Prestige

Ji Jing loosened his grip expressionlessly, and the corpse of the Death God Messenger fell to the ground like a sack of rags, hitting it with a dull thud before falling silent.

Xuan Zi cradled the still-warm yet cooling remains of Yao Haoxuan, a profound sense of grief and self-reproach surging in his heart.

His burly frame trembled slightly, his turbid eyes filled with agony as he muttered to himself:

"Once again... I have once again... failed to protect my students..."

Ji Jing seemed not to hear Xuan Zi's sorrow.

Ignoring the Titled Douluo, he walked straight toward Ma Xiaotao.

At this moment, Ma Xiaotao no longer possessed her usual pride and dominance.

She half-knelt on the ground with a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth; the shockwave of the explosion had caused her significant internal injuries, and she was covered in dust and blood, looking utterly disheveled.

She looked up, her eyes filled with a complex, unreadable emotion as she gazed at the unscathed Ji Jing standing before her.

The eyes of everyone present were focused on Ji Jing at this moment.

Ji Jing's gaze swept slowly over Ma Xiaotao, then passed over Xixi, Ling Luochen, and the heavily injured, unconscious Chen Zifeng, finally landing on the corpse of Yao Haoxuan held in Xuan Zi's arms.

His voice remained calm:

"In the future, equip the Shrek Inspector Corps with Soul Tool."

This sentence was like a massive boulder cast into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand waves in the hearts of Ma Xiaotao and the others.

No one refuted him, and no one spoke.

The cruel reality lay before them; pride was worthless in the face of death.

Their silence was, in itself, a form of concession.

Even Xuan Zi began to realize in his heart that the Martial Soul Department could no longer resist the use of Soul Tool...

Having said this, Ji Jing turned and was the first to walk toward the exit of the cavern.

The members of the reserve team followed his footsteps in silence.

Watching this scene, Dai Yueheng sighed, walked up to Ma Xiaotao, extended his hand toward her, and said in a deep voice:

"Let's go, Captain."

Ma Xiaotao pressed her lips together tightly, the flames in her eyes having dimmed significantly.

She looked at Dai Yueheng's extended hand, remained silent for a moment, and finally reached out to grasp it, using his strength to stand up.

Gongyang Mo also stepped forward to help Xixi and Ling Luochen up, simultaneously casting several healing soul skills; a soft light enveloped the injured, easing their wounds.

At this moment, Xuan Zi also temporarily pulled himself away from his immense grief.

With a gloomy face, he carried Yao Haoxuan's corpse to Dai Yueheng and said in a hoarse voice:

"Go and rendezvous with Teacher Wang Yan, and proceed to Star Luo City according to the original plan. I... I will take Haoxuan back to the academy first..."

Every word seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.

Dai Yueheng nodded solemnly:

"Understood, Xuan Zi. Please accept my condolences."

Xuan Zi said no more; his figure flickered, transforming into a streak of light that shot into the sky, disappearing into the horizon while carrying the first blood price paid by the Shrek team during this mission.

The journey was silent, a heavy atmosphere shrouding the entire team.

Upon arriving at Star Luo City, they checked into the most luxurious Star Luo Grand Hotel.

The academy had long since booked the entire top floor of the hotel, arranging the best suites with two people to a room.

Night fell, and the room was brightly lit.

The sound of splashing water came from the bathroom; Wang Dong was bathing, attempting to wash away the exhaustion of the journey and the gloom brought by the bloodshed.

Ji Jing sat on the soft carpet of the living room, focused on troubleshooting several precision Soul Tool components.

"Knock, knock, knock."

A light, rhythmic knocking sounded at the door.

Ji Jing set down his tools and rose to open the door.

Standing outside were Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, Xixi, and Dai Yueheng.

Their expressions were serious, even carrying a hint of solemnity.

Ji Jing's gaze swept over them, and he stepped aside, saying calmly:

"Come in and talk."

The four entered the room, and the atmosphere grew somewhat stagnant.

Finally, Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath and was the first to break the silence.

She looked at Ji Jing, the pride and defiance in her eyes gone, replaced by sincere apology:

"Ji Jing, we came to apologize. Because of our arrogance and negligence, it led to the sacrifice of Yao Haoxuan and the severe injury of Chen Zifeng... We must bear this responsibility. I am sorry."

Ling Luochen and Xixi lowered their heads simultaneously, whispering, "We are sorry."

Dai Yueheng stepped forward immediately, his expression equally solemn. "Ji Jing, I am here to apologize as well. First, for my previous attitude; I admit that I did not understand you in the past. Second," he paused, his tone growing heavier, "I know that my younger brother Dai Huabin once committed unforgivable acts against you and your friends. Although he has already paid the price, as the eldest son of the Dai Family, I must still formally apologize to you for his actions."

He bowed deeply, and upon straightening up, his gaze met Ji Jing's with absolute sincerity. "Only after truly interacting and fighting side-by-side did I realize that you are a truly remarkable soul master. We... we hope that we can coordinate well in the future and become true teammates."

Listening to their apologies, there was little fluctuation on Ji Jing's face, as if these matters had long since been turned over in his heart. He did not care for the choices of mortals, and naturally, he did not care much for their apologies. If they could follow his pace, there would naturally be many benefits. If not, they would simply have to bear the consequences themselves. He merely looked at them calmly and said, "The matter is in the past. The dead are gone, and the living must look forward. I accept your apologies."

His forgiveness came so easily that it left Ma Xiaotao and the others momentarily at a loss.

Ji Jing said nothing more, turning to retrieve seven crystal-clear, artwork-like crystal cups from his Soul Tool storage. He then took out the Best Wine Cup in the Village, tilting the mouth of the vessel to pour out a pale green liquid that emitted a refreshing, intoxicating fragrance. A shocking scene unfolded: the small jade bottle seemed bottomless, quickly filling all seven cups one by one, yet the liquid inside appeared not to have diminished in the slightest.

"This is Clear Heart Jade Marrow Brew," Ji Jing said, handing the cups to them one by one. "It has miraculous effects on internal injuries and can nourish the internal organs and meridians. Those of you who haven't fully recovered from your injuries should drink it to recuperate. Those who aren't injured can drink it too; it is beneficial for meditation."

Ma Xiaotao and the others stared in shock at the jade bottle in Ji Jing's hand, which functioned like a spatial Soul Tool, and then at the liquid in the cups, which radiated a vigorous aura of life. Their hearts were filled with overwhelming awe. They carefully took the cups, feeling the weight of the favor bestowed upon them. From this moment on, Ji Jing's prestige in their hearts reached an unprecedented height.

"Th-thank you," Dai Yueheng said sincerely.

"Thank you," Ma Xiaotao and the others echoed in unison.

"Rest early," Ji Jing said indifferently.

The four nodded, choosing not to disturb him further. Holding the cups filled with the precious liquid, they turned to bid farewell and left the room. As the door closed softly, the corridor returned to silence.