As his words fell,
Lin Zhengquan flashed, and a golden light landed in his hand.
Lowering his head, he saw a longsword suffused with flowing golden radiance. Faint dragon patterns coiled up its blade, wondrous and extraordinary.
"What grade of magical treasure is this?"
A puzzled look appeared on Lin Zhengquan's face. The highest-grade magical treasure he had ever seen in his life was merely the top-grade Yellow-tier saber Xiao Minghuang had used a few days ago.
Yet this longsword before him was clearly far more wondrous and extraordinary than that saber.
"Could it be a Mystical-tier magical treasure?!"
Lin Zhengquan guessed inwardly, a flash of shock appearing in his eyes.
While he was lost in thought, the Silver Light Giant Elephant swung its thick, steel-like trunk and lashed it down through the air.
The trunk was incomparably hard. When Lin Zhengquan had fought it with his top-grade Yellow-tier spear, he could only leave a few faint bloody marks upon it, which quickly recovered.
Though he had advanced to the Divine Sea Realm, he still could not defeat the giant elephant without using his strongest killing move. Even if he went all out, he could probably only defeat it, not kill it.
Spring Gushing Realm ferocious beasts were already inherently powerful. This giant elephant had clearly awakened a trace of the bloodline power of an ancient Divine Elephant. Its defense was astonishingly strong; even with his Divine Sea Realm strength, killing it was difficult.
"For now, I can only rely on you."
Lin Zhengquan glanced at the longsword in his hand and prayed inwardly. Then, gathering all his spiritual power into both hands, he viciously swung his sword at the descending trunk!
The instant the trunk collided with the sword light.
The sword light whistled past without the slightest resistance. The thick trunk was cleanly severed as though it were tofu, and pale golden blood gushed out, splattering across the earth.
The giant elephant's flesh and blood contained a trace of an ancient Divine Elephant Seed. As it spilled onto the ground, it seemed to weigh a thousand jun, crushing the land for dozens of zhang around into a massive sinkhole.
This sudden scene stunned everyone present.
"An ancient Divine Elephant Seed is actually this terrifying!"
Someone atop the city wall recalled Ye Ruoshui's explanation from earlier and exclaimed in amazement.
"If Miss Ye can refine this pill, my Li Family is willing to buy it at a high price!"
The Li Family, one of the three great families, had almost mobilized its entire household. Even their white-haired old family head wore armor as he climbed the city wall. Seeing the might of the giant elephant's blood now, he too felt unbearably eager.
Suddenly becoming the focus of countless gazes, Ye Ruoshui's little face immediately turned red. She hid behind Xiao Minghuang and did not dare speak.
Xiao Minghuang gently patted Ye Ruoshui's small hand before looking at everyone and saying clearly,
"If the pills are successfully refined, this princess will certainly not forget everyone in Beiyang City!"
At those words, everyone present rejoiced and bowed together.
"Many thanks, Princess Your Highness!"
Xiao Minghuang took in everyone's reaction, the corners of her lips lifting slightly in satisfaction.
If she wanted to build her own faction, she needed a place to establish her foundations.
Within the imperial court, most officials had already pledged themselves to the Second Prince.
Even if she defeated the Second Prince someday, or even killed him and took his subordinates for her own use, they would still not be people whose roots she knew.
It would be better to develop her own power in Beiyang City.
"My first batch of subordinates will be chosen from Beiyang City."
Xiao Minghuang thought this to herself.
At this moment.
The battle between Lin Zhengquan and the Silver Light Giant Elephant was nearing its end.
The Silver Light Giant Elephant was in a miserable state. Its enormous trunk had been severed at the root, three of its four legs were broken, and it was completely sprawled upon the ground. Its silvery-white beast body was covered in blood and mud, utterly bedraggled. It wailed without cease, yet still could not escape its fate of execution.
Humans and ferocious beasts were not of the same kind; they stood irreconcilably opposed!
Standing atop the giant elephant's corpse, Lin Zhengquan shouted toward the city wall,
"The giant elephant is dead! Sons of Beiyang City, follow me and slay the enemy!"
"Yes!"
"Charge!"
The soldiers of Beiyang City answered in unison. War drums shook the heavens and echoed through the clouds. Cries of slaughter and roars surged like mountains collapsing and seas overturning, shaking heaven and earth. An army of one hundred thousand poured from the city like a tidal wave, their dense power of blood and qi soaring skyward, nearly dyeing the entire sky red.
Watching the soldiers clash with the ferocious beasts, Lin Wanqiu's hands itched for action as well. She had a feeling that if she could temper herself in this battle, her cultivation should improve.
"Your Highness, I..."
Lin Wanqiu looked toward Xiao Minghuang, a trace of hope in her beautiful eyes.
Xiao Minghuang understood her intentions and said gently,
"Go. Just be careful."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Delight appeared on Lin Wanqiu's face. She turned and rushed into the Beast Tide. The Azure Shadow Sword appeared in her hand, swift as the wind, while her entire body danced like an elf, relentlessly harvesting the lives of ferocious beasts.
Watching Lin Wanqiu display her prowess, Xiao Minghuang gradually felt her own desire for battle grow. Her cultivation had continuously risen, but her combat skills had remained stagnant. Though she often sparred with Lin Wanqiu in daily life, the results had been limited.
This was an excellent opportunity. She could grow through a genuine battle of blades and blood.
As she pondered.
Xiao Minghuang looked at Ye Ruoshui. Seeing that she was still staring at the giant elephant's corpse, Xiao Minghuang could not help smiling.
"Ruoshui, stop staring. Once the battle is over, that entire giant elephant will be given to you."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Ye Ruoshui said happily.
After obtaining the Tiger Bone Body Strengthening Pill, she had broken down the pill and, in conjunction with records from ancient books, gradually figured out its pill formula.
However, one of the main ingredients in the formula only grew near Dragon Tiger Mountain, so she could not refine it.
Fortunately, while reading the ancient books and studying the pill, she had slightly altered several ingredients and devised a new pill formula. Using giant elephant flesh, blood, and bones as the main ingredient, it had the same body-tempering effect, and its efficacy was even stronger!
This giant elephant before her, containing the bloodline power of an ancient Divine Elephant, would certainly add much luster to her pill formula.
At that thought, a smug smile could not help appearing on Ye Ruoshui's little face.
Seeing Ye Ruoshui's expression, Xiao Minghuang knew that she probably did not wish to temper her strength through battle. She said nothing further and turned toward the chaotic Beast Tide.
Within the beast horde, saber light and sword shadows flashed, while blood rose to the skies. Corpses of ferocious beasts and humans lay everywhere, mixed together. The thick stench of blood assaulted the nose and involuntarily stirred nausea.
Xiao Minghuang's delicate brows furrowed slightly, but she paid no heed to the foul stench. Stepping into the beast horde, she spread her arms, and two golden sword shadows shot forth. More than a zhang long, they continuously harvested the nearby ferocious beasts like sharp knives.
Her current strength was already comparable to disciples at the Spring Gushing First Layer of the Three Great Sects. Slaying Body Tempering Realm ferocious beasts required no more effort than blowing dust away.
After killing dozens of Body Tempering Realm ferocious beasts, Xiao Minghuang swallowed a pill to replenish her exhausted spiritual power.
Her gaze swept through the beast horde as she observed carefully. For her now, continuing to kill Body Tempering Realm ferocious beasts held little meaning.
Only by challenging Qi Refining Realm ferocious beasts could she improve her combat techniques.
The Thoughtless Slash, Tiger Demon Annihilated!
Xiao Minghuang stood amid the Beast Tide, her bright yellow dress unstained by blood, as clean and lustrous as new. She seemed like a Banished Immortal Descends to the mortal world, ethereal and transcendent, noble beyond words.
Her eyes gleamed like stars as she surveyed the battlefield, eventually fixing upon a Qi Refining Realm tiger demon.
The tiger demon stood more than two zhang tall, its body enormous and its demonic aura soaring into the heavens. Red light flickered in its gaping maw, nearly bursting forth.
Several dozen Body Tempering Realm martial artists, led by a Qi Refining Realm martial artist, had formed a battle formation, yet were still continuously forced back. They were on the verge of defeat and being devoured.
Seeing this.
Xiao Minghuang flashed, and in the next instant appeared above the battle formation. She stood in the air, floating as gracefully as an immortal.
Her bearing was noble, her beauty pure and refined. Her robes fluttered as she held a golden saber, making her seem like a Goddess of War—sacred and inviolable.
"You may withdraw. Leave this tiger demon to me."
Xiao Minghuang swept her gaze over the soldiers and spoke.
"Yes! Please be careful, Your Highness!"
Seeing the Ninth Princess appear, the soldiers were immediately inspired. They went off to battle another Qi Refining Realm ferocious beast.
When the tiger demon saw the soldiers retreat and a human girl who looked delicate and powerless appear before it, it shook its enormous fangs. Its tiger eyes were full of disdain, as if it could swallow this girl who did not know the immensity of heaven and earth in a single bite.
Xiao Minghuang moved.
A tremendous clash of metal rang out. Several zhang around Xiao Minghuang were filled with fierce, chaotic blasts of spiritual power, at times whistling and surging as they carved deep ravines into the ground.
Beneath the enveloping saber light, even with its extremely robust beast body, the tiger demon could not help feeling pain. In the blink of an eye, countless shallow bloody marks covered its body, forcing it to suddenly slap out a massive tiger paw, seeking to smash Xiao Minghuang to death in one blow!
Xiao Minghuang abruptly withdrew her saber, spun through the air, and retreated at lightning speed, evading the fatal strike with the force of thunder.
After the first round of probing ended, the tiger demon somewhat reined in its carelessness. It had not expected this seemingly fragile human girl to possess such a powerful weapon, nor to be so fast that she could evade its attacks.
At the same time.
Xiao Minghuang was also constantly thinking. Her purpose in seeking out the tiger demon was to temper her own combat techniques.
If she wished to kill the tiger demon, she only needed to use Daytime Star Manifestation. With the Power of Stars coursing through her body, she could kill it with one slash.
Or she could retrieve the Dragon Pattern Sword and carve apart the tiger demon's beast body as easily as chopping melons and vegetables.
Through the battle just now, her skill with sabers and swords had already reached a proficient level. To improve further, however, would require training accumulated over years and months.
Yet there was another method that could rapidly improve saber and sword techniques: actual combat.
Actual combat was the best training!
Whenever martial artists trained their skill with a certain weapon to an extremely high level, they could potentially cultivate a corresponding force.
For the sword, it was sword force.
For the saber, it was saber force.
For the fist, it was fist force.
Because there were more people in the world who used swords and sabers, there were also more martial arts manuals recording methods for cultivating sword force and saber force. It was easier to attain achievement and comprehend sword force.
After comprehending sword force, one could wield sword arts as smoothly as flowing clouds and running water, effortlessly drawing upon them. Their power would rise greatly; even a casual sword strike could rival a minor accomplishment martial art.
If one struck with full force, it could likely rival a Major Accomplishment martial art not driven by divine abilities!
"As far as I know, throughout the entire Southern Border, only that Nascent Soul True Person of the Spirit Sword Sect possesses minor accomplishment Sword Intent. With it, he suppresses all sects and kingdoms by force, leading the Southern Border!"
Sword Intent lay above sword force and was even more mysterious and profound. Xiao Minghuang did not aim too high; she only set her goal upon sword force.
Yet on the path toward sword force, there was also the Sword Intent Embryo.
"If I can comprehend the Sword Intent Embryo, I fear that throughout the entire Southern Border, there will not be a second person fit to stand alongside me!"
When that time came, she would only need to draw one sword to sweep aside the young geniuses of all sects and kingdoms.
Having made up her mind, Xiao Minghuang gathered her focus and turned her attention to the tiger demon before her.
She did not seek to comprehend the Sword Intent Embryo in a single battle, only to gain a more proficient grasp of the sword.
Practice made perfect. Swordsmanship was also a skill; as long as one honed it to a sufficient level, one would sooner or later comprehend sword force.
In the following battle, Xiao Minghuang no longer relied on the enhancement of spiritual power. Instead, she fought the tiger demon purely with physical strength, speed, reaction speed, and other techniques.
Continuously walking the edge between life and death, her combat techniques improved at a rapid pace.
Only when she felt that this tiger demon could no longer bring her fresh tempering did she swiftly retreat, swallow a pill, and rapidly replenish her utterly empty Dantian.
Xiao Minghuang narrowed her beautiful eyes and murmured softly,
Before you continue