C52 Injury!

Lee Zi's mere presence was deemed more significant than all the teachers and students put together.

While others could afford mishaps, Lee Zi absolutely could not.

Hence, when Teacher Cang realized it was Lee Zi who had come back, he was terrified.

It wasn't until Teacher Zhao explained the situation that Teacher Cang, caught between laughter and tears, placed Chu Yi into the medical pod.

Had it been any other student acting so capriciously, Teacher Cang would have reprimanded them on the spot. But with Lee Zi...

Sigh, the curse of talent and privilege...

Both Teacher Cang and Teacher Zhao were frustrated, and Chu Yi was equally disheartened.

It was shaping up to be a fine day. Any issues with the toxin could have been discreetly resolved later with the Heart-Cleansing Spell, not affecting subsequent training.

But Lee Zi's intervention had ruined everything...

Well, there went the entire day.

Chu Yi was aware that once he was in the medical pod, he wouldn't be out for a full day.

Meaning, any hopes for today's training were dashed.

Chu Yi's level of frustration was on par with that of Teacher Cang and Teacher Zhao.

But what could he do? It was all because of Lee Zi's good intentions.

Sigh, the road to hell is paved with good intentions...

...

The medical pod was originally designed to serve as a temporary sanctuary for students with severe injuries, ensuring they wouldn't succumb to their wounds.

Naturally, it had other functions, like detoxification.

Sending Chu Yi into the pod wasn't exactly an over-treatment!

But the duration was admittedly excessive.

After Chu Yi was admitted, Lee Zi didn't proceed with her own training.

It wasn't out of fear, but simply because it was unnecessary.

Lee Zi had set out to enhance her combat experience, but she already had plenty of it.

Having trained on numerous occasions before, losing a day or even several was no big deal for her.

And so, as the day dragged on, Chu Yi finally made it through.

The sensation of lying in the medical pod was far from pleasant, primarily due to the complete restriction of movement. This utter lack of autonomy was downright awful.

Thankfully, modern technology lived up to its reputation. Despite the lengthy process, the toxins had been thoroughly cleansed from his body.

Chu Yi was acutely aware of the situation.

To him, the poison seemed mundane, easily neutralized by the Heart Cleansing Spell—a triviality in the Immortal Demon World.

But in this world, or rather, in the world he had known before, that same poison was dreadfully potent, even horrifying.

Yet within the span of a single day, the medical pod had purged every toxin from Chu Yi's body and had even repaired the damage they had caused. This feat was truly commendable.

Perhaps Lee Zi's nervous demeanor earlier that day made her too embarrassed to face Chu Yi afterward, so she retreated to her room as soon as he emerged.

Chu Yi lingered at her door for a while, but once he was sure Lee Zi wouldn't be coming out for the evening, he returned to his own quarters.

He couldn't afford to squander the night; he was on the cusp of ascending to the Silver Level.

Becoming a Silver Level Great Warrior would simplify matters considerably in similar situations. With this in mind, Chu Yi sat in quiet meditation on his bed, absorbing the celestial power of the stars...

"No!"

"No, this isn't right!"

In a flash, Chu Yi's eyes snapped open, his gaze heavy with gravity.

Something was amiss—terribly so.

He could sense it: the Spiritual Qi around him had intensified slightly more than the night before.

This time, the increase was stark, far more substantial than the growth from the first day to the second.

But how could this be?

"Even in an era when Spiritual Qi is resurging, such fluctuations shouldn't occur."

If this anomaly had only presented itself on the first day, Chu Yi wouldn't have been overly shocked; there could be numerous explanations.

But now...

If this was happening daily, it indicated a deeper issue.

Chu Yi's mind raced back to the lizard beast he had encountered earlier in the day.

According to Lee Zi, such a creature had no business appearing here, yet it had, straying far from the swamp it never used to leave.

Chu Yi couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Now, with the Spiritual Qi here undergoing such drastic changes, the magnitude of the underlying problem seemed to grow ever larger.

If the issue were solely with the lizard beast, it would be manageable.

However, the transformation of spiritual energy is another matter...

It's important to understand that spiritual energy is the cornerstone of any world. Even the spiritual energy within a specific region is tied to many elements.

Altering the concentration of spiritual energy in a region is not something just anyone can achieve...

"We'll have to play it by ear."

"At this point, no one would believe me even if I spoke up."

"Still, I need to be extra vigilant in the coming days."

Chu Yi had resolved to be more observant during the upcoming trials.

Others might not believe him, but he was confident that Lee Zi would.

He planned to inform Lee Zi so she could prepare well in advance.

With this in mind, Chu Yi resumed his cultivation.

If he could reach the Silver Level Great Warrior status before the changes occurred, he would be better equipped to face whatever came his way.

A night of dedicated cultivation had once again bolstered the power within Chu Yi's body.

He was now on the cusp of achieving the Silver Level.

The nighttime enhancement of spiritual energy density had given his cultivation pace a boost.

Typically, the closer one gets to the 1000 kg mark, the slower the progress. Yet, Chu Yi felt his improvement from the previous night matched the speed of the night before, which was a delightful realization.

Observing Chu Yi's vibrant demeanor, Lee Zi could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

She knew all too well that if poison wasn't thoroughly eradicated, it could lead to lingering complications and potentially derail one's martial journey.

That was precisely why, despite the mild effect of the poison, Chu Yi had insisted on returning to base to recuperate in the medical pod.

"Lee Zi—"

"Hey, wait up, don't run off!"

Seeing Chu Yi in good health, Lee Zi seemed to recall her own anxiety from the day before and made a dash as if to escape.

Chu Yi was both amused and exasperated. To him, it seemed Lee Zi was just in denial.

They were, after all, partners in training. What good would hiding do in the long run?

"Lee Zi, hold on a moment!"

Chu Yi called out with a firm and earnest tone, signaling to Lee Zi that he had something important to discuss.

Lee Zi halted in her tracks.

Chu Yi strode over and scanned the surroundings. Once he confirmed they were alone, he spoke with a grave tone, "Lee Zi, I've noticed there's something off about this trial."

Something wrong?

Lee Zi was taken aback, clearly puzzled.

"Do you trust me?"

Gazing into Chu Yi's intense eyes, Lee Zi eventually nodded.

She chose to trust Chu Yi and to keep any secrets for him.

"That's reassuring. I can't describe the exact situation because even I don't fully understand what's happening."

"But one thing is certain: there's a problem with this trial."

"The issue isn't with us; it's with the environment."

"We might encounter trouble at any moment."

"So, if something unexpected does occur, make sure you stay close to me."

"I'll protect you!" he affirmed, echoing past assurances.

Under normal circumstances, if anyone else had said such things to Lee Zi, she would have inwardly dismissed them, regardless of her outward reaction.

But this time...

It was Chu Yi who had spoken.

Unconsciously, Lee Zi gave a slight nod.

"We must be extra cautious in the trials ahead!"

"I have a hunch, but whether it's accurate, we'll have to see based on the upcoming events..."

Chu Yi maintained his stern demeanor, uncertain of the situation himself.

Yet, if his suspicions were correct, it would pose a tremendous crisis for him.

However, beyond the crisis, it could also present an immense opportunity...

Lee Zi kept the conversation between her and Chu Yi to herself.

She trusted Chu Yi, but she wasn't sure about the others.

The teachers' respect for him wasn't due to Lee Zi's extensive knowledge, but rather her innate talent.

Lee Zi was acutely aware of this fact.

They summoned Teacher Zhao and returned to the spot they had left the previous day.

Yes, it was the same place they had departed from the day before that.

But as they arrived, a sharp glint of cold light hurtled towards them!

In that instant, even Chu Yi was caught off guard!

Chu Yi's perception was extraordinary; he could 'see' everything within a fifty-meter radius with crystal clarity.

However, this 'seeing' was contingent upon activating his extraordinary primordial spirit.

Activating the primordial spirit required the use of psychic force, and Chu Yi was no longer the man he had been within the Immortal Demon Temple, where his psychic force replenished faster than it was consumed.

Once the power of the primordial spirit was exhausted, it would require a lengthy period to replenish.

As a result, Chu Yi typically refrained from tapping into the primordial spirit.

However, due to a brief lapse in vigilance, they were ambushed.

The assault was lightning-fast; in the mere blink of an eye, it bore down on Chu Yi.

In that instant, even Teacher Zhao, aboard the flying vehicle, seemed unable to react in time.

Should the beam strike, Chu Yi would be bisected in the next moment!

Yet, in this perilous instant, a silhouette emerged!

It was Lee Zi!

With no time to deliberate, Lee Zi positioned herself where the lethal gleam had materialized.

Witnessing this, Chu Yi's pupils shrank in shock.

"No!!"

Chu Yi was frantic, a chilling terror he had never known before overwhelming him.

He envisioned Lee Zi taking the blow meant for him, her blood drenching him.

In that moment, Chu Yi came to a profound realization; the sensation of nearly losing the most important thing was a first in his life.