Chapter 420: Wang Hou Brand

The Academy's commendation finally concluded smoothly, and as expected, Li Luo became the brightest star of the entire gathering.

"This Treasure Selection ends here. I wish to once again represent the Academy in thanking you for your outstanding performance in the Ticket Match."

Before the Treasury, Vice Dean Su Xin gazed at the group of young people before her with a gentle smile, her voice flowing like a spring, inexplicably bringing peace to their hearts: "However, you should also be clear that the Ticket Match is not the end, but merely the beginning."

"The Academy's true goal is not a ticket, but the final reward of the Holy Grail War, that very... Dragon Bone Holy Grail."

Hearing these four words, the expressions of Gong Gong Shenjun, the Long Princess, Jiang Jiang Qinge, and others grew more Solemn, for they understood well the meaning and weight contained within that Dragon Bone Holy Grail, and of course, the pressure it carried.

Across the entire Eastern Region of Outer Shenzhou, all Holy Academies, as well as top-tier academies of equally great strength that had not yet been granted the title of 'Holy' due to seniority and other reasons, all eyed the Dragon Bone Holy Grail with predatory intent, for it represented the glory of the strongest Academy in Eastern Region Outer Shenzhou, and the power it possessed made every academy drool with desire.

The battles of this Ticket Match were already considered fierce, but they all knew clearly that compared to the battles they would face in the Holy Grail War, they still fell far short.

Li Luo sighed inwardly; he recalled the task Dean my lord had entrusted to him, but as a student of a One-Star Academy, how much of a role could he possibly play in competition of that caliber?

"Dean, you truly overestimate me."

Li Luo muttered to himself, simultaneously scratching his head in distress; if he failed to obtain the Dragon Bone Holy Grail in the end, he would not get the complete "Tian Ji Zhou," and naturally, he would find it difficult to fully control the "Three-Tailed Celestial Wolf," yet this power was his trump card for dealing with the "Academy Sacrifice."

Without this trump card, in the battles of the "Academy Sacrifice," he feared he would not even have the qualification to participate.

In that case, would the pressure not fall entirely upon Jiang Jiang Qinge again?

This was something Li Luo was unwilling to see.

Therefore, he best exert his full efforts to assist the Academy in reclaiming the Dragon Bone Holy Grail.

"Vice Dean, what is the mechanism of the Holy Grail War?" Li Luo thought for a moment, then raised his hand to ask.

"According to past precedents, the Holy Grail War is divided into two parts. The first part is the Academy-Level War, where the four academies compete separately; here, the four strongest of each academy level will be born, namely the strongest One-Star Academy student, the strongest Two-Star Academy student, and so on of Eastern Region Outer Shenzhou. This is also the highest honor for all students across Eastern Region Outer Shenzhou."

Vice Dean Su Xin smiled: "This title is far more impressive than our Holy Zhu Xuan Star Academy's Seven-Star Pillars, and what is pleasing is that our Academy this time might have a chance to obtain the title of the strongest Three-Star Academy student."

Upon reaching this point, her gaze turned toward Jiang Jiang Qinge.

Jiang Jiang Qinge, who possessed the Ninth-Rank Brightness Phase, was considered the most outstanding student of the Holy Zhu Xuan Star Academy in recent years; with her current strength, even on the Holy Grail War which encompassed countless young geniuses of Eastern Region Outer Shenzhou, she would inevitably be dazzling.

"Jiang Qinge, if you can win the title of the strongest Three-Star Academy student, then our Holy Zhu Xuan Star Academy this time will have a possibility of contending for the Dragon Bone Holy Grail." In Vice Dean Su Xin's eyes as she looked at Jiang Jiang Qinge, there was a hint of expectation.

On Jiang Jiang Qinge's Bai Xi and exquisite face, there was a calmness; she nodded and said, "I will do my utmost to strive for it."

"Is there any reward for obtaining that title of the strongest student?"

Li Luo blinked his eyes and smiled harmlessly: "It can't really be just a boring title, can it?"

"This title is not boring at all."

Vice Dean Su Xin smiled: "Across the entire Eastern Region of Outer Shenzhou, countless young people regard it as the supreme honor and pursuit."

Li Luo nodded in agreement: "Vice Dean is right; this honor is certainly impressive. I was just thinking... besides this honor, is there anything else practical?"

Vice Dean Su Xin looked at the handsome-looking youth before her with a slightly annoyed expression and said, "You are quite realistic."

Du Ze Duze Honglian couldn't help but snort coldly: "Why ask so much? That title of the strongest student has nothing to do with you."

Li Luo spoke with conviction: "As long as it has to do with Sister Jiang Qinge, that's enough. Between me and her, is there really any distinction between 'you' and 'me'?"

Du Ze Duze Honglian pouted; this fellow's skin was truly thick beyond all bounds.

Vice Dean Su Xin found it somewhat amusing, but still said: "Although Eastern Region Outer Shenzhou is merely an Outer Shenzhou, and in terms of strength and scale, it is indeed far inferior to those Inner Shenzhous which are blessed by heaven and resemble holy lands, the Holy Grail War is at least supported by the Academy Alliance, so the final reward naturally will not be stingy."

"For example, one of the rewards for the winner of this strongest student title is the 'Wang Hou Brand'."

"Wang Hou Brand? What is this?" Li Luo continued to ask curiously.

"Simply put, it is a type of tattoo branded onto the surface of the body," Vice Dean Su Xin said with a smile.

"What function does it have?" Li Luo did not immediately feel disappointed, for he believed that anything Vice Dean Su Xin spoke of solemnly would not be simple; the fact that he had never heard of it merely represented that his level was insufficient and he was somewhat ignorant.

"The so-called Wang Hou Brand is a peculiar thing forged using the vital blood of a Marquis-level powerhouse as the primary material, supplemented by numerous rare materials. There are various types of Wang Hou Brands with various wonderful uses; for instance, the 'Nine Treasures Spirit Tree Brand' bestowed in past Holy Grail Wars. If this brand is branded upon the body, it can accelerate the absorption and refinement of heavenly and earthly energy, and it does so constantly, making it a sharp tool for cultivation."

"Hiss!"

Li Luo sucked in a sharp breath; this Wang Hou Brand was too domineering! Just the materials required the vital blood of a Marquis-level powerhouse? What kind of high-end thing is this? I've never even heard of it before!

Moreover, the function of that "Nine Treasures Spirit Tree Brand" was too tempting; with this brand on one's body, would cultivation not be twice as effective with half the effort?

"The 'Nine Treasures Spirit Tree Brand' is more for assisting cultivation; some Wang Hou Brands even possess abilities for attack, defense, and preserving life. In a sense, they can be regarded as a special category of treasures, except these are carried on the person and cannot be plundered. However, Wang Hou Brands also have a drawback: the vast majority are consumable; as time passes, the materials within gradually deplete, and the brand loses its effect."

"In those Inner Shenzhous, Wang Hou Brands appear with higher frequency; here in Eastern Region Outer Shenzhou, they are very rare," Vice Dean Su Xin stated.

Li Luo clicked his tongue; from this alone, one could see how terrifying the foundations of those Inner Shenzhous were. Marquis-level powerhouses in Great Xia were giants of a region; how could they be willing to extract their own vital blood to forge such a relatively useless Wang Hou Brand for themselves? Only in places like the Inner Shenzhous would such things appear.

For people from such remote and impoverished places as them, such high-end items were truly unplayable.

Not only did he think this way; Du Ze Duze Honglian and others nearby also sighed somewhat, for they too had never seen such a thing.

"Then, if one finally obtains the Dragon Bone Holy Grail, what reward can be received?" Li Luo licked his lips and asked.

Regarding Li Luo's question full of ambition, Vice Dean Su Xin did not mock; instead, her face showed an expression of appreciation.

"The Dragon Bone Holy Grail is the best reward, but that is for the Academy. As for you who retrieve the Holy Grail for the Academy, what do you want?"

"Purple-Eyed Treasures? Eighth-Rank or Ninth-Rank Spirit Water Strange Light? Or Mi Fa Source Water Source Light? Or Marquis Arts?"

Looking at the slightly dazed Li Luo, a smile rose on Vice Dean Su Xin's lips.

"As long as you truly can bring the Dragon Bone Holy Grail back, as long as the Academy possesses it, whatever you want, we will give you."