Chapter 81

As Li Luo filled the energy holes on the "Little Wu Xiang Divine Wheel" one by one, the holiday was also slipping away day by day, and before he knew it, another half month had passed.

However, during this half month, Li Luo's Xiang power did not advance to the tenth seal but remained at the ninth seal. Clearly, the higher the level, the slower the improvement. Previously, Li Luo's progress was so rapid partly due to his natural talent and the assistance of the Golden House, and partly because he did not slack off during the Void Xiang period, continuing his uninterrupted cultivation, which led to the subsequent accumulation and breakthrough.

Now, with the previous accumulation almost depleted, his cultivation speed had returned to normal.

By now, a month had already passed since the end of the academy's major exam, and the aftereffects of the exam had finally completely dissipated. The attention of the people in Tian Shu County was once again drawn to another grand ceremony that was about to take place.

This was the so-called Ling Shui Qiguang Festival.

In this world where Xiang exists, the importance of Xiang is self-evident. It determines cultivation and everything else.

Ling Shui Qiguang, which can enhance the quality of Xiang, has become an indispensable consumable, so any measures related to it will attract a lot of attention.

After all, the academy's major exam was just for entertainment, while Ling Shui Qiguang could be directly related to oneself.

The Ling Shui Qiguang Festival would attract all the Ling Shui Qiguang houses in Tian Shu County. They would send their most skilled Xiang refiners to compete for the title of the best Xiang refiner in Tian Shu County. This would help enhance the reputation of their respective Ling Shui Qiguang houses, thereby affecting their market share.

The interests involved were enormous.

Therefore, all the Ling Shui Qiguang houses in Tian Shu County, including the Xiyang House of Luo Lan Manor, had been preparing for a long time for this Ling Shui Qiguang Festival.

...

The venue for the grand festival was located in a square in the southern part of Nanfeng City.

When Li Luo arrived here with Cai Wei, he was somewhat surprised by the bustling crowd and smiled, saying, "It's really lively."

"The grand festival has already been going on for three days, but these three days have just been about showcasing products to attract attention. The real show starts today," Cai Wei said with a smile.

"How is Ling Qing preparing?" Li Luo asked.

"I don't know. She has been buried in the refining room for quite some time, and I didn't dare to disturb her. But she has already arrived, so you can ask her later," Cai Wei shook her head.

Li Luo nodded with a smile, and the two of them walked to the area allocated to Xiyang House. There, on the high railing, they saw Yan Lingqing gazing at the center of the square, where refining platforms were being set up. Clearly, today's Xiang refining competition would take place there.

"It seems that Sister Lingqing takes this grand festival very seriously," Li Luo said with a smile.

Yan Lingqing adjusted her silver-rimmed glasses and said indifferently, "I don't mind losing to others, but I absolutely cannot lose to that woman, Song Qiuyu."

Li Luo asked, "Do you have confidence?"

Yan Lingqing pondered for a moment and said, "Song Qiuyu and I are both fourth-grade Xiang refiners, and our Xiang refining abilities are similar. This time, I have chosen the most familiar fourth-grade Ling Shui, and my refining power can stably reach between 58% and 60%. According to my knowledge, the refining power of the fourth-grade Ling Shui that Song Qiuyu has refined before is slightly lower than mine."

"So if there are no major variables, my chances of winning will be higher."

Cai Wei, with a soft voice, said, "This time, the Song family and Mo Shui House are collaborating, and they are coming with a strong force. Do you think they might have some special preparations...?"

Her eyes shifted, and she added, "For example, making Song Qiuyu refine a fifth-grade Ling Shui Qiguang?"

"Impossible!"

Yan Lingqing said without hesitation, "I am just barely touching the threshold of a fifth-grade Xiang refiner, and every attempt to refine a fifth-grade Ling Shui has ended in failure. How could Song Qiuyu achieve it?"

Seeing her so resolute, Cai Wei did not say anything more. After all, in the refinement of Ling Shui Qiguang, Yan Lingqing was the expert, and she did not understand the intricacies.

Li Luo smiled and said, "During the refinement of Ling Shui Qiguang, it seems that each person can bring an assistant to help. Has Sister Lingqing found an assistant yet?"

Yan Lingqing glanced at Li Luo and said, "Do you not trust me?"

Li Luo replied sincerely, "I'm just concerned about you. I don't really care about Sister Lingqing's win or loss. Even if you lose, it's not a big deal to me. Those so-called reputations are meaningless compared to the solid quality of our Xiyang House."

"So, Sister Lingqing doesn't need to put too much pressure on herself."

Yan Lingqing was taken aback, and her eyes softened as she looked at Li Luo, but she still said habitually, "I'm not under any pressure."

However, she then turned her head, her sharp, smooth chin lifting slightly, "But if you want to be the assistant, that's fine. After all, you are the young lord, and I can't control you."

Li Luo smiled, finding her tsundere personality truly adorable.

He chatted with the two women for a while and then went to the venue to browse the other Ling Shui Qiguang products.

Cai Wei and Yan Lingqing stood upstairs, watching his back. The former smiled and said, "Our young lord really knows how to care for women."

Yan Lingqing huffed, "Kids are just meddlesome. Even if something happens, he's just a second-grade Xiang refiner; how could he save the situation for me?"

"You're so stubborn. Weren't you a bit moved just now?" Cai Wei said.

"Tch, how many people have tried to win my favor? Do you think such words can sway my iron heart? Do you know my nickname in the Holy Xuan Star Academy's Xiang Refining Institute?"

"Stone-hearted Saint Maiden!" Yan Lingqing puffed out her chest, her tone full of pride.

Cai Wei couldn't help but cover her face and said irritably, "What's there to be proud of? Have you been refining Ling Shui Qiguang so much that you've lost your mind?"

"Besides... that gesture doesn't suit you."

Yan Lingqing's eyebrows immediately furrowed. The hateful vixen, talking is one thing, but to attack me personally!

I'll scratch you!

So she extended her claws and reached for Cai Wei's waist and chest.

On the high railing, the two women played and laughed, their springtime charm dazzling.

...

Li Luo, who did not have the luck to witness this scene, leisurely strolled through the square, watching the products launched by the various Ling Shui Qiguang houses with great interest.

Now, he was also a second-grade Xiang refiner, and observing other products would help deepen his understanding of Ling Shui Qiguang.

He had quite a bit of gain from his stroll.

After wandering for a while, Li Luo was just about to return when his gaze suddenly caught a familiar figure.

It was Lu Qing'er.

Today, she was wearing a light green blouse, a short skirt, and white, smooth stockings. Her clear and beautiful face, holding a white umbrella, attracted countless admiring glances from passersby.

However, next to Lu Qing'er, Li Luo also saw a figure that made him feel nauseous.

It was Mo Ling, who had had some conflicts with him at Qingfeng Tower before.

This guy was quite a playboy, clearly interested in Song Qiuyu but still flirting with others.

At this moment, he was standing next to Lu Qing'er, smiling and seemingly saying something. Lu Qing'er's face showed no expression, but Li Luo, who knew her well, understood that when she had this expression, she was already extremely impatient.

So, he quietly approached and whispered.

"Fly swatter for sale, five thousand gold each."