A clear female voice reached her ears. Li Huang couldn't hide the sorrow in his eyes, his voice trembling, "Then... then let's try."
Feng Ninghe channeled her spiritual energy, and the White Floating Pearl emitted a dazzling light.
The atmosphere inside the carriage suddenly became tense.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on the round pearl.
The White Floating Pearl hovered in the air. Feng Ninghe guided her spiritual energy into it, and the pearl's glow instantly dimmed slightly.
If the White Floating Pearl could absorb poison, it would change color, but the pearl remained white.
Li Huang half-closed his eyes, his deep male voice aged a few years, "Even the White Floating Pearl is ineffective on me. Is my body beyond saving?"
"Li Huang, the White Floating Pearl can suppress the malevolent energy within the body. It can temporarily slow down the invasion of malevolent energy and delay it for some time, which is good."
As she finished speaking, Feng Ninghe's eyes narrowed slightly, and she guided the White Floating Pearl into Li Huang's body.
With the disappearance of the White Floating Pearl, the carriage lost its white light and returned to dimness.
Li Huang felt a slight improvement in his condition and drifted off to sleep.
The carriage sped towards the imperial palace.
A crescent moon traced the exquisite corner towers, casting a soft, white glow on the high palace walls.
Late at night, many carriages had already stopped outside the imperial palace.
News of Li Huang's serious illness spread rapidly among the four great families, and everyone rushed to the palace to visit.
Soon, Li Huang, gravely ill, was brought back to his sleeping quarters.
Outside the sleeping quarters, many noble families had gathered, inquiring about Li Huang's condition.
"Ninghe, how is Li Huang?" Seeing Feng Ninghe, the Grand Elder quickly asked, blocking her path into the sleeping quarters.
She shook her head and replied softly, "It's hard to say."
"Hard to say?"
At this moment, a sharp, piercing female voice reached her ears.
Feng Qingcheng stood quietly in the crowd, her sharp gaze instantly locking onto Feng Ninghe. "Feng Ninghe, Li Huang personally left the palace to invite you here. I thought you were something special, but it turns out you're no different."
Di Wenbin clicked his tongue and chimed in, "If you ask me, we should let Sister Qingcheng try. She is a peerless prodigy, and her master is Tang Zun. She is far more capable than this so-called Immortal Xu."
The cultivators from the major noble families began to murmur, their gazes shifting between the two young ladies of the Feng family.
Feng Qingcheng was backed by the Immortal Sect, and her master was Tang Zun. Although her reputation was in tatters, Tang Zun's name was well-known.
As for Feng Ninghe, she had the King of the Underworld supporting her. It was truly difficult to determine who was more capable at the moment.
Facing the murmurs, Feng Ninghe's expression did not change much. She calmly met Feng Qingcheng's slightly warning gaze. "Since Feng Qingcheng is so capable, then let her try."
"That is only natural."
Baili Yang was the first to speak, casting a disdainful glance at Feng Ninghe. When his gaze fell on Feng Qingcheng, his face quickly changed to a gentle smile. He respectfully made way and led the way, "Qingcheng, I entrust my father to you."
Feng Qingcheng's clean, fair face held a solemn expression. She replied politely, "Prince Zhenyang is too kind. Li Huang has contributed greatly to the Li Kingdom, and I will do my utmost."
On the dragon bed, Li Huang leaned against the bed, his face pale, his lips purplish.
After a brief examination, Feng Qingcheng said softly, "Li Huang is afflicted with malevolent energy. The method of refining malevolent energy is extremely cruel, requiring the extraction of a large amount of greed and resentment from corpses before it can be successfully refined."
"Malevolent energy? Isn't this cultivation technique long lost?"
"Once malevolent energy enters the body, even an Nascent Soul cultivator cannot resist it. Those who can refine malevolent energy must be eliminated, for they would bring endless harm to the world if they lived!"
The cultivators erupted in excitement.
To eliminate malevolent energy, one either had to have a powerful cultivation technique to dispel it or take the legendary Holy Herb.
Xiao Zhao on Feng Ninghe's shoulder heard something interesting. Its sapphire eyes blinked, and it whispered softly.
"Master, did I hear correctly? They mentioned the Holy Herb."
Feng Ninghe calmly reached out and gently stroked the soft fur on Xiao Zhao's body, transmitting her voice to it. "Yes, it is indeed the Holy Herb."
Baili Yang eagerly chimed in, "I heard that the Empress of Lin Kingdom cultivates many precious herbs in her courtyard, including the Holy Herb. If we can invite the Empress, my father will be saved."
"The Empress died a hundred years ago. Whether the Holy Herb still exists is uncertain. Moreover, Lin Kingdom is far away, and the journey would be arduous. It's uncertain if Father's body can endure for so long."
Suddenly, a deep male voice came from outside the hall.
Baili Ye, clad in a long robe, walked in from outside the hall, his deep eyes looking at the pale-faced Li Huang lying on the bed.
His robe cleverly concealed his empty right arm.
After careful consideration, he had decided to have his right arm amputated.
Baili Ye was accompanied by Feng Tongtong.
Xiao Zhao clicked its tongue, its eyes, clear as glazed glass, cast a disdainful glance at Baili Ye.
"Master, I thought he had fled to the countryside to lie low and that we wouldn't see him again. I didn't expect him to return so soon."
Baili Yang was like an ant on a hot pan, pacing anxiously. "What should we do then?"
Feng Qingcheng's gaze flickered. Her exquisitely made-up face held a hint of unfathomable depth. "I do have a method. I have the spiritual artifact, the whisk, given to me by my master.
If we can work together to draw the malevolent energy from Li Huang's body into ourselves, each taking a portion, and then I use the whisk to help cultivate and eliminate the malevolent energy, the problem will be easily solved."
Baili Yang frowned, pondering. "This plan is troublesome, but not entirely unfeasible."
If the malevolent energy was only a small amount, cultivators could dispel it with their own spiritual energy.
The amount of malevolent energy in Li Huang's body was immense, and ordinary methods could not cure it.
"I didn't expect Tang Zun to give the whisk to Qingcheng. The whisk can calm the mind and purify things. With the whisk, and our combined spiritual energy, eliminating a small amount of malevolent energy will be effortless."
Feng Guangyao's gaze deepened in thought. He was the first to agree. "To me, saving lives is paramount. This plan is feasible! I, Feng Guangyao, am willing to contribute to Li Huang!"
Seeing this, the other noble families quickly chimed in, "The disciples of my Bai family are not to be trifled with and fear nothing. We are also willing to contribute."
"My Ning family is willing to contribute to Li Huang!"
In an instant, the scene became grand, with cultivators speaking out one after another.
The Li Kingdom had remained stable for many years because of Li Huang. If Li Huang were to fall, who knew what other troubles might arise.
However, Feng Qingcheng's gaze fell on Feng Ninghe. A hidden meaning flickered in her beautiful eyes. Her clear female voice carried a hint of accusation. "Feng Ninghe, why haven't you stated your position? Do you refuse to serve Li Huang?"
As long as Feng Ninghe made a move and drew the malevolent energy into herself, she would have a way to make this wretched woman die on the spot.
At that time, no one would suspect her. It was simply the best of both worlds.
Thinking of this, a cruel glint appeared in Feng Qingcheng's eyes.
Her words caused everyone to turn their attention to Feng Ninghe.