"Ah—"
A sharp, involuntary gasp escaped Su Min's lips as the pill slid down her throat. It was not a gentle warmth that spread through her, but a violent, rushing torrent of energy that flooded her limbs and bones, scouring every meridian. She felt a distinct, shattering sensation deep within her core, like a pane of thick glass fracturing into a million pieces. In that single instant, the once-sturdy seal, which had felt as unyielding as mountain iron, shattered completely. The intent behind it was now nakedly clear; that monk had not had good intentions. It was a malicious trap.
A cold dread washed over her as she considered the alternative. If Su Min hadn't received that special gift, the one that granted her an endless lifespan, she would have suffered greatly. That seal was designed to grind a cultivator's spirit down over centuries, a torture of slow, inevitable decay.
But soon, the familiar, comforting presence of her own power surged forth to meet the invasive energy. The Four Symbols Holy Manifestation, which had been muted and distant, roared back to life within her spiritual sea. The faint, golden traces of her Taiyang Qi, previously sealed and utterly unusable, now flowed freely, warm and brilliant as a summer sun. Everything was back. The feeling of wholeness was so profound it was almost dizzying.
"Now, all that's left is the Dao Comprehension Pill," she murmured to the quiet room. "Once it's refined, I will settle the deal."
Feeling the complete and total release of the seal within her, Su Min let out a quiet sigh of relief, the tension in her shoulders finally easing. The danger had been far more real than she had let on. For an ordinary cultivator, let alone someone at the Divine Transformation stage, even a genuine Dao Comprehension-stage expert would have been tormented endlessly by such a devious seal. It was not meant to be broken, only endured.
With that immediate crisis handled, Su Min cleared her mind and focused on the task at hand. She took out the precious materials for the Dao Comprehension Pill, laying them out with practiced care. Thanks to her previous refining experience, her confidence was high and her success rate was now very high. Her movements were efficient, her focus absolute.
A flicker of frustration passed through her. Unfortunately, seventh-grade pills operated on a different level of complexity. They could only be refined one at a time. There was no way to produce two or three in a single batch, no matter how skilled she became. Perhaps when she could refine eighth-grade pills, that would be possible. She had heard legends of alchemists who could pull multiple perfect pills from a single cauldron of eighth-grade ingredients. But for now, with her current strength, it was out of the question.
So, a week later, after long days of intense concentration and spiritual control, she examined her results.
"One batch still blew up," she admitted to herself, looking at the two jade bottles in her hand. "But I managed to refine two Dao Comprehension Pills. Time to visit the Frostveil Pavilion to settle the debt, and maybe swindle something extra."
Looking at the pills in her hand, Su Min smirked to herself, a sly, calculating light in her eyes. After all, she wasn't refining pills for free. Even though this was a promised transaction, she wasn't providing the materials. The agreement had been that they would supply the ingredients, and this time, she had expended quite a bit of her own spiritual energy and focus. If she didn't squeeze something extra out of them for her trouble, she would write her name backward.
"You are out. No one noticed us this time."
As Su Min stepped out of the secluded chamber, Xie Yingying added from the side, her voice a low, calm murmur. Both of them had disguised themselves slightly, altering the lines of their faces and suppressing the true depth of their auras so no one recognized them. They just looked like two female cultivators at the Golden Core stage traveling together, a pairing that was uncommon, but not unusual enough to draw second glances in the current environment.
Thus, no one bothered them. The city was busy with its own affairs. Now that Su Min had fully recovered from her injuries and broken the seal, everything was settled. She felt light and powerful again.
"Let's go to the Frostveil Pavilion. I bought a Netherfrost Soul Crystal from them before. It is time to pay the remaining debt, no need to leave loose ends."
Su Min smiled as she spoke, and soon, the two of them left the room, merging into the flow of foot traffic. In truth, the Netherfrost Soul Crystal had been somewhat wasted on her. It contained a trace of the Primordial Frost, a profound insight into the laws of ice, and if a suitable cultivator at the late-stage Divine Transformation used it, there was a slim chance they could advance to the Dao Comprehension stage. It was a treasure that could found a legacy.
But for her, it had just been a source of raw energy for her breakthrough. Not that she regretted it. The calculation was simple. If she hadn't reached the mid-stage Divine Transformation when she did, the previous battles would have been disastrous. She would have lost far more than just the potential of a crystal.
A few minutes later, they stood within the grand reception hall of the City Lord's Mansion in Ice Peak City…
"The two of you… Our ancestor has ventured deep into the Snow Fields and has yet to return. However… this…"
The auctioneer from that day immediately approached them with enthusiasm, his professional smile wide. But his body trembled slightly when his eyes fell on Xie Yingying, who stood silently behind Su Min with her eyes closed, as if in meditation.
She was not hiding her aura.
The overwhelming pressure of a Dao Comprehension-stage cultivator faintly radiated from her, a subtle but undeniable weight in the air that caused the auctioneer to shiver uncontrollably. This was an existence far beyond the Divine Transformation stage, a true Dao Comprehension expert, something their entire Frostveil Pavilion desperately sought but could never obtain. Her presence in their hall was both an honor and a terrifying threat.
"Do not mind her. I am here to trade the Dao Comprehension Pill as agreed."
Su Min's next words made the auctioneer's expression twitch, his eyes snapping back to her in shock. The Dao Comprehension Pill, almost no one on the continent could refine it now. If Su Min was saying this, it could only mean one thing. She had become a seventh-grade alchemist.
And in such a short time?
This woman was a monster. His mind reeled at the implications.
"Miss Su… you can really refine it?"
"Yes." Her reply was simple, flat, and left no room for doubt.
"Please wait a moment. This matter is too significant, I cannot decide. I will immediately contact our ancestor and have him bring the materials."
If it were anyone else, he might have thought they were spouting nonsense. But this was Su Min. Her name was already synonymous with the impossible.
So he hurriedly left, his steps rushed.
Su Min, meanwhile, calmly sipped her tea, the picture of ease. Xie Yingying remained a silent, powerful statue at her back.
About ten minutes later, a somewhat unexpected figure arrived, his arrival stirring the air in the room. It was Han Shuangzi, the first opponent she had faced in the grand tournament. He looked at her with a new, profound respect.
"Miss Su, I wonder if you…"
The moment Han Shuangzi saw Su Min, he did not waste words. He had rushed over using a teleportation array, expending a massive amount of spiritual stones and resources without a second thought.
After all, this was the Dao Comprehension Pill, a treasure that could give a half-step Dao Comprehension expert at least a 50% chance of breaking through to the true Dao Comprehension stage. The allure of such a thing was terrifying. It was the dream of every sect leader.
Even he had to be cautious. The Frostveil Pavilion might not even be able to protect such a treasure once word got out. Worse, they might face attacks from the fallen ones, as this pill was incredibly tempting to them as well.
Thus, as the current strongest expert of the Frostveil Pavilion, he had to personally oversee this.
But before he could finish speaking, his words froze in his throat.
Because hovering in Su Min's palm was a perfectly round pill, its surface shimmering with a soft, internal light and etched with natural, profound patterns.
"Gulp…"
In that instant, he swallowed his words, his entire attention captured by the pill.
That was the Dao Comprehension Pill, the very thing he had dreamed of, something that even pawning off his entire sect might not be enough to obtain. If he took this, there was a high chance he would become the first Dao Comprehension-stage expert in his sect's history. In these chaotic times, that would grant them true self-preservation, a shield against the coming storms.
"An alchemist's rules cannot be forgotten."
Looking at him, Su Min smiled like a cunning little fox that had just found its way into the henhouse.
Han Shuangzi's expression instantly became very interesting, a mixture of understanding, resignation, and a touch of helpless amusement.
A single Dao Comprehension Pill was worth slightly less than the Netherfrost Soul Crystal on the open market. But the problem was, they had already received other benefits from Su Min before. The agreement had been that they provided the materials, and Su Min would refine the pill, without charging any extra fees.
But now, judging by her expression, she was here to swindle their materials. She wanted the ingredients as her payment, on top of fulfilling the deal.
Still, the agreement was the agreement. He could not say much. The value of the pill in his hand far outweighed the cost of the ingredients.
"Ahem… We did not expect Master Su to refine it so quickly. At the moment, we have only gathered less than two sets of materials. Some of the herbs are still being collected from the ends of the earth."
Of course, robbery was out of the question. Even ignoring Su Min's own strange and formidable strength, she had a Dao Comprehension-stage expert backing her, standing right there. If he dared to act, he would be seeking death. It was not a risk he would ever take.
"Bring them all. I blew up quite a few batches refining this thing," Su Min waved her hand dismissively, as if speaking of a minor inconvenience and not the catastrophic loss of priceless spiritual herbs.
Han Shuangzi was straightforward. He knew now was not the time to haggle over "small" losses. The prize was too great.
So he quickly handed her a storage ring. After a quick glance inside with her spiritual sense, Su Min nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave without another word, Xie Yingying falling in step beside her.
"What is the plan now?"
Once they left Ice Peak City and were soaring through the clouds, Xie Yingying asked. She had no interest in the Dao Comprehension Pill, it was useless to her. And she did not think Su Min would lack such a thing for herself. Judging by the materials Han Shuangzi had provided, there were probably enough for another batch.
So it was not an issue. Her concern was for what came next.
"Settling scores with the Future Maitreya Mountain. They are nothing but trouble."
As she spoke, a trace of cold killing intent flashed in Su Min's eyes. Putting aside the fact that they had repeatedly targeted her, the bigger issue was the future she knew they would create. They would eventually betray the other Buddhist sects, leading to a devastating internal collapse that would weaken the entire human resistance.
For both personal and public reasons, Su Min intended to wipe them out. Originally, she had planned to wait until she reached the Dao Comprehension stage herself. But now, it seemed unnecessary to wait, better to act before things got worse and their betrayal could take root.
"Those monks are dangerous."
Xie Yingying could not help but remind her, a note of protective worry in her voice.
"It is enough. Their strongest expert was the one I just killed. The rest are just Divine Transformation-stage cultivators, nothing to fear. Besides, this time, I plan to gather at least five Dao Comprehension-stage experts before making a move."
"Five?!"
Xie Yingying sucked in a cold breath, her eyes widening slightly. In the past, during the height of the cultivation world, such a lineup would not have been anything special. But in the current era, it was enough to make any sect tremble and shake the foundations of any power.
Where would Su Min find so many Dao Comprehension-stage experts? They were legends, rarely seen in the world.
"You, the little Golden Crow, the Dragon Emperor, and the two super sects can also act. Now that I am a seventh-grade alchemist, the price I offer will be something they cannot refuse."
Su Min's expression turned solemn. She was determined to make this a decisive, overwhelming strike. She and the Future Maitreya Mountain's feud was already well-known in certain circles. From their clashes during the Grand Dharma Assembly to their collusion with the Black Serpent to kill her, it had all caused quite a stir.
Xie Yingying just did not know the full extent of it yet.
If she did, if she ever discovered that Su Min, still only at the Nascent Soul stage back then, had been hunted by two Divine Transformation cultivators, a half-step Dao Comprehension elder, and a full Dao Comprehension powerhouse known as the Black Serpent…
She would not have stayed silent. She would have burned with a cold, quiet fury, and asked why Su Min had not told her.
Not out of blind anger. But because the thought of Su Min being outnumbered, outmatched, and bleeding beneath a storm of attacks she had no business surviving, it would have shredded her composure. Piece by piece.
Xie Yingying might not voice it often, but she was possessive in her care. Su Min was not just an ally to her. She was… someone who made the world less cruel, a point of light in her life.
If she knew the extent of what Su Min had suffered alone, ambushed by those far stronger than her, standing unshaken beneath pressure that would have crippled lesser cultivators, she would never accept being left in the dark again.
Xie Yingying did not know what realm the Azure Dragon and the Peacock King had reached. Su Min estimated they were likely at late-stage Divine Transformation or half-step Dao Comprehension.
Breaking through to the true Dao Comprehension stage was only a matter of time for them. So they could guard the perimeter, ensuring no one escaped the net she was casting.
"Hiss…"
Xie Yingying took a deep breath, steadying herself. The scale of the plan was immense.
With Su Min's current status as a seventh-grade alchemist, the two super sects would not refuse her offer. After all, they had been the ones to lead the previous Buddhist purge, and they held deep, historical grudges against all three major Buddhist sects.
Moreover, those sects had incredibly powerful experts lurking in seclusion, some even had multiple Dao Comprehension-stage cultivators.
The reason those two were called "super sects" was that their techniques had been passed down from ancient times, complete with their own inheritable Dao laws. Their foundations were unimaginably deep.
Very few powers could pass down their own Dao laws. Even those at the Ascension stage might not manage it. Only true immortals could do so, meaning those two sects had immortal legacies.
Su Min's own sect was the same, as they possessed the complete Golden Crow inheritance. Thus, the two quickly returned to the Eastern Mulberry State, the heart of her power.
Soon, two secret letters were sent out by Su Min, directly to the leaders of the two super sects. If she was going to act, she would not announce it to the world. Secrecy was her greatest weapon now.
And as for "wiping them out," Su Min did not plan to slaughter every living being in that state. At most, she would shatter Future Maitreya Mountain's barriers, lead a team in, and forcibly end their leadership and core disciples.
As for the remaining believers?
They could convert, to the Great Thunder Temple, the Ancient Lamp Monastery, or any other orthodox branch.
Anything but Future Maitreya Mountain.
That would minimize resistance and prevent a pointless massacre.
"Stay here and guard the Eastern Mulberry State. If the Dao Comprehension-stage experts from those two sects arrive, receive them first. I need to go to the Dragon Clan's ancestral land, only I can enter. You cannot."
Since she was acting, she had to move swiftly and decisively, crushing them before they even knew what was coming. So Su Min wasted no time, leaving Xie Yingying to hold the fort while she plunged into the vast, unknown ocean.
The Dragon Clan's territory was quite far, a journey across deep seas, but for her, it was not a problem. However, their domain was protected by powerful, ancient water formations. Carelessly intruding would tear an invader to shreds, regardless of their cultivation.
But Su Min had two key advantages. First, she possessed the Dragon Empress's own blood essence, a part of their lineage. Second, before leaving, the Dragon Empress had given her a token, allowing her to return for visits.
Su Min had checked the token carefully, it could only cover one person.
Meaning only she could enter.
So Xie Yingying had to stay behind.
Soon, Su Min arrived at the abyssal depths, where the sunlight could not reach and the pressure was crushing.
In her past life, this would have been an absolute death zone. No human submersible could reach this depth. Even someone of her current cultivation could feel the immense, watery weight pressing in on her from all sides.
But it lasted less than a second.
Her special physique, the one that granted her immortality, and the Northern Water's Profound Origin within her activated instinctively, forming a gentle barrier that allowed her to move freely through the ocean as if she were born to it.
"It should be around here. The dragons really do live in seclusion, completely detached from the world."
Holding the token, Su Min searched the ocean floor, her spiritual sense probing the dark, silent landscape.
Like the little Golden Crow, the old Dragon Emperor had left behind all his preparations before his death. Thus, the Dragon Clan's protective formation was incredibly well-hidden, woven into the very fabric of the sea itself. Without the token acting as a key and a guide, Su Min would not have been able to find it even if she searched for a hundred years.
After all, she was not the Monkey King from the old stories, she could not just stir the tides with a single strike of her staff and demand their presence.
But soon…
"ROAR…!"
A deafening dragon's roar exploded beside her ears, a sound that vibrated through the water and into her very bones.
A colossal, crimson scaled divine dragon surged out from the darkness of a trench, its body shrinking rapidly as it approached until it took the form of a young man in his twenties, with sharp features and eyes that held the depth of the ocean.
"Who goes there? I am Ao Chi, one of the Dragon Clan's Five Dragon Kings!"
The dragon stared at Su Min warily, his power radiating around him like a pressure field.
Though the Dragon Clan had no reason to fear a mere Divine Transformation-stage cultivator, the fact that she had found this place was unusual. It should have been impossible.
Moreover, despite being at the Divine Transformation stage, even he, a half-step Dao Comprehension expert, could sense a faint, disquieting trace of danger from her. It was an instinct, a whisper that this visitor was not to be underestimated.
This was no ordinary visitor.
As one of the Five Dragon Kings, he had come to investigate personally.
"I am here to see Ao Xue. We have matters to discuss."
Su Min did not bother with formalities or explanations. She simply tossed the token over to him.
"Ah, you seek the Dragon Emperor. Then, please follow me."
Seeing the token, the dragon's expression softened from suspicion to a guarded respect. He bowed slightly, a gesture of acknowledgment to one who carried their ruler's favor, before turning to lead her inside, the water parting before him to reveal a hidden path.
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Flash Update. Please read chapter "AttentionPlease!!!" on the Auxiliary Volume after the chapter "Pictures", I write something important in there. Thanks for the attention__