Chapter 591: Spirit-Communing, Spirit-Derivation, Si Si Tianming, Peerless

Li Luo's exaggerated display drew a laugh from Vice Principal Suxin despite herself. "Your House Luolan House has two Marquis in one house. You don't expect me to believe Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan left behind no Marquis Arts, do you? So who exactly are you putting on this poor act for?"

For ordinary students, Marquis Arts were indeed lofty and untouchable. After all, every Marquis Art was crafted by a Marquis-tier powerhouse, making them rare and astronomically valuable. Throughout the entire Xia Kingdom, the number of forces that could possess a Marquis Art could be counted on one hand.

But clearly, Li Luo and the House Luolan House behind him were not among that number.

Li Luo groaned, "My old man and old lady did leave Marquis Arts, it's just that the ones they left behind I can't cultivate at all right now."

Deep in the House Luolan House's library, there were indeed two Marquis Arts left behind by Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan — the House-guarding techniques. But just as Li Luo said, those two Marquis Arts were simply too high in grade, with strict requirements on the cultivator's realm, and weren't suited to his current stage.

During the Holy Grail War, after witnessing Lan Lan's "Bright King Scripture," Li Luo had developed an immense interest and longing for Marquis Arts. However, he was well aware that cultivating a Marquis Art was extremely difficult for him at present. Lan Lan herself was already at the Tian Zhu Jing, and her eventual mastery of the "Bright King Scripture" had only come about through a fortunate coincidence.

Yet he, a mere Diviner-tier cultivator, was still a great distance away from Lan Lan.

Sun Sun Dasheng did carry a "Marquis Art" as well, but because it was incomplete, its power was greatly diminished, so it wasn't what Li Luo was after.

What he wanted was a true, complete Marquis Art suited to his current stage.

This requirement was rather stringent — even the House Luolan House's foundations couldn't satisfy it. But since Vice Principal Suxin had asked that question, there had to be some reason behind it. And that was precisely why Li Luo's heart was pounding, his pulse quickening.

Vice Principal Suxin smiled. "A mere Diviner-tier already setting your sights on 'Marquis Arts' — isn't that aiming a bit too high? From what I know, you haven't even successfully cultivated a Dragon General Art yet, have you?"

Li Luo said shamelessly, "The Dragon General Art is only because I didn't have time to cultivate it before, and there are quite a few Dragon General Arts to choose from. But a 'Marquis Art' that a Diviner-tier could access and master is exceedingly rare in this world. If such an opportunity truly exists, of course one has to seize it."

Vice Principal Suxin smiled faintly. "Among Marquis Arts, there is a saying: 'Spirit-Communing, Spirit-Derivation, Si Si Tianming, Peerless.'"

"This represents the four grades of Marquis Arts. From lowest to highest: Spirit-Communing grade, Spirit-Derivation grade, Si Si Tianming grade, and Peerless grade."

"Marquis Arts possess heaven-piercing, earth-shattering power — they are phase arts only Marquis-tier powerhouses can wield. Even the lowest 'Spirit-Communing grade' is beyond the reach of those below Marquis-tier, and mastering one requires tremendous fortune and talent."

Li Luo nodded. He naturally knew the grade classification of Marquis Arts. The two Marquis Arts in their House Luolan House were Spirit-Derivation grade — a level of Marquis Art that even ordinary Marquis-tier powerhouses did not possess.

But precisely because those two "Marquis Arts" at home were too high in grade, they gave him now not even the slightest chance of mastering them.

By his own assessment, with his current strength, no matter how high his talent, he could at most attempt to reach for a "Spirit-Communing grade" Marquis Art.

"Marquis Arts are extraordinary, and their value is extremely high. Even with the foundations of our Holy Mystic Star Academy, what we have in storage can be counted on one hand. If you wish to cultivate one with your current strength, then you must have an extremely high affinity with the art — just like Sun Sun Dasheng of the Holy Mountain Academy. The 'Magic Ape Ultimate Intent' he cultivates can only be called an incomplete Spirit-Communing grade Marquis Art, but because his own affinity with this Marquis Art is extremely high, perhaps the day he steps into the Earth Sha General rank, he will truly master it."

Vice Principal Suxin's gaze swept over Li Luo, and she smiled. "However, you have your own advantage, because cultivating a 'Marquis Art' might give you a slight edge over others. Do you know why?"

Li Luo's heart stirred at her words, and he tentatively said, "Because of the power of dual phases?"

Vice Principal Suxin praised, "You little rascal are indeed quite clever. That's right — the power of dual phases."

"Marquis Arts are created by Marquis-tier powerhouses, and the signature power of a Marquis-tier powerhouse is the power of dual phases... Of course, I'm talking about true dual-phase power, not your crude, shallow, fake type of dual-phase power."

Li Luo felt a bit deflated. They were talking about Marquis Arts perfectly well — why did they have to take a jab at his dual-phase power? Comparing a mere Diviner-tier like him to a Marquis-tier powerhouse?

"But no matter how shallow your dual-phase power is, it is still dual-phase power, so you still have an advantage over others."

Vice Principal Suxin paused thoughtfully. "So if the 'Marquis Art' you choose shares affinity with your own phases, then your chances of mastering it will be somewhat higher."

Li Luo's eyes flashed. If that were the case, then his options were actually quite broad, because although he appeared to be a water-earth dual phase, in reality he also had the light phase and earth phase as his two auxiliary phases. Such a combination would make his choices even more flexible.

"How about this — come to the Academy in three days. I'll have Instructor Xixian take you to the top floor of the Academy's Phase Art Tower. The Academy's only Marquis Arts are stored there. You can try looking around and see if there's one suited to you," Vice Principal Suxin said.

Li Luo nodded eagerly at her words, overjoyed.

"But I have to make this clear to you first. When you go to choose a Marquis Art, if you successfully cultivate it, I'll deduct all 1.2 million of your points. If you don't succeed... then 500,000 points will be deducted as well," Vice Principal Suxin said with a smile.

Li Luo was stunned, then said indignantly, "500,000 points even if I don't succeed? Vice Principal, isn't that a bit too shady?!"

"When the Sky Arrives"

Vice Principal Suxin said exasperatedly, "Because we'll also be providing you with a special cultivation method. This method will consume our Academy's accumulated resources. Of course, its effect is also very obvious. If your own probability of successfully cultivating a 'Marquis Art' is only twenty percent, then with the aid of this method, it should be able to raise it to around fifty percent. Do you think that's worth it?"

"Raise it to fifty percent?" Li Luo was shocked. What kind of special cultivation method could provide such a massive boost?

"It varies from person to person," Vice Principal Suxin said.

Li Luo hesitated slightly, then gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I agree!"

Although the price paid was enormous, if he could master a "Marquis Art," then everything would be worth it. Because after this Holy Grail War, Li Luo had clearly recognized his own shortcomings — namely, that his own trump cards were still not strong enough.

An external force like the Three-Tailed Heavenly Wolf was ultimately not the true path. Everything still needed to rely on one's own strength.

And Marquis Arts were the best means to cause one's combat power to skyrocket.

Vice Principal Suxin smiled elegantly and lightly clapped her hands. "What courage. Truly worthy of being Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan's son."

"Alright, go find Instructor Xixian first and have her activate the 'Phantom Spirit Wing Escape Art' for you. This is something that can save your life."

Li Luo nodded, stood up, and pushed the door open to leave.

However, just as he was about to push the door and leave, Vice Principal Suxin's faint voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Also, Li Luo, during your House Luolan House's House Sacrifice, you'd best be a little careful of the Golden Dragon Treasure House as well."

Li Luo's pupils contracted sharply at her words, but it seemed Vice Principal Suxin didn't intend to say more, so he didn't press further and pushed the door open to leave.