Absolute Resonance

tificers he had spent so long nurturing.

It was time to see what Pei Hao had cooked up.

Li Luo walked out with a small smile on his face.
Surely Pei Hao had never imagined that the blank palace young lord would one day face him in a head-on battle here at Xia City.

…

Suncreek Villa headquarters.

The mood today was ambivalent among many of the branch artificers, who were standing together in a tight clump.

The headquarters ’ resonance artificers stood by the side, but after all these days of working together, conversations diffused between the two groups, free of the mistrust and discrimination present when they had first met.

Some of the friendlier ones even mingled quite freely, and their candid exchanges put even more doubt on the faces of the branch artificers.

In front of them, Elder Zheng Ping stood with Tang Yun and Lu Xiaofeng.

He eyed the two loftily.
”Today ’s the third test.
When it ends, so does your time at headquarters. ”

The two were silent. 

”I say, ” Elder Zheng Ping burst out, ”haven ’t you felt the Young Lord ’s sincerity during this time?! ” 

Tang Yun grimaced.
”We are branded with Pei Hao ’s mark.
The Xiling branch has already sunk itself too deeply with him. ”

”He ’s just using you as labor! Besides, do you think he left headquarters unmolested? Look at the resonance artificers all around you.
Many of them were recruited by Pei Hao.
But did the Young Lord mind?

”Don ’t judge the Young Lord with a narrow heart and mind.
He might be young, but his skill and generosity are limitless. ”

Both experienced artificers looked conflicted, but eventually chose to remain silent.

The young lord ’s kindness had softened their hearts, but it had not yet undone the years of support that Pei Hao had provided.
They were not yet ready for a complete turning away from Pei Hao.

”Let ’s just wait until the end of the test. ” Tang Yun sighed.
He did not know what to do.
He would take it one step at a time.
If they won here, then they would see whether Li Luo would keep up his end of the promise. 

If he did, they could return to the Xiling branch with the secret watersource, their goals accomplished.
The branch artificers would probably follow them back then.

”Aish, you stubborn fools, ” Elder Zheng Ping snapped.

A murmur broke out.
Li Luo, Jiang Qing ’e, and his entourage had arrived.

Many resonance artificers clapped upon seeing them arrive.

Li Luo waved in acknowledgment as he reached Tang Yun and Lu Xiaofeng.
”Well, gentlemen? I trust you ’ll face me this time? ”

They exchanged a look and stepped forth.
Among the resonance artificers, Tang Yun ’s skill was highest.
He was close to a 5th-grade artificer.

The resonance artificers muttered and shook their heads in disapproval.

The young lord had been more than generous in his treatment, and now Tang Yun was going to take the stage himself? That was unbecoming.

Tang Yun ignored the muttering.
”Young Lord, allow me to learn from you firsthand… ”

”But this time we ’re competing on a third-grade spirit liquid, and the Young Lord is only a second-grade artificer.”

”Oh, I was in a good mood yesterday, ” Li Luo said brightly.
”I managed a 3rd-grade spirit liquid…

”Guess I ’m a third-grade resonance artificer now. ”