Not Listening to Advice (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

"If we can't compete, what are we going to do for the next match?"

"We'll have to put in Huang Yuan or Jing Ling."

"Let's wait until Grandmaster and the Dean return! Perhaps they've found a more capable healing Soul Master."

Lin Yi's tone was indifferent, as if he hadn't been the one offering the suggestion just moments ago. "I must remind you all: although her ribs have been set, the internal meridians and bones still require time to recover."

"My fifth soul skill, Pure Lotus Bloom, contains vast life energy. It can significantly shorten this cycle and ensure no hidden complications remain."

"If you rely solely on ordinary healing Soul Masters or medicine, three days is barely enough to stabilize the injury. If you force her to compete, you will bear the consequences."

"I don't have time to come here every day. Have her come stay at my residence at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"

Tang San replied, "That won't be necessary. Our Dean has already gone to find a healing Soul Master."

His gaze swept over Zhu Zhuqing, who lay on the bed with her eyelashes fluttering at his words, before finally landing on Tang San and Dai Mubai. "Since you have chosen to wait for your Dean, then I wish you good luck."

Lin Yi said no more, turned, and left without the slightest hesitation.

He had done all he could. If the other party did not appreciate it, he would not lower himself to be ignored.

Shortly after Lin Yi departed, Yu Xiaogang and Flender finally rushed back with a healing-type Soul Master they had managed to secure, whose martial soul was "Healing Hand."

After examining Zhu Zhuqing's injuries, the Soul Master activated his soul skill, and a gentle green light enveloped her wounds.

"The bones have been set, and the technique was very precise," the healing Soul Master said with some surprise. "I will now use my soul power to accelerate the healing and stabilize the injury. However, this young lady is severely hurt. She needs at least half a month of bed rest before she can fight. To fully recover and participate in intense combat, it will take at least a month."

"Half a month? We have a match in three days!" Dai Mubai said anxiously.

The healing Soul Master shook his head. "Three days? Absolutely not! If she is forced to compete, once the injury is impacted again, the broken bone could pierce her internal organs. That would be beyond mere recovery—it could be life-threatening!"

The group felt heavy-hearted. At this moment, Yu Xiaogang adjusted his glasses and asked in a deep voice, "Is there any way for her to have some combat capability in three days, even if it's only temporary? We only need her to hold the line; she doesn't need to engage in high-intensity combat."

The healing Soul Master pondered for a moment before saying, "There is. If you use some medicine to stimulate her potential and suppress the pain, combined with my soul power, it might allow her to temporarily ignore the pain and engage in limited activity in three days."

"But this is no different from drinking poison to quench thirst. It will cause internal damage to her body and even affect her future cultivation potential. Once the medicine wears off, the injuries will rebound even more severely!"

"No!" Dai Mubai was the first to object. "We cannot ruin Zhuqing for the sake of a match!"

Zhu Zhuqing, however, spoke weakly: "I... can do it."

Her eyes remained cold, yet carried an unquestionable firmness. For the sake of the team's victory, she was willing to take the risk.

Yu Xiaogang looked at Zhu Zhuqing, then at the other team members. In the end, his desire for victory and to prove the value of Shrek Academy outweighed his concern for the individual risks to his students.

He gritted his teeth. "We will use this method! Afterward, I will find a way to help her recover!"

Flender opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing the resolute look in Yu Xiaogang's eyes and Zhu Zhuqing's own choice, he let out a sigh.

Three days passed in a flash. With the combined efforts of the medicine and the healing Soul Master, Zhu Zhuqing appeared to have recovered quite a bit; at the very least, she could move freely, and some color had returned to her face.

But only she knew that the weakness in her chest had never vanished; it had merely been forcibly suppressed by the medicine.

In the fourth round of the elimination tournament, Shrek Academy's opponent was the formidable Godwind Academy!

Their captain, Feng Xiaotian, was a level 44 power-attack type Soul Ancestor with the Gale Twin-Headed Wolf martial soul, possessing exceptional speed and attack power.

As soon as the match began, Godwind Academy utilized their extreme speed to constantly stretch Shrek's formation.

Tang San: "Focus on protecting Ning Rongrong."

Feng Xiaotian was an opportunist with a sharp eye. He quickly noticed that Zhu Zhuqing, the agility-attack type on the Shrek team, was moving a fraction slower than the data indicated, and her breathing was slightly labored.

She is injured! Feng Xiaotian immediately deduced this, a flash of brilliance in his eyes!

Without hesitation, he made Zhu Zhuqing his breakthrough point!

His Gale Twin-Headed Wolf martial soul erupted with full force. His figure moved like the wind; while appearing to attack Ning Rongrong, he suddenly veered to launch a fierce assault on Zhu Zhuqing!

"Ning Rongrong... no, watch out, Zhuqing!" Tang San exclaimed, Blue Silver Grass surging out frantically in an attempt to intercept.

But Feng Xiaotian's speed was too fast! He clung to Zhu Zhuqing like a maggot on a rotting bone, unleashing sharp wind blades specifically targeting the injured area on her left rib!

Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth, relying on the medicine and her indomitable willpower to dodge and parry desperately.

However, the injury severely hampered her speed and reaction time. Finally, failing to dodge in time, she was struck heavily by a cunning wind blade right on her old rib injury!

"Pfft--!"

The injury, suppressed by the medicine, erupted instantly, far more violently than before! Zhu Zhuqing felt the world go black as she spat out a mouthful of blood. A heart-wrenching pain radiated from her broken ribs, and she was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the edge of the arena. Her body twitched a few times before she fell completely unconscious, her life hanging in the balance!

"Zhuqing!!!" Dai Mubai's eyes were bloodshot as he let out a roar of grief and rage.

"Bastard!" Tang San's eyes turned red instantly! Seeing his companion suffer such a grievous injury because of his own decision, boundless fury and guilt overwhelmed him!

"You... deserve to die!" Tang San completely lost control! The Eight Spider Lances snapped out instantly, the purple-black light carrying a violent aura, and the Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his hand once more! He held nothing back, pouring all his rage onto Godwind Academy!

A one-sided slaughter unfolded on the arena! In his berserk state, combined with the sinister nature of the Eight Spider Lances and the dominance of the Clear Sky Hammer, Tang San single-handedly crushed all the remaining members of Godwind Academy!

Feng Xiaotian was also forced to concede defeat under Tang San's suicidal, frantic assault.

The match ended. Shrek Academy won, narrowly advancing to the final four.

But the entire arena was silent. Everyone stared at the arena: at Tang San, who was leaning on his Clear Sky Hammer, gasping for breath, covered in blood, his eyes like those of a wounded beast, and at Zhu Zhuqing, who was being carried off the stage in a coma.

Shrek Academy had paid a heavy price to step into the final four.

And next, they would face the well-rested Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the deep-rooted Star Luo Royal Academy, and the Martial Soul Hall Academy, which possessed the Golden Generation and was considered the favorite to win the championship!

Zhu Zhuqing's severe injury and coma had dealt a massive blow to the strength of the Shrek team, casting a dark shadow over their prospects.

Lin Yi watched the battle from the spectator stands. In the end, Shrek had not listened to his advice and had sent Zhu Zhuqing into the match!