The Water Land Dharma Assembly was one of the most important gatherings for the three major Buddhist sects and their numerous smaller branches. Now that the assembly had officially begun, three imposing figures emerged onto the central platform, each with cultivation levels that had clearly surpassed the peak of Divine Transformation, just a single step away from the legendary Dao Comprehension stage.
And this was not even their true limit. They had sealed a portion of their own power to remain within this realm, but breaking through to the Enlightenment stage was only a matter of their own choice and timing.
At this moment, the three stood atop the high ceremonial platform like three living, breathing great Buddhas, their respective sect's core techniques in full, majestic operation. The serene, ancient light of the Ancient Lamp Sutra, the brilliant, dominating radiance of the Great Sun Tathagata Sutra, and the mysterious, fluctuating aura of the Future Maitreya Scripture filled the air.
They embodied the conceptual Buddhas of the past, the present, and the future. The observing cultivators from other sects could not help but nod in silent awe. Long ago, to suppress the expanding power of Buddhism, nearly half the forces of the major heavens had been forced to unite. Yet in the end, they could only negotiate a tense treaty. Buddhist sects were confined to their own three core territories, and any missionaries sent to other regions were strictly restricted in both number and cultivation level, never permitted to exceed the highest ranked native cultivator of that land.
Even with these restrictions, the profound depth of the three Buddhist sects' heritage was undeniable. The sheer strength displayed by the three leaders today surpassed that of ninety percent of the other major factions. And compared to the three great Buddhas, the younger generation standing behind them was even more enviable.
"They already have late stage Nascent Soul cultivators in their prime? Tch, the Buddhist sects' foundations are truly terrifying. It has not been that long since the world reopened, yet their young prodigies far outstrip ours."
The crowd's gaze shifted to the proud, steady figures standing respectfully behind the three great Buddhas, young in age but already at the late Nascent Soul stage. These were the chief disciples of the three sects, all verified first generation cultivators, no reincarnated old souls. Otherwise, they would not qualify for the upcoming secret realm trials.
Of course, it was not just these three. Each sect had over a dozen other early and mid stage Nascent Soul disciples in their retinue. This sheer concentration of young talent made the leaders of other factions drool with envy. These were genuine first generation talents, not some ancient reincarnated old monsters occupying young bodies. It was an intimidating, blatant display of power and potential.
"The Buddhist sects have their own exclusive secret realms where their disciples can break through to the Nascent Soul stage without worrying about the Five Decays of Heaven and Man or worldly conflicts," an elder from a nearby sect muttered. "They are literally decades ahead of you all. But who knows what the future holds? At the very least, I can confirm that even if the top five on the Heavenly Ranking do not match those three in cultivation level, their actual combat power—huh?!"
The speaker suddenly choked on his words as a palpable uproar erupted through the crowd. Because at that moment, Su Min had appeared, standing calmly within the contingent of the Great Thunder Monastery. As the reigning champion of the Heavenly Ranking, her portrait and likeness had spread across the heavens within three days of the Golden Core ranking's conclusion.
"Is Miss Su a Buddhist disciple?"
The man was utterly baffled. He had seen her many times during the Golden Core Avenue trials, and during her epic battle with Yao Xian'er, she had not used a single recognizable Buddhist technique. Holding back such a trump card in a life and death fight of that caliber? It seemed impossible.
For a moment, everyone was stunned, unable to make sense of the situation. Moreover, was not Su Min the founder and ancestral elder of the Eastern Sea Immortal Sect? Not long ago, news had spread that she had annihilated an entire major faction, with the legendary Golden Crow Clan and the power of the Lunar Sovereign Physique backing her. Even if she was not the absolute strongest now, her future potential was undeniably monstrous.
So why was she here, standing with the Buddhists? What had happened?
The murmurs did not last long, however, as Liao Jie's voice, cold and sharp, rang out across the grounds.
"The Great Thunder Monastery is truly generous, hiring an outsider to compete for them in the Water Land Dharma Assembly."
"Amitabha." Kong Hui responded calmly, his voice effortlessly carrying over the noise. "Since Benefactor Su legitimately cultivates the Great Sun Tathāgata Sutra, she is one of ours in spirit. How can she be called an outsider? I met her during the Qi Refining stage, and she was already practicing the sutra then."
The crowd relaxed slightly at his words, though they were still deeply intrigued. The brief exchange had revealed a few key things. Most likely, Su Min was here to repay a favor or fulfill an agreement. She clearly did not specialize solely in Buddhist techniques, otherwise, she would not have needed to enter the chaotic Golden Core Avenue. After all, the three sects' own secret realms were far more suitable and safer for their core disciples than the brutal, free for all competition of the Golden Core trials.
"Humph."
Kong Hui's argument was flawless, at least procedurally. Liao Jie could only snort in dissatisfaction. At that moment, the massive golden Buddha statue behind the platform began to emit a faint, pulsating glow, enveloping the center of the ceremonial ground in a soft, golden light.
This signaled the start of the first trial presided over by the Medicine King Cauldron, Alchemy.
The legacy of the Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata focused overwhelmingly on the art of pill refining. To unlock his secret realm, the participating sects had to have their representatives refine specific pills under the cauldron's scrutiny. The speed, quality, and quantity of the pills would determine the number of entrants from each sect and their starting positions within the realm. The winner would gain an absolute advantage. But only three slots were available for this initial trial. Each of the three sects sent forth one representative. And then, the crowd erupted once more in shock.
"Heavens! How is this possible? Miss Su is already competing with those sealed elders? How did she manage this?"
Among the three figures who stepped into the glowing arena, two were clearly at the Divine Transformation stage, their auras deep and vast. Su Min, with her early mid stage Nascent Soul aura, stood out like a stark anomaly. It was unbelievable. The world was not lacking in high tier alchemists, but most had been sealed away for centuries. Who would have thought that as soon as they emerged, a newcomer from the current generation could stand beside them as an equal?
Su Min's background was an open secret, born into a fallen noble family in a remote, low spirit state, her clan had been wiped out, leaving her as the sole survivor. She had personally exacted vengeance, toppling an entire mortal dynasty. This gritty history made her current achievements even more extraordinary. Though five hundred years had passed for her, including periods of self sealing, there was no doubt, she was one of the true geniuses of this era.
"Humph."
Ignoring the shocked and probing gazes around her, Su Min specifically noticed the hostile, venomous glare from Liao Neng, the alchemist from Future Maitreya Mountain.
The other alchemist, from the Ancient Lamp Monastery, however, nodded at her with a trace of professional respect and goodwill. The major sects understood each other well. While the process was fair, Su Min was undeniably the Great Thunder Monastery's hired expert. There was no strategic need to antagonize her personally. Moreover, the fact that she dared to stand here at the Nascent Soul stage, facing two Divine Transformation alchemists, spoke volumes about her confidence and skill.
"The alchemy trial begins now. The first round of the three participants' assessment starts now." A resonant, non human voice echoed from the golden Buddha. "Interference of any kind will result in immediate disqualification."
"Begin!"
Clang!
In the next instant, three magnificent cauldrons materialized in the air before the contestants, and three dazzling pillars of flame ignited across the arena. But in that very moment, two of the flames, a deep blue and a pale green, visibly trembled and wavered in the presence of the third, a vibrant, roaring crimson fire.
Nanming Lihuo. One of the legendary heaven and earth divine flames. No beast flame, no matter how advanced or fiercely cultivated, could compare or remain steady in its presence. The two older alchemists could not hide their stark envy. Not that they could steal it, divine flames were soul bound and could not be extracted even if the wielder was killed. The flame would simply return to its origin point in the world, and no one knew when or under what conditions it would reappear for a new master.
So theft was impossible. But the feeling of envy? That was profoundly real.
Su Min, however, paid them no mind. She had a special, personal obsession with obtaining the Medicine King Cauldron, and now that the trial had begun, she did not hesitate, unleashing her flame to its full intensity. In an instant, dozens of rare medicinal ingredients materialized within the blazing crimson fire, purified in a heartbeat before being guided seamlessly into the cauldron.
"Good heavens, that is nearly thirty different ingredients at once! Miss Su has truly reached the fifth tier, and at no low rank either."
Many spectators could not help but murmur in astonishment. Though rumors had spread after Su Min provided a fifth tier pill to the Ancient Mansion Sacred City, most had dismissed it as exaggeration. Now, seeing it with their own eyes, they were utterly stunned. But the most shocked were the two alchemists facing her. Despite being Divine Transformation experts with centuries, if not millennia, of accumulated experience, their refining speed and grace paled in comparison to this young woman.
They suddenly felt as if they had wasted their long lives. Forced to begin their own refining, their spiritual momentum was visibly weaker than Su Min's dominating presence.
"Tch."
Mid refinement, Su Min's sharp, focused eyes swept over them. In terms of raw soul power, the three were now surprisingly evenly matched. Thanks to the intense tempering under the Bodhi Ancient Tree, Su Min's soul strength was on par with these old timers.
But with the unparalleled advantage of Nanming Lihuo, her refining efficiency, purity, and ultimate pill quality far surpassed theirs. There would be no surprises in the outcome of this competition.
Meanwhile, on the platform—
"Benefactor Su is truly extraordinary." Kong Hui could not help but marvel aloud. "It seems she is just a step away from the sixth tier. She might actually have a chance to obtain the Medicine Master's true legacy. What a pity, though."
This was his first time observing Su Min's alchemy up close. Though she had refined countless pills during her stay at the Great Thunder Monastery, she had always done so in strict seclusion. Out of respect and courtesy, no one had probed the process with their spiritual senses, Su Min's own soul power was formidable, and prying would only invite her displeasure.
Now, witnessing her craft publicly was like watching a masterful art form. Even the proud Hui Xing and the other disciples were mesmerized by the flawless, fluid economy of her movements. The pity, of course, was that Su Min was not a true Buddhist disciple. The thought of an outsider inheriting the Medicine Master's sacred legacy was almost heretically laughable.
But Kong Hui was not particularly bothered. After all, no one had succeeded in all these thousands of years. Something considered unattainable from the start was psychologically easy to let go of. And Su Min was not an ungrateful person, this connection meant future high level pill requests for the sect would not cost them an exorbitant price.
"To think… Master is truly Master." A young alchemist from a small sect sighed in worship. "Despite her youth, Miss Su has already surpassed the older generation."
The spectators could not contain their admiration. Many aspiring alchemists had come today, and observing true masters at work was a rare, invaluable opportunity. For those stuck at lower tier bottlenecks, this demonstration could be the catalyst for a breakthrough. In fact, just by following Su Min's foundational guidance months ago, one of her own sect's alchemists had experienced a powerful epiphany, his soul power had surged, and he could now reliably refine fourth tier pills.
Though still utterly incomparable to Su Min, he had instantly become a prized treasure to his sect. Now, as they watched the slender, white haired figure seated serenely mid air, many were utterly entranced. The aura of focused mastery and potent spiritual energy Su Min exuded was irresistibly attractive, even to other Nascent Soul cultivators.
The world of cultivation was often like this. While physical appearance mattered to some, true strength and talent were the ultimate aphrodisiacs, and Su Min possessed both in abundance. In an instant, she became the unattainable goddess in the hearts of countless young cultivators present. Not that she would ever know or care. And even if she did, she would likely merely laugh it off and return to her cauldron.
"Condense!"
Soon, everyone heard Su Min's clear, commanding hum. The next moment, her cauldron trembled violently, emitting a resonant chime, the classic sign of a successful, high quality refinement. The crowd instinctively held their breaths. This was a fifth tier pill! Most present were Golden Core or Nascent Soul cultivators, with only a handful at the Divine Transformation stage. A fifth tier pill was lethally enticing to them.
Crack.
The cauldron lid lifted of its own accord, and two glowing, fragrant pills shot out into the air, which Su Min promptly caught with a casual wave of her hand.
"Two Soul Origin Pills. No need to explain their effects, I am sure everyone here knows them."
She casually stored the precious pills in a plain jade vial, having noticed the ravenous, hungry gazes fixated on them the moment they appeared. Many were practically drooling. If not for the overwhelming presence of the three great Buddhas overseeing the event, some might have lost their minds and tried to snatch them.
Aside from their immense trade value, the pills' proven ability to break through stubborn cultivation barriers was enough to drive men mad. Overcoming bottlenecks was the most tedious, frustrating, and lifespan draining process for any cultivator, such a pill was practically priceless. But as Su Min put them away into her spatial ring, the crowd gradually regained their senses. Though still covetous, they quickly sobered up.
Treasures invite disaster, but only for the weak.
With Su Min's current demonstrated strength and terrifying background, only a fool would try to rob her. Her prowess during the Golden Core Avenue was well documented and fearsome. Who would dare provoke her and face the wrath of not just her, but potentially the Golden Crow and the entire Eastern Sea Immortal Sect? Besides, these specific pills held little direct appeal to most Divine Transformation experts, they could simply commission her later if needed. There was no need to make a mortal enemy out of her for a short term gain.
"This…"
While the crowd envied, the two competing alchemists were simply stunned. The moment Su Min retrieved the pills, the rich, unadulterated medicinal aroma told them everything they needed to know, the quality was exceptional, nearing perfection. And two pills at once? They had already lost. Though they could also refine Soul Origin Pills, they could not produce two in one batch, nor achieve such blinding speed.
"She is just a step away from the sixth tier. Sigh… what a monster."
The alchemist from the Ancient Lamp Monastery could only sigh in resigned admiration.
But Liao Neng's eyes burned with unconcealed killing intent, his plan to eliminate this variable now solidified.
[Winner of this round, Su Min of the Great Thunder Monastery]
A majestic, echoing voice boomed from the golden Buddha, resonating in every mind. A beam of concentrated golden light enveloped the Great Thunder Monastery's contingent, and the monks broke into delighted, relieved smiles. This meant they could enter the secret realm first, securing the best initial positions.
In the next instant, Hui Xing and the other selected disciples vanished, transported directly into the trial grounds. Only Su Min and Kong Hui remained on the platform, as the winning alchemist, she had her own separate, special assessment to undergo. After all, alchemists always enjoyed certain privileges in these events. They did not need to be first generation cultivators to qualify for their own path to the legacy.