Return to the Imperial City

In no time, Zhao Yingying brought over a small brazier, with a little tray set atop it. Such things could be found even in farming households.

Ordinary people generally used them to boil water for washing up when the weather turned cold, burning charcoal beneath them. Some wealthy families used beast oil instead.

Beast oil was an essence refined from demon beast bones. Like the gasoline everyone knew, it was something only wealthy families could afford.

The brazier Zhao Yingying had borrowed was fueled by beast oil. Zhao Shanshan picked up the Small Kettle the little girl had brought out and opened it, and a rich spiritual aura drifted from within.

Zhao Shanshan froze for a moment, curious about what kind of water was inside the Small Kettle to give off such an abundant spiritual aura.

"Th-this... this is... Spirit Liquid?"

When Zhao Shanshan poured out the water from the kettle, she stood rooted to the spot. Looking at the Spirit Liquid in the brazier's tray, she even thought her eyes had deceived her.

Zhao Shanshan was not the only one stunned. Zhao Yingying, seated beside her, was equally dumbfounded, as were the guests at the other tables.

Many even revealed greedy looks. That was Spirit Liquid!

Spirit Liquid was a crystallization of spiritual energy, something that could only possibly be produced in the finest spirit ore veins. It was a resource one could encounter only by chance, never seek by choice.

Let alone in a small city like this, it was rare even throughout the entire Xiling Empire. Only sects above the first grade possessed such things.

"Isn't it just some Spirit Spring Water? What's there to make such a fuss over? Hurry up and help Little Master boil the milk!"

Seeing the two of them acting like country bumpkins who had never seen the world, Little Black had no choice but to remind them. Those were merely the most ordinary things Master had prepared for Little Master, used by the little girl for washing vegetables and cooking every day.

With Little Black's reminder, Zhao Shanshan finally came back to herself. She hurriedly returned the Small Kettle to the little girl and began focusing on preparing the milk powder for her.

Before long, Zhao Shanshan had finished boiling it, filling an entire bottle with milk for the little girl. Only after she had milk to drink did the little girl become happy again.

"Big sister, let's go find mom!"

As she drank her milk, the little girl spoke to Zhao Shanshan.

"Ling'er, my father was captured by bad people. I have to go back and rescue him before I can accompany Ling'er to find Mom."

"Big Sister, your dad was captured by bad people? Then let's hurry and save your dad! Ling'er will help you beat up the bad guys."

The moment the little girl heard Zhao Shanshan's words, she anxiously urged her on. Though she was young, she still knew which matters were urgent and which were not.

"Ling'er, then Big Sister will thank you first."

After thanking Ling'er, Zhao Shanshan looked toward Little Black, who had already finished all the dishes on the table.

It would take at least two more days to return to the Imperial City from here. With the little girl in tow, by the time they got back, her Imperial Father might already have been killed.

If they wanted to reach the Imperial City quickly, they could only rely on Little Black. If Little Black had no solution, they could only travel there on their own.

Fortunately, Little Black did not disappoint Zhao Shanshan. It stood upright on its hind legs, and with a swipe of its front paw, opened a spatial passage. Then it glanced back at Zhao Shanshan and the others.

Zhao Shanshan quickly picked up the little girl and walked into the spatial passage. The three people and one dog vanished from the inn in the blink of an eye.

"Damn it, I never thought that black dog was a Level 8 demon beast. Good thing I didn't choose to make a move earlier."

After the three people and one dog left, three burly men sat at a table in the corner of the inn. One of them spoke with lingering fear.

"Yeah!"

"Who would have thought a Level 8 demon beast would appear in such a small city? And from the looks of it, it seemed to have been enslaved."

"Those three must have extraordinary identities. What a pity they aren't people we can afford to provoke."

After one of the burly men finished speaking, another added his piece. The three of them were wandering bandits from the area, specializing in robbing unfamiliar faces passing through.

When they saw the Spirit Liquid Zhao Shanshan had poured out earlier, the three had taken notice of them. They had intended to first probe Zhao Shanshan's group, then strike once they left the small city.

But when they saw Little Black open a spatial passage, the three were nearly scared to death on the spot.

At the east gate of the Xiling Empire's Imperial City, a spatial gate suddenly appeared not far from the entrance. Three people and one dog emerged from it—Zhao Shanshan and the others.

"Senior, are we really just going in like this?"

Looking at the towering city gate before her, Zhao Shanshan was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. She knew the Imperial City was now under Yao Wuchen's control.

If it were only them and Little Black, Zhao Shanshan might not have had any concerns. But they had brought little Ling'er with them, and Zhao Shanshan worried for the little girl's safety.

Moreover, Medicine King Valley was a Second-grade sect of the empire. She did not know how many powerful experts were inside the Imperial City. If Little Black could not defeat them, they would have no chance to start over.

"What else do you want to do?"

Little Black's voice entered Zhao Shanshan's mind. This place was no dragon's pool or tiger's den; with a casual puff of breath, it could blow those people to death.

And even if it truly were a dragon's pool or tiger's den, Little Black could still ensure their safety. What was there to prepare for?

As for their concern over the little girl's safety, that was even more absurd. Even if everyone in the entire Imperial City joined forces, they would still not be enough for the little girl to fight.

Over the past few years, Mu Feiyang had fed the little girl heavenly treasures every day, or else demon beasts and immortal beasts.

The little girl's cultivation had long since reached a terrifying level. Otherwise, the companions in their courtyard would never have let her run out on her own.

Moreover, Mu Feiyang had crafted various treasures for the little girl, arming her to the teeth long ago.

"All right, then!"

After hearing Little Black's words, Zhao Shanshan carried the little girl toward the city gate.

"Stop! No one is allowed to enter or leave the Imperial City today."

The moment the three reached the gate, the soldiers guarding the entrance stopped them. These were merely the lowest-ranking soldiers in the Imperial City, so naturally they did not recognize the two princesses.

"How dare you! I am the Seventh Princess, Zhao Shanshan. Am I not allowed to enter the city either?"

Zhao Shanshan gave a cold shout and displayed her Princess Jade Pendant. Now that the Imperial City had been sealed off, she was even more worried about her Imperial Father's life.

"Greetings, Seventh Princess!"

Upon seeing Zhao Shanshan's Princess Jade Pendant, the soldiers hurriedly knelt in salute. They had never expected the person they stopped to be the Seventh Princess.

"Open the city gate. I am returning to the palace."

"Yes!"

The soldiers hastily opened the gate and welcomed the three into the Imperial City, secretly rejoicing that the princess had not blamed them.

After Zhao Shanshan and the others entered the Imperial City, Yao Wuchen's people quickly discovered them and immediately sent word back.