Chapter 1441: Holy Que'er

"Huh?"

Faced with the sudden, fierce words from this woman from the Holy Light Ancient Academy, even with Li Luo's quick wits, he was stunned for several breaths, unable to process it for a moment.

Which one is your wife?

And aren't you a woman!

While Li Luo's brain was frozen, Jiang Jiang Qinge's exquisite, fair cheeks showed a hint of helplessness as she said, "Mentor Que'er, stop teasing Li Luo."

"Hah, quite the husband-protector, seems like true love." Upon hearing this, Holy Que'er immediately pouted and retracted the golden spear in her hand.

Jiang Jiang Qinge then looked at Li Luo and introduced, "When I was cultivating at the Holy Light Ancient Academy, Mentor Que'er once guided me. Our relationship is quite good."

"She likes to joke around, please don't take it to heart."

"Jiang Qinge, is our relationship only 'quite good'?" Holy Que'er immediately put on a hurt expression upon hearing this.

"Mentor Que'er, you're not young anymore, don't be so childish, will you?" At that moment, a lazy voice came from behind Holy Que'er, and then Ning Meng walked up holding a bamboo tube cup, a straw between her small lips.

Holy Que'er glared at Ning Meng angrily and said, "Who's not young anymore? Do you know how to talk? Looking to die?"

Ning Meng ignored her, her gaze sizing up Li Luo as she said with some surprise, "Li Luo, you're quite impressive, you've actually reached Unparalleled Third Rank."

Previously in Little Shentian, Li Luo was only at Da Tian Xiang Jing, but now, in less than two years, he had already become a Second Rank Marquis, and had even forged two Ten-Pillar Golden Platforms, stepping onto the Unparalleled Path.

Such talent was no worse than Jiang Jiang Qinge's.

"Senior Ning Meng, you're too kind."

Li Luo smiled at Ning Meng and said, "Senior Ning Meng has also stepped into the Second Rank Marquis Realm now, right?"

From Ning Meng's body, Li Luo could sense a vigorous, holy phase force fluctuation, one that was even no weaker than Mentor Mentor Xi Chan, who had stepped into the Fourth Rank Marquis Realm.

"Mm, yes, Second Rank."

Ning Meng bit her straw and said, "But I'm not as impressive as you. I only forged one Ten-Pillar Golden Platform."

Li Luo suddenly understood. No wonder—although Ning Meng was clearly only a Second Rank Marquis, her phase force fluctuation was no weaker than an ordinary Fourth Rank Marquis. It turned out her second Marquis Platform had likewise been forged with ten pillars.

This was only natural. Ning Meng possessed a Mid-Ninth Rank Light-Chasing Beast Phase. Among the people Li Luo had encountered, apart from Jiang Jiang Qinge and those comparable to King-level existences, this grade was the highest.

When she first broke through to the Marquis Realm in Little Shentian, her first Marquis Platform had only been forged with nine pillars—not because her potential and foundation were lacking, but simply due to insufficient preparation. Afterward, she had come to the Sky Mirror Pagoda for arduous cultivation, and her second Marquis Platform being forged with ten pillars was only to be expected.

"Li Luo, are you hiding something tasty on you?" Ning Meng suddenly sized up Li Luo and asked curiously.

Li Luo was taken aback.

"Did you bring tasty bamboo shoots? I smell the scent of Sky Thunder Bamboo. Is it a gift you brought for me?" Ning Meng licked her lips, revealing cute little tiger teeth.

Li Luo suddenly understood. Was she talking about the Sky Thunder Bamboo Shoot that his grandfather had transformed into? Ning Meng could actually sense it? Was it because of the Mid-Ninth Rank Light-Chasing Beast Phase she carried?

This beast loved light and delighted in eating all manner of spiritual bamboo in the world, and Sky Thunder Bamboo was a top-tier bamboo, naturally falling into that category.

Li Luo quickly shook his head and said, "This is very important to me, I can't give it to you."

What a joke—that wasn't a Sky Thunder Bamboo Shoot, that was his grandfather Li Li Jingzhe. How could he give it to Ning Meng as a snack?

Ning Meng was a little disappointed. She faintly sensed that the "Sky Thunder Bamboo Shoot" on Li Luo seemed extraordinary; that alluring scent was something she had never smelled before. But since it was something very important to Li Luo, she naturally couldn't press further.

"The vitality of the Sky Thunder Bamboo Shoot in your hand seems very weak. Light-Chasing Beasts are skilled at nurturing bamboo. If you can't keep it alive, you can come to me for help," Ning Meng reminded him.

Li Luo was somewhat astonished. Light-Chasing Beasts were also skilled at nurturing bamboo? That was quite curious. Was it because they liked eating them, so they were also adept at raising them? Still, he took Ning Meng's words to heart—after all, this Sky Thunder Bamboo Shoot concerned whether Li Li Jingzhe could be reborn.

After chatting for a while, Jiang Jiang Qinge, seeing that it was about time, said, "Li Luo, the Sky Mirror Pagoda trial is about to begin. We need to go prepare too."

"Although you have your base in Outer Shenzhou, the Outer Shenzhou Holy Academy also has experts whose strength has reached the Seventh Rank Marquis Realm. Don't underestimate them."

Li Luo smiled and nodded, saying, "Don't worry. I also want to test whether the current me, with all my trump cards laid out, can truly fight a Seventh Rank Marquis."

"Oh? Quite confident? A Seventh Rank Marquis expert—even Jiang Jiang Qinge, this Unparalleled Third Rank, needs to bring out her true methods to hold her own. You, an Unparalleled Second Rank, might be a bit lacking?" Holy Que'er couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his words and said with some amusement.

Holy Que'er didn't doubt Li Luo's talent and foundation in achieving Unparalleled Second Rank, but between him and a Seventh Rank Marquis expert, there was an obvious gap. So in her view, Li Luo's confidence here was a bit like slapping his own face to look imposing.

Unparalleled leaping three ranks was true, but if Li Luo wanted to fight a Seventh Rank, that would be leaping five ranks!

At the very least, it would be better to wait until he stepped into Unparalleled Third Rank before saying such things.

"Just giving it a try. If it doesn't work out, we'll let those top vice-deans from our Eastern Domain Shenzhou step up." Li Luo didn't bother arguing pointlessly with Holy Que'er—after all, leaping five ranks was indeed a bit unbelievable, and even he himself felt the difficulty was very high.

Holy Que'er shrugged and said, "If you can truly clash with a Seventh Rank Marquis expert—even if you only manage to hold your ground undefeated—that record alone would be enough to amaze the entire audience."

Jiang Jiang Qinge then turned and gave a greeting to Mentor Xi Chan, Cao Sheng, and Mentor Mi'er behind her, then glanced at Lü Qing'er, who had remained silent the whole time, before turning to leave with Holy Que'er, Ning Meng, and the others, flying toward the platform on the Ancient Academy's side.

And with their departure, the many gazes that had been fixed on them gradually faded.

Li Luo still paid no heed to those gazes, simply retreating back into the group. He glanced at Lü Qing'er, whose beautiful eyes were slightly lowered, her fair and pretty face appearing cold, and asked carefully, "Are you alright?"

He was also a bit headache-ridden. Reuniting with an old friend should have been a happy occasion, yet it had turned into this awkward state, leaving him unsure how to handle it.

Lü Qing'er's gaze turned to Li Luo. His cautious appearance caused her eyes to waver. Her thoughts churned, and finally she let out a soft sigh.

This situation clearly couldn't be blamed on Li Luo. From start to finish, it had always been her being one-sided and wishful.

It was also she herself, borrowing the influence the Ice Sacred Seed had on her personality, who had torn through that veil of ambiguity.

However, these emotions probably wouldn't last much longer.

When the seal of the Ice Sacred Seed was completely broken, these feelings would naturally be frozen away, and at that time, she would no longer let her thoughts run wild.

Moreover, they could still become true friends.

Friends untainted by any superfluous feelings.

So, in these final moments, there was no need to make Li Luo so uncomfortable—after all, he still needed to face powerful enemies with everything he had.

Thinking this, a faint smile appeared on Lü Qing'er's fair cheeks, which carried a trace of frost. Meeting Li Luo's gaze, she said softly, "I'm fine."

"Li Luo, go and accomplish your goal with peace of mind. I'll help you."

Faced with her manner, which seemed like she was giving final instructions, Li Luo could only remain silent.

Dong!

At that moment, a resonant bell toll suddenly rang out across the world, echoing in every corner of Sky Mirror City.

Anticipation welled up in countless gazes.

This bell toll signaled that the Sky Mirror Pagoda trial was about to begin.