Chapter 119: Shen Shen Jinxiao's Methods

On the lake's surface, the waves shimmered.

The Purple-Glow Mentor named Shen Shen Jinxiao stood at the edge of the lake, his reflection mirrored in the water. His expression was unusually gentle, yet when Li Luo looked at him, a chill crept into his heart.

This person... is the Shen Shen Jinxiao that Sister Jiang Qing mentioned?

Li Luo studied him closely. The man's appearance was actually quite handsome, and his Purple-Glow Mentor robe lent him an added air of mystery. Between his brows, golden, arcane patterns wound their way from both temples, finally meeting at the center of his brow as if forming a faint golden Fu Yin.

No phaseforce fluctuation could be seen around him, yet the pressure emanating from him inspired an involuntary awe.

While Li Luo was sizing up Shen Shen Jinxiao, the latter once again revealed a gentle smile. "I once served as Jiang Qing's mentor. I wonder if she ever mentioned me to you?"

Li Luo did not answer, but instead asked, "Mentor Shen, what are you waiting here for me for?"

Although he harbored the deepest wariness toward the man before him, he was not overly afraid. After all, this was the Mentor Selection Tournament, watched by countless eyes. Even if the man was a Purple-Glow Mentor, he could not brazenly do anything to him.

Shen Shen Jinxiao walked forward slowly, stopping in front of Li Luo, and said with a smile, "Li Luo, I admire you greatly, so I intend to take you as my disciple."

He took something from his sleeve and held it out.

Li Luo looked and saw a purple jade talisman, its surface flickering with a mysterious sheen. Clearly, this was the Purple-Glow Mentor's Fu Yin. As long as one obtained this item, one could enter that mentor's tutelage and become a student of a Purple-Glow Mentor.

However, this was precisely what Li Luo had been pursuing in this Mentor Selection Tournament, yet now that it was being handed to him, Li Luo did not want it.

"Li Luo, take this, and you will have achieved your goal," Shen Shen Jinxiao said with a smile.

Li Luo's gaze slowly shifted away from the purple jade Fu Yin. He took a step back and said to Shen Shen Jinxiao, "Mentor Shen, doesn't this seem rather improper?"

"The Purple-Glow Fu Yin is supposed to be earned through a rigorous trial. For you to simply hand it over like this is a bit hard for me to accept."

Shen Shen Jinxiao smiled and said, "I know your potential, so those trials can naturally be skipped."

Li Luo shook his head and said solemnly, "Mentor Shen, things that come too easily are rarely cherished. So I want to go through the hardest trial before making my decision."

"If Mentor Shen has the time, you can wait here for a bit. I'll go run through the trial first, then come find you."

As he spoke, he prepared to retreat.

But the moment his feet moved, he felt the surrounding natural energy surge, as if a layer of confinement had appeared all around, making it impossible for him to take a single step.

Li Luo's expression shifted slightly. "Mentor Shen won't let me leave?"

Shen Shen Jinxiao stared at Li Luo and smiled. "Why are you unwilling to accept my goodwill? If you were any other student, wouldn't you be jumping at the chance by now?"

Li Luo hesitated, then said softly, "Because..."

"I prefer female mentors!" he declared righteously.

Shen Shen Jinxiao smiled faintly and said, "Li Luo, are you truly not going to reconsider? In this Mentor Selection Tournament, there are only five Purple-Glow Mentors. If you refuse me, the other four Purple-Glow Mentors, out of respect for me, may not approach you. After all, you are not Jiang Qing; you do not possess that kind of potential that would make every Purple-Glow Mentor's heart stir."

"So they most likely will not offend me just for a student who can only barely be called outstanding."

Li Luo's brow furrowed slightly. "Mentor Shen, is this a threat?"

Shen Shen Jinxiao said, "You could see it that way."

Li Luo smiled and said, "Then I'm also very curious. Since Mentor Shen thinks I'm only barely outstanding, and there are so many freshmen better than me in this batch, why are you so fixated on me?"

Shen Shen Jinxiao smiled but did not answer Li Luo's question, only saying, "Li Luo, grasp this last chance."

Li Luo said helplessly, "Mentor Shen, you're being a bit too hasty. Although I don't know exactly what you're after, there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world."

Shen Shen Jinxiao stared at Li Luo for a few seconds, then put the Purple-Glow Fu Yin away and sighed, "Li Luo, you've lost your last chance."

"It seems that until you've experienced being cornered with nowhere to go, you won't realize how precious this Purple-Glow Fu Yin of mine is."

Shen Shen Jinxiao extended two fingers, and a crisp snap of his fingers rang out between them.

And the instant that snap faded, centered on this area, within a radius of dozens of miles, every student suddenly heard a voice faintly echo in their ears.

"Purple-Glow Mission: Hunt down Li Luo. Whoever defeats Li Luo may obtain a Purple-Glow Fu Yin."

This voice also sounded in Li Luo's ears.

This instantly caused his expression to darken. The man had finally shown his true colors. When enticement failed, he had resorted to coercion outright.

"You needn't worry whether my actions violate the rules. In the Sacred Mystic Star Academy, a Purple-Glow Mentor's authority is greater than you imagine. As long as I don't endanger your life, I can do anything." Shen Shen Jinxiao said calmly.

Then he extended a finger and gave Li Luo a light tap. A pillar of light suddenly shot up into the sky above Li Luo's head, clearly visible for miles around.

"This pillar of light will last for some time, guiding the other students in this area to find you. Li Luo, didn't you want to earn the favor of other Purple-Glow Mentors? Then I'll give you a chance to perform."

"If you can survive their encirclement, then perhaps other Purple-Glow Mentors will truly take notice of you."

Shen Shen Jinxiao smiled casually. "Then next... begin your performance. I look forward to seeing what you can do."

His figure gradually became energy, finally dissolving into specks of light and vanishing from the spot.

Li Luo stared at the spot where Shen Shen Jinxiao had disappeared, a shadow of gloom passing through his eyes. Shen Shen Jinxiao, is that right? You bastard, I'll remember you.

Then he glanced up at the pillar of light shining above his head. He tried to erase it, but found it utterly futile, so he gave up on such a meaningless act. Something conjured by a Marquis Realm powerhouse was not something a mere Phase Master Realm practitioner like him could dispel.

So he gripped the twin blades at his waist. Without further hesitation, his figure moved and he plunged into the dense forest, where the thick canopy could partially conceal the guiding pillar of light.

Now it remained to be seen how many people within this area would come to hunt him down.

Hopefully there weren't too many tough characters, or this would truly be troublesome.

And as Li Luo plunged into the dense forest and this hunt began, in the freshman Judian, the issuance of the Purple-Glow Mission immediately drew the attention of everyone in the stands.

Especially when they saw the content of that Purple-Glow Mission, for a moment, the expressions of everyone present turned rather strange.