Pfft—
Su Min jolted awake in her physical body, a coppery taste flooding her mouth as she coughed out a mouthful of dark, viscous blood. The spiritual backlash hit her like a tidal wave, leaving her dizzy and her meridians screaming. But before she could sway and fall, a cool, yin-infused energy, familiar and precise, threaded into her chaotic meridians. It was gentle, soothing the frayed edges of her spirit, yet unmistakably potent. It steadied her crumbling core and calmed the riot of energy roiling through her dantian.
She did not need to look to know whose energy it was, whose presence had materialized the moment her stability fractured.
"You call this cultivating?" Xie Yingying's voice cut through the haze, cold and sharp, though her hand remained firmly pressed against Su Min's back, a steadying anchor. "You almost blew the roof off the mountain. If that energy wave had leaked outside the wards, every cultivator below the Golden Core stage within ten li would have died on the spot, their souls shredded."
"Uh…" Su Min coughed again, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand as she weakly looked around.
Her meditation chamber was gone, simply gone. Reduced to a circle of fine rubble and scattered dust. And in its place, a complex, shimmering containment array hummed quietly, threads of pure, dark Taiyin Qi weaving through the cracked air and fractured stone like elegant black silk, containing the residual fury. It was clearly Xie Yingying's handiwork, meticulously crafted, spiritually refined, and radiating a subtle, pointed irritation.
"There was a remnant immortal's will inside the relic, so the commotion was a bit… excessive," Su Min sighed helplessly, her voice hoarse. She could not have afforded to wait for Xie Yingying's help. Unlike Jiang Xi's case, where Yao Xian'er had prepared specific sealing chains in advance, this relic had no such external safeguards. The danger had been entirely internal.
"A remnant will?"
Xie Yingying's expression turned grim in an instant, her eyes narrowing to slits.
"The same kind that corrupted Jiang Xi?" Her voice was low, dangerous.
"The kind that is not the real entity, just a wisp of spiritual energy so desperate and vile it would try to possess anything with a pulse?"
Xie Yingying's brows furrowed deeply, the worry lines on her forehead pronounced. Her grip on Su Min's shoulder unconsciously tightened, her knuckles white.
"You are sure you are alright?" Her voice had softened a fraction, but the sharp edge of her worry was palpable beneath it. She knew exactly how insidious those ancient soul fragments could be, how close Jiang Xi had come to being utterly lost, her consciousness overwritten forever. And Su Min was not even at the peak of Mahayana yet; her soul, while strong, was not invincible.
"I am fine," Su Min reassured her, meeting her intense gaze. "Nothing lingered. I burned it down to the last spiritual atom. Judging by its weakened state, the Unity-stage monk who originally sealed it had already ground most of its power away over the millennia."
Xie Yingying did not answer immediately. Her dark eyes searched Su Min's face, her spiritual sense lightly brushing against Su Min's, as if trying to see past the calm words to any hidden damage, any lingering taint beneath the surface.
But Su Min met her probing gaze without flinching, her own spiritual light shining clear and steady.
"…Alright," Xie Yingying said finally, her voice quiet, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little. "But next time, you wait for me. Do not face such a thing alone again."
"Mn." Su Min nodded, her own tone softening in acknowledgment. "Help me set up another room. I need to refine the relic's pure essence completely before the uncontained energy destabilizes my core again."
Xie Yingying moved without another word, her sleeve flicking gracefully as she summoned fresh formation flags and spiritual stones from her storage ring. But even as she turned to begin the work, she remained close, her presence a constant shield, never more than a few steps from Su Min's side.
"Can you reach the Dao Comprehension stage with this?" Xie Yingying asked without looking back, her focus on stabilizing the new space.
"How could I? I am not a Lunar Sovereign like you, breaking through major realms is as natural as breathing," Su Min rolled her eyes, though a wry smile touched her lips. The Five Elements Holy Body was powerful, but it did not grant such effortless advancement. However, the texts said that once a Five Elements Holy Body truly reached Mahayana, its comprehensive power would actually surpass that of a pure Lunar Sovereign.
"You had better break through soon, then. Your seclusion has already lasted over half a month. From what I have been hearing, the world outside is not peaceful right now."
"Oh?" Su Min's eyes narrowed slightly, her mind already racing through possibilities, landing on a few likely culprits.
"A terrifyingly powerful fallen one has emerged from the shadows. It has already destroyed several mid-sized sects, though it seems to only devour cultivators for their energy; ordinary mortals have been left alone, for now."
"A Mahayana fallen one…"
Su Min took a deep breath, her expression turning grave. She recalled one of the final bosses from the game's late-stage lore, a Mahayana-level powerhouse who had slumbered for epochs.
Given the accelerated timeline, that thing should have awakened by now. However, it was extremely cunning; it would not reveal itself fully until it had consumed enough to regain its peak strength. Even if Yao Xian'er and the little monk from the Great Thunder Temple joined forces to hunt it down now, they would likely not succeed in cornering it.
Unless a true immortal descended, no one in this era could force it out into the open prematurely.
"Mahayana…"
Xie Yingying's face also darkened, a shadow passing over her features. Even if Jiang Xi had been at her peak and hostile, she could have effortlessly killed Xie Yingying back then, even if Xie Yingying had already reached the Dao Comprehension stage. The gap was that vast.
The chasm between Mahayana and the Unity stage was even greater than that between Unity and Divine Transformation. Only the most exceptional, heaven-defying physiques and techniques could hope to bridge such an overwhelming disparity, and even then, it was nearly meaningless in a direct confrontation.
After all, every being that reached Mahayana was a legend in their own right, a force of nature. If your physique was extraordinary, theirs was likely no less impressive. As for Yao Xian'er, it would take her a long, long time to recover her own Mahayana-level strength. The only silver lining was that intelligence suggested the fallen one's current strength was only at the half-step Mahayana stage.
"By the way, what about that place I asked you to monitor?"
Su Min pushed the grim matter aside for now; it was not something she could influence at her current level. The major sects would be lucky just to protect their own territories; organizing a preemptive hunt was wishful thinking.
The place she was referring to was naturally the White Tiger Inheritance Ground, an ancient battlefield drenched in slaughter, hidden within the folds of space-time and now on the verge of manifesting into the world.
"In the Black Marsh State, a vast area has recently been engulfed in an overwhelming, palpable killing intent. The very air tastes of metal and blood. It should be the place you are looking for."
"So soon?"
Su Min's brows knitted tightly together. This timing did not align with her internal calculations; it was early.
"What are you planning to do?" Xie Yingying asked, turning to face her fully.
"The White Tiger's inheritance is there. And the prerequisite to even attempt the trial, the Path of Slaughter, will likely be obtained by a few. This time, just like with the Azure Dragon's inheritance, there will be fierce, bloody competition. It will not be a peaceful gathering."
"Hmm?"
Xie Yingying frowned. While Su Min's name and reputation alone could make most people back off, when it came to a divine inheritance of this magnitude, that deterrent might not be enough. Greed often overrode fear.
"Should we call for more help? The little Golden Crow, or Ao Xue?"
"No. The energy there is too violent and restrictive. Right now, with the Mahayana fallen one active, Dao Comprehension-stage experts probably will not leave their sects easily. Besides, the inheritance ground has its own rules. Even you might not be able to intervene directly this time. Speaking of which, how is the little Golden Crow doing? I have not felt her presence."
"She… uh, came back a few days ago with a bruised face and a dented ego, and went straight back into seclusion without a word."
"Who won?"
Su Min was a little curious. Those two proud divine beasts must have had another secret, spectacular brawl somewhere remote.
This was fairly normal behavior for their kind. Divine beasts rarely fought to the death over petty squabbles, but it was common for them to clash and test their strength when they met, especially since these two were among the strongest progenitors of their respective races.
"Hard to say. Probably a draw. Judging by the Little Golden Crow's frustrated expression, they were likely evenly matched. Ao Xue's cultivation is slightly higher, having broken through earlier, but the Little Golden Crow has the Yin-Yang Plumage you helped her forge using our combined essence blood. They seem to balance each other out."
"Tsk."
Su Min clicked her tongue but did not comment further. It did not truly concern her. Those two could fight all they wanted; it was in their nature. Divine beasts often brawled to establish hierarchy, but they almost never fought to the death without profound reason.
"I need to continue my seclusion and consolidate this new power. Keep an eye on that place in the Black Marsh State for me. If necessary, send some of our Nascent Soul or early Divine Transformation disciples in to scout. I need to ensure no one touches the core of the White Tiger's inheritance before I arrive."
"Understood."
Xie Yingying nodded and, after ensuring the new formation was stable, left the room silently. She knew how critically important this was to Su Min's path.
"Now, I can finally absorb it completely. Though it is a bit of a pity, this relic contains a special, solidified Dao, enough to help a late-stage Divine Transformation monk break through to the Dao Comprehension stage."
Su Min muttered to herself as she examined the now-dulled relic in her hand. She would only absorb its pure, foundational energy, deliberately discarding the specific Buddhist Dao it contained. For her, the Time Dao was her only choice, the path she had set her heart on.
With that thought, Su Min closed her eyes and entered deep seclusion once again in her newly arranged, stark room. This time, her goal was clear: to at least reach and firmly settle into the late-stage Divine Transformation realm. As for the Dao Comprehension stage, that would depend on fate, opportunity, and a deeper accumulation.
Time Passes…
As Su Min continued her seclusion, the world outside underwent rapid, significant changes. The most immediately significant was the fate of the vast territory once ruled by the annihilated Future Maitreya Mountain.
Just as Su Min had predicted, it had become a bloody feast for the various other Buddhist sects. Though she had emptied Future Maitreya Mountain's central treasure vaults, vast resources remained across the territory: billions of people, countless spiritual veins, mines, and lesser holy sites.
Su Min could not have taken all of it, nor would she have wanted the immense burden of governing such a large, devout population.
To ensure Future Maitreya Mountain was completely eradicated from history, the other major sects took over the political and spiritual cleanup. They efficiently dispersed and converted the billions of followers. Since they were all part of the broader Buddhist religion, switching worship from Maitreya to other Buddhas or Bodhisattvas was a relatively simple doctrinal shift, enforced by the new powers.
Within a year, the entire territory had been neatly divided between the Great Thunder Temple and the Ancient Lamp Monastery, with smaller scraps going to loyal branch sects. Future Maitreya Mountain's name, its unique scriptures, and its legacy were systematically erased; none of the sects would tolerate its remnants or ideology surviving within their new domains.
~
On an otherwise ordinary day in Eastern Mulberry State, an unexpected, powerful guest arrived.
"Su Min is still in deep seclusion, attempting a breakthrough. She will not emerge anytime soon. If you have business, you may speak to me."
In the grand reception hall of the Immortal Gate, Xie Yingying sat cross-legged on a raised platform, her aura cool and imposing as she faced a young man who appeared to be in his late teens, his eyes holding an ancient sharpness.
It was Tian Hao, one of the legendary Five Supreme Physiques, the bearer of the Great Desolate Holy Body, and the same person who had once fought Su Min to a standstill during the Golden Core Avenue competition. Though his cultivation was only at the late-stage Divine Transformation, no one in the sect dared underestimate him. Thus, Xie Yingying personally received him; if his legendary temper flared and he went berserk, she was one of the few who could reliably suppress him.
"I need a special Grade 7 pill, the Heavenly Yang Fire Pill."
"What tier?" Xie Yingying asked, her voice neutral.
"Low-tier Grade 7. Right now, only Miss Su can refine it. I have prepared all the materials, I just need to know what additional price she will demand."
"Hmm…"
Xie Yingying narrowed her eyes, her sharp gaze scrutinizing Tian Hao, who grew slightly uneasy under her intense, knowing stare.
"This pill is for your little girlfriend, is it not? With your own supreme physique, you have no need for its effects."
Even without knowing the pill's exact properties, the name "Heavenly Yang Fire Pill" alone told her enough about its purifying, yang-aspected nature.
"Correct."
Tian Hao admitted without hesitation, his gaze flicking briefly to the pale, silent girl standing behind him. There was no point in hiding it.
"She will likely emerge from seclusion in a few months. If you are not in a great hurry, you can stay here within the sect and wait."
Xie Yingying glanced at the girl behind Tian Hao, who seemed afflicted by a deep-seated, corrosive fire poison. Her condition was not immediately life-threatening, but it had clearly crippled her cultivation for the time being. Since she was also a Divine Transformation cultivator, waiting a few months was not a significant issue.
"Fine."
Tian Hao sighed in reluctant acceptance. Without Su Min, there was absolutely nothing he could do. And the cost of her help would undoubtedly be high. The two of them were wandering cultivators with no fixed abode or sect backing, which was why they had missed Su Min's earlier call for allies against Future Maitreya Mountain. But what was done was done. As long as Su Min was willing to name a price, he would accept it, even if the terms were demanding.
"Late-stage Divine Transformation, combat prowess unquestionable, and possessing at least two divine artifacts from his past encounters… He is the perfect helper."
As Tian Hao left the hall with his ailing companion, guided by a disciple to guest quarters, Xie Yingying's eyes gleamed with strategic calculation. She had already confirmed the location and imminent opening of the ancient battlefield for Su Min, but there was a critical problem: the spatial laws of the place only allowed Divine Transformation cultivators and below to enter.
At her current Dao Comprehension stage cultivation, she would be completely barred from entering.
She had been wondering where to find a reliable and powerful ally to accompany Su Min into that dangerous place. The two divine beasts, Ao Xue and the Golden Crow Emperor, had already reached the Dao Comprehension stage under Su Min's alchemical help and thus could not enter.
Now, Tian Hao had delivered himself right to her doorstep.
"No need to hesitate, might as well use him."
Given that he had once fought the monstrous Su Min to a standstill, his combat prowess was beyond doubt. All that remained was to dangle the necessary pill as a bait; Su Min was far better at that kind of negotiation than she was.
While Tian Hao settled into a secluded courtyard at the Immortal Gate, Su Min finally stirred within her sealed chamber.
The radiant relic in her hand was rapidly shrinking, dimming, as its pure, dense energy was voraciously absorbed and refined by her system. This was the concentrated essence left behind by a Unity-stage monk's final self-immolation, an extraordinary treasure that could even propel a peak Divine Transformation cultivator directly into the Dao Comprehension stage.
But the conditions for using it were harshly specific. Future Maitreya Mountain had never managed to use it, likely because no one could handle or purge the malignant remnant will inside. Attempting to refine the relic without first cleansing the will would only result in spiritual corruption and possession.
Thankfully, Su Min had eradicated it completely.
Her aura surged rapidly, climbing like a tidal wave, soon crashing against the solid bottleneck of mid-stage Divine Transformation.
"Just a little more…"
The moment the thought crossed her mind, her consolidated power shattered the spiritual barrier with an audible crack in her dantian. In an instant, her energy erupted outwards before condensing back into a more profound, stable form. She had achieved her primary goal.
Late-stage Divine Transformation.
"Finally, a breakthrough. Only one step away from the Dao Comprehension stage now. But the relic's energy is almost exhausted; this is as far as it can take me."
Since she was not a dedicated Buddhist cultivator and had discarded the relic's embedded Dao, her absorption efficiency was not perfect. Still, reaching the late-stage of Divine Transformation in such a short time was already a significant, almost impossible achievement. She could now be genuinely considered a true half-step Dao Comprehension expert.
"Hmm?"
Stretching lazily, her bones cracking with released tension, Su Min opened her eyes and released her spiritual sense, allowing it to wash over the entire sect like an invisible wave. Then, she froze, her senses focusing on a particular point.
A familiar yet strangely more potent aura lingered within the sect's guest quarters, one that, despite being only at the late-stage Divine Transformation level, gave her own enhanced senses a distinct prickle of pressure.
"This aura… so strong, so familiar… Wait, could it be, him?"
In an instant, her mind connected the dots, and she realized who it was.
There were only a handful of people at her level in the entire world who could exude such condensed, formidable pressure.
"The Great Desolate Holy Body? Tian Hao?"