Lu Qing’er turned to Li Luo the moment Jing Taixu left. “You’re going to try and activate an anima storm too?”
He had declared that he did not intend to be anyone’s b.i.t.c.h.
“The easiest way to get a big slice of a pie is to bake a pie,” Li Luo said cheerfully. “It’s a whole anima storm out there, people. If we can take it, we’ll be good to go on to Dragonbone Island.”
Bai Doudou nodded. “If we can take it. But…”
“From what we saw from Jing Taixu and the others, it’ll take a Third Changing’s power to succeed.”
Li Luo understood what she had left unsaid. Although Li Luo’s show of strength so far had been beyond reproach, he was still a Second Changing, putting him slightly behind Jing Taixu, Lu Ming, and Sun Dasheng.
Most importantly, even if he could withstand the first wave of energy, did that mean he could climb the entire Stairway to Heaven and successfully ring the anima bell to activate the storm?
If he failed, he would not only become a laughing stock, he would have also given up on the chance of bringing anyone else to Dragonbone Island.
They would have to give up on the anima storm.
“I think there’s no harm trying. It’s a little risky, but the payoff is huge. I think it’s worth it, all in all.”
Lu Qing’er looked glowingly at Li Luo. “I don’t think Li Luo’s any weaker than those three. If they succeeded, why can’t he?”
w.a.n.g Hejiu rolled his eyes at the infatuated girl. “I think we should be a bit more realistic about this,” he grumbled. He was still a little sore because he had a soft spot for Lu Qing’er, but nothing had ever sparked between them.
Lu Qing’er ignored his caution.
“I think it’s worth a try too,” Bai Mengmeng said in a dreamy voice.
“If we’re going to go for it, we better get as much of the storm as we can,” Qin Zhulu rumbled in his deep voice. “Why live like hyenas off the sc.r.a.ps when we are lions?”
“I thought you were a tiger.” Duze Beixuan scoffed.
“Both are kings,” Qin Zhulu said, “and neither would settle for giving away 40 percent of the kill. It would be demeaning to take those terms.”
Duze Beixuan fell silent.
“Well, if you’re willing to give it a try, I’ll support you,” Yi Lisha said. “I guess the first wave of energy is a good indicator. Pa.s.s that, and we got a shot, I say.”
A few others voiced their support.
Li Luo nodded gratefully in appreciation. “I’ll give it a try, then.”
Jing Taixu’s olive branch was not one he’d accept, no matter how sincere the guy might have been.
Whether he wanted to smooth over the situation or whatever, it did not matter to Li Luo. His goal was to become the strongest student in the One Star Hall. They would clash in the end.
With this decision made, Li Luo hesitated no longer, but set off for the last anima storm, landing speedily on the Stairway to Heaven.
The remaining schools watched him, astonished.
“Someone else is going for the stairway!”
“Who’s that reckless?!”
“It’s… the Astral Sage College’s commander, Li Luo.”
“Oh? The one who’s become famous recently? I hear he’s a dual resonance user too!”
“He took on three commanders single-handedly!”
“He’s the fourth hot favorite to win this, I hear.”
“Eh, rumors are always exaggerated. Jing Taixu and the other two didn’t build their reputation overnight. Li Luo might be good, but he can’t be as good.”
“Did you hear he rejected Jing Taixu’s personal invitation to join him? Sounds like an arrogant guy.”
“Well, pride comes before a fall.”
One person among all the spectators was thoughtfully silent.
Sun Dasheng leaned on his golden staff and watched carefully. Li Luo had left a deep impression on him. There were not many Second Changing cultivators who could take two strikes from him.
He wanted to fight Li Luo for real, but had been busy hunting down anima c.u.mulonimbuses in the last week.
“I wonder if that guy’s stronger than the ice queen, Lu Ming?” he wondered idly to himself.
On another island, Lu Ming was watching Li Luo closely as well.
“Sister Lu, is that the dual resonance user that’s become famous recently? He’s quite handsome,” a female student said.
Lu Ming nodded. “From the resonant powers he’s using, he must be a water and wood resonance user. And from that purity, at best a seventh and sixth-grade.”
Both of her resonances were seventh-grade.
Grade-wise, she had the advantage.
“Can he succeed?”
Lu Ming had already turned away, unaffected by his good looks. “It depends on how good his dual resonance cultivation is. But he’s still a Second Changing, so he’ll have a harder time.
“What does it matter that he can withstand the first wave of energy? Getting to the top is no easy matter. This is just an appetizer.”
The other girl nodded in agreement.
Jing Taixu had already returned to his island and continued picking teams. He watched Li Luo rise into the air with an unconcerned expression. This young lord of House Luolan was indeed special.
Their intelligence had clearly been lacking.
But that had nothing to do with the goodwill that he had offered.
After all, dual resonance users were rare, but not to him. And he had a quasi ninth-grade himself. Quality over quant.i.ty.
He did not even fear Lu Ming, let alone an inferior, Second Changing-version of her.
His true intentions for offering Li Luo friends.h.i.+p had been called out by the loudmouth from the Astral Sage College.
His target was Jiang Qing’e.
A girl that roused his interest.
She had almost become his marriage partner. That thought appealed to him.
More importantly, only a ninth-grade could pair with a ninth-grade, right?
Jiang Qing’e was slated to become the strongest Three Star Hall student. Sure, their school had planned something for her, but privately, Jing Taixu doubted it was going to work… So he’d better take the strongest One Star Hall t.i.tle himself.
That would just help make his point that the two of them were a couple destined to be together. He was brought back to reality from his dream when Li Luo landed on the stairway.