The Five Elements Domain was widely considered the pinnacle of human legacy within the Golden Core Avenue. It was a place where countless ancient powerhouses had left behind their life's work, some even from the legendary Mahayana stage, just half a step from true immortality. The rules and environments within these domains differed drastically from the outside world, the air itself thick with the crystallized intent of masters long dead. This upcoming secret realm was rumored to belong to one of those mythical Mahayana experts, and the weight of that legacy pressed down on the surrounding area like a physical shroud.
This time, however, Su Min and Xie Yingying made no effort to conceal their presence or auras. Xie Yingying radiated an aura as cold and penetrating as the heart of a glacier. It was a chilling force that bit into the marrow. Even from a significant distance, cultivators shivered involuntarily, their breath hitching in their chests.
Su Min half-suspected that any man foolish enough to get too close would freeze solid on the spot, becoming a permanent ice sculpture in the volcanic heat. Trying to hide their power now would be laughable, utterly pointless. Besides, what they sought wasn't a commonly contested treasure. There shouldn't be much competition this time...
Right?
"Oh, still alive, huh? Three against one and still losing? Can't you even play the game properly?"
Su Min smirked coldly as her gaze immediately locked onto a pair of venomous eyes burning with hatred from across the crowded entrance plaza. The target was unmistakable: Mu Fengzi, the Wood Madman. He stood amidst his disciples, his robes dusty and his posture stiff with suppressed rage.
The other two Holy Sons from that fateful battle, Han Chaoyan and the Blood Puppet Sect's Holy Son, were also present. After all, this was a major secret realm overflowing with treasures and opportunities. Since it was a human legacy site, the resources inside were incredibly rich, drawing nearly every major sect in the avenue. The sky above the plaza was a chaotic mosaic of flying swords, jade carriages, and shimmering spirit beasts.
But only Mu Fengzi's gaze burned with pure, undiluted hatred. The other two had wisely kept their distance. They avoided eye contact entirely, pretending to be engrossed in the intricate carvings of the nearby obsidian pillars or discussing strategy with their elders.
"Hah!"
The moment Su Min's taunting words landed, the surrounding crowd erupted into excited murmurs. The sound was like a swarm of disturbed hornets. Some looked at her with awe, others with naked envy that they couldn't quite hide.
"That's the Four-Star Alchemist with the Five Elements Holy Body, the one who fought three Holy Sons alone and nearly killed one of them! And now she has two divine treasures inside her? Damn, most people would be lucky to get one in their entire life!"
"Her combat power is insane. Those three were all top-tier Holy Sons who survived the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulations! And the woman standing behind her, that's the Lunar Sovereign Body, right? Both of them have legendary top-tier physiques!"
"Well, the Five Elements Holy Body isn't fully matured yet, and the Lunar Sovereign Body didn't even go all out back then, from what I heard. They are monsters."
"That Mu Fengzi is the crippled loser, right? Three against one, and he still got all his life-saving treasures blown away. Now he is even weaker in fights for resources. What a joke."
"Shh, keep it down. Don't cause trouble."
Whispers and gossip filled the air as the crowd openly sized up both sides. Most held a deep respect for Su Min, especially given her prestigious status as a Four-Star Alchemist. No one dared speak ill of her within earshot, fearing she might blackball them from future pill distributions.
But for Mu Fengzi and his group? There was only mockery and scorn.
Three against one, yet he nearly died. Every life-saving treasure had been forced out of him, or he would've been killed outright. In the eyes of the cultivation world, he had lost all face and credibility. No one took him seriously anymore.
"You bitch… Just you wait!!!" Mu Fengzi's face twisted grotesquely under the crowd's disdainful gazes. Arrogant by nature and used to being feared, he had never been humiliated like this before in his entire life. His knuckles were white as he gripped the hilt of his weapon, his aura flickering like a guttering candle.
BOOM—!
A deafening, ancient roar cut through the tension as the massive, intricately carved gates of the secret realm finally swung open. The sound was a tectonic groan that vibrated in the soles of everyone's feet. A shimmering portal of swirling azure and gold light was revealed.
"Move!" Mu Fengzi roared, channeling his shame into raw rage as he charged into the portal first, his sect disciples scrambling in his wake. But before vanishing, he shot Su Min one last, promise-filled, hate-filled glare.
"Idiot." Han Chaoyan, watching from the sidelines, cursed under his breath. "No wonder they call him the Wood Madman. He is more like a Wood Moron."
Though he resented Su Min somewhat for his own losses, he wouldn't even genuinely plan revenge. After all, he had already obtained a different divine artifact, the Netherworld Ghost Water, which suited his Teng Snake inheritance better than the Eastern Azure Wood anyway. He had a legitimate excuse for his sect now. Why risk more trouble and potentially worse losses?
"Looks like he is still holding a grudge. It's typical of the Blood Puppet Sect's vicious style."
Ancient Mansion Holy City's Holy Son, the one who had fled the earlier battle, now approached Su Min with a carefully crafted, friendly smile. Given their past business dealings and her unparalleled alchemy skills, he saw this as a prime chance to build goodwill, maybe even earn a future favor. Pills were always in short supply, especially high-grade ones. Plus, his sect and the Blood Puppet Sect were bitter rivals, dominating the same province. If he could help screw them over, all the better.
"Since Ancient Mansion Holy City and the Blood Puppet Sect are sworn enemies… Holy Son, how much is Mu Fengzi's head worth to you?" Su Min's blunt question made the Holy Son freeze in his steps, his smile faltering as he processed the directness of her request.
"That Wood Madman is no pushover. Even after you blew through all his life-saving treasures, his personal strength—"
"Bring me his head," Su Min interrupted, her voice clear and carrying across the plaza. "The reward is five Four-Star Mid-Grade pills of your choice. Wait twenty years for me to reach the requisite level, and I will make them five Four-Star High-Grade pills instead."
Hiss—!
Because Su Min's words weren't hidden or spoken privately, everyone in the vicinity heard them. A wave of audible gasps swept through the crowd. Many people stared, their eyes wide, knowing that Su Min wasn't just offering pills, but her personal service to refine them. And five at a time? The price wasn't low; it was astronomical.
It's necessary to understand that even after the heaven and earth realms connected, it wouldn't be easy to find a fourth-grade alchemist in a short period. Because this class of alchemists had been nearly cut off for generations, some major sects didn't even have high-level alchemists in their foundational reserves.
So even after they left the avenue, they would still have to work hard and pay exorbitant prices for such pills. But now there's an opportunity right here, a deal that could solve many people's cultivation resource problems for hundreds of years in the future. How could these powerful, ambitious cultivators not be tempted?
Moreover, the details of the battle between Mu Fengzi and Su Min had already spread far and wide. She had revealed all the trump cards that man had played, so many people had a clear idea of his current capabilities and limitations.
In that case, the atmosphere shifted instantly. Greed overpowered caution. Everyone's eyes turned red, focusing on the entrance to the secret realm with predatory intent. After all, although there were many inheritances and secret realms, there were too many people, and many large sects mightn't be able to grab the truly good things. But this elixir offer was a real, tangible blessing. And Su Min only said to bring the head to her; she didn't specify who had to bring it.
"Hah! Lady Su, rest assured, the Blood Puppet Sect's tyranny ends today!" Ancient Mansion Holy City's Holy Son declared. His demeanor changed instantly from hesitant calculation to righteous fury. "Ancient Mansion Holy City will uphold justice on your behalf! Men, charge!"
He led his disciples in a full-scale assault into the portal, and he wasn't alone. Dozens of other cultivators, their eyes bloodshot with greed, swarmed into the secret realm behind him like a pack of starving wolves who had just spotted a wounded deer.
"These guys…" Su Min stared, slightly taken aback as the sky around the entrance emptied in a matter of seconds. She had known her influence as an alchemist was strong, but this was ridiculous.
"Now you see how useful your status is," Xie Yingying remarked from beside her, a faint smirk on her lips. "Was the price of five pills too much?"
"Nah," Su Min shrugged, recovering her composure. "They are supplying the herbs anyway. I profit regardless of who wins. It's just a matter of how much. It's good alchemy practice."
"He is dead. A man with no secrets left has no deterrence," Xie Yingying stated flatly.
A dark grin spread on her face. With all his trump cards exposed and his reputation in tatters, Mu Fengzi had nothing left to scare off attackers. Su Min hadn't initially planned further revenge, but since he insisted on holding a grudge and making his hatred public? She would simply cut the problem off at the root.
"Whew… That was close." Han Chaoyan wiped imaginary cold sweat from his brow as he watched Su Min and Xie Yingying finally enter the realm. His entire sect let out a collective sigh of relief. Thankfully, the Lady only had a direct beef with Mu Fengzi. As long as they stayed out of her way and didn't provoke her, they would be fine.
"Listen up, everyone!" Han Chaoyan commanded his disciples. "From now on, if we encounter those two in any secret realm, no matter what treasure is at stake, we retreat immediately. This mess is big. Even cultivators who weren't originally interested in this realm will rush in now for the bounty."
He wasn't wrong. The moment Su Min made her offer, many cultivators who had been waiting on the sidelines abandoned their plans entirely, sprinting off to spread the news or directly join the hunt. Han Chaoyan had already gotten his Divine Water, and Su Min had absorbed the Eastern Azure Wood. There was zero reason to fight her. And he definitely didn't want to end up being hunted down like Mu Fengzi.
"That idiot… No wonder they call him the Wood Madman. Once he loses his temper, there's no reasoning with him." Han Chaoyan's eyes then gleamed with a different light. "All units, move out! Hunt the Wood Madman! We could use those pills too. And you three," he pointed to his most trusted guards, "guard the exit. If he tries to flee, KILL HIM!"
"YES, HOLY SON!"
With that command, Han Chaoyan and his remaining disciples charged into the portal. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He mightn't be able to beat Su Min in a fair fight, but against a cornered, depleted Mu Fengzi? He stood a damn good chance.
Meanwhile, inside the secret realm...
"It's… empty. They all went after Mu Fengzi." Su Min blinked in surprise as she sensed the utter lack of life in the grand entrance passage. They had entered less than two minutes after the main crowd, yet the place had already been cleared out without a trace. These were all major sect elites, normally polite, restrained, and focused on their own goals. But when once-in-a-lifetime rewards were on the line, they turned into a pack of ruthless wolves. The wide stone halls were silent, the air smelling faintly of incense and old paper.
"Quit gawking. Find that flag," Xie Yingying urged, her voice pulling Su Min back to the task at hand. "If someone else accidentally grabs it while looting, we are screwed. And don't forget, the Blood Puppet Sect will seek revenge later. You've made too many enemies now. Running isn't a long-term option."
Xie Yingying's reminder snapped Su Min back to reality. After this very public hunt, the Blood Puppet Sect wouldn't let the humiliation slide. But right now, they had a bigger, more immediate priority: the legacy of the Five Elements Holy Body.
"Are you forgetting the Little Golden Crow?" Su Min countered, a sly smile on her face. "She is only asleep because her innate power exceeded the current world's limit. That egg has been accumulating energy for who knows how long, and I gave it a significant boost with my essence blood. When she finally wakes up, she will probably be at least at the Nascent Soul stage. With the Fusang Divine Tree, the Sun True Fire, and the complete Golden Crow Emperor's legacy backing her, we will be just fine."
Su Min wasn't overly worried. Once the realms fully connect and the new era began, launching a cross-realm invasion for revenge wouldn't be easy. The major sects would need considerable time to unseal their ancient reserves and mobilize. They would have to find her first. By then, she would likely be a Nascent Soul expert herself, if not stronger.
"Huh?" Xie Yingying frowned, processing this. "Was the Little Golden Crow really that powerful?"
But before she could question further, Su Min was already dashing ahead, following the resonant pull of the flags. The legacy mattered far more to her than Mu Fengzi's life.
Elsewhere in the vast secret realm, Mu Fengzi's earlier arrogance had completely vanished, replaced by a cold, gripping fear.
He was surrounded. At least five other Holy Sons and their core disciples had him cornered in a canyon of crystalline structures that reflected his terrified face a thousand times. Worse, his life-saving treasures were all gone, blown away by Su Min's final attack in their last battle. Those Earth-Grade defensive artifacts were incredibly rare and difficult to craft without accidentally pushing them into the Heaven-Grade tier.
"Have you all lost your minds?!" he screamed, his voice echoing with a tinge of desperation that he couldn't hide. For the first time, the world felt utterly absurd to him.
Meanwhile, Su Min's journey through the realm was… unnervingly peaceful. She strolled through magnificent halls and gardens like a tourist on a leisurely walk. The sunlight here was artificial but warm, illuminating rare plants and statues. No enemies ambushed them. No guardian beasts blocked their path. No complex puzzles or traps hindered their progress.
"Damn, this place is packed with goodies," Su Min remarked, eyeing spirit herbs growing freely along the path. Their leaves were tipped with silver frost. "If not for the legacy calling me, I would loot everything in sight. Well, there's always time to come back later."
"Focus," Xie Yingying chided, though her eyes also scanned the valuable surroundings. "This legacy might be one-time only. If someone else somehow finds and takes it, it's gone forever."
After hearing Su Min's words, Xie Yingying also reminded her that the inheritance of a rare special physique like this one always had a cost. It was very likely that there was only one copy in the entire avenue.
If someone took it away, it would be gone forever, which was why the creators also designed the acquisition difficulty to be prohibitively high. After all, these secret realms were left behind after many years of joint development by generations of the strongest cultivators.
There might be several great inheritances in this one secret realm, but there would also be many other, lesser ones. After all, the Golden Core Avenue was relatively small, and those ancient experts couldn't put their secret realms everywhere. So it was normal for several legacies or dozens of legacies to share a single secret realm space.
But a legacy for a rare and special physique was different. Whether it was the inheritance for the Lunar Sovereign Body or the Five Elements Holy Body, they were all incredibly rare physiques throughout the ages, and their potential inheritor range was extremely narrow. So to ensure that the legacy was not wasted on the unworthy, the requirements were raised to a perverted level.
Even Xie Yingying, who also possessed the Lunar Sovereign Body, didn't dare to enter its corresponding ruins casually until she was fully prepared. As for the inheritance of the Five Elements Holy Body, it was estimated to be even more difficult than the inheritance of the Lunar Sovereign Body. After all, the Lunar Sovereign Body was born with great power; the rest was just learning to use and develop it. However, achieving perfection in the Five Elements Holy Body was an extremely difficult, multi-step process, making it arguably even rarer.
"We are here. This is it."
Su Min halted abruptly before a colossal structure. Before her stood a massive, circular hall, dozens of meters high and the size of a soccer field. At its very center, embedded in the chest of a gigantic, intricately carved stone statue, was the final flag. It glowed with a faint crimson light: the Fire Flag. But the statue was not just a statue; it was moving. The sound of grinding rock filled the space.
"A guardian puppet?" Xie Yingying tensed, immediately entering a combat stance. Her ghostly brush appeared in her hand. Such constructs were typically forged from rare, spiritual metals, and their true strength couldn't be read by aura alone. And anything surviving this long, active and intact, in a Mahayana-stage secret realm? It couldn't be weak.
"No. It's not a puppet. It's a Stone Spirit," Su Min corrected, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the creature. This being had begun its existence as a mere rock, absorbing worldly essence and spiritual energy over countless eons until it gradually gained sentience and power. Its true combat strength? Only battle would reveal it.
"But don't worry. I counter it." A confident smile touched her lips. Her Wood attribute inherently countered Earth. Even her immature Five Elements Holy Body granted her significant advantages in such an elemental matchup.
BOOM—!
The Stone Spirit awoke fully, its massive stone frame rising with a grinding sound that echoed through the hall like a landslide. The Fire Flag on its chest glowed more brightly, pulsing with a rhythmic light as if feeding the spirit energy.
"Tiger Soul, test its defenses."
Su Min summoned her spectral tiger phantom. It materialized with a flash of orange light, sending it charging forward with a silent, open-mouthed roar.
SCRREEEECH—!
The tiger's ethereal claws scraped against the stone but left no visible mark, only a shower of sparks. The Stone Spirit moved with surprising speed, swatting the tiger aside like a bothersome insect. The spectral form shattered into motes of spiritual light upon impact, dissolving into the air.
"Trouble. This thing's body is as tough as a Nascent Soul-stage body cultivator's," Su Min's expression darkened. The other flags had been lying around unguarded, their original protectors likely eroded by the passage of time. But this one, the final key, was still in prime condition, guarded by a sentinel that had only grown stronger with age.
"Cheer up. At least you will get a high-grade Stone Heart out of this if you win," Xie Yingying tried to lighten the mood. The Stone Spirit's core was a priceless treasure for earth-attribute cultivators or artifact forgers. But Su Min's gaze stayed locked on the glowing Fire Flag. She knew, with absolute certainty, that this fight wouldn't be easy.