Chapter 198: Invitation

Regarding the assessment, the time was ultimately set to begin two days from now, with one assessment every three days, lasting nine days in total, which just happened to fall within Li Luo's current leave period.

After all, only after Li Luo thoroughly resolved the issues with these branch refinement masters could he return to the academy to cultivate in peace.

As for the assessment content, these branch refinement masters were extremely satisfied and had no objections, because in their view, this might really be a concession on Li Luo's part. After all, they truly couldn't imagine what reason they would have to fail such an assessment.

Even if Li Luo's own refinement art was extremely exquisite, allowing him to dominate on first-rank and second-rank Spirit Water Strange Light, what about third-rank?

It seemed that the current Li Luo still couldn't refine third-rank Spirit Water Strange Light, right?

When the time came, they could probably just directly announce victory on their side. After all, they still had Tang Yun and Lu Lu Xiaofeng, two fourth-rank refinement masters.

So this discussion ended in complete success. Amidst those many complicated gazes, Li Luo left the Xiyang House headquarters with Jiang Jiang Qinge.

In the spacious carriage.

"I feel like the way those branch refinement masters looked at the young master was like looking at the landlord's foolish son." Cai Wei said with a smile.

Li Luo smiled and said, "After all, on the surface, this assessment really is a freebie."

Jiang Jiang Qinge's golden eyes looked over and said, "Then how will you handle the third-rank Spirit Water Strange Light when the time comes?"

She knew that the first-rank and second-rank Spirit Water Strange Light Li Luo refined had extremely high purification power, something even Yan Yan Lingqing admitted she couldn't match. But the only problem was that the current Li Luo still seemed to be only a second-rank refinement master...

"Advancing to third-rank refinement master should happen in just these few days." Li Luo said in a very casual tone.

Cai Wei clapped her hands, playing along: "Young master, you've really nailed that vibe."

Jiang Jiang Qinge couldn't help but smile as well. Then she seemed to remember something, and her smile faded a bit as she reminded him, "Don't spend too much thought and time on refinement art. Back when I wanted to push my cultivation to the extreme, I didn't let myself be distracted by refinement art in the slightest."

Actually, Jiang Jiang Qinge was the true genius at cultivating refinement art. The Spirit Water Strange Light refined from her Nine-Rank Light Phase would surely become the only one of its kind in this Great Xia Kingdom.

In the refinement courtyard of the Sacred Mystic Star Academy, the dean went to great lengths to get Jiang Jiang Qinge to study refinement arts, but all to no avail... because Jiang Jiang Qinge understood that if she wanted to chase the Marquis record, she had to stay focused and couldn't be distracted.

Therefore, she would rather give up her own talent in refinement art.

Li Luo gave a bitter smile upon hearing this. He actually knew that cultivating refinement art would take up his time and energy, but there was no helping it. For the future improvement of his own phase affinity, he could only walk this path.

Jiang Jiang Qinge didn't say much more on this. After all, things had come to this point, and nothing said would change it. Moreover, the Xiyang House side really did need Li Luo's identity as a refinement master.

"Manager Pei Hao is a man who endures and is ruthless. He definitely wouldn't kindly send you a gift package, so you should be able to imagine that the gift package is probably poisoned." Jiang Jiang Qinge changed the subject and said.

Li Luo nodded. How could he possibly overlook this? Although he mocked the other party on the surface for sending such a grand gift, inwardly he was actually full of vigilance.

If the current Xiyang House headquarters didn't truly need the supplement of refinement masters so badly, he might not have accepted Tang Yun and the others.

"I will have Elder Zheng Ping keep a close eye on Tang Yun and the others at all times, and will also strengthen the defensive efforts at the Xiyang House headquarters. If there's any unusual movement, I'll send someone to notify immediately." Li Luo said slowly.

"But after all, Manager Pei Hao is in the dark. No one knows what methods he has hidden, so we can only be on guard everywhere and play it by ear."

Jiang Jiang Qinge nodded slightly. The enemy in the dark while we are in the light—indeed, it was somewhat passive.

"I've already sent people to investigate Manager Pei Hao's whereabouts. If there's a chance, taking him out would solve the problem once and for all." In her calm voice flowed a trace of icy killing intent.

Since they couldn't find the issues with those refinement masters, then taking out Manager Pei Hao who created the problem was clearly also an approach.

Li Luo nodded, but he understood that given Manager Pei Hao's enduring and ruthless nature, he probably wouldn't give them such an opportunity.

"By the way..."

Jiang Jiang Qinge suddenly looked at Li Luo and said, "These next few days, familiarize yourself with how to use your own Water Phase and Wood Phase powers to achieve stronger healing effects."

Li Luo was stunned. Why would he need to familiarize himself with this?

"Do you remember that little Emperor you met at the Golden Dragon Treasure House? He has a congenital defect. The Princess found me a few days ago, wanting to ask you to try and see if you could treat him." Jiang Jiang Qinge explained.

Li Luo looked utterly bewildered: "Isn't this too absurd? It's said that the little Emperor's defect left even some Marquis-level powerhouses with Water Phase helpless. What good would a mere Phase Master realm practitioner like me do?"

Although both Water Phase and Wood Phase had healing effects, expecting him, a Phase Master realm practitioner, to cure a congenital defect that even Marquis-level powerhouses couldn't handle—the Princess, although quite ambitious, didn't seem like someone so lacking in sense.

Or did she have some other purpose?

Meeting Li Luo's gaze, Jiang Jiang Qinge smiled and said, "Her main intention should still be to show goodwill to me. However, I didn't refuse. Although the current Great Xia royal court holds more power in the hands of the Regent, the Princess also wields considerable influence. Given House Luolan Mansion's current situation, befriending her would be a good thing."

Li Luo pondered. Jiang Jiang Qinge's potential was beyond doubt, which was indeed worth the Princess trying to win over. And through his going to treat the little Emperor this time, whether successful or not, at least there was some opportunity for mutual rapprochement.

It seemed that sending him to treat the little Emperor was just a pretext.

"Alright, I'll practice it when I get back."

Li Luo nodded. Although the royal court's power currently lay more in the Regent's hands, the Princess couldn't be underestimated either. House Luolan Mansion was in need of such a friend. Of course, calling her a friend now was still a bit early—after all, both sides were merely eyeing each other's advantages.

The Princess was a woman with a heart as deep as the sea and profound schemes. Her popularity in the Sacred Mystic Star Academy over the years was quite high, and it was evident she wasn't someone content with the status quo. If she represented the little Emperor in reclaiming power in the future, it would surely trigger some quite astonishing open and covert struggles.

Chatting idly along the way, the carriage returned to House Luolan Mansion headquarters.

The moment the three of them stepped down, they saw someone coming up to greet them: "Excuse me, are you Young Master Li Luo and Young Lady Jiang Jiang Qinge?"

Li Luo glanced at the person. The other party's clothes bore the badge of the Golden Dragon Treasure House, so he nodded slightly.

The person immediately respectfully presented a gilded invitation and said: "In five days it is our young lady's birthday. The president asked me to deliver this invitation, hoping the two of you can attend."

"Qing'er's birthday?" Li Luo was a bit surprised, then smiled and took it, saying: "Please reply to President Yu that we will definitely attend."

Setting aside the relationship with Lv Qing'er, just the special status of the Golden Dragon Treasure House in this Great Xia Kingdom meant that since they had given face, they naturally needed to reciprocate.

The messenger nodded happily, then quickly departed.

Jiang Jiang Qinge watched his departing figure, then turned to Li Luo with a half-smile and said: "That President Yu Yu Hongxi actually invited us?"

"Is something wrong with that?" Li Luo said.

"It seems you don't know how fiercely Yu Yu Hongxi and our master's wife competed back in the day. She isn't exactly fond of our House Luolan Mansion. Over the years, there's only been official business between them." Jiang Jiang Qinge said lightly.

Li Luo was stunned for a moment and said: "Is it because of my father?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge: "What else?"

Li Luo sighed and said: "I didn't expect my father to be such a philandering man back in the day. I despise him."

Jiang Jiang Qinge glanced at him sideways, too lazy to say more on this topic, and said: "Yu Yu Hongxi is a very formidable woman—that was our master's wife's evaluation of her back then. After all, being able to hold the position of president of the Golden Dragon Treasure House for so many years, whether in terms of strength or methods, she cannot be underestimated."

Li Luo smiled and said: "I really do want to meet her."

Jiang Jiang Qinge tilted her head, her gaze sizing up Li Luo. After leaving a meaningful remark, she walked into House Luolan Mansion.

"I have a feeling you just might."