Chapter 825: The Empress Dowager's Wrath

Ling Feng and his team stood atop the arena, crowned as champions—honored with glory and showered in rewards.

After the award ceremony, they were greeted by a wave of cheers from the Tianwei Academy students as they triumphantly returned to campus.

Director Mu Yunsang personally ordered a lavish banquet to celebrate the academy’s newly anointed heroes.

After the match, names like Ling Feng, Li Bufan, and Jiang Xiaofan—members of the East Court Sword Team—became the hottest topic across the entire imperial capital.

Meanwhile, the four major casinos breathed a collective sigh of relief as they finalized their payouts. That mysterious girl who appeared late in the game had placed three million elemental crystals on Tianwei Academy—at fifty-to-one odds, no less—ultimately walking away with fifteen million.

It was as if she’d scooped up every last crystal Yan Shuying had thrown into the pot and pocketed it for herself. Even so, by some miracle, the casinos managed to break even and narrowly dodged a financial disaster.

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Yan Shuying’s scheme to manipulate public opinion and ruin Ling Feng’s reputation had utterly collapsed.

Whether it was the sword team competition, the gambling halls, or her personal confrontation with Ling Feng, she had suffered total defeat.

And with her fall, the Empress Dowager—who had backed her from the shadows—had also lost, and lost completely... to a single young man.

...

While some celebrated, others sank into despair.

When Yan Shuying awoke, she found herself back in the imperial palace. Her hands shot up to her face—she could vaguely recall that damned black donkey doing something to her while she was unconscious.

Thankfully, her skin was still smooth and flawless. At least she hadn’t been disfigured.

"Miss Shuying, you're finally awake!"

The maids at her bedside hurried forward, though it was clear they were struggling to hold back their laughter.

"You insolent wenches! What are you laughing at?!"

Yan Shuying’s delicate fists clenched, and with a sharp crack, she slapped one of the maids across the face. Both servants dropped to their knees, trembling and begging for mercy.

"That’s enough."

A cold yet commanding voice came from just beyond the doorway.

Moments later, the Empress Dowager stepped through the silk curtains. Though her features bore a striking resemblance to Yan Shuying’s—sixty to seventy percent similar—her elegance and presence were on another level entirely. Once hailed as the most beautiful woman in the empire, she still radiated the poise of royalty.

"Shuying, there's no need to take your frustrations out on the servants. That kind of behavior is the mark of the weak."

The Empress Dowager seated herself gracefully at Yan Shuying’s bedside, then waved the maids away. "Leave us."

The two maids kowtowed again before scrambling out of the room.

"Grandmother Empress Dowager, I—I couldn’t help it!"

Yan Shuying bit her lip. The defeat had been too overwhelming, too humiliating to bear.

"And my face—what’s wrong with it? Why were those wretches laughing?"

She suddenly sprang up and snatched a nearby mirror—only to be greeted by the sight of a crude wild boar drawn across her once flawless face.

"Damn it! Damn it all!"

Her hands shook with fury as she scrubbed at her skin with all her strength, but no matter how hard she rubbed, the grotesque mark refused to fade.

"Stop that."

The Empress Dowager grabbed her wrist.

"I had it examined already. That mark was drawn using special inscription techniques—it can’t be erased by ordinary means. It will either fade naturally after three years, or the person who drew it must remove it themselves."

"Three

years!?

"

Yan Shuying nearly collapsed. She couldn’t even stand the thought of

three days

—three

years

was unthinkable.

"Perhaps keeping it will remind you to reign in that temper of yours," the Empress Dowager said coldly.

"No! Grandmother Empress Dowager, you must help me! I can't become a laughingstock!"

Yan Shuying dropped to her knees, clutching at the Empress Dowager's robes in desperation.

"

Hmph.

This defeat was ultimately due to your carelessness. Consider this punishment a lesson."

The Empress Dowager shook her off. "For the next ten days, you will remain here in reflection. Do not show your face outside."

"But Grandmother—"

Yan Shuying bit her lip until it bled. Beauty was more precious than life to her—how could she bear this?

"And do not provoke Ling Feng again without my permission. You've already done enough damage!"

The Empress Dowager's glare turned icy. If not for Yan Shuying being a favored junior of the Yan family, she might have executed the girl for this catastrophic failure.

Cowed into silence, Yan Shuying shrank back, not daring to utter another word.

"Hanyang... your grandson is far too clever, far too cunning."

The Empress Dowager's phoenix eyes narrowed. "But he's still just an inexperienced brat. To challenge me? He's not nearly ready. The secrets of >

The Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion

will be mine!"

A chill ran down Yan Shuying's spine. Though the Empress Dowager's beauty remained peerless, her eyes held no warmth—only ruthlessness.

Why?

She already possessed everything a woman could desire—status, power, beauty.

Yet she seemed... unhappy.

And why was she so obsessed with that medical text?

...

After the celebration banquet, Ling Feng and the others returned to their residences.

The tournament had earned the East Court Sword Team a staggering three billion Tianwei points. Once divided, each member received tens of millions—an unprecedented reward.

Combined with the points they’d earned from the Blood God Cult mission, they now had enough to exchange for rare treasures from the academy’s vault to boost their cultivation.

However, for Ling Feng, ordinary treasures no longer held much use. Even supreme-grade resources like Blood Soul and the Tiance Spirit Spring had failed to help him break through the ninety-nine meridian gates.

The legendary Hundred Meridian Limit truly defied the heavens.

Though they had a month before their final battle against the Royal Sword Team, Ling Feng and every member of his team understood—that victory would not come easily.

Every second of that month would have to be used to train, push their limits, and breakthrough at all costs!