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Chapter 168: Chapter 166: Riding the Wind
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"Chu Zhiyuan?" Cheng Tianfeng revealed a smile, "You want to defeat him and wipe away past humiliations? ...But I’m afraid you’ll never beat him."
"Is Chu Zhiyuan’s strongest really his Fist Technique?"
"I’ve never seen him use his Fist Technique."
"Is his Swordsmanship really not his strongest?" Li Hongzhao sneered, "Are you deliberately saying that to elevate yourself?"
"From what I know of him, he disdains lying," Cheng Tianfeng said, "Since he claims the Fist Technique is stronger, then it truly is the strongest."
Li Hongzhao said, "I really don’t believe it."
Cheng Tianfeng said, "The Phoenix Sword Technique is formidable, but you’re not as fast as he is; no matter how great the technique, it’s all in vain."
"I can increase my speed; I just need one thing."
"What?"
"The Wind-Riding Pill from Wentian Cliff."
"Impossible!" Cheng Tianfeng flatly rejected.
Li Hongzhao chuckled softly, bewitchingly beautiful, gently picking up a small bun and placing it in her mouth, chewing slowly, her red lips like flames.
Cheng Tianfeng’s eyes couldn’t help but be captivated, staring blankly.
Li Hongzhao, smiling gracefully, finished chewing and swallowed; her slender, snowy neck was particularly enticing.
She picked up a piece of pastry again and sent it to her mouth, her plump red lips getting glossed, bright and seductive while chewing.
Her slightly magnetic voice sounded, gently asking, "Cheng Shizi, do you not want to see him defeated?"
Cheng Tianfeng blurted out, "I do."
"Then why not lend me a hand?" Li Hongzhao said, "If he loses to me, he will naturally be stripped of his glory and honor. Such an experience must be unpleasant, right?"
"It is unpleasant." Cheng Tianfeng sighed.
Li Hongzhao said, "Don’t you want him to taste that too?"
He struggled to pull his eyes away from her red lips and snow-white neck, looking into her sparkling eyes, "Of course I do!"
Li Hongzhao said, "Then give me a Wind-Riding Pill. After boosting my speed, I will surely defeat him fiercely!"
"..."
Cheng Tianfeng’s mind was at war within himself.
Li Hongzhao was the Princess of Da Meng and an opponent, while Chu Zhiyuan, despite defeating him, was now an ally.
Should he really help Li Hongzhao defeat Chu Zhiyuan?
The Wind-Riding Pill was an exclusive miraculous medicine from Wentian Cliff.
Nowhere else in the world could it be found.
It was highly effective in increasing speed, but sadly could only be consumed once. Otherwise, his own speed might not lag behind Chu Zhiyuan’s.
Li Hongzhao’s speed was already very fast; if she could take this pill, it would be the icing on the cake, a further leap beyond her current limit.
Enhancing speed becomes increasingly difficult the further one progresses.
Various miracle techniques and spirit pills quickly improve speed in the early stages, but upon reaching a certain limit, advancement becomes nearly impossible.
Every body has an invisible shackle within, restricting the speed limit, and breaking this shackle is extremely difficult.
The Wind-Riding Pill is the miraculous drug that breaks the shackle.
Li Hongzhao stopped talking and focused on eating breakfast.
She consumed a lot; half the table’s breakfast was nearly devoured by her.
Her flat and smooth belly could hold so much.
The Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique demands a substantial amount of food, converting it into Essence Blood, stored in a secret orifice within the body for the crucial moments to heal all injuries.
This is the essence of Phoenix Nirvana.
...
Chu Zhiyuan sat on his bed in his residence, gaining Insight into Li Hongzhao.
More clear and more penetrating than ever before.
Came to such a conclusion.
He vaguely saw a secret orifice where Li Hongzhao was, between two towering peaks, near the heart.
Close to the center but not it, a place he never knew existed.
He touched the same spot on himself but found nothing unusual.
This should be the secret orifice trained by the Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique.
Chu Zhiyuan contemplated for a moment, ultimately giving up the idea of researching the Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique.
With his current scope of Insight, observing Li Hongzhao’s cultivation at night wasn’t difficult.
It is a female cultivation method he cannot practice.
This technique requires extraordinary perception, and even Chu Yi couldn’t practice it, while Xiao Ruoling, having the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman Technique, doesn’t need it.
Yet, Li Hongzhao discovered Cheng Tianfeng’s weakness and intended to use Cheng Tianfeng and Wentian Cliff’s strength to defeat him.
Such a cunning strategy and flexible means fitting for a Ninth Princess.
...
"How about it, Cheng Shizi?"
Li Hongzhao wiped her jade hands with a white handkerchief, followed by her red lips, then tossed it to a nearby maid, smiling at Cheng Tianfeng.
Cheng Tianfeng said, "What will you trade for it?"
"What do you want?"
"...Phoenix Immortal Pills, I want ten."
"Two."
"Your Highness seems insincere!"
"Three, no more than that," Li Hongzhao said, "One Phoenix Immortal Pill can extend lifespan by a year; you should know how precious a year of lifespan is!"
"Five!"
"Only three," Li Hongzhao said flatly, "If that doesn’t work, then forget it."
"...Alright, three it is." Cheng Tianfeng took a deep breath, his eyes flashed resolutely, "Chu Zhiyuan just returned to the capital; you need to hurry."
"No rush," Li Hongzhao laughed, "I won’t leave Yujing for a while; I plan to stay for a year or so."
Cheng Tianfeng snorted, "His progress is astonishingly fast. I’m afraid even if you take the Wind-Riding Pill, you still won’t be his match, and it will all be in vain."
"Hehe!" Li Hongzhao giggled, her laughter causing the flowers to tremble, "Cheng Shizi, you really hold Chu Zhiyuan in high regard!"
Cheng Tianfeng said coldly, "I’m merely stating the facts."
He would never admit he admired Chu Zhiyuan.
He believed he was simply not blinded by jealousy, anger, or hatred, allowing him to witness the incredible perception and rapid progress of Chu Zhiyuan.
"He’s not all that mystical!" Li Hongzhao snorted, "Thinking back now, he used tricks last time; otherwise... huh, it’s still hard to say who would win or lose!"
Cheng Tianfeng’s face showed indifference, yet he didn’t open his mouth to argue.
Facing such a peerless beauty, he wanted to maintain his poise.
"Don’t believe?" Li Hongzhao scornfully said, "Once I consume the Wind-Riding Pill, you will see how Chu Zhiyuan suffers a grand defeat and reveals his true form!"
"When will you have Phoenix Immortal Pills?"
"I have them now; do you have the Wind-Riding Pill?"
"Three days later!" Cheng Tianfeng said.
"Then let’s meet in three days, farewell."
Li Hongzhao, having achieved her goal, did not wish to stay a moment longer, stood up, and left.
As she walked, she donned a veil, obscuring her exquisitely beautiful hibiscus face.
The two maids hurried after her.
Cheng Tianfeng stared at her graceful enchanting back, his eyes burning with passion.
But his expression was gloomy, as if a dark cloud had settled over his heart.
He didn’t know if his decision was right or wrong.
If found out, it would cause great trouble.
He stayed in the room for an hour, and only after not attracting attention did he put on a mask and leave.
Chu Zhiyuan retracted his Insight, his expression cold.
——
Duke An Mansion
Xiao Ruoyu finished his training early and went to the rear garden, seeing Xiao Ruoling sitting still by the stone table in a small pavilion, practicing.
He drifted up and landed in the gazebo, sighing, "Sister, you can still calm your heart to practice."
Xiao Ruoling opened her beautiful eyes, "Little Tiger, have you finished your homework?"
"Of course, I have!" Xiao Ruoyu said, "Just don’t know when Father will be back."
"Father won’t return home for lunch."
"Not coming back again? Who’s he with? ... Dad has way too many social engagements, doesn’t he?"
"Father enjoys it," Xiao Ruoling let out a light laugh, "It’s rare for him to be happy. Let him be."
Before forming ties with the Prince Qing Mansion, there weren’t so many friends and engagements.
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