Looking at his stubborn ancestor, the Holy Son of the Ancient Mansion Holy City could only sigh in helplessness. Their sect had become a joke. They had been handed a golden opportunity. If they had rushed to Su Min's aid back then, it would have been a true act of loyalty in her hour of need. A few fifth-rank pills and a share of the Blood Puppet Sect's assets would have been a trivial price.
But thanks to the shortsightedness of their two ancestors, they had tried to play both sides and profit from the conflict, only to end up offending everyone. Now they were the butt of every joke. The Holy Son was certain that those mocking him would have done no better in his position. No one had the right to judge. Not getting stabbed in the back was the best outcome one could hope for in such situations.
Setting aside the Ancient Mansion Holy City's regrets, the flames within Su Min's cauldron slowly dimmed. A perfectly round pill hovered above it, the Divine Transformation Pill she needed.
"Finally done. Now, I still need to refine the Water-Avoiding Pill."
Staring at the Divine Transformation Pill, Su Min fell into thought. The Water-Avoiding Pill was a fifth-rank high-grade pill. Its effect was to nullify all water-based attacks and environmental hazards. It was the highest-grade pill she could reliably produce right now. Since she was heading into the Weak Water, she needed to prepare as thoroughly as she had for the Lunar Yin Secret Realm.
"The material requirements are not too high. I can make a batch of these."
After glancing at the recipe, Su Min began organizing her herbs. With the Medicine King's Cauldron in her possession, she could cultivate ingredients at an incredible rate. This Primordial Spiritual Treasure had no direct combat use, 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 her work, Tian Yinzi's voice came from outside her chamber.
"A Divine Transformation cultivator? What pill do they want?"
She was not surprised. As a sixth-rank alchemist, she commanded that kind of attention.
"I am in seclusion refining pills. Tell them to submit their request formally."
"Grand Elder, there is something they mentioned that you might find more interesting than a pill request. Would you like to hear it?"
"What is it?"
"They claim to have encountered one of those fallen ones you have warned about. This person attempted to ambush the Ancient Mansion's spiritual vein mines. Their late-stage Divine Transformation elder intervened, a fierce battle ensued, and both sides were severely injured. The elder's soul is now damaged, which is why they specifically seek the pill you refined at the Water-Land Dharma Assembly."
"Oh?"
Su Min's eyes narrowed slightly. She had not expected the fallen ones to reveal themselves so soon. Of course, most people would not recognize them for what they were. This was the first time in recorded 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 far more terrifying Era of Despair, the Great Struggle of Ages, would follow.
"Give them this pill," Su Min said after a moment's consideration. A single pill flew out from her chamber into Tian Yinzi's waiting hand. "Since they fought against those creatures, do not overcharge them. And do not disturb me again for some time."
"Understood."
Tian Yinzi nodded. As the pill landed in his palm, his fingers trembled slightly. This was a genuine sixth-rank pill. He had never held something of such high grade before.
The chamber fell silent again as Su Min returned her focus to refining the specialized pills. The Weak Water was no trivial matter. Without thorough preparation, even her mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation would not guarantee her safety. As for social niceties and receiving guests, that was Tian Yinzi's responsibility. As the only publicly acknowledged sixth-rank alchemist, she had every right to be aloof.
As expected, the late-stage Divine Transformation elder from the Ancient Mansion Holy City was not offended by her refusal to meet. He was overjoyed to receive the pill, thanking her profusely before taking his leave. The price Tian Yinzi quoted, fair and not exorbitant, had been a pleasant surprise.
Meanwhile, in Future Maitreya Mountain...
The place that should have been bathed in serene Buddhist light was instead filled with an eerie radiance and crisscrossing crimson threads. It resembled not a sacred paradise but a den of demons. This was the core of Future Maitreya Mountain, the 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 a profound humiliation. His disciples had been slaughtered, and the Great Thunder Temple had suppressed the matter with effortless authority. Now, with Su Min reaching the sixth-rank alchemy realm, she possessed the influence to rally numerous Divine Transformation experts to her cause. Future Bliss Mountain did not dare attack her Eastern Mulberry Province directly. So, they resorted to their old tricks, using their future-observing abilities to find the perfect opportunity to strike.
"We have only one chance," the old monk replied, his voice a low rasp. "Her Five Elements Holy Body currently has only two Heavenly Treasures. If she obtains a third, even if you or I intervene personally, killing her will be nearly impossible."
"How is that possible?!"
"She is the Five Elements Holy Body. Her future is intertwined with great cosmic forces. Observing her requires bearing terrifying consequences. Right now, I can only see one clear opportunity."
"One opportunity?"
Liao Jie's expression darkened further.
"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 vicious snarl. To them, Su Min was a walking calamity. Since they had already offended her to this extent, there was no path of reconciliation left.
"Fine. I will set out immediately."
"No."
"What?"
"When the Weak Water manifests, she will undoubtedly have strong escorts. If we attack openly, we risk being surrounded. Moreover, with her mysterious methods, escaping would not be difficult for her. And even if we succeed in killing her, the political fallout would be severe. The only way to minimize the damage is to eliminate her inside the Weak Water itself."
"Inside the Weak Water?!"
Liao Jie's lips twitched involuntarily. He was not exactly afraid of the Weak Water, but it was far from a pleasant environment. Entering it meant they could not bring a large force. Even Divine Transformation experts could not enter recklessly. Only those like him, who were at the late-stage Divine Transformation and half-stepping into the Enlightenment stage, or those who specialized in water-based techniques, could hope to survive it. Their Buddhist sect did not focus on elemental cultivation, so they were severely lacking in suitable candidates. After some thought, Liao Jie could only come up with two or three people who fit the criteria.
"This time, you might have mysterious allies," the old monk added, his lips curling into a cryptic smile.
"What?"
"The Buddha's decree: What cannot be spoken, shall not be spoken..."
Liao Jie scoffed softly. Soon, the hall fell silent again. He 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 could not leave this hall, which shielded him from the direct gaze of the Heavenly Dao. 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 prodigy Yao Xian'er. Who knew what other hidden cards she held? If left unchecked, once she reached the Divine Transformation stage, even he might not be her match. After all, he still did not understand how she had killed that early-stage Divine Transformation expert without sustaining a single scratch.
More importantly, ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators were like toys in her hands. His own 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 the edges of his mind.
Time flew by.
When Su Min finally pushed open the doors of her chamber, she had prepared over twenty Water-Avoiding Pills. She had also used the time to forge a special magical tool, an Azure Wood Water Barrier. It was a high-grade Earth Tier treasure that utilized the power of divine wood to resist water-based effects.
With the Medicine King's Cauldron, Su Min no longer lacked for materials. Combined with the sect's existing stockpiles, refining pills had become incredibly efficient. And as a sixth-rank alchemist, mass production of lower-grade pills was no trouble at all.
"This old man, Zhu Xin, pays his respects to Lady Su."
Su Min regarded the elder before her. His cultivation was not low, he was at the mid-stage Divine Transformation realm. He was now a sect elder.
Zhu Xin was a rare casual cultivator who had joined Su Min's sect after hearing of her reputation. If he had come alone, she might have been more wary. But he had brought his entire family, all his disciples, and his accumulated wealth. That gesture made her more at ease. Not that she was completely trusting, the little Golden Crow was always there as a final safeguard. Her cultivation had already reached the mid-stage Divine Transformation. If Zhu Xin dared to make a move, she could kill him on the spot.
The price for recruiting him had been simple, one Divine Transformation Pill and one Nascent Soul Pill. Though he did not need them for himself, he had sealed himself and his most talented son away before the Great Cataclysm. Now, his son was only at the Golden Core stage, and 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. It was a perfect fit.
He had turned down many other offers to join her. Su Min had handed over the Nascent Soul Pill immediately. The Divine Transformation Pill would have to wait, she only had one of those and it was reserved for her own use. But Zhu Xin was not worried. Su Min's reputation was impeccable. On the Golden Core Avenue, many had 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 completely empty-handed. Other alchemists, now that the world's restrictions had loosened, had finally reached the fourth-rank. But their success rates were abysmal, often requiring four or five cauldrons to explode before a single success. Compared to Su Min, the difference was like night and day. Even if her prices were higher, people still flocked to her because she would not burn through all three sets of materials and return nothing. Some even joked that she probably refined the pill on the first try and simply 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 ever needing all three.
"Elder Zhu, while I am away, I will need you to oversee the sect."
Su Min offered a slight smile to the Divine Transformation elder. Tian Yinzi had already conducted a thorough background check. Everything seemed clean.
"No problem!"
Zhu Xin thumped his chest in assurance. Though the agreed recruitment terms were a Nascent Soul Pill and a Divine Transformation Pill, if he performed well, securing additional pills from Su Min in the future would not be an issue. He was naturally eager to prove his value. Besides, with the little Golden Crow guarding the sect, even if he wanted to cause trouble, he would not stand a chance. Against an ordinary Golden Crow, he might have survived. But a Golden Crow Emperor? He might as well just roll over and go to sleep. Just look at the Blood Puppet Sect, they had even used their hidden trump cards, and they were still utterly crushed.
"Good."
Su Min nodded indifferently at Zhu Xin's enthusiasm. Over this period, they had managed to recruit three Nascent Soul cultivators and this one Divine Transformation elder. There had been many more who wanted to join, but most were unreliable and were politely rejected. Those who failed were bitterly disappointed. After all, they had been ready to become Su Min's loyal followers. Who knew that even that role was competitive? Only a select few had made the cut. And those who did join did not dare act arrogantly. They were here to cling to a powerful ally. 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 truly limitless.
"It is 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."