From Cold Palace Princess to Heavenly Empress

"The pill from just now doesn't count. This one I'm giving you now is the real welcome gift. Open it and take a look!"

Lin Wanqiu did as she was told and sent her spiritual sense into the storage pouch.

When she saw what was inside the storage pouch, she was instantly so shocked that her face lost all color.

There, within the storage pouch, lay a pill quietly radiating a strange divine brilliance. Its entire body flowed with five-colored divine light, and the scent of the pill permeated the air. It was covered in mysterious patterns that seemed to expound upon some supreme truth of heaven and earth.

If not for the System's seal, the moment this pill appeared, terrifying phenomena would have erupted into the sky. The moment the immense spiritual energy surged out, the entire Beiyang City, and even the entire Savage Forest, would have been affected.

At this moment, Lin Wanqiu's pupils were filled with disbelief. If the Spirit Infusion Pill from before was within her expectations, then this miraculous pill before her was completely beyond her imagination.

After a long moment of stunned silence, she finally snapped back from her shock. Holding the storage pouch, she asked in a whisper, "Your... Your Highness, what is this pill?"

Xiao Minghuang smiled faintly.

"This is a Heaven-grade, top-quality pill called the 'Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill.' It has the effect of shaping the body and cultivating a Spiritual Root. This is the welcome gift I'm giving you. Keep it well and don't let my expectations of you go unfulfilled."

After saying this, Xiao Minghuang turned and left.

Watching Xiao Minghuang's graceful, ethereal figure disappear into the distance, Lin Wanqiu still felt a sense of unreality lingering in her heart. It was as if she were dreaming, lost in a fantasy, not yet awake.

But when she lowered her head and saw the pill in the storage pouch, entwined with five-colored divine light, she felt that everything was so real.

"Your Highness... how much does she really like me..."

Lin Wanqiu's voice choked, and her nose stung, her eyes welling up with tears.

But she couldn't indulge in the tender emotions and stop moving forward, because she knew that Xiao Minghuang had great expectations for her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have so easily gifted her such an indescribably precious pill.

"I must cultivate diligently and absolutely not let Your Highness down!"

With this thought, Lin Wanqiu made up her mind. She had to grow up quickly and gain the qualifications to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Xiao Minghuang.

Even more, she wanted to possess the strength to protect her by her side forever.

[Ding!]

[[/$

[Congratulations to the Host for completing a random quest, triggering a ten-thousand-fold critical strike compensation. The final reward has been doubled, and you have obtained a Heaven-grade, top-quality pill, Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill * 2!]

As Xiao Minghuang walked out of Lin Wanqiu's small courtyard, she heard the System's voice and felt no surprise. After all, these two pills had already found their way into her possession.

She didn't return to her room to go into seclusion and refine the pills.

Instead, she headed towards Ye Ruoshui's residence.

The most precious treasures she currently possessed were the Essence Replenishing Pill and the Spirit Infusion Pill. Both were ninety percent purity pills with pill patterns. The former had already been given to Lin Wanqiu as compensation for the Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill, and the latter was naturally meant for Ye Ruoshui.

She was a very fair person. Towards the two most important girls by her side, she naturally had to treat them equally.

"I wonder how much compensation this Spirit Infusion Pill will trigger?"

Xiao Minghuang quickened her pace, and after a few breaths, she arrived at Ye Ruoshui's small courtyard.

Sensing her presence, Ye Ruoshui came out to meet her.

Upon seeing her wearing a vibrant red dress, the young girl's joyful expression instantly faded. She then forced herself to perk up, put on a smile, and said, "Sister!"

Seeing the change in her expression, Xiao Minghuang knew that Ye Ruoshui was likely unhappy. So, she walked forward, reached out, and gently stroked Ye Ruoshui's small head, pulling her into a hug and softly comforting her.

Ye Ruoshui rested her small head against Xiao Minghuang's chest and asked in a muffled voice, "Sister, is this dress something Lin Wanqiu gave you?"

36. It's very normal for girls to hug and kiss each other.

Her delicate voice was far less lively and energetic than usual. Xiao Minghuang felt a pang of guilt, as if she were a faithless lover who had wronged a devoted maiden.

But she knew Ye Ruoshui too well, understanding that this little girl was merely throwing a tantrum.

After a moment of thought, Xiao Minghuang lowered her head slightly, sighed deeply, and her expression shifted rapidly, as if she had suffered some immense grievance. A sense of bleakness and loneliness washed over her, and she said mournfully, "Does Ruoshui not like Sister anymore? Then Sister will leave and will never appear before Ruoshui again."

Hearing this, Ye Ruoshui's small face turned pale. The feigned anger vanished completely. She quickly ran forward, tightly hugged Xiao Minghuang's slender waist, and shouted, "Sister, don't go! Ruoshui doesn't dislike Sister, Ruoshui wants to be with Sister forever!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Minghuang's expression quickly softened into a slight smile. She gently stroked the little girl's soft hair and said warmly, "That's my good Ruoshui. Sister brought you a gift this time. Do you want it?"

"Yes!"

Ye Ruoshui stared intently into Xiao Minghuang's eyes, like a child craving snacks.

Seeing Ye Ruoshui's adorable and innocent face, Xiao Minghuang felt a hint of helplessness. This little girl seemed to be getting dumber under her care. Despite being a young lady in her teens, she still had a naive demeanor, as if she hadn't grown up.

However, this kind of Ye Ruoshui might not be a bad thing for her. If the little girl were too clever, able to read her mind like an open book and guess most of her thoughts, then she wouldn't be able to coax the little girl anymore.

Xiao Minghuang took the storage bag containing the Spirit Infusion Pill from her embrace and stuffed it into Ye Ruoshui's hand.

Ye Ruoshui took the storage bag, still feeling its warmth.

Perhaps it was because Xiao Minghuang had given her many precious things before, so she didn't show the same surprise as Lin Wanqiu when she saw this pill.

Ye Ruoshui accepted the storage bag and looked back at Xiao Minghuang, her eyes bold and enthusiastic.

"Sister, I remember in the capital, you said that if Ruoshui studied hard, you would grant Ruoshui one wish. Do you remember?"

Xiao Minghuang put her arm around Ye Ruoshui's slender waist and nodded.

"Of course I remember. Ruoshui's academic performance is excellent, and I am very satisfied. Just say what you want, and I will fulfill it as long as I can!"

Hearing this, Ye Ruoshui couldn't help but lick her lips, her gaze towards Xiao Minghuang filled with a hint of infatuation.

Noticing Ye Ruoshui's gaze, Xiao Minghuang suddenly realized, why did this cute and charming young girl have a somewhat lewd expression?

But what made Xiao Minghuang feel relieved was that Ye Ruoshui's request was not too excessive.

She just wanted a kiss every day.

Xiao Minghuang generously granted this request.

"It's normal for girls to kiss and hug each other."

Xiao Minghuang thought to herself and lightly pecked Ye Ruoshui's tender cheek.

Feeling the fleeting touch of moist softness, Ye Ruoshui's pupils were filled with joy. Her Highness had kissed her again!

Ever since Xiao Minghuang kissed the corner of her mouth in a moment of excitement on the carriage last time, that sensation had lingered in her mind. Every night, in her dreams, lying on her bed and tossing and turning, unable to sleep, she would recall that gentle feeling.

But just now, her wish had finally come true. Her Highness had kissed her again.

Although this time it was her cheek, not her lips.

"There will be plenty of time in the future..."

Ye Ruoshui thought to herself and couldn't help but giggle foolishly.

Looking at the constantly giggling Ye Ruoshui, Xiao Minghuang frowned slightly, thinking if this little girl had a problem with her brain. It was just a kiss, why was she so excited?

In her understanding, kissing and hugging between girls should be a very normal thing, right?

Without paying further attention to the adorably foolish Ye Ruoshui, the System's voice sounded in Xiao Minghuang's mind.

[Ding!]

[Detected that the host has successfully bestowed a fortunate encounter!]

[Congratulations to the host for triggering a thousand-fold critical compensation, obtaining an Earth Tier mid-grade pill, Five-Turn Essence Cultivation Pill * 1!]

"Just an Earth Tier pill..."

Xiao Minghuang muttered to herself.

After checking the system notification, she roughly understood the efficacy of this pill.

Its effects were similar to the Spirit Infusion Pill, as it was a spiritual pill that consolidated the foundation, strengthened the Spiritual Root, and improved cultivation.

Previously, when she gave Lin Wanqiu the Essence Replenishing Pill, it triggered a ten-thousand-fold compensation due to a system mission, and the final reward was doubled.

This time, without the mission bonus, triggering a thousand-fold compensation was already considered extremely lucky.

After all, none of her previous gift-giving had exceeded ten times the compensation.

"Could it be that this System also has a minimum guarantee?"

But this was just Xiao Minghuang's speculation, and the question was destined to have no answer.

Since she already had the Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill, the Five-Turn Essence Cultivation Pill had no effect on Xiao Minghuang, so she directly gave it to Ye Ruoshui.

After giving away the pill, she reminded Ye Ruoshui to cultivate diligently and then returned to her room.

Inside the room.

Xiao Minghuang sat upright on the bed, a pill radiating five-colored divine light lying in her palm, which was the Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill.

A Heaven-grade pill, extremely precious and rarely seen in the world. Its appearance was accompanied by celestial phenomena.

Fortunately, the items compensated by the System had seals, so they would not cause celestial changes. Otherwise, the entire Savage Forest would probably be shaken.

"The Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill's main effect is to shape the body and cultivate the Spiritual Root; improving cultivation is secondary."

Xiao Minghuang knew that the efficacy of pills was also divided into grades. Ordinary healing pills were the least valuable, pills that could improve cultivation were highly valuable, and pills that could improve Spiritual Root aptitude were priceless.

And pills like the Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill, which focused on improving the Spiritual Root and strengthening the body, were even more precious!

"I wonder what changes this Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill will bring me."

Xiao Minghuang's understanding of the Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill came only from the System, with only a few words, making it difficult to describe the miraculousness of this pill.

In reality, she was also unsure what benefits this pill would bring her.

With that thought, Xiao Minghuang activated the aura-blocking formation and took the Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill.

The pill entered her abdomen, trembled slightly, and then transformed into countless crystalline rays of light that spread throughout her body.

Suddenly.

Xiao Minghuang felt streams of incredibly comfortable airflow circulating throughout her body. This power was gentle and mild, warm and soothing, flowing through her meridians, then her flesh and bones, finally converging entirely within her Dantian.

This was the medicinal power of the Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill taking effect.

As time passed, Xiao Minghuang could clearly feel that within her Dantian, the previously illusory pure white Spiritual Root was undergoing earth-shattering changes.

37. Heaven-grade Spiritual Root! Five-colored divine light illuminates the heavens!

Within the Dantian.

The pure white Spiritual Root differentiated into five-colored divine light – white, cyan, black, red, and yellow – interweaving, brilliant and dazzling. Specks of golden light emerged from the ground, instantly growing into golden lotuses, blooming together, like the beginning of chaos, the separation of heaven and earth, the birth of life from the Great Dao.

And almost at the same moment.

Outside.

An ancient, vast, mysterious, and boundless aura suddenly erupted from Xiao Minghuang's body, like a volcanic eruption. Endless auspicious light surged out, forming a pillar of colorful light that shot straight into the sky.

Hum!!!

The boundless firmament, clouds and mist dispersed.

Five-colored divine light illuminated the heavens, the Great Dao chimed, divine sounds lingered, an unfathomable and profound, brilliant phenomenon completely enveloped this world.

At the same time.

Mysterious runes, like surging tides, continuously rolled and coiled around Xiao Minghuang's entire body.

The heaven-shattering phenomenon spread across the sky for a hundred miles, astonishing nearly all the martial artists in Great Xia. Everyone looked up at the sky, their pupils filled with disbelief.