A week later, Su Min completed the pill refinement and arrived at the sect's main hall, where five or six Dao Comprehension-stage cultivators had gathered. Since seventh-grade pills were of critical importance, only Dao Comprehension experts were sent as representatives.
Without unnecessary pleasantries, Su Min distributed the pills, verified their authenticity, and excused herself. Those who could offer sufficient compensation for her services were invariably in desperate need, so after brief formalities, they hurriedly departed.
As for others, Su Min paid them little mind. She wouldn't squander her time endlessly refining pills—after all, her own cultivation took precedence, especially now that those threats were emerging.
"Preparing for seclusion? These special crystals are quite remarkable. I initially thought it would take centuries to attempt a breakthrough to mid-stage Dao Comprehension, but these have accelerated my progress significantly."
Examining the mutated crystals in her hand, Su Min mused silently. Every step in the Dao Comprehension stage was arduous, and advancing further to the Unity stage would be exponentially more difficult.
Even for supreme divine beasts like the Three-Clan Golden Crows or the Golden Five-Clawed Dragons, the challenges were immense—though that wasn't Su Min's immediate concern.
With a casual wave, the crystals floated into the air. Closing her eyes, Su Min began circulating her cultivation technique.
In an instant, radiant light erupted as the crystals shattered, transforming into streams of energy that surged into her body. Her long-stagnant aura began fluctuating, growing increasingly ethereal.
The gateway to mid-stage Dao Comprehension slowly opened before her.
Meanwhile, outside, the emergence of the Black Seal plunged the continent into turmoil.
Yao Clan Territory
"Should we convene an assembly? Previous inter-sect agreements were too lax—everyone only minded their own affairs. But now, several sects without Dao Comprehension guardians have been annihilated. The strength those Fallen Ones regain will be terrifying."
Once-thriving mountain ranges now lay in ruins, their populations decimated. The only solace was that their three Dao Comprehension experts remained intact. Though severely weakened, they weren't on the verge of collapse. Their previous demands toward the Immortal Sect had to be abandoned entirely.
In the end, strength dictated everything. Now, their clan faced a potential talent drought. For ancient clans like theirs, true value lay not in one or two geniuses, but in a steady stream of new powerhouses maintaining their supremacy.
In this regard, the Immortal Sect was slightly inferior, but the gap wasn't insurmountable. Su Min had already brought back vast quantities of crystals, and her lifespan was truly limitless.
The Yao Clan had survived, albeit battered. Others weren't so fortunate. Centuries after the world's restoration, many had reached the Dao Comprehension stage. In the past, even a single Divine Transformation expert, backed by their sect's heritage and protective formations, could deter the Fallen Ones.
With the return of super clans and sects, the Fallen Ones' situation worsened. These powers occupied entire minor realms, safeguarded by Emperor's Artifacts, making them nearly invincible. The Fallen Ones were hunted relentlessly, to the point where many believed their era had ended.
Yet, in just a few months, multiple sects had been wiped out. Even super sects weren't immune—any vulnerability would be exploited. The Yao Clan suffered the most, having deployed all three Dao Comprehension experts along with their Emperor's Artifact.
After all, Su Min could freely mobilize the Golden Crows' power. Without their own Emperor's Artifact, they'd felt insecure. But the outcome? A devastating blow to their clan.
As for mid-tier sects like the former Blood Puppet Sect—they were truly doomed. Lacking Dao Comprehension experts, they vanished overnight. The number of Divine Transformation and Nascent Soul cultivators consumed was staggering—enough to restore multiple Fallen Ones to Dao Comprehension, possibly even mid or late-stage.
Countless terrifying powerhouses now lurked in the shadows, casting a pall of fear across the continent. Even Su Min refrained from disclosing the truth—because their leader's strength might rival Yao Xian'er's.
No physique, save for the legendary Chaos Body, could guarantee ascension to the Ascension stage. By that realm, innate constitution became secondary.
Revealing this would only spread panic without offering solutions. It might even drive some to join the Fallen Ones. Moreover, that entity wouldn't emerge immediately—no need to incite terror prematurely.
While Su Min remained silent, the continent mobilized.
The affected but surviving clans and sects took the lead, establishing spatial links and mutual defense pacts. When the invitation reached the Immortal Sect, Xie Yingying narrowed her eyes. With Su Min in seclusion, she resumed leadership duties.
The Fallen Ones avoided the Immortal Sect, unwilling to provoke the wrath of supreme divine beasts and two Emperor's Artifacts. The Dragon Clan enjoyed similar immunity—their ancestral lands, buried in abyssal depths with unique terrain, were too troublesome to assault.
Immortal Sect
"They've come again, Elder Zhu."
As the earliest Divine Transformation expert to pledge loyalty to Su Min, Zhu now held the sect's third-highest position. His cultivation had improved significantly, reaching half-step Dao Comprehension.
Using his sect contributions, he'd obtained a Dao Comprehension Pill from Su Min. However, his foundation still needed refinement before attempting a breakthrough.
His most cherished disciple, nurtured with the sect's resources, had reached Divine Transformation. The sect now boasted seven or eight Divine Transformation experts, over twenty including spirit beasts.
"We should investigate. As Lady Su mentioned, hindering their consumption of living beings is the most effective way to limit them. And—"
Zhu shuddered. The Fallen Ones' appetites were monstrous. Vanished sects included peers of his—making his decision to follow Su Min a blessing in hindsight.
"You're on the cusp of Dao Comprehension. Shouldn't you enter seclusion?"
"Lady Xie, you'll attend the sect assembly. If I'm in seclusion, who will guard the sect?"
"I'll request the Azure Dragon King's assistance. With his Dao Comprehension strength and the Azure Dragon Pearl, our defenses will hold. Add the Golden Crow's Emperor's Artifact, and safety is assured."
"Very well."
Zhu acquiesced. He'd prepared thoroughly, and with the Dao Comprehension Pill, hesitation was unwarranted. Dao Comprehension had been his lifelong aspiration—once thought impossible, to be fulfilled by his descendants. But under Su Min, new opportunities arose.
"Since Su Min is secluded for her mid-stage Dao Comprehension breakthrough, I'll represent us at the assembly. Given the Yao Clan's precedent, there's no need for grandeur or additional escorts."
Xie Yingying's authority was undisputed. Beyond her formidable strength, she handled affairs with finesse—more adept than Su Min in certain aspects. Not that Su Min was incompetent, but their personalities differed.
Su Min acted decisively, favoring straightforward, domineering solutions—especially with irrefutable evidence. Only rarely would she exercise restraint.
In contrast, Xie Yingying navigated complexities with diplomacy, earning high regard within the sect.
"Understood."
Thus, Tian Yinzi voiced no objections. At late-stage Nascent Soul, he too needed seclusion—though not yet ready for Divine Transformation.
"Has the ancient battlefield's corruption stopped spreading?"
Xie Yingying frowned. Their location's safety stemmed from two factors: the world's vastness exceeding the corruption's reach, and the Dragon Clan's ceaseless cleansing of mutated beasts.
"No, but the ancient battlefield's future remains uncertain."
That place couldn't remain stable indefinitely. The ancient battlefield was essentially a convergence point of countless dimensions—some malevolent, hence the fallen super experts.
Traditionally, the Dragon Clan managed such threats, keeping them uninvolved in terrestrial conflicts.
"So many troubles. If that place destabilizes, we'll bear the brunt."
Massaging her temples, Xie Yingying lamented the world's fractured state, with none to mend it.
"I'll depart now, taking the Xuantian Mansion. With it, even a Unity-stage attacker couldn't stop my escape."
Dismissing her worries, Xie Yingying summoned the colossal Xuantian Mansion. Its occupants were ejected before it shrank into her palm.
With this Heaven-tier high-grade artifact, few in the world could truly threaten her. Alone or not, she was secure.
Her figure vanished, followed by Elder Zhu's departure. Only Tian Yinzi remained—forcing a breakthrough now would be suicidal.
Meanwhile, in Seclusion
Amidst external chaos, Su Min cultivated undisturbed. The special crystals rapidly depleted, their energy absorbed until only powder remained.
Su Min's aura fluctuated violently as time laws surged within her. The surrounding space warped unpredictably—time itself flowed irregularly.
Nearby cultivators kept their distance. Entanglement in such temporal distortions risked instant lifespan reduction.
"Breakthrough is near."
Su Min's spiritual power erupted violently. In a flash, she reached mid-stage Dao Comprehension, her aura stabilizing swiftly.
"Mid-stage Dao Comprehension."
Surveying the depleted crystals, Su Min exhaled in relief. Then, noting the staggering resource consumption, she understood why many chose to become Fallen Ones rather than follow Yao Xian'er's path of reincarnation.
The costs were prohibitive. Not everyone could amass sufficient resources. When orthodox methods failed, devouring living beings became the most efficient alternative.
"This seclusion was brief—only ten years. Though severely injured in that battle, misfortune breeds fortune. It solidified my foundation. Combatting a former Mahayana expert yielded immense gains."
Pleased with her progress, Su Min contemplated her next step—attempting eighth-grade alchemy. It would be grueling and tedious, but necessary—especially for the elusive Unity Pill.
"It might take centuries, possibly requiring late-stage Dao Comprehension."
Though mentally prepared, Su Min acknowledged time's urgency—yet haste was futile here.
"First, check the outside world. Have those Kirin hatched yet?"
===
📢 Life Update + Novel Schedule Changes (╥﹏╥)
Hey beloved readers!
Real Life™ has decided to be extra demanding lately (why must adulting exist?), so there'll be some delays for these novels:
"Hellcoin Billionaire: My Ghost Shop Fuels My Cultivation"
"Reborn as the Fallen Idol, I Leaned Into the Chaos!"
"True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress"
BUT! Don't worry—these stories are still on track as usual since I've got drafts ready to roll:
"I Became a Fairy And Lived Forever In The Fairy World"
"Crimson Lotus, Divine Path"
"Games Invade Reality"
I'm so sorry for the delay (っ- ‸ – ς)… but I promise I'll jump back into writing as soon as things calm down! (⋟﹏⋞). Thank you all for your patience and support—it means the world. 💖