Chapter 0726: Choice
"Dean Ling, what you're saying is... Do you mean only Sister Qing'e can enter the Hallowed Coruscation Ancient College?"
Li Luo's eyes were wide like saucers and he had a slightly ugly expression on his face. This result was out of his expectations, and he then hurriedly shook his head. "No, no, no. Dean Ling, I can't let Qing'e go alone! I won't be at ease! Could it be that the only way to enter the college is through a recommendation? Although the inner divine continents are full of outstanding individuals, I believe my talents don't fare too badly compared to them. I might not be peerless, but don't you think I'm qualified to join an ancient college at least?"
Li Luo had an expression full of reluctance. He was a Violet Resonant Tree Brooch holder too, and even if the Holy Grail Meet was a little lacking in the college's eyes, it wasn't something to be disregarded, right?
He was also a triple resonance user. From the perspective of talent and rarity, it shouldn't be at all inferior to a ninth-grade resonance, right?
Could it be that the standards were so strict that even a triple resonance user was not good enough?
"Vice Princ.i.p.al Su Xin has told me about your triple resonances. You truly have heaven-defying talent, and frankly speaking, if you were placed amongst the ranks of the ancient college, you would definitely be an unparalleled genius. If you were to apply during the usual admission season, you would definitely be accepted."
Ling Zhaoying then gave a helpless smile. "However, you're now trying to join the college in the middle of the year. Thus, a nomination is required, and this is a rule of the college. I can't change that."
Li Luo froze upon hearing this, feeling a little depressed. Come on! He had triple resonances! Wasn't this worth making an exception for?!
However, from another point of view, the Hallowed Coruscation Ancient College was one of the founders of the Academic Federation. They had a foundation deeper than anyone could imagine, and who knew how many talented individuals had pa.s.sed through their halls. Even though a triple resonance user was rarely seen, it might not be enough to change their minds. They were an ancient superpower and were particular about the rules that allowed them to maintain their power to this day. He did not possess the power to ask them to make an exception, at least not now.
"If I can't join the Hallowed Coruscation Ancient College, then so be it. I'll just spend my time outside the college earning money for my fiancee!" Li Luo retorted.
Ling Zhaoying didn't know whether to laugh or cry, while Li Rouyun quickly shook her head. "No, you can't! How can you delay your own cultivation? You're still young, you should take advantage of the time you have. You cannot waste your potential!"
Even Jiang Qing'e seriously advised him, "Li Luo, the situation with your body cannot be disregarded. If you really end up going to the Hallowed Coruscation Ancient College and cannot enter it to cultivate, you'll be wasting precious time. If this is the case, I have no need to go there either."
"Well, that's great to hear. I don't want to be separated from you. Why don't we head back to the Heavenly Origin Divine Continent together, then? It's also one of the inner divine continents, and there might be another solution for your Heart of Light..." Li Luo continued before falling into silence momentarily. Qing'e only had three months left. This was tight enough to make someone feel that it was hard to breathe. There was no guarantee that a solution could be found there, and he didn't even know where to start looking. The price of failure was something he was unwilling to bear.
He gazed deeply into Jiang Qing'e's eyes. Time was fleeting.
"Li Luo, the Heavenly Origin Divine Continent might be an inner divine continent, but you don't have time to waste. You have to consider that Jiang Qing'e's life is at stake. You have to make a choice." Ling Zhaoying's gaze turned heavy.
"I know that the two of you are inseparable, but you have to distinguish between what's important. Would you choose a temporary separation or one that could be permanent?"
Vice Princ.i.p.al Su Xin similarly cautioned, "Li Luo, the Hallowed Coruscation Ancient College is one of humanity's cultivation holy grounds. You can rest a.s.sured that if Qing'e goes there, she will not only resolve her situation but also borrow their resources to grow even more quickly. With her talent, she might reach the Duke Stage in just two years."
The rest did not say more, only looking towards Li Luo and awaiting his final decision.
His expression remained complicated before he finally sighed dejectedly. "Dean Ling, if Sister Qing'e enters the college, will she truly have a chance to remedy the burning Heart of Light?"
Dean Ling nodded. "The most mysterious aspect of the Radiance Pool is that it can extinguish the flames igniting the Heart of Light. Additionally, the quenching of the flames will be extremely gentle, and there has also been precedence for this. The number of ninth-grade Heart of Light cultivators who have sacrificially ignited their Heart of Light might be small, but this is not the first time it has ever happened. However, I also have to caution that it can only put out the flames and resolve the immediate danger to her life. Since her Heart of Light has burned for so long, her body has definitely been injured. If she wants to recover and get rid of this sequelae, she will require further treatment. And most importantly, she will require King-grade light resonance treasures to allow her to become whole once again."
"King-grade light resonance treasures?" Li Luo frowned. Such natural treasures were rare and hard to find. Such exquisite treasures might only appear once every couple of decades in the Xia Kingdom. They were of great benefit to Dukes, and even experts of that stage would covet it.
Li Rouyun hurriedly chimed in at this point. "Our clan has a Nine Marks Sacred Heart Lotus in the treasure pavilion. This is something the ancestor brought back many years ago, and it would satisfy the requirements Dean Ling has mentioned.
"I think you two can split up and get to work independently. Qing'e can return to the college to extinguish the flames afflicting the burning Heart of Light whilst you return to the clan and find a way to obtain the treasure. That way, you can resolve the acc.u.mulated damage and prevent longer term injury. Isn't that a good idea?"
She was clearly more concerned that the stubborn Li Luo would be unwilling to leave and loiter around outside the college. At that point, she would not be able to accomplish her a.s.signment and thus she racked her brains for a reason to have Li Luo leave with her.
Hearing these words caused Li Luo to be slightly moved before he suspiciously asked, "Aunt Yun, you aren't trying to pull a fast one on me, are you?"
She smiled. "You can relax, I am speaking the truth. If our treasure pavilion truly doesn't have this treasure, you can give me an earful and I won't retort."
Li Luo bitterly smiled and sighed. Since she was willing to go to such lengths, what else could he say?
"When I obtain the Nine Marks Sacred Heart Lotus, can I directly send it to the Hallowed Coruscation Ancient College? Will it reduce the amount of time Sister Qing'e needs to recover?" he asked.
"That won't be any trouble. The Heavenly Origin Divine Continent also possesses an ancient college that holds a Tree of Resonant Power. The tree has a special connection with all the other trees in the Academic Federation's ancient colleges, and you can borrow it to send the treasure over. There will be someone who will then deliver it to Qing'e," Dean Ling explained.
This response kept Li Luo silent.
"Have you made your decision? We can't delay any longer," Ling Zhaoying asked.
Vice Princ.i.p.al Su Xin waved her hand, indicating that she did not have to speak any further, and led Zhaoying out of the tent. The rest took it as a cue to leave as well, giving the two of them some personal s.p.a.ce.
Li Luo then flashed Jiang Qing'e a bitter smile. "What do you think, Sister Qing'e?"
She lightly smiled. "I would obviously prefer to stay with you. The Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li might be your father's clan, but it's simply too huge and there are too many interests. I'm afraid you will be drawn into countless disputes, and if I don't watch over you, you might get bullied."
"Are you still treating me as a child? Hmph!" Li Luo fumed and grasped Qing'e's slender, jade hands.
Jiang Qing'e continued to watch Li Luo's handsome face, her golden eyes full of immense yearning as she took a step forward and hugged him.
"Li Luo, if anyone ever bullies you in the clan, you have to tell me. I will make sure they get their retribution," Jiang Qing'e declared as she leaned against Li Luo's shoulder affectionately, seemingly cute and helpless-looking but casually uttering domineering words.
Li Luo didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. "Did we get it backwards?"
Wasn't he supposed to be the one protecting her and telling her those very same words? How had their roles reversed?
However, it was clear from Jiang Qing'e's words that she had made her choice.
Thus, he stretched out his hand and tightly hugged her slim waist, burying his face into her head of long hair as he breathed deeply.
It was as though he was trying to etch the familiar fragrance into his heart forever and ever.
Jiang Qing'e laughed. "Li Luo, do you want to make a bet with me?"
"What?"
Li Luo raised his head as he looked at Qing'e, whose eyes seemed to be watching him with a look of amus.e.m.e.nt.
"Let's bet on who will reach the Duke Stage first." Her red lips curled up.
Li Luo grumbled. "That's not very fair, you have such a lead over me... I have no chance of winning."
Jiang Qing'e's white skin seemed to s.h.i.+ne at this point as she lightly bit her lip. A rare gleam seemed to flash through her eyes as she whispered into Li Luo's ear.
"It might not be fair, but the prize will be more than tempting. Are you sure you don't want to give it a try?"
A subtle and hot stream of air wafted by Li Luo's ear, letting him realize the deeper meaning of her simple words. He couldn't help but to gulp down two mouths of saliva as he stared fixedly at Qing'e, whose earlobes had turned scarlet. His breathing turned labored and ruddy. No matter how bad the odds were, this was something he could not reject, even if he were even more calm and collected right now.
"I'll do it!" he declared.