She didn't even mention the spiritual energy surging from her sword tip, let alone the sheer force behind her sword when she was angry. It was not something a cripple could disarm barehanded.
Ye Xianghan almost suspected she was caught in an illusion.
"Cripple, why don't you quickly let go of the Princess's sword? Do you intend to rebel?"
Zi Jinling, it must be said, missed no opportunity to smear Zi Linling.
This heavy accusation instantly escalated Zi Linling's self-defense into an act of rebellion.
Zi Linling let out a cold snort and said, "Rebel?"
She scrutinized Ye Xianghan from head to toe. "What are you?"
"You... This Princess will kill you!"
As a princess, Ye Xianghan had never suffered such an insult!
She concentrated her strength in her wrist, exerting more force to retrieve her sword. Su Dan Novel Network
But no matter how much she pushed, the sword tip remained stubbornly still, as if rooted to Zi Linling's fingertips.
"Let go of this Princess's sword!"
Ye Xianghan roared, her palm's spiritual energy surging. A water sword materialized and, without hesitation, slashed towards Zi Linling.
Zi Linling sneered, "Body Tempering Ninth Stage? Too weak!"
Her hand holding the sword remained still. With a gentle flick of her other hand against the water spiritual energy sword, it instantly shattered, returning to nature.
"Let go of this Princess's sword!"
Ye Xianghan roared again, but a trace of apprehension was evident in her eyes.
While she appeared petulant and willful, as a royal, she was not devoid of intelligence.
Someone who could so easily destroy her spiritual energy sword could not possibly be a cripple.
Zi Linling let out a cold laugh. "Let go? Alright!"
With a flick of her finger, the sword tip held between her fingers snapped clean off.
Ye Xianghan, caught off guard, was pulled back by her own momentum for over ten steps. Only with the help of a hidden guard did she manage to steady herself.
Her gaze towards Zi Linling became even more wary.
If she hadn't experienced it firsthand, she would never have believed a cripple could accomplish this.
"You're not a cripple! You've been hiding your strength?"
The first statement was delivered with absolute certainty, while the second was tinged with disbelief.
Zi Linling smirked, "Not entirely foolish!"
Ye Xianghan was furious but dared not make another move.
Mo Qingcheng's eyes narrowed.
She remembered that at the entrance of the Fengyun Trading Company, Zi Linling had shown no spiritual energy, relying solely on bizarre footwork for self-preservation.
Yet, in just twenty days, Zi Linling could effortlessly snap Ye Xianghan's sword. This indicated that Zi Linling's cultivation was at least above the Qi Gathering stage.
But how was that possible?
A universally acknowledged cripple not only managed to cultivate but also entered the Qi Gathering stage in a mere twenty days. This was simply unbelievable!
Recalling Zi Linling's earlier words – "Cherish the remaining two months you have!"
Mo Qingcheng suddenly felt a sense of threat. If this continued, Zi Linling might truly possess the ability to contend with her.
No! She would never allow such a thing to happen.
Soon, a venomous thought formed in Mo Qingcheng's mind.
Zi Jinling grew even more timid.
If the Body Tempering Ninth Stage Ye Xianghan was so easily defeated, how could she, a mere Body Tempering Third Stage, dare to provoke Zi Linling?
Therefore, from the moment Ye Xianghan's sword broke, she began to minimize her presence.
Zi Linling's gaze swept across the three of them and she said coldly, "My mood is good today, so I won't bother with you. Shopkeeper, pack that medicinal herb. I'm taking it!"
"Yes, Third Miss!"
The shopkeeper responded, carefully wrapping the Yin-Yang Grass and handing it to Zi Linling.
"Thank you!"
Zi Linling accepted the herb, bid farewell to the shopkeeper, and headed towards the door.
"Stop!"
Ye Xianghan's voice rang out again.
Zi Linling frowned, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
She halted, asking chillingly, "What? Still want to fight?"
Ye Xianghan couldn't help but shiver and cautiously stated, "Give me that medicinal herb you have!"
Zi Linling burst into a cold laugh, turned around, and stared at Ye Xianghan. "On what grounds? Because you're so audacious?"
"You!"
Ye Xianghan intended to erupt in anger but managed to suppress it, taking a deep breath. "I can offer ten times the price!"
Zi Linling sneered, "Not selling!"
Anger returned to Ye Xianghan's face, but she forced it down. "Twenty times! I'm willing to pay twenty times the price!"
Zi Linling said coldly, "Not selling!"
With that, she turned to leave.
Ye Xianghan grew anxious. "What will it take for you to sell it to me?"
Zi Linling turned back, her voice cold. "Are you intellectually challenged, or hard of hearing? I already said I'm not selling. Can't you understand human speech?"
Ye Xianghan's face darkened. "Cri... Zi Linling, you really won't sell it to me?"
"Not selling!"
Zi Linling's refusal was swift and absolute, without any hesitation.
She simply couldn't stand this so-called princess, always acting so high and mighty.
Even if the Yin-Yang Grass had no use for her, she wouldn't sell it to Ye Xianghan.
"You truly won't sell?"
Ye Xianghan's face grew even gloomier, her voice turning icy.
"Not selling!"
Zi Linling replied calmly and continued to walk forward.
"Since that's the case, I won't be polite!"
Ye Xianghan said, then clapped her hands twice.
Immediately, a large group of guards rushed in, surrounding Zi Linling.
Zi Linling was amused. "What? Is the Princess trying to forcefully buy it since she can't forcefully buy it?"
Ye Xianghan sneered, "So what if I am? Don't think you can disregard this Princess just because you, a waste, can cultivate."
Saying this, she signaled the guards and shouted, "Go! Alive or dead!"
"Yes!"
After the guards responded in unison, they launched their attack on Zi Linling.
Alive or dead?
A cold light reappeared in Zi Linling's eyes. "Since you're seeking death, I'll send you on your way."
As she spoke, she employed the Wandering Dragon Steps and had already left the Shuiyue Trading Company, standing on the street.
The shopkeeper had been decent; she didn't want to damage his business.
Therefore, she intended to lure the guards outside.
Ye Xianghan sneered, "Trying to escape? Don't even think about it!"
She gestured for the guards to pursue, and they once again surrounded Zi Linling.
Zi Linling said dismissively, "You're overthinking it! Do you really think I'd run from mere guards? I simply don't want to disrupt the shopkeeper's business! Come, I'll stay right here. If I take even one step back, I lose!"
Ye Xianghan sneered, "Facing imminent death, but still defiant!"