The sect conference was lively in its own chaotic way, but to a high-level cultivator like Su Min, it was also profoundly dull.
It was a lot like the mortal world's Olympics, with over a hundred different events, but no sane person was interested in watching all of them. At first, Su Min had watched the early Golden Core and Nascent Soul battles with a flicker of curiosity, but the novelty wore off quickly. Eventually, she simply closed her eyes to meditate, completely ignoring the countless admiring and calculating gazes directed her way.
There was no helping it. Among the hundreds of Divine Transformation experts present, only four or five were women, and the rest were all ancient monsters who had been sealed for centuries. She was by far the youngest and most prominent by a staggering margin.
"Not bad. We've already secured seven shares of the sealing crystals from the preliminary events," Tian Yinzi reported, keeping a close eye on the chaotic battles unfolding in the pocket dimensions below. As the one handling logistics, he couldn't afford to be as carefree as Su Min, who had perfected the art of being a hands-off leader.
Sealing crystals were invaluable strategic treasures, a core necessity for any sect that planned for the long term. No one knew when the next Heavenly Decay curse or a period of spiritual decline would strike, but if a generation produced a surplus of geniuses, sealing some away to stagger their emergence was a brilliant, conservative strategy. After all, opportunities were always finite. There was no need for all your talents to fight to the death over the same resources in the same era.
"Seven shares are too few," Su Min replied without opening her eyes. "The alchemy and the Unrestricted Divine Transformation battles are the main events, the ones that really decide the allocation. They're the marathons that award the real shares. Any new intelligence on the other alchemists? I don't want to expend too much energy in the early stages if I don't have to."
Su Min had little interest in the miscellaneous battles. Instead, she turned her attention fully to Tian Yinzi.
"According to our latest reports, the half-step Dao Comprehension elder from the Heavenly God Sect successfully refined a low-sixth-grade pill just last month. It caused quite a stir. But compared to you, Grand Elder, he's still far behind. You likely won't need to refine anything too advanced to win. Just producing two mid-sixth-grade pills in a single batch should be enough to firmly crush the competition."
Others might be burning with curiosity about Su Min's true alchemy efficiency, but Tian Yinzi knew the truth. With the assistance of the Nanming Lihuo, her control was so precise and her spiritual power so vast that she could typically refine a full batch in a single attempt without any risk of failure. Only when she was testing a brand-new or incredibly complex formula did she ever occasionally produce a wasted batch.
For familiar recipes, producing two or even three high-quality pills per batch was her normal standard. For example, the ten Divine Transformation Pills currently stored in their sect's treasury had required only three batches to produce, a fact that would shock the entire cultivation world if it ever got out.
Of course, Su Min's pricing hadn't changed, regardless of her efficiency. It was a take-it-or-leave-it proposition, and she was the only one on the continent offering such a guarantee of quality.
"A half-step Dao Comprehension expert who can refine sixth-grade pills? That's not bad talent," Su Min nodded approvingly, though her words made the disciples nearby twitch. That elder was far, far older than her!
But then again, Su Min had only recently entered the Divine Transformation stage. In the cultivation world, where lifespans stretched for millennia, seniority was ultimately determined by strength, not age, unless it involved direct lineage or close relatives.
Time passed quickly for those in meditation, and soon, the conference reached its long-awaited climax.
Two major events were about to begin simultaneously, the Unrestricted combat among the sect ancestors and the grand alchemy competition.
Unlike alchemy, artifact refining didn't require such meticulous, soul-deep precision. The limitations of materials often meant the final product's grade depended more on the refiner's raw cultivation level than on esoteric skill.
But alchemy? That was the true pinnacle of auxiliary arts, a discipline where skill could trump raw power.
Powerful artifacts could enhance combat power, but legendary pills could elevate a cultivator's very foundation and cultivation level. Most cultivators sought immortality and enlightenment, not mere domination over others.
"Finally, it's starting, the alchemy competition I've been waiting for! Last time, the Buddhist Water-Land Ceremony was held too far away for me to attend."
"Now we'll finally see Master Su Min in action. I'm so curious about her actual success rate, she demands three sets of materials per request. Does she really refine them all in one batch? And not just one pill per batch, but two or three, yet only giving one in return? The profit margin is staggering."
Some were genuinely curious, whispering their speculations in the stands below. Though they spoke softly, every word was crystal clear to the sharp senses of the experts on the high platform.
No one offered a comment, however. The truth was, everyone from the sect leaders down was equally intrigued.
But they also knew that knowing the truth wouldn't change a thing. Su Min's prices were fixed, her terms non-negotiable. Even if no one ever commissioned her again out of spite, she could simply focus on her own cultivation and pill refinement for her sect. She had nothing to lose in this arrangement, so no one dwelled on the economics of it for long.
Still, the curiosity was a palpable force in the air.
During the Water-Land Ceremony years ago, Su Min had only just stepped into the sixth-grade realm. Back then, her skills were still considered unremarkable by the true old masters. But now, if she aimed for the championship, she would have to showcase her abilities for all to see.
"Be careful, watch your words, don't let her hear you. Speculating is pointless. Her prices won't change no matter what we discover," a nearby senior cultivator warned his junior, effectively silencing the murmurs for the moment.
"The grand alchemy competition is about to begin!" a majestic voice boomed across the sky, amplified by profound cultivation. The announcer was another half-step Dao Comprehension expert, one of the strongest in Great Luo Tian aside from the reclusive Yao Xian'er. "All participants must be at least at the Divine Transformation stage or be recognized fifth-grade alchemists. There are no restrictions on the pill you refine, use whatever ingredients you have prepared and showcase your finest work!"
"Finally!"
Su Min, who had seemed moments away from falling asleep, suddenly perked up. With one swift, fluid motion, she tore off her ornate, cumbersome outer robe, eliciting a wave of wide-eyed stares and gasps from the crowd.
But almost instantly, a chorus of disappointed sighs followed.
Beneath the splendid robe wasn't the tantalizing view some had hopelessly imagined, just her usual, practical, and simple casual attire. It was the cultivator's equivalent of wearing a comfortable t-shirt and jeans under a formal evening gown. No one quite knew how she'd managed the change so seamlessly, but there it was.
Su Min couldn't care less about their silent lamentations. With a light leap, she landed steadily on the main platform below, which housed the interior of the massive Earth-grade artifact serving as the competition grounds.
"Sigh…"
Many of the younger geniuses, including Han Chaoyan and his peers, shared the same resigned sigh. No matter how outstanding they were, a monster like Su Min always loomed overhead, a constant reminder of the heights they had yet to reach.
She paid them no mind.
Currently, her limit was refining mid-sixth-grade pills. High-sixth-grade was still beyond her, her soul strength wasn't sufficiently tempered yet. So, for this competition, she'd stick to a reliable mid-sixth-grade recipe. If someone unexpectedly surpassed her with a high-sixth-grade pill, then so be it. She'd accept the loss.
"Que sera, sera, what's meant to be will be," she thought to herself, recalling a saying from her old world.
As long as it wasn't one of the heavenly treasures she needed to unlock her Five Elements Holy Body, she wouldn't resort to extreme measures to win. But as she'd correctly guessed, once her strength reached a certain level, hiding it became impossible. She was like a blazing beacon now, her every move scrutinized by friend and foe alike, especially in this newly reopened world where the cultivation community's overall power was far from its ancient peak.
This time, her alchemy would be the absolute center of attention.
During the Water-Land Ceremony, she'd been a newcomer. But now?
From the very first move, she astonished the entire crowd. With a mere wave of her hand, hundreds of glowing medicinal ingredients materialized in midair, hovering in a complex constellation before flooding in a precise order into her cauldron.
"Damn, starting with so many ingredients at once? Isn't she worried about exhausting her soul power and causing the entire batch to fail?" several half-step Dao Comprehension experts exchanged hushed whispers. Though not alchemists themselves, they had once been holy sons and daughters of major sects during the last golden age and had seen their share of masters at work.
Back then, sixth-grade alchemists were rare but not unheard of. Some had even been fortunate enough to glimpse a seventh or eighth-grade grandmaster in action.
Yet none of them had ever operated with the sheer, audacious speed and confidence of Su Min.
"It must be the Nanming Lihuo," one elder deduced, stroking his snow-white beard as he watched Su Min with an appreciative smile. To connoisseurs of the art, observing Su Min refine pills was like watching a peerless beauty perform an exquisite, deadly dance. For dedicated cultivators, few things were more captivating.
"Among the divine flames suited for alchemy, only two truly stand out, the Nanming Lihuo and the legendary Six Ding Divine Fire. The latter is the undisputed pinnacle for both alchemy and artifact refining. Throughout history, its wielders were all grandmasters, even emperors treated them with the utmost respect. But aside from the Six Ding Divine Fire, the Nanming Lihuo reigns supreme."
"A pity the Six Ding Divine Fire had already vanished from the world by the time I was sealed," another ancient expert lamented. "As for the Nanming Lihuo, no human cultivator had ever been recorded taming it before Lady Su."
"Of course not, it's the sacred flame of the Vermilion Bird, traditionally wielded only by such innate divine beasts. If not for the Heavenly Decay severing the natural birth of new Four Symbols, no human cultivator could have ever hoped to claim it."
"Not necessarily," the first elder countered. "Ancient records mention that holders of the Solar Sovereign, Lunar Sovereign, Great Desolate, and Spirit Emperor constitutions have ascended to emperorship numerous times. But the Five Elements Holy Body? Only one in recorded history has ever reached that pinnacle, just like Lady Su is attempting now. Though what exactly transpired with that first one remains a mystery lost to time."
"That era is too distant, even most records have turned to dust."
"Wait, look! It's only been half a day. Is she about to complete the pill condensation already?!"
As they debated, a rich, profound medicinal aroma suddenly wafted from Su Min's cauldron, permeating the entire venue despite the powerful barriers of the Earth-grade artifact.
Instantly, the audience was intoxicated. This was the unmistakable, soul-stirring fragrance of a successful sixth-grade pill!
Among the hundreds of Divine Transformation experts present, the tens of thousands of spectators in the stands, sect disciples, city residents, and rogue cultivators alike were sent into a frenzy. For the vast majority, even seeing a sixth-grade pill was a distant dream, its value far exceeding their lifetime accumulations.
Just inhaling its potent scent felt surreal, a blessing in itself. Many swayed as if drunk on the aroma, some even drooling unconsciously.
No one knew exactly what pill Su Min was refining, but its immense value was undeniable.
"Such a potent and unique aroma, what pill is she making?" Even the half-step Dao Comprehension experts were deeply intrigued. The only pill that could truly drive them mad with desire was the legendary Dao Comprehension Pill, but unfortunately, no one on the continent, not even Su Min, was believed capable of refining it yet.
They were all confident she would achieve it in a few centuries, but not now.
"No idea," another elder admitted with a helpless shake of his head. "Sixth-grade pill refinement is incredibly complex. A single recipe can require over a hundred different ingredients, and minor variations in sequence or temperature can create entirely different pills. Only the alchemist herself knows for sure what is taking shape within those flames."
They could only wait and watch.
Meanwhile, inside the vibrant flames of the Nanming Lihuo, Su Min had already completed the purification of hundreds of ingredients. Now came the most critical final step, condensation and pill formation.
At this moment, the expressions of the elders from the four major sects grew particularly complicated. Su Min had used them as shields while she secluded herself for months. The endless stream of petitioners had nearly overwhelmed their reception halls and tested their patience. They'd expended considerable political capital and earned no small amount of silent resentment from other sects.
Now, seeing her efficiency laid bare, it was clear Su Min could have refined all their collectively requested pills in about a week. What had once been an unspoken, polite understanding was now laid bare for all to see. But so what? Even knowing the truth, they could only grit their teeth and accept it. The pills she had delivered were flawless.
Sects that had thoroughly offended Su Min in the past never seemed to fare well. The Blood Puppet Sect had been completely annihilated, its centuries-old legacy uprooted overnight.
As for Future Maitreya Mountain? Though a former super sect, it was now trapped in its own pocket realm, blockaded by its fellow Buddhist factions, a complete laughingstock.
"Pill formation!"
As these mixed emotions churned within the crowd, Su Min's hands moved in a final, swift seal. Two streaks of light, containing perfectly formed pills, took shape within the cauldron before soaring out into her waiting jade bottle.
"Two pills! Two pills in one batch?! Damn, she's making a fortune!" Many gasped inwardly, the calculation of her staggering profit margins unavoidable. This was the first time Su Min had publicly displayed her skills so transparently, and the revelation was a shock to the system.
"Well, she earns it through sheer, undeniable skill. But what pills are those? Does anyone recognize them?"
"No idea, the spiritual signature is unique."
The crowd buzzed with intense curiosity, the question on everyone's lips, until Su Min's calm announcement sent shockwaves through the entire venue.
"Mid-sixth-grade pill, the Spirit Ascension Pill," her voice, though not loud, carried to every corner. "Consuming it can forcibly elevate a Divine Transformation cultivator by one minor stage. However, the residual, impure energy doubles the difficulty of any future attempt to break through to the Dao Comprehension stage. But," she added with a hint of pragmatism, "for the vast majority of Divine Transformation experts who will never touch Dao Comprehension in their lifetimes, this side effect is largely irrelevant."
"Gasp—!"
Instantly, the air grew thick with tension. Every early to mid-stage Divine Transformation cultivator present, and there were hundreds, stared at the jade bottle in Su Min's hand with naked, undisguised greed.
Dao Comprehension was a far-off dream, a mountain too high for over ninety percent of them to ever climb. Advancing one minor stage right now, however, could save them a thousand years of arduous effort and accumulation. The power boost could even, ironically, increase their slim chances of an eventual breakthrough, making the pill's drawback a risk worth taking for most. The value of what she held was incalculable.