C10 The Entire Audience Was Shocked(2)

After much contemplation, Xia Qingyan produced a mountain-shaped token.

"Lin Feng, with your current capabilities, it's unlikely you'll reach Layer Three of the Acquired Stage within three months," Xia Qingyan said, her voice sweet as she gracefully approached Lin Feng, a smile playing on her lips.

"Miss Xia needn't concern herself," Lin Feng responded coolly.

Xia Qingyan was taken aback; the Lin Feng of before was never this detached and unfeeling.

His demeanor filled Xia Qingyan with a sense of humiliation. The once indulgent and flirtatious young man had never shown her anything but compliance and respect. How could he dare to show her such coldness now?

"This is your own doing. Don't blame me!" seethed Xia Qingyan inwardly, her sense of humiliation reaching its peak. She vowed to publicly shame Lin Feng, to crush his dignity beneath her feet and satisfy the grudge burning in her chest.

With a smile that barely concealed her scorn, Xia Qingyan said, "Lin Feng, I'm on good terms with Loong Tianfeng, the young master of the Holy City. I've come into possession of a Holy Mountain cultivation token quite by chance. I had intended to use it for my own secluded cultivation, but seeing your lackluster progress, I doubt you'll make it to Layer Three of the Acquired Stage in three months. Therefore, I've decided to offer this token to you."

"Use it to cultivate in the Holy City, and in three months' time, you might just reach Layer Three of the Houtian Realm and secure your place in the Lin family." Xia Qingyan's smile was a facade, masking the mockery in her heart.

"Take it, and you'll endure humiliation only to face the despair of shattered hopes in three months. Refuse it, and you'll still be disgraced. Either way, Lin Feng, you're fated to be trampled underfoot, never to rise again," Xia Qingyan thought, her heart growing colder.

"Good heavens, it's actually a Holy Mountain cultivation token! To think such a treasure could be given away so freely!"

"With that token, my strength would soar, and my position in the Lin family would be assured!"

A commotion erupted around them.

"Miss Xia, how can you so freely give away something so valuable without any strings attached?" Lin Ruo's brow furrowed, skeptical of Xia Qingyan's words.

"Of course, I do have one condition."

"I knew it!" Lin Ruo's heart clenched.

"Lin Feng, if you wish to receive this cultivation order, you must serve as my human stepping stool for seven days, allowing me to step on you to mount the carriage!"

"Miss Xia, Lin Feng already has a tarnished reputation in the Heaven Flipping Domain. By doing this, how do you expect him to ever hold his head high again?" Lin Ruo's voice chilled, her face etched with accusation.

"He has a choice. He can simply refuse," Xia Qingyan retorted sharply.

A faint sneer curled at Lin Feng's lips. Without sparing a glance at the Holy City's cultivation token, he said, "This Holy Mountain cultivation token is quite the treasure, isn't it? Miss Xia, to think you'd give away something you traded your virginity for..."

Xia Qingyan was known for her venomous tongue, but Lin Feng's was even sharper.

Xia Qingyan's complexion turned a steely blue, blindsided by Lin Feng's blunt revelation.

Yet, seeing that no one around believed Lin Feng's words, Xia Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief. With a cold, mocking smile, she said, "So, Lin Feng, you truly have no desire for my Holy Mountain cultivation token? It's such a rarity, you'll likely never encounter anything like it again in your life."

The scorn in Xia Qingyan's voice was unmistakable, clear to all who listened.

The young onlookers sneered at Lin Feng, eager to witness his embarrassment.

"Indeed, I'd like to have a look at this treasure. It would be a shame to miss out on it in my lifetime." Lin Feng accepted the cultivation token and, with the speed of lightning, delivered a resounding slap across Xia Qingyan's face.

The Lin family disciples were dumbfounded; none had anticipated Lin Feng would dare to strike Xia Qingyan.

Lin Qinghai sported an odd grin, remarking, "Am I seeing things? Did this good-for-nothing actually lay a hand on Xia Qingyan?"

"Lin Feng hit me?" Xia Qingyan's face paled, her hands covering her cheek in disbelief, as five fresh, stinging welts appeared, searing with pain.

"Miss Xia, I've said it before—how could you think of giving away something so precious? As a young woman in the bloom of youth, you should be cherishing your body, not treating it so carelessly. You've worked hard for what you have, with your own blood, sweat, and tears!" Lin Feng admonished.

"Shut your damn mouth, Lin Feng! Spout any more of that nonsense and I swear I'll kill you!" Xia Qingyan had hit one too many obstacles in front of Lin Feng, her heart already heavy with humiliation. Lin Feng's slap and his biting words were the last straw, igniting her fury until she could no longer maintain any semblance of ladylike grace.

"Let the Lin family's disciples witness this—Xia Qingyan is seething with anger. Without the sacrifices of her own blood and sweat, how could she have possibly obtained a cultivation order from the Holy Mountain? How else could she have won the favor of Loong Tianfeng?!"

"That does seem logical. Where did Xia Qingyan get her Holy Mountain cultivation token from?"

"I've laid eyes on that Loong Tianfeng. He may look decent, but he's no saint. Xia Qingyan's involvement with him can't be anything good."

"Enough from all of you!" Xia Qingyan, now thoroughly provoked, unleashed a formidable surge of spiritual power.

Above her head, a green goshawk materialized.

"Lin Feng, you're going to pay with your life!" Hatred filled Xia Qingyan's eyes, her reason completely eclipsed.

The goshawk in the void screeched and dove straight for Lin Feng...