"Is this the real hero's entrance? The sideshow of the competition is now the main event."
Li Luo sighed to himself. Not even he, who usually planned for most things, had expected things to turn out this way. He knew that the Two Star Hall representatives were pushovers, but he expected them to at least have one win in the form of Zhu Xuan. Or at least a draw.
Two losses. The unlucky kids.
He'd even mentally prepared himself to sit this one out.
Now he was going to have to work his ass off instead of resting.
The One Star Hall students were going crazy. Just one bunch in particular.
"Brother Luo, take to the skies!"
"Brother Luo, crush your ene...mies!"
"Brother Luo, Astral Sage's prize!!"
The One Star Hall students were luxuriating in the spotlight. It was their time to shine now, and by their time, they meant “Li Luo do the honors. Thanks, man.”
If Li Luo won, their hall would be the heroes!
"Rah rah, blah blah," Li Luo mumbled to himself. "What if I lose? They'll hang me from the nearest branch of the Tree of Power." If he won, his name would be right there in the books with Jiang Qing'e and the First Princess. If he didn't…
Li Luo wished that it wouldn't come to this. He would much rather have Zhu Xuan or Ye Qiuding take a win, and he could live a quiet life. All that mattered was that the ticket ended up in the Astral Sage College's hands. Why play out one's whole hand in just the preliminaries? In fact, he was only here for the reward that the Astral Sage College had promised.
But now there was going to be no walkover. The Blue Abyss Sage College would go all out for sure. And he was forced to win this. Otherwise, there would be no ticket, and no free treasure from the school vaults. He'd be lucky to escape without a beating.
"Come on, Li Luo! Don't let the One Star Hall down!" Qin Zhulu's baritone growl rumbled from behind him.
Li Luo looked over to see him standing with Lu Qing'er, Yu Lang, and the others.
"So it has come to this," Yu Lang said gravely. "I sensed it with my clairvoyant abilities a long time ago. We are a generation of heroes, and it's only fitting that we have a fitting staircase of suspense leading up to our stage.
"Li Luo, go forth!" he cried grandly.
Li Luo rolled his eyes. "Do you want your acting prize now or later?"
"What actor could become a Violet Vibrance student at the Astral Sage College only with a sixth-grade resonance?" Yu Lang demanded indignantly. "And become the cornerstone and carry of the team?"
Li Luo snorted. "If cheek were a resonance, you'd be ninth-grade for sure. There'd be a seat in the Seven Astral Pillars for you."
Lu Qing'er, Bai Mengmeng, and the others all laughed.
Yu Lang grumbled and kicked the ground.
Still, taking a poke at Yu Lang lightened his mood somewhat. He spotted Lu Qing'er, a bundle of anxiety and encouragement. "Don't worry. The pressure's high, but I've dealt with high pressure all these years," he reassured her.
Lu Qing'er nodded hesitantly. Although such a final could bring Li Luo great fame, she was worried he would not be able to remain calm under the immense pressure.
She was confident in Li Luo's abilities, but it would be foolish to underestimate the unknown factor in the equation: the Blue Abyss Sage College’s representative. She was objective and clever enough to know that the Blue Abyss Sage College had fielded a monster of their own, and pinned all of their hopes on him.
Li Luo would do well to keep his emotional state neutral and fight to the best of his potential.
Suddenly, there was a flurry of cries behind him, and Li Luo turned to see the crowd parting for Jiang Qing'e.
The One Star Hall students cheered enthusiastically.
After her battle against Zhao Huiyin, her reputation had climbed to new heights.
She nodded politely to them, walking straight towards Li Luo.
Qin Zhulu, Bai Mengmeng, and the others backed away accordingly.
Lu Qing'er stood her ground defiantly for a moment longer, then backed away as well. Evidently, the senior girl was here to speak with Li Luo.
"Congratulations on your chance at fame and glory," she said to Li Luo teasingly.
He rolled his eyes. "Those Two Star Hall dumbos were a real letdown."
"Well, the Blue Abyss Sage College planned way ahead for this. Neither Zhu Xuan nor Ye Qiuding were exceptional enough to escape their calculations. It was to be expected."
"Still, I'm surprised they would build a trump card in the One Star Hall. It's incredibly risky," Li Luo said.
Jiang Qing'e nodded. "Their faith in Lu Cāng and Lu Cáng is incredible," she said meaningfully.
Li Luo smiled and nodded. "I understand what you're trying to say. Don't worry, I won't underestimate them. But I'm very curious as to what the Lu brothers have, to win that level of trust."
She nodded, then reached out to take his hand in hers, ignoring the exclamations that broke out around them. "There's no need to hold back. Show them your best. I know you don't like the spotlight, but a blaze of glory will send our enemies fleeing. Warn them. Deter them."
Li Luo was surprised by her movement, but he squeezed her hand briefly to reassure her, then let go.
Lu Qing'er pursed her lips. “Senior Jiang's moves are always timed perfectly. Is she here to stake a claim on Li Luo? Bold, fearless, straightforward. Just like her fighting style.”
Lu Qing'er would not give up easily!
“A loveless marriage is unfair to both Li Luo and you, Jiang Qing'e!
“I will save you both from it!”
A loud bell sounded. Signaling the imminent start of the final round.
Li Luo turned, waved to all of his friends, and then leaped down.
Jiang Qing'e watched Li Luo descend to the battlefield with a faint smile on her face. Today, he would announce to the world that House Luolan had a slumbering dragon ready to rise alongside its phoenix.