From Cold Palace Princess to Heavenly Empress

"No, the phenomenon this morning is called the Five-Colored Divine Light, which illuminates all heavens. It's a sign of a Five Elements Spiritual Root emerging, far superior to ordinary Mysterious-grade High-rank Spiritual Roots."

An elder martial artist with extensive knowledge explained.

Upon hearing this, everyone present gasped.

The Mysterious-grade High-rank Spiritual Root they considered extraordinary was actually far surpassed by the Five Elements Spiritual Root. Just who was this person possessing such a Spiritual Root?

With this thought, everyone present couldn't help but turn their gaze to the one among the three graceful figures.

After all, someone who could have two genius girls with Mysterious-grade High-rank Spiritual Roots flanking her must have a talent superior to theirs.

Just then.

The young lady standing in the center gracefully extended her delicate, jade-like, crystal-clear hands and gently placed them on the spirit-testing plate.

The next moment.

A dazzling, vibrant rainbow shot up into the sky, the Five-Colored Divine Light illuminating all heavens. Dense Five Elements spiritual energy permeated the entire training ground, moving every martial artist present.

"Five-Colored Divine Light, illuminating all heavens!"

"It's truly a Five Elements Spiritual Root, an unprecedented, peerless talent! It has actually appeared today!"

To everyone present, the Five Elements Spiritual Root was merely a legend. Everyone knew of it, but no one had ever seen it.

When this dazzling Five-Colored Divine Light appeared before their eyes once more, the assembled crowd finally confirmed that an unparalleled prodigy had indeed appeared in Beiyang City.

Possessing a Five Elements Spiritual Root, this peerless genius was destined to reach the Primal Embryo Realm!

"Although it's a Five Elements Spiritual Root, it's only Mysterious-grade Low-rank. Alas! What a pity!"

A white-haired elder sighed softly, lamenting with regret.

"A Five Elements Spiritual Root is unprecedented. Even if it's Mysterious-grade Low-rank, so what? Why do you lament, elder?"

A young martial artist asked, puzzled.

"Young man, you may not know, but a Mysterious-grade Low-rank Five Elements Spiritual Root, while extraordinary, can at most rival an ordinary Earth Tier Mid-rank Spiritual Root."

The white-haired elder explained.

"That's true. While Five Elements Spiritual Roots are rare, they are only rare within our Great Xia. As far as I know, the top disciple of the Dragon Tiger Sect, one of the Three Great Sects, possesses a Mysterious-grade Low-rank Five Elements Spiritual Root, and their cultivation progress is comparable to an Earth Tier Mid-rank Spiritual Root."

A burly man with a weathered face spoke up.

Hearing this, everyone present also felt regret. If this young lady had a Mysterious-grade Mid-rank Spiritual Root, she could have surpassed the Dragon Tiger Sect. Once she grew, she would surely sweep across the Southern Territory and restore the former glory of Great Xia!

On the stage.

Xiao Minghuang's gaze swept across the crowd, observing everyone's expressions. A faint smile flickered in her eyes.

The scene before her was entirely within her control.

First, she cultivated the Five Elements Spiritual Root, causing an anomaly. This event was witnessed by all martial artists in Great Xia, making it impossible to conceal. It was better to lay it bare and not hide it.

However, the rank of the Spiritual Root could be concealed through deception and fabricated facts.

Now that outsiders believed she had a Mysterious-grade Low-rank Spiritual Root, it was naturally for the best.

If her true talent were exposed, the title of Heaven-grade Spiritual Root would undoubtedly attract countless troubles.

If she had the backing of an Immortal Dynasty, she would naturally fear nothing.

But the current Great Xia had long since declined and could hardly provide her with protection.

If a Primal Embryo Realm old monster were to secretly assassinate her, disregarding their status, she would likely live in constant fear even within the imperial city.

Rather than cultivating with unease, it was better to conceal her talent.

"However..."

Xiao Minghuang turned her gaze to Lin Wanqiu, a hint of doubt in her pupils.

"The Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill has such potent effects, yet it only elevated Wanqiu's Spiritual Root to Mysterious-grade High-rank and failed to cultivate a Five Elements Spiritual Root. What is going on?"

Beyond her expectations, the medicinal power of the Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill was enough to elevate Lin Wanqiu's aptitude to Earth Tier Mid-rank, but the current situation was not so.

Moreover, to this day, her Destiny Compass consistently pointed towards Lin Wanqiu.

This indicated that Lin Wanqiu still possessed an opportunity that she had not yet discovered.

While contemplating.

Lin Zhengquan arrived at the training ground with the successors of the three great families.

Xiao Minghuang glanced at the so-called successors of the three great families. Their steps were unsteady, and their auras were scattered. It was evident at a glance that they were individuals depleted by indulgence in wine and women, utterly incapable of achievement.

"City Lord Lin, if these individuals are allowed to represent Beiyang City in the competition, I fear there will be no chance of victory!"

Her words left them with no room for face. The three family successors all looked embarrassed. They usually acted arrogantly, but before the Ninth Princess, they didn't dare to utter a single word.

After all, this was a distinguished guest whom the patriarchs of their three families treated with utmost respect and caution.

Lin Zhengquan also wore an embarrassed expression, unsure how to respond.

Xiao Minghuang spoke calmly:

"For the Spiritual Vein competition, I, Ruoshui, and Wanqiu will participate. Three against five. Although the rules have been changed, fighting more with fewer is advantageous to the Golden Elephant Kingdom. They should agree."

"Yes! Your subject will arrange it immediately."

Lin Zhengquan knew he was in the wrong and didn't dare to argue further, immediately agreeing.

Hearing that Xiao Minghuang wanted to lead them into battle, Ye and Lin were both incredibly excited.

They had received many gifts from Xiao Minghuang, and their strength had greatly improved. They had long wanted to find an opportunity to showcase their abilities and let Xiao Minghuang know how much they had progressed. Now that they had a chance to fight, they couldn't ask for anything more.

Seeing the joy on Ye and Lin's faces, Xiao Minghuang reached out and petted their heads, smiling.

"Since you've decided to fight, then with the remaining three days, you should thoroughly hone your martial arts."

Ye and Lin nodded repeatedly.

Next, Xiao Minghuang sparred with Ye and Lin one after another.

She was very satisfied with Lin Wanqiu's displayed strength. Within the Body Tempering Realm, as long as she didn't encounter a martial artist who had reached the Extreme Realm of Body Tempering Twelfth Level like herself, she was confident of victory.

As for Ye Ruoshui, she was rather disappointing.

During the fight, Ye Ruoshui couldn't even hold her sword properly and charged straight at Xiao Minghuang as soon as she entered the ring.

Xiao Minghuang dodged, and Ye Ruoshui, having exerted too much force, fell face-first onto the ground, her sword flying out of her hand.

Ye Ruoshui got up from the ground, dusty and looking pitiful.

"Your Highness, am I very stupid?"

Xiao Minghuang stroked Ye Ruoshui's messy hair, casually used a cleansing spell to brush off the dust, and sighed softly.

"You're not stupid at all. There's plenty of time ahead, you'll learn slowly!"

Ye Ruoshui's performance was within her expectations. After all, the little girl had never cultivated martial arts before and had only improved her cultivation with the pills she gave her.

However, since she had decided to have Ye Ruoshui participate, she had to at least look presentable and not embarrass herself in front of outsiders.

From then on, Xiao Minghuang focused on teaching Ye Ruoshui basic martial arts.

It didn't involve profound martial arts, just simple sword techniques like slashing, chopping, thrusting, and parrying.

During this time, Lin Wanqiu would also occasionally guide Ye Ruoshui's training.

Although her cultivation was far inferior to Xiao Minghuang's, her martial arts foundation was very solid. Moreover, she was in the same realm as Ye Ruoshui, making her guidance more effective and easier to manage. Compared to Xiao Minghuang's teaching, the results were better.

Thus, starting from the second day, Xiao Minghuang no longer served as Ye Ruoshui's martial arts instructor; Lin Wanqiu took over this responsibility.

In just three short days, Ye Ruoshui's martial arts level improved by leaps and bounds, and her strength greatly increased.

On the night of the third day, Ye Ruoshui could already defeat a martial artist at the Body Tempering Eighth Level in the training grounds.

It seemed simple for someone at the Body Tempering Peak Realm to defeat someone at the Body Tempering Eighth Level, almost a given.

However, one must remember that just three days prior, Ye Ruoshui was a naive girl who couldn't even hold a sword steady.

After only three days of cultivation, being able to defeat a martial artist who had dedicated decades to martial arts was not only due to the suppression of realm but also inseparable from her own comprehension.

In addition, Lin Wanqiu's meticulous guidance also played a significant role.

The teacher-student bond forged over three days, coupled with Lin Wanqiu's intentional efforts to improve their relationship, also caused their feelings for each other to quickly deepen.

But Xiao Minghuang was unaware of all this.

Since the second day, after entrusting Ye Ruoshui to Lin Wanqiu's guidance, she had gone into seclusion to meditate.

After taking the Five-Viscera Spirit Essence Pill, she felt that her comprehension had greatly increased. She had also gained a new insight into the Ziwei Imperial Dao Scripture and the Big Dipper Seven Stars Sword Technique, and needed to go into seclusion as soon as possible to integrate these insights, which might lead to a breakthrough.

42. Major Accomplishment in Spiritual Power, Daytime Star Manifestation!

Great Xia, Imperial City.

In a certain grand hall.

Emperor Xia sat cross-legged, holding a recording talisman sent from Beiyang City.

The talisman was lit, and Wang Jin's figure appeared before him, his voice filled with reverence and excitement.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the person who caused the Five-Colored Divine Light phenomenon is the Ninth Princess, Xiao Minghuang."

"Furthermore, the Ninth Princess's Five Elements Spiritual Root is of extremely high quality, being Heaven-grade low-tier!"

As his voice faded, Wang Jin's figure also dissipated.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Xia clenched his fists, and a look of ecstatic joy immediately appeared on his face.

"Little Nine actually has a Heaven-grade Five Elements Spiritual Root! Great Xia is blessed, unstoppable!"

Beiyang City.

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed, and it was the day of the agreed-upon martial arts competition.

Ye Ruoshui, Lin Wanqiu, and the people of Beiyang City were standing outside Xiao Minghuang's courtyard.

They could feel a profound and mysterious aura emanating from within the room, so they had not dared to make a sound to disturb her.

The crowd waited for a long time until the sun was high in the sky.

Inside the room.

Xiao Minghuang slowly opened her eyes.

At this moment, her pupils seemed to contain countless stars, shining as if stars that had stood for an unknown number of years in the universe had come alive, radiating brilliant and dazzling light within her irises.

Among these myriad stars, one shone the brightest, positioned high above the thirty-third heaven, surrounded by purple light, exuding supreme nobility.

This bright star represented eternity, immortality, and supreme authority. It was the foremost among all celestial bodies, commanding all shining stars in the heavens to heed its call without exception.

In an instant.

The starlight in Xiao Minghuang's pupils extinguished. Though the divine phenomenon receded, her gaze remained bright. These sparkling peach blossom eyes carried an unparalleled noble aura, compelling others to prostrate themselves in worship.

"The Ziwei Imperial Dao Scripture, Major Accomplishment!"

Although her cultivation base hadn't improved during this closed-door cultivation, the gains from comprehending the Cultivation Method were no less significant than a cultivation breakthrough.

Xiao Minghuang suppressed her aura, becoming utterly calm, a slight curve gracing her lips, a hint of a smile in the corner of her eyes.

"Cultivation Methods and martial arts are divided into five levels of comprehension because once a Cultivation Method or martial art reaches Major Accomplishment, one can comprehend Spiritual Power from it."

"Any Spiritual Power is incredibly powerful and profoundly mysterious. For a martial artist to comprehend one instance of Spiritual Power in their lifetime is considered Minor Accomplishment."

"However, I only took a few short months to comprehend one instance of Spiritual Power. If this comprehension were to be revealed, I doubt anyone would believe it!"

"The divine secret technique within the Ziwei Imperial Dao Scripture is called 'Daytime Star Manifestation'. It can summon the Power of Stars to oneself, greatly enhancing one's own strength, and even allowing one to kill enemies across a major realm!"

Xiao Minghuang knew that upon reaching Minor Accomplishment in the Ziwei Imperial Dao Scripture, she could condense her spiritual energy into starlight, which would burst forth from her body, integrating both offense and defense.

While its effects were comprehensive, the power was ultimately limited by her own spiritual energy, with her limit being fighting across minor realms.

But Daytime Star Manifestation was different.