Chapter 132
"Your Highness, it's already evening..."
Ye Ruoshui's face was flushed, and there were tear stains at the corners of her eyes. She gently nudged Xiao Minghuang.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Minghuang smiled:
"Yes, it's getting late, we should rest too."
"Kindness."
Upon hearing Xiao Minghuang's words, Ye Ruoshui's cheeks flushed red, and she lowered her head shyly.
Xiao Minghuang chuckled and picked her up in his arms.
Ye Ruoshui exclaimed in surprise, but did not struggle. Instead, she nestled obediently in Xiao Minghuang's arms.
This night was destined to be sleepless.
Inside Xiao Minghuang's room, the flickering candlelight cast an eerily intimate shadow on the two figures.
Ye Ruoshui lay on the bed, gazing at the scenery outside the window, her eyes shimmering with a dreamy light.
Although we've been intimate countless times, every time we do something intimate, it feels like the first time.
It was precisely Ye Ruoshui's shy, almost first-time-like demeanor that made Xiao Minghuang even more fond of her. A flame rose within him, and he gently pressed his hand against Ye Ruoshui's soft, exquisite body...
That night.
It was very slow and very long.
The following morning.
As the rising sun crossed the horizon and the first rays of sunlight shone on the earth, Xiao Minghuang slowly opened her eyes.
Almost the instant she woke up, she felt the warmth and softness in her arms, and the faint scent of oranges.
Xiao Minghuang turned his gaze to Ye Ruoshui in his arms, looking at her sweet sleeping face, his eyes filled with tenderness and doting affection.
Ye Ruoshui was sleeping soundly and was not woken up by her.
Xiao Minghuang smiled slightly, bent down and left a light kiss on her forehead, then got dressed and left the house.
As time went by, there were only two months left before the secret realm opened. She wanted to take advantage of this time to travel all over the Great Xia territory and check if there were any opportunities she had missed.
Moreover, since Ye Ruoshui said she was already able to refine Earth-grade pill, she could also look for some older spiritual herbs on this trip, which might be helpful for her pill refining.
She didn't leave immediately, but went to find Lin Wanqiu first.
Thinking of this, Xiao Minghuang immediately set off.
Upon arriving at the main hall, they discovered that Lin Wanqiu was not the only one there.
Two young men sat respectfully on either side.
"Fifth Prince, Sixth Prince, you two are both young geniuses. Isn't it a waste of your talents to condescend to be mere guards in the Princess Mansion?"
Lin Wanqiu sat upright behind the desk, glanced at the two people who looked uneasy, and spoke calmly.
"Miss Lin, we are unworthy, but we are willing to follow the princess, to lead her horse and hold her stirrups, to serve her at her side, without any complaints. We beg Miss Lin to grant our request!"
The two bowed deeply together, showing the utmost respect.
Looking at the two extremely respectful people, Lin Wanqiu also felt a bit of a headache.
Since the banquet at the Wu'an King's Residence, the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince have frequently visited the Princess Mansion.
Before the competition, they could refuse to see the prince because he was focused on preparing for the competition and had no time to entertain guests. But now that the competition has been over for a month, the Fifth Prince and Sixth Prince come to see them almost every two days.
Seven days ago, the two came to visit for the last time, but were rejected and never came again. Lin Wanqiu thought they had given up, but she didn't expect them to come again today.
She had asked His Highness whether to keep the two men, and received instructions to refuse them.
That's why she had a headache.
After all, these two weren't just any Tom, Dick, or Harry.
Not only is he a prince of the royal family, but he is also exceptionally talented. Even if you don't meet him, you can't afford to offend him, otherwise you'll be making an enemy for His Highness.
Seeing Lin Wanqiu's pensive expression and her silence, the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince grew anxious.
The Sixth Prince, being more simple-minded, couldn't contain himself and spoke first:
"Miss Lin, my brother and I have been traveling for seven days since leaving the capital. During our travels, we found a great opportunity in Savage Forest. If the princess is willing to take us in, we will immediately tell her the location of this opportunity. What do you think, Miss Lin?"
Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu frowned slightly and asked:
What was the reason for this?
The Sixth Prince chuckled, brimming with confidence:
"In the Savage Forest, an ancient secret realm is about to open. We have inadvertently found a token that allows us to enter the realm. The opportunities within are yours to take!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Minghuang, who was standing outside the door listening, was taken aback and couldn't help but recall the token she had obtained in a small town.
"Secret realm... token... could it be...?"
In an instant.
She understood.
The recent news that the secret realm is about to open, along with the token she obtained by chance, should point to the same goal.
Her token should be the proof of entry into the secret realm.
However, she did not expect that the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince would also receive a token.
"These two are quite fortunate."
Xiao Minghuang's expression shifted slightly, and he immediately brought up the two people's profiles.
After checking, she found no changes in their Destiny/Fate, only that their cultivation levels had each increased by two minor realms.
"It seems that it's not impossible to keep them."
Previously, she was unwilling to let the two stay because of the Spirit Sword Sect.
The Sixth Prince is, after all, a true disciple of the Spirit Sword Sect and should not be humiliated. If the Spirit Sword Sect investigates, it will surely bring endless trouble.
But after so much time, not a single word has come from the Spirit Sword Sect. It seems that the Spirit Sword Sect doesn't value the Sixth Prince much, otherwise they wouldn't have ignored him.
As for the Fifth Prince, his background is relatively clean; he is simply Rogue Cultivator. The reason for not accepting him is simply because he spends all his time with the Sixth Prince. If the Fifth Prince is accepted while the Sixth Prince is not, it will inevitably leave a reputation for unfairness, which is not good.
After some thought, Xiao Minghuang made up her mind.
"In that case, you may stay."
The voice came from outside the door, clear and melodious, serene and otherworldly, instantly attracting the attention of the three people in the hall.
Lin Wanqiu and the fifth and Sixth Prince looked up in the direction of the sound and saw Xiao Minghuang walking in.
She wore a light red dress, her skin was like jade, her black hair was like a waterfall, her face was exquisite, and she exuded a noble and elegant temperament.
Her beauty is stunning.
It was like a fleeting glance cast down from the heavens, unreachable and unattainable. Just one look filled one's heart with awe, preventing even the slightest thought of disrespect.
"Greetings, Princess!"
"Greetings, Princess!"
The two bowed in unison, showing the utmost respect.
Xiao Minghuang nodded slightly:
"You two need not stand on ceremony."
Now, as the Crown Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty, her status is second only to the Old Ancestor and the Emperor Xia. Although the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince are nominally her brothers, their status is far inferior to hers, so it is only natural for them to pay their respects to her.
Moreover, her cultivation level far surpasses that of the two of them.
"The princess just said she was willing to take us in. Is that true?"
The Sixth Prince, his voice trembling with excitement, asked.
Xiao Minghuang chuckled slightly and nodded, saying:
"Indeed, but I will not make you do such trivial things as leading horses and setting stirrups. I have three thousand Ironclad Army under my command, who aspire to the Great Dao, but their martial arts skills are mediocre. Would you two be willing to teach them a thing or two?"
Upon hearing this, the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince exchanged glances. To put it bluntly, this job was to be an instructor for the guards. No cultivator with any ambition would do such a low-class job.
Being the instructor of Princess Ziwei's Guard Team is a different story altogether.
If one can catch the princess's eye through this, one might be able to stay by her side for a long time and receive some guidance that would be of immense benefit.
Furthermore, when you go out in the future, please say a few words when you announce your number:
"I am the chief instructor of Princess Ziwei's three thousand armored soldiers!"
It's not shameful!
After all, even a seventh-rank official has to stand before the prime minister's door!
145. Subduing a prodigy grants entry into the Dragon Transformation Pool.
The Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince quickly changed their minds and decided to stay and become Xiao Minghuang's guards.
Ah... no, Instructor Wu.
"Thank you, Princess. We are both willing!"
They both answered at the same time.
Xiao Minghuang nodded slightly.
"Very good. With your talents, there's no need to worry about being overlooked as mere martial arts masters. Since I've kept you here, I won't treat you unfairly!"
As they were talking.
With a flick of her sleeve, two storage bags floated out and hovered in front of the two of them.
Both men looked puzzled. They had just pledged allegiance to Princess Ziwei and hadn't accomplished anything yet; why were they being rewarded with spirit stones so soon?
Seeing Xiao Minghuang's faintly smiling eyes, the two of them simultaneously opened their storage bags.
The moment they saw the items in the storage bag, they all showed expressions of shock.
Countless spirit stones were piled up almost like a small mountain, and rows of pills were placed on the shelves, numbering in the hundreds at a glance!
Moreover, in the center of the storage bag, there was a stone platform upon which lay a flawless white Jade Slip, emitting a faint glow, which was quite extraordinary.
The two channeled their spiritual senses into the Jade Slip and instantly felt an ancient and vicissitude aura wash over them, as if a star from the endless void had fallen from the heavens and landed before them.
The shock and tremor were indescribable.
At this moment, Xiao Minghuang spoke, snapping them out of their shock.
"This is an Earth Tier Top-grade Cultivation Method, <Star Forging Qi Art>, which can be cultivated up to the Divine Sea Realm. I obtained it by chance and am now bestowing it upon you. As long as you cultivate diligently and do not disappoint my expectations, subsequent cultivation techniques will be given to you when you break through to the Divine Sea Realm."
Upon hearing this, both the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince's expressions changed.
Earth-tier Cultivation Method!
As cultivators, they naturally knew the value of Earth-tier Cultivation Method.
Even in the entire Southern Border, only the Three Great Sects possess Earth-tier Cultivation Method.
However, the Earth-tier Cultivation Method possessed by the Three Great Sects are only of Earth-grade low-rank, and compared with the <Star Forging Qi Art> before them, the difference is like an insurmountable chasm.
Moreover, the Earth-tier Cultivation Method within a sect are not something that just anyone can practice. Only those who have made great contributions to the sect or are direct disciples of the sect Sect Master are qualified to cultivate them.
The Sixth Prince deeply understood this.
He was originally a disciple of the Spirit Sword Sect, so he was naturally familiar with many of the sect's rules.
As for the Fifth Prince, he felt it even more deeply.
As Rogue Cultivator, he traveled alone. If he hadn't stumbled upon some fortuitous encounters and made some friends, he probably would have died in some unknown corner long ago.
Therefore, the cultivation technique he is currently practicing is only at the mid-level of the Profound rank.