Chapter 312: Invitation Gathering

The Material Refining Institute is a relatively independent faculty within Saintly Zhu Xuan Star Academy, and its students are also divided by the four-star institute ranking, except that most of the Material Refining Institute's students lean toward support roles, and are weaker than the Resonance Power Institute when it comes to combat.

So generally, dangerous missions like purifying Dark Holes are ones the Material Refining Institute doesn't really take part in, though of course, if there are volunteers, the academy won't refuse.

However, students of the Material Refining Institute are not entirely exempt from contributing, because the metric by which their results are judged is how many qualified Spirit Waters and Marvelous Lights they refine each year. These Spirit Waters and Marvelous Lights are consumed by the academy itself or sold off to subsidize the academy's expenditures.

This is actually an enormous source of revenue. There have even been those who say that in this Great Xia, although there are no shortage of powerful Spirit Waters and Marvelous Lights Houses, if one truly had to compare strength, then the Saintly Zhu Xuan Star Academy's Material Refining Institute would be the undisputed number one Spirit Waters and Marvelous Lights House in Great Xia.

After all, looking at those top Spirit Waters and Marvelous Lights Houses in Great Xia, nearly a third of their elite Material Refining Masters had walked out of the Material Refining Institute.

And precisely because of the Material Refining Institute's strength, every year when graduation approaches for some Material Refining Masters, it draws the covetous attention of all the various Spirit Waters and Marvelous Lights Houses in Great Xia, who employ all manner of tactics trying to poach them.

No one would complain about having too few Material Refining Masters in their own Spirit Waters and Marvelous Lights House, let alone when those masters are elite graduates of the Saintly Zhu Xuan Star Academy's Material Refining Institute.

This invitation gathering of the Material Refining Institute may seem simple, but in reality it is a stage where the various Spirit Waters and Marvelous Lights Houses of Great Xia compete to display their own strength.

It can also be considered a grand occasion for the Spirit Waters and Marvelous Lights world of Great Xia.

The Material Refining Institute is located on the southeast side of Saintly Zhu Xuan Star Academy, an area with many lakes. Looking down from high above, one can see pools of lake water embedded in this region like mirrors, with numerous covered bridges and buildings constructed above those lakes, connected to one another. This style is quite different from the Resonance Power Institute's side, possessing a unique charm.

Today, the Material Refining Institute was especially lively.

At the central position of this area, a plaza seemingly built from white jade stood in the middle of a lake. Layered stone steps extended from the plaza's edges, all of which offered an unobstructed view of the grounds.

Since the early morning, the various covered bridges had been bustling with people, all converging here.

Among these figures, aside from those Material Refining Masters wearing the Material Refining Institute's robes, there were also others in varied attire—those were people from the top Spirit Waters and Marvelous Lights Houses of Great Xia.

Li Luo, Jiang Jiang Qinge, and Yan Yan Lingqing had also arrived early, and then met up with Cai Wei and Tang Yun along with the rest of the Xi Yang House contingent at the agreed location.

Tang Yun and the other Xi Yang House Material Refining Masters gazed at the Material Refining Institute's scenery, their eyes filled with envy, and sighed: "Truly worthy of being the Material Refining Institute. This was the holy land we dreamed of back in our youth."

Li Luo chuckled. So this was the lament of someone who wasn't top of their class? Clearly, Tang Yun and the others hadn't gotten into Saintly Zhu Xuan Star Academy when they were young, and naturally never had the qualification to enter the Material Refining Institute.

But thinking about it this way, he felt a pang of bitterness—not for Tang Yun and the others, but for how wretched Xi Yang House was... Looking around, was Yan Yan Lingqing the only person in the entire Xi Yang House who came from the Material Refining Institute?

While Li Luo was feeling bitter, the endlessly charming Cai Wei sauntered over. Her alluring eyes gazed at Li Luo with grievance as she said: "Young Master, just how deep does this bottomless pit of yours go?"

Li Luo gave a dry laugh. My bottomless pit is so deep that I'm afraid if I told you, you'd quit on the spot, so for the sake of everyone's relationship, let's not say it.

"Cai Wei, don't panic."

Li Luo soothed: "All the investment is worth it. At today's invitation gathering, our Xi Yang House will surely rake in a fortune, and when that happens, Xi Yang House will soar straight to the heavens."

Cai Wei's red lips pouted slightly. "You really think I don't know Xi Yang House's financial situation?"

She was, after all, the chief steward of Luo Lan Mansion, managing the many industries beneath it, which naturally included Xi Yang House. So she understood Xi Yang House's ins and outs far too well.

And precisely because of this understanding, she held almost no confidence in this invitation gathering. In fact, she felt that Xi Yang House coming to participate in this invitation gathering wasn't even all that wise.

Although those graduating Material Refining Masters from the Material Refining Institute were extremely coveted, this kind of cake—Xi Yang House truly didn't have the qualifications to compete for it.

If they forced their way in, they were afraid it would only invite ridicule.

And it wasn't just her who held this pessimistic view; even Tang Yun wore a face full of bitterness, wanting to speak but holding back, finally letting out a soft sigh.

They likewise couldn't quite understand why Li Luo wanted Xi Yang House to attend this invitation gathering.

After all, what level of Spirit Waters and Marvelous Lights Houses were attending the invitation gathering? At the very least, they were all top-ten level in Great Xia. And although Xi Yang House had shown signs of growth recently, compared to Spirit Waters and Marvelous Lights Houses of that caliber, there was still a gap that couldn't be ignored.

Their tiny Xi Yang House, coming to compete on the same stage as these powers—wasn't that a joke?

"Young Master, how about letting me go up and perform later? You're still young after all, and you're still studying at the academy..." Tang Yun hesitated, then said.

In his thinking, although Li Luo's talent in Material Refining Arts was extremely high, he was still young. If he were left far behind in this kind of setting, it would damage his reputation.

So this kind of embarrassing thing, it was better left to a subordinate like him.

Li Luo was a bit speechless at their dejection and discouragement, but he didn't explain too much, just waved his hand and said: "It's fine, leave it to me."

And as he spoke, he suddenly sensed a shift in the atmosphere around them. Even Jiang Jiang Qinge's incomparably beautiful face had taken on a hint of coldness.

Tang Yun and the others were practically breathing fire, the anger on their faces impossible to conceal.

Li Luo followed their gazes thoughtfully, and saw a group of people walking over from a covered bridge to the side, their presence quite impressive.

The person at the front of this group was no stranger.

Du Ze Duze Honglian, Du Ze Duze Beixuan, the siblings—clearly, this was the contingent from Du Ze Mansion.

And the target of Tang Yun and the others' anger wasn't the Du Ze siblings, but rather a man standing beside them.

The man was good-looking, with a somewhat scholarly air, dressed in a Material Refining Master's robe, a seemingly warm smile on his face.

Looking at this person, Li Luo immediately guessed his identity. This must be their Xi Yang House's previous president, Han Zhi.

After all, the only person capable of making Tang Yun and the others, and even Jiang Jiang Qinge, reveal coldness, was that traitor Han Zhi who had brought such enormous harm to Xi Yang House.

"That bastard!" Tang Yun gritted his teeth, his eyes full of hatred.

The contingent of Material Refining Masters from Da Ze House came along the covered bridge, and they likewise spotted the Xi Yang House group ahead. However, most of the Da Ze House higher-ups had playful looks in their eyes, a hint of mockery curling at the corners of their mouths.

Seeing Xi Yang House appear at this kind of occasion was, evidently, quite a surprise.

"Heh, this Li Luo really doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth. The Material Refining Institute's invitation gathering—is that something Xi Yang House can attend?" Du Ze Duze Beixuan sneered.

Du Ze Duze Honglian, however, was expressionless, and said coolly: "Just focus on our own business, no need to pay attention to the rest."

Du Ze Duze Beixuan frowned. In the past, Du Ze Duze Honglian would surely have joined him in mocking, but this time she had chosen to ignore it.

"Sister, that Luo Lan Mansion is our enemy. You can't change your stance just because of what happened in the Dark Hole," Du Ze Duze Beixuan reminded her.

Du Ze Duze Honglian was silent for a moment, then said: "You're overthinking it. In the Dark Hole this time, I do count as having been saved by them once, but that can't change my stance. I just feel that mocking at this point doesn't have much meaning. After all... results matter more than anything."

"Besides..."

She glanced at Du Ze Duze Beixuan: "Just how freakish that Li Luo is, you've experienced it firsthand. The harder we mock now, won't it just be more embarrassing for us later?"

Du Ze Duze Beixuan faltered, muttering: "How could he be freakish every single time?!"

Still, he eventually quieted down, and restrained the urge to mock Li Luo.

Then the Da Ze House group walked along the covered bridge, about to brush past the Xi Yang House crowd.

Han Zhi also cast a smiling glance at Jiang Jiang Qinge, Li Luo, and the others. Yet everyone knew just how ruthless this fellow with the warm smile truly was—otherwise he wouldn't have managed to ruin Xi Yang House so thoroughly.

Han Zhi didn't take the initiative to say anything, because in his view there was no need. Xi Yang House's decline was something he knew all too well; the latter simply didn't have the qualifications to warrant his attention.

However, just as he chose to walk past with an air of ease, Li Luo suddenly stepped forward and called out with a smile: "President Han Zhi, it's been a while."

As Li Luo spoke first, the group from the Great Marsh House stopped in their tracks, and even Du Ze Duze Honglian frowned over at him.

Han Zhi's smile remained warm. He gave Li Luo a nod and said, "Young House Master Li Luo, I am now the vice president of Great Marsh House, not the president of Xiyang House. So when you address me, you may add the word 'vice' before president."

Li Luo waved a hand and said, "No matter. With your methods, I believe you'll be able to oust Great Marsh House's president and take his seat in no time."

The faces of the Great Marsh House material refiners twitched, and someone could not help but glance at Han Zhi.

Han Zhi's smile faded slightly. He said coolly, "Young House Master Li Luo, you stopped me just to say these meaningless things?"

"Not only that."

Li Luo shook his head and said sincerely, "I've come to express my gratitude to you."

A cold sneer surfaced in Han Zhi's eyes. Yeah, right.

Li Luo sighed and said, "My gratitude is completely sincere. I thank you, you unlucky wretch, for leaving Xiyang House. If you had stayed here, how could my Xiyang House have been flourishing day by day during this period?"

Someone could not help but laugh out loud.

Du Ze Duze Honglian shot Li Luo a cold glance and said, "Li Luo, speak with real ability. Flapping your lips here is pointless. The top talents of the Material Refining Institute won't choose Xiyang House just because your mouth is sharper."

Having said that, she took the lead and headed toward a spot on the plaza.

The rest of Great Marsh House hurried to follow.

Han Zhi lagged half a step behind. He glanced at Li Luo and said with a smile, "Young House Master, you are a clever man, but still a little too hot-blooded for your youth..."

"An invitation event of the Material Refining Institute at this level is honestly not something Xiyang House is qualified to take part in."

"Forcing your way here is truly just asking to be humiliated."

"Out of respect for the fact that the two House Masters once showed me their grace of recognition, I advise you to take Xiyang House and withdraw. Do not ruin the reputation Xiyang House has worked so hard to build."

He wore the look of one offering earnest counsel, then brushed past Li Luo with a smile.