As Lin Feng and Xiao Wan approached the Frozen Soul Grotto, the sound of heartbroken sobs drifted out from within. "Auntie, how is Ruoxi?" Xiao Wan hurried inside, his expression tight with anxiety as his gaze fell upon the stunningly beautiful woman lying motionless on the bed. Shen Mei stood at the bedside, her face a mask of grim solemnity. She simply shook her head, unable to speak. To one side, Su Qingxue sat slumped, her face streaked with tears, her gaze darting intermittently toward the woman on the bed. A shadow fell over Xiao Wan’s face. A group of white-robed elders stood near the bed, their brows deeply furrowed and their expressions just as grave. "Junior Sister Shen, the situation is not good..." one of the elders finally said, turning to Shen Mei with a worried sigh. "Ruoxi possesses the Mystic Ice Body, but the Power of Intense Sun has invaded her system, creating a potent fire poison. The two forces are locked in conflict, a battle of ice and fire. Even if we manage to save her life, I fear her cultivation will be utterly destroyed." At his words, the occupants of the cave stared in stunned disbelief, their faces paling. Lin Feng stepped closer, a single eyebrow raised, as he quietly extended his spiritual sense. Shen Mei’s face had gone ashen, her mind reeling. Her cultivation, completely gone. She knew better than anyone what that meant. In this world, where strength was everything, a person without cultivation was no better than worthless refuse. Why had everyone looked down on Lin Feng? It wasn't just because he had been a fool, but because he possessed no power. And now her own daughter, the celebrated Goddess Su Ruoxi of the Litian Divine Kingdom, was about to suffer the same fate. How could Shen Mei possibly accept this? "Elder Wu, you're a Six-Star Alchemist," Shen Mei pleaded, her eyes fixed on the elder. "Surely you can find a way to preserve Ruoxi's cultivation?" A troubled look crossed the white-robed elder’s face. He sighed heavily. "Junior Sister Shen, if there were any method, I would risk my own life to save her cultivation. But there is truly nothing to be done." Xiao Wan’s expression turned uglier. He had feelings for Su Ruoxi, but if her power was gone, she would be... worthless. "Fire poison..." At that moment, Lin Feng spoke, his voice low and scrutinizing. "How absurd." He had to admit, his new bride possessed an otherworldly beauty, a countenance so flawless it seemed peerless. The only flaw was that her exquisite face, a face that could topple kingdoms, was now devoid of all color, as pale as parchment. It was a sight that stirred a strange pity in his heart. He had already used his spiritual sense to probe her condition and had discovered the true reason for her collapse during her seclusion. It wasn't some fire poison. It was... Paired Soul Constitution. Lin Feng’s comment made everyone in the room freeze. Xiao Wan’s eyes narrowed. He let out a cold snort. "Lin Feng, are you saying Elder Wu’s diagnosis is wrong?" Su Qingxue looked up sharply, her eyes red and her cheeks still wet with tears. She glared at Lin Feng with pure hatred. "My sister is in this state, and you, you fool, are still spouting such nonsense! Why don't you just go die?" "Don't you know? The only reason my sister pushed herself into seclusion, trying to break through, was to reach the Marquis Realm so she could find a way to restore your sanity!" "And look what happened! You’re sane again, but my sister has fallen because of it!" As she spoke, fresh tears streamed down Su Qingxue’s face, and she was choked with a sense of injustice for her sister. Shen Mei, agitated and heartbroken, rounded on Lin Feng in frustration. "Lin Feng, stop talking nonsense here!" Her daughter's life hung in the balance, and this man had the audacity to make such wild claims. She was consumed by regret—regret for not stopping Su Qingxue from arranging this marriage. If she had, perhaps none of this would have happened. "Young man, you can be reckless with what you eat, but not with what you say," the white-robed elder said, his tone turning cold as he looked at Lin Feng. He was Gu Changqing, a Six-Star Alchemist from the Eastern Wilds Pill Pavilion. Few in the entire Litian Divine Kingdom could match his skill. Who was this young pup to speak so arrogantly in his presence? Lin Feng gave Gu Changqing a dismissive glance. "How did someone who knows nothing of Paired Soul Constitution become a Six-Star Alchemist?" "Ridiculous! What are 'Paired Soul Constitution'?" Xiao Wan immediately scoffed. "Since when is knowledge of such a thing a requirement for becoming a Six-Star Alchemist?" Hearing Lin Feng’s words, Gu Changqing visibly stiffened. Paired Soul Constitution... how does this boy know that term? Could he have seen that ancient text as well? Gu Changqing felt a flicker of doubt. He had once found a mention of Paired Soul Constitution in a fragmented ancient record, but it was only a few words with no detailed explanation. Sizing up Lin Feng, his suspicion grew. Is this boy just bluffing? Lin Feng noted the skepticism in Gu Changqing’s eyes. He offered no further explanation, instead stating flatly, "Ignorance is one thing. But you can't even cure your own hidden illness, yet you dare presume to treat my wife?" His words landed like a thunderclap, and the expression on every face in the cave shifted dramatically. "How dare you, Lin Feng! How dare you insult Elder Wu!" Though inwardly overjoyed, Xiao Wan projected an image of absolute fury. Not even the Saint Master of Jade Cauldron Holy Land would so casually provoke Gu Changqing. This utter lack of self-preservation from Lin Feng was astonishing, but it also provided the perfect opportunity to stir up trouble and be rid of him for good. Shen Mei trembled with fury, her face ashen as she bit out each word. "Lin Feng, get out!" But unlike the others, Gu Changqing’s pupils constricted. He stared at Lin Feng in sheer disbelief. He can see it... he can see my internal injury! A cascade of emotions washed over Gu Changqing’s face. His breathing quickened. Hunching his shoulders, he adopted a posture of utmost humility. He bowed deeply to Lin Feng and said respectfully, "It was I... my knowledge is shallow. I failed to recognize a true master. I offer my sincerest apologies and earnestly request that you take action. I am willing to agree to any condition you name!" His century-old hidden ailment was a secret he had never shared with anyone, yet Lin Feng had identified it with a single glance. Gu Changqing knew, without a doubt, that he was in the presence of a true expert. Gu Changqing’s sudden, deferential apology left Shen Mei, Xiao Wan, and Su Qingxue completely stunned. "Elder Wu, don't believe his nonsense! He's the infamous fool, Lin Feng!" Xiao Wan blurted out. "Shut up!" Gu Changqing bellowed like an enraged dragon, his aura erupting with terrifying force. "Is a scoundrel like you fit to insult the master?!" The outburst startled Xiao Wan into silence, leaving him completely dumbfounded. He was trying to defend Gu Changqing’s honor, so why was he the one being reprimanded? Feeling the murderous weight of Gu Changqing’s glare, Xiao Wan shrank back, a flicker of grievance on his face. Shen Mei frowned, turning to Gu Changqing. "Brother Gu, you must be mistaken. He's my son-in-law, Lin Feng, not some master!" Fearing Gu Changqing was unaware of his identity, she deliberately emphasized the words "my son-in-law." Gu Changqing ignored her completely. His eyes, full of pleading, remained fixed on Lin Feng. "Master, your decision...?" Lin Feng glanced sideways at the elder and said slowly, "Let's save Ruoxi first." "Of course, of course! The master should attend to Ruoxi first. We can discuss my own matter later," Gu Changqing said with an eager smile, proactively stepping aside to clear a path for Lin Feng. Seeing this, a glint appeared in Xiao Wan’s eyes. He suddenly spoke up. "Auntie, I cannot trust Ruoxi's care to this person. Give her to me. I will take her back to Jade Cauldron Holy Land and ask our finest alchemists to treat her. They will certainly be able to cure her!" The power of Jade Cauldron Holy Land was indeed greater than that of the Azure Dragon Divine Sect, and it was home to several renowned alchemists. "Mother, let Xiao Wan take my sister to Jade Cauldron Holy Land," Su Qingxue added, her voice thick with urgency. As much as she disliked Xiao Wan, she trusted him far more than the unreliable Lin Feng. This left Shen Mei torn and uncertain. As she hesitated, Gu Changqing let out a disdainful scoff. "The Eastern Wilds Pill Pavilion possesses a legacy stretching back millennia, with thousands of ancient texts in its collection. Yet even I, the Pavilion Master, cannot solve the mystery of Paired Soul Constitution." Gu Changqing looked at Xiao Wan, his expression calm as he continued, "The alchemists of Jade Cauldron Holy Land are not without skill, but are you certain they are superior to the Pavilion Master of the Pill Pavilion?" His words struck Shen Mei, Xiao Wan, and Su Qingxue like lightning. The Pavilion Master of the Eastern Wilds Pill Pavilion! A figure of that stature was arguably the greatest alchemist in all of East Wilds. If Gu Changqing was saying that not even he could unravel the mystery of Paired Soul Constitution, then what hope did the alchemists of Jade Cauldron Holy Land have? In that instant, the way they all looked at Lin Feng changed completely. "Junior Sister Shen, I have always known you to be a woman of sound judgment. Why is it that today, you cannot see what is right in front of you?" Gu Changqing said, his gaze on Shen Mei filled with profound disappointment. Shen Mei's face went white as the realization crashed down upon her. Her gaze shifted to Lin Feng, a complex storm of emotions swirling within her. Recalling everything that had just happened, she found it difficult to speak. But she knew now that Lin Feng was the only one who could save her daughter. In a low, pleading voice, she began, "Lin Feng, I was wrong before. For Ruoxi's sake... I beg you, as your mother-in-law, please heal her. Name any condition you wish..." Before Shen Mei could finish, Lin Feng cut her off with two impatient words. "Shut up." This new mother-in-law of his, he thought to himself, was really something else.

Chapter 3: A Battle of Ice and Fire