When Li Luo carried a green, wooden trunk out of the exchange palace hall, the very sight of it confounded every student and mentor who saw it.
Such a reaction was warranted. No one, not even a mentor, had ever expected a student to spend 100,000 points on Royal Sap.
Wasn’t this completely overkill?
Were all new students so plucky?
“It looks like I’ve once again shocked the entire college,” Li Luo joked with Jiang Qing’e.
Jiang Qing’e continued to strut beside him, lightly replying, “It looks like your severed foundation issue can be considered to be resolved. However, you still can’t relax. I’m sure you understand your unique situation.”
The sword hanging over his head—the inevitable five-year limit to reach the Duke Stage was something that loomed over him. His pitiful life was at stake, and he was definitely motivated to redouble his efforts. The last thing he wanted was a short-lived glory and life!
“The original plan I had for you was to reach the Second Changing of the Evolving Resonance Tier by the end of the year. However, this is the absolutely lowest bar possible for you to overcome. If you can prove your mettle, then perhaps you might be able to take a breather,” Jiang Qing’e said mercilessly.
Li Luo did some quick mental math. With the wondrous encounter at the onyx lake, his resonance power had jumped, directly entering the Third Pattern of the Pattern Genesis Tier.
This windfall had saved him at least a month of bitter cultivation, buying him crucial time.
Yet when all was said and done, reaching the Second Changing by the end of the year was still an arduous task.
Even when looking at each of the ten strongest freshmen of each batch, being able to enter the Pattern Genesis Tier whilst still being in the One Star Hall was a rarity. The Second Changing was an even higher hurdle to surmount.
Exceeding such expectations would be extremely difficult.
“I will do my best.” Li Luo, on the other hand, was neither depressed nor disheartened, only nodding his head with all seriousness. All of this affected his little life. He had no other route to tread, except to struggle for that glimpse of hope for survival.
The good thing was that he had this wonderful backing known as House Luolan. Although it was no longer in its heydays, a starving camel was inevitably larger than a horse. It provided him with significant amounts of resources to allow him to succeed. Combined with the contribution points from the college, his debaucherous lifestyle full of squalor could be barely sustained.
“Now that the Umbra Cave mission has temporarily been completed, things will definitely ease up for a period of time. What you now need to focus on is the opportunity within the Golden Dragon Dao Fields. This opportunity is extremely difficult to come by, and if you are able to properly reap the benefits, your strength will take a leap forward, Jiang Qing’e helpfully reminded him.
Li Luo nodded. He was extremely curious about the Golden Dragon Dao Fields. The Golden Dragon Bank clearly possessed capabilities beyond his wildest imagination. It was a superpower that surpassed the Xia Kingdom. Even the Astral Sage College was not qualified to speak on equal terms with the headquarters.
Naturally, the Golden Dragon Dao Fields that were constructed by the bank would be anything but ordinary.
“What do you plan to do now, then?” Li Luo followed up.
“A quick rest for a few days and then I will reapply to enter the Umbra Cave,” Jiang Qing’e replied after a moment of pondering.
“Back to the Umbra Cave?” Li Luo asked in surprise.
He had experienced the environment there, and everyone was perpetually kept on their toes. The cold and suppressive atmosphere cast a shadow over everyone’s mood.
An ordinary individual would treat the Umbra Cave as a death sentence! If they had a choice, they would never step back into that accursed land. Furthermore, the tasks assigned were arduous and life-threatening. Jiang Qing’e had actually taken the initiative to go back?
“The Umbra Cave is an excellent place for cultivation,” Jiang Qing’e explained softly.
Li Luo’s expression was complex. He was cognizant of why Jiang Qing’e was also throwing herself into trial after trial, struggling to improve her cultivation. Ultimately, House Luolan’s situation was dire, and the housemeet in half a year was the true calamity.
Thus, she had to exhaust all means necessary to strengthen herself, even voluntarily entering places of immense danger, all to serve as a grindstone for her improvement.
In the end, Li Luo did not say much, but he steeled his determination in his heart. He would enter the Dao Fields and find his own opportunities to obtain greater power. House Luolan’s disaster would not be borne by just Jiang Qing’e alone.
As the duo walked out of the college, they noticed a golden carriage, emblazoned with the emblem of a golden Luan, stopped right by the gates.
It was the First Princess’s personal carriage.
Surrounding it was a team of elite wolf riders, their gazes cold and vigilant.
As the two approached the carriage, the First Princess got up and smiled as she walked towards them.
“Your Highness, I will leave Li Luo to you.” Jiang Qing’e said.
The First Princess’ lips pursed into a thin smile. “You can relax, Qing’e. I will definitely return him in one piece.”
Jiang Qing’e laughed in response, and after exchanging a few more cursory greetings, she waved goodbye to Li Luo and turned to leave.
“Junior Li Luo, please.”
The First Princess indicated for him to board the carriage, her exceptionally beautiful face graced with a radiant smile.
All of a sudden, Li Luo could feel that the gazes of the surrounding students had become piercing. The numerous students who were merely making their way around were staring daggers at him upon this sight. In fact, the majority were Four Star Hall students. The First Princess truly possessed significant stature within it!
Although the crowd felt that the First Princess was not romantically inclined towards Li Luo, this brat was still the very first individual to be personally invited by Her Highness onto her carriage.
This was a sight that incited jealousy.
No longer being able to handle the sharp looks of the public, Li Luo immediately hopped into the carriage. The interior of the carriage was spacious and tidy. A row of bookshelves was placed on one end of the carriage, and beneath it was a desk with a lit stick of fragrant incense. This aromatic scent cleanly permeated the entire interior.
The First Princess followed suit shortly after, gracefully sitting down on one end whilst beckoning towards Li Luo. “Please take a seat.”
Li Luo, one who never stood on courtesy, also found a spot opposite her. “It looks like Her Highness has helped to increase the hatre… I mean my popularity within the college.”
“You’re popular enough as it is. This much more shouldn’t faze you.”
Gracefully, she lifted a teapot and personally poured Li Luo a small cup of steaming tea.
Unable to accept this, Li Luo hurriedly accepted the cup and joked, “With such a great honor accorded to me, I will definitely have to give my life for Your Highness.”
“Your words don’t seem to match your actions,” the First Princess replied whilst shaking her head at his insincerity.
Although she was one for conquering the hearts of others, she could discern that beneath Li Luo’s warm and amicable demeanor bellied an individual with unmatched pride. Wanting to win his heart was not realistic, and thus she had never planned to do so. She had always assumed that Li Luo and Jiang Qing’e would become a pair.
Not wanting to harp on such meaningless chatter, she spoke up. “Junior Li Luo, do you think you can resolve His Majesty’s ailment within half a year?”
Li Luo paused to consider, scratching his head. “I do not dare to make promises I cannot keep. Your Highness should know that although I can treat the issue, my personal resonant power is simply too weak. Thus, I can only take things slow.”
His response was met with furrowed eyebrows. “Your Highness, is there a reason for your urgency?”
“The sooner you can resolve this, the better.” A glimmer flickered through the First Princess’ eyes as she shook her head.
“Then I will have to do my best!” Li Luo smiled. He could tell that there was a pressing reason for this deadline; however, he was not inclined to poke his nose into matters of the royal family.
After which, the two began to chat about other things, such as the numerous ongoings within the college. The First Princess’ natural charisma took full bloom as the duo talked about everything under the sun, creating a harmonious atmosphere within the carriage.
The carriage sped along its path, finally entering the vicinity of Xia City. The royal palace might have been tightly guarded, but upon seeing the First Princess’ personal carriage, they allowed it to travel unobstructed.
Eventually, it pulled to a halt in front of a grand palace. Li Luo and the First Princess made their way out and were greeted by the bows of the imperial guard, giving him a chance to experience what it felt like to be royalty.
Entering the palace hall, Li Luo once again managed to see the Little Emperor.
His Majesty was dressed in yellow emperor’s robes, exuding an aura of regality. Unfortunately, the only thing that detracted from his majestic appearance was his pale demeanor.
When the Little Emperor saw the First Princess, he let out a look of jubilance, which only deepened upon seeing Li Luo. Li Luo was here to help him treat his illness.
“Sister!”
The Little Emperor immediately ran over to grab the First Princess’ hand.
Upon this sight, she gently patted his head and spoke a few words to him before turning to face Li Luo.
“Shall we begin?”
Li Luo nodded his head in agreement.
The First Princess arranged for the Little Emperor to be sent to the back of the palace to prepare himself. When Li Luo finally entered the room, he had already changed into a simple set of pajamas.
Li Luo did not beat around the bush, sitting down cross-legged behind the Little Emperor whilst instructing him to remove his upper body robes.
Although the Little Emperor paused for a brief moment, he did as he was told and disrobed, revealing an emaciated torso. Shockingly, a lotus pattern could be seen engraved onto his back, intertwined with the position of his meridians.
Li Luo maintained his composure, feeling that the Little Emperor’s skin looked even more fair as a result. “I’m going to begin.”
After which, Li Luo closed both his eyes, focusing on channeling his resonant power, preparing to start the therapy.
Atop the bed, lustrous resonant power began to bloom from him.
Throughout this process, the First Princess continued to sit by their side, quietly observing the treatment.
Time gradually went by, and half a stick of incense had passed.
At this point, an imperial guard strode in, speaking to the First Princess in a low voice. “Your Highness, the Regent is here to visit Your Majesty.”
Her eyes flickered as she lightly commanded, “Watch over His Majesty.”
It seemed as though she was speaking to herself, as no one responded. The only thing that seemed to have changed was that the shadows now seemed to have changed their object of focus.
Immediately after that, she got up and calmly walked towards the palace hall.
