Chapter 189: One Hundred Thousand Points

When Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e's group returned to the Luolan Mansion headquarters, before they could even rest, they saw Niu Biaobiao appearing before them, beaming with a smile while carrying a steaming bowl of nourishing soup.

"Young Mansion Master, it's been a month, and you look a bit more spirited, but the nourishing soup is still non-negotiable. Drink up quickly," Niu Biaobiao said with a laugh.

Seeing Niu Biaobiao, Li Luo also smiled, quickly taking the soup and saying, "It's been a month, Uncle Biao, I've really missed this soup!"

He drank it mouthful by mouthful, then said with a grin, "Uncle Biao, regarding the refining of that 'Spirit-Nourishing Paste,' I wonder exactly how much Emperor Flowing Liquid is required?"

Niu Biaobiao looked at Li Luo with some surprise and said, "It seems the Young Mansion Master has managed to get your hands on some Emperor Flowing Liquid?"

This Emperor Flowing Liquid was a top-tier cultivation resource at the Astral Sage College; for Li Luo to obtain some after only being there for a month, this efficiency was truly astonishing.

Li Luo waved his hand modestly, then took out two small bottles the size of a fingernail and handed them to Niu Biaobiao.

Niu Biaobiao took them, examined them carefully for a moment, and laughed, "It really is Emperor Flowing Liquid. The Young Mansion Master is truly impressive."

However, before Li Luo could feel proud, Niu Biaobiao continued, "At this rate, if the Young Mansion Master can get another twenty bottles, you should be able to start refining the Spirit-Nourishing Paste."

Pfft.

The nourishing soup that Li Luo hadn't fully swallowed yet was sprayed out in one go, his eyes wide as copper bells as he stared at Niu Biaobiao. What the hell? Another twenty bottles?

Beside him, Jiang Qing'e also sighed helplessly. Although she had long expected that this amount of Emperor Flowing Liquid wouldn't be enough, she hadn't anticipated the deficit would be this large.

Twenty bottles of Emperor Flowing Liquid—that was one hundred thousand points!

Even for her, this amount felt like a heavy burden.

Li Luo smiled bitterly, "Uncle Biao, you're making things difficult for me."

Niu Biaobiao said, "Young Mansion Master, Old Niu isn't trying to fool you. What you've lost is your own foundation and potential. For anyone else, the future would be nearly impossible. This technique capable of restoring one's foundation is extremely rare, even in this Great Xia Kingdom. It is already your good fortune that Old Niu happens to have a way."

Li Luo was silent. Although refining his second resonance had brought him immense power—even allowing him to sense the dual-resonance power belonging to Marquis-level experts while still in the Resonance Master stage—it was clear he had paid a great price for it.

On the surface, Li Luo's dual resonances appeared dazzling, but outsiders did not know that beneath this glamorous exterior, he hid a massive flaw.

If others knew that he was unable to break through to the General-level due to a damaged foundation, the cold ridicule and schadenfreude he would face would likely be no less than what he endured when he had an empty resonance.

"Uncle Biao, don't worry. Although the exchange requirements for this Emperor Flowing Liquid are high, we still have some time. After all, Li Luo is still quite a distance away from attempting the breakthrough to the General-level. I believe that as long as we do our utmost to earn points during this period, it is still possible to catch up," Jiang Qing'e said in a soft, steady voice.

Li Luo looked at Jiang Qing''e with a complex expression. The meaning in her words clearly indicated she intended to help him shoulder these one hundred thousand points... but Emperor Flowing Liquid was also a very rare cultivation resource for Jiang Qing'e. It was said she would be challenging the Seven Star Pillars at the end of the year; if she used all her points on him, it would undoubtedly delay her own cultivation progress.

Li Luo felt a heaviness in his heart and wanted to speak, but he saw Jiang Qing'e's gaze shift toward him, and she shook her head slightly at him.

In the end, he could only swallow his words, sighing softly in his heart.

It seemed that from now on, he would need to do everything in his power to earn points. Otherwise, the pressure on Jiang Qing'e would be too great, and it would delay and affect her cultivation progress—something Li Luo absolutely could not accept.

Niu Biaobiao looked at the two of them, his expression rarely turning serious: "I know the pressure of this Emperor Flowing Liquid is great, but you aren't children anymore. Without pressure, how can you grow?"

Faced with this rare display of elder-like demeanor from Niu Biaobiao, Li Luo and Jiang Qing''e were slightly stunned, but both nodded in agreement. After all, they had never treated Niu Biaobiao as a servant.

"Besides, do you think the pressure you are about to face is only this much?" Hearing Niu Biaobiao's words, the eyes of both Li Luo and Jiang Qing''e narrowed.

Jiang Qing''e asked softly, "What does Uncle Biao mean?"

Niu Biaobiao rubbed his smooth, bald head and sighed, "I originally intended to tell you these things only after you had at least stepped into the Heavenly Dipper General-level, but the current situation is even worse than I anticipated, so I have no choice but to tell you."

Li Luo and Jiang Qing''e's expressions became extremely grave. They had long suspected that Niu Biaobiao was quite mysterious; there must be some reason unknown to them for him to remain at the Luolan Mansion headquarters.

It was just that since Niu Biaobiao hadn't spoken before, they hadn't felt it appropriate to ask.

Niu Biaobiao sat down to the side. He looked at the two youngsters before him, weighed his words for a moment, and finally said, "Last night, a mysterious Marquis-level expert broke into the Luolan Mansion headquarters."

Li Luo and Jiang Qing''e's expressions changed abruptly.

A Marquis-level expert?! Breaking into the Luolan Mansion headquarters at night?

Which side was this expert from? What was their goal? Were they trying to assassinate them directly?

Jiang Qing''e's brows furrowed tightly, "A Marquis-level expert broke into the Luolan Mansion headquarters? Did it not cause any commotion? I didn't receive any reports."

Niu Biaobiao smiled and said, "Just a Marquis who didn't dare show their face, and they didn't even sneak in with their true body. It was just an energy avatar, which I chopped down directly."

Li Luo and Jiang Qing''e fell silent once more, then looked with complex expressions at the bald, middle-aged man before them who had spoken such shocking words with such nonchalance.

They had previously sensed Niu Biaobiao's mystery; after all, he knew too much, even knowing the rare method to restore Li Luo's foundation. Could he really be a simple cook?

But many guesses were just guesses. When Niu Biaobiao personally said he had chopped down a Marquis-level expert's energy avatar last night, let alone Li Luo, even the usually calm Jiang Qing''e was somewhat dazed.

"Uncle Biao..."

Li Luo stared at Niu Biaobiao, his expression sincere, "I knew it, you are a legendary hidden master. I wonder if you have any interest in my knees? I would like to offer them to you."

Jiang Qing''e glanced at Li Luo, knowing he was acting cheeky again to hide the shock in his heart.

Niu Biaobiao laughed, "What hidden master? I'm just a useless person who can't leave the Luolan Mansion headquarters."

Li Luo and Jiang Qing''e were somewhat puzzled.

However, Niu Biaobiao did not explain further on this, but said directly, "Actually, for these past years, a powerful force in the shadows has been spying on the Luolan Mansion headquarters, only you haven't noticed it."

"In the past, they only spied, but last night, they finally stepped into the Luolan Mansion headquarters."

Niu Biaobiao stared at the two, who were somewhat lost in thought.

"Do you know... what they wanted to find in the Luolan Mansion headquarters?"

(Not posting the first update... I'll post it when I do the two updates.)