This sword felt completely different from the Yellow-tier Top-grade saber the system had compensated her with.
That saber carried an overbearing, flamboyant, overwhelmingly powerful aura.
This longsword, on the other hand, was filled with a light and nimble intent, clearly following the path of defeating strength with weakness, using softness [-
"This sword suits Wanqiu."
Xiao Minghuang placed the longsword into her storage pouch, then picked up the other two items from the ground.
A golden booklet and a jade box.
Golden booklets were a special high-grade material that could replace paper, preserving their contents for thousands of years without decay.
Xiao Minghuang opened the golden booklet, and several brief lines of writing came into view.
"My name is Qingwei. I was born in the Primordial Sacred Land. While traveling the world, I was ambushed by evil cultivators. Gravely wounded, I fled in defeat and died here."
"My lifetime collection is left to those who come after me. I ask only that my remains be returned to the sacred land and buried beneath Green Cloud Peak."
The latter half of the golden booklet contained Qingwei's list of inheritances. It sprawled across several thousand characters, yet only two items had survived the passage of time without rotting away.
The longsword Xiao Minghuang had placed into her storage pouch was called the Azure Shadow Sword, a Mysterious Tier Mid-grade Magic Treasure. There was one other item, stored within the treasure box.
When she lifted the lid, she saw a pill as white and flawless as jade lying quietly inside. Mysterious patterns flowed across its round, smooth surface, while the dense spiritual energy around it had nearly condensed into liquid, ready to drip like water.
"It's actually a pill forged with Pill Patterns!"
A look of surprise appeared on Xiao Minghuang's face as she was slightly taken aback.
But upon further thought, it seemed perfectly normal.
After all, with the long passage of time, if it had not been a pill bearing Pill Patterns, it would likely have weathered and decayed long ago, vanishing from existence. How could it have waited until she came to claim it?
The pill in the jade box was called the Spirit Solidifying Pill, a Mysterious Tier Top-grade Pill. It could strengthen spiritual sense and aid in cultivating the Primordial Sacred Land's inherited cultivation method, the Primordial God Forging Method.
"What a pity. Perhaps this senior did not carry the scripture for this cultivation method, or perhaps it has already decayed beneath the ravages of time. I cannot obtain this method."
Xiao Minghuang sighed softly. According to the golden booklet, the Primordial God Forging Method was a Heaven-tier Cultivation Method with inconceivable enhancements for spiritual sense. When cultivated to its utmost limit, one could rely on the power of spiritual sense to condense an enormous Dharma Avatar that stood between heaven and earth. With a wave of one's hand, it could shatter mountains and collapse seas, battle heaven and fight earth, unmatched beneath the skies!
Among the nations and sects of the Southern Border, she had never heard of any force possessing cultivation methods or martial arts for spiritual sense.
"If I have the chance in the future, perhaps I can leave the Southern Border and travel through the other continents of the Eastern Extremity. Maybe I can obtain this cultivation method."
Xiao Minghuang's gaze shifted slightly. In the vast Eastern Extremity, the Southern Border was merely the smallest region in the southwest, where spiritual energy was at its thinnest.
The strongest martial artists there possessed no more than the strength of the Primal Embryo Realm.
Yet among the great sacred lands, aristocratic clans, and imperial dynasties of the Eastern Extremity, there were even experts who had become kings in the martial path.
There were even legends that some ancient sacred lands housed immortal Saints in long slumber. Unless the sacred land faced a great calamity, they would not emerge lightly.
Xiao Minghuang had either read these matters in ancient books or heard of them in the royal academy. Whether they were true or false was unknown, but among the regions of the Eastern Extremity, the Southern Border was undoubtedly the weakest.
A moment later.
Xiao Minghuang gathered her thoughts and returned her attention to the pill.
"This pill's main effect is strengthening spiritual sense. I can give it to Ruoshui. Her pill-refining skills have advanced at a breakneck pace lately, improving by leaps and bounds. The growth of her spiritual sense probably can no longer keep up with her pill-refining ability."
After organizing Qingwei's inheritance, Xiao Minghuang bowed to her three times in thanks.
She gathered the bone fragments scattered across the ground, placed them in a container, and then returned to the surface.
Has Her Highness Gotten Drunk?
By this time, half a day had already passed outside.
Xiao Minghuang passed through the mine tunnel and saw daylight again. At once, she spotted the graceful figures of Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu.
However, they seemed weighed down by worries. Even Xiao Minghuang emerging from the cave failed to draw their attention.
"Ruoshui, Wanqiu?"
Only when she called softly did Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu suddenly come back to their senses and turn their gazes toward her in unison.
Yet the instant their eyes met hers, they abruptly looked away again, as though they had done something guilty and dared not meet her eyes.
The next moment.
Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu walked forward together and spoke with one voice.
"Your Highness, are you tired?"
Xiao Minghuang swept her gaze over them. Seeing that neither of them showed the slightest abnormality, she revealed a puzzled expression. She always felt that during this brief time she had spent in the mine tunnel, she had somehow missed something extremely important.
Xiao Minghuang's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she said softly.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. There is nothing remarkable in this cave, nothing worth seeing. Let's return to the city!"
"Alright!"
After what had happened at noon, Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu had no mood to continue sightseeing. Both nodded.
The three of them then headed toward Beiyang City.
As they walked, Xiao Minghuang thought to herself.
Although Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu looked somewhat strange, perhaps it was because they had just kissed her, and they had not yet recovered from it.
After a few more days, they should return to normal.
Still, Xiao Minghuang noticed that Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu seemed especially shy. Kissing and hugging between girls should be perfectly normal, so why were they so embarrassed?
But that question was destined to have no answer.
Inside Beiyang City.
The entire city was decked in lanterns and decorations. Crowds thronged the streets, while songs and dances filled the air.
News that the Ninth Princess had won the martial contest had already spread throughout Beiyang City.
Over the past few years, Beiyang City and the Golden Elephant Kingdom had frequently clashed over all sorts of issues, even erupting into small-scale conflicts.
The soldiers and civilians in the city all bore, to some extent, grudges against the people of the Golden Elephant Kingdom. Some had even lost relatives and friends in one conflict or another.
Thus, nearly all the soldiers and civilians hated the Golden Elephant Kingdom.
Today, the city's residents heard that the royal Ninth Princess had personally stepped forward and led Beiyang City to victory in the martial contest. How could such news not stir their spirits?!
However, after Lin Zhengquan had polished and altered the story, the events became Xiao Minghuang defeating an inner disciple of the Dragon Tiger Sect, rather than an outer sect elder.
After all, Xiao Minghuang's world-shocking talent could not yet be exposed.
Within the City Lord's Manor, wine cups clinked as guests exchanged toasts. Instruments played, songs drifted through the air, and dancers swayed gracefully. Everyone throughout the manor wore joyous smiles.
After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes, everyone had eaten and drunk their fill. Honored guests and esteemed visitors, may you journey safely.
This banquet did not see another awkward scene like the last one. Including Xiao Minghuang, both hosts and guests were thoroughly pleased.
After the banquet ended.
Xiao Minghuang returned to her room supported by Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu.
At this banquet, Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu had plied her with quite a bit of wine.
Perhaps because the wine had been brewed from spiritual fruits, even a martial artist at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining Realm like her felt her head spinning after drinking too much. She staggered with every step, and without Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu supporting her, she might have tripped and fallen.
"Hic..."
Xiao Minghuang tilted up her rosy little face, parted her cherry lips, and let out a soft hiccup. Combined with her slightly intoxicated, dazed expression, she looked rather adorable and docile.
"Her Highness is really drunk..."
Lin Wanqiu murmured.
"Before coming to Beiyang City, I had never seen Her Highness drink before."
Ye Ruoshui gazed at Xiao Minghuang's rosy cheeks and quiet, obedient expression. She licked the corner of her lips, feeling the saliva in her mouth grow ever more abundant.
Normally, Xiao Minghuang cared deeply about her image. Even before people as close to her as Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu, she was always poised and serene, elegant and dignified, never revealing her carefree side.
But after drinking, she was thoroughly intoxicated and unconsciously displayed her natural manner. That proved she was truly drunk.
Fortunately, Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu were both martial artists of the Body Tempering Peak Realm. Supporting Xiao Minghuang's delicate body together took no effort at all; it was instead quite easy.
Each held one of Xiao Minghuang's jade-like arms, left and right, and escorted her all the way back to the room.
After settling Xiao Minghuang's soft, burning body onto the bed, Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu sat by the bedside. Their two pairs of beautiful eyes met, each gaze carrying a trace of unwillingness to yield.
After a while.
Lin Wanqiu glanced at Xiao Minghuang lying on the bed and seemed to speak casually.
"Her Highness drank so much wine, she must be thirsty. If Ruoshui has nothing to do, why not brew a pot of tea for Her Highness? It would be better than sitting here and waiting."
Hearing this, Ye Ruoshui unexpectedly became firm. The corners of her lips rose slightly, a glint flashing through her eyes as she gave a light snort.
"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You want to take advantage of me going out to secretly harbor improper designs toward Her Highness, don't you?!"
At those words, flames seemed to burn in Lin Wanqiu's eyes. Before her stood a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Xiao Minghuang was drunk and asleep; no matter what she did to her, she would not be discovered.
If she handed over such a splendid moment and beautiful scene, Lin Wanqiu knew she could not do it.
Love was a battlefield. At a time like this, there was no need for her to keep yielding.
"At this point, is there still any need to keep pretending, Ye Ruoshui?!"
Lin Wanqiu rose to her feet and looked down at Ye Ruoshui from above, her gaze filled with disdain.
"You are merely a lowly maid, yet you dare covet your master. I truly wonder, if Her Highness learned of your feelings, how would she view you afterward?!"
"Her Highness and I were betrothed before we were born, a match made in heaven. Her Highness once personally told me that she wanted to remain together with me for a long time. What do you have that can compare with me?"
Hearing this, Ye Ruoshui refused to be outdone. She clenched her small fists, her gaze resolute.
"Her Highness told me that I am the most important person by her side and that she would never leave me. Yet a month ago, you did not even know Her Highness's name. And now you speak of being a match made in heaven. Isn't that laughable?"
"I have been by Her Highness's side for years already. Is that something you can compare with? Not to mention, if Her Highness truly liked you, why would she not make the marriage agreement public? I think you are simply indulging in wishful thinking! Country bumpkin!"
When Ye Ruoshui uttered the final two words, the corner of her lips curled upward and she cast a sidelong glance, looking somewhat like Xiao Minghuang.
"Who are you calling a country bumpkin?"
Lin Wanqiu asked coldly.
"Whoever is a country bumpkin knows it in her own heart!"
Ye Ruoshui met her needle for needle, refusing to give even an inch.
"A mere maid dares to be so arrogant!"
"You country bumpkin, don't forget your place!"
"Maid!"
"Country bumpkin!"
As the two traded verbal blows, time slipped by swiftly.
After an unknown amount of time, perhaps because they were both somewhat tired, they each sat back down.
But when their gazes met, they each gave a cold snort and ignored the other.
Just then.
Xiao Minghuang, who had lain on the bed in silence for a long time, suddenly let out a soft moan.
"Mm... ngh... thirsty..."
Ruoshui, How About We Discuss Terms?
The sudden voice from the bed carried a thread of soft, coquettish charm. Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu's hearts both trembled, and they stopped arguing as they could not help looking toward the bed.
The girl lying on the bed no longer wore that peaceful, docile expression.
At some point, she had kicked away the quilt covering her body, revealing her slender and exquisite figure.
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