Chapter 0386: The Final Day

Wang Hejiu's invitation to Ye Qiuding's Two Star Hall squad definitely angered the One Star Hall Violet Vibrance squads. After all, it had been a fair, internal competition before this. Wang Hejiu was the one who had thrown the door open and invited the wolves in.

There was only so much absinthe energy to go around. If Ye Qiuding took most of it, then it was them who would lose out!

But since the Violet Vibrance mentors had not intervened, then they must have accepted it. After all, there had been no explicit rule against it. Perhaps none of the mentors had anticipated that someone would get desperate enough to disadvantage their own peers so viciously.

Anger right now was not helpful. The other four One Star Hall squads redoubled their efforts. Every level they beat was one less portion of absinthe energy for Ye Qiuding's squad.

Of the four, Li Luo's and Qin Zhulu's squads were doing better.

As the two strongest One Star Hall squads, the alliance crushed their way through level 38, and began level 39 on the same day.

Level 39 was much harder than level 38, and both squads could feel the tremendous pressure during the fight. They did not cave in, but continued fighting onwards. The two leaders took on 70 percent of the enemies, and with that, carried their team during the fight.

They were fighting against the clock, because they knew that the Wang Hejiu-Ye Qiuding alliance had already reached level 39.

Tomorrow was the last day of special training.

The goal for Wang Hejiu's alliance was clear: to beat level 40 by that time, and gain a boost of absinthe energy that would be beyond their dreams.

His overweening ambition whispered to him that this would be exactly what was needed to reach the Evolving Resonance tier.

If he really succeeded, he would be the first One Star Hall student to reach after Qin Zhulu. At that time, Li Luo would fall behind again.

"Leader Ye, Li Luo has already started on level 39," Wang Hejiu said anxiously. Now that they were technically on the same level, he was starting to feel a little uncertain.

Ye Qiuding took a look as well. "Don't worry," he said calmly. "Li Luo and Qin Zhulu might be strong, but level 40 is not so easily beaten. Back then, even Zhu Xuan's team had to reach Two Star Hall before they could pass it."

"I see," Wang Hejiu said, forcing a smile. "But that Li Luo is a bit of a demon. Especially after Umbra Cave..."

Ye Qiuding's expression darkened. Umbra Cave. With it, Li Luo had risen to glory, and he, Ye Qiuding, had become a joke.

It was all because Li Luo had stolen his spot. If not for Li Luo, Jiang Qing'e would probably have chosen to ally with him. And the outcome would have been very different.

His jealousy and anger consumed him. As Li Luo proved himself time and again, everyone was coming around to the idea that this young lord of House Luolan was brilliant in his own right.

Before, everyone had felt pity for Jiang Qing'e. Compared to her brilliance, Li Luo looked like a blemish, a dark spot, the mud in which the pearl had fallen in. They whispered of his status as young lord, and of Jiang Qing'e's sense of duty and obligation to her missing master and mistress. The relationship had looked as unequal as could be.

No one felt that more strongly than Ye Qiuding.

He considered himself better than Li Luo in every regard, except status at birth. He felt that he could compete with Li Luo... and now found himself a laughing stock.

"Let's go. Since you invited us, we will definitely fulfill the task to your satisfaction," Ye Qiuding vowed. Squashing his jealousy back down, he stood up.

Wang Hejiu smiled and nodded. Ye Qiuding's anger was so strong he could smell it. He would use it, harness it to his advantage. Both of them wanted the same thing, united in their enmity against him. That was part of the reason why he had turned to Ye Qiuding's squad as well. Zhu Xuan's squad was stronger, but they were busy with an even higher level, and had no time to come down to help.

The two squads made their preparations, then began level 39, an intense fight against the absinthe puppets.

Battle raged back and forth.

Both Li Luo's alliance and Wang Hejiu's alliance beat level 39 almost at the same time.

The remaining absinthe energy for the day was drained clean.

Still, everyone knew that level 39 was just the appetizer. Tomorrow's level 40 was everything.

Whoever passed it first would get the majority of the absinthe energy available.

Bai Doudou's and Yi Lisha's squad gave up on the push. They knew that they would have no chance to compete against Li Luo and Wang Hejiu, and were now taking the last day easy.

The last day of special training arrived in due time.

When Li Luo and the others reached the Tree of Resonant Power, they found a large crowd of One Star Hall students there.

"Li Luo, Qin Zhulu, do your best! Beat the traitor Wang Hejiu!"

"Wang Hejiu, vile dog! I can't believe you went crawling to Two Star Hall!"

"One Star Hall betrayer!"

"..."

The insults from his peers made Li Luo grin. He snuck a look at Wang Hejiu's squad. They were looking embarrassed as hell.

Wang Hejiu met his gaze. "Li Luo, is this your doing?" he demanded.

Li Luo shook his head. "Nothing to do with me. But I would like to formally state my commendation to whoever did it."

"I care not at all about reputation," Wang Hejiu said coldly. "As long as we beat level 40 first today, we would have made history. I might even reach the Evolving Resonance tier myself. Who cares about a little chatter in that case?"

"Ah, but what if you're chatted about, and also denied the benefits?" Li Luo laughed.

Wang Hejiu gave him a chilly stare, then turned away.

Li Luo watched him go as he rubbed his own chin. He beckoned to Yu Lang, who was lurking around behind him.

"A familiar modus operandi," Li Luo said to his friend, who was grinning ear to ear. "Your work?"

Yu Lang waved it away modestly. "Since he dares to do it, I thought I'd help him get the word out. He might say that he doesn't care about it, but it sure does satisfy me enormously."

Li Luo gave him an approving shake on the shoulder.

Amidst the cheers, Li Luo's alliance walked into Angelwood Hollow like heroes.

No judgment, no booing. It was a heartening feeling.

The two squads prepared themselves to take on level 40 on the final day of special training.