Chapter 446: Long Live Winnie

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The potency of the Lee family's Soul Elixir was something he knew all too well. Given the amount Winnie had just consumed and the extent of the potential she had unleashed, even the life-saving elixir specially prepared by the Lee family in his hands had only a ten percent chance of preserving her life. And even if it did, she would undoubtedly be left a cripple, forever unable to cultivate again—there was simply no hope of recovery. But now...

Feeling the life force in Winnie, which had been rapidly fading in his arms, suddenly begin to warm again, Old Wang let out a sigh of relief. It worked!

The unnatural flush on her face had faded, returning to its previous pallor, but her body was no longer feverish. Though her life force was weak, it had stopped draining away, as if stabilized. Old Wang stopped feeding her his blood and produced two bottles of Soul Elixir from his robe, pouring them directly into her mouth as a supplement. Only then did Li Xuanyuan hurriedly take out the elixir he had been holding earlier and give it all to Winnie to drink.

Against all odds, Winnie began to stir faintly awake. The Li brothers were overjoyed. Li Xuanyuan snatched Winnie from Old Wang's arms, tears streaming down his face like falling pearls. "Little sister, does it hurt? Are you uncomfortable? Where else feels bad? I'll kill them all for you!"

Winnie gave him a weak glance, her lips curling in disdain. "...Get lost..."

Li Xuanyuan froze for a moment before breaking into a smile. "Alright, alright, I'll scram. I'll scram right away!"

The Lee family were masters of soul medicine. Li Xuanyuan could already sense that Winnie's soul force had stabilized—it was nothing short of miraculous.

Old Wang waved them off. "Step back, all of you. I guarantee she'll be fine." He casually wrapped a bandage around his wound.

"Old Wang, I drank too much elixir. It's strange—I feel warm all over. Is this a deathbed rally? I'm probably done for, but there's something I have to tell you," she said weakly. "Meeting all of you... I’ve been so happy. For the first time in my life, I feel..."

Then she passed out again.

Old Wang wanted to say something, but words failed him. If they were going to win, then they would win—even if the heavens themselves intervened, they would still die!

To be honest, the Zenith Holy Sanctuary had lost this match against all odds... If Amogan hadn’t held back due to Winnie Lee's status and gone all-out from the start, Winnie likely wouldn’t have had the chance to use the Soul Elixir.

After Head referee An Nanxi declared the victory for the Temple, the arena fell silent.

Among the supporters of the Zenith Holy Sanctuary, a few were genuinely concerned about Amogan's injuries, some were awed by Winnie Lee's ferocity, but most were simply lost in the shock and disappointment of their defeat—some even felt a twinge of shame for their earlier boasts of a 3-0 sweep. Hardly anyone spoke.

On the Temple's side, the long-awaited, hard-earned victory didn’t immediately spark cheers. The hero who had brought them this triumph was still hovering between life and death—how could anyone celebrate?

Everyone remained silent, watching with bated breath in tense silence.

Even to those who didn’t understand what the Soul Elixir was, Winnie’s desperate determination had been deeply moving. In the brief waiting period, whispers about the elixir’s effects and consequences spread through the stands. Whether they were Temple disciples or other supporters, everyone was stunned.

To stake her life—this was a young prodigy from a great noble family with boundless potential. For the honor of the Temple, she had gone this far... Just how much did the Temple’s honor mean to her?

No one knew Winnie’s exact condition at that moment. Wang Feng had just begun treating her when the Li brothers rushed in. Li Xuanyuan nearly attacked Wang Feng, and his furious shout of "Scram!" echoed across the arena.

Famier and Su Yue stood transfixed, watching anxiously from below.

Neither Su Yue nor Famier had ever held a particularly high opinion of Winnie Lee. On one hand, both came from respectable family backgrounds and had heard plenty of rumors about the Lee family’s ninth daughter—their initial impressions were tainted from the outset. On the other hand, Winnie had never been particularly friendly to anyone outside the Old Wang Squad. Arrogant and standoffish, she looked down on everyone. Tales of her throwing her weight around in the Spirit Beast division were inevitable. Though under Old Wang’s discipline and "brainwashing," her behavior had reined in, the word "kind" had never been associated with her.

Despite being the strongest in the Old Wang Squad, she had also been the most disliked and the most troublesome. If not for her formidable background, she would’ve been torn apart by public opinion long ago. Even those close to the Old Wang Squad kept their distance, more wary than friendly—it was simply impossible to get close to her.

Prejudice in people’s hearts was like an insurmountable mountain.

During the Dragon City battle and the previous seven matches, Winnie had shown remarkable performances. But in everyone’s eyes, these displays were expected—effortless demonstrations of a noble family’s inherent strength, nothing more. They paled in comparison to the hard-fought comebacks of Fatasi and Wu Di, who had fought tooth and nail for the Temple’s glory. Many didn’t even consider this little demon, who had transferred between four Temples, a true member of the Temple.

"Don’t be naive. How could a spoiled noble like her, school-hopping like changing clothes, have any real loyalty to the Temple? If these brats were reliable, pigs could fly."

"Her life is far too precious—how could she be the same as ordinary Temple disciples? She’s just here to ride on easy wins and snatch some glory. The moment things get tough, she’d be the first to bolt." This sentiment had only grown stronger when her brothers had shouted things like "That’s enough!" and "Don’t get hurt!" from the stands.

But no one had expected...

When the Temple was backed into a corner, when all hope seemed lost, it was this very "unreliable little demon" who had single-handedly turned the tide and saved the Temple!

And this so-called "unreliable" girl had paid with her life to snatch this hard-won victory and glory from the jaws of defeat itself!

Not just Su Yue and Famier, but also the full hundred Holy Sanctuary disciples present—all of them felt a lump in their throats at this moment, worrying for that little girl not yet fourteen, their hearts pounding with emotion.

Shock, guilt, excitement, concern… a mix of emotions filled their hearts, choking their throats, until they saw Winnie in Wang Feng’s arms slowly stir awake!

She’s awake! She's going to be okay!

"Winnie Lee!" Ning Zhiyuan was the first to stand up, shouting her name loudly, his fists clenched tightly. This typically level-headed wizard division leader rarely showed such intense emotion. He was one of the few in the Holy Sanctuary who held no prejudice against Winnie—partly due to his own broad-mindedness, and partly because they had little interaction.

But Winnie’s unwavering determination to sacrifice herself for the Holy Sanctuary had shaken him to his core. This was a Holy Sanctuary warrior not yet fourteen—so young!

"Leader Winnie!" Patu followed immediately, his voice raw with emotion. As the former top student of the forging division, his impression of Winnie mostly came from Su Yue, so it was hardly favorable. Yet, precisely because of that, he felt all the more ashamed of his past biases against Winnie Lee.

"Junior/Senior Winnie!"

Then, all the Holy Sanctuary disciples in the stands couldn’t help but cry out, tears welling up in excitement.

Their hero was safe—time to celebrate!

From the first match’s draw to the subsequent 1-0, 2-0, they had gradually begun to despair.

Listening to the surrounding jeers and mockery directed at the Holy Sanctuary, feeling the true strength of the Sky Dome Holy Sanctuary, and recalling how they had once naively analyzed defeating Sky Dome 3-1 or even 3-0—they had been utterly humiliated, wishing they could vanish into the ground. What glory of the Holy Sanctuary? Just the ignorant boasts of a bunch of country bumpkins.

But when these self-proclaimed true Holy Sanctuary disciples had already given up on their school, that little girl not yet fourteen—Winnie Lee, whom almost all Holy Sanctuary disciples saw as an outsider—had swallowed that deadly potion without hesitation, a potion that carried both her own life and the honor of all Holy Sanctuary disciples.

And so, the glory of the Holy Sanctuary returned. Their pride came roaring back.

At this moment, all emotions burst forth like a broken dam! No matter what happened in the following matches, this moment belonged to the Holy Sanctuary—this moment belonged to Winnie Lee!

Everyone hugged each other indiscriminately, beating drums and gongs in excitement, crying and jumping while shouting. They rejoiced at being part of the Holy Sanctuary, proud to be its members. The honor bought with Winnie’s life forged an unbreakable bond between them all.

"There's hope! We have hope again!"

"Hail Winnie! Hail Rose! We won!"

………………

Amid the chaotic scene, frenzied Rose supporters and their fans—after An Nanxi announced on the field that both sides were temporarily out of life-threatening danger, Fu Changkong, seated at the head of the VIP section, rose to his feet.

Slowly, he began to clap—*clap, clap, clap*. "Winnie Lee, sacrificing herself for a greater cause with unparalleled courage, truly is a model for all Holy Sanctuary disciples. Her spirit and willpower are admirable. Let us pay tribute to every warrior who upholds the honor of the Holy Sanctuary! Additionally, if Rose has any medical needs, the Holy Sanctuary will give them top priority."

A public statement was necessary. By elevating Winnie Lee, he could make the Holy Sanctuary's loss appear less embarrassing while slightly easing any resentment from the Lee family. At the very least, he’d shown them due respect. If the Lee family still sought trouble, Fu Changkong could claim he had acted with courtesy before resorting to force. As for medical priority, it was already the Holy Sanctuary's duty, but mentioning it now added a favorable touch to both the Holy Sanctuary's reputation and his own image. A sly old fox like Fu Changkong never missed an opportunity to benefit himself.

As soon as he finished speaking—aside from Mo Tong in the Old Wang Squad's passageway spitting on the ground and cursing "hypocrite"—the Rose section erupted in roaring cheers. It wasn’t just Rose supporters; even many Holy Sanctuary fans began chanting "Winnie Lee! Winnie Lee!" Of course, most didn’t know the full extent of Winnie’s sacrifice—they were simply celebrating the victory.

A true warrior earns respect even from enemies. However, this respect did not extend to the high-ranking figures in the stands...

Frankly, what had just happened was nothing short of unbelievable—even earth-shattering—to these influential figures who knew the Lee family all too well.

What was the Lee family? Vipers and demons!

To purge the rats lurking in the sewers, the Alliance needed a venomous snake to dwell within. The Lee family had done much for the Alliance, becoming an indispensable part of it—but that didn’t mean anyone actually liked them.

They were nothing more than ruthless mercenaries who would stop at nothing for wealth and power, no better than the scum of the high seas—except the Lees wore a veneer of legitimacy. Whether it was the legendary assassin patriarch Li Locke or the rising "Eight Tigers" of the Lee family, the rest of the Alliance saw them the same way.

Thugs, killers, selfish schemers, unscrupulous outlaws—that was the Lee family’s reputation in the Alliance. Words like "honor" and "duty" didn’t belong in the same sentence as the Lees. Yet here was Winnie Lee, staking her life for Rose’s glory... It completely shattered the elites' long-held perceptions of the Lee family. This—this wasn’t something the shrewd, self-serving Lees would do!

The high-ranking figures murmured among themselves, exchanging bewildered whispers.

"That’s why they say Wang Feng is a master manipulator," Urix said coolly. "Not even sparing a little girl—probably had her whipped into shape. Tch!"

Clara shot him a sidelong glance filled with disgust, suddenly realizing how foolish she had been in the past to hold such reverence for this incompetent fool...

"The Lee family's black sheep," the Saint said with a faint smile, shaking his head. To be honest, he had some admiration for Winnie Lee just now—both for her strength and potential. But as for the Lee family, which thrived in the shadows, the Saint held little fondness. To him, they were merely a dog on their leash.

Yet, a strange glint flashed in Long Jing's eyes. The Saint's assessment of the Lee family struck him as amusing, even bringing him a sense of relief.

Within the League of Blades, no one dealt with the Nine Gods more extensively than the Lee family. Whether through their intelligence networks or covert operations, the Nine Gods had a thorough understanding of this family's methods and its key figures. But unlike the League's judgment, the Nine Gods' evaluation of the Lee family could be summed up in just four words—a family of unyielding loyalty.

Your greatest enemy understands you best. If the Lee family were merely a bunch of hired thugs chasing money and power, they wouldn’t be the Lee family of the League—they’d belong to the Nine Gods instead.

Long Jing knew nothing of the little girl’s past misdeeds, nor would he care if he did. A general’s daughter naturally carried the blood of loyalty in her veins—dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes. Winnie Lee’s actions were no surprise to him.

If the common folk of the League of Blades held biased views of the Lee family, that was understandable—their work thrived in darkness. But if even their Saint harbored such thoughts… well.

Long Jing reclined further into his seat, adopting a more relaxed posture.

Small-minded men in lofty seats, while those who actually get things done are seen as disruptive troublemakers in the eyes of the rulers—that was the League’s true weakness. To continue reading later, you can click the "bookmark" button below to record this reading (Chapter 446: Long Live Winnie). Next time you open your bookshelf, you'll see it!

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