Chapter 108: Something Went Wrong

When Li Luo opened his heavy eyelids again, the familiar ceiling came into view; he took two deep breaths, twisted his neck, and turned his head to look at the bedside.

There, beside the bed, sat Jiang Jiang Qinge.

She leaned against the bedpost, her eyes half-closed as if resting; her exquisitely beautiful and flawless face reflected the light, and her upturned, jade-like nose seemed to curve with pride.

Clearly, she had been here caring for him the whole time, though no one knew how long he had been unconscious.

As his breathing gradually steadied, Jiang Jiang Qinge seemed to sense it, suddenly opening her eyes; her golden pupils fixed on Li Luo, who had also opened his eyes and was looking at her.

Their gazes met for several breaths.

Then Jiang Jiang Qinge offered a faint smile and said, "You're awake?"

Li Luo nodded, then tried to sit up; Jiang Jiang Qinge leaned forward and placed a cushion behind him, her smooth hair brushing past Li Luo's face, tickling his skin and making his heart itch as well.

"Last night you collapsed in the Cultivation Golden House; someone discovered you only when they came to clean," Jiang Jiang Qinge said, her gaze sweeping over Li Luo. "Did something go wrong with your cultivation?"

Li Luo smiled helplessly, then sensed his body; an extreme, dense weakness radiated from every part of him. He vaguely felt that his lifespan had not been reduced, yet for some reason, he always sensed a strange emptiness.

He must have lost something.

Li Luo then focused his mind on the location of his second Image Palace; he saw that the now-empty Image Palace was emitting a verdant green hue, brimming with vigorous vitality.

Within that green, deep-yellow light points were surging; the two complemented each other, making the vitality even more dense.

Li Luo's second Postnatal Image had been successfully refined.

However, this "Wood-Earth Image" was of extremely low quality, actually the worst among First Rank; but this was normal. Li Luo's ability to forge this second Postnatal Image relied entirely on the Little Formless Divine Wheel and the vast experience left by Li Taixuan and Tantai Lan, so simply succeeding in refining it was already fortunate; there was no need to expect a high rank.

Anyway, he could use the Spirit Water Miracle Light without limit; from now on, he would simply upgrade it massively. With the financial resources he could currently mobilize in Great Xia City, he could easily elevate this second Postnatal Image to Fourth Rank or Fifth Rank.

Moreover, what surprised Li Luo most was that within this second Image Palace, there was also a green Image Power Seed.

However, this Image Seed was only the size of a mung bean, several sizes smaller than the Image Seed in the first Image Palace; this was because the Image Power in the second Image Palace was too weak.

But as Li Luo's Image Power strengthened in the future, the Image Power Seed in this second Image Palace would surely develop.

Li Luo looked at the Image Power Seed in this second Image Palace, and the more he looked, the more he loved it.

At this moment, he finally understood why it was said that the advantage of his multiple Image Palaces would only begin to manifest after the second Postnatal Image was placed inside.

The existence of an Image Power Seed accelerates the absorption of energy from heaven and earth; this is the advantage of the Image Master Realm over the Ten-Seal Realm.

And now, Li Luo possesses two Image Seeds; that is to say, in future cultivation, his speed of absorbing energy from heaven and earth will naturally be a head stronger than others.

This is equivalent to doubling the cultivation speed.

Furthermore, the Image Palace is also the place that contains Image Power; it is like a container. The volume of the container determines the upper limit of Image Power within it. Once the upper limit is reached, the growth of Image Power becomes extremely difficult. At that point, one might only begin to attempt a breakthrough. If the breakthrough succeeds, one naturally ascends to a higher level; but if one cannot find the opportunity to break through, one can only stop at this level and begin long-term tempering.

Li Luo has now opened his second Image Palace; that is to say, the upper limit of Image Power he can withstand will far exceed that of people of the same rank.

Of course, the Affinity Rank determines the quality of the Image Power Seed. The higher one's own Affinity Rank, the more supreme the Image Power Seed one condenses will be. Whether in the speed of absorbing energy from heaven and earth or in the upper limit of Image Power one can withstand, it will far surpass those of low-affinity ranks.

For someone like Jiang Jiang Qinge with a Ninth Rank Light Affinity, Li Luo felt that probably only when he evolved both of his Postnatal Images to Seventh Rank would he be able to match her on various levels.

But this already counts as a huge advantage. As time passes and his rank rises, Li Luo's Postnatal Images will gradually reveal potential that will shock the world.

"What are you grinning at?" Jiang Jiang Qinge said, slightly annoyed, because Li Luo's smile at the corner of his mouth had already burst forth uncontrollably.

Li Luo smiled mysteriously, then reached out and took Jiang Jiang Qinge's delicate little hand. Before she could react, a green Image Power slowly rose from his palm.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's golden pupils suddenly tightened; at this moment, even she could not help but have a look of shock appear on her cheeks.

"This is... Wood Image Power?!"

"What's going on? Aren't you Water Affinity?" Jiang Jiang Qinge exclaimed.

Li Luo smiled and said, "Guess."

Jiang Jiang Qinge's eyes flickered; after a moment, she bit her red lips and said, "Did you open a second Image Palace during this breakthrough?"

Li Luo thought for a moment and said, "You could say so."

He did not mention that he still had an empty Image Palace, to avoid shocking Jiang Jiang Qinge too much.

Jiang Jiang Qinge stared blankly at Li Luo, then said, "This is the first time I have seen anyone truly possess a second Image Palace before the Marquis Realm."

"Li Luo, I knew you wouldn't be mediocre. Although you were once Empty Affinity, you possess an even rarer talent. From now on, no one will think you are the so-called 'tiger father, dog son'."

A supremely beautiful smile appeared on her cheeks, causing Li Luo to be slightly dazed.

"Sister Jiang Qinge, you move me too much," Li Luo said.

Jiang Jiang Qinge smiled faintly and said, "Li Luo, moved is moved, but if you keep touching my hand, I'll beat you up, okay?"

Li Luo quickly withdrew the hand holding Jiang Jiang Qinge's little hand and said indignantly, "Can't you give a wounded person some benefits?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge rolled her eyes at this ungrateful fellow; she had been guarding here all night, and what more benefits did he want?

While the two were talking, the door suddenly pushed open, and Li Luo saw Niu Niu Biaobiao's gleaming bald head poke in, holding a steaming bowl of soup in his hand.

"Young Master of the Mansion, you're awake?" Niu Niu Biaobiao said joyfully upon seeing Li Luo awaken.

Li Luo smiled and nodded, saying, "You've worked hard, Uncle Biao."

Niu Niu Biaobiao brought over the great nourishing soup and said, "Young Master of the Mansion, your body is too weak. This time you cultivated until you fainted; I feel you should eat more."

Li Luo looked at the great nourishing soup before him; the steam rose up, and just inhaling a mouthful made him feel a flow of heat moving within his body.

Clearly, this was specially brewed for him by Niu Niu Biaobiao.

"Thank you, Uncle Biao," Li Luo said gratefully, then lifted the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

The scalding nourishing soup entered his body; the heatwave surged, gradually dispelling some of the weakness.

Niu Niu Biaobiao shook his head with a smile, then extended his greasy large hand, grasped Li Luo's wrist, and said, "Uncle Biao will check exactly what the situation is."

Li Luo didn't mind and said, "No major problem."

Niu Niu Biaobiao held Li Luo's hand, not knowing what he was checking, but after a while, both Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge saw the smile that had always been on his face suddenly begin to fade.

For a moment, both of their expressions tightened.

The atmosphere stiffened for a moment; Niu Niu Biaobiao released his palm, looked at Li Luo, and a somewhat low voice sounded in the room.

"Young Master of the Mansion, this is no small problem."