Chapter 37: Xiao Jinghuai's Fury

With a fierce glint of killing intent in his eyes, he launched an attack without a moment’s hesitation. Su Yunqing could sense his murderous desire; even if he dared not kill her outright, he certainly intended to inflict a grievous injury. Clearly, he had been goaded into a rage, abandoning all previous restraint in his singular desire to beat her down.

His golden spiritual energy surged toward her chest, but before it could strike, it was intercepted by her fire-attributed energy. Instantly, flames erupted like a scorching sun, enveloping him. The intense heat left him drenched in sweat, and the sea of red before his eyes blinded him to her position. He wrapped himself in a protective layer of spiritual energy to shield his skin from the searing heat, desperately searching for a weak point in the barrier to break free, all the while remaining vigilant against a potential follow-up strike.

Standing outside the flames, Su Yunqing remained cautious. She did not assume he would fail to break through; arrogance in battle was a sure path to an unbearable outcome. She refused to stumble over such a mistake, remaining exceptionally vigilant.

As she expected, he burst out of the flames after a short while, eyes scanning her with wary intensity. "Hmph! Do you really think you’re so formidable?"

Before the words had even faded, she kicked him squarely in the chest, sending him flying back into the sea of fire. The onlookers watched in shock, disbelief etched across their faces. While they had suspected Su Yunqing might be more capable than Su Yunqi, they had assumed she would still fall short of Xiao Jinghuai. Instead, reality defied their expectations: she was not only holding her ground but had gained the upper hand. With Xiao Jinghuai clearly at a disadvantage, the crowd struggled to process what they were witnessing.

Even Xiao Chengze, observing from the sidelines, found himself frowning. This was his son, whose every word and action reflected the dignity of the royal family. To see him being suppressed by someone the entire city mocked as a joke was a blow to their prestige. He felt a surge of dissatisfaction; he had held high hopes for his son after he gained entry into the Fengqi Academy, even considering him as a successor. Now, it seemed he had overestimated him. Being pushed to such an extent was nothing short of embarrassing.

Xiao Jinghuai, locked in combat, remained oblivious to the fact that his father’s opinion of him—and his chances at the throne he so craved—were slipping away. He gritted his teeth, rubbed his aching chest, and steadied himself. Scanning the perimeter, he channeled his spiritual energy and charged out once more. Anticipating another ambush, he kept his defenses tight, clashing head-on with Su Yunqing as she moved to intercept him.

He glared at the woman before him. "Must you insist on provoking me?" He was loath to create a scene, but he was on the defensive; if he did not unleash his full power, he would surely lose. Worse, he would be ridiculed. He had been mocked before for having a "shameful" fiancée, but this was different—if he lost, the ridicule would be directed at him personally.

Su Yunqing had been testing his limits. Now, certain he had no hidden trump cards left, she decided to finish the fight quickly. Her aura surged, causing Xiao Jinghuai’s expression to shift. He had not realized she was holding back. He had assumed her cultivation was at the late stage of the Qi Refining realm, but the aura she now radiated matched his own—did this mean she had reached the peak of the Qi Refining realm? If so, the situation was dire. He was already injured, and the previous kick had worsened his condition. His chances of winning were dwindling by the second.

Realizing this, he decided to strike first before she could launch another offensive. As Su Yunqing gathered her energy, he lunged.

She had anticipated this. As he attacked, she channeled her power and struck his right hand. When he tried to pivot, she slammed into his elbow. A sickening *crack* echoed through the air, causing his expression to contort in agony as he gasped, "Hiss!"

Su Yunqing did not falter. She raised her right leg in a side kick, which he barely managed to block with his own. Her eyes narrowed, and a crimson glow of spiritual energy ignited along her leg. Her aura continued to climb, and with it, a crushing pressure descended upon Xiao Jinghuai, making it difficult for him to breathe.

"Su Yunqing, you are not at the peak of the Qi Refining realm!" The thought was impossible, yet he blurted it out, unable to believe what he was sensing.

"This match ends now." She had lost her patience. Ignoring his question, she moved with blinding speed, striking before he could recover.

Unwilling to accept defeat, and realizing he could not overcome her through strength alone, Xiao Jinghuai fought against the oppressive spiritual weight and summoned his spirit beast, the Golden Sun Giant Tiger. "Attack her!"

In his view, if his cultivation couldn't win the day, his beast would. Her spirit beasts—a mangy crow and a sickly little white cat—were nothing to fear. He watched her intently, wondering if she would dare release those useless creatures.

"It has a nasty temper," he sneered, regaining a shred of confidence. "If you persist in your ignorance, even if I wanted to call it off, I fear I wouldn't be able to. Consider your next move carefully."

He felt that by bringing the beast out, he had salvaged some of his dignity. His mood improved; if she surrendered now, he might even be magnanimous enough to spare her. After all, he now realized she was far more capable than he had imagined. Such a powerful woman might actually be a suitable match for him. Perhaps, he mused, marrying her wouldn't be so bad after all.