Chapter 13: The Eldest Princess Has Returned!

Qin Xuanxi thought that after her visit to the imperial palace of the State of Li, she might as well make a detour to Qiuyu Village. Of course, she insisted to herself that it was merely a matter of convenience, not a special trip to see that troublesome boy, Song Ye. Still, Song Ye could be considered her savior. Although he had done nothing to her at the time, merely "picking" her up and bringing her home, it was precisely because he had refrained from doing anything that she had survived. Back then, she was frail beyond measure, her powers lost, and even her Xuan Yuan Nine Nether Skirt had faded away. In that moment, she was as weak as a girl incapable of even tying up a chicken. Had she not been picked up by Song Ye but instead fallen into the hands of someone with ill intentions, her life might not have been spared, and her integrity might not have remained intact.

For this, Song Ye was truly her benefactor. Qin Xuanxi, though seen by the so-called righteous as a murderous, unscrupulous, and villainous demoness, still understood the importance of repaying kindness. Now, her benefactor, in his foolishness, still remained in Qiuyu Village. With the iron cavalry of the Yan State approaching, he was doomed. At this juncture of life and death, it was only right that she pay him a visit.

Soon, the winged rhinoceros carriage of Qin Xuanxi arrived outside the palace gates. The current emperor of Li, Li Qianshi, personally led his officials to the gate to welcome the Demoness Sovereign. In the eyes of self-proclaimed righteous cultivators, Qin Xuanxi was a villainess who deserved to be exterminated, the arch-antagonist. But such matters belonged to the cultivation world. As emperor, Li Qianshi ruled over a nation of mostly ordinary mortals, and he could not afford to offend any of the great figures from either the immortal or demonic factions. Even Master Wang, who had loudly sworn enmity with all demon cultivators, now knelt obediently at the sight of her carriage.

Li Qianshi was a young emperor, just over twenty, but the relentless invasion by the Yan State and the constant reports of defeat from the front lines had aged him a decade in appearance. His face was pale, and it was clear he had not slept soundly for a long time.

Li Qianshi bowed respectfully in the direction of the winged rhinoceros carriage and said, "Sovereign of the Xuan Yuan Demons, I have prepared a banquet in the palace. Please, would you honor us with your presence?"

Though he was the emperor, in the eyes of this Demoness Sovereign, he was no different from a commoner or an ant. Naturally, he dared not assume imperial airs before her.

At this, Qin Xuanxi slowly lifted the curtain of her carriage, revealing her face—or rather, the fearsome violet Shaman Mask she wore. Until she spoke, none of the officials dared move or utter so much as a whisper. Many did not even dare to raise their heads.

The air was deathly still.

"No need for a banquet," Qin Xuanxi said coldly. "My purpose here today is merely to repay a debt owed to the Li imperial family long ago. Now that your kingdom faces invasion, it is only fitting I settle this account. Of course, I will not personally intervene in a war among mortals, but I have brought you someone who can."

"Bring her forward!"

At her command, two female disciples of the Brahma Abyss Sect helped a woman in a gray robe to approach. The gray-robed woman had been standing by the winged rhinoceros all along, her hood shadowing half her face, her wrists and ankles shackled with heavy manacles. With every step, she seemed to struggle, needing the support of the disciples.

When she reached Li Qianshi, she slowly removed her hood.

At the sight of her face, Li Qianshi cried out in shock, "Sister?!"

Those officials nearest recognized her as well, and gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd.

"It’s the Princess Royal!"

"It truly is the Princess Royal!"

"Heaven bless the State of Li, the Princess Royal has returned!"

The gray-robed woman was none other than Li Qianshi’s elder sister, the Princess Royal of Li, Li Xiuling. Gifted from an early age, she had been sent at six to the Grand Void Palace to become a disciple, where the sect master, Nangong Quan, personally took her as his student. At thirteen, she entered the level of Tongxuan, the most talented disciple in the history of the Grand Void Palace. Nangong Quan, overjoyed, groomed her as his successor, offering her the finest cultivation resources and personally instructing her in the sect’s highest arts.

Within a year, Li Xiuling—at just fourteen—ascended to the Void Spirit realm. Her achievement sent shockwaves through the world of cultivators: the Grand Void Palace had produced a Void Spirit Adept at fourteen. At seventeen, she reached the Sky-breaking realm, becoming the youngest ever to do so, making the very word “genius” seem pale before her.

Yet that same year marked a tragic turning point in her life. With Nangong Quan’s permission, she descended the mountain to temper herself, only to stumble accidentally into a mysterious cave. There, she was attacked by a silver-eyed three-headed hound, which she managed to slay, severing all three heads. Little did she know, the beast was the cherished pet of Changsun Ni, the sect master of the Cangming Sect.

In a fit of rage, Changsun Ni imprisoned Li Xiuling in the Nine Nether Prison of the Cangming Sect. The only reason he did not kill her was because of an old, self-imposed rule never to take the life of a woman.

When news of Li Xiuling’s disappearance spread, Nangong Quan was beside himself with worry. She was his personally chosen successor; he had invested years of effort into her. He sent many to search for her, and when he learned she was held in the Nine Nether Prison, he despaired, feeling as though he had fallen into an icy abyss. He knew that no one had ever been brought out alive from that prison.

The Cangming Sect was the greatest demonic sect of the age, and Changsun Ni stood at the pinnacle of the demonic path. Only one or two in the world could match his power. Nangong Quan dared not even approach the Cangming Sect’s gates, much less demand her release.

Thus, he could only resign himself to misfortune and accept the loss of his precious disciple.

Likewise, the late emperor of Li quickly learned that his daughter was suffering in the Nine Nether Prison. Yet, like Nangong Quan, he dared not even dream of standing before Changsun Ni to demand her release.