Hearing this, Su Min no longer said anything. Throwing this kind of trouble to them wasn't a big problem. In the hands of these monks, even a Demon Queen would struggle to stir up any waves, let alone a mere clam demon.
"One last thing—what exactly is the 'Child of Destiny'?"
"You'll know soon enough," the monk replied. "For now, go. Your victory banquet awaits."
Even as he spoke, waves of cheering rolled through the city. Governor Jia had returned triumphant. But when Su Min turned her gaze back, the monk had already vanished without a trace.
"A Foundation Establishment cultivator, huh… slipping away without even a ripple."
Narrowing her eyes, Su Min studied the spot where he had disappeared. Coming and going so seamlessly—she couldn't even catch a glimpse. It wasn't just a matter of cultivation realm; This wasn't just because of his higher cultivation level, but also because Buddhism had a complete and profound inheritance system. Even if they were of the same realm, Su Min wasn't confident she could defeat him.
He said he couldn't act casually, and she believed it—yet surely he had more cards hidden up his sleeve. Either way, it wasn't worth making an enemy of him. Soon, the governor's mansion erupted into music and revelry, the lanterns burning bright and wine flowing like rivers.
"Many thanks to the Immortal Fairy for slaying the clam demon and saving the lives of our province's people!"
With Governor Jia's heartfelt toast, all those gathered respectfully rose and bowed to Su Min. This was the inner court of the governor's estate. Only a select few were seated here—heads of prominent families, loyal supporters of the governor. Over half of the manpower used to eradicate the monsters had come from these families.
As for why Su Min was seated apart—well, she looked too much like a young, stunning maiden. If she were thrown into the rowdy crowd of drunken roughnecks, who could guarantee there wouldn't be trouble?
Governor Jia wasn't worried about Su Min getting harmed—should anyone overstep, they'd simply die. But he feared someone might blunder into death by insulting her, or worse, saying something obscene. Thus, only the elder patriarchs, all seasoned men well past their prime, were present here—none foolish enough to cause mischief.
Still, these families had suffered heavily. Their sprawling rural estates had been prime targets for the monsters, unlike the fortified cities teeming with people. The earlier siege on the city had only occurred because the countryside had already been emptied. Su Min raised her cup and drained it in a single gulp, drawing murmurs of admiration.
The wine, to her, was no stronger than tea. Without distillation techniques and with low-yield grains, the local alcohol had barely any potency. For someone like Su Min, who was used to modern spirits—and now a Qi Refining cultivator at that—getting drunk on such wine was impossible. Besides, she carried true liquor with her. After slaying the clam spirit and extracting its Five Elemental Essence, she had sealed it into her gourd.
The gourd had since refined it into divine nectar—drinkable spiritual wine that could gradually enhance one's cultivation without side effects. Of course, Su Min had no intention of sharing it. Not because she was stingy—but because mortals who drank even a drop would surely burst apart. After three rounds of drinking, only Su Min remained clear-headed; the others had grown visibly tipsy.
Governor Jia leaned in and spoke respectfully: "I heard that the Immortal Fairy once healed the sick and saved lives in the southern frontier. Grateful villagers even built temples in your honor, their incense never fading. Now that you have rid us of this calamity, it is only right we build a shrine for you as well. Yet, even with the clam demon slain, we fear other monsters may linger. Thus, we seek your guidance."
"What is it?" Su Min asked, raising an eyebrow but not refusing. In Journey to the West, immortals valued incense offerings greatly. Su Min needed them too—not just because of her deal with the little monk, but because the Great Sun Tathagata Sutra she had just acquired required incense as an auxiliary cultivation aid.
"We discussed it on the way here. We wish to build your temple by the seaside, so all fishermen setting out to sea can offer prayers for peace of mind."
"That's fine." Su Min smiled. The clam demon's sealing of the sea had caused tremendous losses to this coastal province. Fishermen couldn't go to sea, and even salt-making had become problematic. The psychological trauma among the people was imaginable. Offering prayers would at least serve as a form of mental comfort—and Su Min knew it wasn't just comfort.
From the knowledge in her mind, after cultivating the Great Sun Tathagata Sutra, she would be able to provide slight protection to worshippers. She couldn't kill monsters for them, but she could shield their lives to some extent.
~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~
"It seems I shouldn't be in a hurry to leave. I should use this opportunity to study carefully. As for the Five Elemental Essence, there's no rush—right now, hardly anyone in this world has even reached the Qi Refining stage, much less competes with me."
Ignoring the clamor of the outside world, Su Min began planning in her heart. As the little monk said, cultivation methods were just methods—their true potential depended on the cultivator. Obtaining a powerful technique didn't instantly make one invincible.
The Great Sun Tathagata Sutra and the Dao De Jing—the sacred texts of Buddhism and Daoism—were peerless treasures. Yet possessing them did not instantly grant invincibility. Their cultivation requirements were steep. Without the proper foundation, they were useless in anyone else's hands. The banquet eventually drew to a close. Watching the drunken guests being helped away by servants, Su Min vanished with a flicker of light. The next moment, she stood atop a rooftop, bathed in the silvery glow of the vast moon.
"Amitabha. Congratulations, Benefactor, on gaining yet another temple."
The monk's voice sounded again, drifting out of the moonlit shadows. Somehow, the little monk had appeared atop the roof alongside her.
"In a month's time," Su Min said after a brief pause. "There is no need to rush. I must first cultivate the Great Sun Tathagata Sutra. When the temple is newly built and incense at its peak—that will be the true beginning."
Thus she spoke, her voice steady beneath the boundless night sky.