Chapter 30

The group returned to the courtyard.

In the dimly lit room, Xiao Minghuang sat on the bed, with Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu standing before her.

The two girls’ eyes kept darting toward each other, but before making contact, they would return to Xiao Minghuang.

In the peaceful and serene bedroom, an inexplicable tension began to brew.

Faced with such a situation, Xiao Minghuang couldn’t help but furrow her delicate brows, feeling somewhat troubled, especially since she was already exhausted and just wanted to get a good night’s sleep.

“Ruoshui, Wanqiu, you two should go rest first. We can discuss matters tomorrow,” Xiao Minghuang said softly.

Hearing this, Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu, being reasonable and not the type to cause a fuss, noticed the weariness on Xiao Minghuang’s face and didn’t press further. They bid her goodnight and left.

After the two girls departed, Xiao Minghuang lay down on the bed and soon fell into a deep sleep.

…

The next morning.

After a night’s rest, Xiao Minghuang slowly opened her eyes, washed up, and stepped outside.

The courtyard was adorned with towering rocks, the chirping of birds, and the fragrance of flowers, creating a picturesque scene that lifted the spirits.

Xiao Minghuang sat down on a bamboo chair under the veranda, began circulating her cultivation technique, and prepared to continue her practice.

Knock, knock, knock!

A knocking sound came from the door.

“Is it Ruoshui, or perhaps that girl Wanqiu?” Xiao Minghuang wondered as she walked to the door, only to find an unexpected guest.

Standing at the door was City Lord Lin, wearing a warm smile.

“Did the Ninth Princess rest well last night?”

Xiao Minghuang nodded and replied, “The courtyard arranged by City Lord Lin was excellent. I am very satisfied.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two walked into the pavilion in the courtyard and took their seats.

As they spoke, Lin Zhengquan retrieved a storage bag and a brocade box from his sleeve, placing them on the table.

“Last night, we raided the Chen Family and uncovered many illicit goods, most of which have already been handed over to the court. This storage bag contains some spirit stones and pills, and inside the brocade box is the Chen Family’s heirloom treasure. Please take a look, Your Highness.”

Hearing this, a trace of surprise flashed in Xiao Minghuang’s eyes. The Chen Family had been convicted just last night, and in a mere three to four hours, the once-mighty Chen Family had already been wiped out.

The City Lord’s forces alone would have struggled to accomplish this, so it was likely that the three major families had contributed significantly, and naturally, they would have taken their share of the spoils.

Xiao Minghuang didn’t open the brocade box immediately. Instead, she first extended her spiritual sense into the storage bag, discovering a large number of spirit stones and pills.

There were over eight thousand spirit stones, along with a considerable number of pills, though most were of mid to low Yellow Tier quality, with a purity of around sixty percent.

After examining the contents of the storage bag, she opened the brocade box.

As the box opened, a rich medicinal aroma wafted out, filling the entire courtyard.

“This pill is called the Spirit Nurturing Pill, a top-grade Yellow Tier elixir with potent medicinal properties. It aids martial artists in the Qi Refining Realm to enhance their cultivation. I hope Your Highness will accept it.”

“The Spirit Nurturing Pill?”

Xiao Minghuang looked towards the brocade box.

Inside the exquisite box lay a pill resembling green jade, its surface shimmering with a condensed radiance. Delicate patterns swirled across its surface, continuously drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy from the heavens and earth.

Seeing the patterns flowing on the pill, Xiao Minghuang was suddenly startled.

“Is this… a Pill Vein?”

Noticing Xiao Minghuang’s expression of surprise, Lin Zhengquan nodded with a smile:

“Your Highness has a keen eye. This pill has a purity of over ninety percent and has even formed Pill Veins. Its efficacy is long-lasting, surpassing even some lower-grade Mystic Tier pills. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare to present it before Your Highness.”

For martial artists in the Body Tempering Realm, the commonly used pill is the Yuan Ascension Pill, which greatly enhances cultivation. However, once one reaches the Qi Refining Realm, the Yuan Ascension Pill becomes somewhat inadequate for further cultivation growth.

Thus, martial artists in the Qi Refining Realm often take the Spirit Nurturing Pill. However, this pill is extremely rare. In the entire Great Xia, only one elderly royal alchemist can refine it, with an annual production of less than ten pills!

Xiao Minghuang composed herself and looked at Lin Zhengquan with a hint of surprise. The matter of confiscating the Chen Family’s assets was entirely handled by the City Lord’s Office. If they had secretly embezzled this precious pill, no one would have known.

She couldn’t believe that the City Lord’s Office would be so loyal as to offer such a valuable pill to her without reason.

If it were because she had saved Lin Wanqiu, sending some spirit stones would have sufficed.

But this pill, capable of helping a Qi Refining Realm martial artist advance by a small realm, held a value far beyond that of some spirit stones.

“City Lord Lin, you are too modest. A pill with Pill Veins is worth at least twice as much as one without.”

“Although this pill is only a top-grade Yellow Tier, in terms of price, even some lower-grade Mystic Tier pills might not compare.”

Xiao Minghuang had once heard Ye Ruoshui say that any pill that forms Pill Veins has a purity of at least ninety percent, and its efficacy never diminishes over time. Such pills often far exceed their own tier in value and are highly sought after, becoming priceless once they appear.

Lin Zhengquan’s gift of such a precious pill inevitably made Xiao Minghuang question his intentions.

“City Lord Lin, speak your mind freely. There’s no need to be evasive.”

Even Xiao Minghuang found it hard to remain indifferent to such a valuable pill.

But before accepting it, she needed to understand his true motives.

Lin Zhengquan forced a bitter smile and slowly began:

“Your Highness, this matter is quite lengthy…”

…

After Lin Zhengquan’s explanation, Xiao Minghuang roughly understood the situation.

A month ago, Beiyang City discovered a spirit stone vein near the border and sent people to mine it. However, within a few days, disciples from the Golden Elephant Kingdom suddenly appeared, injured Beiyang City’s martial artists, and seized the spirit stone vein.

After the Chen Family head’s collusion with the enemy country was exposed, it was confirmed that he had privately informed the Golden Elephant Kingdom and covered up the matter.

Having their spirit stone vein snatched away, Beiyang City naturally couldn’t swallow this insult and sent out a guard team to try to reclaim the vein.

But the Golden Elephant Kingdom’s ruler is a Divine Sea Realm powerhouse, and no one in Beiyang City could match him.

After negotiations and concessions, both sides decided to resolve the matter through a martial contest.

Upon hearing Lin Zhengquan’s account, Xiao Minghuang realized that the crux of the issue lay in the spirit stone vein. She then asked:

“How many spirit stones can this vein produce annually, to have caused such a dispute.

Lin Zhengquan seemed to hesitate for a moment before replying, “The annual output should reach around two thousand spirit stones.”

Hearing this number, Xiao Minghuang’s heart tightened. Such a vast quantity was indeed enough to provoke a conflict between two major powers.

“Your Highness, this matter is not just about the quantity of spirit stones, but also concerns the dignity of our Great Xia. If we concede today, the Golden Elephant Kingdom will surely take advantage tomorrow. If this continues, our nation will cease to be a nation!”

Lin Zhengquan spoke with fervor and passion.

“Oh? If the issue is so severe, why not report it to the imperial court and request the intervention of the Royal Guardians?”

Xiao Minghuang noticed a loophole in his words and thus inquired.

The Royal Guardians of Great Xia were all seasoned experts at the Divine Sea Realm, possessing formidable strength and numbers. Even among the thirty-six countries of the Southern Region, few could rival them.

Moreover, the Emperor of Xia, who was at the peak of the Divine Sea Realm, was known as the strongest below the Spirit Seed Realm. How could he fear a mere ruler of the Golden Elephant Kingdom?

At Xiao Minghuang’s question, Lin Zhengquan’s face showed a hint of embarrassment.

“Your Highness knows that for a spirit stone vein, such a blessed land, if reported to the court, Beiyang City would be lucky to receive even thirty percent…”

At this point, Lin Zhengquan paused, then continued solemnly:

“If Your Highness helps us secure the vein, fifty percent of the annual output will be yours. How about that?”

The vein produced a thousand spirit stones annually, and fifty percent would be five hundred—a significant sacrifice.

However, faced with such a generous offer, Xiao Minghuang shook her head.

“I am only at the Qi Refining Realm. Even if I wanted to help, I am powerless.”

Lin Zhengquan explained:

“Your Highness may not know, but this martial contest is limited to the younger generation. It won’t escalate into a major conflict.”

“Your Highness is a prodigy, possessing extraordinary strength. At just fourteen years old, you have reached the fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm, a rarity even in the entire Southern Region.”

“The most talented young genius of the Golden Elephant Kingdom is only at the first level of the Qi Refining Realm. How could they be a match for Your Highness?”

“The reason we are troubling Your Highness is that after the Chen Family was wiped out, Beiyang City only has the City Lord’s Mansion and the three great families left. We can’t even gather enough participants.”

Ignoring the flattery, Xiao Minghuang frowned slightly and asked:

“Beiyang City is the largest city in the north of Great Xia. How has it declined to this extent?”

Lin Zhengquan sighed softly and explained:

“Your Highness may not know, but although Beiyang City is the largest city in the north, it has neither spirit stone veins nor spirit peaks nearby. Spirit stones and medicinal herbs are extremely scarce, yet we must support a large army to guard against the Golden Elephant Kingdom’s invasions. The city’s finances have long been strained. If not for occasional support from the court, the hundred thousand troops would have disbanded long ago!”

Xiao Minghuang asked:

“When I passed through the Savage Forest, I saw many blessed lands within it. Although the quality of the medicinal herbs isn’t high, the quantity is considerable. Why doesn’t City Lord Lin develop the Savage Forest to supplement military resources?”

Lin Zhengquan gave a bitter smile and began to speak:

“This method was tried by my father when he was alive, but the wilderness forest is teeming with ferocious beasts. Every time the soldiers cultivated a piece of spiritual farmland, those beasts would sneak in at night and devour it completely, making it impossible to guard against.”

“Not to mention, if the spiritual farmland is cultivated too extensively, it can trigger a beast tide. Hundreds of thousands of ferocious beasts would riot together, truly shaking the heavens and the earth. Even a Divine Sea Realm expert would find it difficult to withstand.”

“Ten years ago, the spiritual farmland we cultivated in the wilderness forest was destroyed by a beast tide. Many soldiers perished in the disaster, their bodies never found. Those who survived were left with lingering fear, never daring to venture deep into the Savage Forest again.”

“Even my father was severely injured in that beast tide. He lived only a little over three hundred years, passing away before reaching his destined lifespan.”

At this point, Lin Zhengquan’s expression darkened.

The old Beiyang City Lord was a Divine Sea Realm expert with a lifespan of five hundred years. Naturally, he did not pass away at the age of fifty, which is considered the age of knowing one’s destiny.

When Lin Zhengquan mentioned “destined lifespan,” he meant that his father had died prematurely before reaching his natural lifespan.

Xiao Minghuang, of course, knew that a Divine Sea Realm expert had a lifespan of five hundred years. The old Beiyang City Lord, who died in his early three hundreds from severe injuries, could indeed be considered to have died young.

Xiao Minghuang’s expression shifted slightly. Having grown up in the capital, she had no idea that such events had occurred in Beiyang City.

“The soldiers of Beiyang City have guarded the border with great hardship and merit. After I return to the capital, I will definitely report their contributions to my father, the Emperor!”

Hearing this, Lin Zhengquan’s face showed gratitude, and he immediately stood up and bowed.

“With Your Highness’s words, all the suffering we’ve endured over the years will not have been in vain!”

Having understood the current predicament of Beiyang City, Xiao Minghuang no longer hesitated and agreed to the martial competition.

PS: The pacing of the recent chapters feels a bit slow. After finishing this section, I’ll pick up the pace. What do you think, everyone?

Because we’re on a recommendation, I want to achieve better results, so I’ve reached out to many big names for collaborations. The chapter-end recommendations might affect the reading experience of my dear readers. As an expression of my apology, I’ll occasionally add extra chapters during the recommendation period. Please forgive me, dear readers!

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

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