Long Youyou slowly awoke in a warm embrace.
The instant she opened her eyes, she remembered how she had collapsed at the start. She wanted to believe it had only been a nightmare, but the searing pain throughout her body told her that her crushing defeat was an unchangeable fact.
"Top three of the Order Celestial Clan, defeated by seventh on the Imperial Star Ranking—and by some nobody at that!"
At the thought of it, her internal organs twisted in agony.
She had no face to meet Li Haochen here, and after returning, she would likewise have no face to face her family elders.
In short, she had at least disgraced the Hidden Dragon Hall.
"Brother Haochen, I..."
Long Youyou realized that it was Li Haochen holding her, and tears burst from her eyes. Heartbroken, she said, "I embarrassed myself. I'm sorry. I didn't expect this person to be so powerful. That wasn't at all the strength she displayed in the Wutian Realm."
"All right, it's over."
Li Haochen did not mind her ugly state. She would recover anyway. He rubbed her head and said, "It's fine. It wasn't just you—I underestimated them too. This battle was a wake-up call for Shishi and me."
Only after seeing that he did not blame her did Long Youyou let out a sigh of relief.
What she did not know was that a blazing fury had already gathered in Li Haochen's heart, scorching all eight tribulation wheels between his brows.
"Ruoshi, give it everything you have. You can't lose this battle, or we'll truly become a laughingstock," Li Wushuang reminded her.
"Yes." Li Ruoshi nodded seriously.
She was not afraid. After all, Li Haochen was right: the significance of Long Youyou's battle was that it had made the next two contests serious.
She