Chapter 1094: Rewarded in Advance
"Double ninth-grade light resonance!"
This was a piece of shocking news from Lan Lingzi, leaving Li Luo stunned. Initially, he thought that after putting in so much hard work, his triple resonances would close the gap between himself and Jiang Qing'e with her ninth-grade light resonance. Who would've guessed that Jiang Qing'e was advancing just as quickly?
In fact, she'd improved much more than him!
Double ninth-grade light resonances? This was exceptionally rare!
Was Jiang Qing'e planning to follow the light resonance path to its utmost limit? She was simply the natural nemesis of Others. Light resonant energy contained the holy power to cleanse all things, so it was a natural counter to them. Moreover, the Hallowed Coruscation Ancient College prided itself with their ability to utilize light resonances. The outroar set off by Jiang Qing'e's double ninth-grade light resonance must have been unimaginable.
Li Luo was stunned for a while before he sighed. "As expected of Sister Qing'e. She's brilliant no matter where she goes."
Although he'd been rising steadily in the Heavenly Origin Divine Continent, Jiang Qing'e was equally outstanding.
Nonetheless, Li Luo was genuinely glad to hear about her spectacular progress.
"Vice Principal Lan Lingzi, what did you mean when you said we do not need to use the Tree of Resonant Power to transfer the item?" Li Luo asked.
"If it was before, it would've indeed been the most convenient option. However, there is another way now..." Lan Lingzi replied.
She smiled gently at Li Luo and continued, "You may have a chance to pass the item over to her personally."
Li Luo was surprised to hear this. He asked excitedly, "Is Jiang Qing'e coming to the Heavenly Origin Ancient College?"
Lan Lingzi shook her head. "Strictly speaking, the Heavenly Origin Ancient College and the Hallowed Coruscation Ancient College will be having a joint operation soon. The teams will comprise students from the Three Star Hall, Four Star Hall, and Heavenly Star Hall from the two colleges. As we're heading to the same destination, there'll naturally be a chance for us to meet one another."
"Oh?" Li Luo's expression suddenly changed. "But I am not a student of the Heavenly Origin Ancient College."
"It's fine. I'll be issuing a Mobilization Order later. All the sage colleges that are currently in the Heavenly Origin Ancient College will have to send out a team to participate in the mission," Lan Lingzi explained with a smile.
Li Luo's heart skipped a beat. He could sense that the mission was nothing ordinary. What kind of mission would require the two ancient colleges to work together as well as to recruit help from the sage colleges?
On the side, Mentor Chi Chan's face also turned serious. "Vice Principal Lan Lingzi, can you elaborate more about the mission?"
Lan Lingzi was silent for a moment. However, she did not hide anything and explained the events over at the Fifth Minor Earthly Branch Realm to them.
Li Luo took a deep breath after hearing the story. What kind of terrifying place was that? Both sides had sent as many as ten Kings?
Was it really appropriate to send students when the place was already swarming with living natural disasters? When they were not even at the Duke Stage yet either?
If an Other King appeared, it could easily wipe out all the elites from the ancient colleges and sage colleges.
Li Luo was already trembling in fear when he met the King from the Origin Reversion Institute in the Spiritual Resonance Cave. It would be even worse this time—the Kings were gathering in groups!
"Vice Principal Lan Lingzi, isn't such a place too dangerous for them? If you issue a Mobilization Order, the students from the other sage colleges will definitely feel conflicted," Chi Chan said in a serious tone.
Even a daredevil like Li Luo was shocked by this, let alone the students from the other sage colleges.
Everyone had come here for the academic evaluation; no one would expect it to turn into a life-and-death situation. Even though the fights in the evaluation were fierce, a protective mechanism had been in place to keep everyone alive. However, there would be no such thing in the Fifth Minor Earthly Branch Realm. The Others had always been peculiar and weird. If one slipped up for even a moment, they would probably end up dead in the most horrifying way.
As students of sage colleges, they probably had experience fighting against Others, so they naturally knew how terrifying it could be.
On top of that, the students from the ancient colleges had always received bountiful cultivation resources, so it might make sense for them to pay their colleges back by going on dangerous missions. However, the students from the sage colleges received considerably fewer resources. Therefore, they would naturally feel conflicted about going on the same mission.
Lan Lingzi sighed and replied, "We have no choice. It is our responsibility as the Academic Federation to stop the invasion of the Others. This is the belief the Academic Federation was founded upon. It is because of this belief that we have been able to produce generation after generation of talented students.
"Do you remember the chant the colleges speak every time we enter the Umbra Cave?"
Li Luo was slightly in a daze. He could still remember the heroic chant they uttered when he first entered the Umbra Cave in the Astral Sage College.
"May fear be gone. May we live long."
There was a complicated look on Li Luo's face. He could not deny that the Academic Federation had done a good job in this aspect. It was no wonder the Heavenly Emperor powers remained respectful towards the Academic Federation.
However, only those who had personally seen an Other invasion could truly appreciate the value of the Academic Federation.
The heroes who shouldered heavy burdens and moved forward first were always admired.
"Vice Principal Lan Lingzi, you're really impressive. You can make a youth's blood boil with just a few sentences," Li Luo said.
Vice Principal Lan Lingzi and Wu Yu were indeed different. If it was Wu Yu, he would most likely have forced the mission onto them. However, Lan Lingzi had convinced him with sincerity.
Lan Lingzi smiled back at him. "I am flattered."
She paused for a moment before continuing, "Nonetheless, what you mentioned earlier makes some sense too. In terms of responsibility, this emergency mission does belong to the Heavenly Origin Ancient College. If we forced the squads from the sage colleges to help us out, it would indeed be a bit unfair to them. Which is why I will request for the school to open up the Spiritual Tree Tide for all the squads from the sage colleges in two days' time. Under ordinary circumstances, the Spiritual Tree Tide is only opened once a year during the promotion period in the ancient college. In other words, each student can only enjoy it four times in their life.
"Cleansing oneself with the Spiritual Tree Tide allows one to strengthen their body and condense their resonant power. It is considered a pretty good opportunity."
When Li Luo heard about this, he was overjoyed. Who wouldn't be when one was given something for free? It didn't matter how effective the Spiritual Tree Tide was—any scrap of opportunity to improve himself would help.
"In that case, let me express my gratitude to you on behalf of the sage colleges, Vice Principal Lan Lingzi!" Li Luo replied with a grin.
Lan Lingzi continued, "In addition to that, the school will reward those who perform well in the Fifth Minor Earthly Branch Realm. Getting you hands on the complete version of the Three Dragons' Heavenly Banner Canon and the seed of a high-grade Tree of Resonant Power may not be impossible."
Hearing this, Li Luo immediately became excited. He replied in a serious tone, "Vice Principal Lan Lingzi, I have an immature suggestion here."
"What are you going to say this time?" Lan Lingzi looked at him suspiciously.
Li Luo revealed a warm smile. "I have a feeling that my performance in the Fifth Minor Earthly Branch Realm mission will be utterly outstanding. So, may I request to take a look at the Three Dragons' Heavenly Banner Canon first? As you already know, the Fifth Minor Earthly Branch Realm is full of danger. If I can master the Three Dragons' Heavenly Banner Canon, my strength will increase considerably and I can contribute more."
Lan Lingzi was surprised to hear this. This kid was really an oddball. Asking to be rewarded in advance? Did he think his performance would be outstanding just by willing it? This was not just a matter of words!
She shook her head and rejected the proposal directly. "No! The college has its own rules and regulations. Countless students in the Heavenly Star Hall have set their eyes on the Three Dragons' Heavenly Banner Canon. However, many have been rejected because their performance has fallen short. If you could get it that easily, it'd be hard to explain it to them."
Li Luo could only sigh in disappointment.
At this point, Mentor Chi Chan suddenly spoke up. "Vice Principal Lan Lingzi, I remember there being a rule stating that students from sage colleges who have achieved excellent results can be granted some preferential treatment in the ancient college, such as cultivating some of the Duke Arts. Li Luo won the title of the strongest One Star Hall student in the Holy Grail Meet in the East Divine Continent. He also received the Violet Resonant Tree Brooch, so he should fit this requirement, right?"
Lan Lingzi was a little startled to hear this. She pondered for a moment before replying, "Indeed, there is such a rule. However, the complete version of the Three Dragons' Heavenly Banner Canon is not among the Duke Arts available."
Mentor Chi Chan chuckled. "What if we're not asking for the complete version, but just one part of it?"
Lan Lingzi thought about it again. "If it's just one part of it, it is somewhat possible."
The Three Dragons' Heavenly Banner Canon was comprised of three different Duke Arts. It was only considered a Destiny-grade Duke Art in its completed form. Each individual art was regarded as a top-notch Communion-grade Duke Art.
Seeing this turn of events, Li Luo was elated. In his heart, he couldn't stop praising Mentor Chi Chan for her ingenuity.
He had already cultivated the Underworld River's Black Dragon Banner to Grand Perfection. If he could learn another part of it, the two Duke Arts combined should be able to reach theSoul Ascension-grade at the very least.
He was sure to accrue many outstanding achievements in the Fifth Minor Earthly Branch Realm mission, so he could think about the completed version of Three Dragons' Heavenly Banner Canon afterwards.
"Thank you, Vice Principal!" Li Luo exclaimed.
Although it was Mentor Chi Chan's quick thinking that made Vice Principal Lan Lingzi change her stance in the end, he also understood that Lan Lingzi had deliberately given way to them. If it had been Wu Yu in her place, he would have come up with a hundred reasons to turn him down.
Lan Lingzi smiled and replied, "I'll get this settled as soon as possible. You should prepare well too. Once the Mobilization Order has been issued, we'll have to move out."
Li Luo nodded. At the same time, there was a sense of longing deep in his heart.
Who would've thought that he would have a chance to meet Jiang Qing'e? This was really a... gigantic pleasant surprise.