Li Luo was just venting, really.
After all, the Holy Grail Meet was right before House Luolan's own troubles. The three-tailed heavenly wolf's power would be perfect to tip the scales in his favor.
Li Luo wondered if Pang Qianyuan was aware of House Luolan's situation, and that Li Luo would definitely accept his deal.
But, but, but. What were the chances that the Astral Sage College would win the Dragon Bone Holy Grail?
He turned to Jiang Qing'e, face screwed up with thought. "Do you think the Astral Sage College stands a chance to win this year?"
She inclined her head. "It’s possible. Perhaps more possible than the other years."
There was a twinkle in her eyes. "Because this time round, the Astral Sage College has me."
Li Luo stared at her. What an arrogant lady. Do you think you can carry the Astral Sage College's chances on your shoulders alone?
Maybe she just could.
Jiang Qing'e had strolled through her time at the Astral Sage College breaking records left and right. She was on track to becoming the most outstanding student that the school had seen in the last century, and representing them at the Holy Grail Meet would indeed inch their chances a little higher.
Damn, Li Luo had been out-swagged.
"The Holy Grail Meet's system is complicated. It's not something that an individual can win alone. Even with me, the chances aren't that much higher," Jiang Qing'e clarified.
She regarded him thoughtfully. "Perhaps it would be a little higher with you."
"Me?" Li Luo said, surprised.
She laughed. "Did you think that you wouldn't be of help? When did you start thinking so little of yourself?"
"I don't," Li Luo protested. "But I'm just a One Star Hall newbie. The gap between me and you veterans is huge. What help could I be?"
He was a Third Pattern, and Jiang Qing'e was an Earth Fiend. The First Princess and Gong Shenjun were already at the Heavenly Dipper General Stage.
There was an insurmountable gap.
"The Holy Grail Meet is not that straightforward, like I said. There is a place for students of every hall in the competition. After all, the Holy Grail Meet is a test of student quality. Are the One and Two Star Hall students not students too? They are the freshest blood circulating in the system," Jiang Qing'e patiently explained.
"From what I know, the past Holy Grail Meets have been divided into two phases. The first phase is a fight by hall.
"This means that you'll be pitted against your peers. The last ones standing will be the strongest, and called the ace students. These students are granted championship points. The school with the highest points wins the Dragon Bone Holy Grail.
"So if you win the One Star Hall ace student title, we get points too." Jiang Qing'e smiled at him.
Against other peers? Perhaps he did stand a chance after all.
After all, only Qin Zhulu could contest him for first place in their school now. Unless the other schools had many students as strong as Qin Zhulu,
Surely they did. Otherwise, the Astral Sage College would not have been denied the Dragon Bone Holy Grail these last three decades.
There was still some time before the Holy Grail Meet as well. Li Luo would use it to improve himself.
Just like that, Li Luo started to process the Holy Grail Meet in his mind.
A loud outburst of cheering from the purified spot interrupted his thoughts. The pair turned back as one to see a large energy rift in the middle of the purified spot.
Jiang Qing'e got to her feet. "Seems like the transport design is activated again."
Li Luo slouched down further in relief. "Finally. Out of this ghastly place."
They had been in the Umbra Cave for about a month now. It had taken a heavy mental toll on them, especially his final heroic spurt.
If he had screwed up, all of them would have been corpses.
With such a huge crisis averted, surely the school would cut purified spot 13 a break and send them back now.
Finally some reprieve.
"I wonder if the principal granted my wish..." Li Luo thought to himself. 100,000 points. Although it was possible that their combined haul this time might well reach 100,000 points, he didn't want to squander Jiang Qing'e's points. She needed a lot of cultivation resources too.
On a high tower at the purified spot.
Twin purple flashes announced the arrival of two powerful mentors.
"Mentor Chi Chan! Mentor Shen Jinxiao!" they cheered.
The gauze over Chi Chan's face did not hide the deep frown on her brow as she hurried over.
Her squad was here. If anything had happened to them, she would be devastated.
As for Shen Jinxiao, he had fortuitously returned to school at the same time, and the two had rushed over.
Her frown eased up a little when she saw the tower still standing. If the purified spot still stood, then perhaps not all was lost.
Her frown eased up even more when she saw Gong Shenjun and the First Princess.
Her mood lifted. If they were here, even a Heavenly Disaster Class enemy could be dealt with.
"Shenjun. Luanyu. Has the Heavenly Disaster Class been taken care of?" Shen Jinxiao asked lightly.
"Casualties?" Shen Jinxiao asked more seriously.
"Some," the First Princess answered. "But everything is under control.
"We were lucky you made it in time," Shen Jinxiao said. "You have averted a huge disaster, and the school will surely reward you."
Strange expressions greeted him.
"Mentor Shen, I wouldn't dare to steal credit. Actually, Li Luo had already taken care of it all by the time I arrived."
Chi Chan and Shen Jinxiao looked at the First Princess, stunned.