"Where is this?" In the Shrek lounge, Zhu Zhuqing slowly opened her eyes under Ye Lingling's treatment.
The Nine Hearts Flowering Apple was indeed worthy of being the best healing spirit in the world. With Ye Lingling's help, injuries that would have taken months to heal were nearly gone in less than an hour.
"Zhuqing, you finally woke up. That's great! This is the lounge. Our match is over. Don't worry, we won." Ning Rongrong breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Zhu Zhuqing recover.
"Did we win? But the team won, but I lost..." Zhu Zhuqing murmured, her stubborn personality surfacing. She could only recall that she hadn't defeated a single opponent before losing to the captain of the Exotic Beast Academy.
In reality, it was normal for a Spirit Elder to be defeated by a Spirit Ancestor, and no one blamed her. However, she still held herself accountable.
"Zhuqing, don't think too much. The most important thing for you right now is to rest." Ning Rongrong comforted her softly.
"Has he been here?" Zhu Zhuqing suddenly looked at Ning Rongrong with a hopeful gaze.
Ning Rongrong knew exactly who she was referring to and couldn't help but respond angrily "He came for a short while, saw that Sister Lingling was already treating you, and then left right away. This is just too much! You're his fiancée."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing closed her eyes in disappointment. In truth, Dai Mubai had initially tried to get closer to her, but she had always been indifferent toward him.
Dai Mubai was not a man of patience or resolve. He only pursued what seemed possible. In the original story, he changed because he obtained the magic herb and had powerful teammates, which gave him hope. But in the current situation, he saw no hope of defeating Dai Weisei. Since Zhu Zhuqing ignored him, he found it easier to continue his carefree life.
In reality, Zhu Zhuqing had never truly forgotten him; otherwise, she wouldn't have risked her life to come to Heaven Dou from Star Luo. What she felt was more resentment—a disappointment in someone she had once placed her hopes in.
However, Dai Mubai failed to understand this, which only deepened the rift between them, to the extent that they couldn't even execute their spirit fusion skills.
"Leave him. That man is not worthy of you" Ye Lingling's cold voice sounded. Even someone as aloof as her couldn't help but feel displeased with Dai Mubai's actions.
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head "But I can only rely on him."
"Do you want to live?"
"I don't want to die!"
"Can I help you?"
"Thank you, but this is my fate."
Ning Rongrong watched the exchange between the two. Though she knew both of them were naturally reserved, their conversation was almost unnervingly concise.
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing more, but tears welled up at the corners of her eyes.
After the treatment, Ning Rongrong remained to take care of Zhu Zhuqing, while Ye Lingling left, returning to where the Emperor Team was.
At this moment, the duel on the field was between Osler and the captain of the Botanical Academy, Yao Zi, a level 44 Spirit master whose martial soul was the Red Flame Thorns.
Under normal circumstances, Osler would have no problem defeating her. However, he had already fought five consecutive battles, and his martial soul, the Ghost Leopard, did not have the same absolute advantage over the Botanical Academy as Ma Hongjun's Fire Phoenix. He had to rely solely on his agility to defend himself.
His soul power, stamina, and mental strength had already been drained by more than seven levels, leaving him in a dire situation.
"Fourth soul skill, Thorn Rain!" Yao Zi unleashed a large-scale attack.
After scattering seeds on the ground, countless thorns shot into the sky. Even though Osler used his Dragon Leopard Transformation to leap, he was unable to escape the attack's range and was ultimately defeated.
"Fighting one against five, Osler has done a great job. Yufeng, end the battle." Qin Ming commanded.
Yufeng nodded. Without a word, he spread his wings and flew onto the battlefield. Though Yao Zi had defeated Osler, she had paid a heavy price, having exhausted her soul power after using three soul skills—Constraint of Thorns, City of Thorns, and Rain of Thorns.
Yufeng couldn't give her any time to recover
"Third soul skill, Dark Wind!" Yufeng, a man of few words, attacked without hesitation.
Wind, like water, could seep through any gap. The City of Thorns' defense was powerless against the invasion of the dark wind.
Although Yao Zi's body remained unharmed, her spirit was tormented, forcing her to admit defeat.
The final member of the Botanical Academy had a common plant-type martial soul that lacked Yao Zi's fire resistance. After consuming the Wind-Fire Seven-Leaf Flower, she was completely restrained by Yufeng, who could now emit scorching winds. Her loss was inevitable.
Emperor Team had defeated the entire Botanical Academy team with only two agility-based Spirit Masters. Unlike Barak Academy, they had at least preserved their dignity.
"Alright, let's go back. We played well in this match. Let's return and reward the two seniors." Jun Tianlin said with a smile
Just then, Ye Lingling returned, glancing at Jun Tianlin and Yu Tianheng as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
"Senior, given our relationship, is there anything you can't say?" Jun Tianlin asked directly, sensing her hesitation. In his heart, Ye Lingling was already part of their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and there was no need for secrets.
"That's right, Lingling. Has someone bullied you? Tell me, and I'll let them experience the might of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!" Yu Tianheng said fiercely. As the only non-combatant support in their team, Ye Lingling received the highest level of protection, her status second only to Jun Tianlin himself.
"No, no one bullied me. It's just... I went to treat Zhu Zhuqing, and I felt she was truly pitiful. I also heard about her family's situation—it's too cruel for a girl like her. Can you help her?" Ye Lingling looked at the two, her gaze pleading
Despite her cold exterior, Ye Lingling had a warm heart. Her Nine Hearts Flowering Apple had saved countless lives, cultivating her overly kind nature.
However, the Star Luo Empire was powerful, its military strength far surpassing Heaven Dou's. Against such a behemoth, Ye Lingling was powerless. Only the two young men before her—heirs to the second and third largest clans in the world—had a chance of helping Zhu Zhuqing.
Yu Tianheng hesitated. He had recognized Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's identities from the start. This was no small matter.
His Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was powerful, but it could not compare to an entire empire. Worse yet, the current Star Luo Emperor, White Tiger Douluo, was nearly as strong as his grandfather, Yu Yuanzhen.
Offending Star Luo for Zhu Zhuqing's sake was unwise. Even if Ye Lingling requested it, he couldn't agree.
Jun Tianlin felt the same. Unless he reached the Title Douluo level, he wouldn't have the strength to face such a situation alone.
"Sorry, I'm making things difficult for you." Seeing their silence, Ye Lingling realized her request was too much.
Jun Tianlin suddenly felt guilty "Wait, Senior Sister. I promise you, I will find a way to save Zhu Zhuqing!"
Original author notes:Zhu Zhuqing is not the heroine. I can only say sorry to those readers who like kittens. My writing skills are limited, and just two of them are enough to reach my limit. But without the immortal grass, Zhu Zhuqing is really pitiful. From the original work, she has been trying very hard to survive. Just think of the author's virgin mind as being too kind and save her. As for Dai Mubai, a man who abandoned his fiancée and fled to Soto City to enjoy himself, I don't like him, so let him fend for himself.