A Golden Resonant Tree Brooch!

Even Li Luo's eyes lit up with desire.

He had longed for one for so long.

The Golden Resonant Tree Brooch could passively improve one's resonance quality, which made it like an endless source of Spirit Liquids and Purifying Lights.

Of course, it was not as potent as an individual bottle of Spirit Liquid, but over time, the effects would accumulate very nicely.

Besides, it was not an either-or situation. It could perfectly complement any Spirit Liquid and Purifying Light he could get his hands on, and double the effects.

Truly a cultivation treasure.

A treasure of this level was too rare to be found even in the Golden Dragon Bank, and its price would be far beyond even a gold-eye treasured artifact.

"Besides its resonance artificing powers, the Academic Federation has also put an Eternal Youth Blessing on it, which activates when the holder is seriously injured. It will rapidly regenerate one's energy and heal wounds in a short period of time," Elder Ling Yu explained. The additional effect of the Golden Resonant Tree Brooches was unexpected.

A coo of envy spread through the crowd. The Eternal Youth Blessing could be a lifesaver. Imagine two equally-matched opponents wearing each other down to the bone, and then one of them regenerated completely. What despair the opponent would feel!

Three Golden Resonant Tree Brooches floated down to Li Luo, Jiang Qing'e, and the First Princess.

One of them landed in the First Princess' hands.

"And since Jiang Qing'e and Li Luo from the Astral Sage College were also awarded the strongest student titles, they each have two Golden Resonant Tree Brooches. As per the rules, you may choose to trade them for a Violet Resonant Tree Brooch, which is higher in quality," Elder Ling Yu said with a smile.

"Keke, Violet Resonant Tree Brooches are even rarer than Golden Resonant Tree Brooches, and they have even more mystical properties. There are very few of them in the East Divine Continent."

"Violet Resonant Tree Brooch!" The other students discussed it excitedly and enviously. "They haven't given one out in decades! Two in this meet?!"

"Yeah, two Golden Resonant Tree Brooches for one violet one is too tough a condition to meet."

Those who were awarded the strongest student title could get a Golden Resonant Tree Brooch, and then they would have to win the mixed-level competition to get a second one to trade for a Violet Resonant Tree Brooch. Anyone who could win such a thing would have to be far ahead of their peers, which was an extraordinarily difficult achievement.

"Would the two of you prefer two golden brooches, or one violet one?" Elder Ling Yu asked Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e.

They shared a look, and instantly decided to make the trade.

And so Elder Ling Yu waved his long sleeves again, and the Golden Resonant Tree Brooches disappeared. Now two violet nimbuses of energy landed before the pair.

Li Luo saw that the new brooch was similar in design to the last, although the carvings were even more intricate than before. Also, there was a purple eye in the middle of it.

A violet-eye treasured artifact!

Li Luo's heart leaped. A support violet-eye treasured artifact... If he brought it to the Golden Dragon Bank to sell, it would net him a fortune.

Violet-eye treasured artifacts were so rare that even Dukes coveted them, especially one that would support cultivation.

Li Luo had never possessed something so powerful before.

"The two of you, place your blood essence within them, and then they will be yours. If they are taken away by force, the treasure will self-destruct immediately," Elder Ling Yu told them.

A Violet Resonant Tree Brooch was too rare a treasure for people of their power level to hold. Jiang Qing'e might be able to put up some defense, but a Resonant Master like Li Luo would be food for anybody. The Academic Federation had foreseen that, and they had taken measures to prevent the holder from being robbed and attacked.

Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e immediately pricked their fingers and summoned a drop of blood essence, which they marked their Violet Resonant Tree Brooches with. Both felt a tingle as a powerful connection was made between them and their treasures, and they sensed the power of the brooches.

"Resonant artificing.

"Spirit deposit.

"Eternal Oak Armor."

Resonant artificing was the basic power that even the golden brooches had. Li Luo carefully studied the spirit deposit function. This was related to one's resonance quality too, although it worked a little differently from resonant artificing. It would drain away the energy accumulated within the brooch to produce a powerful artificing energy that boosted one's resonance quality.

The effects of spirit deposit were far stronger than the passive resonant artificing process.

However, each use of spirit deposit would reset the energy within the brooch, putting it on a long cooldown. It would even reduce the effects of resonant artificing for some time after each use.

Li Luo was still euphoric. The effects of spirit deposit were much stronger than resonant artificing anyway.

For example, if he reached the Earth Fiend Stage and got his third resonant palace, he could use spirit deposit to immediately push his third resonance up to a decent grade. Surely a sixth-grade resonance was not too much to ask for.

That would save him a lot of time and energy.

Li Luo next looked at the Eternal Oak Armor.

Compared to the Golden Resonant Tree Brooch's Eternal Youth Blessing, the Eternal Oak Armor was even stronger. Once activated, it would shield the user with a mighty wooden armor.

It was defensive, but it also applied the same regenerative effects as the Eternal Youth Blessing.

It was truly the upgraded version of the Eternal Youth Blessing, adding defense on top of healing. It was the ultimate safety mechanism.

Li Luo's eyes were ready to pop out of their sockets, and he checked his mouth for saliva dripping out. A violet-eye treasured artifact was something else indeed. These three powers combined far exceeded any gold-eye treasured artifact you could ask for. Although the Violet Resonant Tree Brooch did not have offensive abilities, these three powers would enable him greatly. That was the beauty of the brooch—it provided a universally welcome boost.

He reached out with a trembling hand, and the Violet Resonant Tree Brooch landed in his palm.

Li Luo saw a corresponding violet leaf mark appear on his hand.

"The Academic Federation really is generous," Li Luo thought to himself happily. No faction in the Xia Kingdom could possibly give out a treasure like this.

He turned around to look at Jiang Qing'e, who was smiling broadly, out of character for the plump swan that he knew.

On the dais, Elder Ling Yu spoke again. "This iteration of the mixed-level competition has been highly unusual. In light of these difficult and strange circumstances, and in acknowledgment of our student heroes who have risen up to the challenge, the Academic Federation has decided to hand out additional rewards."

This got enthusiastic cheers from the entire crowd. That was more like it! With risk should come proportional rewards!

Elder Ling Yu smiled down at all of them, and concluded his speech. "With this, the current iteration of the Holy Grail Meet has come to a happy ending. I wish all of you the best in your cultivation journeys, and may you all reach Duke and beyond."

The students bowed in respect to Elder Ling Yu. Li Luo bent low at the waist as well, then he straightened up to share a huge smile with Jiang Qing'e.

The Holy Grail Meet was over.

Although to them, the dangers of the future loomed ever closer on the horizon.