasn¡¯t wanted to meet me¡­¡± Li Luo let out an awkward smile as he hastily andughingly replied, ¡°No, no, no, no, no, please don¡¯t jump to conclusions! We are in different schools, so it¡¯s been very difficult toe see you!¡± Deep down, Li Luo felt helpless. Lu Qing¡¯er was exceptionally famous in Southwind Academy. She was in apletely different stratapared to Difa Qing. Not only was she attractive, she was the poster girl for Southwind Academy, being the number one talent in the current generation. When Li Luo was still attending the First School, many of the students had yet to open their resonant pces. With his exceptional ability to utilise resonance arts, he was a cut above the rest of the students. Hence, numerous students would approach him for guidance, including Lu Qing¡¯er. Therefore, they could be considered close friends. Then came Li Luo¡¯s misfortune of nk pces and his subsequent booting from the First School into the Second School. As a result, their interactions became sparse. Of course, the most important point here was that Li Luo spent his time hiding from Lu Qing¡¯er. It wasn¡¯t because he hated her, but because he felt embarrassed whenever they met! He used to be number one in the First School, and yet he had been supnted by her¡­ Who would have thought that they would meet each other again? Lu Qing¡¯er did not rebut Li Luo¡¯s clearly perfunctory words but didn¡¯t say anything else either. Instead, she turned her attention to Jiang Qing¡¯e and began to chat with her with a casual smile on her face. The Lu duo then proceeded to escort the two out of the bank. ¡°Miss Jiang, I¡¯ve heard that there will be an event happening at House Lun,¡± President Lu said with his usual, smiley demeanor. Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s expression was unchanging as she replied tly, ¡°President Lu is perceptive indeed.¡± ¡°Ah, such a pity!¡± President Lu sighed before continuing, ¡°Do look for me if there is anything I can assist you with. The Golden Dragon Bank believes that harmony breeds wealth!¡± Li Luo held some doubts in his mind, but he did not voice them. He simply followed Jiang Qing¡¯e onto the carriage, and they swiftly left. Meanwhile, President Lu rubbed the chin of his oily, portly face as he glimpsed at Lu Qing¡¯er, only to realise that she was still staring wistfully at the direction of the departing carriage with her sparkling eyes. ¡°Cough!¡± President Lu interrupted her. ¡°You little girl! You¡­ you wouldn¡¯t happen to have feelings for Li Luo, would you?¡± Lu Qing¡¯er batted a nce towards President Lu as she gently replied, ¡°I only feel pity towards Li Luo. In the past, he did guide me in the resonance arts. I merely feel appreciation towards him. If not for his nk pces, he would have been my greatest rival in Southwind Academy.¡± President Lu patted his chest as he released a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank goodness! That¡¯s great¡­ Qing¡¯er, oh, Qing¡¯er, he is already an engaged man. Don¡¯t try scoring when there¡¯s a goalkeeper¡­ With your status and looks, just which youth in the Xia Kingdom could be your match?¡± Lu Qing¡¯er shook her head and then turned around to walk away, ignoring her second uncle¡¯s inane ramblings whilst he chuckled and continued to rub his chin. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 5: Senior Pei Hao Chapter 5: Senior Pei Hao 1Chapter 5: Senior Pei Hao After leaving the Golden Dragon Bank, Jiang Qing¡¯e was silent within the carriage. Li Luo followed suit and spoke nary a word, only clutching the suitcase. Who knew what he was thinking. Eventually, they arrived in front of a manor, within which dotted numerous undting hills and magnificent pavilions¡ªan awe-inspiring sight. This was where Li Luo¡¯s parents had constructed the family home of House Lun. The four beastial lionhorses stopped gracefully in front of the gates and then the duo exited the carriage. ¡°This ce seems to have be a lot colder and lifeless.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e sighed as she stared at the manor. Back when Li Luo¡¯s parents were still around, this was the administrative epicentre of House Lun. The bustling activity as people hurried about then greatly contrasted against the decrepit silence seen now. ¡°House Lun¡¯s headquarters has long shifted to Xia City, this is just an old manor. I suppose this peace and quiet is expected.¡± Li Luo smiled. Whilst the two spoke, some individuals approached the entrance to usher them in. At the fore was an old man, with ady right behind him. The old man had a gentle and amiable expression. Thedy, on the other hand, wore a face of makeup that entuated her maturity, providing an attractive countenance. What was most outstanding was her well-rounded figure; her twin peaks were well endowed, much like twopletely ripe peaches, a sight that would y men as they swayed gently. ¡°Uncle Liu,¡± Li Luo cried as he ran towards the old man. He was someone who had followed Li Luo¡¯s parents long ago. Nowadays, he stayed to maintain the estate whilst taking care of Li Luo. Yet Li Luo did not recognise this well-endoweddy and doubts began to arise in his mind. ¡°Uncle Liu, it has been a long time,¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e said as she nodded her head before introducing thedy to Li Luo. ¡°This is Elder Sister Cai Wei, my assistant in Xia City. She has been helping me to arrange the numerous affairs of House Lun.¡± ¡°Greetings, Young Lord,¡± the mature beauty Cai Wei said with a smiling expression as her eyes sized Li Luo up. Li Luo nodded in reply. ¡°It must have been hard on you, Elder Sister Cai Wei.¡± ¡°Elder Sister Cai Wei will be staying in the City of Southwind for a period of time. She will be taking care of House Lun¡¯s affairs in the Tianshu Province and will be directly reporting to you in all matters,¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e exined. Li Luo was momentarily shocked. Ever since House Lun¡¯s headquarters relocated to Xia City, nothing much had cropped up within the Tianshu Province and things had been stable since then. Now, in the blink of an eye, why had Sister Qing¡¯e suddenly deployed such a capable individual to assume control of the situation? ¡°Has something happened?¡± Li Luo queried as he sighed deeply. Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s sudden return was clearly unrted to his uing seventeenth birthday tomorrow. Jiang Qing¡¯e paused in deep thought. Her usual, exquisite expression had turned cold as she strode towards the interior of the manor, Li Luo trailing right behind her. ¡°Although you¡¯ve been left in the City of Southwind, I suppose you have not heard of the news surrounding House Lun. I did not speak of these things for fear of affecting you.¡± As they walked on the light gravel road, scattered light filtered through the leaves of the surrounding trees, bathing their path with warmth, contrasting against Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s direct and cold words. Li Luo nodded. Although he did not take part in House Lun¡¯s affairs, even a blockhead could guess that with the absence of his parents, House Lun would be faced with turbulent winds. Starting a house within the Xia Kingdom was not such a simple task. The most important rule was that one had to have a Duke. Within the Xia Kingdom were five great houses, and House Lun was one of them. Out of these five, House Lun had the shortest history and had also risen the most abruptly. This was due to both of Li Luo¡¯s parents entering the Duke Stage. Mysterious Yang Duke, Li Taixuan. Misty Duke, Tan Tan. A house with two Dukes. This was the key reason why House Lun had catapulted into the ranks of the five Great Houses so quickly. Whilst the rest of the five Great Houses had long established histories, House Lun was aplete upstart. As a result, this also meant that they had less of a foundation and barely any assets to speak of, and were thus weaker than the other four by a fair margin. This was originally not an issue as Li Taixuan and Tan Tan¡¯s abilities were more than sufficient to cover this gap during this time. Hence, it was a pity that they both had disappeared. Losing their two main pirs of support, House Lun¡¯s strength declined rapidly. At the onset of their disappearance, their reputation still served to deter any unsavory intentions. However, with the passage of time, theck of news regarding Li Taixuan and Tan Tan had ended up birthing rumors that they had met their demise in the Noble¡¯s War. House Lun, as one of the five Great Houses, had numerous businesses under them. This was undoubtedly a fat, sulent piece of meat for any power within the Xia Kingdom. Numerous factions had been eyeing it covetously, drooling at the mouths for a potential bite. Thus, with the passage of time, Li Taixuan and Tan Tan¡¯s inheritance had been gradually whittled down. A few wolves could barely resist the temptation in these past few years and had taken quite a few mouthfuls. With such a situation afoot, Jiang Qing¡¯e had to put pause to her studies in the Astral Sage College to take over the affairs of House Lun. As a result, her reputation in the Xia Kingdom had soared. Unfortunately, she had yet to enter the Duke Stage, so her strength was insufficient to deter this pack of hungry wolves. In this dire situation, she had chosen to give up some of the businesses, opting to recover them when the House had recouped its strength. By showing little resistance, it signalled to the wider world that the situation within House Lun was terribly unstable, battered by the oing winds. Li Luo understood very clearly at this point that without sufficient strength, trying to guard a mountain of gold would only bring trouble to oneself. Patiently enduring was the sensible long-term strategy. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of House Lun¡¯s decline in these few years. Perhaps things have begun to stabilise?¡± Li Luo asked curiously. Jiang Qing¡¯e pursed her lips as she calmly replied, ¡°External pressure has temporarily reduced. However, the problem now lies within House Lun¡¯s headquarters.¡± Li Luo was dumbfounded for a second before he slowly asked, ¡°Is it due to Senior Pei Hao?¡± Cai Wei stared at Li Luo with a bbergasted expression. ¡°Although Sister Qing¡¯e has not been in charge of House Lun for long, your charm is unparalleled and your strength within the house is not insignificant. The only member of House Lun who canpete with you is that Senior disciple my parents took in.¡± Li Luo smiled as he exined his deduction. Pei Hao was a wandering vagrant in his youth. He had offended an enemy and would have been executed if not for the lucky intervention of Li Luo¡¯s parents. Seeing how pitiful he was, they epted him into House Lun and his talents were gradually unearthed, demonstrating his genius. When House Lun officially made their mark, he was officially taken in as a disciple. With this background, Pei Hao¡¯s position in House Lun soared into the heavens, and by the time of Li Luo¡¯s parents¡¯ disappearance, he had already umted quite a bit of power. When his parents were still around, Senior Pei Hao would oftene to interact with Li Luo. Over the years, these interactions had gradually be more rare, especially after it was discovered that Li Luo had nk pces¡­ It was clear that Senior Pei Hao wasn¡¯t a very genuine person. ¡°Pei Hao has always objected to my control of House Lun. He has also acted arbitrarily when it came to decisions regarding the house. His influence within House Lun is not minor¡ªat least half of the Inner Council of Nine supports him. This has brought about some unsavory influences on the situation. ¡°Frankly speaking, if he was willing to act on behalf of House Lun, then all of this would be tolerable. If not for Masters¡¯ orders, I would not have wanted to make a move and take control.¡± Li Luo nodded in agreement. With Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s personality, she definitely disliked this sort of responsibility. Focusing on cultivation would¡¯ve been ideal, considering her gratuitous talents. Though in the end, all of these problems had arisen because the Young Lord just wasn¡¯t up to par. Both of them understood that with his current predicament of possessing nk pces, he was helpless in such a situation. If they passed control to him, it would more or less spell doom for everything his parents had toiled for. Furthermore, in this world, might made right. ¡°It must have been hard on you, Sister Qing¡¯e,¡± Li Luo sincerely said from the depths of his heart. Jiang Qing¡¯e shook her head. ¡°No need for this disy. We are already engaged, and I¡¯m also part of House Lun¡­ in case you already forgot and need a beating to remind yourself,¡± she replied bluntly. Li Luo was speechless at this retort, whilst Cai Weiughed while coyly covering her mouth, her appearance capable of moving anyone. Jiang Qing¡¯e continued, ¡°Ever since the two Masters disappeared, everyone has been on tenterhooks. Although I have done my best to pacify everyone, the situation House Lun is in is not something that can be resolved easily. Meanwhile, Pei Hao continues to goad and rally the support of the people, constantly seeking to suppress me. I¡¯ve done some investigating, and I suspect that there are greater forces at y, secretly assisting him.¡± Li Luo reached out to catch a falling leaf before musing, ¡°We seem to have raised a wolf in our home.¡± ¡°Pei Hao will bring some men to discuss terms in the City of Southwind tomorrow. If we are unable toe to a consensus, the worst case scenario is that House Lun will directly disintegrate and a heavy blow will be dealt to us.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s golden pupils seemed to be as icy as the cold of winter¡ªeven a trace of killing intent could be seen. Li Luo raised his eyebrows in puzzlement. House Lun was surrounded by wolves in the Xia Kingdom, and furthermore, there were even more tigers eyeing them from the sidelines. If they did fall apart, House Lun would be severely weakened, and inevitable troubles would follow. All he could do now was sigh. He was just too weak, unable to influence the situation at all. The title of Young Lord within House Lun was an empty one. In fact, people hadpletely disregarded and forgotten about him. Everything stemmed from being powerless. ¡°I apologize. I have been unable to help,¡± Li Luo said. Jiang Qing¡¯e shook her head as she lightly replied, ¡°Rest assured. Even if turmoil engulfs House Lun, I will ensure it is rebuilt before I hand it back over to you.¡± Li Luo did not reply. He didn¡¯t really mind either way. Even if House Lun were the mightiest one around, it was ultimately external strength. In this world, only personal might was absolute. If he could enter the King or Duke stages at some point, all of these problems would disappear like a wisp of smoke. The two then entered their old home and had dinner. Immediately after, Jiang Qing¡¯e excused herself and rushed off, evidently to make preparations for tomorrow. Li Luo did not disturb her. Instead, he spent two hours practicing the resonance arts before retiring to his room for rest. Try as he might, he couldn¡¯t fall asleep. When the clock struck midnight, he directly rolled off his bed and grabbed the suitcase before wrenching it open. He pulled out the mysterious, ck crystal ball and carefully sped it between his hands. Li Luo could feel his heart palpitating as it almost burst out of his chest in excitement. ¡°Father. Mother. Just what did you leave behind for me?¡± Li Luo lightly patted his chest as he spoke self-deprecatingly, ¡°There¡¯s no way you left behind a birthday cake you made countless years ago¡­ right?¡± He gulped. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 6: Acquired Resonance Chapter 6: Acquired Resonance 2Chapter 6: Acquired Resonance The ck crystal ball with a mirror-like sheen allowed Li Luo to see his countenance within. A trace of anticipation,shed with anxiety, was hung upon his gaze. He wanted to know just what sort of item would lead his parents to spend so much effort to squirrel away¡­ ¡°Soooo¡­ just how do I open this?¡± Li Luo was doing everything he could to quash the feelings of anxiousness in his heart. Cautiously inspecting the ink-ck and mysterious crystal ball, he finally decided to¡­ use the most direct method instead. He tentatively pressed his palms against its surface. Weng! At the exact moment his palms contacted the crystal ball, the crystal ball emitted a slight shock! That originally shiny exterior liquefied and enveloped Li Luo¡¯s palms. At the same time, Li Luo could distinctly feel a sensation not unlike acupuncture, as though needles were piercing right into him, into his palms! As this happened, some of his blood was absorbed! The palms which were covered with the ck liquid then began to radiate a bright light. Then, to Li Luo¡¯s surprise, two light apparitions gradually took form. Looking at the familiar silhouettes, Li Luo could feel a wave of nostalgia and yearning descend upon him. ¡°Dad, Mom¡­¡± The male apparition was handsome, his body upright like a spear whilst clothed in white robes. He possessed an absolute charm and a warm smile, yet hidden within was a lofty and immovable presence that would bend to no one! Just looking at him brought others an indescribable sense offort and safety. On the other hand, the female apparition was garbed in violet, her long hair elegantly pinned up, her two hands leisurely ced within her pockets. She, too, was of iparable beauty and held an unparalleled, dignified demeanor. These were Li Luo¡¯s parents, Li Taixuan and Tan Tan. As Li Luo stared nkly at the two, the apparition of Li Taixuan began to speak. ¡°Haha, my little boy, now that you¡¯re seeing these imprints, I assume you are seventeen already. I believe that by this point, we are long gone.¡± Tan Tan, who was smiling happily at the side, also began to speak. ¡°Little Luo must have be even more handsome by now, right? Have any girls begun to court you in school?¡± Li Luo rubbed his eyes as he mumbled to himself, ¡°Your son did not only be extremely handsome, he also became absolutely unmatched! Just who would dare to court me¡­?¡± ¡°Are you feeling full of grievances right now? Do you feel that nothing has gone right for you?¡± At this point, Li Taixuan began to chuckle again, as though he could see right through the frustrations in Li Luo¡¯s heart. His mom continued, ¡°Perhaps because of the nk pces within you?¡± At this point, Li Luo was shocked. By the time his nk pces had manifested, his parents had been missing for years. Just how could they have known of his situation? ¡°Little Luo, don¡¯t be surprised. We used some special methods to observe your body¡¯s situation long before your resonant pces manifested. In fact, you even have three resonant pces.¡± Tan Tan soothed him with a doting gaze in her eyes. Li Luo¡¯s jaw dropped. So it seems as though his parents knew of his unique situation a long time ago. Then in this case, did his parents¡¯ disappearance have to do with this? Just where were they now? Were they still doing well? Why had there been no news since then? ¡°Little Luo, I would first like to tell you that just because you were born with nk pces, it does not mean that you¡¯re crippled. In fact, based on what I feel, this is the strongest sort of constitution in this world. You don¡¯t have to feel dispirited at this, and instead rejoice!¡± Li Taixuan¡¯s words were too earth-shattering, leaving Li Luo speechless. ¡°Dad¡­ even if you want to console me, couldn¡¯t you do it in a less exaggerated way?¡± Li Luomented. The nk pces had already hampered his ability to cultivate; just what nonsense was he spouting about some mightiest constitution? Dad, just who are you trying to scam? Li Taixuan had a wry smile as he exined, ¡°Your natural nk pces cannot absorb or refine worldly natural energy. This has to do with the root of your power, and frankly¡­ we have no solution for this.¡± ¡°Since it¡¯s a nk pce, then just find some way to stuff something in!¡± added his mom, with a beaming smile. Li Luo was now wrinkling his brows in consternation. This was easy to say but impossible to do! Resonances were determined from birth. Wanting to change this after being born was unheard of. He had even experimented with this idea, but to no sess. ¡°In a normal situation, this would truly be undoable. However, ever since we discovered your situation, we have been working hard to find a solution.¡± ¡°If you do your best, you¡¯re bound to seed eventually! Indeed, the heavens did not disappoint us and we finally found it.¡± At this point, Li Luo could distinctly hear the thunderous palpitations of the heart, and even his head felt dizzy as blood rushed to his brain in excitement. ¡°We poured through numerous ancient records and finally found a solution. This art is known as the Acquired Resonance Godly Forging Art. It allows one to forge acquired resonances. At the same time, it allows one to integrate their blood essence and soul, along with a chosen resonance, into the forging process. The resulting acquired resonance can then be absorbed into your nk pce. ¡°Little Luo, your naturally-endowed nk pces may not necessarily be a bad thing. As natural resonances are too powerful and hard to control, we cannot pass the full art down to you. Instead, the Acquired Resonance Godly Forging Art is a much better fit for you, allowing you to forge your path as you see fit. ¡°If you want an elemental resonance, then you can work in that direction. Conversely, if you want a beast resonance, then go ahead and do just that! ¡°In future, your three nk pces will contain three carefully constructed resonances. At that point, you will be greatly superior to those with a natural resonance.¡± Li Luo¡¯s eyes shone bright like a diamond under light. The situation seemed salvageable. There were all sorts of resonances, and many people had no choice over the manifestation of their resonances. This was something that could not be changed. On the other hand, although he did not have any natural resonances, he had the benefit of flexibility and could essentially determine what sort of resonance he wanted! ¡°Little Luo, the acquired resonances produced by the Acquired Resonance Godly Forging Art also have another benefit,¡± Tan Tan added. Although these were just apparitions that were left behind, Li Luo snapped right to attention. Since they had said it was a good thing, then how could he dare to miss this? ¡°A standard natural resonance is usually only of one element. However, the forged acquired resonances from this art are not the same! They can have two attributes, one main and one supporting. ¡°These attributes can be fully customizable as you see fit. The power gained is as though giving a tiger wings! I¡¯ve only ever heard of certain natural treasures that have allowed for one¡¯s natural resonance to gain a second minor attribute when taken. However, this effect is miniscule and is just a small additiveyer of strength. This ispletely different from your acquired resonances, which are forged with two attributes that are supplementary. The difference is worlds apart! ¡°Oh my gosh, this is just too awesome! Too great!¡± Li Luo was jubntly celebrating as he pped and jumped for joy. He could easily understand the preciousness of this ability. If he chose to forge a fire resonance and then supplemented it with a thunder resonance, thebination of fire and thunder would bring about a multiplicative increase in strength! At this point, he couldn¡¯t help but be emotional. It looked as though his nk pces were truly more impressive than those natural resonances! ¡°Cough. Of course, nothing is ever so perfect. Although your acquired resonances have numerous benefitspared to natural resonances, there is one ring disadvantage: the forged acquired resonances will not exceed the fourth-grade,¡± Li Taixuan rified with a sigh. Li Luo was momentarily stunned by this revtion. A fourth-grade? This did seem slightly inferior. Compared to Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s ninth-grade Light Resonance, there was a difference of more than half the scale! With such a stark difference in grade, it was very possible that the benefits brought about by the dual elemental resonance would not be able to bridge this gap. However, his hesitation was short-lived. His current situation was already as bad as it could get, so even a fourth-grade resonance would be considered decent! Li Luo¡¯s mom spoke dotingly as she reminded him, ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t need to worry. Even though your acquired resonance grade might be low, you can also utilize acquired resonance arts to eventually improve them.¡± Li Luo was once again struck with yet another revtion! That was true indeed. This world contained many wondrous treasures and medicines that allowed one to increase the grade of their resonance. There was a particr profession known as resonance artificer. These people were able to refine and temper spiritual liquids and mysterious treasures that would improve one¡¯s resonance, and as a result, they were widely weed by all resonance cultivators. There were, however, certain constraints to using external means to improve one¡¯s resonance grade. There was usually a limit to the tempering process and, normally speaking, an improvement of a grade or two was the best possible result. In the case of acquired resonances, as the highest grade was fourth-grade, refinement would lead to a possible peak of fifth or sixth-grade. ¡°Is Little Luo worried about the physical limitations of refining one¡¯s resonances?¡± Li Taixuanughed as though he was reading Li Luo like an open book. ¡°Huh?¡± Seeing his dad¡¯s wide smile, Li Luo¡¯s eyes widened and he couldn¡¯t control himself. Could it be possible that this wasn¡¯t the end? This weakness could still be made whole? As Li Luo greedily anticipated the next round of news, his mother let out a slight sigh and interrupted his father with a disgruntled expression. ¡°You idiot, you¡¯ve just gone ahead and came clean with everything! Just what can I tell Little Luo now? Huh????¡± Li Taixuan¡¯s expression changed as he hastily consoled her, ¡°My dear, I was in the wrong, I was in the wrong! Please exin the rest to our son and I won¡¯t do it again! Please forgive me!¡± Upon seeing this familiar sight, Li Luo couldn¡¯t help but shake his head with a sigh. His dad¡¯s survival instincts were trulymendable. Was this something that had been beaten and ingrained into him? ¡°Brat, are youughing at your father right now?¡± That apparition seemed to know exactly how Li Luo would react. Snorting with dissatisfaction, he immediately began to speak in a serious tone. ¡°You are still young and have yet to understand. I am deeeefinitely not afraid of your mother. It¡¯s just that my love for her runs too deep! As I¡¯ve often lectured you, loving your significant other is the most important rule of this family. When you eventually get together with Qing¡¯e, you will also have to obey thisw! Do you understand?¡± When Li Luo heard those words, he couldn¡¯t help but let out a coldugh. Whenever his father said those words, if not for the fact that this exnation was often apanied by a sight of a reddened palm mark on his face, he would have almost believed in them! Yet when he mentioned Qing¡¯e, Li Luo could only sigh. Qing¡¯e had been intimately raised by his mom and hence their personalities were simr¡­ And he was often on the receiving end of a beating without him having a clue why¡­ How would his life be in the future?? With a heavy heart full of sadness, Li Luo raised his head and looked at his dad. At this moment, it seemed as though their gazes could transcend time. It was as though he could finally understand what his dad was thinking. For a brief moment, this father and son pair could feel a truly fateful connection with their hearts, one of intimate sorrow¡­ ¡°Li. Tai. Xuan. Can you stop standing there and making a fool of yourself? You¡¯re wasting my time!¡± Li Luo¡¯s mom enunciated with a single raised eyebrow, interrupting that brief moment of endearment between the pair. Without surprise, Li Taixuan nodded eagerly, demonstrating that he had heard those words clearly. At the same time, Tan Tan turned to look at Li Luo, her tone turning gentle. ¡°The refinement limit is only applicable to natural resonances. This is because these external treasures, no matter how pure and pristine they look, inevitably contain some impurities at their core. It is the umtion of these impurities that prevent a pce frompletely sealing in the resonance¡¯s might. As a result, it makes it difficult to continue refining the resonance past one or two grades. ¡°However, Little Luo, your nk pces don¡¯t have this limit. Natural resonances have specific affinities and thus external tempering materials will face some form of rejection from the resonant pces. Your nk pces have no affinities, meaning that they can ept anything. ¡°Thus, your resonances can continually be refined as they will not be rejected by your pces! Although it will get increasingly difficult to refine your acquired resonances, there is a chance for you to perfect them. ¡°Hence, it¡¯s as I¡¯ve said. Your nk pces could very possibly be the world¡¯s mightiest constitution ever! The perceived disadvantages are just a key to greater sess.¡± Li Luo could feel his heart roiling in waves. He had suffered greatly due to his nk pces in these past few years. When he had first manifested it, he was unwilling to believe it and even felt angry. His frustrations and furious cultivation still resulted in him remaining powerless. In the end, he could only ept reality as it was. However, now, with his parents¡¯ words, these nk pces were not useless. In fact, he might have the world¡¯s best constitution? This new information brought tears to Li Luo¡¯s eyes. ¡°Little Luo, for your first acquired resonance, we have already extracted some of your blood essence and a strand of your spirit soul and refined something for you. It is within this crystal ball. ¡°The Acquired Resonance Godly Forging Art is also within,¡± Tan Tan exined. Li Luo could feel a warm current surging through him as he immediately opened his clenched fists. ¡°Dad, Mom, thank you! Let¡¯s go, I¡¯m ready! Transmit this acquired resonance and the Acquired Resonance Godly Forging Art to me. Let me finally gain the opportunity to be reborn and soar above others!¡± At this point, Li Taixuan¡¯s expression became solemn and he became silent for a few breaths before speaking again. ¡°Thest thing I want to let you know is that absorbing this acquired resonance is not as easy as you might think it will be. ¡°As the acquired resonance is assimted, it will require massive amounts of blood essence. This is why we had to wait until you were seventeen before allowing you to retrieve this. Only at this age will you barely be able to withstand the loss of your blood essence. ¡°More importantly, what you will lose is not just blood essence, but also part of your longevity. Once this acquired resonance is absorbed, you will only be able to live for five more years¡­ unless you¡¯re able to break into the Duke Stage and transform your body. Otherwise, that will be the end. ¡°This has been something that your mom and I have disputed for a long time. The price to pay is too great, but you, my boy, have grown up. So we have decided toy the facts bare and let you make the choice yourself. Little Luo, will you choose to maintain the status quo and be a rich Young Lord? Or will you choose to assimte with the acquired resonance and cultivate against the heavens, struggling to live while embarking on a path fraught with danger? ¡°If you choose the first option, then all you have to do is store the crystal ball somewhere and the previous process will revert. If you choose thetter, then reach into the crystal ball. The choice is up to you, but regardless of your decision, the two of us will always support you.¡± After which, the two apparitions no longer spoke and merely stared at Li Luo with gazes full of concern and love. Li Luo, on the other hand, gradually eased himself into a sitting position, his eyes focused on the murky, ck crystal ball with uncertaintyced within. Throughout the exnation, he had realized something. Since the benefits were so wondrous, why were there no drawbacks? It seemed that this was left forst. Now his choices were simple. Did he want to be a weak, little monster? Or a mighty, short-lived beast? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 7: Indecisiveness Chapter 7: Indecisiveness 3Chapter 7: Indecisiveness The room was so silent that one could hear a pin drop. The ck crystal ball was emitting a faint radiance that reflected Li Luo¡¯s unsettled countenance; it was a strange sight. He was currently embroiled in an impossible choice. His parents¡¯ hard work had unearthed hope of a new dawn for his nk pces. However, he had never expected that this hope woulde with such a heavy cost. Li Luo would only have five years left to live. If in five years he could not enter the Duke Stage and undergo a life-changing metamorphosis, then he woulde to an unsatisfactory end. Five years to be a Duke? He was only seventeen now, and in five years he would be twenty-two¡­ [1] Even after reaching deep into his knowledge, he had never heard of such a young Duke in the history of the Xia Kingdom. Exactly what sort of culmination of talent, opportunities, and effort would allow one to construct such a miracle? Li Luo did not know¡­ and hence he could feel a huge sense of pressure envelop him. He even found it hard to breathe. The current him could continue to live a mediocre life. His parents had left behind House Lun, which still possessed a decent amount of businesses. Even if he could not control any of it and gave it all up, he could still live the life of a leisurely Young Lord, free from any worldly worries. The path of the acquired resonance would ce him on the edge, constantly struggling and making every second count. He would have to struggle and wholly strive, squeezing out everyst ounce of potential, all to fight against the heavens and to eke out a shred of vitality, all just to barely survive. Two wholly different paths¡ªjust what should he do? Li Luo closed his eyes, his heart engulfed in turmoil. His mind flitted through numerous scenes. He thought of the strange gazes he received from others at the academy. People often liked to say that a tiger had given birth to a dog. How could such illustrious parents give birth to a son with such poor abilities? He thought of the person with a pair of pure and beautiful golden pupils. Deep down, he did feel a sense of love and yearning towards Jiang Qing¡¯e, this he did not deny. However, Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s exceptionalism was attractive and she had a hoard of other fans. Such an elegant and unparalleleddy could only be matched by a man of heroic and extraordinary temperament. This was only human nature, and there was nothing shameful about it. When they were young, Li Luo and Jiang Qing¡¯e oftenpeted in all sorts of areas. However, due to all sorts of different reasons, Li Luo lost more than he won. As the two of them grew older, such interactions lessened. This was especially noticeable after their pces manifested. Li Luo knew that the gap between the two had only widened, transforming into an uncrossable chasm. Jiang Qing¡¯e had also begun to reduce their friendlypetitions from that point on. The encounters over the years looked as though they had smoothened Li Luo¡¯s edge over time, as he seemingly became much more mellow. Only he knew that deep down, his desire to win andpete had never diminished, only further stoked aze by his apparent weakness. The reason he was willing to challenge Jiang Qing¡¯e was not simply because he was coerced¡ªhe wanted to do so. In a normal situation, even catching up to Jiang Qing¡¯e, who had already left him in the dust in the cultivation race, was as impossible as surmounting the heavens. However, there was a brief sense of hope now. Was he going to give up on this hope? His real answer was that this was impossible! Li Luo eyes shed open, and a trace of sharpness could be seen in his gaze. He stared at the apparitions of Li Taixuan and Tan Tan before saying, ¡°Dad, Mom, I have always had a wild heart. However, those who know of my condition wouldugh at me if they heard this, as if I don¡¯t understand my own situation¡­ I¡¯m not only interested in catching up to Sister Qing¡¯e, I want to surpass her! And not just her, I want to surpass the two of you!¡± A grin hung on his face, disying his pearly-white teeth. ¡°I dream that in the future, people will not recognize me for being Li Taixuan and Tan Tan¡¯s son. Instead, I want others to see you and know you as Li Luo¡¯s parents!¡± He chuckled. ¡°Dad, Mom, I am very thankful for this gift you have left for my seventeenth birthday. Rest assured, I will not let you down. All I have to do is reach the Duke Stage in five years. No biggie. I, Li Luo, ept this challenge!¡± As he made his final deration, his eyes lit up with resolve and he no longer hesitated, reaching out with his palm, lightly pressing them onto the ck crystall ball. Weng! The ck crystal ball responded brilliantly, and Li Luo could feel a piercing pain transmitting through his palms. It was as though countless needles were piercing into him. At the same time, the ck crystal ball began to shatter, and within its interior quietlyy two objects. One was a ck-colored jade slip. As expected, this ought to be the instructions to cultivate the Acquired Resonance Godly Forging Art. The other item was mysterious-looking. It looked like a liquid and yet seemed to be an illusory item made of flowing light. It was azure in color and seemed to be emitting minute rays of sacred light. Li Luo¡¯s gaze was affixed onto that illusory liquid object. He knew that this was something that would change his destiny¡­. His parents had spent blood, sweat, and tears to refine this acquired resonance. Additionally, by merely setting his eyes on this strange object, Li Luo could feel a sense ofpatibility with it from the depths of his soul. It was as though this was something that had always belonged to him. His parents clearly weren¡¯t lying when they said that this acquired resonance was crafted from his own blood essence and spirit soul. Thepatibility between man and resonance was instinctive. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Just as Li Luo waspletely enthralled by the mystical acquired resonance, aplicated sigh echoed from behind him. Li Luo raised his head and saw that his dad¡¯s apparition had begun to act again. The expression on its face was clearly filled withplications. ¡°Little Luo, it looks like you¡¯ve made your decision,¡± Li Taixuan unhurriedly said. ¡°As your dad, your choice does make me feel a little sad. However, from the perspective of a man, I feel relieved and proud of you. Your future path will undoubtedly be full of danger and peril. But as the son of Li Taixuan, how can these obstacles faze you?¡± His mom¡¯s eyes were also sshed with a tinge of wetness. It seems that when they had left these apparitions behind, they had already predicted this oue. Perhaps this feeling was also unbearable for her. As a mother, she found it hard to ept that her child would only have five more years of life. Yet she did not dissuade him, as she knew that this decision was for Li Luo to make. Furthermore, he had clearly made his decision, so she would do everything she could to support him and believe in him. ¡°Little Luo, since you have chosen your path, let Mom tell you exactly what sort of acquired resonance we have refined for you.¡± Hearing his mom¡¯s words, Li Luo perked up. ¡°Your dad and I experimented with this acquired resonance countless times before finding the mostpatible treasures to forge it. ¡°This is a 4th-grade water resonance supplemented with a light resonance.¡± Li Luo was a little shocked before he gave a bitter smile. ¡°Wait¡­ why a water resonance?¡± Amongst elemental resonances, there weren¡¯t elements that were better or worse than one another in general. However, there were differences when it came to practical uses. If one was interested in power and prating strength, fire, thunder, and metal were definitely the best-in-ss. Water resonances were usually more nurturing and defensive in nature; it was a more flexible sort of element. He had never imagined that his acquired resonance would be one that was more on the side of soft and yielding. ¡°Haha, Little Luo, you must surely be thinking that a water resonance is soft and weak, something that runs contrary to the strength you wish for in your heart. Don¡¯t underestimate the might of a water resonance. Although they might initially be more feeble in terms of sheer destructive ability, its affinity for vigorous, sustained attacks is unparalleled and will allow you to grind down any other element. If you are able to exhibit the strengths of the water resonance, it will not be any weaker than other elemental resonances. ¡°Furthermore your water resonance is not a normal one. It also has the power of a light resonance supporting it. If you are able to fully utilize the power of the two, the final result will definitely exceed your imagination! ¡°Of course, your parents did not just give you a waterlight resonance for no reason. There are two more important reasons for this. ¡°You will lose arge amount of your blood essence and arge portion of your life during your first absorption of a acquired resonance. It will inevitably bring about grievous injury to you. Water resonances are gentle, and this water resonance¡¯s power will nourish your injured body, allowing you to recover quickly.¡± It was as though Li Luo had been enlightened. So this was the reason why. In terms of recovery prowess, a waterlight resonance would definitely be top tier in terms of healing. ¡°Then what¡¯s the second reason?¡± Li Luo asked curiously within his heart. Not before long, his dad continued to exin. ¡°The second reason is that we hope you be an amazing resonance artificer, to supplement your future cultivation ¡°Do you remember the fundamental requirement to be a resonance artificer?¡± Li Luo paused momentarily. ¡°Being a resonance artificer requires one to either possess a water or light resonance.¡± When it came to cultivation, there were naturally numerous auxiliary professions that arose to support it. A resonance artificer was just one of many. They were able to refine and improve the grade of one¡¯s resonances with the usage of magical treasures. There were also alchemists; however, those required one to possess a wood or fire resonance. There were also resonant artifact crafters, those who could craft resonant artifacts used for battle. This required metal, fire, or earth resonances. resonance artificers and alchemists were simr in many ways. The key difference was that one improved the grade of their resonances, while the other directly increased resonant power. Water and light resonance cultivators had purifying powers, which was the key reason why they were ideal for bing resonance artificers. ¡°But why do I need to be a resonance artificer?¡± Li Luo was a little unconvinced. Just as he asked that question, Li Taixuan¡¯s voice once again continued his exnation. ¡°That is because you have a nk pce. You¡¯re able to undergo unlimited refinements of your resonance grades. If you be a resonance artificer, you will gain a deeper understanding of the process and your own pces, allowing you to strive for perfection. ¡°Additionally, other resonance artificers either only possess a water or light resonance. Your waterlight resonance power, on the other hand, contains two elements that can mutually support each other. This is unheard of. If you don¡¯t be a resonance artificer, it would be a waste of a heaven-bestowed talent. ¡°The spirit liquids and purifying lights you produce will clearly outss any made by any other resonance artificer.¡± Tan Tan then coyly covered her mouth andughed. ¡°Little Luo, this is a back-up n that your dad and I have left for you. If House Lun has been squandered to destitution by you, you¡¯ll at least have a set of skills that will allow you to survive.¡± Li Luo¡¯s jaw dropped at his parents¡¯ n. In the end, he could only shake his head. He was absolutely speechless. He could only say that his parents had nned for every contingency. Even the profession they had in mind for him had been picked to capitalize on his first acquired resonance¡¯s strength. ¡°However, Little Luo, do keep in mind that this first acquired resonance is just the initial step. Your dad and mom were able to help you refine it with your blood essence and spirit soul. The processes of creating your second and third resonances will be increasinglyplicated. You will have only yourself to rely on to discover the route ahead. ¡°We rmend that you break into the Resonant Master Stage before searching for a way to craft your second acquired resonance. We have left some possible suggestions on the paths you can take for it as well within the jade. Our experiences have also been recorded for your reference. ¡°The Acquired Resonance Godly Forging Art within this jade will only allow you to craft a second acquired resonance. Theplete method to craft the third acquired resonance has been left in Xia City for you to retrieve when the time is right.¡± At this point, Li Luo noticed that the apparitions of his parents seemed to have dimmed a little. This led him to realize that this transmission was finallying to an end. ¡°Dad, Mom¡­¡± Li Luo couldn¡¯t help but to reach out and grab hold of the light apparitions, only for his hands to pass right through them. The two continued to look at him with gazes that were full of love and dotingpassion. ¡°Little Luo, it looks like things are about to end¡­ ¡°Your dad and mom believe that since you have chosen this road, you will definitely seed in breaking out of this five-year limit. ¡°We know that you worry for us, but rest assured¡ªbefore we meet you again, nothing will happen to us. ¡°Lastly, Little Luo, you must remember that no matter how worried you are, you cannot search for us without reaching the Duke Stage.¡± Finally, the apparitions began to flicker and eventually faded into thin air. The entire room was once again subsumed in darkness and silence. Li Luo continued to sit in front of the ck crystal ball, his eyes watery and red. In the end, no tears fell. He rubbed his eyes and made amitment. ¡°Dad, Mom¡­ Thank you for giving me everything. Please wait for me. When we meet again, I will definitely shock you and be your source of pride.¡± He graduallyposed himself, soothing the turmoil within. After which, he reached out towards the ck piece of jade and stashed it away before his eyesnded upon the azure and sacred light-emitting object. ¡°From today onwards¡­ I will be someone who has manifested a resonance!¡± A zing fervor could be seen within Li Luo¡¯s pupils, along with excitement that had finally reawakened. Without hesitation, he reached out towards the azure acquired resonance. Weng! At the moment of contact, he first felt an icy feeling wash through him, followed by an indescribable, acute pain exploding throughout his entire body. This acute pain intensified and built up, to the point that itpletely overwhelmed Li Luo¡¯s consciousness. His vision suddenly turned ck and his entire body gradually copsed onto the ground with a heavy thud. 1. QUIK MAFFS If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 8: A New Beginning Chapter 8: A New Beginning 2Chapter 8: A New Beginning Weng! In the depths of the darkness, Li Luo was shocked awake by the sounds of countless mming doors. He could faintly make out the shapes and colors of his familiar room as he struggled to open his heavy eyelids with all his might. ¡°Huh¡­ this is¡­ what?¡± In an awakened stupor, he began to mumble incoherently. To his terror, he suddenly noticed that his voice was much weaker than it was before. He once possessed the vibrance of spring, but now he seemed to be like an old man with his life candle faint enough to snuff out from a breeze. Li Luo struggled to pick himself up from the floor, but even after half a day of struggling, he realized that he didn¡¯t even have an ounce of strength within his limbs. In the end, all he could do was resign himself to fate and remain lying on the floor for another half a day. Only then did he recover enough strength to stand up and plop himself onto a seat beside him. ¡°Young Lord, are you well?¡± At this point, a female¡¯s voice could be heard. It seemed to be Cai Wei who was asking after him. Li Luo coughed and replied, ¡°I woke up a littlete. What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Qing¡¯e instructed me to inform you that House Lun¡¯s Council of Nine¡¯s Pavilion Masters are all here and for you to get ready,¡± Cai Wei¡¯s soft and pleasing voice continued. ¡°Alright.¡± Li Luo nced at a small crack by the window. The light that wasing through was especially resplendent. It was clear that he hadid around for the entire night. Hearing Li Luo¡¯s reply, Cai Wei felt that things were a little strange. Why did he sound so feeble? Regardless, she moved on and continued with her tasks. Li Luo then shifted his gaze to where he had ced the ck crystal ball the previous night. To his surprise, the ck crystal ball had vanished into thin air. There were just a few pieces of ashes remaining on the floor. It seemed that the ck crystal ball had engaged a sort of self-destruct function,pletely erasing all traces of its existence. Following which, he decided to take a nce at the mirror to have a look at himself. However, what he saw caused his expression to change uncontrobly. The man in the mirror had an baster-whiteplexion. This color would make one assume that all the blood within his body had been sucked away. What was most noticeable was that his once raven-ck hair had turned a mix of grey and white. It was clear that the loss of his blood essence had brought about massive changes to his physiology. Li Luo stared nkly at the white-haired youth in the mirror and he spat out his thoughts. ¡°It seems that¡­ I¡¯ve be even more handsome.¡± Finding joy even in the darkest times, Li Luo continued to muse, ¡°It seems that I¡¯ve lost more than half of the blood essence my body has stored up over the past seventeen years. All to absorb this acquired resonance.¡± The sudden loss of his blood essence had resulted in a situation where he felt exceptionally weak. Just the act of taking a few steps made him feel dizzy. On top of that, he could also feel an indescribable emptiness within him. This was not a matter of the heart, but rather the loss of his longevity. Li Luo pursed his lips. From this moment on, did he only have five years of life remaining? This would truly force one to feel the pressure of time ticking. He exhaled deeply and closed his eyes. It was time to understand his new body. He could perceive that where there were previously three nk pces, there was now an azure light being emitted from his first pce. It continuously emittedfortable and gentle rays of power that were gradually absorbed by this dried-up body of his. Li Luo¡¯s mind was solely fixated upon the azure-blue resonant pce. Although he had mentally prepared himself for this sight, actually witnessing it overwhelmed him with emotions. The acquired resonance assimtion was a great sess! On this day, his issue of a nk pce had been resolved! Furthermore, his previously unwanted and troublesome nk pces had turned into a wondrous opportunity for him. Opening his eyes, he could feel the worldly natural energy all around him, with two particr types of energy naturally attracted to him. They were water and light resonance power. In the future, he would be able to absorb these two energies for himself, turning them into his own resonant power. Till then, he would have to cultivate some energy cultivation arts. This was not a huge issue, because House Lun possessed a strong foundation and hence had stockpiled numerous types. As Li Luo pondered over his future, he gradually stood up, took a shower, and changed to a clean set of clothes. After changing, he reassessed himself in the mirror once again. ¡°Hmm, I might be looking a little haggard and with a head of greyish hair¡­ but damn do I look even more handsome and irresistible than before!¡± Li Luo muttered as he gave a radiant smile. ¡°Li Luo, your new life awaits you!¡± ¡­. Meanwhile, within an old manor in the City of Southwind, although it seemed a little deserted, today¡¯s atmosphere was rare and solemn. Numerous guards were patrolling the premises surrounded byyers uponyers of sentries. Within the main hall, the atmosphere was simrly somber. It felt hard to even breathe. The spacious hall was furnished with two opposing rows of seats. In the middle of those two rows was a pair of seats, one still empty, whilst Jiang Qing¡¯e upied the other. Her serene gaze was tinged with coldness. Her golden pupils indifferently swept across the hall, asionally flitting towards the row on her left. Within that row was a group of four, all exuding roiling waves of energy. The strongest aura came from the one sitting at the head of the row. He looked to be a youth of around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. His features were ordinary, nothing outstanding. His eyes were deep and his nose was long and narrow. On his right earlobe hung a sword-shaped earring that glowed with a faint, cold light. His expression at this moment was extremely warm and a smile was on his face, making it easy for people to have a good impression of him. However, Jiang Qing¡¯e was extremely familiar with the person in front of her. He was not some sort of benevolent individual. In fact, ever since she took control of House Lun, he was the one responsible for causing her all sorts of impediments. This was Li Taixuan and Tan Tan¡¯s disciple in name, an influential figure of House Lun, Pei Hao. The three sitting below him were three Pavilion Masters of the Council of Nine. Sitting right across their row were the other six Pavilion Masters of the Council of Nine. Out of the six of them, four supported Jiang Qing¡¯e, whereas thest two were neutral, supporting neither party. One nce at the way the rows were positioned made it abundantly clear just how turbulent the undercurrents of House Lun had be. Without the two supporting pirs, Li Taixuan and Tan Tan, the foundations were easily swayed by the elements and changes¡­ It had been silent for quite some time, apanied by the reverberating sounds of tea sipping around the hall. As though it was prearranged, the head of the left row, Pei Hao, suddenly ced his teacup on the table with nary an extra amount of force. The clear, crystalline ringing of the cup echoed around the hall, immediately causing the peaceful atmosphere of the room toe to a halt. Pei Hao raised his head and nced at Jiang Qing¡¯e whilst smiling. ¡°Dear Junior Sister, everyone has been waiting for almost half a day. Why has the Young Lord not arrived?¡± ¡°Even though he is the Young Lord, everyone knows that we are here to decide upon the matters of House Lun. I have to remind you that when the masters were around, everyone was punctual. This demonstrates hisck of regard for us.¡± As he spoke, the expressions of the Pavilion Masters of the Council of Nine were varied. Some were unchanging, some frowned slightly, while the rest murmured in a soft tone. Jiang Qing¡¯e apathetically replied, ¡°Why have I never seen you exhibit so much patience when the masters were around, then?¡± Pei Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed into a line as he smiled. ¡°Apprentice Sister, the future waits for no one, and we have to move forward.¡± Pausing, he stared to look at the rest of the hall before continuing, ¡°Since the Young Lord iste and has not shown himself, I rmend that we proceed and not waste any more time. In any case¡­¡± At this point, he had an exasperated smile on his face. ¡°¡­ we all understand his situation. In fact, it¡¯s probably for the better that he¡¯s not around. Why not let him rest peacefully?¡± Within the hall was a myriad of different expressions. Other than Jiang Qing¡¯e, no one else had spoken since the beginning. ¡°Since no one has any disagreements, let us begin.¡± Pei Hao continued to smile as he waved his hand, indicating that a decision had been made. Jiang Qing¡¯e had an icy countenance at this point, but just as she was about to speak, cacophonousughter rang from behind the beaded curtain in the room before the hall. ¡°Senior Pei Hao! It¡¯s been quite a few years since we¡¯vest met. You seem to have be somewhat¡­ tyrannical! I suppose if my parents knew of how outstanding you have be, they would definitely have appreciated you a little more.¡± As theughter rang out, the beaded curtain lifted and a slender and handsome youth strode in with a smirk on his face. When everyone in the main hall saw that face, their bodies couldn¡¯t help but to shake involuntarily as everyone reflexively stood up as though conditioned to do so. That face was exceptionally simr to the one they respected from the depths of their hearts. Even Pei Hao¡¯s silly smile had stiffened for a brief moment upon his entrance. His body seemed to have bent slightly, and at the moment he was about to stand, his heart calmed down and he saw him for who he was. The person in front of him was not one of the two masters¡­ This was just a nk-pce cripple! To regain order, he quickly raised his hand and crushed the teacup in front of him. A crisp and clear sound nketed the room when the entire teacup turned into dust. This seemed to have awakened the nine Pavilion Masters from their stupor, and they quicklyposed themselves. Following which, embarrassment could be seen scrawled all over their faces. The three Pavilion Masters on Pei Hao¡¯s side immediately took their seats. The remaining six Pavilion Masters hesitated for a brief moment before walking over to offer their respects to Li Luo. ¡°Greetings, Young Lord.¡± As they focused more closely on Li Luo, they noticed that despite him resembling his parents in style, he did not possess the same awe-inspiring momentum. In short, he was still too young and immature. Although that illusion of grandeur only happened for a split second, it seemed as though they could no longer remain as calm as before. What made them feel the most surprised was Li Luo¡¯s head of grey hair. Even Jiang Qing¡¯e was astounded by Li Luo¡¯s new hair color as she scrutizined him. This brat was clearly just fine yesterday¡­ Li Luo reciprocated the greetings to the six and then nced at the immovable Pei Hao, who was still rooted into his seat. ¡°Even though it¡¯s only been a few years since we¡¯ve met, it looks like you¡¯ve changed into apletely different person, Senior Pei Hao.¡± Everyone within the hall could understand the implied meaning behind Li Luo¡¯s words, causing the Pavilion Masters¡¯ gazes to light up. In the past, when Li Taixuan and Tan Tan were still around, Pei Hao would smile warmly and treat Li Luo gently, like a loving elder brother. He would often even spend time wracking his brains for appropriate gifts for Li Luo. Unfortunately, no one, not even Li Luo¡¯s parents, could have ever expected that this perennially respectful disciple would suddenly bare his fangs and reveal his true personality in the years they were gone. Pei Hao replied with that ever-smiling face of his as he observed Li Luo, ¡°It¡¯s been a while! Little Luo seems to have aged quite a bit,¡± Following which, he paused and then frowned seriously, ¡°Though why is it that you¡¯ve be so pale and your hair has turned white? It looks like at the rate that you¡¯re going, you barely have much longer to live.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 9: Council Meeting Chapter 9: Council Meeting 0Chapter 9: Council Meeting Pei Hao¡¯s voice resounded throughout the hall, causing the atmosphere to freeze immediately. Who would have expected that this once amiable and friendly man would spout such poisonous and vicious words? Even though Li Luo¡¯splexion was indeed pale and sickly, one didn¡¯t have to go so far as to curse that the person was doomed to die, no? The three Pavilion Masters beside Pei Hao clearly looked awkward in reaction to this chain of events. However, they did not speak and just continued to stare at the floor, as though the tiles were the most fascinating objects in the world. The other six Pavilion Masters, on the other hand, were clearly enraged. Peng! Anotherrge shock echoed throughout the room, surprising all. When they looked over, they saw that Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s jadelike palm had mmed against the table, an absolutely icy expression on her face. Yet before Jiang Qing¡¯e could speak, Pei Hao immediately patted his mouth andughed. ¡°Sorry, sorry! I spoke out of turn and identally shot my mouth off. I hope Little Luo won¡¯t fault me for my idental transgressions.¡± Li Luo red at Pei Hao as he sized him up before also breaking into a smile. Although he was ustomed to seeing the two-faced reactions of numerous people in the past few years, those were all outsiders. Pei Hao was someone who had been saved by his parents, and it was not an exaggeration to say that he had been given a new lease of life. Without Li Taixuan and Tan Tan, Pei Hao would probably have had his four limbs broken by that family he offended and thrown into the sewers before being left for dead. Where would he even have the opportunity to attain all that he had now? Everything that this Pei Hao had revealed demonstrated apleteck of gratitude for Li Luo¡¯s parents. On top of that, he even harbored a considerable grudge. This led Li Luo to sigh. His parents may have been wise and brilliant over the years, but even then, they were human and had made a mistake. ¡°No worries! This is just your true self leaking out. What is there to be offended about? To be frank, even if I were, what could I do about it? Hence, I won¡¯t say any superfluous words here.¡± Li Luo shook his head and took his seat in the middle of the two rows. Pei Hao¡¯s face was full of mirth as he casually spun a thumb ring around his finger. He didn¡¯t seem to have taken any offense or be enraged at Li Luo¡¯s mocking words. There was no need to. It was as Li Luo had said, even if he was offended, what could Li Luo do? The House Lun of today was no longer the house of the past. Without it¡¯s two immovable pirs, there was no one who Pei Hao feared. A hopeless Young Lord was only useful as a puppet. If not for Jiang Qing¡¯e, he would very possibly have taken control of the entire House Lun by now. ¡°Since the Young Lord is here, then I suppose the discussions can begin?¡± Pei Hao turned to look at Jiang Qing¡¯e. Jiang Qing¡¯e remained expressionless as she apathetically replied, ¡°Why don¡¯t you start? Why haven¡¯t you contributed even a single piece of skygold from the three pavilions under your control to the house treasuries this year?¡± Pei Hao lightly sighed and replied, ¡°The three pavilions under me are not doing well this year at all. Junior Sister, you might have already heard that all three pavilions have mysteriously burned down! I suspect it is the doings of those external powers that covet our House Lun¡¯s businesses. I tried my best to investigate the root of the issue, but s! My investigations turned up with absolutely no result! Hence, I have nothing to contribute this year!¡± Li Luo merely listened quietly. Although Pei Hao¡¯s exnation seemed unbelievable and evenical, he did not interrupt. He understood that his words held no weight within House Lun. The title of Young Lord was merely a superficial title in the eyes of everyone within the house. Thus, there was no need to speak out and court a rebuff. Jiang Qing¡¯e gave Pei Hao a deep and firm look before saying, ¡°Is this your reason, Pei Hao?¡± Pei Hao casually smirked yet again. ¡°Since Junior Sister wants a reason, then I will just give you a random one! Is there really a need to rify certain things? Perhaps now that things havee to this, then let me make it clear to Junior Sister and the Young Lord. The three pavilions under me will not be contributing a single piece of skygold this year. In fact, from today onwards, they will not be contributing anything ever again.¡± Pei Hao¡¯s light tonended heavily on everyone¡¯s ears. It was as though a peal of thunder had crashed through the room, absolutely shocking all. Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s body started to exude a cold air and the very atmosphere seemed to have congealed. Her icy tone chilled the hearts of everyone in the room. ¡°So it looks like you n to defect?¡± Pei Hao grinned before replying, ¡°I could hardly bear to leave House Lun¡­ It¡¯s just that there isn¡¯t an actual House Lord right now. Who knows what or where this skygold will end up if I pass it over? Perhaps when an appropriate House Lord is finally chosen, I reckon it won¡¯t be toote to submit my tithes.¡± A depressing atmosphere pervaded the hall. The other six Pavilion Masters had ugly looks on their faces. If this was truly the case, then House Lun would be the joke amongst the Four Great Houses. This was because Pei Hao had effectively already formed his own feudal army and demonstrated his intent to rebel and divide House Lun up. ¡°Pei Hao, do you n to destroy House Lun? Do you think you will benefit from its downfall?¡± a middle-aged man with a deep voice asked. His name was Lei Zhang, and he was a representative that supported Jiang Qing¡¯e. Pei Hao shook his head. ¡°As I previously said, I don¡¯t wish for House Lun¡¯s downfall.¡± Pausing for a few breaths, he looked over at the silent Li Luo before continuing, ¡°Actually, I want to follow the rules. It¡¯s not impossible for me to contribute my tithes honestly¡­ Of course, I hope that the Young Lord can promise me a single thing in exchange.¡± Li Luo snapped out of his state where he was merely observing with his senses and his heart before affixing his gaze at Pei Hao. Curiously, he asked, ¡°I would like to know what sort of condition Manager Pei Hao has in mind.¡± Pei Hao¡¯s eyes shifted from Li Luo to envelope Jiang Qing¡¯e, taking in the sights of her icy and exquisite demeanor and her slender figure. A trace of fiery greed passed through the depths of his pupils. ¡°I hope that the Young Lord will annul the engagement with Junior Sister.¡± After these words were spoken, the temperature within the room seemed to have dropped to absolute zero and everything froze. Li Luo was not furious, but rather seemed to have turned expressionless. He had often discussed the idea of breaking up the engagement with Jiang Qing¡¯e and had evene up with a promise for the future¡­ Yet this was something between himself and Jiang Qing¡¯e. The two of them were free to do whatever they wanted or say anything they wished between themselves¡­ It was a personal rtionship. On the other hand, Pei Hao hade up with such a ludicrous idea. Just who did he think he was? Bang! Just as Li Luo¡¯s heart was turning cold and about to explode forth, a sudden influx of energy exploded outwards within the main hall. This energy was resplendent and bright, its radiance sweeping across all, bathing the entire hall with light rays. Immediately after, Li Luo could indistinctly make out Jiang Qing¡¯e being wreathed in light and shooting outwards, leaving a wondrous afterimage behind. She headed directly towards where Pei Hao was sitting. This sudden attack also took Pei Hao by surprise, and so he could only stare. In the blink of an eye, his own body was also wreathed in golden light. The sword-shaped earring on his right ear quickly disattached and swiftly, like a storm, transformed into a golden longsword. Surging golden resonant power coated the longsword, increasing its sharpness. Additionally, an inordinate amount of colorful energy channelled through it, looking like countless rainbows. Dang! The collision of metal and gold shed, resulting in an explosive shockwave of energy. At the same time, all of the furniture within the hall was sted into pieces. The nine Pavilion Masters immediately acted and dissolved the remnant energy, trying to observe the aftermath. All they could see was two silhouettes locked in a confrontation with swords brandished. Jiang Qing¡¯e against Pei Hao. Jiang Qing¡¯e was clutching an epee, a sword dripping with resplendent light. The light was bright enough to dazzle the eyes, and if one were to stare at it for too long, they would undoubtedly feel piercing pain in their pupils! Who would have expected that this normally refined and pure goddess would be able to produce such shocking amounts of power in the heat of the moment! She possessed truly tyrannical light resonance power! On the opposite side of Jiang Qing¡¯e stood Pei Hao, who was wielding a golden longsword. His body was emitting waves of golden resonant power that seemed unusually fierce and even sharp. This was metal resonant power. When the two swords shed, resonant power exploded outwards, and even the floorboards were cracked to the point that patterns not unlike that of a turtle shell could be seen everywhere. Pei Hao, still unfazed, maintained a sweet smile. ¡°Ninth-grade Light Resonance. Its fame is well deserved. Junior Sister is just an early stage Earth Fiend, but your resonant power is already so domineering. It¡¯s clearly not inferior to myte stage Earth Fiend resonant power.¡± ¡°Your metal resonance seems to have already been raised to the seventh-grade. It looks like you have squandered quite a bit of the tithes meant for House Lun,¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e coolly replied. Pei Hao used to have a sixth-grade metal resonance, but during this particr sh, Jiang Qing¡¯e could faintly feel that her opponent¡¯s metal resonant power had be even fiercer. Raising a sixth-grade to a seventh-grade would require a significant amount of spirit liquids and purifying lights. Pei Hao did not reply and instead the two immediately burst out with even more resonant power, their swords savagely colliding for another blow. Dang! The energy generated from the sh blew both parties back a few steps. ¡°How presumptuous of you, Pei Hao!¡± At this point, Lei Zhang and a few Pavilion Masters appeared behind Jiang Qing¡¯e, their expressions a steely green as they chided. At the same time, the other three Pavilion Masters stood behind Pei Hao, their stances clear as they prepared themselves. The sounds of the battle could be heard from outside the hall. At the same time, chaos was everywhere outside as well. Two waves of horses and men had rushed in, prepared to confront each other. ¡°Junior Sister, are you nning to let the entire Xia Kingdom know of our internal strife?¡± Pei Hao gave a wry smile. Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s had an unchanging, cold expression on her face, her gaze emanating waves of killing intent. ¡°Pei Hao, if you don¡¯t wish to die, then swallow those words of yours back into your defiled tummy. No one can interfere in our affairs, you have no right to.¡± Pei Hao mused in silence for a moment as he frowned. ¡°Junior Sister, why are you acting this way? Isn¡¯t that engagement merely a burden for you? I know that you are very thankful towards our masters, but there is no need to be somitted towards Li Luo. He¡­ just isn¡¯t a match for you.¡± ¡°Cruel and unscrupulous dregs like you simply cannotprehend what gratitude is,¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e insipidly replied. Pei Hao shook his head as he stared at Li Luo. ¡°Li Luo, it¡¯s best you smarten up. Otherwise, I will let you know the meaning of getting into trouble for hoarding a treasure! House Lun is merely just a decoration to you. Junior Sister, on the other hand, is a talented genius and is something you do not deserve to have. Believe me, if you want to imprison her with the gratitude she owes your parents, then you will eventually bring about a catastrophe to yourself.¡± Li Luo calmly replied, unfazed by his maddened words, ¡°You¡¯re trying to say that I should let go of both House Lun and Sister Qing¡¯e?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re smart enough, then that is exactly what you ought to do.¡± Pei Hao nodded before he continuedpassionately, ¡°I am doing this for your own good. If you don¡¯t have any power, then you ought to curb your greed. This way, you might still have a way to be a rich and idle man.¡± Li Luo smiled and replied, ¡°Pei Hao, aren¡¯t you worried about what will happen to you when my parents eventually return?¡± Pei Hao¡¯s pupils shrank slightly and the expressions of the three Pavilion Masters behind him turned grave. In the end, Pei Hao shook his head. ¡°Li Luo, you should not hold on to such sad and naive hopes. Based on what I¡¯ve heard, I¡¯m afraid my masters will no longer be able to return.¡± As he looked at Li Luo, he gave a sympathetic sigh. ¡°Hence, your pir of support is gone. Are you any different from me when I was powerless? No! In fact, I doubt you could even match up to me at my worst¡­ Even at my worst, when I had no support and was poor and destitute, I still possessed some potential. ¡°You, on the other hand¡­. you¡­ have¡­ nothing!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 10: White Eyed Wolf Chapter 10: White Eyed Wolf 1Chapter 10: White Eyed Wolf Pei Hao¡¯s harsh words were just like a sharp de, cutting straight towards the heart. These words infuriated the Pavilion Masters who were siding with Jiang Qing¡¯e. At the same time, they couldn¡¯t help but to look over at Li Luo. What was most surprising was that he seemed to bepletely indifferent to those words. This led them to heave sighs of relief and at the same time taste a tinge of regret. This young lord may have been cursed with a nk pce, but his heart was unyielding and firm, somethingmendable considering his situation. Pei Hao also noticed that Li Luo was unfazed by his words, making him feel astonished. Perhaps this was not unexpected. Li Luo had changed over these past few years. Perhaps he had already epted the gravity of the situation. ¡°Are you done bbering?¡± Li Luo retorted calmly. Pei Hao returned his reply with a dull smile. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve been quite baffled by this series of events. My parents have clearlyvished you with their favor. Why are you acting as though you possess an immense grudge against them?¡± Li Luo asked. Pei Hao paused for a moment in thought and replied, ¡°My masters have indeed treated me well. Yet they have always known what I truly wanted: to be a full-fledged disciple. Not just a mere disciple in name. For this goal, Ibored for House Lun endlessly, and what did I get? They never so much as opened their mouths to ept me! Can you understand how many times I¡¯ve anticipated this reward, only to be disappointed?¡± Li Luoughed. ¡°Is this what it means when one says if you provide too much help in a time of need, the person bes reliant on you instead? In retrospect, what my parents did was right. With your ungrateful and vicious personality, it would be akin to inviting a blind and vicious wolf into our home. Imagine if you had be an actual legacy disciple¡­ Just what more would you have done? Giving you the position of an actual disciple would only have amplified your wild heart, making it even easier for you to take control of House Lun.¡± Pei Hao shook his head to disagree, unwilling to further quibble with Li Luo regarding that. ¡°It looks like you aren¡¯t interested in my proposition, then?¡± Li Luo shook his head. ¡°Stop wasting your effort. This marriage agreement is something between Sister Qing¡¯e and I. It will not change based on your threats.¡± Hearing his reply, Pei Hao sighed lightly, ¡°Li Luo, greed will only lead to your reckoning. This is no longer the past. You no longer have any capital here.¡± Li Luo¡¯s gaze was affixed on Pei Hao. Despite Li Luo having a much weaker aurapared to Pei Hao, his fervent gaze possessed something that led Pei Hao to feel mildly ufortable. ¡°I will redirect the same words back to you.¡± As he spoke, Li Luo¡¯s expression became dead-serious. Pei Hao naturallyughed. ¡°Li Luo, do you really believe that Junior Sister will always be there to protect you? How childish and naive. Since you don¡¯t agree with my suggestions, let¡¯s leave it at that. From now on, it¡¯s as I said. The three pavilions under me will no longer contribute a single tithe to the House. Simrly, anymandments made¡­ will not be implemented¡­ depending on my mood.¡± The expressions of the six remaining Pavilion Masters within the hall gradually turned frigid. Two of the six were still trying to stay neutral. However, if Pei Hao truly wanted to carve apart House Lun, their interests would also inevitably be affected. If this was the case, they would unfortunately only be able to obey Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s orders and suppress the other three pavilions and Pavilion Masters. If things were to escte to that point, House Lun¡¯s dirtyundry would indeed be aired to the public eye and all of the powers within the Xia Kingdom. ¡°What? You wish for me to show my hand?¡± Pei Hao could feel their cold gazes bearing upon him as he chuckled. Looking at Pei Hao¡¯s jubnt expression, Lei Zhang and his fellow Pavilion Masters held themselves back in fear of the consequences of aggravating this beast. What was true in Pei Hao¡¯s previous exchange with Li Luo was that his contributions to House Lun had not been minor. When House Lun was ascending through the ranks, he had exerted himself greatly, reaping the lives of numerous strong foes. Pei Hao had even be ate stage Earth Fiend. Other than Lei Zhang, who was a middle stage Earth Fiend, the rest were only early stage Earth Fiends. In this group, perhaps only the ninth-grade Light Resonance-wielding Jiang Qing¡¯e could be his match. Most importantly, Pei Hao wasn¡¯t just a single individual. He possessed a veritable army and three Pavilion Masters on his end as well. If all hell were to break loose, it would announce to the world House Lun¡¯s internal strife and the House¡¯s position within the Xia Kingdom would be even more untenable, to add insult to injury. ¡°Everyone, my aim here today is not to engage in meaningless gossip. What I wanted to do was find a solution that would allow House Lun to continue to stand tall within the Xia Kingdom. ¡°If Junior Sister is willing to annul the marriage, then I¡¯m willing to work together to bring House Lun towards a new era!¡± Pei Hao¡¯s gaze flitted around the group with his ever-present smile. ¡°Now that things havee to this, I can only me a certain Young Lord for being too greedy¡­ It¡¯s time to settle things.¡± At this point, he produced a medallion. On it was engraved the word ¡°Mo¡±. This immediately set off a chain of different expressions amongst the group when they realized what it was. ¡°Is this Elder Mo¡¯s medallion?¡± Lei Zhang quietly asked. In House Lun, other than the nine Pavilion Masters, there were also three respected ancestors holding high positions. They were the mightiest warriors of House Lun, excluding the two House Lords, and they were all Heavenly Dipper Generals. Normally, these ancestors would not interfere in the mundane matters of House Lun, only rising to the asion when dealing with enemies that brought about existential danger. This was the agreement that Li Taixuan had made with them. Specifically, Elder Mo was the strongest amongst the trio. Who would ever have imagined that the one who was most obligated to protect House Lun would instead pass his authority medallion to Pei Hao. This was a clear indication of his stance. ¡°When Master first invited the three ancestors to join, he said that they possessed the power of supervision. Whoever is capable of obtaining the support of two ancestors and four Pavilion Masters by next year¡¯s meeting will have the right to be the House Lord of House Lun.¡± Pei Hao grinned. ¡°Hence, you don¡¯t have to be concerned about me tearing House Lun apart. What I truly want is theplete whole.¡± The entire hall was shocked. No one had expected this turn of events, nor for Pei Hao to raise this possibility. Judging from the current developments, he did indeed have the possibility to seed. It was clear that he had long made preparations for the sake of today, taking effect immediately after the House Lords had disappeared. Pei Hao¡¯s gaze then turned onto the icy Jiang Qing¡¯e and then to Li Luo at the side. ¡°So treasure this remaining year¡¯s worth of time. You might no longer have any affiliation to House Lun after the next housemeet. At that point, you will truly have nothing!¡± After delivering his ultimatum, Pei Hao turned and strode away, the three Pavilion Masters in tow. With Pei Hao¡¯s departure, the frigid atmosphere previously found in the hall gradually warmed up. Yet the countenances of the ones remaining were tinged with sadness. Although they had made certain preparations for the housemeet, when push came to shove, it had still caused quite a headache. What wasmendable was Jiang Qing¡¯e being able to remain cool and collected the entire time. She immediately reassured the six Pavilion Masters and delegated some important matters before letting them go. After which, silence descended upon the hall again. Li Luo¡¯s eyes were fixated upon the floorboards until his view was filled by a pair of straight and slender jade-like legs. Only then did he snap back to reality and raise his head to look at the person in front of him. His gaze met Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s, quietly watching him with her alluring, golden pupils. ¡°Even though you seem to be calm on the outside, you must be seething on the inside, huh?¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e casually asked. Li Luo gave a bitter smile. ¡°How can I not be angry?¡± Pei Hao had treated him as though he was non-existent. Combined with the request to annul the marriage in front of the House, it was akin to being stomped in the face. ¡°However, your performance was admirable. You never lost your cool.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s dainty, red lips rose into a slight smile as she praised him. ¡°If only I was strong enough. I would have smashed him to a pulp on the spot and assisted my parents with some housekeeping matters¡­¡± Li Luo sighed. Staying calm? Wasn¡¯t this because he could do nothing else? At this point in time, Li Luo gained a greater appreciation for the importance of personal strength. The Young Lord without his parents was worth nothing at all. He did realize that what was most important now were his nk pces. Everyone thought that he was powerless and hence underestimated him. ¡°No one will ever have a smooth life. Exercising forbearance is a virtue,¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e exined. Li Luo nodded in agreement. ¡°After experiencing today¡¯s housemeet, I now understand just how much trouble House Lun is in. These two years must have been hard on you, Sister Qing¡¯e.¡± House Lun¡¯s ascent to the top had been too rapid and a solid foundation had not beenid, resulting in the situation seen today. The moment the founders disappeared, the tower they had built was no longer stable. If not for Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s two years of blood, sweat, and tears, perhaps the predators looking to tear the ce apart would not only just be Pei Hao. Jiang Qing¡¯e took a seat as she elegantly folded her alluring, white, and slender legs together. ¡°Don¡¯t take what Pei Hao said to heart. I will deal with him. All I need is a little bit of time.¡± After saying this, killing intent could be seen emanating from her pure-gold pupils. ¡°Since the two of us already had an agreement, then I will naturally carry it out. I will hand House Lun to you in oneplete piece. Thus, don¡¯t take to mind the problems faced by House Lun today. What you need to focus on is Southwind Academy¡¯s final examination happening next month. If you are able to enter the Astral Sage College, all these problems will naturally resolve themselves,¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e gently said. At this point, she paused and tilted her head slightly and smirked. ¡°Of course, if you feel that your chances aren¡¯t too good, just let me know. I can treat your agreement as something you said at the spur of the moment and won¡¯t hold it against you.¡± Li Luo blinked before extending his hand. ¡°Pass me your hand.¡± Slightly suspicious, she inspected the hand in front of her and paused for a moment. If it were some random stranger who had asked this of her, they would most definitely get a sword chopping towards them in return. Li Luo, on the other hand¡­ they did have a special rtionship after all. Hence, she expressionlessly extended her own dainty hand, cing it within Li Luo¡¯s palm. Li Luo tightly grasped her small hand, that delicate feeling causing one¡¯s heart to sway. Perhaps it was due to her light resonance that her skin was an exceptionally sparkling snow-white, like the most beautiful of jade, the downfall of a kingdom. However, Li Luo suppressed his urges to fondle her hand gently, instead circting a tiny amount of resonant power to be emitted from the palm of his hand. The previously calm Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s expression changed swiftly when she felt that weak amount of resonant powere forth. Grasping Li Luo¡¯s palm tightly with her slender fingers, she directed her consciousness towards Li Luo¡¯s body. It was then that she discovered that Li Luo¡¯s previously nk pce was now emanating an azure radiance! Jiang Qing¡¯e was a little shocked at Li Luo¡¯s smug look. ¡°This¡­ is a water resonance? You¡¯ve manifested a resonance?¡± Her mind in shock, she only released her grip gradually after a long while. ¡°Is this what the Masters left behind for you?¡± Li Luo nodded. Jiang Qing¡¯e exhaled lightly before speaking. ¡°This seems to be the best piece of news all day! Although your water resonance is not of a high grade, it seems to have an unmatched sort of purity to it. Perhaps this is because the Masters utilized treasures from the heavens and earth to craft it. Regardless, this is still an excellent beginning.¡± It was clear from Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s facial expression that her mood had improved. Even her slender eyebrows were no longer furrowed in thought. She even joked, ¡°Congrattions! Eh? It looks like you¡¯ve finally made it a tiny step closer towards annulling the marriage agreement!¡± But she was faced with a serious question now. ¡°Do you think his words about my parents were true?¡± Li Luo smiled helplessly. Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s long eyshes gently fluttered as she blinked. ¡°Although I don¡¯t know where he got his sources from, I personally feel that with how shortsighted he is, how could he possiblyprehend how mighty the Masters are? Furthermore, I believe that the two of them have only been restrained temporarily. They are definitely fine and free of harm.¡± Li Luo gradually nodded vigorously in agreement. ¡°I feel the same way too.¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e stood up and walked to the window. At this point, the sun¡¯s rays bathed her exquisite body with resplendence, each ray tracing her every movement, a truly soul-stirring sight. ¡°I will return to Xia City tomorrow. If you need me for anything, let Cai Wei know. She will remain in the Tianshu Province for a while, helping to tidy up House Lun¡¯s affairs¡± After settling a few more matters, Jiang Qing¡¯e turned to look at Li Luo. The sun had yet to set, and its light shrouded her perfect silhouette. Those golden pupils looked even more radiant with such a background, an eye-catching and unforgettable sight. ¡°And so, Li Luo¡­. I hope that the next time I see you, you¡¯ll already be part of the Astral Sage College,¡± Jiang Qing¡¯e, with that ever-beautiful smile on her face, quietly murmured to herself. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 11: Energy Cultivation Arts Chapter 11: Energy Cultivation Arts 0Chapter 11: Energy Cultivation Arts The next day, right at the gates of the old manor. Li Luo¡¯s gaze followed Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s departing carriage as it disappeared into the distance. Beside him stood Uncle Liu with his hands behind his back, and Cai Wei with her exceptionally developed body. ¡°Hu.¡± As Li Luo continued to stare at the carriage which had been swallowed up by the wilderness, he released a light exhale before turning to speak to Uncle Liu. ¡°Uncle Liu, please assist me with applying for a week¡¯s leave of absence from the academy. I wish to recuperate for a period of time.¡± As the absorption of the acquired resonance had drained him of too much of his blood essence, going back to the academy would only invite gossip and rumor-mongering. Now that he had a water resonance, the most pressing concern was to find an appropriate energy cultivation art. Only this would allow his body¡¯s resonant power to quickly increase. Southwind Academy might possess numerous cultivation arts, but there were countless restrictions and conditions to borrow them. It was iparably more convenient to tap upon his family¡¯s resources and private library. The only issue was the exam taking ce in a month¡¯s time. Even this simple act of taking a week off from school would undoubtedly invite spection from countless individuals. The only good thing was that at this point in time, Li Luo no longer cared about what others thought of him. ¡°Yes, Milord,¡± the honest Uncle Liu responded before proceeding to carry out his instruction. ¡°Elder Sister Cai Wei,¡± said Li Luo as he turned to face her. With her narrow and charming eyes, she gave a reserved smile. ¡°Please instruct me, Milord.¡± ¡°Please assist me with obtaining some spirit liquids and purifying lights, those of the fourth-grade.¡± Li Luo smiled. Her lush eyshes blinked at the request. These were treasures used to improve the grade of one¡¯s resonance. Wasn¡¯t Li Luo born with a nk pce? Just what was he trying to do? Although her heart was full of confusion, she nevertheless agreed. ¡°How many portions does the Young Lord require?¡± Li Luo pondered for a moment before replying, ¡°Why don¡¯t we start with fifty.¡± Although Cai Wei was a calm and rational adult, upon hearing of the request for fifty portions, she stared at Li Luo nkly. Had she heard incorrectly? ¡°Young Lord, did you say FIFTY portions of fourth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights?¡± Cai Wei couldn¡¯t help but ask him to rify. Li Luo saw her confused gaze and nodded attentively. Cai Wei¡¯s pearly-white teeth bit down upon her dainty, red lips in shock. Spirit liquids and purifying lights were exceptionally valuable and expensive, and fourth-grade ones were even more pricey! At current market prices, one portion would cost a thousand pieces of skygold. Fifty would be fifty thousand! House Lun¡¯s profits from across the entire scope of its businesses, when aggregated, was only about thirty thousand pieces of skygold! Furthermore, over these past few years, their profits had decreased as a result of the family¡¯s situation. Honestly, this amount of skygold spent was not a significant problem. House Lun was considered a behemoth with numerous family businesses. Fifty thousand skygold was not enough to give rise to hesitation from Cai Wei¡¯s perspective. It was just that this entire request to purchase fifty portions of fourth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights seemed weird and oundish. Spirit liquids and purifying lights¡¯ main usage were to temper one¡¯s natural resonances, to increase their grade. It wasmon knowledge that all spirit liquids and purifying lights possessed some form of impurities that would gradually corrupt one¡¯s resonant pce. Over a period of umtion, this would eventually seal one¡¯s resonant pce, and at that point, tempering it any further would be impossible, reaching its final peak. People who utilized these spirit liquids and purifying lights would not do so wantonly. They would control the frequency of this tempering, perhaps only once or twice a month. This would reduce the effect of the impurities on one¡¯s resonant pce and bring out the greatest tempering effect from these treasures. Thus, even if one wanted to buy spirit liquids and purifying lights, it would only ever be in small quantities. In spite of all these conditions, Li Luo hade out with a bang and asked for fifty. Just how many years could one use them for? [1] Cai Wei could notprehend just what Li Luo was trying to do¡­ this sounded insane. However, Li Luo was the Young Lord, and Jiang Qing¡¯e had left specific instructions for her to acquiesce to any of Li Luo¡¯s demands. Resigned, she nodded lightly in agreement. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Then I will have to trouble Elder Sister Cai Wei.¡± Li Luo gave a vibrant and warm smile before turning to enter the old manor. Cai Wei stared at his leaving figure before heaving a sigh. This Young Lord seemed a little reckless. Even after being part of yesterday¡¯s altercation, was he still unaware of the numerous internal and external dangers that surrounded House Lun? Even though he was a cripple with no ability to directly assist Qing¡¯e, he didn¡¯t have to cause trouble, did he? Just how long would it take for House Lun to recoup the losses from the Young Lord¡¯s wanton spending habits? At that point in time, was he going to request Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s assistance on top of that? House Lun¡¯s situation was already unstable and requiredrge amounts of skygold to begin with! Gradually, she massaged her temples to calm herself down. It looks like she would be ced in quite a few predicaments during her short stay at the Tianshu Province. Meanwhile¡­ Li Luo did not bother to think too much of the numerous dilemmas Cai Wei was grappling with internally. In fact, he was happy! He felt as free as a bird and full of hope for the future. He directly made his way to the old manor¡¯s library. The library was the repository for all of House Lun¡¯s acquired cultivation arts and resonance arts. Even though the majority of them had been moved to Xia City¡¯s headquarters, the ones remaining within the old manor were still numerous. And hence this was also the most important location in the entire old manor. The force guarding it was not to be underestimated, as numerous protectors could be seen in its vicinity. This was where the benefits of being the young lord could truly shine. Li Luo merely had to walk right in as was his right! The librarian was a little surprised to see Li Luoe in and was momentarily left in a daze. However, he quickly recovered and respectfully greeted him. ¡°Young Lord.¡± Li Luo nodded in response before instructing, ¡°Find every single energy cultivation art that is appropriate for a fourth-grade resonance and bring them to me.¡± Upon hearing hismand, the librarian was a little confused as well. When Li Luo visited the library in the past, he would only ever look for resonance arts. Energy cultivation arts werepletely ignored as he had a nk pce and they weren¡¯t of much use to him. Regardless, he would not dare to object or be concerned with the reason. Li Luo WAS the young lord. He was technically the one with the highest authority within the old manor. Hence, he immediately followed themand, swiftly beginning to search for the energy cultivation arts that Li Luo had requested. Li Luo, on the other hand, found himself a simple, quiet room to patiently wait in. Before long, the librarian rushed in with a pile of jade slips,pletely drenched in sweat. ¡°Young Lord, all of the energy cultivation arts suitable for a fourth-grade resonance can be found here. There are twenty-eight Entry Stage arts and six General-level arts.¡± Li Luo nodded in affirmation and signalled for him to leave. Following which, he began to carefully browse through them. Within the Xia Kingdom, energy cultivation arts could be divided into several grades. Their grading system was simr to the way stages of power were differentiated: Entry Stage, General Stage, Duke Stage, King Stage. Except for the Entry Stage, there were also minor differences where each cultivation art level was further split into high-grade, middle-grade, and low-grade. Entry Stage energy cultivation arts could allow one to cultivate from the Ten Seals Stage to the beginning of the Resonant Master Stage. However, if one wanted to truly enter the first Resonant Master Stage, the General Stage, then they would require the usage of a General Stage energy cultivation art and so forth. Entry Stage energy cultivation arts weremon like flies and rtively simr. Only General Stage energy cultivation arts and above were more scarce. Usually, only middle-tier powers possessed them. Duke Stage energy cultivation arts were even rarer. Only top-tier powers would possess these. On this note, Li Luo remembered that House Lun possessed twoplete versions of Duke Stage energy cultivation arts, left behind by both his parents. With regards to King Stage energy cultivation arts¡­ this was precious beyondparison. If one truly appeared in the open, it would most definitely incite the attention of all of the mightiest powers within the Xia Kingdom. There would undoubtedly be a sh of the titans in that scenario. In fact, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that the entire kingdom would descend into war just for it. Normally speaking, higher grade energy cultivation arts also tended to be more harsh on the cultivator¡¯s body. They had numerous sorts of requirements on the grade of the resonance. As Li Luo¡¯s waterlight resonance was only fourth-grade, he had only requested energy cultivation arts that he could utilize. As time went on, all of the jade slips before Li Luo were swiftly reviewed. He eventually narrowed his choices down to three energy cultivation arts. Nine Stages Throughput Art, low-grade General Stage. Azureflood Meditation Diagram, middle-grade General Stage. Spirit Transformation Art, middle-grade General Stage. These three energy cultivation arts were all at the General Stage. When cultivated to their peak, they would allow one to enter the General Stage. These three were of a decent grade, and although not the best, they were still nothing to be scoffed at. Most importantly, they were suitable for Li Luo¡¯s fourth-grade waterlight resonance. He would await the day that he tempered his resonance before looking for a more suitable energy cultivation art. This would not be a significant problem. After further deliberation, he eventually settled upon the Azureflood Meditation Diagram. This art specialized in allowing the cultivator¡¯s resonant power to be emitted in a continuous and robust wave, much like a raging sea. It seemed fitting for Li Luo¡¯s waterlight resonance. ¡°You¡¯re the one!¡± Li Luo stowed the jade slip away and excitedly got up to leave the small room. He then made his way to a secret chamber below the library, something which his parents had specifically constructed for cultivation. It was here where he would finally embark on the path of cultivation. 1. TLN: If my math checks out¡­ maybe 25 years? :face_with_tongue: If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 12: Cultivating Resonant Power Chapter 12: Cultivating Resonant Power 2Chapter 12: Cultivating Resonant Power Li Luo entered the lowest level of the library, where he encountered a massive door made of an extraordinary spiritual metal. Utilising a drop of his blood allowed him to open it. Whaty behind the door was a brightly lit cultivation chamber. This cultivation chamber was not as simple as it seemed. The purest of skygold was utilized as the main material for its construction. Skygold was a metal that was usually buried deep under the ground, created from the umtion of worldly natural energy congealing into a physical form. This was the reason why it was such a special and highly sought-after metal. Hence, skygold was not just a form ofmon currency, it could also naturally attract copious amounts of worldly natural energy to itself. A cultivation chamber built out of skygold would thus be a standard requirement for cultivators amongst mighty powers, greatly increasing the speed at which they could cultivate. ¡°This truly is extravagant.¡± Li Luo took slow steps as he entered the chamber, sighing in amazement at the sight around him. His parents had spent almost one hundred thousand pieces of skygold to construct this. Practicing his energy cultivation arts here would most definitely provide twice the results with half the effort. Till now, only Jiang Qing¡¯e and him were allowed to cultivate here, and for that matter, this was his very first time stepping within. This was truly a house made of gold. It has to be said that one got what they paid for. The skygold was truly not wasted, as merely standing within the room allowed Li Luo to sense the immense difference in density of worldly natural energypared to just outside. Sighing again at how lucky he was, Li Luo moved towards the center of the chamber. Within which were two stone tforms, each with their own mats. Clearly, this was where his parents sat when they cultivated here. Li Luo picked one of the mats at random and sat cross-legged with both hands grasping a jade slip, his eyes closed. He began to chant the incantation recorded from the Azureflood Meditation Diagram in his heart. At the same time, his breathing followed the pattern prescribed by the art, gradually inhaling and exhaling. Six exhales followed by three inhales. Nine shallow breaths followed by four deep ones¡­ Li Luo began to adjust his breathing patterns, causing the effects to fluctuate. In the beginning, he would often make mistakes unknowingly, but his amazing perception and talent gradually revealed themselves. He quickly managed to grasp the underlying principles behind the Azureflood Meditation Diagram and truly entered the Ten Seals Stage. As Li Luo sat on the mat, his eyes were closed tightly and his mind was fully focused. As time passed, it was as though he could hear the waves of the sea, ebbing and flowing. The name of the art, Azureflood, was the key to understanding the grand meaning of this art. Li Luo imagined himself sitting within a raging sea, allowing the mighty waves to crash around him. Little by little, he could feel the worldly natural energy all around him start to surge. Within that cacophony of energies, the water element energy was sensed most distinctly. There was also some light element energy that could be felt. These energies were guided by Li Luo¡¯s breathing exercises, gradually being absorbed by his body through his numerous pores. Water resonance power was gentle andforting, light resonance power felt iparably pure¡­ The two forms of energy began to happily roam around his body, and under their influence, Li Luo¡¯s previously withered body gradually regained some of his prior vitality. After circting through his body once, the energies eventually nestled into his azure-colored and radiantly shining pce, bing part of his resonant power. Li Luo felt intoxicated by the rapid growth of his resonant power, and this only contributed to his mad fervor to cultivate even harder. It was a hard-won opportunity that he would not squander. Time unknowingly passed and half a day went by in a blink. When Li Luo finally awoke from his cultivation frenzy, he could faintly feel a tingling, prickling sensation throughout his body. His body was trying to remind him that his cultivation for the day had toe to an end. Progressing energy cultivation arts through the process of absorbing worldly natural energy would inevitably burden the cultivator¡¯s body. It was said that the lower the grade, therger the burden on one¡¯s body. Once the body¡¯s limit was reached, cultivation would have to temporarily stop. Only after a period of rest would one be able to continue doing so again. Li Luo was precisely at this very point, his body currently at its limit. This sudden interruption led Li Luo to feel a little resigned as he wished to continue. s, he had no choice in the matter. Furthermore, the Azureflood Meditation Diagram was a General Stage art, and him persisting for such a long period of time was already something exceptional. One could clearly see the importance of a high-grade energy cultivation art from this result alone. If one was able to start cultivation with a high-grade art, the minor umtions over the days and months would allow one to travel much further down the path of cultivation than those that did not have one. It was a pity that such high-grade arts were not only rare and precious but also possessed stringent requirements. Just the restrictions on the resonant grade alone would eliminate the vast majority of individuals from cultivating them. Li Luo was also currently part of this majority. Duke resonance arts were avable to him¡­ but they all minimally required a seventh-grade resonance. The bright side was that this Azureflood Meditation Diagram was a temporary measure. When Li Luo inevitably upgraded his acquired resonance, he would then start to cultivate even higher grade energy cultivation arts. From this, it could be seen that the quicker he raised his resonance grade, the better it would be. Li Luo yawned and stretched out his arms. He could see a wave of azure resonant power emitting from his palms. This was what he had struggled for. Water resonance power¡­. At the same time, he also possessed light resonance power. Whenbined, the two would definitely create a result that was untold times purer than one who only possessed water resonance power. ¡°My resonant power should have reached the Third Seal Stage,¡± Li Luo mused to himself. The old Li Luo had immense difficulty absorbing energy into his nk pce. However, it was not as though he had absolutely no foundations so to speak. After this bout of cultivation, he had firmly stepped into the Third Seal Stage. At the current pace he was going at, Li Luo had confidence that he would reach the Fifth Seal Stage by the end of the week. Although a 4th-grade resonance was not high, Li Luo was the House Lun¡¯s Young Lord! He had a sea of cultivation resources to tap into! His rate of improvement would far surpass themon man, even some of the geniuses! ¡°Hmm, but this is not enough,¡± Li Luo mumbled. The final examination would happen next month, and his aim was to enter the Astral Sage College. The top college of the Xia Kingdom would have exacting standards for entry. Just how many exceptional youths were produced each year? In the end, most of them would be left screaming and struggling at the gates, remaining as part of the rabble. Hence, Li Luo wanted to quickly catch up, and his current pace was insufficient. ¡°It looks like in the end, the only solution is to temper my resonance. The fourth-grade is too low for my standards!¡± Li Luo steeled the resolve in his heart as he got up to leave. The moment he left the library, an attendant who had been waiting greeted him enthusiastically. ¡°Young Lord! Cai Wei wanted me to notify you that she has alreadypleted her task. All of the goods have been sent to your room.¡± At this point, he could only exim in joy in his heart. This Cai Wei was truly a capable assistant to Sister Qing¡¯e. Her ability to carry out tasks was truly unrivalled. He had originally expected it toe in tomorrow. Quickly dismissing the attendant, he made haste towards his room. Upon entering, he could see that his table was stacked high with exquisite wooden boxes. Upon opening one of them, one could find several tens of neatly arranged sparkling and translucent crystal bottles. Li Luo curiously picked up two of such crystal bottles. There was a blue liquid within one of them that would give people a prating feeling when looked at as it gently swayed within the bottle. A sound much akin to that of a flowing stream could be faintly hearding from it. The other crystal bottle was filled with an even more curious sight. It seemed to contain strands of flowing light, each one a thin thread. From afar, it even looked like a wisp of smoke. Despite one being a liquid and the other a ray of light, both gave off simr feelings of purity. ¡°These are spirit liquids and purifying lights? How fascinating.¡± Li Luo tutted in amazement. These could only be refined by cultivators with water and light resonances. They were somewhat simr to pills, both essential goods for any cultivator. Li Luo continued to turn the bottle to inspect every corner before he noticed abel on one of them. ¡°Blue Topaz Spirit Liquid, fourth-grade. Tempering strength: 58%¡± Blue Topaz Spirit Liquid was a somewhatmon fourth-grade spirit liquid found in the market. On the other hand, the supposed refinement strength was an indication of how much of the spirit liquid would actually be able to temper someone¡¯s resonance. The rest would be rejected by the pce. This was hence termed as tempering strength. Simply speaking, the purer the spirit liquids and purifying lights, the stronger the tempering strength, resulting in an even better result. The 58% tempering strength meant that upon usage, 42% would naturally be rejected. 58% may not seem very significant, but the truth was that this was more than sufficient. An average fourth-grade spirit liquid or purifying light in the market would have a tempering strength of 56% or so. Anything above that grade would be considered excellent quality, and the price would correspondingly be higher. It wasmon knowledge that there was a limit to how much one could temper their resonances. The higher the grade of the spirit liquids and purifying lights, the less impurities they would contain. Using a superior product would allow them to dy reaching the point where they could no longer utilize these spirit liquids and purifying lights, while getting a better effect for themselves. Li Luo had a smile on his face as he looked at his little ¡°cuties¡±. His natural nk pces seemed to have be essential at this point. Others would be concerned at not maximizing the efficacy of spirit liquids and purifying lights when using them, concerned with riddling their pces with impurities, elerating the point where they could no longer be tempered. These individuals would slowly use these tempering tools over time to mitigate any issues that arose. He, on the other hand¡­ he had absolutely no reservations at all. His natural nk pces would allow him to squander these spirit liquids and purifying lights with impunity. This was also a test. If he could absorb all fifty spirit liquids and purifying lights, just how far would his fourth-grade resonance be tempered? Just the thought alone caused his heart to beat even quicker. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 13: Li Luos Black Hole Chapter 13: Li Luo''s ck Hole 2Chapter 13: Li Luo¡¯s ck Hole With his excited emotions, Li Luo spent the whole night tinkering. When morning arrived, Li Luo rubbed his heavy eyelids whilst sitting in the attic. His gaze was staring expectantly at the wooden boxes before him. About half of the spirit liquids and purifying lights had already been consumed. He realized that he had neglected something important. Even though he had a nk pce and was unconcerned with the impurities, absorbing these treasures required time, and just chugging the whole lot in one go wouldn¡¯t work¡­ In fact, this was actually counterproductive as these spirit liquids and purifying lights would interfere with each other. Hence, he was only able to absorb twenty-seven portions. Of course, if anyone else heard of this matter, they would write Li Luo off as aplete madman. No one would ever engage in such debauchery! Twenty-seven spirit liquids and purifying lights in one night? Not only would it result in a massive heap of impurities, the individual¡¯s pce would likely be sealed off not too long after! Only people who were at the end of the road would deign to take such a wasteful and insane action. These people would seed or die trying. ¡°It seems like the results aren¡¯t bad¡­¡± Li Luo¡¯s regret over his ¡°mediocre results¡± also naturally dissipated. His gaze brightened when he realized that the glow emanating from his first pce had be purer than before. Even his flowing resonant power seemed to have transformed, bing even more vigorous and refined. At the rate he was going, Li Luo calcted that he would require another hundred portions of fourth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights to raise his waterlight resonance to the fifth-grade. Upgrading his fourth-grade resonance to the fifth-grade would incur an approximate total cost of two hundred thousand skygold¡­ This sum was honestly something that Li Luo could still bear. However¡­ the likely cost to temper his resonance again after that would be a little¡­ excessive. This was because fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights were multiple times more expensive. Additionally, the amount required to temper his resonance would also undoubtedly increase. By his calctions, raising his resonance from the fifth-grade to the sixth-grade would likely cost him about a million pieces of skygold? And then from the sixth to seventh¡­. that would be countless millions¡­? What about after that? The thought of the resources required for Li Luo¡¯s tempering caused him to feel a little stifled. Although he wasn¡¯t directly managing things, he knew that House Lun¡¯s yearly profits from managing every business was only a few million pieces of skygold. Even if he swallowed up every existing asset that belonged to the house, it would be extremely difficult to raise his resonance to the eighth-grade. This acquired resonance was basically a money-sucking ck hole! Unknowingly, Li Luo started massaging his temples¡­ Dad and Mom, the house you left behind isn¡¯t enough to support this wastrel¡­ ¡°Though¡­ if I¡¯m able to refine my own spirit liquids and purifying lights, then I would be able to save quite a bit.¡± At this very moment, Li Luo thought of his own waterlight resonance. From a certain point of view, this was also his strength. If he was able to develop his talent in it, it was very likely that the spirit liquids and purifying lights which he refined would be the best in the field. It looked like he would have to bring forward his ns to learn the arts of a resonance artificer. ¡°It looks like Mom and Dad considered this situation in great detail¡­ This is why they wanted me to be a resonance artificer. Otherwise, I might very well be the one who truly destroys House Lun from the inside¡­¡± Li Luo sighed once again. He truly had to respect his parents¡¯ foresight. Li Luo did not continue thinking too much about this issue. In any case, he should just barely have the means to cover the costs of bringing his resonance up to the sixth-grade¡­ He would take things as they came. Hence, he shook his head to clear his mind and retired to his bedroom for some well-deserved rest. For the following two days, he continued to cultivate feverishly day and night. In the day, he would practice his Azureflood Meditation Diagram till he had to stop. After which, he would spend two hours honing his resonance arts. To finish the day off, he would proceed to utilize spirit liquids and purifying lights to temper his resonance. His full fledged efforts bore fruit. His resonant power quickly arose to the Fourth Seal Stage and his fourth-grade waterlight resonance became increasingly purified. It was at this point that Li Luo felt that he was on top of the world. Just what could stop his ascent to the very top? As it turns out, nothing too oundish. Shortly after, things came to a screeching halt as he exhausted his store of spirit liquids and purifying lights¡­ bringing his great hopes to a temporary pause. ¡­¡­ Within the old manor, inside the administrative office. Cai Wei was garbed in a long robe as she sat in front of the table. Her slender body was entuated by her well-developed assets, which spilled forth from her chest, making her a remarkable sight. Currently, her beautiful, rounded face was filled with a frown as she examined a record before her. ¡°Manager Gu, don¡¯t you think the decrease in the profits from the Tianshu Province is a little severe?¡± Cai Wei shifted her gaze from the record to the manager in front of her. The middle-aged man addressed as Manager Gu bitterly smiled as he nodded. ¡°General Manager is right. House Lun originally possessed nine stores, eighteen mines, and countless pharmacies¡­ However, because of the instability within the house, the other three houses in the Tianshu Province have redoubled their efforts to swallow up our interests in the past year. The Song Family is thergest culprit. Out of the nine stores we own, two of them were suppressed by them. They swallowed these businesses up when we were unable to maintain them.¡± Cai Wei¡¯s gaze turned frosty after hearing this. House Lun had built its foundation within the City of Southwind before ascending with utmost speed to be one of the Xia Kingdom¡¯s Great Houses. Within the Tianshu Province, there were three otherrge families which House Lun had to contend with. When one looked at things from the perspective of the Xia Kingdom, these three families could never have hoped topare with House Lun. However, within the Tianshu Province alone, they were old powers with significant influence, deeply rooted and with solid foundations. When the two House Lords were around, House Lun was like the sun at its zenith. These three families were extremely shrewd and listened to every word from House Lun. Who would have expected that once the House Lords disappeared, they would immediately contest House Lun¡¯s interests and start to rock the boat? Cai Wei had once heard from Jiang Qing¡¯e that there was most likely an invisible hand behind the curtain guiding these three families. This was a supreme power that was constantly seeking to test House Lun¡¯s bottom line and the truth of their situation. The families in the Tianshu Province were known as the Song family, the Bei family, and the Difa family. The strongest amongst the three being the Song family. This was also the family that acted out the most during these past few years. They would utilize all sorts of means to suppress and to get a piece of House Lun¡¯s businesses. One had to also know that the Song family¡¯s head would turn up to offer New Year¡¯s greetings each year without fail in the past. This 180-degree change in personality even seemed like an orchestrated y. Cai Wei, on the other hand, was an experienced soul and would not harbor any naive thoughts. House Lun¡¯s existence had previously suppressed the interests of these three families. Now that the house was full of internal strife, having their feet stepped on was not without reason nor was unexpected. This was the price of doing business. Despite this, the situation was not the same as in the past; one had to treat the other party seriously as an enemy to prevent any further issues from arising. However, the current House Lun was unable to deliver too much assistance to save the fire raging within the Tianshu Province. Every location was under significant amounts of pressure, and with Pei Hao¡¯s existence being a constant timebomb¡­ this was truly adding fuel to the existing inferno. With this dilemma on hand, Cai Wei was engrossed in deep thought, trying to figure out the best solution. Eventually, she came to a decision. ¡°Temporarily shutter all the businesses that are unable to operate. There is no need to tangle with the opponents.¡± Knowing when to lie low was a necessity. Once the situation in House Lun stabilized, these families would be forced to spit out everyst bite they had taken. Hearing her decision, the few managers near her immediately acknowledged and proceeded to carry her instructions out. They too understood that the situation of House Lun within the Tianshu Province was not the most critical thing in the grand scheme of things. Knock, knock. At this point, someone knocked on the door to the office. Cai Wei instructed the knocker to enter, and when the door opened, a certain Li Luo strode right in. The managers immediately greeted him respectfully. Waving his hand to signal he wanted to speak to Cai Wei personally, the group of managers were ordered by Cai Wei to leave the room. Following which, her beautiful eyes affixed themselves on him. ¡°Young Lord, may I know if there are any problems?¡± Li Luo coughed lightly and smiled. ¡°Indeed. I seem to have run into a little problem which requires Elder Sister Cai Wei¡¯s assistance.¡± Cai Wei¡¯s captivating eyes and willowy eyebrows blinked as she felt that something just didn¡¯t seem right. Still, she asked, ¡°What sort of problem?¡± Li Luo, giving his most warm smile, replied without skipping a beat, ¡°Honestly it¡¯s nothing new. Do you remember the fifty sets of spirit liquids and purifying lights? Well, I¡¯ve sort of finished them all. Could I kindly trouble Elder Sister Cai Wei to assist me with procuring another¡­ hundred sets?¡± The expression on Cai Wei¡¯s white and smooth egg-shaped face froze up a little. Her beautiful pupils continued to focus on Li Luo as her chest gradually began to heave up and down. ¡°Another¡­ hundred sets? All fourth-grade?¡± Her two palms were currently clenched extremely tightly. Just how long had it been since she started managing the Tianshu Province¡¯s finances? Could it be that this was the day they were going to go bankrupt? Was she going to be the sinner of House Lun, the one responsible for crippling its very foundation? Finally, she could no longer hold back her rampaging emotions, immediately mming her first down angrily on the table before her, an expression full of fury. ¡°Li Luo! Are you trying to get me fired?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 14: A Furious Cai Wei Chapter 14: A Furious Cai Wei 2Chapter 14: A Furious Cai Wei Cai Wei¡¯s furious reaction scared the crap out of Li Luo, making him jump backwards in fright. Cautiously, he examined that round face,pletely flushed red with anger. Naturally, he felt a little embarrassed as he quickly replied, ¡°Why would you say such a thing, Elder Sister Cai Wei? Your exceptional abilities speak for themselves. Why would I want to get you fired?¡± Cai Wei continued to leer at Li Luo. It was a few good moments before she began to cool down. ¡°My sincerest apologies, Young Lord. I spoke out of turn, so please forgive me.¡± She then paused for a moment. ¡°However¡­ Young Lord, do you truly need another hundred portions of spirit liquids and purifying lights? This is no small matter. Furthermore, the Young Lord should also know that even though spirit liquids and purifying lights can temper one¡¯s resonance, they should not be used wantonly, or they will cause one¡¯s resonant pce to be sealed.¡± Cai Wei knew of Li Luo¡¯s predicament of a nk pce and its sensitive nature, hence she did not wish to directly speak about it, to prevent her from hurting his feelings. She continued to ponder over the situation, then her gaze suddenly turned sharp. ¡°Could it be that someone is secretly extorting the Young Lord? Are they trying to take advantage of your status to obtain copious amounts of spirit liquids and purifying lights?¡± Although every servant within the old manor had been carefully screened, there would inevitably be some who would develop some unfavorable intentions, considering how long his parents had been gone for. Spirit liquids and purifying lights were also precious goods that were often traded, hence this idea that Li Luo was being ckmailed didn¡¯t seem too oundish¡­ If this was the case, Cai Wei would definitely ensure hellfire fell upon that brave soul who dared to even try. Li Luo shook his head and seriously said, ¡°Elder Sister Cai Wei, there¡¯s no need to imagine things. It¡¯s just a fact that I require them for my own usage.¡± Cai Wei¡¯s willowy eyebrows were raised curiously. ¡°I¡¯d like to apologize for overstepping my bounds¡­ but may I kindly know what the Young Lord is doing with these spirit liquids and purifying lights? I¡¯m not trying to interrogate you Milord, but I am concerned that in your zeal to get stronger, you might have embarked on an incorrect path. If something did happen to you, I wouldn¡¯t be able to face Sister Qing¡¯e.¡± She knew that Li Luo¡¯s nk pce had brought him undue stress and that youths were prone to bull-headed decisions. Her only worry was that Li Luo had been tricked into some sort of snake-oil scam to break through his shackles. Li Luo paused and deliberated for a moment before giving his reply. ¡°I suppose there¡¯s no harm in letting Elder Sister Cai Wei know. My parents had left behind a secret art which allowed me to manifest a resonance of my own. Thus, the reason why I require the spirit liquids and purifying lights should be self-exnatory.¡± This was a fact that would eventuallye to light. People would definitely be curious as to what had happened. His parents leaving behind a secret method would truly be a great form of cover for the true reasons behind it. He would continue to need to purchase copious amounts of these tempering materials in the future, and these requests would have to run through Cai Wei anyways. It made more sense to quell her concerns immediately. Cai Wei was shocked. ¡°The two House Lords left behind a secret art?¡± This seemed unbelievable, so she remained partially unconvinced. However, as her eyes examined Li Luo, she noticed that he seemed absolutely calm. This didn¡¯t seem like a lie. Finally convinced, she nodded in agreement. ¡°Since this is the case, I will immediately proceed to carry out the Young Lord¡¯s instruction.¡± Cai Wei softly sighed. These hundred portions of spirit liquids and purifying lights would likely cost hundreds of thousands of skygold. Half of House Lun¡¯s reserves in the Tianshu Province would be exhausted. This would definitely throw a wrench in her ns to contain the three families¡¯ covetous actions. However, she knew what her priorities were. Being able to strengthen Li Luo¡¯s resonances would also be worth sacrificing all of the businesses within the Tianshu Province. Li Luo nced at Cai Wei¡¯s radiant and round face furrowed with a frown. Slightly embarrassed, he queried, ¡°Have I caused Elder Sister Cai Wei some trouble due to my requests being too expensive?¡± She raised her head to look at him. His sheepish face seemed a little youthful and inexperienced, but he truly had inherited his parents¡¯ good looks. Lightlyughing at his expression, her mood lightened up. ¡°This issue is truly slightly thorny, but it¡¯s not a huge problem. Young Lord, you can rest assured that I will settle everything.¡± Li Luo sighed with relief in his heart. A hundred portions of these spirit liquids and purifying lights had already caused Cai Wei to be hard-pressed for a solution. He couldn¡¯t imagine what would happen in the future if that was the case. This was barely a drop in the bucket¡­ ¡°Is House Lun¡¯s headquarters unable to mobilize its capital?¡± Li Luo asked. Cai Wei lightly nodded before she regretfully said, ¡°Young Lord, you should be aware of House Lun¡¯s current situation. Adding to the fire was Pei Hao swallowing up three pavilions, which resulted in a third of our profits lost. This has only made matters worse.¡± From her words, Li Luo easily read between the lines and knew that the headquarters was unable to assist. Nodding his head, he had no words to say regarding this, so he shifted the topic to more pleasant things. After things were smoothed out, the two parties left. Cai Wei stared at his leaving shadow, slightly lost in thought. This Young Lord didn¡¯t have a bad personality, he treated others warmly and without arrogance. Coupled with his good looks and talent, it was only a matter of time before he would resemble his dad, one who managed to captivate the hearts of numerous nobledies throughout the entire Xia Kingdom. From a certain point of view, he truly was a good match for Jiang Qing¡¯e. The only w was his nk pce because ultimately in this world, everything relied on the basis of strength, whether it be wealth or influence. House Lun was no exception. When Li Taixuan and Tan Tan were around, they were one of the five Great Houses, especially radiant in the eyes of all. A titan that no one would dare to offend. The moment they disappeared, the radiance gradually dimmed, to the point that even the elements were able to shake them! Jiang Qing¡¯e, on the other hand, had immeasurable talent and a limitless future. She was even poised to break the Xia Kingdom¡¯s record for the youngest Duke Stage cultivator. Until now, Li Luo¡¯s marriage arrangement was actually just a burden that held her back. For perspective, Cai Wei and Jiang Qing¡¯e were actually bosom buddies who had met in the past, when Jiang Qing¡¯e did not possess the icy personality she was known for today. Hence, she was also concerned for Li Luo as a friend. Especially since it was possible that Li Luo would have crumbled from the pressure of being tied to someone so extraordinary whilst being shunned as a cripple. Yet after she heard Li Luo¡¯s words about the House Lords¡¯ secret art, she felt a little relieved. Perhaps this could very well satisfy the deficiency in his nk pce, allowing their gap to narrow at least a little. Still, the distance would remainrge nevertheless. As Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s friend and one who often followed her as they traversed the situations of Xia City, she was distinctly aware of where Jiang Qing¡¯e stood in terms of talent and ability. She was the absolute cream of the crop, one that even geniuses had to admire. Compared to that, the City of Southwind was merely just a drop in the ocean. Thinking of the uing challenges as a result, Cai Wei forcefully suppressed that roiling feeling in her heart and focused on the task ahead. Signalling for managers toe, she dispatched individuals to aplish the task assigned to her by Li Luo. Under her supervision, the task was aplished within half a day. Li Luo sighed in amazement at her ability to get things done as he stared at the two crates before him. Grabbing both of them, he immediately rushed back to his room. Over the remaining few days of leave, Li Luo spent all of his time cultivating and tempering his resonance. He had previously risen from the Third Seal to the Fourth Seal in two days. This was because he had already umted the foundation to do so in the past and hence took little time. Moving from the Fourth Seal to the Fifth Seal thus required more time and was a little slower. ¡°Slower¡± here was only in reference to the speed of the previous advancement. When there was one day left of his leave, Li Luo¡¯s resonant power finally made a leap and he fully entered the Fifth Seal Stage. In addition to his resonant power rising, his fourth-grade waterlight resonance also finally finished absorbing thest of the spirit liquids and purifying lights, advancing a grade to the fifth-grade. And as such, his leave came to an end. Dawn arrived and he slowly strode out of the old manor. Due to his increased resonant power, even his hair seemed to have gained a new luster, looking slightly silverish. Li Luo had a gleaming smile on his face as he faced the rising sun. This week had truly been life-changing for him, for he had left behind his previous bodily shackles andpletely metamorphosed. The youth with the nk pce had now transformed into someonepletely new. As he stood in the gateway, he stared at the direction in which Jiang Qing¡¯e had gone a week ago and exhaled deeply. ¡°Astral Sage College¡­ you will ept me!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 15: Return to Southwind Academy Chapter 15: Return to Southwind Academy 2Chapter 15: Return to Southwind Academy Only a week had passed since Li Luo hadst returned here. However, it felt like it had been a lifetime since hest stepped within. Taking in the sights, he stared at the numerous peopleing and going, the rowdy and cacophonousughter, and also relished in the youthful vigor everyone exuded. At the same time, he also noticed that within the groups of people were countless curious gazes focused upon him. Unsurprisingly, he started to hear gossip centered around him¡­ ¡°Isn¡¯t that Li Luo? He¡¯s finally back to school. About time.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with his hair? Did he dye it?¡± ¡°He took a week of leave of absence the month before the final examinations. To do so willingly¡­ perhaps the broken pot has now beenpletely shattered?¡± ¡°I heard that Li Luo is about to withdraw from the academy entirely¡­ Perhaps he won¡¯t even take part in the final examinations.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Taking in all the random rumors, Li Luo was left speechless. He had just disappeared for a week, but the rumors had only gotten more and more exaggerated! However, he was in no mood to entertain these clowns. He weaved his way past the crowd as he walked towards the Second School. Upon arriving at the entrance to the teaching fields, Li Luo¡¯s pace slowed down. This was because he had spotted the teacher of the Second School, Xu Shanyue! He was standing ahead of him, back straight and with the presence of a lofty mountain, severely staring at Li Luo. Li Luo sheepishly let out a smile, redoubling his pace towards him and letting out a friendly greeting. ¡°Teacher Xu.¡± Xu Shanyue continued to re at Li Luo, slight disappointment seen within his eyes. ¡°Li Luo, I know your nk pce has brought you a lot of stress. However, you should not be giving up at thisst juncture.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t given up¡± Li Luo hastily replied in his defence. ¡°Then why did you take a leave of absence during this critical point?¡± Xu Shanyue thundered. ¡°Everyone has been struggling to make use of every avable moment to cultivate and train. You, on the other hand, took a break to rest?¡± Li Luo felt a little helpless at his conclusion. Deep down, he also knew that Xu Shanyue had his best interest at heart and thus did not try to defend himself, just gaily nodding at his lecture. After a long tirade, Xu Shanyue eventually ended with a sigh. He gave Li Luo a deep look before turning away to walk into the teaching fields. Li Luo hurriedly followed as they entered the massive teaching fields. In the middle was a tform several tens of meters long surrounded by a circr ring of stone steps, each stacked up high. On top of the stone steps were numerous stone mats. Specifically, there was a particr youngdy sitting cross-legged on one of those mats. When Li Luo entered, he was subject to the scrutiny of everyone around, his very appearance provoking numerous whispers. The elusive Li Luo who had disappeared for a week had once again be the hot topic of Southwind Academy. Li Luo disregarded the rancorous gazes and maintained his calm, heading to his assigned stone mat. Beside him sat the massively built Zhao Kuo. Seeing him take a seat, Zhao Kuo asked in surprise, ¡°What happened to your hair?¡± Li Luo gave him a nce before casually replying, ¡°Just dyed it. Haven¡¯t you heard? This is called Granny Grey. Isn¡¯t it cool?¡± Zhao Kuo was left speechless and his veins bulged at the nonsensical reply, seemingly wanting to ask another question. At this point, Xu Shanyue¡¯s loud voice reverberated around the field. ¡°Good morning, students. The final examination ising soon and I hope everyone here will redouble their efforts during this final sprint. If you¡¯re able to attend an elite college, your future will be limitless. ¡°I would also like tomend students Zhao Kuo and Yuan Qiu. Both of them have reached the Sixth Seal Stage, and if you two continue striving hard, it¡¯s not impossible to reach the Seventh Seal.¡± Cheers and apuse echoed as the rest congratted the two. Li Luo, on the other hand, looked over with surprise. It seemed as though he was not the only one who was making improvements. After praising the two, Xu Shanyue continued with the day¡¯s lesson. Li Luo focused on the teachings with rapt attention. Today¡¯s lesson was regarding three resonance arts, two low-grade ones and one middle-grade one. He borated on all of the arts¡¯ mysteries patiently, guiding people on their intricacies. Resonance arts were also split into grades simr to energy cultivation arts. The only difference was that entry-level energy cultivation arts were all lumped into one grade, whilst resonance arts were still split into low, middle, and high grades. After these three grades, they followed the nomenture of General, Duke, and King Stage resonance arts. Of course, such high-level resonant arts were too far off for these individuals who were still at the Ten Seals Stage. Even if they learned them, it might very possibly be impossible to execute these arts with their limited resonant power. Li Luo had always possessed an exceptional affinity and talent towards the learning of resonance arts. If one were to purelypare their understanding and application of resonance arts, he was extremely confident that he would be unrivalled within the entire Southwind Academy, with few being his match. As a result, it was no surprise that he quickly understood and grasped the three resonance arts taught by Xu Shanyue. Two hourster, Xu Shanyue stopped their practice and made some arrangements before allowing them to rest. ¡°Alright, today¡¯s resonant art lesson wille to an end. The afternoon ss will be about resonant power, so continue to cultivate quietly.¡± Li Luo sat in his original seat, stretching like azy cat. Zhao Kuo quickly sidled over and smiled. ¡°Esteemed Brother Luo, would you kindly give me pointers regarding the three resonance arts taught today?¡± Zhao Kuo was very clear as to how gifted Li Luo was when it came to learning resonance arts. Whenever he encountered difficulties with learning these arts, he would inevitably make a beeline towards Li Luo for his assistance. Li Luo yfully scolded him. ¡°If I guide you, will you continue to refer to me as Esteemed Brother Luo from now on?¡± Zhao Kuo grinned mischievously, but the act of that caused him to feel pain from a bruise on his face, resulting in him clenching his teeth almost immediately after. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Li Luo asked. Zhao Kuo frowned as he replied, ¡°It¡¯s all because of that scumbag Bei Kun. I don¡¯t know why he went mad, but he¡¯s been constantly looking for trouble in the Second School. I couldn¡¯t take his provocations any longer and thus decided to spar against him.¡± At this point, he pointed at a bruise on his face before arrogantly replying, ¡°That brat didn¡¯t pull any punches, but he did not get away unscathed. That gigolo face of his was almost hammered into mush.¡± At this point, some other students from the Second School gathered around andined furiously. ¡°That Bei Kun is really vicious. We were just minding our own business when he came over to provoke us.¡± ¡°Thankfully, Zhao Kuo stepped in for us; otherwise, no one could have handled him.¡± Zhao Kuo waved his hand and waved awat the group who had suddenly appeared before saying to Li Luo in a low voice, ¡°Did you aggravate that mad man Bei Kun recently? It looks like he has been looking for you.¡± Upon hearing that, Li Luo suddenly remembered that before he took his leave of absence, that Bei Kun fellow had indeed asked Difa Qing to pass a message on to him, inviting him to a dinner at Tower Qingfeng. He had originally just shrugged that off as a joke¡­ could it be that that brat had spent an entire day waiting for him? Following which, he didn¡¯t turn up to school for a week¡­ It looked as though Bei Kun had decided toe over to vent his frustrations in the Second School¡­ Li Luo smiled and patted Zhao Kuo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Could be the case. Though it looks like you¡¯ve already helped me wallop him a couple of times.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind. If not for those bouts of sparring, I might not have managed to break into the Sixth Seal Stage.¡± Zhao Kuo loosened his shoulders at this point before continuing, ¡°Though now that you¡¯re back, I¡¯m sure he will be here to visit you during the afternoon resonant power ss.¡± Thinking about it, he proudly pped his chest before announcing, ¡°If pushes to shove, let me handle it. Perhaps a few more rounds of beating will allow me to break into the Seventh Seal Stage?¡± Li Luoughed. Zhao Kuo was direct and loyal, truly a reliable friend. He had hidden behind his friend for long enough¡ªthis just wasn¡¯t his personality or style. Hence, he replied mysteriously, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it when ites to that.¡± ¡­¡­ Noon, Resonant Power ss. To the north of Southwind Academy was a vast and dense forest. Whenever the wind blew past, a wave of lush greenery would also be uplifted by the drafts. And within the middle of the dense forest was a massive and imposing tree. It was dark yellow in color and was over two hundred meters in height, the dense branches spread out like a made of wood. The tree branches were thick and sturdy and riddled with leaves. What was most interesting was that each leaf was almost two meters wide and long, as thick as a rule, almost like a mini tform of sorts. This tree was known as the Tree of Resonant Power. The Tree of Resonant Power was not a natural creation but one constructed from numerous rare treasures. This was truly a case of something being more than what meets the eye. Within the Tree of Resonant Power was an energy core. This energy core was able to absorb and store copious amounts of worldly natural energy. Therge leaves of the tree were to be used as cultivation dais, each allowing for one student to cultivate on. Owning a Tree of Resonant Power was a foundational requirement for any academy, their strength depending on the might of the academy. From a certain perspective, these tree leaves were simr to Li Luo¡¯s family¡¯s cultivation room. Of course, if one were topare efficacy, the skygold room within Li Luo¡¯s old manor would be significantly better. Though this was because Li Luo was fortunate and most students did not possess such a wondrous background. The Tree of Resonant Power¡¯s leaves were also split into three grades: Gold Leaves, Silver Leaves, and Bronze Leaves. If one were to look from afar, they would notice that 60% of the leaves were Bronze leaves, 30% were Silver Leaves, and only 10% were Gold Leaves. The Gold Leaves were all situated at the top of the tree and were rtively smaller in number. Obviously, being able to cultivate atop a Gold Leaf would inevitably be more advantageouspared to a lesser grade. However, the Gold Leaves were mostly monopolized by the students of the First School. This was inevitable as the students were stronger, and the face of the academy. Hence, when it came to the Second School, there were only 10 Gold Leaves up for grabs, with the Third School and the Fourth School having no chance to even contest for this precious resource. These Gold Leaves were truly in demand. The Tree of Resonant Power was only open for cultivation for half a day. Whenever the clock above the tree rang out, that would mean the start of the cultivation session. This was the most anticipated part of each day for every student. Hence, once the clock rang out, the hordes of students would rush into the dense forest excitedly like a human wave, jubnt looks on their faces. They would ascend the tree via the woodendder that snaked around the trunk like a python as quickly as they could. Li Luo followed the mass of people and ascended the tree as well. He stared awkwardly at the 10 Gold Leaves that belonged to the Second School. One used to be reserved for him, but that was back when he was the strongest within the school, bar Zhao Kuo. However, because of his nk pce, he had taken the initiative to give up his slot and thus he no longer had a ce. He also felt embarrassed to reim the seat he had given away¡­ ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s just use what I can,¡± Li Luo thought to himself as he walked towards a Silver Leaf. Just as Li Luo approached the Silver Leaf, a gaze full of mixed expressions from the peak of the treended upon him. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 16: Tree of Resonant Power Chapter 16: Tree of Resonant Power 2Chapter 16: Tree of Resonant Power The top of the Tree of Resonant Power was clustered with numerousrge and sturdy branches that were clumped together, forming a wooden tform. A gazeing from the top of the wooden tform had arced down, staring right at where Li Luo was sitting. ¡°This Li Luo disappeared for a week and seems to havee back to school.¡± Difa Qing had her arms around her waist, her close-fitting school uniform snugly wrapped around her figure. That bodybined with her cute, charming face and snow-white skin, it was no surprise she was the object of many youths¡¯ affection. She continued to stare at Li Luo¡¯s silhouette, lightly pouting her lips. ¡°Is he trying to avoid Bei Kun and hiding himself away?¡± ¡°It¡¯s such a pity. He¡¯s soooooo dreamy and handsome!¡± Beside her, a group of her fellow sisters sighed in regret as they ogled at him. ¡°Hehe, littless, I can still remember when Li Luo was still in the First School. You were his biggest fangirl!¡± another one of them mocked. The girl who had beenughed at had her face turn beet red, quickly retorting, ¡°Please! It¡¯s not like you girls weren¡¯t smitten by him as well!¡± The gaggle of girls continued tough, their gazes possessing a trace of pity. The Li Luo of the past was an untouchable and iparable existence within the First School. Not only was he handsome, but hisprehension abilities were top tier. To add the cherry on top, he was the scion of House Lun when it was in its heyday, a house with two dukes, a behemoth unto itself. Looks, talent, and a wonderful background. Just what sort of girl wouldn¡¯t fall for him? It was just a pity that with the turning of time, Li Luo¡¯s luster had gradually faded. First, his parents had disappeared, and House Lun took a huge blow as a result. Then he was ¡°blessed¡± with a nk pce, further knocking him off his pedestal. Thus, the once-influential figure of the First School had been relegated to the Second School. At this point, fangirling over him blindly was no longer as appropriate as before. Difa Qing listened to the chattering of her fellow friends before shaking her head in disgust. ¡°Just a group of superficial wenches.¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, Li Luo had just managed to sit atop a Silver Leaf when he heard amotion in the vicinity around him. Turning around to look, the dreaded Bei Kun was stomping over towards him, surrounded by a group of hisckeys. Bei Kun was built tall and strong with a fair face. The only thing that detracted from him was his overcast pupils, giving him a gloomy vibe. ¡°I thought you were nevering back to school, Li Luo.¡± Bei Kun stared at Li Luo with a smile that was not a smile. Li Luo batted him a look. He simply couldn¡¯t be bothered to answer. His nonchnt attitude infuriated Bei Kun. When House Lun was at its prime, he would often fawn over Li Luo and be answered with that very same attitude. He wouldn¡¯t have dared to do anything then, but what about now? Just who did Li Luo think he was now? ¡°I spent an entire day waiting for you at Tower Qingfeng. Pray tell, how should we settle this?¡± Bei Kun spoke with clenched teeth. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t me me if you¡¯re dumb. Please keep your stupidity to yourself. What sort of mentally deficient fool would ACTUALLY think that I would go to Tower Qingfeng just because they wanted me to?¡± Bei Kun¡¯s gloomy eyes seemed to have be even more despondent as he replied, ¡°The audacity of you. I will let you off if you apologize right now. Otherwise¡­¡± Li Luo waved his hand like shooing a fly. ¡°Scram.¡± The other students who were witnessing this altercation started tough. This Bei Kun could be considered a tyrant within Southwind Academy, often finding others to bully. It was a pity for him that Li Luo had not chosen to give in. Bei Kun red at Li Luo, immediately threatening, ¡°Such a hardass. Do you dare to spar with me to back up your words?¡± Li Luo shook his head. ¡°Uninterested.¡± This Bei Kun was just too dense. The him of the past didn¡¯t want to bother with Bei Kun, and nothing had changed since then. If he epted every provocation, wouldn¡¯t he be no different from Bei Kun? Bei Kun gave a cold smile. He did not continue speaking but signalled to his goons. It was as though they had rehearsed their part in a y, immediately announcing, ¡°Are all the people of the Second School such scaredy cats?¡± After which, even more taunts and jibes followed from the group. The people of the Second School who were nearby started to seethe with anger. Unfortunately, Bei Kun¡¯s savage reputation preceded him, so most of them did not dare to even let out a squeak. ¡°Li Luo, you wouldn¡¯t want your problem to implicate the entire Second School, would you?¡± Bei Kun asked ominously. Obviously, this blockhead was a little scheming, clearly trying to rile the emotions of the other students. These other students may not dare to take the issue up with Bei Kun directly, but they would definitely apply some pressure onto Li Luo to settle things. ¡°All of you shut up!¡± At this very point, a furious roar echoed as Zhao Kuo strode over. Angrily staring at Bei Kun, he challenged him. ¡°If you want to fight, I¡¯ll give you a fight!¡± ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± Bei Kun frowned. ¡°It looks like the beating I gave you thest time was insufficient,¡± Zhao Kuo retorted. Yet before he could finish his sentence, he was dragged away by Li Luo. ¡°Why are you messing around with dog poop? Stop degrading yourself,¡± Li Luo drawled. At this point, he scowled at Bei Kun and his group of friends before sighing. ¡°Help me take note of all those that are here. I will get someone to violently teach them a lesson in peaceful coexistence once I go back.¡± Although House Lun was still riddled with trouble, it was still one of the five Great Houses of the Xia Kingdom. The old manor had numerous protectors that weren¡¯t considered weak. Picking a few cultivators to assist him with minor troubles wouldn¡¯t be an issue. The moment the students heard his words, their jaws dropped. Bei Kun¡¯sckeys were also left astonished and bewildered. Could you not do this my brother? We are just kids ying around! Why would you escte matters and bring out the big guns!? This didn¡¯t seem very logical! The group faced each other nervously before taking a few steps back. Their taunts immediately died down as they knew that Li Luo indeed possessed the power to do so. He might have a nk pce, but he was still House Lun¡¯s Young Lord. Getting a few expert resonance cultivators to bring the beatdown would be as easy as breathing. Bei Kun was also shocked at the series of events. Composing himself, he started to scold, ¡°How shamless of you! To use such underhanded methods!¡± Li Luo frowned. ¡°If you aren¡¯t happy, then dispatch your Bei family¡¯s experts. Fight me!¡± Bei Kun¡¯s jaw dropped and he was left speechless. House Lun might be filled with internal turmoil, but a skinny camel was stillrger than a horse. Before the house actually fractured to pieces, the Bei family could only sneakily take a few bites. In terms of the experts from his family, he wasn¡¯t even sure if he could mobilize them! Even if he could, would they dare to take Li Luo on? He wouldn¡¯t be able to bear such a result. Thus, a sudden silence descended upon the field, the situation slightly chaotic¡­ ¡­ At the absolute peak of the Tree of Resonant Power was a treehouse. Within the treehouse could be seen several individuals quietly observing the students squabbling. ¡°Keke. This brat from House Lun is a little interesting.¡± An old man with a head of white hair, dressed entirely in ck and white, chuckled. This old man was the dean of Southwind Academy. He was known as Wei Sha, and he had an illustrious reputation within the Tianshu Province. ¡°Threatening to bring in his family¡¯s might to deal with childish arguments isn¡¯t interesting. How could the two house lords of House Lun have given birth to such a hoodlum?¡± another voice said. This came from a skinny male. Although he exuded a refined and cultured demeanor, his face contained an uninhibited expression of arrogance. This was the teacher of the First School, Lin Feng He was one of the teachers who had proposed for Li Luo to be kicked out of the First School and sent to the Second School. ¡°Teacher Lin Feng speaks a little too crudely. That Bei Kun clearly knows that Li Luo has a nk pce, yet he still goes to find trouble for him. Truly a person of poor character,¡± Xu Shanyue, who was standing beside them, retorted savagely. Lin Feng emotionlessly replied, ¡°Troubles between students should be settled between themselves. Why the need to escte the situation?¡± Still, he was uninterested in continuing to argue with Xu Shanyue over this small matter. He turned his gaze towards the dean beside him. ¡°More importantly, do you remember what I previously suggested? Do you agree with what I¡¯ve said?¡± Dean Wei turned and blinked at him. ¡°What suggestion?¡± Lin Feng seemed a little helpless before he answered, ¡°The final examination is about to arrive. Our First School does not have enough Golden Leaves, and we would like to request for another five Gold Leaves to be provided to our First School.¡± ¡°I disagree!¡± The one who raised the objection was Xu Shanyue. He furiously glowered at Lin Feng. Only the First and Second Schools had ess to Gold Leaves, and the Second School only had ten. If five were given, where else would theye from? Clearly, the Second School! This chap was truly overreaching his boundaries. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 17: Fighting for Gold Leaves Chapter 17: Fighting for Gold Leaves 3Chapter 17: Fighting for Gold Leaves An argument ensued atop the lofty and majestic Tree of Resonant Power. The two teachers of the First and Second Schools were butting heads over the distribution of Gold Leaves. ¡°Xu Shanyue, you need to understand that our First School has numerous outstanding students as a hotbed of talent. Their abilities far surpass those of the other schools, and if we were to provide better conditions, they would naturally develop even better results. They would also make better use of the resources and be able to leapfrog ahead,¡± Lin Feng said in a deep tone. Xu Shanyue coldly retorted, ¡°It might be true that the First School is exceptional, but that doesn¡¯t mean that my Second School is trash. Does that mean that they should not be allowed to enjoy the benefits of these Gold Leaves? Plus, the Tree of Resonant Power has fifty Gold Leaves. Your First School already monopolizes forty of them. How is that not enough?¡± Lin Feng frowned. ¡°The issue isn¡¯t whether it¡¯s enough or not. It¡¯s simply about who can make best use of the resources. The students of the First School are better able to take advantage of the Gold Leaves. I¡¯m not trying to target your Second School, but it¡¯s just the truth of the matter.¡± Xu Shanyue gave a cold smile. ¡°You are simply trying to monopolize all of Southwind Academy¡¯s resources, all to allow just a few more of your students to enter the Astral Sage College, all for the sake of your own ego and reputation! You¡¯re just trying to get yourself into the Astral Sage College the way I see it.¡± The truth was that the Astral Sage College was not just the aim of students. Even the numerous academies¡¯ teachers treated it as their holynd. All of their efforts were directed to their goals of teaching within the Astral Sage College. This would bring them great stature and an improvement in social status. Having such a goal wasn¡¯t a bad thing. However, Xu Shanyue felt that Lin Feng was being too utilitarian, only focusing on his own goals and benefits. Even the act of kicking Li Luo to the Second School wasn¡¯t necessary. Li Luo wasn¡¯t a bad student, he merely had a nk pce and wasn¡¯t even a hindrance. The only reason he had done so was to prove his might, to show the First School that he, who had just joined at that point, was not to be trifled with. As Lin Feng took in those scathing words, his expression changed for the worse. ¡°Xu Shanyue, don¡¯t be an irritating troublemaker.¡± The rest of the teachers of Southwind Academy tried to calm the two down at this point as they continued to trade verbal barbs to prevent the situation from worsening. Dean Wei Sha was also left with quite a headache. The Gold Leaves of the Tree of Resonant Power were limited to begin with, and every school wanted more. This was to be expected as it would provide more opportunities for their students to develop their potential. It also affected their rankings and possible promotions. Lin Feng had been pestering him for quite a while by now, and he had always chosen to buy more time. In the end, it seemed that a decision was in order today. Wei Sha stared at the numerous shadows below and then gave amand with his deep and resonant voice. ¡°The Second School¡¯s Gold Leaves cannot be given away without reason. The fact that the First School is more illustrious is not a good reason to deprive those of the Second School the opportunity to develop. ¡°If you wish topete for Gold Leaves, then leave it to the students to fight for it themselves. ¡°Let¡¯s do it this way. The First School and the Second School will both pick three students, none of them exceeding the Sixth Seal Stage. Both parties willpete against each other. If the First School wins, then the Second School will give up five Gold Leaves. If the Second School wins, the First School will give up ten Gold Leaves.¡± Immediately after speaking, Lin Feng and Xu Shanyue both stopped arguing, their brows furrowed in deep thought. ¡°Dean Wei, could you kindly exin why the First School would have to give up ten Gold Leaves if they lose?¡± Lin Feng asked in a dissatisfied tone. Wei Sha smiled. ¡°That is because this entire situation was raised by you. Furthermore, the First School is stronger and hence has to pay arger price. What else would give the Second School the incentive to challenge you?¡± Lin Feng remained unconvinced, but after thinking things through, he replied in the affirmative. Thispetition may have been restricted to the Sixth Seal Stage, but his First School did have the advantage here. Xu Shanyue was a little hesitant. Even though the First School would lose ten Gold Leaves, he understood that the First School was the shining star of Southwind Academy. Their students were also head and shoulders above the ones of his school. ¡°Dean Wei, our Second School only has two individuals who have reached the Sixth Seal Stage,¡± Xu Shanyue said helplessly. Lin Feng smiled. ¡°You can rest assured. The students of the First School won¡¯t give you a chance to reach that tiebreaker match.¡± Xu Shanyue¡¯s face turned ck and his gaze seethed with fury. The old dean sighed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry so much, Little Xu. If you lose, I willpensate Second School next year. This arrangement will onlyst for this month.¡± After hearing Dean Wei¡¯s exnation, Xu Shanyue paused to consider the situation, eventually begrudgingly nodding in agreement. It seemed that in the dean¡¯s heart, the students of First School did possess a slightly greater stature than those of the Second School. Xu Shanyue knew that he couldn¡¯t fault the dean for this. This was just human nature. If he didn¡¯t favor the First School, then what else would he do? Favor the Second School? ¡°I will go and make the necessary arrangements.¡± When Xu Shanyue finished speaking, he immediately vaulted down from atop the treehouse. Lin Feng¡¯s face was full of smiles as he also went to find his students. ¡­ Meanwhile, going back to the students¡­ Bei Kun led hisckeys away while cutting a sorry figure,pletely unreconciled with how things had turned out. What was worse was that Li Luo hadpletely disregarded him and his anger, opting to utilize unorthodox means to deal with him¡­ This had turned into a truly headache-inducing situation. Youths were hot-headed! Disagreements between them should be resolved with fists! Even if one was left with a bleeding head, they ought to clench their fists and just keep struggling! Who could be so shameless as to call their family thugs on a whim to settle these petty grievances? Completely shameless! Seeing the group of goons run off, the students of the Second School stared at Li Luo with strange expressions. They had never expected for him to bring out such a method to deal with the provocations. ¡°You¡­ This¡­ Don¡¯t you think that was a little shameless?¡± Zhao Kuo couldn¡¯t find the right words as he scratched his head, speaking in a low tone. Li Luozily gave him a look. ¡°If they wanted to bully me for having a nk pce, can I not do the same to them? An eye for an eye!¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s not what I mean¡­¡± Zhao Kuo wanted to retort but couldn¡¯t put his thoughts into words, only shaking his head. This young lord was truly a little unruly. As they spoke, Xu Shanyue appeared in front of the students of the Second School. He pped his hands, signalling for all of the students to gather. Following which, he quickly exined the situation. When the students heard his words, they were incensed! ¡°This First School has gone too far! They¡¯ve already taken forty Gold Leaves and they still aren¡¯t satisfied? Even going so far as to snatch ours?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no chance in this fight. Our Second School only has two who have reached the Sixth Seal Stage¡­¡± ¡°Hai! Why don¡¯t we give up¡­?¡± ¡°¡­¡± After a brief period of fury, the mood became quite pessimistic. They understood the gravity of the situation, and even if they did manage to scrounge up another Sixth Sealbatant, they would still be at a rtive disadvantage. Seeing the disappointed gazes of the Second School students, Xu Shanyue helplessly sighed before deciding. ¡°Zhao Kuo and Yuan Qiu, the two of you will be selected.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let you down, Teacher. I will definitely not bring shame to the Second School; I will let them know that the Second School isn¡¯t so easily challenged!¡± Zhao Kuo bellowed, demonstrating his intent to battle and his hotbloodedness. Yuan Qiu was a tall and willowy youngdy. Her expression was calm as she asked, ¡°Who¡¯s the third?¡± Xu Shanyue¡¯s eyes swept across the group of students. All who met his eyes immediately dodged and hid. No one had the confidence to stand upon the stage. In the end, he could only look at Li Luo. He might have a nk pce, but he was an expert in resonance arts. When it came to absolutebat strength, he was almost a match for Zhao Kuo and Yuan Qiu, making him a decent candidate. ¡°Alright, thest one will be Li Luo.¡± Xu Shanyue made his decision. ¡°Don¡¯t feel pressured, and losing doesn¡¯t matter. You will be the first one up, just do your best. Once you can¡¯t hold on, you can give up. This way, you should be able to attrite the opponent¡¯s resonant power, giving the others after you a better chance.¡± Being chosen didn¡¯t really mean much to Li Luo. Furthermore, the Second School only had so many students who could fight. Clearly, Xu Shanyue¡¯s intention was for him to be cannon fodder, to deplete the opponents¡¯ resonant power. Li Luo¡¯s gaze seemed to have be moreplicated. He had originally wanted to keep a low profile, but it looked like the heavens wouldn¡¯t permit it. In that case, it was truly time for the hero to showcase his exceptional hidden abilities! Old Xu, you clearly don¡¯t understand what sort of existence you¡¯ve picked for this role¡­ There could truly be no one more fitting for such a critical task¡­ Your bright ideas might lead to your face bing even more resplendent than the sun when he impresses everyone with his¡­ Pa! Xu Shanyue pped Li Luo on the shoulder, causing him to stumble. ¡°Why are you standing there in a daze? Are you scared out of your wits?¡± All of the cool, brooding hero momentum that he had gathered up for the stage¡­ had been ruined by that one p. Almost causing him to fall face first¡­ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 18: Revealing Talent Chapter 18: Revealing Talent 3Chapter 18: Revealing Talent The news of the First Schoolpeting against the Second School for their Gold Leaves spread. In the blink of an eye, the entire Southwind Academy had congregated amongst the upper levels of the Tree of Resonant Power, all to participate in the excitement. Southwind Academy had four schools. The First School was the most illustrious, the Second School could be seen as the reserves. When it came to the Third and Fourth Schools, saying that they existed to make up the numbers would be a slight exaggeration, but the truth was that they were of a lower standard. To those students, the Gold Leaves of the Tree of Resonant Power were something that they could only see but not touch. Just watching the First and Second Schools duking it would be good enough. Almost no one believed that the Second School could win. On the eastern side of the Tree of Resonant Power was a t area that consisted of numerous massive and sturdy branches coiled together. These tightly weaved branches formed a vast, wooden tform tens of meters long. It often served as an area for students to exchange pointers after cultivation and topete against each other. Right at this moment, the four sides were squeezed full of people eager to watch the oing fight. The First School and the Second School naturally found their respective ces on the east and west of the tform. The mood differed significantly on each. The students on the side of the First School were full of raucous smiles andughter. It was clear that they weren¡¯t really treating this battle as anything important. This was to be expected considering that there were limitations to the resonant power stage for thispetition. When it came to talent, Sixth Seal resonant masters could not even ce within the top ten. This meant that the true experts of First School would not even have a hand in this. Inparison to the First School, the atmosphere in the Second School was full of unease and anger. They were all from the same academy and had a good understanding of their standing within it. Even the thought of victory was something they did not believe in. Crucially, they were only hoping to not lose in a humiliating fashion¡­ ¡°This is meaningless. What¡¯s the point of such a battle?¡± Difa Qingzily stretched, her beautiful curves entuated by the school uniform. Even her fellow female schoolmates could only stare at her in envy, while some hot-blooded guys were boiling with emotion at this sight. The fact that Difa Qing was considered one of the golden flowers within Southwind Academy was not a title in jest. ¡°Well, this can definitely kill some time.¡± A gentle voice wafted over. Turning her head to look over, she saw anotherdy walking over. She had a head of long, ck hair, elegant features, and an icy, jade-likeplexion. This new entrant was known as Lu Qing¡¯er ¡°Elder Sister Qing¡¯er.¡± Difa Qing¡¯s eyes brightened up at this sight, immediately waving at her. Lu Qing¡¯er was even more famous than her and more importantly, she was someone who did not rely on appearances, but on her strength. She easily suppressed numerous geniuses within the First School. She was the poster child for First School with her looks and abilities. Many felt that Lu Qing¡¯er would have be a legend within Southwind Academy if not for the fact that she had been overshadowed by Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s radiance. Hence, if Difa Qing¡¯s number one idol was Jiang Qing¡¯e, Lu Qing¡¯er was second. These two goddesses were Southwind Academy¡¯s most exceptional beauties. Now that they were sitting together, they created a soul-stirring scene for all those who nced at them. Gradually, people started to gather around them. ¡°Doesn¡¯t Elder Sister Qing¡¯er deign to participate in such affairs normally?¡± Difa Qing asked curiously. With a slight smile, she replied, ¡°I¡¯m just here to have a casual look.¡± Her beautiful eyes were focused in the direction of the Second School before she continued, ¡°You mentioned that the Second School will dispatch three fighters?¡± Difa Qing replied, unperturbed, ¡°The Second School only has Zhao Kuo and Yuan Qiu who have reached the Sixth Seal Stage. Plus, they¡¯ve only just reached that point.¡± ¡°Who is the third one, then?¡± Lu Qing¡¯er asked. Difa Qing paused for a bit, unsure of how to reply. Instead, someone in the crowd spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s most likely going to be Li Luo. He may have a nk pce, but his resonance arts are the best. If one were to stretch it, he could barelypete against Fifth Seal Stage cultivators.¡± With Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s appearance, some of the most elite students of the First School who were previously uninterested in thepetition had muddled over. The one who spoke was a heroic-looking and tall youth. Difa Qing batted him an eye and ridiculed him. ¡°So it¡¯s you, Song Yunfeng. Seems like you¡¯ve decided to participate in the festivities. What sort of ulterior motives do you have?¡± Song Yunfeng was also exceptionally famous within Southwind Academy. In terms of strength, he was on par with Lu Qing¡¯er. Furthermore, he came from the Song Family, one of the threergest families in the Tianshu Province. Him liking Lu Qing¡¯er was not a secret, and he had never tried to hide it. Facing Difa Qing¡¯s inquisitive questions, he gave a warm smile and did not retort. Instead, his gaze fell upon Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s beautiful and elegant face. Even in the face of his passionate gaze, Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s expression was unchanging. She merely politely returned it with a greeting smile. Seeing Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s passive response, Difa Qing immediately steered the conversation back to where it was originally. ¡°If the Second School dispatches Li Luo, it¡¯s just courting humiliation. The three Sixth Seal cultivators our First School has picked are well renowned.¡± Song Yunfeng smiled and got straight to the point. ¡°Do you still think the Second School bears any hope of winning? They are just here to parade around.¡± ¡°You¡¯re probably right.¡± Difa Qingughed lightly. Lu Qing¡¯er, on the other hand, was looking towards the field, staring at Li Luo¡¯s silhouette. For some reason, she could feel that the Li Luo here today didn¡¯t seem the same as before. Suddenly, she interjected with a little smile. ¡°I feel that¡­ that may not be the case.¡± Once she spoke, Difa Qing, Song Yunfeng, and all the other students of the First School were a little taken aback. Song Yunfeng followed Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s gaze and also noticed Li Luo. Seeing her faintly smiling at Li Luo brought a sense of unease to his heart. ¡°Qing¡¯er, this is no longer the past,¡± Song Yunfeng pointed out with good intentions. Yet she did not reply, a nonmittal smile on her face. On the other hand, Song Yunfeng felt absolutely furious deep down upon seeing that smile, simrly hatefully ncing towards Li Luo with a cold expression on his face. This scumbag had already fallen into the dumps; why did his influence still linger on like some sort of undeparted spirit? Amidst the rising fervor of the audience, the three contestants from the Second School walked up. Unsurprisingly, they were Li Luo, Zhao Kuo, and Yuan Qiu. Three from the First School also made their way forward. One of them was the recently-met Bei Kun. The other two were also particrly famous individuals at the Sixth Seal Stage. ¡°So what do you n to do now, Li Luo? Will you just continue to spout threats?¡± Bei Kun stared daggers at Li Luo, a sarcastic grin hanging on his face. He had first brought people to find trouble for Li Luo, only to be repelled by Li Luo¡¯s shameless tactics. At least right now, Li Luo could no longer do so. This was a truepetition of might. If he dared to bring up the threats he had previously made, he would only bring scorn and humiliation upon himself. Even the academy would punish him in the spirit of fairness. Li Luo did not bother with him but instead waved to Zhao Kuo and Yuan Qiu. ¡°Well, I will head up first.¡± Zhao Kuo hurriedly said, ¡°Be careful! If you can¡¯t take it, just give up. It would be too great a loss if your handsome face were ruined.¡± Li Luo replied with a thumbs up. ¡°Brother has foresight!¡± Yuan Qiu could only lightly sigh, a listless expression on her face. It was clear that she did not have the confidence her fellow teammates had. Under the scrutiny of the crowd, Li Luo entered the stage before picking a metal staff from the weapons rack, dragging it along the floor. This action caused the staff to scratch against the tform, causing ear-grating and piercing sounds. On the other hand, the audience, seeing that Li Luo had taken the initiative to go up first, erupted into an uproar. ¡°The Second School intends for Li Luo to be the vanguard¡­¡± ¡°They want him to be cannon fodder.¡± ¡°Haha, this is interesting. Li Luo was kicked out of the First School and now he¡¯s going to fight them¡­ If he manages to win, that would make for an interesting sight!¡± ¡°What are you dreaming about¡­ He¡¯s a natural nk pce. Even if he has amazing resonance arts, how can he possibly beat someone at the Sixth Seal?¡± ¡°Haha, I¡¯m just joking. I¡¯m trying to liven up the atmosphere.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Li Luo¡¯s appearance had incited a lot of interest and discussion amongst the audience. He was also somewhat of a legend within Southwind Academy¡­ Most importantly, it was rumored that Jiang Qing¡¯e had returned to the City of Southwindst week, even picking him up from school. This very action incited both envy and massive hatred from everyone around. With this in mind, everyone was hoping that Li Luo would receive a walloping¡­ Bei Kun¡¯s arms were crossed, a yful look in his eye as he looked at Li Luo. Following which, he turned and spoke to the other two behind him. ¡°Toy with him a bit, Liu Yang.¡± Although he truly wanted to have a bout with Li Luo, he felt that this stage wasn¡¯t grand enough. Hence, he wanted to let the others build up the excitement. The youth known as Liu Yang was tall andrge. He felt a little dissatisfied at Bei Kun¡¯s words. The audience here wasrge and he wanted to properly showcase his talents. Instead, he was being dispatched to handle the cannon fodder¡­ truly a loss of face. Bei Kun, noticing his dissatisfaction, said dryly, ¡°If you take him out in a move or two, can¡¯t you just continue to take on the next opponent? If you¡¯re hardy enough, you might even be able to sweep all three of them.¡± ¡°True¡­¡± Liu Yang nodded. He simrly casually walked up the stage, picking up a metal spear along the way. ¡°Li Luo. Please have mercy on me,¡± he joked. Li Luo grasped his metal staff, his expression unchanging as he faced him. At this moment, at a point high above the stage, the old dean nodded. Xu Shanyue and Lin Feng saw the signal and both eximed, ¡°Begin!¡± Once the words resounded, Liu Yang and Li Luo shot towards each other. Whilst they approached each other, Liu Yang stared at that opposing shadow and couldn¡¯t help but to give arge guffaw. ¡°Your speed is a little¡­¡± Peng! Just as he was about to speak, Li Luo, who was in front of him, executed a quick footwork.His toes suddenly pushed off against the ground, sending his entire body soaring forth like an eagle. In the blink of an eye, a cloud of dust was created behind him. Liu Yang¡¯sughter could barely escape his mouth before Li Luo executed a quick maneuver, appearing directly in front of him. But it wasn¡¯t just Li Luo that appeared in front of him, there was a metal staff splitting the air, screaming towards him with utmost speed. Liu Yang had virtually no time to react, but through his own conditioned reflexes, managed to summon some resonant power to protect his chest. Li Luo¡¯s sudden increase in speed had frightened everyone. He did not have resonant power and limited strength as a result, but so long as Li Liu Yang circted his resonant power to defend against his move, he would be able to counter attack and make Li Luo pay a price for his actions. As Liu Yang was thinking of that, the metal staff, akin to a ck python, smashed downwards onto his chest. Peng! When that dull thud resonated, grievous pain flooded through Liu Yang¡¯s chest. Horror surged through him at this moment as the resonant power circting through his chest was smashed apart by Li Luo¡¯s blow! After which, he was sent flying, heavily crashing out of the stage, leaving behind a trail on the ground. The crowd turned silent as everyone attempted to register what had just happened. Immediately after, exhrated cheers could be heard from everyone! The students of the First School were nkly staring at the pain-wracked Liu Yang, who had been batted out of the stage like a pinball, all at aplete loss. Just what had happened? Why was the one sent flying not Li Luo? Some of them even doubted their eyes, looking towards the stage. Li Luo, on the other hand, was still in the same stance which he had struck Liu Yang in, gracefully looking at Liu Yang below. He seemed so cool at this moment that even his ashamed opponents had a look of idtry on their faces. ¡°What were you going to say? My speed is a little what?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 19: Li Luos Resonance Chapter 19: Li Luo''s Resonance 2Chapter 19: Li Luo¡¯s Resonance The wooden stage was surrounded by a sea of people. The atmosphere had suddenly died down into absolute silence. Everyone was shocked, eyes wide and mouths agape at Liu Yang, who had been sent flying. This ending had exceeded all expectations. The Sixth Seal Liu Yang had been swatted away like a fly by Li Luo? How could this be possible?! The silence onlysted for a few breaths before the entire crowd exploded once again to newfound excitement! ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°How did Liu Yang get beaten in a single blow?¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem right. Liu Yang is a Sixth Seal Stage cultivator. Even if he couldn¡¯t physically react in time, his resonant power should have protected him. How could Li Luo have broken through that?¡± ¡°This Liu Yang couldn¡¯t have fixed the match, could he?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think this is too exaggerated and fake-looking if he wanted to trick us?¡± In the First School¡¯s direction, Difa Qing¡¯s little, red mouth was also hanging wide open. A single question floated up to the top of her head before she frowned and spoke out. ¡°What is that fool Liu Yang doing? Isn¡¯t this too weak a showing?¡± Song Yunfeng was also deep in thought as he replied coolly, ¡°He must have underestimated his opponent. Thus, he did not even have the time to circte his resonant power.¡± ¡°How stupid of him.¡± Difa Qing shook her head. ¡°Well, I¡¯m afraid Li Luo won¡¯t be so lucky next time.¡± Lu Qing¡¯er continued to stare at the tall and slender figure wielding the metal staff on the stage. She seemed to be in a trance as she could vaguely remember a time within the First School where this man¡¯s heroic momentum had swept across her, making fun of her subpar resonance arts, yet slowly guiding and teaching her. ¡°Next time¡­¡± Lu Qing¡¯er murmured, ¡°I¡¯m afraid he will continue to win. In fact, he might very well sweep all of thepetitors by himself.¡± Once she spoke, numerous experts of the First School were left nkly staring at each other, wondering what sort of spell she had fallen under. In fact, some felt extremely indignant and jealous of Li Luo due to those words. ¡°It¡¯s impossible no matter how you see it. Why are you overestimating him? Are you interested in him?¡± Someone from the group piped up. When Song Yunfeng heard those words, he thundered out, ¡°Who dares spread these false words?¡± His gaze swept across the group and everyone shrunk back, none daring to challenge him. Following which, he turned to look at thepletely nonchnt Lu Qing¡¯er, indifferently saying, ¡°Qing¡¯er, he can¡¯t do it.¡± ¡­¡­ ¡°Li Luo! That was beautiful!¡± Whilst the First School was still in shock, Zhao Kuo was the very first one to scream enthusiastically. Even the Second School seemed to have cheered up a little as they celebrated. Whether or not it was Liu Yang underestimating Li Luo, none of it mattered. The Second School had won the first round. The surrounding uproar had caused Liu Yang¡¯s expression to turn white. He painfully scrambled to sit himself up before mouthing a few conciliatory words. ¡°It was my mistake and I didn¡¯t dodge his move.¡± But no one paid him any attention. ¡°Idiot.¡± Hearing the Second School¡¯s cheers, Bei Kun¡¯s expression became ugly to behold. He furiously scowled at the pale and crumpled heap known as Liu Yang on the floor before ordering the person beside him to act. ¡°It¡¯s your turn, Lu Tai. Be careful and don¡¯t mess around, we can¡¯t lose.¡± The one known as Lu Tai was a little scrawny, but he gave off a sense of shrewdness. He did not speak much but carefully scrutinized Li Luo before grabbing a sword and entering the stage. Meanwhile, above the stage, Xu Shanyue was all smiles as he spoke words of praise. ¡°Li Luo¡¯s resonance arts have been practiced to the point of perfection. It¡¯s a pity that he has that issue with his resonant pce. Otherwise, if his resonant power had reached the Fifth Seal Stage, he would easily be able to dispatch the majority of Sixth Seal opponents.¡± Lin Feng¡¯s expression was still calm as he replied, ¡°Unfortunately, that doesn¡¯t seem to be of much use. ¡°Let the second round begin!¡± It was clear that despite his indifferent expression, Liu Yang¡¯s massive defeat had displeased him. Thus, he could not be bothered to bicker with Xu Shanyue, so he directly started the next round. Once themand was made, Lu Tai immediately summoned his resonant power, and a fiery, red resonant power surged from him. A thin me coated him, radiating sweltering heat. This was Lu Tai¡¯s fifth-grade fire resonance. After learning from Liu Yang¡¯s mistake, Lu Tai would not underestimate his opponent again. Peng! His fire resonant power continued to rise in intensity as he wielded his longsword. Without a moment of hesitation, he swiftly dashed forward, his sword wreathed with a wave of flickering crimson-red energy, like a de made out of me. Shua! Shua! Countless red sword shadows shed directly towards Li Luo. ¡°No matter what sort of aberrant you are, Li Luo, my Sixth Seal resonant power will absolutely suppress you! Your defeat is certain!¡± Lu Tai gloated loudly. Li Luo¡¯s application of resonance arts was spectacr, and this was not a secret. However, even the most amazing of resonance arts was no different from a house of cards if it was not controlled by a strong resonant power. It looked impressive but would fall apart with a gentle touch. The sweltering sword winds arced over whilst Li Luo continued to tightly wield his weapon, immediately retreating nimbly, attempting to dodge as many of the blows as possible. ¡°Do you think you can dodge them all?¡± Lu Tai gave a cold smile as he flicked his wrist. The crimson light around him surged in intensity and then numerous ming sword shadows materialized and began falling upon Li Luo¡¯s vicinity. It was like a firestorm descending, a splendidbination of beauty and danger. This was a middle-grade resonance art known as Firestorm Sword, also Lu Tai¡¯s most proficient resonance art. As numerous ming sword lights shot towards Li Luo, he began to rotate his weapon in front of him, much like a windmill, forming a sort of absolutely impregnable defensive barrier against the attacks. ¡°Without resonant power, how do you think you can stop me?!¡± Lu Tai eximed when he saw Li Luo¡¯s move. Peng! Peng! Numerous ming sword lights had beenpletely deflected by the windmill barrier, but the heat could not be dissipatedpletely. The metal staff in Li Luo¡¯s hands gradually got hotter and hotter, but at this point, blue light seemed to have emerged from within the staff! Weng, weng! Vapor wafted upwards and obstructed Lu Tai¡¯s field of vision Shu! But at this very moment, the steam blocking his view was torn apart. All one could see was a sh and an azure light-coated metal staff piercing outwards, much like a lightning bolt, directly flying towards Lu Tai¡¯s forehead. The sudden attack caught Lu Tai off guard. Had his prized resonance art been blocked by Li Luo? That was impossible! His heart was filled with disbelief and shock, but his hands were not slow to react. Massive amounts of red resonant power zed from his longsword as he summoned all of his might to directly collide against that explosive metal staff. Dang! The sound of metal shing reverberated around the stage. What was most shocking was that under such a collision, Lu Tai¡¯s crimson-red resonant power seemed to have been massively suppressed, almostpletely winking out in an instant. Peng! The sword had been subject to an immense change of temperature from hot to cold, causing it to shatter, its shards flying in every direction. The azure light-coated rod paused right as it touched Lu Tai¡¯s forehead. Feeling a piercing pain where he was struck, Lu Tai¡¯s face turned pale. This entire sh hadsted as long as a piece of flint setting off a spark. By the time the audience had noticed, Li Luo¡¯s staff was already positioned right on Lu Tai¡¯s forehead. Li Luo had won again? Thest round was a surprise for the audience, and some might have even called it a fluke. This victory, on the other hand, was a clear demonstration of his might. Lu Tai had not underestimated the opponent and had brought out the full measure of his Sixth Seal strength. Yet the fact was that he had been beaten by Li Luo. What was happening!? Under the unbelieving gazes of the audience, the water vapor and smoke emitting from the staff eventually ceased. Li Luo¡¯s silhouette could be seen clearly in everyone¡¯s eyes Hiss! The final hiss of the water evaporating off the staff could be heard amidst the absolute calm amongst the audience, just before everyone started apuding and shrieking. On the side of the First School, Difa Qing and Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s gazes were fixated on the scene. Song Yunfeng, on the other hand, was so frustrated that he mmed his palm against the wooden branches, directly causing a few cracks. Meanwhile, above the stage, Xu Shanyue and Lin Feng had a trace of astonishment on both their faces. Even the old dean was squinting as he tried to take in the truth of what had happened. What they had seen was that Li Luo¡¯s body was faintly emitting blue resonant power, each pulse creating numerous waves, much like the sea. They could tell at a nce that this was water resonance power. The thing was that everyone knew that Li Luo possessed a nk pce. It was extremely difficult for him to cultivate resonant power. But what they clearly saw was water resonance power! Where did thise from? Did that mean that the current Li Luo was not a nk pce, but instead possessed a water resonance? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 20: Clean Sweep Chapter 20: Clean Sweep 3Chapter 20: Clean Sweep Azure-blue resonant power continued to emit from Li Luo¡¯s body, wafting into the skies. These few brief moments had demonstrated that he was far superior to Lu Tai, quickly bringing about his defeat. Everyone stared in shock at the scene before them, their hearts tumbling with massive unrest, the very sight before them leading them to tremble. ¡°He¡­ how did he suddenly get a water resonance out of nowhere?¡± Difa Qing asked softly. She stared at the tall and exceptionally handsome youth standing in the middle of the tform, victoriously holding onto his weapon. For a brief moment, she slipped into her memories and remembered the Li Luo of the past who had just entered Southwind Academy. At that point, he was the undefeated and influential champion of the academy, his time in the limelight even on par with Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s. However, with the manifestation of his nk pce, he had fallen from grace, eventually even being relegated to the Second School. The youth who now heroically stood in front of the audience with blue resonant power swirling from him seemed to look exactly how he did in the past, the two images in her mind ovepping, gradually bing more and more dazzling. Song Yunfeng¡¯s change in expression was most wondrous. He was absolutely fixated upon the Li Luo before him, as though he wanted to see through every aspect of him. There was no one else who dreaded seeing such a scene as much as Song Yunfeng did. He bore witness to the radiance and might of Li Luo at his prime and had no intentions of seeing Li Luo ascend again. Quietly, he tilted his head to see how Lu Qing¡¯er would react. She was absolutely starstruck and enthralled by the youth¡¯s blooming splendor. The very sight caused him to furiously clench his fist, a deep look in his eyes full of gloominess. Whilst her twopanions were feelingplete turmoil, Lu Qing¡¯er was on the other hand very calm, her crystal-clear gaze focusing on Li Luo. ¡°Could it be¡­¡± ¡°Southwind Academy is bing interesting.¡± ¡°Are you going toe back, Li Luo?¡± ¡°What is going on? How did Li Luo suddenly gain a water resonance?¡± Lin Feng uttered identally. He was absolutely bbergasted as he looked down from above the stage. ¡°Did he utilize some sort of corrupt forbidden art?¡± Xu Shanyue was equally shocked, but when he heard Lin Feng¡¯s rude statements, he retorted, ¡°What sort of crap are you spouting? Just because Li Luo had a nk pce, that doesn¡¯t necessarily mean that will always be the case.¡± Lin Feng sluggishly replied with a frown, ¡°That was not my intention. However, I¡¯ve always understood that nk pces were naturally endowed. How could one obtain a resonance after that?¡± Xu Shanyue coldly snorted. ¡°Obviously, we think it¡¯s unbelievable because we haven¡¯t experienced enough.¡± Lin Feng was about to rebut when the old dean spoke out. ¡°Acquired resonances that are not manifested at birth may be rare, but they are not impossible toe by. It is said in legends that there are certain natural treasures that possess such miraculous effects.¡± ¡°Li Luo¡¯s parents must have left behind something like that to allow him to manifest a water resonance.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no rush in discussing this matter. Once thepetition is over, we can ask him ourselves. We are an academy, we exist to guide and teach. Everything else is not our responsibility.¡± Hearing the old dean¡¯s words, Lin Feng was left absolutely speechless. He continued to stare at Li Luo, a glint within his eyes, his thoughts unknown. Under the stunned looks of the audience, Bei Kun walked up the stage with a spear and an ugly scowl. ¡°Li Luo, I never thought you would be hiding your strength so deeply. Are you trying to beat all three of us consecutively to prove yourself? I won¡¯t let things go your way,¡± Bei Kun said coldly. Li Luoughed. ¡°Your words sound like something only an extremely mentally deficient actor would say. Are you trying to put on a show for everyone?¡± Bei Kun¡¯s face turned beet-red at the insult before he furiously shouted back, ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you will continue tough!¡± He stepped outwards, and the resonant power within him started to surge out of him into the skies. A faint tiger roar could be heard and a sense of suppression could be felt by those who were in his presence. This was Bei Kun, owner of the Cruel Mountain-Splitting Tiger Resonance, a sixth-grade resonance. The creature itself lived up to its namesake of being a strong and violent fiend, and hence the resonance provided the user with matchless strength that could even split a mountain! Li Luo could faintly feel the baleful aura emitting from Bei Kun, and he instantly focused himself. Bei Kun was a whole level stronger than the previous two as he was supported by the sixth-grade Cruel Mountain-Splitting Tiger Resonance. Looking at things from a whole, Bei Kun would clearly be considered a peak stage Sixth Seal cultivator. Compared to him, Li Luo only possessed Fifth Seal resonant power, and his waterlight resonance was only fifth-grade. On paper, it looked as though he was at a disadvantage in every way. However, victory and defeat did not depend solely on these factors! Dong! Bei Kun roused his entire body and the resonance projection. Without hesitation, he shot out like a bullet, like a ferocious tiger protecting its territory. The spear in his hands possessed violent and vigorous energy as itnced towards Li Luo. Li Luo¡¯s metal staff was once again wreathed with blue resonant power which looked like endless waves circting around it, directly colliding with Bei Kun¡¯s blow. Dang! When the two metal weapons shed, shockwaves sted out from the point of impact, and Li Luo¡¯s silhouette could be seen shooting outwards like a cannonball. However, with his quick steps akin to a slippery eel, he was quickly able to regain a sense of bnce and managed to mitigate that ridiculously berserk blow. ¡°Hmph. Just Fifth Seal resonant power!¡± In that single sh, Bei Kun had been able to determine the difference in quality of resonant power. ¡°I thought you had encountered a reversal of fortunes, but it wasn¡¯t that great at all.¡± He coldly snorted. As he spoke, he continued to attack like a tiger pouncing on its prey. His spear was once again endowed with mighty strength as it pierced the air relentlessly, creating countless spear shadows that swooped towards Li Luo. It was clear he wanted to take advantage of Li Luo¡¯s momentary weakness and to deliver a vicious finishing blow to end it all. Facing Bei Kun¡¯s pursuit, Li Luo did not choose to retreat. He remained calm and stood his ground as the spear and rod exchanged countless strikes, letting out resonating sounds through the arena with every sh. The two were entangled closely together, their resonant power constantly fluctuating and creating a rather intense sight for all the viewers. However, as the struggle continued, Bei Kun¡¯s expression gradually became uglier and uglier. He was gradually discovering that the resonant power that surged forth from his opponent¡¯s metal staff was continuously getting stronger over time. Even the geniuses of the First School were unable to see what was happening. ¡°Li Luo is actually able to block Bei Kun¡¯s explosive disy of strength. That¡¯s strange¡­ he clearly only has Fifth Seal resonant power.¡± ¡°Why is Li Luo¡¯s water resonant power getting progressively stronger? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°That is a high-grade resonance art, the Nine Layered Jade Waves. It is extremely appropriate for water resonance users. It¡¯s a move that starts weak but grows stronger over time. The user¡¯s strength is like the waves of a sea, gradually umting energy over time. This coupled with the water resonance power being extremely enduring is a ridiculously strongbination. As the fight drags on, the stronger the user will be, unless absolute strength is used to break the movepletely! It allows one to grind any opponent down.¡± ¡°If Bei Kun is unable to break through this defense, his defeat is certain.¡± The geniuses of the First School had their faces turn grave at this exnation. Even amongst the First School, there were few students that were able to utilize high-grade resonance arts like the Nine Layered Jade Waves. Li Luo being able to effortlessly utilize this art demonstrated his sheer skill. ¡°Li Luo is clearly Southwind Academy¡¯s number one expert in terms of resonance arts,¡± said someone amongst the group, causing the rest to sigh. Li Luo did not possess significant amounts of resonant power in the past and so they never felt concerned. The fact now was that he had manifested his own resonance, and they could see for themselves what sort of thorny problems an opponent with abination of excellent resonance arts and the power to back it up could create. Dong! Just as they were speaking, Bei Kun bellowed with fury. He was aware that his situation was not good and that Li Luo clearly did not have strong resonant power. Yet it was like he was trapped in a whirlpool, gradually having his might siphoned away. Additionally, he wasn¡¯t able to exin why Li Luo¡¯s resonant power seemed to also possess a certain purity to it. Regardless, Bei Kun knew that the battle could not proceed this way. An ominous glint shed through his eyes, and with just both palms, he unexpectedly grasped the metal spear tightly. From that stance, shadows of tiger paws could be seen on his hands, resonant power explosively emanating outwards. ¡°High-grade resonance art! Piercing Fang!¡± Bei Kun took a single step forward with the spear in his hands, akin to a fearsome tiger leaping out of its den, stabbing outwards. This savage blow directly tore apart the countless waves of water resonance power, attempting to impale Li Luo. Li Luo stared at the sudden spear strike that truly resembled a prating fang, quickly summoning up all of his water resonance power in response. Resonant power like a massive tide rushed out and infused into his metal staff. The two weapons did not directly sh, but rather crisscrossed and went at each other directly. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Bei Kun¡¯s expression was sinister as his eyes glinted with feral intent. Without the slightest hint of hesitation, he continued to stab forward at Li Luo. At this crucial moment, he suddenly noticed the blue light on the staff sh dazzlingly, his eyes directly struck by this brightness, temporarily blinding him. It was at the very moment that Bei Kun squinted in an attempt to restore his vision that he realized that his spear had struck mid air, striking the space above Li Luo¡¯s shoulder instead. ¡°I¡¯m doomed.¡± Bei Kun¡¯s heart turned cold. He did not understand what had just happened, as his spear was originally lunging towards Li Luo¡¯s shoulder. There was not enough time to react before Li Luo struck back with his heavy staff, directly smashing Bei Kun¡¯s face. Pu! Chi! A mouth of fresh blood and shattered teeth were spat out along with a pitiful cry. Bei Kun was also sent flying,nding outside of the tform with a heavy thud. That pathetic cry echoed around the entire area. Li Luo casually put away the staff and exhaled deeply. The blue resonant power that was being emitted also gradually disappeared. The entire audience was so silent, one could hear a pin drop. The only noise was being made by a crying Bei Kun. But the silence did notst long¡ªit was interrupted by ear-rending screams and cheers an instantter. Other than the First School, who had lost, every school was cheering like there was no tomorrow! They could hardly believe what had just transpired¡­ They had witnessed the once-influential individual of Southwind Academy rising from the ashes with an unbelievable radiance. They had seen the one who had once been mocked for having a nk pce and even relegated to the Second School perform a clean sweep of one against three! Zhao Kuo was so excited and emotional that his entire face had turned red. At the same time, he even performed several gestures of contempt at his fellow academy students from the First School, arrogantly cheering¡­ ¡°CAN YOU SEE THIS?! ¡°THE MAN IS BACK!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 21: Eve of the Examination Chapter 21: Eve of the Examination 2Chapter 21: Eve of the Examination Endless cheers could be heard from the wooden tform on the Tree of Resonant Power. With the exception of those from First School, everyone was celebrating jubntly. No one had expected such a result. Everyone had assumed that thepetition today would have a foregone conclusion, it was just a formality for the Second School to lose five Gold Leaves. But the tables were turned when the three Sixth Seal Stage cultivators of the First School were singlehandedly wrecked by Li Luo. This was truly an exciting show from start to finish. Most importantly, this entire brouhaha had been preceded by numerous dramatic events. Li Luo was a student of the First School who had been demoted to the Second School, and he had a natural nk pce and apparently limited potential as well¡­ But now Li Luo was standing right in front of everyone with a mysteriously obtained resonance, demonstrating overwhelming strength. Just howplicated would Lin Feng¡¯s heart be right now, seeing that the very person he had shunned hade back to haunt him? The students were all amazed at this sight, inevitably focusing on the youth of the hour, reexamining their own thoughts. Could it be that this youth who had once fallen from grace would rise from the ashes? However, wasn¡¯t it a little toote¡­? As the noise continued unabated, the students of the First School were looking at each other in silence and withplicated expressions on their faces. Difa Qing stared nkly at Li Luo. And at this moment, someone behind asked, ¡°Was he not supposed to have a nk pce? How could he suddenly have manifested a resonance?¡± Song Yunfeng was expressionless as he was unable to fathom how this was possible. ¡°Being able to manifest a resonance artificially may be rare but not impossible. There are numerous heavenly treasures that allow one to obtain an acquired resonance. Unfortunately, these items are so umon that one might only be seen within the Xia Kingdom every few hundred years. However, Li Luo¡¯s parents are unimaginably mighty, and this might not be something out of their reach,¡± Lu Qing¡¯er piped in. Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s Second Uncle was the president of a branch of the Golden Dragon Bank, which also had branches spanning across the continent. As a result of being so widespread, it naturally possessed knowledge that was notmon information. ¡°If he did possess such a treasure, why did he wait till now to use it?¡± Difa Qing asked. ¡°Perhaps there are some specific conditions for it. I don¡¯t know the details.¡± Lu Qing¡¯er gave a wry smile. Difa Qing fell into silence before finally replying, ¡°Is this brat finally experiencing a change of fortune?¡± The tone wasplex as she hailed from the Difa family, one that was in constant struggle against House Lun. It was significantly smaller than the Song family and hence never directly shed against House Lun. As a result, she and Li Luo did not possess significant enmity, except for the fact that Li Luo had stolen Jiang Qing¡¯e from her¡­ ¡°How could it be so easy?¡± Song Yunfeng sad inspidly. ¡°Li Luo¡¯s resonance should be a water resonance. Judging by the way he shed against Bei Kun, you can roughly tell that his is only a fifth or sixth-grade resonance. Such a mediocre resonance may not be bad, but it¡¯s definitely not exceptional. ¡°His resonance power should only be that at the Fifth Seal. Can a mere fifth or sixth-grade resonance coupled with Fifth Seal resonant power be considered impressive?¡± Difa Qing nodded in agreement. If this was the case, then Li Luo wouldn¡¯t even be strong enough to rank in the top 10 of the First School. Even though he had heaven-defying talent when it came to the application of resonance arts, it would still be an arduous task to be someone truly outstanding within the First School. Most importantly, the final examination was barely a month away. Just how could Li Luo bridge the gap in such a short period of time? Thus, Difa Qing could only conclude that this was impossible. At this point, Difa Qing could feel the worry within her heart dissipate and heaved a sigh of relief. Even she did not notice that watching Li Luo¡¯s performance had caused her to feel pressure. She was clearly unwilling to see Li Luo ascend to greatness. Lu Qing¡¯er did not participate in their conversation, merely focusing her gaze upon Li Luo. ¡°You¡¯ve finally resolved the issue with your nk pce¡­. Now, will you be able to catch up during the final segment of the race?¡± Whilst the cacophony continued around the tform, the area above the tform was filled with deafening silence as the teachers and dean were speechless. Even Xu Shanyue was astonished at this turn of events. Lin Feng, on the other hand, had not spoken from start to end, expressionless like a wooden block. The rest of the teachers, on the other hand, turned to look at Lin Feng, smiles of mockery on their faces. In the end, it was the old dean who ended the deadlock with a p. ¡°It looks like he truly is the son of those two. I suppose he counts as ate bloomer?¡± Lin Feng insipidly replied, ¡°Dean, you need to watch your words. Fifth Seal resonant power with a mere fifth or sixth-grade water resonance doesn¡¯t mean much.¡± The old dean shook his head. He knew that Lin Feng was feeling extremely dissatisfied at this point, but he continued to smile. ¡°You are simply just too prideful. It¡¯s just a matter of time before you suffer because of it.¡± Lin Feng did not reply to that and instead turned to Xu Shanyue. ¡°My First School was simply not up to par. As agreed upon, ten Gold Leaves are yours. These kids have no ability to call their own, and teaching them a lesson is not a bad thing.¡± Xu Shanyue mocked, ¡°I thought you would want to raise the notion of Li Luo re-entering First School.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. I will let you know right now that he is not that amazing. My First School does notck such an ordinary student. More importantly, he should be focusing on catching up within this short period of one month. After all, being able to enter Astral Sage College is what truly matters.¡± Lin Feng smirked. He had definitely been caught on the backfoot when Li Luo suddenly appeared with his water resonance. However, it wasn¡¯t to the point where he felt a sense of pity for kicking Li Luo out. Furthermore, this water resonance had appeared toote. Li Luo was only at the Fifth Seal Stage, and the grade of his water resonance was not particrly high. Hence, from Lin Feng¡¯s perspective, Li Luo had only managed to extricate half of his body from the quagmire he was in. Did Li Luo truly think that the elites of First School were merely decorative objects on his path to the pinnacle? No! As he had mentioned, the most important fact was that the final examinations were about to arrive and Li Luo had very limited time to catch up. After this point, everyone would leave Southwind Academy, so there was no need for him to care about how Li Luo would develop in the future. Missing the opportunity to enter the Astral Sage College would be Li Luo¡¯s loss. This would not change even with his status as the young lord of House Lun. After consoling himself, Lin Feng¡¯s expression became more rxed as well. At this point, the old dean proceeded to the tform and waved at Li Luo. Seeing this, Li Luo paused for a moment before finally walking towards the dean. ¡°Good day, Dean.¡± Li Luo greeted him with a smile. The old dean smiled happily as he examined Li Luo. ¡°Have you solved the problem of your nk pce?¡± Li Luo nodded. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a fifth-grade water resonance.¡± When Lin Feng heard Li Luo speak, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Li Luo, your water resonance is considered mid-grade. But don¡¯t worry, if you work hard, you will definitely achieve something.¡± ¡°Teacher Lin Feng, you don¡¯t have to worry too much about this. Although the resonance¡¯s grade can affect one¡¯s cultivation speed, it¡¯s still possible to reach the Duke or even the King Stage with a fifth-grade resonance,¡± Li Luo patiently exined. Lin Feng replied almost mockingly. ¡°Reaching the Duke or King Stage with a mere fifth-grade resonance? These are just childish fantasies. Do you truly believe in them?¡± The old dean waved his hand, indicating for Lin Feng to stop, before saying to Li Luo, ¡°Your confidence is what¡¯s most important. However, there¡¯s only a month left before the final examination. If you want to catch up, you will have to put in untold times more effort than others.¡± Li Luo nodded in agreement. ¡°I understand.¡± After a few more perfunctory sentences, he let Li Luo leave and at the same time turned to face the audience. ¡°There is barely a month¡¯s time left before the final examination. In two weeks¡¯ time, we will hold our preliminary examinations. Additionally, the Astral Sage College has published their basic requirements for the year. You will have to be at least at the Seventh Seal Stage.¡± This promation came down like a sledgehammer on numerous students¡¯ hearts. The Seventh Seal Stage was an insurmountable barrier for many, and everyone felt frustrated and dejected upon hearing this news. Only some of the most elite students within the First School were smiling. Being the best college of the Xia Kingdom, even when considering its peers in the surrounding kingdoms, the Astral Sage College was not a ce where people could enter as they pleased. ¡°No one below the Seventh Seal Stage¡­¡± Li Luo smacked his lips in response. He did not feel that there was anything strange with that request. He was currently at the Fifth Seal, so there were two more stages to go. It looked as though he would have to train feverishly if he wanted to seed. Furthermore, this was just the most basic requirement. One still had to engage in battle as well. Thus, if Li Luo required more insurance, he would clearly have to temper his waterlight resonance again. The only problem was that the gap between a fifth-grade resonance and a sixth-grade resonance was not tiny. After doing some quick calctions, it truly seemed like a coincidence that the entire Tianshu Province¡¯s ie for House Lun would just barely be enough. He would wipe it clean. As he was deep in thought, the students who were in the vicinity gradually started to scatter. At this point, he suddenly noticed someone approaching him. When he turned to look, he noticed that it was Lu Qing¡¯er calmly looking at him. ¡°Congrattions, Young Lord.¡± When he saw her, his instincts kicked in and he reflexively wanted to avoid her. However, just as he took a step away, he awkwardly stopped himself. ¡°Hello hello. How are you doing?¡± Li Luo replied with the most perfunctory of greetings. ¡°You¡¯re not nning to hide?¡± Lu Qing¡¯er probed. An embarrassed Li Luo quickly replied, ¡°Hide? What do you mean? No such thing has ever happened!¡± Lu Qing¡¯er did not bother to follow up on that and continued, ¡°Li Luo, I have always been very thankful for your guidance in the resonance arts. It¡¯s just unfortunate that you¡¯ve chosen to actively distance and hide yourself from me. I have never coveted your position, and you should know that that isn¡¯t something that is given but must be earned with strength. ¡°Li Luo, I am now the strongest within Southwind Academy. If you want to reim this throne, then you will have to beat me. I used to worry about hurting your feelings and never wanted to say this to you, considering your situation. However, things are different now since you have solved the issue of your nk pce. If you truly are a man, then you will reim what is rightfully yours.¡± At this sudden deration, Li Luo could only bitterly smile. ¡°Then it looks like I need to work hard.¡± Lu Qing¡¯er smiled in response, but Li Luo could sense a cold and slightly annoyed glint leaking out of her eyes¡­ ¡°I am waiting for you. Let me tell you now. Your actions these past few years have caused me to appreciate you a lot less. If I have the chance¡­¡± At this point, she stopped, the cold re in her eyes evident of her stance. After speaking, she turned and left. Li Luo was left speechless as he watched her gradually disappear into the distance, only able to shake his head helplessly. It seemed as though he had offended her. It seemed that the prettier thedy, the more petty they were! In the midst of his sigh, he could feel that yet another individual was focused upon him, so he turned his head to look. Right atop the wooden tform was a frosty-looking youth absolutely glowering at him, his expression seeming to be a warning. This was the second strongest student in the First School, Song Yunfeng. Their two gazes intersected and shed. Song Yunfeng continued to scowl at him with a sharp andbative glint in his eyes. He then lightly shook his head and coldly mouthed some words. ¡°Li Luo, don¡¯t stick your nose where it¡¯s not supposed to. Stay away from Lu Qing¡¯er.¡± He believed that Li Luo would understand what he was trying to say, as this was something quite obvious. On the other hand, Li Luo, who was not too far away, was frowning, muttering to himself, ¡°What the hell is that fool trying to do? Why doesn¡¯t he just shout out what he wants to say? Why is he making things so difficult?? Moving his lips like that makes him look like a mouse who is sneakily eating scraps. Sigh¡­what is he trying to get at?¡± As he could not decipher what Song Yunfeng was trying to say, he simply shook his head and couldn¡¯t be bothered anymore, turning to leave. On the other hand, Song Yunfeng was stillpletely focused on Li Luo¡¯s silhouette. His eyes seemed to ooze gloominess as he squinted at him. Li Luo¡¯s previous gaze had reminded him of what Li Luo was like at his most glorious period in Southwind Academy. The Li Luo then radiated brilliance and was unmatched. However, things were no longer the same¡­ Song Yunfeng was so furious at this response that the wooden railing he was grasping cracked. ¡°Li Luo, what exactly are you trying to do? ¡°Do you truly believe that a 5th-grade resonance will allow you to do as you please?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 22: The Price of a Sixth-Grade Resonance Chapter 22: The Price of a Sixth-Grade Resonance 2Chapter 22: The Price of a Sixth-Grade Resonance Knowledge of Li Luo¡¯s fifth-grade water resonance spread throughout the school very quickly. This naturally became the hottest topic of discussion. ¡°Who would have thought that Li Luo would manage to rise from the ashes! An acquired resonance¡­ this is something I¡¯ve never heard of.¡± ¡°I heard that it was a treasure left behind by his parents! It¡¯s clearly something rarely seen.¡± ¡°Having great parents truly makes me green with envy! I¡¯m so jealous!¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not that amazing. After all, it¡¯s just a fifth-grade water resonance. It¡¯s not that exceptional, and the final examination is barely a month away. How can he possibly catch up to those at the top with so little time?¡± ¡°Yeah. He may have beaten Bei Kun and his goons, but those three aren¡¯t even in the top ten of the First School. I heard the top ten are all at least at the Seventh Seal Stage. Song Yunfeng and Lu Qing¡¯er are the two scariest ones out of the lot¡ªapparently they¡¯re at the Eighth Seal or higher already¡­¡± ¡°Mm. Li Luo has already squandered the most crucial time for growth. I don¡¯t think he can catch up in a month.¡± Whilst everyone was fervently making Li Luo the topic of discussion, the man himself had just finished a round of cultivation and was quickly making his way out the academy. ¡°Even though I beat Bei Kun today, it was more draining than I expected. If not for borrowing the light resonance power of my resonance to blind Bei Kun at the crucial moment, I might have taken even more time than I wanted¡­¡± Whilst on his carriage back home, Li Luo continued to analyze the day¡¯s battles. He wasn¡¯t looking rxed as expected. Instead, a dissatisfied and solemn expression was stered over his face. At this rate, his current strength coupled with the waterlight resonance and his expertise at resonance arts would easily allow him to contend with a Sixth Seal Stage cultivator. However, if he were to encounter a Seventh Seal stage expert, his chances of victory would be extremely low. ¡°This is not enough. This is FAR from enough,¡± he murmured to himself. His aim was to enter the Astral Sage College. The number of hopefuls that werepeting with him were too many to count. If he was not at the top, his odds would be too low. The biggest constraint that everyone had mentioned was hisck of time¡ªbarely a month was left before the crucial moment. If he wanted to catch up, he would have to quickly improve his resonant power, and it looked like tempering his waterlight resonance was the only way. Only then would he have the confidence to face off against Lu Qing¡¯er and those other elites. The key problem stilly in tempering his waterlight resonance to the sixth grade. This would be no easy matter¡­ ¡°I guess I need to have a discussion with Elder Sister Cai Wei¡­¡± Li Luo¡¯s lips were puckered at that very thought. He had this strange feeling that if he were to mention needing huge amounts of fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights to Cai Wei, she might very well just devour him alive¡­ ¡­. The old manor, the administrative office. Cai Wei was currently sitting at her table, carefully inspecting the book of records. She was dressed in a pale-yellow robe and her egg-shaped face was enthralling as always, possessing an air of grace. She had already been at work for quite a while and was getting tired, hence she reached forward and gingerly ced the book down on the table. ¡°Hu!¡± It was as though a weight had been lifted off her shoulders as she gently heaved a sigh of relief, looking clearly more rxed. Weng! It was at this point that the door suddenly swung open and Li Luo strode in with gusto. ¡°Elder Sister Cai Wei!¡± Bang! When the door was mmed, Li Luo noticed the rxed Cai Wei in front of him. Her mind had clearly not registered this sudden intrusion, and her beautiful gaze seemed a little dazed at the sight of Li Luo. The atmosphere suddenly seemed to freeze at this moment. Cai Wei immediately snapped to attention, sitting up straight as though she had been electrocuted. Her fairplexion was tinted with the red of embarrassment whilst her gaze stared coquettishly at Li Luo. ¡°Did no one ever teach you to knock before entering?¡± Li Luo was currently dripping with cold sweat as he hastily nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Elder Sister Cai Wei! I will definitely take note of this in the future!¡± Seeing his respectful attitude, Cai Wei no longer felt ashamed but still asked brusquely, ¡°May I know what instruction the Young Lord has?¡± Li Luo looked around sheepishly, making sure that no one else was around before carefully closing the door. ¡°I want to let Elder Sister Cai Wei see a certain treasure of mine¡­¡± His voice was lowered, but before he could finish his sentence, he was shocked silly. This was because he saw Cai Wei whip out a gleaming bow, a dangerous smile on her beautiful egg-shaped face. ¡°Young Lord, before you do anything rash, don¡¯t forget that I¡¯m also a resonant master.¡± Frightened, Li Luo hastily waved his hands, bitterly smiling. ¡°Elder Sister Cai Wei, what do you mean? What are you trying to do!?¡± A little taken aback as well, Cai Wei¡¯s raised her eyebrow slightly as she asked curiously, all the while focused on Li Luo¡¯s every move, ¡°Then just what sort of ¡®treasure¡¯ of yours are you referring to?¡± Li Luo was a little confused at this turn of events¡­ However, he didn¡¯t speak anymore and instead willed his resonant power to surge. In a blink, blue resonant power started to shroud his body, zing upwards. The sight of the resonant power resembled waves of water flowing so much that one could literally imagine hearing it. He had revealed his fifth-grade water resonance. Pa! Cai Wei gradually lowered the bow in her hands as she asked in surprise, ¡°You¡­ you have a resonance?¡± Li Luo nodded. ¡°A fifth-grade one too.¡± Cai Wei was absolutely stupefied at this scene. Only after a good minute had passed did she finally react. ¡°Is this the result of the secret art left behind by the two House Lords?¡± Li Luo nodded in response. At this point, she came to her senses. Thinking of her previous actions, her face flushed a bright crimson-red. Li Luo¡¯s previous words seemed to have held a deeper meaning, and she wasn¡¯t a naive youth¡­hence she was flustered and even thought that Li Luo was about to do something extremely unsavory¡­ She felt iparably embarrassed at this turn of events. Cai Wei, oh, Cai Wei. What a huge humiliation! Still, she was someone who had encountered all sorts of experiences and very quicklyposed herself, smiling as though nothing had happened. ¡°Congrattions, Young Lord! If Qing¡¯e knew of this, she would be ted.¡± Li Luo nodded. ¡°There¡¯s only a little problem. Perhaps Elder Sister Cai Wei might have already guessed what it is¡­¡± ¡°Do you still require spirit liquids and purifying lights?¡± Cai Wei frowned slightly after hearing hisst sentence. ¡°Mhm. Unfortunately, I will need fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights. This resonance which my parents left behind requires endless amounts of spirit liquids and purifying lights to cultivate. Otherwise, it might very possibly dissipate¡­¡± Li Luo did not want to mention the fact that he could endlessly temper his resonance with copious amounts of spirit liquids and purifying lights. If news of this were to spread, the situation would definitely turn grave, and he temporarily did not wish for this to be revealed, at least not until he could protect himself. ¡°Fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights¡­¡± The frown on Cai Wei¡¯s face deepened to the point that even her two eyebrows were touching. Fourth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights roughly cost around a thousand pieces of skygold each. Fifth-grade ones would easily cost over five times that. This was definitely an expensive consumable good. If Li Luo only required a few, then this would not be a problem. However, from experience, Cai Wei understood that what Li Luo needed was probably in the hundreds¡­ This would not be a small sum. Cai Wei¡¯s expression was constantly changing as she struggled with this though. What was more surprising to Li Luo was that she did not find any reasons to push back and merely nodded. ¡°I understand. I will do my best to carry out your instructions.¡± She raised her head and saw Li Luo¡¯s absolutely bbergasted expression before breaking out into a smile. ¡°Did you think that I was going to reject you? You are the Young Lord of House Lun. Everything belongs to you and Sister Qing¡¯e. So long as you¡¯re not being coerced into it, whatever you want will be a reality. In any case, now that you have a resonance, you will finally be able to hold some influence within House Lun. This is iparable to the physical costs of these spirit liquids and purifying lights. How could I possibly reject your request?¡± Extremely touched, Li Luo passionately replied, ¡°Elder Sister Cai Wei! You¡¯re truly great at understanding others! In this case, could you please get me several dozen portions immediately?¡± Cai Wei began to massage her temples upon hearing Li Luo¡¯s excited follow-up. ¡°Well, this can be done. It¡¯s just that if you require a simr amount again, we don¡¯t have the funds to purchase more.¡± House Lun¡¯s businesses in the Tianshu Province only brought in around three hundred thousand pieces of skygold a year. The previous request for fourth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights had already cost around a hundred and fifty thousand pieces of skygold. After buying another thirty pieces or so, there would barely be any money left. Cai Wei sighed deeply. ¡°Young Lord, I n to sell off some of the businesses within the Tianshu Province. ¡°House Lun does not have much strength within the Tianshu Province. Thus, many businesses can be considered burdens to us as we are unable to properly protect them. In a sense, we are overstaffed here. Combined with the suppression of the three families, if this were to continue, it would only result in a grievous loss to us whilst taking up precious resources. The key reason lies with the three families. The three of them have an alliance in ce to deal with House Lun jointly, as they all have simr goals. If we were to voluntarily offer up some businesses and execute this well, it could very possibly lead them to struggle amongst themselves. Ultimately, this will also breed internal strife when their benefits arepromised, making it harder for them to deal with House Lun in a united fashion.¡± Li Luo considered her point of view and nodded in agreement after a while. ¡°Elder Sister Cai Wei is truly decisive. You are making a sacrifice for the greater good. I am honestly unfamiliar with such matters and will leave this in your wise hands. Regardless of what you choose to do, I will support your decision,¡± Li Luo said in praise of her. ¡°I am truly thankful for your trust.¡± Cai Wei gave a small smile. Li Luo waved his hands and then a thought suddenly came to mind. ¡°Oh, yes! Does the Tianshu Province have any resonance artificers? If I could craft my own, then it would undoubtedly be cheaper than buying them off the market, yes?¡± ¡°Well, of course we have resonance artificers. House Lun has businesses in every aspect of the economy. This sort of profession is always in demand as the supply of spirit liquids and purifying lights is never enough. Our House Lun has plenty of resonance artificers who are able to craft third-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights. However, for those of a higher grade, the number of resonance artificers who are able to do so are a lot less, thus our production capabilities for that are also low. When ites to fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights¡­ I¡¯m afraid there is no one in Tianshu Province who is able to craft them. All of those that can be bought in the market have been imported from Xia City.¡± A sudden revtion dawned upon Li Luo. Of course! Someone who could craft fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights would be minimally a fifth-grade resonance artificer. Such individuals would only be found in cradles of civilization, the subject of any cultivator¡¯s worship. Why would they be hiding in such a deste area like the Tianshu Province? It was natural that they were rarely seen here as a result. ¡°Can Elder Sister Cai Wei bring me to where House Lun crafts their spirit liquids and purifying lights? I have a water resonance and thus would like to gain some knowledge about the path of a resonance artificer.¡± The price of these tempering treasures was exorbitantly high, and he was only talking about fifth-grade ones. In the future, he would even require seventh, eighth, and even ninth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights! Just how was he going to find them, much less pay for them? He also knew that in the entire Xia Kingdom, there were very few spirit liquids and purifying lights of the 7th-grade and above sold each year. The only way would be to rely on himself. Thus, he had to make preparations to progress on the path of a resonance artificer. Cai Wei did not disagree. ¡°Alright. I will take you there tomorrow.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 23: Suncreek Villa Chapter 23: Suncreek Vi 2Chapter 23: Suncreek Vi The next day, Li Luo attended Southwind Academy as per usual. When he entered the Second School¡¯s training field, he could distinctly tell that the originally rowdy field had quietened down by quite a bit, numerous respectful gazes looking at him. The old Li Luo was not considered weak within the Second School; only Zhao Kuo could beat him after all. Truthfully speaking, what everyone felt towards him was only pity and nothing else. Why would they respect him? That made no sense. The way they saw it, Li Luo was decently strong, but he still had a nk pce. This meant that his resonant power was limited. It was just a matter of time before they would surpass him. However, Li Luo had demonstrated his acquired resonance in thepetition yesterday, furthermore sweeping all three opponents from the First School in a single bout. This led them to understand that Li Luo was truly not on the same level as them. Although a fifth-grade resonance was not considered high, it was more than sufficient. Thisbined with his talent in resonance arts was like adding wings to a tiger. The future Li Luo may not necessarily reach the absolute peak, but he would definitely rank in the upper echelons. Thus, who would dare to pity Li Luo even now? On top of that, he was also House Lun¡¯s Young Lord. Just who had the right to pity someone so much better than them in every way? As they saw Li Luo walk past, certain students even took the initiative to greet him. ¡°Brother Luo.¡± There were even some daring girls whoplimented him directly. ¡°Brother Luo looks extraordinarily handsome today.¡± Taking these greetings in his stride, Li Luo merely smiled at them before returning to his usual seat. At this point, even Zhao Kuo was looking at him with a burning gaze. ¡°You¡¯re a man, right? Can you not look at me that way?¡± Li Luo frowned. Zhao Kuo chuckled as he feigned a mncholic expression. ¡°It looks like I have to give up my title of number one in the Second School¡­¡± ¡°Who cares about such trivialities!? Set your sights further,¡± Li Luo snapped. ¡°Further? In that case, all the best! Once you bring glory to Southwind Academy¡¯s males, we will cheer for you from the sidelines!¡± Zhao Kuo retorted. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zhao Kuo angrily exined, ¡°Didn¡¯t you know? The other academies of the Tianshu Province have been constantly insulting us, saying that we are all feminine sissies, that weck any form of manly vigor. Eastpool Academy is exceptionally hateful. They always take the initiative to mock the males of Southwind Academy. We first produced the legendary Sister Qing¡¯e and now the strongest one of our generation is Lu Qing¡¯er. It¡¯s as though we can only hide behind girls!¡±[1] Of course, there were other academies in the Tianshu Province. It was just that most of them were not as famous as Southwind Academy. In recent years, Eastpool Academy had risen through the ranks dramatically and was looking to contest for the title of the best academy in the Tianshu Province. As the two were bantering, Xu Shanyue entered the training fields. It looked as though his mood wasn¡¯t bad, his usual, serious expression reced with a smile. ¡°Good morning, students. The First School has kindly provided ten Gold Leaves for the Second School¡¯s use. From today onwards, we will have ten more to distribute.¡± Hearing Xu Shanyue¡¯s words, the ss cheered in excitement. The final examinations were approaching and these leaves might very well provide them with an opportunity to take another step forward. ¡°These Gold Leaves were obtained by Li Luo¡¯s solo victory. All of you should express your gratitude directly.¡± After which, the entire ss broke out into raucous apuse. There were even some delicate and good-looking girls who shouted out bravely, ¡°I¡¯m willing to have lunch with you to express my thanks!¡± Everyone could only stare in envy at his good fortune. Li Luo helplessly smiled, but deep down he sighed. He could not understand where their fascination in himy and could only ignore their teasing. Xu Shanyue clenched his fist, signalling for everyone to settle down before proceeding on to the day¡¯s lesson. Three hourster, the ss ended and Li Luo approached Xu Shanyue, looking to take the afternoon off. ¡°You¡¯re taking leave again?¡± Xu Shanyue queried as he thought about the request. If this was in the past, he wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to reject his request. However, Li Luo had managed to beat the First School and had given him the credibility to stand tall against Liu Yang. Hence, he eded to it. ¡°Sure. Do remember that the final examination is about to arrive and you¡¯ve already missed out on a week of training. You need to quickly catch up, or there will be no hope in entering the Astral Sage College.¡± Li Luo smiled and agreed, waving goodbye before quickly taking his leave. Outside the academy gates was a luxurious carriage, akin to a moving pce. As Li Luo made his way into it, he realized that Cai Wei was already sitting within, by the window. In her hand was a roundced fan, lightly fluttering. Beside her was also a cup of piping hot tea, the entire scene entuating her mature beauty. This coupled with her beautiful curves and exquisite features would absolutely captivate any mortal man. One could clearly see that Cai Wei was ady with refined mannerisms. The choice of carriage was not only luxurious-looking but alsofortable, demonstrating her exceptional taste that was even better than Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s. Li Luo had a feeling that Cai Wei¡¯s background was not simple. The only question here was why had she chosen to run all the way over to House Lun to handle misceneous tasks? ¡°Have you eaten? I¡¯ve prepared lunch for you.¡± Cai Wei batted a nce at Li Luo, her slender, jade-like fingers beckoning at the table in front, which was currentlyid with a sumptuous feast. ¡°Elder Sister Cai Wei is truly too considerate. Whoever marries you will truly be blessed,¡± Li Luo praised. Cai Wei was capable at managing the affairs of a family whilst being beautiful and mature. No matter how one looked at it, she was truly outstanding. Amongst the women he had met, in terms of attractiveness and temperament, Jiang Qing¡¯e was the most extraordinary. Lu Qing¡¯er and Cai Wei were both equal, with their own redeeming features. ¡°Your words are truly sweet.¡± Cai Wei smiled as she beckoned for Li Luo to eat. At the same time, she continued to exin, ¡°Our House Lun has a specialized department whose purpose is to refine spirit liquids and purifying lights. It¡¯s known as the Suncreek Vi, and it is decently well known throughout the market for their tempering treasures when we look within the Xia Kingdom. The Suncreek Vi¡¯s headquarters is in Xia City and it has three branches spread throughout the Xia Kingdom. Coincidentally, one of these branches can be found in the City of Southwind. The Suncreek Vi is responsible for a significant amount of the profits House Lun rakes in yearly. Hence, within House Lun, Pei Hao has also fought the hardest to take control of them, trying all means to do so. The president of this particr branch left some time ago for some reason and the position was left vacant for a while as a recement could not be easily found. Pei Hao recruited the vice president and attempted to use him to take control of this branch. Luckily, Qing¡¯e realized his ns and very quickly dispatched someone to mp down on those moves. As a result, this branch of the Suncreek Vi has some internalplications, ultimately affecting the amount of spirit liquids and purifying lights it produces.¡± ¡°Pei Hao, that bastard! Truly a waste of air.¡± Li Luo couldn¡¯t help but vent. He previously wasn¡¯t interested in these matters, but now that he had to utilize significant amounts of resources from the house, he realized just how much trouble that white-eyed wolf really was. If House Lun had actually been united, then the amount of resources he could mobilize wouldn¡¯t just be this piddling three hundred thousand skygold! Slightly depressed, the feast in front of him seemed to have lost some of its fragrance¡­ The carriage passed through the crowded City of Southwind, eventually stopping at the northern part of the city. Li Luo and Cai Wei both got off the carriage. They could see a humongous pavilion in front of them with a Suncreek Vi sign hung right in front. The Suncreek Vi possessed strict security with numerous protectors, but they immediately made way and let the duo through once they spotted them. They entered the building unobstructed, and at this moment, a group arrived to receive them. Li Luo could see that this group was split into two factions. The group on the left was led by a smiling middle-aged man, while the group on the right was led by ady that was amazingly beautiful, such that any man who saw her would instantly perk up with attention. She was an elegant youngdy with a prettyplexion; a pert, high nose; and a pair of silver circr sses. She had long hair that cascaded down her back and she carried an air of undisguised arrogance. At this moment, Cai Wei quickly brought Li Luo up to speed. ¡°The one on the left is Zhuang Yi, he¡¯s the vice president dispatched by Pei Hao. The beauty on the right is Yan Lingqing. She is a genius resonance artificer from Astral Sage College. She is also Qing¡¯e¡¯s close confidante. She is currently a fourth-grade resonance artificer and also one of Qing¡¯e¡¯s reinforcements.¡± Li Luo seemed a little shocked at this as he couldn¡¯t help but to stare at the slender, sses-wearing, cold, and arrogant beauty. He would never have expected that she was also from Astral Sage College, the ce he had always dreamed of attending. 1. What Zhao Kuo actually says is that the men of Southwind Academy possess strong Yin energy and feeble Yang energy. Because females are traditionally Yin and men Yang If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 24: Yan Lingqing Chapter 24: Yan Lingqing 1Chapter 24: Yan Lingqing While Li Luo was still in shock at that bombshell revtion, the two groups reached the duo. ¡°Wee to the Suncreek Vi, Young Lord and General Manager Cai Wei. Keke. Your presence here truly illuminates our humble dwelling.¡± The one named Zhuang Yi immediately rattled off the top of his tongue, an honest and enthusiastic look on his face. Compared to his hearty reception, Yan Lingqing was much cooler in response. She merely nced at Cai Wei before taking a quick look at Li Luo. Following which, she stuck her hands in her pocket. It didn¡¯t seem like she was nning to introduce herself. ¡°Vice President Zhuang Yi¡¯s words are too kind. The Young Lord is here to take a look at his house¡¯s businesses. There¡¯s nothing special about this after all.¡± Cai Wei gave a small smile. Zhuang Yi was stunned for a moment before he hastily smiled and nodded. ¡°It was I who spoke out of turn.¡± After which, he rushed to Li Luo and greeted him respectfully before excusing himself politely and heading off to settle his other matters. Li Luo took in all of this and realized it was clear that Zhuang Yi was fully supporting Pei Hao. Hence, when they first met, despite Zhuang Yi¡¯s warm reception, he kept his distance and remained on guard. This was clearly something that was faked. On the other hand, despite the cold reception from Yan Lingqing, she still continued to stay with the duo, and did not look to get away at the first opportunity. However, after seeing Zhuang Yi speedily leaving, her expression turned slightly gentle. ¡°Elder Sister Cai Wei, may I kindly know why you are here today?¡± Her voice was crisp and sweet, sounding like a gentle stream flowing, pleasant to the ear. Cai Wei walked forward and tightly grasped Yan Lingqing¡¯s forearms before smiling as well. ¡°I brought the Young Lord here to take a look around.¡± Both of them possessed amazing temperaments and were matchless beauties, hence when they stood side by side, it was a feast for the eyes. At the same time, it also allowed one to clearly see the differences between the two. If Cai Wei was like the vast mountain ranges, withrge humps that protruded from the ground, then Yan Lingqing was more simr to the massive ins where horses roamed¡­ As Li Luo¡¯s gaze swept past the two of them, his conspicuous actions were inadvertently spotted by Yan Lingqing¡­ Her snow-white chin raised slightly as she said disdainfully, ¡°Little Brother, just what are you trying topare¡­?¡± Li Luo could only innocently blink his eyes at that usation. Without caring further, Yan Lingqing huffed and dragged Cai Wei away. Li Luo didn¡¯t really mind either and did his best to keep up. As they entered the depths of the Suncreek Vi, they walked onto a bridge. When one stood upon the bridge, they were able to see that there were two refining tforms that spanned countless levels. Each level of these refining tforms was split into numerous smaller rooms. Each room had a transparent, crystal wall, and peering through it would allow one to see countless individuals dressed in white busily working. Peering closer inside each room, there was a tableid out with numerous transparent crystal bottles. These white-garbed individuals were taking all sorts of bottles and canisters, constantly concocting something. asionally, these crystal bottles would emit a blue light, signifying the creation of a spirit liquid or purifying light. ¡°Elder Sister Cai Wei, there are two fourth-grade, nine third-grade, sixteen second-grade, and thirty three first-grade resonance artificers in this branch of the Suncreek Vi.¡± Li Luo continued to peer curiously as Yan Lingqing¡¯s crystal-clear voice exined. Hearing this, he smirked inside. Cai Wei was the General Manager and naturally already knew of these matters and hence it was clear that she was only saying this for his benefit. Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s bosom friend here may seem quite cool and uncaring, but she was actually a nice person at heart. At the same time, he understood that she was doing this for Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s sake. They continued to walk and observe the surroundings as they made their way to Yan Lingqing¡¯s workspace. This was her refining workshop. ¡°I suppose Elder Sister Cai Wei isn¡¯t here just to see me?¡± At this point, she removed her outer robes. revealing a simple outfit within which outlined her slender curves. Her gaze was currently fixated on the refining tform, her thoughts focused upon it. ¡°It¡¯s because of the Young Lord.¡± Cai Wei gave a wry smile. ¡°He wants to be a resonance artificer.¡± Yan Lingqing gave her a curious look and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t he a ¡­¡± She didn¡¯t finish her words, but the implication was clear. Wasn¡¯t Li Luo a natural nk pce? Why was there a need to be a resonance artificer? Cai Wei lightly patted Li Luo and directed a mischievous expression toward him. ¡°Go and start your show. Let¡¯s give our little genius the greatest shock of her life.¡± Li Luo was speechless at Cai Wei¡¯s attempt to tease her friend. However, he activated his resonance, causing water resonant power to gradually arise around him. ¡°This¡­ this is a water resonance?¡± Yan Lingqing was truly surprised at this turn of events, so much so that she propped up her sses on her pert, little nose. ¡°You have a resonance? What?¡± Li Luo nodded and sincerely said, ¡°This is a fifth-grade water resonance, and I want to learn some resonance artificering arts in order to be a resonance artificer.¡± After hearing his request, Yan Lingqing¡¯s eyebrows knitted together in slight confusion. ¡°Isn¡¯t it almost time for Southwind Academy¡¯s final examination? Why are you not bitterly cultivating? Why don¡¯t you try your best to get into the Astral Sage College before we discuss any further? After all, the Astral Sage College has the Resonance Tempering Hall, where you can learn from many excellent teachers.¡± Li Luo could only smile sheepishly. ¡°I want to start familiarizing myself with this.¡± Yan Lingqing seemed to have understood something upon hearing Li Luo¡¯s reply. Even though Li Luo had manifested a resonance, it was true that this was a little toote. With his current strength, he might not be able to make it into the Astral Sage College, and it would only be a matter of time before he would embark on the path of a resonance artificer. He still had a way out. ¡°It¡¯s rare that the Young Lord wishes to improve so fervently. I kindly beseech this genius to guide him,¡± Cai Wei added in. Yan Lingqing rolled her eyes at Cai Wei¡¯sments, immediately cing a crystal bottle in front of Li Luo. ¡°I believe you should have some rudimentary understanding of what resonance artificers do, yes?¡± Seeing that Yan Lingqing was going to teach him, he quickly nodded. Ever since he obtained his water resonance, he spent some of his free time reading up and learning foundational knowledge on this subject. At this point, Yan Lingqing flicked her finger and a line of blue resonant power shot out of her index finger towards a bundle of books, adhering to it. With another flick, the books were thrown right in front of Li Luo. ¡°Read all of this.¡± Li Luo didn¡¯t say much but simply got to work immediately, sitting down at the table and delving into the subject matter. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a seat? I have some things I need to do,¡± Yan Lingqing lightly said to Cai Wei after seeing Li Luo obediently begin his study without any indication of impatience. Following which, she proceeded to continue with the work that required her attention. Cai Wei, on the other hand,zily stretched and took a seat, quickly dozing off¡­ At the same time, within another room of the Suncreek Vi¡­ ¡°What have the Young Lord and the General Manager been up to?¡± Zhuang Yi was sitting on his seat, questioning an individual in front of him. ¡°Nothing much. They took a walk and were observing things before heading back to Vice President Yan¡¯s workshop,¡± the person replied. Zhuang Yi nodded. ¡°Tail them closely. Watch out for whoever they interact with and take note of these people. The most important thing now is to ensure I be the president of this branch. Once I¡¯m sessful, I can chase away Yan Lingqing and all of her people. At that point, everything will be in my control.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Zhuang Yi waved his hand and that individual retreated. A chilling smile appeared on his face. ¡°Jiang Qing¡¯e, did you think that finding a little wench from your school would be enough to stop me? Let me tell you the truth! You¡¯re just dreaming! This branch of the Suncreek Vi belongs to me, Zhuang Yi!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 25: Resonance Smith Chapter 25: Resonance Smith 1Chapter 25: Resonance Smith By the time Li Luo finished going through all those books, five hours had passed. He exhaled deeply, slowly rubbing his sore neck. Yan Lingqing and Cai Wei had been gaily chatting beside him the entire time. Upon hearing him, they stopped and looked over. ¡°Not bad. It looks like you are pretty patient.¡± Yan Lingqing indifferently judged him. Despite the tone, it seemed as though she was still quite satisfied with Li Luo¡¯s performance. Patience was crucial for a resonance artificer. They had to spend countless repetitive cycles concocting and refining numerous materials in the process of improving their skills. At the same time, they had to be precise and not make mistakes. Just this fact alone required one to practice for a long period of time. Yan Lingqing got up and approached the workstation before signalling to Li Luo toe over. Atop the workstation were numerous crystal bottles, all filled with various strange and weird materials. ¡°Refining spirit liquids and purifying lights is, at its most basic level, simply following a form to itspletion. This will allow these numerous materials tobine perfectly by relying on their unique characteristics, and to get rid of impurities. The final result will be these tempering treasures.¡± Yan Lingqing picked up a crystal bottle that contained a blue flower. The surface of the flower was constantly rippling and diffusing some sort of energy. ¡°This is a Three Leaved Algal Bloom.¡± As she spoke, her slender, jade hand lightly shook the bottle and surprisingly, the flower instantly disintegrated into dust. At the same time, Li Luo was able to see water resonance power emitted from Yan Lingqing, which she then guided directly into the crystal bottle, directly fusing with the remnants of the flower. ¡°During the process of refinement, we have to utilize either water or light resonance power to fuse with the materials. This allows us to amplify the unique characteristics of these items. One has to be extremely careful with the strength of the resonance power. Too much and it will ruin the material, too little and the refinement process will also fail.¡± Her water resonance power continued to pour into the crystal bottle, and just a brief momentter, one was able to see that the material had gradually fused together to form a dark-blue liquid. Immediately after, Yan Lingqing proceeded to follow a set of predetermined steps. She quickly blended over ten other materials in a special sequence wlessly and effortlessly, evidence of her familiarity with the subject. Half an hourter, the materials and liquid were mixed together. However, things were not as simple as that as the two items seemed to be repelling each other, even to the point of boiling over and causing an explosion. ¡°What happens next is the final and also most important step. In order to fuse these two sets of materials together, a certain sort of power is required. This power will ultimately influence the tempering strength of the spirit liquids and purifying lights, and it is the most critical aspect of the refinement process. This power is often referred to as watersource or lightsource. In simpler terms, this is the result of when one condenses one¡¯s water resonance power or light resonance power to its utmost.¡± Yan Lingqing then pulled out a rhombus-shaped crystal stone with a crystal jar hanging under it. Her palm was tightly grasping this crystal stone while more blue resonant power was surging out and into it. Ripples could be seen below the stone¡¯s surface as it vibrated. A momentter, Li Luo was able to see a single dark-blue drop of liquid gradually dripping from the bottom of the stone, falling into the crystal jar. ¡°This is a polymerization crystal. Its use is to condense one¡¯s resonant power into watersource.¡± Yan Lingqing exined right as she directed the watersource into the crystal bottle in which the materials were boiling over. At this point, a wondrous scene unfolded and the chaotic disy of the seemingly ipatible materials repelling each otherpletely vanished. Then a bright, blue light was emitted from within. A single spirit liquid had been refined. Li Luo stared at the liquid, which was radiating blue light, and sighed in praise. ¡°This is just a single first-grade spirit liquid. Hence, the process is extremely simple and not exceptionally troublesome,¡± Yan Lingqing casually said. She was, after all, a fourth-grade resonance artificer, so such a process could be done on a whim. However, Li Luo was extremely cognizant of the fact that despite everything having gone smoothly, as easily as breathing, this was only possible due to the foundation built from countless failures. Even he could understand this as someone with a foundational understanding of resonance artificering. Li Luo gazed at the spirit liquid and asked directly, ¡°Since watersource and lightsource can determine the final tempering strength of the spirit liquids and purifying lights, what determines the quality of the watersource itself?¡± Yan Lingqing indifferently replied, ¡°The quality of the watersource or lightsource is dependent on one¡¯s resonance grade. The higher the grade of the resonance, the higher the quality of the watersource or lightsource produced. Hence, an individual with a high-grade water resonance or light resonance will naturally be a better resonance artificer than an average individual. For example, if Jiang Qing¡¯e were to be a resonance artificer, the tempering strength of her spirit liquids and purifying lights would vastly outstrip most individuals. It¡¯s simply a pity that she ispletely uninterested in this. Even the Resonance Tempering Hall spent a whole year beseeching her to pick up the fundamentals, but to no avail¡­¡± Li Luo nodded. Jiang Qing¡¯e had a rarely-seen ninth-grade light resonance, truly someone favored by the heavens. It truly was unfortunate that she had no interest whatsoever in resonance artificering. ¡°What if she were to create some high-grade lightsource for me to utilize? Would it improve the tempering strength of the spirit liquids and purifying lights the Suncreek Vi creates?¡± Yan Lingqing shook her head. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t work even if two people with simr resonances and grades created two lightsources ofpletely imperceptible but different characteristics. For example, the materials I have been refining for half a day have already fused with my resonant power. If someone else were to utilize their watersource toplete the refinement, it would cause a conflict and the refinement would certainly fail. However, there are specific secret arts in this world that allow one to condense a special sort of watersource or lightsource that can further improve the tempering strength of spirit liquids and purifying lights. These are known as secret art watersources or lightsources. This is the hidden ace of numerous powers, but our Suncreek Vi does not possess it.¡± Li Luo looked pensive as he listened. He was born with a nk pce and eventually refined an acquired resonance. Most importantly, the nk attribute of his pce had remained, and it allowed him to utilize spirit liquids and purifying lights without limits. His watersource should also correspondingly possess a portion of this nk attribute. Would it be of use to him as a resonance artificer? His waterlight resonance was of the fifth-grade and had the additional attribute of light. The resulting spirit liquid created by him might not be as simple as expected. Li Luo had confidence that if he were to use his waterlight resonance to refine a spirit liquid and purifying light, the result would not be inferior to one refined by someone with a seventh-grade water or light resonance. In fact, one would rarely even see a seventh-grade water or light resonance resonance artificer. Most importantly, there was no rush. He would take his time to experiment once he embarked on his journey to be a resonance artificer. As Li Luo was still pondering the numerous implications of his resonance, Yan Lingqing wiped her sses. ¡°If you truly want to be a resonance artificer,e here whenever you¡¯re free every day. I will teach you the basics, and when you¡¯re able to refine a first-grade spirit liquid or purifying light by yourself, you will officially be a first-grade resonance artificer.¡± ¡°Then I would sincerely like to thank Elder Sister Lingqing for this.¡± He had achieved his goal today and he couldn¡¯t help but smile exuberantly, truly thanking her for her guidance. Yan Lingqing coolly waved him off and put on her long robe, dragging Cai Wei out of her workshop. ¡­. During the next period of time, Li Luo¡¯s life became even more fruitful and strict. During the day, he would learn in Southwind Academy. After which, he would cultivate in the skygold room in the old manor, followed by some resonance art practice. Lastly, he would head to the Suncreek Vi and, under the guidance of Yan Lingqing, learn the arts of a resonance artificer. Whilst all of this was happening, Cai Wei was purchasing fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights. The moment they reached his hands, he would spend some time tempering his resonance. Time passed extremely quickly, and Li Luo could feel that he was growing stronger as each day went by. It wasn¡¯t until the day before the preliminary examinations that Li Luo finally reached the Sixth Seal Stage. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 26: An Ordinary Preliminary Examination Chapter 26: An Ordinary Preliminary Examination 1Chapter 26: An Ordinary Preliminary Examination Southwind Academy was bustling with activity on this day. The atmosphere seemed to be fired up as everyone geared up for the preliminary examinations. This preliminary examination was basically a qualifying round. Only the surviving twenty individuals would be able to represent Southwind Academy in the final examinations. The Academy Final Examinations, as they were also known as, was a gathering of all the academies in the Tianshu Province in which they would engage in rounds of battles. All of this was part of the selection for the Astral Sage College¡¯s strict entry requirements. This was also to say that only by passing through this qualifying round and entering the top twenty would one have the right to struggle for a ce within the Astral Sage College. Of course, many students also understood that the Astral Sage College was a goal that was simply too lofty. If they were able to perform outstandingly during the final examinations, they would still be able to attend a respectable college in the Xia Kingdom. Although these other colleges and institutions were not as famous, asrge in scale, or as strong as the Astral Sage College, they were still viable paths for one¡¯s future. Hence, this final examination was the final chance for the students to demonstrate their capabilities. At Southwind Academy¡¯s central training field. The entire ce was swarmed with a sea of people. There were tens of rings that had been constructed to serve as thepetition fields. The rules were also quite simple: onepetitor had to be knocked out of the field or forced to forfeit before the time limit was over to be considered a victory. When Li Luo and Zhao Kuo arrived in the area, they were shocked at the hustle and bustle. ¡°Hmph! It truly seems a little noisy.¡± Zhao Kuoughed. ¡°Although this is considered a qualifying round, to the vast majority of the students here, this is also their final chance to demonstrate their capabilities,¡± Li Luo replied. Zhao Kuo nodded as he scratched his head with a mncholic expression on his face. ¡°I don¡¯t even know if I qualify to enter the top 20.¡± With Li Luo¡¯s sudden rise, Zhao Kuo was now considered to be the second strongest within the Second School. Looking at Southwind Academy as a whole, his chances of entering the top 20 were not small. However, this also required a little bit of luck. If he were to sessively encounter individuals that were stronger than him, his overall record would also be tarnished and he might very well be eliminated. ¡°Everything is up to Lady Luck. Well, luck is something that¡¯s innate, and from the looks of things, you might not survive a few bouts after all,¡± Li Luo casually quipped as he looked around. Zhao Kuo¡¯s face turned green as he scolded, ¡°You bastard! I curse that you encounter Lu Qing¡¯er in the very first round!¡± ¡°No you.¡± ¡°No youuuuuu!!!!¡± Whilst the two bickered freely, an ear-piercing announcement echoed out from a tform overlooking the field. Everyone¡¯s attention shifted to it, and they could see Dean Wei walking out with the rest of the teachers following behind. ¡°Good morning, students. The preliminary examinations are about to start. I hope that all of you here will do your utmost and disy your strongest state. The ranking today will influence your future. The examinations willst three day and the results of these battles can be seen on the stone pirs situated in the four directions of the field. I will not speak any more unnecessary words and hereby announce the start of the preliminary examinations!¡± As the words resounded around the field, the shouts and excitement became even more intense and palpable. Li Luo and Zhao Kuo, on the other hand, had made their way to a stone pir. On the stone pir hung a projection crystal. Large amounts of information was scrolling through it as they read it. After half a minute, they discovered their opponents for the day. Zhao Kuo immediately heaved a sigh of relief. The two opponents he would be facing did not exceed his expectations. This was sufficient for him. Li Luo¡¯s expression was also indifferent. His two opponents were both from the First School, but they were not even as strong as Bei Kun. This, however, was normal. Southwind Academy had almost a thousand students. What were the odds of him encountering a metal te that was ripe for the kicking so quickly? On the contrary, Zhao Kuo and him were considered to be the metal tes that no one wanted to encounter. ¡°It¡¯s almost my turn. I will go and prepare myself. All the best!¡± Zhao Kuo looked at the time and said goodbye to Li Luo, excitedly tunneling into the mass of humans and disappearing in a sh. Li Luo shook his head as he made his way to his own battle stage. His first round was also about to begin. After reaching his assigned battle stage, Li Luo waited for around half an hour until the administrators announced his name, directly jumping atop in a single motion. Li Luo¡¯s appearance had also attracted the attention of the people around. Furthermore, he had previously beaten Bei Kun and his two friends in one go. He had once again regained a certain level of prestige. However, not everyone had witnessed that battle personally, so they continued to hold Li Luo in contempt, thinking that his disy of prowess was a mere exaggerated tale. Now that Li Luo was actually on the field, they would personally get to knock him down to size. Li Luo¡¯s opponent was a skinny youth at the Sixth Seal Stage. His expression was a little bitter as he was considered to be average even amongst the Sixth Seal cultivators of Southwind Academy. Although this wasn¡¯t bad, who would ever have expected him to be so unlucky as to encounter Li Luo in the first round? Furthermore, Li Luo had manifested a resonance and was ascending towards the skies! ¡°Begin.¡± Once the administrator saw that both parties had entered the battle stage, he gave themand to start. The skinny youth did not hesitate to rouse all of the resonant power within him. At the same time, he quickly assumed a defensive position, clearly nning to react to Li Luo¡¯s move instead of taking the initiative. Li Luo did not hesitate either. Blue resonant power akin to massive tides of water surged out and circted around him. He dashed out like a bolt of lightning, executing an explosive resonance art. The battle ended much quicker than anyone had expected. In just the short span of a few minutes, Li Luo¡¯s tempestuous assault rained down upon that skinny youth. His defense shattered instantly and he could only choose to resign. Hua! The people surrounding the battle stage burst into an uproar. Numerous horrified gazes were levied at Li Luo, especially from those at the Sixth Seal Stage, their expressions grave and sunken. They could not tell how Li Luo could have gained such explosive power in such a short period of time. It seemed as though even Bei Kun would be inferior in this regard. Li Luo was unconcerned with the looks he received from the audience. Once the administrator dered his victory, he jumped off the stage and disappeared amongst the crowd. Li Luo¡¯s second match was not long after, and it was even more rxed than the first. His opponent waspletely dispirited and did not even wish to fight, directly conceding. Hence, Li Luo¡¯s first day was aplete victory. After finishing the battles, Li Luo made preparations to leave. He had to rush to the Suncreek Vi to continue his learning of resonance smithing. After undergoing this period of practice, he could gradually feel that he was about to sessfully create a first-grade spirit liquid. Right as he weaved through the crowd, Li Luo could sense someone in front of him looking directly at him. It was Lu Qing¡¯er. She was currently wearing white, body-fitting practice robes. Her long legs were slender and entuated by the robes whilst it snugly wrapped around her perfect waist. Her long hair was also tied up in a ponytail that was let down elegantly. All of this gave rise to a scene so beautiful that one could only sigh wistfully when seeing her. However, when Li Luo saw her, he could only give a helpless smile and a greeting. ¡°Have you finished your bouts for today? It shouldn¡¯t have been too hard.¡± These words were all crap. Lu Qing¡¯er was number one in Southwind Academy. Anyone who encountered her would probably directly forfeit. Lu Qing¡¯er sized up Li Luo and replied, ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve grown stronger again. So where do you think you rank in this preliminary examination?¡± ¡°I should be able to enter the top 20. Being able to participate in the final examinations will be sufficient.¡± He casually smiled. He was sincerely disinterested inpeting for the highest position he could. There was no need to do so, as a higher rank wouldn¡¯t bring about any benefits. In fact, if his ranking was too high, he might even be specially targeted by other academies. When Lu Qing¡¯er heard his words, she frowned. ¡°With your strength, I feel that reaching the top ten isn¡¯t impossible.¡± ¡°Do you really think so highly of me?¡± Li Luoughed. ¡°Li Luo, I feel that you have no need to hide your strength so deeply. Only by fully demonstrating your capabilities will you be able to make those who doubt you shut up.¡± Li Luo felt a little helpless at these words. Lu Qing¡¯er might seem like an elegant and gracefuldy, but her personality was one that only sought greater strength. Perhaps this was also why she kept tabs on him. After all, he was the only one who had the ability to suppress her in the past. Thus, she held a special interest in him. Completely opposite of her, Li Luo¡¯s personality was not the mboyant sort. If there was no need to do so, he would not burst forth with his full capabilities for everyone to see. Perhaps this was a habit that he had unknowingly picked up as a form of self-protection after his fall from grace. ¡°I understand. I will do my best.¡± Lu Qing¡¯er did not have any bad intentions when she mentioned all this. Hence, Li Luo could only nod and agree with her before quickly finding an excuse to slink away. Lu Qing¡¯er continued to watch his back as he left, also feeling slightly helpless before turning to leave in the other direction. As the two left, neither had noticed that on a battle stage not too far away was a pair of stalking eyes. A certain Song Yunfeng had been observing the two after an utterly ruinous battle. His gaze was fixated upon the direction Li Luo had left in,pletely immersed in gloominess. ¡°I clearly warned you¡­ but still you wish to challenge me?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 27: First-grade Refining Workshop Chapter 27: First-grade Refining Workshop 3Chapter 27: First-grade Refining Workshop After leaving the academy, Li Luo did not rush to the old manor but instead to the Suncreek Vi. The Suncreek Vi¡¯s protectors had recently be ustomed to the sight of Li Luo turning up, hence they respectfully greeted him before returning to their duties. Entering the lightly scented Suncreek Vi interior, Li Luo could feel his spirits slightly lifting. This period of studying the resonance artificering arts had truly developed his interest in this matter. ¡°Haha. The Young Lord has truly been diligent ining to the Suncreek Vi for these past few weeks.¡± Just as Li Luo was in the midst of pondering how he could best refine a first-grade spirit liquid, he was dragged out of his daze by a certainugh. Turning his head to look, he noticed Vice President Zhuang Yi beaming right at him. ¡°I heard that the Young Lord has manifested a fifth-grade water resonance,¡± Zhuang Yi said curiously. Li Luo had already spent many days practicing the tempering arts, so the news of him possessing a fifth-grade water resonance had already started to spread. Li Luo closely observed this Vice President who had thrown his lot in with Pei Hao, gently nodding. ¡°Indeed, I¡¯m currently learning the tempering arts from Elder Sister Lingqing.¡± Zhuang Yi continued to smile. ¡°Vice President Yan is a genius of the Astral Sage College. Her abilities truly aren¡¯t bad. However, her experience has some limitations. If the Young Lord wishes to learn the tempering arts, your humble servant may not be talented, but I believe I can provide some constructive advice.¡± Li Luo smiled upon hearing this. This Zhuang Yi truly seemed to be big-hearted with those words. However, even an idiot would know that he was trying to closely monitor Li Luo and then personally report the news to Pei Hao. Would he even sincerely guide him? The choice was obvious if he had to choose between Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s best friend and ackey of Pei Hao. There was no hesitation. Hence, he lightly shook his head. ¡°I feel that Elder Sister Lingqing isn¡¯t bad. Perhaps when I do have unanswered questions, I will personally look for Vice President Zhuang.¡± ¡°Ah, that really is a shame.¡± Zhuang Yi gave an emotional sigh as though he felt that this was truly unfortunate. Li Luo did not continue to speak and was about to leave before he suddenly recalled something and turned back. ¡°Oh, yes, Vice President Zhuang, I do have a question. I¡¯ve heard from Elder Sister Lingqing that some of her refining workshops dock specific materials from time to time. In fact, I heard that you¡¯re in charge of procuring more materials. Would you be able to replenish the stock?¡± Upon hearing the request, Zhuang Yi frowned slightly before responding in a troubled tone, ¡°Young Lord, this is unfortunately something I cannot assist with. There are times when the materials we purchase encounter some quality issues and thus shortages do ur from time to time. Since the Young Lord has raised this concern, I will pay greater attention to it.¡± Facing Zhuang Yi¡¯s respectful tone and the seemingly reasonable, watertight excuse, Li Luo did not push the matter but gave him a deep look before turning to leave. Zhuang Yi, on the other hand, continued to observe Li Luo as he left, the smile on his face gradually disappearing. At Zhuang Yi¡¯s side was ackey who softly said, ¡°Vice President, it¡¯s truly unexpected that the Young Lord has manifested a fifth-grade resonance. This is truly shocking¡­¡± ¡°It must have been a heavenly treasure left behind by the two House Lords. It truly is a waste tovish such an expense on a wastrel,¡± Zhuang Yi indifferentlymented. ¡°However, it is just a fifth-grade resonance. It¡¯s not exceptional and it won¡¯t be so simple for the Young Lord to re-emerge as a contender for the house.¡± Waving his hand, he ordered, ¡°Bring this news to Young Master Pei Hao. Furthermore, let¡¯s expedite the confiscation of the first-grade refining workshops. That bitch Yan Lingqing is truly an eyesore.¡± ¡°Yes, my liege.¡± ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.. Li Luo had just entered a first-grade refining workshop. Numerouspartments with crystal walls as barriers divided the room, with eachpartment possessing an individual hard at work. Furthermore, Li Luo noticed the tall and slender Yan Lingqing walking around, in her long robe and both hands in her pockets. Her expression was clearly icy as she patrolled the area. She then paused in front of a particrpartment, unenthusiastically observing a particr first-grade resonance artificer¡¯s refining process. Being directly observed by Yan Lingqing caused the resonance artificer to feel a little nervous. He quickly drew out a thin crystal needle engraved with a precise measuring scale. This was a tempering measurement needle with a simple function. It was used to check the tempering strength of apleted spirit liquid or purifying light. The crystal needle dipped into the liquid within the crystal bottle and then the measurement scale gradually lit up increasingly. In the end, it settled at the 46% mark. Yan Lingqing saw this and coldlymented, ¡°If this sort of spirit liquid and purifying light were taken out for sale, it would only ruin the Suncreek Vi¡¯s reputation.¡± The resonance artificer could only dejectedly lower his head. Yan Lingqing did not be softhearted at this disy of remorse, only continuing to mercilessly tear into him. ¡°Your previous refinement had no less than four errors. The White Leaved Fruit was not refined with sufficient heat control, the Moonlight Juice used was too thick, the Smokeless Water was too thin, and most importantly, at the final step, your water resonance power did not attain the minimum saturation requirements. ¡°Refine it again.¡± After which, she turned and immediately swept her gaze across all of the first-grade resonance artificers. Everyone was silent out of fear, burrowing their heads into their work and focusing on refinement. Yan Lingqing carefully wiped her sses, her beautiful face remaining as chilly as ever. It was clear that the results of this first-grade resonance artificer were not up to standard. A trace of gloominess could be seen in her pupils. Although she hade at the behest of Jiang Qing¡¯e, she hade in without any assistance, and her influence within this branch could be considered to be even less than Zhuang Yi¡¯s. Within this branch of the Suncreek Vi, there were three refining workshops. They were split into first, second, and third-grades. Different graded refining workshops were thus responsible for the refinement of different grades of spirit liquids and purifying lights. Upon receiving Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s order, Yan Lingqing had taken over the first-grade and second-grade refining workshops. However, the third-grade workshop remained firmly within Zhuang Yi¡¯s grasp. The two parties had, as a result, shed multiple times both openly and secretly for the control of these refining workshops. Whoever controlled these workshops would indirectly control the majority of the resonance artificers. As the Suncreek Vi existed to refine spirit liquids and purifying lights, resonance artificers were the most important resource avable. However, Zhuang Yi seemed to be unable to sit still any further in recent days. He had started to make moves on the first-grade refining workshop. His reason was that he had managed to raise a disciple that could refine a 56% tempering strength first-grade spirit liquid. This would be the highest tempering strength avable in the Suncreek Vi¡¯s first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights. Hence, with this reason, Zhuang Yi spread rumors that Yan Lingqing was unable to guide the first-grade resonance artificers effectively by extension and was not a good fit to be in control. In fact, in recent days, there were signs that some of the first-grade resonance artificers were slightly moved by this rationale. Yan Lingqing could faintly feel that if things were to proceed this way, control of the first-grade refining workshop would be seized by Zhuang Yi. Although she possessed the backing of Jiang Qing¡¯e and Cai Wei, Zhuang Yi was not doing anything wrong on the surface. They were unwilling to directly boot this old man from the Suncreek Vi when he had yet to do anything wrong, as this would also be bad for morale. Such an action would also cause chaos to ensue within the management of the Suncreek Vi and would ultimately affect the amount of refined spirit liquids and purifying lights. In the end, House Lun would end up being the loser. Her heart was slightly disgruntled and in turmoil as she proceeded to walk into Li Luo¡¯s refining workshop. She gave a quick nce and did not say anything. Li Luo was also very casual as he strode into an empty refiningpartment. Beside him, a gorgeous youngdy softly said to him, ¡°You¡¯re back, Young Lord.¡± Li Luo smiled as he nodded and proceeded to tidy up the materials on the refining tform. He also softly replied, ¡°Sister Yinghua, why does it seem like Vice President Yan¡¯s mood isn¡¯t that great?¡± The youngdy who was addressed as Sister Yinghua stuck out a tongue at him in response. ¡°We¡¯ve all been scolded for an entire afternoon now¡­.¡± Then she gave him the rundown of the current state of things. After Li Luo heard all this, he finally understood that everything was for control of the first-grade refining workshop. This was indeed no small matter. If Zhuang Yi were able to take control of it, it would also be a massive blow to Yan Lingqing¡¯s influence and prestige. Her position in the Suncreek Vi would only shrink from that point on. Li Luo frowned as he didn¡¯t want to see such a sight. Furthermore, the Suncreek Vi was arge portion of House Lun¡¯s Tianshu Province ie, almost half of it. At a point where he requiredrge amounts of capital, he did not want such aplication to arise, as it would affect him significantly. Most importantly, Zhuang Yi was Pei Hao¡¯sckey. With his personality, the entire Suncreek Vi might even bepletely swallowed by that white-eyed wolf. However, all these thoughts were pointless now. Li Luo could only focus on what was ahead of him. The form for the first-grade Azure Jade Spirit Liquid was on the tform in front of him as he prepared the materials, beginning his practice for the day. Two hours of practice went by quickly, and just as Li Luo was getting more familiar with the refinement process, therge doors to the first-grade refining workshop had suddenly been pushed open. Everyone halted in their tasks as they nced over towards Zhuang Yi and his minions who had just barged in. Merely looking at the way they had busted their way in, one could tell that they had ill intentions. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 28: Li Luos First Time Chapter 28: Li Luo''s First Time 3Chapter 28: Li Luo¡¯s First Time Zhuang Yi and a column of his men had ferociously busted into the first-grade refining workshop, instantly causing the atmosphere to be tense. Surprised gazes were cast in their direction. Yan Lingqing had also noticed their entry. Her face downcast, she icily demanded, ¡°Vice President Zhuang Yi, how can you act so rudely?¡± Zhuang Yi¡¯s face was full of smiles as he replied, ¡°Vice President Yan, there is no need to be agitated. I¡¯m here for the issue we raised previously. Ever since the first-grade refining workshop was ced under yourmand, the amount of spirit liquids and purifying lights produced have decreased. Furthermore, there have been numerous pieces that are not up to par. This has severely affected the Suncreek Vi¡¯s business.¡± Zhuang Yi looked deeply worried and even sick at heart at this point. Yan Lingqing coldly retorted, ¡°A reduction in production? Aren¡¯t you most clear on why this is the case? If you had not reduced the amount of materials provided, how could this have happened?¡± ¡°Vice President Yan, you are ndering my good name! We have beencking materials recently, how could I just create more from nothing? Even though Vice President Yan is from the Astral Sage College, you might becking some experience and your guidance might not be appropriate for the Suncreek Vi¡¯s first-grade resonance artificers. Your pointers might instead mislead them,¡± Zhuang Yi said with a frown on his face. No one dared to interfere in this war of words within the first-grade refining workshop. Everyone understood that this was an open battle between the two vice presidents, and anyone who dared speak out of turn would inevitably be turned into dust by the aftershocks. Zhuang Yi continued to stare at Yan Lingqing. ¡°Vice President Yan, as resonance artificers, we should use results to back our words. You¡¯ve already been in control of the first-grade refining workshop for quite some time, but the results clearly haven¡¯t been exemry. The first-grade resonance artificers you have guided are only able to produce first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights that barely exceed 50% tempering strength. On the other hand, my disciple, Shi Yun, is already able to refine a 56% tempering strength Azure Jade Spirit Liquid. You have to know that the minimum requirement for the Suncreek Vi¡¯s first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights is 53% tempering strength. Thus, Vice President Yan should act for the good of the Suncreek Vi. I¡¯d rmend you hand the first-grade refining workshop over to me; otherwise, if things proceed this way, our first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights might no longer have a market in the Tianshu Province.¡± After speaking, Zhuang Yi turned to face a few of the higher-ups of this branch of the Suncreek Vi. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel that what I¡¯m saying makes sense?¡± These higher-ups remained deep in thought. Even though they did not wish to involve themselves in this scuffle between the two, Zhuang Yi¡¯s words made a lot of sense, and as an organization, only results mattered. If Zhuang Yi¡¯s disciple was able to reliably produce 56% tempering strength spirit liquids and purifying lights, this would indeed be beneficial to all. Hence, some of the higher ups reluctantly spoke out. ¡°Vice President Yan, why don¡¯t you let Shi Yun manage the first-grade refining workshop? This way, you can focus on the second-grade refining workshop. Furthermore, this is our Suncreek Vi¡¯s most important product.¡± Yan Lingqing was emotionless. If she truly gave way here, this would mean that she had lost in the battle against Zhuang Yi and would clearly indicate that the direction of the winds would blow against her. Gradually, she would be forced back more and more. However, if she did not take a step back here, with how aggressive Zhuang Yi was and with the voice of reason on his side, this would also cause a negative blowback on her end. Thus it truly seemed as though she was stuck between a rock and a hard ce. Zhuang Yi stared with interest at the clearly conflicted Yan Lingqing, a smirk gradually forming on his face. So what if she was a genius of the Astral Sage College, was she not still tender and fresh-faced? Weng! At this point in time, as the pressure on Yan Lingqing was multiplying, the tense atmosphere was shattered by a blue light exploding forth from a specific refiningpartment. This sudden change of events caused everyone some degree of astonishment. Everyone turned around, only to see a certain Li Luo grasping a bottle filled with an azure liquid and an expression full of glee. This was the first sessful spirit liquid he had ever produced, and it had been refined under such tenuous circumstances. After refining this bottle of Azure Jade Spirit Liquid, Li Luo drew out a tempering measurement needle and tested it. Surprisingly, he saw the measurement scale on the needle swiftly climb upwards. Ultimately, the needle stopped at the 60% tempering strength mark. Hua! When all of the first-grade resonance artificers saw this sight, they couldn¡¯t help eximing in shock! One after another, everyone rushed forward to take a look. ¡°60% tempering strength? The spirit liquid that the Young Lord refined has a tempering strength of 60%!¡± ¡°How can this be possible?!¡± The first-grade refining workshop was filled with cries of disbelief and terror! No one could understand how this was possible, and all the attention that had been focused on the battle between Zhuang Yi and Yan Lingqing dissipated. Everyone rushed towards Li Luo to take a closer look. After everyone had a chance toy eyes on the tempering measurement needle¡¯s scale, there was a deathly silence. All of their shocked gazes were directed at the smug Li Luo. They were well aware that he had been learning resonance artificering arts for no more than two weeks! Within such a short span of time, he had managed to not only produce a first-grade spirit liquid, but also produce one with such terrifying tempering strength. Was this truly what one called a blessed genius of the heavens? ¡°Make way.¡± Yan Lingqing¡¯s voice caused the group to disperse quickly as she strode over with her long, slender legs. Her alluring gaze was purely focused on the Azure Jade Spirit Liquid in Li Luo¡¯s hand. ¡°Let me take a look,¡± she instructed. Li Luo naturally made way and passed the crystal bottle over. Yan Lingqing then quickly poured out a drop of the Azure Jade Spirit Liquid to check it personally. Her face seemed a little moved at this sight. ¡°This Azure Jade Spirit Liquid has unmatched purity. It¡¯s clearly able to reach the point of 60% tempering strength.¡± She then shifted her focus onto Li Luo. She never would¡¯ve expected Li Luo to also be a true genius at resonance artificering. This was also his first attempt! Recalling the first time she refined Azure Jade Spirit Liquid, the finished product only had 57% tempering strength, which clearly wasn¡¯t a bad result. At this point, she seemed to think of something, and a cunning smile appeared on her cold face. She grabbed the bottle containing the Azure Jade Spirit Liquid and turned around, looking at the equally surprised Zhuang Yi. ¡°Vice President Zhuang Yi, I don¡¯t believe I will hand over the reins of the first-grade refining workshop just yet.¡± Zhuang Yi¡¯s face turned iparably dark as he scowled at the bottle of spirit liquid. He had clearly heard everyone¡¯s exmations. This brat Li Luo had managed to refine a 60% tempering strength spirit liquid? If he or Yan Lingqing, fourth-grade resonance artificers, were to take action personally, the first-grade Azure Jade Spirit Liquid would likely only reach the 65% tempering strength mark. Based on his memory, he had not personally refined a first-grade spirit liquid or purifying light in numerous years as such a task was a waste of his time. It was inefficient to do so, and it would fetch perhaps only tens of skygold. This was the first time he had heard of someone managing to create a spirit liquid with a 60% tempering strength on their first try. His disciple, Shi Yun, had spent an entire year polishing his craft before managing to reach a tempering strength of 56%. The difference between the two was likeparing mud to the clouds. Zhuang Yi¡¯s mouth twitched a bit before he stiffly answered, ¡°Vice President Yan, did you perhaps utilize some underhanded means? The Young Lord here has barely touched upon the realm of resonance artificering. As I recall, he only started two weeks ago.¡± Yan Lingqing indifferently nced at him. ¡°I¡¯m sure everyone here observed the Young Lord personally refining this. Your excuse seems a little too shameless, no? Perhaps you¡¯d like the Young Lord to personally demonstrate his skill to you?¡± There were numerous individuals around who nodded in agreement. They had clearly seen Li Luo personally refining this spirit liquid. Zhuang Yi¡¯s expression stiffened further as he forced himself to drylyugh. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare, I wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Although he did not respect Li Luo in his heart, this was still the Young Lord. How could he dare to take him lightly in front of everyone? ¡°Vice President Zhuang Yi, if I were to refine a first-grade spirit liquid with an even higher tempering strength, do you think that would give me the right to be the supervisor of the first-grade refining workshop?¡± Li Luo smiled as he dealt yet another blow to Zhuang Yi. Zhuang Yi gave a ridiculing smile. ¡°We would have to defer to Vice President Yan¡¯s opinion on this.¡± He also understood that today¡¯s attempt had resulted in a disastrous failure. Thus, he quickly gave some conciliatory words before turning around to leave quickly with a depressed expression on his face. The atmosphere finally cooled down in the first-grade refining workshop. Following which, numerous congrattory words came in from all around and everyone began to look at Li Luo with newfound envy and fervor. Li Luo dly epted thepliments before swiftly rushing off to continue his practice. A certain alluring gaze continued to focus on Li Luo as he made his way. ¡°Who would have thought that his first attempt would result in a spirit liquid with such high tempering strength. It looks like you are truly a genius when ites to resonance artificering.¡± At the Astral Sage College, Yan Lingqing had seen numerous geniuses, but this was the first time she had seemed someone with so much natural talent. What she found most unexpected was that Li Luo¡¯s water resonance was only at the fifth-grade, so what did that mean? This meant that Li Luo possessed a natural affinity and sensitivity towards fusing and harmonizing the characteristics of these materials. This was something innate, and only certain geniuses in the Resonance Tempering Hall of the Astral Sage College possessed such ability. ¡°Perhaps this was all luck as well,¡± Li Luo wistfully suggested. If he knew how highly Yan Lingqing regarded him, he would have definitely felt extremely awkward. He truly didn¡¯t possess this so-called genius. The reason why his first spirit liquid ever had a 60% tempering strength was due to him relying on his waterlight resonance¡¯s unique characteristics when it came to refining spirit liquids. When the result was produced, he noticed he had underestimated the impact the water resonance power and light resonance power had on fusing the final product. Yan Lingqing was disinterested in his thoughts. ¡°It was lucky that you were around this time. I will not bother with superfluous thanks, and the Suncreek Vi¡¯s profits technically all go to you so nothing more needs to be said.¡± She immediately paused after saying all this, and a smile bloomed on her snowy face. ¡°However, my mood isn¡¯t bad. I will treat you to a meal tonight, then!¡± Li Luo originally wanted to reject her offer as he wished to rush back home to practice his resonance arts¡­ but upon thinking about how strict Yan Lingqing usually was, his survival instincts kicked in and he immediately gave the most radiant smile he possibly could and agreed almost instantly¡­ ¡°Well then¡­ nothing could please me more!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 29: Im Still a Child! Chapter 29: I''m Still a Child! 2Chapter 29: I¡¯m Still a Child! Night had fallen upon the City of Southwind. Lanterns were lit up all around, heralding the hustle and bustle of nightlife as the chilly wind blew past. ¡°Your performance today wasn¡¯t bad! It truly helped me out of a pinch! Down this cup!¡± In a winehouse facing the street, Yan Lingqing was grabbing a cup of wine and shrieking. Her usual cool and collected demeanor had turned into a rarely seen heroic and unrestrained temperament thanks to the assistance of liquid courage. Li Luo was also a little stupefied at this sudden change of events. Helpless, he could only gently clink cups and then stare in shock as Yan Lingqing downed the entire cup, which was the size of half her face, in a single breath. This way of drinking seemed to runpletely contrary to Yan Lingqing¡¯s bespectacled and cold appearance. It was aplete change in personality! Simrly, numerous gazes within the winehouse had sneakily shifted towards them as Yan Lingqing truly was quite an attractive individual. ¡°Elder Sister Lingqing, you don¡¯t have to say more. Ultimately, I¡¯m just protecting my spending money¡­¡± Li Luoughed. ¡°Perhaps that might be true. But that bastard Zhuang Yi, always waving around those ¡®qualifications¡¯ of his around me¡­ I¡¯ve suffered more than a few times thanks to him¡­ I¡¯ve never seen eye to eye with him.¡± Yan Lingqing let loose. At the same time, she continued sizing Li Luo up. ¡°However, you¡¯ve truly amazed me, and now I have a whole new level of respect for you. I had always thought that this Young Lord was just some sort of mascot!¡± Li Luo was a little embarrassed upon hearing those words. Wasn¡¯t she being a little too honest? Not wasting any time, Yan Lingqing refilled herrge cup and continued, ¡°Frankly speaking, there¡¯s still a huge gap between you and Jiang Qing¡¯e.¡± ¡°That is to be expected¡­¡± Li Luo honestly admitted. Jiang Qing¡¯e was exceptional, so much so that even the Astral Sage College was merely another stepping stone to her. This sort of honor was something even the prince of the royal family would not be able to receive. ¡°Though I will continue to struggle and work hard.¡± Li Luo stared at his wine cup and smiled. Yan Lingqing yfully retorted, ¡°Oh? It sounds like you truly have a thing for Jiang Qing¡¯e.¡± ¡°Sister Qing¡¯e¡¯s excellence does not need to be borated on. If I said I never had any funny ideas about her, I¡¯m afraid even you wouldn¡¯t believe me,¡± Li Luo said honestly. He had been with Jiang Qing¡¯e for many years, and their rtionship and feelings had naturally be more and moreplex. Adding fuel to the mes was the marriage agreement, and from Li Luo¡¯s perspective, the two had be deeply intertwined. Li Luo was sure that this feeling was not exclusive to him but also extended to Jiang Qing¡¯e. It was impossible for her to treat him as an ordinary person, and this was something that Li Luo could sense after being with her for so long. ¡°How honest.¡± Yan Lingqing downed yet another cup of strong wine. Nodding her head, she gave a smile with a deeper meaning. ¡°If you truly have these sorts of thoughts, then you have a long way to go. You¡¯re currently still in the City of Southwind despite all this. Perhaps when you enter the Astral Sage College one day, you will realize how frightening your opponents are.¡± Li Luo grasped his wine cup, feeling slightly dejected as he thought of how to reply. ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m still Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s husband-to-be.¡± Pausing slightly, he chuckled. ¡°If anyone truly wants to harm me, they¡¯d still have to go through Sister Qing¡¯e. I think that when that happens, the ones who will find it most unbearable will be those opponents themselves.¡± Yan Lingqing¡¯s beautiful pupils widened a little at this statement, and she red at Li Luo. ¡°Wait¡­ aren¡¯t you just hiding behind your woman?¡± Li Luo replied with conviction and sincerity, ¡°Isn¡¯t it the duty of the bride to protect the groom? What¡¯s wrong with that!? Huh?¡± Yan Lingqing, who was slightly taken aback, couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°You¡­ that¡¯s going too far!¡± Immediately after, she burst intoughter as she understood Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s personality best. She truly would do such a thing and treat thesepetitors as pieces of meat, a double blow to their ego and prestige. Li Luo smiled as he refilled her cup, the two continuing to drink. Towards the end, as he felt his head starting to spin, he noticed that Yan Lingqing had already copsed atop the table. Li Luo could finally sigh a heave of relief. He shook Yan Lingqing gently and realized she waspletely unresponsive, leaving him speechless. In the end, he lifted her up with one hand on her slender waist and the other on her knees, gradually carrying her away. As Li Luo carried Yan Lingqing out of the winehouse, numerous envious gazes were trained upon him! However, he did not possess their vile thoughts. He quickly gged a carriage over and a then certaindy then came out to receive them. This was something previously arranged by Yan Lingqing as she knew that she¡¯d definitely go big before she went home. Li Luo carefully lifted Yan Lingqing into the carriage before informing the attendant, ¡°Please take Vice President Yan home.¡± The female attendant respectfully nodded and then proceeded to guide the carriage away. On the streets, Li Luo watched as the carriage was bathed by the numerous lights within the city. He stretchedzily as he recollected the conversation he had with Yan Lingqing, eventually smiling wryly. ¡°I guess I have to work harder.¡± Although he didn¡¯t mind having Jiang Qing¡¯e protect him, he couldn¡¯t be a stain on her reputation either, right? As he turned to leave, within the swiftly leaving carriage, the originally drunk Yan Lingqing suddenly opened her eyes. As shezilyy within the carriage, she murmured to herself, ¡°Not bad indeed. He clearly didn¡¯t try to take advantage of me. When I get back, I have to let Qing¡¯e know that while her little husband is not very strong, he is definitely someone that this elder sister recognizes!¡± ¡­. When Li Luo woke up the next day, he could feel a pounding pain in his head. Feelingpletely helpless, he made a mental note to reject any more drinking excursions with Yan Lingqing. After hastily cleaning up, he made his way to the front hall, where he spotted the charming and alluring Elder Sister Cai Wei waiting for him for breakfast. Li Luo gave an apologetic smile at this point¡­ ¡°Did you have a few drinks with Yan Lingqingst night?¡± Cai Wei grinned as she passed him a bowl of porridge. Li Luo nodded. ¡°Who would have expected Elder Sister Lingqing to drink so¡­ heroically?¡± ¡°Lingqing truly is too much. You¡¯re just a child. Why did she take you out for drinks?¡± Cai Wei chided. Upon hearing this, Li Luo felt dissatisfied. ¡°Elder Sister Cai Wei, don¡¯t take advantage of my youth! Aren¡¯t you only a little older than me? You almost sound like my mom.¡± Cai Wei red at him before she praised, ¡°I heard of what happened at the Suncreek Vi yesterday. You¡¯re not bad! You¡¯ve finally reached a point where you can assist us in the bigger picture. I¡¯ve also taken the opportunity to dispose of some of our more useless assets in the Tianshu Province. I¡¯ve even provided a bargain for the Difa family and the Bei family. Hahaha. I heard that the Song family tried to discuss some new terms with the other two families, but to no avail. They stonewalled the Song family and said that this wasn¡¯t part of the deal. This has created friction and made it more difficult for them to reach a consensus when ites to dealing with House Lun. Now that we have gotten rid of some of these burdens, our coffers have been replenished and we should be able toplete your requested purchase smoothly soon.¡± Li Luo was extremely excited. ¡°Elder Sister Cai Wei, you¡¯re just too capable! Unlike Elder Sister Lingqing, who can¡¯t drink but still gorges herself silly!¡± Cai Wei¡¯s thick eyshes pped as she blinked in slight confusion. ¡°She can¡¯t drink?¡± Li Luo nodded. ¡°She drank till she cked out yesterday! I even had to carry her to her carriage.¡± Elder Sister Cai Wei had a yful expression on her face. ¡°My dumb little Young Lord. Yan Lingqing¡¯s alcohol capacity is iprehensible. She could out drink ten of you and her face wouldn¡¯t even turn red.¡± Upon hearing this, Li Luo was bbergasted. ¡°You didn¡¯t have any unsavory thoughts about her, did you?¡± Cai Wei said as she sized him up. ¡°If you did, she will never utter a single good word about you when she¡¯s with Qing¡¯e.¡± At this point, Li Luo quickly racked his brains as he tried to recollect what happened the previous night. It seemed as though he had not done anything untowards to her¡­ Only upon this realization did he wipe his forehead free of cold sweat. He had almost been toyed with by Yan Lingqing. With a slightly awkward expression, he ced his bowl down. ¡°I¡¯m heading to the academy.¡± Turning away, he swiftly ran off as Cai Wei¡¯s melodiousughter echoed out, further increasing his sense of indignation and grief. These elder sisters were just too cunning, and Li Luo had been yed like a fiddle. ¡°I¡¯m truly just a child like they say!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 30: Vagrant Yu Lang Chapter 30: Vagrant Yu Lang 1Chapter 30: Vagrant Yu Lang When the indignant Li Luo finally arrived at the academy, he noticed that the previously ecstatic atmosphere had lessened significantly. In fact, some of the students even had looks of dismay on their faces. Evidently, the majority of them were those that had not done well in the previous day. However, there was no choice. Someone¡¯s happiness woulde at the cost of someone¡¯s sadness. In a qualifying examination like the preliminaries, those who were not strong enough would naturally be eliminated. ¡°Brother Luo, you¡¯re here!¡± Zhao Kuo eximed when he saw Li Luo, immediately rushing up to him. ¡°Of your two battles today, one won¡¯t be as easy. You¡¯re against the First School¡¯s Yu Lang. Do you remember him?¡± ¡°Yu Lang?¡± Li Luo racked his brain before finally nodding in agreement. That fellow had a bit of fame within the First School, and his strength ranked amongst the top 20. It was said that he possessed a sixth-grade wind resonance that provided him with unparalleled speed. ¡°That guy is at the Seventh Seal Stage and is significantly stronger than Bei Kun.¡± Zhao Kuo¡¯s expression became slightly grave at this point. ¡°Seventh Seal, huh?¡± Li Luo puckered his lips. This would definitely be a troublesome opponent. However,Yu Lang should be within the threshold of those that he could beat. Hence, he patted Zhao Kuo on the shoulder and smiled. ¡°Rx, I have faith in myself.¡± Zhao Kuo did not say anything in response as he knew Li Luo¡¯s personality. If Li Luo truly knew he had no chance of victory, he would not be putting up a brave front. Whilst the two were speaking, a student from Second School came running over. ¡°Brother Luo, there is someone outside looking for you.¡± Li Luo became a little apprehensive after hearing this but still headed out. Standing in the shade of a tree was an unruly-looking youth with a mane of hair that pped around him. Li Luo instantly recognized this youth. It was his next opponent, Yu Lang. ¡°Are you looking for me?¡± Li Luo smiled. Yu Lang swept away the hair covering his eyes before giving a deep look at Li Luo. ¡°Who would have expected that after so long, you would manage to rise again? You truly live up to your previous reputation as the man who once ruled Southwind Academy!¡± Li Luo sighed before replying impatiently, ¡°Don¡¯t speak such meaningless words.¡± ¡°How is this meaningless?¡± Yu Lang replied in dissatisfaction. In the end, Yu Lang stopped beating around the bush and got straight to the point. ¡°Song Yunfeng approached me, and he knew I was your uing opponent. He even offered a significant price for me to injure you with all my might.¡± Li Luo was a little stunned upon hearing this before heughed. ¡°Are you telling me your secrets? Or do you n to take advantage of muddled waters?¡± ¡°Che! I, Yu Lang, may be unrestrained, but I still have a bottom line. You once guided me in resonance arts, and I owe you for that,¡± Yu Lang disdainfully replied. ¡°I am here to remind you that if you are not strong enough to be my opponent, then quickly give up for your own good. Of course, if you¡¯ve hidden your newfound strength so deeply that even I will be beaten silly¡­ if that¡¯s the case, then y along with me! Hmm, I suppose you could ¡®heavily¡¯ injure me and send me flying out of the stage. This way, I can even take a bit out of Song Yunfeng¡¯spensation pool¡­. Plus, that bastard is a foolish spendthrift. He¡¯s offered a huge sum after all¡­ ¡°Oh, yes, that bit aboutpensation is just something extra I tacked on to the agreement with Song Yunfeng. I don¡¯t think we will have to go that far though¡­ Li Luo, you might not be aware, but this Yu Lang in front of you is no longer the Yu Lang of the past who tripped over his baggy pants!¡± Li Luo may have been slightly cunning, but he was almost shocked blind at the audacity of Yu Lang¡¯s grand n. In the end, he could only helplessly reply, ¡°You truly are trouble¡­ so I¡¯m reporting you to the teachers.¡± This chain of eventspletely caught Yu Lang by surprise. His jaw dropped while staring at Li Luo. ¡°What kind of bastard are you, Li Luo?! Do you think it¡¯s easy for me to earn a little bit of money? How can you, a young master, know my pitiful troubles in life?! Why would you make life difficult for meeeeeeeeeee!?!?!¡± he ferociously scolded! ¡°Scram, scram, scram!¡± Li Luo frowned as he waved his hand to chase away this nuisance. It had been years since theyst spoke, but he was still as strange as ever, with even stranger schemes¡­ Yu Lang coldly snorted as he ruffled his hair and turned to leave. Li Luo continued to stare at him, making sure he was leaving before waving goodbye. ¡°Although this information wasn¡¯t that important, thank you nheless!¡± Yu Lang paused upon hearing hisment, coldly snorting before leaving. ¡°Young people should always strive to do their best instead of resorting to these means!¡± After Yu Lang left, Li Luo frowned slightly. Song Yunfeng¡¯s desire to fight had been getting more intense. All of this was due to his infatuation with Lu Qing¡¯er, but also partly to do with the enmity between their families. ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping a low-profile, why are you still targeting me!?¡± ¡­. The first round in the morning went by with noplications and there was nothing much to say. Before he knew it, it was already afternoon and time for Li Luo¡¯s match with Yu Lang. On the battle stage, Yu Lang¡¯s unruly mane floated with the wind as he coldly stared at Li Luo. ¡°Li Luo! It¡¯s your misfortune to be facing me!¡± Meanwhile, the battle stage was surrounded by numerous audience members. Everyone was extremely interested in this particr fight as it was the first time Li Luo would have to face off against a strong opponent. Facing Yu Lang¡¯s theatrics directly, and in front of such arge crowd, caused Li Luo to feel a little embarrassed. He definitely did not want to get sucked into Yu Lang¡¯s circus show, as it would demonstrate he was no different from this fool¡­ Thus, he quietly activated his resonant power, a pure-blue aura gradually emitting from his entire body, flickering towards the sky. Even the audience nearby could literally feel the air bing more humid with his presence. Following the administrator¡¯s order to begin, Yu Lang, who had been posing, immediately surged with explosive, green resonant power. One could hear the wind whistling and howling by as this resonant power was emitted. Suddenly, he shed towards Li Luo like a bolt of lightning, so fast that even the onlookers could only catch a trace of his shadow. His burst of speed caused Li Luo¡¯s eyes to focus intently. Meanwhile, the audience was cheering endlessly as this was a sight to behold! Yu Lang¡¯s speed was clearly ferociously swift! Peng! In the blink of an eye, a fist shrouded in wind and wrapped with a green light struck at Li Luo like a bolt from the blue. Li Luo could only see a fist speedily increasing in size right in front of his eyes, almostpletely blocking his vision! Yu Lang was clearly not going to hold back during this fight. Stumbling slightly, he responded with a calm, open palm instead, with blue resonant power gushing out directly, forming a massive, imprable wall of water! The wind-infused green fist struck squarely, and the impact caused the water wall to ripple intensely. ¡°Waowu!¡± A weird cry echoed out. Yang Lu¡¯s body flickered in response, and numerous afterimages appeared as his speed increased. These afterimages surrounded Li Luo, and each and every one of those fists and legs were wreathed with green light, howling with piercing wind as they attempted to drown Li Luo in a flurry of blows! This was a savage direct assault! Facing these berserk blows, Li Luo quickly adopted a defensive position as theyers of water around him deformed slightly due to the physical strikes, constantly warding off attacks towards his vitals. To the ones watching this battle, they all understood that Li Luo was nning to drag this into a battle of attrition. This was not surprising as water resonances tended to be more enduring and were better suited for it. The more the fight dyed, the clearer Li Luo¡¯s advantage would be. ¡°Li Luo is once again demonstrating his mastery of the Nine Layered Jade Waves,¡± some of the more astute studentsmented. The Nine Layered Jade Waves had once been demonstrated by Li Luo on Bei Kun, and it was perfectly designed for drawn-out battles. One would constantly umte greater amounts of power, building up towards a devastating blow that would frighten anyone! However, Yu Lang was significantly stronger than Bei Kun, so it would not be such an easy task to ward off his tempestuous blows. ¡°Waowu!¡± Yu Lang eximed strangely once again. His index and middle fingers bent into a hook-like shape and suddenly pierced out with green light condensing on those fingertips. The green light was iparably radiant, constantly pulsing with energy. ¡°Wind Finger!¡± This finger attack that swept towards Li Luo like a tornado directly perforated the water wall that surrounded him and stabbed towards his chest like a bolt of lightning! Noticing that the opponent¡¯s move was blitzing towards him with iparable might, Li Luo understood that he had nowhere to hide, so he took a deep breath of the moist air around him. ¡°Gentle Water Fist!¡± Li Luo pushed a palm out that was shrouded with blue resonant power. Just as the two attacks were about to collide, his five fingers stretched outwards in a flicking motion, directly creating numerous waves within the sea of water resonant power that surrounded him. This created a huge water vortex in the space before him as a result. On the other hand, Yu Lang¡¯s Wind Finger¡¯s green light was gradually stripped away by the devastating grinding power of the water vortex, eventually gettingpletely entangled by this move. By the time the Wind Finger passed through the water vortex, the attack had been stripped of its fangs! Peng! The fist and finger then collided. Their resonant power shing instantly, sending shockwaves rippling around the stage. Both Li Luo and Yu Lang had been struck directly by the aftershocks, and the two quickly retreated away from each other. Hua! Everyone burst into an uproar at this very sight. Shocked nces were directed towards Li Luo. He had actually managed to weaken Yu Lang¡¯s strongest offensive move into a generally harmless strike? Yu Lang was at the Seventh Seal Stage! This was also wind resonance power, which was supposed to have an offensive edge over water resonance power! ¡°Li Luo¡¯s usage of his resonance art was just too mystical. He was able to utilize the Gentle Water Fist to its greatest effect, dispelling Yu Lang¡¯s brute-force move. How impressive! The Gentle Water Fist is merely a middle-grade resonance art, yet it can perfectly counter Yu Lang¡¯s high-grade Wind Finger,¡± said a member of the audience as he sighed in appreciation. ¡°Li Luo¡¯s resonant power is only at the Sixth Seal, which is definitely weaker than Yu Lang¡¯s. Yet he is able to persist in the fight for so long¡­¡± ¡°The title of Southwind Academy¡¯s resonance art expert is not for show!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Whilst the people were cheering, Yu Lang¡¯s mouth changed into a grin as he focused on Li Luo. This brat truly had hidden his strength deeply! He had not gained any advantage in their previous shes, which wentpletely against his own expectations. ¡°This brat is truly quite abnormal.¡± Yu Lang had even wanted to take things a little easy, but he had no right to do so! However, this was great! Only a fight like this would hold meaning! Yu Lang¡¯s eyes zed with excitement as he proceeded tounch his next round of attacks. Green resonant power once again billowed out of him and he shot out like a bullet, taking his speed to the extreme. Just as he reached his maximum sprint, he suddenly realized that he had lost his sense of bnce, and he mysteriously lost his footing and slipped. Yu Lang¡¯s expression was changing constantly from that of excitement, to surprise, to shock when he looked at his feet in the midst of falling. It seemed that at some point, his legs had been entangled by Li Luo¡¯s blue resonant power. This resonant power was like a water snake, coiling around both his legs. When he reached his peak speed, it caused him to lose his sense of bnce. ¡°This is¡­¡± Yu Lang¡¯s pupils tightened when he realized what had happened. Li Luo, watching him lose his bnce, let out a smile. ¡°Low-grade resonance art, Water Snake. ¡°You¡¯re too careless, Yu Lang. Haha.¡± As Li Luo spoke, he took a step forward and chained that move with a double-palmed follow up. Water resonance power cascaded out of him, a sight that reminded the audience of the waves of the sea. ¡°Although you¡¯re no longer tripping due to your baggy pants, things haven¡¯t changed. You¡¯re still going to fall, and it¡¯s because of my water snake!¡± Finishing off his banter, he directly mmed his palms into Yu Lang¡¯s flying chest. ¡°F*ck me! Li Luo! You tricked me!¡± Yu Lang screamed as he was sent flying away! Bang! Whilst he cursed, he was sted away, eventually colliding with a wall outside the stage, causing a loud bang. At the moment hended, a fountain of fresh blood spurted out of Yu Lang¡¯s mouth, almost ten meters high! At the same time, copious amounts of fresh blood oozed out of every crevice on his robes, instantly causing him to turn into a bloody figure, a sight that truly horrified the audience. Li Luo, on the other hand, stood there in a slight daze, his lips twitching slightly. This was clearly going too far! Did the human body even have that much blood?! Apletely nonsensical sight! He hadn¡¯t even hit him that hard¡­ Was this genius trying to swindle Song Yunfeng out of such arge sum that he could retire in peace? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 31: Encountering A Strong Enemy Chapter 31: Encountering A Strong Enemy 1Chapter 31: Encountering A Strong Enemy The uproar beneath the stage continued until Yu Lang was quickly carried away on a stretcher. Despite the din dying down, looks ofplete astonishment and horror were still levied upon Li Luo. They were terrified by Li Luo¡¯s absolutely merciless blow! Li Luo was speechless at this, silently cursing that bastard Yu Lang. That vagrant had dragged his name through the mud! As he stood on the stage, his gaze sweeped the four directions before finally pausing on a particr seat. Song Yunfeng was sitting right there with a group of friends, gaily chatting. When he noticed Li Luo¡¯s stare, he raised his head and returned him an indifferent look before continuing with what he was doing. Li Luo was also uninterested in giving him a piece of his mind, so he turned to leave. ¡°Brother Luo, you are truly ferocious! Even Yu Lang was ruined by you!¡± Zhao Kuo praised as he ran over. ¡°That brat is just putting on a show.¡± Li Luo had a good understanding of his opponent¡¯s strength, and if they had continued brawling, he might be the eventual victor, but that would have taken quite a while. Judging by today¡¯s results, his current battle strength was on par with that of a Seventh Seal. Entering the top 20 would not be a problem. All that remained were thest two battles tomorrow. If he was able to win both, he would definitely enter the top 20 and could finally take a breather. It was said that once the top 20 had been determined, they could choose to continue battling to determine their ranking amongst the group. Li Luo was not interested in thispetition as simply being one of the twenty meant he would be qualified to participate in the College Final Examinations. Thus, there was no need to engage in this meaningless battle. If he had time, he¡¯d much rather practice refining spirit liquids and purifying lights. After the battles for the day ended, Li Luo did not immediately leave the academy, as the pairings for the battles on the following day would be released soon. He wanted to know who he would be up against. Luckily, he did not have to wait long, as an hourter, a metallic ringing resounded throughout the field. Li Luo and Zhao Kuo both made their way to a stone pir. The stone pir was surrounded by numerous students, and Li Luo quickly nced over the flowing characters on the projection screen. Very quickly, he managed to find his opponents for the next day. His first opponent was a Seventh Seal student from the First School. This opponent was known to be significantly weaker than Yu Lang and would not pose a threat to him. Unfortunately, when he discovered who his second opponent was, his gaze gradually narrowed into a squint. ¡°Brother Luo! What a disaster! Your final opponent is Song Yunfeng!¡± Zhao Kuo cried out almost involuntarily when he discovered Li Luo¡¯s opponent. Indeed, Li Luo¡¯s final opponent was the second strongest student in the First School, Song Yunfeng! Some of the other students had also heard themotion, and pitiful looks fell upon him. Although Li Luo had recently managed to make aeback, even managing to beat Yu Lang today, it looked as though his lucky streak had ended. ¡°Song Yunfeng is apparently at the Eighth Seal! Shit! It doesn¡¯t get unluckier than this¡± Zhao Kuo sighed as he also felt pity towards Li Luo. Li Luo, on the other hand, didn¡¯t seem too concerned. ¡°None of those that have survived till the end are weaklings. It¡¯s not that unusual to encounter him.¡± ¡°No worries! Even if you lose a round tomorrow, your ce in the top 20 is basically set in stone,¡± Zhao Kuo said, intending to console Li Luo. Although Li Luo smiled and nodded upon hearing those words, his eyes held a trace of gloominess. No one knew exactly what he was thinking. On the other side of the field, Song Yunfeng had also managed to identify his opponents for the next day. Upon seeing that his opponent was going to be Li Luo, he stared at the screen for a good half a minute in a daze before revealing a vicious smile. ¡°You¡¯ve had such a glum face the entire time today, yet you¡¯re suddenly smiling? Why the change?¡± Difa Qing, who had been following him around, asked curiously. ¡°Well, that is because I finally get to face off against an opponent that brings me joy! I never thought heaven would grant me my greatest wish!¡± Song Yunfeng beamed. At this point, Difa Qing noticed Song Yunfeng¡¯s opponent for tomorrow. ¡°Wow, so it¡¯s going to be Li Luo? I suppose that¡¯s normal since both of you have had a streak of victories. The chances of this happening weren¡¯t small¡­ However, his luck isn¡¯t great. His winning streak ends now, I suppose,¡± Difa Qing replied, slightly shocked. She had a clear understanding of Song Yunfeng¡¯s might, and Lu Qing¡¯er was the only student in Southwind Academy with the strength to suppress him. Even though Li Luo had finally started to ascend to the skies, there was still an insurmountable gap between him and Song Yunfeng! She could already imagine the scene of tomorrow¡¯s battle. It would be no different from crushing dried and rotten branches underfoot for Song Yunfeng. Furthermore, she also knew that Song Yunfeng absolutely detested Li Luo, whether it was due to personal matters or the struggle between their families. Thus, as soon as the battlemenced, Song Yunfeng would utilize the quickest measures to savagely crush Li Luo, bashing him into the ground. For a brief moment, Difa Qing even felt a trace of pity for Li Luo. The result was already predetermined. However, Li Luo truly had iting! If he knew that Song Yunfeng liked Lu Qing¡¯er, why had he not distanced himself from her? After all, an envious man that had been provoked would not act rationally. Li Luo, on the other hand, left the academy as soon as he saw who his opponents were for the next day. Zhao Kuo could only say goodbye with a look of sympathy on his face. Whilst on the carriage back, Li Luo¡¯s eyes were closed as he remained deep in thought. The battle with Song Yunfeng the next day would be unimaginably difficult. The opponent was at the Eighth Seal and possessed significantly denser resonant power. Furthermore, he also had a seventh-grade Crimson Eagle resonance. Seventh to ninth-grade resonances were considered high-grade, and thus Song Yunfeng¡¯s resonance fell in that category. One should not underestimate what a high-grade resonance was capable of. The power produced by a seventh-grade resonance was not the same realm as middle-grade or low-grade resonances. The resonant power was denser and also possessed some form of spirituality. Spirituality was a difficult concept to exin; it was something that was ephemeral and could only be experienced when it was used on one¡¯s opponents. Thus, the seventh-grade could be considered to be a watershed. Those who could cross this gap would be in possession of an almighty resonance. Additionally, within the threshold of a high-grade resonance, they were also further ssified into upper and lower distinctions. This was not applicable for first to sixth-grade resonances, and it allowed one to better differentiate the potential within these high-grade resonances. Song Yunfeng¡¯s Crimson Eagle Resonance was a lower seventh-grade. Thus, regardless of resonant power or resonance grade, Li Luo was one step behind Song Yunfeng, and this battle was clearly not in his favor. No one had high hopes for the battle between the two. Even Li Luo himself was no exception. ¡°This is truly very troublesome,¡± Li Luo mumbled to himself. Although his waterlight resonance was unique in its own way, it was still only a fifth-grade resonance. Even though the spirit liquids and purifying lights refined by it were not inferior to what a seventh-grade resonance could refine, this was not applicable in the context of a battle. His resonance was unlikely to have any advantages in a head-on collision. If he could somehow temper the waterlight resonance to the sixth-grade by tomorrow, he would definitely feel less pressure. Despite constantly chewing through his supply of spirit liquids and purifying lights, he had still been unable to increase the grade. More time was needed, and this was not enough to put out the inferno burning at his gate. ¡°Should I just concede instantly?¡± Li Luo scratched his head. This was honestly a possible choice. No matter how he considered the situation, this was the most normal and expected potion. Everyone knew of the huge gap between the two and that it was basically uncrossable. If he knew the result but still persisted, would that not make him a masochist? Li Luo continued to ponder. He had no ns to visit Suncreek Vi today, so he went straight home. Even if there was no alternative choice, he would still prepare himself for the worst. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 32: Agitated Li Luo Chapter 32: Agitated Li Luo 2Chapter 32: Agitated Li Luo When the next day came, Cai Wei greeted Li Luo, who had just arisen. He looked absolutely terrible, with ck eye-circles and sluggish movements. It was as though he had not slept well the previous night. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Didn¡¯t sleep well?¡± Cai Wei asked with concern. Li Luo shook his head and smiled. ¡°The academy has been having their preliminary examinations recently, and I think the stress has gotten to me.¡± He didn¡¯t want to mention the situation of him having to face off against Song Yunfeng today. There wasn¡¯t any point. Cai Wei nodded knowingly, and her radiant and beautiful egg-shaped face had an encouraging expression. ¡°Do your best! I¡¯m sure you can do it!¡± ¡°Oh, Yan Lingqing asked about you yesterday. It seems that you didn¡¯t go to the Suncreek Vi?¡± While hurriedly stuffing several mouths of porridge into his mouth, Li Luo garbled, ¡°Please let her know that once my preliminary examinations are done, I will spend more effort on resonance smithing. If she wants to find me for a chat, I will be more than pleased to do so then!¡± Cai Wei smiled mischievously. ¡°Why did you not tell her personally?¡± ¡°I was afraid she might beat me to death,¡± Li Luo answered honestly before devouring his breakfast. After waving goodbye, he quickly ran off. Seeing this scene, Cai Wei could only shrug helplessly as she watched Li Luo escape, wryly shaking her head. After which, she continued to have her breakfast as though nothing had happened, slowly chewing and enjoying it. ¡­ ¡°Li Luo.¡± As Li Luo made his way to Southwind Academy, he heard a familiar, clear, and crisp voice behind him. Turning around, he saw the good-looking and immacte Lu Qing¡¯er sitting right beneath a massive viridescent tree. Lu Qing¡¯er was currently wearing a ck, short-skirted academy uniform. This coupled with her snow-white skin made the sight of her even more attractive. Her thin waist and short skirt further entuated her slender legs. She was so eye-catching that everyone who was in the vicinity would furtively nce at her every so often. Li Luo, hearing her greeting, immediately walked over and gave a casual smile. ¡°I heard you¡¯re going to be facing off against Song Yunfeng today?¡± Lu Qing¡¯er asked as her brows knitted together in a frown. Li Luo could only nod in response. ¡°What do you n to do?¡± Lu Qing¡¯er asked. Li Luo paused for a moment before frankly responding. ¡°I¡¯ll probably just give up on the fight.¡± Hearing this response, Lu Qing¡¯er gave a lightugh, but there was no intention to mock him. Instead, she only seriously nodded. ¡°That is a very logical decision. There is no need for you to prove yourself against him. With your talent in the resonance arts, the gap between you two will lessen in time.¡± ¡°I feel the same way too.¡± At this point, Lu Qing¡¯er became slightly silent and solemn. ¡°I¡¯d like to apologize for what has happened. I think that part of the reason why the situation has devolved to such an extent is because of me.¡± Li Luo smiled, ¡°Well, honestly, you¡¯re barely the problem. It mostly has to do with the rtionship between House Lun and the Song family. Of course, I think the bigger reason is that Song Yunfeng is afraid.¡± ¡°Afraid?¡± Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s almond-shaped eyes blinked curiously. Li Luo gave an insipid smile. ¡°Well, he¡¯s afraid that I will return to that form I had in the past. If that were to happen, he would forever live in my shadow and all of his effort throughout the years would go to waste. People would ridicule him.¡± If anyone else heard these words, they would think that Li Luo had a screw loose in his head. Furthermore, the Song Yunfeng of today had much more influence and standing in the academy than Li Luo. Lu Qing¡¯er, on the other hand, looked pensive. She was extremely clear about how outstanding and exceptional Li Luo was in his prime. Even now she found it hard to match up to him, much less Song Yunfeng. ¡°So, he wants to firmly suppress andpletely crush you before you are able to mature? This also serves to fortify his own confidence?¡± Lu Qing¡¯er asked. ¡°Most likely.¡± Li Luo nodded. ¡°If this is the case, then he won¡¯t let you give up so easily,¡± Lu Qing¡¯ermented. ¡°I hope he won¡¯t do that. If that¡¯s the case¡­¡± Li Luo mumbled. Following which, he waved goodbye to Lu Qing¡¯er and walked in the direction of the Second School, where he heard some indistinct shouts. ¡°¡­then I will have no other choice.¡± Lu Qing¡¯er stared at his leaving silhouette, slightly shocked as Li Luo didn¡¯t seem to be pushed to his wits¡¯ end. Perhaps he had some other means to avoid the fight with Song Yunfeng? ¡­¡­ Li Luo¡¯s first fight ended without any surprises. The second battle was organized as the final fight of the preliminary examinations. It seemed as though it was set up to be a fitting finale to the examination. The field was a hubbub of voices and shouts whilst innumerable students crowded around it. On the upper tform sat Dean Wei Sha and the rest of the teachers, ready to watch the battle. ¡°Keke. Who would have expected Li Luo to sh with Song Yunfeng? Do you think there will even be a fight?¡± Dean Wei gave a lengthyugh. Lin Feng put on an indifferent smile. ¡°What sort of meaning is there in such a pointless battle?¡± Xu Shanyue sighed darkly. ¡°There might not even be a battle. This ispletely imbnced, and an instant forfeit would be best. There¡¯s no need to fight and humiliate himself.¡± Although Li Luo was from the Second School and Xu Shanyue was extremely biased towards him, the odds were clearly stacked against Li Luo. The gap wasrge, and it seemed impossible. The old dean nodded as he sighed. ¡°Li Luo has already entered the ranks of the top 20. This already demonstrates his exceptional speed in catching up. If he was given more time, reaching Song Yunfeng¡¯s level would not be difficult. However, with how little time there has been, he is stillcking.¡± As they continued to banter, the atmosphere came to a head as the appointed time of battle approached silently. Song Yunfeng got up from his seat and confidently floated atop the battle stage. His upright posture and handsome face seemed to create an image of a heroic warrior. When Song Yunfeng took the field, enthusiastic cheers resounded throughout. One could see his exceptional reputation and fame within the academy by looking at the crowd¡¯s disy of excitement. On the other half of the field, Li Luo also gradually made his way atop the stage under the watchful eyes of the crowd. ¡°Wow, he¡¯s so handsome! He¡¯s even better looking than that Yunfeng guy!¡± Although Li Luo did not make any fancy moves when entering the stage, numerous girls immediately screamed their heads off when he stood atop the battle stage. He had inherited his parents¡¯ excellent genes and he truly was top-notch when it came to appearances. Rtively speaking, Song Yunfeng looked like a peasant standing next to royalty. Comparatively speaking, the two individuals atop the battle stage had tuned out all of these extraneous elements and focused their minds on their uing fight. Li Luo stared at Song Yunfeng directly as he raised his hand. Before he could speak, Song Yunfeng dully asked, ¡°Are you nning to give up?¡± Li Luo smiled. ¡°Are you nning to humiliate me with words? So that my hot headedness will lead me into a direct sh with you?¡± Song Yunfeng¡¯s eyelid twitched upon hearing this blunt usation. He indifferently replied, ¡°I will not humiliate you. I just think that your parents must be proud of a son like you, bringing them fame with your courageous moves.¡± With that provocation, the entire field turned silent. Who would have thought that Song Yunfeng¡¯s words would be so blunt and insidious? Li Luo was also a little stunned upon hearing those words. Following which, he gave Song Yunfeng a thumbs up. ¡°Truly amazing. This is truly a single fatal blow! Well, since it¡¯se to this¡­¡± At this point, Li Luo started to stretch his neck muscles and cracked his knuckles. Immediately after, he rushed at Song Yunfeng with a toothy smile. The only thing was that his pearly-white grin seemed to be filled with a trace of ruthlessness. ¡°Come on, then, Song family¡¯s son of a b*tch! I¡¯ll give you one chance to fight. Lets see if you¡¯re good enough to take a bite out of me!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 33: Egg vs Rock Chapter 33: Egg vs Rock 2Chapter 33: Egg vs Rock Once Li Luo made that insult, everyone here knew that he was not nning to back out! He would sh with Song Yunfeng head on! However, this collision would be akin to smashing an egg against a rock¡­ there was no hope. ¡°Brother Luo¡­¡± On the side of the Second School, numerous fellow ssmates were fraught with worry. Zhao Kuo especially was constantly pounding his fist in anxiety. ¡°Song Yunfeng, you bastard! That¡¯s such a low blow!¡± Everyone else nodded in agreement. Song Yunfeng had clearly resorted to underhanded means to provoke Li Luo, truly shameless. Within the crowd was a certain Yu Lang. He was still lying on a bed, tightly wrapped all over in bandages. In order to demonstrate his professionalism in acting out his role, he remained tightly bedridden, but even then, he would not miss this show, opting to have his bed dragged near the stage¡­ ¡°What is Li Luo trying to do? Does he want to be abused?¡± Not far away, Lu Qing¡¯er was also observing the machinations on the stage. Her face was wreathed in a dark frown. She had expected Song Yunfeng to throw out some taunts in order to incite Li Luo; however, even then she did not think that he would target Li Luo¡¯s two missing Duke Stage parents. Clearly, Li Luo held a deep sense of gratitude and respect for his parents. Even though he could shrug off insults towards him, he would never let anyone else tarnish his parents¡¯ names and honor. Frankly speaking, Song Yunfeng did not possess any right or stature to even attempt to smear the Dukes. However, when faced with this situation, Li Luo was unwilling to take it sitting down. Lu Qing¡¯er gaze swept across the battle stage, eventually resting upon Li Luo. At this point, the thought struck her. Had Li Luo really been forced into a confrontation with Song Yunfeng because of those words? On the stage, Song Yunfeng¡¯s icy re was focused on Li Luo. The phrase ¡°Song Family¡¯s son of a bitch¡± uttered in front of the entire audience had also caused him to feel incensed. Despite that, he did not continue to spar with verbal barbs. That was pointless. He would wait for the battle to begin, then he wouldpletely thrash Li Luo. The best retort would be to literally step on Li Luo¡¯s face in front of all. Once the administrators had confirmed that neither of the two parties were nning to forfeit, they solemnly announced themencement of the final fight. Bang! The moment the start of the fight was dered, Song Yunfeng immediately summoned all of his crimson-red resonant power, sheer energy sting into the skies. Within the resonant power, one could vaguely see the form of a Crimson Eagle materializing. This was Song Yunfeng¡¯s seventh-grade resonance, which specialized in zing heat and berserk power. Song Yunfeng did not hold back at all, his Eighth Seal cultivation demonstrated for all to see. A suppressive atmosphere also exuded from him, directly oppressing one¡¯s spirit. On the other side, Li Luo simrly channelled all of his resonant power. Blue resonant power that looked like the waves of the sea wrapped around his entire body. Directlyparing the strength and density of resonant power, it was obvious to the audience that Song Yunfeng held a significant advantage. This directly caused the mood to turn slightly gloomy. Just how could Li Luo overturn such a stark disadvantage? Impossible! At this moment, Li Luo ced both his palms in front of him in a stance. The blue resonant power around his body gradually started to ripple, and everyone could see that he was activating his oft used Nine Layered Jade Waves. The Nine Layered Jade Waves¡¯ weakness was that it required a period of time for it to reach its peak. Unfortunately, Song Yunfeng wouldn¡¯t just sit around and twiddle his thumbs while this happened. ¡°Hmph!¡± Song Yunfeng, who noticed this, immediately snorted. He circted the crimson-red resonant power around him whilst he explosively shot towards Li Luo. A bolt of crimson lightnced across the stage with speed akin to a cannonball entrapped within a fiery tornado. A legshed downwards like a fiery hammer, directly chopping down towards Li Luo. Song Yunfeng was not nning to y around, and immediately exerted his full strength. His only desire was tounch a blitz of attacks, quickly trampling Li Luo beneath him. Facing Song Yunfeng¡¯s ferocious and merciless assault, Li Luo immediately started brandishing his palms in a circr motion, his water resonance power directly forming a water curtain to defend against the attack. Weng! Unsurprisingly, when faced with Song Yunfeng¡¯s berserk resonant power, the water curtain immediately gave way like a piece of paper. A simple touch of his moves directly shattered Li Luo¡¯s paltry defense, and the Nine Layered Jade Waves followed suit right after. Song Yunfeng¡¯s absolutely tyrannical force hadpletely crushed Li Luo¡¯s attempt with a simple move. A dull thud resounded when Song Yunfeng¡¯s foot made contact, shockwaves rippling immediately after. Li Luo, on the other hand, was directly knocked flying tens of meters away, almost out of the stage and disqualified. Hua! The entire crowd gasped at this scene. This was only the first exchange, and the stark difference in strength was evident. Song Yunfengpletely suppressed Li Luo. Even though he had excellent talent in the resonance arts, it was useless against absolute might. Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s pretty face looked grave at this moment. Even with her breadth of experience, she saw no way for Li Luo to make aeback. ¡°Don¡¯t give up, Brother Song! Beat him up!¡± On the other side of the stadium, Bei Kun and Difa Qing were currently standing with a group of Song Yunfeng¡¯s friends. Bei Kun was cheering agitatedly at this point. Difa Qing was silent though, only shaking her head in response. The gap between the two was just too vast! There was no chance to turn things around. On the stage, Li Luo¡¯s fists were stained with some crimson-red energy. He immediately willed icy-blue resonant power to surge out and extinguish the crimson-red residue. Vapor hissed into the sky when the two energies shed, and Li Luo slowly savored the burning pain. He finally had an understanding of how strong Song Yunfeng was. ¡°This level of strength¡­¡± A glint flickered through Li Luo¡¯s eyes. ¡°Hu!¡± Yet at this point, Song Yunfeng was not nning to give Li Luo any chance for rest. He immediatelyunched a vicious assault, akin to a hawk attacking its prey. The air whistled as his swift moves swept towards Li Luo. Li Luo raised his head and saw a crimson light rapidly approaching him. He was right at the edge of the battlefield, and if he was not careful, it would be the end of the game there and then. However, his expression did not hold any trace of worry, nor did he seem demoralized. He took a deep breath and immediately activated his water resonance power. Executing certain hand seals, a resonance art took shape. A faintly blue water curtain took form in front of him, looking vaguely like a thin mirror. Some of the audience immediately recognized the move. ¡°High-grade resonance art, Water Mirror Art?¡± Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s eyes briefly lit up. The Water Mirror Art was a defensive resonance art that did not possess much defensive power. Instead, it was able to reflect a portion of the opponent¡¯s attack to mitigate the damage. However, the Water Mirror Art alone would be unable to even slightly hinder Song Yunfeng¡¯s savage and cruel flurry of blows. In that brief moment, Song Yunfeng had already pounced right in front of Li Luo. Staring at the thin water curtain, a trace of ridicule and coldness could be seen in his gaze. Li Luo might have a wide repertoire of resonance arts, but if he thought that a mere Water Mirror Art was going to stop him, then he was truly too naive. After which, Song Yunfeng mustered even more power and punched outwards. The fist that rushed towards Li Luo was like a screaming, red eagle eager to devour its prey. At the moment the blow was about to strike the water curtain, Song Yunfeng could vaguely make out a blurry humanoid shadow within the mirror. This reflection was also simultaneouslyshing out against him with a crimson-colored fist. The two fists collided, and he could feel his fist punching through the water curtain as well. Bang! At this point, a low rumble could be heard. When the resonant power energies collided, they created a tempest that swept away all of the debris around them, scattering it in every direction. Li Luo¡¯s body was shaken and he was forced back two steps. Just another step would cause him to fall off the stage. However, no one was focused on that. Instead, their attention was all ced upon Song Yunfeng, who seemed to have received a massive bacsh from his attack. He had actually been knocked back countless tens of steps, barely stabilizing himself! Immediately looking up, Song Yunfeng¡¯s face was full of shock. He had actually been pushed back? How did Li Luo¡¯s Water Mirror Art possess such terrifying recoil strength? The rebounded energy had reached a level equal to 70% of Song Yunfeng¡¯s previous move! This was in a realm of powerpletely impossible for an ordinary Water Mirror Art to attain! ¡°Hua!¡± The audience erupted in endless uproar and astonishment at this scene. Song Yunfeng, on the other hand, had an expression of uncertainty as he viciously scowled at Li Luo. Li Luo¡¯s Water Mirror Art was truly damn strange! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 34: Li Luos Water Mirror Art Chapter 34: Li Luo''s Water Mirror Art 2Chapter 34: Li Luo¡¯s Water Mirror Art ¡°How is this possible? How can his Water Mirror Art block Song Yunfeng¡¯s full-strength move?!¡± The entire audience was shocked silly by this development. Everyone had looks of puzzlement on their faces. They were not unfamiliar with the Water Mirror Art, and some of the water resonance users in the crowd also utilized this move. However, blocking Song Yunfeng¡¯s attack like Li Luo had just done was just a pipe dream for them. This clearly iprehensible situation had unfolded right in front of their eyes. Difa Qing¡¯s beautiful eyes had widened into full moons and her jaw dropped. ¡°Did I just see something supernatural?¡± Bei Kun was equally dumbfounded. Lu Qing¡¯er, who was not far away, also had a look of surprise. Her slender eyebrows were raised, her eyes focused on Li Luo. It was as she had guessed: Li Luo did have some means to deal with Song Yunfeng! Even an impossible situation could be turned around by him! Amidst the cacophony of shouts, Li Luo shook his stinging arms before making his way into the inner part of the stage. He stared at Song Yunfeng, whose expression was flickering between jubtion and frustration, smirking and rushing towards him. Deep down, he could feel a great sense of aplishment and joy spreading through him. His experiment had truly seeded! The resonance art he had just used looked like the Water Mirror Art, but there were some additional intricacies to it. This was because Li Luo had infused it with light resonance power,yering the Shadow Reversal Art atop it. The Water Mirror Art would reflect a portion of the attack back to mitigate its effect, while the Shadow Reversal Art was designed to reflect the opponent¡¯s attack as a counterattack. These two reflective resonance arts hadyered to be an exceptionally strong Water Mirror Art that could reflect even the strongest attacks! Li Luo had experimented and discovered that when the two arts were perfectly synchronized, they might even be able to cause severe harm to the opponent! Using their own abilities to counter themselves! This modified version of the Water Mirror Art had been renamed to the Waterlight Demon Mirror. ¡°Stop screwing around and pretending to be mysterious! Do you really think that you can change the inevitable oue?¡± Just as Li Luo was celebrating to himself, Song Yunfeng¡¯s expression turned gloomy and he shot out explosively towards Li Luo. His fingers were arched like talons, and as he shed down, sharp, crimson-red talons materialized from his resonant power, tearing through the skies. There was no hesitation as he continued his stream of attacks. Li Luo immediately reacted with his strengthened Water Mirror Art, and a thin curtain once again appeared in front of him. Peng! Song Yunfeng¡¯s savage blow collided directly. A muffled sound could be heard when their moves shed. Both of them were simultaneously forced back. Song Yunfeng had prepared himself for the recoil and hence did not end up embarrassed like the previous exchange. However, his expression instantly became uglier as he realized that Li Luo¡¯s Water Mirror Art was too insidious. Every sh felt as though he was punching himself instead of the opponent! What in tarnation was this? Could it even be considered a Water Mirror Art? Song Yunfeng¡¯s blitz had been stonewalled by Li Luo, and the entire audience gulped in trepidation. This happening once could be considered luck, more than that demonstrated skill. It wasn¡¯t only them who were confused. Even the ones sitting on the raised tform, such as the old dean, Xu Shanyue, Lin Feng, and so on, were equally startled by the scene before them. ¡°Li Luo¡¯s Water Mirror Art is clearly normal,¡± the old deanmented in surprise. The rest of the teachers nodded in agreement. The run-of-the-mill Water Mirror Art would never be able to leave Song Yunfeng in such a miserable state. ¡°It¡¯s reflective strength has simrities to the Duke resonance art Mysterious Water Mirror,¡± a teachermented. However, this was quickly met with a rebuttal. ¡°Do you really think Li Luo is able to utilize a Duke Stage resonance art with his Sixth Seal Stage resonant power?¡± The one who previously raised this point was silent and unable to reply. Duke Stage resonance arts required immense amounts of resonant power, so much that even a Tenth Seal Stage cultivator might not be able to utilize them. ¡°That is definitely a Water Mirror Art,¡± Xu Shanyue concluded after close observation. ¡°However, it looks as though Li Luo has also modified it.¡± The other teachers stared at each other nkly. Modifying a resonance art? Although they all knew that Li Luo was extremely gifted in understanding and executing resonance arts, this idea seemed preposterous. Could a person of his caliber and cultivation level even have the ability to do so? Unfortunately, this seemed to be the only possible exnation. ¡°He truly is the son of those two¡­¡± In the end, the rest could only sigh at the thought of this. On the other hand, Teacher Lin Feng had beenpletely silent from the beginning, his facepletely ck. This entire scene had yed outpletely different from his expectations. Back to the battle stage, the audience were cheering repeatedly in waves at the intensifying battle. Song Yunfeng looked so gloomy, it was frightening. He stared daggers at Li Luo as he continued to ponder his next action. Every time he wished to take action, he would be reminded of that special Water Mirror Art and could only stop himself. ¡°Do you dare to attack me?¡± Song Yunfeng said through gritted teeth. He realized that Li Luo could only use the Water Mirror Art to counter his moves. So long as he did not take the initiative to strike, Li Luo¡¯s Water Mirror Art would be useless! Li Luo grinned upon hearing those words. Slightly shaking his head, he retorted, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. Why don¡¯t you try?¡± Song Yunfeng was so furious upon hearing this that he was trembling in anger! He finally experienced firsthand what it meant to be frustrated and indignant! He was clearly multiple times stronger than Li Luo, but this damned tortoise shell of a move just kept hindering him! His hands were truly tied! Song Yunfeng was not aplete imbecile. He gradually calmed himself down and began to consider his options. All of a sudden, he dashed towards Li Luo. The difference this time was that he had suppressed his resonant power significantly. ¡°This Water Mirror Art is a high-grade resonant art, so it¡¯s resonant power consumption must be considerable. If I can force Li Luo to consistently activate it, then he will be drained of his resonant power! When he is no longer able to sustain the move, he will no longer have any means to fight back anymore, and there will be nothing to fear,¡± Song Yunfeng mused to himself. When Li Luo saw Song Yunfeng¡¯s change in tactics, he could also sense the reduced resonant power output by Song Yunfeng. Thinking things through, he was quickly able to grasp his intentions. ¡°Looks like he does have a brain after all. However, if he suppresses his resonant power, why would I be afraid of him?¡± Li Luo smiled. Song Yunfeng¡¯s tyrannical advantage came from his superior resonant power. Now that he was resorting to his hands and feet instead, what was there to fear? Hence, he took the initiative to move towards Song Yunfeng. The two bodies directly shed, hands and feet pummelling each other, bereft of resonant power. Even then, their physical prowess could produce sonic booms upon attacking. The two were fighting in closebat, aplete frenzy from the position of the onlookers. However, as things went by, Song Yunfeng¡¯s expression changed for the worse. He had discovered that without the assistance of his resonant power, he had no way to overpower Li Luo! Song Yunfeng¡¯s gaze was filled with fury, and he suddenly burst out with his full potential, punching out with a berserk blow infused with crimson resonant power, hoping to deal an unexpected, vicious blow. When his fist was about to collide with Li Luo, the dreaded water curtain once again appeared. Clearly, Li Luo had prepared himself to execute the resonance art at a moment¡¯s notice. Peng! When his furious fist collided with the water curtain, massive amounts of resonant power rebounded back towards Song Yunfeng, forcing him to retreat inplete depression. Li Luo had simrly been forced back, but the strain on him was less evident. Rubbing his knuckles, he gave a smile that was not a smile to Song Yunfeng, seemingly provoking him. ¡°Li Luo!!!!! I would like to see just how many times you can keep this up with your paltry Sixth Seal resonant power!¡± Song Yunfeng screamed with an ashen face full of exasperation. Crimson-red resonant power surged out of him like a tide as he attacked with everything he had. He was at the Eighth Seal Stage, so his resonant power was significantly denser and greater than Li Luo¡¯s. Even though Li Luo possessed a water resonance, he would still use the most direct method to grind down his reserves! Song Yunfeng did not bother to take a break. He immediately activated all of his resonant power tounch yet another battery of blows. In response, Li Luo continued to use his Water Mirror Art as per before. Peng! A familiar scene took ce when the two were knocked back. For the next few moments, the audience continued to watch dumbstruck as the two continued the exact same set of motions¡­ Song Yunfeng charged forward like an enraged bull, while Li Luo activated his Water Mirror Art much like a matador with his cape. Then a bang would be heard and the two would separate. No one felt that this was exceptionally strange. They all knew that Li Luo had less resonant power to begin with and that it would be a matter of how long he could keep up. These repetitive shes continued until Li Luo¡¯s thirteen Water Mirror Art was broken. The water resonance power shrouding Li Luo seemed to have thinned out and lost its original sheen. This was the sign of resonant power exhaustion. Some within the crowd immediately voiced their regrets. It looked like things wereing to a close. Song Yunfeng on the other hand finally leaked out a cold smile. ¡°What are you going to do now Li Luo? You¡¯re all out of juice!¡± Bang! Never one to let up an opportunity, he sprinted forward, summoning up all of his crimson-red resonant power. At this point, even his eyes had been infused red, making him look like a demonic eagle pouncing on its prey. Seeing Song Yunfeng¡¯s relentless offensive, Li Luo did not do anything. Instead, he silently stood at his current position, watching the furious, red shadow gradually growingrger in his view. At the moment when that zing fist was about to strike, when Song Yunfeng was just an inch away from Li Luo, the attack was suddenly forced to a halt. A hand had tightly clutched onto Song Yunfeng¡¯s arm, preventing him from going any further. Frustrated, he turned to look and noticed the administrator standing right beside him, directly preventing him from making any further moves. ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡± Song Yunfeng howled. The administrator was expressionless, directly pointing at a stone pir. Atop it was an hourss, and no one else had noticed that the sand had stopped flowing. Li Luo exaggeratedly loosened his sore shoulders, giving the most radiant and gentle smile he could at Song Yunfeng. ¡°Oh! It looks like time¡¯s up, you idiot¡­ Perhaps you wanted some overtime?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 35: Draw! Chapter 35: Draw! 2Chapter 35: Draw! Instead of the expected cheers, the crowd had gone silent. Everyone looked at the scene before them inplete stupefaction before turning towards the hourss. The battle had been too intense and no one had paid any attention to the round timer. The battle was over before they had realized it¡­ They suddenly understood that although Song Yunfeng was nning to deplete Li Luo¡¯s strength, Li Luo was simrly also ying for time! They hadpletely overlooked this fact. Now that the hourss hadpletely emptied, the battle would be over as a draw, based on the rules. This was to say that Li Luo and Song Yunfeng had actually fought to a standstill. This waspletely unexpected! No matter how one looked at it, this sort of result should not have urred. Song Yunfeng was superior to Li Luo and had a huge advantage in both resonance and resonant power. Thus, this was supposed to be a walk in the park for Song Yunfeng, akin to him crushing dried roots underfoot. Regardless of how much Li Luo could struggle, there was no way topete against a seventh-grade resonance coupled with Eighth Seal Stage resonant power. He had no advantage whatsoever. Unfortunately, the result begged to differ. A scene ofplete domination had been juxtaposed into a draw¡­ Their gazes naturally drifted towards the individual who had overdrafted his resonant power, the sickly-pale Li Luo. Gradually, admiration emerged within their eyes. The only exception was Bei Kun. He looked as though he was constipated, and hisplexion was truly a sight to behold. Difa Qing, who was standing at the side, sullenly stared towards the stage. Her gaze seemed lifeless and her heart was in turmoil. Only after a period of time did she take a deep breath, deeply gazing at Li Luo. Although Li Luo looked pale and weak, it was as though she could see a radiant brightness emanating from him. It reminded her of a particr legend who had been immortalized in Southwind Academy¡¯s monument of honor. However, she quickly snapped out of that strange dream. Li Luo might have created a miracle, but he could barely hold a candle to Jiang Qing¡¯e. On the battle stage, Song Yunfeng was sluggishly taking in the scene in front of him. All of a sudden, heshed out at the administrator. ¡°I was clearly about to beat him! He had no more resonant power left! I would have won! Just give me another second. Just one second!!!¡± The administrator frowned at the irate andpletely ballistic Song Yunfeng. This fellow used to be a gentleman who spoke kindly to everyone around him, but now that he didn¡¯t get what he wanted, his true colors were shown. ¡°The rules are THE RULES. If there has been no victor dered once the hourss is out of time, the result is a draw,¡± the administrator stated tly. ¡°Bullshit!¡± Song Yunfeng growled ferociously. How could he ept a draw as a result? His face would be dragged through the mud if word got out! The administrator did not bother with him. He proceeded to announce, ¡°This battle is now over. It is a DRAW!¡± ¡°Brother Luo is AWESOME!¡± The moment the administrator announced the result, the Second School erupted into violent cheers and celebration loud enough to topple a mountain¡­ Everyone in the Second School was exceptionally excited as Li Luo¡¯s excellent performance had brought much face and respect to their Second School. Thepletely bandaged Yu Lang even managed to barely open his mouth to croak out somements. ¡°Is this weirdo truly rising to the top again? Even Song Yunfeng suffered¡­¡± Amidst the ear-piercing howls of jubtion, Lu Qing¡¯er quietly stared at Li Luo¡¯s silhouette. It felt as though she had been transported into the past, staring at that still immature but exceptionally talented genius who had taken the first step into learning resonance arts before any of them. Even then, he would casually give out pointers to help everyone out. The Li Luo from back then was extraordinarily outstanding. Lu Qing¡¯er even saw him as something of an idol back then, setting him as her target. However, once his nk pce manifested, all of his wonderpletely shattered. ¡°I just knew that he would definitely get back on his feet. Back then he was truly dazzling. However, he is still too weak. I want to see you climb to the top. Then I will defeat you fair and square!¡± Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s hair gently swayed with the wind whilst her bright pupils burned with anticipation of their future battle. She gave Li Luo another nce before turning to leave. Who would have expected the demure and sweet beauty Lu Qing¡¯er to possess such a strong intent topete and battle! On the battle stage, Li Luo stared at the extremely gloomy Song Yunfeng and sighed. ¡°Sheesh. I gave you a chance, but you didn¡¯t want to take it. You truly ARE useless, my friend.¡± Hearing that jibe, Song Yunfeng became even more incensed. He scowled at Li Luo. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve missed this opportunity, I don¡¯t think you will ever have another chance to do so!¡± Li Luopletely disregarded Song Yunfeng¡¯s venomous re as he walked forward and even lightly patted him on the shoulder. With a smile on his face, he continued his tirade. ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten your attempt to smear my parents¡¯ names. We will settle this properly in the future.¡± Gritting his teeth, Song Yunfeng gave a cold chuckle. ¡°Well, then, I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Li Luo nodded and, without uttering any more extraneous words, proceeded to leave the battle stage. The students of the Second School were already waiting for him, hoisting him above their heads and cheering as they departed as a group. With that group leaving, the atmosphere of the field died down. The remaining audience members curiously looked at Song Yunfeng before gradually dispersing. Li Luo was simply supposed to forfeit today. Instead, he had been provoked by Song Yunfeng into a fight, and instead of an overwhelming victory for Song Yunfeng, he had been taken for a ride by Li Luo, turning him into the butt of a joke. One could imagine how this news would spread throughout Southwind Academy and what sort of legends it would give rise to. Song Yunfeng had officially be a stepping stone of someone else¡¯s story! On the raised tform, the old dean and the teachers were silently in deep thought. This result had also exceeded their expectations. After a period of time, the old dean finally sighed. ¡°Li Luo never sought to win. His intention was always to y for time and obtain a draw. No one expected him to actually seed.¡± Xu Shanyue, on the other hand, had smiled until his cheeks were sore, letting his expression do the talking instead. Li Luo had won him a lot of face and respect. Despite Song Yunfeng being one of the most elite students of the First School, almost on par with Lu Qing¡¯er, he had actually been taken for a fool and dragged into a draw. Would anyone dare to say that the Second School possessed insufficient talent now? No one truly felt that this was a draw. This was because the difference in strength between Li Luo and Song Yunfengwas just too vast. One was at the Sixth Seal Stage and had a fifth-grade resonance. Song Yunfeng? Eighth Seal Stage cultivation and a seventh-grade Crimson Eagle resonance. This was iprehensible. Even if a teacher was ced in this scenario, they would have no idea how they could possibly turn the tables. Li Luo, on the other hand, had done so! This was truly something deserving of praise. Not everyone was like Jiang Qing¡¯e, with a ninth-grade resonance. When there was a will, there was a way! Lin Feng¡¯s expression was also as dark as night. Faced with Xu Shanyue¡¯sughter, he couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. ¡°Li Luo¡¯s performance today was impable. However, the preliminary examinations have a time limit. What about the College Final Examinations? He will require true ability then and will be aunble to rely on such underhanded means. There¡¯s no meaning in this.¡± Xu Shanyue coldly snorted. ¡°Li Luo might make further improvements by then.¡± ¡°Even if he improves again, he¡¯d at most be at the Seventh Seal Stage,¡± Lin Feng cooly retorted. The old dean waved his hand, indicating for the two to stop bickering. He stared in the direction where Li Luo had gone before giving the duo a good look. His face immediately became stern. ¡°Li Luo¡¯s performance is his problem. I want to remind you that during the College Final Examinations, our Southwind Academy needs to maintain our position as the number one academy of the Tianshu Province. If any mistake arises¡ªhmph!¡± Upon hearing the old dean snorting coldly, the teachers all shivered within their hearts. Lin Feng paid particr attention to those words as he knew that they were meant for him. The First School had the best students and also monopolized the lion¡¯s share of resources. The College Final Examinations was a litmus test for whether they truly deserved all this. Lin Feng also knew that the previous First School teacher had ruined Southwind Academy¡¯s prestigious name of the number one academy during thest College Final Examinations. He had been directly booted out of the academy by an incensed old dean. Thus, if the academy did not perform well, he would not be spared either. The thought of that caused Lin Feng to feel shivers down his spine. He hurriedly assured, ¡°Please rx, Dean. Our First School¡¯s might is evident for all to see. We will maintain the academy¡¯s honor and reputation.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Only then did the old dean¡¯s expression soften a little. Without speaking further, he turned and left. His departure allowed everyone else to heave a sigh of relief. An angry dean was truly frightening¡­ ¡°Eastpool Academy seems to be extraordinarily aggressive this year. I hear that they have the full backing of the Governor¡¯s Mansion and that they¡¯ve been rising through the ranks recently, almost catching up to Southwind Academy. The top student is the son of the governor, and I believe he goes by the name of Shi Huang? It¡¯s said that he possesses heavenly talent and is no weaker than Lu Qing¡¯er. Thus, this year¡¯s College Final Examinations will not be so simple.¡± Some of the teachers discussed worriedly. Lin Feng gave that teacher a re and indifferently replied, ¡°Eastpool Academy¡¯s foundation cannotpare with ours. If they want to wrest our title away, they have to get the agreement of the First School.¡± Following which, he walked off. The rest looked at each other in dismay. Some weren¡¯t happy with Lin Feng¡¯s arrogance, but they were helpless in this situation. Grumbling to themselves, they walked away as well. ¡°Well then, we¡¯ll leave you to handle it. If something goes wrong, then let¡¯s see who gets thestugh.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 36: First Grade Tempering Treasure Market Chapter 36: First Grade Tempering Treasure Market 3Chapter 36: First Grade Tempering Treasure Market With the final battle leading to a draw, Li Luo¡¯s position was now firmly entrenched within the top 20 for the preliminary examination. Based on what had happened in the past, the top 20 would have another round of selections to determine their internal ranking. However, Li Luo waspletely uninterested in this meaningless demonstration. Whether one was the twentieth or the first, they would all still get an equal chance to participate in the College Final Examinations. Participating actually had a chance of being detrimental, because if one were to reveal their trump card, other academies would prepare for it and it would only make their life more difficult. Therefore, wasn¡¯t it better to keep a low profile? It wasn¡¯t as if getting first ce warranted a reward from the old dean or anything! In fact, if it was not for Song Yunfeng stubbornly provoking him repeatedly, he would have chosen to forfeit instantly! He never felt any shame in giving up if he was unable to win. It was a loss as far as he was concerned, as he had been forced to reveal his upgraded Water Mirror Art. This was too unworthy a tform to demonstrate his ingenuity! Hence, when Xu Shanyue had asked if he was willing topete for the top 20 ranks, he simply responded with one word. If he had time, he would want to temper his resonance and hopefully upgrade it to the sixth-grade before the final examinations started. Xu Shanyue was not surprised and wished him well. Preparations for the final examination were key after all. The rankings were out the next day, and the Second School had two representatives: Zhao Kuo and Li Luo. The two could be considered peas in a pod, with Li Luo getting the fifteenth position and Zhao Kuo the sixteenth, separated by just a hair. Li Luo¡¯s fame had greatly risen as a result of that final battle. The students all reckoned that if he was willing topete, the top ten positions were not out of reach. However, he had given up the opportunity topete and was given the rank ordingly. These twenty would represent Southwind Academy in two weeks¡¯ time at the College Final Examinations. They would struggle for the right to enter the Astral Sage College. As the most elite school of the Xia Kingdom, the Astral Sage College provided a certain number of ces for entry each year. The only catch was that each and every ce would be hotly contested for. Each and every year, Southwind Academy usually managed to obtain the greatest number of spots, which was how they had cemented their reputation as the top academy in the Tianshu Province. It was not as though they did not havepetition. Eastpool Academy, for example, was a closepetitor. Although they did not have as great a foundation, their rate of ascension through the ranks had been ferociously quick. Coupled with the support of the Tianshu Province¡¯s Governor¡¯s Mansion, they had managed to prove themselves a worthy contender for the position of top dog, especially with their ster performance in recent years. It was rumored that Eastpool Academy was hoping to unseat Southwind Academy this year, and a fierce battle between giants was expected. After the preliminary examination, Southwind Academy would normally have a week of holidays. Students could choose to head back home or continue to cultivate within the school. Li Luo chose the former. Within the old manor, inside Li Luo¡¯s room. Li Luo¡¯s eyes were closed tight, his body lightly emanating light. In front of him was a pile of already-utilized fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights After a long period of absorption, he gradually opened both his eyes. A trace of blue light flickered through his pupils. ¡°This is thest bottle¡­¡± He stared wistfully at the now-empty crystal bottles and shook his head in sadness. Cai Wei had already managed to purchase 83 bottles of fith-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights for over 400,000 pieces of skygold. This was a massive investment. If not for the sale of certain House Lun businesses, their finances would have been unable to support hisvish expenditure. The worst part was that even after utilizing so many tempering treasures and his fifth-grade resonance improving by quite a bit, the distance to the sixth-grade was still quiterge. As a result, he had to figure out some way to allow his waterlight resonance to reach the sixth-grade before the final examinations. The most recent battle with Song Yunfeng might have been a draw, but Li Luo did not feel proud or content with that. He knew that if not for that time limit, he would have suffered aplete loss, left defeated and on the ground. A draw could not possibly ur within the final examinations. If one wanted to earn the right to enter the Astral Sage College, they were also required to possess sufficient strength. The most elite students across the academies of the Tianshu Province would participate. The battles would undoubtedly be intense and fierce, far from what urred within Southwind Academy. Additionally, Li Luo had already selected a new energy cultivation art, which required a minimum of a sixth-grade resonance to practice. Thus, the sixth-grade waterlight resonance was something he urgently required. ¡°Based on the rate of my progression, if I want to temper my resonance to the sixth-grade, I still require one more batch of fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights. ¡°However, it seems like Elder Sister Cai Wei often takes the long way around whenever she spots me. It¡¯s almost as though she doesn¡¯t want to see me¡­¡± Li Luo was left with a conundrum. Cai Wei had even avoided breakfast in recent days, perhaps spooked by the idea that Li Luo would want some more spirit liquids and purifying lights. Fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights weren¡¯t random cabbages found on the street. Each one cost at least 5,000 pieces of skygold, and 50 would be 250,000 pieces of skygold. This was already close to a year of ie for House Lun¡¯s businesses in the Tianshu Province. Thus, Li Luopletely understood why Cai Wei would avoid him. Even though she was an excellent general manager, the moment she took over the Tianshu Province¡¯s businesses, she had only constantly sold off House Lun¡¯s properties instead of turning things around. This was basically ruining her reputation and career¡­ Even so, she had not given up on the situation nor resigned, leading Li Luo to look at her with immense respect and appreciation for her broad-mindedness. Unfortunately, Li Luo had no alternative. This acquired resonance was a money-sucking ck hole. It was a great thing that his parents had left behind House Lun for him! Otherwise, he would just drop dead in five years¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s first head to the Suncreek Vi.¡± Li Luo was a little depressed. House Lun was surrounded by both internal and external problems, so he could not keep taking without giving back. Even if all of it could be mobilized at his beck and call, he would not actually take it to the extreme andpletely sell off everything. If he actually did so, he would inevitably fall into disrepute. Most importantly, everyone would think of him as an ignorant, arrogant young master! This was abel that Li Luo did not want¡­ Thinking things through, he came up with a few ideas and made his way towards the Suncreek Vi. At the Suncreek Vi, he directly went to Yan Lingqing¡¯s refining workshop. However, once he pushed the door open, he saw two familiar silhouettes sitting together, discussing something. A trace of concern could be seen on their expressions. Naturally, they were Cai Wei and Yan Lingqing. When they saw Li Luo, they eximed in surprise, ¡°Young Lord?!¡± ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡± Li Luo smiled as he walked in. Numerous crystal bottles containing spirit liquids and purifying lights were on the table in front of the two beauties. One of the bottles contained the first-grade spirit liquid he had personally refined before. ¡°We are discussing this year¡¯s sales performance of the Suncreek Vi,¡± Cai Wei answered directly without any reservations. ¡°It¡¯s not great?¡± Li Luo frowned slightly when he heard this. The Suncreek Vi was responsible for half of the Tianshu Province¡¯s ie, and if performance faltered, this would affect him greatly. Yan Lingqing pointed at the crystal bottles with her slender, jade-like finger, her voice clear and cold. ¡°There are two familiespeting with us in the first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights market. One is House Lun with our Azure Jade Spirit Liquid, while the other is the Song family¡¯s Pine Nut Vi. They produce this product known as the Wondrous Sunshine Light. Both are quite simr in tempering strength, and in previous years, we captured perhaps 80% of the market as a whole. However, in recent times, the Pine Nut Vi has improved the tempering strength of their Wondrous Sunshine Light. The average tempering strength is now close to 57%, which is almost on par with the best spirit liquids that the Suncreek Vi is able to produce. As a result, they have managed to control over half of the first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights market, and our corresponding portion has decreased ordingly. If this continues, the Suncreek Vi will eventually lose the battle against the Song family, bringing about great harm to the Suncreek Vi and, more importantly, House Lun as a whole!¡± Li Luo listened intently, and his expression became solemn. ¡°How is the Suncreek Vi¡¯s production rate when ites to first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights?¡± ¡°The Tianshu Province¡¯s Suncreek Vi is able to produce five first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights a day, 150 in a month. This goes into the market for roughly 50 pieces of skygold per item. In a year, the totales up to about 90,000 pieces of skygold. Deducting the costs would give us a profit of about 30,000 pieces of skygold,¡± Cai Wei said honestly. It was clear that she possessed an in-depth understanding of House Lun¡¯s finances within the Tianshu Province. Li Luo gave Cai Wei a thumbs up in praise before bing slightly surprised at these estimates. The first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights alone brought in 10% of the Tianshu Province¡¯s profits! One could tell how important the sales of spirit liquids and purifying lights were. This was notpletely unexpected because high-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights were not wilfully squandered by people. Most of those who purchased first-grade and second-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights were not individuals with first or second-grade resonances. Instead, it was people who wanted to support the expenditure of squandering higher grade spirit liquids and purifying lights, thus utilizing these lower grade treasures as recements. The trade-off was that these lower grade tempering treasures would inevitably cause a quicker build-up of impurities. There was no other option as not everyone was a rich young master like Li Luo. After hearing about this, Li Luo¡¯s first thought was that he could not let the Suncreek Vi¡¯s businesses be affected. This would inevitably hurt him directly when it came to obtaining more spirit liquids in the future¡­ ¡°How could the Pine Nut Vi¡¯s Wondrous Sunshine Light improve in tempering strength?¡± Li Luo asked. ¡°What determines a spirit liquid and purifying light¡¯s tempering strength is dependent on three aspects. The form, the experience and strength of the individual, as well as the quality of the materials.¡± Yan Lingqing continued indifferently, ¡°After investigating the Wondrous Sunshine Light, it looks as though they have made minor changes to the form. It looks as though the Song family has spent arge sum to hire an expert to make adjustments to it.¡± Cai Wei¡¯s left hand was wrapped around her lower chest, propping up her right arm, which her chin was resting on. Frowning, she said, ¡°Furthermore, that troublesome Zhuang Yi has been using this as a pretext to attack Lingqing, moring for her to be kicked out of the Suncreek Vi as if this entire issue of lessened sales is due to her.¡± The two of them were standing side by side, and Cai Wei with her unknowing actions had identally caused the natural differences between the two to be entuated even further. Yan Lingqing¡¯sck thereof could only be described as unfortunate¡­ As though Yan Lingqing had subconsciously realized something, she emotionlessly pushed Cai Wei¡¯s right arm down. Cai Wei did not react initially, but her egg-shaped face was quickly flushed red in embarrassment. At the same time, she gave Yan Lingqing a strong pinch. After this brief exchange, the two focused their attention back onto Li Luo but realized that he waspletely in a daze. Recovering gracefully, he put on a serious expression. ¡°When we are discussing serious issues, don¡¯t fidget around. You two are mature adults after all! If this happens again, I will have to criticize your actions,¡± he admonished. This immediately elicited cold snorts from the duo before they continued their discussion. ¡°Is Zhuang Yi still creating trouble?¡± Li Luo asked to get things back on track. Upon hearing his name, Yan Lingqing¡¯s face zed with fury. ¡°That bastard has been finding trouble for me all day long. He has been creatingyers uponyers of internal conflict within the Suncreek Vi. The reason for our reduced production rate has to do with him.¡± ¡°He truly is a disaster. Can we not figure out some way to get rid of him?¡± Li Luo grinned evilly,pletely dissatisfied. Here he was, trying his best to raise arge amount of funds, but this troublemaker was creating more trouble instead of assisting him? Cai Wei frowned. ¡°The current Suncreek Vi is a groupcking a leader. Lingqing is too new and does not wield much influence. Zhuang Yi, on the other hand, is an old and established individual. Many of the resonance artificers within the Suncreek Vi trust him, and without a proper reason to dispose of him, it would inevitably create even more internal troubles. Furthermore, that damned Pei Hao is also supporting him.¡± Li Luo scowled upon hearing this. Pei Hao, that white-eyed wolf, was the greatest danger to House Lun. Zhuang Yi could only truly affect the Suncreek Vi. Pei Hao, on the other hand, sought to gobble up the entirety of House Lun. This was someone trying to steal his lifeline. The moment House Lun was gobbled up, how could he find resources to satiate his bottomless acquired resonance? With his looks? Pei Hao had already established himself, while Li Luo was just a growing sprout,pletely incapable of contending against him. In the meantime, all he could do was hide behind Sister Qing¡¯e and slowly develop¡­ As he continued trying to think of a method, someone came to report a new development. ¡°Young Lord, General Manager, and Vice President Yan¡­ Vice President Zhuang has summoned Suncreek Vi¡¯s entire management. He says there is a huge issue at hand. Would the three of you kindly attend?¡± Upon hearing this announcement, the three of them were stunned by this event, looking at each other whilst frowning in dismay. Just what was that troublemaker up to this time? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 37: Battle for President Chapter 37: Battle for President 1Chapter 37: Battle for President Suncreek Vi, discussion hall. When the trio arrived, they noticed that there were no empty seats. This was because the entire senior management of the Suncreek Vi had arrived. Right in front of them was Zhuang Yi with a beaming smile on his face. Sitting right by his side was a dour-faced old man ¡°Hmm?¡± Upon seeing that old man, Cai Wei and Yan Lingqing both let out soft cries of surprise before exining the situation to the slightly confused Li Luo. ¡°That old man is known as Zheng Ping. He is an elder of the Suncreek Vi¡¯s headquarters. His influence in the organization is huge, and he belongs to the founding generation of the Suncreek Vi. He has been around since it was first established by the House Lords. However, this old man is known to be extremely pedantic and strict, a bag of smelly and stubborn bones. He usually resides in the Xia City headquarters. Now that he has suddenly arrived without giving us any notice, I can only imagine that things have gotten pretty bad.¡± After the exnation, everyone in the discussion hall stood up and greeted Li Luo respectfully. Even Elder Zheng Ping from the Suncreek Vi¡¯s headquarters stood up and respectfully uttered, ¡°We greet the Young Lord.¡± ¡°Elder Zheng is too courteous.¡± Li Luo shed him a smile as the trio got to their seats. ¡°May I kindly know when Elder Zheng arrived in the City of Southwind?¡± Yan Lingqing suddenly asked. Elder Zheng Ping expressionlessly replied, ¡°The Tianshu Province¡¯s Suncreek Vi has been performing poorly this year. Headquarters has thus sent me here to take a look. At the same time, they¡¯ve dispatched me to settle the issue regarding the presidency of this branch.¡± At the same time, he red strictly at Yan Lingqing. ¡°Vice President Yan, I¡¯ve already seen the reports. The first-grade refining workshop under you has performed abysmally. As a result, the reputation of the Suncreek Vi in the Tianshu Province has been tarnished. What do you have to say about this?¡± Yan Lingqing coldly replied, ¡°If you want to know why, you can ask Vice President Zhuang. I¡¯m sure he can provide a more urate answer.¡± Zhuang Yi immediately retorted, ¡°Vice President Yan is simply incapable. Don¡¯t push the me onto others.¡± ¡°If it was not for you secretly blocking the supply of materials to my first-grade workshop, to a point where I was unable to operate on certain days, would I have had such a terrible result?¡± Yan Lingqing snorted. Zhuang Yi immediately protested, ¡°House Lun¡¯s situation in the Tianshu Province is simply not great. Some of the materialse from the three families as well, and they have always sought to suppress us. Whatnds in my hands is naturally not much. Furthermore, the third-grade refining workshop in my management is the best performing workshop in the Suncreek Vi! Should I simply give it to you too? To let you reap the benefits of my efforts?¡± ¡°You!¡± Yan Lingqing was so incensed she mmed the table beside her. ¡°Silence!¡± Elder Zheng Ping bellowed. He severely red at both Zhuang Yi and Yan Lingqing. ¡°All of you have your reasons, but this old man does not care. I¡¯m only concerned about the Suncreek Vi¡¯s results. Whoever causes the Suncreek Vi to decline, or tarnishes its reputation, will not be forgiven. The Tianshu Province¡¯s performance has been getting worse, and the key reason is that there is no president. Thus, headquarters has discussed the issue and given the order. The branch in the Tianshu Province will immediately elect a new president!¡± His promation immediately silenced the entire discussion hall. The members of senior management did not make so much as a squeak, as they understood that this would be a battle between Yan Lingqing and Zhuang Yi. The worst part was that they were just the vanguards. There was an entirerger battle raging around their skirmish, thus they would only quietly watch from the sidelines. A glimmer flickered through Li Luo¡¯s pupils. What Zheng Ping had said was not wrong. The Suncreek Vi in the Tianshu Province had too much internal conflict, and if stability was wanted, a new president would be necessary. Most importantly, just who would the elder choose? As he pondered over the circumstances, Li Luo smiled and asked directly, ¡°Elder Zheng Ping, who do you feel is most suitable to be president?¡± Zheng Ping may have treated Yan Lingqing rudely, but when facing Li Luo, he maintained a sense of decorum. After deep thought, he announced, ¡°If we follow the Suncreek Vi¡¯s eternal rule, it should be the one who is best at managing the refining workshops.¡± Zhuang Yi, who was at the side, let out a sneaky smile. He personally managed the third-grade workshop, which also surpassed the other two in absolute sales. Hence, this rule was most beneficial to him. At this point, Elder Zheng Ping continued, ¡°This is, of course, ording to the rules. If the Young Lord has any suggestions, please let them be known. This old man can ry your suggestion to headquarters as well. However, we will still have to decide who will be the president now; otherwise, this old man will be stuck here until that has been done. I hope the Young Lord will not fault me for this, as I only have the Suncreek Vi¡¯s and House Lun¡¯s interests at heart.¡± Although Zhuang Yi¡¯s expression remained unchanged, his heart was in turmoil! Why did that damn old man have to speak so much?? Li Luo gave the elder an eye and had an idea. It seemed as though Elder Zheng Ping¡¯s appearance was not as Yan Lingqing had suspected, that someone else had dispatched him to cause trouble for their faction. At the very least, he was not on Pei Hao¡¯s side. The biggest fear for them was if the individual suddenly appointed by headquarters to visit the Tianshu Province was involved in the proxy war between Jiang Qing¡¯e and Pei Hao. Luckily, Elder Zheng Ping was a neutral party and was known to be a stickler for rules. It seemed as though this was the result of the battle fought in the shadows. From a certain point of view, this was not bad news. The only issue was that if traditional rules were utilized to judge the most suitable candidate for president, then Yan Lingqing would be at too much of a disadvantage. Furthermore, the third-grade refining workshop that Zhuang Yi controlled was the Suncreek Vi¡¯s most profitable one as well. What it raked in was significantly greater than both the first and second-grade refining workshopsbined. Yan Lingqing also understood this point, and her pretty face turned frigid. Her pretty eyes were alsoced with fury, almost as if she was about to erupt. Li Luo, sensing the anger, immediately grabbed the back of her hand before looking at Elder Zheng Ping with conviction. ¡°So whoever¡¯s refining workshop does the best will then be the president?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elder Zheng Ping nodded. Li Luo sighed deeply before continuing, ¡°This idea isn¡¯t bad. Let¡¯s go ahead with this.¡± His words were immediately met with hushed discussion. Cai Wei and Yan Lingqing were astonished by this. They were unable to understand his intentions. This seemed to mean that he was giving up the fight for president. Zhuang Yi was also shocked at this development for a moment before quickly recovering. ¡°The Young Lord truly is broad-minded! Isn¡¯t it right that we just want the Suncreek Vi to be the best that it can be? Ultimately, doesn¡¯t the Suncreek Vi exist to enrich the Young Lord?¡± he said with a huge smile. Elder Zheng Ping was a little surprised as well. ¡°Young Lord, do you truly wish to do this?¡± Li Luo nodded and did not say anything else. He immediately got Cai Wei and Yan Lingqing to follow him out of the discussion hall. Once out, Li Luo separated himself from the two. At this point, Yan Lingqing immediately berated him. ¡°Li Luo, just what are you trying to do? This rule does not favor me, so why did you agree? If you don¡¯t want me to be here, just say the word! I will immediately head back to Xia City!¡± Cai Wei was also staring at Li Luo intensely. From what she knew of him, he was not an impulsive individual, but his actions today seemed to show otherwise. Yan Lingqing hade to the Tianshu Province¡¯s Suncreek Vi to provide help and reinforcements. Only with her here were they able to prevent their current state of affairs from getting worse. However, everything seemed to have been thrown into disarray with that one line. Li Luo smiled in response. ¡°My two dear elder sisters, I am definitely not a fool. Can¡¯t you see that I¡¯m worthy of your trust?¡± Cai Wei shot him an unconvinced look before the two of them turned around and left in a huff, not interested in entertaining him any longer. ¡°Although the rules don¡¯t benefit Elder Sister Lingqing, don¡¯t you think that this is the best sort of situation, one where she can legitimatelypete for the role of president? At the same time, we have an opportunity to get rid of this cancer known as Zhuang Yi.¡± Li Luo smiled. The two paused in their tracks and turned back to look at Li Luo. This was a good opportunity¡­ However, Zhuang Yi clearly was in a position of strength! If they were to y with fire, they might very well get burnt. At this point, a glint flickered through Cai Wei¡¯s eyes as she stared at Li Luo in shock. ¡°Could it be¡­ that you have a way to turn the tables?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 38: Secret Art Watersource Chapter 38: Secret Art Watersource 3Chapter 38: Secret Art Watersource The moment Cai Wei blurted out those words, Yan Lingqing couldn¡¯t help but to turn and re at her. ¡°What sort of solution can this buffoon have? He¡¯s barely spent any time on resonance artificering!¡± she spat out furiously. She did not continue her tirade because Li Luo had not even spent a month on this. It would be a fantastical story if he was able to reverse the dreadful situation they were in. Li Luo smiled and did not speak. Instead, he beckoned for the two of them to enter Yan Lingqing¡¯s refining workshop, closing the door after them. Only then did he continue speaking. ¡°I understand that the Suncreek Vi is responsible for half of House Lun¡¯s Tianshu Province profits, roughly 150,000 pieces of skygold. Within the Suncreek Vi, the first-grade refining workshop contributes 30,000 pieces of skygold, the second-grade workshop 40,000 pieces, and the third-grade 80,000 pieces.¡± ¡°If you understood the situation, then why did you go and shoot your mouth off? There¡¯s clearly a huge gap! How can we possibly catch up?¡± Yan Lingqing angrily thundered. As she was managing two of the refining workshops, she was extremely clear of the facts. The third-grade workshop significantly exceeded the first-grade and second-grade workshops in value and also had the best performance each year. This was like the difference between heaven and earth, something extremely hard to bridge. ¡°More importantly, the Suncreek Vi¡¯s Azure Jade Spirit Liquid has been suppressed by the Pine Nut Vi¡¯s Wondrous Sunshine Light. This has directly reduced our sales of spirit liquids, and in this situation, forget turning things around, our performance will only get worse!¡± Li Luo smiled again. ¡°And so this is our top priority to fix! We need to first stabilize the Suncreek Vi¡¯s first-grade sales and improve its reputation in the market.¡± Yan Lingqing snorted. ¡°As I previously exined, there are three aspects that affect the spirit liquids and purifying lights¡¯ tempering strength. Materials, the resonance artificer, and the watersource or lightsource. The Azure Jade Spirit Liquid has a perfected recipe, and with our current abilities, we cannot make further inroads in terms of improving it, unless we can hire an expert resonance artificer. However, this requires a lot of time and capital, neither of which we have!¡± ¡°A slow remedy cannot address our current situation. I¡¯m sure the Song family has prepared for quite a while for this, waiting for the perfect time to strike. As House Lun is now struggling internally, they took advantage of the opportunity to deal this vicious blow!¡± Cai Wei mused. ¡°Our only response is to improve our resonance artificers¡¯ skills and experience. However, with such a small period of time, it¡¯s impossible to suddenly expect everyone to explode in potential and for the standard to rise just like that. This isn¡¯t a fantasy story! Its unrealistic!¡± Yan Lingqing quipped. Cai Wei continued to stare intensely at Li Luo, smiling. ¡°Didn¡¯t the Young Lord produce an Azure Jade Spirit Liquid with 60% tempering strength?¡± Yan Lingqing rolled her eyes at Cai Wei. ¡°How many spirit liquids do you think a single person can produce? Even if we turn him into a cash cow, he can barely squeeze out any milk!¡± Li Luo¡¯s handsome face turned a shade of ck. Although he didn¡¯t mind refining first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights, he was still a respectable individual! Why did they have to demean him like that? And a cow of all things! ¡°Well then, the only solution is to improve the watersource or lightsource,¡± Li Luo continued, not willing to bicker with the two. Yan Lingqing unhappily replied, ¡°This is dependent on the resonance artificers¡¯ resonance grades and affinities. Could it be that you¡¯re willing to improve the resonances of all the resonance artificers in the Suncreek Vi? If we had a secret art watersource or lightsource, it could allow us to improve the tempering strength of our spirit liquids and purifying lights. However, this is a closely guarded secret for even major powers! Our Suncreek Vi simply does not possess this.¡± Li Luo lightly chuckled upon hearing this. ¡°That might not be the case.¡± The duo stared at him with a trace of bewilderment. Under their careful scrutiny, Li Luo removed a crystal bottle from his robe. The bottle was half-filled with a deep-blue liquid. ¡°Do you want to give this a try?¡± he asked. Yan Lingqing¡¯s eyebrows rose in suspicion. ¡°As I told you before, you simply can¡¯t just use someone else¡¯s watersource. Only a secret art watersource¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Li Luo uncorked the bottle and a steady stream of pure energy wafted outwards. This was what caused Yan Lingqing to pause in her tracks, staring in astonishment at the crystal bottle. As though possessed, she immediately snatched the crystal bottle out of Li Luo¡¯s hand and gently poured a droplet onto her finger. Carefully inspecting it, the shock on her face only grew more intense. ¡°There is no attribute or characteristic mixed into this. Could this be a secret art watersource? This sort of purity is even higher than what someone with a seventh-grade water resonance can produce. How could you have obtained such a high grade secret art watersource?¡± Yan Lingqing asked as she grasped Li Luo¡¯s hand crazily. It seemed as though she had lost all sense of rationality at this sight. Secret art watersources were differentiated by grade. The one Li Luo had taken out had already reached the purity of a seventh-grade one. Such a pure watersource could definitely increase the sess rate and tempering strength of spirit liquids when utilized, something truly rare. Li Luo could feel a piercing pain due to how tightly Yan Lingqing was squeezing his hand. Seeing how agitated she was, he slowed down his words in an attempt to calm her down. ¡°Elder Sister Lingqing, don¡¯t be too flustered. Can we use this watersource for refining spirit liquids and purifying lights?¡± ¡°Of course we can! A secret art watersource of this purity would definitely allow the Azure Jade Spirit Liquid to reach 60% tempering strength, at the least when used in the refinement process. This would be more than enough to beat the Wondrous Sunshine Light at its own game! The only problem is that the amount is too little. If we were to use it for refinement, it would only be enough for around 30 spirit liquids.¡± Her beautiful pupils were firmly affixed on Li Luo,pletely different from her usual, indifferent, and icy gaze. It seemed almost ipatible with the personality Li Luo knew her for. ¡°What if we were to use it on second-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights?¡± Li Luo asked after a moment of thought. ¡°It might be true that using such a treasure on first-grade spirit liquids would be almost wasteful. However, it¡¯s as I said¡ªthe amount of watersource is simply too little. If we were to use it on second-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights, I¡¯m afraid we would only be able to refine a few of them. It might be more efficient to use it to refine first-grade spirit liquids¡­¡± Yan Lingqing replied. Li Luo felt a little awkward deep down. This ¡°secret art watersource¡± was the watersource condensed by his waterlight resonance. Due to his nk pce, even the watersource he condensed possessed a trace of its void affinity. In essence, it was just like a secret art watersource, able to be used by anyone for resonance artificering. However, this half a bottle was something he had managed to produce only after three days. He was currently only at the Sixth Seal Stage, so his resonant power was not extremely dense nor plentiful. Thus, the amount of ¡°secret art watersource¡± he could produce was also limited. ¡°I guess we can first use it on the first-grade Azure Jade Spirit Liquid for now then. If I¡¯m able to pass a bottle like this to you every three days, would it allow the first-grade refining workshop to be the best performing workshop within the Suncreek Vi?¡± Li Luo asked. Cai Wei paused to consider. ¡°The first-grade refining workshop sells about 150 bottles of Azure Jade Spirit Liquid a month. This roughly adds up to about 90,000 pieces of skygold a year. The third-grade refining workshop brings in 210,000 pieces of skygold. For the first-grade refining workshop to surpass the third-grade, we would need the sales to increase manifold. There will be some significant difficulty involved if we wish to purely rely on the first-grade refining workshop.¡± ¡°Well, if we have sufficient amounts of this secret art watersource, it would not be difficult to increase our sales by that much! With how pure this secret art watersource is, utilizing it on first-grade spirit liquids for refinement is akin to using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Thus, the tempering strength would definitely increase significantly.¡± Yan Lingqing said confidently. pping his hands, Li Luoughed. ¡°Then it looks like our problem has been solved.¡± Yan Lingqing was a little dazed at his response, spacing out for a moment. Had this arduous problem been resolved in such a simple manner? How could it be so simple? Yan Lingqing exhaled deeply. It truly wasn¡¯t as easy as Li Luo had mentioned. It was only because Li Luo had managed to produce an item that surpassed everyone¡¯s expectations. If anyone else knew that he was utilizing such a treasure to create first-grade spirit liquids, they would inevitably curse him angrily for being the fool and wastrel that he was! The twodies nced at each other, tacitly agreeing to not ask Li Luo how this secret art watersource hade about. The way they saw it, it likely had to do with a secret passed down by the two House Lords. ¡°It looks like the Young Lord might be House Lun¡¯s harbinger of wealth!¡± Cai Weiughed whilst coyly covering her mouth. Her beautiful face was absolutely bursting with joy. ¡°Although the secret art watersource might be a little small in amount, it will definitely be more than sufficient to meet the Suncreek Vi¡¯s needs in the interim.¡± Yan Lingqing¡¯s small and square head lightly nodded. The Suncreek Vi currently only sold 150 bottles a month, and at the rate which Li Luo would provide it, this would definitely meet all their existing needs. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t speak of this anymore. I have to go and make use of the time we have to produce the first batch of enhanced Azure Jade Spirit Liquids. We first need to build a reputation for our new product and improve public opinion¡­¡± Yan Lingqing tightly grasped the bottle of deep blue liquid as though it was her baby and immediately rushed off. Li Luo and Cai Wei could only helplessly look on before they left the refining workshop together. Yet before Li Luo could say anything, Cai Wei immediately started to stride away quickly, and he had to quickly reach out and stop her. ¡°Elder Sister Cai Wei, are you trying to get rid of me?¡± Li Luo asked angrily. Cai Wei innocently looked at him. ¡°Young Lord, what are you trying to say? I have many tasks to settle!¡± ¡°Elder Sister Cai Wei! I¡¯ve just resolved the Suncreek Vi¡¯s predicament! You can¡¯t just ignore my outstanding service and contributions¡­¡± Following which, Li Luo furtively nced around in every direction before lowering his voice. ¡°I still need a batch of fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights.¡± A trace of bitterness could be seen in Cai Wei¡¯s eyes as she looked at Li Luo. ¡°Young Lord, it has barely been a month, yet you¡¯ve gobbled up almost 800,000 pieces of skygold. This is two years of the Tianshu Province¡¯s profits. At the rate you¡¯re going, we just can¡¯t afford to feed you any longer!¡± Li Luo seemed a little ashamed at this point. The speed at which he burned through skygold was indeed a little excessive. However, he had no choice! This acquired resonance was a skygold-devouring beast! He could only praise his parents for leaving behind an entire house as the foundation for him. Otherwise, reaching the Duke Stage within five years would be an impossible dream¡­ ¡°This will be thest batch of fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights. I promise,¡± Li Luo swore. Upon hearing those words, Cai Wei paused for a moment before lightly gritting her teeth. ¡°Fine¡­ then I will have to sell two more businesses.¡± Simply saying that caused Cai Wei to feel a little bit of sadness in her heart. With her abilities in management, she had never thought that she would have to sell the businesses under her to maintain the state of affairs. She had no choice in this matter¡­ Li Luo was, after all, a bottomless pit. Still she was extremely dissatisfied. Li Luo gave a dry cough and smiled as he nodded. He truly wasn¡¯t lying. His waterlight resonance was about to reach the sixth-grade, so fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights would no longer be required. At that point, he would only require sixth-grade ones¡­ Of course, this was something he hid in his heart and refused to speak of. At least for now¡­ Otherwise, Cai Wei might simply just quit in frustration on the spot. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 39: Buffed Azure Jade Spirit Liquid Chapter 39: Buffed Azure Jade Spirit Liquid 3Chapter 39: Buffed Azure Jade Spirit Liquid For the next few days, Li Luo spent half of his time cultivating the old manor and the other half at the Suncreek Vi, practicing his resonance artificering arts. He was already able to produce a single first-grade Azure Jade Spirit Liquid reliably each day. He could be considered a full-fledged resonance artificer now. Additionally, the Azure Jade Spirit Liquid he refined had tempering strength that was constantly increasing as he gained more experience. However, he was not satisfied with just this. Thus, he started to experiment with second-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights. These were several times moreplex to refine than first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights, with moreplicated materials and processes. As a result, he was faced with innumerable failures. Li Luo was not disheartened or anxious despite this. Failure was the mother of sess and also an invaluable experience. So long as he continued to umte experience, it was just a matter of before he would seed in bing a second-grade resonance artificer. Luckily, thest batch of fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights were finally sent over by Cai Wei. As he continued to guzzle these tempering treasures down, he could faintly feel that his waterlight resonance was gradually approaching the sixth-grade. In the interim, he had also managed to raise his resonant power to the Seventh Seal and was jubnt. He was not surprised by this, as he had spent painstaking effort cultivating in the cultivation room of the old manor. Coupled with the purity of the resonant power produced by his waterlight resonance, his cultivation was simpler and quicker. Thus, he was effectively no weaker than an individual with a seventh-grade resonance. At the same time, he had also received good news from Yan Lingqing. The first batch of enhanced Azure Jade Spirit Liquid had been refined. The Suncreek Vi. An intricately carved box was ced atop the table. Inside it were 40 crystal bottles, filled to the brim with azure-green liquid. This was the enhanced Azure Jade Spirit Liquid. Yan Lingqing¡¯s face was full of undisguised excitement. She said to Li Luo and Cai Wei, ¡°The secret art watersource provided by Li Luo is unfathomably pure! As a result, the first-grade refining workshop¡¯s sess rate has increased significantly. Originally, we could only produce five spirit liquids a day, but now we can produce ten! Furthermore, the tempering strength of these spirit liquids is around 60%. These are definitely considered high-quality first-grade spirit liquids!¡± As Li Luo listened, he frowned. Based on his quick math, if they produced ten bottles a day, a year¡¯s ie would only be around 180,000 pieces of skygold. There was still a gap between that and the 3rd-grade refining workshop. He immediately voiced his concerns as a result. ¡°That¡¯s something I can solve. Leave it to me!¡± Cai Wei shed an enchanting smile at the group. ¡°How does Elder Sister Cai Wei n to do this?¡± Li Luo asked with a little bit of surprise. Cai Wei continued to smirk. ¡°The Golden Dragon Bank has been stocking up on first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights. They are also paying higher than market price, at almost 60 pieces of skygold a bottle. If they choose to purchase the Suncreek Vi¡¯s Azure Jade Spirit Liquid, we can set up an agreement that will definitely allow us to exceed the profits of the third-grade refining workshop. ¡°Additionally, and more importantly, the Golden Dragon Bank possesses a ster reputation, and their choice will definitely demonstrate just who produces the highest quality first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights in the Tianshu Province. Their endorsement is actually the most valuable thing here.¡± Li Luo took all of it in and understood the situation. The Golden Dragon Bank had always been a purveyor of fine goods and would normally never even deign to look at low-grade treasures. If they had a need for them, they would naturally gravitate towards the very best. If one were chosen by them, they could even work out an agreement for future business whilst improving the reputation of the maker¡¯s products. This would be excellent publicity in and of itself. ¡°I will drop by the Golden Dragon Bankter. I hope the Young Lord will also apany me. I want to take advantage of your looks¡­ and reputation,¡± Cai Wei stated with a grin. The Golden Dragon Bank had always remained neutral. However, it also possessed titanic strength, and in the Xia Kingdom, no one would wantonly provoke them. On the other hand, they also prized harmony and wealth creation, thus they never sought to create enemies either. Li Luo was House Lun¡¯s Young Lord. Even though his influence in the family had wavered, his title was still his own, deserving of respect. He had no objections, and frankly, he only wanted to ensure that the Suncreek Vi was under his tight control. That way, it could continue to churn out skygold for him¡­ He definitely wouldn¡¯t mind being brought along as a mascot. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He picked up the box and left with a smiling Cai Wei. ¡­. The dazzling and luxurious-looking Golden Dragon Bank was constantly bustling with people as one of the most popr areas in the City of Southwind. When Li Luo and Cai Wei entered the bank, a female attendant immediately rushed out to attend to them. After finding out that they were looking for President Lu, she exined that he was currently weing another group of guests and that they would have to wait for a while. Without anything else to do, the two found a ce to sit and awaited President Lu. Yet just as Li Luo sat down and started staring at the fascinating tiles on the ground, he noticed a slender leg appear in his sights. ncing upwards, he realized that Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s pretty face was directly in front of him. She was wearing a ck, short skirt, contrasting against her white thighs, creating an enthralling sight. Combined with her fine, ck hair draped behind her, she was like a fairy in the flesh. ¡°What is the Young Lord doing here?¡± she asked curiously. ¡°I¡¯m looking to discuss business with President Lu.¡± Li Luo smiled. Lu Qing¡¯er stared at the box beside him, directly getting to the meat of the question. ¡°Is it first-grade spirit liquids?¡± She was naturally well-versed with all the issues regarding the Golden Dragon Bank, especially their recent demand for first-grade spirit liquids. Li Luo nodded. ¡°Does such a simple matter require the involvement of the Young Lord?¡± Lu Qing¡¯er continued to question. Ultimately, high-quality first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights were still just that! First-grade treasures! Whether it was House Lun or the Golden Dragon Bank, the cost to purchase them would merely be a drop in the ocean. Li Luo sighed and said in a low voice, ¡°You will never understand the struggles that a young lord in dire straits faces¡­¡± Lu Qing¡¯er couldn¡¯t help butugh, then her gaze shifted to the mature and charming beauty beside him. ¡°This elder sister is extremely gorgeous. Does the role of a general manager in House Lun have such strict requirements too?¡± Cai Wei lightlyughed. ¡°Younger Sister, you are also very beautiful. I¡¯m sure your suitors in Southwind Academy are as plentiful as the clouds. I wonder if the Young Lord is also one of them?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t drag me into this pointless thing¡­¡± Li Luo dryly coughed. ¡°Let me bring you to find Second Uncle. He¡¯s currently dealing with the people from the Song family. They¡¯ve taken the initiative to approach us, directly hawking their Wondrous Sunshine Light after they found out that our Golden Dragon Bank was searching for first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights.¡± Li Luo and Cai Wei nced at each other. It had slipped their minds that the Song family would have simr thoughts. They weren¡¯t idiots after all, and they wanted to borrow this opportunity to rise above their stature and improve the reputation of the products they refined. ¡°Won¡¯t we be interrupting their discussion?¡± Li Luo may have sounded a little embarrassed, but he had already stood up, ready to go. ¡°Well, there¡¯s no decision being made,¡± Lu Qing¡¯ermented indifferently before turning around to lead the way. ¡°Though you should already be aware of the quality of the Pine Nut Vi¡¯s Wondrous Sunshine Light. I might be able to lead the way, but if you want Second Uncle to change his mind, you need to prove your ability with the quality of your goods.¡± ¡°I, Li Luo, have always been an outstanding and upright individual. I would NEVER rely on my connections,¡± Li Luo dered heroically¡­ Lu Qing¡¯er sighed lightly and did not want to bicker any further. She directly led the two through the corridor. They eventually reached a VIP room, and someone familiar was seen walking out of it. ¡°Song Yunfeng?¡± Li Luo eximed in surprise. Song Yunfeng also saw Li Luo and was slightly astonished. At the same time, he frowned and addressed Lu Qing¡¯er directly. ¡°Qing¡¯er, why did you bring him here?¡± ¡°Li Luo and my Second Uncle have a meeting, and so I decided to lead them here,¡± Lu Qing¡¯er said with an unchanging expression. Li Luo looked at her radiant and beautiful face. A beauty was truly able to lie without batting an eyelid! Her performance was absolutely perfect! Song Yunfeng¡¯s expression turned dark as he couldn¡¯t tell if she was lying. However, he had no choice¡ªthis was the Golden Dragon Bank and not his Song family stomping grounds. In the end, he could only stare wistfully at Lu Qing¡¯er walking in. ncing at the box in Li Luo¡¯s hands, he indifferentlymented, ¡°Li Luo, there¡¯s no need to waste your time. Your Suncreek Vi cannotpete with my clearly superior Pine Nut Vi.¡± Li Luo chuckled. ¡°You might be surprised. Did you ever consider the idea that we would end up in a draw if we fought?¡± Song Yunfeng¡¯sposed demeanor was instantly shattered, his face a steel green as he furiously red at Li Luo. If looks could kill, Li Luo would have been shredded into a thousand pieces! Li Luo, on the other hand, ignored him, directly walking into the room with Cai Wei. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 40: Ambushing Pine Nut Villa Chapter 40: Ambushing Pine Nut Vi 0Chapter 40: Ambushing Pine Nut Vi Bright incandescentmps illuminated the massive reception room. The portly President Lu with a face full of smiles was sitting right in the front. A tall and well-built middle-aged man with an imposing aura was sitting opposite him. This was the Song family¡¯s Head, Song Shan. They were clearly in the midst of a discussion when Lu Qing¡¯er led Li Luo and Cai Wei into the room, directly interrupting their conversation. Song Shan was slightly taken aback by these new proceedings. However, once he saw Li Luo and Cai Wei, the smile on his face receded slightly and his expression turned a little apathetic. President Lu was simrly astonished, but before he could speak, Lu Qing¡¯er gently said, ¡°Second Uncle, the people from House Lun are here.¡± When he noticed the look in his niece¡¯s eyes, his lips twitched slightly as though he wanted to say something. Despite the sudden developments, he reacted quickly and started nodding his head. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, why don¡¯t you quickly take a seat?¡± Song Shan immediately ced the teacup in his hand on the table with neither too much nor too little force and frowned at President Lu. ¡°President Lu, could you kindly exin what is going on?¡± President Lu chuckled and replied, ¡°The Song family¡¯s head need not overthink things. Our Golden Dragon Bank believes that harmony breeds wealth after all. At the same time, we also have another condition: that is the goods sold by the Golden Dragon Bank must be of certain quality.¡± ¡°First-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights can be considered lower in grade, but we also require them to be of the highest quality. Otherwise, our reputation would be tarnished. Hence, we will have to do a final selection.¡± Li Luo and Cai Wei immediately took their seats and nodded in agreement. ¡°President Lu is truly wise.¡± Song Shan¡¯s expression turned cold, as if he¡¯d been submerged in freezing water. He indifferently nced at the duo before removing all pretenses of politeness, whilst ying with the teacup in his hands. ¡°President Lu, let¡¯s not waste any more time. The Suncreek Vi¡¯s Azure Jade Spirit Liquid cannotpare with my Pine Nut Vi¡¯s Wondrous Sunshine Light. We have absolutely trashed them in the market in terms of sales and performance. The difference in tempering strength is vast, and I¡¯m sure President Lu has already done his own investigations on this. Frankly speaking, there is no one within the Tianshu Province with the ability to produce a first-grade purifying light that can surpass ours. It¡¯s impossible. If President Lu feels that the Suncreek Vi truly is the better choice, you can say so directly and the Pine Nut Vi will pull out of thispetition.¡± Song Shan truly was a bold individual. He had spoken convincingly and without holding back, directly stating the truth. President Lu chortled to defuse the tension. ¡°Please don¡¯t be angry. I am aware of the Pine Nut Vi¡¯s high-quality Wondrous Sunshine Light. However, we also have to let others demonstrate their capabilities in the spirit of fairness. If your product is the best at the end of the selections, I will have to sincerely apologize to you.¡± Song Shan¡¯s expression immediately eased up upon hearing those words, then he continued to banter with President Lu for a bit more. asionally, he would nce briefly at Li Luo and Cai Wei, a cold smirk on his face. He knew all about the Suncreek Vi¡¯s internal situation. For a long time, the position of president had been left unupied. Yan Lingqing and Zhuang Yi were constantly scuffling, neither willing to give in, and chaos roiled the vi. In the end, Li Luo had been sent to the Golden Dragon Bank topete against their Pine Nut Vi. That brat clearly couldn¡¯t fathom how high the heavens were. Did he really think that his position as a Young Lord was worth anything? Song Yunfeng was sitting next to Song Shan, expressionlessly watching the show. Lu Qing¡¯er, on the other hand, was standing beside President Lu. She was a slender beauty, looking pure and sweet, apletely different sort of beautypared to the mature Cai Wei. Unfortunately, her gaze held a trace of doubt and worry. She understood that if Li Luo was unable to bring out first-grade spirit liquids that were at leastparable, there would be no chance of her Second Uncle choosing the Suncreek Vi. On top of that, Song Shan and Song Yunfeng would only look down on them even more. Once President Lu cated Song Shan, he immediately looked towards Li Luo and Cai Wei. ¡°The two of you should also understand the Golden Dragon Bank¡¯s requirements. First-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights might be considered low grade, but we require a minimum tempering strength of 55%. Anything less than that will not be considered.¡± Cai Wei gave a confident smile. ¡°President Lu, the Pine Nut Vi¡¯s Wondrous Sunshine Light have a tempering strength that barely reaches 56%, is that right?¡± ¡°Barely?¡± Song Shan¡¯s eyelids twitched upon hearing her derogatoryment. ¡°General Manager Cai is truly arrogant. If I recall, the Suncreek Vi¡¯s high-quality products barely reach 52%.¡± ¡°Well, as the head of the Song family, you ought to know that this is all in the past.¡± Cai Wei smirked. Li Luo immediately ced the box he had brought atop the table, revealing the 40 bottles of Azure Jade Spirit Liquid for all to see. ¡°President Lu, let me introduce you to our newest product from the Suncreek Vi. This is our enhanced Azure Jade Spirit Liquid. It¡¯s tempering strength is 60%,¡± Cai Wei announced in a gentle and soft tone. ¡°60%?¡± Both President Lu and Song Shan¡¯s expressions fluctuated greatly, the former looking very surprised, thetter coldly smiling. President Lu waved his hand and an attendant arrived with a tempering measurement needle. After inserting it into the liquid of one of the bottles, the group closely scrutinized the result as it stabilized at the 60% mark. ¡°It really does possess 60% tempering strength,¡± President Lu said in shock. Song Shan indifferently replied, ¡°The Suncreek Vi truly has many tricks up their sleeve. The only question here is which third or fourth-grade resonance artificer produced this Azure Jade Spirit Liquid? Could it have been one of those two fourth-grade resonance artificers of the Suncreek Vi?¡± President Lu was lost in thought for a brief moment. A first-grade spirit liquid was extremely low-grade. If a few third or even a fourth-grade resonance artificers opted to lend a hand to refine this, then attaining a 60% tempering strength spirit liquid would not be hard. However, wasting a skilled resonance artificer¡¯s time to produce such a spirit liquid would essentially be a huge loss for the Suncreek Vi. Using their time to create third-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights would be significantly more efficient in terms of value, vastly surpassing the profits first-grade spirit liquids could bring. Song Shan¡¯s subtle meaning was that the Suncreek Vi was willing to go to any means to achieve their goals, even if they had to get their third-grade resonance artificers to refine a batch of these spirit liquids and purifying lights. President Lu turned to look at Li Luo. ¡°Young Lord, you must understand that what the Golden Dragon Bank requires is not just a single batch. These orders will continue over an extended period of time. If the Suncreek Vi is unable to reliably produce spirit liquids of a simr tempering strength, that would not be pleasant for any of us.¡± Song Shan indifferently drank two sips of tea. He obviously did not believe that the Suncreek Vi had the ability to consistently produce Azure Jade Spirit Liquid with 60% tempering strength. Could they really afford to constantly sacrifice the time of third-grade resonance artificers to refine these low-grade goods? If they truly did so, it would just be a matter of time before the Suncreek Vi copsed due to their foolishness. Li Luo faced President Lu¡¯s questioning gaze directly, remaining as calm as before. ¡°President Lu, please rest assured. House Lun is a big family with big businesses and corresponding interests. We would not act foolishly over such a small matter. We wouldn¡¯t be so foolish as to use our third or fourth-grade resonance artificers to refine such low grade spirit liquids and purifying lights. This is something House Lun would never do. If President Lu chooses to purchase our Azure Jade Spirit Liquid, I can guarantee that the Suncreek Vi will be able to produce this reliably in the long run. Additionally, the tempering strength will be no lower than 60%. In fact, all of the Azure Jade Spirit Liquid produced by the Suncreek Vi will be of the enhanced version. We will produce the best first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights in the entire Tianshu Province!¡± Looking at how calmly Li Luo had responded, President Lu felt his heart quaking. Could it be that the Suncreek Vi could reliably improve the quality of their Azure Jade Spirit Liquid without relying on the assistance of third-grade resonance artificers? Li Luo had given his guarantee on it! He wasn¡¯t the only one who was shaken by this fact. Song Yunfeng and Song Shan were equally shocked by this revtion. Li Luo was simply too confident, and it looked like he was speaking the truth. Even Song Shan started to question himself. Did the Suncreek Vi¡¯s Azure Jade Spirit Liquid have some sort of breakthrough in quality? How could this be possible!? Just half a month ago, the Suncreek Vi¡¯s Azure Jade Spirit Liquid could barely reach 52% tempering strength. How could it have improved so greatly in half a month¡¯s time!? If that was not the case, then how could Li Luo dere so confidently that they would be able to produce this enhanced Azure Jade Spirit Liquid for the long run? The entire room was plunged into a brief period of silence. Lu Qing¡¯er, on the other hand, was looking at the box of spirit liquids with renewed interest. She was surprised too, and she had a strong feeling that this had to do with Li Luo. President Lu¡¯s plump hand grasped a bottle of Azure Jade Spirit Liquid and he paused in deep thought. A few momentster, his face burst out into a smile and he looked at Song Shan. Apologetically, he addressed him. ¡°Song family¡¯s Head, I believe we are temporarily unable to cooperate with you.¡± Song Shan did not burst out in anger upon hearing those words. Instead, he ced his teacup down and gave a resigned smile. ¡°President Lu, I believe we will have further opportunities to coborate in the future. Since you¡¯ve made your decision, we will take our leave. Haha. If the Suncreek Vi¡¯s goods ever have issues, pleasee and find our Pine Nut Vi instead.¡± Song Shan truly had the grace and magnanimity expected of a family head. He was not put down by Li Luo¡¯s ambush and instead even gave Li Luo a smile. ¡°The Young Lord is young and capable. I heard that you even managed to fight my son to a draw during the preliminary examinations. It looks like House Lun will be in good hands. I¡¯m sure that it will have a limitless future.¡± Li Luo courteously replied as well. ¡°It was merely a fluke.¡± Song Shan simply smiled, no longer speaking, directly leading a glum Song Yunfeng away. Once the two Songs took their leave, President Lu made his way to Li Luo with a hearty smile. ¡°I¡¯ve heard from Qing¡¯er that you¡¯ve resolved your issue with the nk pce. That is truly a cause for celebration! But before that, why don¡¯t we sign an agreement regarding the Azure Jade Spirit Liquid?¡± Cai Wei immediately took this as her cue to walk forward and directly settled the conditions with President Lu. Whilst the two were busily discussing the terms, Li Luo stretchedzily. Lu Qing¡¯er walked over at this moment. ¡°Congrattions.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you. Otherwise, things might have gotten dicey.¡± Li Luo thanked her sincerely. Without Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s help, the Song family might have signed the contract with the Golden Dragon Bank before they got a chance to hawk their wares. The situation would¡¯ve been extremely tricky in that scenario. Lu Qing¡¯er waved her hand and reminded him, ¡°However, you need to put in more effort. Don¡¯t forget about the College Final Examinations that areing up. The biggest regret will be if you miss out on the opportunity to enter the Astral Sage College.¡± Li Luo nodded in agreement. All of a sudden, Lu Qing¡¯er spoke out. ¡°Are you free during this holiday? I have no one to spar and exchange pointers with. If you¡¯re free,e and spar with me. It¡¯s mutually beneficial.¡± ¡°Do you take me for a sandbag? No, no, no¡­¡± Li Luo hastily said. He was speechless! How could this even work out? Upon hearing his reply, she gave him a faint smile and red at him for a good few seconds before swiftly turning to leave. ¡­¡­. Outside the Golden Dragon Bank, in the Song family¡¯s carriage. Now that there was no one else around, Song Shan¡¯s expression turned iparably gloomy. The Suncreek Vi had indeed been heavily suppressed by their Pine Nut Vi in recent times. Who would have expected them to counterattack with such a vicious blow, directly pping them across their faces? Although the cooperation with the Golden Dragon Bank would not be significantly profitable, the crux was that it would raise the reputation of their Wondrous Sunshine Light. It would further cement their position in the Tianshu Province¡¯s first-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights market. However, it had all been ruined by Li Luo. ¡°Dad, can the Suncreek Vi reliably produce Azure Jade Spirit Liquid with 60% tempering strength?¡± Song Yunfeng couldn¡¯t help but ask. Song Shan gave an insipid reply. ¡°We will have to wait and see.¡± ¡°This is truly a vicious blow. We¡¯ve paid a huge price to tap into Elder Sister¡¯s connections and invited an expert resonance artificer to improve upon our Wondrous Sunshine Light¡¯s form. In the end¡­¡± Song Yunfengmented. ¡°This is just first-grade purifying lights.¡± Song Shan shook his head. ¡°Even if the Suncreek Vi wins this battle, they will not be able to win the war against the Pine Nut Vi. ¡°Your elder sister has already sent news that she¡¯s about to return to the City of Southwind. At that point, she will directly take over the Pine Nut Vi and we will naturally be victorious.¡± Song Yunfeng revealed a look of excitement. His elder sister, Song Qiuyu, was a student of the Astral Sage College¡¯s Resonance Tempering Hall with outstanding achievements. With her support, the Pine Nut Vi would truly have a pir to rely on. ¡°The most important thing now is the College Final Examinations. I hope that you will be able to regain the face that you¡¯ve lost,¡± Song Shan stated coldly. ¡°I will bring you with me on a trip to the Governor¡¯s Mansion for the next two days. Shi Huang, the son of the governor, is Eastpool Academy¡¯s number one student and also the same age as you. Perhaps the two of you can get along and be fast friends.¡± ¡°Governor¡¯s Mansion?¡± Song Yunfeng was a little startled at this. Shi Huang was Southwind Academy¡¯s greatest fear in the uing College Final Examinations. With his background as the son of the governor, he was the most influential individual in the Tianshu Province amongst the younger generation. He was head and shoulders above everyone in terms of background, with the exception of Li Luo. Of course, that would only be the case if House Lun was in its golden era. No one would speak of Li Luo and Shi Huang in the same breath, whether in terms of influence or background. They were seemingly miles apart. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 41: The Presidents Position Chapter 41: The President''s Position 1Chapter 41: The President¡¯s Position On the second day, after the Golden Dragon Bank had finished signing a long-term agreement, Li Luo used his position as the Young Lord to convene a meeting of the senior management of the Suncreek Vi. In the discussion hall, Vice President Zhuang Yi waste and even indifferently grumbled on his way in. ¡°My third-grade refining workshop is currently busy refining third-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights. Time is tight! We even have to make up for the gap left by the first-grade refining workshop¡­¡± Upon sitting down, he immediately looked at Li Luo with a smile. ¡°I seek your understanding, Young Lord.¡± ¡°It must have been hard on you,¡± Li Luo replied courteously upon seeing that fake smile of his. The smile on his own handsome face never lessened. After all, the problem in the Suncreek Vi would be finally solved today, and it would then continue to churn out endless profits for him! That way, he could buy even more spirit liquids and purifying lights¡­ Why would he not be excited? Zhuang Yi felt a little uneasy upon seeing Li Luo¡¯s wide smile. However, he did not take this feeling to heart. Although Li Luo was the Young Lord, he wasn¡¯t in charge of anything, and technically Zhuang Yi was someone from Pei Hao¡¯s side. Li Luo could not easily get rid of him without rhyme or reason. Elder Zheng Ping was also in attendance as he was equally curious about why Li Luo would want to convene a meeting. As almost everyone was here, he started to speak. ¡°Young Lord, please kindly enlighten us as to why you have gathered everyone here.¡± Li Luo smiled. ¡°It¡¯s not about something frivolous. Elder, you did mention previously that theck of a president posed a problem for the Suncreek Vi.¡± Zheng Ping was a little startled at how things were proceeding, and he immediately frowned. ¡°Did we note to an agreement before? We willpare the results of the ones in charge of the refining workshops to decide the victor. Unfortunately, Vice President Yan seems to be at a significant disadvantage.¡± ¡°Does the Young Lord want to change the rules for selection? These are the irond rules of the Suncreek Vi. Even though you¡¯re the Young Lord, you cannot change these rules on a whim! That¡¯s improper,¡± Zhuang Yi said. The rest of the management did not speak a single word. However, the expressions on their faces seemed to say that they were siding with Zhuang Yi. Faced with everyone¡¯s doubtful res, Li Luo waved his hands. ¡°The rule is wonderful. There is no need to change it. I just want to say that the results are now out for everyone to see.¡± The confusion in the eyes of everyone present continued to deepen. Even Zhuang Yi was a little taken aback before he gave an excited smile. ¡°Does the Young Lord want to crown me as the victor? Or did Vice President Yan take the initiative to give up?¡± Upon hearing these words, the group of senior resonance artificers seemed to suddenly understand something. It was true that based on the rules, Zhuang Yi¡¯s third-grade refining workshop vastly outperformed the first and second-grade refining workshops. With such a huge difference, it was possible that Vice President Yan would have chosen to give up. ¡°Give up? In your dreams!¡± Yan Lingqing¡¯s eyebrows arched in contempt as she gave a cold smile. Cai Wei lightly chuckled at this point. She took the agreement out and directly passed it to Elder Zheng Ping. ¡°Our Suncreek Vi has signed an official contract with the Golden Dragon Bank. We will produce Azure Jade Spirit Liquid for them on a long-term basis.¡± After ncing through the document, Elder Zheng Ping¡¯s expression suddenly changed. ¡°Azure Jade Spirit Liquid with 60% tempering strength? Are you messing around? How can the Suncreek Vi supply Azure Jade Spirit Liquid with 60% tempering strength?!¡± Elder Zheng Ping¡¯s face turned green and he mmed his palm against the table. He stared at Li Luo as he said in a heartbroken tone, ¡°Young Lord, how could you possibly have signed such an agreement? You¡¯re practically destroying the Suncreek Vi¡¯s reputation by agreeing to this!¡± Everyone in the discussion hall looked at the trio in shock after they heard the words spoken by Elder Zheng Ping. They would never have expected them toe up with such an unbelievable contract! This was not a joke! The Suncreek Vi¡¯s first-grade resonance artificers could not refine such a spirit liquid! Even Zhuang Yi was bbergasted, but internally he was jumping for joy. He didn¡¯t even have to act, as Li Luo had just dealt the death blow to Yan Lingqing himself. Azure Jade Spirit Liquid with 60% tempering strength was simply impossible for the first-grade resonance artificers! ¡°Hai¡­¡± Zhuang Yi heavily sighed as he raised his voice towards Cai Wei. ¡°The Young Lord might not be knowledgeable, but how could the General Manager make the same mistake?¡± He then turned his gaze to Elder Zheng Ping and the rest and emotionally said, ¡°Are they possibly hoping for our third-grade refining workshop to take on the task of refining all these Azure Jade Spirit Liquids? This is clearly a ploy to destroy the Suncreek Vi! I will never agree to this! Elder Zheng Ping, you¡¯ve seen for yourself what these people want to do. The Suncreek Vi has to quickly select a president. Otherwise, if things proceed this way, we will no longer be wee in the Tianshu Province!¡± Li Luo silently looked at the passionately speaking Zhuang Yi, not putting a halt to his words. After Zhuang Yi finished his outburst, he turned over to look at Elder Zheng Ping with a steely, greenplexion. ¡°This contract will not require the help of any of the Suncreek Vi¡¯s third-grade resonance artificers. It will bepletely fulfilled by the first-grade refining workshop.¡± Elder Zheng Ping frowned as he said with a grave voice, ¡°Young Lord, our Suncreek Vi¡¯s first-grade refining workshop simply does not possess this capability.¡± ¡°That was in the past.¡± Li Luo gave an indifferent smile as he picked up a box that was sitting by his feet. Upon opening it, he revealed dozens of bottles of enhanced Azure Jade Spirit Liquid. ¡°Elder Zheng Ping, this will be the enhanced Azure Jade Spirit Liquid produced by our Suncreek Vi. The tempering strength will be at least 60%, and 40 bottles have already been provided to the Golden Dragon Bank. The remaining ten are here for you to see. In the future, we will be producing a greater quantity of this enhanced Azure Jade Spirit Liquid, up to a total of 300 a month. Based on their market value, the first-grade refining workshop will outperform the third-grade refining workshop.¡± Each of Li Luo¡¯s words directly reverberated around the discussion hall, shocking everyone into silence. Everyone looked at him inplete stupefaction. It was as if they were enthralled by a bunch of fantastical tales. ¡°Enhanced Azure Jade Spirit Liquid? What is that? I¡¯ve never heard of this! Our Suncreek Vi¡¯s first-grade refining workshop can produce Azure Jade Spirit Liquid with 60% tempering strength? What kind of crap are you spouting!?¡± Zhuang Yi resentfully shouted, his tone impolite. Perhaps he was feeling restless at the change of events. However, Li Luo¡¯s calm and collected demeanor didn¡¯t make him seem like someone who was spouting crazy words. The rest stared at each other nkly, while Elder Zheng Ping remained deep in thought. He immediately took out a tempering measurement needle and directly pierced it into one of the Azure Jade Spirit Liquid bottles. The result was clearly at the 60% mark. Everyone¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the mind-boggling results. ¡°The enhanced Azure Jade Spirit Liquid was not refined by Vice President Yan. The first-grade refining workshop has been sealed for thest few days, but it will be open to everyer, for you to see for yourself if you wish. Nothing that the Young Lord has said is false. All of the Azure Jade Spirit Liquid produced by the Suncreek Vi in the future will reliably be at 60% tempering strength.¡± Cai Wei¡¯s soft and gentle words seemed to echo in the huge chamber. Even Elder Zheng Ping was left in a daze. He could not imagine how this was possible. However, the facts in front of him spoke for themselves. This was not a farce, and Li Luo had no need toe up with an borate lie to trick them. Elder Zheng Ping finally recovered a whileter, heavily sighing with a bitter smile. ¡°If what you say is true, the first-grade refining workshop will outperform the third-grade workshop. In this case, I hereby proim that Yan Lingqing will lead the Suncreek Vi branch in the Tianshu Province as the¡­¡± ¡°I DISAGREE!¡± a visibly frustrated Zhuang Yi screamed as he angrily mmed the table. ¡°There is definitely something strange going on. How can the first-grade refining workshop reliably produce 60% tempering strength Azure Jade Spirit Liquid?¡± Elder Zheng Ping¡¯s expression turned solemn. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you disagree. At the very least, there is a contract with the Golden Dragon Bank proving their point.¡± Zhuang Yi¡¯s expression turned green. ¡°I don¡¯t believe this! It¡¯s impossible! How can they reliably produce this enhanced Azure Jade Spirit Liquid!?¡± Li Luo immediately stood up and lifted the curtain at the front of the discussion hall. From where they stood, they could observe what was happening in the first-grade refining workshop. At the moment, there were first-grade resonance artificers busily refining spirit liquids. At the same time, someone collected the recently refined Azure Jade Spirit Liquid and brought it over to the discussion hall. When the box of enhanced Azure Jade Spirit Liquid was disyed in front of the group, no one doubted Li Luo¡¯s words any longer. How could they when the evidence was right in front of them? Zhuang Yi¡¯s face turned iparably pale as he plonked onto his seat, continuously murmuring to himself. Everyone knew that Zhuang Yi had been on the cusp of victory. Yet the unimaginable had happened and his fall from grace was just too quick¡­ That stubborn old man Elder Zheng Ping, on the other hand, had a face full of smiles. He stood up to make an announcement. ¡°From here on, Yan Lingqing will be the president of the Suncreek Vi in the Tianshu Province!¡± Apuse rang out in the discussion hall. Li Luo heaved a sigh of relief whilst leaning against a chair. This entire fiasco hadn¡¯t been easy. On the bright side, at least his money bag was safe for the time being¡­ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 42: Governors Mansion Chapter 42: Governor''s Mansion 2Chapter 42: Governor¡¯s Mansion In order to celebrate Yan Lingqing¡¯s promotion to president, an extremely ted Yan Lingqing invited Li Luo and Cai Wei to join her in the evening. This was when Li Luo saw the true extent of her drinking stamina. Even more terrifying was Cai Wei matching her cup for cup heroically. The two were flushed from their relentless drinking, and Li Luo was left cowering in fear like a little quail. ¡°Li Luo, as long as you can increase that secret art watersource support, I will definitely be able to make the Suncreek Vi¡¯s spirit liquids and purifying lights the best in the whole Tianshu Province!¡± Red-faced and pumped full of liquid courage, Yan Lingqing turned a fiery and beautiful eye to Li Luo. ¡°Of course. I will do my best.¡± Li Luo smiled and nodded. He was only at the Seventh Seal Stage. If he could reach the Resonant Master Stage, the quality of his resonant power would rise correspondingly. At that time, he would be able to provide even better watersource. If the Suncreek Vi could dominate the spirit liquids and purifying lights market in the Tianshu Province, then House Lun¡¯s annual profits would soar, allowing Li Luo to rise. ¡°Well then, a pre-emptive toast. To the Suncreek Vi¡¯s monopoly in the Tianshu Province.¡± Cai Wei gave a coy smile. The alcohol had rxed her already pretty features, giving them a different but equally alluring look. The three touched their cups together with smiles. ¡­¡­ After helping Yan Lingqing settle the Suncreek Vi¡¯s internal dispute, Li Luo felt a weight lift from his chest. In the following days, he was seen less often at the Suncreek Vi. As the holidays were soon ending, Li Luo had another important matter to consider: the College Final Examinations. The College Final Examinations would determine who would be nominated to enter the Astral Sage College. As the most elite college in the Xia Kingdom, it was the holy grail for many young men and women. No power in the Xia Kingdom dared to look down upon the ability and status of the Astral Sage College. Before the Xia Kingdom had been founded, there had been other dynasties. These dynasties hade and gone, and still the Astral Sage College endured, a testament to its deep-rooted power. There were also rumors that there were King Stage experts in the Astral Sage College. That was why even being the Young Lord of House Lun was nothingpared to being an Astral Sage student. For Li Luo, there was no other option to secure a brighter future. Besides, there was that promise with Jiang Qing¡¯e. The College Final Examinations would epass all of the middle and high schools, and each would be able to send their 20 finest students topete for ces at Astral Sage. The number of ces varied year on year, but generally speaking, the top 10 were more or less guaranteed to make it in, while things were less certain for the remaining. Therefore, Li Luo¡¯s target was to make it into that secure top 10. ¡°Reaching the top 10¡­ won¡¯t be easy.¡± Li Luo¡¯s face was creased with worry as he sat in the skygold room, having just finished his training. Although Southwind Academy was the best school in the Tianshu Province, that was no reason to dismiss the other schools. Although most of the other schools¡¯ candidates were indeedrgely not worthy of consideration, there would be a few capable ones amongst them, and those would add up to a considerable number indeed. Besides, there was also Southwind Academy¡¯s greatest threat and rival, Eastpool Academy. One could only imagine how hard it would be to break free from the cutthroatpetition. Li Luo was at the Seventh Seal Stage, and his waterlight resonance should reach the sixth-grade before the examinations. Still, it made him restless with worry. He was improving, but so were the others. Li Luo could not afford to take these examinations lightly. He focused seriously on his own abilities and techniques, and discovered a shoring. His most ring weakness was theck of a powerful offensive technique. Previously, against Song Yunfeng, he had managed to run rings around him and used his Water Mirror Art to fight him to a draw. Impressive as it was, all the more did it dere Li Luo¡¯sck of an offense. He did not pose a threat to Song Yunfeng in their fight. But this was not a problem limited to Li Luo, rather it was a challenge that all water resonance users faced. Itcked the destructive punch of the fire, metal, and lightning resonances. Of course, the water resonance held the edge in drawn-out battles, but that was too passive a style for Li Luo¡¯s taste. He had to think of a way to improve his offense. Other water resonance users might be stumped, but not Li Luo. He was not just a pure water resonance user, he was the ultra-rare waterlight resonance user! Coming out of his musings, Li Luo got up and left the skygold room, heading for his private library. ¡­¡­ Governor¡¯s Mansion, City of Southwind. Every citizen of the Xia Kingdom fell under the purview of the governors ¨C the Governor¡¯s Mansions were therefore the centers of power and influence. ¡°Keke, my old friend Song, I have been wanting to invite you to the Governor¡¯s Mansion for some time now. A pity that I was just too busy recently and couldn¡¯t make time until today.¡± From within the guest hall of Governor¡¯s Mansion, brightughter. Its source was a gaunt middle-aged man. Although he was smiling, he had an authoritative bearing about him. This was the governor of the Tianshu Province, Shi Qing. He was a Heavenly Dipper General, the first sub stage of the General Stage. In a lower position near him sat the head of the Song family, Song Shan. ¡°The esteemed Governor is always busy, of course you would not have time like us idle peasants,¡± Song Shan repliedughingly. ¡°Brother Song, you mock me.¡± Shi Qing smiled in response. He lifted up his teacup and looked at the leaves floating on the surface. He remarked casually, ¡°The Song family¡¯s movements have not been discreettely. You must have enjoyed much at the expense of House Lun.¡± Song Shan replied, ¡°All thanks to the great Governor.¡± ¡°A pity, House Lun. If those two had not disappeared, House Lun might well have led the five Great Houses in the future.¡± Shi Qing smiled humorlessly. ¡°Well, the brightest candles burn quickest. If not¡­¡± He suddenly paused. ¡°House Lun is floundering to keep its head above water. May the Song family treasure every opportunity,¡± he said while looking at Song Shan. ¡°Many thanks to the governor for his instruction. Our Song family will definitely remember your grace.¡± Shi Qing smiled and then changed the topic. From the nearbyke outside the guest hall, Song Yunfeng listened to the faint murmur of voices within and then cast his eyes towards the water. There was a white-clothed youth there, his hair trimmed short, save for a long ponytail at the back. His hands were full of fish food, and he was busy feeding the fish. After he was done, he dusted off his hands, then a maid respectfully offered a cloth. He casually wiped his hands and then came walking towards Song Yunfeng. As he neared, his features came into view ¨C an ordinary-looking face, with a ghost of a smile hanging on his lips. But looking at this unremarkable-looking youth, a slight tingle of trepidation shot through Song Yunfeng. This was the governor¡¯s son, Shi Huang. He was also the top student at Eastpool Academy. ¡°Yunfeng, my father has said that in this year¡¯s College Final Examinations, I have to help Eastpool Academy take the title of best school in the Tianshu Province,¡± Shi Huang said with a smile. ¡°With senior brother Shi Huang¡¯s abilities, it seems entirely probable,¡± Song Yunfeng replied. ¡°Not at all. Your Southwind Academy¡¯s Lu Qing¡¯er is no slouch. She will make a formidable opponent,¡± Shi Huang said. Song Yunfeng nodded in agreement. He knew of Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s strength. ¡°Although I do not fear her, I dislike unknown factors. Therefore, I might need your cooperation on some matters regarding the College Final Examinations,¡± Shi Huang stated mildly. Song Yunfeng¡¯s face changed, and he frowned, troubled. ¡°Senior Brother Shi Huang, are you asking me to betray Southwind Academy?¡± ¡°Sheesh, you make it sound so ugly. Do you really think of Southwind Academy as your own family? It is but a stepping stone in our journey of cultivation. As long as you clinch a top 10 spot, you¡¯ll naturally be able to advance to the Astral Sage College. At that time, will you even care about Southwind Academy?¡± Shi Huang chortled. ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t ask you to do anything too noticeable.¡± He sketched a casual gesture in the air. ¡°It is also my father¡¯s will. The dean of Southwind Academy had a feud with my father in the past. He tried to stop my father¡¯s rise at every turn. Therefore, the golden title of best school in the Tianshu Province must be taken away from him.¡± Song Yunfeng thought about this for a long time, and finally nodded in a pained way. Only then did a warm smile fill Shi Huang¡¯s face. He reached out and gently patted Song Yunfeng¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Oh, and I hear Li Luo has a resonance now? And you two fought to a draw?¡± Song Yunfeng¡¯s eyes clouded upon hearing those words, and he said stiffly, ¡°He pulled a fast one on me, that¡¯s all. If we meet in the exams, he has no chance of even a draw.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Shi Huang pondered for a moment. ¡°A pity. I wanted to test the young lord during the examinations. But hearing that from you has dulled my interest considerably.¡± ¡°There is no need for Senior Brother Shi Huang to trouble himself with such a brat. If the opportunity presents itself, I will clean him up,¡± Song Yunfeng said. ¡°Just as well. ¡°This person¡­ I haven¡¯t met him many times, but I have quite the dislike for him,¡± Shi Huang snorted. Hearing that raised Song Yunfeng¡¯s suspicions. Seeing his reaction, Shi Huangughed, and he said resentfully, ¡°An ugly matter. Back then, my father went to House Lun, seeking Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s hand for me¡­ ¡°Haha, in the end, the two House Lords rejected him. ¡°How dare they¡­ They wanted to keep her for their son¡­ ¡°A pity their son grew up so useless. How can he hold on to such a fine woman?¡± Song Yunfeng was taken aback when he heard these words. Now he finally understood why the governor¡¯s family had moved in secret to support the revolution and help them devour House Lun. So this was why¡­ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 43: Sixth Grade Waterlight Resonance Chapter 43: Sixth Grade Waterlight Resonance 0Chapter 43: Sixth Grade Waterlight Resonance When Li Luo was left with hisst three bottles of fifth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights, his waterlight resonance finally evolved, reaching the sixth grade. In his bedroom, Li Luo sprawled on the carpet, a wild look of triumph on his face. Less than a month before, Li Luo had been written off with his nk pces, his future bleak. And now, his unique waterlight resonance had reached the sixth grade. Resonances had nine grades, and a sixth-grade resonance was above average, no matter how you looked at it. One more upgrade and he would be well and truly in the high-quality resonance tier. Besides, the waterlight resonance¡¯s unique nature meant that its sixth-grade power wasparable to that of some seventh-grade resonances. Therefore, just in terms of resonant power, Li Luo had already caught up to many of his excellent peers. As far as he knew, only Lu Qing¡¯er and Song Yunfeng had seventh-grade resonances in the whole of Southwind Academy. And even within their generation in the Tianshu Province, the number of seventh-grade resonance users could be counted on one hand. Even with a ninth-grade resonance monster like Jiang Qing¡¯e eclipsing his achievement, Li Luo knew that a seventh-grade one still had its own noteworthy shine. Ninth-grade resonances were extremely rare. Why else would the Astral Sage College open a special recruitment for Jiang Qing¡¯e? The Astral Sage College¡¯s requirements were very strict. They had seen more geniuses than carp in the Yangtze River, so even an ordinary genius would not move them to open their doors so readily. Li Luo raised his palm. A blue resonant power condensed on his fingertip. The resonant power was pure, and the refreshing sound of waves came floating forth. He could feel that his resonant power had be more solid and pure after advancing his waterlight resonance. He was not far from the Eighth Seal now. The blue resonant power finally coalesced into a ball of water about the size of a fist. He flicked his finger, and the waterball shot forth. It smashed into the wall with startling ferocity and created an explosive sh of light, dazzling an unprepared Li Luo momentarily. He chuckled. This resonance art was not at all unusual. It was a verymon mid-tier art. When hit, the water resonance power would enter the target¡¯s body and then their speed would take a hit. However, this movecked offensive power, and did not deal much damage. Therefore, Li Luo had fortified and improved this mid-tier resonance art. He had infused light resonance within it. The resulting water bullet was not only faster, but could also release a blinding light to distract his opponent. Therefore, he renamed this improved Water Bullet Art to Waterlight Bullet. In order to prepare for the College Final Examinations, Li Luo had made all kinds of efforts, and refining the Waterlight Bullet was one of them. Li Luo turned around, and thest three fifth-grade spirit liquids caught his eye. He sighed deeply. In less than a month, his waterlight resonance had jumped two grades. This was an astonishing speed indeed, but Li Luo knew that the blistering pace was about to grind to a halt. Unlike the fifth-grade ones, he could not buy sixth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights by the hundreds. Considering the price, a fifth-grade spirit liquid cost about 5,000 gold, whereas a sixth-grade spirit liquid might reach 30,000 gold¡­ Besides, going from the sixth grade to the seventh grade was a milestone leap. It was the cross from a middle-grade resonance to a high-grade one. Therefore, the amount of spirit liquids and purifying lights needed was incredible. If he assumed that he needed 200 spirit liquids and purifying lights, that totaled to six million gold, which was roughly a year¡¯s ie for the whole of House Lun. And given that House Lun was rife with problems both internal and external, it was impossible to expect six million gold to be pulled out to support him. Besides the financial limit, there was also the question of supply. As far as Li Luo knew, perhaps only ten sixth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights would appear on the market in the Tianshu Province each month. Therefore, he felt that it was simply impossible to bring his resonance to the seventh grade here. Unless he went to the capital of the Xia Kingdom. Looking further ahead, if he wanted to bring his acquired resonance to the ninth grade, the capital required would be staggering. Even all of House Lun¡¯s resources would be insignificant inparison. It seemed like this acquired resonance was going to be quite troublesome indeed. Of course, his nk pces meant that he could also absorb lower grade spirit liquids and purifying lights, although they would be less effective. However, now that he had a sixth-grade one, imbibing the fifth-grade liquids would be several times less effectivepared to sixth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights. Therefore, doing so was not going to save him any money in the grand scheme of things, but they could be an emergency recement. Li Luo¡¯s heart was heavy as he thought through this, but luckily, that was not the only special card he had up his sleeve. When he entered the Resonant Master Stage, he would be able to fill his second resonant pce with a second resonance. Therefore, even if he was crippled by ack of funds, the second resonance might well help him move forward nheless. Besides, only when he filled his second resonant pce would Li Luo¡¯s unique advantage truly shine through. ¡°My single sixth or seventh-grade waterlight resonance might lose to your ninth-grade resonance, but what if I had two resonances? Three? ¡°If I can¡¯t beat you with one, I¡¯ll just increase the numbers!¡± This advantage would probably serve him well against any opponent under the Duke Stage, unless he met some other super genius who had managed to realize their second resonant pce before reaching the Duke Stage. Still, those were probably as rare as his nk pces, right? Besides, even if he did meet them, it was still going to be three resonances against two. His mind in a muddle, Li Luo gave a loud, retching cough to try and quash the scattered thoughts. At the same time, he pulled out a piece of blue jade. On it was written a new energy cultivation art, which Li Luo had personally chosen for himself. The ck Waterfall Breathing Technique was a high-grade cultivation art, and required the user to have a sixth-grade resonance. It was more refined than the Azureflood Meditation Diagram that Li Luo had cultivated previously. Besides, with his improved water resonance power, it would allow his resonant power to surge forth even more explosively than when he used the Azureflood Meditation Diagram. This was exactly what Li Luo was looking for. Li Luo carefully read the ck Waterfall Breathing Technique. When he felt the first glimmers of understanding, he began cultivating it. For the next two days, Li Luo devoted most of his energy to the cultivation of the ck Waterfall Breathing Technique. The day before the holidays ended, Cai Wei sent someone to inform him that the resonant artifact he had asked them to help forge was finished. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 44: The Examinations Begin Chapter 44: The Examinations Begin 0Chapter 44: The Examinations Begin Li Luo excitedly strode into the hall, immediately seeing the well-rounded and soul-stirring Cai Wei. Her egg-shaped face made her seem even prettier than a flower, a wide smile on her face. However, Li Luo saw her often, so he waspletely immune to her charm. He shifted his gaze to what was important: the iron box atop the table nearby. He vaulted across without hesitation, instantly ripping the cover of the box off. Within the box rested two short des, both glinting with cold light. They were roughly a third of a meter in length. One had an azure-colored handle with a wavelike ripple pattern on it, reminding one of the waves of the sea. The other had a dull-white handle which was supposedly crafted from Sunspirit Metal, able to produce piercing light when the sun shone upon it. These two shortswords were crafted with metals that contained water resonance power and light resonance power respectively. They would serve as effective conduits through which Li Luo could channel his unique resonant power, further amplifying his capabilities in battle! The hilts of both des looked like the mouth of a beast, fangs bared, an extremely intimidating appearance. When looking at these des as a whole, they possessed a more obtuse arc than usual, looking slightly bent. Yet this didn¡¯t take away from the fact that they gave off a feeling of exceptional sharpness, cold light seemingly flowing through the des themselves. Li Luo immediately grasped the dual des, gently engaging in a sword dance in an attempt to get a feel for them. All of a sudden, a wind-rending sound could be heard when Li Luo swapped to a backhanded grip in the blink of an eye. His posture and actions made him seem extraordinarily dashing and elegant. ¡°Not bad,¡± Li Luo contentedly said while nodding his head. ¡°The azure one will be known as the Ripple de, while the other will be known as the re de,¡± he casually stated. ¡°These are just standard resonant artifacts. They have not reached the level of treasures.¡± Cai Wei¡¯s perspective of things were at a higher level, and she could easily discern the quality of these weapons. Although they possessed a slightly special shape, their true worth was not exceptionally high. Resonant artifacts also possessed different grades to differentiate their qualities. There were ordinary resonant artifacts, and those that surpassed them in quality were known as treasured artifacts. There was a stark difference when onepared treasured artifacts to resonant artifacts. Treasured artifacts were significantly more powerful and rarer than resonant artifacts. Additionally, each and every one of them was astronomically expensive. On the other hand, treasured artifacts required a certain amount of resonant power before they could be utilized. Li Luo was currently at the Seventh Seal Stage, so even if he had one, he would be unable to demonstrate even a fraction of its true might. ¡°This is good enough. Once I reach the Resonant Master Stage, I will look for a suitable treasured artifact.¡± Li Luo smiled. His two resonant artifacts had been crafted purely for the College Final Examinations. ¡°Thank you, Elder Sister Cai Wei,¡± Li Luo said with gratitude. Cai Wei waved her hand. ¡°I believe your final examinations should be starting soon. The City of Southwind seems to have be much more bustling in recent days. The numerous academies within the Tianshu Province have already dispatched their elites here.¡± The yearly College Final Examinations was a significant event that attracted countless people. The huge battles were an exciting topic and the atmosphere was often lively. Li Luo nodded. ¡°There are three more days till it begins.¡± Cai Wei¡¯s beautiful gaze held a trace of concern. ¡°Are you confident you will do well?¡± Although Li Luo had finally awakened his water resonance, it was rtivelytepared to the rest of hispetitors. Hence, Cai Wei was unsure if Li Luo would be able to make up for this difference during such a short span of time. She was extremely clear of the importance of being able to attend the Astral Sage College. If Li Luo was able to qualify, his influence and prestige would soar. At the very least, some of the people within House Lun would no longer look down upon him, and he would even be able to bear some of Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s burden. He sheathed the dual des by his waist, his palms caressing the handles of both weapons as his face let out a contented smile. ¡°You can rest assured, Elder Sister Cai Wei. I cannot lose.¡± If he was unable to aplish even this step, annulling the marriage would just be a pipe dream! ¡­ The holidays finally ended. Li Luo returned to the academy, and both him and Zhao Kuo were summoned by Xu Shanyue almost immediately. ¡°You¡¯ve reached the Seventh Seal Stage?¡± Whilst chatting casually, Li Luo discovered that Zhao Kuo had also managed to enter the Seventh Seal Stage during this holiday, eliciting surprise. Zhao Kuo only had a fifth-grade resonance, which was very average. Being able to reach the Seventh Seal Stage demonstrated his tireless effort and the endless suffering he must have endured to attain this result. The massive, bear-like Zhao Kuo scratched his head andughed. ¡°I didn¡¯t return home this holiday and stayed in the academy to cultivate. The academy provided me with some special training that allowed myst minute efforts to reap this sess, allowing me to break through.¡± ¡°During these past ten days, Zhao Kuo has been cultivating as though his life depended on it!¡± Xu Shanyue, who was leading the two, chuckled whilst he heard them banter. He had clearly recognized Zhao Kuo¡¯s diligence and hard work during this period of time. Li Luo immediately gave him a thumbs up. ¡°Amazing.¡± ¡°How can Ipare to you? You¡¯re handsome and endowed with such perceptiveness when ites to resonance arts. Now that you¡¯ve awakened a water resonance, it¡¯s very likely you will be a legend in Southwind Academy, much like Sister Qing¡¯e!¡± Zhao Kuo said honestly. ¡°Even when I¡¯m famous, I will still be friends with you! You¡¯re truly the most honest person I¡¯ve met, and you never lie. Even though you¡¯re a little uncool¡­¡± Li Luo nodded and sighed emotionally. ¡°Of course! I will need Brother Luo to look out for me during this final examination.¡± ¡°Easy. Once I¡¯m in the top position, I will directly drag you into the Astral Sage College.¡± ¡°Wow how tyrannical!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Hearing their shameless bragging, Xu Shanyue¡¯s face turned a little gloomy before turning around to snap at them. ¡°Quiet, you fools. We¡¯re here.¡± Li Luo and Zhao Kuo immediately snapped to attention and stopped spouting their nonsense. Ahead of them was a patio where quite a few individuals were roaming around. These were the top 20 in Southwind Academy. Li Luo recognized Lu Qing¡¯er, Song Yunfeng, and Difa Qing¡¯s familiar silhouettes. Currently, the group was staring at the two in amusement. They had clearly heard all of their nonsense while they were bragging proudly¡­ Despite the ridiculing gazes that the group was giving the two, Li Luo¡¯s demeanor was indifferent and unshaken. As long as he didn¡¯t feel embarrassed, the ones who would be feeling the heat were the ones that mocked them! Zhao Kuo, on the other hand, had a simple and honest smile on his face, demonstrating his ineffable and cheerful personality. In the end, the group only shook their heads and went back to what they were doing. These two had the thickest skins they had ever seen. Li Luo was clearly a little in over his head. He had previously barely managed to eke out a draw between him and Song Yunfeng, and now he was iming he would take first ce? He hadn¡¯t even asked Lu Qing¡¯er for her opinion! Within the group was also the old dean. His gaze was filled with mirth as he shot a nce at the duo. Seeing that everyone had arrived, he said, ¡°It looks like everyone is here. Since that is the case, I will now exin the rules of the final examination.¡± Everyone trembled when they heard those words. They all immediately focused on each and every word the old dean was about to say. ¡°The College Final Examinations will officially begin in three days¡¯ time. The twenty of you will represent Southwind Academy as the representatives. I only have one request, and that is to defend the title of the best academy in the Tianshu Province! Additionally, the Astral Sage College has announced that fifty students from the Tianshu Province will be selected to join them during this round.¡± The group seemed to have be more tense upon hearing this. Fifty spots meant that there were several fewer positions than the previous year. In this case, thepetitors would undoubtedly struggle even harder than before. ¡°As per the previous round, the top ten in the College Final Examinations will automatically receive the opportunity to join the Astral Sage College. The remaining forty positions will be distributed amongst the top ten academies. The academies in the eighth, ninth, and tenth position will be allocated one slot each. fifth, sixth, and seventh will receive two slots. Third and fourth will receive five slots, with second ce receiving six slots. Finally, the top academy will receive fifteen slots!¡± When thest sentence was uttered, it instantly caused a hubbub to erupt. No one had thought that the College Final Examinations would allocate such a significant share of slots to the top academy. Even in previous years, although the top academy would receive more rewards, it had never been as unbnced as this. Teacher Lin Feng from the First School had a face full of smiles and encouragement as he looked at Lu Qing¡¯er. ¡°Qing¡¯er, in order for the academy to obtain the position, we require your help to take first ce.¡± The old dean nodded as he looked warmly upon her. Their hopes were pinned on Lu Qing¡¯er. This was also normal as she was the trump card of Southwind Academy. Under their ardent gazes, Lu Qing¡¯er remained as calm as before, only lightly replying, ¡°I will do my best to fight for victory.¡± The old dean nodded and then informed her, ¡°However, you must keep an eye out for Shi Huang of Eastpool Academy. He is extremely strong and will be your key rival.¡± Upon hearing that name, Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s expression became slightly grave and she attentively nodded. ¡°From tomorrow onwards, you will no longer have toe to the academy. Instead, you will head to Whitespirit Garden. That is the location where the numerous academies of the Tianshu Province will gather. In three days, you will enter Whitespirit Mountain. That will be the battleground for the final examinations.¡± After thisst series of exhortations, he summarized his parting words. ¡°Southwind Academy has been led by this old man for dozens of years. Its honor is more important than my life. Hence, I sincerely hope that all of you will do your best during this final examination to preserve the honor and reputation of the academy.¡± The old dean¡¯s face was dignified as he gave a final bow. The twenty students were immediately taken aback by this development, quickly returning one as well. In the end, the old dean waved his hand to dismiss the group, leaving everyone with mixed emotions. Li Luo walked out of the patio, staring wistfully into the blue sky, feeling his heart lightly surging. The College Final Examinations had finally arrived. It was a pity his parents weren¡¯t around to see this¡­ If they really were¡­ perhaps they would be looking at him disapprovingly and saying something along these lines¡­ ¡°This son is just too dumb. Completely different from our brilliant Qing¡¯e!¡± It was said that when Jiang Qing¡¯e took her final examination, shepletely suppressed each and every student from every other academy. She was so dominant that they wouldn¡¯t even dare to let out so much as a fart without hiding in fear. No one would dare to infringe upon Southwind Academy¡¯s prestige. Only when she finally entered the Astral Sage College did the numerous academies of the Tianshu Province begin to rile up in celebration, tears filling their eyes. Compared to Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s blinding resplendence, Li Luo had encountered all sorts of ups and downs. In fact, just a month ago, no one even held any hopes of him participating in the final examinations¡­ Thinking of all this, Li Luo¡¯s excitement tampered down a notch, as though someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over him. ¡°Just what is the meaning to all this?!¡± hemented. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 45: Whitespirit Garden Chapter 45: Whitespirit Garden 0Chapter 45: Whitespirit Garden The Whitespirit Garden was nestled in the outskirts of the City of Southwind, back against Whitespirit Mountain. It had been the location for many College Final Examinations before this. On the second day, Li Luo and the others prepared to head to the Whitespirit Garden together, led by Lin Feng and Xu Shanyue. They were greeted by a huge crowd milling around. Many stalls had organized themselves into long avenues that stretched out endlessly. It was a bustling sight. However, this was to be expected. A major event such as the College Final Examinations might only formally involve the elite students of each school, but in reality, everyone had an interest in it. Everyone wanted to see which young brave would leap ahead of the pack and be the foremost leader of the new generation in the Tianshu Province. It was the highest honor. As they filed into the Whitespirit Garden, the atmosphere heated up a notch, the cacophony of the crowd greeting them from all sides. Their arrival was immediately noticed¡ªthe reputation of Southwind Academy in the Tianshu Province was quite something after all. ¡°These are the top 20 from Southwind Academy?¡± ¡°Wow, that long-haired beauty must be Lu Qing¡¯er. I heard she¡¯s the best in Southwind Academy.¡± ¡°She¡¯s probably going to get first ce in the College Final Examinations this year.¡± ¡°Maybe not. Eastpool Academy¡¯s Shi Huang is also unreasonably strong. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s any weaker than Lu Qing¡¯er.¡± ¡°Which is Southwind¡¯s Li Luo? I heard Jiang Qing¡¯e is his fiance. Disgusting. How dare he sully my goddess.¡± ¡°There! The handsome one. That¡¯s Li Luo.¡± ¡°Money, status¡­ he¡¯s the Young Lord of House Lun.¡± ¡°Hmph. Not impressive, family power. The respectable youths build their own reputation.¡± ¡°I heard he fought the second-ce Song Yunfeng to a draw in the Southwind Academy preliminaries.¡± ¡°Damn, you¡¯re irritating. Shut up, will you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Snatches of spection asionally floated across to the ears of the Southwind students. Both Lu Qing¡¯er and Li Luo were featured prominently in the gossip, the former for her ability and thetter for his special reputation. A ways away, there was a stone pavilion on an elevated ground. Three figures could be seen within, eyes locked onto the Southwind contingent as well. Two young men, one young woman. One of the young men was strappingly built, his fiery-red hair especially prominent under the sun. The other was a more schrly-looking type, and noticeably thin. The young woman was d in green, a dainty little thing with picture-perfect features. Her most distinctive characteristics were green, vine-like tattoos on the back of her hands. These three were not at all no-namers. The red-haired youth was Xiang Liang, from the Tianshu Province¡¯s Dawn Academy. He was their first seed, and a power to be reckoned with. The skinny schr was Zong Fu, first in Midday Academy. The petite girl in green was Chi Su, first in Dusklight Academy. All three were hot favorites to reach the top ten in the examinations. ¡°That¡¯s Lu Qing¡¯er? Looks strong.¡± Xiang Liang¡¯s voice boomed out, the fiery battle will in his eyes trained on Lu Qing¡¯er. ¡°I sense a dangerous aura from her,¡± Zong Fu said neutrally, frowning. ¡°The one ranked first in Southwind Academy has never been an easy opponent. But we have to be d that we¡¯re not in the same cohort as Jiang Qing¡¯e; otherwise, we would be flushed out in a trice.¡± Chi Suughed. Xiang Liang and Zong Fu nodded with deep feeling. ¡°Jiang Qing¡¯e is a terror. A ninth-grade light resonance is terrifying. I pity those in her batch.¡± ¡°But in this Southwind batch, only Lu Qing¡¯er and Song Yunfeng need watching. We have nothing to fear from the others,¡± Xiang Liang said confidently. Although his school could notpare to Southwind, that was precisely why Dawn Academy could concentrate much of its resources on him. Although there were not many like him in the Tianshu Province, he was definitely not the only one. In order to secure such talented students, each school would go to great lengths. ¡°What about Li Luo? I heard he fought Song Yunfeng to a draw in the preliminaries,¡± Chi Su said. Xiang Liang scoffed. ¡°That¡¯s because he used some special move to y for time. In the end, his resonant power waspletely spent as well. Another second and Song Yunfeng would have done him in.¡± ¡°A clever trick, but it won¡¯t work in these exams.¡± Chi Su said a little regretfully, ¡°A pity, him being so handsome.¡± It was the intellectual Zong Fu who reminded, ¡°Arrogance is a w. The fact that Li Luo managed to beat Song Yunfeng shows that there is an odd streak to him. To be safe, there is a need to test his true strength. Only then can all unknowns be negated.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll think of something.¡± Xiang Liang made a face. ¡°Whatever.¡± Chi Su turned. ¡°Have you two received Shi Huang¡¯s message? He wants us to meet him tonight to discuss something.¡± Xiang Liang nodded. He was a little apprehensive about meeting the governor¡¯s son, the only one who could stand against Southwind Academy¡¯s Lu Qing¡¯er in a straight fight. ¡°That is a reputation we have to respect.¡± Zong Fu nodded slightly as well. ¡°His target must be Southwind Academy, coincidentally ours as well. After all, Southwind Academy has rxed on their best-schoolurels for too long. They always get the most entrance cements. If we can beat them down, that would be good news for all the other schools.¡± Chi Su smiled as well. ¡°If not for such an important person, we would not have been able to join forces.¡± Although Southwind Academy was the ultimate rival for many other schools, there was a lot of internalpetition amongst themselves as well. Without a strong anchor to rally around, such unity was hard to build. Therefore, Shi Huang¡¯s initiative was wee indeed. ¡­.. Li Luo and the others followed Lin Feng and Xu Shanyue into the aodations in the Whitespirit Garden. Li Luo was coincidentally matched with Zhao Kuo. The two were tidying up their room when there was suddenly a knock on the door. Li Luo opened and saw a hyperactive face pop up close to him. The person had a book in his arms. ¡°Buy some information, Brother?¡± Those words immediately called to mind the sneaky illegal peddlers hanging around furtively at the gates of Southwind Academy, selling dodgy books. ¡°Yu Lang, when did you transfer here?¡± Li Luoughed. It was none other than Yu Lang, who had vomited blood in exaggerated fashion after losing to Li Luo. He grumbled, ¡°This is firsthand information about all the top students from the famous schools. Plus, the top 10 predictions are featured.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Li Luo¡¯s brow creased. Quite some foresight on this guy, to know that such information would fetch a pretty penny. And it seemed like he had worked on it for a long time. ¡°Quite a talent for money-making.¡± Li Luo praised him. He bought one out of support. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve put blood and sweat into the information. I guarantee it¡¯s useful,¡± Yu Lang vowed. Li Luo flipped it at random. The smile on his face froze at seeing his own name. Li Luo, Southwind Academy. Young Lord, House Lun. Once trash, now a genius on theeback, seems to have a fifth-grade water resonance. Specialties: Very handsome, but good looks never won anyone cements. Low chance of entering the top 10. Li Luo roared with angryughter. He was about to unleash his fury on Yu Lang, but the wily merchant was already gone like the wind. A voice came from far away. ¡°I¡¯m just protecting your information!¡± Li Luo gritted his teeth. ¡°As if, you little rascal. Don¡¯t let me catch you again.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 46: Road Less Traveled Chapter 46: Road Less Traveled 2Chapter 46: Road Less Traveled After chasing away the irritant known as Yu Lang, Li Luo took the information and went back to his room, carefully pouring over it¡¯s contents. However, the more he read, the more attentive he became. He realized that a lot of the information was useful and legitimate. It seemed as though Yu Lang had indeed put in quite the effort. This was not a casual attempt to swindle the naive, but a true repository of knowledge! Of course, with regards to the information on Li Luo, other than him looking handsome, which he begrudgingly admitted was true, the rest was all false! His attention was then focused on the information regarding who was spected to be the top 10 strongest individuals in thispetition. First ce, Southwind Academy, Lu Qing¡¯er, upper seventh-grade ice resonance. Suspected to be at the Ninth Seal Stage. Beauty and strength coexist in this female. She has never lost a single battle in Southwind Academy. Second ce, Eastpool Academy, Shi Huang, upper seventh-grade lightning resonance. Suspected to be at the Ninth Seal Stage. Likey the only person able topete with Lu Qing¡¯er. Has the potential to be number one in the final examinations. Third ce, Dawn Academy, Xiang Liang, lower seventh-grade fire resonance, Eighth Seal Stage. An elite student nurtured with all of the resources at Dawn Academy¡¯s disposal. His strength is not to be underestimated. Fourth ce, Southwind Academy, Song Yunfeng, lower seventh-grade Crimson Eagle resonance, Eighth Seal Stage. During Southwind Academy¡¯s preliminary examinations, he was victorious in all rounds save two. One was a loss against Lu Qing¡¯er and the other a draw against Li Luo. Fifth ce, Dusklight Academy, Chi Su, lower seventh-grade Poison Ivy resonance, Eighth Seal Stage. Sixth ce, Zenith Academy, Zong Fu, lower seventh-grade water resonance, Eighth Seal Stage. Seventh ce¡­ Li Luo continued to scrutinize the entire list before sighing in admiration. If he had not read this, he would¡¯ve still been in the dark, unaware of the Tianshu Province¡¯s numerous crouching tigers and hidden dragons. However, this seemed reasonable in retrospect. The Tianshu Province¡¯s numerous academies might not have foundations as deep as Southwind Academy, but they still possessed the ability to nurture an elite student or two. Even a blind cat would eventually catch a mouse, and their efforts might one day bear fruit and they might just obtain the top position if the stars aligned. If that happened, their academy¡¯s reputation would soar into the skies and all their efforts would bear fruit. Additionally, all of those contending for the top 10 positions were minimally at the Eighth Seal Stage. There were no weaklings amongst them! ¡°It looks like entering the top 10 will be a challenge,¡± Li Luo muttered as he rubbed his chin. He currently had Seventh Seal Stage resonant power and was slightly weaker than those contenders. The bright side was his unique waterlight resonance, which would provide him with certain advantages when push came to shove. If he had to face Song Yunfeng openly again, he would no longer have to resort to his previous methods of trickery and forcing things into a draw. In the top 10, Lu Qing¡¯er and Shi Huang were on a separate level of their own as they were potentially at the Ninth Seal Stage. Both were exceptionally proficient in resonance arts and were likely to be the only two able to win first ce. However, Li Luo was also temporarily uninterested in attaining first ce. Why? He was simply not strong enough! He had a sixth-grade waterlight resonance, but those two possessed upper seventh-grade resonances. Their backgrounds were also not to be scoffed at, ensuring that they had received ample resources not inferior to his own. Perhaps if the two of them were inanimate objects, he would be able to leapfrog and beat them! Furthermore, he wasn¡¯t Jiang Qing¡¯e with a ninth-grade light resonance, able topletely suppress them. Others wouldn¡¯t even dare to raise a finger against her! Even when Pei Hao wanted to find trouble, he had to wait till he had reached thete stage of the Earth Fiend Stage. Yet even when faced with the early stage Jiang Qing¡¯e, he found no advantage! From this example alone, one could clearly see how tyrannical a ninth-grade light resonance was. Thus, Li Luo¡¯s current goal was to muddle into the top 10 positions of the final examinations. Securing a slot in the Astral Sage College would suffice. He wasn¡¯t too interested in being at the top, as it was firstly impossible, and secondly just too eye-catching! It would draw the ire and lust of his enemies! After experiencing what it was like in the past, he had determined that developing steadily in obscurity was the way to go! If the conditions were right, Li Luo wanted to achieve his goal quietly. He wanted to enter the Duke Stage and hold on to his dear life! Furthermore, he only had five years left, and this acquired resonance was like a Sword of Damocles hanging over him, always leaving him in anxiety and unrest. Whilst Li Luo was engrossed by Yu Lang¡¯spiled information, the sky gradually turned dark. Zhao Kuo wanted to grab a bite with him, but when he saw Li Luo¡¯s focused expression, he decided to leave him be. He snuck out by himself and nned to bring some food back for him. ¡°This information is quiteprehensive, and full of useful insights.¡± Li Luo, who had finally finished assimting the information, let out a sigh of praise. After screening through this information, he had a better understanding of the numerous elite students from other academies and their abilities. Additionally, he could sincerely feel that Yu Lang had deliberately left out information on him, to prevent anyone else from making preparations against him. Otherwise, he would have been able to write quite aprehensive summary on him based on the information that was avable, and not just leave that line of rubbish in. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve truly made a mistake in thinking badly of Yu Lang¡­¡± Li Luo muttered. At the same time, his stomach began to churn out rumbling sounds and he finally realized that the sky was already pitch ck. ¡°Why is that guy Zhao Kuo not back yet? Does he want me to starve to death and then get the entire dormitory for himself?¡± Li Luo questioned. At this point, hurried knocks could be heard on the door. Yu Lang¡¯s voice could be hearding from outside. ¡°Li Luo! Your friend Zhao Kuo has been intercepted by some individuals.¡± Li Luo opened the door with a frown. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Yu Lang shrugged his shoulders. ¡°That brat seems to have gotten into an altercation with people from Zenith Academy. The one leading the group is Zong Fu. If you¡¯ve read my information, you should know who he is.¡± ¡°People from Zenith Academy? What are they trying to do?¡± Li Luo asked in surprise. ¡°Well, Zong Fu has deliberately shown himself. If I said that they are targeting Zhao Kuo, I don¡¯t think you would believe me,¡± Yu Lang grumbled. ¡°So they are targeting me?¡± Li Luo asked with a pensive look on his face. ¡°They probably want to feel you out,¡± Yu Lang exined. ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping to myself this whole time! Just why?¡± Li Luo was a little astonished at this development. This Zong Fu guy was in the top 10. Why would he bother with small fry like him? ¡°It looks like he¡¯s being cautious, which totally seems to fit his character,¡± Yu Lang exined. Li Luo was truly someone who held a low profile. His most outstanding achievement was being able to force a draw against Song Yunfeng. ¡°Well, since he dares to bully my brother, I don¡¯t care who he is! I won¡¯t take this lying down!¡± Li Luo said furiously while walking out of his room. Yu Lang scratched his head. Judging by what Li Luo was saying, wasn¡¯t he simply being yed like a fiddle by his enemies? ¡­ At the Whitespirit Garden¡¯s western side, a significantlyrge group had stopped to watch amotion that was currently taking ce, forming a blockade amidst the bustling crowd. In the sea of people, numerous Zenith Academy students had surrounded Zhao Kuo, loudly arguing. Everyone else was watching in interest. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I heard someone from Southwind Academy molested a girl from Zenith Academy.¡± ¡°Was it really that bad? Where is the girl?¡± ¡°Where? Hmph. The girl was pretty ordinary¡­ Are the people of Southwind Academy so thirsty that they set their grubby hands on every girl they see?¡± ¡°¡­¡± In the midst of the raucousughter, Zhao Kuo was feeling extremely frustrated. His eyes were aze with fury as he physically bashed his way through the encirclement, immediately breaking out into a sprint after that. However, just as he started running, he could feel vigorous resonant power surging from behind him. A frigid palm was ced directly on his back, and the undtions of resonant power directly forced Zhao Kuo¡¯s body toe to a halt, unable to move any further. He turned his head and saw an elegant and skinny youth. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Zong Fu replied with a wry smile, ¡°Brother, the situation has not been resolved. You need to get someone from Southwind Academy to give us an exnation about this.¡± ¡°Are you trying to coerce me?¡± Zhao Kuo asked gloomily. Zong Fu smiled. ¡°If Southwind Academy doesn¡¯t dispatch someone with enough face to provide an exnation, I will simply have to take matters into my own hands and fix you up. We need to provide an exnation to our fellow disciples after all.¡± ¡°My ass. She looks even manlier than me, and I look like a bear. Who in the right mind would want to molest her?¡± Zhao Kuo fumed. Zong Fu ignored him, simply keeping him in ce. The crowd who was watching the scene gradually grew in size. As the two continued to exchange verbal barbs, some movement could be seen in the crowd. Zong Fu¡¯s gaze lit up with excitement when he saw Li Luo stride in heroically. ¡°He really came.¡± Zong Fu started celebrating internally. Now that Li Luo had appeared in person, he would be able to finally get an idea of how strong he really was. He would be able to determine if he was truly a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing¡­ or someone who was worthless. Whilst he was still relishing in happiness, he saw Li Luo immediately turning around to shout. ¡°This way, Supervisor. This bastard is clearly viting the rules, trying to start an unapproved fight! Quickly catch him and strip him of his right to participate in the final examinations!¡± The smile on Zong Fu¡¯s face instantly froze and his joy was quenched by a figurative bucket of cold water. He immediately saw a teacher garbed in a supervisor¡¯s uniform standing there emotionlessly. ¡°F*ck,¡± the originally refined and polished Zong Fu uttered an unimaginable vulgarity. He would never have thought that this Young Lord would act so¡­wfully! The past two days were filled with all sorts of scuffles in the Whitespirit Garden as the numerous studentspeted against each other in secret. Yet no one would actually utilize the rules to solve their problems! Who had ever met someone who would run bawling to a teacher whenever there was conflict? Wasn¡¯t this just too shameless? This Young Lord was truly one that traveled the road less taken. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 47: A Punished Zong Fu Chapter 47: A Punished Zong Fu 0Chapter 47: A Punished Zong Fu Consternation showed on the faces of many of the students present. No one would have thought that the gant rescuer Li Luo would bring a supervisor to the table. ¡°Damn, this Young Lord is an unreasonable one.¡± ¡°What a coward. He wouldn¡¯t be afraid of Zong Fu, would he?¡± ¡°A fight between students, and he actually went crying to the teacher?!¡± ¡°Right? Eh¡­ but it does seem like the correct thing, right? Internal fighting is actually against the rules though.¡± ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re right, but¡­ but¡­¡± One of the spectators stammered. Of course, the one actually in the right was Li Luo. His decision to call the supervisor was faultless. But why did it just feel so wrong? As they stood around glumly, Zong Fu hurriedly let go of Zhao Kuo, whose back he had been clinging firmly to. He then turned smilingly to the supervisor. ¡°Mentor, we weren¡¯t fighting. Just ying.¡± ¡°You were clearly going to beat me up,¡± Zhao Kuo said. Zong Fu flushed as he retorted, ¡°Impossible! Don¡¯t nder me.¡± Li Luo stepped forth with an inviting smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Go ahead and speak your true mind. Bravely now.¡± Zong Fu forced a smile. ¡°It was nothing. Nothing at all.¡± The teacher sized up the situation and saw the girl from Zenith Academy, built like a bear. He pursed his lips. ¡°Couldn¡¯t find a better one to go for?¡± Zong Fu waspletely embarrassed. Zenith Academy had always been majority male. Female students were few and far between, and this junior sister was the only girl in their top 20, and she was beloved by all of them. ¡°You, three hours of standing punishment. One minute less and your dean cane and collect you,¡± the supervisor said coldly. In truth, student fighting was rampant, and they always shut an eye on the situation. But now that Li Luo hade to report it, they had no choice but to respond, or they would lose their jobs. The supervisor turned to leave after delivering the punishment. Low snickers came from the crowd, although it was uncertain who it was directed at. Zong Fu stood there, frustrated but afraid to move. Li Luo walked up to him and smiled. ¡°Did you think I would be so easy to bully? Going after Zhao Kuo to force me out?¡± Zong Fu stared at him and then sighed. ¡°Others said the Young Lord was nothing to fear, but I feel that you were the dark horse of these examinations. I just wanted to test you.¡± Li Luo was surprised. ¡°You see me that highly?¡± Zong Fu nodded. ¡°I know how terrifying Jiang Qing¡¯e is. I don¡¯t believe her fiance would be a good-for-nothing.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve fought Jiang Qing¡¯e before?¡± One surprise after another. Zong Fu¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°Fought my ass. She stared at me once, and my legs were already numb with fear. ¡°But Li Luo, seeing you so insistent on hiding your moves has got me very curious about what you are truly hiding. I look forward to your performance in the examinations.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know it when you see it.¡± Li Luo smiled and pped Zong Fu on the shoulder. ¡°Well then, keep up the excellent standing form. I¡¯m off to sleep.¡± He turned and led Zhao Kuo away, their departure followed by many odd nces from others. Zong Fu watched them leave, screwing his mouth up with frustration. Something dawned on him. ¡°Damn, standing punishment means I can¡¯t attend Shi Huang¡¯s rendezvous. He wouldn¡¯t think I¡¯m a traitor and not showing him face, right?¡± ¡­¡­ A room, somewhere in the Whitespirit Garden. Shi Huang greeted Xiang Liang and Chi Su with a warm smile, even pouring them tea himself as he spoke to them with great courtesy. The three chatted for a while. Chi Su frowned. ¡°Where¡¯s Zong Fu, that fellow!¡± Xiang Liang felt like something was off too. Zong Fu did not seem like the kind of guy to show no interest in Shi Huang. He would definitely show up if he could. Shi Huang¡¯s smile did not reach the depths of the dark look in his eyes. Zong Fu would not be slighting him, would he? Just then, there was a knock on the door, and someone entered to whisper into his ear. A look of surprise flitted across Shi Huang¡¯s face. He waved the person away, then turned back to the other two with a smile. ¡°It seems like Zong Fu won¡¯t be able to make it tonight.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Both Xiang Liang and Chi Su were surprised. ¡°He went to suss out Li Luo and ended up getting reported to the supervisor. His punishment was three hours of standing.¡± There was an odd look on Shi Huang¡¯s face as he said this. ¡°Huh?!¡± both Xiang Liang and Chi Su blurted simultaneously. They looked at each other, not sure whether to be amused or angry. ¡°Li Luo seems to y against expectations.¡± Xiang Liang could not help but chuckle. To even go and tattle to the teacher¡ªwas he not afraid of being ridiculed? ¡°Perhaps he knew he was outssed by Zong Fu, so it was his only choice.¡± Chi Su supplied. ¡°I already said, there¡¯s no need to test Li Luo. He¡¯s not the one to watch here. He doesn¡¯t warrant such caution.¡± Xiang Liang clicked his tongue dismissively. Shi Huang said with good humor, ¡°Zong Fu¡¯s caution ismendable. If met in the examinations, Li Luo should be dealt with, of course. Avoid any identster on.¡± But he did not seem too bothered by this, instead turning the conversation to the main topic at hand. ¡°Although Zong Fu is absent, our purpose today will not be dyed. ¡°We all share the same goal: to dethrone Southwind Academy from its prized seat as the best school in the Tianshu Province. ¡°And the strongest they have this year is Lu Qing¡¯er. As long as we deal with her, Southwind Academy will lose its first-ce title. At that time, the number of entrance slots allocated to them will drop as well. ¡°My suggestion is simple. In the final stage, we must work together to force Lu Qing¡¯er out.¡± Xiang Liang and Chi Su looked at each other. They both saw the doubt in the other¡¯s eyes. ¡°It is not easy to team up against Lu Qing¡¯er. Given her strength, she should still be able to retreat safely. Besides, the final stage will be full of other strong opponents. If we focus too intensely on her, others may slip in and collect.¡± Shi Huang smiled slightly. ¡°Everything has been arranged. You need only appear at the time and ce that I have determined.¡± The two were silent for a moment, then finally nodded. ¡°Then it will be as you say. Southwind Academy has led the Tianshu Province for too long. It is time the crown has a new bearer.¡± Shi Huang¡¯s smile widened as he lifted his teacup. The three toasted each other. ¡°Well, then. Nice working with you.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 48: An Encounter with Shi Huang Chapter 48: An Encounter with Shi Huang 0Chapter 48: An Encounter with Shi Huang For the next two days, Li Luo was left alone, although he had to bear odd looks whenever he went out. Did he care? Of course not. It was nothingpared to what he had experienced over thest two years. Whitespirit Garden, Wind Restaurant. Li Luo and Zhao Kuo hade for a meal, but when they went up the stairs, they saw the hall packed to the brim with boisterous young men and women, and the roaring wave of chaos andughter put them off. ¡°That¡¯s too many people,¡± Zhao Kuo murmured. Li Luo agreed. He had just turned to leave when he spotted someone in the distance waving to him, from a seat near the window. He looked more closely. Lu Qing¡¯er. ¡°Let¡¯s go get a free meal out of her.¡± Li Luo did not hesitate, making a beeline for the table with Zhao Kuo behind. But as he neared, he saw that Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s table was already seated with Difa Qing and Song Yunfeng. ¡°Feel free to join, if you wish. There¡¯s space,¡± Lu Qing¡¯er said, gesturing at the empty seats with her delicately-manicured finger. Difa Qing shot Li Luo a look, but this time it was not followed with her previous sneering. She sat in silence, drinking her water. It was Song Yunfeng who felt more up to his usual belligerence. He felt that they should know better. Instead, Li Luo nted his ass right beside him with a grateful cheer. ¡°All my dear schoolmates, what a sight for tired eyes.¡± Zhao Kuo joined him. Song Yunfeng¡¯s expression turned grim. He said sourly, ¡°Li Luo, I heard you got into trouble again. There are so many other schools here at the Whitespirit Garden now, can you not ruin Southwind Academy¡¯s reputation? You¡¯re making things difficult for the other Southwind students.¡± Li Luo matched his grim tone. ¡°If you feel ashamed about any of my actions so far, I suggest you quit school as soon as possible.¡± This elicited a new wave of anger from Song Yunfeng, and also a slightly upward twitch of Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s lips. Song Yunfeng scoffed. ¡°Who are you to tell me to leave school, Li Luo? I¡¯m saying this for your own good. Don¡¯t think you can go around causing offense to other schools just because of that one draw. You clearly know best how meaningless that was.¡± However, Li Luo seemed not to hear him, instead turning to Lu Qing¡¯er, who was hailing over a waiter. ¡°Help us order a meal, thanks.¡± Lu Qing¡¯er did not reply, but she added two decent meals to the order when the waiter came. This infuriated Song Yunfeng even more, the mes of jealousy burning strongly within him. He had never dared to speak to Lu Qing¡¯er in such a casual fashion before, but this bastard Li Luo had done so while ignoring him? ¡°The examinations start tomorrow. Are you all prepared?¡± Lu Qing¡¯er asked, not intending to listen to them sniping at each other anymore. They all nodded, then the topic was smoothly changed. Li Luo did not participate much, concentrating on his meal. But halfway through their meal, he sensed the atmosphere change drastically. He looked in the direction of the change. Someone was approaching. It was a nondescript-looking youth, but the aura he gave off was tyrannic, a cold, cruel air that juxtaposed jarringly against the warm smile on his face. Everyone took him seriously. Eastpool Academy, Shi Huang, son of Governor Shi Qing. After Shi Huang made his way up the stairs, he headed straight for their position, and asked with a smile, ¡°Excuse me, may I draw up a chair?¡± Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s eyes flicked up briefly, then she replied coolly, ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re full.¡± Still smiling, Shi Huang took a chair from the adjacent table, who did not dare to object. They recognized him. Shi Huang sat on the other side of Song Yunfeng. ¡°Qing¡¯er, our fathers are acquaintances. Surely there¡¯s no need to be so frosty.¡± ¡°And we are rivals. Surely there¡¯s no need to fake any amiability. Tiring, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lu Qing¡¯er countered. Shi Huang gave a tight smile. ¡°Both of us are destined to meet in the Astral Sage College. We¡¯ll be peers there. Why the animosity? ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Yunfeng?¡± He directed the question sideways. Song Yunfeng nodded quietly. Li Luo was happy with his meal. He put down his bowl and chopsticks, turning to Lu Qing¡¯er. ¡°Done eating? How about a walk for digestion?¡± The tension in Lu Qing¡¯er¡¯s neck eased slightly. She knew that Li Luo was helping her defuse the situation. She didn¡¯t want to hang around fencing with Shi Huang either. Shi Huang¡¯s eyes narrowed. He picked up a broad bean and flicked it with his fingers with a loud crack. It shot forth like lightning, a silver streak aimed straight for Li Luo¡¯s face. But just before itnded, an ice-infused chopstick crashed into the lightning-charged broad bean, sending it flying and burying itself deep within a pir. A small ring of frost covered it. Lu Qing¡¯er looked at Shi Huang coldly, and her frosty aura seemed to swell. ¡°Shi Huang, stop picking fights.¡± Themotion here had stirred up the hall as well. Furtive nces were being thrown their way. When the crowd saw that it was Lu Qing¡¯er and Shi Huang, they were immediately excited. Could it be that the first ce hot favorites were going to duke it out here? Sensing the crowd¡¯s attention, Shi Huang smiled. ¡°A slip of the hand¡­ I hope you don¡¯t take offense, Young Lord.¡± Li Luo shook his head, saying exasperatedly, ¡°I¡¯m not angry, but you¡¯re wasting food. It seems like you haven¡¯t been taught well at home. Has Governor Shi not been teaching you properly? If your house iscking whips, I can send two over.¡± Shi Huang¡¯s smile did not falter. ¡°The Young Lord is exactly right. I will be more careful next time.¡± ¡°Recognize your mistakes and change. That¡¯s a good boy.¡± Li Luo nodded approvingly, then left with Zhao Kuo. Lu Qing¡¯er shot one more frosty look at Shi Huang and then left as well, Difa Qing scurrying in her wake. Song Yunfeng gave Shi Huang a long look and followed. Shi Huang sat down, unperturbed. He scooped up the few remaining broad beans on the table and threw them into his mouth with quick movements, his eyes cold and calcting. ¡°This Li Luo. Is he hiding his power? Or is he truly powerless? I really want to find out,¡± He mused to himself, shaking his head with a wry smile. Forget it. A crippled young lord should pose little threat to him. Lu Qing¡¯er was the key to toppling Southwind Academy from their first ce title. Still, Li Luo was quite a detestable guy indeed. Seemed like he would have to make some arrangements for his early elimination. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 49: The Final Examinations Begin! Chapter 49: The Final Examinations Begin! 3Chapter 49: The Final Examinations Begin! Time flew by quickly in the Whitespirit Garden. In the blink of an eye, the final examinations were about to begin. The entire area was swamped by an ocean of people that was steadily growing in size. People from all corners of the Tianshu Province were rushing here to witness the exciting climatic selection! At the foot of Whitespirit Mountain was a viewing tform, currently squeezed full of individuals who were trying to get a view. At the forefront of that area was a spacious andvish pavilion that was built to house the most influential and respected individuals. A short momentter, numerous esteemed individuals from the Tianshu Province made their way towards the pavilion, including Wei Sha of Southwind Academy and Shi Qing from the Governor¡¯s Mansion, attracting the attention of everyone around. As the two most influential individuals in the Tianshu Province, they made their way to the middle of the pavilion, where a luxurious reception was prepared for them. ¡°Keke. The old dean still looks quite feisty and full of spirit. That¡¯s not bad at all!¡± Governor Shi said with a face full of smiles. Dean Wei simrly responded with a meaningless smile. ¡°I heard Governor Shi has been rather unsatisfied with Southwind Academy being at the top.¡± ¡°Just baseless rumors.¡± Governor Shi shook his head, unwilling to speak any more about this. Immediately changing his tone, he continued, ¡°The title of top academy in the Tianshu Province has to be attained with true strength! This is an unchangeable fact. Unless of course¡­ Southwind Academy falters, then there isn¡¯t any other choice, is there?¡± Hearing his provocation, the old dean replied indifferently, ¡°To be honest, when my Southwind Academy¡¯s prestige was being established, no one had ever heard of you nor Eastpool Academy¡­¡± Governor Shi had taken over the reins of the Tianshu Province in recent years, and the two had constantly been at odds with each other. One point of contention was Southwind Academy and its reputation. To the old dean, Southwind Academy¡¯s reputation was no different from his own child. He would never tolerate anyone who dared to harm it! On the other hand, the Xia Kingdom¡¯s royal family would often review the performance of their numerous governors. As the old dean led the top academy in the Tianshu Province, he possessed a significant amount of clout during these reviews. With how often the two were at loggerheads, how could he possibly provide any sort of positivement? This naturally led to Governor Shi being unable to rise any further in the ranks of officials. As time went by, their enmity deepened, and the verbal sparring today was only an expected result. This year was especially important for Governor Shi. If his performance evaluation was still not up to par, then he would most likely be dispatched to a lower tier county, one significantly weaker than the Tianshu Province. This was also one of the key reasons why Shi Huang wanted to usurp Southwind Academy¡¯s position as top academy. They had no other choice. The stark contrast between the icy-cold atmosphere in the center of the pavilion and the surrounding hustle and bustle was jarring. The heads of the Song, Difa, and Bei families were all enjoying the sights and sounds as they chatted gaily. The Golden Dragon Bank¡¯s President Lu was also beaming with happiness as he took his ce. This final examination was exceptionally important to him as his prized niece would be participating! In another part of the pavilion, Cai Wei and Yan Lingqing had also arrived as House Lun¡¯s representatives. They were very interested in observing how their Young Lord would perform during this trial. As they were also extremely closepatriots of Jiang Qing¡¯e, they treated Li Luo as if he was a younger sibling. With how handsome he was and that growing sense of gravitas, it only added to his charm. Of course, once in a while, he¡¯d be an absolute pain in the ass, just like any younger sibling¡­ ¡°Do you think the Young Lord will be able to reach the top 10?¡± Cai Wei asked as she gracefully leaned against the chair. She slowly peeled a banana, savoring it with light bites. Any male who witnessed this sensuous scene would undoubtedly feel a fire burning inside. Yan Lingqing¡¯s slender, jade-like fingers drummed against the stable. ¡°You vixen! Can¡¯t you do things less mboyantly?!¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s no one else here¡­¡± Cai Wei said, aggrieved. At the same time, she passed over a slice of cantaloupe from the table. ¡°Why don¡¯t you have a bite? It will aid your development into maturity.¡± ¡°You are truly unrepentant! Give you an inch and you want a mile!¡± Yan Lingqing furiously shouted. Did she think that she could do whatever she wanted since she was so well endowed?! Immediately taking revenge, she quickly held Cai Wei down with one hand whilst enthusiastically tickling her with the other. Cai Wei waspletely thrown into disarray as she trembled with uncontrobleughter, unable to struggle free. In the end, she could only beg for forgiveness. ¡°Forgive me! I¡¯m in the wrong! I¡¯m in the wronggggg¡­ aghhhh!¡± The pitiful expression on Cai Wei¡¯s face was theplete opposite of the usual calm and collected demeanor she maintained when settling the numerous affairs of House Lun. Yan Lingqing gave a cold snort before finally heading back to her seat. ¡°Li Luo should have reached the Seventh Seal Stage, and looking at how things are going, it should be quite difficult to attain a top 10 position.¡± ¡°However, if Lu Qing¡¯er is able to attain the top position, Southwind Academy will likely take first ce again and obtain 15 extra positions. It is very likely Li Luo will obtain a slot to enter the Astral Sage College. ¡± Cai Wei gave a light chuckle. ¡°I personally think that it won¡¯t be difficult for the Young Lord to enter the top 10.¡± Yan Lingqing gave Cai Wei a surprised look, her eyebrows arched. She simply could not understand where Cai Wei¡¯s confidence in Li Luo stemmed from. ¡°Don¡¯t judge him based on how warm and friendly he seems. Entrenched in his bones is a deep sense of pride. Coupled with the fact that he is the son of those two and also the fiance of Qing¡¯e¡­ With his personality, he might not be obsessed with taking the top spot, but I¡¯m afraid he would never be able to ept charity from others. He won¡¯t allow himself to have a free ride into the Astral Sage College. Instead, he will struggle for it with all his might,¡± Cai Wei exined. ¡°On the other hand, the most crucial thing is that I feel that our Young Lord is not such a simple person. He definitely has hidden his abilities very deeply.¡± Thest sentence left Yan Lingqing in deep thought. It was true that Li Luo would often give others an unfathomable sort of feeling. He had manifested his resonance a mere month ago, yet what he had achieved was monumental! ¡°I hope he can rely on his own capabilities to enter the top 10 and obtain the right to enter the Astral Sage College. The ones that enter the Astral Sage College through alloted quotas tend to be seen differently. Coupled with the fact that he¡¯s the Young Lord of House Lun and Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s fiance, things will be more than awkward for him. Keke. Now that I think about it, Li Luo entering the Astral Sage College might not actually be a good thing.¡± Yan Lingqing polished her spectacles at this point, a look of pity appearing on her face. Cai Wei also gently nodded. She had experienced the trials of Xia City and had a good understanding of the Astral Sage College. At the same time, she was exceptionally clear of how famous Jiang Qing¡¯e truly was. Perhaps saying that she was the center of attention in the college would not be an exaggeration. Li Luo had spent his time till now sequestered in a corner of the Xia Kingdom, the City of Southwind. It was so distant that even the winds would not reach him. Conversely, once he took the initiative to enter the Astral Sage College, he would finally bear and understand the full brunt of Jiang Qing¡¯e¡¯s radiance and glory. A weak-willed individual would never be able to survive. As they spoke, the atmosphere in the field seemed to have reached a crescendo. The duo turned to look at the groups of students dispatched by the academies. As they swept through the crowd, they could easily spot the eye-catching Li Luo with a head of silver-grey hair standing in the group from Southwind Academy. ¡°The Young Lord truly is a sight for sore eyes. Dying his hair truly did make him look more attractive than before,¡± Cai Wei casuallymented. This was met with a snide remark. ¡°Psh, just a himbo. Shallow!¡± she spat. Despite that, she had to admit that Li Luo truly was blessed with excellent genes passed down from his good-looking parents. No one could pick out any faults with his looks. In front of countless gazes, a figure garbed in a robe that sparkled with starlight appeared atop a high tform. The robe he was wearing was extremely eye-catching, constantly twinkling with silver brilliance. This was the attire worn by the teachers of the Astral Sage College. This esteemed individual was someone dispatched by the Astral Sage College to act as a supervisor for this examination. ¡°Good day, my students from the Tianshu Province. I am Mentor Anlie, a teacher from the Astral Sage College. Thank you for being here. Without further ado, let me exin how this year¡¯s examination rankings will be graded: a point-based system!¡± The teacher from the Astral Sage College looked to be around thirty years old. Someone of his age bing a teacher in the Astral Sage College only demonstrated his excellent abilities. After which, numerous teachers from the different academies began distributing crystal tiles to each and every student. Li Luo and the rest received one as well. Each of these crystal tiles were about the size of their palms, atop was inscribed their respective academy crests as well as their names. ¡°When the examination begins, all of you here will go through two rounds of evaluation tests. How well you fare in these two evaluations will determine your basic points. Students are forbidden from mutually assisting each other during these two evaluations, but anything after that is fine. Being able to snatch someone else¡¯s crystal tiles and basic points will serve as the great divider! Of course, one cannot take their fellow academy mates¡¯ tiles and points. Your destination will be in the southwest side of Whitespirit Mountain. That location contains the ruins of an ancient city, also known as Whitespirit Ruins. When you arrive, you will naturally understand the rules.¡± After he made the announcement, the faces of all the students gradually turned serious, and the air was filled with a palpable tension. After thest rule was exined, Anlie glimpsed into the sky briefly before breaking out into a resplendent smile. ¡°I¡¯ve said enough nonsense for now! Under the authority vested in me, I hereby announce the beginning of the College Final Examinations!¡± The moment these words were spoken, the turbid atmosphere seemed to have boiled to a peak, exploding outwards and enveloping everyone. The final examination had finally begun! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 50: Test Your Mind, Not Your Muscles Chapter 50: Test Your Mind, Not Your Muscles 3Chapter 50: Test Your Mind, Not Your Muscles BOOM! As soon as Mentor Anlie dered the start of the examinations, trees began to sprout, cracking the ground as they grew into a long corridor. It was pitch-ck within, and it led into the heart of Whitespirit Mountain. Leading the Southwind contingent were Lin Feng and Xu Shanyue. The two waved to their students behind them. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± As they spoke, the students¡¯ silhouettes glowed with an assortment of resonant powers. Finally, they all charged into the corridor. At the same time, the other schools were stirring as well. The tension was electric. The silver-robed Mentor Anlie from the Astral Sage College walked into the pavilion. Both Governor Shi and the dean dipped their heads slightly in acknowledgment. ¡°Thank you, Mentor Anlie.¡± Although Anlie was slightly below them in terms of strength and influence, his title as a teacher and representative of the Astral Sage College demanded some respect from them. Besides, Anlie was young. Although he was just a Silver Spark teacher, he had the potential to rise to the Gold Gleam rank. Once he was promoted, he would be an influential person within the Xia Kingdom. The Astral Sage College divided their teachers into three tiers: Silver Spark, Gold Gleam, and Violet Vibrance. The hard requirement for Silver Spark teachers was to reach the Earth Fiend level, while for Gold Gleam teachers the standard was Heavenly Dipper General. The highest ranked teachers, Violet Vibrance ones, had to be at the Duke Stage. But even in the arcane depths of the Astral Sage College, a violet-robed teacher was a rare sight indeed. Anlie bowed back smilingly in response. He then sat down. ¡°Many crouching tigers and hidden dragons sleep in the Tianshu Province. This year¡¯s examinations are especially intense. I wonder if Southwind Academy will continue to hold their lead, or if a dark horse will gallop ahead.¡± His question was one that neither Governor Shi nor the old Dean could answer. They could only smile politely in response. They then directed their attention to the crystal wall, which was divided into many separate mirrors. When the time came, the photographic rocks embedded in Whitespirit Mountain would stream information to them. At the same time, they would be recording the ranks and points of all the students, updating them in real time. ¡­¡­ As the students got fired up outside, Li Luo followed the crowd into the tree-enclosed corridor. He realized that the more they advanced, the more forks appeared in their way. It seemed to be separating the crowd up. With each division, more and more were separated, until those around him were mostly strangers. However, Zhao Kuo was still with him, as well as a few other Southwind students. This continued for a few dozen minutes, before Li Luo and the others finally came to a dead-end, marked by a wooden door. In response to their arrival, the gigantic wooden door began to open slowly. Li Luo and Zhao Kuo shared a look, then they cautiously followed the small party forward. After thest person entered, the wooden door closed and light bloomed within. They saw that they were in an enormous hall, seemingly madepletely out of wood, and with a sturdy feel to it. All of them looked about warily, hushed. Li Luo and Zhao Kuo were off to the side, also looking all around them. They had heard from the Astral Sage College teacher that they would first meet two basic challenges to test their foundations. This was probably the first of them. But what sort of test would it be? Just as Li Luo thought this, a sound suddenly came from the side. He looked upwards sharply and saw two yawning ck holes above. The voices wereing from within. The voices steadily grew louder, and soon enough everyone was on their guard against the two holes. Squeak, squeak! Suddenly, two streams of ck mass gushed out from the holes, the cacophony deafening. It was an unending stream of four-winged bats! These bats were robust-looking. About the size of a person¡¯s face, they had a sinister look to them, sharp teeth and ws as well as red eyes. Without any pause, they swarmed the students below. The students scrambled to bring their resonant power to bear, dealing with the four-winged bats in all kinds of manners. It was obvious now that they would have to defend against the four-winged bats for their first test. Li Luo began to channel his resonant power as well. He did not dare to let them get close, and so employed long-range attacks to snipe them out of the air. As the bats continued to grow in number, there was suddenly a shout of rm from one of the students. They had been shed across the body by a bat, and their point crystal flickered red. ¡°Don¡¯t let the bats hit you, or your basic points will decrease!¡± someone hollered. Some began to panic, having already been hit a few times. Clearly, they would not emerge from this first round with a good score. ¡°I see.¡± Getting a feel for the battle, Li Luo fought in close coordination with Zhao Kuo, fending off the bat attacks from all directions. However, the flock seemed limitless,ing on again and again. Finally, Zhao Kuo roared in frustration, ¡°I CAN¡¯T TAKE IT ANYMORE! I¡¯M TOO TIRED!¡± Li Luo¡¯s gaze swept the field. He saw a wall of four-winged bats, with no gap in between. His eyes shed. He then seized Zhao Kuo by the hand and dragged him in a retreat to the side. ¡°Don¡¯t move, or my resonance art will dissipate,¡± he said, then he called forth his resonant power. A thin veil of flowing light covered their bodies. Under the flowing light, both of their silhouettes began to grow fainter and fainter. ¡°Is this the Water Shadow Art, a mid-grade resonance art?¡± Zhao Kuo was amazed. But as the bats swarmed them, he could not help but question, ¡°Brother Luo, this isn¡¯t going to help. Shouldn¡¯t we cut down the bats?¡± Li Luo said nothing. He continued to apply his resonant power until both their bodies were glowing in a pool of light. With no response from Li Luo, Zhao Kuo could only grit his teeth and resist the urge to strike out at the offending bats. But just as he braced himself for the attack, the four-winged bats suddenly froze as though they had lost their target. Confused, they finally milled around and turned to attack the others. ¡°You¡­¡± Zhao Kuo¡¯s eyes were bulging. ¡°You can do that?¡± He could not believe it. A middle-grade Water Shadow Art could shield thempletely? He looked down and saw that he had turnedpletely invisible. He marveled, ¡°Brother Luo, your Water Shadow Art is sick! It¡¯s like an invisibility cloak!¡± ¡°Just a simple trick of the eye. It utilizes refraction through water to hide us within the light rays. A small trick. If someone concentrated hard enough, we would be seen¡­¡± Li Luo said without much pride. ¡°Wow! That¡¯s still very impressive. I¡¯ve never seen anyone use the Water Shadow Art so skilfully before,¡± Zhao Kuo praised. Li Luo smiled in response. What he had glossed over was the fact that ordinary Water Shadow Art users could not use it this well. Only he, with his light resonance imbued within it, could affect it thus. ¡°No need to fight now. Just wait here until it ends,¡± Li Luo said calmly. ¡°Brother Luo, you¡¯re not only a handsome face, you¡¯re pretty smart behind those pretty looks. The Astral Sage College must be going blind since they didn¡¯t extend a special invitation to you.¡± Zhao Kuo whooped with good cheer. ¡°Ha, please! It¡¯s going to be our school soon enough. We¡¯re so good, they¡¯ll open the door for us! No need to worry now,¡± Li Luo said generously. ¡°Wew, and a big heart under that fine brain too,¡± Zhao Kuo said. Suddenly with time to kill, he was intending to butter up his dear Brother Luo a little more, when he suddenly spotted a familiar figure being harangued by four-winged bats. ¡°Brother Luo, that guy looks a little familiar,¡± he said. Li Luo looked over and winced. Who else would it be but Yu Lang, screaming as he scrambled away from the bats? ¡°Hmm¡­? Him again? Nothing to see here, let¡¯s go¡­¡± Li Luo said dryly. Yu Lang was a sixth-grade wind resonance user, and swiftness was his specialty. Although he was yelling desperately, he was still managing to keep abreast of the bats. ¡°Something¡¯s not right, Brother Luo. That dog is charging over to where we are. Does he know we¡¯re here?¡± Zhao Kuo asked tensely. Li Luo looked. Damn, he was right. What a real pain in the ass. As Yu Lang neared, his ratty little eyes locked onto them. With a terse voice, he called, ¡°Brother Luo, Brother Luo, save your brother.¡± Li Luo feigned death. ¡°If you don¡¯t save me, I¡¯ll attract a whole horde of bats to collide with you.¡± Getting no response, Yu Lang immediately threatened them. ¡°Damn it, Yu Lang, you bastard! Don¡¯t you have any morals? Just you wait¡­ Someday, someone will club you over the head when you least expect it. And I can¡¯t promise it won¡¯t be me!¡± Grumbling, he reached out a hand and seized Yu Lang by the shoulder. With a sh, he hid him within the light as well. In the direction Yu Lang hade from, the four-winged bats froze again and then headed off in another direction. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.