Chapter 175: Is the Jiangnan King Behind It?

In the small cell deep within the Water Prison, the damp air mingled with a heavy scent of blood.

Ling Zhaixing was shackled to the wall with an iron chain, her body riddled with injuries, and she struggled to lift her heavy eyelids.

When she saw that the person standing at the doorway was Jiang Feng, a fleeting bewilderment flashed in her scattered gaze, then a strong sense of surprise surged.

"You... how did you get here?"

Her voice was like a wisp of breath, halting and broken.

Each word seemed to drain all the strength from her body.

She and Jiang Feng had only met once; when she helped him locate Su Xueyan, it was merely a casual favor, and she never expected him to risk his life to rescue her.

Jiang Feng stood in the doorway, his gaze sweeping over her myriad wounds; his eyes showed little change, only a faint smile.

"You did help me find Xue Yan after all; it would be ungracious of me not to intervene and save you."

Ling Zhaixing watched his composed demeanor, weakly tugged at the corner of her mouth, revealing a smile uglier than crying.

"Thank you..."

But before she could say anything else, Jiang Feng shifted his tone.

"Moreover, your Southern Frontier Tiger Talisman is still at my place; I ought to return it to you."

"Southern Frontier Tiger Talisman?"

Those four words struck her mind like a bolt of thunder.

Her already paper‑pale face instantly lost all color, her eyes snapped open, and blood‑veined pupils filled with terror.

She never imagined that the talisman she had hidden with Su Xueyan would be discovered by Jiang Feng!

At that moment, the masked man seated on a stone bench sprang up, the aura of a Sixth Grade Grandmaster erupting like a mountain flood, instantly enveloping the entire cell.

The air seemed to solidify; the oppressive pressure forced Ling Zhaixing to let out a muffled groan, her complexion grew even sicker, and even breathing became unusually difficult.

The masked man stared intently at Jiang Feng, his tone laced with incredulous questioning.

"Southern Frontier Tiger Talisman, indeed in your possession?"

Jiang Feng, faced with the overwhelming pressure, simply shrugged.

"Genuine, no counterfeit."

"Jiang Feng, I truly can't tell whether you're foolish or arrogant."

The masked man let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"The Southern Frontier Tiger Talisman is not something someone like you can lay hands on. Hand it over obediently now, and I will allow you to take Ling Zhaixing's corpse, leaving her a Whole Corpse as a gift to you."

"You're dreaming!"

Ling Zhaixing summoned all her strength and let out a roar.

"Jiang Feng, don't listen to him! Take the talisman and go! No matter what, you must not let them get the talisman! Its significance is too great; in their hands it would cause a catastrophe!"

She finished speaking, then coughed violently, her chest heaving, fresh blood constantly spilling from the corner of her mouth, her complexion as pale as paper, looking as if she could die at any moment.

Jiang Feng glanced at Ling Zhaixing, who was exhausting herself to dissuade him, and a hint of approval flashed in his eyes.

Though this woman is a great thief, she has her own bottom line and sense of responsibility.

From Ling Zhaixing's condition, one can see she has endured much torment during this period.

Yet she still did not reveal the talisman's whereabouts, which is why Jiang Feng ultimately chose to intervene and save her.

He turned his head toward the masked man and asked curiously.

"I am truly curious: you exert so much effort to capture Ling Zhaixing and so desperately want the Southern Frontier Tiger Talisman—what exactly are you after?"

The masked man's voice suddenly grew colder.

"This is not something you have the right to know! If you have any sense, hand over the talisman quickly, or today both you and Ling Zhaixing will die here!"

"Fine, if you won't say it."

Jiang Feng smiled lightly, didn't press further, and instead pulled a folded photograph from his pocket, casually tossing it toward the masked man.

The photo landed on the stone table before the masked man.

"But I'm very curious—are you connected to the Jiangnan Wang?"

Those three words cut like a dagger, piercing the masked man's final façade.

His surrounding aura instantly surged to a violent extreme, the previously restrained Sixth Grade Grandmaster pressure roiling like a tsunami.

The masked man could no longer keep his composure; his eyes were filled with murderous intent.

He kicked off the ground violently, his body hurtling like a cannonball toward Jiang Feng, palm wind sheathing fierce momentum, slashing the cheek with a painful gust.

"Seeking death!"

A hoarse roar carried a barely perceptible tremor of panic; evidently the Jiangnan Wang's secret was a taboo he could never reveal.

Jiang Feng remained where he stood, unmoving, only offering a faint smile, his eyes reflecting understanding.

"Looks like I was right."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he sidestepped to avoid the masked man's massive, forceful palm.

The palm wind brushed his hem and struck the wall behind him, sending shards of stone scattering.

Ling Zhaixing trembled from the violent gust, her eyes filled with terror and worry.

She knows all too well the horror of a Sixth Grade Grandmaster, a height she could never even look up to. Though Jiang Feng can handle three Second-grade Grandmasters, can he truly cope with a fully unleashed Sixth Grade Grandmaster?

The crucial point is that Jiang Feng mentioned the Jiangnan Wang, which Ling Zhaixing also knows.

"A member of the exalted royal clan!"

"The Southern Frontier Tiger Talisman can directly mobilize tens of thousands of troops in the Southern Frontier!"

"And the Jiangnan Wang, seeking to use this talisman, clearly aims to command military power through it!"

"Thus the Jiangnan Wang's purpose is self‑evident."

The masked man's attacks each targeted Jiang Feng's vital points, the palm wind infused with a suicidal frenzy.

He knew that if he failed to keep Jiang Feng today, Jiangnan Wang's grand plan might be exposed, and his own death would be certain.

Their palms collided, Jiang Feng did not move a hair, while the masked man was shaken back three steps, his arm tingling slightly.

The masked man steadied himself and surged forward again, his techniques now more cunning and ruthless than before. He realized Jiang Feng's strength far exceeded expectations, and a swift, decisive battle was necessary.

Jiang Feng responded calmly, his Foot steps shifting to dodge all attacks.

Ling Zhaixing watched, her heart trembling with fear; she could with Clarity feel the force of each collision between the two.

That was a level far beyond her Knowledge.

She clenched her Fist tightly, nails digging into her palm, blood streaming down her finger gaps without her even noticing.

The masked man grew more frantic with each strike; he found that even giving his all, he still couldn't even brush Jiang Feng's garment edge.

Could this guy's strength really be terrifying to such a degree?

"Who on earth are you?"

The masked man attacked while snarling the question.

Jiang Feng gave no answer, merely raising his hand lightly and slapping a palm toward the masked man's chest.

The palm wind was gentle, yet carried an irresistible force.

The masked man's complexion changed drastically; he hurriedly sidestepped, yet the palm wind still brushed his shoulder.

He let out a muffled hum, staggered back several steps, a strand of blood spilling from his Mouth corner, his breath visibly disturbed for a few moments.

Jiang Feng watched his disheveled state, his Tone laced with a hint of mockery.

"Coveting the imperial throne, daring to mobilize the Nanjiang army, I didn't expect that Jiangnan Wang's guts were actually quite bold."

Those words struck the masked man's sore spot once more.

He jerked his head up, the madness in his eyes intensifying: "I'll kill you!"

He lunged again; this time, he burned his internal breath, his speed and strength both rising a notch, his whole being like a mad demon.

Ling Zhaixing let out a startled cry.

"Jiang Feng! Watch out, he's fighting for his life!"