Amidst the boiling blood pool, two fair figures intertwined.
Su Min was practically oblivious to her surroundings. Once she realized this body tempering did not require her to stay conscious, she simply let herself pass out, allowing the blood to refine her body slowly. As for the tantalizing sensations and the cool touch of the other body, she ignored them completely.
And so, a year passed in silence.
"Mmm, comfortable."
Rising from what had now become a clear pool, the blood essence completely absorbed, Su Min stretched lazily.
Over seventy percent of the Black Tortoise's blood essence had merged into her body. Though it seemed like she had lost thirty percent, the truth was, once absorption exceeded fifty percent, the benefits diminished sharply. But the remaining portion had fused with Ao Xue's dragon blood, creating an entirely new effect.
This time, she had struck gold.
"My physique has improved significantly, stronger than before."
Picking up a rock from the ground, she crushed it effortlessly into powder. The gains satisfied her immensely, but there was something even more crucial. Her path to the Divine Transformation stage was now completely paved.
That was the real cause for celebration.
Similar to advancing from Golden Core to Nascent Soul, reaching Divine Transformation required her Yuányīng to evolve into a Primordial Spirit, spreading throughout her entire body to form a complete entity. This process placed an immense burden on the physical form. To increase her chances, she needed to strengthen her body as much as possible. And now, with heavenly treasures protecting her, this blood tempering, and the aid of Divine Transformation Pills, her breakthrough was guaranteed.
Satisfied with her progress, Su Min turned her gaze to Ao Xue, still floating in the pool. These divine beasts were surprisingly open about certain things.
"Get dressed and come out. I can sense that guy's location now. His aura has grown stronger. He must have eaten those two monks."
Clearly, this blood pool was the key to obtaining the Black Tortoise's legacy and the Northern Water's Profound Origin. Under normal circumstances, a brutal battle would have erupted over it. But thanks to the Black Serpent's interference, most of the demonic beasts had been forced to retreat, leaving Su Min to reap the rewards uncontested. The Black Tortoise had likely designed this trial expecting a fierce competition to determine the strongest inheritor.
Yet, this was the result.
As the victor's privilege, Su Min could now sense every movement within this miniature world. Apart from herself and Ao Xue, only one other presence remained.
"Let us go kill him."
Hearing Su Min's words, Ao Xue sprang up like a carp leaping from water, though her movements did nothing to diminish the stability of certain prominent features.
"Are those, fake?"
Su Min muttered, dumbfounded.
It was like those exaggerated surgical enhancements from her past life, except she knew these were one hundred percent natural. And very elastic.
"Hmm?"
"Tch."
Shaking her head, Su Min dismissed the thought. Then, with a single step, she sent tremors through the mountain, nearly causing the freshly dressed Ao Xue to stumble.
"Still not used to this sudden boost in strength."
Su Min shrugged at Ao Xue's questioning look. Ao Xue had also gained immensely. Divine beasts of her caliber possessed overwhelming bloodline power, allowing them to achieve strength beyond most human cultivators' wildest dreams. But they were also bound by that bloodline. Surpassing it was nearly impossible. This opportunity had been a rare chance to break through those limits. Now that they had completed their enhancements, it was time to hunt down the last pest.
"His aura is extremely powerful, probably fully reached the Dao Comprehension stage. What are your odds? Over ninety percent?"
"One hundred percent. Even if he has recovered to Dao Comprehension, his origin energy has not fully restored. He is no match for me. Just, do not trap us in a confined space again. Last time, we nearly blew ourselves up."
Ao Xue was utterly confident in killing her opponent, even if he fought desperately. But they could not repeat last time's near disaster.
"No problem. No need for that now. With me here, he will not escape. Go all out."
Soon, the two left the serene pool behind. Su Min was now just one step away from the final inheritance. But before that, she had to eliminate the last threat, ensuring she could safely refine the Northern Water's Profound Origin and trigger her Divine Transformation tribulation.
This process would likely take over a century of seclusion. Before that, she needed to tie up all loose ends. A hundred years was not too long, but plenty could happen in that time. She could not afford to wake up to a disaster.
Soon, Ao Xue transformed back into a golden light and vanished into Su Min's sleeve. Meanwhile, the Black Serpent slowly opened his eyes. He had been hiding in his prepared lair, which shielded him from most detection.
After devouring the two monks, he had not rushed out. Instead, he had been consuming rare materials, less effective than living flesh, but better than nothing.
Now, he had barely regained the Dao Comprehension stage. Though only at the early phase, it was still a world apart from his previous state. Yet, despite his caution, he had not acted yet. Because he still did not know how Su Min had killed Liao Jie.
The thought sent chills down his spine. A Dao Comprehension expert fearing a Nascent Soul cultivator? It was laughable.
But having lived so long, survival was his only priority. Pride meant nothing.
So he waited, for Su Min to begin refining the Northern Water's Profound Origin and attempt her breakthrough.
That would be his moment.
Of course, Su Min knew this too. Which was why she had to eliminate him before claiming her rewards.
As a kindred schemer, she could guess his thoughts.
And that made everything simple. Time for the final showdown.
Even now, Su Min stood little chance of killing Liao Jie alone, at best, a stalemate.
Against a true Dao Comprehension expert like the Black Serpent? Outright impossible.
But that did not matter.
Tucked in her sleeve was the perfect trump card. And this time, the Dragon Emperor was here with killing intent. Unfortunately for the Black Serpent, he knew none of this. His preparations were solely for Su Min.
"Can't hide anymore. She is here."
Sensing the approaching presence, the Black Serpent frowned. Su Min's aura was strong, stronger than some early stage Divine Transformation cultivators. But it did not threaten him. At most, she could wound him. This was his innate talent, Beast's Intuition, rarely wrong.
"So she has methods to threaten half step Dao Comprehension experts, but not true Dao Comprehension."
Relieved, the Black Serpent felt a surge of shame.
A Dao Comprehension expert, scared of a Nascent Soul cultivator? Pathetic.
High above, Su Min hovered, eyes narrowed. The Black Serpent's aura vanished here, but this was clearly his hiding spot. At the Dao Comprehension stage, he could mask his presence, though only in a limited area. Any movement would still alert her, thanks to her enhanced soul power and the Black Tortoise's legacy.
Just as Su Min prepared for a battle of patience, a terrifying aura shot toward her. Dodging instinctively, she saw a venomous fang lash at her.
"Blazing Slash!"
Without hesitation, Su Min swung her sword. Nanming Lihuo as a heavenly treasure countered all toxins. The black tongue was severed, but before she could retract her blade, she raised her palm.
A deafening collision erupted as two hands, one massive, one delicate, met midair.
Su Min was sent flying.
No matter how strong she was, she could not match a Dao Comprehension expert head on.
"Impressive. Most Nascent Soul cultivators would have been crippled by that strike. Even Divine Transformation experts would have been severely wounded."
A shadowy figure appeared where Su Min had stood, the Black Serpent in human form, eyeing her with surprise. Black lines now crawled up Su Min's arm, a sign of potent venom. Only the dual heavenly treasures in her body, combined with her recent tempering, allowed her to withstand it.
"Filthy old poisoner. Only knows underhanded tricks."
Her left arm was completely numb. Despite the heavenly treasures' protection, the gap in cultivation was too vast. Recovery would take time. With only one functional arm, her combat power was severely hampered.
"Hahaha! To think I would fear a mere girl like you."
The Black Serpent laughed at Su Min's sorry state. Her performance was astonishing. If he had still been at half step Dao Comprehension, he might have lost.
But now, at true Dao Comprehension, her tricks were meaningless.
Pity.
If she had reached Divine Transformation, even just early stage, she could have given him a brutal fight. Those two heavenly treasures countered him hard.
"Guess I should be proud."
Grinning through the pain, Su Min tossed two sixth tier antidote pills into her mouth. As the pills dissolved, some feeling returned to her arm.
"Tch. Alchemist."
Watching her casually consume sixth tier pills made the Black Serpent's eye twitch. He did not even have such treasures. Yet she had just gulped two like candy. All the advantage he had gained in that exchange was gone.
Fury warred with greed in his heart. A sixth tier alchemist's wealth was unimaginable. Killing her would be extremely profitable. So he vanished again, but this time, Su Min was not playing melee. Hand seals flashed, and a massive Vermilion Bird materialized around her.
The Black Serpent reappeared, gripping the flaming construct with bare hands. Then, to Su Min's horror, he tore it apart, enduring Nanming Lihuo's scorching flames.
This was unprecedented.
A full stage gap was insurmountable.
Most Divine Transformation experts would be slaughtered like lambs against Dao Comprehension.
"Detonate!"
Su Min did not hesitate. The Vermilion Bird exploded, though without the extended charging time like in the Weak Waters, its power was far weaker. But in that instant, the Black Serpent crossed his arms, forming scaled shields. Having nearly been blown up last time, he was not taking chances.
To him, Su Min was already defeated.
No need to risk anything.
Yet, as he blocked, an inexplicable sense of doom struck him.
Too late to react.
A golden streak shot from Su Min's sleeve, materializing into an armored woman.
Her spear pierced his chest in a single thrust.
Two figures tumbled from the smoke, one charred, Su Min, the other spurting black blood from a gaping chest wound, the Black Serpent.
"Dragon Emperor?!"
The Black Serpent finally understood Su Min's trump card.
No wonder she had killed Liao Jie.
No wonder she had dared confront him. And the audacity, the Dragon Emperor, royalty of the strongest species, had coiled around Su Min's arm like a pet?
Using an alchemist's soul power to mask her presence?
Did she have no shame?
"You, cough."
Clutching his chest, the Black Serpent trembled. The reversal was too sudden. Dao Comprehension experts had Primordial Spirits, their true weak points. Even decapitation would not kill him instantly, though the blood loss would weaken him severely. But what truly enraged him was the grins on Su Min and Ao Xue's faces.
"This works just fine."
Su Min spread her hands theatrically, then pointed dramatically.
"Go! Five Clawed Golden Dragon!"
"Huh?"
Ao Xue blinked at the bizarre command but charged anyway.
Now was the time to end this.
Her earlier strike had not just pierced his heart. It had injected dragon energy into his body, ravaging him from within.
His venom? Useless against her divine bloodline.
Even in a fair fight, her victory was ninety percent assured.
Now? Overkill.
A storm of collisions erupted as the two clashed, golden dragon against black serpent, each impact shaking the very fabric of space. Su Min, having retreated kilometers away, clutched Xie Yingying's last blood essence, ready to activate it if needed.
But it was unnecessary.
Ao Xue dominated completely. Yet Su Min's focus never wavered. After Liao Jie's near disaster, she was not taking chances. But she had overestimated the Black Serpent.
Unlike Liao Jie, he lacked the will to die dragging her down. So when defeat became inevitable, he feigned a suicidal attack, while secretly preparing to flee. His soul clung to his demon core, ready to abandon his body. A desperate, costly gamble, but survival was all that mattered.
Seeing the self destruction, Ao Xue bolted.
A true Dao Comprehension explosion was no joke.
Su Min, meanwhile, summoned heavenly lightning, bracing for the blast.
And then, an explosion dwarfing nuclear detonations erupted. Toxic flames and shockwaves ravaged the landscape, forcing even Ao Xue to retreat behind protective artifacts. Mountains crumbled. Rivers evaporated. The miniature world trembled on the brink of collapse.
"A Dao Comprehension self destruction could have vaporized Australia in my past life. Too bad you lacked Liao Jie's resolve."
Shielding herself from the aftermath, Su Min smirked.
The initial blast was unstoppable, but the residual waves were manageable.
And such explosions had one flaw, the demon core would be severely damaged. So the moment the first wave passed, Su Min surged forward, lightning cloaking her body. The weakened core, barely clinging to existence, was snatched from the air.
"Burn."
Nanming Lihuo engulfed it, erasing the Black Serpent's last remnants.
No chances taken.
No loose ends.
"Hah, finally over."
Exhaling in relief, Su Min's legs gave out. The explosion's aftermath, combined with her earlier injuries, had pushed her to the limit. The lingering venom still plagued her, though it was not life threatening.
"Well done. Without you, his core might have escaped. That would have been a disaster."
Ao Xue landed gracefully beside her, looking utterly unruffled, as if she had been on a picnic.
"Tch. He underestimated what it means to face an alchemist."
Wincing, Su Min assessed her injuries.
"Now, the Northern Water's Profound Origin and Black Tortoise's legacy are yours."
"You can leave if you want. I will open a path. No need to stay sealed here for a century. As for your pills, I will deliver them after I emerge. The seventh tier one might take longer, though."
"Agreed."
Ao Xue nodded instantly. She had no reason to stay. The Black Tortoise's gifts were beyond her reach anyway.
"One last thing, since you are helping, spread the word about Future Maitreya Mountain colluding with the Black Serpent to ambush me. Once I reach Divine Transformation, I will settle accounts with them. Though to wipe them out completely, I will need Dao Comprehension."
"Gladly."
Ao Xue's expression darkened. Future Maitreya Mountain had annoyed her during her hunt for the Black Serpent. Hiding in Su Min's sleeve for a surprise attack had been immensely satisfying.
Retribution? No guilt whatsoever.
"Good."
Su Min sighed in relief.
Her sect should be safe now. Her ordeal might have been harrowing, but Xie Yingying's was likely no easier. She wondered what would happen when they reunited. After opening a portal for Ao Xue, Su Min began recuperating. The residual toxins needed purging. Somehow, they had survived even that apocalyptic explosion.
This was the cultivation world, anything was possible. Even with two heavenly treasures protecting her, carelessness could leave lasting damage. Meanwhile, an oppressive gloom hung over Future Maitreya Mountain.
Despite the Weak Waters' interference, the deaths of three high ranking members had sent spiritual shockwaves through the sect.
Three Divine Transformation experts, including Liao Jie, a former peak Dao Comprehension master, gone.
An unthinkable loss.
===
Su Min remain faithful to her wife...
Primordial Spirit (元神): The evolved form of a Yuányīng, crucial for Divine Transformation and beyond.
"Go! Five-Clawed Golden Dragon!": A playful reference to Pokémon-style commands, highlighting Su Min's whimsical side.