After all, the Star Luo Empire also needs to uphold credibility when hosting the Soul Master Competition.
If the world knew that the Star Luo Empire had opened the door for Shrek Academy, the Star Luo Empire would face much gossip if it wanted to host the competition again in the future.
Shrek Academy is already powerful, and you're giving them special privileges. How can other academies compete?
"If the news of Shrek Academy being attacked hadn't spread, it would have been fine to use backdoor methods like this, as others wouldn't know that Shrek Academy had changed its contestants after the deadline."
"But the commotion you caused when you came to the Star Luo Imperial Palace for help before was huge. Even the Star Luo Emperor couldn't control the spread of the news."
"Many people in the city are probably aware of this now, and so are the participating academies."
"Under these circumstances, they will definitely be paying close attention to the situation of Shrek Academy's contestants, making it not so easy to change members later," Xuan Lao said.
"I didn't think that much at the time," Shi Yu said with a bitter smile.
"I'm not blaming you for this. You did very well at the time. Otherwise, Xiao Tao and Le Xuan might not have survived," Xuan Lao quickly explained, afraid that Shi Yu might misunderstand his meaning.
He wasn't blaming Shi Yu at all; on the contrary, he was very satisfied with Shi Yu's performance.
At that time, it was absolutely the right choice for Shi Yu to take Xiao Xiao and Jiang Nannan and run, otherwise, the three of them would also have been in trouble.
That was a Soul Douluo from the Body Sect; he didn't think Shi Yu staying would have any effect.
Shi Yu's subsequent action of coming to the Star Luo Imperial Palace for help was the most correct choice among the correct choices.
Xu Yuan's timely arrival allowed Ma Xiaotao, Zhang Lexuan, and others to escape disaster.
Otherwise, the loss to the team this time would have been too great.
Shi Yu nodded slightly and didn't think too much about it.
"Among Xiao Tao, Dai Yueheng, and He Caitou, Xiao Tao's injuries are recovering relatively quickly, but she will still need at least half a month of rest before she can fight. As for Dai Yueheng and He Caitou, don't count on them for now."
"They probably won't be able to participate in this competition," Xuan Lao said.
Ma Xiaotao's rapid recovery was also related to her taking the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.
The resolution of the evil fire issue, the evolution of her Martial Soul, and the increase in her Soul Power all contributed to her quick recovery.
"That means we few will have to hold the fort for the next half a month," Huo Yuhao, Xiao Xiao, Jiang Nannan, and Wang Dong felt considerable pressure.
Shi Yu was fine; he would try his best to win, but if he really couldn't win, there was nothing he could do.
He didn't have the mindset that he absolutely had to win, perhaps because he was from another world, with a different way of thinking, which led him to not be so fixated on such victories.
"Yes," Xuan Lao nodded, saying helplessly, "Just do your best."
Everyone nodded.
"Besides the competition, try to go out as little as possible while you are in Star Luo City. Return to the Imperial Palace as soon as possible after the competition ends; it's safe enough here."
"It's not necessarily the case in the city. During the competition, Star Luo City is a mixed bag of people, and it's not excluded that there are assassins from the Body Sect. It will be very dangerous if you encounter people from the Body Sect on the street," Xuan Lao solemnly instructed.
Mentioning the Body Sect, Huo Yuhao and the others were both hateful and fearful. After witnessing the strength of this sect, it was difficult not to feel awe towards it.
"You all go back and rest first. Shi Yu, you stay for a moment," Xuan Lao finished speaking and let the others leave.
Everyone else left, and only Shi Yu and Xuan Lao remained in the room.
"Xuan Lao, is there something you want to tell me privately?" Shi Yu asked curiously.
Xuan Lao looked at Shi Yu somewhat awkwardly, hesitating to speak.
This made Shi Yu have a bad premonition. He made various guesses and looked at Xuan Lao warily.
"Only I will tell you this, my injuries are not light, and it's unlikely I can recover in a short time. I was thinking of asking you for a few drops of blood to see if it could help with my recovery," Xuan Lao said shamelessly.
Shi Yu's face darkened. After all that, he was eyeing his blood. Was he treating himself as a mobile first-aid kit?
Shi Yu cautiously took two steps back and said awkwardly, "Xuan Lao, losing some of my blood will also have a considerable impact on my condition."
"You also know that the upcoming competitions might have to rely on me to hold the fort. If my condition is not good, the competition is likely to be lost."
"It's not that I'm unwilling to part with my blood, it's just that at this particular time, it's really not suitable."
"Just a few drops of blood, it shouldn't affect your condition too much, right?" Xuan Lao hesitated.
"The more useful something is, the more precious it tends to be, and my blood is no exception. If it can really be useful to a powerhouse of your level, its value is imaginable."
"Do you really think this kind of blood with great effect can be taken from me casually?" Shi Yu said.
In fact, the impact wasn't really that big, he just didn't want to give it out casually.
If they got used to it, and anyone who got injured in the future came to him for blood, what would he become?
Xuan Lao also felt that there was some truth to it, so he didn't bring up the matter again.
Shi Yu came out of Xuan Lao's room and found Jiang Nannan and the others to go eat together.
Despite the pain, the three meals a day still had to be eaten.
The arrangements made by the Xingluo Royal Family for them were very thoughtful. When they wanted to eat, they just needed to say so, and within ten minutes, a table full of rich food would be delivered.
They were all medicinal meals that were helpful for injury recovery, and their value was not low.
During the meal, everyone was relatively silent. The experience of yesterday was still affecting them.
After eating, Shi Yu returned to his room to rest and cultivated until dusk. At this time, there was a sudden knock on the door.
"Someone from the Royal Family?" Shi Yu felt that it wasn't someone from Shrek Academy knocking. The aura was familiar yet strange, seeming somewhat like that Royal Family Enshrinement Xu Yuan.
He opened the door, and it was indeed the Royal Family Enshrinement Xu Yuan he had seen before. This seemed to be the third enshrinement of the Royal Family Enshrinement Hall, with a high status.
"Senior, did you come specifically to see me?" Shi Yu asked with a smile.
Xu Yuan nodded, his expression kind, and said, "Emperor Your Majesty wants to invite you to the Star Luo Imperial Palace for dinner, and specifically asked me to pick you up."
"There's no need to be so formal," Shi Yu said. Having a Title Douluo come to pick him up, the treatment was undeniably high.
"Naturally, we should be more formal when treating distinguished guests," Xu Yuan said with a light smile.
"Is it just me?" Shi Yu asked tentatively.
"Emperor Your Majesty also invited the Gluttony Douluo, but he is recovering from his injuries and is inconvenient to go," Xu Yuan said.
Shi Yu looked at Xu Yuan and understood the other party's meaning. This was an invitation only for him and Xuan Zi; the others were not on the invitation list.
"If Xuan Lao isn't going, would it be inappropriate for me to go alone?" Shi Yu wanted to refuse.
He felt more at ease with Xuan Lao by his side in that kind of setting. Going alone, even if there was no danger, might be awkward and constrained. It would be more comfortable to sleep at home.
"There's nothing inappropriate. To be honest, this dinner tonight is actually mainly set up for you," Xu Yuan revealed.
"For me? It can't be," Shi Yu didn't understand what the Star Luo Emperor was planning for a moment. Was he interested in his talent and wanted to recruit him?
"It is."
"Don't worry, we won't be unfavorable to you. This is just a dinner, you don't need to have any burden," Xu Yuan said.
"Let's go then," Shi Yu said. It was hard to refuse, so he might as well go and see. Speaking of which, he had never eaten with an Emperor before.