Absolute Resonance

"That means we\'re the first squad to complete the primary mission from the Academic Federation," Jiang Qing\'e noted.

Li Luo nodded. The primary missions were the difficult ones. When other squads cleared them, it was likely that they would meet Others of similar difficulty too, and also be awarded the additional boost that would even out the score.

"Sooner rather than later, I\'d think," the First Princess said. "Lesser Heavenly Disaster-classes won\'t stop someone like Lan Lan. They might just be a bit slower than we are to clear it."

Li Luo agreed. Lan Lan was insanely strong, and his squad was made up of elites as well. They could not underestimate him.

"That\'s right," Jiang Qing\'e suddenly said. "When Li Luo was setting the cleansing barrier just now, he was ambushed by a black knight, roughly Earth Fiend in strength."

"Black knight?" the First Princess asked, startled. "Not an Other?"

"Not an Other." Li Luo shook his head firmly. "Flesh and blood."

The First Princess looked grave. "Seems like Elder Ling Yu\'s warning was not just blind speculation after all. Maybe someone was behind the fall of the Blackwind Empire."

There was no other reason why the black knight would come to stop Li Luo otherwise.

"But you actually managed to get the cleansing barrier up while being attacked by an Earth Fiend expert? That\'s impressive," the First Princess stated with a small shiver. If the assailant had managed to stop Li Luo, the cleansing barrier would not have gone up, and today would not have ended with the happy ending that it had.

They might not have been killed, but they would probably have failed the mission.

It was thanks to Li Luo that they had succeeded.

The First Princess\' regard for Li Luo increased yet again.

The black knight must have ambushed Li Luo specifically, and yet he had overcome both the surprise factor and the power difference to pull off the cleansing barrier. He was definitely no ordinary Resonant Master.

"Just carelessness on the opponent\'s part," Li Luo said with a modest shrug when she complimented him.

The First Princess smiled to herself. Mere carelessness was not enough to make him overcome an Earth Fiend. Li Luo was really something else. Although he was only a Resonant Master, he always seemed to have more up his sleeve.

"I tried to check the city just now. No sign of the black knight," Jiang Qing\'e said.

"Probably escaped. He’s only an Earth Fiend, so he wouldn\'t dare to face us, especially not when the four-limbed demon-eye serpent has already been eliminated," the First Princess said, unsurprised.

Jiang Qing\'e nodded, then turned back to the city. "The snake creatures are awakening."

The cleansing barrier would not hold them forever. The Earthly Disaster-class Others would soon be attacking as well. Still, they were not much of a problem with their leader taken out.

"Let\'s clean this place up. A few extra points wouldn\'t hurt," the First Princess said.

"Mm. Her Highness and I will take care of the snake creatures. Li Luo, you\'re in charge of the Eroding-class Others. Don\'t stray too far from us, in case of ambushes."

Li Luo nodded. It was a little embarrassing to always be protected, but embarrassment was better than death, with that black knight lurking about somewhere.

The three divided up their zones and began to clean the city.

Without the four-limbed demon-eye serpent spreading corruption, and the cleansing barrier exerting a weakening influence on their enemies, they had the entire city purged thoroughly in just half a day.

The corruptive mist faded away and the air became clean and bright again.

The setting sun hung low in the sky, a lantern of pink held against the creeping navy of night.

After clearing their task, the three sat down for a casual meal.

"Another 60,000 points," Li Luo reported cheerfully.

The Earthly Disaster-class Others had been quite numerous, helping them earn a tidy sum.

"Lan Lan and the others are catching up," Jiang Qing\'e said, glancing over. The other team had reached about 230,000 points, only 30,000 points behind them.

At the same time, they saw Gong Shenjun\'s group in fourth place as well.

"That makes five squads with 200,000 points or more," the First Princess said. "They must all have cleared their primary objectives."

Li Luo agreed. Only those could boost the point score so much. Of course, the strongest teams would be the ones to clear them quickly and pull ahead.

Still, there were only five squads who had done it. This was a lot fewer than Li Luo had expected.

Then again, his squad had both Jiang Qing\'e and the First Princess. The two girls had taken down the four-limbed demon-eye serpent very quickly. Not many other squads had that same level of power. They might well be the strongest duo in the whole mixed-level competition.

As for him... an accompaniment here to make music.

"With the Riverguard City mission cleared, we\'re much more free in route choice now. Any suggestions?" the First Princess asked, poking the spirit mirror to light it up again.

Li Luo shook his head.

Jiang Qing\'e pinched a tiny piece of her bun off with her fingers, then popped it into her mouth and munched thoughtfully. "I thought we could go to Thunderpeal Mountain. It’s probably a key area of the Red Clay Province, and I\'m quite curious about those thunderpeal fruits too."

"Thunderpeal Mountain, eh? It\'s quite close to Riverguard City, and since we heard that the Thunderpeal Avatar is royalty-exclusive, this is quite a rare chance for us to experience it. I agree," the First Princess said. "Let\'s not pass up on this chance."

"Wow, the royalty really know how to take all the goodies for themselves, huh?" Li Luo said, joining in the conversation.

The First Princess coughed primly. "Dearest Junior Li Luo, it seems like you have some sort of resentment against royalty?"

Li Luo\'s smile froze on his face. "I meant it regarding the Blackwind Empire, your most esteemed highness. Everyone knows that you love the citizens like your own children. All of the Xia Kingdom adores you. They would get down on all fours and gallop around if you wished for a horse, Your Highness."

She laughed, mollified.

"If there are no objections, let\'s go to Thunderpeal Mountain next, then."

Jiang Qing\'e looked at her half-eaten bun, then patted her still-flat stomach. Without warning, she crammed the remaining half in Li Luo\'s mouth, and he swallowed it sullenly. She got up and then her eyes turned serious.

"But before we leave, we should free those people in the garden."

The First Princess and Li Luo sobered up as well, nodding silently.

They could not run away from this task.