Absolute Resonance

Chapter 0595: Holy Tree Marrow Crystal

When Li Luo saw the familiar gigantic Tree of Resonant Power of the Astral Sage College, he felt a sense of relief. He was home. The Holy Grail Meet had lasted about a month from start to finish. Objectively speaking, it was not a very long time, but it had felt like forever. Li Luo was shaken out of his reminiscing by loud cheers that shook the entire area.

“Senior Gong is the best!”

“Senior Jiang is the best!”

“Li Luo is the best at being lucky!”

Li Luo turned to see the entire student body of the Astral Sage College gathered. They were cheering their hearts out for the returning champions.

Evidently, the results had beaten them back.

The entire school was in a madly festive mood.

They, the Astral Sage College, had won the Holy Grail Meet!

The honor was enough to stir pride in the heart of every student.

And of course, the three who had made it possible were hailed as heroes.

Li Luo alone was sulky. How come the others were the “best” while he was only the “best at being lucky?!” They made it seem as though Jiang Qing’e had made him hot milk and the First Princess had tucked him into bed, and then the two girls had gone out to win the whole thing without him.

The Violet Vibrance mentors had come over as well, to offer congratulations and other appreciative words for their efforts.

Vice Principal Su Xin beckoned for Li Luo, Jiang Qing’e, and the First Princess to come to her.

“These three are the ones responsible for our win,” she gushed. She then called out the names of three mentors, including Chi Chan.

These three were the mentors of the winners.

Since their students had done such a great job, of course the mentors had to be credited as well.

The school would remember both, and grant rewards accordingly.

Li Luo looked at his mentor, still clad in her usual black with a veil over her face. She looked at Li Luo with a glint of approval in her eyes.

Strongest One Star Hall student. It spoke of Li Luo’s eclipsing talent and ability. In all her years of mentorship, this was the best result that one of her students had ever achieved.

“Vice Principal, since these three kids have done so well, the school cannot be stingy with the rewards,” Chi Chan said lightly.

Vice Principal Su Xin smiled at her. “What does Mentor Chi Chan suggest?”

Chi Chan turned to the three of them and said in a serious tone, “Winning the Holy Grail Meet is not just about reputation and glory. Holding the Dragon Bone Holy Grail will ease the burden on the school for the next four years, saving countless student lives. The weight of your contribution cannot be overstated.”

She paused.

“I suggest that each of them be granted a Holy Tree Marrow Crystal.

An alarmed murmur spread through the Violet Vibrance mentors, and even Vice Principal Su Xin looked surprised.

This was a huge reaction from the Duke experts, and Li Luo had to ask Jiang Qing’e about it. “What is a Holy Tree Marrow Crystal?”

It was the First Princess who answered him. “The Tree of Resonant Power absorbs worldly natural energy. It then produces its own energy that is stored as crystals, which naturally is the purest and strongest form of energy that it can produce. Even Dukes would want such a good thing.

“As far as I know, it is exceedingly rare, and each Violet Vibrance mentor in our school is only granted two Holy Tree Marrow Crystals per year. It is the most sought-after object for the Gold Gleam mentors, but because of the rarity, they are not allocated any unless they do something special that the school wishes to reward.

“It is especially good for you and Qing’e,” the First Princess said with a knowing smile. “Because the Holy Tree Marrow Crystal has an additional breakthrough power imbued within it, suited for those with many more stages to cross.”

Li Luo immediately perked up with interest. “Breakthrough power?” Did this mean it could help him move from the Resonant Master Stage to the Earth Fiend Stage? No wonder even the exalted Violet Vibrance mentors coveted such an object.

“There are so few Holy Tree Marrow Crystals that every Duke expert in the Xia Kingdom wants one. But such objects are rarely circulated outside of the school. If even the school’s own Violet Vibrance mentors can’t get enough, how could they ever reach the Dukes outside? The occasional one appears at the Golden Dragon Bank’s auctions, and each one always fetches tens of millions easily.”

“Mentor Chi Chan must be very fond of you, to fight for such a treasure on your behalf,” the First Princess said with a laugh.

Li Luo was burning up with excitement, and he looked in Mentor Chi Chan’s direction gratefully. He was a Fourth Changing now, the peak of the Resonant Master stage. Next, he would have to fight the ceiling for the difficult breakthrough to the Earth Fiend Stage. Only then would his power grow significantly.

And a Holy Tree Marrow Crystal would definitely help him out a lot.

“Keke, Mentor Chi Chan,” an oily voice replied, “the three of them have indeed done the school a great service. I, too, would heartily recommend a generous reward for them. However, the Holy Tree Marrow Crystal is such a unique reward, and there are so few of them that even we Violet Vibrance mentors fight over them. More importantly, the Gold Gleam mentors strongly desire them as well, and we grant them none although they play an important role in holding up the school and dedicate their lives to bettering the students. Perhaps a different reward would be more appropriate?” Li Luo turned around angrily to see that bastard Shen Jinxiao stepping forward.

“Son of a bitch! One day, I’ll have my sword in hand and cut down the Shen dog!” On the surface, Li Luo showed polite acknowledgment of Shen Jinxiao’s words, but he had already stabbed him a thousand times in his mind.

Shen Jinxiao must have sensed the undercurrent of hostility from Li Luo, and he turned to him with a thin smile. “Li Luo, I’m not saying this to bring you down. However, Holy Tree Marrow Crystals are very advanced objects… too advanced for some of you, I fear. If you use it, you will be squandering its power. I suggest you choose other rewards, and the school will not shortchange you, of course.”

Shen Jinxiao’s words had some of the other Violet Vibrance mentors nodding as well. Holy Tree Marrow Crystals were too scant and precious. If three pieces were given out here, it would affect their own supply for sure. Indeed, the three students had done the school a great service, but Shen Jinxiao had put forward reasonable considerations. It would be overkill to use such a resource on a Resonant Master.

They were not against rewarding Li Luo and the others richly, but there were definitely other rewards suited to them.

“Their deeds warrant commensurate merit,” Chi Chan said primly. “I do not think that there can be any contribution more important to the school than carrying home the Dragon Bone Holy Grail. Nor is it up to us to decide what is a waste and what is not. They can decide how best to use what is given to them.”

“Mentor Chi Chan speaks well. Bringing the Dragon Bone Holy Grail home contributes more to school than even us Violet Vibrance mentors, I daresay.” The middle-aged woman who had spoken out had fire-red hair and a fierce face to match. “And if even we are given two pieces a year, why shouldn’t they be given one?”

This was Jiang Qing’e’s mentor, Huo Xu.

The other Violet Vibrance mentors gave up almost immediately. Mentor Huo Xu’s temper was legendary, and fighting with her never ended well.

Shen Jinxiao was the only one who seemed willing to continue arguing, but Vice Principal Su Xin cut him off with a gesture to keep the peace. “We will table this discussion. However, you have my assurances that the rewards will be good.

“Mentors, please lead your students back. I am sure they are tired from the competition. Do allow them to rest.”

With this, the argument among the Violet Vibrance mentors came to an end.

Vice Principal Su Xin suddenly looked over at Li Luo and gave him a small smile.

“Li Luo, you come with me.”

There was general surprise at this command, and even Shen Jinxiao narrowed his eyes curiously.

Li Luo and Jiang Qing’e spoke briefly, then he obediently went over to Vice Principal Su Xin’s side.