Chapter 1090: Feng Lingyuan

Li Luo had originally not wanted to go looking for students from the Celestial Star Academy to form a team, but Jiang Jiang Wanyu was stubborn by nature, insisting that since a promise had been made, it naturally had to see a result. So he could only helplessly lead a group with rather low morale, following Jiang Jiang Wanyu and Senior Zong Sha to find that so-called Second Seat of the Upper Academy.

Under Jiang Jiang Wanyu's lead, they headed straight to a small building that looked somewhat secluded and deep. The building's main door was wide open, and Jiang Jiang Wanyu walked right in.

The group wound along a winding gravel path through quiet scenery, and the view before them suddenly opened up. They saw a rockery appear in their line of sight, and beneath the rockery was a pool of dark water emanating a chill. At this moment, inside the stone pavilion outside the dark pool, a human figure was staring at them.

Li Luo cast his gaze over and saw that it was a woman dressed in a black top and black trousers. Her figure was slender and graceful, but her skin looked somewhat pale. On her cheek, she wore a dark red mask, with mysterious patterns engraved upon it, faintly flowing with light, and it also covered the area of her eyes and forehead.

At the same time, Li Luo also sensed a powerful pressure from the woman before him, a pressure far more formidable than those Upper Academy students of the Celestial Star Academy he had seen before.

Clearly, the woman before him should be that Second Seat of the Upper Academy, Feng Lingyuan.

"Jiang Wanyu, what have you come to find me for?" Feng Lingyuan watched the group pour into the place, her gaze very cold, as she opened her mouth to ask.

Jiang Jiang Wanyu, however, paid no heed to her attitude — she had long grown accustomed to such coldness — and stepped forward with a smile: "Senior Sister Lingyuan, for this conscription mission, have you finished forming your team?"

Feng Lingyuan did not answer directly, but glanced at Li Luo behind Jiang Jiang Wanyu and said flatly: "You've come to find a team for this Li Luo, haven't you? You've suffered enough setbacks along the way and still haven't had enough?"

It seemed she actually knew of Jiang Jiang Wanyu's previous encounters, clearly she had quite a few informants within the academy as well.

Jiang Jiang Wanyu wasn't surprised either, and said: "It seems that Chief Wu Changkong has been targeting him a bit, so I simply brought him straight to you. After all, in the entire Celestial Star Academy, only Senior Sister Lingyuan wouldn't care about Wu Changkong's warning."

Faced with Jiang Jiang Wanyu's flattery, the eyes beneath the mask of this Second Seat of the Upper Academy named Feng Lingyuan still showed no ripple, looking as deep and bottomless as the dark pool beside them. She said coldly: "I indeed don't care about Wu Changkong's warning, but why should I make an enemy of him for some unrelated person? He's not easy to provoke."

"Senior Sister Lingyuan, although Li Luo is only a Three-Star Academy rank by academy grading, his strength probably won't be weaker than some people in the Lower Academy of the Celestial Star Academy. You've surely heard about the academy-grade review matter — his potential and methods are both very strong. I witnessed it myself in the Spirit Phase Cave Heaven, so he is absolutely a qualified companion." Jiang Jiang Wanyu recommended him with all her might.

Jiang Jiang Wanyu was quite familiar with Feng Lingyuan, having executed missions together before, so Jiang Jiang Wanyu knew very well that Feng Lingyuan belonged to the type who was rather reclusive, and at the same time calculated her own interests. She wouldn't seize others' interests, but she also wouldn't allow anyone to affect her own interests in the slightest. To put it plainly, she was a bit penny-pinching.

Feng Lingyuan stared at Jiang Jiang Wanyu and said: "In this conscription mission, I need to obtain three 'Class-A Merits' to exchange for that Marquis-class art I have my eye on. I've already been in the Celestial Star Academy for several years now, and this mission may well be my last."

Jiang Jiang Wanyu inwardly clicked her tongue. The mission system of their Tianyuan Ancient Academy was divided into four grades: "A, B, C, D," and Feng Lingyuan's three "Class-A Merits" meant completing three of the hardest missions. And this conscription mission was extraordinary in itself, so the "Class-A Merits" within it would surely be even harder.

"If Senior Sister Lingyuan has this plan, I think you should choose Li Luo even more. When the time comes, there will surely be a pleasant surprise." Jiang Jiang Wanyu said after some deliberation.

"The outstanding figure of this generation of Li Li Tianwang's bloodline — I naturally know his methods and foundation won't be weak." Feng Lingyuan's gaze finally turned to the silent Li Luo as she spoke.

But in the end she still shook her head: "However... he has too many deadweights tagging along. If he can shake off these tails, then I wouldn't mind considering it."

Hearing Feng Lingyuan's words, Lu Ming, Jing Jing Taixu, and Sun Sun Dasheng all felt somewhat stifled with anger. Especially Jing Jing Taixu, who was always proud — his expression was even uglier. It seemed this trip to the Tianyuan Ancient Academy had dealt him quite a few blows.

But in the end, Lu Ming let out a soft sigh. Actually, what Feng Lingyuan said wasn't wrong — compared to Li Luo, the three of them were indeed a bit too useless.

"Li Luo..." Lu Ming said in a low voice.

But before she could finish, Li Luo had already waved his hand, and at the same time smiled at Feng Lingyuan: "Thank you for your regard, Senior Sister. I actually don't have much ambition for this conscription mission either, so I think let's just forget it."

If he hadn't agreed to team up with Lu Ming and the others before, it would have been easy to say, but since it was already settled, he naturally had no intention of suddenly abandoning them.

Regarding Li Luo's choice, Feng Lingyuan's gaze still showed no ripple, she merely nodded casually.

Seeing the situation, Jiang Jiang Wanyu still wanted to say something, but in the end could only helplessly sigh, because this seemed unsolvable. Li Luo didn't want to abandon his friends, so Feng Lingyuan certainly wouldn't be willing to take them along either.

But she also understood that this was actually a kind of polite refusal from Feng Lingyuan, because in this conscription mission, apart from doing odd jobs, the only useful role these Three-Star Academy students could play was probably serving as energy packs.

"Jiang Wanyu, sorry for the trouble this time." Li Luo showed a gentle smile at Jiang Jiang Wanyu, saying somewhat apologetically.

Although along the way they had received plenty of cold looks, Jiang Jiang Wanyu had performed her duties conscientiously, which caused Li Luo's goodwill toward her to skyrocket.

Jiang Jiang Wanyu shook her head. She had also harbored the intention of befriending Li Luo, but hadn't expected this to be the outcome.

Beside them, Lu Ming looked somewhat dejected and said dejectedly: "Li Luo, I'm really sorry. We've dragged you down. If we'd known it would be like this, we would have just found any random team to muddle through with."

Jing Jing Taixu's mouth moved, and he said: "How about you just go pair up on your own, Li Luo."

Li Luo smiled and shook his head, repeating the same words — he was going to find Jiang Jiang Qinge, and when the time came, if they really had to compete for merits, they'd have to find her first.

It was Lu Lu Jinci beside them who sighed and said: "If only Jiang Jiang Qinge were here. With you and her joining forces, we wouldn't need anyone else."

The impression Jiang Jiang Qinge had left on Lu Lu Jinci during the Holy Grail War back then was simply too deep.

Li Luo smiled, but didn't mention that his main purpose in the conscription mission was to find Jiang Jiang Qinge.

"Let's go." Li Luo said to the group.

"Wait."

However, just at this moment, Feng Lingyuan suddenly spoke, and the group couldn't help but cast puzzled glances at her upon hearing this.

Feng Lingyuan's gaze turned to Lu Lu Jinci and said: "What you just said was... Jiang Jiang Qinge?"

Lu Lu Jinci nodded blankly.

"The Jiang Jiang Qinge from the Holy Light Ancient Academy?" Feng Lingyuan asked.

This time Lu Lu Jinci didn't know how to answer, because the Jiang Jiang Qinge he knew was from the Saint Mystic Star Academy.

"Does Senior Feng know her?" Li Luo also asked somewhat strangely.

"The newly risen Unparalleled Prodigy of the Holy Light Ancient Academy, bearing dual Nine-Grade Light Phases, who in just one year charged all the way into the top ten seats of the Celestial Star Academy's Upper Academy. This speed broke the record of the Holy Light Ancient Academy. And four months ago, after entering the top ten seats, she never made another move. Everyone suspects she now has the qualification to contend for the top three seats." Feng Lingyuan's eyes, which had shown no ripples until now, finally showed some fluctuation at this moment.

"And this Unparalleled Prodigy is called Jiang Jiang Qinge."

Lu Lu Jinci and the others were full of shock, then swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said: "The Jiang Jiang Qinge we know only has a single Nine-Grade Light Phase. Maybe it's just the same name..."

"After we parted back then, she indeed went to the Holy Light Ancient Academy." Li Luo smiled at them and said: "The person Senior Feng mentioned should be her."

Lu Lu Jinci's head was spinning. The Jiang Jiang Qinge of those days was certainly powerful and dazzling, but at least gave people a feeling of being able to chase after. But this dual Nine-Grade Light Phase one was simply awe-inspiring.

"What is your relationship with Jiang Jiang Qinge?" Feng Lingyuan stared at Li Luo and continued to ask, somewhat surprised.

Li Luo thought for a moment, didn't hide anything, and said directly: "She is my fiancée."

The kind whose engagement was broken off.

And as his words fell, the eyes beneath the mask of Feng Lingyuan, who had always been rather cold, finally widened abruptly, and she stared at Li Luo with an incredulous gaze.

"Fiancée?!"