Chapter 0611: Dual Resonance Advancement
It was twenty days after the end of the Holy Grail Meet. With the help of a hefty amount of seventh-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights, in addition to the Violet Resonant Tree Brooch, Li Luo was finally ready to make the push to advance his dual resonances.
In the depths of the skygold room.
Li Luo was sitting cross-legged with his eyes firmly shut. Multicolored wisps of resonant power emanated from his body, reflecting the different attributes of his resonances.
Water resonance, light resonance, wood resonance, earth resonance.
Amidst the melding and intertwining of all these resonant powers, it was obvious that the water and wood resonant powers were of a higher strength and purity.
As the resonant powers continued to radiate from Li Luo, they each had their own observable properties. The water resonant energy flowed and crashed, the light resonant energy dazzled and gleamed, the wood resonant energy sprouted and bloomed, while the earth resonant energy hummed with an arcane weightiness.
This was a sign of resonance advancement.
The process of resonance advancement was not risky in the slightest. After all, being able to reach this stage was a result of a huge acc.u.mulation of effort and resources. Once this stage was reached, actually advancing one's resonance was only a matter of time.
As such, Li Luo sat and cultivated in this position for another hour before the resonant power began to gradually fade from around his body, leaving the room in silence when the last bit of energy disappeared.
Li Luo did not open his eyes, instead focusing inside to observe his resonant palaces. Under his inspection, the resonant power within his resonant palaces had indeed been strengthened significantly. The pool of waterlight resonance had doubled in size, while the sunlight that reflected from the pool shone with more brilliance and intensity than ever. The light seemed to cleanse and purify the water resonant power even further than before.
In the other resonant palace, a patch of umber soil continued to extend outwards while the trunks and branches that had rooted from it pulsed with a vivid, verdant energy. Each leaf on the tree flowed with a lush, emerald force, the leaves a pure manifestation of wood resonant power.
"Upper seventh-grade waterlight resonance.
"Lower seventh-grade woodearth resonance.”
As Li Luo surveyed the improvements within his two resonant palaces, his heart flooded with pure joy. After a year of continuous trials and tribulations, his weak fourth-grade dual resonances had finally become incomparably stronger.
Seventh-grade resonances were considered to be within the realm of high-grade resonances, and the resonant power produced from this level of resonance would be filled with greater sentience. This was a clear step above sixth-grade resonant power, be it in terms of strength or purity.
Li Luo experienced the increased flow of resonant power within his body. The dual resonance advancement had made him stronger by a few levels.
Now he was truly at the Evolving Resonance Tier.
“At this rate of progress, my success rate of breaking through to the Earth Fiend General Stage would be around 80% in three months' time even without the help of any Holy Tree Marrow Crystals." Li Luo was amazed as he had previously estimated at least half a year more of cultivation before being able to reach that point. After the resonance advancement, the time had been cut in half.
This was because his progress was even quicker than he had foreseen.
It was too bad he did not have three months.
Although he felt a little pained at the loss of a Holy Tree Marrow Crystal, it didn't matter as the cost would be worth it to survive the Housemeet and preserve House Luolan.
Li Luo harbored these thoughts in his mind when he ended the cultivation session.
He proceeded to leave the skygold room, but he stopped when he saw a servant waiting for him at the entrance.
In a fl.u.s.tered but respectful tone, the servant addressed Li Luo as soon as he came into view. "Young Lord, the Young Mistress has instructed me to wait here until you've finished cultivating. She bids you to go to the main hall."
Li Luo nodded and his expression changed as he made a beeline towards his destination.
When he arrived at the main hall, he saw Jiang Qing'e sitting at the head seat. She was flanked by Cai Wei and Ancestor Yuan Qing on her left and right respectively.
Yuan Qing hurried to his feet and greeted Li Luo politely.
Jiang Qing'e's gaze swept over Li Luo, but it lingered on his body, her eyes slightly lighting up in an almost imperceptible hint of surprise. She had keenly perceived that the resonant power flowing from Li Luo's body was livelier and stronger than it had been just a day ago.
"It seems like the millions of spirit liquids and purifying lights acquired by Sister Cai Wei within the past two weeks have not gone to waste," Jiang Qing'e quipped.
Cai Wei, who lacked Jiang Qing'e's sharp sense of observation, curiously looked at Li Luo as she asked, "Has the Young Lord advanced his dual resonances?"
"Just a little bit"
Li Luo did not try to hide it, he just nodded with a smile.
"Raising the grade of one's resonance is even harder than advancing one's resonant power. The Young Lord harbors dual resonances yet is able to progress at such a speed. He is truly a heavenly genius." Ancestor Yuan Qing sighed in admiration.
Li Luo grinned but touched no further on the subject, instead asking, "Since Uncle Yuan is here today, does that mean there is a pressing matter?"
Yuan Qing's expression turned solemn as he replied, "We have received reports that five of House Luolan's Pavilion Masters have arrived at Xia City in advance."
Li Luo's eyes narrowed. There were nine Pavilion Masters in House Luolan who oversaw all of the house's businesses with the exception of Xia City. The strength of House Luolan's reputation could mostly be attributed to the Council of Nine, but because of the turmoil that had been occurring within the organization, the loyalty of the Pavilion Masters had been put to the test.
Of the nine, three had pledged their allegiance to Pei Hao, four were loyal to Jiang Qing'e, and the remaining two were neutral parties.
"Which five?" Li Luo asked.
Yuan Qing listed the five names in quick succession.
Of the five Pavilion Masters, three were Pei Hao's lackeys, while the other two happened to be the two neutral parties. As for the remaining four Pavilion Masters who were on Jiang Qing'e and Li Luo's side, three had not yet arrived, while the last, Pavilion Master Lei Zhang, was protecting the headquarters.
"So five Pavilion Masters have arrived at Xia City ahead of time… The three who support Pei Hao can be accounted for, but what motive would Pavilion Masters Lu Qing and Lu Guan have for coming this early?" Li Luo queried.
“Lu Qing and Lu Guan both came to the headquarters to pay their respects earlier, but declined to stay. They have chosen to find their own lodgings outside," Yuan Qing replied.
“Truly a neutral party that abides by the rules, huh?” Cai Wei laughed sarcastically. As an ardent supporter of Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e, she not only loathed those in Pei Hao's faction, but also harbored no goodwill towards those that sat pretty on the fence.
Their neutrality was just an excuse to watch everything go down from the sidelines while reaping the spoils in the aftermath.
“We have also received news that Pei Hao has invited Lu Qing and Lu Guan to a banquet at Spring Lake Restaurant in five days’ time. Perhaps this is a ploy to solicit their support at the housemeet," Yuan Qing continued.
Li Luo smirked coldly. "This little weasel has been hiding in Xia City for so long. He's finally feeling bold enough to show his face? And he even dares to do it at the Spring Lake Villa?"
The Spring Lake Villa was just outside the headquarters of House Luolan, thus Pei Hao's move was a clear provocation.
Yuan Qing's voice deepened as he added, "Also… we have received the invite as well. Pei Hao has invited the Young Lord and the Young Mistress over for a chat too."
"That dog has some gall." Cai Wei sneered.
Li Luo shot Jiang Qing'e a glance and asked, "What do you think, Sister Qing'e? That blind dog has always been a very cautious character. The fact that he dares to act up in this manner might mean that he has somebody backing him."
“Do you mean Ancestor Mo Cheng will be there to protect him?”
Jiang Qing'e's porcelain countenance was unperturbed, her voice clear but cold. "Xia City is the base of my home, House Luolan. If we do not dare to accept the invitation, I'm afraid House Luolan will become the laughing stock of the entire city by tomorrow."
Her gaze was icy and ferocious.
“We will also make the trip to Spring Lake Restaurant in five days.”
“If the opportunity presents itself, I ask Ancestor Yuan Qing to fend off Mo Cheng while I claim Pei Hao's head. If we can pull this off, then it will save us a great deal of trouble at the Housemeet.”
Yuan Qing steeled his resolve and clenched his fists. "Yes!"
Li Luo's eyelids twitched. His first thought was that this plan was a little too brazen. However, it was true that if Pei Hao was removed from the equation, the Housemeet would proceed rather smoothly...
Five days?
Li Luo did some quick estimations. He could attempt to break into the Earth Fiend General Stage before then.