Chapter 237
Perhaps Luo Qianhua was doing this for the future of the Rogue Cultivator the Eastern Pole, but this scheme of using someone else to do her dirty work was not honorable.
From now on, she wanted to have nothing more to do with this woman.
In this battle, she helped Luo Qianhua, and the karmic debt of giving her the Heavenly Dipper Star Chart was considered settled.
Upon seeing Xiao Minghuang approaching, the Guixu Alliance members were all terrified and took a step back.
Although they knew Xiao Minghuang meant them no harm, they still felt awe upon seeing Xiao Minghuang, who was like a female killing god.
289. Our karma is now cleared.
Ye Ruoshui paid no attention to the actions of those around her, and like a swallow throwing itself into Xiao Minghuang's arms, she hugged her slender waist tightly and said in a soft and coquettish tone, "Your Highness, you really worried me!"
With her warm, soft body nestled in his arms, Xiao Minghuang said gently, "When have I ever disappointed you, sister?"
Hearing this familiar self-reference, Ye Ruoshui felt relieved and playfully said, "Your Highness's demeanor just now almost frightened me."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Minghuang's pretty face showed a complicated expression, and she gently stroked her head.
"Ruoshui is not afraid, not afraid... not afraid..."
Beside her, Xu Xiuer's gaze was incredibly complex. She had witnessed firsthand how, as Xiao Minghuang annihilated hundreds of thousands of Holy Land disciples, the causal threads entangled around her suddenly increased many times over.
Originally, there were only a few scattered red or gold threads, but after this battle...
The dense, crisscrossing crimson lines almost completely enveloped her.
Behind each of these red lines may lie the killing intent of a king, a saint, or even a holy king or a great saint!
As the battle subsided, Lin Wanqiu and the remaining Guixu Alliance disciples hurriedly arrived.
Upon arrival, some people smelled the stench of blood in the Kong.
"Where... did a major battle just break out?"
Some people noticed the unusual quietness of the place and dared not speak, finding a corner to stay quietly and waiting for the secret realm to end.
Lin Wanqiu walked up to Xiao Minghuang and asked with concern, "Your Highness, are you alright?"
Xiao Minghuang smiled faintly, not wanting to mention the bloodshed she had committed, and said, "Very well, with the help of the Heavenly Dipper Star Chart, I refined the Heavenly Dipper Stone Tablet, which is the origin of the Tiangang Secret Realm. I guess that lays the foundation for becoming a saint."
"Ah?!"
Lin Wanqiu was immediately astonished.
"Don't rush!"
Xiao Minghuang made a hand gesture, then leaped into the air and said loudly, "Everyone, although this trip to the secret realm was without danger, it still gave you all quite a scare. I am unworthy, but I was fortunate enough to refine the secret realm's source."
"Now that all the disciples of the holy lands have been wiped out, there is no need to continue the trial. You should each collect their tokens and leave!"
The words had barely left his mouth.
With a flick of his sleeve, Xiao Minghuang unfurled a massive light screen in the sky, revealing the exit of the secret realm.
Previously, Wang Cheng had control of the Heavenly Dipper Stone Tablet, but he only controlled the array eye of the secret realm, which was the stone tablet itself. However, there was only one array eye and no core, so its power was limited.
After Xiao Minghuang refined the core of the secret realm, he became the master of the secret realm and could naturally control everything within it.
"This... this battle was entirely fought by Princess Xiao's power; how could we possibly be qualified to touch the command tokens..."
"We'll leave now so as not to disturb Princess Xiao's refining of the secret realm!"
As they spoke, countless disciples of the Guixu Alliance surged into the exit of the secret realm like a tidal wave, fearing that if they were even half a step too slow, they would be left behind.
However, in a short while, only Xiao Minghuang, Ye, Lin, Xu Xiuer, and Luo Qianhua remained in the secret realm.
"You should leave too."
Xiao Minghuang glanced at her, then waved her hand gently, indicating that she could leave.
"Princess, they don't understand your good intentions. I will speak up for you after we leave..."
"You don't need to say anything more!"
Luo Qianhua was rambling incoherently, trying to explain, but was interrupted by Lin Wanqiu.
Ye Ruoshui and Xu Xiuer didn't know the reason behind it, but Lin Wanqiu was there that day, and they heard everything.
Lin Wanqiu stared intently at Luo Qianhua, her tone cold and interrogative, and said, "Alliance Leader Luo, you clearly said that day that you asked His Highness to eliminate several of the strongest disciples of the Holy Land, but are there still any Holy Land disciples in the secret realm now?"
"Tell me, what is your purpose in plotting against His Highness?!"
"Who ordered you to do this?"
"Explain!!"
Lin Wanqiu's momentum grew increasingly fierce, each word resounding with conviction!
"I..."
Faced with Lin Wanqiu's questioning and coercion, Luo Qianhua turned pale, speechless, unsure how to explain, and dared not look Xiao Minghuang in the eye.
"What? You're afraid to speak?!"
Lin Wanqiu pressed on relentlessly, becoming increasingly aggressive!
"Enough!"
Suddenly, a calm voice stopped her.
"I believe no one instructed her." Xiao Minghuang glanced at Luo Qianhua, who was bowing her head and stammering, and said calmly, "From now on, all our agreements are settled, our causes and effects are cleared, and we need not meet again."
Luo Qianhua trembled violently, finally raising her head, seemingly wanting to argue, yet also appearing as if she wanted to cry but had no tears.
Let's go!
Xiao Minghuang waved his hand gently, not giving her a chance to explain.
"..."
Luo Qianhua walked to the exit of the secret realm, looked back one last time at Xiao Minghuang, and finally walked out of the secret realm.
However, the moment she stepped into the exit, a sharp pain surged in her chest, making her feel as if her heart would explode and her blood would flow backward!
With everyone leaving the secret realm, only Xiao Minghuang, Ye, Lin, and Xu Xiuer remained on the Tiangang Peak.
Seeing that the atmosphere was getting a bit heavy, Xu Xiuer changed the subject:
"Your Highness, how did you suddenly manage to refine the Tiangang Secret Realm Source?"
Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu quickly echoed and asked:
"Yes, Your Highness, how did you refine the Origin of the Realm? Tell us quickly."
Seeing three curious little faces approaching, Xiao Minghuang felt bad about refusing and said helplessly, "Alright, alright, I'll explain it to you."
"This matter is actually very simple. The Heavenly Dipper Star Chart is actually the core of the Tiangang Secret Realm's origin. In other words, the Tiangang Secret Realm is not a naturally formed secret realm. Rather, the Heavenly Dipper Star Chart existed first and then slowly expanded to form the Tiangang Secret Realm."
"Therefore, my refining of the Heavenly Dipper Star Chart is actually similar to refining the Tiangang Secret Realm. The only difference is that I need to put the Star Chart into the array eye of the secret realm, which is the Heavenly Dipper Stone Tablet, and that will be considered the formal refining of the secret realm."
Upon hearing this, Ye Ruoshui and the others understood.
The cultivation of a cultivator is actually a process of interaction between the inner and outer worlds.
From the Dantian to the purple mansion, from the grotto heaven to the secret realm, from the small world to the great world, it is a process of gradually merging one's inner world with the outer world.
By placing the Heavenly Dipper Star Chart into the eye of the Tiangang Secret Realm array, Xiao Minghuang essentially put the core of the secret realm back into its original position, thus restoring its identity as the core of the secret realm.
Therefore, this Tiangang Secret Realm has in fact become her inner world.
"So, Your Highness, although you haven't yet reached the Saint Realm, you already possess a secret realm that only Saints can have?"
Xu Xiuer was extremely shocked.
That's one way to understand it.
Xiao Minghuang smiled and nodded.
"What's so surprising? His Highness's actions are perfectly justified!"
Ye Ruoshui's face was full of pride and self-satisfaction.
"Your Highness, it's best to be cautious."
Lin Wanqiu said worriedly, "This time we've forged a deep karmic bond with the various holy lands. We don't yet know if the Holy Academy will side with us. If the Holy Academy is unwilling to protect us, I'm afraid..."
Xiao Minghuang shook his head slightly and said, "The Holy Academy has been able to suppress the various holy lands for so many years, so it won't be easily frightened by them. As long as we stay within the Holy Academy, we will be safe."
Xu Xiuer nodded and added, "Your Highness is right. Moreover, my master once told me that the Old Dean of the Holy Academy had an agreement with the founders of the various holy lands that no saint could interfere in any of his disciples' grievances. If the agreement was broken, the old master would personally take action!"
290. Mastering the Secret Realm
"So, Your Highness, although you haven't yet reached the Saint Realm, you already possess a secret realm that only Saints can have?"
Xu Xiuer was extremely shocked.
That's one way to understand it.
Xiao Minghuang smiled and nodded.
"What's so surprising? His Highness's actions are perfectly justified!"
Ye Ruoshui's face was full of pride and self-satisfaction.
"Your Highness, it's best to be cautious."
Lin Wanqiu said worriedly, "This time we've forged a deep karmic bond with the various holy lands. We don't yet know if the Holy Academy will side with us. If the Holy Academy is unwilling to protect us, I'm afraid..."
Xiao Minghuang shook his head slightly and said, "The Holy Academy has been able to suppress the various holy lands for so many years, so it won't be easily frightened by them. As long as we stay within the Holy Academy, we will be safe."
Xu Xiuer nodded and added, "Your Highness is right. Moreover, my master once told me that the Old Dean of the Holy Academy had an agreement with the founders of the various holy lands that no saint could interfere in any of his disciples' grievances. If the agreement was broken, the old master would personally take action!"
Upon hearing the words "Old Dean," Xiao Minghuang's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately asked, "Xiu'er, has the Pavilion Master ever described what kind of person the Old Dean is?"
Xu Xiuer recalled, "I only heard her mention that the Old Dean was actually the Eastern Pole Emperor, and that's all I knew."
These words calmed Lin Wanqiu down.
Xiao Minghuang glanced at the three of them and said, "I need three days to fully refine the Tiangang Secret Realm, after which I can store it in my Purple Mansion. For safety's sake, please don't leave the secret realm yet, just stay here, okay?"
"Good!"
The three women naturally had no objection to this.
Within the Tiangang Secret Realm, Xiao Minghuang's divine sense entered his Purple Mansion. He sat cross-legged and began to absorb the remaining pure spiritual energy of the Heavenly Dipper Star Chart.
"The core of a secret realm is usually only controlled by a sage, but I took control of it by using the Heavenly Dipper Star Chart. While this was a clever trick, it also signifies the secret realm's recognition of me..."
Xiao Minghuang muttered to himself, while his thoughts raced, and he began to restore the Heavenly Dipper Star Chart's control over the secret realm.
The outer secret realm is an independent small space, not controlled by anyone, but regardless of the size of the space, there must be a spatial core.
The world within the secret realm is constructed by the continuous outward expansion of the core.
By controlling the core of the secret realm, one can sever a portion of its control. Once the core is refined, it is equivalent to having complete control over the secret realm.
The Heavenly Dipper Star Chart was the core of the Tiangang Secret Realm, but it later became independent and separated from the secret realm. Now, it has returned, and it is still easy.
Starlight shone brightly above Xiao Minghuang's head, with thirty-six stars linked together to form a ring, illuminating all directions. Phantom images of galaxies appeared, flowing around the star map.
Her Purple Mansion space expanded outwards, rapidly encompassing the entire Tiangang Mountain Range.
Strands of starlight descended, enveloping the entire secret realm, making it appear as if draped in stars and moonlight, vast and boundless, as expansive as the starry sky.
Xiao Minghuang's Purple Mansion became increasingly vast and boundless, seemingly like another world altogether.
Rumble!
The starlight emanating from the Heavenly Dipper Star Chart bathed the entire secret realm.
Countless starlight converges, outlining a vast and magnificent starry sky.
Each ray of starlight seemed to contain a rune.
These runes are densely packed, like stars scattered across the Milky Way, dazzling and brilliant.
At the end of the star map stands a towering pagoda, where a young girl can be vaguely seen sitting atop it, bathed in starlight.