From Cold Palace Princess to Heavenly Empress

During this time, the cultivation of all three of them had improved.

Xiao Minghuang had advanced to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer Realm, and Ye Ruoshui had improved from the Body Tempering Ninth Layer to Body Tempering Perfection.

The most surprising was Lin Wanqiu, who in just half a month, had leaped from the Body Tempering Ninth Layer to the Qi Refining First Level.

One must understand that this was not a direct breakthrough from the Body Tempering Ninth Layer to a major realm, advancing to the Qi Refining First Level.

Instead, she had achieved Body Tempering Perfection, forged a flawless foundation, and only then broken through to advance to the Qi Refining First Level.

The difference between these two paths was worlds apart.

But strangely, Lin Wanqiu's Spiritual Root was only Xuan-grade top-tier, the same as Ye Ruoshui's, and not particularly high.

Although Ye Ruoshui spent most of her time refining pills, she shouldn't have been so much faster in her cultivation speed than Lin Wanqiu.

Xiao Minghuang had pondered this question more than once, but she never found an answer. In the end, she could only place her hopes on time. As long as her cultivation continued to improve and her horizons broadened, she would eventually discover the truth about Lin Wanqiu's physique.

In the blink of an eye.

Xiao Minghuang and the other two had been sightseeing near Beiyang City for half a month. Although they hadn't ventured too far from the city for most of the time, and a large contingent of guards accompanied them, it had been a very leisurely and happy period.

Happy times always passed quickly.

Beiyang City, City Lord's Mansion.

"In two months, it will be the time for the Royal Grand Competition!"

"Now that all matters in Beiyang City are settled, it's time to return."

Xiao Minghuang looked at Ye and Lin, the two women sitting opposite her, and said with a solemn expression.

Ye Ruoshui showed no particular reaction, her expression as usual. She had followed Xiao Minghuang from the Imperial City, and now that things were done, she was simply returning to her original place.

However, for Lin Wanqiu, this was a truly significant event.

It meant she had to leave the homeland that raised her and go to a strange place thousands of miles away, with no idea when she would be able to return home.

Sensing Lin Wanqiu's unusual expression, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes, Xiao Minghuang put her arm around Lin Wanqiu's slender waist, pulling the soft, delicate body into her embrace, and said gently:

"Your Highness, don't be afraid. I am by your side and will not let you come to any harm!"

The gentle voice sounded in her ears, followed by a warm, soft, and sweet embrace. A faint scent of orchids surrounded her, calming her agitated heart.

"Your Highness..."

Lin Wanqiu lifted her small face, her beautiful eyes subtly misting over.

"Wanqiu..."

Seeing the beauty's eyes filled with tears, Xiao Minghuang's heart ached. She couldn't help but reach out with both hands, gently cupping Lin Wanqiu's small face.

The distance between the two grew shorter and shorter...

Just then.

"Ahem! Your Highness, we should be going back!"

Ye Ruoshui stood before Xiao Minghuang and Lin Wanqiu, her expression composed. Her large, round eyes gazed intently at the two of them.

Being stared at by her, Lin Wanqiu felt a trace of shyness.

These past few days, the three of them had traveled together, going out and sleeping together, very close and intimate.

But in reality, they only dared to sneak kisses with Xiao Minghuang when the other was not present.

For example, if she wanted to kiss Xiao Minghuang, she had to wait until Ye Ruoshui went to fetch water or cook.

And if Ye Ruoshui wanted to kiss Xiao Minghuang, she had to wait until Lin Wanqiu went hunting or gathering firewood.

This was something they both knew but never spoke of.

But now, in a moment of deep emotion, she had become somewhat carried away.

This was actually breaking their unspoken agreement.

Thinking of this, Lin Wanqiu's restless heart gradually calmed down, and she slowly pulled her leaning body back.

Just as she was about to completely pull away from Xiao Minghuang's embrace.

A gentle and sweet kiss suddenly landed on her lips.

A sweet and delicious taste instantly flooded her heart and lungs, as if she had tasted the most exquisite spring water in the world, even more wonderful than the legendary Fountain of Immortality.

After a long while.

Their lips parted.

Lin Wanqiu swallowed all the saliva in her mouth, then extended her tender three-inch tongue to lick away the lingering moisture on her lips. Her pupils shimmered with a captivating allure.

What Xiao Minghuang did next surprised everyone present.

She quickly reached out with her other hand, pulled Ye Ruoshui, who was sitting beside her, into her embrace, and with lightning speed, kissed Ye Ruoshui on the lips.

It was a gentle and lingering kiss, carrying a sweet and delicious dew that made one intoxicated and left them with endless aftertaste.

The sudden kiss completely stunned Ye Ruoshui. Before she could even react, she had fallen into Xiao Minghuang's embrace, pressed tightly against her.

By the time she came to her senses, Xiao Minghuang's sweet, moist breath was gone, leaving only a sweet orchid fragrance on her lips.

The scent was so rich and sweet that she couldn't help but lick her lips, drawing the delicious flavor into her mouth to savor.

Xiao Minghuang held Ye and Lin in her arms, and seeing the blissful expressions on both their faces, she couldn't help but smile.

"You two are my good girls!"

59. Dual Cultivation Technique, given away?

"Mmm..."

Hearing this, the rosy cheeks of Ye and Lin flushed even deeper. They didn't understand how Xiao Minghuang could say such embarrassing things so casually. Even though they were all girls, she had no sense of modesty at all.

However, this was precisely what they liked about Xiao Minghuang.

Bright, cheerful, passionate, and generous.

When facing enemies, she was the supreme Empress of the Nine Heavens, capable of deciding life and death with a single word, treating all beings as ants.

But in front of them, she was a gentle and caring older sister, looking after them meticulously.

Ye and Lin both realized that they truly couldn't leave Xiao Minghuang.

After a period of tenderness, the three of them packed their belongings and prepared to leave Beiyang City to return to the Imperial City.

However, while organizing their luggage, Xiao Minghuang suddenly discovered that the dual cultivation secret art she had picked up from the evil cultivator leader was missing.

In its place was a small booklet titled Pure Jade and Ice Dual Cultivation Technique.

The moment she saw this new secret art, Xiao Minghuang's expression faltered.

"Pure Jade and Ice... Dual Cultivation Technique?"

Xiao Minghuang put aside the content of the booklet for now and turned her mind to another question.

"Who did I give that secret art to?"

She had clearly given the secret art away, otherwise, she wouldn't have received a system compensation.

A few days ago, she had frequently given gifts to Ye and Lin, and the system notifications had filled her mind, annoying her to no end. So, she had simply disabled the system prompts and had no idea which day she had given it away.

"If Ruoshui or Wanqiu sees this secret art, it will be a big problem!"

Xiao Minghuang frowned, her thoughts racing.

She and Ye and Lin were like sisters, like a real family.

If Ye and Lin saw that booklet, her noble, elegant, gentle, and intellectual image as an older sister would be ruined!

How could she ever hold her head up in front of Ye and Lin again?

Since it had come to this, she could only pray.

"I hope Ruoshui and Wanqiu don't find that booklet!"

Meanwhile.

In Ye Ruoshui's room, she was tidying up the miscellaneous items in her storage bag when she accidentally found a yellowed booklet.

"What is this?"

Ye Ruoshui took it out of her storage bag and opened it.

"This!"

The moment she opened the first page, Ye Ruoshui's eyes widened, and her entire face turned bright red.

She immediately closed the booklet, fumbling and almost dropping it on the ground.

Ye Ruoshui felt her cheeks burning and her heart pounding.

"This storage bag was a gift from Your Highness, and this booklet... it must have been a gift from Your Highness too..."

"Did Your Highness give me this booklet because she wants to do the things depicted in it with me?"

Ye Ruoshui took a deep breath, calming her surging emotions. After calming down, she couldn't help but think:

"Your Highness is noble and dignified, intelligent and wise. How could she possibly do such a vulgar thing?"

Moreover, she remembered the jade slip that Xiao Minghuang had given her back then.

It clearly recorded a martial art, but she had mistaken it for...

"Could this booklet be a normal martial art?"

Ye Ruoshui thought to herself. She had read in books about cultivation common knowledge that cultivators with high realms had long lives. To avoid loneliness during their long years, they would seek out like-minded cultivators and become Dao companions.

Dao companions were different from ordinary couples.

The contract between a husband and wife primarily aimed at procreation or mutual pleasure.

The contract between Dao companions was a mutual vow to never abandon each other and to pursue the Great Dao together.

Although both were agreements, their purpose and form were different and should not be confused.

Thinking this, Ye Ruoshui had an epiphany and her mind became clear.

"It seems Your Highness doesn't want to... be intimate with me..."

But rather wants to dual cultivate with her.

Compared to the two, Ye Ruoshui suddenly felt it wasn't as embarrassing as she thought.

She vaguely remembered Your Highness once saying that it was very normal for girls to kiss and hug.

So by extension, dual cultivating with Your Highness should also be a normal thing, right?

However, she couldn't do such intimate things with anyone else, whether male or female!

Soon.

The door was knocked.

"Ruoshui, are you ready? We should go."

Hearing Xiao Minghuang's voice, Ye Ruoshui's heart trembled. She took small steps to the door and slowly pushed it open.

"Your Highness..."

Ye Ruoshui stood at the door with her head lowered, wringing the hem of her clothes with both hands, as if making a difficult decision.

Xiao Minghuang glanced at her and couldn't help but ask curiously: