Chapter 517: Following the Princess

After Jiang Jiang Qinge spoke those words, the expressions of everyone present inevitably became somewhat strange.

Although within the Luo Lan Manor, Li Luo is the rightful Young Manor Master, everyone outside knows that in recent years Jiang Jiang Qinge's prestige and authority within the manor far exceed Li Luo's; although in this short year Li Luo has made all factions within the manor extremely surprised, he still lacks the maturity to catch up to Jiang Jiang Qinge's weight.

Therefore, in their family, who is actually in charge is quite visible.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's words were merely to save Li Luo's face.

But even so, it made people's hearts feel sour and bitter.

Facing Jiang Jiang Qinge's reason, Gong Gong Shenjun's expression remained devoid of joy or anger; only a deep shadow swept through the depths of his gaze, followed by a regretful smile: "That is truly a pity; originally I wanted to leverage Jiang Xue Mei's strength to contend for the championship."

Seeing this, everyone understood that Jiang Jiang Qinge and Li Luo would not join Gong Gong Shenjun's team.

At this moment, Vice Dean Su Xin also spoke: "Li Luo, Jiang Jiang Qinge, have you confirmed your choice of Gong Yuanyu as team captain?"

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge exchanged a glance and nodded calmly.

Vice Dean Su Xin's gaze flickered slightly; she said no more, because choosing a team is their freedom, and even she could not interfere; moreover, although Gong Yuanyu is slightly weaker than Gong Gong Shenjun, she is still not to be underestimated, so overall, the impact on the team's strength is not too great.

With Gong Yuanyu and Jiang Jiang Qinge joining forces, they should fear no one.

As for Li Luo... let him be a small add-on for now; after all, the mixed-rank competition mechanism is like this.

"Very well, for this mixed-rank competition, the three of you will form a team; I hope you cooperate sincerely to secure a good result for our academy," Vice Dean Su Xin said, nodding.

The Princess, Li Luo, and Jiang Jiang Qinge all agreed.

Then Vice Dean Su Xin turned to Gong Gong Shenjun and comforted him: "It seems you will have to find two other teammates."

Gong Gong Shenjun nodded with a smile: "Everything is for the academy's honor; as long as we can win the championship, the rest doesn't matter."

His attitude even made Vice Dean Su Xin nod inwardly; others were even more awed by his magnanimity, truly worthy of being the strongest student of this generation at Saint Profound Star Academy.

Then, under the gaze of the crowd, Gong Gong Shenjun selected Du Ze Duze Honglian from the Three-Star Courtyard and Senior Zhu Zhu Xuan from the Two-Star Courtyard as his two teammates; for his invitation, these two were extremely delighted and happily agreed on the spot.

Thus, the second mixed-rank competition team was settled.

Looking at the two teams overall, their strengths are not weak; however, at a glance, the Princess's side might be slightly stronger, because with Jiang Jiang Qinge's presence, she and the Princess joining forces, they would probably have no fear even if they encountered Lan Lan.

As for Li Luo, although he obtained the title of strongest in the One-Star Courtyard, in this mixed-rank competition, the weight of the One-Star Courtyard is ultimately too light; after all, the other two teammates are existences who have entered the General Rank, so what significant role could Li Luo, a Phase Master Realm cultivator among them, play?

If not for the mechanism requiring all three team members in the mixed-rank competition to be from different courtyards, the One-Star Courtyard probably wouldn't even have the qualification to participate.

Of course, if we speak truly, the One-Star Courtyard is like this, and the Two-Star Courtyard isn't much better.

Senior Zhu Zhu Xuan is also only in the fourth transformation of the Transformation Phase; in terms of true combat power, he might not exceed Li Luo by much; and looking at the One-Star and Two-Star Courtyards in this Saint Cup Battle, probably only Ao Bai from the Two-Star Courtyard of the North Sea Holy Academy is better; it is said that fellow has reached the level of a Void General, which is a step stronger than other Phase Masters.

"Your journey is both a competition and a large-scale purification mission."

Vice Dean Su Xin looked at the two teams composed of the most elite students of Saint Profound Star Academy and said solemnly: "Although you have undergone the trials of the Dark Caverns, remember not to confuse the Dark Caverns with these alien territories raging outside; inside the Dark Caverns, after all, the academy has conducted multiple layers of cleansing, but in this Red Sand Commandery, the aliens, after devouring many humans, have become even more tricky and bizarre; you must be extra vigilant."

She flicked her fingers, and several streams of light fell toward Li Luo and the others.

Li Luo caught them; the streams of light transformed in his hands into a white mirror and a crystal vial; inside the crystal vial, there were exceptionally bright and brilliant light pearls emitting radiance.

"The mirror is named Spirit Mirror; it has many functions, able to check all teams' mission progress and acquired points; of course, most importantly, if you encounter a life-or-death situation, crush the Spirit Mirror; the power contained within will form protection and simultaneously teleport you back to the Saint Cup Space."

"However, once the Spirit Mirror is shattered, it counts as elimination."

"Inside the bottle are Purification Spirit Pearls; if, within the Red Sand Commandery, you eliminate aliens in some towns, you must embed the Purification Spirit Pearls into the towns using a specific method and sequence; this will cause them to form purification nodes; and when there are enough purification nodes, these purification nodes will connect, finally covering the Red Sand Commandery; only then can the Red Sand Commandery break free from the pollution of the endless evil qi," Vice Dean Su Xin warned.

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Qinge, Li Luo, and the others all nodded; this process is actually not unfamiliar; when they were in the Dark Caverns, they also needed to activate purification towers; and obviously, these Purification Spirit Pearls should have effects similar to the purification towers.

"As for more information, you can look into it yourselves."

"Two days later, the mixed-rank competition will officially begin; during these two days, you must adjust your state well."

After giving some further instructions, Vice Dean Su Xin said no more and waved her hand to depart.

After Vice Dean Su Xin departed, the atmosphere in the hall relaxed; many gazes turned toward the two teams in the arena; some veteran students who claimed to be somewhat familiar with Gong Gong Shenjun and the Princess all stepped forward to offer encouragement and boost morale.

The Princess smiled and responded to everyone, then found a reason to avoid the surging crowd and walked straight toward Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge.

"Two of you."

The Princess called out to the two who were about to retreat.

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge looked at the approaching Princess and nodded in acknowledgment.

"Your Highness, in the mixed-rank competition, I will trouble you to give us much care," Li Luo said with a grin.

The Princess's phoenix eyes flowed, and she pressed her lips together, smiling: "Young Manor Master is too polite; if the Young Manor Master didn't think highly of me, how could this small temple have kept two such people?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge smiled slightly and said: "Your Highness is not a small temple."

The Princess reached out and took Jiang Jiang Qinge's arm, appearing quite intimate, and said: "Jiang Jiang Qinge, rest assured; with our dual swords combined, I actually want to see who in this mixed-rank competition can stand against us."

Jiang Jiang Qinge revealed a slightly breathtakingly beautiful smile and said: "Then we must rely on Your Highness's prestige."

Li Luo, standing aside, looked at the two women's mutually radiant, absolutely beautiful faces and felt a slight sourness; truly... was I ignored again?

In such a team, his presence is really inhumanly miserable.