Chapter 323

The battle at Mount Siming just now shook the heavens and the earth; it was undoubtedly a great battle between supreme beings. It's perfectly normal for Ye Ruoshui to have some concerns.

"I'm fine." Xiao Minghuang waved his hand, feigning nonchalance, and said, "Where's Xiu'er? I need to speak with her."

Seemingly hearing Xiao Minghuang's call, Xu Xiuer immediately ran out of the house.

"Your Highness..."

The moment Xu Xiuer stepped out of the house and saw Xiao Minghuang, a look of shock immediately appeared in her eyes.

"Your Highness... what's wrong...?"

Ye Ruoshui couldn't discern the changes in Xiao Minghuang; she could only deduce from his aura that he might be injured.

However, Xu Xiuer possessed the Destiny Heavenly Eye and could see that when Xiao Minghuang left, he was still at the Longevity Realm Eighth Heaven, but when he returned, he had fallen to the sixth level of the Longevity Realm!

Although it was only a drop of two levels, among cultivators, advancing to each realm is extremely difficult and requires a great deal of time. Especially at the Saint Realm, each small level advancement is a huge chasm and extremely difficult.

"Your Highness, how... how could you be like this? Is it the Daoist Siming?"

Xu Xiuer was in turmoil, unable to comprehend it.

What exactly happened in that short period of time?

Could it be that His Highness went to great lengths to save the Daoist Siming?

"It's not the Daoist Siming." Xiao Minghuang shook her head. "Let's find somewhere else to talk."

The group then rested in the pavilion in the middle of the lake, but did not invite Luo Qianhua, Su Miaomiao, or Sheng Bailan.

She didn't want more people to worry.

"Your Highness, what exactly happened?"

As soon as she sat down, Ye Ruoshui couldn't wait to ask.

Xiao Minghuang took a deep breath and said:

"Here's what happened..."

"That True Martial Earth Immortal suddenly resorted to a dirty trick; I wasn't prepared and was ambushed..."

Upon hearing this, Ye Ruoshui flew into a rage, cursing, "True Martial Earth Immortal is utterly devoid of martial ethics! He actually dared to ambush His Highness! He deserves to die! He deserves to die!"

"Okay, I was too careless this time. I'll be more careful next time."

Xiao Minghuang gently patted Ye Ruoshui's back to comfort her, then asked, "Xiu'er, do you think this seal can be removed?"

"It's hard to say..."

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Xiuer said, "With my Destiny Heavenly Eye, I can see a talisman suppressing Your Highness's dantian. This should be the so-called 'True Martial Demon Subduing Seal.' It suppresses Your Highness's magical power and Primordial Spirit, and is constantly devouring them. Therefore, the function of this seal is not only to suppress, but also to devour."

"Moreover, I suspect that this seal might even be able to completely devour Your Highness's Dao Fruit and then leave, at which point Your Highness's cultivation will reach the level of True Martial Earth Immortal!"

"What a vicious method!"

426. The Emperor Xia Abdicates

Ye Ruoshui cursed angrily and suggested, "Your Highness, why don't we return to the Holy Academy and go to the Old Dean to explain things clearly, and ask him to intervene and force the True Martial Earth Immortal to release the seal!"

"Your Highness, Sister Ruoshui is right. If the Old Dean makes a move, even True Martial Earth Immortal must show him some respect."

Xu Xiuer nodded.

However, Xiao Minghuang shook her head and said, "It's no use. Since the Emperor has allowed the True Martial Earth Immortal to appear before me, he has made up his mind not to help me."

"At least in this matter, he won't offer any help."

"Huh? How could this be?"

Ye Ruoshui was somewhat disappointed, but quickly cheered up and said, "Let's go and ask the Sun Hall Mistress to put in a good word for us with the Emperor..."

"No need," Xiao Minghuang waved her hand and said, "We can't rely on him."

His last meeting with the Emperor ended badly due to their differing paths and conflicting opinions. Xiao Minghuang didn't know whether the appearance of the True Martial Earth Immortal was a warning from the Emperor or a sign that he had already given up on her.

But no matter which one it is, she will not go against her own conscience.

Seeing that Xiao Minghuang was unwilling to return to the Holy Academy to find a solution, Ye Ruoshui had no choice but to turn her pleading eyes to Xu Xiuer.

"Xiu'er, can you think of a solution?"

Under Ye Ruoshui's pitiful gaze, Xu Xiuer felt very embarrassed, her face full of worry.

"This... this is the method of an Earth Immortal, I don't have any good solutions..."

She could see the origin of the seal, but deciphering it was not so simple.

But in the next instant...

Xu Xiuer's mind, and her eyes lit up with surprise. She quickly said, "Your Highness, I have a way!"

"Oh? Tell me quickly!" Ye Ruoshui and Xiao Minghuang said in unison.

Xu Xiuer pursed her lips slightly and slowly said, "The reason why the so-called True Martial Demon Subduing Seal can suppress Your Highness's magical power Primordial Spirit, and even devour it, is because its power level is far higher than Your Highness's. This is the power of an Earth Immortal, one of the manifestations of so-called Immortal Qi."

"If Your Highness can break through to the Supreme Realm, then the suppression of the seal on Your Highness will be greatly reduced due to the ebb and flow of power. At that time, if you can rely on a powerful rare treasure from the heavens, you can shatter the seal and thus get rid of its influence."

After hearing this...

Ye Ruoshui was a little confused for a moment.

"Your Highness has been struck by the seal, causing your cultivation level to continuously decline. To break the seal, you need to raise your cultivation level, specifically to the Supreme Realm..."

Ye Ruoshui looked at Xu Xiuer seriously and said, "Xiu'er, have you forgotten a very important issue? His Highness is suppressed by the talisman, and not only can his cultivation level not improve, it will even continue to decline. This method simply won't work!"

"This... this is the only way..."

Xu Xiuer said bitterly, "Besides this, I can't think of any other solutions..."

After a long silence, Xiao Minghuang's gaze gradually hardened, and he said, word by word, "I think Xiu'er's method is feasible!"

"I will definitely reach the Immortal Supreme Realm!"

Ye Ruoshui and Xu Xiuer were both taken aback, but quickly realized what was happening, and their eyes lit up.

"I will definitely do it!"

Xiao Minghuang affirmed again.

With such a resolute will, how could she be easily intimidated by a mere magic talisman?

"That's right, Your Highness, you will definitely achieve your long-cherished wish!"

I believe you!

They all nodded, their eyes gleaming with intense admiration.

No matter when or where, they always held boundless expectations and trust in Xiao Minghuang.

The following morning.

After making some preparations, Xiao Minghuang and his group planned to leave the Xia Kingdom.

Originally, Xiao Minghuang planned to stay a few more days and revisit the place.

But now that she is under the True Martial Demon Subduing Seal, time is the most precious thing to her, and she cannot afford to waste even a moment, so she did not linger in the Xia Kingdom.

However, she still left Ye Ruoshui behind to clean up the mess.

"Ruoshui, I entrust the affairs of Great Xia to you. Make all decisions with caution, and never wrongly punish the innocent."

Xiao Minghuang explained earnestly.

"Don't worry, Your Highness."

Ye Ruoshui nodded and solemnly agreed.

However, among all the affairs of the Great Xia, the most important one should be the handling by the Emperor Xia himself.

Since Emperor Xia was Xiao Minghuang's father, Ye Ruoshui dared not act on her own. She asked, "Your Highness, what if Emperor Xia..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Minghuang's expression darkened, and he said, "He's getting old; it's time for him to enjoy his retirement."

Upon hearing this, Ye Ruoshui's expression turned serious, and she replied, "I understand!"

Immediately.

Xiao Minghuang led Xu Xiuer, Luo Qianhua, and others away from Great Xia and returned to the Holy Academy.

That afternoon.

The Emperor Xia hurriedly returned to the Xia capital and issued several edicts early the next morning, announcing the cessation of all foreign wars and the demolition of all shrines and temples dedicated to the Daoist Siming.

The Ninth Princess Xiao Minghuang's reputation was restored, and the demolished shrines, temples, and statues were rebuilt.

The following day, Emperor Xia issued an edict of abdication, passing the throne to his Third Prince, and retired to the Yile Garden, no longer concerning himself with politics.

Yangzhou, the ancestral home of the Lin family.

A secluded place with a winding path.

A small stone table sits beside a bamboo house.

Next to the stone table were four stone benches.

At this moment, an elderly man with gray hair and two young women in their early twenties were sitting on three stone benches.

The old man was none other than the Lin Clan Progenitor, who had been punished to fight on the Two Realms Battlefield. Now that the Eastern Pole and the Southern Wilderness had ceased hostilities and were preparing for a peace conference, he was finally able to leave the battlefield and return to Yangzhou.

The two women were sisters Lin Wanqiu and Lin Zhaoyu.

Lin Zhaoyu stood up, took out a long sword from his sleeve, and presented it to Lin Zu with both hands.

"Ancestor, this sword has protected me for over ten years. Now that you have returned home in glory, I return this sword to you."

Lin Wanqiu said respectfully.

"Hmm." Lin Zu nodded slightly, picked up the longsword and played with it for a moment, then said calmly, "Since I have already given you this sword, it belongs to you. You don't need to return it to me."

As he spoke, Lin Zu flipped his hand, and the last trace of his aura attached to the Xuandu Guiyuan Sword vanished, leaving the sword completely ownerless.

"This sword is yours!"

"Thank you for your grace, Ancestor!"

Lin Zhaoyu lit up with joy, and he quickly bowed and thanked her.

The Xuandu Guiyuan Sword has accompanied her from childhood to now, when she has achieved some success in her cultivation. It would be impossible for her not to have feelings for it.

She was overjoyed when Lin Zuneng bestowed the sword upon her.

"Hehe..."

Lin Zu smiled and said, "Alright, you go and cultivate first. Your sister and I have some things to discuss."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhaoyu was startled. Instead of leaving, she nervously leaned against Lin Wanqiu.

"Ancestor... this..."

Seeing this, Lin Zu sighed softly, "Now I'm nothing but a sinner, what do you have to worry about?"

427. <The Xuandu Forgetful Heavenly Tome>

"Besides, even if you don't believe me, shouldn't you believe the Emperor?"

"I just wanted to talk to her, I didn't have any other intentions."

"But..."

Lin Zhaoyu was still worried. Before coming, she had promised Xiao Minghuang that if something really happened to Lin Wanqiu at the Lin family, how would she explain it to them?

"It's fine."

Lin Wanqiu tugged at Lin Zhaoyu's hand and nodded slightly, saying, "Don't worry, Lin Zu just wants to talk to me."

Hearing this, Lin Zhaoyu nodded helplessly, "Alright, then I'll wait nearby."

Immediately, Lin Zhaoyu ran to a distance. Although she could no longer hear their conversation, she could still see that they were indeed sitting peacefully on both sides.

Lin Zu's gaze shifted, scrutinizing Lin Wanqiu.

"Please speak, Ancestor."