"That power of the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder was far too domineering."
"The force of the thunder entered his body and damaged his meridians and lungs. It will probably take a long time of rest for him to recover completely."
Chu Yuhong nodded as he looked at the unconscious Li Xiaoyu, his eyes full of admiration and concern.
"Master, you should go rest. I can keep watch here."
Shang Zhengliang shook his head and sat down in the chair beside the bed, showing no intention of leaving.
He looked at his disciple, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He was proud of Li Xiaoyu for sacrificing himself for others, yet his reckless impulsiveness had also frightened him.
That child was simply too hot-blooded.
While master and disciple sat in silence, the quiet room's door was gently pushed open.
A white figure entered without a sound, like a ghost beneath the moon.
It was Lu Xueqi.
She had changed out of her white disciple robes and into an elegant, moon-white dress.
Her beautiful face looked tired.
She held a small white jade bottle in her hands.
"Senior Sister Lu?"
Chu Yuhong was surprised to see her and stood up.
Shang Zhengliang turned around as well, his expression complicated as he looked at this heaven's favored daughter of Small Bamboo Peak.
Lu Xueqi paid them no heed. Her eyes were fixed on the figure in the bed.
She walked over and looked at Li Xiaoyu's pale face, biting her lip with her pearly teeth.
"Uncle-Master Shang."
She bowed to Shang Zhengliang, her cool voice trembling.
"This is the Cold Jade Ointment my master sent me to deliver."
"It's made at Small Bamboo Peak from the sap of Tear Bamboo, blended with century-old Ice Marrow. It works wonders on wounds caused by lightning and fire."
Shang Zhengliang looked at the jade bottle in her hands, his heart stirring.
He knew that the Cold Jade Ointment was a precious healing treasure, a secret remedy of Small Bamboo Peak.
Even the disciples of Small Bamboo Peak would never receive it from Master Shuiyue unless they were seriously injured.
It seemed that even that old stubborn Shuiyue had truly been moved this time.
"Please thank Junior Sister Shuiyue and you, Senior Niece Lu, for me."
Shang Zhengliang nodded and accepted the bottle.
But Lu Xueqi's gaze never left Li Xiaoyu's face.
She wanted so badly to reach out and touch his face, but she didn't dare.
She was afraid her cold touch might disturb him.
The quiet room's atmosphere grew oppressive.
Watching Lu Xueqi, Shang Zhengliang sighed inwardly.
He knew that no outsider could meddle in the feelings between these two children anymore.
"Yuhong, let's go outside and let Senior Niece Lu keep him company for a while."
Shang Zhengliang gave Chu Yuhong a meaningful look, then stood and headed out.
Chu Yuhong was taken aback, but understood his master's meaning. He quietly left and considerately closed the door behind him.
Only the unconscious Li Xiaoyu and the standing Lu Xueqi remained in the quiet room.
Moonlight spilled through the window onto them, stretching their shadows long.
Lu Xueqi stood by the bed for a long time.
As if she had finally made up her mind, she sat down.
She opened the jade bottle, and a cool, delicate fragrance filled the room.
She scooped up a little of the green ointment with her fingertip.
Her gaze fell on the bandages across Li Xiaoyu's chest.
Her cheeks flushed.
But she didn't hesitate.
She reached out and unwrapped the bandages around Li Xiaoyu's chest.
Beneath them lay a vicious-looking wound.
Holding back her tears, Lu Xueqi gently spread the Cold Jade Ointment over his charred wound.
Her movements were so careful, so tender.
It was as though she held the world's most precious porcelain in her hands.
The ointment touched the wound, bringing a cool sensation.
Even unconscious, Li Xiaoyu seemed to feel the soothing relief. The furrow in his brow eased.
Seeing his brow relax, Lu Xueqi felt relieved, and her touch grew gentler still.
She had no idea that a world-shaking transformation was taking place inside Li Xiaoyu.
The power of the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder consumed by the Immortal-Slaying Gourd was rapidly broken down and refined within it.
The frenzied energy of destruction was suppressed, while the thunder's most essential, pure yang essence was returned by the gourd, flowing into Li Xiaoyu's limbs and bones.
This pure thunder essence constantly tempered his meridians like a catalyst, strengthening his body.
The meridians damaged by the backlash were healing at astonishing speed, growing tougher and wider.
His Cultivation was rising as well.
Mid-level of the fifth layer of the Jade Purity Realm!
Late level of the fifth layer of the Jade Purity Realm!
Peak of the fifth layer of the Jade Purity Realm!
The sixth layer of the Jade Purity Realm!
His aura grew stronger and stronger.
Lu Xueqi, in the quiet room, couldn't sense any of this.
She simply focused on applying the ointment to him.
Moonlight flowed on in silence.
At that moment, time itself seemed to stand still.
After an unknown length of time, Lu Xueqi finally finished applying the ointment to all his wounds.
After bandaging him again, she looked at his peaceful sleeping face, her heart at ease.
Lu Xueqi reached out and, gathering her courage, brushed her fingertips over his cheek, his eyebrows, his lips.
"You have to get better soon."
She murmured softly, her voice full of tenderness and longing.
"I'll keep waiting for you."
Then she stood, took one last look at him, and turned to leave, as quiet as a streak of moonlight.
Only the lingering fragrance in the room and a bottle of Cold Jade Ointment by the bed remained as proof that she had been there.
On the bed, the corners of Li Xiaoyu's mouth seemed to lift slightly.
The day of the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament finals arrived as scheduled.
Heaven-Reaching Peak was bustling from early that morning.
At dawn, disciples from every peak had already packed the central Martial Arts Plaza.
Excitement and anticipation filled every face.
Qi Hao of Dragon Head Peak.
Li Xiaoyu of Morning Sun Peak.
One was a long-established prodigy, hailed as the Green Cloud Sect's number-one member of the Young Generation and a master of the eighth layer of the Jade Purity Realm.
The other was this tournament's biggest dark horse, who had even defeated Lu Xueqi, the favored contender for the championship.
This duel was full of highlights and suspense.
Could Qi Hao defend his glory?
How much fighting strength did Li Xiaoyu have left after his severe injuries?
Everything would be revealed today.
When Li Xiaoyu appeared among the Morning Sun Peak disciples, the crowd erupted in gasps and chatter.
"Look! It's Senior Brother Li! He really came to compete in the finals!"
"His face is so pale. He still looks badly injured!"
"That's right. The backlash from the Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique is terrifying. Just surviving it was a miracle. How could he recover in just two days?"
"Looks like there's no suspense in this final."
Everyone's gaze focused on Li Xiaoyu.
He wore a clean blue Daoist robe, and his figure remained upright, but his face was indeed pale and his steps seemed a little unsteady.
Anyone who saw him would think he was forcing himself to keep going.
Shang Zhengliang and Chu Yuhong followed behind him, their worry impossible to conceal.
"Xiaoyu, are you really sure you want to compete? Your injuries..."
Shang Zhengliang had already tried countless times to dissuade him on the way.
Li Xiaoyu only smiled and shook his head. "Don't worry, Master. I know my limits."
He naturally knew his limits.
After a night of recovery and the Immortal-Slaying Gourd converting and returning the Thunder Power, his injuries had already healed by seventy or eighty percent.
Not only that, but in the process of being broken and remade, his Cultivation had broken through the barrier of the fifth layer of the Jade Purity Realm and firmly entered the sixth!
He was now several times stronger than he had been in the semifinals!
He only looked so weak to mislead his opponent and disguise himself for the plan he had in mind.
Before you continue