Nalan Yanran's Defeat

"What? One move?"

"Lord Su, you're not joking, are you?"

"No matter what, there's no way he couldn't even last one move!"

"..."

Expressions of shock and doubt appeared on Nalan Yanran and the others' faces as they looked toward the frail figure in the green dress.

No matter how they looked at her, Xiao Yi Xian did not seem to possess such strength.

Among the crowd, only Xiao Yan wore a solemn expression.

He had long learned of the terror of the Woeful Poison Body from his teacher, not to mention that Xiao Yi Xian had received Senior Su's personal guidance.

"Ever since we parted in Qingshan Town, quite some time has passed... Perhaps the little apothecary from the Myriad Medicine Pavilion has truly grown to a height her peers can scarcely reach..."

Xiao Yi Xian looked serene. She raised a hand to tuck the loose hair by her temple behind her ear, then slowly walked toward the center of the courtyard. The crowd unconsciously made way for her.

"I ask for your guidance."

As Xiao Yi Xian's crisp voice fell, the courtyard sank into silence. The singers and musicians had already been dismissed. The young talents of the Imperial Capital looked at one another, yet no one dared step forward.

"Who will go first?"

Su Yun lightly held his teacup in one hand, his gaze sweeping across the courtyard before finally settling on Mu Zhan.

"If you don't even have the courage to take one move, how can you speak of winning a beauty's heart?

"If you're still a man, step forward. Let This Sect Master see just how much mettle you possess."

What adult would get angry with a child... Unfortunately, Su Yun's true age was very young.

Ya Fei was nominally his steward, but in truth, she was more like his attendant maid.

Nothing had actually happened between them, but someone was coveting his maid and had even openly called out her name at such a banquet...

To say Su Yun did not mind at all would be a lie.

Everyone turned their eyes toward Mu Zhan. They all knew exactly whom Su Yun was referring to.

Mu Zhan's fanatical pursuit of Ya Fei was known throughout the entire Imperial Capital.

If Mu Zhan shrank back at this moment and did not dare accept the challenge, would his past displays of fervor not become nothing but empty talk?

He would become the laughingstock of the Imperial Capital and never be able to hold his head high again!

"I'll do it!"

The veins on Mu Zhan's forehead bulged. Ignoring Mu Chen's attempt to stop him, he stepped forward. Dou Qi erupted from his body, fully revealing his peak Dou Master cultivation.

Nalan Jie stroked his beard. "This boy spent two years at the border, breaking through his limits amid life-and-death battles. His cultivation has improved rather quickly.

"Even if Miss Xian'er is a Da Dou Shi, it is not impossible for Mu Zhan to endure one move without being defeated."

Most people present shared the same thought. Defeating Mu Zhan in a single move was simply too exaggerated.

Only Hai Bodong, Ya Fei, and Mittel Tengshan wore strange expressions. They knew Xiao Yi Xian's true cultivation...

"Watch out!"

Mu Zhan's eyes turned bloodshot. The fierce Dou Qi surrounding him surged, gathering entirely onto his fist and transforming into sharp wooden spikes that glimmered with a dim light, their edges exposed.

"Green Wood Thorn!"

With a furious roar, his body abruptly became an afterimage. Wrapped in a fierce gust of wind, he charged at Xiao Yi Xian, his raised fist tearing through the air!

Faced with such a fierce assault, Xiao Yi Xian merely raised her fair hand. Purple light suddenly flashed between her jade-like fingers as a poison needle condensed into tangible form in an instant.

"Swish!"

The cold gleam flashed. Before the sound arrived, the needle had already struck!

"Crack!"

The wooden spikes on Mu Zhan's fist shattered at once. The purple poison needle continued unabated, piercing through his arm as strange purple-black toxic blood immediately spattered from the wound!

Mu Zhan groaned and fell to one knee, his face filled with horror.

"One move. It really was only one move!"

Xiao Yan's pupils contracted slightly. He had long prepared himself for this outcome, but what truly caught him off guard was Xiao Yi Xian's method of condensing a poison needle!

Could that be...

"One-star Dou Spirit, Dou Qi Manifestation!"

Nalan Jie's voice was hoarse as his fists involuntarily clenched.

"How... how is this possible..."

Nalan Yanran's eyes were full of disbelief. The way everyone looked at the green figure in the center of the courtyard had completely changed.

She was not even twenty years old, yet she possessed such cultivation?!

No wonder Lord Su was so confident that no one could withstand a single move from Xiao Yi Xian!

"Step, step, step!"

Mu Chen's expression was grave as he walked over to Mu Zhan, turned his body to face Su Yun, then pressed down on his head and violently smashed it into the floor.

"Bang—!"

Mu Zhan bared his teeth in pain, yet he did not dare move at all, allowing his father to do as he pleased.

Even someone as slow-witted as him had realized the monstrous disaster his earlier recklessness had brought upon himself and his family!

After doing this, Mu Chen also dropped to one knee and cupped his fists. "On Mu Zhan's behalf, I thank Lord Su and Miss Xian'er for sparing his life!"

Mu Chen's tone was filled with sincerity, and no one found it strange.

If Xiao Yi Xian's poison needle had been aimed at Mu Zhan's heart, he would already be dead.

"Life must always be fought for by oneself. Only those who save themselves will receive Heaven's aid... If he did not even have the courage to step forward, he would not have needed to leave this courtyard today.

"This child's cultivation is low, but he has some backbone. This Sect Master has always been merciful. Leave."

Su Yun looked calm, his plain white brocade robe rustling in the wind.

"Yes."

Mu Chen let out a breath of relief. Su Yun's words meant he would no longer pursue Mu Zhan's disrespect. His life had been reclaimed, but as for the price...

He looked at Mu Zhan's arm, which was covered in purple-blue blotches. This was a sign that the poison had seeped into the marrow.

That arm was finished.

Mu Chen did not dare linger. He hurriedly took Mu Zhan away.

"Continue."

Only after Su Yun spoke did everyone snap out of their daze.

Although Mu Zhan had been defeated miserably, he had tested Xiao Yi Xian's strength for everyone.

Those weaker than Mu Zhan did not dare step forward.

As for who among those present still had the qualifications to challenge Xiao Yi Xian...

"Please show mercy, Miss Xian'er."

Nalan Yanran lightly clasped the hilt of her cloud-patterned sword. Under everyone's expectant gazes, she used the Flowing Cloud Steps and came to a stop three feet away from Xiao Yi Xian.

Hai Bodong nodded. "This girl comes from the Misty Cloud Sect. If even she is defeated, there will be no need to continue the contest."

Su Yun's gaze swept over Nalan Yanran.

Ever since the Amethyst Winged Lion King had been subdued by him, it spent most of its time in the forest outside the Imperial Capital.

Yun Yun had come three times to request Purple Spirit Crystal, but the Amethyst Winged Lion King had ruthlessly refused each time.

Thus, Nalan Yanran's strength had not reached the level it had in the original work.

At this thought, a strange glint flashed through Su Yun's eyes. Compared to Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan, whose growth trajectory had likewise been altered by him, was in an entirely different situation.

Things did not exceed Su Yun's expectations.

Nalan Yanran unleashed her aura, revealing peak Dou Master cultivation as well. She used the Misty Cloud Sect's ultimate art with all her strength, but she still did not last a single move.

"You let me win."

Xiao Yi Xian smiled sweetly.

"Miss Xian'er's talent is unmatched. Yanran willingly admits defeat."

Nalan Yanran looked despondent. She had believed herself to be the strongest genius in the Jia Ma Empire, but Xiao Yi Xian's sudden emergence dealt her no small blow.

"Who else?"

Su Yun said softly, "If no one else wishes to fight, then the contest ends here."

For a long time, no one spoke. Then, a tall, resolute youth rose from his seat.

"This junior is willing to give it a try."