Chapter 415: Lingering Echoes

The thrilling, heart-stopping ticket match finally came to an end.

Yet in the days that followed, the entire academy remained immersed in the lingering aftermath of that great battle, with endless debates and discussions continuing unabated; unsurprisingly, the match involving Li Luo drew the most attention—though it was the lowest-ranked among the seven matches in terms of power level, its intensity and nail-biting suspense surpassed all others.

As a result, Li Luo has now become a rising star within the Sacred Zhu Xuan Star Academy, his reputation rivaling that of top students like Princess, Gong Gong Shenjun, and Jiang Jiang Qinge.

To achieve such an accomplishment while still in the First Star Academy, in the academy's recent history, perhaps only Jiang Jiang Qinge had ever done so.

Moreover, this influence and prestige extended beyond the academy itself, for the ticket match had drawn immense attention across the Great Xia Nation, and every detail of the competition spread throughout Great Xia at once.

This brought the long-declining Luo Lan Mansion back into the sight of countless people.

During the years when Li Taixuan and Dan Tai Lan vanished, the Luo Lan Mansion had teetered on the brink of collapse; though it still ranked among the Five Mansions, many had already realized its strength was no longer sufficient to maintain that status—yet due to various reasons, most importantly because the two mansion lords had merely disappeared, not definitively confirmed dead, the title of "One of the Five Mansions" had never been stripped away.

Over these past few years, Jiang Jiang Qinge had single-handedly upheld the Luo Lan Mansion; her outstanding talent and latent potential had made many aware that the mansion still harbored a young phoenix gathering strength, waiting for the day she would astonish the world.

As for Li Luo, the young lord, frankly speaking, his presence was far too low; unless some observant individuals paid attention, most people in Great Xia had automatically forgotten him—after all, with Jiang Jiang Qinge shining so brilliantly, her light overshadowed everything else.

When people occasionally mentioned this young lord, it was mostly because of his engagement to Jiang Jiang Qinge.

But after this ticket match, countless people in Great Xia suddenly remembered this young lord—and what surprised them most was that this young lord, rumored to be ordinary, had delivered such an astonishing performance.

The strength and potential he displayed in the match were not to be underestimated.

Only now did people realize: his previous obscurity must have been deliberate concealment.

Indeed, with parents as exceptional as Li Taixuan and Dan Tai Lan, how could he possibly be an ordinary person? With both a latent dragon and a young phoenix within the Luo Lan Mansion, the future looks promising.

This great battle significantly boosted the Luo Lan Mansion's reputation, and many of its businesses saw improved fortunes, especially Xi Yang House—the current flagship industry of the Luo Lan Mansion—which benefited the most.

In the two or three days after the ticket match, Li Luo rested; that battle against Lu Cang was the most perilous he had ever faced through his own strength—whereas his encounter with Lin Suo at the Golden Dragon Dojo had relied largely on the power of the Three-Tailed Heavenly Wolf.

Thus, even Li Luo was utterly exhausted after the battle, taking several full days to recover his strength.

On the third day of rest, Jiang Jiang Qinge finished her affairs and came to visit him.

Along the lakeside pebble path before the small pavilion, the two walked side by side, chatting casually, their atmosphere relaxed and easy; as they passed many students, all cast glances toward them—yet in the past, those glances had focused mostly on Jiang Jiang Qinge, with Li Luo merely an afterthought.

But this time, the looks directed at Li Luo had grown somewhat friendly and admiring.

Yet their stroll did not last long before they spotted two figures ahead.

The two stood there, clearly waiting for them.

It was Zhao Zhao Huiyin and Lu Cang.

After the ticket match ended, the Blue Abyss Sacred Academy delegation had not departed immediately but stayed for several days to tour.

Zhao Zhao Huiyin gazed at them, a charming smile appearing on her lovely face as she waved cheerfully.

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge exchanged a glance, then walked forward.

"You haven't left yet?" Li Luo asked, surprised.

"Are you that unwelcoming?" Zhao Zhao Huiyin chuckled, then added: "We'll begin departing today."

"Welcome to Great Xia after graduation," Jiang Jiang Qinge said.

Zhao Zhao Huiyin giggled: "Didn't I say before? If you kick Li Luo out and become the Luo Lan Mansion lord, I'll come to Great Xia to join you."

Li Luo's face darkened.

He then turned to Lu Cang, who had been staring at him intently, clearly wanting to speak; Jiang Jiang Qinge noticed this too, so she walked aside to chat with Zhao Zhao Huiyin.

"What? Still upset about losing the match?" Li Luo leaned against the lakeside stone railing and smiled.

Lu Cang shook his head. "Strictly speaking, I was the one cheating—I borrowed another person's power, while you fought two opponents alone."

Li Luo smiled; Lu Cang was indeed straightforward.

"It's not really cheating—it's just your unique ability."

Lu Cang hesitated, then said: "I just want to know why the power you used to defeat me was so strong."

Li Luo froze, recalling his punch at the bottom of the lake; though that power stemmed from his evolution of "Water-Light Phase," its ultimate strength came from a moment of insight into his Dual Phase Power.

Dual Phase Power has three realms: Minor Fusion, He Yi Jing, and Soul Awakening.

Until now, his Dual Phase Power had always remained at the first level—Minor Fusion—but that punch at the lake bottom, perhaps due to his mind's profound clarity, had briefly reached "He Yi Jing."

The two Dual Phase rings were proof enough.

In the two days since the battle, he had tried activating Dual Phase Power again, but the rings had not reappeared—clearly, that punch had been a fleeting moment, not true mastery.

Yet this was still excellent news, for it proved his control over Dual Phase Power was gradually improving; this was merely an accident, but with continued cultivation, he would surely reach "He Yi Jing" soon.

"That was true Dual Phase Power—He Yi Jing Dual Phase Power."

Li Luo smiled, not hiding anything, and spoke plainly.

"He Yi Jing Dual Phase Power."

Lu Cang murmured the words, sighing sadly: "This is true Dual Phase. Though I can borrow my brother's power and phase affinity to make myself appear dual-phase, it's merely two separate phase affinities—not true Dual Phase. I cannot fuse them into true Dual Phase Power."

Li Luo nodded; during their battle, he had sensed that after merging Lu Cang's power, Lu Cang's phase force had indeed become immensely strong—but it was merely two powerful phase forces, never fused together like his own Dual Phase Power.

Without fusion, true Dual Phase Power could not form.

It was two great serpents, never becoming a true dragon.

"Still, you're very strong—your future is promising," Li Luo gave Lu Cang a thumbs-up, sincerely praising him and showing full respect to his opponent.

Lu Cang smiled. "Our Blue Abyss Sacred Academy will likely miss the Sacred Cup Battle this time, but I'll be watching you closely. Keep going—I hope you'll perform even better at the Sacred Cup Battle, where your opponents will be far stronger than me."

He paused. "Also, I'll give you a piece of intelligence: in the First Star Academy division of this Sacred Cup Battle, you are not the only one with true Dual Phase."

"So this time, you will likely face a formidable opponent just like you—someone who truly wields Dual Phase Power."

Li Luo was surprised, yet not overly so; he simply nodded with a smile.

"If that's the case..."

"Then I'm actually looking forward to it."