Looking at his stubborn ancestor, the Holy Son of the Ancient Mansion Holy City couldn't help but feel helpless.
Their sect had become a laughingstock. Back then, they had such a golden opportunity—if they had rushed in to aid Su Min from the beginning, it would have been like sending charcoal in snowy weather. A few fifth-rank pills and shares of the Blood Puppet Sect's assets would have been trivial matters.
But thanks to the shortsightedness of their two ancestors, they had turned themselves into fools who tried to profit from others' conflicts, offending both sides in the process.
Now, they were a joke. Every time the Holy Son went out, he was mocked. He was sure that those laughing at him would have acted no differently in his position. No one had the right to judge—after all, not getting stabbed in the back was already the best outcome.
Leaving aside the Ancient Mansion Holy City's regrets, the flames in Su Min's cauldron slowly dimmed. A perfectly round pill hovered above it—the Spirit Transformation Pill she needed.
"Finally done. Now, I still need to refine the Water-Avoiding Pill."
Staring at the Spirit Transformation Pill, Su Min fell into thought.
[Water-Avoiding Pill (Fifth-rank High-grade)]
Effect: Nullifies all water-based attacks and environmental hazards.
This was the highest-grade pill she could currently refine. Since she was venturing into the Weak Water, she needed to prepare as thoroughly as she had for the Lunar Yin Secret Realm.
"The material requirements aren't too high. I can mass-produce these."
Glancing at the recipe, Su Min began organizing her herbs. With the Medicine King's Cauldron in hand, she could cultivate ingredients rapidly. This Primordial Spiritual Treasure had no combat capabilities, but its auxiliary benefits were immense.
"Grand Elder, the Holy Son of the Ancient Mansion Holy City and a late-stage Divine Transformation cultivator request an audience."
Just as Su Min was deep in thought, Tian Yinzi's voice came from outside.
"A Divine Transformation cultivator? What pill do they want?"
She wasn't surprised. As a sixth-rank alchemist, she had that kind of pull.
"I'm in seclusion refining pills. Tell them to submit their request."
"Grand Elder, there's something you might find more interesting than pills. Would you like to hear it?"
"What is it?"
"They seem to have encountered one of those fallen ones you've been wary of. That person originally planned to ambush the Ancient Mansion's spiritual vein mines, but the late-stage Divine Transformation cultivator intervened. They fought fiercely, and both sides were severely injured. Now, that elder's soul is damaged, so they're specifically seeking the pill you refined at the Water-Land Dharma Assembly."
"Oh?"
Su Min's eyes narrowed slightly. She hadn't expected those fallen ones to appear so soon. Of course, most people wouldn't know about them—this was the first time in history that spiritual energy had declined so drastically. Many had no idea what the fallen ones even were.
But this was a sign.
The Age of Dark Blood was approaching. And that was just the beginning—the Era of Despair (The Great Struggle of Ages) would follow, far more terrifying.
"Give them this pill. Since they fought against those people, don't overcharge them. And don't disturb me for a while."
"Understood."
Tian Yinzi nodded. However, when the pill flew into his hand, his fingers trembled slightly. This was a sixth-rank pill—he had never handled something of such high grade before.
The chamber fell silent again as Su Min focused on refining specialized pills. The Weak Water was no joke—without thorough preparation, even her mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation wouldn't guarantee safety.
As for social niceties? That was Tian Yinzi's job.
As the only publicly acknowledged sixth-rank alchemist, she had every right to be aloof. As expected, the late-stage Spirit Transformation elder from the Ancient Mansion Holy City didn't take offense at Su Min's refusal to meet. Instead, he was overjoyed when he received the pill, thanking her profusely before leaving.
Tian Yinzi's pricing had even pleasantly surprised him.
Meanwhile, in the Future Maitreya Mountain...
What should have been a world bathed in Buddhist light was instead filled with eerie radiance and crimson threads. This place resembled not a paradise but a den of demons. This was the core of the Future Maitreya Mountain—Maitreya's Mountain of Joy.
"Senior Brother, have the divination results come through?"
Liao Jie, who had been forced to retreat by Kong Hui, asked with a grim expression. The recent Water-Land Dharma Assembly had been nothing short of humiliating. His disciples had been slaughtered, and the Great Thunder Temple had suppressed the matter effortlessly.
Now, with Su Min reaching the sixth-rank alchemy realm, she had the influence to rally numerous Spirit Transformation experts. The Future Bliss Mountain didn't dare attack her East Mulberry Province directly. So, they resorted to their old tricks—using their future-observing abilities to find the perfect opportunity.
"We have only one chance. Her Five Elements Holy Body currently has only two Heavenly Treasures. If she obtains a third, even if you or I personally intervene, killing her will be nearly impossible."
"How is that possible?!"
"She is the Five Elements Holy Body. Her future is intertwined with great forces. Observing her requires bearing terrifying consequences. Right now, I can only see one opportunity."
"One opportunity?"
Liao Jie's expression darkened.
"The Source of Weak Water is our only chance. Take the Three Great Elders with you and ensure she dies there."
The old monk's face twisted into a snarl. To them, Su Min was a calamity. Since they had already offended her to this extent, there was no turning back.
"Fine. I'll set out immediately."
"No."
"Huh?"
"When the Weak Water manifests, she will undoubtedly have strong escorts. If we attack openly, we risk being surrounded. Moreover, with her methods, escaping wouldn't be difficult. And even if we kill her, the fallout would be severe. The only way to minimize damage is to eliminate her inside the Weak Water."
"Inside the Weak Water?!"
Liao Jie's lips twitched involuntarily. He wasn't afraid of the Weak Water, but it was far from a pleasant place.
And if they were going there, they couldn't bring too many people. Even Spirit Transformation experts couldn't enter recklessly—only those like him, who were at the late-stage Spirit Transformation and half-stepping into the Enlightenment stage, or those who specialized in water-based techniques, could survive.
Since their Buddhist sect didn't focus on elemental cultivation, they were severely lacking in suitable candidates. After some thought, Liao Jie could only think of two or three people who fit the criteria.
"This time, you might have mysterious allies."
The old monk's lips curled into a cryptic smile.
"What?"
"The Buddha's decree: What cannot be spoken, shall not be spoken..."
"Tch."
Soon, the hall fell silent again. Liao Jie turned and left to gather his forces. His senior brother, who had spent years divining the future, was burdened with too much karmic backlash. He couldn't leave this hall, which shielded him from the Heavenly Dao's gaze.
So, Liao Jie would have to act alone. This time, he had to kill Su Min. Her existence was too dangerous. She had already defeated the ancient Yao Xian'er—who knew what other hidden cards she held?
If left unchecked, once she reached the Spirit Transformation stage, even he might not be her match. After all, he still didn't understand how she had killed that early-stage Spirit Transformation expert without a scratch.
And more importantly—ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators were like toys in her hands. His disciples had all fallen within a few moves. Someone like this had to be dealt with personally.
Since the Weak Water undoubtedly contained something she desperately needed, this was their only chance.
"Sigh..."
Even Liao Jie felt a headache coming on. An inexplicable sense of unease gnawed at him.
Time flew like a fleeting steed.
When Su Min finally pushed open the chamber doors, she had prepared over twenty Water-Avoiding Pills. She had also taken the opportunity to forge a special magical tool.
[Azure Wood Water Barrier (High-grade Earth Tier)]
Effect: Utilizes the power of divine wood to resist water-based effects.
With the Medicine King's Cauldron, Su Min no longer lacked materials. Combined with the sect's stockpiles, refining pills had become incredibly efficient. And as a sixth-rank alchemist, she had no trouble with mass production.
"This old man, Zhu Xin, pays his respects to Lady Su."
Su Min regarded the elder before her with courtesy. His cultivation wasn't low—mid-stage Divine Transformation.
He was now a sect elder.
Zhu Xin was a rare causal cultivator who had joined Su Min's sect after hearing of her reputation. If he had come alone, she might have been wary. But since he had brought his entire family, disciples, and wealth, she was more at ease.
Not that she was completely trusting—after all, the little Golden Crow could always step in if needed. Her cultivation had already reached mid-stage Divine Transformation. If Zhu Xin dared to act out, she could kill him on the spot.
The price for recruiting him had been simple: One Divine Transformation Pill; One Nascent Soul Pill.
Though he didn't need them himself, he had sealed himself and his most talented son before the Great Cataclysm. Now, his son was only at the Golden Core stage, but Zhu Xin was already paving the way for his future. Joining a sect was necessary, and Su Min's faction was newly established, short on manpower, and led by a sixth-rank alchemist.
He had turned down many offers to join her. Of course, Su Min had handed over the Nascent Soul Pill immediately. The Divine Transformation Pill would have to wait—she only had one, reserved for herself.
But Zhu Xin wasn't worried. Su Min's reputation was impeccable. In the Golden Core Avenue, many privately grumbled about her being a ruthless profiteer, but given the chance, they would still seek her out for alchemy.
The reason was simple: No matter what pill it was, Su Min could refine it within three attempts.
She never left her clients empty-handed. Other alchemists, now that the world's restrictions had loosened, had finally reached the fourth-rank. But their success rates?
Four or five cauldron explosions per pill. Compared to Su Min, the difference was night and day. Even if her prices were higher, people still flocked to her. After all, she wouldn't burn through all three sets of materials and return nothing. Some even joked that she probably refined the pill in one go and pocketed the remaining materials.
But that was unfair to Su Min. For unfamiliar pills, she did sometimes blow up the first cauldron. But the second attempt usually succeeded. She only took one set of materials as payment, rarely needing all three.
"Elder Zhu, while I'm away, I'll need you to oversee the sect."
Su Min smiled at the Spirit Transformation elder. Tian Yinzi had already conducted a background check—everything seemed clean.
"No problem!"
Zhu Xin thumped his chest in assurance. Though the recruitment terms had been a Nascent Soul Pill and a Divine Transformation Pill, if he performed well, securing more pills from Su Min wouldn't be an issue.
Naturally, he was eager to prove himself. Besides, with the little Golden Crow guarding the sect, even if he wanted to cause trouble, he wouldn't stand a chance. Against an ordinary Golden Crow, he might have survived.
But a Golden Crow Emperor?
Might as well roll over and sleep.
Just look at the Blood Puppet Sect—they had even used their hidden trump cards, yet they were still utterly crushed.
"Mm."
Su Min nodded indifferently at Zhu Xin's enthusiasm. Over this period, they had recruited three Nascent Soul cultivators and this Divine Transformation elder. There had been many more who wanted to join, but most were unreliable and were rejected. Those who failed were bitterly disappointed. After all, they had been ready to become Su Min's loyal dogs.
Who knew that even dogs had to compete for the job?
Only a select few made the cut. And those who joined didn't dare act arrogantly—they were here to cling to a powerful thigh. Some even knew that besides Su Min, the Five Elements Holy Body, the sect also housed the Lunar Sovereign Body, who had ranked in the top five of the Heavenly Rankings.
The future prospects were limitless.
"It's time to prepare for the Weak Water. No matter what, I must obtain the Northern Water's Profound Origin."
After dismissing Zhu Xin, Su Min gazed at the Black Tortoise Token in her hand.
"And perhaps... my breakthrough to the Divine Transformation stage lies there as well."