From Cold Palace Princess to Heavenly Empress

Therefore, she needed to care for her even more, to look after her, and not let her feel lonely and cold.

After Xiao Minghuang returned to the imperial city, she would need to seize the time to enter seclusion and cultivate, to improve her cultivation and prepare for the grand competition, leaving her with little time to accompany Lin Wanqiu.

Thus, she sent a telepathic message to Ye Ruoshui:

"Ruoshui, after we return to the capital, please accompany Wanqiu for me and look after her more."

Ye Ruoshui immediately replied:

"Your Highness, please rest assured, leave it to me!"

Xiao Minghuang nodded in satisfaction, then pulled the two girls, Ye and Lin, out of the City Lord's mansion.

Outside the mansion gates, three thousand iron-clad soldiers were lined up, fully prepared.

Xiao Minghuang didn't say much, boarded the carriage, and headed towards the city gates.

As the large entourage reached the city gates, Xiao Minghuang lifted the carriage curtain, and the scenery at the city gates came into view.

Her gaze turned to Lin Wanqiu, and she said gently:

"Wanqiu, we've reached the gates of Beiyang City, take another look!"

"Okay."

Lin Wanqiu softly agreed, and just as she stood up...

Suddenly.

RUMBLE!!!

A deafening roar, like thunder, exploded, shaking hundreds of miles. The entire Beiyang City, and even the entire Savage Forest, was engulfed in a world-shattering, violent sound.

Everyone felt the sky shaking, the earth trembling, as if the void itself was quivering.

Exclamations of surprise and shock could be heard endlessly. The streets were in chaos, with people and horses thrown about. Many houses even collapsed directly.

The three in the carriage, Xiao Minghuang included, were not spared.

Ye Ruoshui, sitting to Xiao Minghuang's left, let out a soft cry from the violent shaking and crashed directly onto Xiao Minghuang's shoulder.

Fortunately, Xiao Minghuang reacted quickly and caught her, otherwise, the two of them might have been thrown out of the carriage.

As for Lin Wanqiu, because she had just stood up when the tremor hit, she was even more caught off guard and fell backward, tumbling directly into Xiao Minghuang's embrace.

With two girls hitting Xiao Minghuang, one from the front and one from the back, it was far from a soft embrace; it was like two cannonballs hitting her.

All of this happened so suddenly that Xiao Minghuang didn't have time to muster her spiritual energy to resist.

Moreover, even if she could have foreseen it, she wouldn't have done so.

Because using spiritual energy to resist might have injured Ye and Lin, she could only rely on her physical body to withstand it.

Fortunately, her physical body was at the Great Perfection of Body Tempering, so even after being hit twice, she only felt a slight pain.

If it were an ordinary Qi Refining Realm cultivator, they would likely have been directly fractured by the impact.

With both Ye and Lin falling into her embrace, after the initial shock, they both showed embarrassed expressions.

Ye Ruoshui climbed out of Xiao Minghuang's arms, her eyes darting around. She glanced at the chaotic scene outside the carriage and asked in astonishment:

"Such a huge commotion, was it an earthquake?"

The sudden tremor, which affected an area of hundreds of miles, offered no other explanation she could think of besides an earthquake.

Lin Wanqiu also straightened herself and stepped out of the carriage, looking around.

She raised her head and saw that in the direction of the Savage Forest, vast expanses of dark clouds were pressing down on the sky, as if the end of the world was imminent.

At the same time.

Deep within the mountain range, roars of beasts erupted in large numbers, echoing through the forests.

Instantly.

Lin Wanqiu's beautiful eyes widened, her pupils filled with shock, and she said urgently:

"It's bad! It's a Beast Tide!"

Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang vaguely felt like she had heard these words somewhere before, but couldn't recall where.

As she pondered, Ye Ruoshui was the first to ask:

"Sister Lin, what is a Beast Tide?"

Lin Wanqiu's expression was grave as she explained:

"Deep within the Savage Forest live many ferocious beasts. Every so often, these beasts might gather and launch an assault on human settlements. They devour anyone they see, destroying everything in their path, leaving nothing alive!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Ruoshui's face changed, her small face turning pale. She exclaimed:

"How terrifying!"

Hearing Lin Wanqiu's explanation, Xiao Minghuang also remembered that Lin Zhengquan had once told her.

During a Beast Tide ten years ago, the old Beiyang City Lord was severely injured and died. Lin Zhengquan suffered hidden injuries and was never able to break through to the Divine Sea Realm. Beiyang City suffered heavy losses and had not yet recovered.

It can be said that the Beast Tide is Beiyang City's greatest enemy, its threat level far exceeding that of the Golden Elephant Kingdom!

Just then.

A series of bell tolls rang out, echoing through every corner of Beiyang City.

Accompanying the bells, teams of soldiers marched out from the City Lord's mansion, ascending the city walls, deploying giant ballistae, and taking their positions with weapons in hand, ready to defend the city and resist the Beast Tide.

A streak of light flashed across the sky, arriving before the three of them. It was Lin Zhengquan, his expression complex, and he spoke:

"Your Highness is about to return to the capital. The Beast Tide has come at a truly inconvenient time."

Xiao Minghuang's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she looked into the distance. The ground trembled, mountains shook, and the forest rippled. Accompanied by countless bloody scents drifting in, a sky-piercing Yao energy emanated from all directions.

"City Lord Lin, what are you saying? As a princess of the Royal Family, since I am here, I will naturally help Beiyang City and overcome this difficulty together with everyone in the city!"

"Your Highness's noble personage, please remain within the City Lord's mansion. It is safer and more secure."

Xiao Minghuang did not speak. A mere faint glance at him was enough to convey her meaning.

Lin Zhengquan naturally understood and did not try to persuade her further. After this period of interaction, he knew that the Ninth Princess was a wise person who always kept her word. Though young, she was extremely mature and would not do anything without a grasp of the situation.

"Then please be careful, Your Highness. I shall go arrange the city's defenses first!"

"City Lord Lin, please do as you see fit."

As the words fell.

Lin Zhengquan's figure disappeared once more.

In just a quarter of an hour, the entirety of Beiyang City, from top to bottom, had been mobilized. United as one, they prepared to face the imminent Beast Tide.

Xiao Minghuang and the other two stood on the city wall, nearly a hundred zhang high. From afar, they could see dark clouds pressing down, sand and stones flying, and countless ferocious beasts of various forms surging forward like an overwhelming tide.

Seeing this terrifying scene, even Xiao Minghuang couldn't help but clench her palms. Ye Ruoshui held her slender waist tightly, clearly terrified.

She gently stroked Ye Ruoshui's back and said softly:

"Don't be afraid, Ruoshui. Big Sister is here with you and will protect you."

Under her comfort, Ye Ruoshui's trembling body gradually calmed down.

Xiao Minghuang looked at the Beast Tide rolling and crashing towards them like a black river. A hint of doubt appeared in her eyes as she asked:

"This Beast Tide is so terrifying. Has Beiyang City not reported it to the imperial court and requested the Imperial Family Enshrined to eliminate it?"

Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu shook her head slightly and explained:

"Your Highness may not know, but the Beast Tide originates from the depths of the Savage Forest. The ancient existences within are likely something even the Imperial Family Enshrined would not dare to provoke."

"Moreover, the Beast Tide comes and goes quickly. Unless there are experts in the Divine Sea Realm stationed here in advance, there won't be enough time to respond. However..."

As she spoke, Lin Wanqiu paused, a look of confusion on her face.

"According to historical records, in previous Beast Tides, there would be omens three to five days before their arrival, giving us time to call for aid. But this time, the omens appeared at the same time as the Beast Tide, which is very sudden..."

While the two were speaking, some ferocious beasts, naturally gifted with speed, had already rushed to the vicinity of the city wall.

It was a grey wolf, about a zhang long, its fur standing on end like steel needles. Its speed was like lightning, leaping over ten zhang high and directly gripping the smooth city wall, climbing towards the battlements with leaps and bounds.

Among the defending soldiers, many were new recruits who had not yet experienced the baptism of war. Seeing the dense black Beast Tide and the countless terrifying beast shadows, they felt a sense of fear.

Some young soldiers couldn't even hold their spears steady.

"It's a Body Tempering Realm ferocious beast, a Great Grey Wolf!"

An older soldier shouted, "Everyone, don't panic! Follow the techniques you were taught during drills. We can definitely defend the city!"

Under the encouragement of the older soldier, the new recruits' hearts settled slightly. They knew that the person speaking was a veteran who had survived the previous Beast Tide. He was at the Body Tempering Peak Realm with rich combat experience. Following his words would be correct.

In the very next moment.

A ferocious grey wolf leaped out, charging onto the battlements. Its body emanated light, with strange patterns faintly circulating around it. Its gaping maw roared ferociously, its fangs sharp, and it instantly swallowed the head of the veteran who had spoken.

"Roar!"

The Great Grey Wolf, having swallowed the veteran's head, let out a roar to the heavens. Its cold, eerie wolf eyes scanned the surroundings. The young soldiers before it were like fish waiting to be slaughtered, for it to feast upon.

"Beast, die!"

Suddenly.

An angry, delicate shout rang out.

Lin Wanqiu's dark blue long saber appeared in her hand, and a zhang-long saber shadow instantly formed. She leaped forward and fiercely slashed down from mid-air.

This saber strike was like hitting a hard, giant rock. The Great Grey Wolf twisted its head, its pair of green wolf eyes filled with bloodlust. It fiercely opened its gaping maw and actually bit down on the saber shadow.

With a strong bite from its sharp teeth, the dark blue saber shadow, exuding a chilling aura, was directly bitten in half, its light dissipating!

The luster of the dark blue long saber dimmed, rendering it unusable for the time being.

Lin Wanqiu's face turned pale, her pupils filled with disbelief.

"It's Qi Refining Realm! This Great Grey Wolf is a Qi Refining Realm Yao Beast!"

This scene shocked everyone present.

Ferocious beasts were naturally strong in body and had long lifespans. Some ancient races even possessed bloodline inheritances. They didn't need to cultivate arduously; as long as they found a place to hide and lived long enough, they could reach a very powerful state.

Compared to ferocious beasts, human warriors have no chance of winning against them within the same major realm if they don't rely on powerful magic treasures or have superior numbers.

Of course, this is for the more mediocre human warriors.

If the true disciples of the Three Great Sects were here, in the same major realm, there might be a chance to fight to a draw.

Facing the Qi Refining Realm Great Grey Wolf, all the soldiers present felt fear, and some had even quietly begun to retreat.

This scene was witnessed by Lin Wanqiu.

She was also terrified and scared, but she would not retreat.

Beiyang City was her home.

She would not allow her home to be trampled by ferocious beasts.

Lin Wanqiu's gaze sharpened as she looked at the soldiers and said coldly:

"Defending Beiyang City is everyone's responsibility. Whoever dares to retreat will die!"

Upon hearing this, the two soldiers who were about to flee immediately stopped in their tracks, caught in a dilemma.

Then, Lin Wanqiu shouted again:

"Everyone, don't forget your usual drills. Form ranks!"

This shout awakened the soldiers.

They had practiced military formations in the past, but because it was their first time on the battlefield, they were too panicked and almost forgot.

Next, the soldiers immediately formed ranks. Dozens of nine-foot-long spears were bound together and charged towards the Great Grey Wolf.