"Is this the Divine Transformation Fruit?"
"Indeed, this is the Divine Transformation Fruit required for refining the Divine Transformation Pill."
Staring at the dazzling, rainbow hued fruit displayed on a simple cloth mat, Su Min fell into deep thought. Once again, she had disguised herself with a simple illusion artifact before coming here. This Water Land Dharma Assembly had drawn many disciples from various sects, including a few faces she vaguely recognized from the Golden Core Avenue. And if she recognized them, they had undoubtedly remembered her as well.
It was not that she had a poor memory for faces, it was just that in the chaotic Golden Core Avenue, most interactions were fleeting, mere acquaintances forged in temporary alliances or rivalries. She could not possibly remember everyone, but others were not likely to forget the woman who took first place.
To avoid being recognized and potentially taken advantage of in negotiations, she had subtly altered her appearance and aura. Moreover, the current environment was completely open and unregulated, and there might even be reclusive sixth tier alchemists present whom she did not wish to attract undue attention from.
"How many spirit stones?" she asked the stall owner, a man with a weary face.
"We only trade for items here, no spirit stones. The price is one Soul Origin Pill."
"That is too expensive."
Su Min frowned. She did have Soul Origin Pills in her ring, they were fifth tier high grade pills used to break through stubborn bottlenecks during the Nascent Soul stage. Trading one for this single medicinal ingredient felt slightly unfair, as the pill was generally more versatile and valuable.
However, considering that the man before her seemed to have an unstable, fluctuating aura, likely having forcibly elevated his cultivation to the mid Nascent Soul stage through some special method or desperate circumstance, she reconsidered her approach.
"Let us negotiate," she said, her tone pragmatic. "I don't have a Soul Origin Pill on me right now. But judging by your unstable spiritual aura, your foundation has serious issues that will hinder your future progress. How about a fifth tier low grade Spirit Condensation Pill instead? It can temper your spiritual energy over time and effectively resolve your current physical flaws. While improving cultivation level is good, an unstable foundation is a disaster waiting to happen. Though the pill's tier is lower, its practical value to you far exceeds that of the Soul Origin Pill."
She was not trying to cheat him, this was simply a more niche pill. Obtaining it would normally require specifically commissioning an alchemist, and the cost of hiring a fifth tier alchemist would not be cheap. This particular pill was one she had refined for Hui Ming at Kong Hui's request. In his previous life, Hui Ming's circumstances had been poor, and even after reincarnation, he suffered from lingering aftereffects from his rushed foundation building. Thus, Kong Hui was now meticulously helping him rebuild it properly.
From that batch, she had produced four pills, she gave one to Hui Ming and kept the remaining three. Though niche, this pill had its specific uses, many cultivators recklessly rushed their breakthroughs in moments of desperation, and this pill could alleviate their resulting ailments. It still held decent bartering value.
At this level of trade, bartering with items of equivalent need was the norm.
Gulp.
The stall owner's expression twisted in internal conflict. Su Min's words struck a deep chord, he had once faced a mortal enemy, cornered with no escape. By sheer, desperate luck, he had stumbled upon an ancient inheritance and used a forbidden method to forcibly increase his power, killing his foe. But the aftermath left his body and meridians riddled with problems. This Spirit Condensation Pill would be immensely helpful to him, perhaps even saving his path of cultivation.
"Deal."
Gritting his teeth, he agreed. The Divine Transformation Fruit had been obtained from a dangerous secret realm at great personal risk, it was the most valuable item he possessed. But trading it for this specific pill was not a loss if it fixed his foundation. More importantly, opportunities to obtain such a tailored solution were rare, he knew he could not afford to hire a fifth tier alchemist to custom refine a pill for him.
"Done."
After handing over the small jade vial containing the pill, Su Min casually tossed the luminous fruit into her storage ring and left the stall without a backward glance. Not everything here was worth her attention. With this unexpected gain secured, she did not linger in the market. Instead, she headed towards the center of the venue, where a massive, thousand hand golden Buddha statue sat in meditation, exuding a peculiar, ancient aura.
This was the manifested golden body of the Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata. Like other major inheritance sites, it contained a unique spiritual space within. Unlike the bustling, noisy marketplace outside, this area was serene, filled with monks and devout lay followers meditating or paying quiet respects.
Su Min had come here for a specific reason, Kong Hui had advised her to visit, suggesting she might gain something special or achieve a deeper connection before the trials began. Thus, she found an empty cushion near the back and sat cross legged. She had no intention of worshiping like a true believer, but she was genuinely curious about its mysteries.
As she settled in, the surrounding people glanced at her in mild surprise, noting her lack of traditional robes. But when they sensed the dense, pure Buddhist radiance naturally emanating from her due to the Great Sun Tathāgata Sutra, they said nothing and returned to their meditation. The three major Buddhist sects were the largest, but many other smaller traditions and schools existed, each venerating different figures and bodhisattvas.
Relations among them were generally peaceful. Even the three major sects, despite considering each other's interpretations heretical at times, maintained a veneer of restraint among their higher ups. The smaller factions coexisted harmoniously, after all, none could truly compete with the three giants. Thus, the crowd simply assumed she was a female cultivator from a minor branch or a disciple of the Great Thunder Monastery in plain clothes, and paid her no further mind.
Meanwhile, Su Min closed her eyes. As she consciously circulated the Great Sun Tathāgata Sutra, a strange, resonant connection formed between her and the colossal golden Buddha. Her consciousness seemed to lighten and soar, drawn out of her body and into a peculiar, misty world.
"This is one of the Dharma Assembly's secret venues," she realized, her spiritual form looking around.
The assembly consisted of two main public events, the scholarly debates and the martial contests. Alchemy was technically classified under the latter because high level alchemists were often formidable combatants in their own right. With their endless array of restorative, empowering, and explosive pills, not to mention their precise spiritual control, their fighting prowess was nothing to scoff at. Su Min herself was a prime example.
The alchemy assessment itself was not dictated by the major sects but was instead overseen by a remnant power, a legacy left behind by the Medicine Master himself. No one knew the exact purpose or criteria of this test, after all, no one had ever truly passed it in living memory. But now, Su Min felt a strange sensation. Her consciousness was merely a wisp here, unable to physically interact with anything, yet she sensed something unusual happening, a pull from deeper within the space.
"This feeling… the Heavenly Dao Insight? What have you connected with now?"
Puzzled, she focused inward on the subtle changes within her soul. After gradually forming during her Golden Core tribulation, the Heavenly Dao Insight had mostly lain dormant, a passive sense of clarity, but it was not gone. It resonated under specific, profound circumstances, like now, as her consciousness was drawn deeper into the spiritual space. In the next moment, her surroundings twisted and blurred violently. When her vision cleared, she found herself in an even more extraordinary place, a secluded valley lush with vibrant vegetation, filled with countless rare, glowing medicinal herbs she had only ever read about.
"Divine Transformation Fruits? Six or seven of them just growing wild? And over there, Frostwater Blossoms?"
Her gaze swept across the valley, quickly identifying many precious, legendary ingredients. But then, her attention was captured by a small, unassuming bronze cauldron that materialized silently before her.
"What is this?"
Before she could react, a stream of pure information, untainted by language, flooded her mind.
[Medicine King Ancient Cauldron (Innate Spiritual Treasure)]
[Effects
Inner World: Contains a unique spatial world suitable for growing all types of heavenly treasures and spiritual plants.
Time Flow: Accelerates the flow of time within its space. Note: Affects only the physical environment and biological growth, not conscious thought. (Warning: Do not enter recklessly.)]
"This is a fantastic treasure." A thought struck her. "Speaking of which, if it is an Innate Spiritual Treasure, it should have its own spirit, right?"
She knew this well, she possessed one herself, the token from the Black Tortoise legacy. Her own treasure's spirit was still rudimentary, capable only of broadcasting basic needs like, "Hungry, feed me!" though she often ignored its pleas. Su Min sighed internally. She could not easily find enough Nascent Soul level demon beasts to feed it. Her Demon Slaying Thunder, while potent, was not as effective against Nascent Soul foes anymore.
It was not useless, but against enemies strong enough to force her to use it as a last resort, the thunder's power was often insufficient for a quick victory.
"You cultivate the Great Sun Tathāgata Sutra, yet you lack the deep aura of a lifelong Buddhist. Though you bear the traces of incense and worship from others, they remain superficial, external. You are no true follower of the Buddha."
A calm, genderless voice echoed around her, seeming to come from the valley itself.
"Are you the spirit of the Medicine King Cauldron?" Su Min was not surprised. Instead, she asked with open curiosity. Her own treasure's spirit was primitive, this one, however, could see through her cultivation and nature at a glance.
"Correct. I have served my master, the Medicine King, for tens of thousands of years. I oversee the alchemy trials at every tier of the Water Land Dharma Assembly. Yet, after all this time, you are the first to reach this inner sanctum. Though you are not of the orthodox Buddhist path, your arrival here signifies a thread of fate."
"Fate, huh…" Su Min raised a skeptical eyebrow, then studied the small, floating cauldron more carefully. She realized her spiritual form was likely inside the treasure's main body now, while the small cauldron before her was merely a projected avatar.
"The Medicine Master's legacy is vast, and the core of it now resides within me. The Water Land Dharma Assembly is, in truth, the selection process for his successor. In principle, only a One Life Buddha, a soul experiencing its first and only incarnation, can fully inherit it."
"I see. Then I—"
"Do not rejoice too soon," the voice interrupted, its tone unchanging. "Fate alone is not enough. If you can pass all the trials I set, you may earn the right to become my new master. But since you have come this far, I will grant you a small boon. You may gather three spiritual herbs from this valley. However, you must be quick. If your physical body and soul were fully present here, every second you spend would equate to ten years of lifespan passing in the outside world."
"A minute inside would cost six hundred years of lifespan?"
Su Min's eyes narrowed dangerously, and a cold, calculating smile curled her lips. This was not a deterrent, it was an opportunity.
"Indeed. The temporal cost is prohibitive. Thus, I can temporarily—"
"No need," Su Min cut it off, her voice firm. "This works perfectly. If I am not mistaken, there are some… fallen Buddhists who may try to kill me during the assembly. I believe I will need your help with that then."
"..."
The Medicine King Cauldron was speechless. Was this woman utterly unafraid of death? Merely entering and exiting this space with her full being would cost centuries of her lifespan. Even for a Nascent Soul cultivator with a long life, this was recklessly extravagant! And she was already planning to use this place as a trap to kill someone? Did she not fear mutual destruction?
Of course, Su Min had no intention of explaining her full plan. She only knew one thing for certain now, the monk Liao Jie and his followers from Future Maitreya Mountain likely wanted her dead. And she never waited passively for danger to come to her.