Volume One: A Youth Enters the World Chapter Seventy-One: Winterfell

"Exactly, I also think this guy is unworthy of Sister Lin." At this moment, Zhao Xue suddenly chimed in, shooting a mischievous glance at Fang Tian.

"So the princess is here too. Forgive me, Your Highness, I was so caught up just now that I didn't notice you," Wu Jie quickly said, having just realized Zhao Xue'er was nearby.

"It's nothing. Just make sure to teach this fellow a lesson for me later," Zhao Xue'er replied with a smirk.

"Of course," Wu Jie nodded, thinking to himself that now even the princess was on his side—there was no way this boy would escape easily.

Lin Shuang remained silent. Things had already come to this, and no amount of words could change the outcome. It was better to let Fang Tian act and make Wu Jie retreat of his own accord.

Fang Tian glanced at Lin Shuang, then at Zhao Xue'er, only to find Zhao Xue'er secretly making faces at him, pulling at her cheeks as if to say, "What can you do about me?"

Fang Tian was exasperated. This girl truly loved to stir up trouble. What could have been an avoidable conflict was now inevitable, thanks to her antics. Wu Jie would not let them leave easily, and he would be forced to act, making yet another enemy.

As for Lin Shuang's silence, Fang Tian understood. If this matter wasn't resolved here and now, it would only become more troublesome. Though he felt a bit like a pawn in someone else's game, he really had no other choice.

"So, if I withstand one strike from you, we are free to leave?" Fang Tian asked Wu Jie.

"Of course. If you can take one strike from me, I will let you go and never trouble Shuang'er again," Wu Jie vowed earnestly.

"Very well. But I have one more request: from now on, you must not call Lin Shuang by the name 'Shuang'er.'"

"Hmph, don't flatter yourself. You think you can withstand a strike from me?" Wu Jie sneered.

"You won't know until you try. Go ahead," Fang Tian said, calmly taking his stance and waiting for Wu Jie to attack.

"Fine, let me show you the might of the Wu Family's Giant Elephant Palm!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Jie circulated his spiritual power, and a phantom image of a giant elephant seemed to appear around him. With a thunderous roar, a shockwave erupted, forcing the gathered crowd to retreat as if clearing the stage.

"It's not too late to regret this. My palm carries the strength of a hundred-jin giant elephant. It's not something you can endure," Wu Jie said, feigning reluctance to strike.

"Enough nonsense. Do it," Fang Tian replied impatiently.

Wu Jie's mouth twitched, thinking this boy was more courageous than he seemed. With a roar, he called out, "Martial Art: Elephant's Stomp!" and charged toward Fang Tian.

Fang Tian stood still as a bell, entirely unruffled. Though Wu Jie's technique looked impressive, the gap in cultivation and physical strength couldn't be bridged so easily. Fang Tian remained composed, showing no intention of defending himself.

This calmness infuriated Wu Jie, who then unleashed his full spiritual force and struck Fang Tian squarely in the chest.

The shockwave scattered in all directions, but Fang Tian didn't move an inch. It was as if Wu Jie's strike was merely a gentle touch, astonishing everyone present.

Wu Jie looked at his own palm in disbelief. For a moment, he suspected his martial art was a fraud, as he hadn't even managed to hurt Fang Tian in the slightest. He was stunned and unable to accept this outcome.

"You said one strike; I have taken it. I hope you will keep your promise," Fang Tian said, then turned and left with Lin Shuang and Zhao Xue'er.

After a while, Wu Jie recovered from his shock and instructed those beside him, "Find out everything you can about that man. Today I was utterly humiliated, and I will not let this go. Not even the Lin family can protect him."

"Yes, Second Young Master," his followers replied.

Wu Jie then stormed off, unable to stay any longer for sheer embarrassment.

"Little Yu, I didn't expect you to be so strong. If that's the case, you and Sister Lin are quite a match," Zhao Xue'er remarked as the three of them walked along.

"Your Highness, you really put me in a tough spot today. Wu Jie was utterly humiliated because of me; now I've made myself another enemy," Fang Tian said, glancing at her.

"So what if you did? If you hadn't intervened, Wu Jie would just keep pestering Sister Lin. I'm doing this for your own good," Zhao Xue'er replied without remorse.

"By that logic, I should thank you," Fang Tian said, exasperated.

"No need for thanks. Just treat Sister Lin well from now on," Zhao Xue'er said, completely unfazed.

Fang Tian sighed and shook his head. Great, now he had another problem to deal with. At this moment, all he wanted was for time to pass quickly so he could attend the Hundred Islands Gathering and leave this place as soon as possible.

"Brother Yu, thank you for today," Lin Shuang finally said.

"There's no need for thanks between us. Besides, you are my betrothed. If another man tries to pester you, how could I stand by and do nothing?" Fang Tian replied with a smile.

Lin Shuang blushed, thinking his words were too direct. Although they were only pretending, there was no need to speak so intimately. Her heart fluttered, and she dared not meet his gaze.

Seeing Lin Shuang's bashfulness, Zhao Xue'er gave Fang Tian a thumbs up, to which Fang Tian responded with a look of feigned innocence, earning a roll of the eyes from Zhao Xue'er.

After escorting the princess home, Fang Tian and Lin Shuang returned to the Lin residence and bid each other farewell before heading to their own quarters.

Fang Tian shut his door and took out the battered copper fragment from his sword's space. He studied it for a long time but could not discern any secrets. Unable to make sense of it, he put it away, then drew out the Heavenly Slayer and entered the sword space to cultivate.

Half a month passed in a blur, and Fang Tian had spent over a year cultivating inside the sword space. During this period, he never left his room, devoting himself entirely to training and ignoring everything outside. He did not wish to invite any more trouble.

One day, as Fang Tian opened his eyes in the sword space, he attempted to break through to the fourth level of Spirit Gathering. However, no matter how he circulated his spiritual energy, he could not break through. Though his physical refinement had improved greatly and his meridians were full to bursting, the spiritual energy seemed to lack the final impetus to shatter the barrier.

Heavenly Elder saw Fang Tian's difficulty and said, "Xiao Tian, stop wasting your effort. Your meridians have become extremely resilient due to your Spirit Body awakening. To break through, you need a much denser spiritual energy than normal cultivation can provide."

"How could this happen? Where am I supposed to find such dense spiritual energy?" Fang Tian asked helplessly, surprised by his predicament.

Heavenly Elder pondered for a moment. "If you can find Blood Ice Grass, you might be able to use its dense spiritual energy to break through."

"Blood Ice Grass? That's right! If Bai Yifan managed to obtain it, that means the Ice Spirit Island must have it growing somewhere," Fang Tian exclaimed, slapping his thigh.

"Mhm, you can ask that Lin Shuang girl. But such spiritual herbs are always guarded by fierce beasts and are not easily acquired—it’s dangerous. In fact, with your current state, passing the Hundred Islands Gathering shouldn't be difficult. There's no need to risk it," Heavenly Elder advised.

"Elder, if I don't seize every moment to cultivate now, who knows when I'll reach the level of the truly powerful? If I have the chance, I must try," Fang Tian said resolutely.

Seeing Fang Tian's determination, Heavenly Elder relented. "If you’ve made up your mind, do as you see fit." With that, his figure faded from the sword space.

Fang Tian returned to the outside world, put away the Heavenly Slayer, opened his door, and set out. On the way, he stopped a maid to ask where Lin Shuang was. The maid told him the young miss was in her chambers and had not gone out. Following the maid's directions, Fang Tian soon arrived at Lin Shuang's residence.

He knocked, and Lin Shuang's voice came from within, "Come in."

He entered to find Lin Shuang embroidering with careful stitches. He leaned over for a closer look and saw she was crafting a lotus bud with a dragonfly perched atop, so lifelike it seemed real—fresh and natural in its beauty. Fang Tian couldn't help but marvel, "I didn't expect you to be so skilled with needlework, Shuang'er. What a pleasant surprise."

"Brother Yu, is it so strange for a young woman to be skilled at this? It's the most ordinary thing," Lin Shuang replied, looking up at him, so used to the affectionate address that she didn't think to change it.

"True enough. I've come today to ask you about something," Fang Tian said.

"Please, if it's something I know, I'll be happy to answer for you," Lin Shuang said, setting aside her embroidery and smiling warmly.

"Alright. The thing I want to ask about is Blood Ice Grass," Fang Tian said, enunciating each word.

Lin Shuang was a little surprised, not understanding why he would ask about that. After a moment's thought, she responded, "Brother Yu, why do you need Blood Ice Grass?"

"For cultivation," Fang Tian answered honestly.

"But it's extremely difficult to obtain, and it's guarded by fierce beasts—very dangerous," Lin Shuang warned. Few people managed to acquire Blood Ice Grass safely. Even within the empire, it was rare, mostly held by the royal family. Her own Lin family had only three or four stalks, acquired long ago by her father and a group of experts, of whom only a handful survived. The Lin family was greatly weakened as a result; otherwise, their current predicament might have been avoided.

"I understand, but I have my reasons. Just tell me where I can find it," Fang Tian replied. He knew the risks, but the thought of staying stuck at his current level was even more intolerable.

"Brother Yu, I can ask Father about it," Lin Shuang offered.

"Those were hard-won by your family and surely hold great significance. There's no need for that," Fang Tian declined. He had no intention of taking advantage of the Lin family.

"Alright. If you're determined, I won't try to stop you," Lin Shuang said, though she was worried. Fang Tian's resolute gaze left her little room to object.

"Then please tell me," said Fang Tian.

"To find Blood Ice Grass, you must go to the southern part of this island, where there are snow-capped mountains stretching for a thousand li. The Blood Ice Grass grows there, though its exact location is rarely known. To enter the mountains, you must pass through Winter's Edge City. I can write you a letter so you can pass through without trouble," Lin Shuang explained at last.