Vice Principal Su Xin bid them farewell after handing out the prizes and letting them know about more that could potentially come.
"Whee-ew. The Astral Sage College is truly something else. Wealth stores for days." Li Luo sighed happily. Everything that the Vice Principal had told them about was an exciting reward. Even royalty like Gong Shenjun and the First Princess would be tempted, let alone a mere young lord like him.
There was little the school would not do to get the Dragon Bone Holy Grail.
"Li Luo, congratulations on getting the top prize," the First Princess said with a mischievous smile.
"I don’t deserve that at all," Li Luo replied modestly. "Actually, it's all thanks to Your Highnesses. If not for your introduction to the Golden-Jade Onyx-Elephant Blade, how would I ever have had such a blessed outcome?"
A vein pulsed on her temple, and suddenly her smile looked more like teeth gritting. "Are you asking for a beating?"
Both she and Gong Shenjun had come expressly for the hidden Golden-Jade Onyx-Elephant Blade. However, neither had expected that the blade would end up in the hands of a puny Resonant Master like Li Luo.
Although they had come with tempered expectations regarding the sword, Li Luo's reminder was infuriating nonetheless.
Li Luo hurriedly tugged Jiang Qing'e over, placing her carefully between the First Princess and himself.
"You should manage your house lord," the First Princess said irritably to Jiang Qing'e.
"If you want to beat him up, feel free," Jiang Qing'e said cheerfully. "I promise not to interfere."
"Not a promise I believe," the First Princess tutted. "As if anyone doesn't know that you'd fall out with anybody who messed with your beloved."
A rare blush crossed Jiang Qing'e's face, and she glanced back...
... to see Li Luo's impudently grinning face.
She jerked an elbow violently backwards.
Li Luo's smile froze on his face as the breath whooshed beautifully out of his lungs. He groaned in pain and scowled at Jiang Qing'e.
The First Princess watched the lovers' tussle with amusement. The exchange deepened her understanding of their relationship yet again. Jiang Qing'e's personality was well known to her. Strong-willed, sticking by her own opinions, and a clever, careful thinker. Combined with her talent, even someone as prideful as the First Princess admired her. That was why she was trying to develop their relationship.
Jiang Qing'e's reputation in school was pristine as well. Although she did not actively reach out to connect with people, she spoke to everyone without a hint of pride at all. Yet the First Princess knew that Jiang Qing'e rarely let anyone get too close to her, herself included.
Only with Li Luo did she sense Jiang Qing'e's unshakable demeanor carefully put aside to rest.
Their friendly squabble very quickly died down, because Gong Shenjun was walking over to them.
He smiled courteously at the three, then got straight to the point. "Junior Li Luo." His eyes were fixed on Li Luo's face. "I have quite a presumptuous preposition. I wonder, would you hear me out?" he asked sincerely.
"If it is presumptuous," Li Luo quipped back at him, "perhaps just... don't presume to say it?"
Gong Shenjun was taken aback by his bold and direct rejection to even hear him out.
"Looks like Junior Li Luo has already guessed it. Indeed, I am here about the Golden-Jade Onyx-Elephant Blade," Gong Shenjun said, skillfully maneuvering the conversation around his rejection with a royal's wit. "I'd like to ask Junior Li Luo if you are willing to make a trade with me. You specialize in twin swords. I can trade a twin sword gold-eye treasured artifact for the Golden-Jade Onyx-Elephant Blade that you hold.
"Twin swords that come in a pair."
Li Luo was indeed swayed for a moment. Gong Shenjun's offer was highly tempting, speaking straight to what he wanted.
Li Luo glanced over at Jiang Qing'e, but she seemed content to remain silent and let him make his own decision.
Li Luo was silent for a few moments. "Why do you want this weapon, Senior Gong?" he asked to buy some time.
"It was the partner weapon of the esteemed Principal," Gong Shenjun said impatiently. "With a King's possession, I might be able to get a revelation."
Li Luo's eyes flickered, and then he shook his head. "My apologies, Senior Gong Shenjun. A twin sword gold-eye treasured artifact is indeed one of my greatest desires at the moment, but this sword chose me. If I trade it, I might break its little sword-heart. I couldn't be so sword-heartless!"
The First Princess and Jiang Qing'e stifled a laugh. Sword-heart?
Gong Shenjun was silent for a moment, then he asked again. "Will Junior Li Luo not reconsider? If a twin sword gold-eye treasured artifact is not enough, I can sweeten the deal further."
Li Luo shook his head firmly.
"Alright, then I guess it was presumptuous of me after all," Gong Shenjun said with another wry smile. He nodded to Jiang Qing'e and the First Princess, then turned briskly to leave.
Li Luo watched him go. "Will there be repercussions for my refusal?"
The First Princess laughed. "Don't worry. My royal brother has quite a lot of self-control. You possess something even more valuable than the Golden-Jade Onyx-Elephant Blade, and he hasn't done anything to you yet, right?"
"Even more valuable than the Golden-Jade Onyx-Elephant Blade?" Li Luo repeated, puzzled.
He saw the First Princess' meaningful look in Jiang Qing'e's direction.
Li Luo chuckled. "Ah, Your Highness is mistaken. I don't possess, I'm the possession here."
"Whatever you say," she said with amusement. "In any case, you don't need to worry about Gong Shenjun. He has grown his reputation in school for many years, and he would not stain it on your behalf. Forcing someone to hand over a treasured artifact is not a particularly honorable deed."
"Oh, and if you have time in the next few days, come with me to the royal palace."
Little emperor treatment time.
Li Luo nodded. The ticket match was over, and they had another half a month to rest and recover before the main event.
As for Li Luo, he had another big question to consider.
Now that he was at the Evolving Resonance Tier, it wouldn't be long before he made the breakthrough from the final tier of the Resonant Master Stage to the General Stage.
Which meant that he needed to consider the matter of his third resonance.