Hearing this, Su Min no longer said anything. Throwing this kind of trouble to them wasn't a big problem. In the hands of these monks, even a Demon Queen would struggle to stir up any waves, let alone a mere clam demon.
"One last thing, what exactly is the 'Child of Destiny'?"
"You'll know soon enough," the monk replied. "For now, go. Your victory banquet awaits."
Even as he spoke, waves of cheering rolled through the city. Governor Jia had returned triumphant. But when Su Min turned her gaze back, the monk had already vanished without a trace.
"A Foundation Establishment cultivator, huh… slipping away without even a ripple."
Narrowing her eyes, Su Min studied the spot where he had disappeared. He came and went so seamlessly that she couldn't even catch a glimpse. It wasn't just a matter of cultivation level. This wasn't only because of his higher realm, but also because Buddhism possessed a complete and profound inheritance system. Even if they were of equal strength, Su Min wasn't confident she could win against him.
He claimed he couldn't act casually, and she believed it, though she was certain he still had plenty of cards hidden up his sleeve. Either way, it wasn't worth making an enemy of him. Soon, the governor's mansion burst into music and laughter, the lanterns shining bright and wine flowing like rivers.
"Many thanks to the Immortal Fairy for slaying the clam demon and saving the lives of our province's people!"
At Governor Jia's heartfelt toast, everyone present stood and bowed respectfully to Su Min. This was the inner court of the governor's estate, reserved only for a select few—heads of powerful families and loyal allies of the governor. Over half the manpower used to exterminate the monsters had come from these families.
As for why Su Min sat apart, the reason was simple. She looked too much like a young, stunning maiden. If she were thrown into the rowdy crowd of drunken roughnecks, who could guarantee nothing would happen?
Governor Jia wasn't worried about her safety; anyone foolish enough to offend her would die instantly. What he truly feared was someone bringing death upon themselves by saying something offensive or indecent. Therefore, only the elder patriarchs were allowed here, all men of age and reason, none foolish enough to stir trouble.
Still, these families had suffered heavy losses. Their sprawling rural estates had been the monsters' first targets, unlike the fortified cities packed with people. The earlier siege had only occurred because the countryside had already been emptied. Su Min lifted her cup and finished it in one gulp, drawing murmurs of admiration.
The wine, to her, was no stronger than tea. Without distillation and with low-yield grains, local brews had little potency. For someone like Su Min, who was used to modern spirits—and was now a Qi Refining cultivator—getting drunk on such wine was impossible. Besides, she had her own liquor. After killing the clam spirit and extracting its Five Elemental Essence, she had sealed it in her gourd.
The gourd had since refined it into divine nectar, a spiritual wine that could enhance one's cultivation over time without any harmful side effects. Of course, Su Min had no intention of sharing it. It wasn't because she was stingy, but because mortals who drank even a single drop would explode on the spot.
After three rounds of drinking, only Su Min remained sober. The rest were already visibly tipsy.
Governor Jia leaned in and spoke respectfully. "I heard that the Immortal Fairy once healed the sick and saved lives in the southern frontier. The grateful villagers even built temples in your honor, and their incense never faded. Now that you've rid us of this calamity, it's only right we build a shrine for you as well. Yet, even with the clam demon slain, we fear there may still be other monsters. Thus, we seek your guidance."
"What is it?" Su Min asked, raising an eyebrow but not refusing. In Journey to the West, immortals valued incense offerings greatly, and she needed them too. It wasn't only because of her deal with the little monk, but also because the Great Sun Tathāgata Sutra she had just acquired required incense as an auxiliary aid for cultivation.
"We discussed it on the way here. We wish to build your temple by the seaside, so all fishermen setting out to sea can offer prayers for peace of mind."
"That's fine," Su Min said with a small smile. The clam demon's sealing of the sea had caused tremendous losses to the coastal province. Fishermen couldn't set sail, and even salt-making had been affected. The psychological toll on the people was easy to imagine. Offering prayers would at least give them peace of mind—and Su Min knew it was more than that.
From the knowledge in her mind, once she cultivated the Great Sun Tathāgata Sutra, she could grant slight protection to those who worshiped her. She couldn't kill monsters for them, but she could safeguard their lives to some extent.
"It seems I shouldn't be in a hurry to leave. I should take this opportunity to study carefully. As for the Five Elemental Essence, there's no rush. Right now, hardly anyone in this world has even reached the Qi Refining stage, much less competes with me."
Ignoring the commotion outside, Su Min began making plans in her heart. As the little monk had said, cultivation methods were only tools; their true strength depended on the person who used them. Obtaining a powerful technique didn't make one instantly invincible.
The Great Sun Tathāgata Sutra and the Dao De Jing, the sacred texts of Buddhism and Daoism, were both peerless treasures. Yet possessing them didn't make one unbeatable. Their cultivation requirements were incredibly high. Without the proper foundation, they were useless in anyone's hands.
When the banquet finally ended and the drunken guests were carried away by servants, Su Min disappeared in a flash of light. The next moment, she stood on a rooftop, bathed in the silvery glow of the vast moon.
"Amitābha. Congratulations, Benefactor, on gaining yet another temple."
The monk's voice drifted from the moonlit shadows. Somehow, the little monk had appeared beside her on the roof.
"In a month's time," Su Min said after a moment's thought. "There's no need to rush. I must first cultivate the Great Sun Tathāgata Sutra. When the temple is newly built and incense at its peak, that will be the true beginning."
Her voice was calm beneath the boundless night sky.