I, the lazy prince, am the darling of the ladies of destiny.

She spoke slowly and deliberately, her voice revealing neither joy nor anger, yet it carried an air of aloofness and questioning that seemed unapproachable.

"besides--"

Yun Zhi's gaze shifted slightly, sweeping over the various expressions on the faces of the Yun family members, before finally settling on Xiao Dong's face. A faint, yet chillingly cold, smile curved her lips.

"When did you realize that I, Yunzhi... was the one 'sacrificed' by the family?"

After he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.

All the discussions, ridicule, and anger seemed to be suddenly gripped by an invisible hand.

Countless gazes, filled with surprise and uncertainty, lingered between Yunzhi and Xiao Dong.

What... is going on?

What happened to the anticipated drama of star-crossed lovers pouring out their hearts to each other and resisting tyranny?

Lu Xuan was also stunned. At the same time, alarm bells were ringing in his mind, and a sense of absurd astonishment surged up.

Something seems off about this plot?

Xiao Dong froze abruptly, his expression, a mixture of heartache and deep affection, instantly solidifying.

He stared incredulously at the pair of cold, clear eyes below, trying to find a trace of grievance, helplessness, or coercion.

However, no.

There was only a bottomless, icy pool, and an unmistakable rejection.

"What's going on?!"

"The female lead's character...has fallen apart?!"

Lu Xuan was completely stunned, his mind buzzing. This plot was totally wrong!

What happened to the tragic heroine forced into an arranged marriage, waiting to be rescued by the protagonist? Why is Yunzhi the one who stood up and confronted people first?

Is it really that hard to be a villain who just wants to live a peaceful life?!

In a flash, Lü Xuan caught sight of Lü Sanshao beside him, who was furious and about to rush forward to fight. He snapped to attention, grabbed Lü Sanshao's arm, and whispered a few words to him.

Lu Sanshao was taken aback at first, then a glint flashed in his eyes, and he nodded heavily. The anger on his face strangely subsided a bit, and instead revealed a ruthless look of understanding.

Yunzhi naturally noticed the brief and secretive exchange between Lü Xuan and Lü Sanshao.

But at this moment, she was more concerned with finding a "suitable" opportunity to attack Xiao Dong.

The mission required her to assist Xiao Dong in "suppressing Lü Xuan," but given the current situation...

Her gaze turned slightly cold as she swept over Xiao Dong, whose face was ashen, and she began to make her own plans.

Meanwhile, the Yun family members were furious.

How dare a mere Qi Refining cultivator, who appeared out of nowhere, openly covet the eldest daughter of the Yun family and even spout nonsense to slander the Yun family's sacrificed daughter?!

This is utterly humiliating to the Yun family!

"Lü Xuan!"

Xiao Dong forcibly suppressed the emotions surging within him due to Yun Zhi's attitude, and turned his attention back to Lü Xuan, his voice filled with contempt and provocation.

"Is that all you've got? All you can do is cower behind your family's protection, or even... hide behind a woman? The Lü family of the Northern Region seems to be nothing but a name without substance!"

"You bastard! I've tolerated you for too long! Do you really think my Lü family has no one to rely on?!" Lü San Shao roared in fury, his figure flashing like lightning as he instantly reached the center of the square!

boom!

The powerful aura of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator erupted without reservation, stirring up spiritual energy and raising dust from the ground.

He raised his hand and made a grasping motion, and a huge warhammer, its entire body dark gold and engraved with intricate Dao patterns, appeared out of thin air. The hammerhead hummed, emanating a heavy and chilling pressure.

Order King's Weapon - Haotian Hammer!

"Those who insult the Lü family deserve to be executed!"

Lu Sanshao's eyes widened in anger, his arm muscles bulged, and he swung the Haotian Hammer, delivering a simple and brutal vertical slash that contained terrifying power!

A massive hammer-shaped Dharma image materialized, carrying the force to shatter mountains and split the earth, and crashed down on Xiao Dong!

Xiao Dong's eyes narrowed, and he dared not be negligent. He fully activated his Qi Refining Level 10 cultivation and quietly activated the precious fire seed in his body that originated from the "Burning Flame Dao Ancestor".

A wisp of imperial flame power merged into his fist.

"Order King's Art - Eight Extremes Collapse!"

He let out a low shout, and without dodging or avoiding, he fiercely punched the huge hammer shadow head-on!

The fist struck like a dragon, the blazing fire energy and fierce fist intent intertwined, and at the moment of contact, it forcefully cracked the terrifying Haotian Hammer Dharma Image, and then shattered it with a bang!

Lu Sanshao groaned, forced back several steps by the recoil, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, his eyes flashing with horror.

He was actually defeated by an opponent who was a whole realm lower in a head-on confrontation?

"How is this possible?! How could I lose?" He was somewhat incredulous, but it seemed to be within acceptable limits.

"Those of low moral character will naturally perish."

Xiao Dong withdrew his fist and stood still, his aura still lingering, and said proudly.

With that attack, he had already used one of his trump cards, and he was confident that it was enough to intimidate the entire audience.

"Is that so?" Lu Sanshao suddenly grinned, a smile that carried a hint of savagery in it.

"What?" A sense of alarm suddenly arose in Xiao Dong's heart.

puff!

Before he could react, his chest tightened, his throat tasted sweet, and he spat out a mouthful of dark purple, foul-smelling blood!

A chilling and cunning poison instantly surged along the meridians to every part of the body!

Xiao Dong staggered, clutching his throbbing chest, and abruptly looked up, staring intently at Lu Sanshao, his eyes blazing with fury: "You... used poison?!"

Lu Sanshao slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb and said with a smirk, "Who in the entire Northern Region doesn't know that I, Lu Sanshao, outwardly cultivate the 'Order of Power,' but in reality, I prefer to delve into unorthodox and heretical methods?"

"Using poison... is just commonplace for me."

"mean!"

Xiao Dong gritted his teeth and angrily rebuked, trying to expel the poison by circulating his internal energy, but found that the poison was extremely stubborn and was rapidly eroding his spiritual power.

"In a life-or-death struggle, victory or defeat is decided in an instant. What's wrong with using poison?"

Lu Sanshao scoffed, his tone laced with sarcasm, "Don't forget, the Poison Sect's sect leader, who was renowned throughout the Eastern Region, cultivated the 'Order of Ten Thousand Poisons' and reached the Dao Ancestor realm! It's just a matter of tactics; how can you call it despicable?"

In truth, he admired Lü Xuan immensely.

If the Crown Prince hadn't secretly reminded him beforehand not to worry about saving face and to use the hidden poison needle killing move at the crucial moment...

If we are really defeated by this strange Qi Refining kid today, the Lü family will lose face big time!

On the high platform, Lü Xuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but a layer of cold sweat had already broken out on his back.

What a close call! Luckily, he was familiar with the "original work" and remembered that besides his obvious use of the Hammer of Strength technique, Lu Sanshao was also a master of poison, almost causing the protagonist to capsize in the original story.

He had given Xiao Dong a heads-up beforehand, which allowed Lu Sanshao to use his trump card right from the start, giving Xiao Dong no chance to catch his breath.

According to the original novel, when Xiao Dong destroyed the Lü family, he was tricked by Lü Sanshao and suffered the "Seven-Day Soul Severing" spell.

Those below the Dao Foundation level can only live for seven days.

But Xiao Dong, being the chosen one, will have his own extraordinary encounters.

Not long after being poisoned, she will meet her future soulmate by chance, not only successfully getting rid of the poison, but also... well, thus leading to a marriage.

"So this is the Lü family's style? Seeing it today, I'm utterly disappointed!"

Just then, an elderly man with a white beard stepped forward, his loud voice resounding throughout the entire venue.