"Since she couldn't compete, what were we supposed to do in the next round?"
"We can only send Huang Yuan or Jing Ling."
"Let's wait until Grandmaster and the dean come back! Maybe they'll have found a stronger healing Soul Master."
Lin Yi's tone was calm, as though he hadn't been the one to offer his advice just moments ago. "I need to remind you that although her ribs have been set, her internal meridians and bones still need time to heal.
"My fifth Soul Skill, 'Pure Lotus Bloom,' contains immense life energy. It can greatly shorten this recovery period and ensure there are no lingering complications.
"If she relies only on an ordinary healing Soul Master or medicine, then in three days, even stabilizing her injuries will be difficult. If she forces herself to compete, she'll have to bear the consequences.
"I don't have time to come here every day. Have her stay with me at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy residence!"
Tang San replied, "There's no need. Our dean has already gone to find a healing Soul Master."
His gaze swept over Zhu Zhuqing, who lay on the bed, her eyelashes trembling faintly at his words, then settled on Tang San and Dai Mubai. "Since you've chosen to wait for your dean, then I wish you luck."
Lin Yi said no more. He turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
He had done all he could. Since they wouldn't take his advice, he wasn't about to go out of his way for them.
Not long after Lin Yi left, Yu Xiaogang and Flender finally hurried back, bringing with them a healing Soul Master whose Martial Soul was "Healing Hand," whom they had gone to great lengths to invite.
After examining Zhu Zhuqing's injuries, the Soul Master used a Soul Skill, and a gentle green light enveloped her wounds.
"Her bones have already been set, and the work was very precise," the healing Soul Master said, somewhat surprised. "I'll use my Soul Power now to speed up the healing and stabilize her injuries. But this young lady is badly hurt. She'll need at least half a month of rest before she can fight. To fully recover and take part in intense battles, she'll need at least a month."
"Half a month? We have another match in three days!" Dai Mubai said anxiously.
The healing Soul Master shook his head. "Three days? Absolutely not! If she forces herself onto the field and her injury takes another blow, the broken bones could pierce her internal organs. That wouldn't be something rest could fix. Her life could even be in danger!"
Everyone's mood grew heavy. At that moment, Yu Xiaogang pushed up his glasses and asked in a grave voice, "Is there any way to give her some fighting ability in three days, even if only temporarily? We only need her to take the field and hold the opponents back. She won't need to engage in any high-intensity combat."
The healing Soul Master pondered for a moment, then said, "There is. If we use drugs that stimulate her potential and suppress pain, along with my Soul Power, she might temporarily stop feeling the pain in three days and be able to move to a limited extent.
"But that would be like quenching her thirst with poison. It would cause hidden damage to her body and could even affect her future cultivation potential. And once the drugs wear off, her injuries will rebound even worse!"
"No!" Dai Mubai was the first to object. "We can't ruin Zhuqing for the sake of a match!"
But Zhu Zhuqing spoke weakly. "I... can do it."
Her gaze remained cool, yet carried an undeniable resolve. For 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 to win and prove Shrek's worth overwhelmed his concern for the risks to an individual team member.
He gritted his teeth. "We'll use this method! Afterward, I'll find a way to help her recover!"
Flender opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but when he saw Yu Xiaogang's resolute expression and Zhu Zhuqing's own choice, all he could do was sigh.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Thanks to the combined efforts of the medicine and the healing Soul Master, Zhu Zhuqing appeared to have recovered considerably. 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 gone away. The drugs had merely forced it down.
In the fourth round of the knockout stage, Shrek Academy's opponent was the powerful Godwind Academy!
Its captain, Feng Xiaotian, was a forty-fourth-level Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor. His Martial Soul was the Gale Twin-Headed Wolf, and his speed and attack power were both exceptional.
As soon as the match began, Godwind Academy used their extreme speed to continually pull Shrek's formation apart.
Tang San: "Make sure to protect Ning Rongrong."
Feng Xiaotian was an opportunist with a keen eye. He quickly noticed that Zhu Zhuqing, the agility-type Soul Master on Shrek's team, moved just a fraction more slowly than the records suggested, and that her breathing was slightly labored.
"She's injured!" Feng Xiaotian immediately realized, his eyes flashing!
Without hesitation, he made Zhu Zhuqing his breakthrough point!
The Gale Twin-Headed Wolf Martial Soul unleashed its full power, his figure as swift as the wind. While attacking Ning Rongrong, he suddenly changed direction and launched a fierce assault on Zhu Zhuqing!
"Ning Rongrong... no, Zhuqing, look out!" Tang San cried, as Blue Silver Grass surged out in a frantic attempt to stop him.
But Feng Xiaotian was too fast! He clung to Zhu Zhuqing like a leech, directing one razor-sharp blade of wind after another at the injured spot beneath her left ribs!
Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth, relying on the medicine and her indomitable will as she desperately dodged and blocked.
But her injuries severely impaired her speed and reactions. At last, she failed to dodge in time, and a tricky blade of wind struck her old injury beneath the left ribs with brutal force!
"Pfft—!"
The injuries suppressed by the medicine erupted at once, far more violently than before! Zhu Zhuqing's vision went black. She spat out a mouthful of blood, and a tearing pain shot through the broken ribs. She flew backward like a kite with its strings cut and slammed into 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 bulged with rage as he let out a grief-stricken roar.
"You bastards!" Tang San's eyes instantly reddened! Seeing his companion so grievously injured because of his decision, he was swallowed by boundless fury and guilt!
"You... deserve to die!" Tang San went completely berserk! The Eight Spider Lances shot out, their purplish-black light carrying a savage aura, and the Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his hand once more! He held nothing back, unleashing all his fury on Godwind Academy!
A one-sided slaughter unfolded on the arena! In his rage, Tang San combined the uncanny Eight Spider Lances with the overwhelming might of the Clear Sky Hammer and single-handedly crushed every remaining member of Godwind Academy!
Feng Xiaotian, too, admitted defeat under Tang San's crazed, all-out assault.
The match ended. Shrek Academy had won and narrowly advanced to the top four.
Yet the entire arena fell silent. Everyone watched Tang San, leaning on the Clear Sky Hammer as he panted heavily, covered in blood, his eyes like those of a wounded beast. They also watched Zhu Zhuqing, who had been hurriedly carried off the arena, unconscious and unresponsive.
Shrek Academy had paid a terrible price to make it into the top four.
And next, they would face the well-rested Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the Star Luo Royal Academy with its deep reserves, and Spirit Hall Academy, home of the Golden Generation and regarded as the favorite to win the championship!
Zhu Zhuqing's severe injuries and unconsciousness had greatly weakened Shrek Team, casting a thick shadow over their prospects.
Lin Yi had watched the match from the stands. In the end, Shrek hadn't taken his advice and had sent Zhu Zhuqing onto the field!
Before you continue