Return to the Imperial City

A moment later, Zhao Yingying brought over a small stove with a small plate on top. These were items even found in peasant households.

Normally, people used them to heat water for washing when it was cold, using charcoal. Wealthier families sometimes used beast oil.

Beast oil was an essence refined from demon beast bones, much like gasoline is familiar to everyone. It was something only wealthy families could afford.

The stove Zhao Yingying had borrowed, however, used beast oil. Zhao Shanshan picked up the small kettle the young girl had brought, opened it, and a rich spiritual energy wafted out.

Zhao Shanshan paused, curious about what kind of water was in the kettle to release such potent spiritual energy.

"This... this is... this is Spirit Liquid?"

When Zhao Shanshan poured out the water from the kettle, she froze. Looking at the Spirit Liquid on the stove's plate, she even thought she was seeing things.

It wasn't just Zhao Shanshan who was stunned; Zhao Yingying, sitting beside her, was equally taken aback. Even the other guests at their tables were no exception.

Many even showed greedy looks. That was Spirit Liquid!

Spirit Liquid was a crystallization of spiritual energy, only producible in top-grade spirit ore veins. It was a rare and elusive resource.

Let alone in this small town, it was rare even in the entire Xiling Empire. Only sects of rank one or higher possessed such items.

"It's just some Spirit Spring Water. What's all the fuss about? Hurry up and help the Little Master boil milk!"

Seeing Zhao Shanshan and the other girl acting like they'd never seen the world, Little Black had to remind her. This was just the most ordinary thing the Master had prepared for the Little Master, used by the young girl for everyday cooking.

Prompted by Little Black, Zhao Shanshan snapped back to reality. She quickly returned the kettle to the young girl and focused on boiling the milk powder for her.

Before long, Zhao Shanshan finished boiling the milk and filled a whole bottle for the young girl. With milk to drink, the young girl finally became happy.

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

The young girl said to Zhao Shanshan while drinking her milk.

"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 her mother."

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

Upon hearing Zhao Shanshan, the young girl became anxious and urged her on. Although she was young, she knew what was urgent and what wasn't.

"Ling'er, then big sister thanks you first."

Zhao Shanshan thanked Ling'er first, then looked at Little Black, who had already finished eating all the dishes on the table.

It would take at least two more days to return to the Imperial City from here. Moreover, she was bringing the young girl along. By the time they got back, her Imperial Father might already be dead.

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

Fortunately, Little Black didn't disappoint Zhao Shanshan. Little Black stood up on its hind legs, slashed with its front paws, and opened a space channel. It glanced back at Zhao Shanshan and the young girl.

Zhao Shanshan quickly picked up the young girl and walked into the space channel. The three of them and the dog vanished from the inn in the blink of an eye.

"Damn it, I didn't expect that black dog to be a Level 8 demon beast. Luckily, I didn't make a move just now."

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

"Yeah!"

"I can't believe a Level 8 demon beast would appear in such a small town, and it looks like it's enslaved."

"Those three must have extraordinary identities. Unfortunately, they are not people we can afford to provoke."

After one of the burly men finished speaking, another said. The three of them were local bandits who specialized in robbing passing strangers.

When they saw Zhao Shanshan pour out the Spirit Liquid earlier, the three of them had noticed Zhao Shanshan and her companions. They planned to probe Zhao Shanshan's background first and act after they left the small town.

As a result, seeing Little Black open a space channel almost scared the three of them to death.

At the East Gate of the Xiling Empire's Imperial City, a spatial portal suddenly appeared not far from the gate. Three people and a dog emerged from it – it was Zhao Shanshan and the others.

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

Looking at the tall city gate before her, Zhao Shanshan felt a mix of emotions. She knew the Imperial City was now under Yao Wuchen's control.

If it were just her and Little Black, Zhao Shanshan might not have had many concerns. But now, she was bringing Little Ling'er, and Zhao Shanshan was worried about the young girl's safety.

Moreover, Medicine King Valley was a rank two sect of the empire. She didn't know how many powerful experts were in the Imperial City. If Little Black couldn't win, they would have no chance to start over.

"Then what else do you want?"

Little Black's voice entered Zhao Shanshan's mind. This wasn't some dragon's den or tiger's lair; it could blow those people away with a single breath.

Furthermore, even if it were a dragon's den or tiger's lair, Little Black could guarantee their safety. What was there to prepare for?

As for their concern about the young girl's safety, that was even more absurd. Even if everyone in the entire Imperial City were combined, they wouldn't be enough for the young girl to fight.

Over the past few years, Mu Feiyang had fed the young girl heavenly treasures every day, not to mention demon beasts and immortal beasts.

The young girl's cultivation had long reached a terrifying level. Otherwise, her companions in the courtyard wouldn't have let her run out on her own.

Moreover, the young girl was already equipped with treasures refined by Mu Feiyang, making her fully armed.

"Alright then!"

Hearing Little Black's words, Zhao Shanshan, holding the young girl, walked towards the city gate.

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

The three had just reached the entrance when the soldiers guarding the Imperial City gates stopped them. These were just the lowest-ranking soldiers in the Imperial City, so naturally, they didn't recognize the two princesses.

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

Zhao Shanshan let out a soft shout and revealed her Princess Jade Pendant. With the Imperial City now under lockdown, she was even more worried about her Imperial Father's life.

"Greetings, Seventh Princess!"

Upon seeing Zhao Shanshan's Princess Jade Pendant, these soldiers immediately knelt and paid their respects, never expecting that the person they had stopped was the Seventh Princess.

"Open the city gates. I want to return to the palace."

"Yes!"

The soldiers quickly opened the city gates to welcome the three into the Imperial City, inwardly relieved that the princess wasn't holding them accountable.

Shortly after Zhao Shanshan and the other two entered the Imperial City, they were discovered by Yao Wuchen's people, who immediately relayed the news back.