Chapter 635: The Underestimated Father and Mother

When Niu Niu Biaobiao said this, not only was Li Luo stunned, even Jiang Jiang Qinge was momentarily dazed. The two of them stared straight at him—his words contained information that was truly rather shocking.

"Uncle Biao, what do you mean by that?" Li Luo asked in astonishment.

Niu Niu Biaobiao said with a smile: "Isn't what I said clear enough? Who told you that Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan only broke through to the Marquis Realm after arriving in Daxia?"

Li Luo stammered: "Everyone in Daxia says so!"

Niu Niu Biaobiao said: "Just because they say it, does that make it true?"

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge exchanged glances. After a moment of silence, Jiang Jiang Qinge spoke thoughtfully: "Uncle Biao, what you mean is... Master and Mistress were already at the Marquis Realm before they came to Daxia? Then why is it that within Daxia, there are still stories circulating about them charging into the Marquis Realm? Was that deliberately concealed and fabricated by them?"

Niu Niu Biaobiao laughed: "Actually, it's not exactly deliberate concealment or fabrication. What they say isn't wrong either—Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan did indeed reach the Marquis Realm in Daxia, but this wasn't a breakthrough. To be precise, it was a recovery."

"They recovered to the Marquis Realm in Daxia."

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge both saw the look of shock on each other's faces. Although "recovering to the Marquis Realm in Daxia" and "breaking through to the Marquis Realm" differed by only two words, they both understood very well the gap between them and what they represented.

That meant the Marquis Realm record set by Li Taixuan and Jiang Jiang Qinge probably had to be pushed back several more years.

What astonishing talent that was!

Everyone in Daxia had underestimated his father and mother!

They had originally thought the two of them were already prodigiously brilliant, but now it seemed, these two were even more terrifying than they had imagined.

"Uncle Biao, you said Master and Mistress recovered to the Marquis Realm in Daxia... then why did their cultivation realm fall?" Jiang Jiang Qinge, being more attentive, noticed a very important question within.

Li Luo's gaze also hardened.

Father and Mother had come from the Inner Shenzhou, and Father was also from the so-called "Li Li Tianwang's lineage"—this must belong to some extremely powerful faction in the Inner Shenzhou. But why would they come to a remote place like the Eastern Region's Outer Shenzhou?

What exactly had happened to them back then?

Niu Niu Biaobiao fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, then said: "Something did indeed happen to them back then, which is why they left the Inner Shenzhou. But as for the specifics, wait until after the Prefecture Ceremony—when the time is right, I'll tell you. Right now, the most urgent matter is tomorrow's Prefecture Ceremony."

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge both expressed their agreement. Tomorrow's Prefecture Ceremony would determine the direction of their future.

"Actually, that Manager Pei Hao is nothing to fear. What's most important now is to see what Marquis Realm experts will move against our House Luolan Mansion during the Prefecture Ceremony," Li Luo said slowly.

Jiang Jiang Qinge nodded slightly and said: "From the current intelligence, among the five great mansions of Daxia, the Extreme Flame Mansion, Duze Mansion, and Lanling Mansion have all shown hostility toward us. Only House House Jinque can be considered to have some goodwill, but whether they'll truly dare to support our House Luolan Mansion tomorrow remains to be seen."

"Li Luo obtained a promise from the Eldest Princess—she will dispatch a Marquis Realm expert at that time. This is a potential powerful reinforcement."

"Beyond that, there don't seem to be any other allies."

Niu Niu Biaobiao continued sharpening his knife and said: "Those coveting our House Luolan Mansion in Daxia may not be limited to these great mansions, and the hidden hand behind Manager Pei Hao may not necessarily be them either."

Li Luo's gaze sharpened slightly. "Uncle Biao, you mean?"

"Don't you suspect that when Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan drew the life-and-death lots back then, someone might have tampered with them? If that's truly the case, these few mansions probably don't have the ability to influence the life-and-death lots," Niu Niu Biaobiao said calmly.

Li Luo's heart sank. The life-and-death lots were overseen by the Sacred Mystic Star Academy, Wang Ting, and the Golden Dragon Treasure House. Could all three of them have been involved?

Could it be that House Luolan Mansion also had to be on guard against these three top factions of Daxia?

That would truly be troublesome.

"What I mean isn't that these three factions truly harbor hostility toward House Luolan Mansion, but these three factions are simply too vast, with mixed factions within them, so it's only natural that some dissenting intentions would arise. Although we can't treat them as enemies, we still need to be cautious," Niu Niu Biaobiao said.

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge both nodded.

"So, I reckon that the Marquis Realm experts who will move against our House Luolan Mansion at tomorrow's Prefecture Ceremony won't be few. Young Mansion Master, you should also prepare yourselves mentally," Niu Niu Biaobiao said.

Li Luo felt somewhat heavy-hearted. This Prefecture Ceremony was truly a great tribulation.

"But Young Mansion Master, you don't need to worry too much. House Luolan Mansion is protected by a strange formation. Although the strange formation will be in its weakened period, during this time, those covetous Marquis Realm experts may not truly dare to break in."

"I think their plan should be to push Manager Pei Hao to compete for the position of Mansion Master. Because once the Mansion Master changes, it will also affect this guardian strange formation. If Manager Pei Hao succeeds, he would only need a thought to disperse the strange formation, and at that point our House Luolan Mansion would be completely exposed to the wolves' prying eyes."

"But if Manager Pei Hao fails to seize the Mansion Master position, the strange formation can still maintain its power to weaken Marquis Realm experts. If those Marquis Realm experts truly dare to break in at that time, even if there are quite a few of them, my pig-slaughtering knife will make them suffer plenty."

Niu Niu Biaobiao smiled at Li Luo and said: "So Young Mansion Master doesn't need to worry too much. The contest for Mansion Master at the Prefecture Ceremony is the main event. If you and Jiang Qinge can defeat him, things will go much more smoothly on our side."

"Of course, don't underestimate that Manager Pei Hao either. Although this person is an ungrateful wolf, the hidden hand behind him must have made countless preparations for today."

Listening to Niu Niu Biaobiao's reassurance, Li Luo's heavy heart eased slightly. He nodded firmly and said: "Uncle Biao, rest assured. I'll do what I should. That ungrateful wolf Manager Pei Hao, I'm confident I can handle him."

Although they clearly knew that Li Luo was currently only at the Evil Palace Realm, while Manager Pei Hao had long possessed the strength of the Extreme Evil Realm—several tiers above Li Luo—neither Niu Niu Biaobiao nor Jiang Jiang Qinge showed much doubt about this. Perhaps in their hearts, how could Li Luo be comparable to someone like Manager Pei Hao.

A faint smile also appeared on Jiang Jiang Qinge's exquisitely beautiful face as she said: "Leave that Manager Pei Hao to you. I want to see you truly defeat him in front of everyone in House Luolan Mansion."

Li Luo laughed: "But if something goes wrong at that time, Sister Jiang Qinge, don't worry about my face. Compared to that, I'd rather see you act decisively and directly cripple that ungrateful wolf first. After all, we're engaged—whoever becomes Mansion Master is the same."

A hint of a smile rose in Jiang Jiang Qinge's golden eyes, and she gently nodded.

"Don't worry."

Night shrouded Daxia City. The bustling capital finally gradually settled into calm amid the cool night breeze.

The Royal Palace.

At a tall tower, the Eldest Princess gazed at the city still ablaze with lights in the night. After a long while, her phoenix eyes turned toward the west of the city, and House Luolan Mansion was situated in that direction.

"Tomorrow is the Prefecture Ceremony," she murmured to herself.

Over these two months, the atmosphere in Daxia City had grown tenser by the day, because the coming period would bring many momentous events.

The House Luolan Mansion Prefecture Ceremony was one of them.

Tomorrow's Prefecture Ceremony would surely tug at the nerves of all the top factions, and at that time this capital would no longer remain peaceful.

"Li Luo, Jiang Qinge, what I can do is limited. Whether you can pull through still depends on yourselves."

The Golden Dragon Treasure House.

Having finished reviewing the many documents of the day, Yu Yu Hongxi stretched lazily, revealing a tall and proud figure. Then she rose, came to the window, and the lights of ten thousand households reflected in her eyes. She was silent for a moment, then finally summoned a maid.

"Pass down the order: tomorrow the Golden Dragon Treasure House will close for one day for the monthly meeting. All elders within the Treasure House must attend on time—no absences!"

The Sacred Mystic Star Academy.

In a small tower courtyard.

Mentor Xi Chan warmed some hot tea, then glanced at the table, where there was an envelope. On its cover was written an elegant character: "Resign."