Chapter 1086: Advance Rewards

"Dual Nine-Purity Light Phase!"

The shocking news brought by Lan Lan Lingzi left even Li Luo dumbfounded. He had originally thought that after evolving over this period, his own three phases would be able to surpass Jiang Jiang Qinge's Nine-Purity Light Phase, but who knew that while he was making progress, Jiang Jiang Qinge hadn't been idle either.

And she had taken an even greater leap forward!

Dual Nine-Purity Light Phase — how exceedingly rare!

Is Jiang Jiang Qinge planning to walk the path of Light to its very extreme? She's practically a born bane of Otherlings. After all, Light Phase power possesses sacred, purifying effects, which inherently suppress Otherlings.

And since the Holy Light Ancient Academy focuses on the Light Phase, the sensation Jiang Jiang Qinge's Dual Nine-Purity Light Phase caused there is beyond imagination.

Li Luo was lost in thought for quite a while before he sighed in admiration and said, "Worthy of Sister Jiang Qing — wherever she goes, she shines so brightly."

Although he had been making quite a splash here in Outer Shenzhou, Jiang Jiang Qinge at the Holy Light Ancient Academy was no less impressive.

Still, Li Luo was genuinely happy for her from the bottom of his heart that she had made such progress.

"Vice Principal Lan Lan Lingzi, what did you mean earlier when you said there's no need to send things through the Phase Force Tree?" Li Luo shifted the topic and asked, puzzled.

Lan Lan Lingzi said, "Previously, sending things through the Tianyuan Ancient Academy's Phase Force Tree would have been the most convenient, but now, there's another way..."

She gave Li Luo a smile and said, "You might have the chance to hand the things to her in person."

Li Luo was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed in wild joy, "Jiang Jiang Qinge is coming to the Tianyuan Ancient Academy?"

Lan Lan Lingzi shook her head and said, "To be precise, the Tianyuan Ancient Academy and the Holy Light Ancient Academy will soon carry out a joint operation. The members will be students from the three- and four-star house levels and the Celestial Star House of both Ancient Academies. Since the destination is the same, you'll naturally meet."

"Oh?" Li Luo's expression stirred, and he said, "But I'm not a student of the Tianyuan Ancient Academy."

"No matter. I will issue a Summons Order. All Holy Academies currently within the Tianyuan Ancient Academy also need to send teams to participate in this operation," Lan Lan Lingzi said with a faint smile.

Li Luo's heart skipped a beat. He vaguely sensed that this operation wasn't as simple as it seemed. What kind of operation would not only require the two Ancient Academies to act together, but also require summoning teams from other Holy Academies?!

Mentor Xi Chan, standing to the side, also turned solemn and said, "Vice Principal Lan Lan Lingzi, could you explain this operation a little more clearly?"

Lan Lan Lingzi was silent for a moment, but she didn't hide anything. She proceeded to describe the matter of "Little Chentian" in detail.

Hiss.

After hearing it all, Li Luo immediately drew in a cold breath. What kind of terrifying place was this? Just the King-level experts dispatched by both sides alone would number in the dozens?!

In a place where King-level experts swarm, is it really appropriate to send little ones like them who are below the Marquis Realm?

If an Otherling King suddenly appeared, a single breath could wipe out every elite student from the Ancient Academies and Holy Academies who went there.

Previously, Li Luo had encountered a King-level expert from the Return-to-One Association in the Spirit Phase Cave Heaven, and that alone had left him shaken. This time was even more terrifying — King-level experts in droves!

"Vice Principal Lan Lan Lingzi, such a perilous place is rather too dangerous for them, isn't it? If this Summons Order is sent out, students from other Holy Academies will likely have reservations," Xi Chan said solemnly.

Even Li Luo, this recklessly bold fellow, was so shocked now — one could imagine how terrified students from other Holy Academies would be upon learning this information.

Everyone had originally come to participate in the House-Level Evaluation, and now you suddenly throw in a hell-mode life-or-death scenario. That's right, this truly concerns life and death. The House-Level Evaluation at least had protective mechanisms, but in "Little Chentian," there are none. Otherlings are already bizarre to the extreme; one careless moment and you'd be buried there in countless horrifying ways of death.

As students of Holy Academies, they had all dealt with Otherlings before and naturally understood the terror.

Moreover, stepping back even further, students of Ancient Academies enjoy more resources, so risking their lives at this point would be a matter of course. But Holy Academy students have fewer resources than Ancient Academy students, yet now they must carry out the same mission. This would inevitably cause a psychological gap for some.

Lan Lan Lingzi sighed lightly and said, "There's no choice. Resisting the Otherlings' erosion of the world is our responsibility as the Academy Alliance. This is also the belief promoted when the Academy Alliance was founded. Precisely because of this belief, the Academy Alliance has been able to nurture generation after generation of outstanding talents."

"Do you remember the battle cry every Academy chants when entering the Dark Cave?"

Li Luo was slightly dazed. He remembered the very first time he entered the Dark Cave at the Saint Xuanxing Academy, and those hoarse, heroic roars.

"My heart knows no fear."

"Our kind endure forever."

Li Luo's expression was complicated. He had to admit, the Academy Alliance was quite skilled in this regard. No wonder even other Li Li Tianwang-level powers maintained a measure of respect for the Academy Alliance.

Only those who had personally witnessed the death and despair left in the wake of Otherlings would understand the preciousness of the Academy Alliance.

In this world, those who carry the burden and press forward are, in the end, worthy of admiration.

"Vice Principal Lan Lan Lingzi, you really are impressive. In just a few sentences, you've roused the youngsters into a blood-boiling frenzy," Li Luo sighed.

This Vice Principal Lan Lan Lingzi was truly different from Wu Yu. If it had been Wu Yu, he would have probably just thrown down a rigid command, but Lan Lan Lingzi revealed sincerity through her words, winning heartfelt conviction.

Lan Lan Lingzi smiled and said, "You're too kind."

Her voice paused for a moment, then continued, "However, what you're thinking does have some merit. From a responsibility standpoint, this sudden incident should fall to the Tianyuan Ancient Academy, while the teams from the major Holy Academies are being forcibly dispatched. Logically speaking, it's a bit unfair to you."

"So in two days, I will apply to the Academy to specially open a wave of 'Tree Spirit Tide' for your Holy Academy teams. This kind of Spirit Tide can only be activated once a year during the house-level promotion here at the Ancient Academy, so strictly speaking, each student can only enjoy it four times in their lifetime."

"Under the Spirit Tide, it can cleanse the physical body and temper Phase Force. It's considered a decent opportunity."

Upon hearing this, Li Luo was overjoyed. Who doesn't like free stuff?

Regardless of whether the Spirit Tide's effects were strong or not, any improvement was welcome.

"Then I'll thank Vice Principal Lan Lan Lingzi on behalf of all the major Holy Academies first!" Li Luo said with a happy smile.

Lan Lan Lingzi said, "Besides this, if outstanding merits are achieved during this 'Little Chentian' mission, the Academy will certainly not be stingy with rewards. The complete version of the 'Three-Dragon Heavenly Banner Codex' you previously requested, or even high-grade Phase Force Tree seeds, may not be impossible."

Li Luo's heart immediately warmed at this, and he said earnestly, "Vice Principal Lan Lan Lingzi, I have a rather immature suggestion."

"What are you going to say now?" Lan Lan Lingzi looked at him suspiciously.

Li Luo revealed a gentle smile: "I have a premonition that I will definitely achieve considerable merits in this 'Little Chentian,' so may I apply to receive the 'Three-Dragon Heavenly Banner Codex' in advance? After all, as you know, Little Chentian is fraught with danger. If I can master the 'Three-Dragon Heavenly Banner Codex,' my own strength will improve, allowing me to contribute even more to the Academy."

Lan Lan Lingzi was stunned. You really are a rare flower. Rewards can be advanced? Just because you say you can create considerable merits means you actually can?

Merits aren't won by lip service!

"No! The Academy has its rules. In the Celestial Star House, countless students have set their sights on the 'Three-Dragon Heavenly Banner Codex,' but ultimately failed to obtain it due to insufficient contributions. If you got it so easily, it would be hard to convince the masses," Lan Lan Lingzi shook her head and refused outright.

Seeing this, Li Luo could only heave a disappointed sigh.

At this moment, Mentor Xi Chan suddenly spoke up: "Vice Principal Lan Lan Lingzi, I recall there's a rule in the Academy that Holy Academy students who have achieved outstanding results can receive certain preferential treatment at the Ancient Academy, such as practicing certain Marquis Arts."

"Li Luo once won the title of strongest One-Star House student in the Eastern Region Shenzhou 'Holy Cup Battle,' and also obtained the 'Divine Tree Purple Badge,' so he should meet this condition, right?"

Lan Lan Lingzi was slightly startled, thought for a moment, and said, "There is indeed such a rule, but the 'Three-Dragon Heavenly Banner Codex' is not on that list."

Mentor Xi Chan chuckled lightly and said, "Then if we don't ask for the complete version, just one of its arts?"

Lan Lan Lingzi pondered for a while and said, "Just taking one of its arts? That might be possible."

The Three-Dragon Heavenly Banner Codex is divided into three Marquis Arts in total. Only in its complete form can it reach the Si Si Tianming level, while separated, each can only be considered a top-tier power Tongling-level Marquis Art.

Li Luo was overjoyed to see the situation suddenly take a turn for the better, and in his heart he gave a silent thumbs-up to Mentor Xi Chan's quick-wittedness.

He had already cultivated the Black Dragon Nether Water Banner to Grand Completion. If he could cultivate another one next, with the two arts layered together, although it wouldn't reach Si Si Tianming-grade, it should still be no weaker than some Manifestation God-grade Marquis Arts.

Once the mission in Little Chentian was finished and the merits were in hand, he could then plot for the complete "Three Dragon Heavenly Banner Codex."

"Thank you, Vice Principal!" Li Luo expressed his gratitude. Although it was ultimately Mentor Xi Chan's quick-wittedness that made Vice Principal Lan Lan Lingzi relent, he also understood that this was Lan Lan Lingzi deliberately stepping back; otherwise, if it had been Wu Yu in her place, she could probably have come up with a hundred reasons to turn him down.

Lan Lan Lingzi smiled and said, "I will push this through as soon as possible. On your end, be prepared during these days. Once the conscription order is issued, we may have to set off."

Li Luo nodded, and at the same time a sense of anticipation welled up in his heart.

He hadn't expected that this time, he would actually be able to encounter Jiang Jiang Qinge again.

This truly was... quite a delightful surprise.