"City Lord Lin, there is no need for such formality."
As she spoke, she turned her gaze to the yellow-robed old man and asked:
"Did he reveal anything useful?"
Lin Zhengquan straightened and replied:
"He is an outer sect elder of the Dragon Tiger Sect. His status is not high. It was he who introduced that group of evil cultivators connected to Chen Ming to him."
"Other than that, there was nothing of value."
Xiao Minghuang nodded.
"I understand. I will leave the aftermath to you. Do not let word leak out."
Lin Zhengquan naturally understood.
"Rest assured, Your Highness. Not half a word of what happened today will get out!"
The terrifying talent and strength Xiao Minghuang had displayed today were unparalleled. If news spread, it would likely shake the entire Southern Border.
At merely fourteen years old, she had defeated a Spring Gushing Peak Realm martial artist with the cultivation of the Fourth Level of Qi Refining Realm. Even the word monstrous hardly seemed enough to describe such talent.
It was at that moment.
Lin Wanqiu emerged from the forest and crossed several steps to stand before Xiao Minghuang. She glanced at the tightly clasped hands of Xiao Minghuang and Ye Ruoshui. Her lovely brows furrowed imperceptibly before swiftly smoothing out. Then, holding a storage pouch in both hands, she said softly:
"Your Highness, I have fulfilled my mission. Wang Bao is dead."
Xiao Minghuang looked her over. Her clothes were neat and spotless, without a speck of dust. Though her aura had weakened slightly, it was likely only due to excessive exhaustion. As long as she took some medicinal pills and rested properly, she would recover.
Xiao Minghuang relaxed slightly, took out a medicinal pill from her robes, and said gently:
"Wanqiu, open your mouth."
"?"
A puzzled look appeared on Lin Wanqiu's face, but she obediently parted her cherry lips. A row of neat little pearly teeth was revealed, and her moist, pink tongue could faintly be seen.
With a slight lift of her hand, Xiao Minghuang placed the healing pill into Lin Wanqiu's mouth.
This pill was rather large, filling Lin Wanqiu's small mouth completely. Her little pink cheeks puffed out, crystal-clear saliva spilling from the corners of her lips. Yet she could not bite the slippery pill and was instead choked by it as it slid toward her throat. Her eyes grew moist. Just as she wanted to spit it out, Xiao Minghuang pressed a hand over her red lips.
"Don't spit it out. Swallow it. It is good for your body."
Hearing Xiao Minghuang say so, Lin Wanqiu did not dare spit the pill out again. She could only wait for it to dissolve in her mouth. After struggling for quite a while, she finally melted the pill down and swallowed it.
After swallowing the pill, Lin Wanqiu let out a deep breath. She licked clean the pill residue and saliva from the corners of her mouth, patted her chest, then looked at Xiao Minghuang with a radiant smile.
"Your Highness, your pill was so big. My mouth was too small—I nearly couldn't swallow it!"
Xiao Minghuang stroked Lin Wanqiu's soft hair and smiled brightly.
"Wanqiu, you were already amazing!"
"With the cultivation of the Body Tempering Peak Realm, you killed a Qi Refining Seventh Layer Realm martial artist. Though you relied on the power of a magic treasure, no one else could have accomplished such a thing."
Lin Wanqiu blinked her beautiful eyes and said with a smile:
"How could my tiny achievement possibly be mentioned in the same breath as Yours, Your Highness?"
Xiao Minghuang merely smiled without speaking.
She possessed a Heaven-tier lower-grade Five Elements Spiritual Root. With a Heaven-tier Top-grade Cultivation Method, an Earth-tier High-grade Martial Art, and a Top-grade Yellow Tier Magic Treasure as her support, she had crossed an entire major realm to defeat a Spring Gushing Realm martial artist. Such combat power truly defied explanation.
I really am a normal person!!
That Blade Could Never Be Reached
At the same time.
All the soldiers of Beiyang City shouted Xiao Minghuang's name in unison.
The scene of her defeating the yellow-robed old man had already been carved deep into the soldiers' hearts. Even decades from now, they would likely remember that peerlessly unmatched young girl.
Her saber fell like a meteor; one sword cut down Spring Gushing!
"Long live the Ninth Princess!"
"Long live the Ninth Princess!"
Three parts excitement and seven parts joy filled Lin Zhengquan's eyes. As he looked at Xiao Minghuang, there was even a trace of reverence in his gaze.
"Long live the Ninth Princess!"
From this day onward, this spirit vein belonged to Beiyang City.
The crisis of spirit stone supplies for the hundred-thousand-strong army had been more than half relieved.
But he felt this was merely the beginning.
The Ninth Princess, Xiao Minghuang, would lead Great Xia to a magnificent summit beyond his imagination, where they would behold beautiful sights he dared not imagine.
That blade.
Could never be reached.
If he were not her elder, he might already have prostrated himself before Xiao Minghuang and begged to follow at her side.
However, with Lin Wanqiu now following the Ninth Princess, he had no regrets.
"There is no need for such formality, everyone. Today's matter is concluded. Go your separate ways."
Xiao Minghuang raised her hand slightly and spoke calmly. Since childhood, she had been indifferent to fame and gain. She always smiled off words of flattery, and had no interest whatsoever in the praise, acclaim, and songs of the world.
As long as Ruoshui and Wanqiu liked her, that was enough!
After their excitement subsided, most of the soldiers set off back toward Beiyang City. Some remained behind, preparing to station themselves near the spirit vein for the long term, lest the enemies of the Golden Elephant Kingdom secretly seize it.
Within the dense forest, ancient trees towered high, their green canopies shading the ground. Fallen leaves drifted through the air, and the scenery was like a painting.
Xiao Minghuang and the other two girls, Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu, walked and chatted. Most of the time, Lin Wanqiu was the one speaking, while Xiao Minghuang and Ye Ruoshui listened quietly. They occasionally responded or raised one or two questions, all of which received prompt answers.
The three did not walk together, but were arranged in a peculiar formation, one before another.
Lin Wanqiu walked at the front, facing Xiao Minghuang and Ye Ruoshui as she moved backward. Her flower-like face was full of smiles. Her steps were light, her toes pointed, graceful and lively. She walked, then paused, stepping upon fallen leaves and continuously producing a rhythmic melody.
Xiao Minghuang walked in the middle. Her bearing was elegant, and a faint smile rested on her tranquil face as she often spoke to echo Lin Wanqiu's words.
Ye Ruoshui walked half a step behind Xiao Minghuang. Her pace was steady. Though she was at the rear, she often spoke with Lin Wanqiu.
"Come to think of it, we went through so much trouble to seize the spirit vein, yet we never even went inside to take a look. It feels like such a loss!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Ruoshui had not participated in the battle, but she had provided medicinal pill support to Xiao Minghuang and Lin Wanqiu, so she too felt regretful. With a soft sigh, she said:
"I heard that undeveloped spirit veins may contain divine treasures born of heaven and earth. If used in alchemy, they can greatly improve the quality of pills. There have even been precedents of using them as the main ingredient to refine high-grade medicinal pills."
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang was tempted as well. The corners of her lips lifted into a bright smile.
"If that is the case, why don't we explore the spirit vein?"
"Alright!"
Both Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu agreed, and so the three returned to the entrance of the spirit vein.
When the three arrived at the cave entrance, Lin Zhengquan had yet to leave. Upon seeing them, curiosity appeared on his face as he asked:
"Your Highness, weren't you returning to the city? Why have you come back?"
"A spirit vein can be considered a place of spiritual beauty. We intend to enter and explore it a little."
Upon hearing this, hesitation appeared on Lin Zhengquan's face.
Seeing his expression, Xiao Minghuang asked:
"What is it? Does City Lord Lin have something difficult to say?"
"Your Highness may not know this, but undeveloped spirit veins may conceal unknown dangers. There may be Innate Beings that formed within, demonic beasts and ferocious creatures lurking there, or even some strange and sinister evil things. One cannot guard against them all."
"If Your Highness wishes to visit a spirit vein, you may go to another one near Beiyang City. That one has already been developed and holds no danger. Nothing unexpected will happen there."
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang's delicate brows furrowed slightly.
Before this, those words would have made her abandon the thought of entering the spirit vein.
But at that very moment, she changed her mind.
Because within the compass in her mind, the pointer that had remained silent for so long suddenly began to tremble, swiftly pointing toward the entrance of the spirit vein.
There was an opportunity within the spirit vein!
When she first approached the cave entrance, she had not discovered this opportunity. But upon returning a second time and moving closer to the entrance, it appeared.
This meant that the first time, she had been too far from the spirit vein and outside the compass's range of detection.
Thinking of this, gratitude surfaced in Xiao Minghuang's eyes as she looked at Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu.
If Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu had not chatted about it and returned to the cave entrance, she might have missed this opportunity forever.
Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu, who were being watched by such a gaze, wore utterly bewildered expressions.
Lin Wanqiu was the first to ask:
"Your Highness?"
Xiao Minghuang gave a soft laugh and said:
"Since there may be danger in the cave, I will go down first to scout the way. Once I confirm it is safe, it will not be too late for us to enter."
Hearing this, Ye Ruoshui was concerned for Xiao Minghuang's safety and immediately grew anxious.
"Sister cannot go down!"
Xiao Minghuang raised her delicate brows and asked:
"Why can't I go down?"
Ye Ruoshui was not good with words, so Lin Wanqiu took over:
"Ruoshui is right. We do not know what dangers may be inside the cave. If Your Highness enters and encounters danger, what then?"
"Your Highness is precious beyond measure. You should not place yourself in peril over a moment of curiosity. I think I should go down first to investigate. We can enter after I confirm it is safe."
At that moment, Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu miraculously joined forces, all to prevent Xiao Minghuang from entering the spirit vein cave.
Seeing the two girls speaking in unison, Xiao Minghuang could not help laughing. She teased:
"I never knew when the relationship between you two became so good."
The moment those words fell.
A flush crept over Ye Ruoshui's ears. She turned her head aside and said no more.
Lin Wanqiu was not so easily dealt with. Her dark brows furrowed slightly as she said:
"Your Highness, do not change the subject. We are only concerned about you."
Seeing that Lin Wanqiu was harder to handle, Xiao Minghuang could only use her trump card.
She suddenly stepped forward, wrapped an arm around Lin Wanqiu's slender waist, and gave a light turn, bringing them behind a huge boulder.
In an instant.
Lin Wanqiu felt herself tightly held in Xiao Minghuang's embrace. When she opened her eyes again, all she could see was that peerlessly beautiful face, those starry eyes brilliant as a galaxy, and those rosy, tender cherry lips.
The next moment.
Darkness covered her vision, and she felt something soft, warm, and moist press against the corner of her lips.
The sensation made her feel as though she were floating among the clouds, so wonderful it seemed unreal.
When she opened her eyes again, Xiao Minghuang had already vanished.
Would Saying This Hurt Her Too Much?
Xiao Minghuang flashed out from behind the boulder and saw Ye Ruoshui standing blankly in place, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion.
"Why did Sister and Miss Lin both disappear all of a sudden?"
She was also at the Body Tempering Peak Realm.
Before you continue