Chapter 305: Li Bi (1/2)

A cool breeze waltzed lazily through the peaceful night air at the Astral Sage College.

In an inn on campus.

This inn only opened for business for a time after the Umbra Cave opened. It was there for students to let loose after a highly stressful experience. The inn sold a special drink called Aphid's Brew, made from a peculiar insect found on the Tree of Resonant Power. Its secretions were processed into a drink that had a powerful calming effect.

Near a window sat Li Luo, Jiang Qing'e, and Yan Lingqing.

Li Luo lifted the kettle to pour more green liquid into the two girls' cups before filling his own. He held the brew in his mouth for a moment to savor its unique effects, then swallowed.

A knot of tension that he didn't know he had unraveled itself.

”I heard you two faced a Heavenly Disaster Class Other at purified spot 13. I was worried to death,” Yan Lingqing said, her hand still tight on Jiang Qing'e's own.

Jiang Qing'e smiled.

”Sister Lingqing, which talent have you invited tonight?” Li Luo cut straight to the chase.

”Senior Li Bi. She's one of the rare fifth-grade artificers in the Resonance Artificers Hall, and she has quite a reputation as well. If you can bring her into the Suncreek Villa, many people will follow,” Yan Lingqing said with a satisfied tone.

”Fifth-grade resonance artificer...”

Li Luo almost drooled, and the relaxing brew before him was not the reason. Only the Resonance Artificers Hall could attract a talent like a fifth-grade artificer, which would be a huge boon to any of the top villas in the Xia Kingdom.

”If she's willing to come to the Suncreek Villa, I'd even give her the position of president,” Li Luo said with undisguised greed.

After all, the previous president, Hanzhi, who had been poached away by the Bigswamp Villa, was a fifth-grade artificer as well.

An artificer of that tier was considered highly placed even in the top ten villas.

”Assuming she even wants the position,” Jiang Qing'e said, sipping her brew with relish.

”That's true. A small scale operation like the Suncreek Villa doesn't hold much attraction,” Yan Lingqing admitted. ”Senior Li Bi only agreed to hear me out, but I think the only thing that might pique her interest is our upper seventh-grade secret watersource.

”It's the only thing we have to offer, and it isn't even unheard of among the top villas, so...” She trailed off without much hope. Li Luo understood. It was hard to persuade a great buddha to settle in a small universe like theirs.

She wasn't even a friend or family member of theirs, so there was no reason for her to take such a risk in her future and remain with them.

At the top-tier of villas, she could mingle with even more skillful artificers and improve herself. There would also be higher quality formulas for her to practice with.

The Suncreek Villa was a barren wasteland compared to that lush cornucopia of opportunity.

”We'll do our best,” Jiang Qing'e said calmly. If their guest was completely uninterested, it wasn't like they could hold her at knifepoint and make her join.

”It's all your fault,” Yan Lingqing said with a petulant slap to Jiang Qing'e's wrist.

”My- pardon?” Jiang Qing'e laughed.

”With a ninth-grade light resonance, you'd be a sixth-grade artificer by now. You'd be the number one resonance artificer in the Xia Kingdom, and then the Suncreek Villa would have no more troubles. What a waste of talent,” Yan Lingqing grumbled.