Chapter 0613: Earth Fiend Energy
Once that wisp of earth fiend energy appeared in Li Luo's perception, his mental state seemed to ripple in anticipation. However, he suppressed any hint of excitement and persevered his calmness as he knew that the moment of truth had arrived. There was no room for any mistakes.
Earth fiend energy could be sensed, so the next step was to refine his resonant palaces.
With a thought, he separated a strand of resonant power to guide the wisp of earth fiend energy into his body.
Once the earth fiend energy entered, Li Luo's body spasmed violently. It was intrinsically different from the worldly natural energy he'd absorb from day to day. It was like a berserk beast, unruly and hard to tame, viciously pouncing around and smashing anything it could get its hands on.
It was fortunate that he had cultivated a Thunderpeal Avatar and had an enhanced physique, thereby allowing him to blunt the blows of the earth fiend energy on his body. Otherwise, he might very well be grievously injured at this point.
Li Luo focused inwards on the earth fiend energy and sighed. Its current state was too disruptive, and so it could not be used to temper his resonant palaces as they simply could not stomach the abuse! Furthermore, this energy wasn't so friendly as to automatically assist him!
The next step of the plan was to tame this unruly "creature" and rid it of its frenzied tendencies.
His mind started racing through the endless possibilities to accomplish this task. In the end, a strand of waterlight resonant power arose, pouncing towards the earth fiend energy and enveloping it. Yet immediately upon that, the earth fiend energy suddenly came alive with renewed vitality, constantly bashing itself against the encirclement until it smashed the waterlight resonant power into non-existence.
"What a wild heart this energy has," Li Luo dryly commented to himself. This was a mere probing experiment, and it looked like if he were to merely rely on the waterlight resonance, the amount of resonant power he would require to accomplish the task would be immense.
.
If that was the case... a strand of resonant power arose from his other resonant palace, combining with a new strand of waterlight resonant power, forming an amalgamated dual resonant power.
This was more powerful than the sum of its parts and also significantly larger, almost like a whale in shape instead of the previous scrawny snake as a single strand. With a gulp, it swallowed the earth fiend energy whole.
The dual resonant power started to churn as it refined the earth fiend energy forcefully.
The savage earth fiend energy had finally met its match against a tyrannical dual resonant power that was uncompromising. Gradually, the earth fiend energy came around, deciding to bring an end to its rambunctiousness. This was signified by several red spots of light gradually rising and dissipating from the earth fiend energy, being forcefully erased by the dual resonant power.
Countless minutes later, the red tint of the earth fiend energy seemed to disappear, and the berserk nature of the energy subsided.
He understood that he had succeeded.
At the same time, he felt a pang of worry when he checked the amount of dual resonant power he had consumed to tame the earth fiend energy. It was a lot greater than expected.
Did he possess enough resonant power to refine sufficient earth fiend energy to temper an entire resonant palace?
If he could accomplish this in a single seating, he'd have to go through another round of preparations, which would be time-consuming. He'd easily need at least another month before he could try again.
However, this was not in line with his own expectations.
"Looks like it was a bit hasty of me to rush my breakthrough at this point in time. I had thought that the Holy Tree Marrow Crystal was sufficient to assist me." Li Luo continued to ponder possible solutions. Yet he remained unperturbed through all this as it was too late to back out now. How could there be anything guaranteed on the path of cultivation? One had to struggle and exceed their own limits while bearing danger and risk to themselves.
At this point, Li Luo finally understood why Ao Bai was merely at the quasi General Stage. This was not a cakewalk—it was much harder than he had ever expected.[1]
At the same time, another realization struck him. The Fiend Palace Tier was to temper one's resonant palace... but he had two! That meant that he had twice the work ahead of him!
Of course, he was strapped for time, and the best he could hope for was just to temper one first.
Making a quick decision, he opted to strengthen the waterlight resonant palace first, because it was an upper seventh-grade.
At the same time, he willed the strand of earth fiend energy into the waterlight resonant palace.
The resonant palace immediately began to quiver, almost in anticipation and desire for this potent tonic. It was like a starving man setting his eyes on a sumptuous feast.
As the waterlight resonant palace began to emit a certain suction force, the conquered earth fiend energy naturally did not resist and directly melded into it.
At the same time, red, rippling circles started appearing throughout the resonant palace, and the previously devastated areas of the palace walls greedily lapped them up. When this happened, booming sounds could be heard throughout the palace itself.
Li Luo could intently feel that his resonant palace was being enlarged and fortified by these actions.
"The change is noticeable."
Just a mere strand of earth fiend energy could bring about such wondrous effects. Li Luo couldn't wait to see how a true Fiend Palace really looked and felt like.
At the same time, he did not stop what he was doing—he proceeded to guide another strand of earth fiend energy into his body.
.
The tempering of his resonant palace officially began!
……
Outside the skygold room.
Jiang Qing'e had been attentively observing Li Luo's every change.
"Earth fiend energy has started to temper his resonant palace," Jiang Qing'e said as she could feel a trace of the energy's appearance within Li Luo's body. This was something familiar to her after all.
"Does this mean he's about to succeed?" Cai Wei celebrated.
Jiang Qing'e's response was slightly muted and delayed. "Not necessarily. The Fiend Palace Tier requires one to qualitatively upgrade their resonant palace, and this process consumes a significant amount of resonant power. Even though Li Luo possesses dual resonances and the Holy Tree Marrow Crystal, I'm afraid this is not a task that's so easily triumphed. If he doesn't complete this in one go, then it will not count as having broken through. He would be in a state similar to Ao Bai during the Holy Grail Meet, the Quasi General Stage."
Yan Lingqing massaged her eyebrows upon hearing this headache-inducing situation. "Psh, he's really forced himself this time."
"In a normal situation, Li Luo would have made this advancement during his time in the Two Star Hall. By bringing this forward by half a year, it naturally is accompanied with some risk of failure," Jiang Qing'e lightly explained.
"All we can do is wait to see if he's able to resist till the end."
Looks of worry fell upon Li Luo, but he was none the wiser. The only thing on his mind was the taming of more and more earth fiend energy.
…..
Time passed, and strand after strand of earth fiend energy was absorbed into his waterlight resonant palace. It was growing more resplendently, larger, and even more stable.
In terms of the tempering process, he was probably halfway through.
However, his heart and energy were almost at their limits.
He was left with almost 20% of his resonant power now.
The process was laborious and energy-consuming.
Li Luo spent several moments in deep thought, contemplating what to do. How could he give up before the end? How could he take things lightly? If he did not break into the Fiend Palace Tier, he would have no right to say anything during the Housemeet despite being the young lord. Would he have to fully rely on the insidious power of the Three-tailed Heavenly Wolf? No! He was better than that! He steeled himself once again, preparing to act ruthlessly even to himself.
He had to be strong. External aid was unreliable.
Thus, he clasped his palms together, fully activating his resonant palaces.
Within his resonant palace, the pool of spiritual liquid suddenly began to roil with activity, and endless ripples could be seen within as it churned. Meanwhile, in his woodearth resonance, the large tree rooted in soil started to sway and its emerald-green leaves started to float, each leaf akin to a radiant star amidst the massive, empty sky that was the tree.
Li Luo had decided to bet it all on this final push.
On the outside, Qing'e could feel the change in Li Luo's state. Her face turned into one of rapt attention and her slender hands slightly rose.
The Holy Tree Marrow Crystal and the Spirit Condensing Pill appeared in her palms.
It was time for her to act.
Yet right at this moment, the taciturn and silent Ox Biaobiao raised his hand to stop her.
"Uncle Biao?" Jiang Qing'e asked with a puzzled look.
Ox Biaobiao's expression was stern as he shook his head. "He's already used a Holy Tree Marrow Crystal and cannot absorb anymore of its medicinal potency. Even if he breaks through with it, his resonant power will become less dense. The path of cultivation requires one to forge a steady foundation, step by step. Only when this is stable can one hope to ascend to the peak in the future. The Young Lord's condition is very special, and every step requires the firmest foundation he is able to establish."
Jiang Qing'e nervously bit down on her bottom lip. She clearly understood what Uncle Biao was referring to. Li Luo's lifespan was limited and he had only four years left to break into the Duke Stage. If his breakthrough into the Earth Fiend General Stage was shaky and unsteady, it would lead to a much heftier price down the road.
Her eyes flickered with emotion. If she had to choose between House Luolan and Li Luo's life, of course she'd pick the latter without exception.
Ox Biaobiao looked at the clearly flustered Jiang Qing'e and gave a wry smile. "Don't underestimate the Young Lord's potential."
Jiang Qing'e nodded in response and lowered her arms, both the Holy Tree Marrow Crystal and Spirit Condensing Pill disappearing.
All she could do now was place her hopes on the silhouette before her.
"I believe in you, Li Luo..."
1. TL Note: Sometimes I wonder why others didn't tell him what the Earth Fiend Stage entailed. Or maybe they did but y'know, the situation necessitated this… ☜