[Glazed Ice Azure Armor (Yellow Tier, Mid-Grade): A specially forged armor tempered by extreme heat.]
Su Min's fingers trailed along the armor's cool, smooth edge. It felt like polished ice, yet it hummed with a latent warmth. "Still carrying a trace of sentience," she muttered to herself, a note of approval in her voice. "It should reshape itself to fit the wearer. A self-measuring suit of armor... how convenient."
The armor floated quietly before her, pieces suspended in the air. She had already inscribed her soul imprint upon it, binding it to her will. Only she could wear it now. And if someone was powerful enough to forcibly erase that imprint? Well, against an opponent like that, whether she wore armor or not would hardly make a difference.
At her mental command, the armor disassembled. The pieces swirled around her like a flock of living, azure scales. In the blink of an eye, they settled against her body, clicking into place with a soft, final sound. The fit was perfect.
She turned to look in the mirror. A striking, heroic figure stared back, clad in radiant, glazed azure armor. It was form-fitting and elegant, yet it promised formidable protection.
"This feels amazing." A genuine smile touched her lips as she admired her reflection. "With this armor assisting me, my defense could even rival the Arhat's Golden Body." The thought was deeply satisfying.
Normally, her loose robes hid her form from view. But this tight-fitting armor revealed a supermodel's physique, all sleek lines and powerful grace.
Knock, knock.
The sound at the door broke her reverie. With a flick of her mind, the armor dissolved into motes of light and flowed back into the ring on her finger. Even though she was a Qi Refining cultivator, walking around in full battle armor was a sure way to cause alarm. There was no need for that kind of attention. She waved her sleeve lightly. A pulse of spiritual energy pushed the heavy doors open with a soft, heavy thud.
"Ugh..."
The young prince standing at the threshold grunted low in his throat. For a split second, it felt as if a mountain of pressure had descended upon him. They were both in the Qi Refining stage, but the gap between them was a chasm.
"What is it?" Su Min asked, her tone cool and level.
Before he could fully regain his composure, a faint, clean fragrance drifted past. Su Min was suddenly standing right before him, her close presence forcing him to lower his gaze instinctively.
"So, you are Prince Yong's little cub," she said, her voice casual, almost indifferent. "You have been in the Qi Refining stage for a while now. How does it feel?"
Technically, she was not wrong. Her father had once worked alongside his grandfather. That made her and the current Prince Yong peers. Calling this boy 'little cub' was her right. The strong make the rules, and that single, non-hostile pulse of spiritual energy had just taught him the true meaning of disparity.
"We have gathered materials over the past month," he said, composing himself. "It expended significant manpower and resources. The temperature in your room was just too high to approach until now. I have brought people to deliver them to you."
"Oh?"
Su Min glanced past him. Dozens of servants stood in neat formation, each holding a tray bearing an exquisitely crafted wooden box.
"Good."
She could sense the faint medicinal aura emanating from the containers, and she allowed herself a small smile. This was exactly what she needed. Acquiring such a collection in so short a time was not just a matter of money. It must have involved political favors, underground dealings, and likely a fair amount of coercion.
But since they had delivered, she would uphold her end of the bargain. With a flick of her wrist, a small porcelain vial flew through the air and landed neatly in the prince's palm. He understood the weight of the gesture immediately. His father had sent him, the strongest in the family, to collect the pills personally. Failure was not an option.
"This is—!" he stammered.
He uncorked the vial and his eyes went wide. Five Qi-Inducing Pills. Each one was capable of creating a Qi Refining cultivator. As someone who had recently broken through, he understood their value better than anyone. Five pills meant five potential powerhouses, or five factions desperate enough to sell their loyalty for a single one. The staggering cost of the materials suddenly felt worth it.
"A complete Foundation Establishment Pill recipe would have been harder to find," Su Min mused to herself, equally pleased. "Having a major faction's backing really is indispensable." Collecting these ingredients alone would have taken her years. Handing over these pills was no real loss to her.
"Tell your old man to keep up the good work," she said, her voice silky yet edged with a hint of danger. "As long as he continues providing the materials and information I need, I will reward him with a pill. One that can raise his cultivation by one level without any side effects."
Her words hung in the air like a devil's whisper, and she saw the young prince's heart hammering in his chest. Even for royalty, that kind of temptation was impossible to resist.
"Oh, and," Su Min added lazily, "your father sent you with another invitation, didn't he?"
"Y-yes," he admitted, bowing his head slightly. "My royal father humbly requests an audience with you to discuss certain matters."
"Lead the way," Su Min replied, her mood clearly lifted. After a month of non-stop forging that had left her exhausted, the prospect of a good meal was far too appealing to refuse.
Prince Yong's Chambers
This time, the reception was far grander. The table was laden with lavish dishes, and gleaming goblets were filled with deep red grape wine.
"Five Qi-Inducing Pills," Prince Yong murmured, exhaling sharply as he contemplated the vial. "Five Qi Refining experts." The implications were dawning on him, and his mind was racing with the possibilities, just as his son's had.
"Sometimes," Su Min said, leisurely pouring herself a full goblet of wine, "a single pill is not enough. Depending on the individual, they might need a second one to break through. But if used properly, yes, you could create five cultivators."
She spoke casually, then downed the entire goblet in one smooth, practiced motion. Her bold and unrestrained demeanor would have put many seasoned generals to shame.
Prince Yong nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "I understand. My son also mentioned that you possess pills that can enhance a Qi Refining cultivator's power. But those—"
"Giving you one now would be pointless," Su Min interrupted smoothly. "That pill is not for breaking bottlenecks. It is an enhancer, and it can only be taken once. If your son uses it too early, its effect will be wasted. I would suggest he wait until he reaches at least mid-stage or late-stage Qi Refining."
"I see," Prince Yong said, his voice thoughtful.
He did not press the matter further. He knew that pills of that caliber were undoubtedly rare treasures, even for someone as formidable as Su Min.