[Glazed Ice Azure Armor (Yellow Tier, Mid-Grade): A specially forged armor tempered by extreme heat.]
Su Min glanced at the armor, fingers trailing along its edge. "Still carrying a trace of sentience... it should reshape itself to fit," she muttered. "A self-measuring suit of armor... how convenient."
Before her, the armor floated quietly in midair. Su Min had already inscribed her soul imprint upon it—meaning only she could wear it. As for those strong enough to forcibly erase her imprint? Whether or not she wore armor would hardly matter against such opponents.
In the next instant, the armor disassembled midair, the pieces swirling around Su Min like living scales. Within the blink of an eye, they clung perfectly to her body, forming a complete set.In the mirror, a striking, heroic female general now stood, radiant in shimmering azure-glazed armor.
"This feels amazing." Su Min smiled, admiring her reflection. "With this armor assisting me, my defense could even rival the Arhat's Golden Body. Tsk, tsk..."
Normally dressed in loose robes, her figure remained hidden from view. But clad in this tight-fitting armor, her supermodel-worthy physique was revealed in all its breathtaking splendor.
Knock, knock.
At his words, Su Min stirred. With a flick of her mind, the armor dissolved into light and returned to the ring on her finger. Though she had already stepped into the Qi Refining realm, wearing armor openly remained sensitive in this era. No need to cause unnecessary alarm. She lightly waved her sleeve. A burst of spiritual energy pushed the heavy doors open with a soft thud.
"Ugh..."
The prince standing at the threshold let out a low grunt. For a split second, it had felt as though a mountain had descended upon him. Though both were cultivators in the Qi Refining stage, the gap between them was immeasurable.
"What is it?" Su Min asked coolly.
Before he could regain his composure, a faint fragrance drifted past him. Su Min was suddenly standing right before him, her presence forcing him to lower his gaze instinctively.
"So, you're Prince Yong's little cub, huh? You've been in the Qi Refining stage for a while now. How does it feel?"
Her tone was casual, almost indifferent. Technically, she wasn't wrong. Her father had once worked alongside the previous Prince Yong, who happened to be this boy's grandfather. That made her and the current Prince Yong peers. As for this young prince, he could only bow his head in acknowledgment.
The strong make the rules.
That single, non-hostile spiritual pulse had just taught him the meaning of disparity.
"We've gathered materials over the past month, expending significant manpower and resources. It's just that the temperature in the senior's room has been extremely high recently. Now that it has recovered, I have brought people to deliver it here."
"Oh?"
Su Min glanced past him. Dozens of servants stood in formation, each holding a tray with exquisitely crafted boxes.
"Good."
Sensing the faint medicinal aura emanating from the containers, she smiled. These were exactly what she needed. Acquiring such a collection in so short a time couldn't have been done through money alone.
It must have involved political favors, underground dealings, and perhaps even coercion.
But since they had delivered, there was no reason for her to withhold her end of the exchange. With a flick of her wrist, a small vial landed neatly in the prince's palm. He immediately understood the weight of the gesture. Prince Yong had sent his strongest son to collect the pills personally. There could be no mistakes.
"T-This is—!"
He uncorked the vial and froze. Five Qi-Inducing Pills. Each one capable of creating a Qi Refining cultivator. As someone who had recently broken through, he understood their value better than anyone. Five pills meant five potential powerhouses—or five factions desperate enough to sell their loyalty for even one. The materials gathered had been worth the cost.
"A complete Foundation Establishment Pill recipe… Having a major faction's backing really is indispensable."
Su Min was equally pleased. Collecting these ingredients alone would've taken years. Handing over these pills was no loss to her.
"Tell your old man to keep up the good work," she said, her voice silky yet edged with danger. "As long as he continues providing the materials and information I need, I'll reward him with a pill that can raise his cultivation by one level without any side effects."
Her words carried the allure of a devil's whisper, sending the young prince's heart racing.
Even as royalty, he found such temptation impossible to resist.
"Oh, and," Su Min added lazily, "your father sent you with another invitation, didn't he?"
"Y-yes. My royal father humbly requests an audience with you to discuss certain matters."
"Lead the way," Su Min replied, her mood clearly lifted.
After a month of forging and exhausting herself, a good meal sounded far too appealing to refuse.
—
Prince Yong's Chambers
This time, the reception was far grander. Gleaming goblets of grape wine and plates of lavish dishes filled the table.
"Five Qi-Inducing Pills… five Qi Refining experts."
Prince Yong exhaled sharply, the implications dawning on him. Like his son, his mind raced with possibilities.
"Sometimes," Su Min said, leisurely pouring herself a full goblet of wine, "a single pill isn't enough. Depending on the individual, they might need a second to break through. But if used properly, yes, you could create five cultivators."
She spoke casually, finishing her wine in one gulp. Her bold and unrestrained demeanor would have shamed many seasoned generals.
Prince Yong nodded. "I understand. My son mentioned that you possess pills that enhance Qi Refining cultivators, but those—"
"Giving you one now would be pointless," Su Min interrupted smoothly. "That pill isn't for breaking bottlenecks. It's an enhancer that can only be taken once. If your son uses it too early, it'll be wasted. I'd suggest he wait until mid or late-stage Qi Refining."
"I see."
"…Understood."
Prince Yong did not press further. Pills like that were undoubtedly rare, even for Su Min.