He could not help but speak up in warning:
"Your Highness, this battle is dangerous. If you are not confident, we can simply admit defeat. There is no need to fight over a momentary advantage."
Hearing this,
Xiao Minghuang's lips curled slightly upward, yet there was not a trace of laughter in her eyes. Instead, there was a hint of reproach.
"Every martial artist must possess an invincible heart. Even if one cannot stand invincible beneath the heavens, one must at least fear no enemy of the same realm. Otherwise, how could one be called a true powerhouse?"
Xiao Minghuang's words sent a slight tremor through Lin Zhengquan's heart.
When he was young, he too had possessed an invincible heart, undefeated among those of the same rank. But ever since he had been trapped at the Spring Gushing Realm and unable to break through, that invincible heart had long since gone cold.
Yet upon hearing Xiao Minghuang's words, the bottleneck barring him from the Divine Sea Realm for so long seemed to have loosened considerably.
It was not only Lin Zhengquan. Everyone present looked toward Xiao Minghuang, clad in a scarlet dress, noble and otherworldly, with beauty that could eclipse an age.
This young girl before them could actually speak such domineering words. Without question, she had taught them all a lesson.
Lin Wanqiu especially felt this deeply. Since childhood, her meridians had been blocked, making cultivation incomparably difficult. Others could break through after exerting one measure of effort, while she needed twice, even three times as much. The hardships within were something outsiders could never truly understand.
As the eldest daughter of the City Lord's Manor, while she bore greater glory, she also endured greater pressure.
Though those ever-present mockeries did not dare to be spoken before her face, rumors and gossip never ceased for even a single day.
These experiences had forged her unyielding character, bending before hardness and cutting through softness, yet she had never developed an invincible heart that feared nothing.
Xiao Minghuang's words struck precisely at the knot in her heart.
In an instant.
An indescribably profound aura suddenly emerged from Lin Wanqiu's body. It vanished in a flash, yet brought about an immense change.
The spiritual energy around her surged madly toward Lin Wanqiu like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea. In the blink of an eye, she absorbed it all. In but an instant, the spiritual energy within several hundred zhang was completely drained.
This sudden phenomenon caused an uproar among everyone present.
"What is happening?"
"It's the eldest miss! The eldest miss has entered enlightenment!"
Someone cried out in shock.
Seeing that Lin Wanqiu was about to break into the Qi Refining Realm, Xiao Minghuang hurriedly transmitted her voice:
"Wanqiu, don't break through yet. Trust me!"
Enlightenment was an opportunity that came once in a thousand years. Lin Wanqiu stood at the threshold of the Qi Refining Realm, needing only a single thought to step across it. Had anyone else said such words, she would certainly have ignored them. But if they came from Xiao Minghuang, that was another matter entirely.
Lin Wanqiu restrained her aura, dispersing the spiritual energy that the state of enlightenment had drawn to her side. She let out a deep breath and circulated her cultivation to regulate her chaotic meridians.
She had forcibly suppressed herself from the brink of breakthrough. Though it did not greatly affect her body, she still needed to regulate her breathing and could not use spiritual power for the time being.
At this moment.
Xiao Minghuang walked to Lin Wanqiu's side, bent down, and whispered a few words into her ear. Her pale face immediately lit up with delight.
Naturally, Xiao Minghuang had spoken of the final three realms of body tempering.
If one wished not to fall behind others on the path of cultivation, one had to reach the Body Tempering Extreme Realm.
Next, Xiao Minghuang handed Lin Wanqiu a storage bag containing the body-tempering section of the Ziwei Imperial Dao Scripture.
Apart from the small exchange between the two, Wang Bao saw everything that had happened.
He had never imagined that in tiny Beiyang City of Xia Kingdom, there would be two girls of extraordinary talent, both possessing beauty capable of toppling kingdoms and cities.
One possessed a Five Elements Spiritual Root, while the other could trigger enlightenment while still in the Body Tempering Realm.
Such talent was exceedingly rare even within the Dragon Tiger Sect. Once discovered, they would surely be made true disciples.
Yet now, he had encountered two of them!
This set Wang Bao's thoughts racing. If he could capture both these geniuses and bring them back to the Dragon Tiger Sect, he could offer the girl with the Five Elements Spiritual Root to his senior brother.
As for the other girl who had triggered enlightenment, he could keep her as his Dao Companion.
Wouldn't that be wonderful?
Furthermore, he had noticed another girl among the people of Beiyang City. She had a bewitching figure and a seductive face, especially the round, full curve at her chest, which stirred an inexplicable impulse in anyone who looked upon it.
"Her talent is still unknown, but based on her looks alone, she is more than qualified to serve as my concubine."
Wang Bao could not help swallowing. On this trip down the mountain to the tiny Xia Kingdom, he had encountered three peerless beauties. He was truly in for a bountiful harvest!
Just as the abacus in his heart clicked away,
Xiao Minghuang's figure flashed, and she landed in the arena. Her skin was like snow, her dark hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her robes fluttered in the breeze. She was ethereal and transcendent, her exquisite face without the slightest flaw, beautiful beyond compare, as though she did not belong to the mortal world.
Upon seeing Xiao Minghuang enter the arena, Wang Bao gathered his thoughts, his gaze turning solemn.
Though he was several minor realms above Xiao Minghuang, merely from her earlier words, he knew that despite her youth, she was surely no easy opponent.
The two stood at opposite ends of the battlefield. The atmosphere was stifling. No one spoke; all held their breath.
Xiao Minghuang stood with her hands tucked into her sleeves, her gaze calm, yet she was utterly serious within.
This was the first time she had fought a talented martial artist of her own generation since embarking upon the path of cultivation.
Before this, whether it was the Seventh Prince or the leader of the evil cultivators, they had all been mediocre. Even defeating them proved nothing.
But this battle was different. Her opponent was an inner disciple of the Dragon Tiger Sect, gifted and powerful.
If she won, it would be of immense benefit in forging her invincible Dao Heart.
If she lost...
"In my dictionary, the word 'failure' does not exist!"
Xiao Minghuang's lips curled slightly as she said calmly:
"I'll let you make the first move."
How Does It Matter If I Hurt You? Today, I Will Slay You!
As soon as these words were spoken,
Everyone present was shocked.
Facing an inner disciple of the Dragon Tiger Sect, the Ninth Princess was actually this arrogant. Could it be that she did not know how formidable the talent and strength of the young prodigies from the Three Great Sects were?
"Hmph! That brat won't even know how she dies later!"
The yellow-robed elder said coldly.
"The Ninth Princess is being too overconfident. The outcome of this battle is difficult to predict."
Lin Zhengquan shook his head slightly.
"Big sister will definitely win. Definitely!"
Ye Ruoshui looked at the scarlet figure in the arena, her eyes filled with trust.
After being met with cold words again and again, Wang Bao, a sect genius, could no longer contain the fury in his heart. He gave a cold shout.
"Hmph! You little brat are arrogant beyond measure. You are courting death!"
As his words fell,
A massive hammer appeared in Wang Bao's hand. It was heavy and imposing, its hammerhead wreathed in purple arcs of lightning, extraordinary and mystical.
Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Bao made the first move, charging swiftly toward Lin Wanqiu.
Though he was tall and burly and wielded a heavy weapon, he moved with astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, he had rushed before Xiao Minghuang.
He raised the gigantic hammer, weighing ten thousand jin, high into the air. It seemed capable of smashing mountains to pieces. Threads of electric light emerged from its head and burst through the air, the crackling sounds ringing out without end.
"Martial Nephew Wang has already reached the Qi Refining Seventh Layer Realm and is only one step from the Qi Refining Eighth Layer. Moreover, he has immersed himself in the Lightning Hammer Technique for many years and will soon reach minor accomplishment. How could a mere yellow-haired girl possibly resist? This battle is already decided!"
The yellow-robed elder stroked his beard, a proud expression on his face.
Though he had paid the price of a Tiger Bone Body Strengthening Pill to obtain Wang Bao's assistance, if he could use this opportunity to return to the sect, or even establish a connection with a chief true disciple, then no price would be too great.
It was not only the people from the Golden Elephant Kingdom. Even those from Beiyang City did not think Xiao Minghuang could win.
Lin Zhengquan's feet trembled slightly, his eyes flickering as his fists clenched tightly. It seemed that in the next moment, he would rush forward to save Xiao Minghuang before she was struck down.
However.
At the instant the massive hammer was about to fall,
Xiao Minghuang moved.
Her figure flashed, and in the next moment she appeared behind Wang Bao. A longsword gleaming with brilliant golden light appeared in her hand. It was three chi long, its entire blade flowing with profound patterns, like a star cast upon the earth, dazzling beyond measure.
"Seven Star Sword - Yaoguang!"
Xiao Minghuang gave a soft cry. A golden Sword Qi more than a zhang long suddenly appeared in the air, blasting countless strands of spiritual energy in all directions as rocks flew and dust filled the sky.
The moment this Sword Qi appeared, Wang Bao's expression changed drastically. He felt an icy, desolate aura locking onto every inch of his body, as if he would be blasted into dregs in the next instant.
"What kind of technique is this?!"
Wang Bao frowned and immediately moved his feet, attempting to escape the Sword Qi's lock.
The golden Sword Qi was incredibly fast. It sliced through the air and descended abruptly.
Wang Bao had only taken a few steps when he felt the Sword Qi closing in on his back. Left with no choice, he spun around.
He let out a furious roar, gathered all his spiritual power, concentrated it in both palms, and swung his hammer with all his might!
"Lightning Strike!"
In that instant.
Sword and hammer collided!
The two clashed, erupting with a violent roar. Explosions rang out incessantly, their sound shaking dozens of li. Countless trees snapped at the waist, boulders rolled, stream waters surged, and sand and stones flew through the air.
The dust filling the sky gradually dispersed.
Xiao Minghuang stood safely where she was, her robes as pristine as new, unstained by dust.
Wang Bao, however, was another matter.
He was covered in dust and grime, his clothes tattered, his body coated in dirt, his face pale. Clearly, he had suffered greatly in the clash.
At the sight,
The yellow-robed elder's eyes widened, his pupils filled with disbelief.
"How is this possible?"
On Beiyang City's side, everyone wore delighted expressions. Ye Ruoshui in particular was practically about to leap up and cheer for Xiao Minghuang.
"Go, Your Highness! [@"
Within the fighting arena.
Xiao Minghuang remained completely focused, unaffected by the words outside. She spoke indifferently:
"So this is the strength of an inner disciple of the Dragon Tiger Sect. It seems I still overestimated you."
Wang Bao's face alternated between red and white, unsightly to the extreme. He had never imagined that a Rogue Cultivator girl from the Thirty-Six Kingdoms, who appeared to be barely over ten years old, would possess such formidable strength.
"I was careless just now. But next, you will not be so lucky!"
Wang Bao drew a deep breath. An even more violent aura than before erupted from his entire body.
Crackling sounds exploded through the air like thunder roaring in the heavens, striking fear into every heart!
"Thunder Hammer Strike!"
As his words fell,
Wang Bao's face turned pale, his entire body's spiritual power instantly drained dry!
He swung the massive hammer in his hand and smashed it forward, moving as fast as lightning.
The gigantic hammer transformed in midair into a purple bolt of lightning as thick as a water barrel. It roared through the void, its destructive aura blanketing the entire arena and forcing everyone to widen their eyes!
"Though Martial Nephew Wang is only at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer Realm, he is using the Dragon Tiger Body Tempering Method to fully activate the High-grade Yellow Tier Magic Treasure, the Thunder Hammer, and unleash his full-power strike. Even a martial artist at the Peak Qi Refining Realm would struggle to withstand it. Xia Kingdom's Ninth Princess is certain to lose!"
Before you continue