[Four Symbols Heavenly Sun — Vermilion Bird: ① Obtained Nanming Lihuo ② Awaiting Comprehension]
Nanming Lihuo—an immortal inheritance from the Vermilion Bird itself—contained within it the legacy of an ancient bloodline, a force that had once blazed across the heavens.
Yet now, resting in Su Min's palm, it was but a flickering wisp.
[Nanming Lihuo: The Vermilion Clan's sacred flame. Enhances pill refining, artifact forging, and combat prowess. Its might increases alongside the bearer's cultivation.]
"A little flame... but still far stronger than anything I could conjure with mere spiritual power."
Su Min's gaze lingered on the tiny ember floating above her palm. Small though it was, it carried a ferocity far beyond ordinary fire. Had the full force of the Vermilion Flame descended upon her fragile cultivation realm, she would have been reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye.
As for the Vermilion Bird's full inheritance—it was a vast, intricate tapestry of knowledge, sealed behind countless layers. Only by advancing step by step could she gradually unlock its secrets.
"Alright, since everything's settled, I'll take my leave now. I'll be going into deep seclusion, so don't bother looking for me."
"Understood, Miss Su." the merchant replied hastily, bowing low. He dared not say more. Their families shared a sliver of karmic ties, and he had already received orders from his lord—to treat Su Min with utmost respect and maintain friendly relations.
~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~
In truth, his master's wishes had been more ambitious: ideally, Su Min would become a daughter-in-law. But that proposal had been swiftly rejected. Instead, he was tasked with nurturing an alliance, treating her as an irreplaceable partner. Thus, watching Su Min depart, he could only silently lower his head.
Within the secluded mountains, Su Min once again hung her Seclusion Plaque at the entrance to her retreat, signaling that no visitors were welcome. She intended to focus wholly on digesting the treasures she had obtained. Those who sought her would find only an empty cave.
"With Nanming Lihuo's enhancement, my forging efficiency has skyrocketed."
The progress that had once slowed due to material compression now surged forward at an unprecedented pace. Among the Ten Divine Flames of the immortal path, Nanming Lihuo was the most balanced and versatile.
If visualized on a hexagon chart, it would form a perfect shape—excelling in every aspect. Other flames might surpass it in one or two areas, but none matched its all-around utility. Were one to chart them on a hexagonal graph, Nanming Lihuo would form a perfect, symmetrical hexagon—unlike others, which, though excelling in one or two attributes, were riddled with weaknesses elsewhere. Thus, in terms of comprehensive strength, Nanming Lihuo was peerless—second to none. Alchemy, weapon refinement, battle, support—whatever the need, this flame answered the call.
Just one week later.
Before Su Min floated a tiny tiger's head—no larger than her pinky fingertip—hovering quietly within a cage of flame. Once, this tiger had been a fearsome creature, large enough to devour her whole. Now, under the refinement of the sacred flame, its essence condensed into a diminutive white ring of bone.
At the final moment, vermilion-red streaks seared themselves across the surface.
[Tiger Bone Ring (Fire Enchantment) (Yellow Grade, Mid-Tier): Unleashes a Tiger's Roar Shockwave. Enhanced by the Vermilion Fire, the shockwave can now burn an enemy's soul.]
"Nanming Lihuo is truly formidable. Not only did it elevate the artifact's quality, but it also added a soul-scorching effect to the mental assault."
Su Min slipped the newly-forged ring onto her finger, a faint smile playing at her lips.
ROAR!
The next moment, a thunderous tiger's roar shook the entire mountain range. Nearby peaks trembled; boulders tumbled down in avalanches; birds and beasts collapsed where they stood, their fragile bodies unable to withstand the shock.
"The effect is impressive… but I should probably avoid using this in populated areas."
Her lips twitched as she stared at the ring. A casual activation in the wilderness had caused such devastation—if unleashed in a city, the casualties would be catastrophic.
"The ring is done. Now, it's time to strengthen my Lifebound Spiritual Treasure."
The spiritual sword before her was far easier to refine. Designed from the start as a weapon meant to accompany cultivators through various paths of growth, it was resilient and adaptable. This process was simpler, as the sword's design inherently allowed for material accumulation—even a complete novice in artifact forging could enhance it through sheer resource dumping. Now, with Nanming Lihuo aiding her, the process became smooth as silk.
Within a month, a newly-tempered sword embryo, gleaming and intricate, rested in her hand.
[Flying Sword Embryo (Yellow Grade, Mid-Tier)]
At that moment, fresh insights flooded her mind.
"So that's it... By binding my sword techniques with my lifebound weapon, my basic skill Minor Sword Control evolves into something greater."
Minor Sword Control had only three techniques:
Slash, Thrust, and Fly.
Simple in name, simple in principle. The first two were straightforward attacks; the third enabled true long-range sword control. Now, after refining her weapon, her skill had undergone a metamorphosis:
[Sword Control Technique]
The Slash technique could now unleash waves of sword aura, vastly increasing attack power and range.
The Thrust became a rapid advance maneuver—allowing her to pierce through the air toward her target.
The final move, Fly, unlocked true sword manipulation, enabling her to summon illusory sword shadows that struck at enemies from afar.
"Haaah... finally, I've reached the strength a player of my stage should have."
Feeling the transformation within her, Su Min stretched lazily, a rare trace of satisfaction on her face. Under the loose folds of her robe, the graceful curve of her slender waist shimmered faintly with her movement. But before she could fully relax, she froze. A strange pulse had rippled through the air—powerful and distant, but unmistakable. Without hesitation, she dashed out of her cave.
More than ten kilometers away, atop a remote mountain peak, dark clouds churned ominously.
Then—
A golden pillar of light lanced down from the heavens, piercing the clouds. The radiance could be seen for hundreds of miles; the strange energy it carried spread even farther, blanketing the entire Wei Empire.
"It's finally happening…"
Su Min's heart raced as she stared at the golden glow.
The Treasure Gourd was finally maturing.
According to her estimates, it would ripen fully within the next three months—but the golden radiance was a divine sign, to all that a heavenly treasure was about to descend. This was the Auspicious Light of the Great Dao—a phenomenon even saints could not hide, let alone a humble cultivator like her.
No ward, no array, no spell could conceal it. The world would soon be thrown into chaos. And Su Min, standing atop the mountain, could not help but feel her blood stir with excitement.