The young monk had clearly set his price, a steep one at that. Su Min understood this was necessary, as his stance had already softened considerably from outright opposition to negotiation.
Sects in this world operated much like nations in her previous life. While friendships and alliances mattered, cold, hard interests ultimately took precedence. Knowing he could not stop what was coming, he sought to maximize his sect's gains from the inevitable.
"How many sets of materials do you have?" Su Min did not protest the demand outright. If this could be resolved with just elixirs, that would be the optimal, cleanest outcome.
"One set."
"Pfft."
Su Min nearly spat out the spiritual tea she was sipping. She only had two Dao Comprehension elixirs left for her own future use, having given the rest to the two super sects as an advance payment.
Producing three more from a single set of materials was utterly impossible, even with their provided ingredients. The math simply did not work.
"Three is too many, I cannot produce that many short-term. Not unless you provide at least five sets of materials. Besides, your gains will be substantial. Future Maitreya Mountain's entire foundation, their lands and their followers, will be yours to divide among your branches, with you holding the dividing knife."
It was time to bargain. Three pills were out of the question. Her two reserved elixirs were absolutely non-negotiable; they were her safety net.
"Then, one pill."
The young monk's eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly. He clearly realized forcing more from Su Min was impossible. More importantly, he recognized the true value she had mentioned. Future Maitreya Mountain's foundation, their spiritual veins and believer base, held tremendous long-term value.
While Su Min could strip their movable assets, treasures, and stored resources, the spiritual veins and, more valuably, their millions of followers would remain. Those were the true prizes that could strengthen his sect for centuries.
Outwardly cordial, the different Buddhist branches guarded against each other fiercely internally. Followers could be relatively easily converted; today worshiping Tathagata, tomorrow Maitreya, the next day Dipankara. A simple application of a conversion secret art usually sufficed.
Changing sects posed little issue for ordinary devotees, but abandoning faith entirely was difficult. These people were a resource Su Min could not take nor had any use to assimilate, unless she slaughtered them all, which was unthinkable and would make her a true monster. The natural result would be the other Buddhist branches absorbing these followers, thoroughly erasing Future Maitreya Mountain's influence through internal competition.
"Agreed. You provide the materials," Su Min stated.
"Plus three future seventh-grade elixirs of our choice," the monk added.
"Agreed. You provide the materials," Su Min repeated, her tone flat.
"Deal."
After a moment of deeply studying the now-parroting Su Min, the young monk said no more. This was already a highly acceptable outcome. He knew Su Min currently held the moral high ground. He remembered the violence of the previous anti-Buddhist campaign and knew the continent's lingering resentment toward the more extreme branches. Given sufficient benefits, the other two super sects would act without hesitation. With even Yao Xian'er supporting her, Future Maitreya Mountain stood completely isolated. There was no saving them.
The Next Day
"Well done. You are not just recklessly aggressive."
On their return journey, Yao Xian'er voiced her approval of Su Min's approach. This world's harsh environment conditioned most cultivators to act first and consider consequences later. Few employed Su Min's method of diplomatic isolation before a strike. By the time she actually moved, Future Maitreya Mountain would be truly alone, with no allies willing to stand with them.
"The soul contract is signed. The Great Thunder Temple will not intervene. As for the Ancient Lamp Monastery, we will notify them when the war begins. Even if they want to act, they lack sufficient strength to matter."
Su Min rolled her eyes at Yao Xian'er's praise. People here were not stupid, they were just conditioned by this world's norms of direct confrontation. She was different.
As a modern person, she had witnessed countless political and economic maneuvers. The principle was simple: either do not act, or when you do, ensure your enemy's complete annihilation and that they have no allies to call upon. True respect in strategy meant planning for total extermination of the threat.
The contract they had used was special too. Soul contracts were not made casually. Ratified by the heavenly laws themselves, they were virtually unbreakable, with divine penalties automatically enforced upon violation.
This was no mere scrap of paper; it carried immense, cosmic binding power.
"What is your next move?" Yao Xian'er asked.
"Assemble the forces. Even without you on the front line, I can field five Dao Comprehension experts and over a dozen Divine Transformation cultivators. That is enough to crush Future Maitreya Mountain into dust. If any other Buddhist branches try to meddle, we will crush them too."
"Tsk."
Even Yao Xian'er's eyelid twitched at the casual declaration. Every Dao Comprehension expert at this stage was a formidable existence, a legend in their own right.
"Which five?"
"One each from the two super sects, two from our sect, plus the Dragon Emperor."
"Hiss."
Yao Xian'er could not help inhaling sharply. This lineup was terrifying. It could theoretically attempt to surround and kill even someone of her level.
The Lunar Sovereign Body, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, and the Three-Legged Golden Crow, all were extraordinary beings whose combat power surpassed their cultivation level. Combined with the profound backgrounds of the two super sect elders, they could genuinely threaten her.
But Yao Xian'er soon shook her head dismissively. It made sense. The sole seventh-grade alchemist's promises alone could motivate Dao Comprehension experts to risk their lives, let alone in such a favorable circumstance where the enemy's strongest was already dead.
Soon, the atmosphere within the Eastern Mulberry State grew terrifyingly intense, thick with restrained power and purpose.
"Action in three days. My requirement: each of you three must provide two late-stage Divine Transformation experts besides yourselves."
Su Min addressed the room of powerhouses calmly.
The 'three' referred to the Dao Comprehension experts from the two super sects plus the Dragon Emperor. The two human elders nodded stiffly, their eyes repeatedly darting towards Ao Xue with a mix of wariness and respect.
They could keenly sense the overwhelming danger and domineering draconic aura she exuded even in her human form.
"I will provide two Half-Step Dao Comprehension experts. The Dragon Clan's ancestral home lies in the Deep Abyss, where the Fallen Ones' combat power plummets. So, our core defenses will remain secure."
Ao Xue spoke casually, offering not mere late-stage Divine Transformation experts, but two at the Half-Step Dao Comprehension level. It was a significant show of force.
"What do you want in return?"
Su Min rolled her eyes. If she was being this generous, fine, stronger forces meant a better chance of an overwhelming, swift victory. But clearly, she wanted additional terms, so Su Min did not immediately agree.
"Two high-grade sixth-tier Blood Awakening Pills. They can activate latent bloodline potential for beings like us. The recipe and materials are here. Those two old dragons are just one pill away from a true breakthrough."
"Fine. But even as divine beasts, reaching the Dao Comprehension stage requires decades of seclusion after taking the pill. We cannot wait for their breakthroughs."
Su Min waved a hand dismissively. Two sixth-grade pills were trivial for her now.
"Then discuss the specifics amongst yourselves. I have brought the Dragon Clan's war treasure to contribute."
Having gotten what she wanted, Ao Xue left the meeting hall cheerfully. Though divine beasts needed far fewer elixirs than humans, they still had their own specific demands.
Su Min had lost count of how many pills she had refined for spirit beasts. Even the little Golden Crow and her two main guards received regular alchemical support. Thus, though Su Min rarely involved herself in day-to-day management, her word alone could mobilize the entire sect's forces and its allied beasts.
"Whew."
The two super sect elders exhaled in quiet relief after Ao Xue departed. A divine beast's collective strength could not challenge humanity as a whole, but individually they far surpassed 99.999% of humans. Their default attitude toward humans was one of looking down their noses.
Unless they genuinely acknowledged someone, even basic, polite conversation could be difficult. The little Golden Crow was the same; within the sect, she only acknowledged Su Min and Xie Yingying.
As for protecting others, that was just a duty Su Min had assigned her.
Ao Xue had treated the two super sect elders similarly, her innate, overbearing aura completely unconcealed.
"Alright, let us discuss the operational specifics."
After seeing off the troublesome dragon, Su Min sighed inwardly. As long as they did not fight amongst themselves, that was enough. True coordination between such proud beings was too much to expect.
At this power level, none of them had any glaring weaknesses that needed covering.
"Master Su's connections are truly impressive. Even the reclusive divine beasts heed your call. We can only provide the two late-stage Divine Transformation experts we promised. The times are too unstable for us to commit more."
Though they had speculated about Su Min's influence, witnessing it firsthand still shocked them. The Golden Crow and Lunar Sovereign Body were known quantities, but recruiting both Yao Xian'er and the Dragon Emperor was astonishing.
"When wandering the martial world, everyone needs a 'doctor' for survival. I just have my methods."
Su Min smiled faintly at their expressions.
"Moreover, the Immortal Gate's overall strength is staggering. You must have at least a dozen Divine Transformation cultivators by now?"
"A pill's work."
Su Min chuckled. While they had been secluded in the Tianhan Snow Plains, her sect had flourished. With her stockpiled elixirs, three of the spirit beast clan leaders stationed there had reached the Divine Transformation stage.
Others included a human elder who had broken through from within and several recruits who had passed rigorous selection and trials. Even discounting the divine beasts, with the Lunar Sovereign Body presiding, her sect was now a genuine superpower.
Thus, the Fallen Ones dared not approach not just the Eastern Mulberry State and its four neighboring states, but even the nearby major provinces. Everyone knew Su Min's hatred for them ran deepest. In fact, there was likely no one alive who had been ambushed by Fallen Ones more times than she had, though she suspected many of those encounters were coincidental, her bad luck drawing them in.
"Sigh."
The two elders could only exchange wry smiles at Su Min's casual remark. The gap was too vast now. Their own sects had sixth-grade alchemists too, but none could compare to Su Min's speed, success rate, and seemingly limitless potential.
A mere sixth-grade alchemist could not command their personal attention, but Su Min was different. And those Dao Comprehension elixirs given as deposits? They were simply irresistible.
As time passed, the Immortal Gate mobilized with practiced efficiency under Su Min's direction. Beyond the main strike force, they needed specialized supplies and talismans prepared. This required the efforts of mid-to-low level disciples working in shifts before Su Min's final refinements, all performed without complaint.
This world differed fundamentally from Earth in its power dynamics.
Earth's complex power structures aside, here authority was absolute and flowed top-down.
A single mighty cultivator could sustain an entire sect's status and prosperity, exactly like the Immortal Gate. Should Su Min perish, the sect would likely collapse or be absorbed soon after. Thus, attacking a sect's ancestral figures was considered equivalent to declaring war on the entire organization.
Su Min's current goal was simple: collaborate with the little Golden Crow to forge several high-grade earth-tier magical artifacts. While not decisive in themselves, they would maximize their chances of a clean victory. She would also take the time to upgrade her own personal weapons.
Finally, three days later, behind the secluded mountains of the Immortal Gate, the force assembled.
"All are assembled. Our sect contributes five Divine Transformation experts including myself, plus two Dao Comprehension experts."
Su Min addressed the gathering calmly. Yao Xian'er was away, monitoring the Great Thunder Temple; she would not participate in the assault, her role was to ensure no tricks from that quarter.
The five Dao Comprehension experts present stood proudly, though subtle tensions simmered between them. The little Golden Crow and Ao Xue were glaring at each other, seemingly itching for a rematch. From what Su Min had gathered of their last spar:
Though Ao Xue had held the advantage, the Golden Crow had not been completely outmatched. One had lost many golden feathers, the other numerous shimmering scales. Their battle must have been a spectacular, earth-shaking event.
The two super sect experts pretended to be deeply studying the clear sky, expertly ignoring the divine beasts' friction, while Xie Yingying stood quietly and motionlessly behind Su Min, a pillar of calm intensity.
"If you two want to fight, settle it after our mission is complete. Little Golden Crow, use your Solar Bell to teleport us directly above Future Maitreya Mountain and breach their main defensive formation in the first strike."
"No problem."
The Golden Crow broke eye contact with Ao Xue. Both understood the priorities. This was not the time for personal grudges.
As her hands clasped together in a complex seal, an enormous ancient golden bell materialized above them, its surface covered in sun motifs. It swelled in size, enveloping all present in a sphere of brilliant, warping light.