Chapter 252: Dark Spirit Leaves

Outside the Dark Spirit Pool, many gazes turned toward the direction the voice had come from.

They saw three figures standing atop a black lotus leaf up ahead, and the one speaking was the one in front.

He looked somewhat lean, his frame upright, and his features were quite proper.

When those around saw this person, some hushed whispers rose.

"It's Wang Wang Yufeng from the Two-Star Academy."

"This Wang Wang Yufeng is among the top ten in the Two-Star Academy, right?"

"Does he have some past grudge with Senior Jiang? Why would he jump out and play the troublemaker?"

"..."

Amid the surrounding whispers, Li Luo also glanced at Wang Wang Yufeng, but most of his gaze was directed behind Wang Wang Yufeng.

There were two figures there, one male and one female, both looking familiar.

They were none other than Song Song Qiuyu and Di Fa Jingming.

This Song Song Qiuyu had previously returned to Tian Shu Prefecture, attempting to help the Song family crush Xi Yang House, but was later defeated by Li Luo; there was some enmity between the two sides.

With this stranger Wang Wang Yufeng suddenly stepping forward, Li Luo felt it might not be entirely unrelated to Song Song Qiuyu.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's gaze swept over Wang Wang Yufeng, and she said flatly, "How have I broken the rules?"

Wang Wang Yufeng seemed undaunted by Jiang Jiang Qinge's pressure, and declared loudly, "As everyone knows, the contest for the Dark Spirit Pool must rely on one's own ability. Senior Jiang's strength is indeed formidable—if you're competing for the Dark Spirit Leaves for your own team, we would all accept it willingly. But if you're seizing a spot for Li Luo..."

"Wouldn't that be a little too unfair to the rest of us?"

Behind Wang Wang Yufeng, Song Song Qiuyu's eyes flickered. She tugged at him and said softly, "Wang Yufeng, forget it. What kind of strength does Senior Jiang have? Let's just step back."

Yet once her words landed, Wang Wang Yufeng's expression grew even uglier. He said, "If being strong means you can ignore the rules and seize whatever you want, are we still students of the Sacred Mystic Star Academy?"

There was a slight stir around them—some students clearly resonated with this, after all, this second-grade Dark Spirit Pool was an opportunity meant for them, students of the Resonator Realm. Jiang Jiang Qinge and her team had already enjoyed the benefits this place offered, and now they wanted to break the rules to help Li Luo obtain it. This would inevitably encroach on their interests.

Previously, no one had stepped forward, so they hadn't dared speak. But now that Wang Wang Yufeng had taken the lead, they naturally found some courage.

For a moment, the unrest showed signs of spreading.

Li Luo's expression remained calm. His gaze, carrying a hint of meaning, swept over Song Song Qiuyu—this woman truly was a master at fanning the flames.

Previously, Mo Ling, who had come to Tian Shu Prefecture, was stirred up by her and fought him. Clearly, this Wang Wang Yufeng here was also being led around by the nose by her.

As for the so-called Dark Spirit Leaves, Jiang Jiang Qinge had already told them everything about the Dark Spirit Pool on the way here.

Because the Dark Spirit Pool was extremely special, it gathered and compressed an immensely vast amount of energy, which formed a terrifying energy pressure. Under such pressure, even those at the Heavenly Gang General Stage couldn't force their way in.

So how did these students enter the Dark Spirit Pool?

It was because within the Dark Spirit Pool grew a miraculous tree called the "Dark Spirit Tree." Every so often, a leaf condensed from the energy of heaven and earth would grow on it—this was the Dark Spirit Leaf.

The Dark Spirit Pool would occasionally erupt with energy surges, and each time, a few Dark Spirit Leaves would be blasted out. These Dark Spirit Leaves were the target all the students waited here to compete for. As long as one obtained a Dark Spirit Leaf, it could be split into three portions, each held in the mouth, allowing one to ignore the energy pressure here and enter the Dark Spirit Pool to cultivate.

Simply put, the Dark Spirit Leaf was the ticket to enter the Dark Spirit Pool. Only those who grabbed one had the right to go in; otherwise, they could only stand outside and watch enviously.

And since the Dark Spirit Leaves were blasted out from the Dark Spirit Pool, the closer to the front, the greater the advantage. This was the main reason Jiang Jiang Qinge had stepped in to help them secure a favorable position.

"Ever since the Dark Spirit Pool existed, everyone has relied on their own strength to compete. If you could just find someone to help you snatch the Dark Spirit Leaves, then in the future wouldn't everyone just find a strong back to lean on instead of relying on themselves? Wouldn't that be simpler?" At this moment, Wang Wang Yufeng was still talking.

Jiang Jiang Qinge glanced at him and said coolly, "You're overthinking it. Li Luo and his team will compete for the Dark Spirit Leaves themselves—I haven't stepped in to help. What I'm doing now is simply helping them secure a position. As far as I know, that doesn't violate any rules."

"Uh..."

The restless students around gradually calmed down upon hearing this. So Senior Jiang wasn't planning to directly help Li Luo's team snatch the Dark Spirit Leaves...

If that was the case, it indeed didn't count as breaking the rules.

Wang Wang Yufeng was likewise taken aback—so all his passionate speech had been nothing but nonsense?

Beside him, Song Song Qiuyu suddenly laughed and said, "What Senior Jiang means is that she plans to let Li Luo's rookie team compete for the Dark Spirit Leaves against our Two-Star Academy teams?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge stared at Song Song Qiuyu: "Is there a problem?"

Under Jiang Jiang Qinge's calm, pure golden eyes, Song Song Qiuyu inexplicably felt a twinge of fear. She leaned slightly toward Wang Wang Yufeng and forced a smile: "That's not unacceptable... I just feel that Li Luo's team truly lives up to being the top rookie team. After all, a One-Star Academy team has never appeared here before."

"If Li Luo's team succeeds in snatching one, it really would be a first in history."

Her words seemed to be praising Li Luo and the others, but to the other Two-Star Academy students, it sounded as if letting Li Luo's team obtain a Dark Spirit Leaf would be a disgrace to their Two-Star Academy.

Jiang Jiang Qinge said coolly, "Your name is Song Song Qiuyu, right? I'd suggest you spend more effort on your own cultivation. Being skilled at social maneuvering is, in the end, a lesser path."

Song Song Qiuyu was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then her fair cheeks flushed alternately green and red, and shame and anger rose in her eyes. What did "skilled at social maneuvering" mean if not calling her... improper?

Song Song Qiuyu clenched her teeth, but facing the pressure Jiang Jiang Qinge exerted, she truly didn't have the courage to clash head-on, so she could only swallow it.

Wang Wang Yufeng beside her couldn't help feeling a pang of heartache and said softly, "Don't be angry. As long as Jiang Jiang Qinge doesn't step in to help, there's no way Li Luo's rookie team will be able to snatch a Dark Spirit Leaf today."

Song Song Qiuyu nodded aggrievedly. Seeing her like this, Wang Wang Yufeng was secretly furious. This Jiang Jiang Qinge was truly bullying people. Fine, since he couldn't deal with her, today he had to make sure Li Luo didn't get a Dark Spirit Leaf.

Beside the two of them, Di Fa Jingming had remained silent the whole time. Seeing Wang Wang Yufeng's expression, he knew what he was thinking and couldn't help sighing, shaking his head inwardly.

Song Qiuyu, why must you keep provoking Li Luo? Ever since he took first place in the Tian Shu Prefecture Grand Examination, Li Luo has already soared to the heavens.

Provoking him further only brings trouble upon yourself.

On her side, Jiang Jiang Qinge finished speaking and no longer paid Song Song Qiuyu any attention. After all, the other's level was simply too low; that one remark of hers had already lowered herself.

"Go to that position. Although I've secured a good spot for you, competing for the Dark Spirit Leaves afterward will still depend on your own ability."

"However, snatching the Dark Spirit Leaves often isn't purely about comparing strength. After all, your goal isn't to defeat the others, but to be the first to grab the Dark Spirit Leaves swept out by the energy shockwaves." She reminded Li Luo and the others.

Li Luo and the others all nodded in acknowledgment.

Then, under the gaze of many, the three of them leapt directly onto the lotus leaf where Jiang Qing E Zhong's heavy sword had fallen.

Senior Qiu Bai and Tian Tian looked at the Two-Star Academy teams in the field, then said to Jiang Jiang Qinge, "Are you sure Li Luo and the others can snatch it from these people?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge said, "When I had them activate the first-grade Purification Tower on their own before, you asked the same thing."

The two were momentarily speechless, then laughed: "If that's the case, then we can only say..."

"We'll wait and see."