The five elders had arrived at the tournament grounds early, hoping to discuss how best to approach the Grade 4 alchemist and maybe negotiate some private deals for materials. They had secluded themselves to avoid disturbance, so when they finally emerged, they were completely stunned. The vast spectator stands were nearly empty.
Only a handful of mortals remained, their cheers sparse and unenthusiastic. Every last cultivator from their sects, along with all the rogue practitioners, had vanished. For a heart-stopping moment, they feared their disciples had been ambushed. But then a flustered messenger arrived and quickly explained the situation.
Meanwhile, outside the arena, chaos reigned.
"MOVE THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY! IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT, DON'T BLOCK THE PATH!" A burly man at the late Foundation Establishment stage shoved his way through the dense crowd and slammed a fragrant, spirit-infused vine onto Su Min's stall.
"What do you want for it?" she asked, her tone businesslike.
"A Foundation Establishment Pill," the man grunted. "For my useless son."
"Here you go. And be careful on your way out." She tossed him the pill. The man grinned, a mix of relief and triumph on his face, before turning and vanishing back into the throng.
Su Min was delighted. Her stall had already netted her a trove of treasures, including rare herbs, high-grade ores, and even a few unique cultivation manuals she hadn't seen before.
"As expected of the Great Luo Tian State," she thought with satisfaction. "These people still have some oil to squeeze out of them."
The crowd was even happier than she was. Pills, especially Foundation Establishment Pills, were usually monopolized by the major sects. Even mid-tier disciples rarely got them, and outsiders almost never had a chance. Now, with this golden opportunity, people were desperate, liquidating family heirlooms and life savings. They all knew that once the sect elders caught wind of this, the chance would vanish forever.
Sure enough, five terrifying auras suddenly descended from the sky, casting a pall over the entire area. The bustling stall fell dead silent.
The crowd scrambled backward as the five old men glared at them, recognizing many of their own disciples in the mob. In the elders' eyes, such precious pills should only go to the most elite talents, not be "wasted" on these outsiders.
But since most buyers had wisely swallowed the pills on the spot, there was nothing the elders could do. They could only seethe in silence. Then, they all turned to Su Min, and their stern expressions instantly melted into warm, almost grandfatherly smiles.
"You five want something?" Su Min asked, cutting straight to the point. "Name your price. The materials I got here might not be as valuable as Grade 4 pill ingredients, but they're still plenty rare."
"Of course, of course!" one of them chimed in. "These herbs and ores may be uncommon, but our sect's secret realms have plentiful stores. As long as you can provide the pills, we are more than willing to trade."
A collective gulp could be heard from the disciples behind them, who were gaping at their leaders' shamelessly eager bargaining.
"Oh?" Su Min smirked. "If you provide the materials, I can mass-produce. Are you interested?"
The elders' eyes practically glowed. These sects undoubtedly had massive stockpiles of exactly what she needed.
"Naturally!" boomed Lao Shui from the Sky Summit Sect, stepping forward. "Since this is Sky Summit City, our sect must act as proper hosts. We will treat you as an honored guest—"
Before he could finish, the crowd scrambled back again as four other terrifying auras erupted around him. The other four elders glared at Lao Shui, their expressions murderous.
They all knew Su Min wouldn't stay forever, and her pill output was limited. Whoever monopolized her time now would reap unimaginable benefits. Lao Shui broke into a cold sweat under their combined pressure. He knew he couldn't possibly hog her, so he forced a dry chuckle and stepped back.
Su Min ignored their petty power struggle. "Foundation Establishment Pills can wait. What Grade 4 pills do you need? Speak up." The real prize was the Grade 4 pill ingredients, which were essential for taming the three ancient divine beasts. The current world couldn't produce them naturally; only the sects' hidden reserves still held such materials.
"Our Sky Summit Sect needs two pills. Here are the materials and recipes."
"Our Luo Yin Sect also requires—"
"Our Water Nether Sect is missing one ingredient," another leader interjected. "We are willing to supplement with extra materials. Does the lady happen to have a... Frozen Spirit Fruit?"
"Our Heavenly Fire Pavilion is in the same situation," another added quickly.
Su Min raised an eyebrow. "What ingredient?"
"Frozen Spirit Fruit," the two sect leaders said in unison. If two major sects both lacked it, there was only one explanation, the item simply didn't grow in the Great Luo Tian State.
"Hmm, this?" Su Min said, pulling a single, perfectly preserved ice-blue fruit from her ring.
The moment she did, the air cracked with tension.
BOOM!
Two overwhelming auras clashed as the leaders of the Water Nether Sect and the Heavenly Fire Pavilion locked onto each other. The air within a kilometer distorted under the pressure of their Golden Core power.
"These two..." the crowd murmured in shock. While the five sects had always competed, they'd maintained a surface-level harmony. Two sect leaders on the verge of an open brawl was unprecedented. If these two factions went to war, the entire Great Luo Tian State would bleed. Then they glanced at Su Min, who was still casually holding the fruit, and their eyes filled with a new mixture of awe and fear.
"Lao Mu, yield this fruit to me," the Water Nether leader said, his voice tight. "Our sect will compensate you handsomely."
"Dream on, Lao Liu," the Heavenly Fire leader retorted. "This fruit is critical to us. How about you back down?"
"Impossible!"
"Then neither will we!"
As they argued, their feet left the ground, and they ascended into the sky, glaring daggers at each other.
"They're fighting! They're really fighting!"
Su Min happily stored the fruit to avoid any collateral damage, then settled in to watch. A full-on Golden Core duel? She was all for it.
"Hey, stop spectating like this is a show," Mu Jiansheng said, shooting her a look. If these two sects went to war, the entire region could plunge into chaos. Their sealed experts might even be dragged out, which would be a disastrous waste of resources for everyone. But he also knew this fruit likely concerned the future of their core prodigies. With no local supply, neither would back down. So he turned to Su Min, the only one who could defuse this.
"Alright, stop posturing," Su Min said, addressing the two hovering leaders. "I have a compromise."
They paused, their auras still simmering.
"This Frozen Spirit Fruit is the only one I have, but its medicinal essence is fully intact. Theoretically, it can be used to refine two pills."
She held up the fruit for them to see.
"I can extract the excess energy and preserve it with my flames, then use the remainder for a second pill. But sealing the energy is mentally exhausting. The first pill will be fine, but the second one would have about a thirty percent failure rate."
The two leaders calmed slightly. A full-blown war benefited no one. Then Su Min added the final, crucial condition.
"But you will have to decide who goes first."
BOOM!
Their auras exploded again, the air growing thick with the promise of violence.
"Calm down!" Mu Jiansheng interjected, a sly glint in his eyes. "How about this, actually, screw it. This is a tournament arena. Fight it out. Winner gets first refinement." His tone was pure provocation.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" Su Min mentally cheered. She wouldn't instigate a bloodbath, but watching two Golden Core experts duke it out was absolutely on her list of desired entertainment.
"LET'S GO!!"
"BRING IT!"
The two leaders vanished into the main arena in streaks of light. Su Min immediately packed up her stall and flew after them, the other sect leaders right behind her.
The stands, once empty, erupted as spectators rushed back in. A Golden Core battle was a once in a lifetime spectacle. Within minutes, the arena was packed to the brim. Humans loved drama, and some cultivators even risked their lives for a front row seat.
The remaining four Golden Core elders took their seats in a special viewing box. As long as this didn't escalate into an all out war, two sect leaders beating each other up was fine, even entertaining. Each sect had at least three active Golden Core experts, so replacements were available. The only ones truly miserable were the young disciples. This was supposed to be their stage, their chance to shine in the triennial tournament.
But now their elders had stolen the spotlight. And they couldn't even complain. In the cultivation world, strength ruled supreme.
The battle was spectacular, far more intense and technical than Su Min's one sided slaughter of the Demon Queen. These sect leaders had complete heritage techniques, top tier treasures, and centuries of combat experience. Spells and sword lights filled the air. In the end, the water based techniques of the Water Nether Sect overcame the fiery onslaught of the Heavenly Fire Pavilion, and its leader conceded.
Su Min lost interest after the outcome was clear. She left with the other sect leaders to finalize their deals, though occasional tremors and flashes of light from a nearby pavilion suggested the negotiations for the remaining materials were not entirely peaceful. No one dared trouble her, though. After all, she was the real winner. Not only had she secured all her key materials, but she had also gathered enough high quality ores to forge her new armor. This trip to the Great Luo Tian State had been wildly profitable.
A year later, a solitary streak of light shot across the sky. Su Min had finished all her commissions and ignored the sects' repeated pleas for her to stay. Mounting her flying sword, she headed back in the direction of Wei Wu State. She was not returning home, but traveling toward the Three Great Blessed Lands that lay in the outer seas beyond it.
In the game, this convenient placement was for the player's benefit. For Su Min, it meant far less competition. The nearby states were backwaters, and no major powers lurked there to contest her claim.
Treasures invite envy, she reminded herself. She could not match the ancient sects' combined strength, so lying low was the smart move. Soon, she reached the rugged coastline.
"This is the edge of the continental shelf," she murmured, looking out at the endless, choppy waters. "Beyond here, the world's barriers vanish, and the sea beasts grow truly dangerous."
She deactivated her flying sword and summoned her unique flying shuttle, the only tool capable of safely crossing this turbulent boundary. The Demon Queen had originally sought this shuttle to reach the Blessed Lands, a plot point revealed after defeating her in the game. Su Min had the scroll with the coordinates, but she did not even need it. The sheer concentration of spiritual energy was guide enough.
The moment she crossed the boundary, the Nanming Lihuo within her dantian pulsed in recognition. Even without the flame, she could feel the profound difference in the environment. Orienting herself toward the densest source of energy, she shot toward the horizon.
By dawn, she landed on an island so vast it felt like a continent. Before her stood a golden tree so colossal it seemed to pierce the heavens themselves.
"It's like staring at the Erdtree," she thought, the reference surfacing from her old life. "Except this isn't just gold. It's the Fusang Divine Tree, one of the world's true divine wonders. And the Golden Crow's egg should be at its crown."
The sight truly took her breath away. The Fusang Tree and the Solar True Flame it harbored were incredibly powerful, but they carried deep bloodline restrictions. She could not refine the flame herself, as her Nanming Lihuo was its opposite and would reject it. As for the tree itself, absorbing its power would permanently lock her Five Elements Holy Body, limiting her future path. Her true target lay within the Golden Core Avenue that this journey was preparing her for.
"The spiritual energy here is insane," she whispered. The Three Great Blessed Lands formed a self sustaining cycle, creating this isolated paradise.
As she sped across the island, she spotted rare herbs and powerful beasts everywhere, far more numerous than even in the richest regions of the Great Luo Tian State. According to the game's lore, this place was the "ancestral vein of ten continents, the dragon's origin of three islands." The last place she remembered with such potent geography had, in another story, birthed a monkey named Sun Wukong. The spiritual energy here was so dense it formed a faint mist, surpassing even the five great sects' most holy grounds.
But Su Min did not linger to harvest anything.
She had more pressing business at the very top of the tree.
There, nestled where the highest branches met, suspended in the air by a cradle of golden light, was a massive golden egg, larger than her entire body.