Chapter 1828: Devoid of Resonance

Li Luo quietly sat in front of the purple prayer mat, bathing in starlight that illuminated the dancing dust particles all around him. Time swiftly passed in silence. Unknowingly, another year went by.

He remained as unmoving as a stone statue, his breathing and heartbeat having almost completely stopped. However, his mind was far from calm. It was surging with flashes of spiritual light, akin to the violent elemental storms that occurred in the genesis of the world itself, resulting in a constant cycle of destruction and rebirth.

His thoughts were filled with countless images of his experiences across the years, starting from the awakening of his blank palace and the first refinement of his acquired resonance. He then composed himself and embarked on a mental journey, revisiting the memories of when he had forged each resonance—the water, light, wood, earth, dragon, thunder, crystal, ice, wind, illusion, life and death resonances. He sought a deeper understanding of the changes to himself.

Whenever each resonance was born, Li Luo reexperienced the magical feeling of creation over and over again. He was searching for the secret to the Absolute Resonance Seed. He knew that the answer could be found within his memories. The path to the tenth-grade was somewhere in his mind!

He was like an ascetic, stumbling through his countless memories in an attempt to find a trace of enlightenment within the important junctures. However, despite searching for a long time and submerging himself in the experiences of creating resonances, he was unable to find the answer. The bigger issue was that he didn't know where to go from there.

The road Li Luo had embarked on had far surpassed his imagination in terms of difficulty. This was to be expected, though. How many Divine Fruit Heavenly Emperors throughout history had lost their way on this very same step, unable to proceed further on the Path of Authorities? No one had found the road that led to the tenth-grade yet, not even the Legendary Sect Master. Even so, he wouldn't give up.

Li Luo had a bold idea. The Absolute Resonance Seed's root lay in the words "Absolute Resonance." Perhaps he could create an illusory world where he could continuously obtain different resonances, then he would eventually gather them to form a new almighty one that superseded all. Although it would all take place in an illusory world created in his mind, his current level of understanding would allow him to perceive the true essence of resonance creation. Perhaps when he gathered all of the different resonances, he would find the answer.

With that in mind, he began his next attempt. Painstaking experiments took place one after another. He immersed himself in an illusory world of his own creation, changing and transforming his original resonances into others. All sorts of different resonances were born—Silver Wolf, gold, poison, Divine Tiger, Golden Winged Peng resonances, and so on...

All of the resonances he had once encountered were experienced and obtained by him in the illusory world. It was like he was an avid collector. More and more false memories were created, and Li Luo gradually learned the intricacies and mysteries behind each of the resonances he controlled. Such an inconceivable method was only possible because he had surpassed the Divine Fruit Realm. Even so, he was exhausted in both mind and spirit.

His body began to wither up, and his grayish-white hair had long grown and spread across the throne. Unknowingly, another three years passed. However, to Li Luo, it was almost as though he had experienced a million years of time. His heart was filled with increasing excitement as he was finally about to achieve the perfect harmony between countless resonances. Perhaps the mystery of the Absolute Resonance Seed was right around the corner.

When the first Absolute Resonance was formed in his mind, he heard the whispers of countless resonances. He then waited expectantly for the Absolute Resonance Seed to transform. However, all it did was shine more brightly than before; the transformation he yearned for did not take place.

The glimmer in his eyes dimmed down at that point. He stared blankly at the countless illusory memories he had created, feeling utterly disappointed. After exhausting all of his strength to understand the true essence of thousands of resonances, he had discovered that this was not the answer he was seeking.

Li Luo continued to sit on a stone, surrounded by all of his memories. Some particularly poignant memories flickered before him. Was this path truly incorrect?

He didn't have much time left. Seven to eight out of the ten years had passed. He let out a sigh filled with exhaustion. This path was indescribably difficult; it was no wonder even the Legendary Sect Master had failed to reach its end. What was the path for the Absolute Resonance Seed to reach the tenth-grade? There were countless possibilities.

What exactly was the Absolute Resonance? Why was it called the Absolute Resonance? Li Luo's eyes flickered thoughtfully as his gaze swept across all of the illusory memories he had created. After sitting for an unknown amount of time, a particular series of memories surfaced. It was like a ray of light piercing through the fog.

Within this particular memory, he repeatedly immersed himself in the phenomenon of forging the resonances, and when the resonances were born, he attempted to comprehend the mysteries surrounding the Absolute Resonance Seed to find the right answer.

However, it seemed he had missed an important point. This point was something that he had never wanted to relive. As a result, he had chosen to forget about it. Although he had examined his memories time and time again, he had never paid attention to this fact. This was because he had always been running from the truth. Perhaps the answer could be found within the memory he was avoiding.

He took a deep breath and strode further into the sea of memories. Time seemed to rewind as Li Luo's view changed.

A youthful and lively cheer rang out from all around him, causing one's spirit to feel invigorated merely from hearing it. He looked down at his hands, which now looked exceptionally immature and gave off a sensation of weakness. This was a feeling he had long forgotten.

When he lifted his head, he saw countless young children. They were all dressed in similar uniforms—Southwind Academy's uniforms! He had returned to his memories of Southwind Academy.

His heart was filled with waves as he involuntarily observed the crowd before him. At the very front was a beautiful and slender girl. She wore a close-fitted uniform, tightly wrapped around her shapely and budding body. The skirt left her long, straight legs exposed to the world, but what truly captivated everyone were her snow-white stockings that shimmered in the sunlight, causing one's heart to race. They accentuated her perfect legs and made it impossible for people not to stare.

It was Lu Qing'er. However, she was still the elegant and lively little student from Southwind Academy. Her eyes shone brightly and her gaze would occasionally linger on the boy on the platform. At this moment, a faint blush bloomed on her flower-like face. Then she quietly moved away, pretending she didn't care.

It was at this time that Lu Qing'er discovered that Li Luo was staring at her, causing her heart to beat uncontrollably. Had she been found out? Her delicate ears began to heat up, but she bravely stared back. That was when she noticed that Li Luo was smiling at her for no reason. That kid was indeed a little strange, and a hint of suspicion arose within her heart.

Li Luo turned away and looked at yet another familiar figure. It was Yu Lang, who had an air of pompousness as he laughed and joked with the crowd. He gave off a relaxed feeling as he loitered around. Zhao Kuo and some other familiar faces were also there. These people who were once his closest friends had become faint memories.

At this moment an elderly voice rang out, filled with anticipation. "Li Luo, it's your turn to be tested."

When Li Luo turned his head, he saw that the source of the voice was an individual standing atop the stone platform. In the middle of the platform was a ten-feet-tall golden mirror that flowed with dazzling light.

Beside the mirror were three other people. One of them was the old principal from Southwind Academy, Wei Sha. The other two were mentors, Lin Feng and Xu Shanyue. All of them had looks of anticipation as they observed Li Luo. They were about to test his awakened resonance.

Li Luo turned his attention towards the golden mirror. This was the first resonance test at Southwind Academy. Almost all students had awakened their resonances by this point and began to cultivate. At this time, he was an exceptional genius when it came to learning resonance arts and was the top student. However, he knew that he would fall from grace on this very day. Additionally, the First School's Lin Feng would kick him to the Second School after this.

A strange expression appeared on Li Luo's face as he surveyed the students beneath the platform, all looking at him with curiosity and anticipation. Everyone wanted to know what grade the top student of Southwind Academy, and the young lord of House Luolan, would get.

"Li Luo, come up and touch the mirror," Wei Sha said warmly.

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

When Li Luo looked into the golden mirror, he could see his own reflection. He knew that this was his most painful memory, the moment that he had plunged into an abyss of despair. In the end, he did not run away. He stepped forward, calmly reached out, and touched the mirror. A moment later, the mirror burst out with light as everyone eagerly awaited the result.

Several breaths later, the expectant crowd was full of confusion. This was because no resonance was revealed. The mirror's surface gradually dimmed. All of the clamor and excitement gradually died down, replaced with malicious sneers.

Wei Sha was filled with surprise as he looked at the mirror. A while later, he turned towards Li Luo with a complicated expression and said, "Li Luo... it seems your resonant palace hasn't produced a resonance. You have... a blank palace."

Wei Sha's declaration made the crowd unable to hold back their laughter. All of those who had admired Li Luo for his superb talent in resonance arts changed their tone into condescending mockery. They all understood what someone without a resonance represented. No matter his background, he would be unable to cultivate. He would turn into a wastrel, an invalid.

Waves of laughter flooded Li Luo's ears. He was once again reminded of this devastating blow. As a child full of pride, the impact that this event had on his psyche was immense.

As he looked down from the platform, only a few children weren't celebrating his misery. He saw Lu Qing'er angrily berating the people around her like a little lion. Yu Lang and Zhao Kuo were creating an uproar, cursing the loudest students and making a commotion. Unfortunately, at that point of time all those years ago, he didn't have the heart to take all of this in.

Li Luo suddenly smiled. A blank palace. It turned out that the answer he was looking for had been shown to him in the very beginning of his cultivation journey. A blank palace was a void. A void wasn't nothingness—it was omnipresent and all-encompassing. It was everything and everywhere. It turned out that the path to the tenth-grade wasn't about condensing countless resonances, it was about reaching a state devoid of resonances.

Thus, Li Luo finally understood why the sect was named the Sacred Void Resonance Sect and not the Absolute Resonance Sect.

That memory was then stowed away, and Li Luo's mind was once again focused on the supreme resonant palace within his body. His attention was on the magnificent temple in the middle of it. This was what the spatial fog resonance had transformed into. If one wished to seek the state of being devoid of resonances, no physical form could exist within his body.

He laughed with a sense of nonchalance and decisiveness as he made his move. He then clasped his hands respectfully towards the spatial fog resonance as he said to it, "I'd like to invite you, Your Excellency, to be sacrificed to the void."

The temple shuddered, as thought it was asking him if he was sure. One the spatial fog resonance returned to the void, there was no chance of it returning. Li Luo would forever lose the quasi tenth-grade spatialfog resonance. Making such a monumental decision would be difficult even for a Divine Fruit Heavenly Emperor. It required utmost conviction.

However, Li Luo resolutely bowed and repeated his request.

The quasi tenth-grade was insufficient to change the situation, so losing it wouldn't make too much of a difference. As he bowed, the temple began to rumble, silverish-white light swept out of it, and its endless spirituality began to dissipate. A moment later, the divine construct began to collapse, and the spatial fog resonance returned to nothingness. A while later, the last strand of silverish-white light vanished from the resonant palace.

Without the temple, Li Luo's almighty power began to dissipate as well. An indescribable sense of weakness washed across every inch of his body.

Li Luo studied the resonant palace, which was as large as an entire world. With the absence of the spatial fog resonance, he seemed to have touched on something special. He had no resonance.

He finally opened his eyes, which had been tightly shut for years. His eyes were focused on what was in front of him, on a person who had appeared at some unknown time, sitting quietly on the prayer mat. She was a woman who seemed to have come from the past. It was as though she had always been here, just that no one had ever managed to sense her presence.

A smile appeared on Li Luo's face. The lady wore a mask, but she was silently studying Li Luo with a look of approval in her eyes. Her ethereal laughter tinkled lightly as though it was transmitted from the past.

"You've done it, Li Luo."