"It seems the so-called geniuses of the Great Han royal family are nothing more than this!"
This time, Tuoba Hong didn't hide his得意 (pride) at all, laughing wildly and trampling on everyone's dignity. The civil and military officials in the imperial garden all had铁青 (livid) faces, and杀意 (killing intent) filled the eyes of many. As long as the Han Emperor nodded, they would immediately strike to behead Tuoba Hong and all members of the Southern Wasteland envoy group without mercy.
At this moment, the Han Emperor's face was so dark it seemed to drip water. He clenched his fists, contemplating whether to撕破脸皮 (break off diplomatic relations) and execute these Southern Wasteland envoys. Thinking of the humiliation he suffered today, he hated the 3rd Prince, Lin Yu, even more. If Lin Yu hadn't been completely annihilated in the Southern Wasteland back then, how would he, the Han Emperor, be humiliated by these Southern Wasteland barbarians?
"I'll teach you a lesson for皇爷爷 (grandfather emperor)!"
Just then, Chu Chu, who had been burying herself in enjoying the food, suddenly stood up. Today, two young uncles had successively lost to the Southern Barbarian young master, and her father, the 2nd Prince Lin Shuo, was in charge of hosting the imperial garden banquet. If Tuoba Hong continued to be so arrogant, the Han Emperor would surely vent his anger on Lin Shuo afterward. Therefore, to prevent her father from being implicated, Chu Chu took the initiative to step forward.
When Chu Chu stood up, everyone's目光 (gaze) instantly fell on her.
"Nonsense! Chu Chu, sit down for me!"
Lin Shuo's face turned铁青 (livid), hurriedly scolding Chu Chu. Even a genius like the 15th Prince couldn't defeat Tuoba Hong. Chu Chu had been tormented by cold poison and hadn't cultivated much over the years. Against Tuoba Hong, she had no chance of winning—she was lucky if she wasn't killed.
"Chu Chu, sit down. I know you want to share皇爷爷's (grandfather emperor's) worries, but this is not something for you to concern yourself with!"
The Han Emperor looked deeply at Chu Chu, waving for her to sit down.
"Chu Chu, why haven't you sat down? This has nothing to do with you today!"
"Hmph! If you want to show off, at least check the occasion. Forcing yourself to stand out here will get you killed!"
Other princes and imperial grandchildren纷纷 (one after another) rebuked Chu Chu. Everyone knew Chu Chu had cold poison in her body and couldn't cultivate. Her standing up now was just an attempt to please the Han Emperor. The Han Emperor would never let her fight Tuoba Hong. Jealous, these princes and imperial grandchildren resented not thinking of this first, so they spoke harshly to Chu Chu.
However, Chu Chu ignored everyone's议论 (comments) and walked directly to the center of the imperial garden, standing opposite Tuoba Hong.
"Hahaha! It seems the Great Han royal family truly has no successors, sending a delicate little woman to fight me!"
Tuoba Hong laughed wildly, then leered at Chu Chu: "Little beauty, why don't you submit to me today? If you marry me, the Southern Wasteland and the Great Han will become one family, and I'll never spread word of today's events!"
Chu Chu stood tall and graceful, with a stunning容貌 (beauty). Tuoba Hong, raised in the Southern Wasteland, had never seen such a peerless beauty and was instantly smitten.
Chu Chu looked coldly at Tuoba Hong: "You talk so much. Are you afraid to fight me?"
Tuoba Hong's face turned cold, a fierce glint in his eyes. He 冷哼 (snorted coldly): "Since you want to die, don't blame me for not showing mercy to a beauty!" As soon as the words fell, his aura surged. He took a step, his figure flickering, instantly appearing in front of Chu Chu. He raised his right fist,凝聚 (condensing) raging flames, and smashed it狠狠 (fiercely) toward Chu Chu.
"Honored Guard Xu...!"
The Han Emperor's face turned铁青 (livid), calling out in a low voice to Honored Guard Xu behind him.
"Yes!"
Just as Honored Guard Xu was about to act, he saw Chu Chu raise her snow-white little hand and gently wave it toward Tuoba Hong's right fist.
Boom!
A 森寒 (icy) aura surged from her palm, instantly extinguishing the flames on Tuoba Hong's right fist. Then, with a palm, she sent the aggressively charging Tuoba Hong flying backward. Tuoba Hong staggered back over ten zhang (30+ meters) before regaining his footing. He looked down at his right arm in disbelief—an layer of ice hadStartlingly (clearly) formed on it!
"What?"
This scene caused everyone in the imperial garden to gasp in astonishment. Whether civil and military officials, princes and imperial grandchildren, or even the 2nd Prince Lin Shuo and the Han Emperor, their faces were filled with incredulity. The Southern Wasteland envoy group, seeing Tuoba Hong forced back by Chu Chu's palm, lost their previous composure and stood up, gaping at Chu Chu.
"This... What's going on? Didn't Princess Chu Chu suffer from congenital cold poison, making it impossible for her to cultivate?"
"I remember Chu Chu hasn't practiced with us for a long time. How... How can she be so powerful?"
"It's said Chu Chu has cold poison in her body and can't live past fifteen. How did she gain this cultivation?"
...
The imperial garden was filled with exclamations. No one understood how Chu Chu had suddenly become so strong. Everyone looked at each other in shock, even the 2nd Prince Lin Shuo was茫然 (dazed).
"Honored Guard Xu, do you see what's happening?"
The Han Emperor turned to look at Honored Guard Xu, only to find him shaking his head with a bitter smile. Tuoba Hong's face was铁青 (livid), staring死死 (fixedly) at Chu Chu. His eyes held not only anger but also shock.
"I didn't expect the Great Han royal family to hide a genius like you!"
He was an 8th Martial Realm genius and had experienced a fortuitous encounter in the Southern Wasteland, allowing him to催动 (mobilize) a wisp of Innate spiritual energy before entering the Innate Realm. He could even fight 9th Martial Realm warriors. Yet, he had been forced back by Chu Chu in one move—a great humiliation!
"You can't defeat me. Surrender!"
Although they had only exchanged one move, Chu Chu already knew her strength surpassed Tuoba Hong's. Thus, she spoke calmly, sincerely advising Tuoba Hong to give up and not struggle in vain.
"Scoundrel...!"
Tuoba Hong burned with anger. Chu Chu's words were a humiliation to him! Threads of flame surged from his body. Finally, he let out a沉声 (deep) roar and charged toward Chu Chu. Flames converged on his right fist, forming a blazing fire meteor that shot straight at Chu Chu.
"Innate spiritual energy! As expected, this kid must be hiding a treasure that allows him to drive Innate spiritual energy. No wonder the 15th Prince couldn't defeat him!"
"With his 8th Martial Realm cultivation driving Innate spiritual energy, even a 9th Martial Realm genius might not defeat him. Now Chu Chu is in trouble!"
Seeing Tuoba Hong reveal his trump card, the civil and military officials纷纷 (one after another) exclaimed, their gazes toward Chu Chu filled with worry. They weren't worried about whether Chu Chu would be severely injured but about the Great Han royal family becoming a laughingstock worldwide if Chu Chu lost to Tuoba Hong.
Tuoba Hong's punch gathered the power of flames, extremely scorching. As it passed, the flowers and plants in the imperial garden withered and self-ignited, as if a trail of fire were蔓延 (spreading) toward Chu Chu. This was by no means a killing move an 8th Martial Realm warrior could unleash!