Cao Yuanmu's voice was measured and calm, yet his words sent a ripple of unease through the hall. "I wonder if Senior would consider becoming an eternal guardian of our imperial family, receiving worship for generations to come."
A strange, heavy silence fell over the assembly. The officials and cultivators standing nearby exchanged uneasy, sidelong glances, their breath catching in their throats. If Su Min accepted, they would all be forever bound as servants to the throne, anchored by her presence. The weight of the offer was immense. Not only was her personal power terrifying, but her alchemy skills were a unique treasure that could stabilize a nation. Her Foundation Establishment Pills were one of the few reliable methods to enhance power without the risk of crippling side effects—a resource they couldn't afford to lose to the wandering winds.
Su Min observed their shifting expressions, her eyes tracking the nervous twitch of a lip and the frantic tapping of a finger against a jade belt. She didn't refuse outright. Instead, a faint, knowing smile touched her lips, one that didn't reach her cold eyes.
"Are you aware," she asked, her tone conversational as if discussing the weather, "that in the current world, the Golden Core stage is the limit?"
A collective "Hmm?" of confusion rose from the group. They were momentarily stunned, her question pulling them abruptly from their messy political calculations and into deeper, more personal thoughts.
"Now that past grievances are settled, I have no more attachments in this world," Su Min continued. She looked past them, her gaze fixed on the distant, shimmering horizon where the sky met the mountains. "What I seek now is the eternal path of the Great Dao."
A soft, collective sigh of understanding, and perhaps a touch of profound relief, passed through the room. Cao Yuanmu bowed deeply, his forehead nearly touching the floor. He understood her meaning perfectly; the cage of an empire was too small for a bird seeking the heavens. This was her way of letting him down gently. To press further would only create embarrassment and perhaps invite her wrath.
The others felt a weight lift from their shoulders, but it was quickly replaced by a somber gloom that settled like dust. Su Min's words made it clear that once they parted, it would be a final farewell across a bridge that could not be recrossed. They were all at the Foundation Establishment stage, but none possessed the confidence to face the monstrous Triple Nine Heavenly Tribulation. The bitter truth was that many of them were even older than her, their own paths already reaching their inevitable ends.
Several months later, the atmosphere changed from somber reflection to grand celebration. Su Min sat in a quiet, elevated pavilion overlooking a vast ceremonial plaza. Tens of thousands of people paid homage below in a spectacle that had taken a full year of frantic preparation to coordinate. Leaders had come from the windswept grasslands, the humid southern borders, and the blistering western deserts. Even the major sects' masters were in attendance, their colorful robes standing out against the stone.
On the central stage stood King Yong. His cultivation was now impressive, having reached the Foundation Establishment stage through sheer resource consumption. The golden aura he released was enough to force countless attendees to bow their heads in instinctive reverence. He clearly possessed the power and prestige to be called the supreme ruler of the world.
"That little guy insisted on using the Lingdong Pill," Su Min remarked with mild interest. She watched the new Emperor from her secluded spot, noting the way his hands gripped the ceremonial scepter. "His aura is so unstable now. He will likely be stuck at this stage for life. With his talent, if he had accumulated his power for another decade or so, he could have taken a proper Foundation Establishment Pill instead."
"Senior, he will probably never have a chance to fight in his lifetime," said Cao Yuanmu, who had been assigned to keep her company. He offered a bitter smile, his eyes reflecting the sunlight. As the Emperor, King Yong would be buried under a mountain of endless court affairs and bureaucratic squabbles. And with their group of Foundation Establishment experts around, if the Emperor ever had to fight personally, it would mean the nation was already on the verge of collapse. At that point, one more fighter wouldn't make a difference.
Besides, the difference in lifespan between the early and mid Foundation Establishment stages wasn't significant. This was simply a way to extend his life to see his dynasty flourish. After lengthy discussions, and due to the Yong King's own fervent insistence, the imperial family had specially requested Su Min to refine the Lingdong Pill for him.
It was a pill with devastating side effects. When paired with a Foundation Establishment Pill, it could forcibly create a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but at the cost of the user being permanently stalled at the initial stage. For any cultivator with even a shred of ambition, it was an unacceptable trade-off. The ingredients were also extremely rare, making the pill costly to produce. But since the Yong King didn't mind, Su Min saw no reason to argue with his choice.
By noon, the grand ceremony concluded, leaving the guests satisfied and the air smelling of spent incense and celebratory powders. Su Min prepared to leave. By now, none of the world's major factions could offer materials of any real value to her. She had already accumulated plenty of treasures in her storage rings. It was time to set out and conquer the Three Great Blessed Lands.
Her eyes narrowed with focus as she contemplated her goal. The three lands were the legacy sites of three divine beast clans. While human experts could seal themselves away in ice or jade to wait for a new age, divine beasts couldn't. Instead, they had left their inheritances behind before turning to dust and memory.
The three lands were interconnected in a grand celestial design. The massive island above the sea was the Eastern Mulberry Land, the Golden Crow clan's ancestral home. The Floating Sky Islands were scattered in the clouds above it, and the Crystal Palace lay hidden at the bottom of the sea below. In the game she remembered, players could claim all three at once, and that's precisely her goal. Not only did these lands contain vast resources, but her Path of Merit and Path of Salvation also destined her to found a sect of her own.
The Eastern Mulberry Land was the three sacred sites' heart. At its center grew a towering divine tree, a counterpart to the Southern Ming Flame, known as the Fusang Divine Tree. On one of its branches rested an egg containing a Three-Legged Golden Crow, the clan's future ruler. It also held their divine flame, the Solar True Flame.
A gleam of determination shone in Su Min's eyes. That Three-Legged Golden Crow was her main target. If she could subdue it and make it the sect's guardian beast, she would never have to worry about the sect's safety, even after she had reached the Golden Core stage. Taming it would be incredibly difficult, but not impossible with her knowledge.
The other two lands also had their own guardians. An Azure Dragon watched over the undersea Crystal Palace, and a Great Peacock that wielded the powerful Five-Colored Divine Light resided in the Floating Sky Islands. If she could subdue all three, she would gain control over their treasures. But to make them submit willingly, she needed specific items—things that couldn't be found in Wei Wu Province.
So, she had to leave.
The world of the Immortal Path was far vaster than most imagined. It was divided into multiple states, each a semi-independent realm separated by a boundary barrier that shimmered with ancient power. Currently, these realms were isolated, unable to interact. Her destination was one of the largest among them, Great Luo Tian State.
If Wei Wu Province was roughly the size of East Asia combined with parts of Southeast Asia, then Great Luo Tian State was as large as the combined continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa, perhaps even larger. If she couldn't find what she needed there, she would have little chance elsewhere. She would have to search state by state, relying on nothing but luck and her own grit.
"I must avoid Lingxi State," she muttered to herself, her voice lost in the wind. "Those monks' territory is best left untouched."
With that thought, she retrieved the Flying Shuttle, her most valuable spoil from the old demoness. Even in the game, it had been a key quest item. As she infused it with spiritual energy, the palm-sized shuttle expanded rapidly, the wood creaking as it displaced the air. In an instant, it transformed into a massive, three-story fortress nearly forty meters long, its hull etched with glowing runes.
"So big," she sighed, rubbing her temples at the blatant defiance of physical laws. "I guess I can only use this for inter-state travel." The thing was far too conspicuous, a moving target for every greedy eye. For regular travel, she would stick to her flying sword. It's sleeker, and even if it drew attention, no one would be foolish enough to challenge a Golden Core expert over a mere Yellow Tier mid-grade spiritual tool.
At the Golden Core stage, one could melt Yellow Tier materials with their own spiritual flames. Crafting such items was not particularly difficult for someone of her caliber. Thus, Su Min boarded the shuttle and crossed the barrier between realms, the world blurring into a kaleidoscope of colors as she breached the boundary.
She emerged in Huo Luo State, a place adjacent to Wei Wu Province and of a similar power level. The air here was drier, smelling of dust and sun-baked earth. "Best not to stir trouble here," she reminded herself. "Great Luo Tian State is still far away."
Muttering softly, she summoned her flying sword and shot across the sky like a streak of light. Chaos erupted on the ground below as countless Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators trembled under the oppressive pressure of a Golden Core expert's passage. But like Wei Wu Province, Huo Luo State had no native Golden Core cultivators. Su Min was a transmigrator, while the old demoness had been self-sealed. The boldest among the local cultivators tried to pursue her, but they couldn't even keep up with her shadow. No matter how hard they pushed, they were left eating her dust.
Half a year later, after traversing multiple states and weathering various climates, Su Min finally arrived at her destination, Great Luo Tian State.
The moment she entered, dense spiritual energy washed over her like a cool tide, refreshing her mind and spirit. It felt like stepping into a lush garden after a long walk through a desert. Unfortunately, her cultivation was still bound by the world's current limits, and no amount of spiritual energy could change that hard reality.
"In the game, Great Luo Tian State had five ancient sects, each with a profound legacy," she recalled, her brow furrowing as she scanned the horizon. "For appearances alone, they should each have at least three Golden Core experts right now."
Now that she was here, she knew she had to be cautious. These sects had countless self-sealed experts in reserve, waiting like hidden vipers. While most of their currently active Golden Core cultivators were not top-tier—the truly talented ones being still sealed away—they still posed a threat through sheer numbers.
More importantly, these sects possessed high-tier magical treasures. If Su Min acted too boldly, she could end up surrounded. That said, she wasn't overly worried. As a master alchemist, they wouldn't recklessly antagonize her. Self-preservation wasn't an issue. And even if they did try to kill her, she wasn't defenseless. Her target was these major sects' stores.
While materials and herbs could be preserved for centuries, pills couldn't. These sects likely had vast stores of rare ingredients but not many finished, high-quality pills. That meant she could name her price for her services.
"Great Luo Tian State is vast, but the core lies in a few key locations," she mused. "I will gather intelligence first. I need the right moment to make my entrance."
With that, she summoned her sword again, the metal humming under her feet. She had a lot to prepare. Except for her bell, all her current treasures were Yellow Tier. She needed to upgrade everything, especially her armor, which had been destroyed during her tribulation. Now that she had reached the Golden Core stage, she would face true elites, not the impoverished cultivators of Wei Wu Province. Equipment superiority alone wouldn't be enough anymore. She needed a vast amount of materials.
Her bargaining chips were the pills she carried and her alchemy skills. Even in ancient times, no one would reject such an offer from a grandmaster.
Soon, she was in a major city, the streets bustling with activity and the sound of a thousand voices.
"As expected of Great Luo Tian State," she murmured, genuinely surprised. "The number of strong cultivators is astounding." Foundation Establishment experts, who were rare and respected figures in Wei Wu Province, were everywhere here, walking the streets like common merchants.
The state's true advantage lay not just in its spiritual richness, but in its unbroken lineages. During the spiritual decline, most states could only produce Body Refining cultivators, yet this place had preserved ancient traditions. Unlike Wei Wu Province, which relied solely on heavenly revelations, Great Luo Tian State had thriving, passed-down legacies. The number of cultivators here was immense.
Top-tier experts, however, were still rare. The Triple Nine Heavenly Tribulation was no joke. Those with real talent and backing preferred to self-seal rather than risk a breakthrough in this limited era. Once the true Golden Core era began, though, the number of Golden Core experts would skyrocket. Even so, Su Min wouldn't act arrogantly here.
Just look at her "achievements" in the last war, she thought wryly. Zero kills. Before even reaching the Wei capital, she hadn't needed to fight. The old witch was killed by her own Blood Infant, and the Emperor was torn apart by his own concubines.
"Come see! Come see!" a loud announcement snapped her out of her thoughts. A crier stood on a stone pedestal, waving a colorful banner. "The Great Luo Tian State Grand Tournament, held every three years, will begin in three months at Sky Summit City! The Qi Refining division's champion will receive a chance at Heavenly Foundation Establishment!"
"Heavenly Foundation Establishment?" Su Min's interest was immediately piqued. This wasn't something easily obtained. Even in Wei Wu Province, she hadn't heard of anyone else achieving it besides herself. Prince Yong's new Foundation Establishment expert had only reached Earthly Foundation Establishment. The wood attribute innate treasure required for Heavenly Foundation was simply too rare. Not everyone could be like her, spending ten years as a guardian beast to obtain one.
"A tournament every three years, with Heavenly Foundation as the prize," she mused, her expression turning thoughtful. "I see. A compromise, then." She quickly pieced it together. Given the superior environment here, the five great elemental treasures likely regenerated every three years.
While more frequent, they were also fiercely contested, especially with the five great sects dominating the state. Ordinary cultivators would have no chance. The sects had therefore agreed to pool the treasures and distribute them through a public tournament. Over time, it had evolved into a grand event open to both sect disciples and rogue cultivators.
Of course, without complete legacies, the rogue cultivators stood little chance against the sect disciples. Su Min, however, had no interest in participating. As a Golden Core expert, causing trouble here would invite a joint suppression from all five sects.
"But this is great news for me," she realized, a smile forming on her lips. "With all five sects gathered in one place, I can negotiate freely. As long as I don't threaten their core interests, they won't act against me."
Smiling, she turned and left the announcement area, her footsteps light on the cobblestones. Whether she could obtain all the materials she needed hinged on this opportunity. There wouldn't be a better one.
"I still have over a dozen Foundation Establishment Pills, thirty-plus Qi Gathering Pills, and a hundred-plus Qi Inducing Pills," she thought, glancing into her ancient black ring. "Heh, I have squeezed Wei Wu Province dry. It will take them at least forty or fifty years to recover. Let's see what I can extract from this continent." These pills were as good as currency here. As for the rest of her inventory, they were specialized items, useless to most but priceless to a few.
The pill she had made for Xie Yingying was one such example. She wouldn't even take it herself if offered for free. The Yin energy within it was overwhelming. Refining it had been torturous, and while consuming it wouldn't be lethal, it would cause unbearable discomfort. She had made two but kept neither. Even with her Nanming Lihuo shielding her, she wouldn't dare take it, much less an ordinary cultivator.
"Sky Summit City lies at the continent's center, far from here," she noted, consulting the world map she had bought from a local stall. "I need to hurry."
With a flash, her flying sword reappeared under her feet, and she shot off like a meteor. This time, she deliberately avoided flying over cities and suppressed her aura, ensuring she didn't alarm anyone unnecessarily.
Within a week, she reached the outskirts of Sky Summit City. The city was a sprawling fortress of white stone that seemed to touch the clouds.
"So many powerful auras," she observed, her eyes narrowing as she felt the pressure in the air. "There are at least three Golden Core experts here, probably one from each of the five great sects. Impressive." No wonder that old witch had hidden in a backwater like Wei Wu Province. If she had tried the same nonsense here, she would have been killed the moment she showed herself.
With that thought, Su Min landed far from the city gates and proceeded inside on foot.