Did she win?
Looking at Su Min, who stood proudly in the center of the battlefield like a war goddess, many people could not believe their eyes.
Had she really won?
Even Su Min herself felt like she was dreaming, but the deep, wracking pain throughout her body was a clear and undeniable reminder that this was real.
"If this woman does not fall prematurely and continues to grow, she will undoubtedly become a powerhouse capable of suppressing an entire era. Perhaps she might even surpass the Great Emperors."
"Judging by her cultivation, she is already at the late Golden Core stage. Breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage is only a matter of time. Once she reaches Nascent Soul, how terrifying will her combat power become? It is unimaginable."
"Who knows? But reaching Nascent Soul is not that easy."
"But have you considered one thing? She can refine Nascent Soul Pills."
"Impossible! That is a fifth grade pill!"
"Look at the fourth grade pills she has refined, every single one is flawless. Even many fifth grade alchemists struggle with that. Add tomorrow's baptism and her possession of the Eastern Azure Wood, and she would have to try hard to fail in reaching Nascent Soul. Sigh..."
"..."
In an instant, whispers spread through the crowd as they discussed Su Min. Regardless of the outcome, once these people returned, her name would spread like wildfire across the world.
They all knew she had relied on various tricks and pills, but a win was still a win, and there was nothing more to say. Besides, if anyone had truly used underhanded means, it was the woman Su Min had defeated, with her ancient memories and severed cultivation.
However, no matter what others said, Su Min's figure soon disappeared from the battlefield.
"Hah… finally, victory."
Watching Yao Xian'er vanish, Su Min finally let out a sigh of relief. Then, her own figure faded from the arena, and the moment she reappeared outside, her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the ground.
"Pain… pain… pain…"
Now, Su Min truly understood what it meant to be wracked with pain.
Even with the Eastern Azure Wood and the Azure Dragon Creation Art protecting her, she was suffering immensely. Taking three powerful pills in quick succession had nearly torn her body apart. Without those divine treasures shielding her meridians, she would not have defeated Yao Xian'er. She would have exploded on the spot instead.
Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to stabilize her condition before taking out another pill and swallowing it. This one, however, was completely different from the previous three. It was a slow acting recovery pill with no side effects, meant to gently soothe her ravaged system.
"Hah… that is better."
After the pain dulled a little, she began focusing on recovery. Meanwhile, Xie Yingying watched her in a daze. Compared to herself, Su Min had endured far tougher battles, and none of her opponents had been weak. Now that the Golden Core Heavenly Rankings had concluded, the final reward ceremony would take place tomorrow.
Su Min needed to recover properly. Otherwise, showing up in a wheelchair would be far too ridiculous.
The Next Day – The Golden Core Heavenly Rankings Ceremony
All the victors had gathered in the arena, each enveloped in a special, protective energy. Anyone who dared attack now would lose their reward eligibility and possibly face additional punishment. So, safety was not a concern here. Though Su Min's weakened state was obvious, no one dared to make a move against her.
"Seems like you have recovered well."
At that moment, Yao Xian'er's teasing voice rang in her ears. The woman had changed into a pale yellow dress and was fluttering around Su Min like a butterfly, clearly trying to annoy her.
"What, are you trying to rub it in after I beat you? No need to flaunt your perfect condition in front of me."
Su Min, though not permanently injured, was still suffering from the backlash of the pills. While it would not damage her foundation or leave lasting scars, the pain was unbearable. So, she simply closed her eyes, crossed her legs, and ignored Yao Xian'er's antics. Clearly, this was the woman's petty revenge for being defeated.
At the same time, Su Min took out the five elemental flags. As her spiritual power surged, the flags began to glow faintly, drawing everyone's attention. As the champion, she was already the center of the crowd, and now all eyes were fixed on the shining flags.
And then.
"Holy shit, we got scammed!"
"Those flags were picked up in the secret realm and sold as junk! What were those idiots thinking, selling them cheap just because she was buying?"
"Damn it…"
Several people's expressions twisted in regret. They remembered these flags. They had found them in the secret realm without encountering any danger. Now, they all glared at the disciples who had handled the sales. If the Danxian had taken an interest in them, how could they be useless? Even if they still did not know what the flags actually did. Unfortunately, the disciples only looked back in confusion. They had no idea what had happened either.
"Dammit, this cunning woman used a proxy buyer!"
In that instant, the truth hit them. Su Min was too famous; everyone recognized her. The only explanation was that she had sent someone else to buy the flags discreetly.
"We got robbed…"
Many cursed inwardly, but there was nothing they could do. Attacking Su Min here would mean forfeiting their own baptism rewards.
This arena was only for victors. Everyone else was barred from entering.
[All participants, sit in meditation and prepare for the baptism.]
A majestic voice echoed across the Golden Core Avenue, and everyone immediately sat down and closed their eyes. Even those still cursing their luck obeyed. External treasures were one thing, but this was the true reward.
Golden light enveloped each of them, and the spectators outside the barrier watched with pure envy.
Lifespan, the most precious resource for cultivators.
But now, they could only watch. However, not everyone was happy.
Because Su Min noticed something strange. The light around her seemed to be stuck, frozen in place.
And because of her, the glow around everyone else had also frozen.
"What is going on? Where is my refinement? Where is my inheritance?"
She was not interested in the lifespan boost. What she wanted was what came next. But then a cold, genderless voice echoed in her ears.
[Due to unknown reasons, the life energy cannot be infused into your body.]
Su Min recognized the voice. It was the Spirit of the Golden Core Heavenly Rankings, the entity that maintained and operated the entire Golden Core Avenue. She had heard it once before when she used the Tianyin essence blood to enter that special state.
"Is it because my lifespan is infinite? Or because my life energy is self sustaining?"
She pondered the question, but the Spirit seemed equally puzzled. Though it had its own consciousness, it still followed fundamental rules, and right now, those rules were glitching because of her.
[Reason unknown. No prior records exist. Initiating contingency measures.]
[You may transfer your share of life energy to another participant or discard it.]
[Note: If the recipient absorbs life energy of the same tier as yours, the effect will be reduced by one grade, but they will gain an additional 200 years of lifespan.]
Su Min blinked in surprise. Before she could fully process this, the voice continued.
[You have 10 seconds to decide. Otherwise, the life energy will be forfeited.]
"Give it to Xie Yingying," Su Min commanded without missing a beat. "And do not tell her it is from me."
There was no hesitation, only quiet calculation. Revealing her infinite lifespan would invite questions she could not answer. Besides, this was fair compensation for Xie Yingying's earlier concession. Her decision came in less than a heartbeat.
The moment she spoke, the light around her dimmed slightly, while Xie Yingying's glow intensified noticeably.
Xie Yingying's eyes snapped open in shock. She could feel it. Her lifespan had not increased by 300 years, but by 500.
For a Golden Core cultivator, whose natural lifespan barely reached five centuries, this was unprecedented. With proper cultivation, she could maintain her peak until nearly nine hundred years before any decline. Not that she planned to linger that long. Nascent Soul awaited after this trial.
"What in the heavens?"
Her gaze swept across the arena before unconsciously lingering for half a breath in Su Min's direction. There was no reason for it, no logic behind the feeling, yet something deep within her tugged toward Su Min before fading like mist.
Around her, the other cultivators remained oblivious, their faces serene amid the golden glow. Xie Yingying exhaled slowly and schooled her features into neutrality. Some blessings were meant to be carried in silence.
This was only a brief interlude. Everyone else, including Yao Xian'er, was deep in meditation, absorbing not just lifespan but also another gift, Nascent Soul Energy.
This energy, unique to the Golden Core Avenue, could protect meridians and accelerate Nascent Soul formation. Many Golden Core cultivators entered the Avenue just for this. But for Su Min, the experience was different.
Her Heavenly Dao Insight activated again, pulling her consciousness into an endless void.
Before her stood a towering figure, a majestic man whose feet touched the earth and whose head reached the heavens. His back was turned to her, and beyond him stretched an expanse of chaos and distortion. It was as if he stood at the boundary. Behind him lay peace, before him, annihilation.
"The Five Elements Emperor… what was he fighting against?"
A chill ran down Su Min's spine.
"Or perhaps, it was not just him. Many ancient powerhouses faced the same enemy. They were all resisting… something."
When she had played "Path of Immortality" in her past life, it had only been Version 1.0. Many secrets remained undiscovered. She had no idea what lay beyond.
Just then, the figure slowly turned its head, and Su Min instinctively met its gaze. A shudder ran through her. Those eyes held ancient wisdom and a sense of approval. In the next instant, a flood of information surged into her mind. The five flags she had collected shattered, their fragments merging into her body. At the same time, her status panel underwent a drastic change.
Her three original cultivation techniques dimmed, then vanished entirely.
In the blink of an eye, her "Cultivation Arts" column was empty.
Su Min clutched her chest, gasping from the sudden void.
"Using the three techniques as keys… the Five Elements Emperor's inheritance… Ugh!"
Having her techniques forcibly stripped away was agonizing, but the pain did not last long. Because in the next moment, a radiant, multicolored light erupted around her.
Instantly, all eyes turned to her in envy.
As the champion, she was entitled to an extra reward. No one found it strange.
Meanwhile, Su Min's panel updated rapidly.
Where her cultivation arts had been, a new entry appeared.
[Five Elements Ancient Scripture]
A vast stream of knowledge poured into her mind—a completely new cultivation method, one that unified the five elements in perfect harmony.
"So this is it… To cultivate the Five Elements Ancient Scripture, one must first master five elemental techniques—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—to awaken the corresponding energies within the body."
Su Min marveled inwardly.
"This is undoubtedly the most suitable technique for me—no question about it."
The only downside?
She was still missing three divine treasures—true mastery was still far away.
Su Min's Updated Status
[Name: Su Min]
[Cultivation: Late Golden Core]
[Talent: Immortality (having infinite lifespan and not aging)]
[Innate Divine Ability: Heavenly Dao Insight (Over time, comprehend techniques from the cosmos)]
[Physique: Five Elements Holy Body – Fire & Wood Holy Body, Solar Sovereign Body]
[Acquired Divine Abilities: Four Symbols Slaughter—Tiger; Four Symbols Heavenly Sun—Vermilion Bird; Four Symbols Primordial – Azure Dragon; Mastery of the Five Thunders]
[Cultivation Art: Five Elements Ancient Scripture]
[Mental Arts: Great Sun Tathāgata Sutra; Solar Sovereign Ancient Scripture (Sealed); Lunar Sovereign Ancient Scripture (Incomplete)]
[Skills: Sword Control Technique; Mystic Firewood Sword Art/ Xuanhuomu]
[Secret Technique: Revival Art]
[Possessed Heavenly Treasures: Nanming Lihuo; Heavenly Thunder; Eastern Azure Wood]
[Possessed Innate Spiritual Treasure: Heaven and Earth Qiankun Gourd]
[Life-bound Spirit Treasure: Vermilion Bird's Flameblade / Nanming Lihuo Sword (High Earth Grade)]
But just as Su Min was marveling at her new status, a faint, unnoticed light slipped into her ring.
[Earth Qilin Secret Treasury Key]