Chapter 143

That palm strike was clearly very close to Xiao Minghuang, but it was blocked by a sword and easily shattered.

However, something even more unbelievable happened.

The Sword Qi, radiating starlight, shattered the purplish-black palm print, its sharpness undiminished, and slashed straight towards him.

Wang Xiao hurriedly dodged, but the Sword Qi was too fast and too swift, seemingly impossible to avoid.

A tremendous sound echoed through the night sky as Wang Xiao was cleaved through by a sword, crashing heavily onto the mountain peak. A crack spread from beneath his feet, instantly piercing through the entire mountain and splitting a mountain range in two.

A huge bloodstain suddenly appeared on his chest, which quickly expanded and spread throughout his body, shattering his flesh and bones inch by inch, and causing blood to splatter everywhere.

One strike, one kill!

Thump!

Wang Xiao's body fell from mid-air, creating a large crater. Blood, flesh, and internal organs were spilled all over the ground, making it almost impossible to piece together a human figure.

Even with such severe injuries, he still had a breath left.

Xiao Minghuang flew over and landed in front of Wang Xiao. Her gaze was calm and indifferent, as if she had not been the one who had just unleashed the earth-shattering sword strike.

"Princess Xia... you... I refuse to accept this!"

Wang Xiao's body was shattered, and he was critically injured and on the verge of death. His life was but a fleeting moment, yet he was still unwilling to accept defeat.

"I'll only ask you one question. If you give me the answer I want, I'll give you this elixir. How about it?"

As she spoke, Xiao Minghuang took out a bright green pill that exuded a rich life force from her sleeve.

"The Nine Revolutions Returning Origin Pill, a top-grade Xuan-level pill, can preserve life no matter how severe the injury. It only works on those below the Divine Sea Realm, which is perfect for you."

Xiao Minghuang's voice was sweet and melodious, like heavenly music. For Wang Xiao, it was like a lifeline, and he had no reason to refuse this chance to live.

"... ask..."

Wang Xiao was extremely weak and barely managed to respond.

"Your senior brother, Xue Wushang, also cultivated Demonic Cultivation Method, just like you, didn't he?"

Xiao Minghuang asked calmly.

There was no response.

But.

Xiao Minghuang already understood his answer.

"I never imagined that even among the Outer Dao, there could be people with 'compassion and righteousness'."

She sighed softly, then turned and left.

The same as [#]

Wang Xiao's presence completely dissipated.

Xiao Minghuang glanced back at Wang Xiao, whose body was now "shattered on the ground," and a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

She originally intended to use this opportunity to get Wang Xiao to admit that Xue Wushang had practiced evil arts.

In this way, she could kill Xue Wushang under the legitimate reason of slaying demons and eliminating evil, thus preventing future troubles.

But Wang Xiao was unwilling to cooperate, so she had to make other plans.

"It seems the only way is to force Xue Wushang to reveal his Demonic True Body in front of everyone; otherwise, we won't be able to gain their trust."

Xiao Minghuang pondered to herself, "How could the second disciple of the Dragon Tiger Sect, a true disciple, be secretly practicing Demonic Cultivation Method? If the Dragon Tiger Sect doesn't know about this, I absolutely cannot believe it."

Perhaps this evil technique was taught by the higher-ups of the Dragon Tiger Sect.

"It's a pity I don't have any evidence. Otherwise, if I could prove that the Dragon Tiger Sect colluded with evil cultivators, the Holy Academy would definitely send a true Great Cultivator to destroy the Dragon Tiger Sect with ease."

Xiao Minghuang sighed softly, then stopped thinking about it and walked towards the group of Rogue Cultivator.

"Princess, if it weren't for your rescue, we would probably be dead by now. Please accept these Moon Spirit Fruit as a token of our gratitude."

Li Chunyan held a pile of Moon Spirit Fruit, her face full of gratitude.

Xiao Minghuang was not surprised by this; she had saved the lives of the Rogue Cultivator and demonstrated formidable strength.

The Rogue Cultivator would naturally be sensible enough to offer up all the Moon Spirit Fruit and would not mention the previous agreement again.

"Fellow Daoist Li, you're too kind."

Xiao Minghuang took the Moon Spirit Fruit, but after hearing the system notification, she put it back in the other person's hand.

"Fellow Daoist, as Rogue Cultivator, cultivation is not easy. Please keep these Moon Spirit Fruits for your own use."

Upon hearing this, Li Chunyan's expression froze, as if she couldn't quite process what she was hearing.

"This..."

Li Chunyan waved her hands repeatedly, "Princess, how could we possibly accept this? If it weren't for your rescue, we would already be dead. How could we possibly covet the spiritual fruit..."

"If I say you can bear it, then you can bear it!"

Xiao Minghuang suppressed her smile, and a hint of majesty appeared on her beautiful face, making her resemble a high and mighty empress, inspiring no one to have the slightest thought of resisting her.

Li Chunyan was intimidated by this imposing aura and dared not say another word, so she put away the Moon Spirit Fruit.

However, she suddenly realized that of the original sixteen Moon Spirit Fruit, only fifteen remained.

Looking further into the crowd, they discovered that Han Li was nowhere to be seen.

"Did this guy sneak away?"

155. Taken as a maid, Sword Dao Stone Tablet

Li Chunyan told Xiao Minghuang about the loss of one Moon Spirit Fruit and Han Li's disappearance.

Xiao Minghuang ignored this. It was just a Moon Spirit Fruit; even if that Rogue Cultivator took it, what difference would it make?

She looked at the group of Rogue Cultivator and said in a clear voice:

"Gentlemen, today's business is concluded. May we meet again someday."

After saying this, Xiao Minghuang turned to leave.

She received a considerable amount of Moon Spirit Fruit as compensation from the system, and she also learned that the Dragon Tiger Sect was hiding demons, so this battle wasn't a complete loss.

Just as she was about to leave.

Li Chunyan seemed to have made up her mind, and suddenly spoke:

"Princess, please wait!"

Xiao Minghuang stopped and turned around to ask:

"Is there anything else, fellow Daoist?"

Looking at Xiao Minghuang's stunningly beautiful face, Li Chunyan's heart couldn't help but beat faster. But she knew in her heart that the peerless young woman in front of her was destined to rise from the abyss and soar to the sky, and was not someone like her could even dream of.

She was content just to be able to gaze at that stunning figure from afar.

She mustered all the courage she had in her life and uttered a single sentence.

"If it weren't for the princess's rescue today, I would probably be dead without a burial place. I can never repay the princess's great kindness. Although I am not talented, I still have the cultivation of the Ninth Level of the Spring Gushing Realm. I am willing to serve the princess as her maid. From now on, I will obey her every command without question. I humbly beg the princess to grant my request!"

Xiao Minghuang was slightly taken aback, then laughed.

"Fellow Daoist is joking. With your dignified cultivation at the Ninth Level of the Spring Gushing Realm, how could you stoop to be my maid?"

"No! Princess! I'm sincere! Please grant my wish!"

Seeing that Xiao Minghuang refused to accept her as a maid, Li Chunyan spoke up anxiously.

Xiao Minghuang shook her head and did not insist further.

"In that case, after we leave the secret realm, you will come back to the Princess Mansion with me. As for the maidservant, there's no need to mention it again."

Upon hearing this, Li Chunyan's face lit up with joy, and she bowed repeatedly.

"Thank you, Princess! Thank you, Princess!"

Xiao Minghuang waved his hand, "Fellow Daoist, as Rogue Cultivator, to have cultivated to such a level on your own, the hardships and difficulties you faced are beyond the comprehension of outsiders. Although I cannot fully understand your experiences, I still respect you. Fellow Daoist, please do not underestimate yourself in the future. I believe that as long as you have sufficient resources, one day you will also reach my level."

Xiao Minghuang's words were extremely sincere, and Li Chunyan was deeply moved. She hadn't expected the princess before her to be so humble and polite.

If she was merely attracted by Xiao Minghuang's appearance and grateful for his life-saving grace, then...

Now, she was truly captivated by Xiao Minghuang's noble character.

Such virtue and wisdom are beyond compare!

The other Rogue Cultivator all looked on with envy as they saw Li Chunyan being taken under Xiao Minghuang.

But none of them had the courage to volunteer like Li Chunyan, thus missing the opportunity to enter the Princess Mansion.

Xiao Minghuang glanced at the remaining Rogue Cultivator, said nothing, and turned to leave.

The Fifth Prince, the Sixth Prince, and Li Chunyan quickly followed.

In the sky, four figures flew through the air; it was Xiao Minghuang and her group of four.

Xiao Minghuang stopped in her tracks. Her group had been searching for three days in a row, but their harvest was meager, consisting only of some low-quality spiritual herbs.

She distributed them all to the Fifth Prince, the Sixth Prince, and Li Chunyan, taking none for herself.

She didn't care about those things.

"Princess, shall we go to the Sword Dao Stone Tablet or the Crimson Flame Fire Pool next?"

Li Chunyan asked the question. She was dressed in a blue dress, looked pretty and lovely, had a slender figure, and possessed the gentle temperament unique to girls from Jiangnan.

Previously, Xiao Minghuang hadn't noticed that this female cultivator, who looked quite ordinary, now looked rather attractive after changing her clothes.

Of course, compared to her two precious children, they are far inferior.

Not to mention compared to her in person.

That light was truly incomparable to the bright moon, like the light of a firefly.

"Let's go to the Sword Dao Stone Tablet first!"

After pondering for a moment, Xiao Minghuang spoke.

She made this decision for two reasons. First, both she and the Sixth Prince practiced swordsmanship, and studying the Sword Dao Stone Tablet should be beneficial to them.

Secondly, Lin Wanqiu also practices swordsmanship, so if I go there, I might run into her.

Upon hearing this, Li Chunyan's face lit up with joy. She was also a sword cultivator, but she hadn't even grasped the Sword Intent Embryo. If she could stumble upon an opportunity at the Sword Dao Stone Tablet, that would be perfect.

Before long, the group arrived at the Sword Dao Stone Tablet.

Xiao Minghuang looked around and found that many Rogue Cultivators had gathered at the Sword Dao Stone Tablet.

The Sword Dao Stone Tablet is located at the top of a mountain peak, towering into the clouds, majestic and magnificent.

"This Sword Dao Stone Tablet has a long history and contains rich sword techniques. It can help us understand the way of the sword and gain more sword experience. It can also be considered as an opportunity for sword cultivators to hone their skills."

The Sixth Prince pointed to the Sword Dao Stone Tablet in front of him and said.

Li Chunyan nodded, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, seemingly longing for it.

Xiao Minghuang glanced at the three of them and noticed that even the Fifth Prince, who did not practice swordsmanship, had a look of longing in his eyes. He then smiled and said:

"The three of you may do as you see fit; there's no need to worry."

"Then we'll head over there."

After saying that, the three of them landed near the Sword Dao Stone Tablet.

Xiao Minghuang also landed on the ground.

She gazed intently at the massive Sword Dao Stone Tablet before her, her eyes deep and penetrating, as if they could pierce through the thick dust and reach the very essence of things.

She placed her hands behind her back, slowly raised her palms, and gently placed them on the stone tablet. Immediately, a vast spiritual power surged forth, attempting to communicate with the True Meaning of Sword Dao contained within it.

Her swordsmanship has reached the level of beginner sword intent. Now, she only needs to connect her own sword intent with the sword intent left by her predecessors on the stone tablet to break through to a higher level.

She closed her eyes, and in her mind, the form of the True Meaning of Sword Dao appeared on the Sword Dao Stone Tablet.

This is a sword, entirely black and white, with several stripes on the blade, giving it a somewhat eerie appearance.