"Ah, the Golden Core Avenue, I'm back! Hey, minions! You better not have died while I was gone!"
Stretching lazily, Su Min reveled in the rich spiritual energy of the Golden Core Avenue. Then, she pulled out a small bell. She hadn't forgotten her promise before entering the secret realm: One pill in exchange for one Earth-grade artifact.
What a steal.
After nearly thirty years, plenty of new secret realms must have appeared, which meant another wave of treasures waiting to be claimed.
"This woman…"
Xie Yingying rubbed her temples as she watched Su Min fiddle with a jade token. To help gather rare herbs, Su Min had recruited a small group of rogue cultivators, mostly to run errands while she focused on alchemy. With Xie Yingying watching over them, none dared to step out of line.
The jade token served as their communication link, though Su Min had kept it inactive during her seclusion. Sure enough, the moment she activated it, two women and a man hurried over. They were all survivors of the Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, the cannon fodder of the Golden Core Avenue. Most secret realms were beyond their reach, and Su Min never took them along.
Too weak to protect, too fragile to save.
At least none of her sect's juniors had foolishly entered the Avenue. If they had, she would have beaten them black and blue.
"Spread the word to all sects: I'm back. And besides Earth-grade artifacts, I can now refine high-tier Grade 4 pills."
Su Min grinned. Truthfully, she'd already been capable of high-tier Grade 4 alchemy for a while, but the ingredients were too scarce. Now that she had reached late Golden Core, she could try for Grade 5. That would demand an absurd amount of resources, though. Alchemy was profitable, but it devoured materials. Staying at one tier was easy money, but advancing required endless supplies. Su Min needed those resources now.
As for combat power?
She doubted anyone below the top-tier Holy Sons and Daughters could challenge her. With two divine materials, her advantage was overwhelming. But she still had to stay vigilant.
"Also, give me a summary of the last twenty years. Let's see how those so-called 'Tianjiao' are doing."
Originally, she hadn't cared about the Golden Core Heavenly Ranking, but now that she was joining the competition, intel mattered. Her reward for these lackeys would be a mid-to-low-tier Grade 4 pill of their choice. High-tier Grade 4 pills needed exceptionally rare herbs, and even in the Golden Core Avenue, those were impossible to find. For these Three-Nine Tribulation cultivators, the lowest rung of the Golden Core realm, a Grade 4 pill was already a life-changing treasure. Most of them would never form a Nascent Soul—their Golden Cores were simply too weak.
"Understood!"
The lackeys hastily handed over jade slips packed with information.
"Interesting. Not bad. Go handle the rest. Remember our deal. After the realms merge, your clans can join my sect. But finding Eastern Mulberry Land will be your responsibility."
"Yes!"
They knew their days of dominance were numbered once the realms merged, and they needed a backer. Su Min needed manpower to expand her sect, and these Golden Core cultivators were obedient enough and not strong enough to cause problems.
Back in Eastern Mulberry Land, the spirit beasts under the Little Golden Crow had grown intelligent. A wave of Golden Core beasts would soon emerge, ensuring no outsiders could take control. As for the human disciples, their talent had surged over the past century. By the time she returned, there would probably be several new Golden Core cultivators.
Whether any could survive the Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation was uncertain, but the Nine-Nine Tribulation? Almost impossible. Even the great sects only produced one such prodigy every few centuries.
"Let's review this together. The Golden Core Heavenly Ranking should be lively, though the actual participants might be fewer than expected."
Back in their decades-old cave abode (Su Min's former alchemy workshop), the two pored over the intel.
At first glance, it was surprisingly thorough.
Then—
"Huh? A Tianjiao Ranking?"
Su Min blinked. Some busybody had actually compiled a real-time updated ranking.
"Not bad. No wonder their intel's so detailed. And we're both in the top ten."
She skimmed the list—entertaining, but not gospel.
After all, it was based on reported feats. Anyone hiding their strength could blindside the rankings.
[Su Min – Rank 9]
-The only Grade 4 alchemist in the Golden Core Avenue.
-Possesses divine materials: Nanming Lihuo, Eastern Azure Wood.
-Physique: Rare Five Elements Sacred Body (incomplete).
Recorded Battles:
-1 vs. 3 at the Azure Dragon Legacy.
-Exchanged one palm strike with the Great Desolate Sacred Body.
[Overall Rating: 9th]
[Mystery Factor: High (High potential for unexpected combat prowess.)]
"Tsk tsk, 'high mystery factor'? You're quite the enigma."
Xie Yingying smirked. Both women had fought only a handful of times. Su Min spent most of her life refining pills, a vulnerable state in the chaotic Golden Core Avenue, which was why Xie Yingying stood guard for her.
"Don't laugh. Your rating's higher."
[Xie Yingying – Rank 4]
-Extremely rare, ancient, and terrifying Lunar Sovereign Physique.
Sole Recorded Feat:
-Held off dozens of Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation survivors alone at the Azure Dragon Secret Realm.
[Overall Rating: 4th]
[Mystery Factor: Extreme (Too little data; potential to contend for the top spot.)]
"Hmm."
Xie Yingying rubbed her nose. If Su Min fought sparingly, she fought even less. Mostly because she'd been stuck babysitting certain alchemist.
"The Great Desolate Sacred Body is second. And first place is… Yao Xian'er?"
Su Min's brows rose. Anyone capable of suppressing the Great Desolate Sacred Body had to be the real deal, no matter how unreliable the list might be. Just like the Olympics or the World Cup, no one remembers second place, but first is unforgettable.
[Yao Xian'er – Rank 1]
-A mysterious existence from the ancient Immortal Era—older than most sects.
-Rumored descendant of an immortal.
-Physique: Mortal Body (No special traits, yet inexplicably powerful.)
Recorded Feats:
-Defeated the Great Desolate Sacred Body in ten moves.
-Fought over a dozen sects to a standstill in a secret realm.
"This…"
Both women froze. They'd seen something similar before—the Little Golden Crow on the Fusang Divine Tree.
"Interesting…"
Su Min murmured but said no more. Outside, the Golden Core Avenue erupted into frenzy.
Every sect scrambled to liquidate their treasures—all for a chance to trade with Su Min.