The air suddenly fell silent as four people—eight eyes in total—stared at each other in wide-eyed astonishment.
Su Min's appearance had been too abrupt, leaving both sides momentarily stunned.
Even with their cultivation levels, the group was briefly dumbfounded. However, Su Min was the first to regain her composure—and without hesitation, she turned tail and fled.
"Fuck me, now I have to fight one against three?!" she cursed inwardly.
These were no ordinary Dao Comprehension-stage cultivators—they were fallen ones. She didn't even know what kind of laws they wielded, yet here she was, forced into a one-versus-three battle.
Back then, fighting just one had been perilous enough. These three were undoubtedly far stronger than that unlucky fellow whose backup plans she had dismantled. Engaging them now would be genuinely dangerous.
"Su Min?!"
As Su Min shamelessly turned to flee, Liao Xin—one of the three—finally snapped out of his daze and erupted in fury.
"Kill her!!!"
He charged forward without hesitation, and after exchanging glances, the other two followed closely behind. This was an unexpected windfall. No matter how strong Su Min was, she stood no chance against their combined assault.
"Right here."
Though Su Min was retreating, she wasn't running blindly. Her destination was the group from the Great Thunder Temple. She needed allies to share the burden—fighting one against three was no joke.
Besides, these three had originally been targeting the Great Thunder Temple's group anyway. This had nothing to do with her. As she fled, she released her aura at full intensity, sending an overwhelming pressure cascading down from the sky.
Sure enough, soon after Su Min's dazzling display, two golden lights approached rapidly. Kong Hui and Kong Chen arrived before her in an instant.
"Benefactor Su, what is this...?"
Seeing Su Min in such a disheveled state left the two momentarily confused. In their memories, Su Min had always been flamboyant—and rightfully so, given her strength. But what was happening now?
"Three late-stage Dao Comprehension fallen ones are coming for you all. That Imperial Artifact tossed me right in front of them. One of them seems to be a 'traitor' once expelled from Future Maitreya Mountain. I can't handle them alone."
As she spoke, Su Min glanced back. The three pursuers had already caught up, instantly plunging the situation into a tense standoff.
Three late-stage Dao Comprehension powerhouses on their side, while Su Min's group had one late-stage and two mid-stage Dao Comprehension cultivators.
The remaining Dao Comprehension cultivator had evidently led a group away earlier. Though he was also at the Dao Comprehension stage, his foundation was far weaker than the others present, so he wisely stayed out of this fight.
"Well, well, if it isn't Liao Xin. You're still alive—and it seems you never entered the cycle of reincarnation?"
Recognizing the leader, Kong Chen spoke up. In response, one of the figures tore off his black robe, revealing a gleaming bald head and blood-red robes—a monk whose very appearance was unsettling.
"Kong Chen, step aside. Today, I will claim this woman's life."
"Then come and try," Su Min retorted before Kong Chen could respond. "Let's see if you have what it takes."
Though her previous battle with that fallen one had left her battered, Su Min had yet to play her ultimate trump card—a high-grade seventh-tier enhancement pill. Back then, she had taken pills, but none were life-risking, all-out boosters. Even if this opponent was stronger at his peak, so what?
"Be careful," Kong Chen warned. "This man was once the eldest disciple of the founder of Future Maitreya Mountain. At his peak, he was at least at the early Mahayana stage—and he hadn't even reached three thousand years of age, meaning he still had immense room for growth."
"Understood."
Su Min narrowed her eyes. The moment their gazes met, sparks flew.
"So you were only 'expelled' on the surface, huh? Not that it matters. I've already buried Future Maitreya Mountain in its coffin—might as well hammer in the final nail myself."
After a brief reply to Kong Chen, Su Min stepped forward. Brilliant light radiated from her body as the silhouettes of the Four Heavenly Treasures and the Four Divine Beasts flickered around her.
"You—"
Even Liao Xin's composure wavered at the sight. The pressure of facing the Four Heavenly Treasures was no joke.
"Be cautious," Liao Xin warned the other two solemnly. "Kong Hui and Kong Chen were both late-stage Mahayana powerhouses at their peak. Though they've gone through multiple reincarnations, don't underestimate them just because you have a minor advantage in cultivation."
Among the six present, three were fallen ones who had once been Mahayana-stage experts, two were reincarnated cultivators who had reached Mahayana multiple times, and Su Min—who was just one step away from mastering the Five Elements Holy Body.
This battle was destined to be a clash of titans. None of them were weak.
Soon, both sides locked onto their targets. In an instant, dazzling golden light erupted around Su Min as Kong Hui and Kong Chen activated their Great Sun Tathagata Golden Bodies, flanking her.
Not to be outdone, Su Min channeled the Great Sun Tathagata Sutra in keeping with local customs.
Almost immediately, a multicolored Great Sun Tathagata apparition materialized, drawing surprised glances from Kong Hui and Kong Chen.
"Benefactor Su's comprehension is truly exceptional. Even with only the mental cultivation method, she can manifest a golden body infused with the Four Heavenly Treasures."
"Not bad. Just don't hold me back later."
Su Min gave Kong Hui a bland look before taking the initiative. The two brothers might have tacit agreement, but she couldn't coordinate with them. In fact, their conflicting laws might hinder each other. So she decisively chose to fight alone.
In a flash, she turned into a streak of light, delivering a flying kick straight at Liao Xin.
"Time law?!"
As expected of the Sinful Buddha's disciple, he instantly recognized it. He gathered his power to block, but the next moment, a tremendous force sent him flying.
Su Min's supersonic kick launched both of them hundreds of kilometers away, leaving trails like meteors across the sky. This strike wasn't meant to kill—just to carve out a separate battlefield.
The moment Su Min dragged Liao Xin away, the battle erupted anew.
Elsewhere
BOOM!
With a deafening crash, Liao Xin repelled Su Min. The two came to a standstill, while the area behind them was already engulfed in golden light.
"Good, very good. A mere mid-stage Dao Comprehension cultivator dares strike at me?"
Liao Xin sneered at Su Min, who was clad in black-gold armor with only her crimson eyes visible. Suddenly, a blood-red sun rose behind him.
"Taste the despair of the future—Mara's Bloody Body!!!"
BOOM!!!
In an instant, the entire secret realm was shrouded in its aura. Liao Xin no longer cared if the Imperial Artifact detected him. The moment Su Min appeared before him, he knew there was no turning back.
Only one being could teleport a mid-stage Dao Comprehension cultivator right in front of him—the Imperial Artifact controlling this realm.
"Mara the Demon Buddha? 'The Dharma's end destroys the heavens; Mara slays the Tathagata'?"
Su Min studied the monstrous three-faced, six-armed figure with interest.
"Hmph."
Liao Xin ignored her taunts. His six arms whirled, unleashing terrifying waves of power.
"Annihilation Law?!"
Su Min gasped. Just the name alone spoke volumes—this was an overwhelmingly domineering law. Though her Time Law was powerful, it was more supportive in nature, not suited for direct, explosive destruction.
But this was different. The Mara's Bloody Body acted as an amplifier, unleashing the law with terrifying force. In an instant, the mountains within dozens of kilometers were flattened by the mere prelude of its power.
"Interesting. Time—Slow to a Halt!!!"
Unfazed, Su Min attempted to freeze time. But the moment she tried, she knew it was impossible. The chaotic law disrupted everything around them.
Given Liao Xin's peak strength, his comprehension and control of laws surpassed hers even in his current state.
Without hesitation, Su Min shot forward like a comet, her slender sword flashing. Each strike carried the power of the divine artifacts—miniature annihilation blasts inspired by her Five Elements Ancient Scripture.
Her goal was simple: carve a path through.
"So fast!!!"
Even Liao Xin was startled as Su Min closed the distance in a blink. Though he knew it was due to her law's effects, her ability to cleave through his annihilation waves spoke volumes.
"Die!!!"
His six-armed deity lashed out with an unnatural motion, aiming to crush Su Min.
"Thousand-Hand Floating Temple!!!"
But in response, a multicolored phantom appeared behind Su Min. Countless fists met the six arms head-on.
BOOM!
A shockwave erupted, shaking the entire secret realm.
"Powerful fighters are battling—at least late-stage Dao Comprehension... no, possibly even higher! Everyone, retreat!!!"
Every faction in the realm sensed the disturbance and scrambled to flee. The terrifying fluctuations were unmistakably beyond ordinary Dao Comprehension levels. Worse yet, there were three such sources.
This was far beyond their pay grade. Even early-stage Dao Comprehension cultivators present felt that a single brush with those energies could leave them severely injured.
On the battlefield
Su Min had already closed in on Liao Xin.
"Five Elements Primordial Strike!!!"
Her weapon blazed with radiant light as she thrust at Liao Xin.
Hmph!
But in the next moment, two massive hands clamped down on her blade—barehanded blade-catching!
"You're bold, catching my attack barehanded."
Su Min smirked. The instant those hands touched her sword—
BOOM!!!
Another explosion rocked the battlefield. No one had ever dared do this before. Every one of her strikes carried devastating power.
A single slash could reduce a mountain like Everest to below sea level.
Naturally, the ensuing detonation obliterated the blood Buddha apparition, sending Liao Xin flying. He barely stabilized himself midair, but his hands were left dripping with blood.
For a Dao Comprehension cultivator, this was manageable. An ordinary person would have lost their hands entirely.
"Good, very good. Mara's Blood Sacrifice—Demon Buddha's Descent!!!"
Liao Xin laughed coldly at his bloodied hands. In an instant, his mangled hands regenerated. Then, clasping them together, he summoned a massive scroll.
Heavenly High-Grade Treasure: Mara's Blood Sacrifice Scroll
"Finally."
Su Min's heart sank. This was it—she was about to face a Heavenly High-Grade treasure.
Last time, she had tricked her opponent into defeat. But now, with no such opportunity, she had no choice but to fight head-on.
With a flip of her hand, a peculiar orb appeared in her palm.
"Hope you're useful. It's too early to take pills."
Su Min grinned inwardly. This was the "toy" given to her by the Great Desolate Holy Body. For him, it was just a plaything—but for her, it was a formidable trump card.
Against a Unity-stage expert, it might be limited. But against a late-stage Dao Comprehension cultivator? More than enough.
===
✨ FLASH UPDATE! ✨
Guess what? "Troublemaker's Guide to Immortality" is now LIVE on my profile! 🎉 And don't worry—this one's got pre-written drafts ready to roll, so no delays here. Phew!
Meet Yun Jin:
Like Su Min and Jian Dan, she rocks the five-spiritual roots combo
But while they embrace Chaos, she dances to Yin-Yang balance (probably because her life's already chaotic enough… pun very intended)
Her Path: [Vengeance & Invincibility]
Vengeance = Fuel: She always strikes back against injustice she get (grudges are her power source)
Invincibility = Rule: Crushes same-rank foes, draws with higher ranks—but never loses (∞ spite energy)
Head over to my profile and dive into the madness!