Chapter 419

In the grand hall, Li Luo's sudden shout instantly drew every gaze, filled with astonishment, toward him—especially when everyone saw his palm aimed at the hilt of the blade embedded in the wall, several couldn't help but twitch their lips.

"Li Luo, are you having a fit?"

Behind him, Senior Zhu Zhu Xuan couldn't help but laugh aloud—had Li Luo suddenly lost his mind? Did he think that by striking a pose and bellowing, the Golden Jade Elephant Blade would spontaneously burst through the wall to join him?

Does he really believe he's the protagonist, capable of casually radiating royal aura?

Others wore strange expressions, but Jiang Jiang Qinge stared intently at Li Luo's face and said, "Could it be you've resonated with the Golden Jade Elephant Blade?"

Others would assume Li Luo was merely pulling a prank—after all, even Palace Divine Jun and the Princess had failed to move this blade; what could a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Li Luo possibly do? But Jiang Jiang Qinge had never believed Li Luo weaker than either of them; if she herself had just caused the Golden Jade Elephant Blade to hesitate, then for Li Luo to resonate with it wasn't entirely implausible.

"Jiang Jiang Qinge, even if you're blind, you should have some limits," said Du Ze Duze Honglian, frowning as she overheard this—Jiang Jiang Qinge was usually so calm and rational; why did she always act foolishly where Li Luo was concerned?

Yet Jiang Jiang Qinge paid no heed to Du Ze Duze Honglian's words; her gaze remained fixed on Li Luo.

Li Luo also gave no reply, for the moment he shouted "Come, blade!", he clearly felt the dark red bracelet on his wrist grow scorching hot—a searing pain surged through it, so intense he feared his skin had already been burned.

Simultaneously, the blade's howl echoing in his ears grew increasingly joyful and urgent.

This blade's howl went unnoticed by Jiang Jiang Qinge, Palace Divine Jun, and the others; only Su Xin, the Deputy Dean standing with arms folded, suddenly narrowed her eyes, a flicker of shock and doubt appearing within them.

Clang!

Before she could react, the next instant, the blade's howl shifted from formless to tangible, erupting loudly throughout the hall.

Shock flashed in every eye.

Shhh!

For they saw the hilt, embedded in the wall and utterly immovable despite all efforts by Palace Divine Jun and the others, now trembling violently—then, with a clang, a dazzling blade-light exploded within the grand hall.

That blade-light blazed brilliantly, as if an ancient colossal elephant had broken through the void—its tusks gleamed in golden jade hues, like a heavenly blade capable of tearing through space.

The blade-light vanished in an instant.

When everyone regained their senses, their pupils contracted sharply.

For the hilt on the wall had vanished.

Everyone—including Palace Divine Jun and the Princess—slowly turned their heads toward Li Luo's position, and saw that his outstretched palm now held a blade, materialized out of thin air.

A simple, ancient straightblade.

Its blade surface gleamed in golden jade, covered in mottled patterns like the thick, rough hide of an ancient colossal elephant, capable of withstanding the force of collapsing heavens; along its edge, golden jade light flowed ceaselessly—yet this blade lacked any obvious sharpness, instead radiating weight and power.

Though Li Luo felt no heaviness gripping it, when suspended in midair, the space around it visibly warped, as if bearing the crushing weight of mountains.

In the silent grand hall, Li Luo gazed down at the straightblade in his hand, his eyes blazing with heat that threatened to burst into flame.

His heart pounded like a drumbeat, overwhelming joy flooding him until dizziness washed through his mind.

He never imagined that with one shout and one outstretched hand, the Golden Jade Elephant Blade—something even Palace Divine Jun and the Princess had failed to claim—would come to him of its own accord!

This casual attempt had yielded an unimaginable reward.

Li Luo slowly clenched his fingers around the hilt—and in that instant, he felt his strength enhanced, not through Qi, but pure, raw physical might.

Indeed, this Golden Jade Elephant Blade could grant its wielder miraculous physical power.

How peculiar.

Li Luo grinned—no wonder this had once been the Dean's blade; though both were Golden-Eye Treasures, clearly this Golden Jade Elephant Blade far surpassed the Ink-Scale Blade he'd originally favored.

His fingers traced the blade's surface—the rough, cool touch felt like stroking an ancient colossal elephant—and the Golden Jade Elephant Blade offered no resistance, allowing Li Luo to quietly exhale in relief.

He knew well: the blade resonated with him not because of his own merit, but because of the sealing bracelet on his wrist, forged by the Dean—its power had misled the blade into mistaking him for the Dean, prompting it to come to him.

Though the Golden Jade Elephant Blade possessed spirit, it lacked true sentience, so it never reacted by slashing Li Luo upon realizing the deception—otherwise, Li Luo would now be hiding behind the Deputy Dean for protection.

Satisfied, Li Luo finally raised his head to face the hall's occupants, who now stared silently at the Golden Jade Elephant Blade in his hand, their expressions complex and pained.

Especially Palace Divine Jun—his usually composed, heroic face now slightly stunned.

He couldn't comprehend why what he had strived for and failed to obtain now came to Li Luo with a mere gesture.

Aren't you the Dean's former blade? Where's your pride just now?!

I really… damn it.

Even Palace Divine Jun, with his cultivated poise and restraint, couldn't help cursing inwardly, then took a deep, defeated breath, turning his gaze away from the Golden Jade Elephant Blade.

On his side, the Princess's exquisite oval face was equally stunned, though her reaction was less intense—after all, the Golden Jade Elephant Blade was never suited to her—but she still couldn't fathom why this proud blade had chosen Li Luo.

Is this kid really that outstanding? But even if he is, can he outshine Jiang Jiang Qinge?

Jiang Jiang Qinge just failed—how could Li Luo possibly succeed?

At this moment, even the composed Princess was utterly bewildered.

"Li Luo, what exactly did you do?" Du Ze Duze Honglian blurted out, her face twisted in disbelief.

Li Luo spoke calmly: "Fate is inexplicable. Perhaps the Golden Jade Elephant Blade sensed my future potential to become a king, and thus came to me of its own accord."

"You're full of nonsense!" Du Ze Duze Honglian gritted her teeth—king potential? If it were about thickness of skin, maybe you'd have a chance.

"How the hell should I know what happened?!"

Li Luo rolled his eyes, muttering, "I was just messing around—it flew over itself. Maybe it has a limit on how many people it can reject, and just now it hit that limit, so when I reached out, it came. Come to think of it, you were supposed to be next to try, but you gave up."

"Perhaps if you'd reached out instead, it would've come to you too."

Du Ze Duze Honglian froze, her beautiful face shifting uncertainly—could such nonsense possibly be true? But this explanation seemed more plausible than Li Luo's king-potential claim.

If she'd been the one to reach out just now, would she have actually pulled the blade free?

The thought made her suddenly ache with regret, right in her chest.

"Naughty child, don't speak nonsense."

At this moment, Deputy Dean Su Xin shook her head with a smile: "You stirred the Dean's blade because it recognized you. Though I find this strange too, I must still congratulate you—you are now the second master of the Golden Jade Elephant Blade."

Her warm gaze remained fixed on Li Luo, subtly studying him—for from the start, she'd never anticipated this outcome.

She'd originally thought Jiang Jiang Qinge had the best chance.

This Li Luo truly kept surprising people.

Upon hearing Deputy Dean Su Xin's words, Li Luo's face broke into uncontainable joy and excitement—he asked, "I can really take it with me?"

Originally, his target had been the Ink Scale Blade, but clearly, this Profound Image Blade was an even more perfect choice.

Vice Dean Su Xin displayed a smile as refreshing as a spring breeze and said, "I said that as long as you could come here, regardless of the method you used, if you could pull out the Profound Image Blade, it would belong to you."

"Soon after, the true Chalice War will begin. Li Luo, I hope you can wield this blade and win glory for our Saint Profound Star Academy at the Chalice War."

Her voice paused for a moment, and her gaze toward Li Luo held deep meaning.

After all... you are the one chosen by the Dean.