Without a Man, She Would Die

How to solve this?

Bai Xiu pinched the glowing purple orb between his fingers, raising an eyebrow in contemplation.

After hesitating for a long time, he brought it to his lips.

Then, he attempted to swallow it.

Ah!

The moment Bai Xiu consumed the orb—

He was enveloped in blue-purple lightning, his body convulsing as a low growl escaped his throat.

Agony wracked his entire being—his limbs felt as if they were being torn apart, his organs seared by electric currents!

Ding! Host’s spiritual meridians are being forged. Completion: 1%, 2%, 3%... 49%!

Ding! Warning! Host’s condition is below 50%. Immediate hibernation required!

Ding! Warning! Host’s condition is below 20%. Near-death state detected. Hibernation mode activated!

The system’s voice echoed in his mind.

Bai Xiu’s lifeless eyes grew unbearably heavy, impossible to open.

Thud!

His eyes shut, and he fell into a deep slumber.

At that moment, a flash of golden light appeared—Ji Chen materialized before Bai Xiu.

His monk’s robes fluttered, his jade-like face twisted in fury, his entire presence radiating wrath like a wrathful guardian deity as he glared at Bai Xiu.

Then, another figure emerged, moving so swiftly that afterimages lingered in his wake.

Lv Zheng remarked lazily, "Oh? So this is the kid who stole that orb."

He crouched down, checking Bai Xiu’s pulse and breath before shaking his head. "Dead. What an idiot. That orb’s energy was way too strong—how dare he swallow it?!"

"Amitabha."

Ji Chen suppressed his rage, clasping his hands in prayer as he recited sutras to calm his resentment.

The man was already dead.

He had reaped what he sowed.

Yet, Ji Chen still couldn’t let it go.

Boom!

At that instant, the ground split apart, and the colossal ancient tree trembled violently.

Then, from the canopy down, it began collapsing—shattering the wooden bridge beneath it.

On the ruined bridge supports, three figures stood in a standoff.

Tang Qingqing gripped a dart tightly, her expression tense yet tinged with amusement.

Xue Ming, no longer as composed as before, wore a cold, sinister expression.

A long, narrow sword wound marred his shoulder.

Shangguan Qianqian landed gracefully on a wooden beam, her slender Qingyun Sword in hand, her beautiful eyes icy.

Drops of blood dripped from the blade.

"Xue Ming, weren’t you so confident earlier? Keep boasting now!" Tang Qingqing mocked.

Xue Ming ignored her, his gaze fixed on Shangguan Qianqian as he grinned savagely. "I always thought you were just a celebrity. Never expected you to be this strong."

Xue Ming had never considered himself weak.

On the Hidden Dragon Rankings, aside from Jiang Cheng, Ji Chen, Lv Zheng, and that lunatic from the Divine Halls, he had never feared anyone.

Yet, Shangguan Qianqian—a mere Holy Maiden of the Joyous Sect—had strength rivaling his own.

Shangguan Qianqian’s eyes remained frosty.

Having been reborn, she carried the cultivation experience of her past life.

She knew of events in the martial world before they unfolded.

For instance, the Windmoon Sword Art she wielded now was originally meant to emerge two years later. In her past life, its discovery had shaken the martial world.

But Shangguan Qianqian, relying on her memories, had retrieved it from the ruins first.

Her talent was exceptional, and with her past life’s knowledge, she was no weaker than the prodigies on the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

Now free from the Joyous Sect’s control, she no longer needed to hide her strength.

"Again!" Xue Ming roared.

His twin short blades slashed toward Shangguan Qianqian!

She countered with a flick of her sword, parrying and striking back!

At the same time—

Tang Qingqing hurled her dart at Xue Ming!

Caught between two attacks, Xue Ming had no choice but to retreat, deflecting the dart mid-air.

His expression darkened further.

In terms of raw power, Shangguan Qianqian matched him. And with Tang Qingqing harassing him with hidden weapons, he was at a disadvantage.

If this dragged on, he’d be finished.

"You want this thing, don’t you?"

Xue Ming pulled out the blue orb, his lips curling into a sinister smirk.

Shangguan Qianqian’s expression chilled.

She recognized this orb.

In her past life, a survivor of the Hongtian Secret Realm had described it.

This iteration of the Hongtian Secret Realm was unlike any before—those who entered would face five miniature worlds.

Each world had a guardian spirit, formed from the souls of powerful martial artists who had perished in the secret realm.

Only by defeating the guardian could one proceed deeper.

In her past life, over half the participants had died within these five worlds. If they couldn’t resolve the orb’s mystery, they’d be trapped forever.

Xue Ming said coolly, "This world has no exit. I’ve tested it—the only way out is to refine this orb."

Before confronting the two women, he had attempted to refine the orb.

But the process was excruciating, and he couldn’t defend himself while doing so. He didn’t dare attempt it here.

Tang Qingqing scoffed, "And we’re supposed to believe you?"

Shangguan Qianqian remained silent, her gaze icy.

Because she knew Xue Ming was telling the truth.

Xue Ming grinned wildly and hurled the orb into the air, slashing at it with his blade!

"Fine! If that’s how it is, let’s all rot here together!"

Shangguan Qianqian’s eyes flashed.

Her figure darted forward like a startled swan, her sword tip aiming for the orb.

"Hah! Fell for it!"

Triumph gleamed in Xue Ming’s eyes.

His blades reversed direction, slashing toward Shangguan Qianqian!

A horizontal strike!

A wound split open on Shangguan Qianqian’s shoulder!

Yet, to Xue Ming’s shock, she redirected the orb toward Tang Qingqing with her sword before spinning back—her blade slicing across Xue Ming’s face!

Sssk!

A bloody gash split Xue Ming’s features!

Blood poured freely.

"Did I… get hurt?"

Xue Ming touched his face.

The wound wasn’t deep, but it had ruined his flawless complexion. The relentless bleeding made him look monstrous.

"Qianqian, are you okay?!"

Tang Qingqing caught the blue orb and rushed to Shangguan Qianqian’s side.

Her shoulder burned with pain.

Shangguan Qianqian’s eyes flickered with anger.

"The blade was poisoned!"

"Don’t worry, Qianqian. The Tang Clan of Sichuan and the Five Venoms Sect of Yunjiang have been mortal enemies for a thousand years. I can concoct an antidote for any of their poisons!"

Tang Qingqing examined the wound as she spoke.

Xue Ming chuckled darkly. "Oh? You’re so confident without even knowing what poison it is?"

Tang Qingqing’s expression stiffened.

Wiping the blood from his face, Xue Ming sneered. "It’s an aphrodisiac. There’s no antidote. Without a man to satisfy her, she’ll die."

"You bastard!" Tang Qingqing’s face twisted in fury.

Shangguan Qianqian’s pale complexion was already flushing unnaturally.

Tang Qingqing grew frantic.

This kind of "poison" truly had no cure.

After all, technically, it wasn’t even a toxin.

Xue Ming laughed maniacally. "And just so you know—though it’s not lethal, if she doesn’t find a man within a day, her meridians will rupture from the buildup, and she’ll die in agony!"

"Xue Ming, you son of a bitch!"

Tang Qingqing’s hands filled with hidden weapons.

Instead of wasting time cursing me, you'd be better off begging me. Who knows? I might have a change of heart and save Miss Shangguan on a whim.

Xue Ming's eyes gleamed with dark desire.

After all, Shangguan Qianqian was breathtakingly beautiful.

That face, that figure!

For most men, a single night with her would be worth dying for.