Xiao Wan’s face darkened at Su Ruoxi’s words. Was she saying he wasn't even fit to be compared to Lin Feng? “My wife has a point,” he said. Just then, Lin Feng, who had been meditating quietly nearby, slowly opened his eyes. A faint smile touched his lips as he looked at Su Ruoxi. “Lin Feng!” Xiao Wan’s expression twisted with rage. A murderous impulse surged through him, yet it was tinged with an unsettling flicker of fear. “Wan, Ruoxi has only just awakened. We can discuss these matters after her condition has stabilized,” Shen Mei said, attempting to defuse the tension. “Qingxue, please take Wan to reside in the Heavens Cloud Hall for now.” Regardless of his behavior, Xiao Wan was the Holy Son of Jade Cauldron Holy Land. An open break with him would be disastrous for the Azure Dragon Divine Sect. Su Qingxue rose to her feet, one eyebrow arched. “Let’s go, Xiao Wan.” Xiao Wan’s gaze lingered on Su Ruoxi, his eyes full of reluctance. At that moment, however, Su Ruoxi turned her head to look at Lin Feng, her bright eyes wide with an astonishment that matched his own sudden remark. The sight made Xiao Wan’s fists clench so tightly his knuckles went white. He ground his teeth, but in the end, he swallowed his fury and forced a strained smile. “Ruoxi, rest well. I will visit you again tomorrow.” He had barely finished speaking when Lin Feng’s voice drifted lazily through the cavern. “Don’t bother. My wife is under my care now.” At those words, a dark, furious flush crept up Xiao Wan’s neck. His nails dug deep into his palms as he squinted at Lin Feng, his voice dangerously calm. “I hope you can maintain this arrogance forever…” With that, Xiao Wan spun on his heel and left. If he stayed in this place a moment longer, that damned Lin Feng would make him burst with rage. “With an attitude like that, it’s clear he’ll never achieve anything great,” Lin Feng remarked, shaking his head with an air of profound wisdom. He looked for all the world like a common charlatan. Gu Changqing, however, chuckled beside him. “The overall strength of Jade Cauldron Holy Land is considerable, but if they chose Xiao Wan as their Holy Son without some underhanded dealings, I’d be shocked.” As Xiao Wan reached the cave’s entrance, his body trembled. He stumbled out of the Frozen Soul Grotto, nearly choking on his own fury. “Jade Cauldron Holy Land? Inconsequential,” Lin Feng said with a casual, unconcerned smile. He had never even heard of the place; it was likely some small, obscure sect tucked away in a forgotten corner of the world. The Azure Dragon Divine Sect, on the other hand, had significant ties to him. Still, Lin Feng’s words made Gu Changqing shift with embarrassment. Shen Mei’s brow furrowed as well. You may have saved Ruoxi, she thought, but that doesn’t give you the right to belittle Jade Cauldron Holy Land so carelessly. They were still far stronger than the Azure Dragon Divine Sect. Despite her thoughts, Shen Mei held her tongue. If it weren’t for Lin Feng, her daughter might truly have been lost. “Ruoxi, how are you feeling now?” Shen Mei asked, changing the subject. Su Ruoxi’s gaze shifted inward. After a thorough self-examination, a look of delighted surprise crossed her face. “I feel… wonderful. Better than I ever have before.” Was the fire poison that had plagued her for so long completely gone? Instantly, Su Ruoxi turned to Gu Changqing, who stood beside Lin Feng. She bowed with clasped hands, her voice gentle. “Thank you, Elder Gu Changqing, for saving me. I am forever in your debt.” As she finished speaking, both Gu Changqing and Shen Mei froze for a moment, a touch of awkwardness on their faces. Gu Changqing waved his hands hastily. “Ruoxi, you give me too much credit. It was not I who saved you, but your husband, Mister Lin Feng.” As he spoke, Gu Changqing inclined his own head towards Lin Feng in a gesture of respect. “Lin Feng?” Su Ruoxi’s eyes widened, her stunned gaze locking onto Lin Feng, who was appraising her calmly. Qingxue had said the same thing, and now Elder Wu was confirming it. Could it really be true? She had been married to Lin Feng for a year; no one knew his background better than she did. He was from a small, remote city in the Southern Tongxuan’s Shi Country. From the age of eleven, his mind had been clouded, leaving him unable to cultivate. And while Lin Feng seemed to have regained his senses now, it was impossible that he could have been the one to cure her. Lin Feng shot her a displeased look. “My dear wife, after all the trouble I went to, your doubt wounds me.” “Ruoxi, it truly was Lin Feng who saved you,” Shen Mei affirmed from the side. She hadn't believed it was possible either, but Lin Feng had succeeded. It was an undeniable fact. Shen Mei patiently recounted the events for Su Ruoxi. When she reached the part about the Paired Soul Constitution, she couldn't help but shoot a curious glance at Lin Feng herself. After listening to the tale, Su Ruoxi stared at Lin Feng, a sudden, powerful feeling washing over her that she was meeting him for the very first time. She simply couldn't comprehend how he had done it; the entire situation felt baffling, unreal. Yet both Elder Wu and her own mother confirmed it—they had no reason to lie. The truth was, Lin Feng had saved her. An unusual light flickered in Su Ruoxi’s beautiful eyes. Her lips parted softly as she whispered, “Thank you, Lin Feng.” Hearing this, the corner of Lin Feng’s mouth curled into a smile. His gaze softened. “Between us, there is no need for thanks.” In his year at the Azure Dragon Divine Sect, only Su Ruoxi had treated him like family. She was always the first to try and coax him back to clarity when he emerged from his seclusion, though every attempt had ended in failure. But those moments had etched themselves deep into Lin Feng’s memory. This woman’s kindness towards him was genuine. “Between us, there is no need for thanks…” Su Ruoxi murmured the words to herself. A faint smile bloomed on her smooth cheeks, so radiant that it seemed to brighten the entire Frozen Soul Grotto, making even the crystalline Ice Lotus in the nearby lake seem pale in comparison. She was breathtaking. Lin Feng found himself momentarily mesmerized. Once, there had been another woman, beautiful and talented, to whom he had given his heart. Her name was Ling Yue, now known as Empress Ling Yue, and she had met his devotion with betrayal. And that ungrateful wretch, Bai He! At the thought, a flicker of cold, murderous intent rose in Lin Feng’s heart. “Sir, about that matter we discussed earlier…” Gu Changqing began, rubbing his hands together nervously. Lin Feng snapped back to the present. He lifted his eyelids and glanced at the elder. “Considering you acted with the good intention of saving my wife, I will share it with you.” “There are issues with five major points in your body: Heavenly Gate, Divine Palace, Giant Valley, Hundred Meetings, and Kunlun. I need not elaborate on the specifics; you surely know them better than I.” “The method is quite simple. You need only take the corresponding elixirs—Heavenly Spirit, Divine Entrance, and Light Soul. Take all three pills together for seven days, and the blockages will be removed.” “Also,” Lin Feng added casually, “remember to get more sun. Don’t stay cooped up indoors all the time.” His words left Shen Mei and Su Ruoxi completely dumbfounded. Heavenly Spirit, Divine Entrance, Light Soul—these were Spiritual Pill Level elixirs whose names even most cultivators had never heard. When had Lin Feng learned of such things? Gu Changqing, however, was overcome with excitement. He bowed deeply. “Many thanks, sir, for granting me this method!” “No thanks are necessary. Just give me some Qi Gathering Pills,” Lin Feng said with a wave of his hand. Inspecting his Taoist Body was the real priority, and he hadn't forgotten it. “Eh? Qi Gathering Pills?!” The request left Shen Mei, Gu Changqing, and Su Ruoxi utterly astonished. “Yes, yes, sir! As many as you need!” Gu Changqing hurriedly produced a pouch filled with Jade Bottles. “One bottle is enough.” Lin Feng took a single Jade Bottle, then waved his hand dismissively. “Alright, all of you can go now. I have something to discuss with Ruoxi.” “Yes, sir!” Gu Changqing, his deference absolute, bowed and retreated without another word. Shen Mei said a quick goodbye to her daughter and also left the cave mansion. This only deepened Su Ruoxi’s sense of disbelief. Elder Wu’s respect was one thing, but how had her mother’s attitude toward Lin Feng become so deferential? In the past, her mother would have cursed Lin Feng for his impertinence. Yet now, when he asked her to leave, she simply obeyed. Su Ruoxi gazed at Lin Feng, her expression a mixture of awe and bewilderment.

Chapter 5: A Rival's Furious Claim