"Forget that pill from before. The one I'm giving you now is the real meeting gift. Open it and take a look!"
Lin Wanqiu obediently extended her spiritual sense into the storage pouch.
The moment she saw what was inside, her face drained of color in fright.
There lay—
inside the storage pouch, a pill quietly rested, radiating strange divine splendor. Five-Colored Divine Light flowed across its surface, pill fragrance filled the air, and profound patterns covered it, as though expounding some supreme truth of heaven and earth.
If not for the system's seal, the instant this pill emerged into the world, a terrifying phenomenon would have shot into the heavens. Once its vast spiritual energy erupted, all of Beiyang City—even the entire Savage Forest—would have been affected.
Lin Wanqiu's eyes were now filled with disbelief. If the Spirit Infusion Pill from earlier had still fallen within her expectations, then this incomparably miraculous pill before her had utterly surpassed her imagination.
Only after standing there dazed for a long while did she recover from her shock. Holding the storage pouch, she murmured:
"Your... Your Highness, this pill is...?"
Xiao Minghuang smiled faintly.
"This is a top-grade Heaven-grade pill, called the Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill. It can reshape the body and nurture spiritual roots. This is the meeting gift I am giving you. Keep it safe, and do not disappoint my expectations of you."
After leaving those words behind, Xiao Minghuang turned and departed.
Watching Xiao Minghuang's graceful figure drift away like a startled swan, Lin Wanqiu still felt a sense of unreality lingering in her heart. It was as if everything were a dream, hazy and illusory, as though she had yet to awaken.
Yet when she lowered her head and saw the pill wreathed in Five-Colored Divine Light inside the storage pouch, everything felt so real again.
"Your Highness... just how much does she like me...?"
Lin Wanqiu's voice choked up. Her nose stung, and her eyes reddened.
But she could not stop and wallow in tender affection, because she knew that Xiao Minghuang held immense expectations for her. Otherwise, she would never have so casually gifted her such an indescribably precious pill.
"I have to cultivate diligently. I absolutely cannot let Your Highness down!"
With that thought, Lin Wanqiu made up her mind. She had to grow stronger as quickly as possible and gain the qualifications to stand shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Minghuang.
Perhaps even become strong enough to protect her by her side forever.
[Ding!] [[/$ [Congratulations, Host. You have completed a random mission and triggered a ten-thousandfold critical-hit compensation. The final reward has doubled. You have obtained top-grade Heaven-grade pill, Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill x2!]
After leaving Lin Wanqiu's small courtyard, Xiao Minghuang heard the system's voice and was not surprised in the slightest, because those two pills had long since entered her pocket.
She did not return to her room to enter seclusion and refine the pills.
Instead, she headed toward Ye Ruoshui's residence.
The most precious treasures in her possession were the Essence Replenishing Pill and the Spirit Infusion Pill. Both were ninety-percent-quality pills that had developed Pill Patterns. She had already given the former to Lin Wanqiu and received Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pills in compensation, so naturally, she would give the latter to Ye Ruoshui.
She was a very fair person. When it came to the two most important girls by her side, she naturally had to keep the bowl of water level.
"I wonder how manyfold compensation this Spirit Infusion Pill will trigger."
Xiao Minghuang took a step forward and arrived at Ye Ruoshui's small courtyard several breaths later.
Sensing her aura, Ye Ruoshui came out to greet her.
When she saw Xiao Minghuang dressed in a bright red gown, the delight on the little girl's face went out in an instant. Yet she forcibly raised her spirits again, put on a smile, and said:
"Big Sister!"
Noticing the change in her expression, Xiao Minghuang knew that Ye Ruoshui was probably unhappy. She stepped forward, reached out to pat Ye Ruoshui's little head, pulled her into her embrace, and softly comforted her.
Resting her little head against Xiao Minghuang's chest, Ye Ruoshui asked in a muffled voice:
"Was this dress Big Sister is wearing given to you by Lin Wanqiu?"
Between girls, kissing and hugging are perfectly normal things.
Her sweet voice was far less lively and energetic than usual. Xiao Minghuang suddenly felt guilty, as though she were some heartless woman who had betrayed a lovestruck girl.
But she knew Ye Ruoshui too well. She knew this little girl was merely throwing a tantrum.
After thinking for a moment, Xiao Minghuang lowered her head slightly and let out a deep sigh. The expression on her face shifted swiftly, as though she had suffered some enormous grievance. A desolate loneliness rose within her as she spoke mournfully:
"Ruoshui doesn't like Big Sister anymore? Then Big Sister will leave, and I won't ever appear before Ruoshui again."
At those words, Ye Ruoshui's little face turned pale. The anger she had been pretending to show vanished completely. She hurried forward, tightly wrapped her arms around Xiao Minghuang's slender waist, and shouted:
"Big Sister, don't go! Ruoshui never stopped liking Big Sister! Ruoshui wants to stay with Big Sister forever!"
Hearing that, Xiao Minghuang's expression immediately softened into a smile. She stroked the little girl's soft hair and said warmly:
"That's Big Sister's good Ruoshui. This time, Big Sister brought you a gift. Do you want it?"
"Yes!"
Like a child greedy for snacks, Ye Ruoshui stared straight into Xiao Minghuang's eyes.
Seeing Ye Ruoshui's adorably guileless little face, Xiao Minghuang felt a trace of helplessness. This little girl seemed to be getting more and more foolish under her care. She was clearly already a teenage young lady, yet she still had the innocent look of someone who would never grow up.
Still, such a Ye Ruoshui was not necessarily a bad thing to Xiao Minghuang. If the little girl were too clever and became the worm in her belly, able to guess seven or eight parts of her thoughts, then Xiao Minghuang would not be able to coax her anymore.
Xiao Minghuang took the storage pouch containing the Spirit Infusion Pill from her robes and stuffed it into Ye Ruoshui's hand.
Ye Ruoshui accepted the storage pouch and could still feel the lingering warmth upon it.
Perhaps because Xiao Minghuang had already stuffed so many precious things into her hands before, she did not show the same astonishment Lin Wanqiu had upon seeing this pill.
After putting away the storage pouch, Ye Ruoshui looked back at Xiao Minghuang, her gaze bold and fervent.
"Big Sister, I remember that back in the capital, you said that as long as Ruoshui studied well, Big Sister could grant Ruoshui one request. Do you still remember?"
Xiao Minghuang wrapped an arm around Ye Ruoshui's slender waist and nodded.
"Of course I remember. Ruoshui's studies have been excellent, and Big Sister is very satisfied. Just tell me what you want. As long as Big Sister can do it, I will definitely grant it!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Ruoshui could not help licking her lips, and a touch more infatuation appeared in the way she looked at Xiao Minghuang.
Seeing Ye Ruoshui's gaze, Xiao Minghuang suddenly realized that despite being such a sweet and adorable little girl, why did her expression carry a hint of lewdness?
But what relieved Xiao Minghuang was that Ye Ruoshui's request was not excessive.
She merely wanted one kiss every day.
Xiao Minghuang very generously granted that request.
Between girls, kissing and hugging are perfectly normal things.
With that thought, Xiao Minghuang lightly pecked Ye Ruoshui's rosy cheek.
Feeling that fleeting, moist, soft touch, Ye Ruoshui's eyes filled with delight. Her Highness had kissed her again!
Ever since Xiao Minghuang had kissed the corner of her mouth in a burst of emotion inside the carriage last time, she had been unable to forget that sensation for a long time. Every night, when midnight dreams returned, she tossed and turned on her bed, unable to sleep, savoring that warm, gentle feeling.
But just now, her dream had finally come true. Her Highness had kissed her again.
Though this time, it was her cheek rather than the corner of her lips.
There will be plenty of days ahead...
With that thought, Ye Ruoshui could not help grinning foolishly.
Watching Ye Ruoshui continue to smile like an idiot, Xiao Minghuang's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She wondered whether there was something seriously wrong with this little girl's brain. It was only one kiss, so why was she this excited?
In her understanding, kissing and hugging between girls should be a perfectly normal thing, right?
Without continuing to bother with the foolishly adorable Ye Ruoshui, Xiao Minghuang heard the system's voice in her mind.
[Ding!] [It has been detected that the Host has successfully bestowed an opportunity!] [Congratulations, Host. You have triggered a thousandfold critical-hit compensation and obtained one mid-grade Earth-grade pill, Five-Turn Essence Cultivation Pill x1!]
"Only an Earth-grade pill..."
Xiao Minghuang murmured to herself.
After checking the system prompt, she roughly understood the pill's effects.
Its effects were similar to those of the Spirit Infusion Pill. It was likewise a miraculous pill that combined several effects: consolidating one's foundation and cultivating one's essence, strengthening spiritual roots, and raising cultivation.
When she had previously given Lin Wanqiu the Essence Replenishing Pill, a system mission had been active, so it triggered a ten-thousandfold compensation, with the final reward doubled.
This time, there was no mission bonus. Triggering a thousandfold compensation was already extraordinarily lucky.
After all, before this, none of the gifts she had given had ever triggered compensation greater than tenfold.
"Could this system have some kind of guaranteed minimum too?"
But that was merely Xiao Minghuang's guess. This question was destined to have no answer.
Since she already possessed the Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill, the Five-Turn Essence Cultivation Pill was of no use to Xiao Minghuang. Thus, she directly gave the pill to Ye Ruoshui.
After giving away the pill, she reminded Ye Ruoshui to cultivate diligently, then returned to her room.
Inside the room.
Xiao Minghuang sat cross-legged on the bed. In her palm lay a pill suffused with Five-Colored Divine Light—it was the Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill.
A Heaven-grade pill was precious beyond measure and rarely seen in the world. When one appeared, it was accompanied by heavenly phenomena.
Fortunately, all items compensated by the system came with seals and would not cause changes in the heavens. Otherwise, the entire Savage Forest would likely be shaken.
"The Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill's main effects are reshaping the body and nurturing spiritual roots. Raising cultivation is only secondary."
Xiao Minghuang knew that the effects of pills were also ranked from high to low. Ordinary healing pills were the least valuable. Pills that could raise cultivation were more valuable, while pills that could improve the aptitude of one's spiritual roots were priceless and impossible to find on the market.
And pills like the Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill, which focused on enhancing spiritual roots and strengthening the physical body, were even more precious beyond compare!
"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—a few sparse words that could hardly describe its miraculous nature.
In truth, she did not know what benefits this pill would bring her either.
With that thought, Xiao Minghuang activated the formation that isolated her aura and swallowed the Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill.
The pill entered her stomach and trembled slightly before transforming into countless crystalline rays of light that spread through her limbs and bones.
All of a sudden.
Xiao Minghuang felt streams of incomparably comfortable energy circulate through her entire body. This power was gentle and pliant, warm and soothing. It passed through her meridians, then her flesh, blood, and bones, before finally gathering in 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 originally illusory strand of pure white metal spiritual root was undergoing an earth-shaking transformation.
Heaven-grade spiritual root! Five-Colored Divine Light illuminated the heavens!
Inside her Dantian.
The pure white spiritual root split into Five-Colored Divine Light. White, azure, black, crimson, and yellow reflected one another, dazzling and resplendent. Specks of golden light surged from the ground, instantly growing into golden lotuses that bloomed together, like the beginning of chaos, the first division of heaven and earth, the vitality born from the creation of the Great Dao.
And almost at the same instant.
Outside.
An ancient, vast, mysterious, and boundless aura suddenly burst from Xiao Minghuang's body like an erupting volcano. Endless rosy clouds surged forth in mighty waves, condensing into a pillar of multicolored light that pierced straight into the sky.
Bzzzz!!!
Across the boundless heavens, the clouds and mist scattered.
Five-Colored Divine Light illuminated all the heavens. The bells of the Great Dao rang, divine music echoed, and a dazzling phenomenon, profound and impossible to grasp, completely enveloped this stretch of heaven and earth.
At the same time.
Dense, mysterious runes wrapped around Xiao Minghuang's entire body, surging and rolling endlessly like waves.
The heaven-shaking phenomenon spread across a hundred miles of sky, nearly alarming every martial artist in Great Xia. Everyone raised their heads toward the heavens, their eyes filled with disbelief.
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