Although Ye Yuanhao had always been called a genius, he was, after all, a crown prince. He had too few opportunities for real combat and was severely lacking in experience.
If they had both used spiritual power, perhaps he could have held his own based on his understanding of spiritual power.
But encountering Zi Linling, a renegade genius of ancient martial arts who played by her own rules, left him somewhat out of his depth.
This Flowing Dragon Steps and Flowing Dragon Body Technique gave even Situ Yunfeng, a mid-stage Huayuan realm cultivator, a considerable headache. How much more so for Ye Yuanhao, who possessed the realm but lacked combat experience as an Yinqi realm cultivator.
So, when Zi Linling closed the distance, Ye Yuanhao immediately panicked, and his spiritual power faltered.
Normally, spiritual cultivators would maintain a distance during combat. This was partly because condensing spiritual power took time, and partly because the collision of spiritual powers generated immense energy, making injuries likely.
However, it was rare for someone like Zi Linling to engage in close-quarters combat with a spiritual cultivator, which explained why Ye Yuanhao was flustered.
By the time Ye Yuanhao regained his senses, there was no time to recondense spiritual power, and his long sword instantly shattered. Su Dan Novel Network.
Seizing the opportunity, Zi Linling kicked Ye Yuanhao in the abdomen.
Ye Yuanhao cried out in pain, his body involuntarily bending. Taking advantage of this, Zi Linling's elbow struck Ye Yuanhao's back, while simultaneously driving her knee into his chest.
Before Ye Yuanhao could even comprehend what was happening, he was already lying on the ground.
Zi Linling raised her foot again and sent Ye Yuanhao flying nearly ten feet before standing calmly, her face unruffled and her breathing even.
If this had happened five days ago, Zi Linling might have been able to narrowly defeat Ye Yuanhao, but she would have been exhausted.
Now, after enduring the dual torment of muscle sculpting and marrow cleansing, her physical condition had greatly improved.
Therefore, dealing with Ye Yuanhao, a spiritual cultivator who hadn't undergone body refinement, was as easy as picking something up.
Ye Yuanhao lay on the ground, groaning in pain, unable to get up for a long time.
Xue Ying, who had followed Zi Linling out, was stunned, her jaw hanging open.
Zi Linling's earlier defeat of Ye Yuanhao had already made her disbelieve, but if she was defeated, so be it, as long as her young lady was happy. After all, Ye Yuanhao's heart wasn't with her young lady anyway.
But now? Her young lady had defeated the Crown Prince in just a few moves. How could she believe it?
Although she knew Zi Linling could cultivate, she had never imagined she would be so fierce, directly beating up the Crown Prince, who was in the late Yinqi realm.
The others brought by Tanxiang and Zi Jinling had their mouths agape, large enough to fit a steamed bun.
Was this still the third young lady, the one who never fought back or retaliated when insulted?
Zi Jinling rubbed her eyes vigorously, looking at the wailing Ye Yuanhao on the ground and then at Zi Linling, who stood there with a cold sneer. She was in disbelief.
My heavens! Was this still the good-for-nothing she could abuse and scold at will?
Impossible! Impossible!
Zi Jinling's eyes seemed about to pop out. How could a good-for-nothing suddenly become so powerful?
The Crown Prince was a late-stage Yinqi realm expert! A late-stage Yinqi realm cultivator!
It was preposterous that a late-stage Yinqi realm cultivator was utterly defenseless against Zi Linling, the good-for-nothing.
No! It's impossible! She must be hallucinating!
But Ye Yuanhao's groans on the ground and Zi Linling's stance clearly told Zi Jinling that this was no hallucination.
"You... you... you actually hit the Crown Prince? How dare you?"
Zi Jinling, shocked to her core, almost bit her tongue.
"I've already hit him, so what's there to dare?"
Zi Linling's cold voice echoed in the Luoyu Pavilion.
One stone stirred a thousand waves!
The servants who had followed Zi Jinling in trembled in their legs.
They had bullied Zi Linling more than once before. Now that Zi Linling had suddenly become so powerful, if she decided to settle accounts with them, would they still have a way to survive?
Zi Jinling finally came to her senses and angrily said, "Good-for-nothing, he is the Crown Prince, how dare you!"
"Good-for-nothing?"
Zi Linling's eyes flashed with a dangerous light as she approached Zi Jinling step by step. "Say it again and see what happens!"
"I... I..."
Zi Jinling retreated in fear, stammering and unable to speak.
Just then, Ye Yuanhao, who was on the ground, finally stopped groaning. He struggled to get up and shouted, "If you have a problem, come at me. Don't bully Linjin'er!"
Upon hearing Ye Yuanhao's voice, Zi Jinling burst into tears and turned to run towards him, colliding with his chest. Trembling, she clutched him and sobbed.
Zi Linling was taken aback. Wouldn't most people flee at this moment?
But Zi Jinling, instead of fleeing, ran into Ye Yuanhao's embrace. This was something Zi Linling had not anticipated.
Ye Yuanhao let out a muffled grunt, his brow furrowing.
He had already been barely enduring the pain to stand up, so it had taken immense effort to stay upright.
Now, with Zi Jinling's impact, he almost fell to the ground again.
But with a beauty in his arms, tearful like a wilting flower, Ye Yuanhao had to maintain his gentlemanly demeanor, didn't he?
So, he forced himself to stand steady, put an arm around Zi Jinling's slender waist, wiped her tears with his other hand, and comforted her, "Don't be afraid, Jin'er, this Prince will protect you!"
"Heh heh!"
Zi Linling let out a cold laugh and slowly walked up to Ye Yuanhao, her face splitting into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I never expected, truly never expected, that our Crown Prince is also a passionate lover!"
Ye Yuanhao took a step forward, instinctively shielding Zi Jinling behind him, and watched Zi Linling vigilantly. "What do you want?"
Zi Linling cast a meaningful glance at Zi Jinling behind him and sneered, "What do I want? To watch a play! If second sister acts so diligently, it would be a waste of her painstaking efforts if I didn't watch!"
A flicker of suspicion crossed Ye Yuanhao's eyes. He glanced back at Zi Jinling, as if to discern whether her affection was genuine or feigned.
Zi Jinling shook her head pitifully.
Ye Yuanhao received the answer he sought, and a new resolve formed in his heart.
"You don't need to sow discord! I believe Jin'er's feelings for me are true, definitely not just a casual act!"
Zi Linling suddenly felt a touch of pity for this Crown Prince. Being used as a pawn and enjoying it—only a fool like Ye Yuanhao would be like this.
"Alright, alright! Whether your feelings are true or false, whether it's real or an act, what does it have to do with me?"
Before Ye Yuanhao could reply, she continued, "I can't be bothered with you! Now that I've fulfilled your wish and broken off the engagement, are you two going to leave on your own, or shall I escort you out?"