Chapter 193: Advancement Plan

The next morning, Li Luo, having finished washing up, heard a knock at the door.

He went to open it and saw Jiang Jiang Qinge standing at the doorway, the morning light falling on her exquisite, flawless face, her skin like crystal, seemingly reflecting the light.

Seeing Li Luo, she lifted the box in her hand.

"This is the Spirit Water Strange Light that Sister Cai Wei purchased for you earlier. She asked me to bring it all to you."

Li Luo quickly took it, his eyes full of joy. The previous batch of Spirit Water Strange Light had been used up at the academy, so he hadn't refined any for several days now, and his whole body was truly uncomfortable.

This new batch, however, solved his pressing need.

"You came just in time, thank you, Sister Jiang Qinge." Li Luo said with a smile.

"You should thank Sister Cai Wei instead. She manages the household finances, and in order to procure these Spirit Water Strange Lights for you without affecting the stability of House Luolan Mansion, it cost her quite a bit of thought." Jiang Jiang Qinge said with a smile.

Li Luo sighed and nodded. The current situation of House Luolan Mansion was not good, with large sums of money needed everywhere to maintain stability, and the Spirit Water Strange Light he needed cost hundreds of thousands of gold per purchase. One could imagine how much of a headache it was for Cai Wei.

Perhaps Sister Cai Wei never imagined that one day she too would have to pinch pennies.

The two walked side by side. Jiang Jiang Qinge turned her face to look at Li Luo and said, "You only have about four and a half years left now. I think you must make a proper plan for your advancement in the future and not act on a whim."

As she said these words, her expression was somewhat solemn, leaving Li Luo no choice but to nod obediently.

"Last night, based on my calculations, if you plan to be ennobled within the next four and a half years, then by the end of the One Star House year, your own strength must reach the Second Transformation of the Manifestation Phase."

The Resonance Master Realm has three phases: the first is the Seed Opening Phase, the second is the Pattern Birth Phase, and the third is called the Manifestation Phase.

The Manifestation Phase is divided into four transformations, like four minor realms.

"Manifestation Phase, Second Transformation..."

Li Luo muttered. Right now, he was only at the Upper Heavy Flower Seed of the first phase, about to step into the Pattern Birth Phase. Within the Pattern Birth Phase, there are five patterns in total... this is enough to make many of his peers struggle to climb, and to spend quite a bit of time here.

According to what he knew, the vast majority of fairly outstanding students, by the end of their first year at the Holy Mystic Star Academy, were only at the second or third pattern of the Pattern Birth Phase. Only some top and hardworking students might reach the fifth pattern, and as for stepping into the Manifestation Phase and pushing to the Second Transformation... that was truly extremely difficult.

One must know that even in the Two Star House, there were probably still a large number of students who had not cultivated to this step. Only some of the most outstanding students among them might have this strength.

"When I entered the Holy Mystic Star Academy, by the end of my first year, I was at the Second Transformation of the Manifestation Phase, and by the end of my second year, I had stepped into the Earth Sha General Realm."

"Because you have a lifespan limit, your time is even more pressing, so you absolutely cannot be slower than me."

Jiang Jiang Qinge stared intently at Li Luo and said, "So by the end of the year, you must cultivate to the Manifestation Phase and reach the Second Transformation!"

"If you can't even complete this first step without dragging your feet, what chance will you have? You must know that cultivation will only become harder and harder from here on!"

"For the next major half of the year, you must devote yourself fully to cultivation. I will exchange all my points for Energy Liquid for you. Outside the academy, whatever cultivation resources you need, House Luolan Mansion will go purchase them."

Li Luo stopped walking and looked at Jiang Jiang Qinge somewhat helplessly: "Sister Jiang Qinge, you also need to cultivate. If you exchange all your points for Energy Liquid for me, how will you compete for the Seven Star Pillar by the end of the year?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge said calmly, "I possess a Ninth Grade Light Resonance. In terms of cultivation speed, no one can compare to me. You don't need to worry about me."

"A Ninth Grade Light Resonance isn't invincible either. Even though you're very powerful, don't treat the Seven Star Pillar holders like they're nothing." Li Luo said with a bitter smile.

The Seven Star Pillars of the Holy Mystic Star Academy represented the highest honor for students; those who held these positions all possessed the bearing of a Marquis. Although Jiang Jiang Qinge's Ninth Grade Light Resonance was indeed rare and swept aside all enemies, the Seven Star Pillar holders still held the advantage of age, and upon becoming a Seven Star Pillar, the academy provided abundant cultivation resources. While Jiang Jiang Qinge was advancing, others were advancing as well; even if their progress was not as rapid as that of a Ninth Grade Light Resonance, with the accumulation of massive cultivation resources, it might not be so easy for Jiang Jiang Qinge to catch up.

These reasons—how could Jiang Jiang Qinge, with her intelligence, not know them? Speaking these words now was truly a case of being so concerned that her judgment was clouded.

Li Luo was deeply moved by this, but he could only refuse.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's gaze stared sharply at Li Luo.

However, this time Li Luo did not back down. Instead, meeting her strong, sharp gaze, a serene smile appeared on his face: "Sister Jiang Qinge, I'm very touched that you care about me so much, but I hope you can trust me. Isn't it just the Manifestation Phase? By the end of the year, I'll break through and show you."

The two stared at each other for a moment, and finally Jiang Jiang Qinge turned her head away.

"Where do you have extra time until the end of the year? Do you think you have a lot of time? I'll give you two months. You must reach the Fourth Pattern of the Pattern Birth Phase. If you don't, then we'll do it my way." Jiang Jiang Qinge made some concessions.

"Two months, the Fourth Pattern of the Pattern Birth Phase..."

Li Luo estimated in his heart. This was actually very difficult, but he didn't haggle any further, because if he wanted to be ennobled within five years, these milestones indeed had to be reached.

"Alright."

Li Luo smiled and nodded, but at the same time, because of Jiang Jiang Qinge's stern attitude, he gradually began to feel a sense of urgency in his heart. In the past, although he always kept the matter of this five-year lifespan limit in mind, he was still somewhat careless after all, and had never truly made meticulous plans for every step like Jiang Jiang Qinge had.

And from now on, with Jiang Jiang Qinge's supervision, he truly didn't dare to relax at all. Perhaps this could also be considered a good thing?

Looking at it this way, he really was asking for a beating.

Jiang Jiang Qinge saw that Li Luo did not refuse again, and nodded. Her doing this did indeed have the intention of pressuring him, but there was really no choice. Li Luo's lifespan of less than five years truly made her anxious inside, and she did not dare to let Li Luo relax even a little.

Otherwise, she truly could not imagine how she should bear it if the day came when Li Luo's lifespan limit arrived.

Master and Mistress had entrusted Li Luo to her, yet she could not keep him safe. This would make Jiang Jiang Qinge live in guilt for the rest of her life. Of course, perhaps there wouldn't be a "rest of her life"... because given her temperament, if Li Luo's lifespan limit truly came one day, she would probably just buy one get one free.

And after the previous conversation, both Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge were no longer in a relaxed mood. Passing through the corridor, they arrived at the living room.

Cai Wei had long been waiting there.

"We need to make a trip to the Xiyang House headquarters today. Those Resonance Refining Masters from the branch have been stirring up trouble there under the push of Pang Pang Qianchi." Cai Wei's beautiful, charming oval face was filled with solemnity.

"Now the entire Resonance Refining Master circle in Daxia City is watching. If we don't handle this well and it leads to internal strife within Xiyang House, it will probably be even harder for our Xiyang House to recruit Resonance Refining Masters in Daxia City in the future..."

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Qinge also slightly furrowed her willow brows, feeling it was somewhat troublesome. Although that Xiyang House branch had long been controlled by Manager Pei Hao, it still bore the Xiyang House signboard after all. If it were truly seen by others as internal strife, it would damage the reputation of Xiyang House and House Luolan Mansion.

In the past, Jiang Jiang Qinge wouldn't have cared about this, but after what happened last night, she had already learned that this guardian strange formation of House Luolan Mansion drew its power from the "momentum" of House Luolan Mansion...

Xiyang House was part of House Luolan Mansion. If Xiyang House's reputation was damaged, it would also implicate the strange formation.

Her thoughts churning, Jiang Jiang Qinge raised her head and exchanged a glance with Li Luo. Both understood that if today's matter was not handled well, it would probably really be a troublesome...

"Let's go. No matter how troublesome, we still have to go handle it."

In the end, it was Li Luo who smiled, then took the lead and stepped out toward the outside of House Luolan Mansion headquarters.