Chapter 1249: A Roadside One! Isn

Sacred Grounds Exchange Tournament Medical Center.

In the pristine medical chamber, Lu Yunji lay still inside the treatment pod.

Beside her, a Light cultivation specialist focused intently on her healing.

Pale golden light flowed like water into her body, repairing damaged muscles and bones.

This was a Cosmic-tier expert specially assigned by the Sacred Grounds for the exchange tournament, capable of reviving even those on the brink of death.

Outside the pod, Xu Jingming, Yuli, Ye Lan, Raymond, and others familiar with Lu Yunji waited in quiet anticipation.

"How is Sister Lu doing?"

Only after one round of treatment did Xu Jingming speak.

His gaze passed through the transparent lid, landing on Lu Yunji's pale, delicate face.

Though Lu Yunji's complexion remained pale, it was clearly much improved from when she left the arena.

"Her injuries are severe, but fortunately they're all external, not touching her foundation."

The Light healer answered without looking up, "The mental shock from her Divine Manifestation being forcibly shattered is more troublesome.

She also overextended her Yuan energy, and with all these injuries combined, she'll need at least three days to fully recover."

Three days.

Xu Jingming's gaze grew slightly cold.

Then let that bastard Apollo spend the next three hundred days unable to get out of bed.

His Destruction Domain isn't something to be taken lightly.

"That bastard!"

Yuli clenched her teeth, her sultry face filled with fury:

"Using her Sacred Grounds status to bully others, and yet she got not a single punishment!"

They already knew it wasn't that Lu Yunji refused to yield—Apollo had used underhanded tricks.

Though she and Lu Yunji had internal conflicts, those were private matters.

In the face of external threats, they stood united.

"The Sacred Grounds aren't doing this for the first time.

In past years, they've even killed prodigies from other Sacred Grounds during the exchange tournament—and still faced no consequences."

Ye Lan, who had participated in the Sacred Grounds Exchange Tournament more than once, spoke softly, her voice as cold as an icy spring.

The Sacred Grounds Exchange Tournament is the Sacred Grounds' home ground; other junior civilization universes' Sacred Grounds have no power to oppose them.

"How is Lu Yunji doing?"

Suddenly, a deep voice rang out—it was Captain Sol arriving.

"Not too serious. She'll recover in three days." Xu Jingming replied briefly.

"Good."

Sol nodded, then added, "I've already lodged a formal complaint with the tournament committee.

Apollo can still compete, but he won't receive any tournament rewards."

"That's it? Shouldn't he be immediately disqualified and forced to apologize to Sister Lu?" Yuli couldn't help exclaiming.

Come on—on the surface, no rewards.

But who knows if they'll actually hand them out in the end?

"This is their home turf. This is already the harshest punishment we could secure.

It's probably only because our Emperor is attempting to break into the Sovereign realm.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have given even this much."

Sol's expression was also helpless; for a moment, everyone fell silent.

The law of the strong ruling over the weak manifests in every aspect.

If the Noah Empire were a mid-tier civilization universe like the Sacred Grounds Empire,

would Apollo have dared humiliate Lu Yunji like this today?

Would the Sacred Grounds' punishment of him have been this toothless?

"By the way, Xu Jingming, your next challenge match against Apollo.

Just forfeit. He can't force you to fight.

That way, you preserve your strength to challenge other Sacred Grounds' Starlight Eighth-Stage, even Starlight Ninth-Stage cultivators.

Even if you don't win ten consecutive challenge victories, nine will still earn our Sacred Grounds more points."

Sol's voice broke the silence as he looked at Xu Jingming.

He did not rebuke Xu Jingming for being reckless.

On the contrary, he greatly admired Xu Jingming's actions.

If he were Xu Jingming, he would have made the same choice.

"Captain, don't worry—I'll win." Xu Jingming offered no further explanation.

Sol frowned, about to speak again, when a cold voice suddenly interrupted.

"Captain, no need to persuade him further."

Ye Lan had somehow stepped beside Xu Jingming, her violet eyes calm as still water: "Xu Jingming has his own plans."

Sol visibly froze, staring at Ye Lan in surprise.

This ice-cold beauty was infamous in the Noah Sacred Grounds for her aloofness—she rarely spoke up for others.

Now she was defending Xu Jingming?

Sol's gaze swept back and forth between Ye Lan and Xu Jingming, as if trying to uncover some hidden clue.

But Ye Lan remained as cold and detached as ever, and Xu Jingming's expression was unchanged.

"...... Alright, since Ye Lan says so."

In the end, Thor chose to compromise, then turned back to Xu Jingming and warned:

"If things turn bad, surrender immediately—Apollo is not someone to be trifled with."

"I'll keep that in mind," Xu Jingming nodded.

He truly would keep it in mind.

How to inflict the most extreme torment without killing Apollo.

"I'll leave this to you—I have another match soon, so I'm off."

"When you return to Noah Sanctuary, consider joining my Tian Xing Hunter Team—we need warriors like you."

Thor clapped Xu Jingming on the shoulder before leaving the infirmary.

More than ten minutes passed before Lu Yunji woke from her coma.

When she learned from Yuli that Xu Jingming was preparing to face Apollo,

she immediately spoke, trying to persuade him to withdraw.

"This matter started with me—it's my duty to resolve it."

Xu Jingming shook his head and smiled:

"Besides, to me, Apollo is nothing but a stray dog—dealing with him won't take much effort."

The curve of Xu Jingming's smile was perfectly poised.

It carried both youthful vigor and a reassuring steadiness.

Combined with his naturally handsome Lei Wu Guan, for a moment Lu Yunji was left staring, spellbound.

"I'm going to the Beast Trial Zone—rest well, I'll come see you again this afternoon."

After lingering a while longer, Xu Jingming rose to take his leave.

As for Ye Lan, Raymond, and the others, they had matches of their own and had already left earlier.

"Alright, go ahead."

Lu Yunji's gaze never left his back.

Not until the infirmary's automatic door closed completely did she reluctantly tear her eyes away.

At that moment, a strange sense of relief surged in her heart—thank goodness I was injured.

Otherwise, how could I have received such treatment?

"Tsk tsk, still staring even after he's gone."

Yuli leaned over, teasing: "Lu sister, your eyes are practically pulling threads."

"What? Are you jealous? Afraid you'll lose to me again?"

Lu Yunji snapped back to her senses and retorted sharply:

"You're only leading for now—who wins or loses isn't decided yet."

Yuli smiled effortlessly, her charm natural: "I'm just curious—Lu sister, are your threads only in your eyes?"

Lu Yunji froze, then realized what she meant, blushing furiously: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"Only Lu sister herself knows whether it's nonsense."

"Or shall I check for you?"

Yuli blinked, her gaze drifting downward, implying something:

"Besides, during the time we were close, we've already seen each other naked."

"Go die!"

Severely injured, Lu Yunji could only angrily hurl a pillow at her.

She could never let Yuli check.

Because Yuli had hit the truth—any inspection would expose her...