269: Yan Di and Yan Chi

Ever since the last great battle, Little Fire's appetite had become astonishingly huge.

Its small body seemed to have become a bottomless pit, needing to devour massive amounts of fire-attributed Spiritual Qi-infused food every day. The fire-attributed beast jerky, fire spirit fruits, and fire-element Medicinal Pills meticulously prepared by Medicine King Valley, which should have been enough for several months, were being consumed at a visible rate. The once-plentiful stock in Xiaochun's Storage Pouch was now mostly gone.

"Little Fire, eat slowly, don't choke," Xiaochun said heartbrokenly, stroking the little creature who was burying its head in a pile of crimson crystals and charred, fragrant roasted Flame Lizard Meat, devouring it ravenously. She could feel Little Fire's intense craving for power within, along with the guilt and urgency from not being able to protect its master better last time. With each meal, the little one was exceptionally serious, even with a fierce determination, as if eating one more bite would make it stronger faster.

To channel this immense energy and prevent it from damaging Little Fire's tender Meridians, Xiaochun had to expend a significant amount of her own spiritual power almost daily. Combined with the vitality of her Myriad Medicine Body, she carefully guided the Raging fire elemental energy within its body to circulate and be absorbed. This left Xiaochun herself looking somewhat fatigued.

Fortunately, Juyan City was least lacking in fire-attributed resources. After selling the gold coins "confiscated" from the Yin Demon Sect stronghold and some Medicinal Pills, Qin Feng purchased large quantities of decent-quality fire-attributed Spirit Stones, low-grade fire Yao Beast meat, and even some fire-attributed Spiritual Plants, barely keeping up with Little Fire's consumption rate. Watching the gold coins flow out like water, Xia Ya couldn't help but click her tongue: "This little ancestor burns through money faster than raising a battle formation!"

Qin Feng saw this and felt anxious. He understood Little Fire's feelings and knew even more clearly the immense significance of the sun crystal stone to Little Fire. Pure Spirit Stones and ordinary fire resources could only maintain and slowly restore it. To help Little Fire make up for its losses, accelerate its growth, or even evolve, the sun crystal stone was key.

A few days later, Qin Feng decided to make an initial probe using his official status. He presented the honorary title of Loyal Martial Officer conferred by the imperial court, submitted a visiting card, and requested an audience with Juyan City's City Lord, Yan Di.

The City Lord's mansion was majestic and imposing, constructed entirely of dark-red stone, with faint waves of heat rising from the ground. Yan Di was a tall, imposing middle-aged man with red hair and a red beard, whose very presence commanded respect. His cultivation was shockingly at the Late Stage Martial Emperor level, but his aura was even more domineering and scorching, like a volcano ready to erupt at any moment.

When Qin Feng tactfully proposed in the reception hall that he was willing to offer a heavy sum of gold or Medicinal Pills of equivalent value in exchange for the City Lord's treasured "sun crystal stone," Yan Di's previously polite expression instantly darkened.

"sun crystal stone?" Yan Di's voice boomed like a great bell, carrying undeniable authority. "That is a Legacy treasure of our Juyan City, and it is the dowry I have meticulously prepared for my daughter! It is not for sale! Loyal Officer Qin, do not mention this matter again!"

He didn't even give Qin Feng a chance to further explain or raise his offer. He directly gestured to have tea served, signaling the end of the audience. Two formidable-looking guards stepped forward to "escort" Qin Feng out, their attitude resolute and unwavering.

Qin Feng had been snubbed. He sighed inwardly. As expected, such a treasure, tied to the City Lord's prestige and Family Legacy, could not be easily swayed by mere wealth.

Just as Qin Feng was being "escorted" out of the City Lord's mansion, dull rumbles and explosive waves of energy, mixed with pleading shouts, came from the backyard.

The martial arts field in the backyard was a scene of chaos. The ground was scorched black, wisps of smoke rising from it.

A City Lord's Guard Captain, clad in crimson armor with cultivation at the Late Stage Martial King level, was in a sorry state, desperately brandishing his long halberd to block the storm of crimson palm shadows. His face was bitter, his protective True Essence constantly warping and dimming under the scorching palm force.

"Third Miss! This subordinate admits defeat! I truly admit defeat!" the Guard Captain shouted hoarsely.

"Admit what defeat! This young lady hasn't even warmed up yet! Again!" Amidst a sharp cry, a fiery-red figure swept in like a whirlwind. It was a young woman around eighteen or nineteen, tall and athletic, wearing a neat red martial outfit that outlined her powerful curves. Her appearance was bright and beautiful, especially her phoenix eyes, which now burned with blazing Battle Intent, making her look even more fierce and imposing. This was precisely the City Lord's third daughter—Yan Chi!

Her palms were as red as jade. As she swung them, they stirred up scorching Gale-force Winds. Her palm technique was fierce and domineering, unmistakably the killing move "Blazing Flame Palm" from the Family's Earth Rank Cultivation Technique, the "Blazing Sun Art"! Each palm strike seemed to have molten lava flowing, the air crackling as it was scorched.

"Boom!" Another clash. The Guard Captain finally couldn't hold on. His halberd flew from his grasp, and he himself was sent flying backward by the shockwave, crashing through the stone railing at the edge of the martial arts field. Covered in dust and dirt, his Qi was in disarray, and he wouldn't be getting up anytime soon.

Yan Chi retracted her palms and stood still, the waves of heat around her slowly subsiding. She patted her hands as if brushing off nonexistent dust and curled her lip: "Boring! Not a single one can put up a fight!"

Under a distant corridor, Yan Di, with his red hair and beard, watched this scene and rubbed his temples with a headache. His daughter was exceptionally talented, already at the Mid-stage Martial King level before the age of twenty, capable of rivaling Late Stage Martial Kings. She had even mastered the "Blazing Sun Art" to perfection, her combat power far surpassing others of her rank. But this fiery, combative temper and her habit of not knowing her own strength when striking... had already literally crippled countless young talents who came to propose marriage or try to curry favor.

Originally, he had thought of holding a martial competition to choose a husband, setting the condition of "withstanding three moves" to screen for strength while controlling damage. But who knew that a few days ago, after hearing some gossip, this girl thought "withstanding three moves" was unchallenging and didn't reflect a future husband's "heroism," so she insisted on changing it to—defeating her!

Now things were a mess. Originally, a few who relied on thick skin or agile movement might have dared to try "withstanding three moves." But changed to "defeating her"? Looking at that Late Stage Martial King Guard Captain on the ground, and recalling the seventeen previous "examples" carried out with broken arms and legs... Yan Di felt his temples throbbing.

"If I don't use the sun crystal stone as bait... I'm afraid this girl will never get married in this lifetime!" Yan Di muttered under his breath, both helpless and revealing a trace of doting indulgence towards his daughter. He knew well that his daughter was proud and arrogant, looking down on ordinary men. As for true geniuses and outstanding talents, they might not be willing to come to a "frontier" place like Juyan City to participate in some martial competition to choose a husband and become a son-in-law. The sun crystal stone was both the most valuable dowry and the biggest bargaining chip to attract truly powerful individuals.

However, the condition of "defeating her" undoubtedly raised the threshold to a daunting height. Yan Di couldn't help but worry. Would the martial competition to choose a husband seven days later end once again with no one daring to challenge, or with all challengers completely defeated?

The news quickly spread, causing another stir in Juyan City. The rule for the martial competition to choose a husband was changed to "defeat Third Miss Yan Chi"! This completely dashed the hopes of even those who had been eager to try before, thinking they could rely on defense or movement techniques to withstand three moves. Defeat a Martial King-level powerhouse whose combat power far surpassed her peers and who struck ruthlessly? What a joke!

Qin Feng, who had just failed in his visit to the City Lord and was in an inn pondering other approaches, also learned this latest news.

"Defeat her?" A glint flashed in Qin Feng's eyes. For Little Fire's sake, it seemed he only had one choice left—to defeat this Third Miss Yan head-on on the Arena! But he needed to think of a way not to get himself entangled in the process.

Qin Feng felt his own not-yet-fully-stabilized Early Stage Martial King cultivation and recalled Yan Chi's formidable combat record, his brows furrowing tightly. This would absolutely be a tough battle. But, for those sun crystal stones... it was worth a gamble!