Chapter 240: Reserve Team Instantly Becomes Main Team
“May the rainbow healing heal you.”
Feng Jin unleashed her first soul skill, the rainbow symbolizing healing encircled Ma Xiaotao’s body, dancing like musical notes. The people around her felt a wave of relief in their bodies even without receiving treatment.
The blood color gradually returned to the face of Ma Xiaotao, who was unconscious on the ground. The bone-deep wounds on her body visibly sprouted flesh buds, then slowly healed.
Feng Jin’s facial expression grew increasingly pale, with enormous soul power consumption. Ma Xiaotao’s injuries were too severe; all her internal organs were bleeding, and her bones could be used as puzzle pieces.
Her brain blood vessels had burst, with severe cerebral hemorrhage. In her previous life, she would have become a vegetable long ago.
Ma Xiaotao had survived until now purely due to the powerful vitality of her Phoenix martial soul and her Soul Emperor level cultivation sustaining her life.
Feng Jin exerted all her strength to reassemble Ma Xiaotao’s bones, reposition her internal organs, stop the internal bleeding, and preliminarily heal her brain. At least it wouldn’t worsen further, and her life was definitely saved.
Elder Song hurriedly held up the tottering Feng Jin. The military doctors from the Western Group Army rushed to assist, unleashing various healing soul skills to repair Ma Xiaotao’s injuries.
“Ti Bao and Xia Die, you two take Feng Jin into the tent to rest for a while. She’s somewhat exhausted.”
Xia Die and Ti Bao supported Feng Jin on either side and slowly headed to the tent to rest.
Bai E, Mademos, and Wang Dong looked gravely at Ma Xiaotao lying on the ground.
Bai E clenched his fists, his brows tightly furrowed. Just a few hours ago, the main team members had been teaching Bai E and the others some soul power control techniques.
That senior named Chen Zifeng had enthusiastically passed on some sword moves he had figured out to him.
Who would have thought that in just a few short hours, they were already separated by life and death. Of the entire main team members, only Ling Luochen, who hadn’t gone, and the severely injured Ma Xiaotao remained.
As for the other seniors, Elder Song hadn’t stated the results, but Bai E and the others could guess the outcome.
Bai E wondered, if it were him facing such a situation, with his partners falling inexplicably before him, what would he do.
Anger! Just imagining it, he felt an uncontrollable anger! His azure blue eyes now shimmered with a faint golden glow.
He swore he would never let something similar happen to his own partners, even if it cost him everything!
No matter what, Bai E would ensure everything he cherished made it to tomorrow! To see that rising sun.
Mademos suddenly patted Bai E’s shoulder, his lion-like eyes meeting his.
Bai E was stunned for a moment, his eyes returning to azure blue.
“Marshal!”
“We’re back!”
Elder Du from the White Tiger Duke’s Mansion arrived at the tent with the White Tiger Guards, cupping his fists in salute to Dai Hao.
Dai Hao pulled Elder Du and the others outside the tent, anxiously saying:
“How’s the situation?”
“Any clues?”
Du Leisi’s throat trembled, unsure where to begin. He could feel the collapse in Dai Hao’s heart; in fact, he was also collapsing, because Du Leisi had long sided with Dai Yue Heng.
Seeing Du Leisi’s expression, Dai Hao’s heart sank. Pretending to be calm, he said:
“Speak. No matter the result, I can bear it.”
Du Leisi finally lowered his head and said gravely:
“I and the White Tiger Guards searched that collapsed area over and over, but found nothing.”
“All the scents are mixed with the rock, impossible to distinguish! Unless a Titled Douluo with spiritual attributes steps in.”
Dai Hao seemed to have his spine pulled out; his body went soft, staggering several steps. He tightly gripped the tent’s support pillar to keep from falling.
The whole person seemed soulless, completely unlike the God of War Marshal of old.
Seeing this, Du Leisi steeled himself and quickly voiced his guess.
“Marshal.”
“That bandit group was very well-prepared; they must have some connection to the Sun Moon Empire.”
“Otherwise, they couldn’t have obtained so many soul tool bombs.”
“The military soul engineers examined those un detonated soul tool bombs on the mountain peak; the craftsmanship is indeed in the style of the Sun Moon Empire.”
Dai Hao’s azure blue eyes regained some spirit as he looked toward the distant Ming Dou Mountain Range and said:
“Sun Moon Empire?”
“Truly a long-planned revenge!”
“This debt, I, Dai Hao, have noted!”
Dai Hao was extremely grief-stricken inside. Regardless of whether the real culprits behind the scenes were the Sun Moon Empire, they were definitely involved!
He was collapsing now! Dai Yue Heng was most likely dead. A low-rank Soul Emperor, an assault type Soul Emperor at that—how could he withstand the weight of half a mountain?!
Unless the God of War blessed him, death was certain.
Ma Xiaotao lying in the tent had survived by sheer luck with the Invincible Shield forming a triangular protective space amid the rocks; otherwise, she would be a pile of meat mush now too.
As for Shrek Academy, Dai Hao didn’t want to hate them and didn’t dare to.
He had no right to hate; his youngest son had just assassinated the Sea God Pavilion Master, and not having enmity already was fortunate.
Xuan Zi had indeed asked Dai Yue Heng before entering the cave if he wanted accompaniment.
At this moment, Dai Hao could only hate the Sun Moon Empire and that damned Death’s Hand Bandit Group!
“Elder Du!”
“Pass my orders: the Western Group Army is to prepare for battle.”
“Memorialize His Majesty the Emperor, detailing this incident.”
“I’m going to the Sun Moon Empire to settle this debt!”
Du Leisi breathed a sigh of relief. Dai Yue Heng’s death was a foregone conclusion; if Dai Hao collapsed, that would truly be the end, leaving the Duke’s Mansion without a pillar.
Fighting the Sun Moon Empire would let the Marshal vent his inner rage, which was good.
“Yes!”
“Marshal!”
On the other side of the tent, Xuan Zi sat despondently under a large tree, his clothes tattered like a beggar.
A black-haired girl came to Xuan Zi’s side, handing him a chicken drumstick and saying:
“Eat, Teacher.”
Xuan Zi slightly raised his head, saw Huo Sui’er, and shook his head with a bitter smile, saying:
“Teacher doesn’t deserve to eat.”
“I made a huge mistake again.”
“This isn’t the first time.”
“This fool repeated the same mistake.”
Huo Sui’er said somewhat angrily:
“So you’re just going to be like this, decadent and doing nothing?”
“Everyone is waiting for your next decision!”
“Aren’t you the deputy leader of the Inspection Team?!”
“With so many dead, you should take responsibility even more!”
“The White Tiger Duke lost his child but isn’t as collapsed as you!”
“If I died one day, would you just wail and do nothing?!”
Xuan Zi suddenly looked up, gripping Huo Sui’er’s arm tightly, his gaze filled with deep pleading.
“You won’t die!”
“Even if death comes, I’ll die first!”
“Disciple, don’t say such things. I beg you.”
“I’ve been alone all my life; you are my only family.”
“Then go bear the responsibility as deputy leader of Shrek’s Inspection Team!”
Huo Sui’er looked at Xuan Zi seriously, and Xuan Zi also looked into her bright, spirited eyes.
Xuan Zi stood up, took Huo Sui’er’s hand, and shakily walked into the tent where Ma Xiaotao was.
“Hmph, you’re here.”
Elder Song looked at Xuan Zi and said grumpily.
After calming down, she had gone to examine the collapse area’s specifics on-site. The lingering details made Elder Song’s heart race with fear.
The legendary corpse explosion soul skill combined with hundreds of soul tool bombs exploding in a confined space—the power had followed the crevices to destroy the mountain’s structure, causing the landslide.
Forget Soul Emperors; even a Soul Saint without time to activate Martial Soul True Body would perish.
All the details indicated this might have been prepared for the White Tiger Guards exterminating bandits or the Gelman Bandit Group.
Shrek’s Inspection Team had just happened to run into it.
Xuan Zi’s lips quivered, then he asked:
“How’s Xiaotao?”
Elder Song looked at Ma Xiaotao lying on the ground; Feng Jin’s rainbow light circle was still pulsing. She said:
“Not good, not bad.”
“She was very lucky, surviving thanks to the Invincible Shield.”
“Her injuries are basically stabilized.”
“Send her to Sea God Pavilion for a few months of recuperation, and she’ll be full of vitality again.”
Xuan Zi breathed a sigh of relief and said:
“That’s good.”
“If Xiaotao had something happen too, how could I face Shaozhe.”
Elder Song looked at Xuan Zi and said:
“You take Ma Xiaotao back to Sea God Pavilion.”
“Mu Lao is calling you back.”
“Sea God Pavilion Meeting to be held immediately.”
“I won’t go; I’ll stay here watching the children.”
Xuan Zi nodded, picked up Ma Xiaotao, glanced at Huo Sui’er, and said:
“I’ll go now.”
“Old Song, the children are in your hands.”
“No more incidents can happen.”
After Xuan Lao finished speaking, he activated his flying soul tool and shot into the sky, speeding toward Sea God Pavilion.
…………
Shrek Academy Sea God Pavilion
In the first floor hall of Sea God Pavilion, all the elders were gathered. Two seats beside Mu En were empty, for Xuan Zi and Elder Song.
At the very bottom, Yan Shaozhe looked worried, his right fingers repeatedly rubbing his left fingers.
Everyone present had learned of the tragedy in Ming Dou Mountain Range, and the entire Sea God Pavilion hall fell silent.
“Creak~”
Xuan Zi pushed open the Sea God Pavilion door and entered the meeting hall. Unlike usual, he didn’t sit beside Mu En but stood at the doorway.
“Mu Lao, I’m back.”
Before Mu En could speak, Yan Shaozhe spoke first, his voice trembling slightly.
“Xuan Lao, how is Xiaotao?”
Xuan Zi looked at Yan Shaozhe and said:
“She’s receiving treatment; her condition is stable. She’ll recover in a few months.”
Yan Shaozhe finally let out a long sigh of relief; he had been on tenterhooks in Sea God Pavilion for nearly two hours.
Mu En’s voice, laced with helplessness and sorrow, reached Xuan Zi’s ears.
“We know the situation.”
“How do you want to handle this time?”
Mu En looked at Xuan Zi, awaiting his choice. If he dared say again to shirk responsibility and be an idler, he swore he’d break Xuan Zi’s legs!
Xuan Zi was about to speak when he suddenly recalled his disciple’s words. His eyelids drooped, and he said:
“As deputy leader of Shrek’s Inspection Team, I am duty-bound.”
“Mu Lao, I accept all punishments.”
“For those children who died in battle, I will personally bring high-quality soul bones and money to their homes and hand them to their parents.”
“The cost of the soul bones will all come from me.”
“Even if their parents slap me, I’ll accept it.”
This time, Mu En thought a bit higher of Xuan Zi; he surprisingly didn’t directly say he wanted to be an idler and shirk all responsibility.
“Sigh.”
“What’s done is done.”
“Do as you said: compensate those children’s families.”
“When you return, go to the Inner Court library and copy the Shrek Inspection Team rules ten thousand times, then recite them aloud ten thousand times.”
“I want the entire Inner Court to hear it.”
“Henceforth, Long Xiaoyao will serve as deputy leader of the Inspection Team.”
“Xuan Zi as his assistant.”
Xuan Zi nodded. He knew Mu En was openly biased; these were just light punishments, and he didn’t care about the deputy leader position.
At this moment, Yan Shaozhe spoke up.
“Mu Lao, what about the children competing this year?”
“Do we need to urgently transfer another batch from the Inner Court?”
Mu En shook his head and said:
“No time.”
“Inner Court disciples are scattered far and wide; returning takes time.”
“Let the reserve team’s children compete as the main team.”
“We can pull another batch of reserves from the Outer Court to help them.”
Yan Shaozhe said somewhat urgently:
“Those children have great talent, but their opponents are far higher in level.”
“If they lose…”
Mu En looked at Yan Shaozhe and said flatly:
“So what?”
“If we lose, does it have any real impact on us?”
“Do we lack those champion soul bones?”
“Are you talking about Shrek’s glory?”
“Well then, let me tell you clearly here.”
“In my view, Shrek’s glory is worth nothing!”
“Shrek Academy was never great because of glory!”
“That glory is great because of Shrek!”
“Lose once, and Shrek collapses?”
“This time, do as I say. Lose, and so be it.”
“Let the children fight as they please.”
Yan Shaozhe lowered his head and said respectfully:
“Yes!”
“I understand.”
Xian Lin’er, opposite Yan Shaozhe, looked at the head seat Mu En and said:
“Mu Lao, who will lead this batch of reserve team’s teachers?”
“If not, I have a candidate.”
Mu En smiled at Xian Lin’er and said:
“Oh?”
“Who?”
Xian Lin’er said word by word:
“Na Kexia, real name Anakesagolas, the academy’s new mathematics teacher.”
“An outstanding teacher with exceptional teaching ability and strength.”
