A Dao Comprehension Stage expert was undeniably one of the strongest existences in the current era. Even with the loosening of heaven and earth's restrictions, reaching this level couldn't be achieved overnight. Even for those who had undergone reincarnation cycles, the process was still necessary.
Yet, the fact that Kong Hui had broken through to this stage proved just how formidable he had been in his past life. At this moment, Liao Jie's face darkened to the extreme. If a fight broke out now, he would stand no chance against Kong Hui.
And then—
From inside the secret realm—
"AHHH!!!"
A final blood-curdling scream echoed as the last disciple of Future Maitreya Mountain was reduced to bloody mist under Su Min's sword. All of their dispatched members had been annihilated. Liao Jie's expression twisted with unrestrained killing intent, while the onlookers couldn't help but marvel.
"As expected of the Heavenly Ranking's number one. Ruthless and merciless."
The losses for Future Maitreya Mountain this time were catastrophic. Those who had entered were all first-generation practitioners—individuals as precious as the Holy Sons and Daughters of major sacred grounds. Now, they had all been slaughtered by a single person. While this wouldn't completely sever their legacy, it was still a devastating blow—their future had been cut down in its prime.
"Kong Hui, do you truly intend to shield her?"
"Liao Jie, the 'Great Tribulation of Annihilation' was caused by your actions back then. Have you still not learned restraint?"
Liao Jie's face stiffened at those words.
The "Great Tribulation of Annihilation" referred to only one event—the Great Buddhist Purge of the past.
It was a taboo topic among all Buddhist sects. Among the three major Buddhist factions: The Ancient Lamp Monastery worshipped the Ancient Lamp Buddha—the Buddha of the Past. They had no interest in the present or future, focusing solely on recording history. Their disciples could coexist peacefully with other factions across the continents;
The Great Thunder Temple expanded by aligning with local rulers, much like their presence in Wei Wu Continent. Though they faced restrictions and friction, they avoided major conflicts;
Future Maitreya Mountain, however, was the most radical. They sought absolute dominance, crushing local sects beneath them. They were the ones who had provoked the Great Buddhist Purge, dragging the Great Thunder Temple down with them.
The Ancient Lamp Monastery, with its scattered, humble monasteries, had suffered the least. But Future Maitreya Mountain?
They were the least welcome even among Buddhists. By bringing up the past, Kong Hui's message was clear: "If you want to court death, don't drag us down with you. Do you really think I won't exterminate you right now?"
Su Min was the Heavenly Ranking's number one—her death at Future Maitreya Mountain's hands could provoke another purge. Even if she herself didn't wield that kind of influence, she was now the symbol of the younger generation. And the major powers of the world were already wary of Buddhism. This would be the perfect excuse.
Moreover, Su Min's survival was immensely beneficial to the Great Thunder Temple. Once she reached sixth-grade alchemy, even they would have to seek her help. If she had died inside the secret realm, there would have been nothing they could do.
But now?
The situation had changed.
"Since words fail, I shall take my leave."
Under Kong Hui's icy gaze and the hostile stares of the other Buddhist factions—including the Ancient Lamp Monastery—Liao Jie knew he had no place left here. The Ancient Lamp Monastery might have suffered less, but that was relative to the other two. Many smaller branches had been nearly wiped out.
If he stayed any longer, he might face joint suppression from both the Ancient Lamp Monastery and the Great Thunder Temple. With all his disciples dead, the Water-Land Dharma Assembly was as good as ruined.
"Just you wait!!!"
With a final venomous glare at Su Min, Liao Jie turned and left. But he wasn't done yet. There would be one more opportunity—when the Black Tortoise emerged from the gathering of waters.
Inside the Secret Realm
Su Min expressionlessly wiped the blood off her heavy sword with a cloth before sheathing it. There was nothing left to say. She knew that as long as she survived here, she would be untouchable outside. As for Future Maitreya Mountain?
She wasn't afraid. Even if she couldn't defeat them now, she had a more pressing matter—refining a sixth-grade pill. Once she succeeded, countless Divine Transformation experts would come begging for her help. At that point, she would have the influence to confront Future Maitreya Mountain head-on. Even a Dao Comprehension expert wouldn't dare underestimate the Little Golden Crow.
Never underestimate a divine beast, especially one of royal blood. If she could gather enough Divine Transformation allies, the fight would be evenly matched. And if the odds were fifty-fifty?
Future Maitreya Mountain wouldn't dare act recklessly.
"A bunch of suicidal fanatics."
She snorted before addressing the Medicine Master Cauldron's spirit.
"I'm going to refine the Flesh and Bone Regeneration Pill. Provide me with a quiet space."
The reason she hadn't refined it earlier was due to the time acceleration. Any medicinal essence she extracted risked losing potency under that rapid flow. Now, she was confident in her ability to break through to sixth-grade alchemy. Before leaving, she had shamelessly taken several sets of sixth-grade healing pill ingredients from the Great Thunder Temple.
These weren't particularly rare, so they hadn't objected. She had already blown up several furnaces anyway—what were a few more?
"Very well."
Since the Medicine Master Cauldron's purpose was to select alchemists, it readily obliged. The space around her shifted, isolating her from the rest of the secret realm. Su Min blinked in surprise.
"You can just… partition the secret realm like this?"
With no one left to disturb her, she sat down cross-legged and began refining.
With Future Maitreya Mountain's departure, the tense atmosphere eased. Their disciples had even abandoned the scripture debates and fled. Now, all eyes were on Su Min as she prepared to refine. When she summoned over a hundred ingredients, the crowd erupted in excitement.
"A sixth-grade pill! She's attempting a sixth-grade pill!"
Sixth-grade pills were exceedingly rare—many cultivators never saw one in their entire lives. This was a historic moment. Su Min didn't keep them waiting long. Soon, flames roared to life inside her cauldron. At the same time, another figure emerged from the secret realm—the Ancient Lamp Temple's alchemist, looking disheveled.
"He failed, huh?"
"At least he's alive. Unlike Future Maitreya Mountain's alchemist—oh wait, he's dead."
"Wait a minute… Did Su Min just solo-kill a Divine Transformation expert?"
"Uh… Yeah, she did."
The crowd buzzed with realization. Kong Hui's Dao Comprehension Stage aura had overshadowed everything earlier, but now—
Su Min had killed a Divine Transformation expert. At the mid-Nascent Soul stage. In all of history, the number of people who could achieve such a feat could be counted on one hand.
"What's the big deal? You should've seen her in the Golden Core Avenue. That final battle was the real insanity."
A smug voice cut through the chatter. The speaker had witnessed Su Min's true power back then—this was nothing surprising.
"Tch, what a shame."
Many sighed regretfully. They had only reached the Golden Core Stage after the heavenly restrictions loosened, missing that legendary battle. But the Ancient Lamp Monastery's alchemist wasn't focused on Su Min's combat prowess.
"She's refining a sixth-grade pill! Those are the ingredients for a sixth-grade healing pill!"
His voice trembled with awe. He had spent multiple lifetimes failing to reach this level, yet here was a young Nascent Soul cultivator attempting it.
Then—
The cauldron's lid flew open. A perfectly round pill hovered within.
"A sixth-grade healing pill!!!"
The alchemist's shocked cry reverberated through the entire venue.