Fang Tao cast a venomous glance at Chu Chen and Qujing, before reluctantly stepping down from the arena.
Once off the arena, Fang Tao hurried towards the infirmary within the Daoist School.
The injuries of his Thunder Ant were not severe; even without treatment, it could gradually recover. This process would take a month, but with the decisive battle upcoming, he dared not be careless in the slightest.
He must win this battle, and not just win, but win beautifully, showing everyone his strength. After all, he wants not only victory but also Chu Chen's clients.
"Sister Li, please treat my Guardian Beast," Fang Tao said softly as he pushed open the door to the infirmary.
Fang Tao's tone was full of respect, indicating that Sister Li's abilities were indeed extraordinary.
Sister Li's real name was Li Yue, a beautiful woman in her thirties. She had well-defined features, fair skin, a tall and slim figure, and long hair that draped over her shoulders. She was dressed in a white blouse, with the buttons straining against her full chest, and broad blue jeans that couldn't hide her straight, slender legs. Her light brown high heels accentuated her as a professional woman, and her mature charm was on full display.
Li Yue worked as a healer in the Daoist School, although their relationship was a partnership, not an employment.
Upon seeing the visitor, Li Yue slightly furrowed her brows, indicating a poor impression of Fang Tao, but with business at her door, she naturally wouldn't refuse. She rose slowly to examine the Thunder Ant's condition.
A few moments later, Li Yue pointed at the Thunder Ant's broken joint and said solemnly, "Ten thousand Alliance Coins."
Fang Tao frowned at this; the prize for the Soul Pupil Group championship in this exchange competition was only ten thousand Alliance Coins, yet here she demands that as soon as she opens her mouth.
Li Yue looked at Fang Tao's unwilling expression and said coldly, "Considering you're an employee of the Daoist School, I've already given you a 20% discount. If you think it's expensive, feel free to inquire elsewhere."
A change came over Fang Tao's expression at her words, and he quickly waved his hand with a smile, "Not expensive, not expensive, please treat my Guardian Beast, Sister Li."
Li Yue's expression slightly softened at his words, and she no longer spoke as she directly summoned her Guardian Beast.
With a flash of white light, a small white flower appeared in front of Li Yue.
The flower was about twenty centimeters tall, with a straight, verdant stalk, upon which grew a pair of slender leaves two fingers wide, the length of a little finger. The roots were milk white, very dense, like an elder's beard. The petals were snow-white, exuding a sacred white glow, and it appeared quite mystical.
Fang Tao exclaimed in surprise upon seeing this, "This is the Holy Light Flower."
Li Yue glanced at Fang Tao upon hearing this and said solemnly, "You have some knowledge, after all."
The Holy Light Flower is a rare Light Element Guardian Beast, and moreover, it is also an uncommon Healing Element Guardian Beast.
Although its quality is only Elite Level Lower Grade, its price is comparable to that of Outstanding Level Upper Grade Guardian Beasts.
Its price is so high for a reason; there are usually only three types of Healing Element Guardian Beasts: Wood Element, Water Element, and Light Element.
However, the healing abilities of the first two Guardian Beasts are not strong; they have a decent healing effect on external injuries but cannot achieve instantaneous results for injuries like those of Thunder Ant. Even if it can be healed, it would take several days.
Light Element Guardian Beasts, however, can heal Thunder Ant's injuries in a very short time. This is why Fang Tao was so surprised upon seeing the Holy Light Flower.
Li Yue reached out her index finger and gently touched the Holy Light Flower's pistil, whispering, "Use Divine Light."
The Holy Light Flower swayed its roots as if responding to its owner, and dense Light Elements quickly gathered towards it. A light sphere shimmering with white light appeared above the flower.
The light sphere swelled rapidly from sesame-sized until it became as large as a ping-pong ball, then stopped.
Under the control of the Holy Light Flower, the light mass slowly descended towards the broken joint of Thunder Ant.
Thunder Ant gazed at the light mass, its eyes filled with anticipation, clearly sensing the Power of Holy Light within the sphere.
The light mass suddenly exploded the moment it landed on the joint, turning into hundreds and thousands of light dots that merged into Thunder Ant's broken joint.
A moment later, an astonishing scene unfolded: Thunder Ant's previously broken joint seemed to recover at a visible speed, as if time were reversing.
A few moments after, the light dots gradually disappeared. When all the light dots vanished, Thunder Ant's broken joint had completely healed, without even leaving a scar, as if everything that had just happened was a mere dream.
Fang Tao's face lit up with joy upon seeing the restored Thunder Ant, but when he paid the fee, he couldn't help but show a pained look.
After leaving the infirmary, Fang Tao venomously watched Chu Chen, Qujing, and Wang Yang, who were chatting and laughing.
"Chu Chen, did you see? Fang Tao's face looked worse than if he'd eaten...," Wang Yang laughed heartily, patting Chu Chen's shoulder.
Chu Chen nodded with a smile, "Qujing, you're quite cunning, almost surrendering yet forcing his Guardian Beast to exhaust some Star Power."
"Haha, this guy targeted me for no reason, as if I were a pushover to be squeezed arbitrarily."
Chu Chen rubbed his nose awkwardly and said, "Ah, his targeting of you is related to me; in a way, I implicated you."
Qujing stared at Chu Chen in confusion, obviously unaware of the reason.
Seeing this, Chu Chen revealed the stakes involved to the two.
"I didn't expect such a thing, it seems I am too young," Wang Yang said, somewhat emotionally.
"Since the beginning of the Beast Taming Era, everyone has relied on strength to speak. If we were the same age, he wouldn't even qualify to compete with us. Thunder Ant's weakness lies at the insect legs' joints; we should teach that blind fellow a lesson," Qujing said angrily.
Chu Chen replied with a wry smile, "It's not that easy; Lei Yao's speed is not comparable to Wind and Thunder Leopard's, and judging from the previous battle, he will definitely be on guard. Under these circumstances, attacking its weakness seems extremely challenging."
A quarter of an hour later, Zhou Ying returned to the arena.
"Everyone, please quiet down. Next is the final of the Soul Pupil Group, and I invite the two contestants to come on stage."
As Zhou Ying's voice fell, the spectators stopped their conversations and fixed their gaze on the arena.
"Go for it, show him the strength of us newcomers," Qujing encouraged Chu Chen, patting his shoulder.
Wang Yang also gave Chu Chen a look of encouragement.
Seeing this, Chu Chen nodded firmly, then resolutely stepped onto the arena.
Once they were on the arena, the first thing the two did was summon their Guardian Beasts.
Their eyes were filled with intense fighting spirit; this battle was no longer a contest for honor, but a fight for survival. The winner could attract more customers, while the loser could only receive a meager basic salary, eventually leading to a widening gap in their abilities.
The spectators also sensed the fierce battle spirit between the two, their eyes filled with anticipation, and their cheers grew louder and louder.
Zhou Ying also sensed the tension between the two, but she did not dissuade them; instead, she directly announced the start of the final.
This wasn't because Zhou Ying was cold-blooded, but she understood that dissuasion at this point was too late. With limited space for survival, the only way to live well is to fight for it.