Chapter 0481: Goodwill?

Jing Taixu's appearance had the crowd muttering to themselves. They watched his every move in awe.

Li Luo was watching too, with a more neutral admiration. Jing Taixu moved very well through the air, as expected of someone with a wind resonance. Resonant Master Stage cultivators were not able to stand in mid-air, but he could already achieve short periods of flight.

"His wind resonant power is very sentient," Bai Doudou marveled.

She was a wind resonance user too, and a lower eighth-grade one at that. But even someone as strong as her looked clumsy and awkward compared to Jing Taixu.

Such was the power of a quasi ninth-grade.

"This guy really knows how to show off," Yu Lang said, disgusted.

Still, he really did know how to capture eyeballs. He was naturally handsome, and he moved like a willow tree in the wind. Many female students were making eyes at him.

Still, the rest were more interested to see if Jing Taixu could withstand the first wave of energy.

He landed lightly on the Stairway to Heaven.

Boom!

When he touched the ground, a thunderous crash sounded as the energy roared out at him like an angry dragon. Some of the spectators blanched.

Jing Taixu did not even blink.

He stood his ground and summoned his resonant power, a wash of green, airy energy that he condensed before him.

"Wind Cannon."

Boom!

The energy had concentrated into a solid, green cone on the tip of his finger. It blasted out with a sonic boom as it ripped through the air with blistering speed that confounded the naked eye. It was headed straight towards the energy wave.

POOM!

Boom! Rumble!

The two attacks met in a cacophonous argument that lasted for a few seconds, then the energy wave swallowed up the Wind Cannon, pushing on past to wash over Jing Taixu.

He was ready and waiting with a grass-green shield that dispersed the brunt of the energy.

When the first wave of energy had been completely nullified, he was still standing on the Stairway to Heaven, only having taken a single step back throughout the process.

He had successfully stopped the first wave.

“Wow!”

The spectators roared with excitement. It could be done!

His reputation had awed them, but now his display of strength had cemented their awe one step further. No wonder he was the hot favorite to win the Hall-level competition.

Jing Taixu could activate the anima storm. Although most of the benefits would be taken up by his school, there would still be energy trickling down to the others as anima dew. They would be able to get some juicy scraps.

Although it was Jing Taixu who had activated an anima storm, the others cheered as well.

Jing Taixu stepped off the Stairway to Heaven. "Friends from all schools," he declared in a ringing voice, "this anima storm has been opened already, but I still need three schools to come share the burden with me. If you are willing and able, come forth and we can discuss."

He was already drifting back towards the Enlightened Sage College’s island.

His invitation tempted many commanders. Being on Jing Taixu's side would result in an easy life. After all, the anima storm was extremely rich; even a small share of it would be more than they had managed to acquire in the last week.

But at the same time, they knew that a small share was all they would be getting. Jing Taixu had spoken of discussion and cooperation, but they knew the partnership would not be equal at all.

He was not short on helpers willing to offer themselves up as choices.

Which meant that they would have to swallow their pride and accept inferior terms if they wanted to work with him.

And indeed many were willing to do so, for the sake of anima dew.

Many went forward eagerly after only a moment of cursory hesitation. Someone offered an opening bid, and soon there was an intense competition to shortchange themselves, just for a chance to join the team.

The Enlightened Sage College students were watching this with great satisfaction and pride.

However, they were not the only ones in the market. Very soon, two more figures were speeding out to claim the other anima storms.

"It's Sun Dasheng from the Sacred Summit Sage College!"

"And Lu Ming from the Heavenly Inferno Sage College! They're going for it too!"

Li Luo was more interested in the latter.

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Lu Ming, the Illusory Thunderbolt. The famous dual resonance user.

It was the first dual resonance user that Li Luo had met besides himself, and so he was truly curious.

The girl called Lu Ming had extremely fair skin, a dewy beauty that positively glowed in the sun. It was a stark contrast from her emotionless face, that made her seem aloof.

But the most compelling thing about her was the electricity that danced along her skin.

Lu Ming and Sun Dasheng each let their resonant powers roar out.

It was immediately clear that both were at the Third Changing.

They landed on the Stairway to Heaven and readied themselves.

"Hahaha! Jing Taixu's done it, so I surely can too!" Sun Dasheng roared. He twirled his golden staff exultantly, then he smashed it into the energy wave.

Lu Ming's approach was much less ostentatious, but all the more impressive for it. She simply formed a band of electric light around her wrist, surrounded by another ethereal halo of light.

Li Luo's eyes narrowed at the familiar halo.

The Becoming One tier.

Lu Ming had done it with ease.

Her palm flashed out, and a lightning serpent darted out to meet the energy wave.

BOOM!

On both Stairways to Heaven, the sound was deafening as could be.

Finally, Sun Dasheng and Lu Ming took a couple of steps back. They had managed to resist the energy.

It was an expected result.

After all, both Sun Dasheng and Lu Ming were hot favorites like Jing Taixu. Everyone knew that these three were the strongest in this iteration of the Holy Grail Meet. Whatever Jing Taixu could withstand, surely these two could as well.

Like with Jing Taixu, the two returned promptly to their schools' islands after proving their success, and other schools swarmed to them to be their partners.

"What are we going to do?" Yu Lang asked, watching the other three schools take in partners.

Li Luo was just about to speak when he saw a person fly directly towards their island.

Jing Taixu.

All eyes were on him as he landed on their island.

"What are you doing?" Li Luo asked him, surprised.

Jing Taixu smiled at him. "Friend Li Luo, are you interested in working together?"

Li Luo laughed. "Can't find anyone?"

"I prefer working with someone reliable," Jing Taixu said with a shrug. "It makes things easier. I've heard of your skills, so I hope that you can help me out. As for the anima cumulonimbuses that you harvest... I'll just take 40 percent. Please don't think of it as a harsh deal. The others are currently paying 60 percent."

"That's very generous of you," Li Luo said, surprised.

"I want to build a relationship with you," Jing Taixu said frankly. "I did not handle the information about Senior Jiang well previously. If you're willing, we can leave it behind us and be friends. What do you say?"

He extended a hand to Li Luo, smiling.

Li Luo looked at him with interest.

"Does this guy want to use Li Luo as a wingman to get in Senior Jiang's pants?" Yu Lang said loudly, his face carefully directed at a stump on the ground.

Jing Taixu ignored him, eyes tight on Li Luo's face.

A few moments later, Li Luo showed no signs of accepting his goodwill, and so he shook his head and retracted his hand.

"It seems like you are still bothered by my past actions, my friend," Jing Taixu said with a rueful smile.

Li Luo had no interest in playing games with him here. He pointed at the air.

"Oh, no. It's just that I think there isn't much room for cooperation between us. You see, I've got a big ambition too. There's one more anima storm just sitting over there, you know."

Jing Taixu looked up at the last unclaimed anima storm and understood his meaning. He laughed.

"Understood. I wish you success in your endeavor."

He turned and left.