Li Luo and the others had barely set foot in House Luolan before Ox Biaobiao greeted them with a hearty soup and a big smile.
“Young Lord, you’re looking a little healthier after a month, but the nourishing soups cannot be missed. Drink it all, quickly!” Ox Biaobiao urged him.
Li Luo smiled back at him and took the soup. “It’s been a whole month, Uncle Biao, and the first thing you can think of is soup!”
He gulped it down. “Uncle Biao, about that miracle paste… How much Royal Sap is needed?”
Ox Biaobiao looked at him with surprise. “Young Lord, you’ve come into some?”
As one of the most precious resources at the Astral Sage College, a mere month was shockingly quick.
Li Luo waved it off modestly, then produced the two thumbnail-sized bottles.
Ox Biaobiao examined them. “Indeed, Royal Sap. Superb job, Young Lord.
“At this quantity, another 20 bottles should be enough to refine the miracle paste.”
Ack.
Li Luo’s mouthful of soup sprayed out. He stared at Ox Biaobiao. 20 bottles?
Beside him, Jiang Qing’e sighed. She was prepared to learn that this bit of Royal Sap was not enough, but this was a little drastic.
20 bottles of Royal Sap was 100,000 points!
A herculean task, even for her.
“Uncle Biao, you’re killing me here.”
“Young Lord, I’m completely serious. The substance and potential you have lost would kill the development of anyone else. It’s almost impossible to find anyone who can heal that sort of foundational gap throughout the Xia Kingdom. You’re lucky that this old ox here knows about it.”
Li Luo nodded glumly. His second resonance had brought him great power and even allowed him to taste the dual resonances of a Duke. But the price was heavy indeed.
Everyone was dazzled by their power, but they didn’t know that under his shiny reputation hid a yawning hole.
His battered foundations would hold him back from the General Stage. If word of it got out, he would again be the target of disdain, just like when he was a blank palace cultivator.
“Uncle Biao, don’t worry. The price of Royal Sap might be high, but we have some time. Li Luo’s still far from the General Stage. I think we’ll make it if we work hard,” Jiang Qing’e said soothingly.
Li Luo looked at her, conflicted. Clearly, she intended to help him work towards the 100,000 points needed… But Royal Sap was incredibly important for her as well, especially if she was going to challenge the Seven Astral Pillars. If all her points went to him, her own cultivation would be impeded.
Li Luo opened his mouth, but she shook her head at him.
He swallowed his words back down.
The only thing left for him was to earn as many points as he could, to ease the burden on her.
Ox Biaobiao looked at them with rare sternness. “I know that Royal Sap is difficult to get, but you’re not children anymore. How will you grow without stress?”
Both stiffened up at this uncommon reproach, but they nodded. After all, neither had ever treated him as a subordinate.
“Besides, do you think this is all the pressure you’ll have to face?” They looked at each other.
“Uncle Biao,” Jiang Qing’e said softly. “What do you mean?”
He rubbed his bald head and blew out a breath. “Well, I’d planned to keep it until you were at least Heavenly Dipper Generals, but the situation is worse than I expected. I have to let you know.”
Both children sobered up immediately. They had long suspected that the mysterious Ox Biaobiao had been left at House Luolan for good reason.
However, they had trusted his discretion and not pressed for an answer.
He sat down heavily. “Last night, an unknown Duke expert trespassed at House Luolan.”
Shock.
Duke expert?! Trespassing at House Luolan headquarters?
Who? Why? Was he trying to kill them?
“A Duke expert entering House Luolan headquarters?” Jiang Qing’e asked urgently. “How could it not trigger anything? I wasn’t notified of any alarm.”
“It was just a Duke too afraid to show himself. Besides, his real body didn’t come, just an energy clone. I got rid of it.”
They fell silent again.
Who actually was Ox Biaobiao? He knew too much, even the arcane ways of healing Li Luo’s foundation. There was no way he was just a simple chef.
And now he had finished off a Duke’s energy clone. Not just Li Luo, even the usually composed Jiang Qing’e was reeling from this information.
“Uncle Biao…”
“I always knew you were the legendary hidden hero,” Li Luo said sincerely. “Whether or not you are interested in my knees, I would like to fall upon them for you.”
Jiang Qing’e knew that he was trying to hide his shock with a glib facade.
“Legendary hidden hero my foot,” Ox Biaobiao laughed. “I’m just a good-for-nothing who can’t leave House Luolan.”
Li Luo and Jiang Qing’e were alarmed.
But he did not elaborate on that. “In recent years, a dark power has been investigating House Luolan’s headquarters, although you two might not have been aware.
“They have been content to just watch up till now, but last night they finally entered headquarters.”
Ox Biaobiao looked at them.
“Do you know… what they’re looking for at House Luolan?”