From Cold Palace Princess to Heavenly Empress

Xiao Minghuang shook her head.

"Too little. Not enough!"

The Seventh Prince drew a deep breath, trying not to lose his temper as he gritted his teeth.

"Thirty spirit stones, plus one Ascension Yuan Pill!"

At those words, everyone sucked in a cold breath.

Setting aside the thirty spirit stones, the Ascension Yuan Pill alone was exceedingly precious!

The Ascension Yuan Pill was a top-tier Yellow-grade pill. It contained vast amounts of pure spiritual energy and could rapidly raise one's cultivation!

Throughout Great Xia, only one highly esteemed Imperial Family Enshrined could refine it, and even then, only a hundred pills could be produced each year!

Those hundred pills had to be supplied to several Imperial Family Enshrined or bestowed upon meritorious officials. A junior like Xiao Minghuang had absolutely no chance of obtaining one.

Yet the Seventh Prince actually possessed such a precious Ascension Yuan Pill!

This greatly shocked everyone present.

"On my coming-of-age ceremony, Second Brother gave me an Ascension Yuan Pill. If you win this battle, this pill will be yours!"

The Seventh Prince stared unblinkingly at Xiao Minghuang with bright eyes. A sharp gleam flashed through his pupils, his meaning impossible to discern.

The next moment, the Seventh Prince stretched out his hand. A small jade bottle stood in his palm. When he gently pulled out the stopper, a rich, sweet medicinal fragrance instantly spread through the air.

Merely taking a whiff made everyone present feel that their cultivation had improved.

The Ascension Yuan Pill's great reputation was like thunder in the ears. In Great Xia, it symbolized status, power, and strength. Xiao Minghuang had long heard of it as well.

Seeing that she had provoked him enough, Xiao Minghuang smiled.

"Since that is the case, it would be my great honor to spar with Seventh Brother."

Training Ground.

Xiao Minghuang stood upon the Training Ground, with the Seventh Prince standing not far across from her.

Outside the arena, many Imperial Clan descendants had gathered to watch.

Ye Ruoshui had followed along as well, eager to cheer for her princess.

Looking at Xiao Minghuang's slender figure, the Seventh Prince grinned. "Ninth Sister, it is not too late to admit defeat. Otherwise, once fists and feet start flying without mercy, I cannot guarantee that I will not beat you half to death again."

"Is that so? Then Seventh Brother should be careful too. Do not let me take you down in a single move."

The corners of Xiao Minghuang's lips curled upward slightly, her eyes holding three parts mockery and seven parts nonchalance.

The Seventh Prince gave a cold laugh. "Heh heh!"

As a Body Cultivator, within the Body Tempering Realm, the Seventh Prince believed that even if he faced a Body Tempering Realm Eighth Level opponent one minor realm above him, he would not fear them in the slightest. He had no idea what the frail-looking Xiao Minghuang could use to contend against him.

Laughter also broke out beyond the arena. They could believe that Xiao Minghuang had encountered some fortuitous opportunity and recovered her cultivation, but if her cultivation had soared by leaps and bounds and she could defeat the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Level Seventh Prince in one move, they absolutely could not believe it.

"Let us see the truth beneath our hands."

Xiao Minghuang did not waste words, merely tossing out that sentence.

The Seventh Prince paid it no mind and was just about to take his stance.

But at that moment.

In the blink of an eye, a piercing whistle of wind reached his ears.

A shadow followed close behind, descending before him.

A glint of cold light flashed through Xiao Minghuang's eyes. The power of the Body Tempering Realm Ninth Level Peak erupted completely. Her small, delicate fist contained a majestic force of ninety-seven thousand two hundred jin as she threw a ferocious punch!

Bang!!!

"Ah—!"

A dull impact rang out. The Seventh Prince screamed and flew backward several zhang like a kite with its string cut, crashing to the ground face-first. Blood streamed from his seven orifices, staining the earth red.

He had actually been sent flying by a single punch from Xiao Minghuang!

Centered on the Seventh Prince, the blue bricks across the ground shattered inch by inch, the cracks spreading several zhang away. It was clear just how terrifyingly immense the power contained in Xiao Minghuang's small, delicate fist was!

The sight before them completely stunned everyone present. They had never imagined that this match would end so quickly.

"The Seventh Prince... was defeated in one punch?"

"The Ninth Princess is actually this powerful? How... how is that possible?"

After falling to the ground, the Seventh Prince had not yet lost consciousness. His head swam as he tried to climb back up.

Yet an irresistible force came from the spine in his back, rendering his entire body unable to move!

The Seventh Prince gritted his teeth and struggled to rise, but ultimately failed.

At that moment, Xiao Minghuang's voice came from above.

"I wonder whether Seventh Brother is satisfied with your little sister's strength?"

Having taken that punch head-on, the Seventh Prince had felt it firsthand. Knowing that Xiao Minghuang had already reached the Body Tempering Ninth Layer, he had no choice but to yield.

"Little Sister's strength far surpasses mine. I lost this battle. I beg Little Sister to show mercy and spare me!"

The Seventh Prince hated Xiao Minghuang so much that his teeth itched, yet he had no choice but to flatter her politely.

He had originally been utterly confident in this battle, but because he had underestimated her and acted carelessly, he had not even used a fraction of his martial arts before being subdued. He believed that if he could do it again, even with a two-minor-realm gap, he would not lose so miserably!

Beaten Into a Cripple, Debts Settled Once and for All!

There were no second chances in life!

Xiao Minghuang's voice came again from above.

"I recall Seventh Brother saying that if you lost the match to me, you would hand over thirty spirit stones and an Ascension Yuan Pill. Does that agreement still count?"

Her voice carried a touch of charming playfulness, but the Seventh Prince knew that it was nothing more than Xiao Minghuang's disguise.

This woman was the kind who could send you to hell while laughing and chatting with you!

The Seventh Prince gritted his teeth. "Please let me go first, Little Sister. The pill is on me, and it is inconvenient to reach for it while I am lying on the ground. I will send someone to fetch the spirit stones immediately!"

"Your little sister does not dare trust Seventh Brother's character so easily. Please send someone to retrieve the spirit stones now. Once the spirit stones and pill are in my hands, Seventh Brother may leave."

"You—!"

The Seventh Prince nearly exploded, but the oppressive sensation coming from the vertebrae at the back of his neck forced him to endure it.

Once I return, I will ask Second Brother to act. I will definitely kill you!

The Seventh Prince calmed himself and said humbly, "Fine! Everything will be as Little Sister wishes!"

As soon as the words fell.

The Seventh Prince, lying prone on the ground, suddenly revealed a vicious glare. He glared at the Imperial Clan descendants watching outside the arena and roared, "Can't you see that I can't move? Which one of you with eyes will go to my residence right now and bring back thirty spirit stones? Otherwise, I'll have all of you killed!"

Although the Seventh Prince was pinned beneath Xiao Minghuang's foot, he still retained some lingering authority over the Imperial Clan descendants who had long been accustomed to his bullying.

Half an hour later, thirty spirit stones and an Ascension Yuan Pill were laid before Xiao Minghuang.

After checking the number of spirit stones, Xiao Minghuang nodded in satisfaction, a hint of a smile appearing on her exquisite face.

"Seventh Brother truly keeps his word. You are a true gentleman."

The Seventh Prince was seriously injured and had been stepped on by Xiao Minghuang for so long. Having made a complete fool of himself in public, the anger in his heart had long been worn away. Now, he only hoped that this terrifying woman would release him quickly.

"Little Sister, the spirit stones and pill have been presented as promised. Can you let me go now?"

Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang nodded.

"Oh, right. If Seventh Brother had not mentioned it, I almost forgot. You may leave."

As she spoke, Xiao Minghuang lifted her jade foot and took a step back.

After being pinned to the ground for nearly a quarter of an hour, the Seventh Prince finally rose. His face was pale, blood flowed from his seven orifices, and he looked terrifyingly ghastly. His injuries were extremely severe!

After tremblingly getting to his feet, the Seventh Prince did not dare look back at Xiao Minghuang. Shaking with fear, he took a step forward.

Just as he inwardly sighed at having survived a great calamity.

A sense of danger rising from the depths of his heart instantly swept through his entire body. His hairs stood on end, and his breathing halted.

The next moment.

Not far behind the Seventh Prince.

A flicker of cold light flashed in Xiao Minghuang's eyes. She suddenly threw a punch, striking the Seventh Prince squarely in the waist and abdomen.

The clothes around his abdomen instantly shattered. Fine droplets of blood burst forth, and a small cloud of bloody mist exploded, dyeing his entire body crimson.

In an instant, the Seventh Prince's aura plummeted. The muscles all over his body deflated like punctured leather balls, leaving him no different from an ordinary mortal—indeed, even three parts weaker!

Xiao Minghuang flashed away, avoiding the splattering blood mist. Her robes remained as clean as new.

The Seventh Prince struggled to turn his head, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Wh... why?"

Xiao Minghuang's expression remained calm as she said lightly, "What you did to me seven days ago, I have returned today. Between us, all debts and grievances are settled!"

Seven days earlier, the Seventh Prince had given her the forbidden Blood Burst Pill while disguising it as an ordinary healing pill. This had caused her to violate the rules during her match, and the side effects had stripped her of all cultivation, leaving her seriously injured and dead.

But from another perspective, if not for what the Seventh Prince had done, Xiao Minghuang would have found it difficult to come to this world.

In a sense, the Seventh Prince could be considered her benefactor.

But Xiao Minghuang would certainly not see it that way.

Those who killed others would eventually be killed themselves!

Xiao Minghuang flicked her sleeve and left.

The reason she dared to cripple the Seventh Prince in public was, first, because she had displayed extraordinary talent and drawn Emperor Xia's attention.

Would he punish the Body Tempering Ninth Layer Ninth Princess for the sake of the Seventh Prince, who had already become a cripple?

Or would he simply pretend not to know?

To Emperor Xia, this was not a question worth considering at all.

Just like seven days ago, when she had been framed by the Seventh Prince and lost all her cultivation, Emperor Xia had not conducted any investigation before casting her into the Cold Palace.

Secondly, the Spirit Seed Realm Old Ancestor had personally stepped forward and taught her an Earth-tier Cultivation Method, clearly having chosen her as a successor. Even if Emperor Xia wished to touch her, he would have to weigh whether the Old Ancestor would agree.

After Xiao Minghuang left, the Training Ground fell silent. Everyone stared wide-eyed, their pupils filled with disbelief.

The scene before them had stunned everyone present. They had never imagined that Xiao Minghuang would dare cripple the Seventh Prince's cultivation in broad daylight!

When martial artists fought, injuries were unavoidable. So long as the opponent's life was not endangered, the imperial family would not interfere.

But crippling someone's cultivation was no different from taking their life.

One Imperial Clan descendant sighed.

"The Ninth Princess is young and impetuous. What is too rigid is easily broken. Today's matter will likely not end well!"

"Setting aside whether Emperor Xia will punish the Ninth Princess, the Seventh Prince's full-blooded brother, the Second Prince, will not stand idly by either. The Ninth Princess's path ahead will not go far."

Xiao Minghuang walked out of the Training Ground, leaving behind only a crowd with shocked faces and a cripple who had lost his cultivation.

To her, this match had seemed like nothing more than one casual punch that defeated the Seventh Prince, but that was not truly the case.

Since crossing into this world, this had been her first time facing an enemy, so she had put forth every ounce of her focus.

The moment she attacked, she had used a full-force strike.

All the power of the Body Tempering Ninth Layer erupted completely. Catching the Seventh Prince off guard, she had struck first and defeated him.

"If I had truly waited until the Seventh Prince was prepared before attacking, winning would probably not have been so easy."

Xiao Minghuang thought to herself.

After taking the Creation Mending Heaven Pill, she had cleansed her marrow and tendons, remolded her muscles and bones, and possessed far more vigorous vitality and blood than ordinary martial artists. Even though the Seventh Prince was a rare Body Cultivator, he could not compare to the deep foundation she had forged with a Heaven-grade top-tier pill.

Coupled with the fact that she was two minor realms above the Seventh Prince, defeating him in one move while he was unprepared was perfectly reasonable.

After leaving the Training Ground, Ye Ruoshui hurried up from behind, her little face flushed red with excitement.