Chapter 375: Saint Wood Realm Cave

Li Luo's "low-key" self-recommendation drew sideways glances from Student Xin Fu and Bai Bai Mengmeng; the former rolled his eyes, while the latter covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, for Li Luo's intentions were utterly unmasked—this was hardly for the sake of love, but purely aimed at the Golden-Eye Treasures within the Academy's Treasury.

Instructor Xi Chan let out a soft scoff, did not expose Li Luo's thoughts, and instead said, "I mentioned earlier that if it is the Fifth Pattern, it may not be enough."

Li Luo argued, "Instructor, do not underestimate me; you have no idea how fierce I am now."

Instructor Xi Chan ignored him and continued, "The Ticket Match consists of seven battles, each of critical importance. If there is any battle for which our Holy Profound Star Academy is certain of victory, it is only the one at the Three-Star Court."

She seemed to smile and said, "That is correct; it is Jiang Jiang Qinge's match."

"She possesses a Ninth-Rank Affinity, and her own cultivation is extremely diligent. In terms of talent and strength, she is considered the most outstanding student in the Academy in a hundred years. The Academy places great hopes on her; with her abilities, not only this Ticket Match, but even at the Holy Cup War where numerous Holy Academies of the Eastern Region Outer Shenzhou gather, she has a very high certainty of competing for the title of the strongest Three-Star Court student in the Eastern Region Outer Shenzhou."

"So, looking at it now, out of the seven battles, our Holy Profound Star Academy has already secured one victory."

"As for the other six battles, since no fighting has occurred, the results are uncertain. Although the Blue Abyss Holy Academy lags behind top Holy Academies like the Holy Ming Wang Academy, the potential unleashed through their painstaking accumulation of resources cannot be underestimated. They may lack the foundation of our Holy Profound Star Academy, but having come with everything they have, they are fully capable of posing a threat to us."

"Regarding the Blue Abyss Holy Academy, you need not concern yourselves with other courts; simply pay closer attention to information about their One-Star Court. According to intelligence obtained from our Academy, this year's One-Star Court of the Blue Abyss Holy Academy has produced two students possessing an Upper Eighth-Rank Affinity."

Li Luo, Student Xin Fu, and Bai Bai Mengmeng were all startled. Two Upper Eighth-Ranks... that is indeed quite strong. After all, looking at their own Holy Profound Star Academy's One-Star Court, only Qin Qin Zhulu has an Affinity reaching that rank, of course, excluding Li Luo, this peculiar dual-affinity case.

Indeed, the other Holy Academies on the Eastern Region Outer Shenzhou also hide dragons and tigers; one must not harbor contempt simply because their fame is slightly inferior to that of the Holy Profound Star Academy.

"However, although Affinity Rank is important, it does not represent absolute combat power. After all, a person's strength is composed of many elements. In actual combat, while a high-rank Affinity offers certain advantages, it is not everything."

"Mastery and application of Affinity Arts, resilience of mind, and grasp of timing are all indispensable."

Instructor Xi Chan paused and said, "It is not yet confirmed which of the two Upper Eighth-Rank One-Star Court students from the Blue Abyss Holy Academy will fight. But in the Ticket Match one month from now, the strength of both is very likely to reach the First Transformation of the Transformed Affinity Stage. In a sense, they are half a step ahead of you. Do not ask me how they achieved this; every Holy Academy has its own special methods. As long as they cultivate them with full effort, they will eventually be able to raise some formidable students."

"Therefore, if you wish to contend with them, one month from now, you will probably also have to break through to the Transformed Affinity Stage!"

"Because there is a considerable gap between the Transformed Affinity Stage and the Born Pattern Stage. Although you possess a dual affinity, their Upper Eighth-Rank Affinity is not merely for show. Based on their own conditions, they similarly possess the capital to defeat opponents of higher levels."

Hearing this, Li Luo nodded. Previously at the Golden Dragon Dojo, his strength was at the Third Pattern. Although he could, by borrowing the power of his dual affinities and the instant burst of the Affinity Bubble Art, not fear some opponents at the First Transformation of the Transformed Affinity Stage, those opponents only possessed Seventh-Rank or lower Affinities. If the opponent were like Qin Qin Zhulu, possessing an Upper Eighth-Rank Affinity at the First Transformation of the Transformed Affinity Stage, then in a direct confrontation, he would still be at a disadvantage. For example, Zhao Zhao Jieyang; the opponent had a Lower Eighth-Rank Affinity and strength at the Second Transformation of the Transformed Affinity Stage. In his fight with Zhao Zhao Jieyang, even exerting all his strength, Li Luo only managed to tear through the opponent's defense when caught off guard. If they were to clash fully, without deploying the Three-Tailed Celestial Wolf, his chances of victory were extremely low.

After all, those who possess an Eighth-Rank Affinity are generally outstanding figures at the same level; who does not have the ability to defeat opponents of higher levels? Therefore, such opponents cannot be taken lightly.

Moreover, although Li Luo defeated Lin Suo, whose strength reached the Third Transformation of the Transformed Affinity Stage, Lin Suo's own Affinity was merely Seventh-Rank. Even so, Li Luo only managed to crush him after borrowing the power of the Three-Tailed Celestial Wolf.

As for the upcoming Ticket Match, Li Luo did not intend to easily deploy such power. First, the power of the Three-Tailed Celestial Wolf carries will pollution. Even though he could mitigate much of it with the "Saint Light Calming Bead," some pollution still remained. If Li Luo used it frequently, it would inevitably create hidden dangers. Second, if he revealed such trump-card power even in the Ticket Match, how could he cope with the more intense Holy Cup War?

Therefore, just as Instructor Xi Chan said, if he truly wished to become the representative of the Holy Profound Star Academy's One-Star Court, he would probably have to break through to the First Transformation of the Transformed Affinity Stage to gain recognition.

"Regarding the matter of the One-Star Court representative, my word is not final. Other Purple Radiance Instructors are also eyeing this spot. Although you and Qin Qin Zhulu are currently the most qualified, everything depends on who among you Purple Radiance students breaks through to the Transformed Affinity Stage first during this month's special training," Instructor Xi Chan said.

Li Luo nodded. The entire Ticket Match consists of only seven battles; the win or loss of each battle could even determine whether the Holy Profound Star Academy qualifies for the Holy Cup War ticket. Therefore, the Academy's high command would naturally be extremely cautious in selecting candidates and would not choose him simply because he recommended himself.

"Instructor, what is the situation regarding the upcoming special training?" Li Luo asked curiously.

Instructor Xi Chan chuckled lightly and said, "To say it, you are quite lucky. Having entered the Academy less than a year ago, you have encountered the opening of the Holy Cup War. To cope with the Holy Cup War, the Academy has gone all out. This time, even the 'Saint Wood Realm Cave' will be opened for you."

"'Saint Wood Realm Cave'?" Li Luo and the other two spoke in confusion, clearly quite unfamiliar with it.

"Actually, it is just a small space carved within the Affinity Power Tree. However, this place condenses much of the essence of the Affinity Power Tree. Within it, your cultivation speed can be greatly increased, without damaging your foundation and reserves due to forcing growth."

"Especially now that you are all at the level of assaulting the Transformed Affinity Stage, and this realm is the most difficult hurdle for an Affinity Master. Once you successfully transform your affinity, you will truly reach the peak of the Affinity Master Realm, simultaneously beginning to accumulate for the future assault on the 'General-Appointing Realm'."

"The essence energy within the Saint Wood Realm Cave has been condensed by the Affinity Power Tree over many years. Under normal circumstances, it is not opened. Only when encountering a competition as crucial to the Academy as the Holy Cup War will the Academy open it, serving as a means to refine and elevate the participating students."

"Moreover, only Purple Radiance students possess the qualification to enter," Instructor Xi Chan said slowly.

Li Luo and the other two nodded. The world is just like this; there is no absolute fairness. To cultivate the most top-tier students, the Academy naturally piles scarce resources onto students with good talent and potential, while the other Gold Radiance and Silver Radiance students can only proceed step by step.

"Make some preparations. Now, come with me. The other Purple Radiance squads will also enter the 'Saint Wood Realm Cave' together, initiating the Academy's final special training for you."

Instructor Xi Chan rose and headed toward the door.

Upon hearing this, Li Luo and the other two could not help but feel some curiosity and expectation in their eyes.