Silence
As Su Min stepped into the arena, the entire venue fell into complete silence. Everyone knew that an earth-shattering battle was about to unfold. The confidence radiating from Su Min made it clear—she was utterly sure of herself.
To the average person, this might seem laughable. But considering she was ranked first on the Heavenly Leaderboard, this was a fight worth watching.
After all, only a select few made it onto the Golden Core Heavenly Leaderboard. Over ninety percent of the spectators here had never even qualified. Most of what they knew was just hearsay.
Now, witnessing such a legend with their own eyes made the trip worthwhile.
Meanwhile, inside the arena, Su Min had already tuned out the crowd. With her current abilities, even facing a Dao Comprehension-stage expert, she could retreat unscathed in this environment. As for her opponent—though strong—killing her was out of the question. After all, she had now obtained the Northern Water's Profound Origin, granting her unparalleled endurance.
This was the perfect opportunity to test her newfound power. The only regret was that she hadn't yet acquired the White Tiger's legacy, preventing her from unleashing the full Four Symbols Possession.
"Then, I ask for your guidance."
Han Shuangzi, standing opposite Su Min, did not underestimate her just because she was only at the early-stage Divine Transformation realm. Having reached this level himself, he was no ordinary talent. He had witnessed countless geniuses rise and fall.
For those kinds of people, cultivation level and combat power were not strictly correlated. Moreover, Su Min had once defeated Yao Xian'er. Even if he was at the late-stage Divine Transformation realm—or even the early-stage Dao Comprehension realm—he couldn't guarantee victory over her.
So, in the next instant, his hands moved rapidly, weaving seals. In an instant, the entire space was filled with a bone-chilling cold. At the same time, three terrifying figures emerged from the frost-laden mist.
"Hiss—is this his trump card?"
In that moment, gasps erupted from the audience. Even the half-step Dao Comprehension experts shot to their feet, their expressions grave as they stared at the three figures.
"We knew he was hiding his strength, but not to this extent. Grandmaster Su might truly be in danger this time—three Dao Comprehension-stage corpses. They must be predecessors from his sect, who left their remains to him before their lifespans ended."
"Those corpses might have been at the peak of Dao Comprehension—or even the Integration stage—in life. Though they're now puppets, their physical strength remains at the Dao Comprehension level. Their combat power is enough to rival half-step Dao Comprehension experts."
Whispers spread through the crowd. The key to the Dao Comprehension stage lay in the comprehension of laws and the Great Dao. But physical strength couldn't be ignored, especially for corpses that had once been at the Integration stage. The only pity was that these remains were too ancient, their essence severely depleted—otherwise, they'd be even more terrifying.
"Damn, these cultivators are ruthless."
Su Min couldn't help but marvel as the three ice-encased figures emerged. She had seen something similar before—the corpse of the Blood Puppet Sect's Integration-stage ancestor. Its combat power was absolutely on par with a half-step Dao Comprehension expert, and that was only because it had decayed over time.
These three corpses were about the same. Though preserved by divine ice, their sect clearly lacked the Blood Puppet Sect's puppet-preservation techniques. In the end, they were roughly equal in strength.
But the sheer number was the problem. It was clear that the Profound Frost Pavilion's heritage far surpassed the Blood Puppet Sect's.
Of course, if these were three genuine half-step Dao Comprehension experts, Su Min would've turned and fled immediately. But corpses were just corpses—they might hold their own against such experts, but they could never truly win. They lacked too much.
"Mere puppets. Your heavenly treasures is nothing before me—Heaven Scorching Blaze!!!"
In the next instant, crimson flames engulfed the sky. This was Su Min's new technique, born from her fusion of the Five Elements Ancient Scripture and Nnming Lihuo. The blazing inferno tore through Han Shuangzi's frozen hell, shattering it instantly.
Heavenly treasures had no inherent hierarchy, but Su Min's Nanming Lihuo was no ordinary flame. Water nourishes Wood, Wood fuels Fire—under this dual amplification, a single heavenly treasure stood no chance. Especially when ice was inherently weak against fire.
"Hiss—the Nanming Lihuo is terrifying!!!"
Witnessing the frozen realm collapse in seconds, many shuddered. They knew that if they were caught in those flames, death was certain. With this single move, Su Min had proven her strength beyond doubt.
She was absolutely qualified to compete with veteran Divine Transformation experts—even half-step Dao Comprehension powerhouses.
If this was the outsiders' reaction, Han Shuangzi's internal turmoil was even greater. Faced with the overwhelming flames, he didn't dare hesitate. These three corpses were his martial uncles—his true strategy wasn't to send them to their doom.
So—
In the next moment, he and the three corpses moved in perfect sync. A hundred-meter-long frost dragon materialized in the sky, swallowing Su Min's flames whole.
"Frost Sovereign Dragon—Devour the Heavens!"
The colossal ice dragon shot toward Su Min like a streak of light. The distance between them—over ten thousand meters—was crossed in the blink of an eye.
Almost instantly, the dragon's maw clamped down on Su Min.
But before the crowd could even gasp—
BOOM!
The dragon's jaws exploded. A massive black figure erupted from within, forcibly shattering the ice.
"That's the Black Tortoise! Wasn't she using the Vermilion Bird's power? This is the Black Tortoise—the Black Tortoise Manifestation? That ice dragon was amplified by Han Shuangzi's three martial uncles' corpses—its power was extraordinary. Yet it was shattered just like that?"
Many were stunned. Su Min was famously known as the "Crimson Blazing Bird"—her signature was the fiery Vermilion Bird Possession. In the Golden Core Avenue, once unleashed, over ninety percent of cultivators couldn't withstand it. And when detonated, only the absolute top Golden Core experts could emerge unscathed.
Now, she had summoned an entirely new possession—the Black Tortoise.
Even more shocking was that the Black Tortoise had tanked the ice dragon's attack. A direct bite from that dragon would've forced even half-step or newly ascended Dao Comprehension experts to retreat.
Yet the colossal manifestation had endured it.
The Vermilion Bird Possession was notoriously fragile—but Su Min's tactics involved detonating it point-blank, making it nearly impossible to counter. Still, some could destroy it before it exploded.
Most had discerned its traits: high burst, low defense, unstable.
There were ways to counter it—but Su Min wielded it masterfully.
Now, this unyielding Black Tortoise had opened everyone's eyes.
"Look—that armor doesn't seem to be a treasure?"
"Right, it's not a treasure. That must be the Black Tortoise's legacy armor. Of the Four Symbols, the Black Tortoise is renowned for defense and stability."
"Hiss—her aura has completely changed."
As cultivators, their eyes were sharp. They could clearly see Su Min inside the phantom Black Tortoise.
Gone was the "Crimson Blazing Bird." Now, she was clad head-to-toe in black Xuanwu armor, a sinister mask covering her face. Through its slits, faint crimson light glowed from her eyes. Her snow-white hair billowed behind her like a banner.
She looked like an Asura emerging from hell—an overwhelming, domineering aura radiating from her.
"Now—Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, appear."
Su Min wasn't aware of the crowd's reactions. Her Four Symbols Possession wasn't yet complete—she lacked the White Tiger's killing intent. Otherwise, this form would've resembled a blood-soaked war god.
Even so, she was imposing enough.
More importantly—with the Northern Water's Profound Origin inside her, all her consumption would recover at an insane rate. Coupled with the Eastern Wood Azure Essence, Su Min did something she'd never have dared before reaching the Divine Transformation stage.
Her hands blurred, weaving seals—
In the blink of an eye, two more colossal figures materialized in the sky.
One azure, one crimson.
The audience erupted.
"The Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird?!"
Everyone shot to their feet, staring in disbelief. Three of the Four Symbols now stood together—their massive forms exuding an indescribable pressure.
It was as if they were witnessing ancient mythology.
The Four Symbols were born of heaven and earth—in a way, they embodied the will of the cosmos itself.
"A single person controlling so much of the Four Symbols' power… According to ancient texts, not even the Five Elements Emperor achieved this. This girl's potential might surpass even his."
"Indeed. Senior Yao once said that if she'd faced Su Min in her first life, she would've lost without question. Had Su Min been the one competing for the Heavenly Seal back then, Yao would've been defeated."
"Summoning three manifestations at once—even a Divine Transformation body shouldn't withstand that. She must be leveraging the Eastern Wood Azure Essence's properties. But even so, isn't she afraid of exhausting herself?"
Thoughts raced through the minds of the ancient experts. Many silently vowed: No matter what, do not provoke Su Min.
In a fair fight like this, victory was up to skill. But outside of such circumstances—absolute caution was necessary.
As for the Eastern Sea Immortal Sect—they must be befriended.
"This… this is a joke, right?!"
Compared to the stunned crowd, Han Shuangzi—facing three colossal manifestations—felt his blood freeze.
Three monsters, each as massive as the ice dragon he'd poured his all into creating.
A sense of impending death washed over him.
Everyone knew the Vermilion Bird Possession's traits.
But the Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise?
No one had seen them before—Su Min had never revealed them until today.
"If that's the case… Wailing Souls!!!"
The tables had turned too quickly. Han Shuangzi knew his only option was all-out offense.
So, in that moment—
He and the three corpses simultaneously formed hand seals. A ghastly light flickered around them. According to the tournament's rules, no one could use Heaven-grade treasures or above.
Such artifacts were too destructive—casualties would be inevitable, and the arena itself might be obliterated. There were even records of Emperor-grade weapons clashing, annihilating entire regions.
Thus, Han Shuangzi activated every treasure he had. Instantly, the air filled with the wails of tormented souls.
The Profound Nether Ice's defining trait was soul imprisonment. Those who died by it would never reincarnate—their souls eternally trapped in its frozen hell.
Now, Han Shuangzi's move was simple: Detonate them all.
He wasn't a saint—but most of his victims had deserved their fates. No one would fault him for this. Even Su Min could sense the overwhelming malice radiating from those souls.
"Interesting. Let me show you the true power of the Five Elements Sacred Body."
Expressionless, Su Min's hands moved like lightning. The three manifestations shifted positions, forming a triangle in the sky.
At the same time, a twisted ghostly face materialized—
Before Han Shuangzi detonated it. A soul-rending blast of frost and spiritual energy erupted—enough to tear ordinary Divine Transformation cultivators to shreds.
This was Divine Transformation combat.
Either days of probing exchanges—or life-and-death decided in seconds.
There was no holding back at this level.
But Su Min wasn't worried.
Because at that moment—
The three manifestations opened their mouths.
Three breaths—Water, Wood, Fire—erupted forth.
Under Su Min's control, the breaths merged perfectly, then collided with the ghostly face.
"Hummm…"
A bizarre resonance filled the air.
An energy storm—so terrifying it made even the spectators feel death's approach—raged within the artifact's space.
Han Shuangzi had gone all-in—
But Su Min countered effortlessly.
Then—
CRACK.
A crisp shattering sound reached everyone's ears.
Faint—but unmistakable.
Many looked around, wondering if something had fallen.
Then—
Their expressions twisted in horror.
The artifact's space was breaking.
The energy was about to spill out.
Against this force, Nascent Soul experts might survive—
But Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators?
Dead or crippled.
And below them—countless bystanders.
"All fellow Daoists—erect a barrier! Redirect the energy skyward!"
A half-step Dao Comprehension expert acted first.
Then—every Divine Transformations present joined in.
A massive energy shield enveloped the artifact.
The next instant—
A cataclysmic storm shot into the heavens, guided away from the ground.
"Huff… that was close. So this is what they mean by 'when immortals fight, mortals suffer.' If not for the experts here, I'd be dead."
Many wiped cold sweat from their brows. Most were independent cultivators—here just to broaden their horizons. That energy would've annihilated them.
"Obviously. I wouldn't have come if safety wasn't guaranteed."
"What's happening inside? Did I see right? That breath attack merged all three divine objects' energies—including the opposing Water and Fire. Isn't she afraid of blowing herself up?"
"That's her unique constitution. Ordinary people shouldn't try this. But her opponent… is probably doomed. The might of heaven-earth divine objects is no joke."
The crowd murmured, then turned their attention back to the arena. As the energy dispersed, the scene inside became clear. The three manifestations had vanished.
But Su Min—still clad in black armor—stood unharmed.
Her aura hadn't weakened at all—she'd tanked the explosion.
As for Han Shuangzi?
Absolute misery.
His Earth-grade high-tier armor was shattered—possibly beyond repair.
The three corpses? Nowhere to be seen.
He himself was gasping for breath, his energy severely depleted.
"I surrender!!!"
In that instant, Han Shuangzi conceded.
He still had a last-ditch move—detonating the three corpses.
But they were his martial uncles.
He'd once vowed to bury them properly upon reaching the Dao Comprehension stage.
Using them as bombs against Su Min?
Unthinkable.
Unless the sect faced annihilation—and even then, he wasn't sure it would kill her. Given her unchanged energy levels, staying any longer was suicidal. So he yielded—and was teleported out. Though badly injured, his foundations were intact. With some rest, he'd recover in half a day.
No need for a death fight.
With Han Shuangzi's exit, the winner was clear: Su Min.
The crowd exchanged glances.
An early-stage Divine Transformation cultivator had truly defeated Han Shuangzi.
It was unbelievable.
Especially since Su Min seemed to have more cards up her sleeve.