Boom!!!
An explosion engulfed the arena, followed by the charred, smoking figure of a cultivator being teleported out. Over fifty percent of his body was scorched—a life-altering injury for a mortal, but for a Golden Core cultivator, it was merely a minor setback. With two weeks of rest, he'd recover fully. Not like there were any major battles left in the final decade anyway.
"Even worse than the first guy. That one was just unlucky."
Stepping off the stage, Su Min chuckled. That first opponent had brought his own demise by trying to counter her Eastern Azure Wood with her Nanming Lihuo. But this one? Pathetic. A few sword strikes after summoning the Vermilion Bird Saint Avatar, and he was done.
He hadn't even gotten close before crumbling under her relentless assault. With the Eastern Azure Wood as her fuel reserve, Su Min fought like a strategic bomber—raining destruction until her opponents tapped out. The spectators watched in horrified awe. Soon, a new nickname began circulating...
"Crimson Blazing Bird? What kind of trash name is that?! Which ancestor-defiling idiot came up with this?!"
When Xie Yingying relayed the title, Su Min's eyes blazed as she scanned the crowd for the culprit. But no one dared meet her gaze.
While other top talents might face challengers, no one wanted to antagonize Su Min. In the ruthless world of cultivation, having a master alchemist's favor was priceless. Offending her meant no future elixirs—a death sentence for any serious cultivator.
In the end, Su Min never identified the nickname's origin. She missed Xie Yingying's poorly suppressed smirk.
This was just a minor episode. Every remaining contender carried their own pride, and Su Min finally witnessed that woman's combat style firsthand.
As predicted, the battle began with radiant auroras flooding the sky—followed by a cataclysmic rain of light that instantly obliterated her opponent. When the defeated cultivator returned to the stands, his eyes were hollow, his Dao Heart shattered.
"Shattered just like that. Fighting her really is a nightmare."
Su Min shook her head. Battles against her never evoked such despair. Facing that woman was like challenging heaven itself. While Su Min had broken many opponents' wills, none had collapsed so completely—without even swinging a single strike. But one detail stood out:
"The Great Desolate Holy Body lost badly, yet emerged unscathed—no psychological damage, no lasting injuries. She clearly held back against him."
Seeing was believing. Su Min's concerns eased. Like her, Xie Yingying and the Great Desolate Holy Body advanced effortlessly. The tournament's design ensured the strongest avoided early clashes, mimicking real-world sports brackets—top seeds faced lower-ranked opponents first. The Golden Core Heavenly Ranking prioritized meritocracy over flukes. Only true powerhouses would receive the grand baptism.
At this critical juncture, Su Min's next opponent was someone unforgettable—
Han Chaoyan.
The moment their names linked on the match display, Su Min's expression twisted with dark amusement. Her legendary "1v3" battle a century ago had cemented her fame. And Han Chaoyan? He'd been one of the three humiliated victims—eternally immortalized as her stepping stone.
~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~
Like the infamous "Zed vs. Zed" duel in League of Legends history, the victor claimed glory while the loser became a permanent meme. But unlike esports, there were no rematches here.
"Wait, that's the third-ranked! Why are they matched already?"
"Rankings are deceptive. He's high because he grinds nonstop—escorting his sect juniors through dungeons, hoarding resources. The real monsters barely bother competing."
"Getting 1v3'd and still calling yourself a genius? Embarrassing."
"Pfft—"
The crowd erupted in mockery. Back then, Su Min had thrown these same taunts at the "Wood Maniac," who'd burned all his life-saving treasures in that fight. The other two victims fared no better. But not everyone doubted Han Chaoyan.
"Senior Brother, you've got this!!!"
His loyal sect juniors cheered fervently. Unlike reclusive prodigies, Han Chaoyan had tirelessly fought for his faction, securing countless legacies for them. His ranking was earned through sheer effort.
Most sect heirs avoided direct conflict, but he'd brawled with nearly all of them over resources. While Su Min enjoyed privileged status as an alchemist, ordinary rogue cultivators struggled even for basic herbs.
"This guy has groupies? But his divine artifact is hard-countered by Su Min."
Xie Yingying massaged her temples. Were these people delusional? Still, she acknowledged Han Chaoyan might force Su Min to reveal something new.
"Finally, a real fight. So far, she's only shown what's already on the Heavenly Ranking—nothing unexpected."
"Because that's all she's needed. Now, with only ten left, we might see her true capabilities."
The spectators were here for spectacle. At this stage, so-called "Tianjiao" were mere cannon fodder. The remaining ten were freaks who could challenge even nascent Soul Formation cultivators. Xie Yingying remained the most enigmatic, followed by Su Min. One wielded the perfect Lunar Sovereign Body; the other harbored two divine artifacts with untested synergies.
What happened when dual divine artifacts merged? Today, they might find out.
"Hah... Hah..."
Heavy breaths echoed as Han Chaoyan stared across the golden barrier at Su Min. His chest heaved. Had he avoided Su Min, Xie Yingying, the Great Desolate Holy Body, and that woman, he might've reached the top five. But fate was cruel.
Even mentally prepared, facing Su Min again sent tremors through his spirit. Last time, her Saint Avatar had crushed him effortlessly. Now, despite obtaining a divine artifact rivaling Nanming Lihuo, he knew his odds were slim.
Su Min held two divine artifacts. Her Five Elements Holy Body's traits had been mostly deciphered—freely switching between fire and wood attributes made her nearly uncounterable. As the barrier dissolved, Su Min's hands moved in a familiar seal.
The Vermilion Bird Saint Avatar materialized once more, its wings casting ominous shadows. Throughout the tournament, Su Min had used only this technique—a move others considered an ultimate, spirit-energy-draining finisher. Yet she spammed it like a basic skill. The bird's fiery breath and raining feathers turned battles into explosive chaos. No one had survived its final self-destruction unharmed.
But Han Chaoyan had prepared.
"[Flamewood Avatar Disc (Earth-grade Low-tier Artifact)]: Grants extreme resistance to fire/wood attacks. Generates a renewable barrier—if unbroken, nullifies all damage from these elements."
Instead of dodging, he charged through the Vermilion Bird's flames, closing the gap in an instant.
The disc wasn't invincible, nor would it guarantee victory. But it bought him one chance—to force Su Min into close combat. Because at range, he stood no chance against her endless bombardment.