In her mind's quiet stillness, the new knowledge settled, clear and undeniable.
[Four Symbols Heavenly Sun — Vermilion Bird: ① Obtained Nanming Lihuo ② Awaiting Comprehension]
Nanming Lihuo. This wasn't just a flame; it was the legendary Vermilion Bird's immortal inheritance. It was an ancient bloodline's legacy whose power had once blazed across the heavens to command fire's very essence.
Yet now, resting in Su Min's palm, it was nothing more than a single, flickering fire wisp. It appeared small and seemingly fragile, like a candle flame that a strong breath might extinguish.
[Nanming Lihuo: The Vermilion Clan's sacred flame. Enhances pill refining, artifact forging, and combat prowess. Its might increases alongside the bearer's cultivation.]
"A little flame," Su Min murmured. Her gaze remained fixed on the tiny ember floating above her hand. It was small, but she could feel the ferocious power sleeping within it—a latent heat far beyond any fire she could conjure with her own spiritual energy. She understood with chilling clarity that if the Vermilion Flame's full, unbridled force had tried to merge with her current, fragile cultivation base, it would have incinerated her to ash in an instant. The full inheritance was a vast knowledge tapestry, sealed behind many divine restriction layers. She would have to advance step by step to slowly unlock its secrets.
"Alright, since everything is settled, I will take my leave now," she announced. Her voice pulled the merchant from his thoughts. Her tone was flat, closing the conversation. "I will be going into deep seclusion, so don't bother looking for me."
"Understood, Miss Su," the man replied hastily. He bowed low, his forehead nearly touching his knees. He didn't dare to say more. Their families had a sliver of shared history, and he had already received strict orders from his lord to treat Su Min with the utmost respect and maintain a friendly alliance. He knew his master had once harbored more ambitious hopes, like making her a daughter-in-law, but that idea had been wisely abandoned as pure fantasy. Now, his only task was to nurture this partnership. As he watched her depart, he could only lower his head in silent acknowledgment, knowing he was in a force's presence he couldn't control.
Deep within the secluded mountains, far from any path, Su Min hung the familiar Seclusion Plaque at her cave's entrance. It was a clear and universally understood signal that she would receive no visitors. She intended to focus completely on digesting the treasures she had obtained to make them truly her own. Anyone who came looking, whether friend or foe, would find only an empty, silent cavern.
"With Nanming Lihuo's enhancement, my forging efficiency has skyrocketed."
The material compression work, which had once slowed to a frustrating crawl, now surged forward at an unbelievable pace. Among the immortal path's legendary Ten Divine Flames, Nanming Lihuo was renowned for its perfect balance and versatility. If one were to chart its abilities, it would form a perfect, symmetrical hexagon, excelling in every area without a single weakness.
Other flames might be stronger in one specific aspect, like pure destruction or intense heat, but they were always riddled with compromises elsewhere. For comprehensive strength, from alchemy's delicate art to weapon refinement's brutal craft, Nanming Lihuo was truly peerless. It was a master artisan's flame.
Just one week later, her work was complete.
Before Su Min floated a tiny tiger's head, no larger than her pinky finger's tip, hovering serenely within gentle, vermilion flames. This was the beast's essence. The creature had once been large enough to swallow her whole, but now, refined and purified by the sacred fire, it had been condensed into a simple, white bone ring. At the final moment, searing vermilion streaks burned themselves across its pale surface like divine tattoos, sealing the power within.
[Tiger Bone Ring (Fire Enchantment) (Yellow Grade, Mid-Tier): Unleashes a Tiger's Roar Shockwave. Enhanced by the Vermilion Fire, the shockwave can now burn an enemy's soul.]
"Nanming Lihuo is truly formidable," Su Min whispered. She was genuinely impressed. Not only had it elevated the ring's quality, pushing it solidly into the mid-tier, but it had also added a devastating soul-scorching effect to its mental attack.
She slipped the newly forged ring onto her finger. It felt cool and light against her skin.
Then she tested it.
ROAR—!
A thunderous tiger's roar, amplified and distorted by spiritual energy, erupted from the ring and shook the entire mountain range. The sound was a physical force. Nearby peaks trembled under the concussive pressure, and boulders broke loose, tumbling down slopes in small, dusty avalanches. Birds in flight fell from the sky, stunned, and forest creatures collapsed where they stood. Their minds and bodies were unable to withstand the shockwave.
"The effect is impressive," she admitted. Her lips twitched as she stared at the innocuous-looking ring. A casual activation in the wilderness had caused this much damage. If she unleashed this in a crowded city or a fortified castle, the casualties would be unthinkable. "But I should probably avoid using this in populated areas."
"The ring is done. Now, it's time to strengthen my Lifebound Spiritual Treasure."
The spiritual sword floating before her was far easier to refine. It was designed from the start to grow with its wielder, inherently resilient and adaptable. This enhancement process was simpler, as the sword's core nature allowed it to absorb and integrate materials through resource accumulation. Even a novice could enhance it by dumping in enough spirit ore and demon parts. Now, with Nanming Lihuo's perfect, intuitive control aiding her, the process became as smooth as flowing water. The flame guided the materials into the blade's matrix without resistance.
Within a month, a newly tempered sword embryo rested in her hand. Its surface gleamed with intricate new patterns that pulsed with a faint light. It felt heavier and denser with power.
[Flying Sword Embryo (Yellow Grade, Mid-Tier)]
At that moment, fresh insights flooded her mind. The final piece clicked into place as her weapon's connection deepened. It was an understanding that came not from study, but from feeling.
"So that's how it works," she breathed. "By binding my sword techniques directly with my lifebound weapon, my basic skill evolves."
"Sword Control Technique"
Her old skill, Minor Sword Control, had only three simple techniques: Slash, Thrust, and Fly. They were as straightforward as their names suggested. Now, after refining her weapon and achieving a deeper union with it, the skill had undergone a complete metamorphosis.
The Slash technique could now unleash sharp sword aura waves. These crescent-shaped projectiles of force vastly increased its power and range, allowing her to strike multiple foes at a distance.
The Thrust had transformed into a rapid advance maneuver. It was a burst of speed that allowed her to pierce through the air toward a target, the sword leading the way like a lightning bolt.
The final move, Fly, had unlocked true sword manipulation. This enabled her to summon multiple, illusory sword shadows that could autonomously strike at enemies from afar, harrying them from all directions.
"Haaah... finally," Su Min sighed. She stretched her arms over her head with a lazy, cat-like grace. A rare satisfaction's trace warmed her face, easing the usual sternness from her features. "I have finally reached the strength a player of my stage should have."
She felt the new power coursing through her, a comfortable and familiar weight in her spirit. But just as she began to relax into the feeling, she froze. A strange, powerful pulse rippled through the air—a vibration in the world's spiritual fabric. It was distant, more than ten kilometers away, but its unique energy signature was unmistakable. It was a calling card she had been waiting for. Without a second thought, she dashed out of her cave and looked toward the horizon, her eyes sharp.
There, atop a remote, jagged mountain peak, the sky was churning with dark, ominous clouds.
Then, it happened. A brilliant, golden light pillar lanced down from the heavens, piercing straight through the cloud cover. The radiance was so intense it could be seen for hundreds of miles. The strange, compelling energy it carried spread even farther. It was a silent, profound announcement that blanketed the Wei Empire's entire span, felt by every cultivator with a shred of sensitivity.
"It's finally happening…"
Su Min's heart hammered against her ribs as she stared at the unwavering golden light. A fierce excitement stirred her blood, burning away her momentary peace.
The Treasure Gourd was finally maturing.
According to her calculations, it would fully ripen in the next three months. This golden radiance was a divine sign, the Great Dao's Auspicious Light that heralded a heavenly treasure's descent. It was a phenomenon so grand that not even saints could hope to hide it. No ward, no array, and no spell could conceal this light. It was a declaration to the world.
The world was about to be thrown into chaos, a mad scramble for a power prize. And Su Min, standing alone on her mountain, couldn't help the grim, eager smile that spread across her face. The hunt was beginning. And she intended to be the hunter.