"Ah—"
As a pill entered her stomach, Su Min felt its energy coursing through her limbs and bones. In an instant, the once-sturdy seal shattered completely. Clearly, that monk had not had good intentions.
If Su Min hadn't received that special gift, she would have suffered greatly.
But soon, the Four Symbols Holy Manifestation and the faint traces of Taiyang Qi—previously sealed and unusable—were fully reactivated. Everything was back.
"Now, all that's left is the Dao Comprehension Pill. Once it's refined, I'll settle the deal."
Feeling the complete release of the seal within her, Su Min let out a quiet sigh of relief. For an ordinary cultivator—let alone someone at the Divine Transformation stage—even a Dao Comprehension-stage expert would have been tormented endlessly by such a seal.
After dealing with this matter, Su Min took out the materials for the Dao Comprehension Pill. Thanks to her previous refining experience, her success rate was now very high.
Unfortunately, seventh-grade pills could only be refined one at a time—there was no way to produce two or three in a single batch.
Perhaps when she could refine eighth-grade pills, that would be possible. But for now, it was out of the question.
So, a week later…
"One batch still blew up, 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. 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. If she didn't squeeze something extra out of them, she'd write her name backward.
"You're out. No one noticed us this time."
As Su Min stepped out of the secluded chamber, Xie Yingying added from the side. Both of them had disguised themselves slightly, so no one recognized them. They just looked like two female cultivators at the Golden Core stage traveling together—uncommon, but not unusual in the current environment.
Thus, no one bothered them. Now that Su Min had fully recovered from her injuries and broken the seal, everything was settled.
"Let's go to the Frostveil Pavilion. I bought an Netherfrost Soul Crystal from them before. It's 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. In truth, the Netherfrost Soul Crystal had been somewhat wasted on her. It contained a trace of the Frost Dao, 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.
But for her, it had just been a source of energy for her breakthrough. Not that she regretted it—if she hadn't reached the mid-stage Divine Transformation, the previous battles would have been disastrous.
A few minutes later, at 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, but his body trembled slightly when his eyes fell on Xie Yingying, who stood silently behind Su Min with her eyes closed.
She wasn't hiding her aura.
The overwhelming pressure of a Dao Comprehension-stage cultivator faintly radiated from her, causing 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.
"Don't mind her. I'm here to trade the Dao Comprehension Pill as agreed."
Su Min's next words made the auctioneer's expression twitch. 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.
"Miss Su… you can really refine it?"
"Yes."
"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.
So he hurriedly left.
Su Min, meanwhile, calmly sipped her tea.
About ten minutes later, a somewhat unexpected figure arrived—Han Shuangzi, the first opponent she had faced in the grand tournament.
"Miss Su, I wonder if you—"
The moment Han Shuangzi saw Su Min, he didn't waste words. He had rushed over using a teleportation array, expending a massive amount of resources.
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.
Even he had to be cautious. The Frostveil Pavilion might not even be able to protect such a treasure. 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.
"Gulp—"
In that instant, he swallowed his words.
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.
"An alchemist's rules cannot be forgotten."
Looking at him, Su Min smiled like a cunning little fox.
Han Shuangzi's expression instantly became very interesting.
A single Dao Comprehension Pill was worth slightly less than the Netherfrost Soul Crystal. 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 fees.
But now, judging by her expression, she was here to swindle their materials.
Still, the agreement was the agreement. He couldn't say much.
"Ahem… We didn't expect Master Su to refine it so quickly. At the moment, we've only gathered less than two sets of materials. Some of the herbs are still being collected."
Of course, robbery was out of the question. Even ignoring Su Min's strength, she had a Dao Comprehension-stage expert backing her. If he dared to act, he'd be seeking death.
"Bring them all. I blew up quite a few batches refining this thing."
Su Min waved her hand dismissively.
Han Shuangzi was straightforward—he knew now wasn't the time to haggle over "small" losses.
So he quickly handed her a storage ring. After a quick glance, Su Min nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave.
"What's the plan now?"
Once they left Ice Peak City, Xie Yingying asked. She had no interest in the Dao Comprehension Pill—it was useless to her. And she didn't think Su Min would lack such a thing. Judging by the materials, there were probably enough for another batch.
So it wasn't an issue.
"Settling scores with the Future Maitreya Mountain. They're nothing but trouble."
As she spoke, a trace of killing intent flashed in Su Min's eyes. Putting aside the fact that they had repeatedly targeted her, the bigger issue was that they would eventually betray the Buddhist sects, leading to their internal collapse.
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. But now, it seemed unnecessary—better to act before things got worse.
"Those monks are dangerous."
Xie Yingying couldn't help but remind her.
"It's 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. In the past, such a lineup wouldn't have been anything special. But in the current era, it was enough to make any sect tremble.
Where would Su Min find so many Dao Comprehension-stage experts?
"You, the little Golden Crow, the Dragon Empress, and the two super sects can also act. Now that I'm a seventh-grade alchemist, the price I offer will be something they can't refuse."
Su Min's expression turned solemn. She was determined to make this a decisive strike. She and the Future Maitreya Mountain's feud was already well-known. 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 didn't know about 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 fury, and asked why Su Min hadn't told her.
Not out of blind anger. But because the thought of Su Min being outnumbered, outmatched, and bleeding beneath a storm of blades 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 wasn't just an ally to her. She was… someone who made the world less cruel.
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've crippled lesser cultivators—she would never accept being left in the dark again.
Xie Yingying didn't 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. So they could guard the perimeter.
"Hiss—"
Xie Yingying took a deep breath.
With Su Min's current status as a seventh-grade alchemist, the two super sects wouldn't refuse her offer. After all, they had been the ones to lead the previous Buddhist purge, and they had grudges against all three Buddhist sects.
Moreover, those sects had incredibly powerful experts—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.
Very few 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.
Soon, two secret letters were sent out by Su Min—directly to the two super sects. If she was going to act, she wouldn't announce it to the world.
And as for "wiping them out," Su Min didn't 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 them.
As for the remaining believers?
They could convert—to the Great Thunder Temple, the Ancient Lamp Monastery, or any other branch.
Anything but Future Maitreya Mountain.
That would minimize resistance.
"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 can't."
Since she was acting, she had to move swiftly and decisively, crushing them before returning. So Su Min wasted no time, leaving Xie Yingying to hold the fort while she plunged into the ocean.
The Dragon Clan's territory was quite far, but for her, it wasn't a problem. However, their domain was protected by powerful water formations. Carelessly intruding would tear an invader to shreds.
But Su Min had two advantages: First, she possessed the Dragon Empress's blood essence; Second, before leaving, the Dragon Empress had given her a token, allowing her to return for visits.
Su Min had checked—the token 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.
In her past life, this would have been an absolute death zone. No human submersible could reach this depth. Even someone like her could feel immense pressure.
But it lasted less than a second.
Her special physique and the Northern Water's Profound Origin within her activated, allowing her to move freely through the ocean.
"It should be around here. The dragons really do live in seclusion, completely detached from the world."
Holding the token, Su Ming searched the ocean floor.
Like the little Golden Crow, the old Dragon Emperor had left behind all his preparations before his death. Thus, the Dragon Clan's formation was incredibly well-hidden. Without the token, Su Min wouldn't have been able to find it.
After all, she wasn't the Monkey King—she couldn't just stir the tides with a single strike of her staff.
But soon…
"ROAR—!"
A deafening dragon's roar exploded beside her ears.
A crimson-scaled divine dragon surged out from the darkness, shrinking rapidly into the form of a young man in his twenties.
"Who goes there? I am Ao Chi, one of the Dragon Clan's Five Dragon Kings!"
The dragon stared at Su Min warily.
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.
Moreover, despite being at the Divine Transformation stage, even he—a half-step Dao Comprehension expert—could sense a faint trace of danger from her.
This was no ordinary visitor.
As one of the Five Dragon Kings, he had come to investigate personally.
"I'm here to see Ao Xue. We have matters to discuss."
Su Min didn't bother with formalities, tossing the token over.
"Ah, you seek the Dragon Empress. Then, please follow me."
Seeing the token, the dragon's expression softened. He bowed slightly before leading her inside.
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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__