Chapter 638: Unlucky Wu Zhen (Part 1)

"If we keep fighting, I'm afraid... you'll get hurt even more. Let's stop here! Whatever bet you want to make, I'll go along with it..."

Seeing the two clear footprints on the girl's plump buttocks, Zhang Xuan said awkwardly.

In a normal fight, he definitely couldn't beat her. If he continued relying on the Library of Heaven's Path, who knew what other embarrassing things might happen?

Having kicked her butt twice already was quite embarrassing. If he kept kicking, even with his thick skin, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Fine!"

Furious to the point of madness, wishing she could slap this guy to death on the spot, Princess Fei'er knew that continuing the fight would only hurt her. She stood up and nodded.

Her dark eyes blazed with fire, as if she wanted to roast him and eat him.

"Since we're both going to the Purification Pool, let's bet on that!" Princess Fei'er said.

"Alright, how do we bet?" Zhang Xuan looked over.

"The pool eyes of the Purification Pool have limited spiritual energy reserves. The so-called three days is just an approximate range. Actually, those who enter to cultivate are given [Purification Incense]!"

Princess Fei'er continued: "The Purification Incense is placed into the pool eye to detect the concentration of spiritual energy. It controls the burning speed based on the consumption of spiritual energy. Under normal cultivation, one stick burns out in exactly a day and a night. The so-called three days of cultivation time actually means burning three sticks of incense. No matter which pool eye, once the incense burns out, you must come out."

Cultivation speeds vary; some are fast, some slow. The effects over three days are certainly different. How can one determine when the spiritual energy in the pool eye is fully absorbed without risking danger? That's where the Purification Incense comes in.

This item can also burn when inserted into the Purification Pool. It changes burning speed according to the rate of spiritual energy consumption. When three sticks burn out, you must leave. This is a long-established rule that no one can break.

It was mentioned at the banquet earlier, and Zhang Xuan knew about it.

"So... our bet is simple. Tomorrow at noon, we enter the Purification Pool at the same time. Whoever finishes burning three sticks of Purification Incense first wins!" Princess Fei'er said.

"Whoever finishes first wins?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback by this bet.

The burning speed of the Purification Incense is proportional to the rate of absorbing spiritual energy from the pool eye. To speed up the latter, one must have a stronger soul.

In other words... the stronger the soul, the faster the Purification Incense burns.

She was a Bridge Heaven realm expert, her soul nourished through the Harmony Heaven realm, already very strong. Betting with him was clearly bullying him, as he was only at the Clarity Heaven realm, weaker in soul...

But... she probably never dreamed that his soul wasn't weak—it was too strong!

Having cultivated the Witch Soul, his soul could already leave his body and act independently. If it came to absorption, even a Mortal Transformation realm eight-stage expert might not be a match for him.

"Are you sure about this bet?"

He looked at her sympathetically.

No need to think; if they really made this bet, she couldn't avoid losing.

"Of course! What, you were so cocky just now, but now you're scared?" Princess Fei'er said confidently.

"This..." Zhang Xuan scratched his head. "Let's talk about the stakes."

"The stakes are simple. If I win, from today onward, I am no longer your maidservant, and I don't owe you any spirit stones! If you win... I'll lose you another ten thousand spirit stones, or... be your maidservant for another five months. How about it?"

Princess Fei'er said.

"Be my maidservant for another five months? Forget it..."

After thinking, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

A maidservant—he didn't really care whether he had one or not. It was just a joke from before. He'd rather have spirit stones.

"Not agree? Do you want me to marry you?"

Hearing his refusal, Princess Fei'er gritted her teeth in anger.

"Marry me?" Zhang Xuan was stunned. "You wish!"

"You..."

Princess Fei'er grabbed her hair.

So many master teachers at the Master Teacher Academy revolved around her, trying to win her favor, but this guy—when she said marry him, he said she wished! Who did he think he was?

"What I mean is simple: forget the maidservant. Just lose me ten thousand spirit stones!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

"Fine, it's settled..."

Gritting her teeth, Princess Fei'er turned and left.

She really couldn't talk to this guy anymore; she was afraid she'd be angered to death if she continued.

Avoiding the crowd, she had just returned to her residence when Luo Qiqi came up to her. Seeing her like this, she couldn't help but be stunned: "What happened to you?"

At this moment, Princess Fei'er's clothes were torn in several places, revealing snow-white skin. Her hair and face were covered in dirt, as if she had rolled in mud, looking indescribably disheveled.

"It's nothing... I have some injuries I can't reach myself. Go back and apply some medicine for me!" Princess Fei'er said.

She lost the bet, went to cause trouble, and ended up getting beaten up—her butt was even swollen from kicks...

Such an embarrassing thing, she couldn't bring herself to say it even if beaten to death!

"You're injured?" Luo Qiqi frowned. "Who did this?"

"I told you it's nothing. Just apply the medicine for me..." Princess Fei'er blushed.

"Alright!"

Seeing she didn't want to say more, Luo Qiqi didn't press further. "If it's an external injury, I happen to have a bottle of [Pine Blood Ointment]. Dean Hu from the Alchemy Academy specially refined it for me. It works wonders on external injuries. If you apply it now, it shouldn't affect your entry into the Purification Pool tomorrow."

"No need. Wu Zhen just gave me a bottle of miraculous healing medicine. He said no matter how severe the external injury, just pour it on and it will heal within a few breaths... Help me apply some!"

Princess Fei'er flipped her wrist and took out a gourd.

She couldn't reach or see the injury on her butt. Although it was a bit embarrassing to have someone else apply it, it was still better than having a red butt and limping around.

"Miraculous healing medicine?"

Luo Qiqi was startled.

"Mm, it's said to be a gift from several vassal states. I tried it on the spot, and the effect was excellent. Even a bleeding wound could heal instantly!"

Princess Fei'er said. "He swore it was true and insisted I take it, so I did. Let's try its effect!"

"There's such a powerful medicine?" Luo Qiqi exclaimed, and followed Princess Fei'er into the room.

Soon after entering, a pig-like scream was heard, followed by Princess Fei'er's roar echoing through the courtyard.

"Ah... Wu Zhen, you bastard!"

Wu Zhen poked his head out of his room, looking puzzled.

"Who's calling me?"

...

After parting with Princess Fei'er, Zhang Xuan returned to his room.

He took out the Ice Rain Sword, made it recognize him as its master, tested it, and found it very handy before putting it away.

After flying continuously for over a month and fighting two battles, he meditated on the spot for a while, then felt tired and fell into a deep sleep.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already broad daylight. He walked out of the room and saw Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai approaching, their expressions excited and full of gratitude.

Last night, after returning, the two had taken the Harmony Heaven Pill and had now broken through to the Harmony Heaven realm middle stage.

Although they had only increased by one minor level, their souls had become more rounded and their true qi more abundant.

All this was thanks to this young man.

"Let's go to the palace. The Purification Pool is opening, so we need to get there early."

After breakfast, Master Hong came over.

This time, in the allocation of slots, the Hongfeng Empire had shown great prowess, suppressing the other three vassal states, which filled him with excitement and energy.

The imperial palace of Huanyu Capital was even more spacious and majestic than the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace. Its golden and magnificent decoration exuded a tiger-like and dragon-like authority, making anyone entering feel solemn and hardly dare to breathe.

Led by two eunuchs into the palace hall, Zhang Xuan saw Luo Zhao, Feng Yu, and the others already there.

After a night of treatment, their appearances had improved somewhat, but upon closer inspection, one could still faintly see bruises and scars on their faces.

As cultivation increased, the body became stronger, but recovery from injuries also slowed down considerably.

Although they all had extremely precious healing medicines, compared to Zhang Xuan's true qi that could heal injuries at any time, they were far inferior.

"Huh? What happened to that guy?"

It wasn't surprising that some people had swollen faces, but when he looked up, he saw someone unexpected.

Last night, Wu Zhen, who had been sitting beside the Crown Prince receiving gifts, had somehow also developed black circles around his eyes. Although the swelling on his face had gone down, one could still see signs of a severe beating.

A top student from the Master Teacher Academy, someone even Emperor Ye Wentian and Crown Prince Ye Qian respected—who would dare to lay hands on him and beat him like this?

Not only did he notice, but others also saw it, all looking puzzled.

"Master Zhang... I have something to ask you!"

Just as he was curious, Wu Zhen came over angrily.

"Greetings, Master Wu!"

Zhang Xuan clasped his fists.

"Cut the crap. What's the deal with this medicinal wine?" Wu Zhen flipped his wrist, revealing a gourd in his palm, his face full of anger.

Although the guy had claimed yesterday that it was from Master Hong, Wu Zhen had sensed something and knew it must be related to this Master Zhang.

"This medicinal wine?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned, then suddenly understood: "You used it?"

This was not medicinal wine at all; it was actually liquor. It had healing properties before because his true qi was stored in it. Over time, the true qi dissipated, so it naturally became ineffective.

It seemed this guy had used it and found it useless.

"Not me... but it had no effect at all!"

Wu Zhen grew angrier the more he thought about it.

Last night, when he heard the Sixth Princess calling him, he happily ran over, only to get beaten half to death. Only then did he learn it was because the medicine was useless. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, so he came looking for him as soon as he appeared.

"How could it be useless? Since you have injuries on your face, let me show you!"

Seeing that he was indeed angry about this, Zhang Xuan couldn't admit it. He took the gourd, shook it twice, and infused a stream of true qi into it.

"Show me?" Wu Zhen frowned, expecting him to be scared, but he was so calm.

"Mm, come..."

Handing the gourd back casually, Zhang Xuan said: "If you don't believe me, take a sip!"