"Happy with your new weapons?"
Her voice cut through their awestruck silence.
"They are amazing!"
"We... we love them!"
The three young men were clearly overjoyed, practically cradling their newly acquired artifacts. They ran their hands over the cool, spiritually-charged metal with a reverence that bordered on obsession. Then Su Min spoke again, and her words nearly made them jump out of their skins.
"Since you're so happy with your new toys, stand up. Let's have some fun together."
"Huh?"
They froze, stunned at first. But the shock quickly gave way to excitement. To them, Su Min was a figure shrouded in mystery, overflowing with a strength they could only dream of. In truth, during their usual sparring sessions, they had often whispered about testing their skills against her. Hearing her invitation now, they eagerly nodded in agreement. Only the steward who had accompanied them broke into a cold sweat, for he alone detected a sharp, dangerous edge in her casual tone.
"Young Master, perhaps you should—"
"Let's go!"
Before the steward could finish his warning, the prince's son, gripping his new Frostbane Sword, rushed forward with unchecked enthusiasm. The steward had no choice but to swallow his words and watch with a sense of dread.
Soon, a deep, resonant boom echoed throughout Prince Yong's estate.
The prince himself, who had been reviewing documents and allocating resources, paused. He glanced at the teacup beside him, watching as ripples trembled across its surface.
"Who is fighting inside the estate?" he muttered. "Have those three rascals gone completely wild?"
Ever since the trio had reached the Qi Refining stage, their sparring had become more intense, but he had never interfered. More practice was beneficial, and within the walls of his own estate, there was little need for constant monitoring. But this commotion felt different, more forceful.
A guard hurried in and bowed. "Your Highness, it is that young lady. She took the three young masters to the training grounds. It seems they have started a fight."
"Oh?" Prince Yong's eyebrows rose in surprise. "She actually took an interest in instructing those brats? How is the battle going?"
The guard hesitated for a moment before answering. "She is beating them... barehanded. Pinning them to the ground, one by one."
"I see," the prince said, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips. He returned to his work without another word.
Meanwhile, in the training grounds, Su Min casually brushed her hands together as if dusting off a bit of dirt. The three young men lay sprawled on the hard-packed earth, groaning in pain, their dignity thoroughly shattered.
Just moments ago, she had taken them on unarmed, one against three, and crushed them with effortless ease. Of course, she had used the Tiger Soul Possession. Unlike the Vermilion Bird Possession, this technique did not alter her appearance, but it drastically enhanced her raw strength and speed to a terrifying degree, leaving the trio utterly disoriented and unable to land a single blow.
"Feeling good now, little ones?" Su Min asked, her tone deceptively light. "You have got a long, long road ahead of you. Well then, I am off, back to my cultivation."
She patted her hands together in satisfaction. She had to admit, the three were surprisingly sturdy; they could take a solid beating.
"Ugh… that was terrifying," one of them moaned, clutching his ribs. "What kind of speed was that? I could not even track her movements. Having this spear was completely useless…"
"You fool!" the prince's son gasped out, wincing as he sat up. "This is someone even my father holds in the highest regard, someone the entire Prince Yong's estate revolves around. Of course she is this strong."
Though they trembled in pain, none of them were truly surprised or resentful. They knew Su Min had spared their dignity. Their bodies were covered in aches and bruises, but their faces remained completely untouched. Besides, with a bit of spiritual energy circulation, these superficial injuries would heal within a day. She had not even begun to go all out.
While she was beating them up, Su Min had taken the opportunity to assess her own condition. "My control is precise, and my foundation is solid," she thought. "But I am still some distance away from the Foundation Establishment stage, and I lack the necessary rare materials. There is no way I can attempt a breakthrough yet."
As she headed back to her quarters, someone intercepted her. It was one of the prince's chief attendants, his face grim.
"Lady Su Min, there is an urgent matter for discussion."
"What is it?" she asked, her mood slightly soured by the interruption.
"The nomadic tribes are moving south. His Highness requests your presence for a meeting immediately."
"Fine. Lead the way."
She did not refuse and followed the attendant through the complex corridors. Soon, they arrived before the doors of a grand hall. She paused before entering. Even from outside, her heightened perception allowed her to sense the situation within, and it gave her a moment's pause. Several auras inside stood out, sharp and battle-hardened. This was not the kind of killing intent born from assassinating a few people, but the heavy, metallic scent that came from years of warfare. Moreover, aside from those auras, another Qi Refining cultivator was present, though their spiritual vitality was noticeably weaker and more faded than that of the three youngsters.
"A military conference?" she murmured to herself.
It was not hard to guess why Prince Yong had summoned her. This was no leisurely banquet. It had to be a crucial war council.
"Yes," the attendant confirmed, his voice low. "According to our intelligence, the nomads are preparing a full scale invasion, targeting the Eight Prefectures under Prince Yong's rule. His Highness has mobilized all forces from the prefectures and issued a rallying call to the martial world. Aside from the generals, the leaders of all the major sects are also present."
"Tch."
Su Min rubbed her temples in annoyance. She deeply disliked social formalities and political posturing like this. But judging by the auras in the room, which included one established Qi Refining cultivator and several experts at the peak of Body Refining, it was clear that these people had likely pressured the prince into arranging this meeting. They wanted to see the legendary alchemist for themselves.
Whatever, she finally decided. "They might be useful later. If I am going to deal with the Demon Queen, I will need a broader base of support eventually."
After a brief moment of thought, she pushed the heavy doors open and stepped inside.
Instantly, the noisy hall fell completely silent. Every gaze, from grizzled generals to proud sect leaders, turned toward her. Many wore expressions of pure shock, clearly not expecting someone so young.
"Hahaha! Danxianzi, please, come this way."
Prince Yong immediately rose to his feet and greeted her warmly, guiding her personally to the seat of honor right beside his own. The others watched the exchange with a mix of awe, curiosity, and deep uncertainty.
Hushed whispers broke out like a rustle of leaves. "That battle aura we felt earlier was terrifying," one general muttered to a sect elder beside him. "It far surpassed even Sect Leader Mo's. We thought it must be some reclusive senior master, but… she is just a young girl? She cannot even be twenty years old yet."
"Shut your mouth!" the elder hissed back, his eyes wide with alarm. "Sect Leader Mo only reached Qi Refining thanks to the Qi Introduction Pill she refined. Someone like her could command countless experts with just a word. If she wanted a sect destroyed, all she would need to do is say so."
The general paled. "...Right. Of course."
As Su Min sat in the place of honor, sipping her tea and pointedly ignoring everyone, the whispers continued. Though they spoke softly, some even shielding their voices with a wisp of spiritual energy, her keen perception caught every single word.
One of the men, a middle aged cultivator with a stern face, finally stood and approached her. He bowed deeply and respectfully.
"I am Mo Shaosheng, leader of the Heaven's Gate Sect," he introduced himself. "My current cultivation is all thanks to your pill, Fairy. I am deeply grateful."
Regardless of her supreme alchemy skills, the sheer, overwhelming power she had displayed outside was enough to make him acutely aware of the vast, unbridgeable gap between them. His attitude, as he stood before her, was nothing short of reverent.