Chapter 143

After hearing this news, Situjun's expression visibly relaxed.

He guessed that Lu Jing had been unconscious for so long likely because he had overexerted himself in battle, and now he merely lacked stamina.

As long as we continuously provide him with nutrition, he should wake up soon.

"Alright, Lord Seat."

The doctor raised an eyebrow; this boy had been secretly brought in, and he didn't know his identity, suggesting the boy's background was not trivial.

As for what happened in the Cave, the news has been sealed, and all non-military personnel have signed confidentiality agreements.

If this were to leak, it would cause widespread panic among the populace.

"Don't hold back; use the best and most expensive for everything. If you lack authority, come find me—I'll submit an application upward!"

Situjun stood up, waved his hand, and walked out of the top-tier ward.

Outside the ward door, many soldiers and medical staff had gathered, Dong Ningxue among them.

Seeing Situjun come out, she hurried forward to inquire about Lu Jing's condition.

Upon learning that Lu Jing was fine, Dong Ningxue let out a long sigh of relief.

Two days later.

Under Situjun's instructions, Lu Jing was cared for meticulously.

The usage of nutrient solution also increased to over forty portions.

Experienced doctors were also frightened by this number, breaking out in cold sweat.

The boy on the sickbed, who looked even somewhat thin, had a body that seemed like a bottomless pit.

"Thud—"

Suddenly.

A strong, deep sound rang out.

It was as if someone were beating a leather drum near their ears.

"What sound?"

The doctor blinked slightly, then looked at the boy on the bed, "This is...... a heartbeat?!"

Instantly his face filled with shock; this heartbeat sounded as if some prehistoric beast were awakening from slumber.

"Thud—"

With another low sound, the boy's hand twitched slightly.

A majestic, vast aura burst forth from his body...

This was because Lu Jing, in deep sleep, had his aura and Fist Intent uncontrolledly released, and combined with the excessive nutrient injections over the past days, he could not suppress it for a moment.

The mighty Blood Qi and Fist Intent permeated each other, then subsided into stillness.

The commotion in the ward startled Dong Ningxue, who was guarding the door, and she rushed in.

And Lu Jing, lying on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes.

His eyes shone brilliantly, as if containing a river of stars!

A strange light flickered in the depths of his eyes, the star river flowing, making one unable to help but become intoxicated.

"Lu Jing, you're awake!"

Dong Ningxue strode forward and directly embraced Lu Jing's shoulders.

Then feeling it a bit improper, she loosened her arms and symbolically gave him a punch.

"You brat, what are you showing off for? You scared the hell out of me!"

Even now, Dong Ningxue's mind keeps flashing with images of Lu Jing in the Cave.

From Lu Jing falling into a life-or-death peril, being hunted by a Master Realm expert.

Then to a single punch slaying the Blade Demon, lighting up half the sky so blinding none could look directly, that shocking scene left everyone dumbfounded.

And as Lu Jing's instructor, and the one who brought Lu Jing to participate in the selection, Dong Ningxue was the person whose inner journey had the greatest ups and downs.

But now seeing Lu Jing unharmed, she couldn't help recalling that since the Dragon Imperial New Star selection began, Dongchuan Province had always been at the bottom, until Lu Jing's appearance helped Dongchuan Province completely shake off the label of perpetual last place; the whole process felt like a dream.

It made Dong Ningxue feel unreal, yet also stirred a surging passion.

This boy, step by step under her watch, grew strong enough that even a Master Realm expert died beneath his fist.

"Instructor Dong, the title should be ours, right?"

Lu Jing asked uncertainly.

"If not you, then who?"

Dong Ningxue fixed her beautiful eyes on Lu Jing, "If it weren't for you, the geniuses participating in this selection might all have been wiped out!"

Having said that, she patted Lu Jing's shoulder, "You just woke up; rest in bed a while longer. Although the Dragon Imperial New Star selection won't tilt resources toward us in the short term, considering your performance in the Cave, the military has decided to give you some rewards."

Lu Jing blinked slightly, "Rewards? What rewards?"

Upon hearing there were rewards, Lu Jing's whole spirit lifted.

The two good things he possessed, the spatial ring and mithril, could be said to have been obtained from the military.

Based on his own strength and level, he fundamentally could not access such things.

This is also why he wants to take the martial university exam and join the military—the biggest reason.

"Yes, not only you, but everyone who killed enemies in the Cave has merit and can receive the Dragon Blood tempering; as for you, you get an extra reward of Phoenix Marrow!"

Seeing Lu Jing's puzzled look, Dong Ningxue continued explaining, "You should know that consuming Demon Beast flesh and blood can strengthen a Martial Artist's Blood Qi, and the flesh of the draconic lineage is especially precious among them."

"Dragon Blood is obtained by purifying the flesh and blood of draconic lineage Demon Beasts; it is extremely rare and precious—an entire high-level Demon Beast yields only a syringe‑sized amount of Dragon Blood, while Phoenix Marrow is even more precious, its effects far surpassing Dragon Blood by a good margin!"

With Dong Ningxue's explanation, Lu Jing also gained a rough understanding of Dragon Blood and Phoenix Marrow.

But this also made him think of Xiao Huo; wouldn't that guy be skinned and have his tendons pulled out to make Dragon Blood?

"The military really splurged this time......"

Dong Ningxue stopped Lu Jing, who wanted to get up, and said with concern: "You should rest properly first, heal your body; later someone will come to take you for tempering."

Having said that, she walked out of the infirmary.

Lu Jing slowly crawled up from the bed; with a slight movement of his body, a series of crackling sounds burst out all over him.

This sound was like the thunder of tigers and leopards, clear and pleasant to the ear.

"I've been lying down for days, my body has grown stiff......"

Lu Jing exercised his neck, feeling the mighty Blood Qi within him; his condition was even better than before entering the Cave!

"Why, after sleeping so long, do I feel not hungry at all, but rather a bit bloated?"

Lu Jing frowned, unable to figure it out no matter how he thought.

Only when he saw the nutrient bag hanging at his bedside and smelled the residual energy of the medicine inside did he suddenly understand.

"No wonder...... Should I perhaps stay here a few more days?"

Three days later, Lu Jing, who had been lazing in bed for a few more days, was personally hauled up by Situjun.

"Lu Jing, hurry up and get ready, today is the day for Dragon Blood Tempering; I'll take you there!"

"Lord Seat, I feel my body still isn't healed," Lu Jing put on a look of frailty as if just recovered from a serious illness, and said weakly: "As for the Dragon Blood Tempering, why not postpone it......"

Upon hearing this, Situjun nearly choked, "You brat, stop pretending—you were the one secretly throwing punches last night, the whole military region hospital shook like an earthquake, and you call this a weak body?!"