Therefore, she needed to care for her even more, look after her, and never let her feel lonely or neglected.
After Xiao Minghuang returned to the imperial capital, she would have to seize the time to enter seclusion and cultivate, raise her cultivation, and prepare for the grand competition. She would not have much time to keep Lin Wanqiu company.
Thus, she sent Ye Ruoshui a voice transmission:
"Ruoshui, once we return to the capital, keep Wanqiu company for me and take good care of her."
Ye Ruoshui immediately replied:
"Rest assured, Your Highness. Leave it to me!"
Xiao Minghuang nodded in satisfaction, then took Ye and Lin's hands and led them out of the City Lord's residence.
Outside the residence gates, three thousand Ironclad Army soldiers stood in a single row, fully equipped and ready to depart.
Xiao Minghuang said nothing more. She boarded the carriage and headed for the city gates.
When the procession reached the gates, Xiao Minghuang lifted the carriage curtain, and the scene at the city gates came into view.
She turned her gaze toward Lin Wanqiu and said gently:
"Wanqiu, we've reached the gates of Beiyang City. Take one more look."
"Alright."
Lin Wanqiu answered softly and had just risen to her feet...
When suddenly.
Rumble!!!
A deafening boom, like thunder splitting the heavens, exploded without warning. Its echoes shook the land for hundreds of miles, plunging all of Beiyang City and even the entire Savage Forest into a violent uproar that shook heaven and earth.
Everyone felt the sky sway and the ground tremble, as though even the void itself were quivering.
Cries of shock rang out without end. The streets were thrown into chaos, people and horses overturned, and quite a few houses collapsed outright.
The three women in the carriage were no exception.
Ye Ruoshui sat to Xiao Minghuang's left. The violent shaking drew a startled cry from her as she slammed headfirst into Xiao Minghuang's shoulder.
Fortunately, Xiao Minghuang reacted quickly enough to catch her. Otherwise, the two of them might have been flung straight out of the carriage.
As for Lin Wanqiu, she had happened to rise just as the earth began to shake. Caught completely off guard, she tipped backward and fell directly into Xiao Minghuang's embrace.
The two girls crashed into Xiao Minghuang from front and back. These were no soft, delicate bodies—they struck her like two cannonballs.
Everything had happened too abruptly for Xiao Minghuang to gather spiritual energy and defend herself.
Besides, even if she had foreseen it, she would not have done so.
If she had used spiritual energy to defend herself, she might have injured Ye and Lin. She could only endure the impact with her physical body.
Fortunately, she possessed the formidable physique of Body Tempering Great Perfection. Though she was struck twice in succession, she merely felt a slight sting of pain.
Had it been an ordinary Qi Refining Realm martial artist, their bones would likely have been shattered on the spot.
After falling into Xiao Minghuang's arms, both Ye and Lin wore embarrassed expressions once their shock subsided.
Ye Ruoshui climbed out of Xiao Minghuang's embrace, her eyes darting evasively. She glanced at the wreckage outside the carriage, her gaze filled with astonishment as she asked:
"With such a huge disturbance, was that an earthquake?"
The sudden tremor had affected an area hundreds of miles wide. Other than an earthquake, she could think of no other possibility.
Lin Wanqiu also sat herself upright again and stepped out of the carriage, looking around in every direction.
When she raised her head, she saw layers of pitch-black clouds pressing down upon the heavens in the direction of the Savage Forest, as though the end of the world were about to descend.
At the same time.
From deep within the mountains came wave after wave of beastly roars, echoing through the forest.
In an instant.
Lin Wanqiu's beautiful eyes widened, her pupils filled with shock as she said urgently:
"This is bad! It's a Beast Tide!"
Upon hearing those words, Xiao Minghuang vaguely felt that she had heard the term somewhere before, yet could not recall it for the moment.
While she was thinking, Ye Ruoshui was the first to ask:
"Sister Lin, what is a Beast Tide?"
Lin Wanqiu's expression turned grave as she explained:
"Deep within the Savage Forest live many ferocious beasts. Every so often, these beasts may gather and launch an assault upon human settlements. They devour anyone they see and destroy everything in their path, leaving not a blade of grass where they pass!"
Ye Ruoshui's expression changed at once. Her little face turned pale as she cried out:
"That's terrifying!"
Hearing Lin Wanqiu's explanation, Xiao Minghuang also remembered what Lin Zhengquan had once told her.
During a Beast Tide ten years ago, the former Beiyang City Lord had died from severe injuries. Lin Zhengquan had suffered hidden wounds that left him unable to break through into the Divine Sea Realm, while Beiyang City had suffered grievous losses and had yet to recover even now.
It could be said that the Beast Tide was Beiyang City's greatest enemy, a threat far surpassing the Golden Elephant Kingdom!
Just then.
The tolling of bells rang out, echoing through every corner of Beiyang City.
Along with the bells, squad after squad of soldiers marched out from the City Lord's residence and climbed the city walls. They rolled out massive crossbows and arrow towers, gripping their weapons as they stood ready in battle formation, prepared to defend the city against the Beast Tide.
A streak of light cut across the sky and arrived before the three women. It was Lin Zhengquan. His expression was complicated as he said:
"Your Highness was just about to return to the capital. The Beast Tide truly came at the worst possible time."
Xiao Minghuang's brows furrowed slightly as she looked into the distance. The ground trembled, the mountains shook, the forest sea rose and fell, and the stench of blood drifted in from all directions as demonic energy surged toward the heavens.
"Why does City Lord Lin say such things? As a princess of the imperial family, since I am here, I will naturally help Beiyang City and overcome this trial together with everyone in the city!"
"Your Highness possesses a body worth a thousand gold. Please remain within the City Lord's residence, where it will be safer and more prudent."
Xiao Minghuang said nothing. She merely swept him a calm glance, yet her meaning was already perfectly clear.
Lin Zhengquan naturally understood. He did not try to persuade her further. After spending this time with her, he knew that the Ninth Princess was a wise woman whose word was iron. Though young, she was remarkably composed and would never act without certainty.
"Then please take great care, Your Highness. This official shall go make arrangements for the city's defense first!"
"City Lord Lin, do as you please."
As soon as her words fell.
Lin Zhengquan's figure vanished once more.
Within a mere quarter of an hour, all of Beiyang City had been mobilized. United as one, they prepared to face the incoming Beast Tide.
Standing atop the city wall, nearly a hundred zhang high, Xiao Minghuang and the other two could see black clouds pressing upon the city in the distance. Sand and stones flew through the air as countless ferocious beasts of every shape and form surged forward like mountains toppling and seas overturning.
At the sight of that terrifying scene, even Xiao Minghuang could not help clenching her palms. Ye Ruoshui wrapped her arms tightly around her slender waist, clearly terrified beyond measure.
Xiao Minghuang gently stroked Ye Ruoshui's back and comforted her softly:
"Don't be afraid, Ruoshui. Your sister is beside you. I'll protect you."
After Xiao Minghuang's soothing words, Ye Ruoshui's trembling body gradually calmed.
Xiao Minghuang looked toward the Beast Tide rolling in like a black river, and a trace of confusion appeared in her eyes as she asked:
"This Beast Tide is so terrifying. Has Beiyang City never reported it to the court and asked the Imperial Family Enshrined to intervene and eliminate it?"
Lin Wanqiu shook her head slightly and explained:
"Your Highness does not know. The Beast Tide comes from the depths of the Savage Forest, where ancient existences dwell. I fear even the Imperial Family Enshrined would not dare disturb them."
"Moreover, the Beast Tide comes swiftly and leaves swiftly. Unless a Divine Sea Realm expert is stationed here beforehand, there is no time to respond. However..."
At that point, Lin Wanqiu paused, a puzzled look appearing on her face.
"According to historical records, past Beast Tides showed signs three to five days before they arrived, giving us time to call for aid. But this time, the signs appeared together with the Beast Tide. It was far too sudden..."
As the two spoke, some ferocious beasts born with exceptional speed had already rushed close to the city walls.
It was a gray wolf more than a zhang long. Its fur stood backward like steel needles, and it moved as swiftly as lightning. With a single leap, it rose more than ten zhang into the air, clutched the smooth city wall, and began springing upward toward the battlements.
Many of the city-defending soldiers were new recruits who had never been tempered by war. At the sight of the dark mass of Beast Tide and countless terrifying beastly silhouettes, fear rose in their hearts.
Some of the younger soldiers could not even hold their spears steady.
"It's a Body Tempering Realm ferocious beast—the Great Grey Wolf!"
An older soldier shouted, "Do not panic! Follow the methods taught to you during drills, and we will definitely be able to hold the city!"
Encouraged by the older soldier, the many recruits settled down somewhat. They knew he was a veteran who had survived the previous Beast Tide, with Body Tempering Peak Realm cultivation and abundant combat experience. Listening to him could not be wrong.
At the very next moment.
A savage gray wolf lunged forth and charged onto the city wall. Light spilled from its entire body, while strange patterns faintly circulated around it. Its bloody maw opened in a vicious roar, its fangs sharp as it instantly swallowed the head of the veteran who had shouted.
"Awoo!"
After swallowing the veteran's head, the Great Grey Wolf threw back its head and howled at the sky. Its icy wolf eyes swept across the surrounding young soldiers as if they were fish on a chopping board, waiting for it to feast upon.
"Beast, die!"
All of a sudden.
An enraged feminine shout rang out.
A dark-blue longsword appeared in Lin Wanqiu's hand, and a blade shadow more than a zhang long instantly condensed. She leaped into the air and slashed down fiercely.
That strike seemed to have struck an unyielding boulder. The Great Grey Wolf twisted its head, its green eyes brimming with bloodlust. It abruptly opened its massive jaws and actually bit down upon the blade shadow.
The Great Grey Wolf exerted force with its sharp teeth, and the dark-blue blade shadow, radiating a chilling aura, was bitten cleanly into two. Its light scattered away!
The dark-blue longsword's glow immediately dimmed, leaving it unable to be used again for a short time.
Lin Wanqiu's face turned pale, her pupils filled with disbelief.
"It's at the Qi Refining Realm! This Great Grey Wolf is a Qi Refining Realm demon beast!"
This scene shocked everyone present.
Ferocious beasts were naturally powerful in body and long-lived. Some ancient races even possessed bloodline inheritances. They did not need arduous cultivation; as long as they hid somewhere and lived long enough, they could become tremendously powerful.
Compared to ferocious beasts, human martial artists had absolutely no chance of victory within the same major realm unless they relied on powerful artifacts or outnumbered their opponents.
Of course, that applied only to relatively ordinary human martial artists.
If true disciples of the Three Great Sects were here, then within the same major realm, they might not be unable to fight to a draw.
Facing the Qi Refining Realm Great Grey Wolf, all the soldiers present were seized by fear. Some had even begun to quietly retreat.
Lin Wanqiu saw this clearly.
She was afraid too. She was terrified too. But she would not retreat.
Beiyang City was her home.
She would not allow ferocious beasts to trample her home.
Lin Wanqiu's gaze turned sharp as she looked toward the soldiers and said coldly:
"Defending Beiyang City is everyone's responsibility. Whoever dares retreat will die!"
Hearing this, the two soldiers who had been preparing to flee immediately halted, caught between advancing and retreating.
Then Lin Wanqiu shouted once more:
"Everyone, do not forget your usual drills—form the formation!"
That shout jolted the soldiers awake.
They had practiced military formations in ordinary times. It was only because this was their first time on the battlefield and they were too panicked that they had nearly forgotten.
Next, the soldiers immediately formed up. Dozens of thirty-foot spears linked together as one and thrust toward the Great Grey Wolf in unison.
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