272: Old Friends, New Strategy

"Xia Xue, why are you here?" Qin Feng stepped forward, genuine surprise in his eyes.

Xia Xue tidied her slightly disheveled hair and skirt. Her bright eyes swept over Qin Feng, and a playful smile curved her lips:

"Why can't I come? Great Hero Qin, you and my sister have made such a name for yourselves, fighting all the way from West Lake City to Medicine King Valley. You're quite impressive! I can hear rumors about you even in Juyan City Academy."

She deliberately put on a stern Face, feigning anger: "But what about you two? You passed by Juyan City and didn't even come to see me! I graduated from the academy last year and am now interning with the Chiyan Guard.

"Chiyan Guard?" Qin Feng was startled. He had heard of this elite guard unit, famous in the Northern Territory, directly under the jurisdiction of Juyan City, known for their fire-element Cultivation Techniques and strict selection. He hadn't expected Xia Xue to be chosen.

Xia Ya interjected, "You brat, you didn't even send a message after joining the Chiyan Guard! I thought you were still studying at the academy!"

"I did!" Xia Xue's eyes widened. "I sent a message home three months ago, saying I passed the assessment and became a Scarlet Flame Guard trainee. Didn't Dad tell you?"

Xia Ya scratched his head, a little embarrassed: "Uh... I've been away from home for half a year, so I might have missed it."

Xia Xue snorted lightly, then turned her gaze back to Qin Feng, with a hint of mischief: "I just heard from my sister that you fought your way from Medicine King Valley to Ancient Wood Deep Forest, then escaped from the Corpse Demon Sect, and finally even the Sect Master Zhongli Wu of the Yin Demon Sect was severely injured and forced into seclusion by you two—Qin Feng, your knack for getting into trouble grows much faster than your cultivation!"

Qin Feng gave a wry smile and shook his head: "It was all out of necessity."

"Forced to participate in a martial arts competition for marriage?" Xia Xue blinked, then suddenly leaned closer, lowering her voice, "I heard my sister say that for that sun crystal stone, you plan to go on the arena and fight that 'Mother Tyrant Dragon,' and maybe even... marry her?"

As soon as her words fell, three gazes shot towards Qin Feng.

Xiao Chun bit her lip, her eyes turning red again. Xia Ya crossed her arms, an expression of "let's see how you explain this" on her Face. Ji Ruxue, though silent, clearly showed disapproval in her cool eyes.

Qin Feng's scalp tingled from the sudden pressure, and he quickly said, "Xia Xue, don't talk nonsense. It's not what you think..."

"What do I think?" Xia Xue asked with a smile, "Are you not going to fight in the arena for the sun crystal stone? Do you not know that if you win the arena, according to the rules, you have to marry the Third Miss? Is it not because of this that my sister, Senior Sister Xiao Chun, and Senior Sister Ruxue are against it?"

Three consecutive questions, each hitting a vital point.

Qin Feng opened his mouth, but for a moment, he didn't know how to refute.

Seeing his embarrassment, Xia Xue chuckled, waving her hand: "Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. Actually, I came today to bring you a solution."

"A solution?" Everyone's spirits lifted.

Xia Xue nodded, her expression growing a bit more serious: "During these few months of interning with the Chiyan Guard, I've had many dealings with the Third Miss Yan Chi—although she's the City Lord's daughter, she often comes to the Chiyan Guard training ground to spar, and I've been 'guided' by her several times."

She rubbed her arm, seemingly recalling some unpleasant experience, then continued: "So I know some inside information. Actually, to get the sun crystal stone, you don't necessarily have to go through the martial arts competition for marriage. There are two other ways."

"What ways?" Xiao Chun asked eagerly.

"First, through the Artifact Refining and Forging Competition." Xia Xue held up a finger. "The City Lord's Eldest Young Master Yan Lie and Second Young Miss Yan Xin will hold an Artifact Refining Competition at 'Hundred Refinements Plaza' in the west of the city on the same day as the martial arts competition for marriage. One of the champion's prizes is the right to make a reasonable request to the City Lord's mansion—including asking for certain treasures."

She looked at Qin Feng: "Although the sun crystal stone is precious, if it's requested as the champion of the Artifact Refining Competition, on the grounds that 'refining a fire-element divine weapon requires supreme Yang fire essence,' City Lord Yan Di might consider it. After all, the Face of an Artifact Refining Great Master is more valuable in Juyan City than that of a Martial Artist."

Qin Feng frowned: "Artifact Refining? I'm just a beginner..."

"Your Senior Brother Tao can do it!"

Cold Peach Blossom suddenly spoke, and everyone's gaze turned to Tao Yuanyi, who had been quietly listening.

Tao Yuanyi was startled, then quickly reacted, saying with some hesitation: "I... I did study Artifact Refining for a few years with Great Master Ouyang Lie, but..."

"Brother Tao is Great Master Ouyang Lie's Personal Disciple, with extremely high talent in Artifact Refining." Qin Feng's eyes lit up, taking over the conversation. "In Medicine King Valley, I saw Brother Tao repair many Earth Rank weapons. If Brother Tao makes a move, there's great hope of winning the championship!"

Tao Yuanyi was a little embarrassed by their words, but a hint of fighting spirit also ignited in his eyes. He truly loved Artifact Refining, but in Medicine King Valley, he focused more on medicine and guardianship, with few opportunities to showcase his skills.

"Senior Brother Tao, I'm counting on you!" Qin Feng bowed solemnly.

Tao Yuanyi took a deep breath and nodded heavily: "Okay, I'll try."

"What about the second method?" Ji Ruxue's clear voice sounded.

Xia Xue held up a second finger, her expression becoming somewhat complex: "The second method is to help the Third Miss remove the after-effects of her Berserker Transformation."

"Berserker Transformation after-effects?" Qin Feng's heart stirred, recalling the System intelligence from last night about Yan Chi's Berserker Bloodline.

"You might not know, but the Third Miss has the Berserker clan's Bloodline within her." Xia Xue lowered her voice. "Once she falls into a bitter battle or is severely injured, she might enter a 'Berserker Transformation' state, her combat power soaring, but her rationality greatly diminished. After the battle, she'll also suffer severe weakness and mental confusion. This situation has become more serious in the past two years; each Berserker Transformation requires three to five days to recover, and the process is extremely painful."

She paused, then continued: "The Third Miss privately said that if someone can help her alleviate or even completely cure these Berserker Transformation after-effects, she can grant that person a reasonable request—of course, within her capabilities."

Everyone's eyes lit up.

This second method sounded more direct than the first!

Xiao Chun was the first to step forward: "I can try! I have the Wood Spirit Physique, which gives me an Innate advantage in regulating Bloodlines and calming runaway energy. And for Little Fire, and so Brother Feng doesn't have to fight in the arena, I must try!"

She spoke firmly, her small Face full of seriousness.

Xia Ya patted her sister's shoulder: "Xiao Xue, you're familiar with the Third Miss, can you arrange for Xiao Chun to see her?"

Xia Xue nodded: "That's no problem. Although the Third Miss has a fiery temper, she's very respectful to those who can help her solve problems. And..." She smiled slyly, "After I heard that Junior Sister Xiao Chun is a Medicine King Valley successor, I felt there was hope for this matter. Who in the Northern Territory doesn't know the medical skills of Medicine King Valley and the name of Little Divine Doctor?"

Qin Feng quickly weighed his options. Two methods: the Artifact Refining Competition required Tao Yuanyi's full effort, and treating Yan Chi required Xiao Chun's intervention. A two-pronged approach would significantly increase the success rate.

Moreover, if he could truly cure Yan Chi's Berserker Transformation after-effects, it would not only be for the sun crystal stone but also a good deed. From the System's information, Yan Chi was not inherently bad; her temper only became irritable due to being afflicted by her Bloodline.

"Good!" Qin Feng decided. "We'll prepare for both methods. Senior Brother Tao and Senior Sister Leng will prepare for the Artifact Refining Competition, and Xiao Chun will prepare to treat the Third Miss. As for me and the others..."

He looked at Xia Xue: "On the day of the martial arts competition for marriage, we'll go watch the arena show. I want to see which fearless ones dare to challenge that 'Mother Tyrant Dragon.'"

Xia Xue chuckled: "Then you'd better prepare some healing medicine. The medical clinics under the arena will definitely be packed that day, and you can make a fortune then."

Everyone else also laughed, and the atmosphere lightened considerably.