The Immortal Gate.
Su Min descended from the sky, her feet touching the familiar stone pathway of her small courtyard. The air here was clean, filled with clear spiritual qi, a stark contrast to the oppressive darkness she had just left. With a gentle sweep of her divine sense, she was slightly surprised to find that both Xie Yingying and the little Golden Crow had entered deep, undisturbed seclusion, their auras stable and slowly condensing towards a critical point.
"Are they preparing to break through to the Mahayana stage?" she mused, a faint, wry smile touching her lips. "It seems they won't need the Mahayana Pills I prepared for them after all." Looking around the quiet, well-kept courtyard, she felt a sense of nostalgic peace.
After all, one was a supreme divine beast with a pure bloodline, and the other possessed the legendary Lunar Sovereign Physique. The Mahayana stage, a seemingly insurmountable barrier for most, was practically effortless for them. Even without her help, they could advance smoothly and likely progress even further beyond.
"Oh? Looks like you're back?" At that moment, the communication token at Su Min's waist vibrated softly.
"Of course. I just arrived," Su Min replied mentally. The voice belonged to Yao Xian'er, they had long ago established a secure method of communication over vast distances.
"The situation isn't bad. That True Immortal was forced to self-destruct by me," Su Min reported matter-of-factly.
"Forced to self-destruct?!" Yao Xian'er's shocked voice rang out in Su Min's mind, laced with disbelief. To her, the immortal realm was something she had dreamed of and desperately pursued her entire life, a level of power that inspired awe. Yet now, Su Min had casually mentioned she had actually forced a true immortal to commit suicide? This was beyond comprehension, defying all conventional logic of power.
"The problem is more serious than I thought. Or rather, they seem to have an innate, deep-seated fear of the Chaos Physique. Unfortunately, I don't know the historical reason why they're so terrified of it, even though mine isn't even complete yet." Su Min shook her head helplessly. She felt that their extreme reaction to her must stem from some cataclysmic event in the distant past. But even if she didn't know the specifics, it didn't change her current reality. She only needed to know that as long as she continued growing stronger, they would be consumed by terror. They were even willing to sacrifice true immortals, the pinnacle of their power structure, just to kill her.
So Su Min knew they would have more schemes, endless ones. But so what? She didn't need to rush headlong into their traps. All she had to do was steadily progress to the late Mahayana stage, face the heavenly tribulation, and ascend to true immortality. By then, everything would reach its final conclusion, perhaps even the eternal eradication of the Nether Prison and the Burial Lands themselves. But before that glorious future, she had to survive the present. And the most important thing for survival was to relentlessly improve her cultivation.
"It seems my guess was right," Yao Xian'er's voice was heavy. "If they're willing to make an immortal self-destruct, their next move won't be simple. What's even more terrifying is that this next move must also require the sacrifice of an immortal to execute."
"I know. So I plan to gather a large batch of specific materials to refine a ninth-grade silver pill. At the very least, it'll push me into the late Mahayana stage." Su Min chuckled, though there was little humor in it. This time, she intended to gorge on pills, using sheer quantity and quality to force a breakthrough. Her current foundations were sufficiently solid and stable, she didn't need to worry about the typical pitfalls of unstable cultivation bases from rapid advancement. Or rather, after reaching and solidifying the Unity stage, that particular concern no longer existed for her unique physique.
"Then I won't worry on that front. After all, I know nothing about the art of alchemy. If I get the chance in my next life, I might sever my own origin, retaining only the fire element and a trace of wood. That way, I can properly experience your alchemical path, it's truly enviable," Yao Xian'er replied, a note of genuine wistfulness in her tone.
"Of course. When the time comes, I'll pass on my legacy to you. The inheritance of a ninth-grade alchemist is something priceless. As far as I know, the only alchemist alive stronger than me right now is the legendary Glazed Medicine Buddha." Su Min smiled, and soon their conversation ended. Clearly, when it came to gathering rare resources and materials, ten Yao Xian'ers combined couldn't compare to the network and influence of a top-tier alchemist like Su Min.
"Lin Yao, come to the back mountain to see me." After ending the communication with Yao Xian'er, Su Min sent out a silent mental message to her disciple. With her current cultivation and immense soul strength, she could easily transmit her will across the sect without alerting anyone. In fact, that was exactly what she had done. Even though Xie Yingying and the little Golden Crow had set up powerful defenses around their seclusion spots, neither had detected her divine sense sweeping past. Naturally, the entire sect remained unaware of her return.
"Yes, Master." Soon, a streak of azure light flashed across the sky as Lin Yao arrived swiftly and landed gracefully before Su Min, bowing respectfully. Seeing this, Su Min nodded in satisfaction, assessing her disciple's progress.
"Late Dao Comprehension stage. Not bad. How far are you from breaking through to the Unity stage?" Su Min was quite pleased with Lin Yao's steady and solid progress. She had built a strong foundation.
"Junior Sister Yang has also reached the Dao Comprehension stage," Lin Yao reported. "However, the Law of Karma she comprehended comes with a heavy price each time she uses it, severely draining her lifespan and vitality, so she's not really suited for direct combat."
"That's just the inherent nature of the Law of Karma. Power and price are two sides of the same coin," Su Min said, having fused with a thread of the Law of Karma herself, she understood its peculiarities and trade-offs intimately.
"No matter. For now, I have a task for you. Announce to the major powers across the land the list of top-tier materials I need." Su Min handed Lin Yao a jade slip. "Tell them that if they can provide any of these, I'm even willing to offer an eighth-grade, nine-colored tribulation pill in exchange for particularly rare ones."
"An eighth-grade, nine-colored tribulation pill?!" Lin Yao's lips twitched involuntarily. This was the kind of supreme pill that could drive the entire cultivation world mad with desire, a treasure that could found a top-tier sect, and her master was casually offering it as a reward. But when she scanned the list of required materials with her divine sense, her eyelids twitched even harder.
Some of these ingredients couldn't even be described as merely "rare", they were practically mythical, mentioned only in ancient texts. A few required the natural energy accumulation of an entire star system over millions of years. In other words, Su Min was planning to effectively drain the resources of the entire universe this time. Wasn't this a bit too much? Clearly, her master was in urgent, desperate need of a breakthrough.
"There's no helping it. Right now, the only thing limiting my ability to refine higher-grade pills is the lack of materials." Su Min sighed, a rare hint of frustration in her voice. Even the most skilled housewife couldn't cook without rice. No matter how strong her alchemical skills were, she couldn't refine pills without the proper ingredients.
"I'll make the arrangements immediately and spread the word across all major communication networks." Lin Yao paused for a moment, then added, "Oh, right, Master. Tian Hao returned not long ago and established his own sect, the 'Returning Sword Pavilion'. It has a surprisingly large number of Mahayana-stage experts among its members."
"Let him be. He won't come into conflict with me," Su Min waved it off indifferently. Those people he gathered were all victims and refugees from the Burial Lands and the Nether Prison, sharing a common enemy. Besides, at this point, even a group of ordinary Mahayana-stage cultivators were practically no match for her individually.
"Mm." Lin Yao didn't press further. After all, the moment Tian Hao established his sect, he had personally come to pay respects to Su Min's faction, showing proper deference. He had even taken his wife and child, who had been staying here, back with him. Lin Yao's comment was merely to keep Su Min informed. After all, the sudden appearance of over a dozen Mahayana-stage experts, some even at the late Mahayana stage, was more than a little shocking to the local powers. Many were trembling in fear, given how many had once hunted Tian Hao in the past.
Without Su Min's alchemical influence and implicit protection, most would have simply avoided conflict with this new force. Even if some couldn't let go of past grudges, they'd likely fight first to test the waters and then bring gifts to apologize afterward if they lost. Su Min's reputation was just that valuable as a potential ally and terrifying as an enemy. But Tian Hao was different, his methods were more direct and less predictable.
Following Su Min was one thing, obtaining opportunities like the protagonist of a story, snatching treasures from a crowd. But causing too much trouble and disrupting the delicate balance? That was another matter entirely. Things had gotten quite lively in the Heavenly Continent lately. Thus, when Su Min's proclamation and material list spread, the entire cultivation world of the Heavenly Continent erupted in excitement and frantic activity.
"An eighth-grade, nine-colored tribulation pill as the highest reward? This... this could be the key for this old man to finally break into the Mahayana stage!" An ancient, wizened elder from a hidden clan stared at the announcement in a daze, his hands trembling. Many powerful figures at the peak of the Unity stage had similar reactions. Mahayana Pills were technically ninth-grade, but they were fundamentally different from other breakthrough pills.
Ninth-grade pills had no fixed effects, their properties shaped by the energy and intent during refinement. Even some ninth-grade copper pills could be considered Mahayana Pills if refined correctly. Of course, the dark, turbid qi pill Su Min had refined before didn't count, that thing wasn't meant for normal consumption at all.
Naturally, these major powers had their own accumulated, secret pill recipes, lower-grade pills tailored to their specific techniques and legacies. Thus, an eighth-grade, nine-colored tribulation pill, a pill of near-perfect quality, was already the highest-tier, most practical pill they could realistically hope to obtain. After all, for a major sect, nothing was more practical and valuable than having another Mahayana-stage expert added to their ranks.
"We must secure at least one of these materials. Judging by Master Su's intentions, she plans to refine a true ninth-grade pill, perhaps even a ninth-grade gold or silver pill. The resources required are staggering." The higher-ups of the mighty Heavenly God Sect gathered in their main hall, scrutinizing Su Min's list of conditions. As one of the major native sects of the Heavenly Continent, their foundations were deep and ancient. If not for the Great Thunder Temple hiding someone as powerful as Tian Yang, they could have easily suppressed them even in open war.
Now, the sect's five most powerful elders, all at the Unity-stage peak, were deep in discussion. A ticket to the Mahayana stage was far too important for their sect's future. After all, they occupied an entire super-realm and needed the power to defend it. But the materials listed made them frown deeply.
"The Eternal Blossom, if I recall correctly from the ancient texts, it only grows in extremely unique, life-rich star systems where the cosmic wood element is exceptionally dense. Our sect doesn't have any in storage. And the others, like the Solar Core and the Void Spirit Crystal, are similarly rare, formed under specific cosmic conditions." The eldest elder stroked his long beard, his brow furrowed.
"This Solar Core only forms in the very heart of a mature, stable star. To obtain it, one must physically dive into a star's core, and that requires at least late Unity-stage cultivation to survive the initial heat and pressure. Not to mention, all these materials are scattered across the remote, dangerous depths of the universe, far from any established teleportation networks." Another elder added, his voice heavy.
"No matter how difficult or dangerous, we must find them, and quickly. Time is of the essence. Fifth Elder, you'll stay and guard the sect. The four of us will personally venture into the cosmos to search. We split up to cover more ground." The sect leader finally declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Understood." The Fifth Elder, though disappointed, accepted the duty.
The Heavenly God Sect wasn't the only one mobilizing its top forces. The Great Thunder Temple was in a similar fervor, though their conditions were slightly better due to their longer history and broader connections.
"The three of you are all at the late Unity stage peak. After taking the Buddha's Relic Pill, you have a high chance to advance to the Mahayana stage and solidify our temple's position for the next ten thousand years." Tian Yang looked at his three most promising juniors and sighed. Their individual peaks were the Mahayana stage, but even with extensive preparations, breaking through that final barrier was incredibly difficult. Even with their talent and the temple's resources, it would normally take at least a thousand years of further accumulation and comprehension.
But the world was no longer peaceful, who knew when those beings from the Burial Lands might make another move? Thus, Tian Yang wanted to help them break through sooner to bolster their defensive strength. However, even he couldn't make it happen instantly, external aids like specific high-grade pills were necessary.
That was where their ancestral Buddha's Relic Pill recipe came in. But in the current world, only Su Min had the skill and power to refine it successfully. After all, aside from her, there were only two other known eighth-grade alchemists. And neither of them could refine an upper eighth-grade Buddha's Relic Pill, they'd be lucky to produce a low-quality, two-colored tribulation pill.
"But these materials Su Min requires are extremely hard to find. We'll have to delve deep into the uncharted universe, and even then, it'll depend heavily on luck. The stars are endless, and our traversal methods, while fast, will inevitably skip countless planets and star systems, there's no way to scan them all thoroughly." One of the three monks said, his expression troubled.
"No matter. The ability to observe causality and fate isn't limited to the Future Maitreya Mountain. We can use the temple's grand formation to replicate its effects to a degree, narrowing down a rough range for these materials with minimal cost, and I'll personally search the rest slowly. My Buddha's Divine Eye can perceive the threads of karma connected to rare treasures." Tian Yang stated calmly.
"Uncle Master, we, we could help," Kong Hui, one of the three, hesitated slightly. Clearly, Tian Yang didn't want them risking the journey, preferring they focus on their breakthrough preparations.
"The three of you should focus on your cultivation and mental state. Leave this material gathering to me. If we encounter any troublemakers or spatial beasts out there, I'll deal with them. Your safety is more important." Tian Yang's voice was firm.
"Very well. We will not disappoint Uncle Master's expectations." The three monks bowed in unison.
It wasn't just these two major native factions, even Tian Hao's newly established "Returning Sword Pavilion" had dispatched over half of its Mahayana-stage experts on this material hunt. Of course, they were more than willing. They had personally witnessed Su Min's terrifying strength in the Nether Prison. Despite being only at the mid-Mahayana stage, her combat power far surpassed any of theirs. Moreover, she was an incredibly high-level alchemist, a walking, talking treasure trove.
Under these circumstances, they were eager to establish good ties with her, to earn favors. Frankly, if Tian Hao were stupid enough to order them to attack Su Min's sect, they'd likely tie him up and deliver him as an apology gift on the spot. They owed him life debts and followed him out of gratitude and shared goals, but suicide missions against an impossible foe like Su Min were where they drew the line.
And so, within days, the highest echelons of power across the Heavenly Continent and beyond were set into motion, their sights set on the deepest, most dangerous parts of the cosmos.
"Even with the entire world mobilized, gathering everything I need won't be simple or quick." Looking at the initial reports and the sheer scale of the required materials, Su Min could only smile bitterly. Her single proclamation had set the entire cultivation world into a frenzy. Nearly every major sect and clan had dispatched their best Unity-stage experts, and even some Mahayana experts were joining the hunt.
As for Dao Comprehension-stage cultivators? They were practically useless for this task. Back when Su Min was at that stage, traversing the void between stars had taken her decades for a single journey. Their efficiency was too low, and they were far more likely to die to spatial turbulence or cosmic predators in the dangerous depths of space. They could move through space briefly, but they lacked the endurance and resilience of Unity-stage experts. Dying pointlessly in the void would be a massive waste of life and talent, so naturally, no one sent them.
"Little Cauldron, you've followed me for so long, through many trials. But from now on, it's no longer suitable for you to stay by my side." Looking around her quiet courtyard, Su Min retrieved the two innate spiritual treasures from within her soul sea, the Medicine King's Cauldron and the Heaven and Earth Qiankun Gourd, materializing them in her palms. They pulsed with gentle, familiar spiritual light, but she knew they were no longer suited to accompany her on her path.
This wasn't because Su Min was ungrateful or looked down on them. Rather, she now needed to constantly absorb vast amounts of turbid energy to balance her Chaos Body, meaning she would spend long periods in environments saturated with turbid qi. The Dark Universe was one thing, it contained a mixture of both turbid and clear energy.
But during her time in the pure turbid qi environment of the Nether Prison, Su Min had noticed a problem. If these spiritual treasures, beings of pure clear qi, continued following her into such places, their very spiritual essence would be corroded and damaged over time, their intelligence dimmed. Thus, she had made the difficult decision to relocate them for their own protection.
"Heaven and Earth Qiankun Gourd, I'll leave you here at the sect from now on, to assist Lin Yao and guard this place. As for the Medicine King's Cauldron, you have a choice. Do you wanna continue following me and risk damage, or return to the Medicine Buddha's secret realm to await a new destined inheritor? If you choose the latter, I'll personally send you back safely." Given Su Min's current strength and spatial comprehension, she could now forcibly enter the Medicine Buddha's secret realm, a place she had once struggled to reach. She had already far surpassed the Medicine Buddha's own power level from when he left his legacy.
===
Hey there! Remember how I mentioned wanting to pick more novels to fill up my schedule? Well, guess what? I've already locked in two—both xianxia! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
The first one was voted by you guys (thanks, polls!), and the second? Totally my personal pick. Because why not?
Now, for my yuri lovers (✿◠‿◠), I've got my eyes on a few ancient-themed gems. And ohhh, I've been tempted to translate a "Become the Empress" kind of story. There are two options brewing in my brain:
1️⃣ Option 1: MC was originally from ancient times, reincarnated as a modern person, died (oops), and poof—back to her first life! (She doesn't remember her 1st life at first, but plot twist—it'll come back later.) Oh, and did I mention? She's the daughter of Qin Shi Huang. Yeah. Big deal. (¬‿¬)
2️⃣ Option 2: MC was a badass policewoman in her first life. In her second life, her memories hit her right as she's escaping her messed-up family. Her so-called "mom's" side wants to use her as a pawn—marrying her off to some powerful creep (hard pass). So she dips, but uh… the empire's a disaster zone (literally). Natural disasters, refugees everywhere, and a civil war? Yikes. But guess what? What starts as a simple escape turns into her accidentally becoming the new Empress. Whoops? (≧∇≦)ﾉ
Sooo… thoughts? Which one sounds juicier? Let me know! (And yes, I'm way too excited about these.)
===
Wei Yunxi transmigrated into the novel she was reading—great, right? Wrong. She's now the tragic female supporting character who exists solely to prop up the flawless heroine, her half-sister Wei Yuqing. The original Yunxi handed over treasures, resources, and even her own cultivation, only to die horribly in the end. Nope. Not happening this time.
Yunxi has a new motto: If it's mine, I'm keeping it. No more playing ATM for the heroine. Especially since Yuqing is the Heavenly Dao's Darling—blessed with insane luck. Try to steal her opportunities? The universe just hands her a better one. Oppose her? Heavenly lightning says bonk.
But Yunxi isn't completely helpless.
First, she snatches the mahogany plaque—her golden finger—right from under Yuqing's nose. Boom! Instant cheat code: a cross-dimensional chat group filled with overpowered allies from the apocalypse, interstellar world, and even the divine realm. Now, Yunxi can trade resources, scheme, and finally fight back.
Too bad the heroine (and the male lead?) won't stop clinging to her. What part of "I'm not your personal loot box" do they not understand?
"Stealing Luck from the Heavenly Dao's Favorite"
===
"They called her the 'Vicious Female Supporting Character'—so she decided to live up to the title."
After her brutal death, Song Wanníng realized she was nothing but a disposable villainess in a twisted fate.
Her childhood sweetheart? Now the female lead's devoted lover.
Her beloved disciple? The male lead who personally crushed her bones and ashes.
And the sect that raised her? Complicit in her family's massacre.
Reborn with the knowledge of her past life, the Three Lives Mirror warns her: "To survive, you must whitewash your image and beg for the protagonists' favor."
Song Wanníng smiles.
Whitewash?
Why play the pitiful victim when she can burn the entire script?
-The Medicine King Sect's inheritance is reserved for the female lead? She shatters the guardian spirit and loots every last treasure.
-The divine beast rejects her for the male lead? She skins it alive and drains its blood—no blessings for traitors.
-The sect sides with her enemies? Then let them all fall from grace, exiled from the cultivation world!
They called her insane, ruthless, a demon in human skin—but so what? If kindness earned her only a blade in the back, then she'd embrace the madness instead.
But power comes at a price. To defy fate, she willingly embraces demonic cultivation, fusing it with her righteous Dao in a dangerous, delicate balance. The Heavenly Dao favors the protagonists with blatant, unfair luck, but Song Wanníng?
She doesn't need luck. She has wrath.
And this time, she'll make sure everyone burns with her.
"The Villainess Refuses to Repent"
===
Both of these novels share a similar theme—they revolve around characters who are forced to face a Darling of Heaven.
But unlike the usual side character vs protagonist setup, their pain, their helplessness, and their bitterness are portrayed in a raw and striking way. The protagonist's plot armor isn't just there to move the story forward—it actually makes us feel the depth of the supporting character's despair.
This is especially true in Song Wanníng's story. Her past life, along with all the betrayal and pain she endured, is woven into every corner of the plot.
Compared to Wei Yunxi, Song Wanníng is clearly the more extreme character.
Yes, Wei Yunxi has her share of hardships, but alongside her future knowledge, she still possesses a kind of golden finger.
Song Wanníng, on the other hand, has nothing—just her memories. And because of all the torture and betrayal she experienced in her past life, her mentality is far more twisted than Yunxi's.
There's another key difference too:
Song Wanníng is an authentic cultivator who was given a second chance at life.
Wei Yunxi, despite everything, originally came from the modern world—whether through rebirth or transmigration. That means her mindset, especially her sense of morality, is more rigid and righteous, like most people from a modern setting.
Even if she kills, just like any cultivator in that world, there's still a line she's reluctant to cross.Her internal restraints and modern values set her apart from the cultivators who were born and raised in that world. (Though, I'm not sure whether she eventually steps into the gray—or even black—area by the end of her story.)