On the martial arts stage, a handsome young man dressed in glittering golden robes faced off against a mature woman in form-fitting attire that accentuated her alluring figure. Though still in her youth, she possessed extraordinary grace, highlighted by her beautiful and unusual white hair, making her a captivating sight.
Shen Xiang found it hard to believe that the crown prince, Song Nanming, was glaring at Leng Youlan with an expression filled with hatred. He was sure there was a deep-seated grudge between them.
"Have you heard? The crown prince once proposed to Leng Youlan, but she rejected him and even slapped him," one person remarked.
"I heard that Leng Youlan kicked him in the groin, leaving him injured. He had to spend a lot of spirit money just to buy good spirit medicine afterward," a middle-aged man laughed.
"Haha, this is going to be interesting."
Shen Xiang was surprised at Leng Youlan's audacity to confront Song Nanming like that.
As the match began, Leng Youlan transformed into a shadow, darting around the stage with incredible speed. This remarkable lightness technique was her specialty; she moved swiftly, occasionally striking out at Song Nanming with her palms or kicks, but he managed to evade or block her attacks.
Song Nanming was not weak either, but he was clearly outmatched by Leng Youlan, who possessed the unique ability of dual elemental powers—ice and fire. She could merge these energies to create a formidable and peculiar force.
While Song Nanming could block her attacks, he was still affected by her icy-hot energy, causing him to feel unsteady, and he couldn't find an opening to counterattack due to her speed.
"Leng Youlan must not have good martial skills; she can only rely on her quick movements," Su Meiyao commented. "Because she wields both ice and fire energy, the suitable martial techniques for her are extremely rare, forcing her to fight in this manner to avoid injury, while her opponent can't even touch her. This girl is quite clever."
Shen Xiang practiced a unique energy technique, allowing him to harness a single elemental energy, but Leng Youlan couldn't do that. Once she used her energy, she had to utilize both attributes, resulting in a confusing combination of cold and heat. This limitation made it challenging for her to find powerful techniques, which was a significant source of frustration for her.
As Song Nanming realized he couldn't touch Leng Youlan, he became increasingly irritated, knowing he would lose if things continued this way. Suddenly, Shen Xiang noticed a faint glimmer from the martial arts stage, his keen eyesight able to spot even the slightest movements.
He saw Song Nanming's sleeve shoot out several transparent needles.
"Ice needles!" Shen Xiang cursed internally. At that moment, he heard Leng Youlan let out a cold shout as she suddenly clutched her abdomen, glaring furiously at Song Nanming.
With a sinister smile, Song Nanming stepped closer, channeling energy into his thigh before delivering a powerful kick to Leng Youlan's abdomen, sending her flying.
She cried out in pain, landing outside the stage but managing to regain her balance. However, her hand, which was covering her abdomen, was now stained with blood.
"You... you despicable scoundrel!" Leng Youlan seethed, her teeth clenched and eyes filled with resentment as she glared at Song Nanming on the stage.
"You're just sore about losing and calling me despicable?" Song Nanming sneered.
Leng Youlan pulled her hand away to reveal a wound that was still bleeding. She quickly realized that the injury was due to the ice needles, which had already melted away.
Shen Xiang stepped forward, producing some medicinal powder and an antidote pill, speaking solemnly, "Be careful, the ice needles might be poisoned."
Leng Youlan looked at the items in his hand, taken aback. She bit her lip and softly said, "Thank you!"
"Don't worry; I'll make that guy pay for this." Shen Xiang gave her a reassuring smile.
Sighing lightly, Leng Youlan said, "My hopes of joining a martial arts sect are shattered. Thank you for the medicine, Young Master Shen."
Shen Xiang understood that for Leng Youlan to find suitable martial arts techniques, she would need to join a sect, but now that she had lost, her chances seemed slim.
"Kid, give her a Golden Spirit Fruit and let her go to the Taiwu Sect. With her rare dual elemental powers, they'll definitely accept her," Su Meiyao suggested.
Shen Xiang hesitated, looking at the anger still etched on Leng Youlan's face.
"Tell her that if the Taiwu Sect doesn't accept her, she can use the Golden Spirit Fruit to trade for an opportunity to test her abilities." That was Bai Youyou's voice. Being women themselves, and recognizing Leng Youlan as a promising talent, they naturally wished for her to succeed in the future.
Shen Xiang whispered, "Leng, the poison from the ice needles might be serious. You should go to the Danwang Pavilion for a thorough examination."
On the martial arts stage, Song Nanming glared at Shen Xiang and Leng Youlan, his teeth clenched in fury. Although he didn't hear Shen Xiang's words, he saw Shen Xiang's concern for Leng Youlan, and it filled him with uncontainable resentment.
It was natural for Shen Xiang to show concern; one was a renowned young genius, and the other a stunning beauty at the seventh level of the Ordinary Martial Realm. Their mutual admiration was to be expected.
Leng Youlan nodded and followed Shen Xiang, worried that the poison from the ice needles could cost her life.
On the third floor of the Danwang Pavilion, Meng Bo's face was filled with anger as he said, "What a vicious poison! This is a type that can linger in the body for a long time; most will only show symptoms after several months, or even a year."
"Don't worry, little girl. Although this poison is potent, it's relatively easy to remove once discovered," Meng Bo chuckled as he took out a pill. "This is an ordinary high-quality White Heart Pill; it can eliminate this kind of poison."
Learning that Song Nanming had used such malicious means against her made Leng Youlan feel an intense rage!
Looking at the pill in Meng Bo's hand, she softly asked, "How much spirit money will it cost?"
"You don't need to pay anything; just take it," Shen Xiang said as he took the antidote and handed it to her.
Meng Bo chuckled and discreetly left the scene.
Leng Youlan looked at Shen Xiang with a complicated expression. "Why are you helping me?" Although she asked this, she suspected that Shen Xiang was merely attracted to her beauty. However, she also knew he had a fiancée who had been taken away by those martial arts sects, which indicated her extraordinary talent.
Shen Xiang smiled and replied, "It's nothing; I just want to make a friend!"
Leng Youlan accepted the pill and smiled at Shen Xiang, her expression blossoming like a peony, leaving Shen Xiang momentarily mesmerized.
"I never expected to become friends with such a talented alchemist; it's truly my honor," she said softly, her mood lifting considerably. "Thank you, Young Master Shen!"
Shen Xiang shook his head, saying, "It's no trouble at all. Here's the Golden Spirit Fruit; keep it safe."
Though Leng Youlan wasn't very knowledgeable about pills, she had heard of the Golden Spirit Fruit, a signature spirit medicine of the Danwang Pavilion, but she hadn't expected Shen Xiang to give it to her.