Chapter 1154: Who?

The crowd that had rushed over from outside the great hall was finally roused by the two who had been lost in the moment; Jiang Jiang Qinge's hand gripping Li Luo's collar tightened and shoved him back in one motion.

Then she shot a slightly embarrassed, annoyed glare at Li Luo, whose face was still in a dazed, enraptured expression, and with her formidable composure, swiftly tidied away the flush that had spread across her cheeks.

Her full chest rose and fell gently, and by the time she turned around, her expression had already completely settled.

The speed of that transformation was so fast it nearly made everyone suspect they had been seeing things earlier.

"Fake, it was fake after all." Wei Chonglou muttered.

He was the one most willing for everything he had seen earlier to be an illusion.

However, his murmur was ruthlessly shattered the next instant by Yin Yue Zhiyu, who looked at Jiang Jiang Qinge with a mocking air and said: "Who would have thought that even our Holy Light Ancient Academy's Holy Light Goddess would have a day where she was so smitten."

Jiang Jiang Qinge swept a glance at her and said coolly: "We share the name of husband and wife; if he isn't smitten with me, should he be smitten with you instead?"

Li Luo stood up at this moment as well, and upon hearing this hurriedly said: "Sister Jiang Qinge, don't misunderstand me. With a phoenix at home, why would I dabble with some roadside wild bird."

Yin Yue Zhiyu was so angry her face turned green, and she cursed: "Who are you calling a wild bird?!"

She was nearly driven to rage by the back-and-forth between Jiang Jiang Qinge and Li Luo.

It's just that she simply couldn't resist provoking Jiang Jiang Qinge—truly all bark and no bite.

Feng Lingyuan, Duanmu, Li Hongyou and the others walked into the great hall. The former's gaze lingered on Jiang Jiang Qinge the whole time, and now she stepped forward, extended a hand, and said amicably: "I'm Feng Lingyuan. I've long heard of Junior Jiang's reputation. Seeing you today, you truly live up to being the Holy Light Ancient Academy's peerless pearl."

Jiang Jiang Qinge also extended her hand, gave Feng Lingyuan a brief shake, and said: "Along this journey, I should really thank Senior Feng for taking care of Li Luo."

Feng Lingyuan laughed: "Not at all. If not for Li Luo on this journey, we would have paid an even heavier price. Choosing him as a teammate back then was truly the most correct decision."

Jiang Jiang Qinge's expression grew even softer. Feng Lingyuan praising Li Luo like this was far more pleasing to her than praising herself.

Li Luo also walked over and specially introduced Li Hongyou to Jiang Jiang Qinge.

"Sister Jiang Qinge, this is Senior Hongyou. She's very close to me, and she'll be coming with me to the Dragon Fang Branch in the future."

At the same time he quietly transmitted a supplementary message: "In terms of bloodline, she can also be considered my cousin. She bears the 'Scarlet Heart Vermilion Fruit Physique', and her supportive effects are extremely powerful."

Jiang Jiang Qinge nodded slightly and gave Li Hongyou a warm smile as well.

Li Hongyou returned the nod, a hint of amazement in her eyes. What amazed her was not only Jiang Jiang Qinge's appearance and bearing, but also the dual nine-grade Light Physique she had displayed earlier.

That scene was truly heart-stirring.

"Didn't Li Luo return from the Outer Shenzhou? How could he have such an unparalleled fiancée?" Li Hongyou exclaimed inwardly. A dual nine-grade Light Physique below the Marquis rank—even among many Li Li Tianwang-level powers, this was extremely rare.

After Li Luo had introduced Jiang Jiang Qinge around, his gaze suddenly fell on Wei Chonglou, who had been staring at him with a dark look the whole time. He immediately felt a bit annoyed and said: "Wei Chonglou, although we're not from the same academy, you sold me out a bit too readily earlier, didn't you?"

Earlier, when the green-black giant serpent attacked, Wei Chonglou had done nothing to block it at all and had simply retreated, selling him out.

Fortunately, that green-black giant serpent was Li Li Lingjing in disguise. If it had been some other powerful enemy, he would likely have already been captured by now, fallen into an unfavorable situation.

After doing something like that, he still dares to look at me with those eyes. Does he really think I'm still the same me I was half an hour ago?

With the arrival of his strongest backer, Li Luo now feared nothing.

Wei Chonglou said coldly: "I couldn't block that green-black giant serpent, so why should I have risked my life to stop it? Should I have fought to the death for you?"

Li Luo smiled: "Whether you couldn't block it or didn't want to—you probably know that in your own heart."

The others wore varied expressions. Whether Wei Chonglou couldn't block it or didn't want to, his retreating without fighting was seen by everyone. And now that everyone was essentially companions, Wei Chonglou's actions inevitably invited some grumbling in their hearts. After all, no one wished for their companions to abandon them in their own time of peril just to save themselves.

Feeling everyone's gazes, Wei Chonglou's eyes grew even darker and more furious.

Especially since Jiang Jiang Qinge was now also casting a slightly furrowed glance his way. Her mind was sharp, and she naturally guessed at once why Wei Chonglou would be targeting Li Luo.

It was simply because of that "all are but weeds" remark she had made within the academy back then.

Originally, Jiang Jiang Qinge had thought Li Luo was far away on another Shenzhou and could not possibly have any intersection with the Holy Light Ancient Academy. So even if the academy's students harbored jealousy or other such thoughts, they could not cause Li Luo any trouble. That was why she had spoken those words to cut off those endlessly annoying flies.

But who could have expected that Li Luo would also participate in this conscription mission.

And so, the words she had spoken earlier naturally caused someone like Wei Chonglou to bear a grudge against Li Luo.

On Jiang Jiang Qinge's graceful form, Light phase force gradually began to flow, then brightened, and a startling pressure slowly rose.

Her gaze fixed on Wei Chonglou also truly sharpened.

Since the problem was one she had created back then, she naturally intended to resolve it.

The method of resolution was also very simple: beat Wei Chonglou until he was half-dead and gravely wounded. With that as a warning, naturally no one would dare use this to trouble Li Luo again.

Jiang Jiang Qinge always acted so cleanly and decisively.

Wei Chonglou saw this and his face immediately turned exceptionally ugly. Although they had been blocked by the poisonous fog earlier, they had still felt just how terrifying the might of that sword Jiang Jiang Qinge had unleashed was. Clearly, during this long period of not making a move, Jiang Jiang Qinge's strength had advanced to a frightening degree.

Within the entire Holy Light Ancient Academy, probably only Ning Ning could match her in a fight; he had already been completely surpassed.

If Jiang Jiang Qinge truly struck in anger now, he was afraid he would be in an extremely sorry state.

Under Jiang Jiang Qinge's sharp gaze, Wei Chonglou couldn't help but retreat two steps.

Seeing this, the others hesitated slightly, then hurriedly offered kind words of persuasion. After all, now was not the time for infighting; those Evil Obsidian Sect and Ghost-Slaying Sect were the greatest enemies.

Li Luo also grasped Jiang Jiang Qinge's wrist, smiled at her and shook his head. He knew that because her earlier words had brought him some trouble, she wanted to cut those troubles away, but there was really no need. How could the feelings and relationship between the two of them be affected by something so trivial?

Jiang Jiang Qinge saw this, fell silent for a moment, and the phase force surging around her body gradually subsided. Only her gaze never once cast even half a glance in Wei Chonglou's direction again.

At this moment, on the dome of the great hall, numerous figures could be seen sweeping down, and Wu Changkong's figure landed within everyone's line of sight.

Wu Changkong wore a warm smile. He nodded to everyone in greeting, then looked at Jiang Jiang Qinge and laughed: "Junior Jiang, your strike earlier truly startled me. I had originally intended to rush over to help, but the moment you struck, you slew that Blood Coffin person. A dual nine-grade Light Physique is truly domineering."

Then he turned to Li Luo and asked amiably: "Is Junior Li Luo alright? When Junior Jiang heard you were in trouble earlier, she rushed over desperately."

Seeing Wu Changkong's approachable manner, if Li Luo hadn't had some past friction with him, he might really have developed some goodwill toward him.

But as things stood now, he could only see some hypocrisy.

Still, it had to be said that Wu Changkong was harder to deal with than Wei Chonglou.

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge both responded with calm expressions, not becoming even half a degree more friendly because of Wu Changkong's attitude.

Wu Changkong didn't seem to mind, and said to everyone: "Now that we've gathered together, let's move as one from here on out, heading to that 'Heavenly Ghost Altar' to stop the True Demon Egg from fusing. How about it?"

To this, everyone readily agreed.

After that, the group no longer lingered. After a brief regrouping, they shot off swiftly.

Li Luo, however, savoring the taste, extended his palm toward Jiang Jiang Qinge, inviting her to travel together. The latter glanced at the backs of the group ahead, then suddenly smiled and asked offhandedly.

"You still haven't told me who that woman was who helped you absorb the baleful Qi earlier — who exactly is she?"