The Imperial Princess’s Humiliation and Unexpected Tears

It’s terrible.

‘There are so many people in the Xuan Nv Sect, why do I have to live with this one?’

Lin Mo’s inner feelings, no longer needing any pretense, were plainly etched across his face.

Ji Xue immediately flared up in a furious rage!

How could she, a revered Imperial Princess, tolerate a mere commoner daring to take such liberties with her?

Especially one who was merely a nominal direct disciple of the sect master, stripped of all real authority.

The accumulated fury within Ji Xue exploded in her heart, and without a second thought, she swung her hand back, intending to deliver a resounding slap across Lin Mo’s face!

With no one watching and no managing elders present, she no longer needed to restrain herself as she had during the disciple induction ceremony.

How could a mere useless successor of the Bright Jade Profound Yin technique, who had struggled so miserably even to ascend the steps, dare to disdain her, a dignified Imperial Princess?

Having already reached the eighth level of Qi Condensation, teaching a lesson to a newly initiated disciple would be effortless for her.

‘Hah! You dare to strike directly?’

Lin Mo’s heart ignited with fury; it was one thing to step back when lacking cultivation, but did this venomous-faced woman truly believe he was still the powerless pushover he had been a month ago?

He possessed cultivation now!

Mu Qingli had told Lin Mo that before Foundation Establishment, the gap between Qi Condensation stages wasn’t as significant as one might imagine; it was entirely possible to contend with someone three or four minor stages higher.

During the Qi Condensation stage, it simply came down to who could wield their spiritual energy with greater proficiency.

And most importantly, who among them didn’t harbor a burning indignation?

He had endured so much frustration with no outlet, and now she had conveniently walked right into his crosshairs!

‘Before, without cultivation, I might have feared you, but do you still think I’m the same powerless wretch from a month ago?’

During his ascent, he had indeed learned a few things, discovering that concentrating spiritual energy at a single point could yield unexpected enhancements.

The hardships endured on those Sky-Ascending Steps had not been in vain; he had long since mastered the method of precisely channeling spiritual energy into a single point, unleashing power far exceeding its normal limits!

Over the past month, Lin Mo hadn’t merely followed orders; he had also spent considerable time pondering and experimenting on his own.

For instance, concentrating spiritual energy in his eyes could greatly enhance his reaction speed, while channeling it into his limbs could cause his strength to surge dramatically.

At this moment, Ji Xue also activated her spiritual energy for protection, a radiant glow shimmering around her body.

However, her approach was entirely different from Lin Mo’s focused method; she aimed for full-body reinforcement, which consequently dispersed her power, naturally making it less efficient.

In Lin Mo’s eyes, the slap Ji Xue aimed at him appeared to move in slow motion, like a scene on a theatrical stage.

He merely leaned back slightly—

“Whoosh!”

A gust of wind, carrying the pungent scent of cosmetics, brushed past his nose as the slap sliced through empty air!

In a flash of lightning, Lin Mo’s spiritual energy circulated, instantly gathering in his right hand!

Smack!

He raised his hand and precisely seized Ji Xue’s flailing wrist!

“What?!”

Ji Xue’s face drained of color in utter shock, having never anticipated that she would miss!

‘A mere month ago, this person before her had clearly been a mortal without any spiritual energy; how could this be…?’

Yet, her astonishment lasted only for an instant.

A sudden realization flashed in Ji Xue’s eyes—this madwoman was actually concentrating her spiritual energy at a single point, risking everything in a desperate struggle!

While this method offered powerful reinforcement, it possessed a fatal flaw!

Shifting spiritual energy between different body parts required time!

Against a swift, surprise attack, there would be no time to switch!

‘Commoner! Let me show you true power!’

She roared inwardly, her left hand compressing spiritual energy, instantly forming a sharp, translucent arrow!

Whoosh—!

The arrow tore through the air, heading straight for Lin Mo’s chest and abdomen!

‘Come on, commoner! Will you release my hand to defend yourself? Or cling stubbornly to my wrist?! Either way, you won’t have an easy time!’

But Lin Mo remained utterly unperturbed!

He merely, with an air of calm, forcefully yanked her hand downwards!

‘Damn it!’

Ji Xue instantly realized something was terribly wrong!

‘This fellow—he intends to use me as a shield!’

He didn’t need to defend himself at all; he merely needed something else to block it!

And wasn’t she, powerless to resist, the perfect human shield?

In the lightning-fast exchange, even though Ji Xue clearly analyzed Lin Mo’s movements, she found herself unable to react with his swiftness.

‘This fellow… it’s as if… as if he had anticipated this very moment!’

Ji Xue’s arm was abruptly yanked downwards by him!

The spiritual energy arrow, hastily fired, sharply veered off course, and her protective spiritual energy, so fragile at that moment, shattered instantly.

Yet, with a soft thud, the residual force still sharply pierced her own arm!

Fortunately, the arrow lacked sufficient power, merely causing a stinging pain to her flesh.

However, this very pain—for an Imperial Princess raised in luxury since childhood—was already an unimaginable torment!

“Ah—!” The searing pain exploded, and she instinctively squeezed her eyes shut, a sharp shriek erupting from her throat.

In that very instant—

Her nose violently collided with something incredibly hard!

Before she could even discern what it was, a colossal force, like a tidal wave, slammed into her face!

“Bang!”

Excruciating pain instantly engulfed her consciousness, leaving only utter blackness before her eyes.

Her delicate body, like a doll, was brutally flung against the wall behind her!

She tumbled from the wall to the ground, and though she didn’t know how much time had passed, Ji Xue felt nothing but pain.

Tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes, a mixture of pain and fury, as her pallid face finally lost its sickly white hue, now flushed only with red.

Her delicate nose bridge was now collapsed, blood gushing forth like a broken faucet, flowing ceaselessly.

Her hands were already stained crimson with nosebleed, and her pride had been utterly trampled, leaving not a shred behind!

‘An Imperial Princess…’

‘She was an Imperial Princess!’

‘How could she endure such humiliation!?’

Her spiritual energy surged wildly!

‘She could not lose face!’

‘She could not disgrace her Imperial Mother!’

“Nine Heavens Phoenix Flame Art!”

Ji Xue roared, rising with explosive force! Her cultivation technique rapidly circulated!

Crimson-gold patterns emerged inch by inch on Ji Xue’s arms, her blood vessels radiating light as if molten lava surged through her veins, a scorching brilliance emanating from beneath her skin.

Spiritual energy erupted like a volcano! Her aura climbed higher and higher!

Her jade hairpin, holding her coiled hair, shattered with a sharp clang!

Her spiritual energy surged, and her aura abruptly soared!

Her long hair, previously held by the hairpin, now dramatically fell loose, swirling wildly as her astonishing aura continued to escalate!

Her black tresses danced wildly, creating an overwhelming sense of oppression!

As Ji Xue let out successive roars, her aura ceaselessly intensified!

“Once I’ve finished charging, you’ll be—” Before she could even finish her menacing declaration!

“Smack!” A crisp sound pierced the quiet anticipation!

Before she knew it, Lin Mo had already closed the distance, delivering a resounding slap with a flick of his wrist, precisely landing on her face!

“Are you an idiot?” Lin Mo scoffed, his gaze as sharp as a blade. “Who would give you the chance to foolishly stand there, charging up your ultimate move?”

Before his words had even faded, he delivered another backhand slap!

“Smack!”

“Making such a huge commotion, are you afraid others won’t know you’re preparing a big attack?” Lin Mo’s tone was laced with sarcasm, each word a barb.

The two crisp, decisive slaps, like two steel needles, instantly punctured her accumulated spiritual energy!

Ji Xue’s rising aura around her body abruptly dispersed, and her concentrated killer move died stillborn!

She stood frozen in place, her eyes, usually brimming with arrogance and haughtiness, now held only boundless astonishment and disbelief as she stared blankly at Lin Mo.

Her chest heaved violently, her rapid gasps clearly audible in the deathly silent courtyard.

Immediately after, her delicate red lips began to tremble slightly, and her eyes rapidly reddened and welled up with tears at a visible pace…

“Wuu…”

An uncontrollable sob escaped her, which then transformed into a loud—”Waaah—!”

The imperial princess’s dignity she had just tried to maintain instantly collapsed, vanishing without a trace!

Ji Xue’s body went limp, as if all her bones had been removed, and she slumped directly onto the cold ground.

Where was even a trace of her former imperious demeanor?

At this moment, she was nothing short of a little devil-child, her shell of superiority shattered, utterly wronged and petulant, bawling her eyes out without a care.

“Wuu wuu wuu… Bullying me…” Tears streamed down her face, her voice choked with a broken sob. “…You didn’t… didn’t even let me… wuu… use my move!”

This sudden turn of events utterly dumbfounded Lin Mo!

‘Hold on… sis… your character setting… isn’t this wrong?’

‘How is it… a tsundere?’