The last shimmer of spiritual energy settled around the young prince, solidifying his new foundation. Su Min rose from her meditative posture and brushed a stray thread from her robe.
"Congratulations on reaching Qi Refining," she said, her voice calm and even.
Prince Yong, who had been watching his son's breakthrough with barely concealed anxiety, let out a slow breath of relief. He turned his attention to her, his expression a mix of gratitude and wariness.
"Now," Su Min continued, "prepare a quiet room for me. I will be going into seclusion for some time." She met his gaze directly. "As for the medicinal ingredients, gather what you can and send them to me in batches. I will provide the Qi-Inducing Pills in return."
With the boy's advancement complete, her work here was done. All that remained for him was the slow process of stabilizing his spiritual energy, a task that required patience, not her presence.
Prince Yong did not hesitate. "Attendants! Arrange quarters for Lady Su at once!"
He immediately dispatched guards to escort her. While he had no power to truly restrict her movements, her willingness to remain within his estate was a significant advantage. It gave him a direct line to an alchemist. His mind was already racing, planning how to mobilize every available agent to scour the kingdom for more Grade 3 medicinal ingredients.
No sooner had Su Min left the courtyard than the young prince stirred. He opened his eyes, a new sharpness in his gaze, and pushed himself to his feet. His first question was not about the new power coursing through his veins.
"Father, where is that lady just now?"
Prince Yong's eyelid twitched. Of all the things his son could have asked upon awakening, he was inquiring about a woman's whereabouts.
"She has zero interest in you," the Prince said, his tone blunt and final. "And given her achievements, you are not even in the same league. Do not annoy her, unless you want to be beaten to death."
He had to douse this hormonal enthusiasm before it became a fatal problem.
"No, Father, you misunderstand," the young prince said, his voice filled with a novice's awe. "I can feel this limitless power surging through me now. I feel like no one can rival me, except for her."
For a moment, Prince Yong almost missed the hormone driven version. Here was a stunningly beautiful woman, a master of her craft, and all his son could think about was challenging her to a fight?
"Do not disturb her," the Prince repeated, his voice low and firm. "She is a vital ally."
The young prince held his father's stern gaze for a long moment before finally looking down. "...Understood."
In the secluded chamber they had provided, Su Min finally allowed her shoulders to relax. The silence was a physical comfort. She was alone at last.
"Finally," she murmured to the empty room, "I can focus on converting these materials into combat strength."
Her mind sifted through her inventory. The monster core and the vast quantities of rare metals from the mine were a treasure trove. Combined with the tough tiger hide and other components, she could forge a full suit of armor. Even with her defensive skills, physical protection was indispensable. The only issue was the agonizing amount of time it would take.
For now, a simpler task. She would use the remaining ingredients to refine more Qi-Inducing Pills for trade. Her prices might seem steep to Prince Yong, but she knew they were more than fair. In any era, in any land filled with geniuses, alchemists and blacksmiths always held an unshakably high status.
"I have enough for two batches this time," she calculated aloud. "I will refine one set now and use this chance to break through to late stage Qi Refining. Plus, I can craft a Qi Gathering Pill too."
She crossed her legs on the floor and summoned her alchemy furnace with a flick of her wrist. The familiar weight of it was comforting in her mind.
A stream of information surfaced in her thoughts.
[Qi-Gathering Pill: High-tier Grade 2 pill. When used during Qi Refining, it has a high probability of elevating the user by one minor stage—but cannot assist in major breakthroughs.]
Having already reached mid stage Qi Refining, she was on the very cusp of advancing. This pill was the fastest and safest path forward. Her Nanming Lihuo flared to life around her hands, its cool fire dancing with contained power. With her current soul strength, high tier Grade 2 pills posed no real challenge. Once she reached late stage Qi Refining, she could finally attempt the more complex Grade 3 elixirs.
One Day Later
"Still not proficient enough. Only one pill per batch."
Su Min chuckled dryly as she examined the lone, perfectly formed pill resting in her palm. Then she retrieved another vial from her spatial ring. She tipped it, and several round, lustrous pills spilled out.
Qi Inducing Pills.
Enough to drive every Body Refining expert in the kingdom to madness. For her current skill level, refining them was not difficult. This batch had yielded five pills, a testament to both her meticulous use of ingredients and the pure potency of her Nanming Lihuo. Still, this was technically Grade 3 alchemy territory.
"It seems my compendium has unlocked third grade recipes as well," she mused. "Still, soul strength alone is not enough. I need more practice. Time to break through first."
Without any further hesitation, she swallowed the Qi Gathering Pill.
Boom!
Her aura erupted, a powerful ripple of energy that spread outwards across the entire estate of Prince Yong. Every cultivator present froze in their tracks, their senses jolted by the sudden, potent surge.
In his main hall, Prince Yong's eyes gleamed with avarice and calculation. "Once she emerges," he whispered to himself, "I must ask if she is willing to leave behind her alchemy legacy."
In the courtyard, his son stared in the direction of the energy surge, utterly mesmerized. "Father... is this her true power?"
Even as a new Qi Refining cultivator, the gulf between them felt vast and unbridgeable. It was a stark lesson that Qi Refining was just the beginning.
The surge vanished as swiftly as it had come, retracting completely into Su Min's chamber. She had already been at the very peak of mid stage Qi Refining. Over the past year, constant battles and the heavy expenditure of her power had only solidified her foundation. With the pill's boost, advancing had been effortless.
"My strength has increased again," she confirmed, feeling the deeper well of spiritual energy within her. "Next step, crafting the treasure armor. At my current level, it will take less time, but still far longer than forging the Water Fire Staff."
In the next instant, a small mountain of materials cascaded from her spatial ring. The gleaming metals and tough hides piled high in the center of the room. They were instantly engulfed by her Nanming Lihuo, which burned with a new, more intense ferocity. The room blazed with heat, forcing the common soldiers stationed outside to retreat hastily. This fire, unleashed by a late stage Qi Refining cultivator, could annihilate a Body Tempering expert with a single spark. These ordinary men were utterly defenseless against its power.
One Month Later
The scorching temperatures that had radiated from the chamber for weeks finally subsided. Ironically, the prolonged, vitalizing heat had turned the snow covered estate grounds into a lush, unexpected oasis. Nanming Lihuo was not just destructive, it carried the energy of life itself.
"Done." Su Min exhaled a long, weary breath, eyeing the completed armor set standing before her. It gleamed with a subdued internal light. As before, she had not pushed her limits to create a masterpiece, but the results were more than worth the effort. "A month of nonstop burning nearly exhausted me, but it was worth it."