Chapter 133: Gong Shenjun

As the Mentor Selection Tournament concluded, Vice Dean Suxin smiled at the young Emperor, the Princess, and the Regent from the highest viewing platform: "I have troubled the three of you to grace us with your presence for this year's freshman Mentor Selection Tournament."

"The Vice Dean is too polite, especially since I am still a student of the academy myself," the Princess said with a light laugh.

The young Emperor beside her also spoke: "It is stifling to be stuck in the palace all day; the Astral Sage College is much more interesting. Can I come here to cultivate in the future?"

Vice Dean Suxin smiled and said: "The Astral Sage College does not distinguish by status. As long as you have the ability, the gates of the academy will be open to you. Moreover, with your ability, Your Majesty, it should not be difficult to pass the entrance exam for the Astral Sage College."

"It is just that, by then, Your Majesty might have to conceal your identity."

Upon hearing this, a look of anticipation welled up in the young Emperor's eyes.

The Princess gently stroked the young Emperor's head and sighed softly: "But Your Majesty has had a hidden ailment since childhood that requires constant medication to manage. Over these years, we have invited many capable people across the Great Xia, yet it remains difficult to cure."

Vice Dean Suxin pondered slightly and said: "I know a little about Your Majesty's condition. This is a congenital defect that is difficult to repair with ordinary methods. Healing such things is best suited to the Light, Water, or Wood resonances, and it cannot be a single resonance; it requires the true power of a Marquis-level dual resonance."

"However, while it is easy to find a Marquis-level powerhouse who possesses one of the Water, Light, or Wood resonances, it is quite rare to find one who possesses a Water resonance and has awakened a Light or Wood resonance as their second."

"Furthermore, even if one were found, it might not necessarily cure this congenital defect of Your Majesty's. It might even... require a King-level powerhouse who possesses the power of all three resonances to take action."

A look of despondency appeared on the Princess's smooth, jade-like face. A King-level powerhouse... they are extremely rare even within the Great Xia, let alone one who also possesses the Water, Light, and Wood resonances. It was simply impossible to find.

The Regent beside them sighed and said: "There is no need to be overly anxious; we will certainly find one."

The young Emperor also tugged at the Princess's sleeve and said: "Sister, it is fine, I am used to it."

He paused, then suddenly said: "That Li Luo, isn't his second resonance a Wood resonance? In that case, once he reaches the Marquis level and opens another resonance palace, wouldn't there be some possibility?"

As soon as these words were spoken, even Vice Dean Suxin was stunned, then she laughed: "Theoretically, that is so, but Li Luo is currently only at the first stage of the Resonance Master realm. Who knows how long it will take for him to reach the Marquis level? Besides, even if he reaches the Marquis level, the resonance of his resonance palace is random, and there is no guarantee he would develop a Light resonance."

The Princess's gaze flickered as she said: "But this is not necessarily a potential possibility."

The Regent smiled and pondered: "One can only say it is worth paying attention to, but one should not hold too much expectation, lest one be overly disappointed when the time comes."

The Princess nodded upon hearing this; these were rational words.

They conversed for a while longer, then prepared to leave.

The Princess rose gracefully, her gaze lingering for a moment on Li Luo in the Freshman Hall before she led the young Emperor away.

The Regent, Gong Yuan, remained at the end. His presence was like a towering mountain or a deep pool—majestic and heavy, with an air of authority that needed no anger to command respect. He also glanced at Li Luo before departing with the Princess.

The massive crowd in the Freshman Hall was also dispersing. Li Luo had originally intended to find Yu Lang and the others, but the scene was too chaotic, so he temporarily gave up and went to the viewing platform where Jiang Qing’e and Yan Lingqing were.

At this moment, he was undoubtedly a focal point, and wherever he passed, he drew the curious gazes of many.

If the previous attention on Li Luo was due to Jiang Qing’’e, then this Mentor Selection Tournament was the first time he had truly made a name for himself in the Astral Sage College through his own strength.

"Congratulations, Li Luo. You truly stunned everyone this time," Yan Lingqing said, looking at the approaching Li Luo. She adjusted her silver-rimmed glasses, a smile playing on her beautiful, moving face.

"Such high profile was truly not my wish."

Li Luo sighed: "Although I won the match, I fell into the schemes of Duze Beixuan. He forced me to stand out from the crowd at the cost of tarnishing himself. This person's heart is truly ruthless."

"Stop acting," Yan Lingqing rolled her eyes at him.

Jiang Qing’e looked at Li Luo with her bright, golden eyes, a smile in them as she said: "Well done. Becoming Mentor Xichan's student is quite a good result. However, do not be too careless in the future; that person may not necessarily stop."

Li Luo nodded slightly. He knew Jiang Qing’e was referring to Shen Jinxiao. After all, he was a Purple-rank mentor and a Marquis-level powerhouse, possessing an extremely high status even within the Astral Sage College. Being targeted by him was no good thing.

Fortunately, in this Astral Sage College, even Marquis-level powerhouses had to abide by rules and order. So, as long as he remained cautious and always held onto his teacher Xichan's leg, he supposed Shen Jinxiao would not have many ways to act.

While they were talking, Li Luo suddenly sensed a commotion in the hall. He cast his gaze toward the source of the disturbance and saw a group of people surging in.

The group members were young but possessed impressive auras. They wore the Astral Sage College uniform, but on those uniforms were inscribed four stars.

These people were all senior students from the Four-Star Academy.

No wonder they walked with such reckless abandon; every move they made carried a casual air. This casualness was not arrogance, but an attitude born from being overly familiar with this academy.

Compared to them, the freshmen who had just entered the Astral Sage College appeared much more cautious.

At the forefront of this group of Four-Star Academy students was a tall, upright young man. His face was handsome, as if carved by a knife, and his eyes were bright and sharp. He made one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze, yet simultaneously inspired an inexplicable sense of awe.

The most striking thing about this person was his golden hair, dazzling and brilliant.

He walked in the middle of the group of Four-Star Academy students like a sun surrounded by stars. The freshmen who saw him along the way all hurriedly stepped aside, eyeing him with astonishment.

Some senior students, considering themselves familiar with him, greeted him with a smile as they passed. After receiving a response, they could not help but feel a bit smug, and then they would say to the curious and confused freshmen nearby, especially some pretty junior girls: "You don't know who this is, do you?"

Seeing those vibrant junior girls shake their heads, he then said: "This is Gong Shenjun, the son of the current Great Xia Regent, and he is the same age as the Princess."

"At the same time, he is now one of the Seven Star Pillars of our Astral Sage College. Do you know what the Seven Star Pillars are? This is the highest honorary title for students of the Astral Sage College, representing the highest standard of the academy's students."

"And even among the Seven Star Pillars, Gong Shenjun is likely the strongest. In a sense, he might be the strongest student in the Astral Sage College today."

As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately caused a shock among many freshmen. So this was actually the son of the Regent, Gong Yuan. In that sense, he was also a member of the royal family; if they were outside, they would have to address him as "Your Highness."

Of course, outside is outside. For many freshmen, what made them feel most in awe was the phrase "the strongest student of the Astral Sage College."

To be able to obtain this title in the wind-and-cloud-gathering Astral Sage College—how dazzling and eye-catching was that?

A look of yearning appeared in the eyes of some freshmen.

Amidst the many sighs and awe-filled gazes along the way, the group led by Gong Shenjun walked into the Freshman Hall. Then, Li Luo saw them walking straight toward his location.

Seeing this, Li Luo sighed inwardly. He did not know this Gong Shenjun, and the other party coming directly here was clearly not for him.

Therefore, it could only be for his own "Big White Goose."

Beside him, Yan Lingqing leaned in and whispered.

"Li Luo, you guessed right. Your biggest rival has appeared."