"Finally, I can enter seclusion in peace. After reaching the Golden Core stage, every step forward requires long periods of closed-door cultivation. Even though Golden Core cultivators have a lifespan of five hundred years, their time is still not enough. I hope those children can manage well."
The peacock's strength was formidable, not just in power but also in methods. Su Min could rest assured leaving the children under her care. Over the past few decades, she had already laid a solid foundation for them. So entrusting them to the peacock wasn't an issue—she could focus on her seclusion. As for how those children would fare in the future, Su Min couldn't predict. She had already guided them onto the path—the rest was up to them.
"Time to begin seclusion. I wonder how much stronger I can become this time."
With that, Su Min slowly closed her eyes and immersed herself in that peculiar state. Even Golden Core cultivators needed frequent seclusion—though not necessarily to improve their cultivation. Under the current suppression of heaven and earth, she couldn't advance an inch.
Only when the Golden Core Avenue opened could she continue her progress, eventually leaving at the Nascent Soul stage. And she had to be among the first batch—many opportunities there were one-time only. Those who arrived late would get nothing.
With her current strength, she could handle ordinary Golden Core cultivators, but against true geniuses, it was uncertain. Her innate talent wasn't combat-oriented, and she still lacked a core cultivation scripture.
"So much information... This 'Path of Salvation'..."
In an instant, a flood of knowledge surged into her mind, sending a splitting pain through her skull.
"Saving the suffering, the path of longevity..."
Su Min gritted her teeth. As a Golden Core cultivator, her perception and information-processing abilities were far beyond mortal limits. Yet this influx was overwhelming.
Roar—
Then, she found herself in a strange world, face-to-face with a colossal figure.
"Finally meeting you—Azure Dragon, leader of the Four Symbols."
Before her loomed a gigantic serpentine form, its body stretching endlessly into the clouds. Only glimpses of its scale-covered segments were visible through the mist.
The pressure it exuded was nothing like the Vermilion Bird she had encountered before. This time, Su Min felt as if she were standing before heaven itself—a force as unstoppable as the final strike of her Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation.
No wonder her head had been splitting.
"Ugh—"
A sharp pain shot through her arm, forcing her to one knee. A dragon-shaped mark briefly appeared on her skin before vanishing without a trace.
"An entry ticket to the Azure Dragon's legacy?"
The Four Symbols had each engraved their inheritances into the Heavenly Dao. But while the Vermilion Bird's was complete (and came with a divine flame), the others required additional treasures to unlock their full power.
This was why the Heavenly Dao Insight talent was hailed as the #1 innate skill in the game's guides—but it had to be paired with immortality. For the Azure Dragon's legacy, one needed to walk both the Path of Salvation and the Path of Longevity to a certain depth.
[Four Symbols Rebirth — Dragon]
[Effect: Accelerates recovery from injuries and spiritual power depletion.]
As the power settled into her body, Su Min frowned.
"Another sustain-based ability? This is... underwhelming."
This "acquired divine ability" was mediocre at best—hardly worthy of the title. But the real prize was the Azure Dragon's true legacy, hidden within the Golden Core Avenue. This was just a qualifier—a permit to compete for it.
And her competitors?
Sealed experts from across the ages—not just "Tianjiao," but the strongest of their eras, blessed with peerless physiques and comprehension.
"Troublesome. I'll need Yingying's help for this."
Su Min narrowed her eyes. Cultivation wasn't just about brute force—connections mattered. Those ancient sects had entire teams of elites backing their candidates. Meanwhile, Su Min would be fighting alone. Even Xie Yingying's Heavenly Yin Sect had vanished into history. The three divine beasts and spirit creatures here couldn't enter the Golden Core Avenue, and her fledgling sect...
~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~
Well, she'd be lucky if any of them reached the Five Great Sect Leaders' level in a few centuries.
"Next up—you, Vermilion Bird."
As the colossal Azure Dragon faded, a crimson figure descended—far more familiar and welcoming.
After all, Su Min had obtained the Vermilion Bird's complete legacy, including Nanming Lihuo.
But then—another headache. More knowledge flooded her mind.
"Vermilion Bird Holy Idol!!!"
A massive phantom materialized behind her.
[Vermilion Bird Holy Idol]
① Incinerate All Things: Releases ultra-high-temperature compressed flames, reducing everything to ash.
② Blazing Lotus Domain: Rapidly raises the temperature in an area, greatly enhancing fire-attribute effects while suppressing others.
③ Self-Destructing Strike: Detonates the idol for massive AoE damage, but it cannot be summoned again for a while.
Boom—
A surge of scorching energy erupted within her mental world.
"Now this is the real Vermilion Bird legacy. Finally, some firepower."
As the visions faded, Su Min opened her eyes—to find her seclusion chamber charred black. Thankfully, her robes were spirit cloth, or she'd be naked again.
Clang—
Her massive cauldron landed before her. A cultivator's combat strength relied not just on internal skills but also external treasures. Her current Yellow-tier gear was no longer sufficient.
"I probably can't forge Mystic-tier high-grade treasures yet, but mid-grade should be manageable."
Su Min had stockpiled mountains of materials for this moment. Her first target? Armor—the most complex yet comprehensive boost for any cultivator.
"Thank the heavens for the Golden Core Avenue's restrictions, or I'd be running for my life against those Tianjiao."
The Great Dao Avenue had two key rules: Only Golden Core cultivators could enter, and they could advance to Golden Core Perfection inside; No treasures above Mystic-tier high-grade were allowed.
This was a godsend for Su Min. Against ancient sects with heaven-defying treasures, she'd stand no chance otherwise.
"This ore nearly killed me to obtain..."
With a wave, a two-meter-long marble-like boulder appeared—[White Nether Spirit Ore], a top-tier material the current world couldn't produce naturally.
Acquiring it had cost her three Grade 4 pills—months of grueling alchemy, including another batch of Golden Spirit Pills. Only a master alchemist could've traded for it.
"With this as the base, I'll forge myself a suit of armor."
More rare materials floated around her as crimson flames ignited in her palms.
"Nanming Lihuo—ignite!!!"
The temperature in the chamber skyrocketed. Her seclusion spot was a hollow within the Fusang Divine Tree. Though the tree was a wood-attribute divine wonder, its proximity to the Golden Crow had infused it with vast fire energy—even traces of the Solar True Flame.
Perfect for forge work, but disastrous for delicate alchemy. For three years, the flames refined the ore, melting away impurities until only silvery-white liquid remained.
"Mold."
Su Min's hands moved like flowing water as the liquid took shape—a sleek, moon-white armor set with silver-veined joints and flexible spirit cloth woven into key areas.
[White Cloud Heart Armor (Mystic-tier Mid-Grade)]
Unlike the skimpy "armor" often seen in games and dramas (where female designs prioritized aesthetics over protection), Su Min's creation was fully practical—yet no less striking. The snow-white plates contrasted with her dark hair and eyes, her high ponytail adding a sharp, heroic flair.
"Not bad. More coverage is always better."
Su Min smirked. She wasn't about to die for fashion.
"A decade in seclusion... Just a blink for me, but half a lifetime for mortals."
The settlement of 300,000 people was thriving, with a booming population. The island's vastness meant they occupied only a tiny fraction of its land. Life was good—when rulers weren't monsters, even basic fairness felt like paradise.
"Time to check on the outside world—and those kids."
Su Min soared out from the divine tree—a restricted zone guarded fiercely in the Golden Crow's absence. Flying up to the hatchling's nest, she frowned.
"Why hasn't the little Golden Crow grown? Did your 'century' estimate miss something?"
The Azure Dragon guardian coiled nearby, unblinking.
"Lady Su, are you... by chance, a 'Solar Sovereign body'?"
"Huh?"
Su Min blinked. "My constitution is 'Blazing Flame Body'—rare, but nowhere near the pinnacle of yang attributes."
"Strange. You carry the 'breath of the sun'—a trait unique to Solar Sovereign bodies. Yet you somehow have it. That's why the young mistress's slumber will be... much longer."
"I see..."
Su Min wasn't surprised. Her status panel had long shown an unactivated "Taiyang Qi" trait. When it would awaken, no one knew. But she wasn't in a hurry. Her next target was the Eastern Azure Wood, not the Fusang Tree (which would kill anyone but a Golden Crow for touching it).
With nothing else to do here, Su Min swooped down to inspect her sect's progress. The peacock—now in human form—greeted her with a raised eyebrow.
"You didn't self-seal?"
"No need. My lifespan is... unusually long."
"Hmph. Your sect is coming along nicely. The newborns here have exceptional aptitudes, thanks to the environment. I've also integrated many spirit beasts into human society—the Path of Divine Flames was originally for beasts, after all. And surprisingly, you know Buddhist mantra techniques?"
Though Su Min rarely used them, shrines dedicated to her had sprouted across the island. This was her most stable faith source—high-quality worship from grateful settlers. Unlike traditional Buddhism, she actually delivered on divine protection. The spirit beasts reaped benefits too, like the plow-pulling oxen who gained power from incense offerings.
"How are the children?"
"Your eye for talent was sound. All have reached Qi Refining. Whether they cross the 'Immortal-Mortal Divide' depends on them."