Absolute Resonance

with you,” he said directly.

A flash of surprise crossed Lu Ming's eyes.
“You? Seeking me out to work with me? This is not the proud Jing Taixu that I know.And who is the target of this cooperation? Li Luo?”

Jing Taixu nodded with a tight smile.

“Jing Taixu, the competition on the Stairway to Heaven was meaningless.
You lost to him by half a step—does that warrant such overcaution?” she pressed.

As a bystander, she could judge both of them clearly.
There was honestly no reason for Jing Taixu to be afraid of Li Luo.

Jing Taixu was silent for a moment.
“If I said that this is a dangerous person, you might well laugh at me for being paranoid.
But I have always trusted my instincts.
Li Luo is the biggest threat in this competition.
I want to neutralize it as soon as possible.”

Lu Ming shook her head.
She did not understand Jing Taixu's caution, nor was she sure that he wasn’t trying to pull something on her.
“No matter your reasons, why should I help you? You are the biggest threat to me in this competition.” 

“I don't need you to fight Li Luo directly with me,” Jing Taixu assured her.
“Of course, it will be the Enlightened Sage College who deals with Li Luo's bunch.

“All I need is an illusion formation set within the Dragon's Belly.
I know that illusion formations are your forte.”

Lu Ming's eyes narrowed.
“You want to act in the Dragon's Belly? That's very risky.
You might well sink your entire ship.” 

“It is indeed an entire ship that I plan on sinking,” Jing Taixu said bluntly.
“If I am to act, I will raze the Astral Sage College out of the competition in its entirety.

“Lu Ming, the Enlightened Sage College and the Astral Sage College fighting is a good thing for you.
You get to watch either side be taken out.
What's not to like for you?”

Lu Ming blinked deliberately at him.
“Jing Taixu, that sort of meaningless logic doesn't work on anyone over the age of three.

“Unless they're called Sun Dasheng.
You could try him.”

“You know Sun Dasheng's character as well as I do,” Jing Taixu said impatiently.
“He's not cut out for negotiations or plans.
He just wants to fight head-on.”

“Well, I'm not interested in your negotiations or plans either.” Lu Ming shrugged.

Jing Taixu was silent for a moment.
“I promise you that on Dragonbone Island, I will fight Sun Dasheng before I fight you.
You know what this means.
You could well take me down in my weakened state.
If you have any confidence in your abilities at all, I think you'll appreciate the advantage that this gives you.”

Lu Ming was stunned.
Jing Taixu was promising to fight against her at a disadvantage?

Jing Taixu was indeed the top dog in this competition, but she did believe that both herself and Sun Dasheng stood a chance against him.
Either way, it would not be an easy win.

Unless…
Jing Taixu was confident enough to beat them both consecutively?

Lu Ming's eyelids flickered.

“Lu Ming,” Jing Taixu said sincerely, sensing her wavering, “all you need to do is set an illusion formation, an easy task for you.
And then you gain a big advantage.
It might well win you the competition.
Can I be any more sincere or convincing?”

Lu Ming remained silent, and Jing Taixu waited with her.
A few minutes later, he saw a small nod.

“Well, if you want to give me a free chance, I'm not going to say no.”

Jing Taixu smiled broadly.

“I knew you would agree,” Jing Taixu said happily.

They exchanged a few more details, then Jing Taixu left with a new spring in his step.

Lu Ming watched him go, her expression unfathomable.