“You mean the Golden Elephant Kingdom is a vassal to the Dragon Tiger Sect?”
Xiao Minghuang’s shapely brows knit slightly as she asked.
“That’s right.”
Lin Zhengquan nodded.
“The Dragon Tiger Sect focuses on body refinement. It ranks among the three great sects of the southern region, with countless disciples. Its sect master is a powerhouse of the Yuantai Realm, a man who can nearly cover the sky with one hand across the entire south.”
“The Golden Elephant Kingdom is merely one of eight subordinate forces under the Dragon Tiger Sect.”
“But even so, by relying on the prestige of the Dragon Tiger Sect, the Golden Elephant Kingdom has already annexed who knows how many small forces. Now they frequently stir up friction on the border shared with our Great Xia. It may very well be that they’re borrowing the tiger’s might to swallow Great Xia whole.”
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang fell silent.
The Golden Elephant Kingdom itself was just a mediocre little nation. Its king was only at the Divine Sea Realm, far inferior to Great Xia’s ancestral patriarch, who was a Spirit Seed Realm powerhouse.
But the Dragon Tiger Sect was one of the three great sects of the southern region, with terrifying strength far beyond what Great Xia could contend with.
Not to mention, the royal family’s ancestor was nearing the end of his lifespan and was unwilling to easily start a war.
If the Dragon Tiger Sect seized the chance to intervene, it could very well spell the doom of their country.
Seeing the thoughtful look on Xiao Minghuang’s face, Lin Zhengquan smiled and spoke.
“Our Great Xia has a Spirit Seed Realm peerless expert. Once the national guardian grand array is activated, it will be enough to protect Great Xia. Your Highness need not worry too much.”
The matter of the ancestor’s dwindling lifespan was known only to a very small number of people.
“Forget it. Brooding over this is pointless. It’s better to focus on raising my strength as quickly as possible. That’s the proper path.”
Thinking of this, Xiao Minghuang’s lips curved in a faint smile.
From Lin Zhengquan’s explanation, Xiao Minghuang had learned that in this upcoming duel, Great Xia and the Golden Elephant Kingdom would each send out five young elites to spar and compete. It would be best three out of five, and whoever won in the end would gain ownership of the spirit vein.
Originally, Lin Zhengquan’s plan was for the four major families and the City Lord’s Mansion to each send one person to represent Beiyang City.
But plans never keep up with changes.
The Chen family had been exposed for harboring evil cultivators and had been wiped out to the last person. Naturally, there was no one left to send.
Lin Wanqiu, whose meridians had been cleared, had reached the peak of the Tempered Body Realm at just fourteen years of age. Across the whole of Great Xia, she was a top-tier genius, second only to the Ninth Princess, Xiao Minghuang.
Thus, the five spots were allotted as: one from each of the remaining three great families, plus Lin Wanqiu, with Xiao Minghuang going on last as the finale.
After hearing Lin Zhengquan’s plan, Xiao Minghuang once again furrowed her brows.
“Why make it so troublesome? I alone can slaughter my way through all of them.”
At that, Lin Zhengquan could only give an awkward smile.
“We already agreed with the Golden Elephant Kingdom that each side will send five. If we go back on it now, I’m afraid it will cause unnecessary complications…”
“Enough. City Lord Lin, is there a martial arena in the city? Since there’s such a convenient opportunity, I might as well take a look at the strength of Beiyang City’s so‑called young elites.”
Hearing this, the city lord’s expression froze for a heartbeat, then lit up with delight.
The Ninth Princess said she wanted to see the strength of the younger generation, but with her talent and cultivation, those so‑called elites were nothing but mediocrities in her eyes.
The Chen clan heir’s performance at the banquet just now had been downright disappointing. The other three families were unlikely to be any better. If they went to represent Beiyang City, their chances of victory were slim.
In truth, this was very likely the Ninth Princess wanting to ensure victory in the coming contest by personally guiding Beiyang City’s young warriors.
To put it plainly, this was an opportunity bestowed upon the youths of Beiyang City.
Lin Zhengquan immediately responded.
“Your Highness, please go on ahead to the martial arena. This humble official will summon them at once.”
Leaving those words behind, Lin Zhengquan bowed and withdrew.
…
The martial arena.
This was a vast ground paved with bluestone slabs, stretching several hundred zhang across.
At its center stood an enormous Spirit Testing Disc, used specially to test a cultivator’s spiritual roots.
The martial arena within the City Lord’s Mansion was open to all the young warriors of Beiyang City, so on most days it was packed and bustling with noise and activity.
But at this very moment, every gaze was fixed toward the Spirit Testing Disc, staring at the three slender figures standing at its center, unable to look away.
Three stunning girls, each beautiful in a different way and each with her own unique charm, stood before the Spirit Testing Disc.
They only stood there, neither speaking nor smiling, yet everyone present—men and women, young and old—wore an expression of amazement on their faces.
A young cultivator gasped in awe.
“Where did those three girls come from? To think I’d have the fortune in this life to see such beauties… I must have saved a kingdom in my past life.”
A girl beside him explained.
“The one on the right seems to be the City Lord’s eldest daughter, Lin Wanqiu. I’ve seen her before… She looks even more beautiful than she used to.”
Another woman, hand pressed to her own chest, shook her head and sighed.
“Comparing people to people is just asking for misery. If I had even half the size of that little sister on the right, I wouldn’t look so pathetic next to her.”
Yet another lively girl chimed in.
“I actually think the one in the middle, the one in the red dress, is the prettiest… If I could kiss her just once, I’d have no regrets in this life… Huh? Why are you all looking at me like that?”
Hearing her, the other girls with her all stared in shock and quietly edged away from her.
Seeing this, the cheeky girl curled her lip in disdain.
“Please. With your looks, you don’t even measure up to one ten‑thousandth of that red‑robed little sister’s charm. Don’t get any ideas.”
Down below the platform, all sorts of reactions played out, but Xiao Minghuang and the other two were oblivious.
They had come to the martial arena for two reasons: one was to see the young warriors of Beiyang City and pick out those strong enough to take part in the duel.
The other was to test the quality of their own spiritual roots.
A cultivator could roughly sense changes in their own spiritual roots, but it was far from precise.
Only results measured by the Spirit Testing Disc were truly accurate.
Standing before the disc, Xiao Minghuang first turned her gaze to Ye Ruoshui.
Ye Ruoshui understood and stepped forward to the Spirit Testing Disc.
Thanks to Xiao Minghuang’s careful nurturing, she knew that her spiritual roots had improved drastically and should have reached the Profound grade by now, but she didn’t know exactly which rank within that grade.
This was the perfect chance to find out.
The next instant, Ye Ruoshui extended her slender, fair hand and gently pressed it to the surface of the Spirit Testing Disc, circulating her cultivation technique and stirring her spiritual roots into resonance.
Buzz.
A beam of multicolored radiance shot up from the disc, splitting into three hues—white, green, and scarlet. Dense spiritual power surged outward in waves, its pressure overwhelming, leaving everyone present stunned.
“Profound‑grade, top‑tier spiritual roots!”
An older cultivator at the scene cried out in shock.
“To think I’d live to see the birth of top‑tier Profound‑grade spiritual roots… My life is complete.”
A white‑haired elder sighed emotionally.
Amidst the chorus of exclamations, Ye Ruoshui withdrew and returned to Xiao Minghuang’s side, then turned her gaze toward Lin Wanqiu.
The corners of her lips lifted slightly, and a hint of provocation flashed in her eyes.
As if to say: See that? My talent leaves yours in the dust. Only I am worthy to stay at Her Highness’s side.
Lin Wanqiu naturally understood, but she did not respond in kind. First, she prided herself on being older and was unwilling to stoop to bickering with this little maid. Second, she was the latecomer; she ought to give the “senior” some face.
Steadying herself, Lin Wanqiu stepped forward, placed her hand on the Spirit Testing Disc, and stirred her own spiritual roots into resonance.
The next moment—
Green, black, and scarlet radiance soared into the sky, spiritual power surging and heaving, its might in no way inferior to the astonishing phenomenon just now.
