The world perceived from the Divine Transformation stage was a fundamentally different place. Standing effortlessly on the ocean's surface, Su Min gazed down into the lightless abyssal trench below. The crushing, soul-rending pressure that would have squeezed the life from a Nascent Soul cultivator now felt like little more than a distant, rhythmic hum against her skin, a sensation she could acknowledge or ignore at will. She took a slow, deliberate breath, filling her lungs with the sharp, salty air. It was a human comfort she did not need anymore, her body sustained purely by spiritual energy, but some mortal instincts were hard to let go.
The power thrumming through her meridians was immense and intoxicatingly obvious. The Northern Water's Profound Origin circulated within her core, a deep, resonant, and seemingly endless well of strength that made her feel as if she could reshape continents with a thought. Only one of the legendary Four Symbols remained now, the White Tiger, and it was by far the most troublesome of them all to obtain.
The White Tiger governed slaughter, but the true path to the Metal Heavenly Treasure demanded more than mere killing. It demanded true warfare. Slaughter was for preying on the weak, for culling the helpless. War meant facing a worthy opponent head-on, testing your might and strategy against an equal or superior foe. Massacring the defenseless would only lead her further from her goal, corrupting the intent. So, she had only one suitable target, the Fallen.
At her current level, bolstered by the power of three heavenly treasures, she did not fear them, not even the ancient ones who had once touched the profound Dao Comprehension stage. She felt no guilt about killing them; they were spiritual parasites, a blight on existence itself. Besides, from their lofty perspective, she was probably just a fledgling who had barely stepped into Divine Transformation, an insignificant morsel.
"First, I should go back," she murmured to herself, the vast ocean winds stealing her words. "I need to see how the continent has changed. I wonder if Yingying is out of her seclusion yet. Maybe I should check the far north first."
After a moment of quiet thought, her path became clear. Since she had already encountered one Fallen, there were undoubtedly more hiding like rats in the shadows across the land. But none would have recovered as fully as the one in the Weak Water Secret Realm; they would not have had access to such a rich, isolated feeding ground. Even if a few had clawed their way back to early Dao Comprehension strength, she was confident she could escape with her life. Her combat power now rivaled the little Golden Crow's own early Divine Transformation phase. Against ordinary late-stage Divine Transformation experts, she could hold her own. In practical, terrifying terms, she now had the power to single-handedly wipe out entire, established sects.
"A pity," she muttered, a flicker of cold frustration crossing her mind. "The Future Maitreya Mountain's main territory is too well-defended. Those accumulated faith golden bodies protect their core grounds. I cannot breach their ultimate defenses unless I reach Dao Comprehension myself. And even that might not be enough..."
She dearly wanted to eradicate the sect that had become her mortal enemy, but storming their stronghold now would be sheer suicide. This matter was not over, though. Not by a long shot.
"When I get back, I will find out where they have built their other temples, their external branches. Those fanatics must have outposts across the realms. I will sever every external tendril, bleed them dry. If any of their core members dare to step out to reinforce their people, so much the better. I will be waiting."
With a final, mental curse directed at her enemies, she confirmed her bearings and shot forward, not like an arrow, but like a thought given motion. At the Divine Transformation stage, a single spatial step carried her a vast, impossible distance. Unimpeded by wind or wave, she crossed the immense ocean and returned to the familiar shores of Dong Sang Province in just one day.
"The changes are staggering," she said aloud, hovering high above the land like a surveying deity.
What had once been a sparse population of several hundred thousand had swelled to over a hundred million souls. The East Sea Immortal Sect, the province's de facto ruler, now boasted hundreds of Golden Core experts, a force that would have been unthinkable before. The area bordering the four provinces had transformed into a massive, bustling port, a crucial trade hub that worked in perfect tandem with the Blood Puppet Sect's spatial gate, bringing a level of prosperity and connectivity she had never seen here before.
After a moment of reflection, she flashed directly into her private quarters, a prime cultivation spot atop the sect's strongest spiritual vein. The room was exactly as she had left it, silent, still, and dust-free thanks to cleansing arrays. She knew some junior disciples might whisper that she hogged resources she did not constantly use, but no one would ever dare say it to her face.
"Summon the current sect leader," she said into the quiet air, her voice calm but clipped, carrying an undeniable weight of authority. "There are matters we must discuss."
Her divine sense swept through the entire sect, every hall, garden, and training ground, with an ease that still felt wonderfully new. At her current realm, no one below Dao Comprehension could detect her presence unless she actively allowed it. But what caught her off guard, sending a sudden, cold jolt through her system, was an absence. Xie Yingying's unique presence, always faint, cool like filtered moonlight, but quietly reassuring, was nowhere to be found within the sect's boundaries.
Su Min's heart gave a single, hard thump against her ribs before she consciously steadied herself. It was not panic. Not yet. But the silence in the spiritual grounds, the empty space where that familiar, comforting trace should have been, it felt profoundly wrong.
"She is still not back? After all this time?" The question echoed in the stillness of her mind.
Just as a shadow of deep unease began to stir in her chest, a controlled rush of qi signaled an arrival. Luo Ya entered and bowed deeply the moment she crossed the threshold. She was at the late Golden Core stage now, her foundation visibly solid and robust. "Congratulations, Grand Elder, on your triumphant ascent to Divine Transformation," she said, genuine joy and respect coloring her tone. Su Min was their true, unshakable pillar; her strength was the sect's ultimate security.
"Spare the flattery," Su Min replied, waving a sleeve softly in a gesture of dismissal. "Have you seen Yingying recently?"
Luo Ya straightened up, her expression turning carefully neutral and cautious. "No, Senior Xie has not been seen since she departed on her personal journey several years ago. But she did leave behind a life jade slip with the guardian elders. If she were in grave danger, she would have activated it to call for aid. It remains completely untouched, its light steady."
"I see."
Su Min's shoulders loosened a fractional degree, but the faint, worried crease between her brows remained. Xie Yingying was meticulous and careful. She never acted carelessly. But for her to stay gone this long, without a single word, something signficant must have happened, something that prevented her return or communication.
She tried not to let her mind wander down the dark paths to the worst possibilities, but it was already racing, conjuring images of ambushes, ancient traps, or powerful, hidden enemies. If someone had dared to touch her, if anyone had laid a single harmful hand on her…
Her fingers curled involuntarily into the fine fabric of her sleeve, her potent qi stirring like a restless dragon just beneath her skin. She took a sharp, controlled breath, forcing the cold, rising worry back down into the depths of her core.
"What of Future Maitreya Mountain? What is their current status?" she asked, shifting the subject to a target for her simmering energy.
"Those wretches are faring exceptionally poorly," Luo Ya reported, a hint of grim satisfaction in her voice. "After their collusion with the Fallen to ambush you was publicly exposed, they have become complete pariahs. All their outposts in the connected lower realms have been systematically eradicated by allied forces, and they are effectively trapped, besieged within their own pocket dimension. The Great Thunder Temple and the Ancient Lamp Monastery have taken the lead in forming a righteous alliance against them."
"A pity. I wanted to handle them personally." Su Min clicked her tongue in mild disappointment. While she had fully intended to make them outcasts, the speed and completeness of the results had exceeded her expectations. Her only regret was missing the chance for personal, hands-on vengeance.
"Additionally, the Golden Crow has entered deep seclusion again, apparently aiming directly for a breakthrough to Dao Comprehension."
"Oh?" This genuinely surprised Su Min. Since when had the notoriously lazy little Golden Crow become so relentlessly diligent?
"Shortly before you obtained the Northern Water's Profound Origin, the Dragon Emperor, Ao Xue, visited. After she sparred with our Golden Crow patron, our patron began her closed-door cultivation immediately, without even a word of farewell."
"Ha!" Su Min chuckled, easily picturing the scene. In terms of pure bloodline pedigree, they were nearly evenly matched. Clearly, the Golden Crow had been soundly bested. Knowing the dragon emperor's formidable capabilities and pride, Su Min guessed her companion had suffered a swift and humiliating defeat, which had spurred this sudden, fierce diligence.
"Also, your disciple Tian Yinzi recently broke through to Nascent Soul, while the Azure Dragon and the Peacock both successfully reached Divine Transformation. Including you, Grand Elder, we now have a total of four Divine Transformation stage experts within our alliance."
"That many already?" Su Min mused, a flicker of pride amidst her concern. Had Xie Yingying not encountered issues, she would likely have joined their ranks by now. The progression speed of the Lunar Sovereign Body was no joke.
"Yes. Our number of Nascent Soul cultivators now exceeds ten. While we still cannot match the ancient super sects in their entirety, we firmly rival any other major first-tier faction."
"Grand Elder, the Realm Sect Conference is approaching. We need a prestigious delegation leader. As non-humans, the Azure Dragon and Peacock are considered unsuitable for this diplomatic role. Elder Zhu was slated to go, but with your timely return…"
"Sect Conference?" Su Min frowned. This was an event entirely new to her.
Luo Ya nodded promptly. "There are two main agenda items. First, and most urgent, is the matter of the Fallen. Confirmed sightings have occurred across all major realms. The super sects have summoned every faction with at least one Divine Transformation expert to form a united coalition. They argue that if left unchecked, these primordial predators will devastate everyone, regardless of affiliation."
"A valid and pressing concern," Su Min conceded grimly. The prophesied Dark Blood Era was truly dawning. "What of our own regions, Eastern Mulberry and the four provinces?"
"No confirmed sightings here, but one emerged and caused havoc in Yao Xin Province. Elder Zhu repelled it using the authority of the Golden Crow Ancient Bell, though tragically, twenty thousand mortals and low-level cultivators perished before he could intervene."
"Golden Crow Ancient Bell? He can wield it?" Su Min asked, surprised.
"Before her seclusion, the Golden Crow patron created a special command sigil granting him limited control of the bell. It was a protective measure for the sect in her and your absence."
Su Min nodded in understanding. It was a powerful replica, but it mimicked the legendary Donghuang Bell, a true immortal treasure. Even an ordinary early Divine Transformation cultivator could challenge a Dao Comprehension expert with it. However…
"The energy drain is massive. Even I cannot fully activate its true power without the pure Golden Crow bloodline. It is best left here as the sect's final, ultimate defense. It should not be taken on expeditions."
"The conference is in one year's time, held in the central plains," Luo Ya finished.
"Then announce my return publicly," Su Min decided without hesitation. She would not go into seclusion now. Instead, she would use this year to craft pills and artifacts, honing her new abilities. Now at the Divine Transformation stage, she was fully capable of producing genuine Earth-grade treasures. Her enhanced soul power also allowed her to refine mid-sixth-grade materials, a significant leap. A public announcement would act as a beacon, summoning clients bearing rare resources she herself lacked. It was a worthwhile, mutually beneficial trade.
"Yes, Grand Elder!" Luo Ya brightened immediately, her professional excitement clear. As the continent's premier and most sought-after alchemist, Su Min's open call would bring immense resources, influence, and powerful connections to their doorstep.
Soon after the announcement rippled out through spiritual communication networks, Eastern Mulberry Province buzzed with renewed activity. Though it was just one person returning, her reputation was such that it drew Divine Transformation experts from across the land, all bearing precious gifts and rare materials for a chance at her legendary services. Within her own sect, the excitement was palpable. Everyone from the newest disciple to the eldest elder knew their founder's unparalleled capabilities.
For example…
"Elder Zhu, the Divine Transformation Pill I promised you." Su Min presented the flawless, spirit-rich pill to the elder who had faithfully safeguarded the sect in her long absence.
"Many thanks, Lady Su." Though over a thousand years old, Elder Zhu accepted the pill with the reverent eagerness of a young disciple receiving his first flying sword.
"Your son shows great promise, too," Su Min added, fostering goodwill. "Surviving the brutal Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation to reach Nascent Soul is no small feat. He will represent us well in the conference's junior battles." She always honored her word; her reputation for reliability was impeccable.
Elder Zhu hesitated for a moment, gathering his courage, before speaking again. "Might Lady Su consider crafting a Divine Transformation breakthrough pill for this unworthy one? I have accumulated sufficient contribution points within the sect."
"Not yet," Su Min replied evenly, not unkindly. "That is a high-sixth-grade pill, at the very peak of my current theoretical ability. I am currently limited to mastering mid-sixth-grade refinements. But within a century, I give you my word, I will deliver it to you."
Elder Zhu departed, perfectly satisfied, a smile on his aged face. A mere century was a brief, fleeting wait within his remaining lifespan.
As she saw him off, a figure burst from the sea nearby, bypassing every layered defense and powerful ward as if they were mere illusions to appear directly before her. No one else in the sect detected the intrusion; the space around them simply warped and settled.
"Dao Comprehension already? You divine beasts are truly, disgustingly enviable." Su Min rolled her eyes with a mix of annoyance and familiarity at Ao Xue. The dragon emperor wore a brilliant, form-fitting golden dress that accentuated her truly impressive and ample curves. Among all of Su Min's female acquaintances, only Xie Yingying could potentially match her in that particular, eye-catching regard.
The dragon emperor tossed a spatial ring to her without any preamble or ceremony. "Three sixth-grade pills for soul stabilization. I have prepared nine full sets of ingredients. You will refine them to mid-sixth-grade quality for me. Do not even try to claim incompetence."
Su Min could only sigh inwardly. This was part of her agreed-upon repayment for Ao Xue eliminating the traitorous elder Luo Jie and, more importantly, for using her immense influence to spread the word of Future Maitreya Mountain's treachery far and wide. Without the Dragon Emperor's powerful endorsement and testimony, the impact would have been far lesser, and the sect might have wriggled out of consequences.
"Fine. Return in three days for your pills. And do not disturb the Golden Crow. She is at a critical juncture in her Dao Comprehension breakthrough. Your presence might agitate her."
"Heh, she lost quite decisively last time," Ao Xue said with a superior smirk. "Though her crown feathers were… odd. First time I have ever seen black and white plumage on a Golden Crow. It clashed horribly with her usual gold."
"Was it effective in battle?" Su Min asked, her interest piqued.
"Extremely. The Yin-Yang resonance within those feathers created a disruptive field. If my own cultivation base had not been a full minor realm higher, I would have suffered greatly from its effects."
"Good." Su Min gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod of satisfaction. That unique, contrasting plumage was her handiwork, a side effect born from a dangerous, experimental fusion of Lunar Sovereign and Solar Sovereign blood essence she had infused into the Golden Crow during a previous healing. It was an unprecedented mutation, even for a lineage as pure as a Golden Crow Emperor.
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