"You mean to say that place is now completely overrun with dense vegetation, and even harbors hidden dangers? That the three old demons from the Goulu Sect were all lost within it?"
"They got what they deserved," someone scoffed.
"That's not even the worst of it. Even the so-called number one master of the martial world, the Sect Leader of Tianmu Gate, barely escaped with his life. They say the place is like a demon's lair — even the flowers and plants will attack intruders."
Inside a modest inn, a few people gathered, discussing the latest developments. It had been about a month since the Golden Light had revealed itself. By now, everyone knew the treasure lay hidden deep within the mountains — yet none had seen it with their own eyes.
Many had hired local guides, but when they ventured into the range, it was as though decades had passed overnight. Lush vegetation choked the landscape, and the old paths had completely vanished.
More unsettling still, the very plants on the mountain seemed hostile to strangers. Fear crept into the hearts of even the bravest. Especially after an entire team of three seasoned cultivators was wiped out, many simply gave up, no longer daring to challenge the cursed mountain.
"To think... that person lingered here for so long, all for that treasure. Tsk, tsk..."
At the headquarters of the Fuding Merchant Guild the local branch manager sipped calmly from his bamboo-leaf tea — tea cultivated in Su Min's very own bamboo grove, nourished for years with medicinal waste.
Some of those bamboo stalks had evolved into true spiritual herbs, and a few had even awakened as minor spirits. Grass and wood spirits were blessed with a unique talent: from birth, they could intuitively comprehend the cultivation methods they needed from the very Dao itself. Half a month ago, the manager had already reported the situation to Prince Yong. Without hesitation, Prince Yong withdrew his forces from the region, deciding not to involve himself any further in the affair.
"Prince Fu has given the order — we are to welcome the Emperor's envoys and offer them all the information we've gathered," the manager said, a cold chuckle escaping his lips. There was little need to conceal anything. Other than the true origin of a certain individual, everything else could be freely shared. Had he been ignorant of that individual's true identity, he might have been more cautious. But now that he knew... their paths were destined to be opposed to the Wei Emperor's.
Sure enough, that very day, three distinct, oppressive auras descended upon the city. The once-bustling streets fell into a deathly silence. Fear gripped every heart — for these were no ordinary cultivators. They were beings so powerful that each one alone could slaughter the entire city. And there were three of them. Even the most greedy and reckless among the populace fled in panic. No one would risk facing such overwhelming might — not for an unseen, mysterious treasure.
Yet the three newcomers paid no heed to the chaos around them. Though many fugitives of the imperial court lurked in the city, their mission was singular: retrieve the treasure, and invite the alchemist — by force if necessary — back to the capital. After all, the treasure had surfaced in the Southern Frontiers, and the alchemist had long been hidden there. It was easy to guess — she must be the guardian of the treasure.
Recruiting her, therefore, was the most logical move. A skilled alchemist was far too valuable to kill without cause. But if she refused... then death would be her only reward. The branch manager could barely withstand the pressure radiating from the trio. Their killing intent was like a tangible storm — fierce, suffocating, and unlike anything he had ever experienced.
Only now did he truly understand the meaning of "true strength." Compared to them, Su Min's past restraint was almost laughable — she had never once exuded such overwhelming force when dealing with him. He spoke without reservation, concealing only one thing: Su Min's true identity. If he betrayed her now and word got back to her, he knew death would be the least of his worries.
~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~
Fortunately, the three newcomers had already gathered rough intelligence about Su Min from elsewhere. They suspected nothing from him, allowing her to remain hidden — for now. As for his bodyguard, a mere Body Refining cultivator, the trio didn't even spare him a glance. Such cultivators were now commonplace in the Great Wei Empire. This was no longer the fragile, chaotic early years after all.
Meanwhile, deep within the mountains...
"So, the court has finally made its move — sending out Qi Refining puppets," Su Min murmured, lounging within her bamboo hut, her eyes half-lidded in contemplation. She had sensed the three auras the moment they entered the city — three towering waves of killing intent that pierced the heavens. Even she, with all her experience, had never encountered such pure, overwhelming malice. This wasn't something born merely from killing countless lives — it had been cultivated through something far darker.
"So they have come at last... Killing you three won't taint my karma. On the contrary, it will only add to my merit."
In the game world she once knew, players were bound by similar systems of reward and punishment — committing atrocities could lead to madness, while destroying evil could grant strange blessings. But this was no longer a game.
Here, the punishments were real — deadly real. Madness was not a status effect but a terrifying reality. Yet exterminating monsters like these came with tangible, precious rewards. Su Min was looking forward to it. Of course, she had no intention of charging headlong into battle. Here, within her home terrain, among her countless subtle traps and natural advantages, she held overwhelming superiority.
Victory was all but assured — and she would not waste it.
"Come then," she whispered with a low laugh. "Let me see what you're made of, imperial hounds."
She fell silent after that, conserving her strength, her aura vanishing into the lush wilds like a drop of water into the ocean. Three days later, the city was eerily silent. Those who had remained witnessed a scene they would never forget: three Qi Refining cultivators, leading dozens of Body Refining soldiers, stormed the mountain range from three separate directions.
The branch manager could only wipe cold sweat from his brow. With such a force, there was nothing he — or even Prince Yong — could do to intervene. How could they have known the court would casually dispatch such terrifying strength? The might of the court — or rather, the Demon Queen — was simply beyond mortal comprehension.
Such a force could crush almost any sect or rebel faction with ease. In ancient times, a single Qi Refining cultivator was said to be able to slaughter a general amidst tens of thousands of troops. Many now turned their curiosity to the mysterious alchemist rumored to be at the center of it all.
Yet Su Min remained unseen, her true capabilities hidden. She had revealed none of her true arts, not even something as basic as a Spirit-Gathering Pill recipe. Thus, for now, she remained a mystery — an unknown variable in a game of deadly stakes.
And soon, they would find out whether she would kneel...
Or whether she would stand against the empire itself.