Chapter 118: Shen Jinxiao

When Li Luo’s vision cleared, he found himself on a hillside. Looking around, he saw towering trees everywhere, as if he were in a wild, primeval world.

Deep in the forest, the occasional roar of a violent beast rang out, startling the birds into flight.

Li Luo dropped his backpack, took out a pair of blades, tucked them into his belt, and then chose a direction at random, his figure darting away.

He wove through the primeval forest, occasionally encountering other students, but they would disperse as soon as they met, neither side having any intention of speaking.

After rushing for several minutes, Li Luo spotted a target: a beast resembling a tiger or leopard, with sharp fangs and a pitch-black body.

A low-level spirit beast, the Black Tiger Beast.

Spirit beasts are classified by grade; low-level spirit beasts have strength equivalent to the Ten Seals stage, mid-level spirit beasts are around the first level of the Resonance Master stage, and high-level spirit beasts are at the second or third level of the Resonance Master stage.

Beyond this, spirit beasts begin to undergo massive changes, becoming far more spiritual while their power surges accordingly.

Spirit beasts at that level are known as General-grade spirit beasts, comparable in strength to the General stage.

Even higher-level spirit beasts are the legendary Prince-grade; each one possesses terrifying power sufficient to destroy a city.

On this Black Tiger Beast, Li Luo saw a faint silver light; looking closely, it was a silver seal.

"Defeat a low-level spirit beast to obtain a silver seal and choose a Silver-radiance mentor?"

Li Luo’s eyes flickered. By that logic, it was highly likely that a gold seal had to be obtained from a mid-level spirit beast, and since a mid-level spirit beast had the strength of the first level of the Resonance Master stage, it was a perfect match for him right now.

Then, what about a Purple-radiance mentor?

Did one have to defeat a high-level spirit beast? That would be at least the strength of the second level of the Resonance Master stage. Was this forcing those top students to challenge opponents above their rank?

As expected, the requirements for a Purple-radiance mentor are quite harsh.

Li Luo did not attack the Black Tiger Beast; the silver seal was not what he wanted, and there was no need to waste time here, so he moved and darted away once more.

While Li Luo was searching for a target, in the massive hall where the new students had gathered, the dense crowd that had originally filled the plaza had completely vanished.

On the circular stands, crystal light bloomed, reflecting screens of light. Within the screens, figures were darting about—these were the new students who had entered the field.

Yan Lingqing tilted her pretty face to look at the screens and smiled, "I wonder if Li Luo can gain the favor of a Purple-radiance mentor this time?"

Jiang Qing’e smiled slightly and said, "With his ability, he certainly can."

She knew of Li Luo’s dual resonance palace; such a rare talent was not much inferior to her own ninth-grade resonance, so if it came down to his own ability, she wasn't worried that no Purple-radiance mentor would take a liking to Li Luo.

It was just...

A hint of gloom flashed through her golden eyes. She was somewhat worried about that Shen Jinxiao, who happened to be one of the five Purple-radiance mentors for these new students.

She had always been wary and guarded toward the man who had once been her mentor, as he was extremely calculating and kept his true feelings toward her hidden. If not for her ninth-grade Light resonance being extremely sensitive to the good and evil in people's hearts, she feared even she would have found it hard to notice.

This person harbored malice toward her.

That was why she had decisively changed mentors earlier. Fortunately, because she possessed a ninth-grade Light resonance, even the Astral Sage College valued her potential highly, so her application to change mentors was approved.

And now, if this Shen Jinxiao really intended to use underhanded means to obstruct Li Luo, it would likely be difficult to deal with.

Because that guy knew that her weakness was Li Luo.

Clang!

In the dense forest, a fierce battle was erupting.

Li Luo held his dual blades, blue resonance power circulating at high speed within them. As they hummed and vibrated, they transformed into water blades with terrifying cutting power; when the edges sliced through the air, they emitted a faint, strange sound.

At this moment, his dual blades turned into streaks of cold light, continuously enveloping the mid-level spirit beast in front of him.

Ding ding!

The blade light struck the mid-level spirit beast's tough scales, sending sparks flying. The high-speed water blades, supplemented by Light resonance power to increase their flow rate, possessed a lethality that could not be underestimated. Thus, after a moment, the scales on the mid-level spirit beast’s body showed signs of shattering, and blood flowed from between them.

Roar!

After being relentlessly slashed by Li Luo, the mid-level spirit beast became enraged. With crimson beast eyes, it suddenly whipped its heavy, spike-covered tail, which smashed down toward Li Luo with a sharp, wind-breaking sound, fast as lightning.

"Water Light Magic Mirror!"

A water mirror suddenly unfolded in front of Li Luo. With his strength now having broken through to the Resonance Master stage, the Water Light Magic Mirror he manifested became even brighter and more dazzling.

Boom!

The heavy tail slammed into the Water Light Magic Mirror, shattering it instantly, but the rebounding force surged out and struck the mid-level spirit beast’s tail directly.

Awoo!

A painful howl rang out. The mid-level spirit beast’s tail was instantly torn and bloody. It felt fear and intended to flee immediately.

Whoosh!

However, Li Luo did not give it the chance. He flicked his fingers repeatedly, and water light bullets shot out, exploding right before its eyes. The blinding, intense light made the mid-level spirit beast’s wails even more miserable.

It crashed about wildly, snapping nearby giant trees one by one.

But its wild thrashing was to no avail. When it was finally able to open its beast eyes slightly, it saw a streak of blue blade light humming as it slashed down with cunning ruthlessness.

It pierced directly into its brain.

The mid-level spirit beast’s struggles slowly ceased, and it gradually lost its vitality.

Li Luo let out a breath, then removed a golden seal hanging from the spirit beast’s tail. With this item, he could at least choose a Gold-radiance mentor.

The minimum requirement was met; now he could figure out how to gain the favor of a Purple-radiance mentor.

Li Luo walked forward. The dense forest receded, and a clear lake appeared before his eyes. He stepped out of the shade and then gradually came to a halt.

Because he saw a figure by the lakeside, holding a handful of leaves. The leaves were automatically folding into small leaf boats in their hands, then sliding off their palms into the lake, gradually drifting away.

The figure had their back to Li Luo, so their appearance was unclear, but the robe they wore made Li Luo’s heart tremble.

It was an Astral Sage College mentor’s robe, only on this robe, the stars bloomed with a purple radiance, appearing exceptionally mysterious.

A Purple-radiance mentor.

At this time, the strange Purple-radiance mentor finished folding all the leaves in their hand, then turned around, looking at Li Luo with a gentle smile.

"Li Luo, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

"Let me introduce myself. I am one of the five Purple-radiance mentors for this session. My name is... Shen Jinxiao."

(One chapter today.)