"Where did these four come from? Their weapons are all spirit artifacts!"
"Not sure. Be careful—even at peak Qi Refining, we're not invincible against these."
That was the terrifying truth about spirit weapons—the power boost they granted was enormous. Without the weapons Su Min had forged for them, these four would've stood no chance against the Flame and Earth Elders. But now? Even those two old monsters had to be cautious.
Still, no matter how refined the weapons were, the gap in cultivation couldn't be ignored. Just as Su Min had thoroughly crushed them earlier with a fraction of her strength, these four were still far too weak. The enemy soon found an opening, slamming them against the city wall in one clean strike.
"Hahahaha!!!"
Cheers erupted behind the two elders as the four were sent flying. Generals arising mid-battle, rallying the tide of war—it was the stuff of legends. Su Min hadn't expected to find herself in such a moment, but here it was, staring her in the face. And hearing the roars of celebration below, she couldn't help the slight curl at the corner of her lips.
"You like duels? Fine. Let me give you a surprise."
As if answering her thoughts, the expressions of the two elders below darkened. Unlike the soldiers cheering in delight, they sensed something—an intense, searing aura erupting before them, one so scorching it made their hearts tremble. That aura didn't target the enemy army—it pressed down solely upon the two of them.
"Peak Qi Refining… So you're the one the imperial court fears?"
The Fire Elder's expression turned grave. The royal family had shared little about Su Min—only vague hints of her identity.
"No wonder even the imperial family treads carefully. This purity of flame… You're an alchemist, aren't you?"
The Flame Elder's brow furrowed as he felt the heat radiating from her. His cultivation was on par with hers, yet just the aura alone made his spiritual energy tremble. That could only mean one thing—she wielded one of the legendary Heaven and Earth Flames. Such flames were rare beyond measure, merging with their host before eventually dissipating and reforming somewhere else in the world.
~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~
But what truly unsettled them was the presence of those four Qi Refining cultivators. Four at once? Unthinkable. And none of them were artificially boosted—they'd reached that stage through genuine cultivation. There was only one explanation: the woman before them was a master alchemist. For the first time, a sliver of dread crept into the elders' hearts. They really didn't want to make an enemy of someone like this. But with the lives of a million soldiers resting on their shoulders, retreat wasn't an option. Exchanging a glance, the Flame Elder raised a hand and barked an order.
"All forces—CHARGE!!!"
"KILL!!!"
In the next instant, waves of soldiers lifted shields and ladders, charging forward. No matter how fearsome the cavalry of the grasslands was, they were helpless before towering stone walls. Siege engines clashed in a thunderous exchange, iron and fire lighting up the battlefield. Yet not a single attacker dared move against Su Min—instinctively steering clear of her path.
"Now."
Seeing this, the two elders knew the truth—the real guardian of Yongzhou was this young woman. Her youth meant she was a cultivator of this era, yet she'd already reached late-stage Qi Refining.
Monstrous.
If there had been any room for negotiation, they would've avoided antagonizing her at all costs. Someone like her was worth groveling to. But since they were already enemies, she had to die. If she escaped, she could summon endless trouble with a mere wave of her hand. Their thoughts mirrored the Emperor's—even now, he hadn't dared issue a warrant for her arrest. No one wanted to provoke her into open war. With that in mind, the elders summoned their treasures. The Earth Elder raised an earthen shield, while the Fire Elder gripped a flaming root.
"So those are the two rare treasures I need."
Su Min's eyes gleamed. Clearly, they lacked proper spirit treasures of their own. Elder Fire's flame was decent, but nowhere near hot enough to smelt spirit ore—much less forge a spirit weapon.
"Perfect."
She had no reason to hold back. This was a war of annihilation—neither side could afford to retreat. If either retreated, everyone behind them would be crushed. In the next instant, Su Min shot forward.
In that same moment, the two elders charged as well. The strange artifacts in their hands gleamed with radiant light. Though not forged into formal weapons, these ancient relics could serve as substitutes for spirit treasures. For the two of them, they would suffice.
"Earthen Rock Spear!!!"
"Blazing Ember Slash!!!"
Twin streaks of ochre and crimson light erupted as their treasures morphed into massive weapons. They lunged at Su Min from both sides, intent on crushing her in a pincer strike.
"Tch. Not combining attacks? Do they look down on me that much?" Su Min sneered to herself. "Fine—then don't expect a clean fusion later."
Su Min nearly laughed. She'd been racking her brain over how to ambush and cripple one first, but they'd handed her the opportunity on a silver platter. Just before impact, light erupted around her. Her glazed armor materialized in an instant, while a faint bell-shaped shadow flickered around her.
Then—
BOOM!!!
The two elders were stunned.
Su Min didn't even bother dodging—she charged straight at them with the intent to trade injuries. But the difference was that she was clad in priceless protective gear. They weren't. And they could tell—her weapon was no ordinary item either. They were forced to twist their strikes mid-swing, trying to change trajectories.
Clang!
Pfft!
A sharp metallic crash rang through the air, followed by the sound of flesh tearing. The impact sent a shockwave surging outward, toppling soldiers and siege weapons alike. The entire section of the battlefield cleared in an instant.
"What happened?!"
On the wall, Prince Yong shot upright, fingers digging into the stone as he leaned forward to see. But before he could peer out, the two Body Refining guards beside him yanked him back. It wasn't just them. The four wounded cultivators in recovery also widened their eyes, staring in stunned silence.
The dust cleared. At the center of the battlefield stood a tall, graceful figure in shimmering glass armor—unshaken, unmoved. On the other side, a coughing fit echoed in the silence. As the haze faded, everyone saw it clearly: Earth Elder, clutching his abdomen, collapsed to his knees—vomiting blood.