[Glazed Ice Azure Armor (Yellow Tier, Mid-Grade): A specially forged armor tempered by extreme heat.]
Su Min's fingers trailed along the armor's cool, smooth edge, feeling the bite of the temperature against her skin. The surface looked like the surface of a frozen mountain lake, translucent and pale, yet it hummed with a deep, latent warmth that vibrated through her fingertips. It was the residual echo of the Nanming Lihuo.
"Still carrying a trace of sentience," she muttered to herself. She felt the subtle pulse of the metal, a rhythmic throb that matched her own heartbeat. "It should reshape itself to fit the wearer. A self-measuring suit of armor... how convenient."
The armor floated quietly before her, its various pieces suspended in the still air of the room. A faint, azure mist clung to the joints. She had already inscribed her soul imprint upon it, binding the essence of the Azure Armor to her will. Only she could wear it now. And if someone was powerful enough to forcibly erase that imprint? Well, against an opponent like that, whether she wore armor or not would hardly make a difference.
At her mental command, the armor disassembled. The pieces swirled around her like a flock of living, azure scales, glinting under the soft light of the chamber. In the blink of an eye, they settled against her body, clicking into place with a soft, final sound that echoed off the stone walls. The fit was perfect, the material molding to her curves with the precision of a second skin.
She turned to look in the tall bronze mirror in the corner. A striking, heroic figure stared back from the glass, clad in radiant, glazed azure armor. It was form-fitting and elegant, the polished surface reflecting the flickering candlelight, yet it promised formidable protection for any coming conflict.
"This feels amazing." A genuine smile touched her lips as she admired her reflection, turning her shoulders to test the range of motion. "With this armor assisting me, my defense could even rival the Arhat's Golden Body."
The thought was deeply satisfying. Normally, her loose, flowing robes hid her form from view, masking her presence and making her appear almost frail. But this tight-fitting armor revealed a supermodel's physique, all sleek lines and powerful grace.
Knock, knock.
The sound at the door broke her reverie. With a flick of her mind, the armor dissolved into tiny motes of azure light and flowed back into the storage ring on her finger. Even though she was a Qi Refining cultivator, walking around in full battle armor within a prince's estate was a sure way to cause unnecessary alarm among the locals. She waved her sleeve lightly. A pulse of spiritual energy pushed the heavy doors open with a soft, heavy thud.
"Ugh..."
The young prince standing at the threshold grunted low in his throat. For a split second, it felt as if a mountain of invisible pressure had descended upon him, making his breath hitch and his knees tremble. They were both in the Qi Refining stage, but the gap between their foundations was a chasm. The air in the room was still uncomfortably warm, smelling of ozone and molten ore.
"What is it?" Su Min asked, her tone cool and level.
Before he could fully regain his composure, a faint, clean fragrance drifted past his nose. She was suddenly standing right before him, her close presence forcing him to lower his gaze instinctively to the floor.
"So, you are Prince Yong's little cub," she said. Her voice was casual, almost indifferent. "You have been in the Qi Refining stage for a while now. How does it feel?"
Technically, she wasn't wrong to address him that way. Her father had once worked alongside the boy's grandfather. That made her and the current Prince Yong peers. Calling this boy "little cub" was her right.
The strong make the rules, and that single, non-hostile pulse of spiritual energy had just taught him the true meaning of disparity.
"We have gathered materials over the past month," he said, finally composing himself and straightening his back. "It expended significant manpower and resources. The temperature in your room was just too high to approach until now. I have brought people to deliver them to you."
"Oh?"
Su Min glanced past him. Dozens of servants stood in neat formation in the hallway, their heads bowed. Each held a tray bearing an exquisitely crafted wooden box.
"Good."
She could sense the faint medicinal aura emanating from the containers, the scent of dried roots and bitter herbs. She allowed herself a small smile. This was exactly what she needed. Acquiring such a collection in so short a time wasn't just a matter of money. It must have involved political favors, underground dealings, and likely a fair amount of coercion.
But since they had delivered, she would uphold her end of the bargain. With a flick of her wrist, a small porcelain vial flew through the air and landed neatly in the prince's palm. He gripped the cool ceramic tightly. He understood the weight of the gesture immediately. His father had sent him, the strongest in the family, to collect the pills personally. Failure was not an option.
"This is—!" he stammered.
He uncorked the vial, and his eyes went wide. Five Qi Induction Pills rested within, their surfaces smooth and glowing with a faint, pearlescent light. Each one was capable of creating a Qi Refining cultivator. As someone who had recently broken through, he understood their value better than anyone. Five pills meant five potential powerhouses, or five factions desperate enough to sell their loyalty for a single one. The staggering cost of the materials suddenly felt worth it.
"A complete Foundation Establishment Pill recipe would have been harder to find," Su Min mused to herself, equally pleased with the trade. "Having a major faction's backing really is indispensable."
Collecting these ingredients alone would have taken her years of searching. Handing over these pills was no real loss to her.
"Tell your old man to keep up the good work," she said, her voice silky yet edged with a hint of danger. "As long as he continues providing the materials and information I need, I will reward him with a pill. One that can raise his cultivation by one level without any side effects."
Her words hung in the air like a devil's whisper. She saw the young prince's heart hammering in his chest, a visible pulse in his neck. Even for royalty, that kind of temptation was impossible to resist.
"Oh, and," Su Min added lazily, "your father sent you with another invitation, didn't he?"
"Y-yes," he admitted, bowing his head slightly. "My royal father humbly requests an audience with you to discuss certain matters. He has prepared a feast in your honor."
"Lead the way," Su Min replied, her mood clearly lifted. After a month of non-stop forging that had left her physically and mentally exhausted, the prospect of a good meal and some high-quality wine was far too appealing to refuse.
Prince Yong's Chambers
This time, the reception was far grander than before. The long table was laden with lavish dishes: spiced lamb roasted until the meat fell from the bone, platters of honey-glazed pastries, and bowls of chilled, translucent fruits. Gleaming goblets were filled with deep red grape wine that smelled of summer earth.
"Five Qi Induction Pills," Prince Yong murmured. He exhaled sharply as he contemplated the vial resting near his hand. "Five Qi Refining experts."
The implications were dawning on him, and his mind was racing with the possibilities, just as his son's had. With such a force, the balance of power in the northwest would shift irrevocably in his favor.
"Sometimes," Su Min said, leisurely pouring herself a full goblet of wine, "a single pill isn't enough. Depending on the individual, they might need a second one to break through. But if used properly, yes, you could create five cultivators."
She spoke casually, then downed the entire goblet in one smooth, practiced motion. The wine was cool and tart. Her bold and unrestrained demeanor would have put many seasoned generals to shame.
Prince Yong nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "I understand. My son also mentioned that you possess pills that can enhance a Qi Refining cultivator's power. But those—"
"Giving you one now would be pointless," Su Min interrupted smoothly. She set her goblet down with a soft click. "That pill isn't for breaking bottlenecks. It's an enhancer, and it can only be taken once. If your son uses it too early, its effect will be wasted. I would suggest he wait until he reaches at least mid-stage or late-stage Qi Refining."
"I see," Prince Yong said, his voice thoughtful as he watched the wine swirl in his own glass.
He didn't press the matter further. He knew that pills of that caliber were undoubtedly rare treasures, even for someone as formidable as Su Min.