The Resonance Artificers Hall had a rather unique system compared to the rest of the Astral Sage College. The students were also divided into four star halls, but as a support vocation, their fighting skills were understandably lacking.
That was why dangerous tasks such as the Umbra Cave would not involve them. Of course, if any student was brave enough to volunteer, the school would not stop them.
Still, that did not mean that they did not contribute in other ways. Their benchmark was tied to the number of successful spirit liquids and purifying lights they made each year. These were either consumed or sold by the school to defray expenses.
In truth, the revenue did not just defray expenses—it brought in a sizable fortune. If you treated the Astral Sage College as a separate ent.i.ty, it would definitely be seen as the number one villa in all of the Xia Kingdom.
It was to be expected. Close to a third of the elite resonance artificers in the Xia Kingdom had walked out of the Resonance Artificers Hall’s doors.
That was why they attracted many villas each year to the career fair, and the villas would try any method available to win them over.
No one would ever feel that they had too many resonance artificers. Besides, these were elite resonance artificers. Although the Artificers’ Fair seemed like a simple affair on paper, it was actually a vicious and desperate scrabble between the top villas to secure talent.
It was definitely a major event in the spirit liquid industry.
The Resonance Artificers Hall was located in the southeastern section of the Astral Sage College. The place was filled with lakes, glistening like s.h.i.+ning mirrors from above, while a network of elegant bridges criss-crossed their surfaces, joining the buildings up. It had a completely different look compared to the Cultivators Hall.
Today, traffic on the bridges was especially heavy, and the loud chatter resulting from the influx of guests was amplified by the way their voices carried over water.
In the center of the entire location was a courtyard made entirely of white jade. It floated in the middle of a huge lake and was enclosed by stone steps that extended outwards and upwards, giving spectators an unhindered view.
People had been scurrying back and forth to the courtyard since the early hours of the morning.
Besides the resonance artificers clad in the Resonance Artificers Hall’s uniform, there were also others who had come in the colors of their respective villas.
Li Luo, Jiang Qing’e, and Yan Lingqing had arrived at the crack of dawn as well, where they met up with Cai Wei, Tang Yun, and other managers from the Suncreek Villa.
Tang Yun and the other artificers looked around the Resonance Artificers Hall in wonder. “So this is the legendary Resonance Artificers Hall. We dreamed of making it to this paradise when we were younger.”
Li Luo smiled politely. Was this their lament of a life wasted? In their younger days, Tang Yun and the others had evidently failed to enter the Astral Sage College and, as a result, the Resonance Artificers Hall.
The fact rankled. Not because he was so concerned over Tang Yun’s future, but rather that the Suncreek Villa only had one person who had graduated from the Resonance Artificers Hall… Yan Lingqing.
While he chewed on that unappetizing fact, another storm arrived. “Young Lord,” Cai Wei snapped at him. “Just how bottomless is that appet.i.te of yours?”
Li Luo smiled at her weakly. It was very bottomless indeed. So bottomless that if he actually told her the truth, she would probably quit on the spot. So for the sake of her feelings, he wouldn’t tell her.
“Sister Cai Wei, do not worry. All the investment will pay off,” Li Luo a.s.sured her. “Today I will fill the ranks of the Suncreek Villa until we are bursting. And then we will take off to glory and greatness.”
Cai Wei scowled prettily at him. “Do you think I don’t know where we stand?”
She was one of the core managers of House Luolan, and she oversaw most of their businesses, the Suncreek Villa included.
It was precisely this understanding of their position that made her pessimistic about their success here at the Artificers’ Fair. She felt that it wasn’t even a wise decision to partic.i.p.ate at all!
Although the thought of getting the Resonance Artificers Hall graduates was tempting, it was a delectable cake that the Suncreek Villa had no business trying to secure a piece of.
Forcing their way forward would only backfire on them and make them look like fools.
And by the pained expression on Tang Yun’s face accompanied by regular sighs of resignation, Cai Wei wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
Neither of them could see a reason for the Suncreek Villa to partic.i.p.ate in the Artificers’ Fair.
Look at the caliber of the other partic.i.p.ants, for goodness’ sake! If this were a forest, the other villas would be like weathered oaks. They had laid down extensive roots and grown to an impregnable size. The Suncreek Villa was a st.u.r.dy, young tree that had been growing at a rapid rate, but they were unable to compete with the historical majesty of the others.
A small, puny villa going up against the might of these giants.
“Young Lord, how about I take your place later instead? You are still young, and I’m sure you have been busy with cultivation…” Tang Yun offered dubiously.
Although Li Luo showed promising talent in artificing, his youth and lack of experience would put him at a severe disadvantage. He would cause them to lose face.
Tang Yun would rather endure the humiliation on his behalf.
Li Luo did not really know how to handle their pessimism, but he did not bother to explain either. “Don’t worry,” he said, waving off Tang Yun’s offer. “Leave it to me.”
Suddenly, he felt weighed down by the tension emitting from all of them, even Jiang Qing’e.
Tang Yun and the others were clenching their jaws tightly, their anger all too apparent.
Li Luo could guess even before he turned around to spot a group of people walking down a bridge. Everyone else gave way to them.
It was a familiar bunch of faces indeed.
The siblings Duze Honglian and Duze Beixuan. The House Duze contingent followed behind.
The anger of the Suncreek artificers was not directed at the Duze siblings, but instead at the man who was standing by their side.
He was a rather powerful-looking man, clad in a fine set of artificer robes. A friendly-looking smile was currently fixed on his well-chiseled features.
Li Luo immediately guessed it. This had to be the previous president, Hanzhi.
There was only one vile traitor who could get the entire Suncreek Villa riled up, including Jiang Qing’e.
“That dog!” Tang Yun swore from between gritted teeth.
The Bigswamp Villa’s artificers trouped across the bridge. They had spotted the Suncreek artificers and were looking at them with mocking looks that spoke volumes.
Clearly, they were surprised to see the Suncreek Villa on such a big stage.
“I say, Li Luo’s gone mad. He can’t tell good from bad at all. Does he think the Suncreek Villa stands a chance here?” Duze Beixuan sneered.
“Just focus on ourselves,” Duze Honglian said flatly. “No need to care about anything else.”
Her brother was taken aback. Usually, his sister would back him up, but now she did not seem keen on the taunting.
“Sis, House Luolan is our rival. You can’t change your stance just because of what happened in the Umbra Cave,” he argued.
“You’re overthinking it,” Duze Honglian said after a slight pause. “It’s true that they rescued me in the Umbra Cave, but that changes nothing. I just think that taunting serves no purpose… After all, the results will say it all.
“Besides,” she said, turning to stare her brother full in the face, “haven’t you realized that with Li Luo, the more you taunt him, the tougher he gets?”
Duze Beixuan started. “Surely he can’t do that every single time!” Still, he seemed convinced enough to call off the taunting.
The Bigswamp Villa’s contingent walked on past the Suncreek Villa’s.
Hanzhi’s oily smile paused slightly longer on Jiang Qing’e and Li Luo. They knew the poison he was hiding behind that friendly facade all too well.
He did not say anything, nor did he have to. He knew the wretched position that they were in very well, and their inability to challenge him. They did not deserve proper attention.
But just as his eyes flicked away onwards, Li Luo suddenly stepped forward. “President Hanzhi, long time no see.”
The whole Bigswamp Villa group stopped and turned. Duze Honglian frowned.
Hanzhi turned to Li Luo, his smile not faltering one bit. “Young Lord Li Luo, I am now the vice president of the Bigswamp Villa, and no longer the president of the Suncreek Villa. You may add a ‘vice’ before my t.i.tle.”
Li Luo waved it off. “No worries. With your methods, I’m sure you can finish off the president quickly enough and take his place.”
The Bigswamp artificers stiffened, although a few looked at Hanzhi apprehensively.
Hanzhi’s smile subsided by a few millimeters. “Young Lord Li Luo, did you stop me for such a meaningless exchange?”
“Oh no,” Li Luo shook his head. “I wanted to thank you.” His face was the very poise of sincerity.
Hanzhi smiled back coldly. As if.
Li Luo sighed. “My thanks are genuine. If not for a poisonous sleazebag like yourself leaving the Suncreek Villa, how could we have improved so rapidly since?”
A few quiet sn.i.g.g.e.rs.
“Actions speak louder than words, Li Luo.” Duze Honglian cut in. “A clever tongue will win you no graduates.”
She turned and walked away.
The Bigswamp Villa’s people hurried after her.
Hanzhi paused a moment longer. “Young Lord, you are a clever boy. But still only just a boy…
“A stage like the Resonance Artificers Hall’s fair is too big for the Suncreek Villa. It will swallow you. Forcing your way forward will only end in disgrace.
“Because the two House Lords treated me kindly once, let me offer you this piece of advice: take the Suncreek Villa and leave this place. You will lose everything that you have worked so hard to build up.”
He then walked on.