Prestige

Ji Jing released his grip without expression. The Death God Messenger's corpse hit the ground with a thud, like a broken sack, and lay still.

Holding Yao Haoxuan's body, still faintly warm yet already cold, Xuan Zi was swept by immense grief and guilt.

His burly frame trembled slightly, pain filling his murky eyes as he murmured to himself:

"Again... Once again... I failed to protect my student..."

Ji Jing acted as if he hadn't heard Xuan Zi's grief.

He paid no heed to the Douluo and walked straight up to Ma Xiaotao.

At that moment, Ma Xiaotao was no longer the proud and forceful woman she had once been.

She was half-crouched on the ground, a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth. The explosion's shock wave had left her with serious internal injuries, and she was covered in dust and blood, looking utterly disheveled.

She lifted her head and looked at Ji Jing, standing before her unharmed, with an expression that was impossible to read.

Everyone around them turned their eyes to Ji Jing at that moment.

Ji Jing's gaze passed slowly over Ma Xiaotao, then swept across Xixi and Ling Luochеn, and the gravely injured, unconscious Chen Zifeng, before finally settling on Yao Haoxuan's body in Xuan Zi's arms.

His voice remained calm:

"From now on, equip every member of the Shrek Inspector Corps with Soul Tools."

His words struck the hearts of Ma Xiaotao and the others like a boulder thrown into a still lake, stirring up towering waves.

No one argued. No one spoke.

The cruel reality was laid bare before them. Pride was worthless in the face of death.

Their silence was an answer in itself.

Even Xuan Zi was beginning to understand that the Martial Soul Department could no longer resist Soul Tools...

With that, Ji Jing turned and headed out of the cave, leading the way.

The reserve team members followed closely behind him in silence.

Watching this, Dai Yueheng sighed and walked over to Ma Xiaotao. He held out his hand and said gravely:

"Come on, Captain."

Ma Xiaotao pressed her lips tightly together, the fire in her eyes greatly dimmed.

She looked at Dai Yueheng's outstretched hand and remained silent for a moment. In the end, she took it and used his support to get back to her feet.

Gongyang Mo stepped forward as well, helping Xixi and Ling Luochеn up one by one. He also released several healing Soul Skills, bathing the injured in a gentle glow and easing their wounds.

By then, Xuan Zi had also managed to pull himself temporarily from his immense grief.

With a dark expression, he held Yao Haoxuan's body and walked over to Dai Yueheng. His voice was hoarse as he said:

"Go find Teacher Wang Yan and rendezvous with him. Follow the original plan and head to Star Luo City first. I... I'll take Haoxuan back to the academy..."

Every word seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.

Dai Yueheng nodded solemnly.

"Yes, Xuan Zi. Please take care."

Xuan Zi said nothing more. He flashed into a streak of light and shot into the sky, carrying away the first bloody price the Shrek Team had paid on this mission. Soon, he vanished into the horizon.

The journey passed in silence, a heavy atmosphere hanging over the entire group.

When they reached Star Luo City, they checked into the city's most luxurious hotel, the Star Luo Grand Hotel.

The academy had booked the entire top floor well in advance and arranged the best suites, two people to a room.

Night fell, and the room was brightly lit.

Water rushed in the bathroom. Wang Dong was taking a shower, trying to wash away the fatigue of the journey and the gloom left by the bloodshed.

Meanwhile, Ji Jing sat on the soft carpet in the living room, focused on adjusting several delicate Soul Tool components.

"Knock, knock, knock."

A soft, measured knock sounded at the door.

Ji Jing put down his tools and got up to open it.

Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochеn, Xixi, and Dai Yueheng stood outside.

Their expressions were solemn, almost grave.

Ji Jing glanced over them, stepped aside, and said calmly:

"Come in. We can talk."

The four entered the room, and the atmosphere grew tense for a moment.

In the end, Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath and broke the silence first.

She looked at Ji Jing. There was no longer any pride or defiance in her eyes, only sincere remorse.

"Ji Jing, we came to apologize. Our arrogance and disregard led to Yao Haoxuan's death and Chen Zifeng's severe injuries... We have to take responsibility for that. We're sorry."

Ling Luochеn and Xixi lowered their heads at the same time and said softly:

"We're sorry."

Dai Yueheng stepped forward right after them, his expression just as solemn.

"Ji Jing, I came to apologize too. First, for my attitude before. I admit that I didn't understand you. Second—"

He paused, his tone growing heavier.

"I know that my younger brother, Dai Huabin, did unforgivable things to you and your friends. Though he's already paid the price, as the eldest son of the Dai Family, I still have to formally apologize to you for what he did."

He bowed deeply. When he raised his head, he looked at Ji Jing with utter sincerity.

"Only after meeting you and fighting alongside you did I understand what a truly remarkable Soul Master you are."

"We... we hope we can work well together from now on and become true teammates."

Ji Jing showed little reaction to their apologies, as if he had already put these matters behind him.

He didn't care about the choices of ordinary people, so their apologies meant little to him as well.

There would naturally be many benefits if they followed in his footsteps.

If they chose not to, they could bear the consequences themselves.

He simply looked at them calmly and said:

"It's all in the past. The dead are gone, and the living have to look ahead. I accept your apologies."

His forgiveness came so easily that Ma Xiaotao and the others were at a loss for a moment.

Ji Jing said nothing more. He turned and took seven crystal-clear, exquisitely crafted cups from his Storage Soul Tool.

Then he brought out the Best Wine Cup in the Village and tilted it, pouring out pale green wine that gave off a refreshing fragrance.

A startling sight unfolded: the small jade bottle seemed to hold an endless supply. Soon, all seven cups were filled, yet the amount of wine in the bottle didn't seem to diminish at all.

"This is Clear Heart Jade Marrow Brew,"

Ji Jing said as he handed them the cups one by one.

"It works wonders on internal injuries and nourishes the organs and meridians. Those of you who are still injured should drink it and rest well. Those who aren't injured can drink it too; it'll help with meditation."

Ma Xiaotao and the others stared in shock at the jade bottle in Ji Jing's hand, which seemed to be a Space Soul Tool. Then they looked at the wine in their cups, brimming with the vitality of life, and were stunned beyond words.

They carefully accepted the cups, feeling the weight of his generosity.

From that moment on, Ji Jing's standing in their hearts reached unprecedented heights.

"Th-thank you."

Dai Yueheng spoke from the heart.

"Thank you."

Ma Xiaotao and the others thanked him in unison.

"Get some rest."

Ji Jing said indifferently.

The four nodded. Without lingering any longer, they carried their cups filled with precious wine, said their goodbyes, and left the room.

As the door closed softly behind them, the hallway fell silent once more.