From Cold Palace Princess to Celestial Empress Ch. 138
Before long, the Yin energy calmed down.
“Wanqiu has made another breakthrough.”
Xiao Minghuang smiled, knowing that Lin Wanqiu’s talent and temperament were both excellent, and her rapid cultivation growth was only natural.
At that moment, the door opened, and Lin Wanqiu stepped out.
Seeing Xiao Minghuang standing in the courtyard, the corner of her mouth curved into a slight smile.
“Your Highness, I have now reached the fifth level of the Spring Realm.”
Xiao Minghuang gently patted her head and said warmly:
“You’ve worked hard.”
Then, she took out several bottles of Starfall Liquid from her bosom and handed them to Lin Wanqiu.
“These are treasures I obtained from the Dragon Transformation Pool. Keep them safe.”
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
Lin Wanqiu accepted them with gratitude and asked:
“The secret realm is about to open. What are Your Highness’s plans?”
Without hesitation, Xiao Minghuang replied:
“Naturally, I will go and explore it.”
“Have you thought about who to bring along?”
“Of course, it will be you and Ruoshui. Who else?”
Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu looked helpless.
“Your Highness, you now have a wealth of talented individuals under your command. How can you only bring the three of us?”
“Otherwise, I could bring along three thousand armored soldiers…”
At this point, Xiao Minghuang suddenly realized something and laughed:
“Ah, right. There’s also the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince. They are both young talents and should be brought along as well.”
Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu nodded and said:
“It’s good that Your Highness is aware. For the remaining days, let’s focus on secluded cultivation.”
With that, the two parted ways.
As expected, in the days that followed.
Xiao Minghuang and the other two did not waste any time but instead devoted themselves wholeheartedly to cultivation.
…
Two months passed in the blink of an eye.
During these two months, Xiao Minghuang did not slack off in the slightest, spending every day attempting to refine the Starfall Liquid.
Unfortunately, the spiritual liquid was too pure, and her cultivation was only at the Spring Realm, making the refining efficiency extremely low.
But fortunately, her talent was high enough, and in such a short time, she had managed to refine a significant amount of Starfall Liquid.
In the quiet room, Xiao Minghuang wore a loose white gauze robe, her long hair casually draped over her shoulders.
Before her, a droplet of ever-changing solution floated, emitting a faint fluorescent glow.
She was absorbing this crystalline meteorite liquid.
At this moment, the spiritual spring within her body boiled over, reaching new heights, and in an instant, it overflowed, filling her dantian, covering an area of a hundred zhang.
Waves of roaring tides echoed, almost audible outside her body.
A vast spiritual consciousness poured out, instantly enveloping an area of ten thousand zhang.
The next moment.
Xiao Minghuang’s eyes suddenly opened, two beams of golden light flashed, as if solid, illuminating the surroundings.
“I never expected that this seclusion would elevate my realm to the Divine Sea Realm!”
A joyful expression appeared between Xiao Minghuang’s brows as she smiled confidently.
With her original strength, she could already slay cultivators at the third level of the Divine Sea Realm. Now that she had broken through to the Divine Sea Realm, her power had increased significantly.
“With my current strength, even if I encounter a peak Divine Sea Realm cultivator, I should be able to retreat unscathed.”
This secret realm treasure hunt was only open to young cultivators under the age of forty.
The True Disciples of the three most prestigious sects in the Southern Region were only at the peak of the Spring Realm. For this secret realm journey, she could come and go at ease, resting without worry!
…
In the northern wilderness of the Great Xia, the desolate forest.
In this usually sparsely populated area, the number of travelers had gradually increased in recent days.
Among them were wandering martial artists with cultivation, young talents from the thirty-six nations, and even genius martial artists from the three great sects.
The news of the secret realm’s imminent opening had spread throughout the thirty-six nations. The Great Xia was powerless to prevent other forces from joining in to share the spoils, only increasing the number of guards to maintain order.
Even so, many foreign martial artists did not follow the rules, acting recklessly and trampling on the laws of the Great Xia.
At the entrance of the Tianfu Secret Realm, a large number of martial artists had gathered, hailing from the thirty-six nations, the three great sects, or being unaffiliated wanderers.
Xiao Minghuang and her group also arrived at the secret realm entrance at the right time.
The entrance was bustling with activity, with most people’s attention focused on a burly young man in a yellow robe.
This man had a broad back and sturdy waist, dark skin, a resolute face, and eyes that sparkled with brilliance, exuding an imposing aura.
He was Xue Wushang, the chief disciple of one of the three great sects, the Dragon Tiger Sect.
Upon the arrival of Xiao Minghuang’s group, he did not speak much, only giving them a brief glance before closing his eyes in meditation.
But those familiar with him knew that this esteemed True Disciple had already harbored killing intent.
After all, the princess of the Xia Kingdom and Xue Wushang, or rather the Dragon Tiger Sect, had a long-standing feud.
In response, Xiao Minghuang merely let out a light chuckle and paid no further attention to him.
The disciples of the three great sects and the other two forces, the Spirit Sword Sect and the Beast Taming Sect, each held their ground, surrounded by their affiliated forces, like stars surrounding the moon.
Apart from them, there were groups of wandering martial artists standing together.
They had all come to enter the secret realm.
At that moment, two figures in white robes flew in on swords, landing not far from the entrance.
This man and woman were both radiant and extraordinary.
As soon as they landed, the disciples of the Spirit Sword Sect gathered around them, clearly holding them in high regard.
After standing firm, they looked around, and their gaze soon fell upon Xiao Minghuang and her group.
“Junior Brother Xiao, it’s been quite some time since you last returned to the sect,” the leading man said with a smile.
The two were none other than Luo Rong and Cheng Wen, the disciples of the Spirit Sword Sect’s sect master.
After the Hanging Sword Elder escorted them to the entrance of the secret realm, he vanished into the clouds, not making a personal appearance.
This was a trial, and all matters had to be handled by the two of them on their own; otherwise, the trial would lose its purpose.
Although the Sixth Prince had long since resolved to follow Xiao Minghuang, he couldn’t help but feel somewhat awkward in front of his senior sect brothers. After stammering for a while, he finally raised his head.
“Princess, I have some words I’d like to share with the senior brothers of the Spirit Sword Sect. May I take my leave for a moment?”
Xiao Minghuang naturally had no objections to this.
“Go ahead.”
With her permission, the Sixth Prince visibly relaxed and walked towards the group from the Spirit Sword Sect.
Thus, Xiao Minghuang witnessed the entire process of the Spirit Sword Sect disciples’ expressions shifting from calm to astonishment.
Not long after, the Sixth Prince returned, though his steps were somewhat unnatural.
The disciples of the Spirit Sword Sect also looked over in surprise. They could never have imagined that a mere princess from a small country, even if she had some talent, could cause a disciple of their prestigious sect to leave and become a mere guard under her command.
“Junior brothers and sisters, during the struggle for the throne of Xia Kingdom several months ago, the princess displayed the embryonic form of sword intent and used earth-grade magical tools, unleashing the strength of the Five Forbidden Realms. Now, several months have passed, and her strength should have improved further. We must not underestimate her!”
Luo Rong, as the senior brother, was more prudent and reminded them.
“Yes!”
The disciples of the Spirit Sword Sect responded in unison.
Luo Rong was known for his gentle and courteous demeanor within the sect, always taking care of his junior brothers and sisters, so none of the Spirit Sword Sect disciples held any resentment towards him.
The Spirit Sword Sect presented a harmonious scene.
On the other hand, the Dragon Tiger Sect remained silent.
Until the senior brother, Xue Wushang, opened his eyes, a faint golden light flickering in his pupils.
“Luo Rong, Cheng Wen, Liu Yan, and the Princess of Xia Kingdom—these four are my formidable rivals. If you encounter them in the secret realm, you must deplete their spiritual power and then report to me, so I can kill them!”
“As you command, Senior Brother!”
The disciples of the Dragon Tiger Sect responded in unison.
The Luo Rong and Cheng Wen he mentioned were the disciples of the Spirit Sword Sect’s sect master, while Liu Yan was the disciple of the Beast Taming Sect’s sect master.
Originally, among the True Disciples of the three major sects of this generation, he had the highest talent and the strongest strength. But recently, the various incidents caused by the Princess of Xia Kingdom had all pointed the finger at him.
If he couldn’t enhance his reputation during this trip to the secret realm, the title of the top among the younger generation in the southern region might be lost!
Not long after, another group arrived, riding on the backs of eagles—they were the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect.
The master had a golden-beaked eagle perched on his shoulder, about half the length of an arm. Though his stature wasn’t particularly tall, his aura was extremely steady, clearly having reached the peak of the Spring Realm.
This person was none other than Liu Yan, the chief True Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. He scanned the area, his gaze lingering on Xiao Minghuang for a moment before withdrawing, closing his eyes to rest, and not uttering a word.
“The Beast Taming Sect has arrived too!”
“I heard that during the last opening of the secret realm, someone discovered a dragon egg. It seems the Beast Taming Sect is determined to get it this time!”
“There is also the Moon Spirit Fruit Tree, the Sword Dao Stone Tablet, and the Crimson Flame Fire Pool, which are likely to be the epicenters of the impending battles. It’s best for us rogue cultivators to steer clear of these dangerous areas.”
Most rogue cultivators have modest cultivation levels and act cautiously, rarely willing to get involved in the disputes between sect disciples.
However, among the rogue cultivators, there is a peculiar group.
This group consists of five individuals—three men and two women—all at the seventh or eighth level of the Spring Realm. Their auras are steady, and their demeanor is extraordinary, not inferior to that of sect disciples.
Surrounding them are some less remarkable rogue cultivators, but compared to other lone wolves, their spirits and appearances are significantly better.
Xiao Minghuang’s gaze swept over the sect disciples, noting their appearances and auras, before finally settling on these five individuals.
“Who are these five people?”
The Fifth Prince, who had long been navigating between various nations and had extensive connections, glanced at them and explained:
“These five are renowned rogue cultivators among the nations. They established an organization called the Rogue Cultivators Alliance, aiming to unite rogue cultivators and help each other.”
“By the way, they once invited me to join, but after learning of my background, they stopped contacting me.”
Xiao Minghuang nodded and then turned her attention away.
Half a day passed quickly, and when the Tianfu Star was directly overhead, it was time for the secret realm to open.
The name of the secret realm derived from this very phenomenon.
At this moment.
The entrance to the secret realm rumbled and slowly opened.
The cultivators present unanimously took out their tokens, infused them with spiritual energy, and then, gripping the tokens tightly, stepped into the secret realm.
Xiao Minghuang exchanged glances with Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu, also infusing her token with spiritual energy before gripping it tightly and stepping into the secret realm.
The next moment.
The scenery of the world suddenly changed.
When she opened her eyes again, Xiao Minghuang found herself in a valley surrounded by dense trees, with no one else in sight.
“Is this the interior of the Tianfu Secret Realm…”
Before entering the secret realm, she knew that each person would be transported to a different location upon entry.
She wasn’t in a hurry to find Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu.
The two girls were not children and could take care of themselves. She just needed to explore and wait for their eventual reunion.
Next, Xiao Minghuang flew through the secret realm, sensing that the spiritual energy around her was much denser than in the outside world.
The concentration of spiritual energy here was about ten times that of the outside world.
In other words, cultivating here for one day was equivalent to cultivating for ten days outside.
Some low-level rogue cultivators, upon entering the secret realm, would not seek opportunities but instead find a place to hide and cultivate until the secret realm closed.
After all, there was a full half-month here, equivalent to half a year of cultivation outside.
As for the Moon Spirit Fruit Tree, the Sword Dao Stone Tablet, and the Crimson Flame Fire Pool—these places of opportunity were filled with powerful enemies and were not something rogue cultivators could covet.
In addition, Xiao Minghuang felt that her spiritual sense was restricted by this secret realm. Communication spells were completely ineffective, and her spiritual sense, which could cover a radius of ten thousand zhang, was reduced to a few hundred meters.
“With such a short range, it’s better to rely on my eyes.”
Xiao Minghuang shook her head slightly, no longer placing her hopes on spiritual sense exploration.
Fortunately, her treasure compass still worked, so she followed its guidance to the nearest blue opportunity.
After half a day of flying, Xiao Minghuang arrived at a waterfall.
“This should be the place.”
She descended gracefully, her feet landing on the soft, moist soil.
Looking up, she saw a green lotus floating on the water’s surface, emitting a faint glow and a subtle fragrance, exuding an extraordinary aura.
“This is…”
Xiao Minghuang vaguely remembered seeing this in an ancient book. It seemed to aid in calming the mind and refining spiritual awareness, though she couldn’t recall its name.
“Never mind, since I’ve encountered it, it must be fate.”
She murmured softly, then raised her hand, sending a gentle surge of spiritual energy toward the green lotus.
But at that moment.
A red figure darted out, skimming across the pond.
The green lotus vanished right before her eyes.
“Who’s there!”
Instantly, Xiao Minghuang was on high alert. To snatch the lotus right under her nose with such speed—this person’s strength was surely beyond the Spring Realm!
It must be the Divine Sea Realm!
“Hehehe! Don’t be so worked up. It’s just a Calming Lotus, not worth much in spirit stones!”
A playful laugh rang out.
Xiao Minghuang frowned and turned toward the source of the voice.
It was a petite girl, about ten years old, standing only up to her waist. Her skin was fair, her features sweet and adorable, and she held a pink lotus the size of a palm, smiling brightly at her.
But none of that mattered.
The issue was that the girl was dressed in a red kasaya, wearing a monk’s hat, and holding a string of prayer beads—clearly a Buddhist disciple.
“Who are you? Why did you take my lotus?”
Xiao Minghuang’s expression remained calm, but she was inwardly surprised. This girl looked no older than ten, yet the aura she exuded was undoubtedly that of a Divine Sea Realm cultivator!
Moreover, the kasaya and prayer beads she wore were no ordinary items—they were treasures of an unknown grade!
To her knowledge, Buddhist disciples were rarely seen in the Eastern Pole.
This made the girl before her all the more mysterious.
Xiao Minghuang had to tread carefully.
The girl, or rather, the Little Nun, took a few steps forward, each step leaving a lotus in her wake, and scrutinized Xiao Minghuang closely.
After a moment, the Little Nun blinked her large, sparkling eyes and asked with a grin:
“Big sister, do you really want this lotus?”
Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
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