Chapter 49: Another Trump Card?

At that moment, everyone was startled, and the entire arena fell completely silent once again.

The sword strike executed by an eight-times spirit-refiner using spiritual brilliance, though not a martial technique, was undoubtedly formidable in power. Yet now, it had been blasted away with a single punch by Qin Liang. Such a stark contrast felt utterly surreal.

"What kind of fist technique is he using? Why have I never seen it in the martial arts pavilion?" someone asked in bewilderment.

Soon, someone guessed that it might be a fusion of several martial techniques, leaving everyone shocked.

Li Hongcai crashed down like a kite with a broken string at the edge of the plaza, vomiting blood once more from his mouth and nose. His complexion turned even paler, and several of his bones were fractured, leaving him heavily injured.

He struggled a few times, but failed to stand up, filled with bitter resentment.

"Qin Liang, I will definitely kill you today!" Li Hongcai roared furiously, unleashing his ultimate trump card.

He pulled out a palm-sized piece of ice crystal. The crystal was dark gray, as if sealing some terrifying entity within.

As he infused his spiritual brilliance into it, a wave of biting cold surged forth, sweeping across the entire arena.

"What is this thing? Why is it so terrifying?"

Sensing this freezing chill, the surrounding onlookers turned pale with dread and involuntarily stepped back one after another.

Upon feeling the chill, Qin Liang's expression grew rather grim, while Jiang Xuehan fell into a momentary daze. This coldness was identical to the frigid poison she had once harbored within her body; they clearly shared the same origin.

The mystery that had plagued her cultivation for years was finally solved today, yet she was somewhat reluctant to believe that her cousin would actually do such a thing.

"So it was you."

Killing intent surged in Qin Liang's eyes as he stepped forward slowly in his crimson attire, exuding the momentum of a fierce tiger.

Li Hongcai smiled mockingly, "It was me. What can you do to me? Today, I will make the two of you companion spirits in death. Remember to thank me in the netherworld."

Things having reached this point, he no longer wished to hide anything. He might as well go all out, kill Qin Liang first, and deal with the consequences later. At worst, he could simply find another body of pure yin and plant the seeds of the frigid poison anew.

As the ice crystal was activated by Li Hongcai's spiritual brilliance, the frigid poison dormant within Jiang Xuehan's body seemed to sense it and began to stir restlessly. Fortunately, she had already successfully subdued it and easily suppressed the reaction.

"Hmm?"

Li Hongcai frowned, staring at Jiang Xuehan in astonishment. "Why? Why are you fine?"

He was struck as if by lightning, unable to believe that all his years of waiting had come to nothing.

"The poison you slipped into my tea back then was this very same frigid poison, wasn't it? Thanks to Qin Liang, this poison can no longer harm me." Jiang Xuehan spoke in a calm tone, recounting the past events, which left everyone deeply shaken.

Hearing this, Jiang Hai turned gloomy and cast a cold glance at Li Qiumei beside him. "Look at the fine nephew you've spoiled."

Although Jiang Xuehan was born to a concubine, Jiang Hai had always treated all his children equally.

Had it not been for Jiang Xuehan's stagnant cultivation all these years, her progress probably wouldn't have lagged behind Jiang Yutong's. Yet, because of Li Hongcai's actions, his eldest daughter had almost become the laughingstock of the family.

As a father, Jiang Hai found it hard to accept in his heart.

"Qin Liang... It's you again. Why is it always you?"

Li Hongcai was consumed by fury. This detestable youth had repeatedly stolen his spotlight and ruined his plans.

"Go to hell!"

Li Hongcai roared at the top of his lungs. The ice crystal in his palm emitted an intense chill, and an endless torrent of dark gray frigid poison surged like a hurricane toward Qin Liang, intent on poisoning him to death.

"Qin Liang..."

"Little Liang..."

Jiang Xuehan, Jiang Yulong, and other young elites of the family all wore faces full of anxiety.

Jiang Hai's body also trembled slightly. Just as he was about to step in to save Qin Liang, he unexpectedly noticed that the young man showed no trace of panic, prompting him to wonder in surprise, "Could this brat still have a hidden card?"

Qin Liang was seen glowing all over, stepping on the wind beneath his feet as he maneuvered gracefully across the plaza.

He used his footwork to stir the wind and then trod upon it. His movements were ethereal and agile, resembling a youthful grandmaster—natural, unrestrained, and at ease. At the same time, a gale was whipped up, charging forward to meet the terrifying hurricane of frigid poison.

Being able to push the Wind-Walking Steps to such a degree amazed everyone of the Jiang family, and even Jiang Hai could not help but be moved.

Bang!

The two hurricanes collided, the biting cold sweeping in all directions as toxic mist filled the arena.

"Hmm?"

Qin Liang frowned. He realized that although he had blocked the hurricane of frigid poison, a small portion of the toxin had still invaded his body and was coursing through his meridians, attempting to freeze them solid.

Moreover, Li Hongcai on the opposite side sneered, "Qin Liang, do you really think the frigid poison is so easily blocked?"

Qin Liang let out a cold snort. Before his meridians could freeze, he flashed forward, instantly appearing right in front of Li Hongcai. With a single punch, he blasted Li Hongcai flying, casually snatched the palm-sized ice crystal, and then sat down cross-legged.

Li Hongcai was already heavily injured; facing Qin Liang's punch, he could neither defend himself nor dodge.

After being sent flying, he directly lost consciousness and passed out. Yet, a satisfied smile hung on his face, as if in his mind, Qin Liang was bound to die, and upon waking up, he would still become the groom.

"Qin Liang..."

Everyone was worried, and the young Jiang Chang even cursed aloud, "The Li family is truly despicable and shameless."

His words resonated with the disciples of the Jiang family, making the faces of the Li family branch members, including Li Qiumei, look as unpleasant as if they had swallowed a dead fly, yet they were utterly helpless.

Within Qin Liang's body, intricate Dao roots stirred, carrying spiritual brilliance as they shuttled through his flesh and meridians like a school of dragons swimming swiftly through the deep sea.

Soon, the wisps of frigid poison that had invaded his body were sealed off by Qin Liang's Dao roots and forced out of his system. Guided by Qin Liang, the poison returned into the palm-sized ice crystal, as if it had never appeared at all.

Seeing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief while being deeply shocked, and Jiang Hai wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

The battle had come to an end, and the outcome was unexpected.

Li Hongcai, who had undergone eight times spirit refining, had indeed lost—and he had lost thoroughly, with even his ultimate trump card falling into Qin Liang's hands.

"Li Hongcai can't get up anymore. Brother Qin—no, wait, brother-in-law won!"

Jiang Chang shouted out, and all the Jiang family disciples began to cheer, their faces beaming with excited smiles.

Qin Liang walked over, took Jiang Xuehan's hand, and pressed the ice crystal into her palm.

"This thing should be useful to you."

The ice crystal sealing the frigid poison was extremely perilous to others, but to Jiang Xuehan, who could control the frigid poison, it was a rare and precious cultivation material.

"The guests will be arriving shortly. Quick, clean up the plaza," an elder instructed.

At that moment, Qin Liang's words made the entire arena fall silent once again.

"Li Hongcai and I had a prior agreement that the loser would be driven out of the Jiang family forever. I ask my aunt to make a ruling."

The pair of betrothed stood tall and upright in the plaza, facing adversity together, and Qin Liang's words pointed directly at the Li family.

Li Hongcai had once been the young master of the Li family; if he alone were driven out of the Jiang family, the Li family would never be able to rise again. Throwing this choice onto Li Qiumei was clearly forcing her into a dead end.

How could Li Qiumei not know this? Her mood at the moment was terrible; nothing could be more irritating than this.

Jiang Hai stood nearby, indifferent and silent, having never interfered in matters concerning the Li family over the years.

"Everyone is now a member of the Jiang family, why fuss over this so much? Besides, today is the day of your great joyous union. Let's put aside the matter concerning Hongcai for now; we can discuss it after your wedding."

Li Qiumei evaded the issue, hoping to wait until Li Hongcai woke up before dealing with this mess.

She was indeed the matriarch of the Jiang family, and she quickly turned the conversation around:

"As for nephew Qin Liang, if you wish to marry my Xuehan, you must at least bring out some decent betrothal gifts! Otherwise, if word gets out, people in the world will think my daughter is someone who can be had casually!"

Her words were sharp and piercing, as she simply refused to believe that Qin Liang, who had grown up in the Jiang family since childhood, could produce any worthwhile betrothal gifts.