"Ah, the Golden Core Avenue—I'm back! Hey, minions! You better not have died while I was gone!"
Stretching lazily, Su Min reveled in the rich spiritual energy of the Golden Core Avenue. Then, she pulled out a small bell. She hadn't forgotten her promise before entering the secret realm: One pill in exchange for one Earth-grade artifact.
What a steal.
After nearly thirty years, plenty of new secret realms must have emerged—meaning another wave of treasures ripe for the picking.
"This woman…"
Xie Yingying rubbed her temples as she watched Su Min fiddle with the jade token. To help gather rare herbs, Su Min had recruited a small team of rogue cultivators—mostly to run errands while she focused on alchemy. With Xie Yingying around, none dared misbehave.
~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~
The jade token was their communication tool, though Su Min had kept it inactive during their seclusion. Sure enough, as soon as she activated it, two women and a man hurried over. These were all Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation survivors—the cannon fodder of the Golden Core Avenue. Most secret realms were beyond their reach, and Su Min never brought them along.
Too weak to protect, too fragile to save.
At least none of her own sect's juniors had foolishly entered—she'd have beaten them black and blue if they had.
"Spread the word to all sects: I'm back. And besides Earth-grade artifacts, I can now refine high-tier Grade 4 pills."
Su Min grinned. Truthfully, she'd been capable of high-tier Grade 4 alchemy for a while—but the ingredients were too scarce. Now, at late Golden Core, she could attempt Grade 5. But that would require an absurd amount of resources. Alchemy was a lucrative but resource-hungry profession. Staying at one tier was profitable—but advancing demanded vast, even infinite, materials. Su Min needed those resources now.
As for combat power?
She doubted anyone below the top-tier Holy Sons and Daughters could challenge her. With two divine materials, her advantage was overwhelming. But she still had to stay vigilant.
"Also, give me a summary of the last twenty years. Let's see how those so-called 'Tianjiao' are doing."
Originally, she hadn't cared about the Golden Core Heavenly Ranking. But now that she was participating, intel was crucial. Her reward for these lackeys?
A mid-to-low-tier Grade 4 pill of their choice. High-tier Grade 4 pills required exceptionally rare herbs—even in the Golden Core Avenue—so those were off the table. But for these Three-Nine Tribulation cultivators (the bottom feeders of the Golden Core realm), a Grade 4 pill was already a life-changing fortune. Most would never form a Nascent Soul—their Golden Cores were too weak.
"Understood!"
The lackeys hastily handed over jade slips packed with information.
"Interesting. Not bad. Go handle the rest—remember our deal. After the realms merge, your clans can join my sect. But finding Eastern Mulberry Land will be your problem."
"Yes!"
These rogue cultivators knew their days of dominance would end once the realms merged. They needed a backer. And Su Min?
She needed to expand her sect. These Golden Core cultivators were decent enough—and too weak to cause trouble. Back in Eastern Mulberry Land, the spirit beasts under the Little Golden Crow had grown intelligent enough. A wave of Golden Core beasts would soon emerge, ensuring no outsiders could usurp control. As for the human disciples?
After a century, the new generation's talent had skyrocketed. She'd likely return to find several new Golden Core cultivators. Whether any could survive the Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation was uncertain—but the Nine-Nine Tribulation?
Basically impossible.
Even major sects only produced one such prodigy every few centuries.
"Let's review this together. The Golden Core Heavenly Ranking will be lively—though the actual participants might be fewer than expected."
Back in their decades-old cave abode (Su Min's former alchemy workshop), the two pored over the intel.
At first glance, it was surprisingly thorough.
Then—
"Huh? A Tianjiao Ranking?"
Su Min blinked. Some busybody had actually compiled a real-time updated ranking.
"Not bad. No wonder their intel's so detailed. And we're both in the top ten."
She skimmed the list—entertaining, but not gospel.
After all, it was based on reported feats. Anyone hiding their strength could blindside the rankings.
[Su Min – Rank 9]
-The only Grade 4 alchemist in the Golden Core Avenue.
-Possesses divine materials: Nanming Lihuo, Eastern Azure Wood.
-Physique: Rare Five Elements Sacred Body (incomplete).
Recorded Battles:
-1 vs. 3 at the Azure Dragon Legacy.
-Exchanged one palm strike with the Great Desolate Sacred Body.
[Overall Rating: 9th]
[Mystery Factor: High (High potential for unexpected combat prowess.)]
"Tsk tsk, 'high mystery factor'? You're quite the enigma."
Xie Yingying smirked. Both had rarely fought—Su Min as an alchemist, and Xie Yingying as her bodyguard. Most of Su Min's time was spent sitting still, refining pills—a vulnerable state in the chaotic Golden Core Avenue. Hence, Xie Yingying's role: standing guard at the door.
"Don't laugh. Your rating's higher."
[Xie Yingying – Rank 4]
-Extremely rare, ancient, and terrifying Lunar Sovereign Physique.
Sole Recorded Feat:
-Held off dozens of Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation survivors alone at the Azure Dragon Secret Realm.
[Overall Rating: 4th]
[Mystery Factor: Extreme (Too little data; potential to contend for the top spot.)]
"Hmm."
Xie Yingying rubbed her nose. If Su Min fought sparingly, she fought even less. Mostly because she'd been stuck babysitting certain alchemist.
"The Great Desolate Sacred Body is second. And first place is… Yao Xian'er?"
Su Min's eyebrows shot up. Anyone who could suppress the Great Desolate Sacred Body had to be legit—no matter how unreliable the ranking. Like the Olympics or World Cup—no one remembers second place, but first is undeniable.
[Yao Xian'er – Rank 1]
-A mysterious existence from the ancient Immortal Era—older than most sects.
-Rumored descendant of an immortal.
-Physique: Mortal Body (No special traits, yet inexplicably powerful.)
Recorded Feats:
-Defeated the Great Desolate Sacred Body in ten moves.
-Fought over a dozen sects to a standstill in a secret realm.
"This…"
Both women froze. They'd seen something similar before—the Little Golden Crow on the Fusang Divine Tree.
"Interesting…"
Su Min murmured but said no more. Outside, the Golden Core Avenue erupted into frenzy.
Every sect scrambled to liquidate their treasures—all for a chance to trade with Su Min.