After being jilted by the saintess at the beginning, why is she crying?

He had a crush on Empress Su Miaoxue for many years. Before the Empress chose anyone, he still had some hope that as long as he was good enough, he would eventually catch the Empress's eye.

But now, this Lin Fengmian, who appeared out of nowhere, has easily taken away the position he had always dreamed of. How could he not hate him?

Ling Feng took a deep breath, suppressing his surging anger, and spoke in a deep voice:

"Lin Fengmian, you injured my younger brother first, and then you showed no respect for others. Today, in front of the entire court, I, Ling Feng, formally challenge you!"

Three days later, at the martial arts arena, let's settle this once and for all! If you're a man, don't make excuses to back out!

His loud voice echoed in the Imperial Garden, making the officials who were watching the spectacle even more excited.

Faced with this situation of being condemned by thousands and subjected to a torrent of slander, Lin Fengmian's heart remained completely undisturbed.

He stood quietly in place, the morning light shining on his blue robe, outlining his tall and straight figure.

His gaze swept over Ling Yun's vivid performance, over the undisguised hatred in Ling Feng's eyes, over the whispering officials, and finally landed on Ling Yuanshan's dignified and profound old face.

He suddenly wanted to laugh, not an angry sneer, but a kind of lighthearted mockery from the bottom of his heart.

He's the king of the immortal cultivation world, what kind of spectacle hasn't he seen?

He had experienced every kind of storm: being ostracized by his family, looked down upon by his sect, and jilted by the Holy Maiden.

This childish framing is nothing compared to what he's faced with; it's not even worth mentioning.

Explain? That's something only the weak need to do.

Just like a true dragon soaring through the nine heavens, why should it heed the clamor of ants on the ground?

He then spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but surprisingly clear, carrying a calmness that seemed out of place in the tense atmosphere around him:

"Are you finished talking?"

The three words fell lightly, yet they were like a boulder crashing into a calm lake.

A deathly silence fell over the area, then erupted into an even louder discussion—

"What did he say?! He actually asked, 'Are you done?!'"

"Good heavens, is this man courting death or has he gone mad? How dare he be so arrogant in front of the Imperial Advisor!"

"This is absolutely outrageous!"

Ling Feng trembled with rage at those words, his knuckles cracking. He took a step forward and shouted sharply:

"Lin Fengmian! Don't think that just because His Majesty favors you, you can do whatever you want! Today you must give me and my brother an explanation."

If you dare not accept the challenge, kneel down in public, admit your mistake, and slap yourself three times, then I will spare you!

Lin Fengmian chuckled, his gaze lazily falling on Ling Feng's face, his tone filled with undisguised mockery:

"Young Master Ling, you've certainly stirred up quite a storm with your jealousy. But I wonder if what's in that jar you're holding—righteous indignation for your brother, or some other kind of sour grapes?"

These words were like a red-hot needle, piercing straight into Ling Feng's most hidden sore spot.

Ling Feng's face turned from red to white, then from white to green, and he gritted his teeth, uttering each word slowly and deliberately:

"Very well! Excellent! Three days from now, at the martial arts arena, life or death is at stake! Do you dare accept the challenge?"

"I'll take it." Lin Fengmian didn't even hesitate, his tone as calm as if he were asking what to eat for dinner.

Ling Yuanshan had been observing coldly from the sidelines. Seeing Lin Fengmian's unyielding and composed demeanor, he finally couldn't suppress the anger of being slighted.

As the Grand Preceptor of the reigning dynasty, he held power over the country for decades, and even the Empress had to give him some respect.

Now, a junior is so disregarding his authority in front of the entire court. If he doesn't take a stand, who in the court will respect him in the future?

Moreover, he had other plans in mind.

He was well aware of his eldest son Ling Feng's feelings for the Empress, and had secretly encouraged him on many occasions, hoping that one day Ling Feng could become the Crown Prince.

But now that the Empress has chosen Lin Fengmian, it means that the Ling family's hopes of advancing further have been dashed.

How could he accept this?

Today's events not only showed that his son had been wronged, but also presented him with an excellent opportunity to reprimand Lin Fengmian and test the Empress's attitude.

Thinking of this, Ling Yuanshan no longer restrained his aura. The immense pressure of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage was released like a mountain collapsing, covering an area of ​​several dozen feet.

The heavy spiritual pressure pressed down on the shoulders of everyone present. The guards with lower cultivation levels felt their breath catch in their throats, their legs went weak, and they almost knelt down.

Ling Yuanshan's gaze locked onto Lin Fengmian like a hawk's, his voice as cold and deep as if it were tempered with ice:

"Young Master Lin, it's not a bad thing for a young person to be a little arrogant, but one must have a sense of awe in one's heart."

This is the Phoenix Palace, the important place where His Majesty governs the world, not a place for you to act recklessly.

If you don't give my son a clear explanation today...

Explain in public why you attacked someone and clarify your relationship with Fairy Liu.

"Then, even if His Majesty punishes you afterward, I, the Imperial Preceptor, will certainly sentence you to the crime of 'disrupting the palace and being arrogant and injuring others'!"

Ling Yuanshan's relentless pursuit made it clear that he was determined to interrogate Ling Yuanshan and wouldn't give up until he achieved his goal.

His cold, hawk-like eyes were fixed on Lin Fengmian, and the pressure of his mid-Foundation Establishment stage aura surged like waves, as if to crush the young man in front of him completely.

Many of the ministers present looked at each other, some stroking their beards in silence, others lowering their heads and chuckling, all with expressions of watching a good show.

The Grand Preceptor and the Empress's new husband confront each other face to face—such a spectacle is a once-in-a-lifetime event; who would want to miss it?

Even worse, some have already begun to secretly plan ahead.

If Lin Fengmian is publicly humiliated by the Imperial Advisor today, where will the Empress's face be placed?

The heavens of Fengming Kingdom are about to change.

However, Lin Fengmian remained calm and composed, still standing with his hands behind his back.

His expression was as calm as a still autumn lake, and even the faint curve of his lips remained unchanged.

He stood there quietly, his gaze slowly sweeping over Ling Yuanshan, as if looking at a lifeless object.

There was no anger, no fear, not even a trace of superfluous emotion.

His composure made it seem as if the powerful Grand Tutor before him was nothing more than a passing breeze, not worth a word from him.

Just as he was about to open his mouth and say something

Suddenly, a series of synchronized footsteps came from not far away!

The sound was powerful and resonant, like a hammer striking a bluestone slab, carrying a chilling and menacing aura.

Immediately afterwards, a series of metallic clanging sounds, like the friction of armor, grew louder as they approached, as if a vast army was closing in.

The guards and palace maids on the periphery of the crowd turned around to look, and their expressions changed drastically. They consciously stepped aside to make way for a wide passage.

A squad of imperial guards, their auras refined and clad in dark black heavy armor, surged in like a black tide, quickly surrounding the entire imperial garden.