Chapter 174
Over the past two years, Sheng Bailan had remained silent, secluded in her meditation chamber. Occasionally, sharp sword intent would emanate, reminding everyone that within the Princess’s residence, there still lurked a Nascent Soul Realm sword cultivator.
And every time the sword intent hummed, it signified that Sheng Bailan’s sword dao had reached a new level.
Lin Wanqiu also practiced the sword, but she was only at the level of minor sword intent.
Yet, she could sense that Sheng Bailan’s sword dao had likely reached the level of perfect sword intent, unmatched by anyone in the entire Southern Region.
Sheng Bailan’s growing strength made Lin Wanqiu increasingly anxious.
Fortunately, the Medicine King’s realm had stabilized and even improved further. With the help of a large number of elixirs, he had broken through to the second level of the Nascent Soul Realm.
Meanwhile, the Old Ancestor, Xiao Hanbing, had risen from the ashes, accumulating strength over time and reaching the third level of the Nascent Soul Realm in just two short years.
The breakthroughs of these two seniors brought Lin Wanqiu some comfort.
However, as long as Xiao Minghuang remained in seclusion and had not yet reached the Spirit Seed Realm, Lin Wanqiu could not truly feel at ease.
After all, no matter how strong others became, it had no direct bearing on her.
Only Her Highness was the one who would truly go all out to protect and shield her.
Not long after Lin Wanqiu returned to the palace, Ye Ruoshui came looking for her.
As soon as Ye Ruoshui pushed open the door and glanced at her, she immediately exclaimed:
“Big Sister Lin, it’s been two years, and you’re only at the seventh level of the Divine Sea Realm? You haven’t been slacking off, have you?”
Hearing Ye Ruoshui’s words, Lin Wanqiu smiled.
“You little rascal, always so mischievous. Over these two years, I’ve had to assist the Emperor with political affairs, manage the Princess’s residence, and constantly keep an eye on the affairs of the thirty-six nations and the three great sects. The time I have left for cultivation is minimal. Unlike you, who shuts yourself off from the world, focusing solely on cultivation and alchemy, yet you’re only at the ninth level of the Divine Sea Realm?”
Ye Ruoshui thought about it and realized that Lin Wanqiu had a point.
“Alright Big Sister Lin, I was wrong to doubt you.”
Lin Wanqiu chuckled. Over the past two years, Ye Ruoshui had been in seclusion almost every day, either cultivating or refining elixirs. The two of them had barely seen each other.
Now, hearing the straightforward words of this little girl, it didn’t feel harsh at all.
“It’s been so long, why hasn’t Her Highness come out of seclusion yet? I’ve already prepared the elixirs for her, just waiting to deliver them…”
“What elixirs?”
Lin Wanqiu asked. She knew that two years ago, Ye Ruoshui had followed Her Highness into a secret realm and fused with the Primordial Fire, gaining the ability to refine Earth-grade elixirs.
However, crafting an Earth-grade elixir was no easy feat, and the materials alone posed a significant challenge.
Hearing this, Ye Ruoshui immediately became alert.
“This is the elixir I’m refining for Her Highness. Even Big Sister Lin can’t have it!”
Lin Wanqiu chuckled at her words.
“Silly girl, what are you thinking? I was just asking casually.”
“Even asking is not allowed…”
As she spoke.
Suddenly, a powerful aura surged from the depths of the imperial palace.
Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu immediately stopped their conversation and turned their heads toward the palace’s depths.
“This aura… it’s Her Highness!”
“Her Highness has broken through!”
The two of them hurried toward the palace’s depths.
By the time they arrived, Xiao Hanbing, the Emperor, and the Medicine King had already gathered there.
After two years, the Emperor had also broken through to the fourth level of the Spirit Seed Realm.
Seeing Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu arrive, the Emperor said:
“You’ve come at the right time. Little Nine is about to emerge from seclusion.”
“Is Her Highness about to break through to the Spirit Seed Realm?”
“With such a formidable aura, it must be so.”
The Emperor gazed at the grand hall enveloped by a golden vortex and spoke.
“To break through to the Spirit Seed Realm, one must refine the entire Divine Sea within the body, harmonize spiritual energy, and nurture the Spirit Seed. This golden vortex is the external manifestation of Little Nine’s Divine Sea being refined and condensed.”
Xiao Hanbing also explained.
Both of them believed that Xiao Minghuang was about to break through to the Spirit Seed Realm.
Hearing this, Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu were overjoyed.
They had previously heard from Her Highness that, as the Crown Princess of Great Xia, she bore the fate of the nation. As long as she could break through to the Spirit Seed Realm, she would receive the full blessing of the nation’s fate within Great Xia’s borders, and even a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator would pose no threat to her.
At that time, no matter what schemes Sheng Bailan had, they could be crushed with sheer strength!
However, just as the four of them were rejoicing, the Medicine King spoke in a solemn voice:
“I’m afraid not.”
Hearing this, the four of them were stunned and remained silent, waiting for him to provide a reasonable explanation.
The Medicine King’s gaze swept over them before settling on the continuously swirling and condensing golden vortex.
“At the peak of the Divine Sea Realm, the Divine Sea expands to a thousand zhang, at which point one can break through to the Spirit Seed Realm.”
“But some exceptionally talented geniuses might take a different path, embarking on a special journey known as the Half-Step Spirit Seed Realm.”
Hearing this, the four of them looked puzzled, unable to grasp the meaning.
The Medicine King slowly explained:
“A thousand-zhang Divine Sea is condensed into a single drop of spiritual liquid, and this drop is terrifyingly powerful. Within its tiny size, it is like an endless ocean, and when it descends, it is as if the heavens and seas are falling, enough to crush vast stretches of land!”
“However, refining spiritual energy to this level is extremely difficult. It not only requires the martial artist’s perseverance but also demands that their spiritual roots and cultivation techniques be no lower than Earth-grade. Therefore, even within the Holy Academy, few can step into the Half-Step Spirit Seed Realm.”
“Ordinary martial artists, upon reaching a thousand-zhang Divine Sea, first use a portion of their spiritual energy to condense a Spirit Seed, then slowly refine and integrate the rest of their spiritual energy into the Spirit Seed, advancing steadily and gradually, rather than achieving it all at once. But a Spirit Seed condensed in this way would be utterly powerless against one formed from a single drop of spiritual liquid!”
Upon hearing the words “utterly powerless to resist,” both Xiao Hanbing and the Summer Emperor were stunned. They had both reached the Spirit Seed Realm using the method of “gradual progress,” never expecting that a Spirit Seed Realm cultivated through such means would be completely helpless against one cultivated from a single drop of spiritual liquid!
“Her Highness, can she advance to the Half-Step Spirit Seed Realm? And what should be done to officially break through to the Spirit Seed Realm afterward?”
Ye Ruoshui couldn’t help but ask.
As the golden vortex gradually solidified and grew more radiant, a trace of concern appeared on the Medicine King’s face.
“I’m also worried about this issue. In the Holy Academy, those Half-Step Spirit Seed Realm geniuses are bestowed with innate divine artifacts by the academy. These artifacts contain vast amounts of innate qi, forcibly nurturing the spiritual liquid to take root and sprout.”
“But in the Southern Region, there likely isn’t any innate divine artifact powerful enough to nurture the Princess’s Spirit Seed!”
Hearing this, everyone’s expressions froze.
Could it be that Xiao Minghuang simply couldn’t break through in the Southern Region and would have to wait until she went to the Holy Academy to continue her progress?
“Everyone, don’t worry for now. Since the Princess has chosen to remain at the Half-Step Spirit Seed Realm, she must have her reasons. We can discuss this further after she emerges from seclusion.”
The Medicine King offered words of comfort.
As soon as he finished speaking.
The golden vortex surrounding the grand hall suddenly contracted, dissipating entirely, and a heavy, vast aura abruptly emerged within the hall.
Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
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