"An instant knockout. I knew Miss Su wasn't simple, but how did she obliterate him like that? Fire suppresses water, so this…"
"No idea. Must be related to her physique. That guy will probably show up here soon. Even if he's healing, he can still split off a strand of divine sense to come. We'll ask him then—should get some useful intel."
"Yeah, our understanding of the Five Elements Holy Body is way too limited."
While the crowd whispered among themselves, a flash of light appeared, and a disheveled figure materialized in the spectator area. It was Luo Changshui, the man who had just been blown to smithereens by Su Min. His face was ashen.
"Hey, brother. What was up with Miss Su's attack?"
"Your Taotie remnant shouldn't have been instantly destroyed. Nanming Lihuo is strong, but it shouldn't have…"
Dozens of people swarmed around him, while others pricked up their ears. None of those present were weak—both in strength and insight. Everyone suspected it had something to do with the Five Elements Holy Body, but no one knew the specifics.
After all, no one had ever seen what happened when someone wielded two divine artifacts. Now that the man who'd experienced it firsthand was here, they had to get answers.
"Wood attribute. Both the Vermilion Bird's manifestation and the final explosion were wood-based."
With that, he turned and stomped away, leaving the crowd exchanging bewildered glances. In truth, he had brought this upon himself. The Taotie's devouring had limits—it could digest and refine things with inherent properties, but pure energy attacks couldn't be processed. They could, however, be stored in the Taotie's stomach and regurgitated at a critical moment.
His plan had been sound: swallow Nanming Lihuo, use his water alignment to contain it, then spit it back when Su Min used the Eastern Azure Wood, exploiting elemental counters. But he never expected that what looked like fire would turn into wood inside his stomach—and with terrifying potency. Worse, water nurtured wood. Stuffing wood-aligned energy into a water-based stomach was like tossing a lit torch into a powder keg. Had he fought normally, he wouldn't have been instantly wiped out—though his chances of winning would've still been slim.
"Tsk…"
A collective gasp swept through the crowd, followed by dawning realization. Su Min's physique could reverse the Five Elements cycle. Appearances were deceptive—she could deliver attacks under the attribute most advantageous to her. In that moment, countless theories raced through their minds.
"They figured it out already? Hmph."
While the others buzzed with speculation, Xie Yingying smirked coldly from the sidelines. She knew about seventy to eighty percent of Su Min's secrets, including the true nature of the Five Elements Holy Body. After all, aside from researching their Yin-Yang Dual Body techniques, the two had spent decades sparring.
The crowd had only noticed the attribute shift—they hadn't even considered the wood-fire amplification. And Su Min still had plenty of cards she hadn't shown. Not that Xie Yingying would tell them. Just then, Su Min's divine sense arrived in the spectator area. She blinked at the huddled, whispering crowd occasionally shooting her furtive glances.
"What are they scheming?"
Puzzled, she floated over to Xie Yingying.
"They're comparing notes about you—especially the secrets of your Five Elements Holy Body."
"Oh."
Su Min wasn't surprised. She plopped down beside Xie Yingying. The first round would conclude within seven days—this was the perfect chance to observe all her potential opponents. For Golden Core cultivators, going without food, drink, or sleep wasn't an issue. They were immortals, after all.
As expected, the murmurs died down when Su Min approached. Whether they switched to mental communication was anyone's guess—with only a wisp of divine sense present, eavesdropping was impossible. She didn't care about being studied. At her level, scrutiny was inevitable.
More importantly, countering her wouldn't be easy. Sure, she'd crafted plenty of countermeasures herself, but those were just for gaining the initiative. Now, in the final stages, no one would hesitate to use their one-time lifesaving treasures.
The crowd's debate was cut short when two more flashes of light signaled new arrivals on the stage. Su Min recognized them both.
"Two sect prodigies, ranked outside the top fifty. Not list-worthy."
She mentally shrugged. As the only fourth-grade alchemist in the Golden Core Avenue, she'd built an extensive network and recognized most sect heirs. These connections would prove valuable later.
~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~
The good news? She kept her promises. Within her capabilities, every commission was fulfilled. Once the Golden Core Avenue ended, swarms of cultivators would flock to Eastern Mulberry Land seeking her services. Things were about to get lively.
Using the Heavenly Ranking as reference was accurate. The two combatants, both around sixtieth place, put on a flashy but unremarkable show. To Su Min and Xie Yingying, it was barely worth watching.
"Boring. When's that woman's turn? I've only seen memory fragments—I want to experience her power firsthand."
Su Min's attention kept drifting to a lone figure sitting cross-legged in a corner. Though she planned to stop at the top five, her curiosity about this woman hadn't waned. Soon enough, it was her turn.
"I forfeit."
"WHAT THE—?! You didn't even try! Are you insane?!"
Su Min nearly jumped out of her seat. The opponent had surrendered before the barrier fully dispersed. Not a single move exchanged! That devastating "Myriad Laws Descend" technique could shatter Dao Hearts, but at least let her see it once! Just once!
"Hmph."
Xie Yingying smirked at Su Min's outrage.
"Who was it that said they'd 'crouch and cover' if they met her? Now you're the one tilted. Want to see her moves? Dream on."
Soon, all matches ended, and participants were teleported out.
"About a hundred fifty people started. Some got byes. Now, half are eliminated—eighty remain. Next round: forty. Then twenty. Then ten. That'll decide the top five."
Stretching lazily, Su Min explained to Xie Yingying. Having witnessed the Golden Core Spirit's manifestation together, they both knew the rules.
"I remember. The Golden Core Spirit arranged it so the top seeds won't meet until later. For us, the first three rounds should be easy."
Today's fights had been trivial. Su Min had faced someone from the top forty, while Xie Yingying's opponent wasn't even on the list. The ranking only covered fifty names, leaving out many sixth-tier tribulation survivors and even some heirs. This generation had an unusual number of lone wolves—like Su Min herself, a "modern" cultivator rather than a relic from antiquity. But among the top ten, only Su Min and the Great Desolate Holy Body weren't ancient monsters.
"Still, many probably share your thoughts. Even those brave enough to draw swords against her won't force her to reveal her true power."
"I know. I've given up."
Xie Yingying's wariness of that woman ran deep. One glance had once made her soul tremble—something not even Su Min could evoke. Win or lose, she needed to witness that woman's full strength.
"Don't worry too much. I spoke with the Great Desolate Holy Body. That woman's terrifying, but she's still just a Golden Core cultivator. He was crushed, but not helpless. You and I would fare similarly. Others—even the third-ranked—won't be so lucky."
Su Min's expression turned serious. Today's winners had barely flexed their power, but their levels were clear: That woman stood alone at the peak.
Su Min, Xie Yingying, and the Great Desolate Holy Body occupied the second tier.
The rest might push Su Min into using some trump cards, but victory would ultimately be hers. Her ultimate ace? Xie Yingying's single drop of essence blood. But with the Golden Core Heavenly Ranking lasting just over a month, she could only activate it once. She wouldn't use it unless her top-five spot was at stake. Only four drops existed, after all.
"But if you face her, don't hesitate to use my essence blood. You're the only one who might rival her. At the very least… don't surrender immediately."
Xie Yingying suddenly grabbed Su Min's hand. She knew—when the time came, only Su Min (or rather, Su Min in that state) could stand against that monster.