"Without understanding the opponent's information, there is no way to formulate a specific counter. That means I will have to fight head on," Su Min murmured to herself, her eyes narrowed in calculation. "But at least I still have two of each of those three life saving pills left."
She knew this battle would likely be a brutal, straightforward clash of power. Though the specific pills in her possession were somewhat outdated for her current level, they were still more than enough for her immediate needs. As for Xie Yingying's precious blood essence, she would avoid using it unless it was a matter of life and death. Relying too much on that external power would not be good for her own growth. More importantly, she would lose her final, absolute trump card.
Since she did not know how to counter his specific techniques, she might as well meet force with force. Thus, seven days later, she found herself standing in the vast martial arena of the Great Thunder Temple. The place was buzzing with an electric excitement. Nearly all the monks who were free from duties had gathered, and for a time, the entire arena was bathed in a collective, radiant Buddhist glow.
Human curiosity was inevitable, even here. Greed, anger, and ignorance were universal human traits. Even monks were not exempt. Their goal was to learn to suppress these desires, not to eliminate them entirely.
"The senior brother actually challenged an outsider, and a female one at that."
"Though Senior Brother is of the first generation, his combat prowess already rivals some of the fourth generation elders."
"Enough talk, let us just watch."
Whispers filled the square like the hum of a beehive. A single glance confirmed these were the elite of the Great Thunder Temple, no fewer than a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators were present, with Golden Core disciples beyond count. Their displayed strength far surpassed ninety nine percent of the ancient inherited sects.
"Over ten Divine Transformation cultivators just watching… Tsk, the Great Thunder Temple is truly terrifying," Su Min mused from her vantage point. "Yet, it still was not enough to stand against the united force of the entire world. Just how brutal was the Great Buddhist Purge back then?"
Sitting cross legged in midair, she observed the scene below with great interest.
"She is here!"
A sudden exclamation drew everyone's attention skyward as a blazing crimson figure descended like a meteor, crashing heavily onto the designated fighting ground. As the dust settled, Su Min stepped forward calmly.
"Nascent Soul… initial stage?"
"Don't underestimate her. I heard from my master that she was the top ranker on the Golden Core Heavenly Leaderboard. And the opponent she defeated was practically a figure straight out of myth."
Many were momentarily stunned by Su Min's apparent cultivation level, but those in the know quickly corrected them. Though specific details were scarce, her legendary achievements were undeniable.
DONG!!!
A deafening, profound bell suddenly rang out, silencing the crowd. A brilliant golden speck of light appeared high in the sky, then exploded outward, revealing a hundred meter tall golden Buddha illusion, eliciting gasps of awe.
"The Great Sun Tathāgata Golden Body? Is not that something only those at the Unity Realm can truly manifest?"
"That is not the true Golden Body, just a powerful illusory projection."
"Still terrifying. It seems Senior Brother is serious this time."
"Hey, Senior Brother, do you remember that legendary palm technique that descends from the heavens?"
Someone suddenly muttered in dawning realization. Because at that moment, the colossal golden Buddha raised its single palm, and an overwhelming pressure instantly blanketed the entire arena. In that instant, a technique as renowned as the Great Sun Tathagata Sutra itself came to mind.
"The Buddha's Palm!!!"
The next moment, a scorching, massive golden palm descended from above. Though it did not move with blinding speed, its sheer majestic presence made it feel like an unstoppable force of nature, leaving no room for evasion.
"Now I understand how the Monkey King felt under the Buddha's Five Elements Mountain," Su Min thought, a wry smile touching her lips. "But unfortunately, I am not Sun Wukong, and you are no true Tathāgata."
If even the spectators felt such awe, Su Min, standing directly beneath the center of the palm, naturally felt its weight tenfold. Yet surrender was not an option. Raising a single hand, she uttered a low, clear command:
"Manifest!"
With a resounding cry that seemed to tear the air, a hundred meter long flaming phoenix materialized behind her, its wings spread wide. Its massive beak opened, unleashing a torrent of scorching, divine flames toward the descending golden palm.
BOOM!!!
A violent shockwave erupted in the space between them, sending terrifying ripples of raw energy in all directions. The golden light of the palm flickered intensely as the spectators hastily erected personal barriers to withstand the blast. Even so, many were nearly knocked off their feet. Had there been any Foundation Establishment cultivators present, they would have been severely injured on the spot.
"The combination of her Nanming Lihuo and the Eastern Azure Wood is truly formidable," one of the elders observed.
Watching the aftermath, the three elders seated at the highest platform exchanged glances of satisfaction.
The man facing Su Min was named Hui Xing.
He had spent one year refining his body, three years refining his Qi, and ten years building a perfect foundation. By twenty, he was ready to face the Golden Core Heavenly Tribulation. However, the timing was not right, the world's energy was too thin, so he sealed himself away in stasis to wait for a more suitable era.
When he finally emerged, his supreme talent remained undiminished. Within three days, he summoned the legendary Ninety Nine Heavenly Tribulation and survived. He then entered the Buddhist secret realm. In just forty years, he reached the Golden Core stage. Now, despite being at the late stage Nascent Soul realm, he was less than a hundred years old.
However, such rapid, unimpeded advancement, while not harming his foundation, had fostered a deep seated arrogance. Buddhist techniques, though immensely powerful, came with great internal risks, hence the strict monastic rules. The elders hoped Su Min would defeat Hui Xing and temper his pride. In their experienced eyes, even if Hui Xing was objectively stronger, his chances of a clean victory were slim.
After all, they still could not fully comprehend how Su Min had defeated that particular opponent in the Avenue. Her unique empowered state showed no outward physical changes, and the Golden Core Heavenly Leaderboard's protective barrier had completely masked its unique aura.
Apart from Yao Xian'er and Xie Yingying, no one else knew the truth of that battle. But it did not matter. Hui Xing was a first generation genius in his prime. Only a decisive defeat at the hands of another first gen talent could truly humble him and force deep self reflection.
In the sky, Su Min's expression was grave. She had already entered her enhanced state, her hair now stark white and her eyes burning crimson.
The monk before her appeared to be in his early twenties, yet stood at a towering 2.2 meters tall. His exposed arms and chest gleamed like polished divine steel under the sunlight, as if a muscle bound titan had stepped out of a sacred painting. His gaze, filled with unwavering arrogance, bore down on Su Min, making her skin prickle with alertness.
"I am Hui Xing, first disciple of Master Kong Chen."
"Su Min."
"Outsiders seeking our legacy must first pass my trial."
"Then let's begin."
Su Min smiled faintly. Behind her, the Vermilion Bird Idol blazed even brighter, its flames roaring.
"The Nanming Lihuo and the Eastern Azure Wood? Mere external aids."
Hui Xing's voice was icy. He had never known defeat, and Su Min was merely an early stage Nascent Soul cultivator, far beneath his late stage strength. Even with two divine artifacts, bridging that fundamental gap would be difficult. But the fact that she had cleanly blocked his opening Buddha's Palm proved she was no ordinary pushover. Proud as he was, he was not foolish. The top ranker on the Golden Core Heavenly Leaderboard undoubtedly had deadly tricks up her sleeve.
"Are you prepared, Benefactor Su? That was merely a greeting. The true attack begins now. Thousand Hand Manifestation!!!"
Golden light erupted from him once more. Before Su Min could even blink, the golden Buddha's illusion behind him swelled rapidly, reaching a staggering three hundred meters in height. Countless golden arms sprouted from its back and sides, their numbers easily in the thousands.
"Hiss—the temple's ultimate technique, the Thousand Hand Buddha! Senior Brother actually fused it with the Great Sun Tathāgata Illusion!"
"Starting with such a monstrous move? That woman is in for real trouble."
Gasps of shock and admiration filled the arena. To open with such a devastating technique was unheard of. Most cultivators present would be crushed instantly under that Buddha's might. Even the three elders nodded in approval. Hui Xing's comprehension and talent were indeed exceptional.
"Tch."
Su Min inhaled sharply, centering herself. With a flick of her wrist, a dark red pill appeared in her palm, which she promptly swallowed.
"Pills? External aids."
Hui Xing sneered but did not protest. He knew Su Min was a master alchemist, outside of battle, he would treat her with respect for that skill. But here, in this contest, alchemists were allowed to use their own products.
"You are right. These are just tools," Su Min replied, her voice steady. "But the foundation they enhance is my own."
As she spoke, the Vermilion Bird Idol behind her doubled in size, its heat intensifying. The life burning pill had temporarily elevated her cultivation to the mid stage Nascent Soul. Though still a minor stage weaker than Hui Xing, it was enough to close the gap significantly. Because Su Min knew, with chilling certainty, the real onslaught was about to begin.
And in that instant—
"Thousand Hand Demon Crusher!!!"
A thousand golden fists rained down like a divine, obliterating storm.
"Detonate."
Without a moment's hesitation, Su Min commanded her massive Vermilion Bird Idol to self destruct.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The resulting explosion of fire and spiritual energy dwarfed the previous clash. The shockwave hit the barriers, making them visibly shudder. Many early stage Golden Core monks at the edges coughed up blood, injured by the sheer force of the blast even through the protections. Hundreds of the golden fists were obliterated in the fiery detonation, but hundreds more continued their relentless descent. Yet Su Min's body now shimmered with a vibrant cyan light, and the sword in her hand radiated a dazzling, prismatic brilliance.
"Five Elements Annihilation Slash."
A concentrated beam of swirling, prismatic light erupted from her blade, meeting the remaining fists head on.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The center of the arena became a violent kaleidoscope of shattering gold and swirling rainbow light, beautiful yet utterly deadly. Many of the younger monks felt as if they were witnessing not a dream, but a waking nightmare. They knew that being caught in the crossfire of such power would mean instant annihilation. Even some of the older Nascent Soul monks shuddered. These two combatants were true monsters.
"So this is the innate power of the Five Elements Holy Body?" one of the elders murmured, his brow furrowed. "Though not yet perfected, the raw power of that Five Elements Divine Light is terrifying enough."
They recognized it as the innate divine ability of the legendary physique. Su Min only possessed two of the five required divine treasures, meaning her body was only partially complete. Yet even with three powerful spirit beast essences substituting for the missing elements, its manifested might was undeniable.
The Thousand Hand Demon Crusher was a technique of pure, overwhelming physical and spiritual force, amplified by Hui Xing's unique physique and supreme techniques, a power that could rival even the infamous Great Desolate Sacred Body.
Yet Su Min had blocked it, albeit with clear effort. The elders exchanged meaningful glances, silently acknowledging that had their cultivation levels been truly equal, Hui Xing would have been completely suppressed from the beginning. The gap in their foundational power was that vast.